REPRESENTASI KELAS SOSIAL DALAM NOVEL ORANG-ORANG BIASA KARYA ANDREA HIRATA

This research is motivated by the importance of understanding how literary works represent social reality, particularly regarding social class and inequality in society. The issues studied include the form of social class representation, the relationship between material conditions and the formation of social class, and the impact of class structure on the lives of characters in the novel. This research starts from the assumption that economic conditions are the main factor influencing an individual's social position and life opportunities.
This research uses a qualitative method with a sociology of literature approach and a historical materialism perspective. Data were collected through literature study and intensive reading of the novel, then analyzed through data reduction, data presentation, and drawing conclusions. This approach aims to uncover the relationship between material conditions, class structure, and the lives of characters in literary texts.
The results of the study indicate that social class in the novel is divided into middle and lower classes. The middle class is characterized by formal employment and roles in social institutions, while the lower class is characterized by informal employment and economic limitations. Material conditions play a significant role in shaping social class, particularly through occupational background, access to resources, and the characters' understanding of their social position. Furthermore, the class structure impacts the characters' lives, both economically and in social relations, and limits their social mobility. The conclusion of this study indicates that the novel represents social class inequality, with economic conditions being a primary factor influencing individuals' lives and opportunities in society.