10 characters are characters observed most often in the novel and whose appearances
are frequent. By understanding them, the readers will understand the central experiences of the novel. He points out that the effectiveness of most novels
depends upon the ability of the major characters to express and dramatize the human issues of the book. On the other hand, the secondary or minor characters
are characters that perform more limited functions. They are generally less complex, or less intense, and drawn in shallower relief, present what is often only
one side of the experience.
c. Theory of Characterization
Holman and Harmon 1986: 81-82 state that the process where an author creates a character is called characterization. Characterization is the creation of
imaginary persons. They are created imaginatively, but they have to be seen real, so they exist for the readers as life like.
According to Rohrberger and Woods 1971: 20, characterization is a process where the author creates a character that must be credible. They also add that
characters have particular personalities and physical attributes that distinguish them from other characters. Another opinion comes from Myers and Simms
1989: 44 that consider characterization as the representation in literature of imaginary people whose combine physical descriptions, attitudes, motives, and
life-like actions. Furthermore, the readers accept the representation as real people. Rohrberger and Woods 1971: 20 mention two ways in characterizing. First
the author describes the character directly. He or she simply writes the physical appearance, or moral attributes of the character. The last, the author can describe
11 the character dramatically. The author describes the character through the way he
or she behaves or speaks. In this novel, it is described clearly how Janice Templeton, the main character, reacts in facing her life problems. It seems that
Abrams has the same opinion with Rohrberger and Woods on how to characterize. While Abrams 1981: 21 in his book A Glossary of Literary Terms says that
there are two different methods in characterizing the person in a narrative, which are showing or dramatic method and telling method. In showing, the author just
writes about what the characters say and do and lets the readers conclude by themselves what motives and dispositions lie behind the characters’ words and
acts. Furthermore, in telling, the author gives the description, and often evaluation, about the motives and dispositional qualities of the characters.
Meanwhile, Murphy 1972: 61-173 in his book Understanding Unseen explains that there are nine ways used by the author to make his or her characters
understandable to and come alive for the readers. They are personal description, character as seen by another, speech, past life, conversation of others, reactions,
direct comment, thoughts, and mannerism. Here, the writer will explain briefly about those characterizations.
The first one is personal description. It deals with physical appearances. The author can describe a person’s appearance by using facial expression and clothes
that they wear in the story. A well dressed person can be identified as a rich and intelligent man. A man with scars on his face can show that he is a criminal.
The second is character as seen by another. Instead of describing a character directly, the author describes him or her through the eyes and opinions of another
character. Therefore the readers can get a reflected image of one’s character. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
12 The third characterization is speech. It is an important way that we can use to
describe a character. The author gives us a description of the characteristic of one person in the novel through what the person says and the style of his or her
speech. Whenever a person speaks, whenever he or she is in conversation with others, whenever he or she puts forward an opinion, he or she is giving us some
clues to his or her character. The fourth one is past life. A person’s character is influenced by their past life.
This is the reason why the author often gives hints to certain events in the characters past life in literary work.
The fifth characterization is conversation of others. We can take clues of a person’s character through the conversations of the other people and the things
they say about him or her. People talk about other people and the things they say often given as a clue to the character of the person spoken about.
The sixth characterization is reactions. Different characters will react differently if they are faced with problems. Each reaction toward the problems
shows the character’s tendency and his or her tendency gives the readers a clue about the character’s personality. How character solves the problem can show his
or her true character and motivation. The next characterization is direct comment. The description by direct
comment is different from the personal description. In the direct comment description, the author directly gives his or her personal reception and comment to
the character that he or she creates. The eight is thoughts. By knowing one’s thought, the author can give us direct
knowledge of what a person is thinking about. That way, we can know the character of that person simply by knowing what is in his or her mind.
13 The last one is mannerism. The author can also describe a person’s mannerism,
habits, or idiosyncrasies in his or her fictional life can also describe the character’s personality.
2. Theory of Psychology
