<![CDATA[This study aims to analyze the construction of symbolic meaning in Putu Wijaya’s short story “Suap” through a literary semiotic approach. The story presents a layered narrative about the temptation of corruption embedded in a strong satirical plot, making it relevant as a mirror of social criticism in Indonesia. Using a qualitative descriptive-interpretive method, data was collected through intensive reading and analyzed via symbol identification, meaning classification, and contextual interpretation. The results reveal three layers of symbolic meaning: (1) material symbols in the form of envelopes and money as representations of corruption temptation; (2) action symbols in the form of the protagonist’s hesitation as a reflection of moral ambiguity; and (3) social symbols in the form of the pond and filth as representations of moral degradation in society. This study affirms that Putu Wijaya systematically employs symbolism to criticize bribery culture that has permeated various layers of Indonesian society, while also portraying the psychological complexity of humans when faced with material temptation.]]>
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