‘Other’ in Relation with ‘Subject’ in Centhini – Empat Puluh Malam dan Satunya Hujan – an Existentialist Feminism Reading Intan Dewi Savitri {savitri@ub.ac.id} Universitas Brawijaya, Indonesia Abstract. The present paper portrays the freedom in engagement in the existence of feminine character as depicted in the adaptation performed by the French author and poet Elizabeth D. Inandiak on one of the masterpieces of Javanese literature, Serat Centhini initiated by Sunan Pakubuwana V and supported by a team of author. There are several volumes of adaptations materialized by Inandiak with different titles. The focus on Empat Puluh Malam dan Satunya Hujan (2004) is based on the captivating depiction of Javanese women in various roles in this volume, Ratu Pandhansari and Niken Tambangraras. The study of these two women was performed implementing an Existentialist Feminism concept of Simone de Beauvoir, emphasizing upon Subject (male) and Other (female) notion. Meanwhile, as a method, a hermeneutic qualitative descriptive method was chosen to place the research inside the work of art. Result shows that both women live an authentic existence in their roles as Javanese wives. Ratu Pandhansari lived an existence as a woman who seemed ‘out of line’ when she was victorious in the war and Niken Tambangraras exists as Other with a voice which is existentially important because of its leading nature. Keywords: Serat Centhini, Inandiak, Existentialist Feminism, Other, Subject, Local Wisdom 1 Introduction How has feminist voice presented in the adaptation of a 19 th century Javanese masterpiece could be consequential in women’s contemporary existence? The aim of this paper is to uncover how notions of Object and Subject coined by de Beauvoir portrayed through Javanese literary characters in their marital institution. Illustrating how lived Javanese local wisdom elegantly turns subjugated issue into engaged freedom and place marriage women in a place that the French named bien dans sa peau or feeling good about oneself. Women frequently depicted in depressing image in literature, due to culture and traditional myth [1], guided by oppressive patriarchal rules. Whilst Bloom [2] argues that the issue of female characters is misrepresented by some writers. Nevertheless, by representing women as such, author aims to educate its reader to a certain situation of the society in which it was born. Thus, its function is not only reflected, but also inspire and motivate. The feminist issue is represented in the work of the Indonesian writer such as; La Barka (1975) by Nh. Dini, Tetralogi Buru (1980-88) by Pramoedya Ananta Toer, Ronggeng Dukuh Paruk (1982) by Ahmad Tohari, Saman (1998) by Ayu Utami, Biru (2003) by Fira Basuki; also, in the literary work of the francophone writer: Femme d’Afrique. La vie d’Aoua Kéita racontée par elle-même (1975) by ISCS 2020, November 04, Malang, Indonesia Copyright © 2021 EAI DOI 10.4108/eai.4-11-2020.2308915