The novel tells the story of a young Javanese writer's struggle against Dutch Colonial oppression in the 1890's. As explained by the novel's translator, Max Lane, "...I n on scene in the book... The writer, Mingke, is forced to walk on his knees to see the local official, who turns out to be his father. Mingke reaction is, 'What is the reason you created customs that would so humiliate your own decendents?' Lane goes on to comment, "What Pramoedya is saying to modern day Indonesians is that they should not crawl on in front of authority figures..." (Tom Krausse, "Indonesia's Banned Bestseller", World Press Review, August 1982, pg. 59)
Source: Tom Krausse, "Indonesia's Banned Bestseller", World Press Review, August 1982, pg. 59