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CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION
This chapter is divided into five sections. The first section is Background of the Study. This section explains the background knowledge of the study. It also
explains why the novels were chosen as the primary data of this study. The second one is the Aim of the Study. This section mentions the main purpose of this study.
The third section is Problem Formulation that contains questions to be answered as the focus of this study. Next, Benefits of the Study is discussed. It contains the
advantages of this study. The fifth section is Definition of Terms. It explains the terms used in this study to enable the reader to understand this thesis better.
1.1 Background of the Study
Literature is a special work of art. Literature involves social phenomena, thoughts, feeling, attitude, and even the society itself in it. Literature is special in
the way that it provides us with a very clear reflection of our living. So, by reading literature, we can understand about our selves`, about people around us,
even about the society. Moreover, literature enables us to learn something about life without experiencing by our selves.
Hudson 1958: 10 states that literature is a vital record of what men have seen about life; what they have experienced of it, what they have thought, and felt
about those aspects of which have the most immediate and enduring human PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
interest. It is, thus, fundamentally dealing with an expression of life through the medium of language.
Literature is a means that provides us with chances to reflect. We can see life and its aspects very clearly, because literature lets us stand as observer; we
don’t experience, but watch. In modern literature we have three major sections, namely fiction, poetry, and drama. According to Milligan 1983: 4, novel is
classified as fiction that has a close relationship to human life. Novels convey reality. Novel tells us something just how it is.
A novel is a book that tells a story of life. De Laar 1963: 163 says that a novel is a work of art in so far as it introduces us into living world; in some
respects resembling the world we live in, but with individuality of its own. Every novel may have different way and style of telling the story, but they tell the same
thing; life. “Woman inferiority” is always an interesting subject of discussion by
many people in this world because this subject has a long and interesting history, and the changes on it involve many efforts from so many people in this world.
Many authors had brought this issue into their writing. LaVyrle Spencer has an interesting way to tell a story through her novel. Her diction is always perfect and
conveys the meaning clearly. The characters descriptions are also very clear and understandable. LaVyrle Spencer really knows how to make the readers
understand, and even be involved in the story. Pramoedya Ananta Toer is also a great writer. In his The Girl From the Coast 1991, he describes the issue in a
controversial way that allows the readers to find the reality. Instead of making a PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
misunderstanding, his controversial way enables the readers to explore more meaning and value concerning on woman inferiority. The strengths of both
novelists become the reason why I choose their novel. These novels are exactly what this study is about.
When we discuss the issue of woman inferiority, especially in the middle age, we will include matters that influence the particular issue such as culture,
politic situation, tradition, and life style on that age. Since it includes many matters, the practicality of the issue may vary, and it will be very challenging to
find out how it differs among countries. That is the reason why I choose two novels that use two different countries as the setting. The differences among them
make us know that one particular issue may vary in different setting of place and time.
November of the Heart 1994 tells us about the story of how woman in
that age was treated strictly by man. This novel is about a young woman named Lorna Barnett who was born in a rich family. Lorna has the spirit of a modern
woman. She is willing to learn many things and to try new things. But, culture and society never let her grow as she wishes. She must marry a man who is the choice
of her father, while she is in love with another man. She may not do what man at that time can do. She may not make her own decision.
While, The Girl from the Coast tells us a story about a village girl who is trapped in a nobility life. She is engaged to a noble and must marry him. The girl
then has a new name, Mas Nganten. When Mas Nganten finally falls in love with her husband, she must accept inappropriate treatment on her. She is considered as
a temporary wife before her husband marries to another woman from the same class to be the “real” wife. She is married in proxy manner where a dagger
represents her husband to be. The interesting point of this novel is how this novel describes the situation when Indonesian woman were treated as inferior. It is
clearly described how women had no right upon their own life. Their destiny is thoroughly arranged by men. Mas Nganten finds herself dumped when she is in
love with her husband and having their baby. Those two novels illustrate the issue on woman inferiority in different
ways. They do not merely talk abut the issue, but the stories of those two novels pictures the clear situation, feeling, thought, even the effect of the practicality of
the issue. Those two novels are exactly what this study is about. Women nowadays have their own freedom and life. They may pursue any
career they want to have. Women, now, may make their own decision for their life, and even they deserve the same appreciation and respects as man have. When
we read those two novels, we find that there is a long history of woman freedom. The process in achieving woman freedom is influenced by many things over
times. This process happens everywhere, such as in western region and eastern region which have different cultures. I am interested to talk about the treatment as
inferior toward women in past time, and compare the issue to investigate how culture influences it. Since Lorna and Mas Nganten come from different regions
and cultures, although they receive the same treatment, they may have different experience on the same issue. Different experience may result in different effect
on them, and even different action and reaction. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
1.2 The Aim of the Study
