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CHAPTER II THEORETICAL REVIEW
In this chapter the writer focuses on various studies and theories related to the literary work discussed. It includes the reviews from many critics and
theory of character and characterization, theory of conflict, and theory of message.
A. Review of Related Studies
The first study comes from In Marta Nelly’s minor thesis, “Symbols that Reflect the Main Character Named Coco in Wei Hui’s Shanghai Baby”. In her
thesis, Nelly tries to analyze the symbols that reflect the main character, Coco, in Wei Hui’s Shanghai Baby. There are three objectives of this study, namely to
describe how Coco is described as the main character in the novel, to describe how a cat, Coco’s novel, and the yin yang are depicted in the novel, and to
identify how the cat, the novel, and the yin yang symbolize Coco. In the analysis, she finds out that Coco is described with five main
characteristics, namely strong, having both good and wild sides, independent, romantically active, and strongly connected to her loved ones. These descriptions
are shown in her life since she was in university until now. As the answer to the last problem formulation, the cat, the novel, and the Yin Yang are depicted as
symbols that reveal Coco as the main character.
The cat is the only animal mentioned constantly, both as a pet cat kept by Tian Tian, Cocos boyfriend, and in Cocos dreams. It symbolizes Coco, because
they are both depicted as strong, found unexpectedly by Tian Tian, having a combination of good and wild sides, and independent.
Novel is an important part of this story because Coco, the main character, is a novel writer. Coco starts writing her novel in the beginning of the story and
finishes her novel in the end of the story. The novel symbolizes Coco’s romance life. Coco is not yet satisfied with her previous novel and her previous romance
life; Coco writes her novel and lives her romance life with great love and dedication; both Coco’s novel and her romance life contain some problems and
obstacles, and both Coco’s novel and her romance life are finally finished at the end of the story.
Yin and Yang are depicted as black and white or dark and light images in Shanghai in the evening, in some characters’ eyes, in Tian Tian’s pet cat’s fur, in
Coco’s dream, and in Shamirs movie. Yin and Yang symbolize Coco’s relationship with her loved ones, namely her family and boyfriend. The
contrasting characteristics of Yin and Yang resemble the contrasting characteristics of Coco and her loved ones; both the Yin and Yang as well as
Coco and her loved ones are strongly connected and cannot be separated; both the Yin and Yang as well as Coco and her loved ones must be balanced. If they are
not balanced, it will result in some problems. From Nelly’s study, the writer knows that their studies are related as both
use intrinsic element as the main focus of the study. The difference is Nelly
explained the symbols as the reflection of the main character in the story, while the writer uses the main character to see the conflicts and the message revealed
through them. However, both the studies are viewed through the formalistic approach. Since Nelly’s study used the intrinsice elements of the story to support
her analysis, her study helps the writer become more understand about the formalism. Her study is related and important to help the writer analyze and
complete his work. The second related study is based on a study written by Rendy Yoewono
titled “The Messages Revealed through the Main Character’s Ways to Survive in Yann Martel’s Life of Pi”. In his thesis, Yoewono aims to examine the messages
that are revealed through the main character’s ways to survive in his struggle for life.
Life of Pi is a novel which depicts the topic of struggle for life and against death in an emergency situation. It tells about the struggle of an Indian boy who
spent 227 days with a fierce tiger in the Pacific Ocean as the sole survivor in a shipwreck that killed his family. There are three problems formulation in this
study. The first one is about the description of the main character, Pi Patel, in the novel. The second problem examines the ways through which Pi Patel manages to
survive. And then the third problem examines the messages revealed through Pi Patel’s ways to survive.
The analysis of the study shows that Pi Patel has some dominant characteristics: he is intelligent, open-minded, spritual and has srtong
determination. Those characteristics are shown throughout the novel through Pi’s
past life, speech, thoughts, mannerism, and reactions to the situation arround him. Pi manages to survive through several ways: by recognising and using his
strength, which is made possible by his intelligence; by being realistic about the situation which is facilitated by his spirituality and strong determination. The
messages that are revealed through Pi’s ways to survive are that the mind is human’s greatest strength that it is essential to adapt to the current situation and
that one must not give up easily. Since this second study tries to examine the messages that are revealed
through the main characters, the writer used this study to help him to develop and enrich his study. If Yoewono examined only the characterization of the main
character of the story, the writer will be further explain about the conflicts of the main characters of the play in order to find the message revealed through them.
The characterization and message issues and some detail significances of formalistic approach appeared in Yoewono’s study that is why this study is very
related with the current study.
B. Review of Related Theories
1. Theory of Character and Characterization
Character and characterization are related and cannot be separated from each other. In the real life, human sense of character varies with their ability of
preception and understanding. Character is one of the important elements of a story. It can be considered as a person who has a role in a story. The reader
interpret the characters as having certain characteristic in the way they play in
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