A Claim against Destiny as Criticism of Javanese Philosophy in Indonesian Novel Andry Setiawan 1 and Joesana Tjahjani 2 {andrysetiawan777@gmail.com 1 , tjahjani.joesana@gmail.com 2 } 1,2 Faculty of Humanities, Universitas Indonesia, Depok. Indonesia Abstract. The Javanese believe destiny as God's provision that must be obeyed. This article is a textual study that demonstrates how fate is claimed in a manner of textual criticizing the Javanese philosophy. We use a methodological foundation as the structural approach to the theory put forward by Tzevetan Todorov to examine aspects of the Fugitive Wisanggeni text narrative and the semiotic Roland Barthes to read the symbols present as marks in the text. The result of the study shows that the construction of Wisanggeni’s character, as main character of the story, contradicts the concept of narima and rila in the Javanese philosophy. Meanwhile, from the results of semiotic analysis, it was found that, as a sign, narima carries an attitude that will lead to a simple life that does not impose personal will. The rila sign carries a meaning that people who submit to this attitude are of good morals. This is the sign of a person that he as individuals has the freedom to regulate his life. Keywords: Javanese philosophy, destiny, symbol 1. INTRODUCTION For a long time, the art of Purwa wayang has grown and developed in the archipelago. In the development, its function has changed, first with its function as a ceremonial tool that deals with the belief (religious magic), to a didactic educational tool, next regional art form, and finally a scientific object [1]. As time goes by, a lot of puppet stories were transformed. The transition, both in whole and in part, took place in various forms and media. In the spirit of popularity and contemporary, wayang stories were shifted into other forms, such as theater, dance, drama, film, song, and poetry. One of the most blooming elements of wayang story is the transformation of wayang stories into fictional forms. The emergence of wayang stories and their transformations in Indonesian fictional works is marked by the presence of a number of literary work, including Sri Sumarah (1975) by Umar Kayam, Nostalgia (1987) by Danarto, and Recognition of Pariyem (1981) by Linus Suryadi [2]. In addition, one of fictional stories resulting from changes in the elements of the wayang story is Wisanggeni Sang Buronan (2016) by Seno Gumira Ajidarmaor SGA. In the introductory part of the latter novel, it is explained that the story of Wisanggeni Sang Buronan (thenceforth referred to as WSB), comes from a comic book the Birth of Bangbang Wisanggeni (1970) by RA Kosasih. WSB narrates the character of Wisanggeni, the son of SEWORD FRESSH 2019, April 27, Surakarta, Indonesia Copyright © 2019 EAI DOI 10.4108/eai.27-4-2019.2286800