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A review by n_asyikin_
The Majesties by Tiffany Tsao
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
When Gwendolyn's sister, Estrella, comitted mass murder, Gwendolyn became the sole survivor, resulting in her facing a disorder of consciousness. Though aware yet not able to reach wakefulness, Gwen begun to turn to the past to understand why Estrella did what she did as she was stuck comatose in bed.
Observational in her narration, Gwen was astute & had a propensity for speaking in analogies. Though often eloquent, the narration tended to meander at the beginning, making the story's direction unclear so it did feel unnecessarily verbose then, though it improved a quarter of the way through as more context were introduced.
Tsao addressed racial issues associated with being Chinese (a minority group) in Indonesia: dealing with prejudices & mistrust from the majority, considered to be a pendatang (an outsider). As a Malaysian, the dynamic was unfortunately, all too familiar; a remnant of the colonial strategy of divide-and-conquer persisted in our post-colonial society. I liked how Tsao depicted the consequence of our failure to address this, on the losses incurred if we continue to uphold this mentality.
The nuances of the depiction was critical. Though the racist system is attrocious, Tsao explored how economic class interacted with such system. Gwendolyn & Estrella both helmed from a rich background, hence, they were protected from the brunt of a racist system, easily finding sanctuary & opportunities elsewhere; something a non-rich Chinese Indonesians did not have the privilege to do.
At its core, The Majesties touched upon how the rich & powerful exploited racial sentiment to distract the "commoners" from the root cause of the issue: neoliberalism & feudalism. And through Gwendolyn & Estrella, Tsao showed how such realization beset them.
But before that, The Majesties depicted how they profited off & contributed to the oppressive system despite them calling out the racism they experienced. Basically, the racism experienced by the poor cannot be compared to the racism experienced by the rich. And the class difference was an act of oppression on its own.
The seemingly ephemeral categorization of ethnicity that depended primarily on physical features were also shown through Jono. Through him, we'd seen how arbitrary ethnic identity could be. Jono was a Javanese Muslim man (a pribumi, i.e. majority), whose appearance was that of a stereotypical Chinese, faced prejudice & discrimination that were shaped by ethnocentrism. In other words, he was discriminated by his own community for they thought he was Chinese, while the Chinese distrusted him when they found out he was pribumi. All the while, he was exploited & left struggling in poverty, shaped by an incompetent & corrupt government. Critically, Jono was a descendent of a Chinese yet his Chinese heritage was erased, his pribumi identity took precedence, likely due to the supposed privileges that identity ought to bring. Again, this aspect was so painfully familiar to me as a Malay Malaysian, I felt that this book could be a source of reflection for us as well.
The Majesties was brutal in its honest depictions of the interplay between race & class. Focused primarily on Gwendolyn & Estrella's experiences, Tsao did well to include nuances into the complex interactions, making astute observations & doing so in an eloquent manner. Fair warning, for those who expect the story to focus primarily on the crime might be disappointed; the element of mystery was not on the discovery of crimes & motives, it was more on what might've driven a person to criminality with heavy emphasis on morality.
Regardless, Tsao's work will be a great source for reflection & contemplation for many SEAians. A highly recommended read, especially for those interested to engage in a critical read on sociopolitics in a fictional work.
Observational in her narration, Gwen was astute & had a propensity for speaking in analogies. Though often eloquent, the narration tended to meander at the beginning, making the story's direction unclear so it did feel unnecessarily verbose then, though it improved a quarter of the way through as more context were introduced.
Tsao addressed racial issues associated with being Chinese (a minority group) in Indonesia: dealing with prejudices & mistrust from the majority, considered to be a pendatang (an outsider). As a Malaysian, the dynamic was unfortunately, all too familiar; a remnant of the colonial strategy of divide-and-conquer persisted in our post-colonial society. I liked how Tsao depicted the consequence of our failure to address this, on the losses incurred if we continue to uphold this mentality.
The nuances of the depiction was critical. Though the racist system is attrocious, Tsao explored how economic class interacted with such system. Gwendolyn & Estrella both helmed from a rich background, hence, they were protected from the brunt of a racist system, easily finding sanctuary & opportunities elsewhere; something a non-rich Chinese Indonesians did not have the privilege to do.
At its core, The Majesties touched upon how the rich & powerful exploited racial sentiment to distract the "commoners" from the root cause of the issue: neoliberalism & feudalism. And through Gwendolyn & Estrella, Tsao showed how such realization beset them.
But before that, The Majesties depicted how they profited off & contributed to the oppressive system despite them calling out the racism they experienced. Basically, the racism experienced by the poor cannot be compared to the racism experienced by the rich. And the class difference was an act of oppression on its own.
The seemingly ephemeral categorization of ethnicity that depended primarily on physical features were also shown through
The Majesties was brutal in its honest depictions of the interplay between race & class. Focused primarily on Gwendolyn & Estrella's experiences, Tsao did well to include nuances into the complex interactions, making astute observations & doing so in an eloquent manner. Fair warning, for those who expect the story to focus primarily on the crime might be disappointed; the element of mystery was not on the discovery of crimes & motives, it was more on what might've driven a person to criminality with heavy emphasis on morality.
Regardless, Tsao's work will be a great source for reflection & contemplation for many SEAians. A highly recommended read, especially for those interested to engage in a critical read on sociopolitics in a fictional work.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Racism
Minor: Alcoholism, Death, and Eating disorder