Abstract

This study discusses the Japanese’s ryosai (good wife) that depicted in Pramoedya Ananta Toer’s novel “Gadis Pantaiâ€. The similarities between Japanese ideal value of wives from Edo era and Javanese during Dutch colonizations can be found throughout the Toer’s novel. This study conducted by using descriptive methods, by analyzing the ryosai value and then matching the findings to the novel. Both the society in the novel and the ryosai value limit the role of women as wives, giving them role in domestic level only based on their gender and biological function. The wives should dedicate their lives for their husbands, children and in-laws, and have no rights to educate and raise their children. This findings demonstrate the similarities of values between Japanese Edo era and Javanese Colonized era regarding women’s role in family and society.