The Pilgrim, first published in 1969, has been hailed as Indonesia’s first real modern novel. The main characters are an artist and a cemetery overseer; the former represents emotion and the latter signifies reason and the conflicting aspects of human nature. Despite the characters’ antagonistic nature and cruelty, they are—-in some ways—-very similar. Both represents forms of creativity, philosophy, and art. Both exist outside conventional society. Both are searching for genuine human values and are aware of their shortcomings. In The Pilgrim, the chaos of thought and feelings represents life in its chaotic randomness.
Iwan Simatupang (Author)
Iwan Simatupang studied anthropology and drama at Leiden University in the Netherlands and philosophy at the Sorbonne, France. He then returned to Indonesia and married a Dutch pianist. He published The Redness of Red (1968), The Pilgrim (1969), and Drought (1972). The Redness of Red won a national literary award in 1970 and The Pilgrim was awarded the First ASEAN Literary Award in 1977. Iwan Simatupang also wrote a number of poetry, short stories, and plays—-all known for their avant-garde form. He was also a journalist, and his columns frequently focus on Indonesia’s marginalized communities.
