Theory of Unreliable Narrator
Moreover, according to Myers and Simms 1989 in The Longman Dictionary of Poetic Terms, imagination of the author is a guidance to help
readers understand the story. There are three terms of symbols according to Myers and Simms. The first symbol is cultural symbol, in which a natural object
refers to limited interpretations that exceed cultural canon. The example of this symbol is the use of Keris as fashion statement in Javanese culture.
The second symbol is general symbol. It is a symbol projected to small number of people and it contains associative meanings. For example is the use of
index finger and middle fingers as the sign of peace. The last symbol is private symbol, in which it is privately created by the author from the author’s
imagination, and it is more contextual Myers-Simms. 1989:98. The use of theory of symbol in this study is to reveal the
dynamic of the narrator’s unconscious mind.
L.Perrine 1974 also suggests another explanation of symbol. Perrine said that symbol is something which has more meanings than what it is. It may
represent an object, an action, a person, a certain situation or some other items that may contain literal meaning in a particular story but may also represent other
meanings as well Perrine, 1974:213. Perrine also suggests some ways of interpretation literary works for the
readers. First, the story must have series of clues which have to be taken symbolically. The symbols must have consistency throughout the story and can be
seen through repetition, emphasis, or position. Without those consistencies, the reader cannot interpret the meaning symbolically Perrine, 1974: 214.
Second, the meaning of a symbol must be contextually supported by the story. If a symbol has its significant meaning outside of the story, then it may not
work in the story Perrine, 1974: 214. Third, a symbol must represent a different meaning from its literal meaning. Therefore, a symbol is more than just a
representative form of its word class Perrine, 1974:215. Fourth, the variation of meanings may occur in symbol. It means a variation of meanings based on the
context of the story Perrine, 1974: 215. From the elaboration above, in general, Perrine 1974 suggests that to be
called symbol, series of evidence must be provided by the story and those series of evidence must be contextually supported by the story. Having series of
different meanings or interpretations are also important for an object to be called a symbol.