The Theoretical Review INTRODUCTION

understand by the readers. In this thesis I would like to analyze the women struggle through the characters of Little Women.

1.5 The Significance of Analysis

The analysis of this thesis is expected to give significance to the readers who want to understand and appreciate literature in general and the works of Louisa May Alcott in particular. I also hope this thesis will be useful for the readers or people who need this thesis as a reference. As for human being, this thesis hopefully can help us to give more respect to others especially women indeed.

1.6 The Theoretical Approach

In order to search the relationship between the novel and social values, there are two approaches which can be used. First, intrinsic approach which an approach that emphasized on the elements of the novel itself. As Rene Wellek and Austin Warren says in their book Theory of Literature 1967:73, 81, 110 that the natural and sensible starting point to work in literary scholarship is the interpretation and analysis of the work of literature themselves. It means that it is important to analyze the literary works from the elements of the literary works themselves in order to get the information. Second, extrinsic approach which analyzes the literary work from external factors of the literary work such as; biography, autobiography, history, psychology and other factors that support the making of the novel. In analyzing this thesis, I use both of the approaches. Deals with the intrinsic approach, I have to attempt to read the text carefully, try to classify them into their own element and make a conclusion. I also use extrinsic approach because there is a relation between the novel and the author. Jo’s character in the novel has almost the same character of Alcott in the past.

1.7 The Theoretical Review

Universitas Sumatera Utara M.H. Abrams in his book The Mirror and the Lamp in 1953 Quoted from www.uwec.eduranowlanintr_crit_rdg_lit_081400.htm divides critical theory of literature into four kinds. They are mimetic theory, pragmatic theory, expressive theory, and objective theory. Mimetic theory the theory of imitation defines literature in relation to life, seeing it as a way of reproducing or recreating the experiences of man’s life in words. Abrams 1976:8-9 stated that mimetic theory is the most primitive aesthetic approach. The idea was developed through Plato’s vision that the literary work itself cannot represent the real life, but is only the imitation of what happened in our surroundings. Aristotle, on the other hand, declined Plato’s argument by stated that literary work as an art aims to purify the emotion the Latin word ‘catharsis’. Pragmatic theory relates literary work to its readers. It is called pragmatic because literature may give the practical result to its readers, and is sometimes also called affective since literature may give emotional effect to its readers. Pragmatic theory is used to reveal the functions of literary work in the middle of society, the spread, and the development. Pragmatic theory deals with the competence of the readers. Expressive theory focuses on the relation between the literary work and its writer. This kind of theory believes that literary work is produced through the expression and the emotion of its writer which are influenced by the background and the experience of the writer. Objective theory focuses on the literary work itself, its language, forms, and devices. This kind of theory declines the relation among literary work, historical aspects, sociological aspects, cultural aspects, and biographical aspects. Universitas Sumatera Utara In analyzing this thesis, I use expressive theory which will prove that the women character in Little Women actually reflect the women struggle at the nineteenth century and which will show that the novel is a result of the writer’s imagination and creativity to copy her life into the novel as one of the independent writer. Feminism is a phenomenon in the society. When we hear the word “feminism”, the very first thing that comes up in our mind is “woman”. Feminism is, indeed, identical with women, especially in their struggle upon the equality with men. Ratna 2004:184 says, “Dalam pengertian yang paling luas, feminis adalah gerakan kaum wanita untuk menolak segala sesuatu yang dimarginalisasikan, disubordinasikan, dan direndahkan oleh kebudayaan dominan, baik dalam bidang politik dan ekonomi maupun kehidupan social pada umumnya In its broadest sense, feminist is a women’s movement which rejects the marginal, subordinated and underestimated things by the dominating culture either in politics, economics or social life in general. Feminist rejects the injustice as the result of patriarchal society. Feminist also rejects the history and philosophy as they are assumed as male-oriented disciplines. Through feminism, women claim to cultural consciousness that they will not be assumed as the marginal and that the dynamic balance will be achieved Ratna 2004:186- 188. Feminism is an idea and movement that appose the traditional view on woman. It is about women who want to struggle to raise their status and their right in family and society. They will discuss women who want to get free from the domination of men in family and society. They refuse to be treated as the ‘second’ society and regarded as inferior. They do not want to live under the shadow of men’s power. Selden states that in pre-Mendelian days men regarded their sperm as the active seeds which give form to the waiting ovum which lacks identity till it receives the male’s impress. Selden et.al. 1997:121 This idea leads to a belief that the mother is no parent to her child. Mary Ellman, in her book Thinking about Women Universitas Sumatera Utara 1968, apropos the spermovum nexus above, ‘deconstructs’ male-dominated ways of seeing by suggesting that we might prefer to regard the ovum as daring, independent and individualistic rather than ‘apathetic’ and the sperm as conforming and sheeplike rather than ‘enthusiastic’. Elaine Showalter in A Handbook to Literature 1999:211 says: “Feminist criticism has become a wide-ranging exploration of the construction of gender and identity, the role of women in culture and society, and the possibilities of women’s creative expression.” By using the feminist theory above, hopefully this analysis can show that women can do what men can do. Also, women can get the equal right with men. As we know that everything in this world is God’s creation and every person can have it, no exception for men and women.

1.8 Reviews to Related Literature