Japan advanced from rural society ruled by landowners to an industrialized economic power dominated by educated people in bureaucracy and become the first Asian
industrialized nation. The writer also does this research to understand about the particular society of academia society and how the intellectuals in this era live and
interact with each other or interacts with the people outside the intellect uals’ society.
The education system in Japan that began in Meiji era becomes the foundation of modern education system in Japan today. The Ministry of Education was established
in 1871 and the first systematic education regulation formed in 1872. The system followed American in which consisted three levels of schooling; elementary school,
middle school, and university. The government employed many foreign professors to teach in Japan and at the same time, they send many students abroad to study. When
they returned, they replaced the foreign instructors to teach the young students in Japan in the institutions. The first university that established at Meiji era is the University of
Tokyo which until now is the best university in Japan. The education system later reformed and improved after the World War II. The educational results now can be
seen from many Japanese students placed among highest ranked in the world in mathematics and science. From that result, it can be seen how education plays a major
role in development of Japan in many aspects including economic, social, and culture. Japan has produced many people that acquired qualities demanded in industrial world.
The intellectuals during this period have given many contributions to Japan’s
development to become a modern country. Not only have they taught the youngsters in Japan, they also contribute directly for the development of technology that help Japan
become a country that we know in this modern days since the development of technology in Japan at that time surpasses the neighboring country in Asia at that
particular time. In this novel, Mr. Sneaze is a teacher who considered stupid by the cat because
of his way of thinking as a teacher. Soseki Natsume who was a scholar graduated in London University become a teacher back in Japan, yet he also dissatisfied with
teaching. The character of Mr. Sneaze in this novel described just like Soseki Natsume himself and often considered as the caricature of Soseki Natsume. Soseki Natsume
often uses conflicts between individual needs and the demand of society as theme in his works. It can be seen from his other works like, Botchan in which the story actually
based on Natsume ’s experience as a teacher. Grass on the Wayside is an
autobiographical novel of Soseki Natsume. Kokoro is a story about loneliness and friendship between student and his teacher in which the transition from Meiji era to
modern Japan can be explored through. To find a better understanding about intellectuals in Meiji period, the writer
chooses the character of Avalon Coldmoon as an object to be described. Avalon Coldmoon is a former student of Mr. Sneaze and also his favorite disciple who has
graduated from university with a title of Bachelor of Science. In this novel, Coldmoon represents all angles of intellectuals in Meiji period.
B. Problem Formulation
1. How is the characterization of Avalon Coldmoon described in the novel?
2. How does Coldmoon’s character represent the intellectuals in Meiji era as described
in the novel?
C. Objectives of the Study
The purpose of this research is to find the answer of the topic that asks about the characterization of one of the character in this story named Avalon Coldmoon and
how his way of life can reflect the intellectuals of that time. To answer the topic, the writer undergoes some steps to reach the answer.
According to the problem formulation that is formulated, the first objective is to reveal the characters of Avalon Coldmoon because this character has a strong
relation with the issue about intellectuals. This character experience the moments and also become the part of intellectuals in Meiji era in this story. This is why the writer
will reveal this particular character to find the answer of the topic.
The second objective is to show the intellectuals of Meiji era through the character of Avalon Coldmoon as the representation of this particular society. By
relating the condition of the society at Meiji era with the character of Avalon Coldmoon, the writer wants to reveal the condition of the intellectuals in Meiji period
can be known through the characteristic and life of Coldmoon in the novel.
D. Definition of Terms
Character
Character as defined by Abrams is the personal presented in dramatic or narrative work, who are interpreted by the reader as being endowed with moral and
dispositional qualities that are expressed in what they say – the dialogue – and by what
they do – the action. Abrams, 1981: 23.
Meiji era
Meiji era according to H. Paul Varley in Japanese Culture is also known as Meiji restoration. It is named after the Emperor Meiji 1852
– 1912 who ascended the throne in 1867 at the age of fifteen after the fall of Tokugawa shogunate. It was a
political revolution from above carried out by younger, enlightened members of Japan
’s ruling samurai class. This is the era where Japan actually opens itself to the
world from its isolation for about two hundred years, modernizes itself and actually receives the influence from the West in almost every aspect especially in political and
education. The Emperor devotes himself to modernization while he also continued to harbor personal animosities towards the West particularly for forcing Japan to accede
to the unequal treaties. Understanding the material superiority of the west, he wished to emulate it by undertaking modernization because he also believed that modernization
was essential if Japan was to be protected against possible Western imperialism.
10
CHAPTER II REVIEW OF LITERATURE
A. Review of Related Studies
Wariness of Gracious Blessings: Images of Power in I Am a Cat by Marcus Testman gives a glimpse in his essay about the book. In his essay, he stated:
Soseki Natsume’s work I Am a Cat was his breakout hit book, which satirized a nation forced to conform to a new and extremely foreign set of social values.
Being told through the eyes o f a cat, the characters’ experiences are told in a
frank manner. Incidentally, the work has become a milestone in Japanese literature, and has led to countless discourse in Japan regarding its historical
significance. I Am a Cat stands as one of the most powerful and important pieces of Meiji-era literature because of its brutal honesty and direct perception
of what was to be the foundation of a new and different Japan. Testman,2009: 1
Testman thought that this novel gives a direct understanding about the Meiji era which is a foundation of new and different Japan. This novel completely satirizes a nation
that is forced to form a new set of social values with an influence of Western. The story is being told from the perspective of a cat and the characters in this story are told
in a frank manner. As an important piece of work in Meiji era literature, this novel becomes a milestone in Japanese literature because of its historical significance and
direct perception of Meiji era. Another study says the novel of I Am a Cat is the story about an intelligent
stray cat that observes human around him and gives comments on human follies
especially in the middle-class society. He regards himself to be higher than his master and gives no respect to his master who is a school teacher. The observation of the
feline hero is along the everyday life of his master ’s both activities and his interactions
with his family members and his acquaintances. According to Jesse Freeman in his review in imnothinginparticular.tumblr.com:
Satire is the overriding concept for this novel. The title I am a Cat in Japanese, Wagahai wa neko de aru, is very formal in its self importance yet
comes off ironic because it is coming from a cat. From there the novel`s humour comes from the sheer stupidity of the cat`s owner and friends, most of who all
belong to the more conventional academia society. This reveals a number of the
novel’s points, but more than anything; Soseki’s own disdain for the established academia. This was a bit of a reoccurring theme for Soseki as academia was the
primary target in his novel a year before in Botchan. How much this has to do with
his western
schooling and
often spoke
of resentment
and frustration toward Japanese academia’s western leaning inclination isn’t
easy to say. For certain though, throughout the novel the target was intended to be the businessmen of the Meiji society, especially when taken from the
character’s point of view, however we only see all the shortcoming of the main characters who represent all facets of academia.
From the statement above, it can be seen that in the Meiji era schooling system is already westernized. The novel reveals some points that pointed out about the
established academia society in Meiji era of Japan as this society becomes the primary target of Soseki Natsume. Even though the novel was intended for businessmen of
Meiji era, the scholars also take important roles in this story especially because one of the points this novel talks about intellectuals in this particular era.
