Translation as a Political Identity Practice of Colonial: A study of Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe in Indonesian Literature in 1900 Era

The presence of translation literature in colonial society has put effects on the colonialization process through the construction of identity. The Robinson Crusoe novel in Indonesian literature shows a similar point. The main problems dealing with the presence of the work are how the construction of colonial identity was realized and how the reaction was in Indonesian literature. By using postcolonial perspective, with a special attention to translation and identity, this paper provides answers to these questions. First, Robinson Crusoe shows the idea of super human identity, favoring reason and ability (culture) to conquer and enlighten the nature. This is the desire of colonialism introduced in the text. Secondly, Indonesian literature is resistant, reintroducing the spiritual idea of the East. This, for example, appears in Abdul Moeis’ Salah Asuhan (1928) and Dahlia’s Kesopanan Timoer (1932). From both works, Western culture and its development were used as a means to achieve the ideals of the East