Social Exclusion of Zainuddin’s Character in The Novel Tenggelamnya Kapal Van Der Wijck by Buya Hamka

Exclusion is one of the social conflicts arising from marginalization or neglect, so individuals or groups become discriminated against and isolated in the social environment. The novel Tenggelamnya Kapal Van der Wijck by Buya Hamka is tangible evidence of the reflection of the reality of life, especially in social exclusion. As the novel's main character, Zainuddin is marginalized in Minangkabau, the birthplace of his matrilineal father. The forms and causes of social exclusion against Zainuddin are two problems discussed in this study. This study aims to identify the forms of social exclusion and reveal its causes against Zainuddin. To explain this problem, the researcher used a sociology of literature approach. The analysis was based on objective interpretation with the help of fiction study theory (Burhan Nurgiyantoro, 2013) and social stigma theory (Erving Goffman, 1963), supported by various related references. The significance of the study lies in understanding the impact of cross-cultural marriage in a society that strictly adheres to customs and lineage. The study's findings reveal that Zainuddin experienced social exclusion through humiliation and isolation within his social environment. This social exclusion resulted from a cross-cultural marriage between his father of Minangkabau descent and his mother from Makassar. This study opens a new dimension from previous studies by offering a different lens of study to understand social exclusion as an impact of cross-cultural marriage which is a specter in society.