Critical Approaches Character Review of Related Theories

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CHAPTER 2 REVIEW ON RELATED LITERATURE

The discussion is divided into two parts namely review of related theories and theoretical framework. Review of the related theories gives brief explanation of the theories of critical approaches and the theories of literature such as theory of character, theory of characterization, theory of friendship and disloyalty, and historical background of Afghanistan. Theoretical framework provides an explanation of how those theories are applied in analysis.

2.1 Review of Related Theories

This part presents the theoretical review which contains critical approach, theories of character, theories of characterization, theories of motivation and theories of friendship.

2.1.1 Critical Approaches

According to what Rohrberger and Woods Jr. 6-15 have proposed, there are five types of critical approaches used to analyze a work of literature. First is the formalist approach that searches only on the work based on its aesthetic value. Secondly, the biographical approach is an approach in understanding a work of art through the biography of the author. Third is the sociocultural-historical approach that sees a work of literature which is referenced on sociocultural-historical background. The sociocultural-historical approach explores a work of literature by emphasizing on historical background that shapes the setting of place in a story. Fourth is the mysthopoeic approach that uses myth beyond the work of art as the reference. Fifth is the psychological approach works which is based on the psychological theories. The psychological approach explores a work of art by using some psychological theories as the framework. The psychological and sociocultural-historical approaches are chosen as tools applied in this study, particularly in revealing the factors why Amir can turn into someone disloyal to his best friend.

2.1.2 Character

In order to understand how a character in literary work is described, we need to understand the theories of character. Through these theories we will get the understanding about the character which is portrayed in a work of literature. Characters experience many things that could influence their thoughts, ideas, judgments about life and society Abrams 20. They seem to have the same dynamic emotion which can be seen through their speech and action. Abram adds that characters have some characteristics which are similar with human beings’. Sometime it comes to them to get angry, and to show some moral and social values that ultimately become their motivation in saying and doing something. E. M Foster in Aspect of The Novel 46 – 51 says that character can also be categorized as flat or round. Round character is introduced from the beginning until the end of the story in a inconstant and changed environment. The author can express the round character by giving it capability of surprising in a convincing way Forster 54. A character can change his personality description by acting and saying something crucial. According to Henkle 88 – 97, characters can mainly be categorized as major and minor characters. He states that major character is created to carry out ideas or messages in a story to readers through the character’s feelings, thoughts, actions, and reactions. In the other side, minor or secondary characters are those who only appear in a certain setting to support the major characters. Henkle says that it is necessary for us to pay a heed to the major characters in order to understand the novel profoundly. As an addition, he says that we build expectations and desires upon them to establish our values and to present convincing dramatizations of the human issues of the book. Once again, these theories of characters are used in this study on a purpose to interpret real human life characters which are used by an author in his own novel. We use them by logically and possibly analyzing the novel’s characters with our skills of personal interpretation.

2.1.3 Characterization