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Secondly, feminists found in mainstream thought a conception of women as different but complementary
. Supposedly in this account both sexes are valued . . . Women, in other words, are defined not so much as for men but as
in relation to men. Man is the norm and woman is defined negatively in
relation to that norm. Man becomes the standard model and woman the creature with extra andor missing bits Beasley, 1999: 7.
Beasley organizes some dualism between man and woman from the western people perspective. The dualism is pairs of associations. Beasley makes the
oppositional characteristic connected with femininity. Here are the oppositional associations characteristic of Western thinking:
Manwoman Freedombondage
Subjectobject activepassive
Culture, societynature publicprivate
Humananimal general, universalparticular
Reasonemotion politics,
law, moralitypersonal
Logicintuition familial, biological
Selfhood, beingotherness, non-being presenceabsence
lightdark Independencedependence
goodevil Autonomyinterconnection, nurture
AdamEve Beasley, 1999: 9
C. Theoretical Framework
The theoretical framework provides of how the theories applied in giving answers to problem formulation. The theories of character and characteristics,
theory of stereotype, and theory of an ideal woman are used to answer problem formulation.
Firstly, the analysis starts from the theory of character and characteristics. The theory of character and characteristics used is based on Murphy’s book which
gives nine ways to find how character is worth to analyze especially to analyze Polly’s character in An old-Fashioned Girl. The character can be analyzed by
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personal description, character as seen by another, speech, past life, conversation of others, reaction, direct comment, and mannerisms.
Secondly, the theory of stereotype is used to support the analysis. Through the definition of stereotype by Pilcher and Whelehan, the reader can see how the
people in the society have basic knowledge in their mind about something which is negative to the new comer.
Thirdly, the theory of ideal woman is used to analyze the stereotype in the novel. This theory in the end answers how Polly challenged the stereotypical of
ideal woman. The analysis is expected to uncover the ideal woman issue. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
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CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY
A. Object of the Study
In this paper, a classical novel entitled An Old-Fashioned Girlis used as the object of the study. The novel was written by Louisa May Alcott. It was serialized
in the Merry’s Museum magazine between July and August in 1869 and formed only six chapters. Then, Alcott continued the story from the chapter “Six Years
Afterwards” and so it finished in nineteen chapters. The novel also adapted into a musical film in 1949. This film is produced by
Arthur Dreifuss, starring by Gloria Jean as Polly Milton, Jimmy Lydon as Tom Shaw, Frances Anne Rafferty as Fanny Shaw, and Mary Eleanor Donahue as
Maud Shaw. Boston especially in Massachusetts is the main setting in the novel. The story
starts with Polly Milton who visits her friend’s house whose name is Fanny Shaw. The story tells how Polly comes and changes the family Shaw members. Polly is a
simple girl because she already taught by her mother about the simplicity of fashion is the best thing and her mother taught her that to be loved is not only
about wearing good or beautiful clothes but showing a contented heart and a happy face are better than anything. Because of her kindhearted, the family Shaw
changes little by little. Mr. Shaw, the businessman who busy getting rich changes into a man who tries to love his children. Polly teaches that the simple thing can
make people feeling loved. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
