in the society. The hero causes the tragedy to him or to another and it is because of a mistake that sometimes is not realized Walley, 1950: 54-59.
Further, by doing this analysis, we can prove that the theories on play also can be used in analyzing poem. The theories that are used in this study are taken from the
theories on play. The writer adores William Wordsworth so much, especially the poem “Michael”. It is because the story of Michael almost the same as the writer life
story. This study is also to appreciate William Wordsworth as a great poet in literary world.
B. Problem Formulation
From the background of the study stated previously, three problems can be formulated as follows:
1. How is the main character described in the poem?
2. What are the contributions of each character in leading the main
character’s tragedy? 3.
How does Michael fit the modern tragic hero?
C. Objectives of the Study
Some matters are stated to understand this study. The first is to find and analyze the main character described through the lines in the poem. The second is to
find the influences of the other characters in developing Michael’s tragedy. The third is to find how Michael fits the modern tragedy tragic hero revealed from his tragedy.
D. Definition on Terms
1. Modern Tragedy
According to Aristotle, tragedy is the imitation of an action that is serious and also, as having magnitude, complete in itself, in the medium of poetic
language, in the manner of dramatic plot, incorporating incidents to arouse pity and fear wherewith to accomplish the catharsis of such emotion.
Modern tragedy for the lay portrays the life of the person in the modern time where there is not influenced by the myth of godgoddess or the
social structure noble man. The basic difference between Modern Tragedy and Greek Tragedy is that Modern Tragedy tells about the life of
common people unlike Greek tragedy tells about the life of noble people . Shakespearean Tragedy defines it as a story of exceptional calamity great
misfortune and misery leading to the death of a man in high estate or the story of human actions producing exceptional calamity and ending in the
death of such a man Walley, 1950: 54-59.
2. Tragic Hero
In Greek Tragedy, Aristotle defines the main character of a tragedy is the protagonist or the tragic hero, who through some flaws in his character
brings death or destruction upon himself or upon someone else that he or PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
she loves. The hero is fated to have a tragic ending where god contributes to the downfall of the hero Walley, 1950: 54-59.
A.C Bradley defines the word tragic hero in the sense of Shakespearean Tragedy as a person of high estate or having greatness more than common
people who experiences suffer conducting to his death by his own action Walley, 1950: 54-59.
In modern tragedy, the tragic hero is viewed in his social and moral relationship. Tragic hero on Modern Tragedy tells about the heroic life of
a common people. The tragic hero is an ordinary people not a noble man or people in the high estate Walley, 1950: 54-59.
CHAPTER II THEORETICAL REVIEW
A. Review of Related Studies
There are many opinions of critics to Wordsworth’s “Michael”. Graham Hough gave opinion about the theme of “Michael” which is love of father for his son.
It is told in blank verse unrhymed iambic pentameter of a rather stiff simplicity and much of it is straight narrative so unelaborated that it treads on the verge of the
prosaic. He said that the effect of “Michael” is not immediate. It is more prolonged acquaintance with the poem reveals it as the most characteristic Wordsworthian
achievement. A poem where a long familiar emotion, that has been absorbed into the personality and is no longer clamorous or importunate, is evenly diffused throughout
Mukherjef and Rajender, 2000: 191. R.O.C Winkler had opinion on the plot of “Michael”, especially the influence
of nature. He stated that in “Michael”, nature is something outside the human situation. According to him, Michael as the main character in the poem is part of the
natural world himself, and the strength of his body and mind, the birth, growth, and bereavement of his love for Luke, are all enforced in terms of his work among the
things of nature. The old man’s feelings with the natural world around him, there is no scope for turning to nature for consolation. The natural word simply endures and
the only support that Michael has for his suffering is endurance Mukherjef and Rajender, 2000: 192.
7 PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
