Theory of Characters and Characterization

it can be observed not only from the author’s narration but also from the characters’ speech and actions. Each character as their own role exposes the nature of people itself to be their distinct feature. In Reading the Novel, An Introduction to the Techniques of Interpreting Fiction E. M. Forster, as pointed by Henkle, says that the character can be divided into flat characters who are compelled by a set idea in their creater, and round characters who embody all the variations and complexities of human nature. Round character is somewhat difficult to describe because this character expresses the complexity of a human nature. Forster adds that the easiest way to identify a round character is by testing whether the character is capable to surprise the reader or not. It can be said this character shows some qualities that can evoke the reader’s feeling 1977: 91. Further Harmon 2009: 95 says, “The characterization is the creation of imagery persons so that they can seem lifelike.” It means that the characterization is a method of describing the character. The character’s development is explained and described through characterization. By learning the theory of characterization, the writer is able to know the way the author describe the characters. Therefore, observing the character’s action, attitude, behavior, and reaction is used to know their role in society and the interpersonal relationship with other people. In A Glossary of Literary Terms , Abrams and Harpham say, A broad distinction is frequently made between alternative methods for characterizing that is, establishing the distinctive characters of the persons in a narrative: showing and telling. In showing also called “the dramatic method”, the author simply presents the characters talking and acting, and leaves it entirely up to the reader to infer the motives and dispositions that lie behind what they say and do. The author may show PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI not only external speech and action, but also a character’s inner thoughts, feelings, and responsiveness to events; for a highly developed mode of such inner showing, see stream of consciousness . In telling, the author intervenes authoritatively in order to describe, and often to evaluate, the motives and dispositional qualities of the characters 2009: 43. The theory above explains that the way to describe a person can be both by showing and telling. The author characterizes the characters by presenting them in the way they talk and act. Besides presenting them in talking and acting, the author presents them by directly telling the reader what kind of persons they are.

2. Basic Concepts of Using Psychoanalytic Approach

Psychoanalytic criticism is “a form of literary criticism using the techniques of psychoanalysis in the interpretation of literature” Barry, 2009:92. Psychoanalysis itself is “a form of therapy which aims to cure mental disorders by investigating the interaction of conscious and unconscious elements in the mind” Barry, 2009:92. It means that Psychoanalytic criticism tries to criticize a literary work by investigating the conscious and unconscious minds of the persons related to the literary works. The persons that have been investigated can be the characters represented in the narrative work or even the writer. Summarizing the idea of psychoanalytic approach, Bressler, in his book entitled Literary Criticism: An Introduction to Theory and Practice , creates four basic concepts of using psychoanalytic approach, which are: a. “A distressing event or situation that occurs in youth is repressed into the unconscious” Bressler, 1999:86 PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI People will never know about their personal problems since people’s mind tend to repress their most distressing experiences. However, all human being has psychological problems caused by some harmful emotional experiences they experience while growing up. Family as the most important source of people’s early emotional experiences plays a crucial roles in shaping their repressed minds, despite how perfect the families are. The sign of emotional problem that occurs as the result of a repressed experience is the repetition of self-destructive behaviour. b. The repressed feelings are “buried in our unconscious through the use of defences” Bressler, 1999:86. There are some common defences that come up from the repressed experiences: i. Denial Denial is when people deny by believing that an emotionally painful situation does not exist or never occurred. ii. Avoidance Avoidance is when people stay away from anything that could lead them to the painful memory. c. Core issue that comes up from the powerful buried experiences. If the experience buried in the unconscious is powerful enough, it becomes a core issue core issu e is a fundamental part of people’s personalities that determines many of their feelings and a good deal of behaviour. Bressler also mentions that there are four core issues that generally occur in human’s life: PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI