of the play. For that reason, the study is a good source to help them to refer to a high- quality reference in a literature class.
Secondly, readers of The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams will gain better understanding about the play. This study will also help them to go deeper into
the essence of the influences of being in the matriarchal family to Tom.
Finally, the study is expected to be a good reference for other researchers who would like to conduct literature analysis particularly about Williams’ The Glass
Menagerie.
1.5 Definition of Terms
To provide clarity and to avoid misunderstanding, this study provides some related terms definition as listed. All the terms definitions below are in the same
meaning with the writer’s intention to define the term. They represent what the study is about.
1. Character
Abrams 1981: 23 confirms that “characters are the person presented in a dramatic or narrative work, who are interpreted by the readers as being
endowed with moral, dispositional, and emotional qualities that are expressed in what they say—the dialogue—and by what they do—the action”
2. Development
Hornby 1995: 318 defines Development N as the action or process of developing or being developed. In addition, Claninger 2004: 21 defines
Development N as formation or change of personality overtime. In the
study, those words also refer to the change of behavior.
3. Influence
The Webster’s Newworld Dictionary of the American Language 1979: 722 defines Influence to be three parts that each of them is relatively related to the
study. a. The power of persons or things to affect others, seen only in its effect.
b. The ability of a person or a group to produce effect indirectly by means of power based on the wealth, high position.
c. Implies the power of persons or things whether or not exerted consciously or overtly to affect others.
In the study, the word influence carries a very significance meaning since it transmits to the readers the power of a person to make the other one follow what
she or he is saying.
4. Matriarch and Matriarchal Family
Hornby 1995: 723 defines matriarch N as the female head of family or
tribe—matriarchal A. According to Nair www.rise-of-womanhood.org,
concept of a matriarchal society is “when women have taken up collective leadership and actively engaged in economic or social developmental activity”.
It leads to intense changes in the society. From what Nair says, I can narrow down the concept into family scope which is related to the study. Concept of a
matriarchal family is when a woman has taken up a leadership in a family and become dominant in the family decision making. It leads to intense changes in
the family. In this study, I combine the ‘matriarch’ definition and the concept of a matriarchal family. Referring to the combination, matriarchal family is
therefore any family that is led by a mother. The leadership happens when a father does not control the family but the mother does.
Referring to the thoughts above, I have decided to use the term of ‘matriarchal family’ to illustrate Tom’s family. The decision has been taken because
Amanda is the leader of the family since Tom’s father’s leaving.
5. Character Development
