CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION
A. The Background of the Research
The La Cucina is a work of Lily Prior. The story takes places of the twentieth century, 1927, on the farm of Alcantara valley beneath the citadel of Castiglione, on
the far eastern side of the island of Sicily, near the slopes of the great volcano. Here, Rosa Fiore narrates the story of her life in mid-century Sicily.
It story tells about Rosa Fiore which lives with her family in the village, she has eight older brothers and younger Siamese twin brother. Rosa fiore is the only girl
in her family. Her mother threats her discriminately, not likes her brother Rosa should stay at her room when the nights come. Mother does not believe even to her own sons
and her husband. In other word mother is overprotected to Rosa. She expresses her dissatisfy and her feeling by cooking foods and makes some bottle of juice in the
kitchen. She does it when she feels lonely or upset. Besides her hobbies cooking can help her to make another business, it can earn money. It lasts for a long time until the
Mafia harms her cease the production of foods and drinks. The Mafia is a secret organization which has power to rule a market of foods and drinks. The Mafia does
not want if somebody compete their business. They warn Rosa to cease her home production, but Rosa as a strong girl ignores it and carries on the production. She
struggle it by herself.
Rosa’s life changes when she falls in love with Bartolomeo, she feels so happy of having a boyfriend and find a place to share. But the father of Bartolomeo
Don Umberto “The man of honor” has matched Bartolomeo with his friend daughter, his mafia relation. Bartolomeo refuses and disobey his father because he has Rosa the
woman he loves. Don Umberto feels insulted by his son behavior and Rosa should lose her boyfriend because Bartolomeo is killed by his own father. Dissatisfy of her
society Rosa moves to Palermo to find a new life and job in Palermo. Once again Rosa struggle it by her self.
Many things that make Rosa suffered, will Rosa survive in her environment through the rule in her society and how she will face all of those? It would be very
interesting to know deeper about the characterization of Rosa Fiore and all intrigues that happen in the novel.
Especially, what the researcher wants to study is the image of Rosa Fiore in the novel La Cucina based on feminist values, which is values of an obstinate,
independent, and optimistic woman in undergoing her life without feeling tired or even desperate.
B. The Focus of the Research
Kategori