The criticism towards the idea of self-reliance in the 20th century American society as revealed through the main character in Sean Penn`s into The Wild movie script - USD Repository
THE CRITICISM TOWARDS THE IDEA OF SELF-
th
RELIANCE IN THE 20 CENTURY AMERICAN SOCIETYAS
REVEALED THROUGH THE MAIN CHARACTER IN SEAN
PENN’S INTO THE WILD MOVIE SCRIPT
AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of Sarjana Sastra
In English Letters By:
BUDI PRIHANTORO
05 4214 039
ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS
FACULTY OF LETTERS
SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
YOGYAKARTA
2011
Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but
reasonable confidence in your
own powers you cannot be successful or happy.- Norman Vincent Peale -
This thesis is
dedicated to my beloved
father and mother
ACKNWOLEDGEMENTS
First of all, I would like to express my greatest gratitude to my Father, Jesus Christ for His blessing and guidance. He gave me a wonderful chance in my life, so I can finish writing this thesis because of Him.
I would like to give my sincere gratitude to my advisor Elisa Dwi Wardani S.S., M.Hum. for her precious time and guidance in this undergraduate thesis writing. I would like also to give my gratitude to my co-advisor Dr.F.X.
Siswadi, M.A. for his time and willingness to correct my thesis. I thank all the lecturers and all staffs in the secretariat of English Letters Department too.
I would like to thank my parents, Valentinus Sugeng Harjono and Tri Hertati Caecilia for their prayers, passion, advice and struggle to finance my study. Both of them have been my motivation in finishing this thesis writing. I thank my sister too: mbak Heni and Etik. I love them all.
My special thanks go to Maria Delfina Dhae for the love, laugh, support, help, and encouragement. She makes my days colorful.
Furthermore, I thank my closest friends in campus: Jimi, Fajar, Ucok, Miki, Yohanes Bayu, Surya, Yoesf Bayu, Bruno, Fuja, Hardian, James, Acong, Adit, Rijek,Galih and Simbah. I thank all 2005 English Letters Department‘s students and all family of The Underpants: Deva, Eci, Cita, Teti, Vivi etc. Thank
I am grateful to all my friends in my boarding house: Mas eka, Mas Joy, Bembenk, Irfan, Ancah and Mas Bagus for the happiness, sadness, smile, tear, anger, and all the precious time.
Next, my sincere gratitude goes to my friends in KKN Angga, Renda, Dita, Siwi, Rita, Jeje, and Ayu. I would not forget to say thanks to my best friends in Lingkar Hitam Deni, Tanto, Apenk , and Edo.My band mates Miko, Jay, Nizar, Reza. They are rock guys. It is nice to have nice friends like them. There are many wonderful and exciting moments that we have shared together, ―Thanks for the memories friends!‖
Last but not least, I thank everyone whose name I cannot mention one by one for helping and supporting me during the completion of my thesis. May God bless you all.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TITLE PAGE ........................................................................................................... i APPROVAL PAGE ................................................................................................ ii ACCEPTANCE PAGE .......................................................................................... iii MOTTO PAGE ...................................................................................................... iv DEDICATION PAGE .............................................................................................. v LEMBAR PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN PUBLIKASI................................. vi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .................................................................................. vii TABLE OF CONTENTS ....................................................................................... ix ABSTRACT ............................................................................................................. x ABSTRAK ............................................................................................................. xi
CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION ............................................................................. 1 A. Background of the Study ................................................................................ 1 B. Problem Formulation ...................................................................................... 4 C. Objective 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 1. Theories of Character and Characterization ............................................... 8 2. Theories of Self-reliance........................................................................... 11 3. Theories of Relation Between Literature and Society .............................. 14 C. Review of Social Condition of USA in Twentieth Century ......................... 16 D. Theoritcal Framework .................................................................................. 22 CHAPTER III: METHODOLOGY ....................................................................... 24 A. Object of the Study ....................................................................................... 24 B. Approach of the Study .................................................................................. 25 C. Method of the Study ..................................................................................... 25 CHAPTER IV: ANALYSIS .................................................................................. 27 A. Concept of Self-reliance as Reflected in the Charcteristics of Christopoher McCandless .................................................................................................. 27 B. The Criticisms Towards the Idea of Self-reliance ........................................ 41 CHAPTER V: CONCLUSION .............................................................................. 53 BIBLIOGRAPHY .................................................................................................. 56
ABSTRACT
BUDI PRIHANTORO. The Criticism Towards the Idea of Self-reliance in the
th
20 Century American Society as Revealed Through the Main Character in
Sean Penn’s Into The Wild Movie Script. Yogyakarta: Department of EnglishLetters, Faculty of Letters, Sanata Dharma 2011.
This undergraduate thesis examines Sean Penn‘s Into The Wild Movie Script. It presents a true story experienced by Christopher McCandless.
Christopher Mcandless as the main character shows a particular characteristic that is very unique. He becomes controversial and does some unusual actions. Somehow in this occasion, the movie script encourages the audience to think critically about particular ideas and values contained in the film. This thesis tries to analyze how a movie script criticizes the ideas of self reliance.
There are two problems to be discussed in this study. The first problem deals with the characterization of Christopher McCandless reflects the concept of self-reliance in the movie script of Into the Wild. The second problem deals with criticisms toward the idea of self- reliance by revealing the main character‘s characterization
The writer uses the library research in collecting the data. This analysis uses the socio-cultural historical approach. This approach is suitable for the analysis because it concerns on the criticism toward the self-reliance in America.
Based on the analysis, Christopher McCandless as the main character is described as an independent, resolute, self-determined, brave, progressive, nonconformist and nature loving man. From those characterizations linked with social condition in USA, can be seen the criticism towards self-reliance as seen through the major character of the story. The writer concludes that Self-reliance causes some bad impact in the society like the loss of good social life in the society, the death of many Americans in the wilderness and many more. In conclusion, the right way to live is to share with others and the real happiness is based on good social life within the society, not on solitary life of the individual.
ABSTRAK
BUDI PRIHANTORO. The Criticism Towards the Idea of Self-reliance in the
th
20 Century American Society as Revealed Through the Main Character in
Sean Penn’s Into The Wild Movie Script. Yogyakarta: Jurusan Sastra Inggris,Fakultas Sastra, Universitas Sanata Dharma. Skripsi ini mengulas tentang teks film yang berjudul Into the Wild. Into the Wild adalah kisah nyata yang dialami oleh Christopher McCandles. Christopher sebagai tokoh utama dalam teks film ini memperlihatkan sifat-sifat yang sangat unik. Dia menjadi perdebatan karena melakukan hal- hal yang tidak biasa. Bagaimanapun juga dalam kesempatan ini, teks film ini mengharapkan para pembaca untuk berpikir lebih kritis tentang sebuah ide dan nilai yang terkandung di dalam cerita. Skrispsi ini mencoba untuk menganalisis bagaimana teks film Into the Wild mengkritik ide self-reliance.
Dalam skrispsi ini ada dua rumusan masalah yang akan dibahas. Yang pertama mengenai penggambaran perwatakan dari tokoh utama Christopher McCandless sebgai cerminan self-reliance. Yang kedua, membahas tentang kritik terhadap ide self-reliance melalui perwatakan tokoh utama.
Penulis menggunakan metode studi perpustakaan dalam mengumpulkan data. Dalam pembahasan penulis menggunakan pendekatan sosialkultural historikal. Pendekatan tersebut adalah pendekatan yang paling sesuai untuk pembahasan, dikarenakan skrispsi ini mengacu pada kritik terhadap self-reliance di Amerika.
Dalam pembahasan, sebagai tokoh utama Christopher McCandles digambarkan sebagai seseorang yang mandiri, berpendirian teguh, mampu menentukan nasib sendiri, pemberani, maju, tidak mau menuruti adat dan pecinta kealamian. Dari perwatakan tersebut dihubungkan dengan kondisi sosial di Amerika Serikat makan akan tampak jelas sebuah kritik terhadap ide self-reliance yang dilihat melalui tokoh utama dari cerita. Self-reliance di sini menyebabkan dampak buruk dalam masyrakat seperti hilangnya kehidupan social dalam masyrakat, kematian orang Amerika di alam liar dan masih banyak lagi. Dalam kesimpulannya, cara yang tepat untuk hidup adalah dengan berbagi dengan yang lainnya dan kebahagian sejati sesungguhnya didasarkan pada kehidupan sosial yang bagus pada sebuah masyarakat, melainkan bukan pada kehidupan yang menyendiri.
CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION A. Background of the Study A literary work is the result of human thoughts and feelings which are
part of their life experience. The statement above is related to Hudson‘s definition of literature in Introduction to the Study of Literature. Hudson states that literature is a depiction of what men have seen and experienced in life. It can be said that a literary work is the reflection of life through the media of language, which can be found in the form of novels or poems (2006: 10). With literary works, the authors try to appreciate themselves and share their thoughts and feeling with others.
Arnold Kettle in Arundhati Roy's The God of Small Things: A Critical Appraisal states that ―at the same time the good novel does not simply convey life, it says something about life, it reveals some kind of pattern in life, and it brings significance‖ (2004: 42). Therefore, a literary work can serve as an instructional medium for others. Many values and knowledge can be obtained through literature. Values that are delivered through literary works are expected to be useful for the reader's life.
There are many types of literature, such as short story, novel, poem and drama. As parts of literature, they have some values. Human life and manners are presented on them (Wellek and Warren, 1956: 216). In his book Moral Choice, Maguire says that as the imitation of real life, novels contains some values and characters, plot, and theme. Those elements can be used to interpret the message and the values delivered through the novels (1979: 3).
It can be said that the authors of literary works have certain purposes that they try to deliver to the readers through the messages and values in their works.
In Arundhati Roy's The God of Small Things: A Critical Appraisal, Amar Nath Prasad mentions that ―every branch of literature has specific aim and novel, being one the chief‘s branches of literature, has a decisive purpose or aim‖ (2004: 42).
Ideas or thoughts that are poured into a literary work have a specific purpose and motive for the readers. It means that through the ideas in literary works, the readers will be expected to think critically to understand the purpose. It can range from the author‘s protest towards his surroundings to moral lessons.
Therefore, a literary work must have power and influence on the readers. This idea is also supported by Holland in New Literary History, as shown in the following quotation.
Literature shows its apparent power when we are "absorbed" in a literary experience: Coleridge's "willing suspension of disbelief." We do not sense our bodies or our environment. We cease to judge the reality or probability of events. And we feel real emotions toward people and things we know are fictions. Our sensory and emotional systems behave in this special way because our "disinterested" stance toward works of art inhibits the brain's action systems to which these other systems are linked (2004: 395-410).
The process of revealing values and ideas in literary works can be done in several ways; one of them is through the movie or film version. Nowadays, many novels have been adapted to the movie versions. Therefore, everybody can learn some values from literary works, both in the form of novels and movies, Astruc in the book France, he states that ―a film maker or author writes with his camera as writer writes with his pen‖ (1971: 11). Movies also have a close relationship with literature because films or movies must have a script, and Giannetti states that ―a film script is rarely an autonomous literary product‖ (1987: 256). People can analyze a film script in a similar way as they analyze a literary work because movies have aesthetical values which are also found in literary works. Therefore, literary analysis can be applied on perspective film analysis, as suggested by Boggs below.
Perspective film analysis is built on the same elements used in literary analysis and if we apply what we have learned in the study of literature to our analysis film, we are far ahead of those who do not (1978: 20). The criteria above can be found in a true story experienced by
Christopher McCandless, which was chronicled in a novel entitled Into the Wild by John Kreakuer and adapted into a movie with the same title by Sean Penn. Into is an interesting story to discuss because McCandless as the main
the Wild
character displays highly unique characteristics. Throughout the story, he has done some controversial and extraordinary actions. The movie script conveys messages and values to the audience through the character of McCandless. Somehow, the script encourages the audience to think critically about particular ideas and values contained in the movie that will be useful for the readers‘ life.
In this study, the writer tries to analyze how the movie script of Into the Wild criticizes the idea of self reliance. Self-reliance is an interesting topic to be discussed, because self-reliance can influence a person to do unusual things, as
. For instance, he decides to live in the Alaska alone without money,
the Wild
technology, and other important life necessities. He also leaves his wealth behind just to find the answers of his thoughts about self reliance. Through the analysis, the writer aims to find criticisms towards the ideas of self reliance in the movie script, which are shown through the characterization of Christopher McCandless.
B. Problem Formulation
Based on the background of the study, the problem can be formulated into the following questions.
1. How does the characteristic of Christopher McCandless reflect the concept of self-reliance in the movie script of Into the Wild?
2. How does the movie script of Into the Wild criticize the idea of self- reliance through Christopher McCandless‘ characterization?
C. Objectives of the Study
This study aims to answer the problems that have been stated in the problem formulation. The first objective of the study is to understand the ideas of self-reliance through the characterization of Christopher McCandless. Since the movie script criticizes the ideas of self-reliance, this objective will be achieved by obtaining ideas about self-reliance from the text. The second objective is to identify how the movie script criticizes the ideas of self-reliance, as revealed through the elements of literature such as character and characterization.
D. Definition of Terms
To avoid misinterpretation and to help the readers understand this study, the term used throughout this study is defined and explained in this part.
Therefore, both the writer and the readers have the same understanding of this term. defines self-reliance as the capacity to
Roget's II: The New Thesaurus
manage one's own affairs, make one's own judgments, and provide for oneself: independence, self-determination, self-sufficiency (1996: 842). On the other hand, Emerson as the creator of the term ―self-reliance‖ states in the book Self-Reliance that self-reliance is the need for each individual to avoid conformity and false consistency, and follow his or her own instincts and ideas (2007: 13-14).
CHAPTER II THEORETICAL REVIEW A. Review of Related Studies In the thesis entitled Christopher Johnson McCandless’ Trancendetalism Values as Reflected in Sean Penn’s Into The Wild, Afida Arifiana from Sebelas Maret University discusses about transcendetalism as reflected by the main
character. Christopher McCandless. Arifiana tries to find trancendetailsm by examining the character of Christopher McCandless. In her thesis, she applies the sociological, philosophical approaches and semiotics film theory. In her analysis, she finds that Christopher McCandless in Senn Pean‘s Into the Wild reflects the transcendentalism values, for instance by living in simplicity close to the nature, believing that everything is Divine, having his own self-image and self-reliance, and opposing oppressions. McCandless‘ transcendentalism values are revealed through his dialogue with other characters, quotes, and expressions. In addition, those values are also revealed from the mise-en-scène and cinematographic elements, such as camera angle and shot (2009:74).
The writer essentially agrees to Arifiana‘s findings. However, she only discusses the preface and does not discuss it deeper. As a result, her study becomes too general. The differenc e between Arifiana‘s study and this study is that this study will go deeper to discuss self-reliance as part of trancendetailsm and find criticisms towards the idea self-reliance in Into the Wild movie script. Aditria Putri from Airlangga University also discusses the same character in her thesis, which was entitled A Study on Neurotic Problem of Christopher Johnson
McCandless as the Main Character in John Krakauer’s Into the Wild. Even
though the object of study is the original novel instead of the movie version, the contents of the story remain the same. In her study, Putri argues that the reason behind Christopher‘s odyssey to Alaska is his neurotic problems, which were caused by his father‘s poor parenting. Putri applies Karen Horney‘s theory on neurosis to prove that poor parenting or parental indifference causes neurotic problems in the future. From Christopher‘s family background, it can be concluded that Christopher copes with neurotic strategies and fulfills his neurotic needs through his journey to Alaska. This thesis argues that neurosis is one of the causes of Christopher‘s death (2010: 61-65).
The study above focuses on the psychological aspect of Christopher McCandless, while this thesis focuses on the criticism towards self-reliance. Since Putr i‘s study and this study analyze Into the Wild with different subjects and points of view, this study is definitely different from Putri‘s. The difference between Putri‘s study and this study is that this study will explore the subject of self-reliance and focus on the impact of self-reliance in American society as reflected in the movie script.
B Review of Related Theories
1.Theories of Character and Characterization
Trottier in The Screenwriter's Bible he states the screenplay is a unique literary form. A screenplay is written using technical jargon and tight, spare prose when describing stage directions. Unlike a novel or short story, a screenplay focuses on describing the literal, visual aspects of the story, rather than on the internal thoughts of its characters (1998: 4) Despite the movie script or screenplay does not focuses on character, it cannot be denied that movie script still analyzes the characters. It means we can apply the literary analysis to analyze the character on a movie script.
Since the movie script has similarities to the drama, the writer of thesis uses the theory from Reaske. In How to Analyze Drama, Reaske said that a character is the fictitious creation of person presented in dramatic or narrative work that can be interpreted through the combination of the dialogue and action expressed (1966; 40). While according to Roger B. Henkle, characters could be classified into major and minor characters. Major or main characters are characters that become the center of the story and are observed many times in the story (Henkle, 1977: 90). The minor or secondary characters are characters that support the main charact er in the terms of storytelling the major character‘s personality in the story. Their function are various; as elements of society that makes up the human context, as average or normal points or reference, as foils to the major characters, or they can be symbols of aspects of the governing state of being (Henkle, 1977: 100).
In the book A Glossary of Literary Terms, Abrams defines character as one of literary genre. According to Abrams, characters are not only about physical appearances but also psychological. Both of the definitions are applicable for this thesis. Another definition that he states about character is that: Characters are the persons presented in a dramatic or narrative work, who are interpreted by the reader as being endowed with moral and dispositional qualities that are expressed in what they say-the dialogue-and by what they do-the action (Abrams, 1981: 20). As for the characterization, Abrams states in his book, A Glossary of Literary
Terms , that there are two ways to present characteriz
ation. Abrams writes ―first showing (dramatic method), the author merely presents his characters talking and acting and leaves the reader to infer the motives and dispositions lay behind what they say and do. Second is telling, the author himself intervenes authoratively in order and often to evaluate, the motives and disposal qualities of his character‖ (Abrams, 1981: 24).
There is another theory that talks about how to analyze a character‘s characterization in a play. Reaske in his book, How to Analyze Drama, says that there are six devices of characterization. These theories will be used in this study. They are:
a. The appearance of the character We can learn about the character from his appearance, which is often character‘s appearance we can know whether the character is old or young, small or large, attractive or unattractive, etc. This appearance may be visible as well from narrator‘s description or other character‘s opinion towards the particular character.
b. Asides and soliloquies Through aside and soliloquies, we also can learn about the character.
When a character speaks in short asides or in longer soliloquies, he is telling his specific characteristics. For example; a lover, will have tendency to use poetic statements. Therefore, we may learn that the person is a lover for using poetic statements which one speaks in short asides.
c. Dialogue between characters This means that we learn characters from dialogue between characters.
Through character‘s language when he speaks to other character, we can know his personality.
d. Hidden narration Sometimes, there is a character in the play who is never directly described by the playwright. In that case, we understand that characters through hidden narration, i.e. a narration of one character about another character.
e. Language Language can also help to understand character. Both the kind of words which the character uses and how the character speaks are two important parts of language that can be used to learn the characters‘ characteristics.
This means that we can determine what kind of person a character is when he acts on the stage. We can learn more about character through his action in the play. (1966: 44-48)
2. Theory of Self-Reliance
In his Essays: First Series Self-reliance Emerson explains the importance of thinking for oneself rather than meekly accepting other people's ideas. As he states "To believe your own thought, to believe that what is true for you in your private heart is true for all men
—that is genius.‘‘ (2007:14). It means a man should believe in himself. When he has an original thought, he should embrace it and make it known to others rather than reject it. A man should trust his own judgment of things and always try to search deep inside themselves for answers.
According to Emerson to get the glory men should speak to their latent conviction, and it shall be the universal sense, for the inmost in due time becomes the outmost. A man must take himself for better, for worse, as his portion when he already has the conviction that envy is ignorance and imitation is suicide.
Something does not come instantly so people should hard work for something. The power which resides in human is new in nature and none but man knows what that is which man can do, nor does man know until he has tried.
In Emerson‘s essay someone must trust thyself, every heart vibrates to that iron string. It means men are to be guides and adventurers, destined to participate in an act of creation modeled on the classical myth of bringing order we are now men, and must accept in the highest mind the same transcendent destiny; and not minors and invalids in a protected corner, not cowards fleeing before a revolution, but guides, redeemers, and benefactors, obeying the Almighty effort, and advancing on Chaos and the Dark. (2007:18) In his essay, Emerson also speaks out about the society. According to
Emerson society everywhere is in conspiracy against the manhood of every one of its members. When people accept the society, it means they sell their freedom for securing life. People become conformity. In the eyes of Emerson, Self-reliance is its aversion. Whoso would be a man must be a nonconformist.
Emerson says ―What I must do is all that concerns me, not what the people think‖ (2007:20) therefore in self-reliance a great man is person that can keep his freedom and independence of solitude. A man does not need or want the approval of other men.
Emerson in his essay also underlines the serious problem of men. They are conformity and consistency. As Emerson states ―To conform, to please others, you put on a false face, smiling when in the presence of people with whom you feel uncomfortable or pretending to be interested in dull conversation‖ (2007:20) Conformity can turn man life into a lie because in living according to the will of others it means a man is not being true to himself. If somebody doing this thing it means what they do is fake. Second problem is consistency. If man strives to be consistent in all things and live according to a pattern, he will afraid to break out of because he is afraid that people will look down on him. According to Emerson a foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines. With consistency a great soul has simply nothing to do. Somebody may as well concern himself with his shadow on the wall.
In the Emerson opinion society is not the measure of all things; the individual is. The individual can find the label true man in his nature. Emerson's label for the ideal individual, "belongs to no other time or place, but is the centre of all things.
Where he is, there is nature." (2007:35) In this case nature is not only the objects around person, but also person‘s individual natures. And these individual natures allow the great thinker and the ideal individual to battle conformity and consistency.
He says ―one should base on their life on the present and live naturally, not relying on money or riches. Nothing but nature and you make up who you really are inside‖(2007:26) From Emerson statement can be concluded that a man must be themselves and rely on the nature.
Emerson also writes important things about self- reliance. He says ―Insist on yourself; never imitate‖. (2007:45) It means for man it is better to learn by self. If somebody learns from other people they will only get an extemporaneous, half possession.
Emerson also argues that society does not necessarily improve from material changes and the civilized man has built a coach, but has lost the use of his feet. For example, advances in technology result in the loss of certain kinds of wisdom: The person who has a watch loses the ability to tell time by the sun's position in the sky, and improvements in transportation and war machinery are not stature of human beings. He sees that nothing can bring men peace but themselves. Nothing can bring men peace but the triumph of principles.
According to Emerson men who listen to themselves rather than to the common herd are true men. And it is true men who leave their mark on history. If all men became self-reliant, then all of their activities and institutions would be better in religion, education, the way they live and the way they think.
In short paragraph self-reliance can be said as strong belief that someone is capable of successfully dealing with the challenges and able to take guidance from his or her self rather than from other people or other things. Put other way, self-reliance means having the ability and courage to listen to self and cat by yourself rather than letting other people, things or events decide what someone should do, be or have. Being self-reliant, a person has to realize and accepts that they are completely responsible for their life and if they want something done, then they must do it themselves. They must follow his or her instincts and ideas in done something. Being self-reliant also means avoid conformity. They have to be nonconformist.
3. The Relation between Literature and Society
According to Wellek and Warren, there is an interaction between the writer as the producer of the literary work and the society. A writer lives in society and he is a part of society as social creature. From society we can collect much information about his social background, family, and economy status. Literary work is the result of writer, so it can be concluded there is a relationship between literature and society. Rene Wellek and Austen Warren in their book
Theory of Literature state:
The relation between literature and society is usually discussed by starting with the phrase, derived from the De Bonald, that literature is an expression of society, but what does this axiom mean? It is assumed that literature at any given time mirrors the current social institution ‗correctly‘, it is false; it is common place, trite and vague if it means only that literature depicts some aspects of social reality (1956: 95).
Therefore, they offer a specific evaluative criterion stating that the relation between literature and society is that literature mirrors or expresses life because an artist is supposed to express life in his or her work. Yet, it does not mean that an artist expresses or mirrors the whole life of a given time but means his or her time completely; the artist is aware of the specific social, economic, political, and religious condition in his or her era, and he or she should be representative of his or her age and society; it is the artist‘s duty to convey historical as well as social truths as a symbol of artistic values in literature. Thus, literature can also be viewed as the essence, the abridgement, and summary at all history. Therefore, the relation between literature and society is very close in which the reader can catch literature as the mirror reflects the society as well as in the author‘s era (Wellek and Warren, 1956: 95)
Elizabeth Langland in Society in the Novel explained that society in the novels does not depend on points of absolute fidelity in an outside world in details of costume, setting, and locality because a novel‘s society does not aim at a mirror of any real thing. The society in the novel is not always resemble or same with the novel which is not influenced by the outside world. Society in the novel cannot always be found in the real world, but there is a possibility that we can find it in the real world, although it is not exactly the same. Society in the novel might not be an absolute realistic mirror of the existent society in the real life, but there is a possibility that it comments on the society in our life (1984: 5). The society in the novel has a possibility to become a social criticism in the real life of society.
Langland also explained that everything which is seen such as norms, conventions, codes, background, places, peoples, institutions are included in society. But its particular manifestations in a novel will be determined by its role within the work (1984: 6-7).
C. Review of the Social Condition of USA in the Twentieth Century
In the twentieth century Americans can be said as individualist and self- reliant. It is proved by Hoover in his successful speech at 1928 presidential campaign, Hoover. He expresses his view that the American system is based on rugged individualism and self-reliance
Ronald E. Purser in Beyond Individualism and Collectivism explains that Americans place self-reliance as the important things in their lives. The image of the self-reliant individual, so prized in American culture, can be traced back to Ralph Waldo Emerson‘s reaction against the cultural superficiality of commercialism.
Jorn K. Bramann states that the individualistic self-reliance that expresses itself in a general disregard for community and tradition, has come to be considered a central part of American ideology
—together with such ideals as unabridged freedom of speech, free enterprise, democratic self-government, and other support structures of individual liberty (http://faculty.frostburg.edu/phil/ forum/Tocqueville.htm).
Besides self-reliance, independence in America also becomes the important thing. Lord Bryce observes that everything tends to make the individual independent and self-reliant. Both Those independence and self-reliance
- – a trait that has served Americans well in the past can manifest itself in go-it-alone policies and behaviours, reinforcing distrust of other nations efforts and concerns, and antagonizing America‘s actual or potential allies.
While William Herberg (1988:79) in Protestant, Catholic, Jew: an Essay sees that the American way of life is
in American Religious Sociology
individualistic, dynamic, pragmatic. It affirms the supreme value and dignity of the individual, it defines an ethic of self-reliance, merit, and character, and judges by achievement: deeds, not creeds are what count. The American way of life is humanitarian, forward-looking, and optimistic. The American believes in progress, in self-improvement, and quite fanatically in education. But above all, the American is idealistic. Americans cannot go on making money or achieving worldly success simply on its own merits; such materialistic things must, in the American mind, be justified in higher terms, in terms of service or stewardship or
In American society, the individual must choose his/her own path in life. Although this opportunity is energizing, it is also disintegrative. The American middle-class is particularly possessed by the acquisition of wealth, and aspirations of upward social mobility. Elshtain in Democrazy in Trial asserts that this obsession has forced children to break ties with community, family, and church as they search for opportunity. (1995)
Bellah et. a.l. notes "In a culture that emphasizes the autonomy and self- reliance of the individual, the primary problems of childhood are what some psychoanalysts call separation and individuation - indeed, childhood is chiefly preparation for the all-important event of leaving home" (1985., 56-7). It shows most of Americans believe the virtue of self reliance, the belief that somebody must free his or her self from his/her families of origin to pursue wealth, is a core element of American culture.
In The Age of Independence: Interracial Unions, Same-Sex Unions, and
the Changing American Family,
Rosenfeld explains ‖ Young adults began to live on their own, and to postpone marriage. A new life stage for young adults began emerging after 1960, the Independent Life Stage ―(2007:3). The Independent Life Stage usually includes travel away from home to college, living apart from parents, moving to the city, travelling abroad, and exposure to a variety of cultures.
The independence of young adults from their families has some important potential benefits. For instance, young adults are better able to choose interracial and same-sex couples in the last few decades. The greater freedom of young people to select their own mates may be experienced as a benefit of modernity by young people; their parents may have mixed emotions about this kind of freedom.
In addition to some beneficiaries, there are also certain to be some casualties of the new Independent Life Stage. Not all young people are well suited to independence, and even young people who have plenty of independent spirit can get in to trouble. Without family close by, i.e. without family government, small problems can grow into more serious problems. Some therapists and scholars believe that independence from our families of origin makes youths more vulnerable to anxiety and depression (Olds and Schwartz, 2009).
On the other hand, Americans also have conception to the social life. According to Bellah et. Al in Habits of the Heart, the therapeutic conception of community is destroying American civility. The therapeutic doctrine holds that social life is an arrangement created for the fulfilment of the needs of individuals. Individuals gather together to meet their needs and validate themselves, rather than to work toward shared ends.(1985:102)
The loss of community in America also is noted by Putnam in his book . Social
Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community
scientists have been complaining about the loss of community for as long as social science has existed. In the modern era, they may have a point. The long term trends suggest that Americans are less involved in political and social life, and lonely and disorienting, especially for young people who are only beginning to figure out where they are headed. Even when the young adults have a strong idea of where they are headed, the path to full adulthood can be full of twists and turns. Parents will inevitably worry about their young adult children, even as their young adult children exercise the very independence that the parents taught them to have.
Daniel Yankelovich in How American Idividualism Is Evolving (1998) calls the transform ation in value from 1960‘s- 1970‘s as expressive individualism. He mentions some important value shifts. One of them is concept of duty: less value placed on what one owes to others as a matter of moral obligation. It means American tends to do something they want rather than do for others.
Americans often justify their morals and values on the basis of their own idiosyncratic preferences. Selves are defined by individual predilections. If each self constitutes its own moral universe, there exists no method by which to reconcile conflicting claims about what is good in itself. The authors write,
All we can do is refer to the chains of consequences and ask if our actions prove useful or consistent in light of our own value-systems. All we can appeal to in relationships with others is their self-interest, likewise enlightened, or their intuitive sympathies (Bellah et al, 1985: 76). There is an absence of fixed moral ends. Therefore, the self and its feelings become the only moral guide. Because American souls lack such absolute moral obligations, Americans have the ability to alter our behaviours to become adaptive. Instead of acting out of goodness, Americans are obsessed with self- gratification. As Bellah et. al write, by autonomously pursuing happiness and satisfying its wants (Bellah et al, 1985: 79). As has been mentioned before by Daniel Yankelovich in How American
(1998) there are important value shifts in America. In
Idividualism Is Evolving
respectability, Americans less value placed on symbols of correct behavior for a person. In social morality, Americans less value placed on observing society's rules. Then in expressiveness, Americans placed a higher value on forms of choice and individualism that express one's unique inner nature. The last is in the environment: greater value placed on respecting and preserving nature and the natural. (http://www.danyankelovich.com/howamerican.html)
Talking about greater value placed on respecting and preserving nature and the natural, there is a fact shows that American loves nature. In 1964 there is Wilderness Act. It is the act to preserve and protect nature. Wilderness, according to the act, is space ―where the earth and its community of life are untrammelled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain.‖ Within those areas, the act forbids cars, roads, structures and anything else that could impair the ―outstanding opportunities for solitude.‖ (http://www.wilderness.net/NWPS/documents//publiclaws/PDF/16_USC_1131- 1136.pdf)