Background of the analysis.

CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the analysis.

Taylor 1981:1 says that, literature like other arts, is essentially an imaginative act, that is an act of the writer’s imagination in selecting, ordering, and interpreting life experience. The use of imagination is important and has been shown in the literary extracts already considered. The choice and relationship of words is directed by the fact that the writer is not attempting a straight forward factual exposition of his subject matter. He is creating his own sort of reality, making up characters, places, and conditions on his own terms Chapman, 1982:26. Both definitions show that literature can be the interpretation of experience, life experience, everything felt, seen, heard or even read by an author can be put into a literary work by using the author’s creative imagination. Literature is divided into three major genres of literature, they are drama, prose and poetry in which each genre has its own characteristic. Taylor 1981:101 explains that drama as re-create action immediately and physically on a stage in front of an audience. The title of the play is Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller. Arthur Miller Death of a Salesman is a story of a man , Willy Loman, whose struggling efforts to live the American dream are unsuccessful. Willy’s efforts to have it all and live the life of a salesman, like his hero David Singleman, unfortunately are not enough pushing his dreams further away from reality. Death of a Salesman is a true and intelligent criticism of the American Dream. Willy Lomans dreams are unattainable, thus Universitas Sumatera Utara pointing out that the American dream can be insurmountable for many people. The Lomans displays of dishonesty and immorality prove that the American Dream can often diminish any respectable values an individual may have. Possessing the finest of everything and placing great importance on looks and material things such as Willy does, begins to create a materialistic world where success and wealth are of the utmost importance. The Loman familys longing to achieve the American Dream presents a clear image that allows insight into the imperfections and phoniness of the dream itself. The writer decide to analyze symbols in Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller because there are many symbols found in the play that makes it mysterious, unique, and interesting to be analyzed. symbols are abstract idea and not easy to understand the real meaning of symbol, symbol is important in literary work as transferring meaning hidden behind the words and to share ideas feelings the authors and also the author inderictly expressed his idea by using symbols. Symbols are all we have to communicate with one another , something hidden to share our ideas and feelings. Symbols are object, character or colour used to represent abstract ideas or concept. A symbol may be defined as any object that suggest a larger meaning than itself or as applied specially to literature a symbol may be an objector even action that embodies the nature of class off things or an abstract idea. Kasim 1998: 55 says that para penganut aliran simbolis adalah menciptakan karya – karya yang berisikan buah pikiran yang tersembunyi , yang samar – samar, yang merupakan gambaran perasaan manusia yang tidak diungkapkan secar terus terang, sehingga semuanya ini akan mendorong kemampuan dan daya pikir para pembaca karya- karya mereka untuk memahami dan sekaligus menikmati karya – karya tersebut. Peck and Martin 1984:72 explains that a symbol are only used when a writer wants to express an apprehension of something in his mind which is not directly Universitas Sumatera Utara observable in the everyday world. This definition mean that the writer has to use a symbol because he can only convey his non – rational apprehension of something by using object and words from the familiar word. In analyzing symbol need deep understanding . Symbol is not expressed directly by the author but it is expressed by the object, figures, characters and colours where it represent abstract ideas or concept.

1.2 The Problems of the analysis