The
Javanese English Dictionary gives the first definition of the
Javanese word as "follower, servant". In , are not just mere servants or followers, but they also understand what is happening to their masters. They often act as advisors to their masters. The most distinctive thing about the existence of is they act as a group that spreads humour in the story. Their behavior and speech typically invite laughter from the audience. Apart from being comforters and advisers, they sometimes also act as helpers to their masters in times of adversity. For example, when Bimasena has to face Shakuni in the
Bharatayuddha war, Semar comes up to inform him of Shakuni's weakness. In conversations between , it is common for the language and terms they use to be modern terms that are not following their era. But this seems to have become normal and is not a problem. For example, in performances, Petruk claims to have a car or cellphone, even though these two objects certainly did not exist in the era back then. ==References==