Society has also defines women roles in society including in a family. For example, in patriarchal system society says that a wife should follow what her
husband says as a husband is the head of a family. The male gender is always identified with power and authority while woman is someone who remains in awe
of his lofty position. In his academic research journal, Gatt states that the identity or role that a woman gets is just a construct of social, cultural mores which have
their sanction from the patriarchal society Gatt, 2014. Another example is According to Pilcher and Whelehan, what most feminists question about
Firestone’s view that the mothering role is an evidence of women’s ‘natural’ disposition towards nurturance and pacificism such as taking care the children and
the family, preparing food for the family, keeping the house clean Pilcher and Whelehan, 2004: 57. The theory is used in this study
to show women’s lack of power in society, which is the idea of social castration.
C. Theoretical Framework
There are two research questions addressed in this study. To answer the first question, the theory of symbol is applied. This theory helps the writer to find
the symbols in The Pilot’s Wife. Finding the symbols in the novel helps the writer
to answer the second question addressed, which is how the symbols found show the idea of social castration which signifies
women’s lack of power. To answer the second question, the writer uses the theory of theme and
psychoanalytic feminism theories, which are social casration, penis envy and castration complex theory. Theory of theme helps the writer to show that society
con structs women position under men’s authority and show that women do not
have power that men have in society. This study reveals the theme of the story, which is social castration, through symbols. Theories of penis envy and castration
complex by Freud are also applied to help the writer strengthens the idea of social castration.
Feminists believe that there is gender inequality which is socially constructed. Feminism focuses on gender inequality, therefore the theories are
applied in this study in order to show gender inequality existing between a wife and a husband, to show the patriarchal system that is socially constructed and
naturally applied in every family. Society follows patriarchal system and has divided roles which are not equal based on gender.
The theory of penis envy and castration complex by Freud help the writer to illustrate in biological way of how patriarchal system in society is constructed.
The theory of theme is applied to help the writer to show the theme of the story itself, which is social castration. The theories of penis envy and castration
complex relate one to another to strengthen social castration theory that signify women
’s lack of power and their living under men’s authority.
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CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY
