and women are weaker. In masculine hands logic is often a form of violence, a sly kind of tyranny . . . . he tirelessly proves to her that he is
right. Simeone de Beauvoir, 1989:463 We can see so many aspect which put women in a difficult position.
Many kinds of inequalities toward women above makes women aware their position in society is still inferior. Their awareness makes they want to
change this situation. They want to liberate themselves from all of this oppression. They want to rebel against men.
The rebel simultaneously experiences a feeling of revulsion at the infringement of his rights and a complete and spontaneous loyalty to
certain aspects of himself . . . . Awareness . . . develops from every act of rebellion; the sudden, dazzling perception that there is
something in man with which he can identify himself, even if only for a moment.” Camus, 1956:14
According to Camus, rebellion is a disapproval feeling that interferes with your rights and the freedom you are entitled to. Rebellion appears
because someone awareness to rejects the condition of slavery. Women rebellion is one of the characteristic that feminist should have. According to
Basin and Said Khan, a feminist is someone who makes the decision in her life based on her own will not because of conditioning or oppression from
other person, and the decision can satisfy herself and it can mantain her independence. Basin and Said Khan, 1993:31-32 Feminist gather together
to organize women wovement which is called feminism. Feminism is concerned with the marginalization of all women: that is, with their being
relegated to a secondary position. Guerin, 1999:196 Here, Guerin states
that feminism is a women movement which concerned in women subordination, as a result of their position in the society.
In this thesis, the writer will see Firdaus in “Woman at Point Zero”” and Emma in “Madame Bovary” from feminism point of view. The writer
uses feminism because it focuses on the equality between women and men.
3.Theories on Comparative Studies
In 1961, in a collection of essays on comparative literature published by the Southern Illinois University Press and edited by Newton Stallknecht
and Horst Frenz, Henry Remark attempted to define what he called the ‘American School’:
“Comparative Literature is the study of literature beyond the confines of one particular country, and the study of the relationships between
literature on the one hand, and other areas of knowledge and belief, such as the arts e.g painting, sculpture, architecture, music, philosophy,
history, the social sciences e.g politics, economics, sociology, the sciences, religion, etc., on the other. Bassnett, 1993:31.
Bassnett states that comparative literature is the study inter-relationship between two or more literary works. According to Foucault, there are two
kinds of comparison, the first is comparison of measurement which analyses the similarity and differences between two literatures. The second is that of
order which finds the basic principle of the subjects and organizes the differences.
Michael Foucault has suggested that there are only two forms of comparison: the comparison of measurement, which ‘analyses into units
in order to establish relations of equality and inequality’ and that of order, which establishes the simplest elements and arranges differences.
Bassnett, 1993: 92
In doing the comparative study, the writer uses the comparison of measurement, which analyses the similarity and differences between two
literatures. First, the writer finds similarities between Firdaus and Emma, then finds differences between them by contrasting their attitude in facing
problems in their life. According to Edel, comparative study should compare not only some
part but also all of the contents. Besides, in doing the comparative study requires both facts and personal opinion. Edel, 1961:14
A comparative literature study does not have to be comparative on every page nor even in every chapter, but the overall intent, emphasis and
execution must be comparative. The assaying of intent, emphasis and
execution requires both objective and subjective judgment. No rigid rules can and should, therefore, be set down beyond these criteria.
C.Theoretical Framework
The writer uses two theories to answer the problem formulation. The first is theory of character and characterization, and the second is theory of
feminism. First, the writer uses the theory of character and characterization to answer the first problem formulation that is about the characterization of
Firdaus and Emma as the main character. The writer applies the theory of character and characterization proposed by Abrams. Abrams stated that to
know the characterization, it can be noticed by what they say in dialogue and what they do in action. Therefore, this theory is very usefeul to
understand the character deeper. Next, the writer uses the theory of feminism in order to answer the second problem formulation. The writer
used this theory to see the main female character’s action in facing their problem that can be categorized as a feminist or not.
17
CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY
This chapter consist of three parts, which are object of the study, approach of the study and method of the study. Object of the study deals
with the subject matter. Then, approach of the study explains the approach that used in this study. Method of the study consists of some steps in
completing this study.
A. Object of the study
In this study, the writer will use two stories, Woman at Point Zero by Nawal El Saadawi and Madame Bovary by Gustave Flauberts. The first
story is Woman at Point Zero. It is an Egyptian novel based on a true story of a woman who gets death sentence because of murdering a pimp. This
novel tells about a woman who really hates men because of so many oppression that she got as long as she lived. Then she becomes a prostitute
and finally kills a pimp. This makes her sentenced to death. This story was first published in Beirut in Arabic in 1979, then it is translated in English in
1983, then in 1986 it is translated in French. It consists of 112 pages. Nawal el-Saadawi as the writer on that book, is a feminist writer from Egypt with
international reputation. Nawal El Saadawi was born in 1931 in Kafr Tahla village, Egypt.
She study at Cairo university in medical faculty. She was once imprisoned because of her writing in aWoman and Sex which too vulgair in discussing
about sexuality. After she free from pison, in 1982 Nawal bulit Women
Solidarity Association in Arab. Maybe, so many activities that she did above that makes her becomes the most intellectual woman in Arab.
She has written a lot of books about feminism. Nawal El Saadawi has achieved widespread international recognition of her work. She holds
honorary doctorates from the university of York, Illinois at Chicago, St Andrews and Tromso. Her many prizes and many awards include the Great
Minds of Twentieth Century Prize, awarded by the American Biographical Institute in 2003, the North-South Prize from the Council of Europe and the
Premi International Catalunya in 2004. Her books have been translated into over twenty eight languages worldwide. They are taught in universities
across the world. The second story is Madame Bovary by Gustave Flauberts. Gustave
Flaubert was born in Rouen in 1821, the son of a prominent physician. He is interested in writing at an early age. The novel “Madame Bovary was
published in two volumes. The novel, with the subtitle ”Moeurs de Province” “Provincial Customs”, first appeared in installment in the
Revue de Paris from the first of October to the fifteenth of December. The book was published by The New American Library of World Literature, Inc,
501 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10022. This book is written in 1857. It consists of 361 pages. Madame Bovary first printing , July, 1964
and printed in the United States of America. ”Madame Bovary” was one of the most influential literary achievements of the nineteenth century. The
success of Madame Bovary was ensured by government prosecution for “immorality”; Salammbo 1862 and The Sentimental Education 1869 get
a cool public reception; not until the publication of Three Tales 1877 was his genius popularly acknowledged. This story is about a desperate
housewife that cannot able to see her husband kindness because her high fantasy of marriage and love. It is a fiction story of French Literature.
B. Approach of the study
The writer uses feminist approach as the basic of the study.”Feminist literary criticism is concerned with the marginalization of all women: that is,
with their being relegated to a secondary position” Guerin:1999:196. The writer applies this approach to understand the reaction of the main female
characters in facing their problems from feminist point of view. The writer uses feminist approach because it focuses on the equality between men and
women.
C. Method of the study
There were some stages during the process of this study. First, the writer chose the novel Saadawi’s Woman at Point Zero and Flaubert’s
Madame Bovary. The writer will read the whole both novels as the primary source. It is very important to read the novel very carefully in order to get
deeper understanding. After reading both of the stories, the writer will concentrate on the main character’s reactions and actions. The writer also
took some important points of the main character in the novel that can show the nature of her characteristics.
Second, the writer collected necessary information, data related both of the characters through literary criticism, the Internet, lectures, and
discussion with friends. Then, the writer analyzed the data gathered. The writer analyzed both of the characters by seeing their attitudes and thought.
After that, the writer tried to apply some supported books that related in this study. Then, the writer collected all of the data and information and findings
into the final argument. In the last part, the writer concluded important points about the topic.
21
CHAPTER IV
ANALYSIS
In this chapter, the writer analyzes the problems stated in problem formulation in the first chapter. The first part is the discussion on the main
character which are Firdaus in “Woman at Point Zero” and Emma in “Madame Bovary”. The second part is contrast between Firdaus and Emma
as seen from feminist perspective. Michael Foucault has suggested that there are only two forms of
comparison: the comparison of measurement, which ‘analyses into units in order to establish relations of equality and inequality’ and that of
order, which establishes the simplest elements and arranges differences. Bassnett, 1993: 92
In doing the comparative study, the writer uses the comparison of measurement, which analyses the similarity and differences between two
literatures. First, the writer finds similarities between Firdaus and Emma, then finds differences between them by contrasting their attitude in facing
problems in their life.
A. The Characteristics of Firdaus and Emma Bovary
1. The Characteristics of Firdaus in “Woman at Point Zero”
a. Progressive Minded
Firdaus is a woman that have progressive thinking. She is different from the other woman. When, normally woman at young age dream about
man and love, she imagines that she will become the head of state although it is impossible to do at that time.
