Theory of Character Theory of Characterization

CHAPTER II REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

This chapter is presented in three parts. They are review of related theories, review of Japanese culture and theoretical framework. In the first part, the review of related theories presents the theory of character, theory of characterization, and the theories of critical approaches. In the second part, the review of Japanese culture contains the socio-cultural background of Japanese society and the review of geisha. The socio-cultural background of Japanese society is then divided into two parts. They are the concept of on and the concept of gimu. Moreover, the review of geisha is also divided into three parts. They are the history of geisha, the description of geisha and the last part is the world of geisha. Last, the writer presents the theoretical framework discusses about the usage of the theories in this study.

A. Review of Related Theories

There are two theories that are discussed in the theoretical review. Those theories are the theory of character and the theory of characterization.

1. Theory of Character

In this part, the writer discusses the theory of character. The writer uses this theory to analyze the type of Nitta Sayuri’s character in the novel. 9 According to Henkle 87-101, there are two factors that are used to determine the type of characters in a novel. They are the complexity of the character’s traits and the amount of the attention given in a story. Based on those two factors, the characters then can be divided into two types. They are major character and minor or secondary character. Major character is a character with complex traits. That is why the character gets a full attention in a story. In fact, the attention given by the author to the character makes the character as the most significant figure compared to others. Minor or secondary character is a character with simple traits. Its character traits are simpler than what the major character has. Generally, minor or secondary character is less important and less complex than the one in major character.

2. Theory of Characterization

In this part, the writer discusses the theory of characterization. The writer uses this theory to analyze Nitta Sayuri’s character traits in the novel. According to Murphy 161-173, there are nine techniques that can be used by the author to describe the character’s traits in a literary work. Those nine techniques are personal description technique, character as seen by others technique, speech technique, past life technique, conversation of 10 others technique, reactions technique, direct comment technique, thoughts technique, and mannerisms technique. First, personal description technique is a technique in which the author directly and accurately describes the character’s physical appearance related to the shape of the face and body, skin, eyes and hair colors, weight, height and the way of dressing. Second, character as seen by others technique is a technique in which the author gives the readers clues about the character’s traits through other characters’ point of view. Third, speech technique is a technique in which the author gives the readers clues about the character’s traits through the speech of the character, whenever he or she puts forward an opinion and is in conversation with another. Fourth, past life technique is a technique in which the author gives the readers clues about the character’s traits by looking at the character’s past life. Those clues can be seen from the direct comment given by the author, the character’s thoughts, the characters conversation with others and the medium of another person. Fifth, conversation of others technique is a technique in which the author describes the character’s traits through conversation of other characters in the novel. Sixth, reactions technique is a technique in which the author gives the readers clues about the character’s traits through the character’s reactions to various situations and events. Seventh, direct comment technique is a technique in which the author gives direct descriptions or comments about the character in the novel. Eighth, thoughts technique is a technique in which the author gives the PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 11 readers direct knowledge of what the character is thinking about. Last, mannerism technique is a technique in which the author gives a description about the character’s habits and attitudes.

3. Theory of Critical Approach