By AYU ROSA Number: 074 TERS STUD T OF ENGL TY OF LET HARMA UN GYAKART 2011
REVEALI R
ING THE THEME THROU UGH THE E SYMBO OLS AND THEIR S
IGNIFICA ANCE
THE GHO OST SONA TA
IN A AUGUST STRINDB BERG’S T A AN UNDER RGRADUAT TE THESIS S
Presented d as Partial F Fulfillment o of the Requir rements for the Deg gree of Sarja ana Sastra in E English Lette ers
By
ANTO ONIA RAHA AYU ROSA ARIA WIBO OWO
Student N Number: 074 4214014
ENGL LISH LETT TERS STUD DY PROGR RAM DEPA ARTMENT T OF ENGL LISH LETTE ERS FACULT TY OF LET TTERS SA ANATA DH HARMA UN NIVERSITY Y YO GYAKART TA
REVEALI R
ING THE THEME THROU UGH THE E SYMBO OLS AND THEIR S
IGNIFICA ANCE
THE GHO OST SONA TA
IN A AUGUST STRINDB BERG’S T AN UNDER A RGRADUAT TE THESIS S
Presented d as Partial F Fulfillment o of the Requir rements for the Deg gree of Sarja ana Sastra in E English Lette ers
By
ANTO ONIA RAHA AYU ROSA ARIA WIBO OWO
Student N Number: 074 4214014
ENGL LISH LETT TERS STUD DY PROGR RAM DEPA ARTMENT T OF ENGL LISH LETTE ERS FACULT TY OF LET TTERS SA ANATA DH HARMA UN NIVERSITY Y YO GYAKART TA
REVE
IN A
A S
EALING T A AUGUST ANTO Sarjana Sas
Student N
tra Undergra
THE THEM AND THEI STRINDB ONIA RAHA
ME THRO
OUGH TH FICANCE
IR SIGNIF BERG’S T
By
Number: 074 aduate Thes
THE GHO ARIA WIBO
4214014 is
HE SYMB E OST SONA OWO BOLS TA
AYU ROSA
LEMBAR PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN
PUBLIKASI KARYA ILMIAH UNTUK KEPENTINGAN AKADEMIS
Yang bertandatangan di bawah ini, saya mahasiswa Universitas Sanata Dharma: Nama : Antonia Rahayu Rosaria Wibowo Nomor Mahasiswa : 074214014
Demi pengembangan ilmu pengetahuan, saya memberikan kepada Perpustakaan Universitas Sanata Dharma karya ilmiah saya yang berjudul:
REVEALING THE THEME THROUGH THE SYMBOLS AND
THEIR SIGNIFICANCE IN AUGUST STRINDBERG’S THE GHOST
SONATAbeserta perangkat yang diperlukan (bila ada). Dengan demikian saya memberikan kepada Perpustakaan Universitas Sanata Dharma hak untuk menyimpan, mengalihkan dalam bentuk lain, mengelolanya dalam bentuk pangkalan data, mendistribusikan secara terbatas, dan mempublikasikannya di Internet atau media lain untuk kepentingan akademis tanpa perlu meminta ijin dari saya maupun memberikan royalti kepada saya selama tetap mencantumkan nama saya sebagai penulis. Demikian pernyataan ini yang saya buat dengan sebenarnya. Dibuat di Yogyakarta Pada tanggal : 29 April 2011 Yang menyatakan
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
First of all, I would say my deepest thanks to my savior Jesus Christ.Thank you for blessing me, so I can finish my study and this thesis on time. Thank you for arranging the way of my life like what I am now and giving the right people in the right time to fulfill my life.
I would like to thank my advisor, Tatang Iskarna, S.S., M.Hum., for giving me his time, thought, and suggestion to help me to finish this thesis. I also would like to thank my co-advisor, Drs. Hirmawan Wijanarka, M. Hum., for reading, correcting, and giving suggestion to make this thesis better.
I would like to thank the staff of the English Letters Department and the staff of the library of Sanata Dharma University for helping me when I study in this university and giving me facilities to type this thesis and find the sources for it.
I would like to thank my father, Bowo Wurjanto and my mother, Precila Endang Widyastusti Hardani for their everlasting love to me, for their prayer, support, and hope that I can be a successful person. I am sorry because I am not a good daughter and I often make them angry. I also would like to thank my little brother, Yohanes Dimas Nugrahanto Wibowo, for helping me with the technical problem in this thesis writing process.
I would like to send my greatest thank to my beloved Ade. I thank him for his sharing, understanding, and his deep love for me. I thank him very much for him for preventing me to commit suicide and for becoming one of the reasons and the purposes for me to keep my life.
Finally, I would like to thank my great best friend, Dwi Yulianto Nugroho, who has a big dream like me. I thank him for his friendship, kindness, loyalty, and trust. I thank him for listening to me and for giving me the chance to see many scholarship exhibitions. I am a lucky person for being his friend who can fight for our dream together with him. I thank him for his support, suggestion, and prayer in doing this thesis and in fulfilling our dream to go abroad. I thank him for struggling for our thesis together. Let us fight for our dream.
Antonia Rahayu Rosaria Wibowo
TABLE OF CONTENTS TITLE PAGE ..................................................................................................... i APPROVAL PAGE ........................................................................................... ii ACCEPTANCE PAGE ...................................................................................... iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .............................................................................. v TABLE OF CONTENTS .................................................................................. vii ABSTRACT ........................................................................................................ viii ABSTRAK .......................................................................................................... ix
CHAPTER I : INTRODUCTION ................................................................. 1 A. Background of the Study ........................................................................ 1 B. Problem Formulation .............................................................................
3 C. Objectives of the Study .......................................................................... 4
D. Definition of Terms ............................................................................... 5
CHAPTER II : THEORETICAL REVIEW .................................................. 6 A. Review of Related Studies ..................................................................... 6 B. Review of Related Theories ................................................................... 8 C. Theoretical Framework .......................................................................... 13 CHAPTER III : METHODOLOGY ................................................................ 15 A. Object of the Study ................................................................................ 15 B. Approach of the Study ........................................................................... 16 C. Method of the Study .............................................................................. 18 CHAPTER IV : ANALYSIS ............................................................................. 19 A. Symbols in the Play and why They can be Called Symbols .................. 20
1. The Elegant Apartment House ..................................................... 20
2. The Pendulum Clock .................................................................... 23
3. The Hyacinth Flower ..................................................................... 26 4. The Ghost .....................................................................................
29 5. The Wheelchair ............................................................................
32 B. The Significance of the Symbols ........................................................... 34
1. The Elegant Apartment House ..................................................... 34
2. The Pendulum Clock .................................................................... 35
3. The Hyacinth Flower .................................................................... 36 4. The Ghost .....................................................................................
39 5. The Wheelchair ............................................................................
40 C. The Theme of the Play ........................................................................... 41
CHAPTER V : CONCLUSION ...................................................................... 45 BIBLIOGRAPHY .............................................................................................. 47
ABSTRACT
ANTONIA RAHAYU ROSARIA WIBOWO. REVEALING THE THEME
THROUGH THE SYMBOLS AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE IN AUGUST
STRINDBERG THE GHOST SONATA. Yogyakarta: Department of English
Letters, Faculty of Letters, Sanata Dharma University, 2011.
Symbol is one of the elements in a literary work that can be analyzed. In this research, a play The Ghost Sonata is chosen as the object of the study because it contains some symbols. The symbols and their significance are used to find the theme of the play.
There are three problems that must be answered in this research. The problems are: (1) what are the symbols found in August Strindberg’s The Ghost and how can they be called symbols?, (2) what do the symbols signify?,
Sonata
(3) how can the symbols and their significance reveal the theme of the play? This research is a library research. It means this research only uses written sources. The data are collected from some books and internet sources. This research uses formalist criticism because it only pays attention to the intrinsic element of the play. The intrinsic element that is used in this research is symbol.
The symbol of the play is used to find the theme of the play.
After analyzing the play, the researcher finds five symbols from the play. Every symbol has different significance in the play. However, all of them are still related with the context of the play, lies. The first symbol is the elegant apartment house. It signifies something good that covers many lies inside it. The second, the pendulum clock signifies the right time when the liars must pay for their lies after the lies are revealed. The third, the hyacinth flower signifies the good characteristics of the Young Lady. She is the only one character who has no lie.
The fourth, the ghost signifies the lies from the past period that haunt the liars until the present time. The last symbol is the wheelchair. It signifies human limitation. After finding the symbols and their significance, the researcher unites them to formulate the theme of the play. The theme of the play is people sometimes try to hide their lies, but their lies will be revealed at the right time and they must pay the consequences of their lies.
ABSTRAK
ANTONIA RAHAYU ROSARIA WIBOWO. REVEALING THE THEME
THROUGH THE SYMBOLS AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE IN AUGUST
STRINDBERG THE GHOST SONATA. Yogyakarta: Program Studi Sastra
Inggris, Fakultas Sastra, Universitas Sanata Dharma, 2011.
Simbol adalah salah satu elemen dalam karya sastra yang dapat dianalisis. Penelitian ini menggunakan naskah drama The Ghost Sonata sebab naskah drama ini memiliki beberapa simbol. Simbol dan representasinya digunakan untuk menemukan tema dalam naskah drama.
Terdapat tiga rumusan masalah yang harus dijawab dalam penelitian ini. Ketiga rumusan masalah tersebut yaitu: (1) simbol apa saja yang terdapat dalam karya August Strindberg dan mengapa mereka dapat disebut
The Ghost Sonata
simbol?, (2) apa representasi dari simbol-simbol tersebut?, (3) bagaimana simbol- simbol dan representasinya menyatakan tema naskah drama ini? Penelitian ini adalah sebuah studi pustaka. Studi pustaka berarti penelitian ini hanya menggunakan sumber tertulis. Data-data dalam penelitian ini diperoleh dari beberapa buku dan internet. Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan formalistik sebab penelitian ini hanya menggunakan unsur intrinsik dalam naskah drama. Unsur intrinsik yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah simbol. Simbol digunakan untuk menemukan tema dalam naskah drama.
Setelah melakukan penelitian, peneliti menemukan lima simbol dalam naskah drama ini. Kelima simbol tersebut memiliki representasi berbeda, tetapi kelima simbol tersebut masih terkait dengan konteks naskah drama, yaitu kebohongan. Simbol pertama adalah apartemen elegan. Apartemen ini merepresentasikan sesuatu yang sangat indah yang menutupi banyak kebohongan di dalamnya. Simbol kedua adalah jam pendulum yang merepresentasikan waktu yang tepat ketika pembohong membayar konsekuensi dari kebohongannya setelah kebohongannya terbongkar. Simbol ketiga adalah bunga bakung yang merepresentasikan the Young Lady. Dia adalah satu-satunya tokoh yang tidak memiliki kebohongan. Simbol keempat adalah hantu yang merepresentasikan kebohongan di masa lampau yang masih menghantui pembohong sampai sekarang. Simbol terakhir adalah kursi roda yang merepresentasikan keterbatasan manusia. Setelah menemukan simbol dan representasinya, peneliti menyatukan semua itu untuk menemukan tema. Tema naskah drama ini yaitu manusia kadang- kadang mencoba menyembunyikan kebohongannya, tetapi kebohongan tersebut akan terbongkar pada waktu yang tepat dan manusia harus membayar konsekuensi dari kebohongannya.
CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION A. Background of the Study There are some components in a literary work that can be analyzed. One of
them is symbol. Symbol is anything that signifies something else (Abrams, 1993: 206). Moreover, in An Introduction to Fiction (1965:31) Robert Stanton also said that symbols may be anything from an egg to the story’s setting like a single object, a repeated type of object, a physical substance, a shape, a gesture, a color, a sound, a fragrance. It means symbol can be anything inside the literary work.
The definitions also explain that symbol carries two meanings. The first meaning is the literal meaning and the second meaning is the implied meaning, outside the literal meaning. For example, a rose can become a symbol. When the rose becomes a symbol, it will have two meanings. The first meaning is the literal meaning which is the rose itself, and the second meaning is the implied meaning behind the rose. In the book Seventh Edition Literature Reading and Writing the
Human Experience (1998: 12-13) Richard Abcarian, et. al said that there are two
kinds of symbols. The first kind is public symbols. Public symbols are those objects or events that history has invested with rich meanings and associations.
The examples are national flags or religious objects such as cross. The second is contextual symbols. Contextual symbols are objects or events that are symbolic by virtue of the writer’s handling of them in a particular work. It depends on the
Both public symbols and contextual symbols carry certain meaning. The first symbol is public symbol. The example of public symbol is a cross. The cross is a religious symbol for Christian. The cross symbolizes Jesus’ sacrificing to pay for human sins. By using the cross, Christians can learn many things. They can learn about Jesus’ life and His choice to die in the cross to pay for human sins. By using this symbol, Christians can learn from Jesus’ experience. Christians learn how to love their fellows and how to thank God for the sacrificing. The second symbol is contextual symbol. Since the contextual symbol is created by the author, there is no exact meaning behind the contextual symbol. The meaning behind certain contextual symbol depends on the context that is created by the writer of the literary work.
The Ghost Sonata by August Strindberg is one of literary works which
contains some symbols. Because The Ghost Sonata contains some symbols, it is chosen to be the object of this research. This research will explore the significance of some symbols inside the play. After finding the significance of some symbols, the theme of the play will be formulated. The theme of the play is the unity of the significance of some symbols. There are many things in this play that can be called symbols. However, this research will not try to find all symbols inside the play. This research will only try to find some major symbols and their significance to find the theme of the play. Those symbols can be called the major symbols because those symbols are important object inside the play. Those are important because the writer mentions them few times in the play.
The story of The Ghost Sonata focuses on the lies that happen before the play happens. From the beginning of the play until the end of the play, the revelation process of the lies happens. It is the process of finding the truth among the characters in this play. Most of the characters of the play lied in the past and they cover it until now. They have their own way of life while covering their lies. The revelation process brings it consequences. The consequences of the covered lies are the revelation process and the death itself. Two characters die at the end of the play as the consequences after the revelation process of the lies. In telling the revelation process of the lies, Strindberg uses some symbols. Every symbol signifies different things from the play related to the lies and the truth. It also can be stated that every symbol signifies different thing related with the battle between the lies versus the truth in the revelation process.
The importance of this research is to find the theme from the play. One element in the play, the symbols, is used to find the theme. The theme will be found by relating and uniting the significance of some symbols in the play.
B. Problem Formulation
After seeing the background above, the problems of this research should be formulated. The problems will be used to do the analysis on this research.
There are three problems in this research: 1.
What are the symbols found in August Strindberg’s The Ghost Sonata and how can they be called symbols?
3. How can the symbols and their significance reveal the theme of the play?
C. Objectives of the Study
This research will focus on the significance of the symbols to reveal the theme in the play The Ghost Sonata by August Strindberg. After finding the symbols and their significance in the play, this research will continue to find the theme of the play. The first objective of this research is to identify the symbols on this play and the reason why they can be called symbols. There are many objects that can be called symbol in this play. However, this research will not discuss all of them. This research only chooses some major symbols. They are called major because they are appeared in some parts of the play. Moreover, they also carry important meaning inside the play.
Next, the second objective of this research is to probe the significance of the symbols which are found before. This is an important part of this research because by finding the significance of the symbols, the meaning behind the symbols can be revealed.
At last, the third objective of this research is to reveal the theme of the play by using the symbols and their significance which are found before. The theme of the play is derived from some symbols and their significance, so the theme is the unification from some different meanings of some symbols.
D. Definition of Terms There are two things that need to be clarified in this research. They are symbol and theme. First, in A Handbook to Literature Fifth Edition (1986: 494),
Holman, et. al. said that symbol is something that is itself and yet stands for or suggest or means something else. Second, in A Handbook to Literature Fifth
Edition (1986: 502), Holman, et. al. said that theme is a central or dominant idea
in a work. In poetry, fiction, and drama it is the abstract concept that is made concrete through its representation in person, action, and image in the work.
CHAPTER II THEORETICAL REVIEW A. Review of Related Studies Egil Törnqvist stated in http://www.questia.com (March 2, 2010) “The
fundamental idea of the play, then, is that life on earth is painful and illusory and that when we die we are saved, returning from this pseudo-existence to the original one.” The quotation shows the main theme of The Ghost Sonata. This play mainly talks about the journey from the real life in this world into the other life after people die. He also states that the life in this world is painful and full of illusion. He states that the real life is actually the life after people die. The similar comment about The Ghost Sonata is also stated by Paulanne Simmons. She says in http://www.brooklynpaper.com (March 2, 2010) ”In "The Ghost Sonata," Strindberg evokes the horrors of the subconscious world, a world populated by lost souls and surreal characters.” The quotation by Paulanne Simmons gives an idea that The Ghost Sonata talks about the bad world. The world can be called bad because it is full of lost souls and surreal characters.
After seeing the main idea of this play from other studies perspective, it is important to find the symbols from this play. The symbol in the play can be seen since the first time people read this play. The title of the play The Ghost Sonata also contains a symbol. The symbol lies in the word “ghost”. Deanna Joseph states it in http://www.bellaonline.com (October 29, 2010) “Ghosts are associated As such they may also symbolize some painful aspect of the past that has never been dealt with, yet still haunts the soul.” The quotation gives the common meaning of ghost. The quotation also shows that the word “ghost” has certain meaning in this world. The quotation shows what is symbolized by the word “ghost”.
Besides the word “ghost”, the symbol inside the play can be seen also from some objects. One of the objects is the hyacinth flower. It is stated in http://www.teleflora.com (October 22, 2009) “hyacinth represent constancy, while blue hyacinth expresses sincerity.” The quotation shows the meaning of the hyacinth flower. The quotation shows what is symbolized by the hyacinth flower.
Finally, after reading some comments and studies above, the researcher can get deeper idea about The Ghost Sonata. The researcher also can use the comments and the studies above to strengthen this research. The comments and studies above can make this research stronger because the comments and studies above can give proof on this research. The comments and the studies above help the researcher to find the significance of the symbols in this play. Moreover, this research can develop the previous studies because this research will see the significance of some symbols in the context of the play.
The previous studies only talk about the common meaning of certain object in this world. However, this research will talk about the meaning of the object based on the context of the play. It is also possible that certain object has the common meaning in this world. Because some objects have their common object and relates the common meaning with the context in the play. It will develop the previous studies about the meaning of some objects. The difference of this research to the previous studies also can be seen from the relation of some symbols and their significance to reveal the theme of the play. The finding of the theme of the play also develops the previous studies.
B. Review of Related Theories
1. Theory on Symbols Symbol is something that signifies something else (Abrams, 1993: 206).
Based on the basic meaning, symbol can be anything in a literary work. Because symbol can be anything in a literary work, it is important to find the correct symbol inside a literary work. It is important also to differentiate between the symbol and something which is not a symbol. In An Introduction to Fiction (1965:31) Robert Stanton said that symbols may be anything from an egg to the story’s setting like a single object, a repeated type of object, a physical substance, a shape, a gesture, a color, a sound, a fragrance. He also said that symbols might represent human personality, the indifference of nature to man’s suffering, futile ambition, human responsibility, and the romanticism of youth.
Because symbol can be anything in a literary work, another theory is needed to find the correct symbol in a literary work. First of all, Abcarian, et. al. said there are two kinds of symbol. They are public symbols and contextual symbols. The next quotation shows the explanation of public symbols and
Public symbols are those objects or events that history has invested with rich meanings and associations, for example, national flags or religious objects such as the cross. Contextual symbols are objects or events that are symbolic by virtue of the poet’s handling of them in a particular work. (Abcarian, et. al., 1998:12-13) Based on the theory above, there are two kinds of symbol in a literary work. The first kind is public symbols. Public symbols are all symbols that the meaning is commonly accepted in this world because history has invested it. Moreover, based on the theory the researcher also knows that public symbols are becoming symbols in a literary work. The second kind is contextual symbols.
Contextual symbols are all symbols that are created by the writer. It means certain object is used as a symbol in a literary work because the writer makes it. Because the writer makes it, the meaning behind the contextual symbols also depends on the context of the story. The context of the story limits the meaning of the contextual symbols. However, finding symbol is more complicated. Finding symbol not only based on the knowledge of some public symbols in the world but also need deeper interpretation. Another theory is needed to help the researcher to find the correct symbol in the play. The next quotation shows the way to find the symbol in a literary work.
If writers use symbols, they want readers to perceive… How do writers help us to perceive these things? By emphasizing them—for instance, by describing them at some length, or by introducing them at times when they might not seem strictly necessary, or by calling attention to them repeatedly. (Barnet, et. al., 2005:231) Based on the theory above, certain object has some categories to be called symbol. It is important to find some objects that the writer wants to use as the some ways like by describing them at some length, by introducing them at times when they might not seem necessary, and by calling attention to them repeatedly.
Besides the theories above, there is another theory which talks about the effect of symbol. The next quotation shows some effects of a symbol.
First, a symbol that appears during an important moment of the story underlines the significance of that moment. Second, a symbol repeated several times reminds us of some constant element in the story’s world. Third, a symbol that recurs in varying contexts helps to define or clarity the theme. (Stanton, 1965: 31-32) The theory above gives some effects of a symbol toward the reader.
However, the problem still exists. The problem is how to find the correct symbol and the meaning behind it. In An Introduction to Fiction (1965: 32), Robert Stanton said that the writer gives the clue to the readers to find the symbol. The clue is making something symbolic by making it in a conspicuous detail. There are some ways to make something conspicuous like by describing it more fully than its factual importance, by making it unusual for no apparent reason, by mentioning it in the title, and many more. Moreover, in An Introduction to Fiction (1965: 32-33), Robert Stanton explained the way to find what is symbolized behind certain symbol. He said there are three ways to discover what is symbolized behind certain symbol. They are finding the common connotation of the symbol, comparing the connotation with the context in the literary work, and comparing the context to one another. By using the theory, the symbols in the play
The Ghost Sonata can be found. The theory also can help the researcher to find
what is symbolized behind the symbols.2. Theory on Theme
Theme in a fiction is its controlling idea or its central insight. (Arp and Johnson, 2009: 191) Based on the definition above, theme is an important part of a literary work. It is the controlling idea of a literary work. The controlling idea means the main topic in the literary work. It also can be stated that the theme of a literary work is something to limit the story. The theme controls the whole story so the story will not tell something which has no relation with the topic. The definition above also mentions that a theme is a central insight of a story. It means the theme is the center of the whole story.
After knowing the definition of the theme, the next step is to find the theme of a literary work. Finding the theme in a piece of literary work might be difficult. In their book Perrine’s Literature Structure, Sound, and Sense Tenth
Edition (2009: 195-197), Thomas R. Arp and Greg Johnson mention some
principles in finding the theme of a literary work. In the next are the principles:
1. Theme should be expressible in the form of statement with a subject and a predicate.
2. The theme should be stated as a generalization about life.
3. We must be careful not to make generalization larger than is justified by the terms of the story.
4. Theme is the central and unifying concept of a story. Therefore (a) it accounts for all the major details of the story. (b) the theme is not contradicted by any detail of the story. (c) the theme can not rely upon
5. There is no one way of stating the theme of a story.
6. We should avoid any statement that reduces the theme to some familiar saying that we have heard all our lives.
Those principles above are important to find the theme of a literary work. Those principles give a guide to find the theme in a literary work. By memorizing those principles, the formulation of the theme will not be wrong.
Besides those principles above, in their book Literature an Introduction to
Fiction, Poetry, and Drama Seventh Edition (1998: 176-177), X. J. Kennedy and
Dana Giola mention some points to consider in finding the theme. Below are the points to be considered:
1. Look back once more at the title of the story.
2. Does the main character in any way change in the story? Does this character arrive at any eventual realization or understanding?
3. Does the author make any general observations about life or human nature? Do the characters make any?
4. Does the story contain any especially curious objects, mysterious flat characters, significant animals, repeated names, song titles, or whatever, that hint toward meanings larger than such things ordinarily have? In literary stories, such symbols may point to central themes.
5. When you have worded your statement of theme, have you cast your statement into general language, not just given a plot summary?
6. Does your statement hold true for the story as a whole, not for just part
Those points above give some parts in a story which will help the researcher to find the theme. From the points above, it can be known that symbol is one element in a literary work that can be used to find the theme.
C. Theoretical Framework
The theories and studies that are mentioned above will be used to answer the problem formulation in this research. Besides, the comments and the studies above will be used to strengthen this research. All comments and studies above give proof about the symbol in the play and the meaning of the symbol. Moreover, this research can develop the previous studies because this research also talks about the symbols and their significance in the play The Ghost Sonata. The next development in this research is this research will find the theme of the play by using the symbols and their significance.
Next, the theory on symbols will be used to answer problem formulation number one and problem formulation number two. The definition of symbol, the theory of public symbols and contextual symbols, and the theory on how to find the symbol will be used to answer problem formulation number one. After finding the symbols in the play, the next step is to find the significance of those symbols. The theory by Robert Stanton on how to find what is symbolized behind certain symbol will be used to answer problem number two. By using this theory, the researcher can find the significance of the symbols in the play The Ghost Sonata.
At last, the theory on theme will be used to answer problem number three. wrong theme. Moreover, the points that will be helpful to find the theme can be used to find some elements in a literary work that can be used to find the theme.
From those points, symbol is one element that can help to find the theme in a literary work. Moreover, this theory also strengthens this research to use symbols and their significance to find the theme in the play, The Ghost Sonata.
CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY A. Object of the Study The object of this research is the play The Ghost Sonata. This play was written by August Strindberg in 1907. It is one of the Strindberg’s chamber plays. The name chamber play comes from the name of chamber music. Chamber music
means the form of musical performance which consists of small number of players and it is performed in the certain place for certain group of people. The chamber music was performed in the hall of a kingdom for the king’s family. Similar with that, chamber play is a series of short simple drama which was written for Strindberg 161-seat Intimate Theater in Stockholm in 21 January 1908.
This play was inspired by the music of Beethoven’s Geistertrio Opus 70 No.1 in D Major.
After the first performance in 1908, some directors have staged this play. They are Max Reinhardt, Olof Molander, Roger Blin, and Ingmar Bergman. Ingmar Bergman directed it four times in 1941, 1954, 1973, and 2000. Once more,
th
in April 2008 Open Circle Theater celebrated 100 anniversary of the first production of this play by producing this play at All Pilgrims Church in Seattle.
The setting of this play is in front of the elegant apartment house. While the story moves on, the setting of this play also moves to the inside part of the apartment house. Besides the setting, the past experience of the characters is also mistakes until the present time in the play. Their mistakes are revealed one by one while the setting of this play moves from the outside part of the apartment house until the inside part of the apartment house. The revelation process of the characters’ mistakes in the past shows the conflict between good and bad. In here, the reader can see the fight between lie and truth. This is the main issue in the play The Ghost Sonata.
B. Approach of the Study
Formalist criticism is used in this research. “Formalist criticism regards literature as a unique form of human knowledge that needs to be examined on its own terms.” (Kennedy and Giola, 1998: 1932) The quotation shows that formalist criticism only pays attention to the intrinsic elements of a literary work. Based on that definition, this criticism is suitable to be used in this research because this research only used the intrinsic element of the play The Ghost Sonata. In this research, symbol is the intrinsic element that is used to the study. Moreover, according to Rene Welleck and Austin Warren in Kennedy and Giola Literature
An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama Seventh Edition (1998: 1932),
“The natural and sensible starting point for work in literary scholarship is the interpretation and analysis of the works of literature themselves.” Once again, the quotation shows that the formalistic criticism pays attention only in the intrinsic element of a literary work. The quotation makes the reason to use formalist criticism in this research becomes stronger.
In this research, symbol is the intrinsic element that is used to study. Symbol is used to study because symbol has certain meaning inside the literary work. It is stated by Guerin, et. al. in A Handbook of Critical Approaches to
Literature Fifth Edition (2005: 106) that “Symbol is a way of using something
integral to the work to reach beyond the work and engage the world of value outside the work.” The quotation shows that symbol can be a bridge to connect the literary work and the world outside the literary work. The connection happens because of the meaning behind the symbol. Every symbol has certain meaning in a literary work. The meaning also relates with the real world outside the literary work. The next quotation proves that statement.
It might be the conventional object or device—a crucifix, a color, a tree— that becomes symbolic of meanings within and without the poem, story, or play. When that happens, the formalist approach must study such symbols as aspects of form, as exponents of meaning both within and without the work. (Guerin, et. al., 2005: 106) The quotation shows how symbol can help the reader to relate the intrinsic element in the world of a literary text and the real world outside a literary text. In this research, some symbols of the play The Ghost Sonata also relate the world inside the play and the world outside the play. It happens because the meaning behind the symbols in The Ghost Sonata also relates with the real world. The relation also happens because some of the objects that become symbols in The
Ghost Sonata also have common meaning that is understood by people in the real
world.C. Method of the Study
Library research was used in this research. It was called library research because all data in this research were collected from written sources only. There was no field research in this study. The primary data of this research was the play from August Strindberg entitled The Ghost Sonata. The secondary data was some written sources from books and internet related with the topic of this research.
The first step that the writer did was reading and rereading the play entitled The Ghost Sonata to understand the story. The next step was finding some objects that might be the symbols inside the play. After that, the writer collected some comments, studies, and theories related to the play and the symbol inside it.
All comments, studies, and theories were used to analyze the symbols inside the play.
After finding the suitable comments, studies, and theories, the writer matched the objects inside the play that were found before with the theories. This step was conducted to find the correct object that became the symbol inside the play. After that, the writer found the reason why certain object could be called as symbol. The next step was finding the significance of the symbol in the play The Ghost Sonata.
After finding the significance of the symbols in the play, the last step was finding the theme of the play. The theme of the play was finding by using the symbols and their significance. The theme of the play was made by relating and uniting the significance of some symbols in the play.
CHAPTER IV ANALYSIS There are three parts of the analysis in this research. The first part is the
analysis about the symbols in the play and the reason why they can be called as symbols. The second part is the analysis about the significance of those symbols.
The third part is the analysis about the theme of the play from the symbols and their significance which are found before.
The story of the play The Ghost Sonata focuses on the inhabitants of the elegant apartment house. It is told in the play that all inhabitants of the elegant apartment house have lies in the past. Those lies bring effect until the present time. The present time means the time when the play happens. The play begins with the scene about the Student who looks tired after he saved a house that almost collapsed last night. He comes to the front part of the elegant apartment house. The Old Man sees the Student and comes closer to him. They talk about many things include the inhabitans of the elegant apartment house. The Old Man knows that the Student really apppreciates the apartment house and he helps the Student to get into the apartment house. While the Student enters to the apartment house, the story also moves on. While the story moves on, the lies of the inhabitans also reveal one by one. At the end of the play, the consequences of the lies must be paid.
A. Symbols in the Play and why They can be Called Symbols
This part of the analysis contains some symbols inside the play. This part consists of the list of the symbols and the reason why they can be called as symbols.
1. The Apartment House House is important in human life. House is a place where people live in.
In a house, people can live alone or together with family. People also need a house to take a rest, eat, meet and gather with family, and so on. The type of a house can be different. It can be an apartment, row houses, duplex, and so on. Although there are some types of house, they have the same function. The function is giving a place to live in for human. The house in the play The Ghost
Sonata is an apartment house. This apartment house is a place to live in.
Moreover, this apartment house is the main setting where the play happens. The apartment house is “a building containing more than one dwelling unit, each designed for housekeeping.” (The New Encyclopedia Britannica Volume I, 1983: 439)
The writer used the apartment house in the play because apartment house
th th
was a common type of house around 18 -19 centuries, when the play was written. The next two quotations show that apartment house was the common type of house at that time. “…but real development of the apartment building did not begin in England until the 1850s.” (The New Encyclopedia Britannica Volume I,
th
1983: 440) “In the middle of 19 century, a new building type arose,… this type
Volume I, 1983: 440) Those quotations show that the apartment is important in
th
- the play because this object is also important for people who lived around 18
th
19 centuries. Actually, the apartment house is not only a place to live in but also a symbol.
The apartment house becomes a symbol because it appears in the play several times. The next quotations proof it. “The outside of a modern apartment house…” (stage direction scene I)
Old Man. Do you see that house? Student. Yes,…
(Scene I)
Old Man. …That’s why I’ve come to this house:…
(Scene II) Those three quotations show that the apartment house appears few times in the play. That fact shows that the writer wants to emphasize the apartment house is important in the play. By making the apartment house appears few times, the writer wants to call the readers’ attention toward this house. It has other meaning besides the basic meaning, a place to live in. It symbolizes something.
Moreover, the apartment house becomes a symbol because the writer describes it in some length. In the stage direction of scene I, the writer describes the house in six paragraphs. The next quotation is the beginning of the description. “The outside of a modern apartment house only part of which is visible. On the ground floor, at the corner, is the Round Room; on the floor above it, there is a balcony with a flagpole…” (Stage direction scene I) It shows that the stage direction of scene II and scene III, the writer once again describes the inner part of the apartment house. The writer describes the inner part of the house in some paragraphs. The next two quotations are the beginning of the description. “The Round Room. Against the rear wall is a white porcelain stove; there also a mirror, a pendulum clock, and candelabra….” (Scene II) “The Hyacinth Room.
The room is exotically furnished in Oriental style. Hyacinths of various colors are everywhere…” (Scene III) This fact also shows the importance of the house. It shows that the apartment house has other meaning besides the basic meaning. Based on the theory on symbols, an object can be a symbol when it appears continuously, the writer calls the reader attention to the object repeatedly, and the writer describes it in some length. This theory is suitable for the apartment house.
After proofing that the elegant apartment house is one of the symbols inside the play, the next step is explaining the implied meaning of the house. In the play, the apartment house is described as a modern house. It also becomes a dream house. The next quotation shows that the house is a dream house.
Student. Yes, I often stop and look at it I passed it yesterday when the sun