Characterization through Appearance Characteristics through Rule as a Parent

1. Characteristics through Rule as a Parent

Calon Arang and Empu Baradah presented as a parent in the novel who have a daughter. The author described Calon Arang as a witch and Empu Baradah as a priest. Their appearances presented by the author differently from that will be exercise using “characterization through appearance” and “characterization by the author”.

a. Characterization through Appearance

Commonly, the author will describe the appearance of character to give information to the reader about characteristics of the character. Through appearance description such as; their clotting style, their conversation manner, and their gesture, the reader will understand characteristics of the character. The author described Calon Arang characteristics by showing her traits to the reader that presented by her appearance such as: she has bulling and red eyes, she has fangs in her mouth, and she has ability to gush fire from her mouth as if she is a bad mother. The traits of Calon Arang can be exercise from excerpt below. Calon Arang began to grow angry. Her eyes opened wide, her body began to tremble, her lips grew pale in color as anger drained the blood from them. Her eyes grew red, her brow became so creased her right eyebrow merged with her left, and her anger made it difficult for her to breathe. Her chest rose and fell like a billows and, finally, when her anger had reached its peak, flames burst from her mouth, ears and eyes p: 112. From the above paragraph, Calon Arang’s appearance and trait suggested that she is a bad mother. It also indicates that Calon Arang is a temperament person. Empu Baradah presented in the novel by showing his appearance to the reader such as: he is a modest and astute man. Hence, the traits of Empu Baradah suggest if he is as a good parent, as quoted in the story. Perhaps because her father, Empu Baradah, was such a wise and intelligent man, Wedawati was clever too. At night her father gave her lessons in all kinds of subjects – geography, botany, religion, ethics, and even philosophy. He wanted his daughter….’ peaceful of heart p. 24-25. The appearance of Empu Baradah as shown from the description above suggests that he is a good parent. He cares about his daughter by giving her lessons about much knowledge’s. It can be said that he is a good father and wise person. Calon Arang is described as temperament person but yet she is a loving mother who does anything. It takes including staking her own life so as to make her daughter happy. This characteristic can be found from the following paragraph: Yes, Inded, Calon Arang was an evil woman but she was a mother too, and as Ratna Manggali was her only child she loved her daughter dearly and wanted nothing but happiness for her….’ p. 15. The above paragraph shows us although Calon Arang is evil woman; she is a loving mother who wants nothing but only her daughter happiness. In the story, no man wanted to marry Calon Arangs daughter. This fact had raised her anger and fueled her to take revenge against people around her. Until someday, a man came to propose to her daughter even this was done only as a ploy to defeat her. She feels happy although in the end of the story she must die in combat against Empu Baradah. Contras to Calon Arang Empu Baradah described in the story of the novel suggest he is a less loving father because he makes decision without asks permission to her daughter when he get married to other women yet. His married causes his daughter leave the house. It shows in except below. Empu Baradah remarried and his new wife bore him son, a half – brother for Wedawati….’someone with whom she could play and talk to at home or in the garden, and a reason not to dwell on the thought of her dearly – beloved mother p: 63. …’Empu Baradah’s second wife, loved her son and showed great affection for both him and her husband. Alas, she did not show the same concern for her step – daughter. Even since she married Empu Baradah, but specially after the birth of their son, she silently wished for Wedawati to leave and find own way in the world p: 63. We can portray characteristic of Empu Baradah from the above paragraph. He gets married with other woman without asking consideration from his daughter. It is contras to the characteristic of Empu Baradah, as a man that masters much knowledge’s. It is also described in the story that he is a wise man, in contrary to this good trait is his decision to remarry without seeking for his daughters opinion beforehand and later this marriage impacts her and caused her departure. It shows the readers that Empu Baradah is a less loving father or can say he is an unconcerned father.

b. Characterization by the Author