 The diction in the novel shows a heavy Sundanese influence , including many loan @-@ words . Teeuw describes the diction as forced in places , with sentence structure deviating from those used by the Minang writers who dominated that period 's Indonesian literature . According to Teeuw , this is because Mihardja had been raised speaking both Sundanese and Dutch ; as such , his Indonesian was not as well developed as Minang writers or those younger than him . Maier notes that the novel features " odd but appropriate metaphors and similes " and stylistically resembles earlier works such as Abdul Muis ' Salah Asuhan ( Wrong Upbringing ; 1928 ) , Sutan Takdir Alisjahbana 's Layar Terkembang ( With Sails Unfurled ; 1936 ) , and Armijn Pane 's Belenggu ( Shackles ; 1940 ) . Balfas also notes stylistic similarities with older works , such as the death of the protagonist at the climax , and Sastrowardoyo opines that Belenggu had a more modern styling despite being published nine years earlier . 
