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CHAPTER 2 REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
This chapter presents discussions on review of related literature. The discussions are divided into review of related theories, review on British society
of the early Victorian era, criticism, and theoretical framework. In the review on related theories, there is a discussion about theory of character, theory of
characterization, theory of critical approaches, theory of satire, and the relationship between literature and society. In the review of British society of
Victorian era, explanation about the British society of Victorian Era is presented. The theoretical framework covers why and how those theories are applied in order
to answer the problems.
2.1 Review of Related Theories
There are five things that will be discussed in the review of related theories; those are: theory of character, theory of characterization, theory of
critical approaches, theory of satire, and the relation between literature and society.
2.1.1. Theory of Character
Character, according to Robert Stanton, can be defined into two ways. He says that “it designates the individuals who appear in the story and it refers to the
mixture of interests, desires, emotions, and moral principles that makes up each of
8 PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
9 these individuals” 17. In other words, character is both the people in the novel
and their personalities or characteristics. Character is one of the most important aspects in the novel. Through the
eyes of the characters, the readers can experience not only the characters’ life but also see what Henkle said as “a vision of a world” 48. The characters tell the
story of the novel and put across the picture from their world. The readers, therefore, can identify the novel’s world through the characters. Wellek and
Warren also say that the author expresses his idea and knowledge about his society in the world of literature by using language as a medium in his fictitious
characters. The use of fictitious characters in fiction, such as heroes and villains afford interesting indications of social attitude, which is similar to the
characteristics of the people in his society 104. Elizabeth Langlard also states that by looking at the interaction between characters, we can see the society or the
world of the novel. “This society may also be revealed through human relationships, through characters patterned interactions and their common
expectations from one another” 6 The character in the novel, or what E. M. Forster calls as “Homo Fictus”
38 reflects the qualities of ordinary human beings. They are named, given sexes, provided with personalities complete with physical and psychological aspects.
The difference is that the characters in the novel, if the author wants to, can be understood completely because their inner and outer life can be exposed Forster
32. The explanation on how the author describes the inner and outer life of the characters will be explained further in the theory of characterization.
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