Representasi Beban Sosial-Religius Masyarakat Bali dalam Tiga Esai Gde Aryantha Soethama

Abstract

This article examines the relationship between literary texts and the socio-cultural reality of Balinese society in three essays by Gde Aryantha Soethama: “Beban Orang Bali”, “Upacara Ini Upacara Itu”, and “Menitip Mayat di Bali”. The study focuses on how socio-religious burdens are represented in the texts and how these representations relate to the conditions of contemporary Balinese society. This research employs a descriptive qualitative design with a sociology of literature approach. The data consist of words, phrases, and paragraphs that represent customary burdens, ritual practices, and social criticism. These data are analyzed through close reading and contextual interpretation. The findings show that the three essays represent the double burden experienced by Balinese society, namely worldly burdens related to economic and domestic responsibilities and non-worldly burdens derived from customary and religious obligations. Rituals in the texts are not merely understood as spiritual practices but also as social mechanisms connected to identity, communal legitimacy, and social prestige. The practice of menitip mayat reflects a form of social adaptation to the complexity of the customary system and economic limitations. These findings affirm that the essay functions as a critical reflection on the socio-religious dynamics of contemporary Balinese society.