Benefits of the Study Definition of Terms

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CHAPTER II THEORETICAL REVIEW

This chapter consists of three sections. The first section is a review of related theories, the second section presents some criticisms about the novel analyzed, and the third section presents a theoretical framework that describes how the theories reviewed are used in analyzing the novel.

A. Review of Related Theories 1. Character and Characterization

Pickering 1986:26 explains that the term character pertains to any individual in a literary work. A major or central character of the plot can be the protagonist; his opponent is the antagonist. He describes that it is usually easy to identify the protagonist since he or she is the essential character whose fate becomes the readers’ focus of attention. However, the term protagonist and antagonist do not imply a judgement about the moral worth of either since many protagonists and antagonists represent a complex mixture of both positive and negative qualities. Forster in Pickering 1986:27 distinguishes two types of character to describe the relative degree to which the writer develops them. These are flat and round characters. Flat characters or also referred to as type characters or one- dimensional characters are those who embody or represent a single characteristic, trait, or idea, or at most a very limited number of such qualities. They are usually minor actors in the novel or stories in which they appear, although it is not always so. While round characters are the opposite. They represent a number of qualities 9 and traits. They are usually described as complex multidimensional characters. They also often have considerable intellectual and emotional depth as well as the capacity to grow and change. Major characters are usually round characters. Pickering 1986:29 also explains that characters in fiction can also be distinguished on the basis of whether they demonstrate the capacity to develop or change as a result of their experiences. Dynamic characters exhibit a capacity to change while static characters do not. Dynamic characters include the protagonist in most novels, and the readers usually can distingush the process of change. On the other side, static characters do not change or change a little. In presenting characters in fiction, Pickering 1986:30-35 notes two basic techniques used by an author. The first one is by telling or the direct method, which relies on exposition and direct commentary by the author. The other one is by showing or the indirect method which involves the author’s stepping aside. By this means, the author allows the characters to reveal themselves directly through their dialogue and their actions. With this method, much of the weight of character analysis is given to the reader to interpret. The readers require to infer the characters on the basis of evidence provided in the narrative. However, those methods do not stand alone, they can be used in a complementary way. While Pickering mentions the basic technique, Murphy 1972: 161–173 mentions the techniques in a more specific way. They are personal description, character as seen by another, speech, past life, conversation of others, reactions, direct comment, thoughts, and mannerism. In personal description, the author can describe a person’s appearance and clothes, what he is like and in what social class he is. A person who is described 10 as wearing inappropriate clothes shows that he is poor or comes from the lower social class. Character as seen by another is another way in which an author uses other persons to build a certain character. In this case, the author describes him through the eyes and opinions of another. Thus, the reader gets a reflected image from other persons’ perspectives. Speech is a way in which the author gives us the insight into the character of one of the persons in the book through what the person says. In this way, the character is directly presenting to the reader clues to his character. Another way to know a certain type of character is through past life. By doing this, the author allows the readers learn something about a person’s past life and recognize the events that have shaped certain characters to become such unique figures. An author also can use other method, that is conversation of others. Here, the author gives us clues to a person’s character through the conversation of other people and the things they say about him. It means that what the other people say and discuss about that person in the story can contribute to the reader’s understanding about the character of that person. Readers can also get clues from a person’s reactions in the novel. The character of a person in the story can be seen from how he reacts to various situations and events happening in the story. One other effective way in characterization is direct comment. Here, the author describes and comments on a person in the story directly. In this way, the author can show that person’s character as he wishes.