STUDY OF MOUSE DEER AND SNAIL CHARACTERS IN FABLE (DECONSTRUCTION APPROACH) Izhar
Semarang State University
Abstract
The tale of the mouse deer and snail is a fairy tale that has been inherited for a long time from ancient times from generation to generation. Its presence is considered to be able to contribute to the education of character values in children. The character of the mouse deer with its strengths and the snail with its weaknesses brings its own spirit to the reader that the irrationality of the weak can defeat the strong is acceptable logic. It is seen not in the strength possessed, but in the arrogant character that can bring disaster to the owner. Thus, the strong mouse deer is judged as a loser and the weak snail is judged as a hero by the readers. In fact, in a certain sense, the meaning of an event conveyed through the characters of the story can be inversely to the reader^s interpretation so far. Through the deconstruction approach, various interpretations of the story will appear. This is because deconstruction provides an opportunity to study a text without being tied to universal things. The study of the text is not only focused on one meaning. Based on the deconstruction study it is known that the snail character who has been predicted to be a good character can be considered an arrogant and fraudulent character. Meanwhile, the mouse deer figure who has been regarded as an arrogant figure can be considered an honest and kind character.
