Exploring Sarcasm in Putu Wijaya’s Guru: A Sociological Reading

Mhd Wahyu Gunawan Syah Zailani, Devi Pratiwy


Abstract


This study examines sarcasm in Putu Wijaya's short story Guru through a sociological reading, focusing on its causes and purposes as a literary device for social critique. Using a qualitative descriptive approach grounded in the sociology of literature and pragmatic theories of sarcasm, the research treats the short story as primary data. The analysis identifies three causes of sarcasm: psychological triggers rooted in fear and pride, emotional responses such as disappointment and anger, and contextual irony that reveals the gap between public praise for teachers and their actual social and economic position. The findings show that sarcasm serves three functions: social critique that exposes materialism and institutional hypocrisy, a rhetorical strategy to shame or persuade characters into conformity, and character revelation that highlights generational conflict and moral tension. The study concludes that Putu Wijaya uses sarcasm not merely to amuse but to provoke reflection about the value of education and the treatment of teachers in Indonesian society.

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.30743/jol.v8i2.14436

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