Background of the Study

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CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION

There are five parts in this chapter. They are background of the study, problem formulation, objectives of the study, benefits, and definition of terms. The background of the study provides background information related to the issues discussed. It includes a description of the topic and the reason for choosing the topic, as well as why the issue is worth studying. The problem formulation states two problems related with the issues being discussed. The third part, objective of the study states clearly and precisely the objective of the study. The fourth part, benefit of the study, identifies who obtains the benefit from the study. In the last part, that is definition of the terms, the writer clarifies some specific or important key terms used in this study.

A. Background of the Study

In literature, there are a lot of literary works, such as novels, essays, and plays. In this study, I choose to work on a novel because it is interesting in its ability to take the readers to a certain situation, place or periods that occur in the novel. The novel is a reflection of problems in life. Through its series of events and conflicts experienced by the characters, the readers seem to enter the characters life in the novel. The readers make a kind of effort to feel, to understand and to solve the conflicts that they gain from the novel. At the end of the novel, the readers can obtain the messages or values which are revealed in the novel. The Color Purple is one of Alice Walkers novels which talks about social issues and feminism, two issues which I am interested in. Alice Walker is a talented author. Her novels are meaningful and enjoyable. Her novel is meaningful because, at the end of the novel, the reader can obtain important values of life that reflect the author’s ideas about life. It can give spirit and enrich the reader’s understanding about the power of a woman’s struggle for equality and happiness in her life. In writing her novel, Alice Walker uses slang and African American’s language. Therefore, her novel is unique, enjoyable, and interesting to read. Alice Walkers The Color Purple reveals the role of gender of a woman reflected in the main character, Celie. I intend to explore and write about feminism because it is an interesting issue and it can give spirit for the readers especially for women who struggle and survive in life. Feminism, in which women are struggling to achieve an equal right, is still a controversial topic of discussion today. As a woman, the main character, Celie, has to face many problems in her life. She has to struggle in her life about her gender as a woman in her black community. Her ways to survive give spirit and conviction to the readers. This is an interesting issue which is concerned with women especially in a black community because they have to fight to defend their dignity as women in their own community. The main character, Celie, has to be an obedient daughter, a mother and a married woman in her life. The old belief among the black people which states that womens best place is in the house gives them difficulties in finding choices in their life. Women need to be strong and independent rather than weak and dependent, because women have more than one role in life. They can be a mother, a daughter, a housewife, and a wife who should take care of their husbands, children and parents well. Celie’s patience in life makes her survive and bring her to happiness. Realizing the bitter life she faces, she actually demands the equal right. She wants to convince others that she can do everything alone in order to prove that a man is not more important than her. The language, story and messages contained in this novel make me eager and want to reveal feminism portrayed by Celie in Alice walker’s The Color Purple. I am interested in studying Celie’s process in solving her problem in life. Celie’s process can give significant lessons about feminism to the society through Celie’s character in Alice Walker’s The Color Purple.

B. Problem Formulation There are two problems formulated in this study. They are: