This chapter specifically examines familial connections shown in Malay popular literature, a genre which has amassed a large and devoted following among the Malay population. Several novels have been adapted into films and television series, which have also garnered substantial viewership. This chapter examines the Malay declaration “unblessed be thy milk” as an ominous warning to children who fail to accept their familial obligations; these words emphasise the profound distress and sorrow experienced by the mothers who express resentment for supplying their milk as a source of food from infancy till the age of two. In other words, children are perpetually obligated to their mothers and are only rewarded if they express remorse for their unfilial behaviour and seek forgiveness. Three popular contemporary Malay novels, Duri (Thorns, 2020), Kerana Hati Telah Berjanji (Promise of Our Hearts, 2019), and Pengantin Satu Malam (One-Night Bride, 2020), are prime examples of depictions of family dynamics where spouses must live harmoniously with their extended family members. Parental interventions are prompted by (and sometimes the cause of) marital conflicts, with such intervention often resulting in further familial discord, and it is under these circumstances that children’s allegiances are often tested. By analysing popular Malay literature, our aim is to provide insights into this dialectic and how such tensions are mediated.
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Malay popular novels have a distinctive and repetitive formulaic narrative structure: a couple looking for love undergoes a number of challenges and tests until they overcome their differences and live happily ever after. Romance is an integral component of the storyline and evokes deep emotions and develops strong ties with readers through captivating (if unrealistic) plots which have the mesmerising power to transport their audience to a world filled with love and the promise of successful futures, far away from the ordinary limitations of everyday existence. Within a culture marked by challenging and unpredictable conditions and sometimes constricted by the demands of traditions and religion, this genre serves as both escapism and a cherished sanctuary in providing a safe haven where people may temporarily set aside their worries and totally immerse themselves in the profound experience of love’s seemingly transformational power. (140-141)
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However, a darker side emerges in these stories in their representation of recurring stereotypes which have since become normalised in society. With this in mind, this chapter focuses on Malay/Muslim mothering through a discussion of some of the cultural intricacies involving motherhood and filial piety and their representation in such literature. (141)
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Three contemporary Malay novels are used in this analysis and, typical of most Malay romantic novels, all of the authors are known by their pseudonyms. Duri (Thorns), by Fauziah Ashari, was published in 2020; Kerana Hati Telah Berjanji (Promise of Our Hearts), by Rissa Ahdiya, was published in 2019; and Pengantin Satu Malam (One-Night Bride), by Sophilea, was published in 2020. Each is similar in its parameters of Malay romantic fiction. (148)
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These modern stories often feature main characters who face moral dilemmas and ultimately decide to prioritise their filial family responsibilities over their marriage and personal desires. The theological and cultural importance of Malay literature is seen in its depiction of such filial obedience, and its connections to the principles of reverence and attentiveness towards parents as highlighted in Islamic doctrines. (157)
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