With this phenomenon in mind, this study applied the text analysis method to the first Malay autobiography, the Hikayat Abdullah, based on Syed Hussein Alatas’ concept of a captive character. Abdullah Munshi was labelled as an individual who was captivated by everything concerning his Western benefactors, as illustrated in his magnum opus. His reputation continued to rise until several scholars began to dispute his credibility by arguing that he did not deserve to be recognised as such. This recognition made him the most credible Malay literary figure from the perspective of the Western colonialists, especially with his first autobiographical work titled Hikayat Abdullah. Abdullah Munshi’s courage in challenging the existing literary conventions and in introducing a Western style of writing to Malay audiences earned him this title. This paper was aimed at identifying the captive attitude of Abdullah Munshi in his work and to analyse how the West came to recognise him as ‘The Father of Modern Malay Literature’. Rahimah Hamdan, Arba’ie Sujud, Nik Nur Hasmiru Husna BahariĪbdullah Munshi, Autobiography, captive character, Hikayat Abdullah, Syed Hussein Alatas, Western, Malay Abdullah Munshi As The Captured Character In His Own Autobiography
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