is psychological approach which leads to analyze the novel from the psychological point of view of human beings. That is from the organizations of
thought and feeling of the character. This study only applies one approach proposed by Rohrberger and Woods
which is Sociocultural-historical approach. According to Rohrberger and Woods socio-historical approach is approach that inserts the real condition of social and
historical background which influences the author in making the novel, because the work itself cannot be separated from the social milieu and history when work
is created 9-10.
2. Theory of Character and Characterization
As this study aims to explore the main character’s action, it is essential to analyze the characters of Ellen Olenska. At this point, understanding and
analyzing Ellen Olenska’s characters may show how characters influence her actions to rebel against patriarchal society. The theories of character used in this
study are proposed by Abrams, Stanton, and Kenney. Moreover, the theory of characterization proposed by Murphy is also employed. Both theories are used
since they are appropriate for describing the characteristics of the main character in this novel.
a. Character
According to Abrams, character is described as the person presented in a dramatic or narrative work, who is represented by the reader as being endowed
with moral and disposition qualities expressed on what they say or the dialogue and what they do or the action 20. Character is the significant element in the
literary work. Stanton states that the term “character” is commonly used in two
ways 17. First, character designates the individual who appears in the story. Second, character refers to the mixture of interests, desires, emotions and moral
principles that make up each individual in the story. It implies that the term “character” represents the individual and his personality traits in the story.
Kenney 45 classifies traits that build up the whole character into three types. The first is social traits. According to Kenney, social traits are related to the
character’s role in society, for example the relationship with groups or institutions, which are recognized by society. The second one is physical traits.
They are closely related to the physical appearance of the character. The last one is psychological traits. They discern the emotion, intellectuality, feeling, and
motivation of the character.
b. Characterization
Ellen Olenska is the main character of the novel. Here the theory of characterization is used to explore how the main character acts and how the author
describes the main character in the novel. Moreover, in order to present the character in the story to be a believable person, the author can use many ways to
make the characteristics understandable by the reader. Murphy in his book Understanding Unseen proposes nine types of
description in which an author attempts to present the character in the story as understandable and alive for the readers 161-173. The methods of character’s
description are: 1
Personal description The author describes the character’s appearance and clothes directly 161
2 Character as seen by another
The author describes the character through the eyes of other characters so that the readers can get a reflected image 162.
3 Speech
The author describes the character through what other characters say about that certain character 164.
4 Past life
The author lets the readers learn about the characters past life by giving them clues through his comment, conversation, or through the medium of another
character 166. 5
Conversation of others The author gives the readers clues about character through the conversation of
other characters and what they say about him or her 167. 6
Reactions The author lets the readers know about the character’s personalities through his or
her reaction toward various situations or events 168. 7
Direct comment The author gives comment on a person’s personality directly 170.
8 Thoughts
The author gives the readers direct knowledge of what a person is thinking about and what different people are thinking 171.
9 Mannerism
The author may also tell the readers something about his characters by describing a person’s mannerism, habits or idiosyncrasies 173.
Those are some of the ways in which the author makes the readers aware of the personalities and the characters of the people that the author writes about in
his or her books. Knowledge of these methods can help the students to get a better understanding and to appreciate literary works more.
3. Patriarchal Society
