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CHAPTER IV ANALYSIS
This chapter discusses the two problems that have been mentioned in the previous chapter. It is divided into two sub-chapters. First, the characteristics of
Mrs. Lovett and the second is the motive of her to hide Lucy’s identity. In the first
part of the analysis, the researcher discusses the characteristics using Reaske’s theory. Then in the second part,
the researcher uses Maslow’s theory to answer the second problem formulation.
A. Mrs. Lovett’s Characteristics
The play Sweeney Todd written by Hugh Wheeler tells about the barber Benjamin Barker who is married to the beautiful Lucy and they have a lovely
child, Johanna. The beauty of Lucy attracts the attention of the Judge Turpin who then wrongly sends the barber to the prison so that he can have Lucy to himself.
Fifteen years later, Benjamin returns to London with the new identity – Sweeney
Todd to seek revenge by killing Judge Turpin and his beadle. He meets Mrs. Lovett, a widow who is the owner of the meat pie shop, telling him that Lucy
poisons herself and her daughter is adopted by Turpin. Then he opens a barber shop above her shop in order to revenge those who destroy his family.
Mrs. Lovett as one of the major characters has the important role in the play. She is portrayed as the most heinous villain in the play from the beginning
until the end of the play. There are three characteristics of Mrs. Lovett that can be
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.
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