dress which would always be a measurement of the eighteenth-century theatricality and sensuality http: www.metmuseum.org toah hd eudr
hd_eudr.htm. […] with an elegantly embroidered ribbon to her cap, and a new felt hat
atop, and proffering, as she strode along with kilted petticoats, a string of obscene and blasphemous oaths p. 15.
The type of dress worn by the woman is described as the eighteenth century dress type. It shows that the setting of time happens in the eighteenth
century. Moreover, the quotation above also describes the type of woman’s hat which also indicates the eighteenth century as the setting of time. As stated in the
website that flowers, birds, and bows became dominant motifs in a style that highlighted a kind of idealized femininity http: www.costumes.org Classes
fashiondress18thCent.htm.”
4. General Environment of the Characters
The novel Travel with a Donkey in the Cevennes presents the general environment of the characters as one of the elements of setting. In that point, the
social setting or the setting of society is presented in the novel. As stated by Holman and Harmon that one of the elements of setting is “the general
environment of the characters, for example: religious, mental, moral, social, and emotional conditions through which the people in the narrative move 1986:
465.” Stevenson describes religious views in the novel. It is explained through religion and the ideas of people or characters in the novel.
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[…] the church was crowded to the door, there were people kneeling without upon the steps, and the sound of the priest’s chanting came forth
out of the dim interior p.10.
Religion is recognized and professed by the characters in the novel. In St. Martin de Frugeres people practice worship in the morning in the church. Similar idea is
presented in this quotation. “The inn was again singularly unpretentious […] There were five children, one of whom was set to its morning prayers at the stair-
foot soon after my arrival, and a sixth would ere long be forthcoming p. 37”. The quotation describes the child of the innkeeper who is praying in the morning
when the Scotsman arrives in the inn in Cheylard. Religion exists in the environment.
In the novel, Stevenson describes religious fanaticism as the general environment of the characters in the novel. The idea is presented by the action of
the characters that show their view as fanatical. But I was now among a different sect of orthodox. These two men were
bitter and upright and narrow, like the worst of Scotsmen, and indeed, upon my heart, I fancy they were worse. The priest snorted aloud like a
battle-horse p.57.
The quotation above shows the two characters, the parish priest and the soldier, who spend a while in the building near the monastery, who have bad
characteristic. They quarrel about religion with the Scotsman who spends a while, too.
But he could not away with such a monstrous attitude. No, no, he cried; ‘you must change. You have come here, God has led you here, and you
must embrace the opportunity p.57.
The novel describes about religious fanaticism. The parish priest forces the Scotsman to convert his religion to be Catholic. The priest thinks everybody who
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arrives in that monastery area must profess Catholic. The fanatical view toward religion is described by the parish priest’s statement that orders the Scotsman
convert his parents’ religion. “ ‘Your father and mother?’ cried the priest. ‘Very well; you will convert them in their turn when you go home’” p. 57”. The
religious fanaticism in the novel is described also by the view of the Prior. ‘Hear that’ he cried. ‘And I have seen a marquis here, a marquis, a
marquis’- he repeated the holy word three times over-‘ and other person high in society; and generals. And here at your side, is this gentleman who
has been so many years in armies decorated, an old warrior. And here he is, ready to dedicate himself to God p. 59, 60.
The Prior’s statement shows his religious fanaticism. He defends the parish priest and the soldier, then praises the soldier who has high status in society to convert
his religion and to become a novice. The religious fanatical idea is described also through villagers in Cassagnas that argue about religious controversy. “ ‘It’s a bad
idea for a man to change,’ said he; and the remark was generally applauded p. 105”. The quotation explains about the gendarme, one of villagers in Cassagnas,
who thinks that it is a bad idea for man to change his religion. The people in St. German de Calberte show a similar idea. “I dined with a pair of Catholics. They
agreed in the condemnation of a young man, a Catholic, who had married a Protestant girl and gone over to the religion of his wife p. 114”. The religious
fanatical idea is described that a man may not change his religion just because of marrying a girl.
In the novel, Stevenson describes religious views by presenting religious fanaticism of the characters. From that point, Stevenson tries to explain his idea
about religious tolerance of the characters in the novel. 38
Connaissez vous le Seigneur ? he said at length. I asked him what Seigneur
he meant; but he only repeated the question with more emphasis and a look in his eyes denoting hope and interest. ‘Ah,’ said I, pointing upwards,
‘I understand you now. Yes, I know Him; He is the best of acquaintances’ p. 91.
The novel describes religious tolerance of two characters, the Scotsman and the Plymouth Brother in the valley of the Tarn. The religious tolerance can be seen
from the Plymouth Brother’s way to ask about God. He shows his faith through simple actions. The religious tolerance is also described through the villagers in
La Vernede, South France. And these were all Protestant-a fact which pleased me more than I should
have expected; and, what pleased me still more, they seemed all upright and simple people p.93.
The quotation explains La Vernede’s villagers who show religious tolerance for the Scotsman when he has breakfast with Plymouth Brother in the inn. Similar
idea about religious tolerance in the novel is presented through villagers in Florac. “Most of these kind advisers were Protestant, though I observed that Protestant
and Catholic intermingled in a very easy manner […] p.96”. In the inn in Florac, the villagers are kindness to give suggestion for the guidance in the journey. The
life among the Protestant and the Catholic are harmony. The novel presents antisocial mentality found in the characters of the
novel. Antisocial mentality is describes through the villagers of Ussel who do not help the Scotsman’s who is in trouble.
And at last, in the village of Ussel and all, the whole hypothec turned round and groveled in the dust below the donkey’s belly […] and a party
of one man, two women, and two children came up, and, standing round me in a half-circle, encouraged her by their example […] And yet not a
hand was offered to assist me p. 12 39
The villagers show antisocial by only looking at the Scotsman and not helping him. The priests and acolytes of Ussel show the similar idea, antisocial mentality.
“A priest, with six or seven others, were examining a church in the process of repair, and he and his acolytes laughed loudly as they saw my plight p. 13”. The
quotation explains that the priests and acolytes, who are religious, are antisocial and merely laughing. The novel presents antisocial mentality through people of
Fouzilhac, too. When the Scotsman looks for a place to spend the night, nobody offers a help and gives lodging.
In the first lighted house there was a woman who would not open to me. She could do nothing, she cried to me through the door, being alone and
lame; but if I would apply at the next house, there was a man who could help me if he had a mind p. 29.
A woman also shows antisocial mentality about other’s trouble. The next characters of Fouzilhac explain similar thing, too. They do not open the door and
allow the Scotsman to stay in the night. ‘Name your own price, then, said I. ‘Ce n’est pas ça
,’ he said at length, and with evident difficulty; ‘but I am not going to cross the door-mais je ne sortirai pas de la porte.’ p. 30. Antisocial mentality
becomes the background of the environment.
B. The Representation of French Society in the Eighteenth Century through the Setting of Travel with a Donkey in the Cevennes
This chapter analyses the representation of French society in the eighteenth century through the setting of the novel. The characteristics of setting
in Travel with a Donkey in the Cevennes have some similarities with French 40
society at that time. The writer matches the setting of the novel with the actual condition in French society at that time. In this chapter, the socio-historical
background is used as reference. The similarities between the setting in the novel and the actual condition in French society prove that the setting is a representation
of French society. Then, the surface representation is revealed. In this chapter there are three parts of discussion. The first part, the writer analyses the
representation of peasants in the eighteenth century. The second part, the writer analyses the representation of clergy in the eighteenth century. In addition, the
third part analyses the representation of French society’s view toward religion in the eighteenth century.
1. Representation of Peasants in the Eighteenth Century
