B. Review of Related Theories
In this part, there are two theories that are going to be used to answer the problems that have been formulated. The first theory is theory of character and
characterization to see the intrinsic element of the play, the second is theory of racial discrimination to analyze the form of racial discrimination.
1. Theories of Character and Characterization
Character is the main element in a literary work. According to M.H Abrams, A Glossary of Literary Terms ninth Edition
, “Characters are the persons represented in a dramatic or narrative work, who
are interpreted by the reader as possessing particular moral, intellectual, and emotional qualities by inferences from what the person say and their
distinctive ways of saying it -the dialogue- and from what they do –the action” 2009: 42.
This quotation shows that the character is the one who plays an important role in the story. Based on How To Analyze Drama by Reaske, there are six devices to
characterize the characters. a.
The Appearance of the Character “In the prologue or in the stage directions the playwright often describes the
character in the physical sense” Reaske, 1966: 46. This quotation shows that the appearance or what the character looks like is one of the ways to show the
characteristic of the character.
b. Asides and Soliloquies
The characters can also be described by his or her dialogue to the audience. “All of the further characterization is of course established through dialogue. We
learn about the characters as they speak. To understand the characters best when they speak in short asides or in longer soliloquies” 1946: 46. To characterize what kind
of person the character is by showing the character’s speech or mind that is addressing to the audience or it is only the character’s inner thought which is
delivered when he or she is alone. c.
Dialogue between Characters “Not only does the language of the character speaking alone characterize him,
but his language when speaking to others also sheds a great deal of light on his personality” 1966: 47. The conversation between the characters also can show the
characteristics of the characters. d.
Hidden Narration “One of the devices of the characterization frequently employed is having one
character in a play narrate something about another character” 1966: 47. From this quotation, it can be seen that the playwright indirectly shows the characterization of
one character from another character’s description. e.
Language “Not only must we pay close attention to the kind of words which the
character uses, but also we must be careful to remember how the character speaks” 1966: 47. In brief, the way a character speaks, the expression he or she undergoes,
and the attitude while the character pronounces dialogue is also the important thing to characterize.
f. Character in Action
The last device is about the character’s act. This is to show the reaction that the characters give on a certain situation.
2. Theory of Racial Discrimination
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