Background of the Study

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CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION

This chapter consists of five parts, namely Background of the Study, Aim of the Study, Problem Formulation, Benefits of the Study, and Definition of Terms. First, Background of the Study explains the importance of discussing Yasunari Kawabata’s The Old Capital. Second, Aim of the Study shows the goal of this study. Third, Problem Formulation consists of two questions, which describe the problems that will be analyzed. Fourth, Benefits of the Study shows advantages readers may get from the study. Fifth, Definition of Terms gives a short explanation about some terms related to study, which serves to avoid misunderstandings and misinterpretations.

A. Background of the Study

Novels have been read by many people throughout the world. There is no age limit for reading novels; anyone, from children to adults, is able to read novels. Novels can drive readers’ feeling. The readers can feel happy, satisfied, scared, anxious, andor sad when they read. Some novels teach about life, which helps the readers in their understanding of life. Van de Laar and Schoonderwoerd write that a novel has value because it shows new aspects of our daily life and gives meaning to life, so that life will be more valuable for us 1963, p.162. This encouraged the writer to carry out the study of a novel that can help further one’s understanding of life. 2 Novels are works of literature. Van de Laar and Schoonderwoerd in An Approach to English Literature describe novels as “a work of art insofar as it introduces us into a living world, in the respects resembling the world we live in, but with an individuality of its own” 1963, p.163. Therefore, literature and human life are highly related. They have a significant relationship each other. Old traditions are an interesting topic for discussion. A tradition is something that is inherited from the past to the present. Shils, 1981, p.12. If something lasts only for a short time, then it cannot be called a tradition. However, if it can last for three generations then it can be called a tradition Shils, 1981, p.15. Each country has different traditions, but not all can endure. Factors that can exacerbate the loss of tradition include globalization, industrialization, assimilation of specific cultural groups, and progress of the society mindset. Therefore, we are expected to maintain the tradition so that we can remember our ancestors. But not all traditions can be accepted. There are some old traditions that can cause tragedy. One example is an old tradition from Java, namely julung caplok . That is the tradition in which a child born at twilight is believed to bring misfortune, leading to the parents abandoning it. The child becomes a victim of the old traditions of the region. Such a situation can be found in Yasunari Kawabata’s The Old Capital. It was published in 1962 and cited specifically by the Nobel Committee in 1968 when they awarded Kawabata the Nobel Prize for Literature. It was first translated into English in 1987 by J. Martin Holman. A revised edition of his translation was 3 published in 2006 by Counterpoint. The original version of The Old Capital is in the Japanese language, under the title Koto. Through this novel, the author reveals the tragic life of an abandoned child named Chieko, one of the major characters of Yasunari Kawabata’s The Old Capital . The character is described as one who lives in a family that still upholds the old traditions of Kyoto. She lives in a harmonious family and is loved, but she feels the tragedy of life. She feels alone and that she has been abandoned, betrayed, and humiliated. The old tradition that causes tragedy in Chieko’s life is an old one, namely twins not being accepted in society. Because of it she was abandoned by her parents. She became the victim of an old tradition of Kyoto. It is the beginning of the tragedies that she goes through. She is abandoned in front of the home of Takichiro and Shige. Takichiro is a Kyoto-based kimono designer and Shige is his wife who helps him run the slowly declining business. When Chieko is in middle school, Shige tells her that she was adopted. Chieko discovers something tragic, that she has been abandoned by her biological parents. Generally, an abandoned child is one who is not expected by his or her parents. Another tragedy is when Hideo betrays her love. Hideo is a weaver who really loves Chieko. He shows his love by weaving an obi for her. Chieko also loves him. One day Hideo meets Naeko, Chieko’s twin. Suddenly he falls in love with Naeko and proposes to her. It makes Chieko very surprised. 4 Her status as an abandoned child creates a tragedy for her planned marriage. She really loves Ryusuke. Ryusuke also loves her. One day his father tells Takichiro that he wants to match Ryusuke with Chieko. However, Ryusuke’s father cancels the match when he learns that Chieko is only an abandoned child. The last tragedy is her loneliness after being left by her twin sister, Naeko. Naeko does not want to live with her. Naeko thinks that twin sisters are still not acceptable in the society. Other reasons include that she does not want to cause a trouble for Chieko and feels guilty her parents’ mistake. This study will explore the old traditions experienced by Chieko and their influences on Chieko’s life, especially on her tragic life. In other words, this study deals with the reason why Chieko must go through her tragic life.

B. Aim of the Study