In relation to the above studies, the writer tries to relate these studies with the problem that are being analyzed. The studies above can give the readers some ideas
about this novel. The first review gives a glimpse about the historical significance that is have a deep bond with this novel, while the second one tells about how this novel
has some important points that pointed to the world of intellectuals and also businessmen from the interaction of Mr. Sneaze. With the studies included above as
reference, the writer here wants to see the intellectuals in the Meiji era through the character of Avalon Coldmoon as the role model in this story.
B. Review of Related Theories
1. Theory of Character and Characterization
Abram in his book, A Glossary of Literary Terms states that, “a character is the
person presented in a dramatic or narrative work, who are 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” Abram, 1981: 23.
Barnet in his book, Literature for Composition: Essays, Fiction, Poetry and Drama explain the ways to understand the character and characterization:
a. what the character says How the character says will help the readers interpret his or her characteristic.
b. what the character does The readers or audience can learn the attitudes or behaviors of a character and
they may guess how actually the author creates the characters.
c. what the other characters says about the character A character interacts with other characters. They share their opinion and gives
comments about the character. Such opinion and comments may reflect the characteristic of the character drawn.
Barnet, 1988:712
Through Barnet ’s theory, the writer can seek the description of the character
and its characterization in some points that given above. This theory can help the reader to understand the characteristic of the character. Some authors prefer to use the
society around the character and the character itself to give understanding about the story or the character in the novel, while some other authors choose to use the society
around the character to give better explanation of the character in the story. Murphy in Understanding Unseen: An Introduction to English Poetry and the
English Novel for Overseas Students states that there are a few of ways the author characterize the characters. According to Murphy, character can be understood from 9
ways: “personal description, character as seen by another, speech, past life,
conversation by another characters, reactions, direct comment, thought, mannerisms ”
1972: 161-173, 1. Personal Description
The author describes a person’s appearance and clothes, such as face, skin, eyes, and the castaway’s extraordinary clothing.
2. Characters as Seen by Another The author describes him through the eyes and opinions of another, conveys through
his choice of words and phrases, such as unquiet eyes, dim smile, rare sound of her voice, unapproachable aspect, gazing at him stealthily
3. Speech The author gives an insight into the character of one of the persons in the book
through what that person says. Whenever a person speaks, whenever he is in conversation with another, whenever he puts forward an option, he is giving some
clue to his character. 4. Past Life
The author gives a clue to events that have helped to shape a person’s character, by direct comment, through the person’s thoughts, through his conversation or through
the medium of another person. 5. Conversation of Others
The author can also give clues to a person’s character through the conversations of other people and the things they say about him. People do talk about other people
and the things they say often give as a clue to the character of the person spoken about.
