Heroes of the era of Malay national consciousness formation: the character system in short stories by Abdul Rahim Kajai (1894-1943)

The purpose of this study is to identify how Abdul Rahim Salim Kajai’s (1894-1943) concept of Malay national identity shapes the character system in his short stories. The scientific novelty of the study lies in demonstrating for the first time how the author’s political views and ideals shape a specific character system and are conveyed through the images of the heroes. As a result, the study reveals a clear structure within the extensive character system of Kajai’s short stories, grouping the characters based on their commitment to the author’s ideology, while the identified categories of heroes correlate with their ethnic origin. It is emphasized that the writer’s nationalism determined the special role of Malay protagonists in the narrative and predetermined the significance of the issue of Malay national identity. The study established that Kajai uses a clearly structured system of characters in his stories as a tool for conveying his ideas, stimulating Malay audiences to self-reflect and consider their own situation, which speaks to the significance of his works in the context of national identity formation.