Critical Approach Character and Characterization

8

CHAPTER 2 REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

This chapter presents three major parts, namely review of related theories, review on history of Nazi occupation in Europe, and theoretical framework. This section presents theory of critical approaches, theory of character and characterization, theory of friendship, theory of motivation, and theory of Nazism In the review on history of Nazi occupation in Europe, there is an explanation about the history of Nazi invasions in Europe during World War II and the suffering of the defeated countries and their citizens, especially Jews. Theoretical framework provides information about why and how those theories are applied in order to answer the problem of the study.

2.1 Review of Related Theories

2.1.1 Critical Approach

According to Rohrberger and Woods, Jr. 6-15, there are five approaches which are used in analyzing a work of literature, namely the Formalist Approach, the Biographical Approach, the Sociocultural-Historical Approach, the Mythopoeic Approach, and the Psychological Approach. The Formalist Approach searches only on the work based on its aesthetic value. The Biographical Approach analyzes a work of art through the biography of the author. The Sociocultural-historical Approach sees a literary work based on sociocultural-historical background. The Mysthopoeic Approach uses myth beyond the work of art as the reference. The Psychological Approach explores a work of art using psychological theories as the basis of analysis. This study takes the Psychological Approach and the Sociocultural- Historical Approach as the most appropriate approaches in interpreting the novel and analyzing the problems of the study. The first approach, the Psychological Approach, is an approach that investigates behaviour of the characters as a human being Rohrberger Woods, Jr. 13-15. From the psychological point of view, the reasons behind the actions of the characters may be explained. The Sociocultural- Historical Approach leads us to analyze the events in the novel in reference to the accuracy in the presentation of historical facts. That is why the analysis of social, cultural, and historical backgrounds are used as references to the further understanding and interpretation of the story.

2.1.2 Character and Characterization

According to Abrams 32, character is defined as the persons presented in a work of literature that are interpreted by the readers as having moral and qualities that are expressed in what they say and do. He categorizes characters into major and minor characters. Major characters, also known as central characters, are characters who are relevant to every event in the story. Commonly, major characters get influenced by the events occurring in the story, causing their attitudes and personality changed as the story reaches its climax. Minor characters are characters that appear in certain setting and time in the story. Their roles are less important than the major characters because minor characters are not fully developed character and their functions in the story are to support the development of the major characters. Further, Forster qtd in Abrams 33 distinguishes between flat and round characters. Flat characters are portrayed without much personal detail, while round characters are complex in their motivations and emotions. They are difficult to describe as they have uniqueness just like a person in real life. Murphy 161-173 proposes nine methods of characterization. The methods are details about how an author conveys the characters and personalities of the people in his or her work of literature. They help the readers to understand about the characters in a story. They nine methods are: 2.1.2.1 Personal description The author describes from the details of physical appearance of the character, like strong or weak, tall or short, white or black skin. The description will help the readers to understand the characters in the story visually. 2.1.2.2 Character as seen by others An author describes the character through other characters’ point of view. The other characters in the story give their opinions by giving explanation of what a character looks like. In these details, the readers can also use their own point of view to analyze the character. 2.1.2.3 Speech The author gives the readers an insight into the character in the work through what a person says. It can be seen whenever a person speaks in conversation with other characters. 2.1.2.4 Past life To understand the character’s personality through past life means that the readers search the character’s past life or what happen to the character’s past life. His or her present life is closely connected to his or her past life. Knowing his past life, the readers can figure out the character’s personality in a work of literature. An author sometimes explains a person’s personality by giving special events that shape his character. The readers can find it from the direct comment of the author or through the person’s thought or the medium of another person. 2.1.2.5 Conversation of others The readers have to pay attention through the conversations of other people and the things they say about the person, because an author sometimes gives a clue to understand the person’s personality from others’ conversation and their opinion about him. The readers will get more information about the person’s character by applying this method. 2.1.2.6 Reaction The author gives the readers a clue to a person’s character by describing how the person reacts to various situations or events in the story. Using this method, the readers can figure out the person’s character because the responses of the person are based on his personality. 2.1.2.7 Direct comment The author sometimes gives comments on a person’s character directly by writing it in his work of literature. It enables the readers to know directly about a person’s personality. The readers may easily understand what kind of person he is. 2.1.2.8 Thoughts The author gives us direct knowledge of what a person is thinking about. Whenever the author gives a direct description of what a person is thinking about, it allows the readers to analyze the mental process of the person. 2.1.2.9 Mannerism A person’s character can be described through his habit and mannerism. Knowing his habit and mannerism, the readers will be able to find more information about the person and what personalities he possesses.

2.1.3 Friendship