Review of Related Studies
long as the character does not stray way from the “plausibly grounded temperament” as it has already been writtenAbrams, 1997:33-34.
According to E.M. Forster inAspects of the Novel, popular new terms exist in differentiating characters; flat character and round character. A flat
character “a type” or “two dimensional” is constructed in “a single idea or quality” and shown without many individualizing details. Forster says that flat
character can be portrayed in one sentence. The advantages of flat characters are that they are easily recognized and remembered Forster, 1927: 67-72. Whereas,
a round character is complex in temperament and motivations, described in subtle particularity, and able of surprising the readers Forster, 1927: 77-78.
In analyzing the main characters, the researcher uses the theory of characterization. M.H. Abrams explicates that characterization is a process in
which the author explains the characters inside the story. An author is able to characterize a character using two ways which are “showing” and “telling”. In
showing, usually the author simply shows how the characters talking and acting. Thus, the readers can “infer the motive and disposition of the characters.” In
telling, the author intervenes directly to describe and often evaluate the characters in the story Abrams,1997:33-34.
There are many ways to describe a character. According to M.J. Murphy 1972: 161-173, there are nine ways to analyze a character. Those are personal
description, another character’s point of view, character’s speech, character’s past life, conversations among other characters, character’s reaction, direct comment
from the author, character’s thoughts, and character’s habit.Personal
descriptionmeans the characterization is done by the author narrating the character’s appearance and clothes Murphy, 1972:161. Another character’s
point viewmeans the character described through the perspective or the opinions of other people. Character speech means the characterization done through what
a character says. It can be seen through that particular character’s conversation or when that particular character delivers opinions Murphy, 1972: 164. Seeing the
past life of a character, readers can see clues such as events that shape the
character. This way, characterization can be done by the direct comment from the author, the person’s thoughts and conversations or from the perspective of another
person Murphy, 1972:166. Conversation of others uses the dialogue or what
others say about a character to know the characterization Murphy, 1972:
167.Character reaction means the characterization can be seen through how the character react to circumstances and events Murphy, 1972: 168. Direct
comment from the author means the author describes the character directly through a narrative Murphy, 1972: 170. Character’s thoughts means the
characterization is established by the direct knowledge of how the character thinks
Murhy, 1972: 1971. The last is character’s habits which is a characterization
done throughthe knowledge of mannerism, habits or idiosyncrasies of a character Murphy, 1972: 173.
This research utilizes sixways taken from the Murphy’s theory: another’s character’s point of view, character’s speech, character’s past life, character’s
thoughts, character’s habits, and conversations among other characters. The reason why this research only uses six ways instead the nine ways is because the
other three ways direct comment from the author, personal description, another character’s point of view does not suit to the materials analyzed.For instance,
direct comment from the author can not be used because there is no direct comment from the author. Those are ways to analyze the portrayal of the two
main characters Amir and Baba in the Hosseini’s The Kite Runner. This theory is essential to answer the first problem formulation in this research.