power shows the idea of social castration strengthened by penis envy and castration complex theories
as penis symbolizes man’s power.
B. Problem Formulation
To show the idea of social castration through the characteristics of the main character, there are two problems addressed in this study:
1. What are the symbols found in Kathryn’s action?
2. How do the symbols show social castration?
C. Objectives of the Study
This study has two objectives in order to answer the problems above. The first objective is to analyze the symbol found in the story. The writer can analyze
the symbols through the character and action which holds more meaning. The writer analyzes the symbols showing that women are powerless in the story. The
second objective is to analyze the idea of social castration which is shown through the symbols found.
The characters, which are the wives, and Kathryn’s action of throwing the wedding ring implies
women’s lack of power in society, including in a family, which is the idea of social castration.
D. Definition of Terms
This part contains some definition of keyword and terms related to the research. The following below are aimed to avoid misunderstanding and to make
this study understandable. The first term used in this study is social castration. Barry explains that
social castration is the term introduced by Sandra Gilbert and Susan Gubar in their book The Madwoman in the Attic. The term is used to signify
women’s lack of power in society as their position is constructed by society Barry, 1995: 125.
Another keyword used in the study is symbol. Symbol is something that stands for something else and holds more meaning. In literature, a symbol is a
thing that suggest more than its literal meaning Kennedy and Gioia, 2005: 251. According to Merriam Webster Dictionary, symbol is an action, object or even
thought that expresses or represents a particular idea or quality. It represents something in the unconscious mind that has been repressed. According to
Christopher R. Reaske and John R. Knott, JR. in their book Mirrors: An Introduction to Literature, a symbol stands for something, for example a dove for
peace, a cross for Christianity and such symbols have a basic meaning that are taken for granted. They stated that literary symbols have no fixed meaning
independent of the work in which they appear. The context that the writer establishes determines their significance Reaske and Knott: 1975.
Symbol can be divided into two: symbolic characters and symbolic acts Kennedy and Gioia, 2010: 224-225. A symbolic act is an action that has no, or
little, practical effect but symbolizes, or signals, what the actor wants or believes. The action conveys meaning to the viewers.
“Symbolic act is a gesture or an action with larger significance than usual. It represents a particular idea than its
meaning through action ” Kennedy and Gioia, 2005: 252. A symbolic character
is a character that may convey symbolic meaning through the character’s appeareance. Symbolic characters make brief cameo appearances, they are often
not well-rounded and fully known, but are fleetingly and remain slightly mysterious Kennedy and Gioia, 2010: 225.
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CHAPTER II REVIEW OF LITERATURE
