Definition of Novel Character

REVIEW OF LITERATURE 2.1 Intrinsic Approach Based on Theory of Literature, Wellek, 1997 intrinsic approach concern with interpretation and analysis of the works of literature itself. Rene Wellek try to explain that a literary work should be examined from the internal elements. The study of literature with intrinsic approach usually concern with the content and the form of the works itself. According to Rene Wellek 1997: 158 many novel studies not only see the relations of literature with the social structure, but also study of the artistic, perspective or point of view and narrative techniques. The basic elements to analyzing literary works are theme, point of view, plot, character, characterization, dramatic, conflict. These elements will help the student in analyzing literary works based on intrinsic approach. Not much different from Wellek, Edgar. V Robert and Henry E. Jacob in their book An Introduction to Reading and Writing About Literature says that they are some aspects of fiction novel, there are : character the people that goes along in the story, plot the development and the organization of stories, structure the way a plot is assembled, theme the meaning and the whole idea of the story, point of view the position or stance of the narrator, and style the words that tells the story. Since the title of the thesis is Anna’s Sacrifices in Jodi Picoult’s Novel My Sister’s Keeper, this thesis focuses more on the character than the other aspects.

2.2 Definition of Novel

Universitas Sumatera Utara Basically, fiction meant anything made up, crafted, or shaped, but today the word refers to prose stories based in the author imagination Edgar V. Robert and Henry E. Jacob, 1995:2. Ress’ 1973:106 stated that novel is a fictitious prose narrative of considerate length in which characters and action representative of real life are portrayed in a plot of more or less complexity. While according to Reeve 1975: 26 novel is a picture of real and manners and of the time in which it was written. Since we deal with novels, they always have something to do with character. Character is an important aspect of novel because when we talk about novel, it may ask: who are the characters in the novel? How are the character portrayals in the novel? What is the conflict, etc. To analyze character we should know the description of this character which will be describe in the next sub chapter.

2.3 Character

There are some definitions of character Edgar. V Robert and Henry E. Jacob 1995:131 stated that a character may be defined as a verbal representation of human being. Through action, speech, description, and commentary, authors portray characters that are worth caring about, rooting for, and even loving, although there are also characters you may laugh at, dislike, or even hate. In Webster, English Dictionary 2000: 74 stated that character is the combination of quality that distinguishes an individual person, group or things; moral strength; reputation. While Abrams 1981: 20 stated that characters are the persons in a narrative of dramatic work of art such as novel, play or film, that are interpreted by reader as being enclosed with moral and dispositional qualities expressed in what they say – the dialogue – and what they do – the action. Characters also refer to moral qualities Universitas Sumatera Utara and ethical standards and principles. In seventeenth and eighteenth - Century England, a character was a formal sketch or descriptive analysis of a particular virtue or vice as represented in a person. Novelist try to create fictional people whose situations affect the reader as the situation of real people. Authors describe the more simple characters in novels with no more than few phrases that identify the character’s most important traits. In their book An Introduction to Reading and Writing about Literature, Roberts and Jacobs describe that in analyzing a literary character, the writer begins to determine the character’s outstanding traits. A trait is a quality of mind or habitual mode behavior, such as never repaying borrowed money, avoiding eye contact, or always thinking oneself the center of attention. Sometimes, of course, the traits we encounter are minor and therefore negligible. But often a trait may be a person’s primary characteristic not only in fiction but also in life. Thus, characters may be ambitious, lazy, serene or anxious, aggressive or fearful, thoughtful or inconsiderate, open or secretive, confident or self-doubting, kind or cruel, quiet or noisy, visionary or practical, careful or careless, impartial or biased, straightforward or underhanded, “winner or loser”, and so on 1995: 132. According to Steven Croft 2002: 113 characters are the central feature in any play or novel. Here are some ways to get a picture of character:  What the characters looks like physical appearance, clothing etc  What the character says and how it is said  What the character thinks often we learn about this from a character’s soliloquies  How character acts – watch out for reaction to different situations  How character’s word match their actual deeds or their underlying motives Universitas Sumatera Utara  What other character changes as the play goes on. Meyer 1990: 65 explains that most stories the characters act plausibly and consistent with their personalities, but that does not mean that characters can not develop and change. Therefore, there are static unchanging and dynamic changing character. A static character is a character that stays the same from the beginning to the end of story, while dynamic character is a character that may change his or her attitude from good to bad or vice versa. Anna Fitzgerald is a dynamic character because her attitudes and behaviors changes along up from the start to the end of the story. Author use five ways to present their characters. Edgar V. Roberts and Henry E. Jacobs 1995: 135, tell us how characters disclose in fiction. There are: 1. Actions What character does is our best way to understand what they are. As with ordinary human beings, fictional characters do not necessarily understand how they may be changing or why they do the things they do. Nevertheless, their actions express their characters. Actions may also signal qualities such as nalvete’, weakness, deceit, a scheming personality, strong inner or conflicts, or realization or growth of some sort. 2. Descriptions, both personal and environmental Appearance and environmental reveal much about a character’s social and economic status, of course, but they also tell us about character traits. 3. Dramatic statements and thoughts Although the speeches of most characters are functional essential to keep the story moving along-they provide material from which you can draw conclusions. Often, Universitas Sumatera Utara characters use speech to hide their motives, though we as readers should see through their action narrated in the works. 4. Statements by other characters By studying what characters say about each other, you can enhance your understanding of the character being discussed. Ironically, the characters doing the talking often indicate something other than what they intend, perhaps because of prejudice, stupidity, or foolishness. 5. Statements by the author speaking as story-teller or observer What the author, speaking with the authorial voice, says about a character is usually accurate, and the authorial voice can be accepted factually. However, when the authorial voice interprets action and characteristics, the author himself or herself assumes the role of reader or critic, and any opinions may be questioned. For this reason, author frequently avoid interpretations and devote their own conclusions. From the opinions, can be concluded that there are three ways to disclosed characters: by the action, description, and statement or thoughts. According to Gill 1995:128 there are some elements that the author must pay attention to in creating a character. First is to range the character, something which makes one character different to other characters. Second, how character speaks in that how they use the words and phrases to express their personality. Third, the appearance of character, here the author must describe about the character that show the inner world of its character so the reader will understand about the character’s personality. Fourth, is the way how the character dress up, which describe the social status or social class and also describe the character’s personality by wearing good clothes. Fifth, the social standing of characters, in that in what social class that the Universitas Sumatera Utara character is created. Sixth, is the name of character. Seventh is the company of character should describe although not in details. Eight, the way the characters think in that when he speaks he uses a lot of moral words, for instance. This though must be evident to a reader so that the reader will understand how the character thinks and how the characters approach the problems and challenges. The last is what the characters do, this is the action or reaction of the character in the novel and an author can make everything a character does important. The British novelist and critic E. M. Foster, in his critical work Aspect of the Novel says that there are two major types of character. They are round character and flat character. Round character are full, complex and rich whereas flat characters are the simple ones. Round Character; the basic trait of round character is that they recognize, change with, or adjust to circumstances. The round characters- usually the major figure in a story- profits from experience and undergoes a change and alteration, which may be shown in 1 an action or actions, 2 the realization of new strength and therefore the affirmation of previous decisions, 3 the acceptance of a new condition, or 4 the discovery of unrecognized truths. Because round they usually play a main role in a story, round characters are often called the hero or heroine. Many main characters are anything but heroic, however, and it is therefore preferable to use the more neutral word protagonist. The protagonist is central to the action, moves against the antagonist, and exhibits the ability to adapt to the new circumstances. To the degree that round characters are both individual and sometimes unpredictable, and because they undergo change or growth, they are dynamic. The round characters because they play a main role in a story of novel. Universitas Sumatera Utara Flat Character ; In contrast, flat characters do not grow. They remain the same because they may be insensitive or lacking in knowledge or insight. They are static because they end where they begin. But flat characters are not therefore worthless, for they usually highlight the development of the round characters. Usually, flat characters are minor e.g. relatives, acquaintances, functionaries, although not all minor characters are necessary flat. Not much different from Foster, Koesnosoebroto 1988 : 67 distinguished two type of characters, main or major character and minor character. Major character is the most important character in the story. Basically, a story is about this character to make the story more convincing and lifelike. The main character in fiction or in a play is called protagonist. In traditional fiction the protagonist is also the hero or heroine, an admirable character who embodies widely accepted strength and virtues, who is morally good. The antagonist is unsavory enough the world villain or villainess is used. Minor characters are of less important than those of the main. The minor characters take a part as a supporting role to the main character. The appearance of the minor characters is usually infrequently. They do no grow or change during the story.

CHAPTER III METHOD OF RESEARCH