Object of the Study

described in the play. First, she is a manipulative, second she is heartless and then the third, she is greedy. 1. Manipulative From the very beginning of the play, it can be seen that she has the qualities of the devil. Her manipulative characteristic can be seen when she makes others believe or do things that are in the interest of her. She is described as a manipulative woman particularly when she already knows that Sweeney Todd is Barker. For instance, she makes Sweeney Todd believes about Lucy, also she tells something that is not true to the people around her or in the other words she deceives people in order to get her own advantage. She has the talent in controlling people’s mind and belief which in turn control their action. Here, the researcher provides several evidences of her manipulative way. TODD . Isn’t that a room up there over the shop? If times are so hard, why don’t you rent it out? That should bring in something. MRS. LOVETT. Up there? Oh, no one will go near it. People think it’s haunted. You see – years ago, something happened up there. Something not very nice. [Sings] There was a barber and his wife, And he was beautiful, A proper artist with a knife, But they transported him for life. [Sighs] And he was beautiful . . . [Speaks, music continuing under] Barker, his name was – Benjamin Barker. TODD. Transported? What was his crime? MRS. LOVETT. Foolishness. Wheeler, 1979:15 The quotation above is her conversation with Todd after he enters her meat pie shop then tries to eat the pie that is well-known as the worst pie in London. Here, because of she does not know Todd’s identity then she tells something true about what has happened in fifteen years ago related to his family. Her honest explanation about Todd and his family is clearly explained in a song Poor Thing. In this song, Mrs. Lovett tells what happens to the family of Benjamin Barker chronologically. Lovett tells that at that time there is a barber named Barker. He is a beautiful barber. He lives with his wife and a year-old kid. Unfortunately, because of his foolishness, he is moved to a place far from his family by Judge Turpin and his Beadle who are rich and respectable persons in the city. Furthermore, Lovett tells that Judge Turpin really fond of Barker’s wife and wants to have her because of her beauty. Lovett describes Barker ’s wife, Lucy, as a fool by using the word ‘poor thing’ because she wastes the opportunity to live together with Judge Turpin and still believes in him after knowing that her husband is moved to a strange place by him. Lovett adds, Lucy ’s belief is proven by her participation in a ball where there is no one she knows. She is invited by the Beadle to meet Judge Turpin there and in shame, an incident happening to her. At the party, she is raped by Judge Turpin with no single person helps her. Moreover, from the quotation above Todd believes to Mrs. Lovett because the event is similar with what has happened to him. I t can be seen from Todd’s statement to Antony, a man who helps him from the ocean after his escape from prison in The Barber and His Wife song. However, human mind is easily damaged and it can be broken with very easy techniques. In the play, Mrs. Lovett proves to be very experienced in manipulation. Throughout the play, Lovett is able with her words to control almost every character she speaks to. She manipulates Todd by omitting the true