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CHAPTER IV ANALYSIS
In this chapter, the writer discusses about the problems formulation stated in previous chapter. The writer will analyze only on the main character, Roxana.
The first part of this chapter presents the characteristic of Roxana. The second part will present the social condition of women in England in the 1800s century. The
th ird part shows the characteristics of Roxana and the description of women‟s
hardships in the 1800s century.
A. The Characteristics of Roxana
The following analysis gives a picture of women in England through the dialogue and the action done by the character which is endowed with moral,
dispositional, and emotional qualities. In analyzing Roxana‟s characteristics, the
writer applies the theory of characterization of Abrams which is quoted as follows.
Characters are the person in a dramatic or narrative work, who is interpreted by the reader as being endowed with moral, dispositional, and
emotional qualities that are expressed in what they say: the dialogue, and by what they do: the action 1993: 23.
In this novel, Defoe presents the characteristics of Roxana through her behaviour and action in the novel. The writer tries to understand the characters in
the story by the dialogue of the characters in the play. The dialogue in the story can reveal the behaviour and the action to the character itself.
1. Educated
One of Roxana‟s characteristics is revealed through her action, as it is affirmed by Holman and Harmon that one method of characterization is through
the presentation of the character from actions 1986: 81. Roxana is an educated upper class woman. It can be seen from the following quotation.
I went to English schools, and, being young, I learnt the English tongue perfectly well, with all the customs of the English young women; so that I
retained nothing of the French but the speech, nor did I so much as keep any remains of the French language tagged to may way speaking, as most
foreigners do, but spoke what we call natural English, as if I had been born here Defoe, 2000: 2.
Murphy states that a person‟s character in the novel can be revealed
through what the character says. Whenever a character speaks in conversation, we can see his personality from the opinion that he gives 1972: 161. Once Roxana
was young, her parents sent her to English schools. She studied well and became a smart student.
Roxana‟s characteristic as educated woman can be seen through her speech.
I was speaking of myself as about fourteen years of age tall and very well made, sharp as a hawk in matters in common knowledge, quick and smart
in discourse, apt to be satirical, full of repartee, and a little to forward in conversation; or as we call it in English, bold, though perfectly modest in
my behaviour. Being French born, I danced, as some say, naturally, love it extremely, and sang well also; and so well, that, as you will hear, it was
afterwards some advantage to me. With all these things, I wanted neither of wit, beauty, nor money. In this manner, I set out into the world, having
all the advantages that any young women could desire to recommend me
to others and form a prospect of happy living to myself Defoe, 2000: 2.”
From the speech above show, that Roxana is an educated woman. She comes from middle class or rich family. At that time, only a child of the upper or
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