KRITIK SOSIAL DALAM NOVEL "AS LONG AS THE LEMON TREES GROW" KARYA ZOULFA KATOUH PENDEKATAN SOSIOLOGI SASTRA = Social Criticism in the Novel "As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow" by Zoulfa Katouh: A Sociology of Literature Approach.

This study is entitled “Social Criticism in the Novel As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh: A Sociology of Literature Approach.” Background. Literary works do not merely function as aesthetic expressions; they also often serve as a medium for conveying criticism of social reality indirectly. The novel As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow portrays the condition of Syrian society following the 2011 revolution, which is marked by prolonged conflict, violence, and a humanitarian crisis. Through the character of Salama Kassab and the conflicts she experiences, the novel presents a representation of the suffering of civilians, the collapse of social structures, and various forms of injustice that form the basis of the social criticism conveyed in the novel. Objective. This study aims to analyze the forms of social criticism found in the novel As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow and to explain how social criticism is conveyed in the novel based on Burhan Nurgiyantoro’s theory of fiction analysis, which classifies the presentation of criticism into two forms: direct and indirect. Method. This study employed a qualitative descriptive method with a sociology of literature approach. The primary data were obtained from the text of As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh (2022), while the secondary data were collected from books, scholarly journals, and relevant previous studies. The data were collected through library research using reading and note-taking techniques. Data analysis was conducted using the interactive analysis model, which consists of data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion drawing, based on the theory of social criticism proposed by Theodor Adorno and Max Horkheimer. Results. The findings reveal that the novel contains 16 instances of criticism of instrumental rationality, 9 instances of criticism of dehumanization, 42 instances of criticism of domination and repressive power, 7 instances of criticism of ideology and social reality, and 46 instances of criticism of violence and social trauma. Furthermore, the social criticism in the novel is conveyed through two forms, namely direct and indirect presentation. These findings indicate that the novel functions as a critique of the social conditions of Syrian society. Conclusion. This study concludes that As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow serves as a powerful medium of social criticism against structural injustice in the context of the Syrian war. Through the sociology of literature approach, the novel not only reflects social reality but also reveals the contradictions and collective suffering experienced by society. Therefore, literature plays a significant role in fostering social and humanitarian awareness of global issues.