Review of Related Studies

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CHAPTER II THORETICAL REVIEW

A. Review of Related Studies

Jiro Osagiri as the author of The Journey is a good Japanese writer. A lot of his works were published in Japan as bestseller such as: Kuruma Tengu Black- Masked Reformer Devil Kurama which became his most popular novel, Teru Hi Kumoru Hi Sunny Days, Cloudy Days, The Journey, etc. American people also appreciate him as a good writer. They make a novel prize using his name, Jiro Osaragi’s prize that is used to appreciate some good novel’s writer in America http:www.imdb.comnamenm0651519bio19 May 2006. Almost the same from the other author in literature, Jiro Osaragi also got some influence from some cultures in the way of his writing style. It can be seen from “The Biography of Jiro Osaragi”: Osaragi was deeply influenced by French literature and culture, and wrote non-fiction pieces displaying his deep understanding of controversial events in Europe: Doreifas jiken The Dreyfus Affair, Buraunje Shogun no Higeki The Tragedy of General Boulanger, and Pari wa Moyu Paris is Burning. http:www.city.kamakura.kanagawa.jposaragi_e.htm 19 may 2006. Although he was influenced by French literature and culture, he still absolutely loves his nation, Japan. This can be seen also in “The Biography of Jiro Osaragi”: PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI When he died in 1973 at the age of 75, he was still writing Tenno no Seiki Century of Emperors, a historical chronicle based on the spiritual history of the Japanese people.http:www.city.kamakura.kanagawaosaragi_e.htm19 May 2006. Some people have done the research on The Journey by looking at some aspects. Patrick Smith in his book, Among Themselves the Invisible Japanese that is published by Alfred A. Knopf and shared on- line in www.newyorktimes.com talks that: Osaragi ends in ascending chords. People pressed together by well-worn social conventions diverge along separate paths, so embracing societys multiplicity. But The Journey is no bedtime story. Other characters, seduced by post war materialism and superficial notions of American ideals, fail to connect freedom with responsibility and end up submerged in the very morass of self- centered getting and spending that Tokyo encouraged after the anti-AMPO protests of 1960. It means that he prefer to talk about The Journey in general. He did not discuss The Journey in specific aspect. In this study, the writer tries to analyse a topic that is different from others. The writer will not analyze the author of The Journey or the culture inside of the story in a deeper view. In the other hand, the writer will only focuses on one of the character in the novel named Soroku Okamoto. Since his personality has changed, the writer will try to analyze his personality change. Anything that is discussed in this thesis will be merely made in order to support the writer on doing an analysis toward Soroku Okamoto’s personality changes.

B. Review of Related Theories