Character and Characterization Review of Related Theories

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CHAPTER II REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

This chapter will focus on the theories that relate to this study. This chapter will be divided into three main parts, namely review of related theories, criticism, and theoretical framework. Review of related theories consists of theories of critical approaches, theory of character and theory of characterization. Theories of marriage, divorce, and behavior will be discussed in the next section. This chapter also includes the criticism on Alias Madame Doubtfire and the theoretical framework.

A. Review of Related Theories

1. Character and Characterization

a. Character Greedy, arrogant, cruel, kind, and humble are examples of characteristics of a character. That is why a character is a significant element in the work of literature. It can make the story alive. Through a character the author can convey the message he wants to say and the readers can easily understand the story. Character according to Rohrberger and Woods Jr. 20-21, is a person who acts out in a particular time and place some kind of conflict in a pattern of events. Forster 46-51 however divides characters into two kinds, flat and round characters. A flat character is the easiest character to recognize, because this character has a steady characteristic, which means that the characteristic does not 9 10 change from the beginning until the end of the story. A flat character can be described in a single phrase or sentence and also characterized by one or two traits. A round character is difficult to recognize or to remember, it has unsteady characteristic. We can remember this character in connection with the great scenes, different from flat character, round character has many sides. Henkle 87-97 states that character can be described as major and secondary character. A major character or main character is a character that plays an important role in the story, he is the one to whom all the events in the story have relevance. Major character is always getting the fullest attention from the readers because he performs a key structural function. A secondary character may be less sophisticated, because this character performs limited functions. Although a secondary character gets little attention from the readers, this character is important for building the character of the major character. b. Characterization Characterization according to Rohrberger and Woods Jr. 20-21 is the process by which an author creates a character. Murphy mentions nine ways in which an author attempts to make his characters understandable to and come alive for his readers 161-173. They are: 1 Personal description Personal description means that the author can describe a person’s appearance and clothes in the story. 2 Characters as seen by another 11 Instead of describing a character directly, the author can describe him through the eyes and opinions of another. 3 Speech It is an important way that may be used to describe a character. The author can give us an insight into the character of one of the persons in the book through what the person says. Whenever a person speaks, whenever he is in conversation with another, whenever he puts forward an opinion, he is giving us some clues to his character. 4 Past life By letting the readers learn something about a person’s past life, the author can give them a clue to events that have helped to shape a person’s character. This can be done by direct comment by the author, through the person’s thought, through his conversation or through the medium of another person. 5 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. People do talk about other people and the things they say often give us a clue to the character of the person spoken about. 6 Reactions Through the person’s reaction to various situations and events, the author gives us a clue to know a person’s character. 12 7 Direct comment The author can describe or comment on a person’s character directly. 8 Thoughts The author can give us direct knowledge of what a person is thinking about. In this respect, he is able to do what we cannot do in real life. He can tell us what different people are thinking. 9 Mannerism The author can describe a person’s mannerism and habits which may also tell us something about his character

2. Critical Approaches