Mariposa🦋 : The Butterfly That Never Gives Up

Hello blog friends🎤✨! It's me again, Eky. In our writing space, this time, we'll learn together about reviewing a short story I've researched, and we'll learn something new together that will definitely benefit our creativity. Let's get started!

MARIPOSA🦋

credit pict: https://pin.it/3JThtd5G

The novel Mariposa by Luluk HF is one of Indonesia's popular teen novels that has captured readers' hearts since its release. The story first appeared on the Wattpad platform and was a huge success with millions of readers before finally being published by Coconut Books (Gramedia) in 2018. The genre of this novel is teen romance fiction, set in a simple but colorful school life. The title Mariposa, which means “butterfly” in Spanish, was chosen because it symbolizes beautiful yet fragile love, much like the feelings of teenagers when they fall in love for the first time.

Broadly speaking, this novel tells the story of Natasha Kay Adriana (Acha), a cheerful, smart, energetic, and determined student. She falls in love with a boy named Iqbal Guanna Freedy, a student who is known for being a genius but is cold, rational, and difficult to approach. Their relationship is full of challenges. Acha always tries to get close to Iqbal, and Iqbal repeatedly rejects her with a cold attitude. This is where the main conflict of the story develops. Will Acha's sincerity be able to break through the wall of ice that Iqbal has built? If you are curious, read on!

The characters in this level feel very alive. Acha is an energetic, optimistic, and confident protagonist. She is portrayed as a girl who is not afraid to fight for her feelings even though she is often rejected. Many readers find Acha relatable, especially teenagers who have experienced falling in love and not giving up easily. But not Iqbal, he is cold, serious, and difficult to open up to. His character is like a wall that is difficult to penetrate. However, it is precisely because of his cold attitude that Acha's love challenge becomes interesting and suspenseful. As time goes by, readers can see a soft side slowly emerging from behind his tough exterior. Besides the two of them, there are also supporting characters such as Acha's friends who are humorous, cheerful, and always support Acha, as well as her family who provide the backdrop for her character development. They add color, enrich the dynamics of the story, and make the school atmosphere feel real.

Most of the story is set in school, home, and the characters' everyday environments. This setting may be simple and boring, but it actually makes it easy for readers to feel close to the story. Classroom situations, exams, organizational activities, and interactions between students are well described so that readers can feel the atmosphere in the novel. School also serves as a symbol of growth. It is there that Acha and Iqbal experience conflict, laughter, tears, and the process of maturing. This simple setting successfully creates a warm, colorful atmosphere and mood that evokes nostalgia for adolescence.

The plot of Mariposa moves at a fairly balanced pace. The beginning introduces Acha's efforts to get closer to Iqbal. The middle shows the growing conflict between Acha's cheerful personality and Iqbal's coldness. The ending provides a satisfying resolution, while still maintaining a sweet tone. The pacing of this novel tends to be smooth, although there are some slightly melodramatic parts. However, overall, the plot is easy to follow and keeps readers curious about whether Acha's efforts will be successful.

The main theme in this novel is the struggle of love and patience that will bear fruit. Acha teaches us that love is not only about feelings, but also the courage to fight for someone. This theme is very relevant for teenagers who often see love as a challenge, because everything must begin with sacrifice and perseverance. The main symbol of this novel is the butterfly (mariposa). The butterfly symbolizes beautiful but fragile love, which can only survive if it is cared for sincerely. Acha is like a butterfly that continues to flap its wings even though it is rejected time and time again. This symbolism makes the story more meaningful and poetic.

Author Luluk HF uses a light and flowing style of language, suitable for beginner readers. The dialogues are very realistic, with touches of humor and slang that make the story feel familiar and suitable for young people. In addition, there are also poetic sentences that embellish the narrative, especially when describing Acha's feelings. This combination of casual and poetic styles makes the novel easy to enjoy and touches the reader's heart.

When reading Mariposa, I felt a mixture of emotions. I felt annoyed seeing Acha always struggling even though she was often rejected. There was also annoyance at Iqbal's cold attitude, which seemed to disregard Acha's struggles. However, on the other hand, I also felt admiration for Acha's determination and patience in fighting for her sincere feelings. This novel also brought back memories of my school days. Interacting with friends, being busy with organizations, exams, and even a love story full of twists and turns felt very close to my own experiences. I personally feel as if I am back in school, experiencing the feeling of falling in love as a teenager. Acha inspires me that the courage to be yourself and be honest about your feelings is valuable. Meanwhile, Iqbal reminds us that everyone has their reasons for closing themselves off, and true love is about how we find a way to enter with sincerity.

The novel Mariposa has many strengths that make it stand out. The strong and energetic character of Acha makes this story very inspiring. The light and humorous writing style makes it easy for young readers to follow. The symbolism of the butterfly adds depth to the meaning, so the story is not just an ordinary love story but also easily relatable to readers.

However, there are also weaknesses. The plot is somewhat cliché because it uses the formula of “cheerful girl + cold guy.” Some parts of the story feel overly dramatic and overly sweet. In addition, conflicts outside of romance, such as family or academic issues, are not explored in depth, even though they could add dimension to the story. Nevertheless, these weaknesses do not detract from Mariposa's appeal. In fact, its simplicity makes this novel light, sweet, and suitable for young readers who want to enjoy a colorful love story.

Overall, Mariposa is a young adult novel that successfully combines sweet romance, fresh humor, and poetic symbolism in a simple but memorable story. The important message conveyed is that love requires the courage to continue flapping your wings even if there is a risk of getting hurt. This novel is recommended for young readers who like love stories that are full of sacrifice, warmth, and leave a beautiful impression after reading.

“Like a butterfly, love is fragile, but its beauty will always be felt if we cherish it sincerely and fight for it.”

Should love be fought for fiercely, as Acha did, or is it better to let time and fate determine its course? Share your opinion in the comments section!

Alright, blog buddies, that's all for our chat this time 🎤✨. Hopefully, it can add to your insight and make you even more enthusiastic about your work. Don't forget to stay creative, keep writing, and we'll see you again in the next post. See you soon! 🚀💡