The Characteristics of Major Characters

CHAPTER IV ANALYSIS

In order to answer the questions which are stated in problem formulation, the writer divides this chapter into two parts. The first part discusses how the major characters are described and the second part discusses the occultism which is represented through the major characters.

A. The Characteristics of Major Characters

Elizabeth Sky says that major character is the one who appears throughout the plot or in the major section leasttern.com, September 12, 2013. According to this definition, the writer finds there are three major characters in Paulo Coelho’s Brida. They are Brida, Magus and Wicca. These characters are the ones who bring occultism as the main issue in Paulo Coelho’s Brida. Besides, Abrams also says that there are two kinds of characters based on their complexity. They are flat character and round character. Flat characters are the ones who are simply understood and remembered since they are built only by one characteristic. Besides, their characteristics are not changed by circumstances. On the other hand round characters are more complex and they often surprise the reader in a “convincing way” 1949:46. According to this classification, the writer finds that Wicca is a flat character. On the other hand, Magus and Brida are the round characters. Besides, in order to describe these major characters, the writer also uses theory of Henkle which explains nine ways of characterization. The writer finds there 26 are five ways of characterization based on Henkle’s theory used in Paulo Coelho’s Brida. They are mannerism, speech, thought, reaction, and also direct comment. The writer describes the characters as below. 1. Wicca Mysterious Teacher Wicca is a teacher of the Tradition of the Moon. In Paulo Coelho’s Brida , the Tradition of the Moon is a way in learning magic through time and things which are imprisoned in time’s memory for 2008:10. As a teacher of the Tradition of the Moon, Wicca is described as a mysterious character. Wicca is mysterious for she shows some oddities. The writer finds that the author shows this quality of Wicca by describing Wicca’s mannerism. The author describes certain peculiarities about Wicca. For example, Wicca can possess a red British classic car. It is a well- preserved British classic car which can only possessed by certain people since it does represent luxury. The author describes this first oddity as below. At the appointed hour, Wicca was waiting outside in a red MG convertible, with the top down. The car, a British classic, was exceptionally well preserved, with gleaming bodywork and a polished dashboard. Brida didn’t even dare hazard a guess at how much it must have cost. The idea that witch should own such an expensive car frightened her a little. Before she’d known anything about the Tradition of the Moon, she’d heard all kinds of tales in her childhood about witches making terrible pacts with the Devil in exchange for money and power. 2008:133-134 Through this description, it is shown that the fact that Wicca can posses of such luxury car frightens Brida. It is not her possession of that luxurious car which frightens Brida, but it is about how Wicca can possess a luxurious car. Wicca is described as a woman whose job is teaching magic. Besides, Wicca even teaches Brida without any payment. Therefore, Brida feels it is really odd how Wicca, who teaches magic, can possess that car which only few people can have it. That car is not only expensive but also luxurious. This oddity makes Brida remembers that before knowing the Tradition of the Moon, Brida thought that witches can have a deal with devil in order to exchange power and money. Besides Wicca’s possession of a luxurious car, there is another thing which is seems so odd. It is about Wicca’s choice of apartment. Wicca lives in an apartment which is located in the center of the town. She designs its interior with a with best taste design. She designs the interior with arts such as paintings and sculptures. It also looks beautiful with the light from outside which is filtered by white curtains. The apartment is also comfortable with the arrangement of sofas, dining table, Italian- armchairs and also well-stocked library. The way Wicca decorates her apartment shows that she loves art and she has good taste. However, the interior of Wicca’s apartment is contrary to the exterior of the building. The author gives description through Brida’s view point when she sees the building for the first time as below. The old building was in the centre of town, in a place that is now only visited by tourists in search of a little nineteenth century romanticism….and now she was standing outside a mysterious gray building, struggling to contain her excitement… There was no elevator. She went up the stairs slowly so as not out of breath when she reached the floor she wanted, and when she arrived, she rang the bell of the only door there. 2008:23. Based on this description, it is stated that the building looks mysterious from the outside. It shows plainness and there is no luxury at all so that Brida needs to collect her excitement before she decides to come in. It even has no elevator. Wicca’s choice of apartment is really strange. The strangeness is that why Wicca, as a person who has good taste and she even can posses luxurious car chooses such an old plain building to live in. Another Wicca’s oddity described by the author is her attitude. Wicca is a character with close personality. This quality is proven through the description given by the author as below. …and she was hurt because, up until then, her teacher had never shown the slightest interest in her private life. Their conversations never went beyond what Brida needed to know in order to work within the Tradition of the Moon. 2008:133 Whenever the conversation turned to personal topics, Wicca would respond vaguely or evasively, but she spoke with great verve about trivial matters- price, clothes, rude shop assistants…2008:137 These descriptions show that Wicca is a character with close personality. She is a character who does not show any interest about personal life topics. What she discusses is all about tradition of the Moon. Each time the conversation turns into personal topic, Wicca avoids it by mentioning unrelated topic such as clothes, matters-price, etc. This strange attitude strengthens Wicca as a mysterious character. Wicca’s peculiarities as described above define Wicca as a mysterious character. The peculiarities are described without any explanation at all so that the other character, Brida, feels that things about Wicca are a mystery. All things about Wicca gain such wonder and they have no explanation. There is no explanation on how Wicca can have luxurious car, why she must live in a mysterious old building, and why she never wants to talk about her personal life. 2. Magus Wise Teacher The second major character in Paulo Coelho’s Brida is Magus. Magus is about 40 years old. The author directly describes him physically as a man with grizzled hair. His skin is burned by the sun and he had the physique of someone used to walking in the mountains 2008:9. Magus is a teacher of the tradition of the Moon. In Paulo Coelho’s Brida, the Tradition of the Sun is a way in learning magic through space and the world around human beings 2008:10. As a teacher of the Tradition of the Sun, Magus is described as a wise characteristic. The author reveals this quality through Magus’ reaction in facing his internal conflicts. For example, when Magus gives Brida the first lesson in learning magic is actually the moment in which Magus gets his first internal conflict. That first lesson is called Dark Night. It is a lesson where Brida has to stay alone in a forest for a whole night. Giving such lesson to Brida is a conflict for Magus since that young girl, Brida, is his Soul Mate. The author gives direct comment on how the conflict Magus feels and how he reacts towards that conflict as below. Leaning against the trunk of an old tree, the Magus watched the girl vanish into the woods. He had listened to her fears and heard her cries during the night. At one point, he had even been tempted to go over and embrace her, to shield her from her terror, saying that she didn’t need this kind of challenge. Now he was pleased that he hadn’t, and he felt proud that the girl, in all her youthful confusion, was his Soul Mate 2008:18 From the description above, the author states both the conflict and how Magus’ reaction toward the conflict. The conflict which Magus faces is that the fact that Magus is a Teacher and also a Soul Mate at the same time. Magus is a Soul Mate for Brida. Magus knows this from the very first time he meets Brida. Magus knows this when he looks into Brida’s eyes. Tradition of the Sun in Paulo Coelho’s Brida notices Soul Mate from the eye. Those eyes shine a particular light which can be seen only by the Soul Mate 2008:87. As a man, Magus has a temptation to save his Soul Mate, Brida, from her fear. Besides, as a Teacher, Magus knows that he must be consistent to let his pupil stay alone in the forest for a night. Facing this situation, Magus chooses to be a teacher instead of a soul mate. He decides not to help Brida. He chooses to let Brida stay alone in that forest. Magus’ reaction toward his conflict results in pride. Magus proud of that young girl, is actually his Soul Mate for she can pass the Dark Night. The quality as a wise teacher is again proven when Magus has a conflict within his self. The second internal conflict is a moment when Magus and Brida are in the forest. At this moment, Brida asks Magus to let her know how to gain power through sex. Gaining magic power through sex becomes important since it is a phase that Brida must pass before she can get officially initiated as a witch. At this moment, Magus has a slight thought that he can tell Brida outright that he is her Soul Mate. Doing so can make her path in learning magic become much easier. Besides, it also can complete both Magus and Brida’s encounter in magic. The author shows this situation by giving a direct comment and also showing Magus’ thought as below. The Magus was staring at the bare, snowy branches. He could, at the moment, forget he was a Teacher and be merely a Magus, a man like any other man. He knew that his Soul Mate was there before him. He could be talk about the point of light he could see, and she would believe him, and their reencounter would be complete. Even if she left in tears, she would come back eventually, because he was telling the truth-and she needed him as much as he needed her. That was the wisdom of Soul Mates; they always recognized each other. …..For a moment, he thought: “I could give up magic for her,” but immediately realized how foolish that thought was. Love didn’t require that kind of renunciation. True love allowed each person to follow their own path, knowing that they would never lose touch with their Soul Mate 2008:123- 124. The descriptions above show how wise Magus is. Again, Magus faces a moment which challenges him as a teacher. At this moment, Magus can stop considering himself as a teacher for a while and let Brida knows that he is Brida’s soul mate. However, this moment even strengthens the characteristic of Magus as a wise teacher. Soon, Magus realizes that thought is absolutely unnecessary. He realizes that soul mate will recognize each other. Sooner or later they will find their way. Therefore the only thing Magus needs is only a kind of patience. Magus is not only a wise teacher but he also a wise man. A proof of this quality lies in the last part in Paulo Coelho’s Brida. It is a moment after Brida is successfully initiated as a witch. After being initiated, Brida wants to stay with Magus in the forest for she knows that Magus is actually her soul mate. Brida also wants to leave her recent boyfriend; Lorens. However, Magus does not agree with Brida. He even asks Brida to go with her boyfriend. The author shows how wise Magus through Magus’s statements as below. “People give flowers as presents because flowers contain the true meaning of Love. Anyone who tries to possess a flower will have to watch its beauty fading. But if you simply look at a flower in a field, you will keep it forever, because the flower is part of the evening and the sunset and the smell damp earth and the clouds on the horizon.” “That is why the forest taught me. That you will never be mine, and that’s why I will never lose you. You were my hope during my days of loneliness, my anxiety during moments of doubt, my certainty during moments of faith. “Knowing that my Soul Mate would come one day, I devoted myself to learning the Tradition of the Sun. Knowing that you existed was my one reason for continuing to live.” Brida could no longer conceal her tears. “Go in peace,” said the Magus. “And dry those tears, or tell him that the smoke from the fire got in your eyes. Never forget me.” 2008:209-211 This situation as described above proves that Magus is really wise. Although Magus knows that he has a chance to be together with his soul mate, but Magus does not take it at all. He even asks Brida to go with her recent boyfriend. Magus does so because he realizes that finding his soul mate is more than enough. Besides, Magus also understands that love is liberty. He cannot simply take the chance and let Brida leaves his recent boyfriend, Lorens. This reaction proves that Magus is a wise man for he does not let his love becomes an excuse to hurt the other one; Lorens. 3. Brida Brida is a 21-year-old girl who wants to learn magic. In order to describe Brida, the writer divides this part into two parts. The first part is how Brida is described before she learns magic and during the process she learns magic. The second part is how Brida is described after she learns magic till she is initiated as a witch. In the first part, the writer describes Brida as a faint-hearted person. The writer describes it as below. a. Faint-hearted Brida as a faint-hearted person can be proven through Brida’s reaction toward certain situations. Brida’s reaction shows that she is not brave enough. The first situation is that when Brida has to face the first lesson given by Magus, Dark Night. Dark Night is the first and important lesson in both of the Tradition of the Sun and the Tradition of the Moon. It is inspired from a poem entitled Dark Night by St. John of the Cross 2008:12. Facing this lesson, Brida has to stay alone during a night in a forest. Initially, Brida is afraid of being left alone. Therefore she tries to convince herself in order to overcome her fear. Initially she can overcome her fear. However, it does not last longer. Brida starts to get panic. Her panic begins with the contradictory views about Magus. Some people say that Magus is a powerful magician. Others say that he is a black magician. She even gets more panic when Brida suddenly hears noise nearby. Those things almost make Brida want to give up. It is proven by Brida’s statements as below. “Where are you?” she cried…She simply wanted to get out of there. “I want to get out of here. Help me” There was only the forest and its strange noises. Brida felt so dizzy with fear she thought she might faint…2008:14 From the description of the situation above, it can be seen that Brida is not brave enough. She is afraid because she imagines such wild animals, childhood ghosts, and a bad magician before her while in fact there are only forest and its strange noise. Her being of not brave enough is proven by Brida’s reaction toward her own fear which is not real. Brida even shouts that she wants to get out of the forest. It almost makes Brida fail to pass the first lesson. Brida is also a person who lacks courage especially in taking risk. Once again, the author tries to reveal this quality by letting the readers know how Brida reacts in certain situations. The first situation is a moment when Magus gives Brida a crucial question. The question is which one Brida will choose between love and magic. Brida has to answer Magus’ question with total honesty. Brida’s honesty in answering the question determines whether or not Magus accepts her as pupil. Although Brida has the answer which comes from her own consideration, she tries to avoid giving the answer. It is proven from the dialogue between Magus and Brida as below. “I see no contradiction between my search and my personal happiness,” she said. “Answer my question.” His eyes were still fixed on hers. “Would you give up everything for that man?” Brida felt a tremendous urge to cry. It wasn’t so much a question, it was a choice, the most difficult choice anyone would have to make in life…2008:8 From the dialogue above, it is obvious that Brida indirectly avoids giving answer to Magus’s question. Brida’s statement, which says that there is no contradiction between her search and personal happiness, means that her ambition of learning magic does not oppose her personal life. Therefore, she thinks that she does not have to choose between love and magic. However, after being forced to give an answer, Brida tries to ensure herself with her own consideration as described below. She continued to avoid Magus’s gaze. Her eyes were fixed on the village and its twinkling lights. People had been trying to understand the universe through love ever since the beginning of time. “I’d give it all up,” she said at last. …”Look at me,” said the Magus. Brida felt ashamed, but did as he asked. 2008:9 After having sureness of her own consideration, Brida chooses love instead of magic. However, after giving her answer Brida even feels ashamed and disappointed. She feels that way even before she knows whether Magus accepts her as pupil or not. In this situation, there are two facts proving that Brida lacks courage for taking risk. First is the fact that Brida avoids giving answer. Second is the fact that Brida feels ashamed and disappointed even though she does not know yet whether or not she is accepted. Another way the author tries to show that Brida is afraid in taking risk is by letting the readers know how Brida thinks about herself. For example, there is a moment when Brida remembers of her childhood experience. It is an experience when her father asked Brida to check how the temperature of the water on the beach was like. Brida then did as what her father asked. She just went to the edge and dipped in a toe. Seeing how Brida checked the water, her father then said a little advice to Brida. He said that in order to know something Brida must be brave to plunge straight in it. After remembering that advice, Brida then realizes that she is afraid in taking risk since her childhood. The author describes how Brida feels about herself through Brida’s thought and also direct comment given by the author as below. “I’m afraid of committing myself”, she thought to herself. She wanted to follow all possible paths and so ended up following none. Even in that most important area of her life, love, she had failed to commit herself…She feared pain, loss, and separation…2008:75 The description of Brida thought and the direct comment proves that Brida lacks courage in taking risk. Things which frighten Brida are not difficulties. What frightens her most is a fact that she has to take risk. It is because she is afraid of pain if she takes the wrong decision. Her lack of courage for taking risk also affects her being of unconfident in making decision when Brida has to answer Magus’ question with total honesty. b. Brave This second part of Brida characteristic describes Brida’s characteristic after she learns magic. After going through all phases in learning magic, Brida is going to be officially initiated as a witch. The days before the initiation, Brida shows a change of her character. The author lets the readers know it through Brida’s thought and reaction toward a situation when she feels a conflict within herself at a moment she wants to make decision. The situation is that when Brida stands outside a church which she used to go when she was a child. She is not sure whether she must enter that church or not. Honestly Brida wants to enter the church but on the other hand she thinks she cannot enter that church for she learns magic and she is going to be initiated as a witch. She thinks that magic is a different path from God’s. Besides, she thinks that she will betray her forebears who died in a witch hunts centuries before. However, soon Brida realizes that her thought is not correct. The author shows Brida’s thought as below. “But then I was burned at the stake, too,” she said to herself. She remembered the prayer Wicca had said on the day commemorating the martyrdom of the witches. And in that prayer, she had mentioned Jesus and the Virgin Mary…1008:171 Based on Brida’s thought, it is shown that she realizes that Wicca, also prays to the God and Virgin Mary. Besides, Brida also realizes that she will not betray her forebears since she is a part of them. In her past life, Brida is an incarnation of a witch named Loni. Therefore, Brida just continue her steps into that church. Brida’s thought and also her action of entering the church though she has doubt prove that Brida is no longer afraid in making decision. After entering the church, Brida just stares at an image of a man who is nailed to the cross and says a little prayer as below. “Lord, we’re all in the world to run the risks of that Dark Night. I’m afraid of death, but even more afraid of wasting my life. I’m afraid of love, because it involves things that are beyond our understanding; it sheds such a brilliant light, but the shadow it casts frightens me.” 2008:173 Through Brida’s speech in her prayer, it is shown that she realizes that as a human being, she absolutely has fear. She admits that she is afraid of death. However, she tends to be more afraid of wasting her life time because of that fear. Brida used to think that life is so complicated. She has to take risk, follow some paths and abandon others 2008:75. She also realizes that she has fear of love because love is such a mystery. She used to think that love offers both romanticism and separation 2008:75. However, she then realizes that she is more afraid of being the shadows of love. As a human being, she absolutely has a fear of pain caused by love. However, that fear should not stop her in loving other human beings. This moment shows that Brida is no longer afraid in taking risk for now she understands that life cannot is about taking risk.

B. Occultism as Represented by Major Characters