1
CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Literature is a kind of written work to express something or to know what happens in a certain period of time. Literary works commonly are short stories,
novels, poems, or dramas. Taken from Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary
1995:687 literature includes writings that are valued as works of art, especially fiction, drama and poetry. Many literary works are adapted by the authors from
real life or history. Fiction literature includes morals, stories and anything based on the
author’s own ethnic and culture or from others’. These literary works spread in many countries as well as
in America. One of the works that brings the author’s culture in herhis works is
“In The American Society”, a short story by Gish Jen, a Chinese American writer who has written many literary works and always
included cultural aspects in them. In this thesis, the writer will explain about ethnocentrism that is involved
in the above short story. It is a short story about a Chinese family who live in America and strongly hold their culture. The main character, Mr. Ralph Chang,
believes that Chinese culture is better than other cultures, in this case the American culture. So, he lives with his own way and perception as a Chinese man
particularly when his restaurant business grows well. Meanwhile, his wife and
2 two daughters can asimilate with local American people and receive their culture.
Ethnocentrism is shown in Mr. Chang’s daily life, for example when he treats his employees as what the Chinese do in their culture and when he solves problems
using his perception as Chinese. The writer will explain ethnocentrism of the main character using ethnocentrism theory suggested by Sumner.
1.2 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
In this research, the writer focuses on the discussion about ethocentrism that Mr. Chang applies in his life in the American society in the short story
entitled “In The American Society”.
1.3 AIMS OF THE STUDY
Kategori