society at that time. The writer matches the setting of the novel with the actual condition in French society at that time. In this chapter, the socio-historical
background is used as reference. The similarities between the setting in the novel and the actual condition in French society prove that the setting is a representation
of French society. Then, the surface representation is revealed. In this chapter there are three parts of discussion. The first part, the writer analyses the
representation of peasants in the eighteenth century. The second part, the writer analyses the representation of clergy in the eighteenth century. In addition, the
third part analyses the representation of French society’s view toward religion in the eighteenth century.
1. Representation of Peasants in the Eighteenth Century
The setting of Stevenson’s Travel with a Donkey in the Cevennes, which brings out the condition of French society in the novel, does represent French
society in the eighteenth century. In the eighteenth century French society consists of four classes: nobleman, clergy, bourgeoisie and peasant. The bourgeoisie and
the peasant were called as commoners. The life of the peasants at that time was in the poorest condition compared to the three other classes. They were burdened in
paying the taxes. As stated by Williams that “the peasant still held his land from his lord and still had to pay quit-rent to the lord. The peasant paid dues to the
State, Church and to the King 1972: 213.” The burden of taxation made the lower classes get poverty and starvation. “Everywhere one sees people sink to the
ground, literally dead from famine. Everywhere one hears nothing nut complains 41
and groans, from the greatest to the feebles 1972: 196”. The novel Travel with a Donkey in the Cevennes
also mentions peasant as one of occupations of the characters in the novel. In the novel, the peasant’s life is described also in a poor
condition. In the actual geographical location is mentioned that the physical arrangement of the peasant’s cottage is described in a poorhouse. The room is
limited; the kitchen and stable are in a suite with simple furniture and earthern floors.
Indeed, it was typical of these French highlands. Imagine a cottage of two stories, with a bench before the door; the stable and kitchen in a suite, so
that Modestine and I could hear each other dining; furniture of the plainest, earthern floors, a single bedchamber for travelers, and that without any
convenience but beds p.17.
The physical arrangement of the peasant’s cottage shows that they are poor. The description of the poor peasant is also described from the food and drink described
in the novel. The food is sometimes spare; hard fish and omelette have been my portion
more than once; the wine is of the smallest, the brandy abominable to man; and the visit of a fat sow, grouting under the table and rubbing against
your legs, is no impossible accompaniment to dinner p. 17.
The menu is simple food and low qualified alcoholic drink. The animal seeks the food under the table. The peasant’s cottage of Bouchet St. Nicolas explains the
things and the physical arrangement that show poverty. The peasant’s inn in Chasserades also shows the poverty. “There were four beds in the little upstairs
room; and we slept six p.63”. The poor condition of peasants in the novel represents the poor condition of peasants in the eighteenth century.
In the eighteenth century, the life of peasants was not only burdened by the taxes, but also by the bad harvest. “To the peasants these seemed more
42 PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
burdensome and less just than the taxes they paid to the king; and when the last straw came in the form of the harvest failure of 1788 1972: 225.” The novel also
mentions bad harvest. “The phylloxera has ravished the vineyards in this neighborhood; and in the early morning, under some chestnuts by the river, I
found a party of men working with a cider-press 118”. The novel describes the bad harvest in the vineyards that is caused by phylloxera. The novel explains the
similar condition in the description of the chestnuts garden in the valley of the Tarn. “I learned next day that the chestnut gardens are infested by rats; rustling,
chirping, and scraping were probably all due to these p. 89.” The novel describes the bad harvest caused by phylloxera and rat that becomes the representation of
bad harvest in the eighteenth century. The bad harvest in the eighteenth century happened because the soil was
unproductive and dry. It made the harvest less than in the previous time. “The bare plain of Picardy-eighty per cent of it given over to grain in most places, with
hardly any wastes, or meadows, or woods, or common-land, over populated and under-productive 1972: 215.” The actual geographical location in the novel
explains the similar idea. It was like the worst of the Scottish Highland, only worse; cold, naked,
and Ignoble, scant of wood, scant of heather, scant of life. A road and some fences broke the unvarying waste, and the line of the road was
marked by upright pillars, to serve in time of snow p.39.
The natural scenery is gloomy. There are rarely plants and the land is cold, naked and unproductive. The unproductive land in the novel is explained also from the
color of the leaves in meadows 43
As far as I have gone, I have never seen a river of so changeful and delicate a hue; crystal was not more clear, the meadows were not by half
so green; and at these hot, dusty, and material garments, and bathe my naked body in the mountain air and water p.77
The color of the leaves which is not green indicates the land is lack of water and becomes dry. The unproductive land in the novel also represents the actual
condition in France in the eighteenth century that influenced the peasant’s life. Peasants in the eighteenth century consisted of subgroups. Peasants
usually became a shepherd, too. They had animals like cattle, sheep, etc. They sometimes used the animal to plough in the field. “The laboureur possessed at
least two horses and a plough and he probably would not posses more than eight cattle, five pigs and thirty sheep 1972: 213.” The novel Travel with a Donkey in
the Cevennes also represent the peasant’s condition. The novel presents peasant
who uses animal to plow the field in the daily life. From all these furrowing ploughshares, from the feet of oxen, from
labourer here and there who was breaking the dry clods with a hue, the wind carried away a thin dust like so much smoke p. 23.
The quotation above shows that peasants need hard work to cultivate the field with its dry soil. The novel also presents peasant that has occupation as a
shepherd. The peasant is described as gathering the leaves for the animals. The slope was strewn with lopped branches, and here and there a great
package of leaves was propped against a trunk; for even the leaves are serviceable, and the peasants use them in winter by way of fodder for their
animals p.89.
The description of setting on the novel above represents the peasants in the eighteenth century.
44 PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
2. Representation of Clergy in the Eighteenth Century
