GENDER NARRATIVES IN ANTHONY DOERR’S ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE: WOMEN IN AN AMERICAN WAR LITERATURE.

GENDER NARRATIVES IN

ANTHONY

DOERR’S

ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE:

WOMEN IN AN AMERICAN WAR LITERATURE

A THESIS

Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements

for the Attainment of a Sarjana Sastra Degree in English Literature

Egie Danarko

(11211144023)

ENGLISH LITERATURE STUDY PROGRAM

ENGLISH EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

FACULTY OF LANGUAGES AND ARTS

YOGYAKARTA STATE UNIVERSITY

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To my mother, and my family

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- “Only through the hottest fires can purification be achieved, only through the harshest tests God’s chosen will rise.”

Anthony Doerr

“When it touches you, quote, let your heart speaks honesty.”

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Song of praises and dua are enchanted to God the Almighty, for without His forever argued existential power and blessings I would surely not be able to finish this research. A deep and sincere gratitude is also given to these individuals whose presence always there during my ups and downs in conducting the research;

1. Dr. Widyastuti Purbani, M. A. and Nandy Intan Kurnia, M, Hum. for their continuous supports, patience, cares and evaluations that let the completion of this research possible,

2. my father Pak Koesbani and my mother Bu Surip for everything, 3. my best friends Jeje, Adit, and all my classmates for the lively years,

4. my teammates and family in English Debating Society YSU for the joy and pain to survive in debating tournaments and learning together,

5. my seniors and friends both in International Office and Partnership YSU as well as Self Access Learning Access Center YSU for the lessons and togetherness during my work as a volunteer.

Finally, this research is open to flaws. Thus, any criticisms are welcomed and appreciated as knowledge is good accompanied by critics.

Yogyakarta, March 23rd 2017

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RATIFICATION ... iii

PERNYATAAN ... iv

DEDICATION ... v

MOTTO ... vi

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ... vii

TABLE OF CONTENTS ... viii

LIST OF FIGURES ... xi

LIST OF TABLES ... xii

ABSTRACT ... xiii

CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION A. Background of the Study ... 1

B. Research Focus ... 8

C. Research Questions ... 10

D. Research Objectives ... 11

E. The Significance of the Study ... 12

CHAPTER II LITERATURE REVIEW A. Narratology ... 13

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B. Feminist Criticism on Gender and War ... 20

1. Gender ... 22

a. Representation of Gender ... 25

b. Oppression towards Women ... 26

2. War ... 28

a. The Constructed War Concept ... 28

b. The Dead of Heroine ... 31

C. American Literature and War ... 32

D. Previous Research Findings ... 34

E. Analytical Construct ... 36

CHAPTER III RESEARCH METHOD A. Research Approach ... 37

B. Sources and Type of Data ... 38

C. Data Collection ... 39

D. Research Instrument ... 43

E. Data Analysis ... 44

F. Data Trustworthiness ... 45

CHAPTER IV FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION A. The Narrations of Female Subordination ... 50

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B. The Narrations of Male Domination ... 77

1. Power ... 78

2. Bravery ... 82

3. Rationality and Intellectuality ... 86

4. Heroism ... 91

C. The Framework of Binary Gender Construction Attained from the Gender Narratives in Anthony Doerr’s All the Light We Cannot See ... 97

CHAPTER V CONCLUSION ... 100

REFERENCES ... 102

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Figure 1. Analytical Construct ... 36 Figure 2. The Framework of Binary Gender Construction through Gender Narratives in Anthony Doerr’s All the Light We Cannot See ... 97

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ANTHONY DOERR’S ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE: WOMEN IN AN AMERICAN WAR LITERATURE

By Egie Danarko 11211144023

ABSTRACT

This research is aimed to prove and explain how (1) female subordination and (2) male domination in Anthony Doerr’s All the Light We Cannot See are narrated by identifying the novel’s gender narratives. The theory of poststructuralist narratology and feminist criticism on gender and war are employed to analyze the problem.

It is a qualitative research. It employed textual analysis which focused on the narrative of the text. The main source of data was Doerr’s All the Light We Cannot See. The data were in the forms of words, phrases, clauses, sentences, and paragraphs depicting or implying gender narratives. The researcher used five steps in analyzing the data. The data were gathered from reading and re-reading the text, identifying those which embody gender narratives, categorizing them based on the research’s objectives, comparing them to the analytical constructs, and lastly interpreting them by using feminist narratology. The researcher used triangulation and peer debriefing to obtain trustworthiness.

The results show that female subordination and male domination are found in the narratives of gender. Females are narrated as figures embodying vulnerability, fear, irrationality, emotional instability and submissive characteristic. Meanwhile, males are narrated as figures embodying power, bravery, rationality, intellectuality and heroic behavior. Those qualities embody the polarized gender narratives of men and women that endorse a patriarchal order and hierarchy. Females are seen as inferiors from the beginning of their gender creation. The construction of this dualistic gender shows the binary thought of patriarchal society. These findings conclude that gender subordination is embedded in the novel.

Key word: narratives, poststructuralist narratology, gender, feminism, war, American literature

CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION

A. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Most people yearn a fair world to live. Yet, the world is far from being fair. The reality does not give people fairness for free. People have to fight for their causes to find justices. The world is surely unkind and unjust. For millennia, stories of quarrelling interests have defined the world. The result is history has summarized itself as a series of conflicts; a series of war. Conflicts have been living as old as human’s civilization from ancient times to today. Ones need to struggle to keep surviving. Consequently, a game of survival that runs under the nature’s law has emerged. That is how, at least, the world has been narrated. To live means to fight, question, and accept the reality.

Conflict in the name of sexual identity in search of justice is one of the most criticized stories in history. The world consists of two sexes. Yet, the relationship among them does not always go smoothly. They describe and prejudge each other. They create stories, but the dominant sex has more power to dominate the stories. The power gap has led this into a minimum discourse in the matter. The creation of normality by the dominant stories begins. There is a standard norm being set. Some people reject while others submit. When text rises and marks history, it forms a significant deal in society. Text tries to narrate everything and becomes sources of guidance for people. Stories are made and spread. People read and tell. These

narrations from both oral and textual often times culminate into the creation of social norms and values. The problem is the narrations about the less dominant sex are almost far from being fair. Most of the narrations have marginalized them to be the second sex. For centuries, oppression to this sex occurs and the tales go on.

Females are these less dominant sexes that are going to be discussed in this research. Their lives are bounded to the story of “women”. These sexes have to endure the unfair narrations addressed to them. Stories are no longer stories, but they turn into myths embedded in people’s heads. Honor killing in Pakistan is an example of long lasted marginalization (evolved into violence) towards them inspired by irresponsible narratives. The highly patriarchal society of Pakistan supported by extreme religious ideology had oppressed its female members horribly. In 2014, it was even reported that a pregnant woman was stoned to death because she married a man who did not get her family’s consent. This was done asserted by her family as a way to save the honor of the family. When in Pakistan it was almost impossible for females to speak, Pussy Riot in Russia was probably lucky to be able to speak up the rights of them. However, Putin’s government was criticized to be no different from other patriarchal society. It had taken the females’ freedom by creating controversial and discriminative policy on women. This female protester group was arrested by the security officials. All lead to prove how powerful an established narrative is.

The narration about females is probably people’s least concerned. Truthfully, it is as important as any other fields for the betterment of human’s life. Commonly, most people are habituated by the old narrative. The problem is taking away its past

social construction for granted can be harmful and problematic. Time changes, so do people. A critical tradition in viewing things must be disseminated in order to fertilize a healthy thinking and achieve a greater social progress. Unfortunately, the history of females particularly in text is still male centric due to the influence of male dominance. Hester (1992: 1-2) even believes that the naturalistic character of male domination is actually made on purpose by male’s intent. It is sure that narration is matter.

Discussing issues about female means dealing with how women as the representation of female’s gender are being represented. Gender is basically narrated and dynamic since it varies from culture to culture. Inferring to Teresa de Lauretis’ definition of gender, gender refers to the social construction of what male and female are (Lieske in Wallace, 2009:252). In the old time society, men and women are associated into their own roles usually because of their capacity as an individual. The traditional concept of living influenced by war culture has endorsed a shallow definition of men and women. The paradigm toward them has forced the weaker sex (on the basis of physical capacity) to accept its specific roles in society. While the stronger remains, its roles are also defined. As a result, it raises a common perception between men and women, a general conception of gender roles. Separation between roles of the sexes begins as time passes by. In male dominated society, patriarchal society is born.

Patriarchal society is a society identical with the domination of males and the subordination of females caused by coerced narration of gender. Traditionalist people

relate these phenomena as inevitable because of religious and biological reasons (Lerner, 1987:16-17). Male domination is usually found on how patriarchal males dominate females by maintaining their power in many forms while female subordination is manifested on how females are perceived as inferior entity. In this society, women are treated as inferior beings. Their roles are mostly defined by men through dictated narrations. Their movements are limited and sealed into traditionalized roles nurtured from their previous generations or ancestors. Time by time, their freedom of expression is indirectly killed by the notion of preservation of tradition and cultural values. Women have likely a minimum chance to resist. According to revolutionary feminist, heterosexuality is the perpetrator of this cycle of control and it keeps the cycle continues (Hester, 1992: 2). While Hester (1992:3) herself believes that it is actually not caused by sexuality, rather it is caused by the problematic social construction of masculinity and femininity. Aside from those views why oppression occurs, patriarchy is inherently unfair to females. It is the society where males lead while females stay behind and remain imprisoned under social norms. The doctrine that says women have to keep their roles as beauty symbols is one of the established patriarchal values. Meanwhile, it remains to be a question what beauty is. Beauty goes to the realm of femininity, yet femininity is socially constructed. Consequently, this kind of society has higher risk of abuse of power made by males because males may dictate what and how beauty is. In response to such problems, Lerner (1987:6) argues that if patriarchy is a system caused by historical process, then it can be changed by historical process too. It means that to

cut the vicious cycle of oppression to females, new paradigm in seeing them must be introduced to deconstruct the institutionalized patriarchal system.

On the relation to the above historical elaboration, it can be concluded that the problem which affects females is obviously about narrative. The male centered narrative as a result of patriarchal ideology is the culprit of how oppression towards females may still survive to today. To fight the oppression means to demand a fair and responsible narrative about females. However, Herman (2005:17) argues that the level of credibility of a narrator is subjective and dependent on the reader’s view about what credibility comprises of. This implies meaning that there are two factors that constitute people’s perception on how responsible narrative is. Those are the reader (when it comes to text) or the receiver and his or her knowledge to judge whether a narrative is reliable or not. This argument proves why there are still many people who accept the constructed values while some others do not. It is because people are varies from head to head and their knowledge upon things affect them to view things differently. Campaigning for a better awareness is certainly needed.

Inequality between men and women in patriarchal society will be optimally resolved by counterbalancing the established narratives with new narratives which portray women as the representation of females fairly. It means that a misleading narrative must be criticized and reconstructed. Gender equality entails a factual description on both sexes. In the context of written materials, text should communicate a new normal of what a female is. Feminist theories are essential and pivotal in introducing a new normal. The spirit of females’ independence must be

proliferated. Simone de Beauvoir’s call that says “One is not born, but rather becomes a woman”, summarized by Postal in Wallace (2009: 57) as the liberation of women from any determinant on what defines women in society is necessary to educate a society on issues about women and females.

Literature is a promising text that can be used as a curative material to deconstruct the deeply rooted patriarchal ideology in society. Socrates’ mimesis about Plato’s Republic that posits literature as a reflection of society is a good start (Kenan, 2002: 109). Literature is a society in words. It is the mirror of human civilization. Yet, war literature is susceptible to patriarchal narrations. This is due to the fact that this literature exploits war in building its story. The representation of gender in war literature can be problematic. War constitutes significantly in creating gender narratives in society. Patriarchal values accumulated from war may authorize the creation of gender. War literature, then, can be so patriarchal in nature. Strong male dominance in war themes is one of the causes which catalysts these patriarchal narrations. From those reasons, this research is interested in analyzing this literature as a textual artifact of civilization that is prone to patriarchy. American literary narrative of war as a popular literature is chosen as the focus of this research.

Anthony Doerr’s All the Lights We Cannot See is an example of this literary genre. It is a literary work which fuses historical settings and fantasies. It is historic in some parts and fictive in the other parts. The novel speaks about the story of two human beings named Marie Laure Le Blanc and Werner Pfennig who cross their paths in World War II. It is interesting that this novel uses historical settings aimed to

mimic certain condition at the past. As a historical fiction about war which is fictive in nature, its story might be found sensitive to any community or reader which has an affiliation with the history. Nonetheless, aside from that, Adamson (1994: xix) addresses that the artistic substances which come from the author’s imagination to the story is equally important to give a soul to the text so that it can be intellectually stimulating to the readers. It means that the fictive part is also significant in creating the whole story and attracting the readers as well. This fictive part is under the authority of the author to define and tell. This is where his or her fantasy works and manifests. This is also where the author’s knowledge, values, and ideology might reside and influence.

There is a stereotype in society about historical fiction saying it must portray the precise reality of the historical settings being used in the story. It is also why Doerr’s All the Lights We Cannot See is an appealing material to study according to the researcher. The reality demanded is basically also a mere generalization of what happened at the past. That is because the condition revealed is also based on the author’s perception of the past which is probably structured by historical books or any other books the author consumed available in schools, stores or libraries. Meanwhile, factually, those books are also possibly influenced by political agenda or else. Dominant actors always have a power to dictate a story. Indonesian’s historical narrative incredibility towards the narration of 1965’s mass killing is an example how dominant actors constructed history. On the same analogy, the reality demanded from historical fiction cannot also represent the whole truth of the history and it is probable

to even bring a misleading message to society. This is in line with a view that states reality is sadly formed by society (Simmon, 2006:20).

Thus, this research aims to analyze the narratives of gender being used by the author in portraying women in his novel. The researcher believes the author may consciously or unconsciously be influenced by a patriarchal ideology in telling the story of women in war. Gender narratives in text are important in shaping women in society. The theory of poststructuralist or postmodern narratology and feminist criticism on gender and war will be used to uncover these narratives. Gender narratives have a power in constructing the readers’ paradigm on women. The existence of male domination and female subordination in the novel as the probable effect of patriarchal values is managed to be proved by the researcher. As a reader belongs to a society, the more readers read the novel means the more power to build a stigmatization. In turn, this stigmatization can later on be seen as a normal thing in society. Misleading narrative like this is harmful and need to be addressed.

B. RESEARCH FOCUS

The study of narrative is crucial to humanities. Literature is one of many forms of telling a message to people. It is influential and continues to become a popular culture in society. American literature is part of this narrative artwork. It has an exceptional place in shaping America as a developed nation and a modern world. It has successfully communicated new normal to people to combat oppressions. Nevertheless, aside from those joyous narratives, the researcher believes that

American war literature still remains susceptible to male oriented narrative resulted from previous patriarchal background of America. Patriarchy is not something that is easily changed. If previously feminism has been successful in moving women to fight for justice, it does not mean that it has also successfully moved those who affirm the previous establishment to acknowledge justice. War literature is problematic since it establishes a prejudice of war. To be precise, this literature exploits it to make the story, has a strong relation with male heroism and unavoidably defines women on those patriarchal settings.

American war literature is produced by American authors and mainly tells on wars their nation involved in. The wars are utilized to narrate the horrific and the heroic condition about the people. This war setting may perpetuate a system of warring society in the story making. An established concept of it, then, may be used to portray the condition. Gendered society caused by war will be more likely regarded as a normal thing in this sense. In war, the dominant is the fighter or the soldier. Meanwhile, the general concept in society when they relate to soldier is men. That is because people have been habituated this way.

Heroism is dominant in war literature and American war literature is no exception on this too. It exists because an urge to protect or save. Contextually, it is very intact in American society. This is possibly caused by the war culture which has shaped America as a nation till today. War is continually practiced. The truth is, it is still being literally practiced by its government till this moment due to any particular political reasons to confront and dominate fear. The rise of fictional superheroes in its

popular culture is more likely the effects of this culture. Unfortunately, heroism is mostly characterized as a male field. Females’ participation is hardly recognized and their identity is commonly jeopardized.

The making of war literature unavoidably defines women on those patriarchal settings. Recently published novels or other literary works are under criticisms and demands to provide more constructive endorsements to issues about women. In the context of gender representation, it is demanded to provide fairer or more empowering narratives. Nevertheless, subjectivity is still an absolute authority to narrate a story according to the authors’ preferences.

In brief, this research managed to focus on the gender narratives residing in modern American war literature because of those aforementioned issues. Doerr’s All the Light We Cannot See as the object of this research is published in 2014. The novel has gained Pulitzer Prize in 2015, a famous and highest award for literary work in America. Using this novel, the researcher questions how Doerr narrates women through their gender narratives.

C. RESEARCH QUESTIONS

Modern American war literature as a modern historical fiction must challenge the traditional narration of war that subjugates women. It is hoped so because it is inherently a fiction. Indeed, it should portray the horror of war to remind people and put awareness about it. However, on the same analogy, its narration should also endorse positive impacts to the readers by emphasizing a positive gender embodiment

at the time of war. It means fair gender narratives are worth mentioned as an attempt either to objectify war or inspire women. The traditional narration of women that implicitly shows women’s submission is dangerous to be kept. A narration is important to form a reality. Decades ago was a reality, today is reality and the future is also reality. Reality is how people manage to construct the world and every drop of sweat to fight an unfair established reality is worth to mention and be valued.

Thus, an equal gender narrative is encouraged to challenge the historical process of generalized and stereotyped paradigm on gender. It is important to portray fair imagery when it comes to gender. The struggle has not ended and will never end. Finally, under this research, the researcher finds it is crucial to dig up the way the author represents it in his novel due to the probable patriarchal legacy’s influence. The questions are, then, concluded as follow:

1. How is female subordination narrated in Doerr’s All the Light We Cannot See? 2. How is contrastively male domination narrated in Doerr’s All the Light We

Cannot See?

D. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES The objectives are:

1. to prove and explain how the presence of female subordination narrated in All the Light We Cannot See.

2. to prove and explain how the contrast presence of male domination narrated in Doerr’s All the Light We Cannot See.

E. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The significance of this study is to enrich the research on war literature and women. It is also hoped that this research will encourage readers to be more aware and critical towards gender narratives. Gender narratives are important to be addressed to avoid any continuing misleading patriarchal doctrines. This research will also remind that famous and prized novel does also fall to criticism.

Meanwhile, practically, this research will also add a new reading on gender in society. It is hoped that through this research people will be more open to the idea of gender. It is expected that this research will erase the stigmatization of gender and omit the continuing oppression of patriarchy.

CHAPTER II LITERATURE REVIEW

A. Narratology

The narration of the world consists of the stories narrated by people. Each person has his or her own story, a narrative in seeing the world. Narratives shape almost everything in life unexceptionally. However, what is actually narrative? Why do people need to bother with it? There are many stories about the meaning of narrative. In the study of narrative, the meaning of narrative has changed through times from the development of its study. It may sound simple and trivial when people hear the word “story” or even “narrative”. Yet, it is a complex concept. Narrative, referring to Herman and Vervaeck‟s understanding inspired by Susan Onega and Jose Angel Garcia Landa‟s definition, is “the semiotic representation of a series of events meaningfully connected” (2005: 13). It means a narrative must be a meaningful or has a meaning(s). This definition is probably the most simple and concise definition for a new learner to begin exploring the grandeur study of narrative. It is a structuralist‟s paradigm about narrative. Narrative is indeed inseparable from structuralism. The study of narrative begins from structuralist‟s principle that states everything is a text. Narratology as the theory of narrative emerges from this point. Though, it largely does not fully conform to structuralism. Narratology, in its development, goes even further in seeing narrative that it is probably best fitted in poststructuralism or postmodernism. This development of narratology happens due to

the differing views on how to see and analyze a narrative. Classical structuralist tends to see narrative from a structure based analysis while postclassical paradigm does not endorse and base its analysis merely on structure, but also it can go beyond that. Due to this entanglement, Herman and Vervaeck claim that postclassical narratology also never leaves structuralism completely (2005: 103).

The study of narrative is important as it affects a lot on how humans conduct their lives. People see things from a certain narrative and this narrative continues to construct their beliefs. Narrative certainly takes a big deal in dictating the world. As long as there is a message, there must be a narrative. The goal of understanding narratology is to raise awareness that everything is under the control of a narrator. Thus, it is wiser to criticize certain narrative before it is accepted as a piece of information or knowledge. In addition, Eagleton (1978: 43) also argues that criticism functions to point out what it is lack or not spoken from text. The researcher also believes criticism helps to uncover what it is unknown or hidden in any kinds of reading materials. Criticism is certainly a prerequisite for a better and constructive interpretation and understanding. The history of slavery or the infamous story of Hitler is a narrative. Those who did not get involved in or experience those tragedies may only hear or read through certain narratives while its doers also had their own narratives. There might be a different narrative from a different individual. This shows how a narrative can be so diverse. Those diverse narratives may speak different realities. However, the dominant narrative is usually the one that shapes the society. This dominant narrative is commonly attributed as the grand narrative. There

are many grand narratives among topics. Most of them are the source of today happenings.

Postclassical or poststructuralist narratology is not bounded to the structuralist‟s definition which says narrative is a sequence of events. It covers that definition, but also covers the context of a text itself. Narrative is beyond its form or its narration as called by structuralists. Narrative also relates to the external matters outside of the form such as ethics, gender, or even religious belief. Herman and Vervaeck assert that there is no exact definition of poststructuralist or postmodern narratology, but there are at least three main characteristics of it (2005: 108-111). The first is postmodern narratology has no synthesis. The second is it rejects the hierarchy in seeing text. The third is it avoids from any classification or systematization like which structuralism did in seeing narrative. Thus, this makes postmodern narratology remains a freedom field which does not submit to any narratives. However, it leads postmodern narratology for not having any fixed methodology that an individual narratologist consequently may function as the central figure in constructing it (Herman and Vervaeck, 2005:109). The starting point of individual narratologist in analyzing a text, then, becomes the basis of understanding. Ergo, there must be a certain narrative being used by an individual narratologist that plays as the lens of viewing in conducting his or her research.

1. Gender in Narrative

Gender is unable to be disconnected from the study of narrative. Every narrative can be seen from the lens of gender since gender is integral to human beings. Previously gender, sex, and sexuality do not get any room and flexibility in structuralist‟s paradigm of narrative. The discussion of narrative in structuralism is limited to its narrow definition of structure based analysis. Narrative is about time, characterization, and focalization according to structuralist narratology (Herman and Vervaeck, 2005: 59). While in post structuralist narratology, narrative is free from that kind of method of analysis. Narrative is seen as the overall message a sender gives to a reader. Its analysis, thus, should not be reduced to small scope of reading.

Gender is not the result of sex, but it is cultural constructs attached to people (Butler, 1990: 8). It originally departs from a social fabrication that force people to adopt certain prescribed values according to their sex. For example, men should be breadwinners and women should be housewives. These values are systematized and institutionalized in society as an ideal way of life. This idealism turned as the normal standard for people in society. Anyone who deviates from the standard most likely will be scrutinized or even be labeled as abnormal. There is nowhere to run from gender roles establishment as long as a person is present in society.

Gender is created through narratives. It is continually narrated and nurtured. There might be a question in recent discourse that says whether actually today gender establishment creates narratives on people or whether narratives are the

one which create today gender establishment or both. Which one is true? Which one comes first? To explain the matter, the following explanation about the relationship among text, narrative, and gender made by the researcher inspired from Herman and Vervaeck‟s response to Warhol‟s remark on gender and text may help to answer the questions. It starts initially with Herman and Vervaeck„s attempt to question Warhol‟s idea that gender shapes text by using current criticism stating text shapes gender. Herman (2005: 133) states

Warhol says that the first feminist narratologists accepted gender as a category that precedes the text, while recent approaches argue that the narrative text shapes gender.

It can be seen from the above statement that there is an inconsistency of term used by Herman and Vervaeck to address text. The first term is “the text” while the later is “narrative text”. Basically, the word “text” can be interpreted in many ways. In structuralism canonical beliefs, text is regarded as everything. To make it even more clear, overlaps in addressing text as an actual text with text as an abstract concept can occur frequently in practice. These overlaps in narratology sometimes create blunder in understanding the bigger concept of text and narrative. On that statement above, Herman and Vervaeck actually elaborates text as a narrative text which means an actual text that contains narrative. It is different from Warhol‟s original statement which is paraphrased and responded by Herman and Vervaeck through the above statement. Warhol‟s original statement is

For the feminist narratologists working a decade ago, gender is a category that preexists the text, an entity, that shapes the text‟s production and reception (Warhol in Herman, 2005: 202).

On Herman and Vervaeck‟s response mentioned previously, there is an addition to the word “text” with “narrative”. From this point, it can be said that Herman and Vervaeck managed to direct the discussion to an actual text. This discussion, then, implies that the narratives which do not reside in the actual text are not included. Meanwhile, in reality oral narratives also take part in shaping gender. It is true that textual tradition shapes gender, but so does oral tradition. These two basic ways of telling are left in Herman and Vervaeck‟s discussion above. These two ways actually entail a bigger conclusion that sways the above discussion‟s paradigm to the concept of narrative. It is obviously no longer a problem or not the problem about which one that comes first or true or even simply directing the burden of discussion on text. However, it is obvious that the problem regarding gender is essentially about “narrative”. Gender is constructed through narrative regardless textual or oral. Thus, the above question can be answered by saying that narrative (of gender) is the big bang of gender creation and establishment.

Women and gender are like two sides of a coin. Abundant issues about women dominate media since long time ago. It is as if there is no ending on oppression towards women. Society keeps being judgmental to those who are females and dictates them a lot on how to be a woman. This dictation is very innate to patriarchal culture lives in society. Being a woman equals to be a certain gender. This is what society expects from a female or a woman. The established gender roles are the standard needs to be adopted by women or else they are not women anymore.

Gender establishment in patriarchal society is very rigid and authoritarian. This establishment is nurtured through narrations.

The cycle of continuing narrations on women fertilizes oppression and imprisonment to women. Every parent keeps telling their daughter how to be a woman, so do the society. This is done intentionally or unintentionally through narratives over times. The effect is a feeling of naturalness towards narratives on women. This naturalism process is dangerous when misleading narratives are poured on women. Women will have no independency anymore if their individual autonomy is not narrated as well. Feminist narratology is a good attempt in combating the problem of misleading narratives about women. This narratological paradigm gives more choices to those who are females to define themselves. The long standing history and cycle of women narration will only be able to be neutralized by a feminist narratology.

2. Consciousness in Narrative

Reading literary works means reading narrative mediated through textual mode. Literature is one of human greatest achievements since its inception. It has been able to preserve human‟s feeling and experience in a piece of book. It is also capable of covering social problems and catastrophes affecting people and their surroundings. Reading literature must be perceived as reading a message from the writers. It does not mean that the message is always reflecting the writers‟ ideologies. It may also represent the authentic message from the works itself. A narrative upon

something can be very subjective from a person to another. Individuality, beliefs, and ideologies constitute a lot in influencing a narrative. There are many narratives overflowing literature and beyond literature‟s boundaries. Some of them are invigorating while the rest might not always be found compelling. Misleading narratives are common and distinctly toxic and corrosive for human development. Yet, it is dependent on the individual to classify whether a particular narrative is misleading or not.

Rationality is a clear tool to filter and guide people from misleading narratives. Heikes (2010: 4-5) believes that rationality concerns a person‟s essence and its definition dates back to the ancient Aristotle‟s theory of logical thought in making judgment. Rationality is never far from a person and his or her logical reasoning. To accept certain narrative, rationality is a prerequisite to criticize it before it is adopted or embraced as a common sense. Consciousness upon individuals is an important element to remain them awake and rational. Without proper consciousness, a good understanding is futile.

B. Feminist Criticism on Gender and War

Feminism rises decades ago from the dissatisfaction of patriarchal culture in society. Traditionalist people tend to embrace the already abstractly convened treaties on how to be a man and a woman. Oppression and discrimination to women as the manifestation of abuse fills almost every aspect of life. Options available for majority of women only offer to accept the oppression or to perish. Some brave women left

their boundaries and went protesting the establishment. Today seemingly comfortable zone and less depressive society is an accumulation of long discourses and struggles from feminist movements. Yet, its struggle is actually far from over. Patriarchy has its new form. It is very integrated to today modern complex society. However, it remains salient and distinctive. Modernity has changed people. Some feminists may explicitly say postmodern feminism betray feminism for making contradictory remarks (Mann, 2010: 75). Meanwhile, truthfully the problem does not lay in postmodernism, but rather in individual‟s submission to traditionalist convention.

On the relation among gender, war, and feminism, there are only few and almost rare discussions. Feminism is usually studied independently and focuses its analysis merely on women and their problems. Factually, it is rather dismissive to study feminism without linking it to other disciplines. The ultimate proliferation of feminism will be achieved if it always notes its surrounding worlds. Red lines connecting gender, war, and women are rarely concerned by people. Through this research, the theory of gender, war, and feminism as well as narratology are employed in order to analyze the gender narratives in Doerr‟s All the Light We Cannot See that represents a war literature. Feminist criticism on gender and war are highlighted. The common paradigms are scrutinized and deconstructed. Gender and war are major forces in creating the dominant and oppressive patriarchal values in society.

1. Gender

The creation of today gender is in the same direction with patriarchal tradition. It means the current gender establishment is still patriarchal based. Patriarchy is proven shatterproof to any criticism. Many ideological beliefs in favor of patriarchy are likely the reason why patriarchy is so durable. Lerner (1987: 212) emphasizes that gender establishment in society is filled with appropriation. This certainly reflects today society that appropriation is always used to address gender roles. Appropriation is the manifestation of patriarchal dominance in directing the normality to a patriarchal way.

Gender has a broad meaning and social implication. In recent feminist theory, gender is seen as “less as a descriptive term and more as a complex category of analysis” (Lieske in Wallace, 2009: 252). Gender can be too narrow and confusing to grasp if it is simply defined as a social construction to distinguish human sexes. Which social construction is it? This narrow definition is patriarchal based and leads a reader to a binary thought since gender is then determined by sexes. Moreover, the social construction argument can only be used to support gender characteristics under a society context. It means, under this argument‟s paradigm, it rejects the individual autonomy over it and makes it impossible to say gender without relating it to society. This narrow and dependent definition actually cannot fully explain the definition of gender in practical issues such as differentiating gender itself with gender identity, gender stereotype or even gender roles. There might be overlaps in defining the terms because all of them are filled with a stigmatization over what socially constructed is.

Thus, to say gender identity or gender stereotype or even gender roles does not make sense anymore if its foundation is based on stigmatization. It will eventually create a blunder. This idea also prevails to any other forms of notion which is doomed as socially constructed.

The problem is, according to the researcher, there is no exact and same point of departure in thinking to signify in mind and direct every individual‟s mind when somebody refers to what gender is. Thus, every head can have a different imagination and simply generalize it as a result. This happens because gender is always defined as a socially constructed form. Logically, people will have no idea where to start to imagine when they address or talk about gender because of their inadequacy to identify which social construction it is. This is caused by the fact that there is no authoritative signification over what socially constructed is in relation to gender since every person is different from one to another. People may, then, start to use their prejudices upon individuals on what socially constructed is to view gender. They try to signify gender in their minds by using their assumptions influenced by the available or dominant narratives in society. Sometimes it may refer to a stereotyped construction of a sexual entity or other times it may refer to a stereotyped construction of human behaviors or else. This problem is worsened by the fact that most people have a patriarchal starting point of thought because of a patriarchal legacy. Defining gender from patriarchal paradigm due to its dominant narrative (binary gender from roles based definition) is consequently more widely and

preferably used because people might find it easier to relate and signify. This justifies that people are theoretically dictated by patriarchy.

This social dependent definition of gender never lends a thought of what an individual wants to be regardless the social constricts. It never gives a person freedom in determining it. The freedom can only be achieved by emphasizing the individuality of a person in determining his or her gender. Every person basically has different gender. This idea is, thus, partially in line with Joan Scott attempts to define gender then simply as “knowledge of sexual difference” as it is summarized by Lieske (in Wallace, 2009: 252). Even though this definition is actually determined by sexes or reflects the patriarchal paradigm, this definition still gives more spaces to talk gender as not merely a construction of society. It is because gender is defined simply as knowledge. Thus, the creation of individual is also possible to be included. The explanation above may redefine the basis definition of current gender. Furthermore, Butler (1990: 34) also introduces that gender is performed. It means gender has performative characteristics. Gender can go beyond cultural constructs and synthesizes itself as a self actualization of individual. Aside from those complexities, gender is still a relevant concept to be used to analyze cultural constructs of behavior of human sexes. Expected behaviors among sexes are products of social constructs.

Feminist theory aims to normalize society paradigm about women. The normalization of society paradigm can be started by introducing the concept of gender in society. Rethinking patriarchal values aimed to women by using gender approach is an encouraged idea. Oppression towards women continues to evolve as

time passed by. It is able to adapt with its environment to sustain patriarchal beliefs. The only way to exit from this unending crisis is by constructively criticizing status quo establishment. Feminist criticism on gender would be a strategic apparatus in combating inequality and injustice.

a. Representation of Gender

Misrepresented women in literature or other narrative is common. Generalization and stereotyping towards women are normal as a product of prejudice. Coerced narratives to women also play roles in constructing people‟s opinion. Being perceived as fragile beings is just an example of misrepresentation of women in its narrative. Gender representation of women should portray the complexities of women. Generalization will only strengthen the stereotype about women‟s gender.

Binary opposition is commonly practiced in seeing gender which then also affects how women are perceived. It is a duality of thinking which demands an opposite quality on things (Moss in Wallace, 2009: 62-3). Dividing gender into a binary mode is a dangerous attempt because this thinking mimics patriarchal ideas. Gender does not go this way. Gender is a collection of behaviors or conducts. It is impossible to define gender as a dichotomy. Swaying gender as binary would only lead to contrasting men and women. This, in turn, disqualifies any behavior which is neutral and attributes certain others as sexually affiliated. Meanwhile, factually, behaviors have no sex. Behaviors are just expressions or actions made by humans or even animals.

Emphasis on rationality and choice is compulsory in representing gender. Gender would not be properly represented if in the way it is presented does not uphold rationality and choice. A bias in the making or narrating a gender representation would reinforce the current stigma on gender. Thus, it would only hamper the objectivity of a narrator. Glorifying the diversity of “identity‟s making of” upon certain individual is applauded as an effort to affirm equity and equality.

b. Oppression towards Women

Patriarchy is identical with androcentrism. It is the state of making males to be the center of discourse and attention. Male figures have more power in the society submitting to this ideological concept of patriarchy. They are the spotlights and sources of virtues for all the members of the society. Males are regarded as having better qualities compared to females in many kinds of spectrums. Females, then, are seen as less compelling figures in the society. This characterization of figures creates the superiority of males and inferiority of females. There is an equal distribution of rights and responsibilities because of this paradigm on sexual differences. The creation of roles among sexes is the result from this worldview. Therefore, males are always idolized by people for their upper hand statuses in society. This, in turn, constructs the domination of males in society directly and indirectly.

Hierarchy promulgated from seeing women through this binary opposition paradigm produces systemic problem to women. Oppression towards women is, then, institutionalized in society through this mode of thought. When misrepresenting

women becomes common, a new branch of normalization through stereotyping exists. This normalization is a normalization of thought on oppression. Oppression towards women is not seen as a violation to women‟s rights, but it is seen as a natural occurence. Thus, the oppression is no longer believed as oppression. Braddick and Walter (2001: 17-8) once says that viewing gender relationships on domination and subordination is old fashioned. Yet, paradoxically male domination and female subordination are undeniably two products of hierarchical oppression of binary opposition that it is still relevant to even today discourse.

Male domination in society configures power relation between men and women. The verb “dominate” is defined as controlling over something (Hornby, 1995: 345). In this context, male domination is achieved by maintaining patriarchal values that uphold male power. Men are associated as the source of power in society. Its power is authoritative and knows no bounds. Male domination constructs roles among sexes. This domination is also affirmed by women who submit to the constructions. Engendering is the process of this patriarchal appropriation that splits roles of the sexes. Gender, thus, is dominated under a male realm with the consents of females who believe so.

Meanwhile, female subordination is a deliberate attempt to subordinate women in society. Hornby (1995: 1191) defines subordination as an attempt to put somebody in a lower position than others. It means, female subordination is an attempt to lower the position of women in society. By doing so, women are then seen as inferior. Superiority thus belongs to men. This subordination restates male

domination already constructed. It reinforces the leveled structure of men and women in society. This makes those subordinated are perceived as lesser figures of importance. This means females are seen as inferior entities in a society. This inferiority stereotyping will then catalyze oppressions from those who are superior to them. It will construct a hierarchy in a society and let the flow of oppressions towards females continues.

Female subordination differs from male domination that aggressively constructs male power. Subordination lies on how women are being perceived and positioned. Any attempt to cripple women‟s power is an act of subordination. This subordination is caused by many factors and all of them need to be carefully identified in order to locate the real problem. According to Jaggar and Rothenberg (1993: 114), female subordination can only be completely removed by uprooting the core problem of it. Without proper knowledge on the factors of how women are subordinated, it will be impossible to uproot the core problem. Thus, readjusting the position of subordinated women is only a dream. In the practices, subordinations to women range in many forms. They can be in a form of a common conservative idea of biological determinism into broader social context based subordination.

2. War

a. The Constructed War Concept

War is never far from people. It is always narrated and introduced to people across times. From secular world to religious doctrines, war is always discussed,

scrutinized, and glorified as morally right or wrong. It is feared yet it is celebrated. War gives people irreplaceable tales continuously told from generation to generation. The myth of war contributes in shaping people today in many aspects of life. Molesey (2010: 13) explains war as “the use of physical weapons and forces in a conflict that may be expressed without the use of such weapons and forces”. It is a conflict with or without weapons. Meanwhile, Goldstein (2005: 3) prefers to define war as “lethal intergroup violence”. From both definitions, it can be taken two important matters i.e. conflict and violence. War is deeply constituted by these two factors.

Feminism and war is rarely gotten attention from people. Most people believe that feminism and war is incompatible or even if it is not, the study of war is perceived as not really important to major challenges of feminism. Despite that, war truthfully plays a key role in constructing mainstream gender establishment in society. Traditionalist‟s beliefs pose women as biologically or physically incapable to participate in war. This idea makes war as an exclusive male field. Conflict and violence are, then, associated as a male interest because women are less interested upon them. Consequently, conflict and violence embody male‟s attributes while peace and tenderness embody female‟s characteristics. This is where patriarchal tradition is affirmed and its gender concept is established. The problem of this embodiment is people simply accept that binary result regardless what kind of war it is. War is seen simplistically as physical based and its multi meanings as well as its multi forms of participation are disregarded. War, then, is “polarized and gendered”

as it is described by Clarke (in Wallace, 2009: 597). This happens because people submit to traditional way of thinking.

The polarization and gendering of war create power gap between men and women. These processes codify male superiority and female inferiority. In the other words, they construct male domination and female subordination in society. This means patriarchal society is made through these processes. It is disappointing that a whole life of women is decided by a failure to grasp the broader meaning of war. Lerner (1987: 18) regrets that “biological determinism” then becomes a scientific justification for women‟s inferiority. War remains unreachable for women since it is narrowly defined as physical based. Unequal power distribution resulted from this division of patriarchy has affected women‟s political power as well. The concept of war should be redirected to its actual point to normalize women‟s position either in war or in society.

War becomes a field of manhood among men since conflict and violence are attributed to men. A spirit to conquer war has motivated men to prove their bravery. This is in line with Goldstein‟s claim that states joining war evaluates men‟s establishment of masculinity or their manliness (2009: 252). A good man is associated with a tough individual that resembles a hero or good warrior. This point also concludes that war is a source of alpha males or ultimate masculine figures in society. Masculinity is produced significantly by letting an individual to relate himself to war. Militarism is a modern establishment of a war preparing camp that accommodates and continuously preserves this idea.

On the other hand, peacefulness and tenderness are seen as female‟s attributes contrasting a social construction of male‟s attributes. This implies women are always peaceful and tender beings. In turn, women‟s femininity is associated as not far from those qualities. Those qualities are dependent to male‟s attributes of masculinity to satisfy the binary opposition of thought. Therefore, both masculinity and femininity can be summarized as the products of male dominance affirming to MacKinnon‟s view of sexual relation (in Gardiner, 2002: 90). It is so because men have more power to define in society.

b. The Dead of Heroine

Heroism is essential in creating a sense of victory and happiness. In heroism, its doer is usually called a hero or a heroine (for its female counterpart). Hero and heroine are admired individuals in society because their actions. That division is basically problematic in its very establishment due to its sexist nature to sort human‟s role in binary. Hero is defined as somebody who has been able to overcome any limitations which commonly people had (Campbell, 2004: 18). In literature, stories with heroic actions are usually gained more attention from its readers. It helps people to pamper their probable inadequacies or weaknesses to cope with difficult things. That is why heroes are adored. Heroism can give a secure feeling to people‟s subconscious or simply inspire them.

War is usually associated to heroism by people. Indeed, heroism is actually very intact with war. The creation of actual heroes that people are proud of them

aside of admiring them can only be found in a field of war. Ironically, heroism is full of domination in its nature (Hourihan, 2005: 57). This concept of domination goes in line with the male domination concept that can be found in war. Men dominate in building today patriarchal concept of war. They are always superior in war. That is what it makes rare to find heroines on wars compared to male heroism. Women in war are generally perceived only as supporters. This causes heroines never make an echo.

Heroines in popular culture are only represented as women empowerment or to balance the abundant number of heroes. It is rarely seen as a natural phenomenon which constitutes reality. People‟s negative view of war has impacted on so many levels of life. War that shallowly defined as a male field and full of horrors will only perpetuates the exclusion of women in war. War should not be defined as only a physical war, but also a mental war in order to include women and avoid biological deterministic justification towards women in war. This is done to relive the dead heroines in war and society as a whole.

C. American Literature and War

The relationship between American literature and war is obvious and undeniable. Literary works in America are continually progressive in contributing to its modernity. American literature has proven influential to this nation‟s journey. There are so many kinds of literature with its abundant concerns of social dynamic that helped Americans overcome their problems. War is a serious topic in literature

yet insightful to many people in the world. People are able to appreciate life and humanity through war literature. Ironically, the growing political tensions among countries in the world as well as the rising terrorist activism have taken part in fuelling fear among people regarding security and a possibility of war. Modern war is completely different from old days. It has evolved into new level of war. Today proxy wars in Middle East are factual evidences that war is real and only changes its form.

Literature has a fundamental function in rethinking society‟s myths. Eagleton (1990: 103) stresses that literature functions performatively. It means literature has effects to people differently. It depends a lot on the power of the work itself and its reader capability to take something after reading. Yet, literature cannot be denied as affecting. In this context, American literature has become a tool to change reality. It continues to be a social movement which works under the lines of words. The abolition of slavery is an example of how literature can be so powerful to shake a strong authority.

The identity of America as a nation cannot be detached from its literature about war. Literature has a significant power to shape a nation‟s identity (Eagleton, 1990: 24). Stephen Crane‟s Red Badge of Courage and Hemingway‟s A Farewell to Arms are some of prominent American war literatures which become its iconic identity. However, despite its numerous works on literature of war, war culture in America still strongly resides in its society. It seems there is only a small progress of American war literature in retelling the danger of war and also combating its patriarchal culture effect to American society.

American war literature is obviously potential to be a political tool to criticize society gestures towards war and women particularly. These concerns are not merely a theoretical discourse. It is true that literature can be a good start to communicate displeasing phenomena affected American people. In addition, it is too early to say that patriarchal values are no where can be found in America. Moreover, war culture is still so deeply glorified by America as a nation. This culture provides more chance for patriarchal values domination in society.

D. Previous Research Findings

Three literature researches on gender narratives and its relation to women are found. Fonchingong‟s research entitled “Unbending Gender Narratives in African Literature” published in Journal of International Women‟s Studies analyses gender inequality in African Literature using theory of literary narrative. Some of African literature‟s writers are accused of bringing deeply patriarchal embodiment. The result of the research shows there are some other writers of African literature managed to balance the patriarchal narratives in African literature with its counter narratives. Rosental‟s book entitled “Narrative Deconstruction of Gender in Works by Audrey Thomas, Daphne Marlatt, and Louise Erdrich” also discusses non dominant gender narratives from those aforementioned writers‟ works. She applied gender and narrative theory to criticize the works and portray the relationship between gender and narrative. The results show that deconstructive narratives of gender are adopted in the works and endorse counter narratives to the dominant narratives of gender in

society. Both of those researches mainly concern dominant narratives of gender in society while manage to highlight the importance of narrative in shaping people paradigm. The last research is Wade‟s dissertation entitled “Gender and National Identity in the American War Narrative”. Wade‟s dissertation is somewhat different from the two previous researches. When the two previous researches focus on gender narratives and its effect to women, Wade‟s dissertation tends to focus on the intersection of gender and genre of American War narratives. It analyzes the effect of women‟s incorporation into the American military to American masculinity. The result is heteronormativity as accumulated from traditional sexuality is prominent and contributes to a national identity in American War narratives. This may be the result of politics of sexuality enforced in American military before 2011. This normativity in turn closes the possibility of unconventional gender identity in literature.

Meanwhile, this research specifically analyzes gender narratives in Doerr‟s All The Light We Cannot See through its relation with war narratives evoked in the novel in shaping women‟s identity. It deals with the effects of patriarchal culture caused by war narratives in engendering the rigid identity of women in society. This is done by naturalizing coerced gender through appropriation. The difference between this research and the previous researches is that this research used war to relate to patriarchal values embodiment in society and emphasized its appropriation as the legitimate construction of gender that beneath it all glorifies the hidden domination of a coerced patriarchy.

E. Analytical Construct

Figure 1. Analytical Construct

American War Literature

Novel

All the Light We Cannot See By Anthony Doerr

(Words, Phrases, Clauses, Sentences, Paragraphs) R1

How is female subordination narrated in Doerr‟s All the Light We Cannot See?

Gender Narratives Narratology

Feminist Criticism

Gender War

R2

How is contrastively male domination narrated in Doerr‟s All the Light We Cannot See?

CHAPTER III RESEARCH METHOD

A. Research Approach

The problem arisen under this research is about narratives of gender exist in

Doerr’s All The Lights We Cannot See. It is, in specific, about the gender narratives found in the novel. The data are the textual descriptions or narrations found in the novel. Qualitative research was used to approach the problem of gender narratives in the novel as well as its relation to its social context. The acquired data were, then, studied.

Qualitative research is commonly used in social sciences. It is usually used to study social issues and human related behaviors. Qualitative research is strongly determinant and bases its research on logic (Goertz and Mahoney, 2012: 2). Logic has a fundamental task in conducting a qualitative research. In this research, logic was also used as guidance in examining the problem being presented in the work. Further, Goertz and Mahoney (2012: 17) also add that logic is the mathematical tool of qualitative research which shows how equal it is actually with quantitative research viewed from calculation perspective. Therefore, there should be no worries to

question qualitative approach’s power and its quality as a research theoretically. It is undoubtedly legitimate and significantly contributive to the world of research as a whole.

Textual analysis was employed under this research. According to Vanderstoep and Johnston (2009: 210), textual analysis is an analysis which identifies and interprets signs. He also regards narrative analysis as a branch of method in this textual mode of study. Vanderstoep and Johnston (2009: 213) explain that narrative analysis focuses the analysis on how a story is told and how it functions as a constructive material to society. This research about Doerr’s All the Light We Cannot See employed narrative analysis in studying the novel’s story. The way the story was narrated is examined carefully under this research. The problem of gender narratives encountered in the novel is indeed best fitted to be analyzed using this mode of study.

B. Source and Type of Data

The data were taken from Doerr’s All the Light We Cannot See. The novel was published in 2014 by Fourth Estate. It has 178 chapters and 544 pages. Generally, the data of qualitative research has no relation with number and usually in the form of written materials (Saldana, 2011: 3-4). In this research, the story from the novel became the main source of the data.

Some theories like narratology, feminism, gender, and war were utilized as the supporting materials to relate and analyze the data. The books that were used by the researcher to help conduct the analysis to Doerr’s All the Light We Cannot See were Handbook of Narrative Analysis (Vervaeck, 2001), The Creation of Patriarchy (Lerner, 1987), Encyclopedia of Feminist Literary Theory (Wallace, 2009), Gender

Trouble (Butler, 1990), War and Gender (Goldstein, 2001) and some other books to support the above theories.

The type of data acquired was in the form of words, phrases, clauses, sentences, as well as paragraphs which embody the story. The data were only those which depicted or implied gender narratives. Those data were then identified, categorized, and interpreted.

C. Data Collection

To obtain the data for this research, there were at least four fundamental steps. Those steps were reading, taking notes, categorizing, and interpreting the data. Reading was the first step to begin collecting the data. There should be a close reading to the novel as the main source of data. Rereading was necessary to achieve the better result. Next step was taking notes. After reading the novel, the researcher took notes on the novel that describes the gender narratives. Then, he categorized those gender narratives found in the novel. Lastly, the categorizations among narratives were categorized again into two main thematic categories i.e. female subordination and male domination before they were interpreted as suggestive values to women.

This datasheet below was employed to help the researcher in collecting the data.

Table 1. The Form of Datasheet

No. Category Sub Category Data Page

1. The Narrations of Female Subordination

Vulnerability He pulls off her stockings to inspect her heels. In his hands, her feet are as light as birds.

88

Fear 5

Irrationality and

Emotionally Instability

2. The Narrations of Male Domination

Power The Germans, a

gardener claims,

have sixty

thousand troop gliders; they can march for days without eating; they impregnate every schoolgirl they meet. A woman behind the ticket counter says the Germans carry fog pills and wear rocket belts; their uniforms, she whispers, are made of a special cloth stronger than steel.

59

Bravery Werner can hear the Austrians two

floors up

scrambling,

reloading, and the receding screams of both shells as they hurtle above the ocean, already two or three miles away. One of the soldiers, he realizes, is singing. Or maybe it is more than one. Maybe they are all singing. Eight Luftwaffe men, none of whom will survive the hour, singing a love song to their queen.

Rationality and

Intellectuality

In a week he can dismantle and rebuild it with his eyes closed. Capacitor,

inductor, tuning coil, earpiece. One wire goes to ground, the other to

sky. Nothing he’s

encountered before has made so much sense.

38

Heroism He is here. He is right below me. Do

something. Save

her. But God is only a white cold eye, a quarter-moon poised above

the smoke,

blinking, blinking, as the city is gradually pounded to dust.

393

D. Research Instrument

Vanderstoep (2009: 211) states that the instrument of research in textual analysis is the researcher himself or herself. The key role of research instrument in a textual analysis is to interpret the data. The research instrument of this research was also the researcher himself. He actually acted as the data gatherer, identifier, categorizer as well as being the interpreter. Initially, he started by collecting data

thoroughly and rereading it again carefully to strengthen his understanding about the work. Then, he identified the possible data of gender narratives continued by categorizing those identified data. The final task of the researcher was then to interpret those categorized data. He interpreted the gender narratives found in the novel as the salient findings of the research.

E. Data Analysis

Narrative analysis was used to analyze the data from this research. Research on literary narrative emerges as dissatisfaction from commonly found views of literary impressiveness in order to gain an objective view in viewing literary works (Pavel in van Dijk, 1985: 85). Literature is closely connected with narratology. Herman and Vervaeck (2005: 109) assert that the methodology of postmodern narrative analysis is dependent on the researcher’s thoughts in criticizing the text. This was caused by the fact that the study of postmodern or postructuralist narrative is no longer centralized to the study of structure. It tends to emphasize the contextual study of text which relates to many theoretical narrative discourses. Thus, the data analysis on this research started from the researcher’s point of view on feminist narratology. Feminism was used as the central point of guidance in analyzing the text or the data.

There were at least five steps in analyzing the data under this research. The steps are as follow;

1. The first was reading the novel of Doerr, All the Light We Cannot See, as part of collecting the data.

2. The second was identifying which text (words, phrases, clauses, sentences, and paragraphs) belongs to the narratives of gender in the novel.

3. The third was categorizing those identified data into thematic based in accordance with the objectives of this research.

4. The fourth was examining those categorized data by comparing them to major theoretical narratives of feminism.

5. The fifth was interpreting those comparisons by relating them to feminist narratology on how women should be represented.

F. Data Trustworthiness

Keeping the data as trustworthy as possible is an important element in conducting research aimed to gain trustable findings. The measurement method to control the credibility of research is one of the determinant factors in deciding research is good or not. Moreover, it will also show how objective research is. Neuman (2007: 115) says that reliability and validity are inherently essential to the measurement process.

Reliability in qualitative research is somewhat different from quantitative research. Commonly, it is defined as a consistency which shows that research can be held accountable. However, in qualitative research, reliability does not narrowly

defined as a merely consistency of results rather it is also emphasized on its close relation with reality or truth in social life which cannot be measured by simply rigid method of demanding consistency (Neuman, 2007: 120). It means qualitative research can be held reliable from its ability to offer an authentic description of reality. In this research, the researcher employed analytical constructs in order to examine the collected data logically. The analytical constructs were theoretical concepts directed from the fundamental inquiries of popular social problems integrated in the objectives of this research. The step was started by explaining the definition of every construct being used in the research as clear as possible using a specific point of view hold by the researcher. The researcher used feminist narratological point of view on women equality to start conducting this research. The data acquired were then read and re-read closely and carefully to match with the analytical constructs explained previously. Checking and rechecking those matched data were done to evaluate the certainty and consistency of the analysis. These steps were hoped to achieve an optimum accuracy in interpreting the data.

On the other hand, validity is defined as truthfulness of the research (Neuman, 2007: 115). It is actually the uniqueness of qualitative research in nature. Validity can be gained through various methods. The process of analysis mentioned in the previous paragraph has already established validity aside from gaining certainty as a result of the consistent analysis. The validity can be seen from the involvement of fundamental inquires of popular social problems and the theoretical concepts it follows embedded in the research. It will be seen eventually from the research’s

capability to portray the truth found in social life by offering an authenticity of individuals’ experience. Nevertheless, to make it more trustworthy, the researcher

also used Cresswell’s theory of peer debriefing and triangulation to check the validity. Peer debriefing is a method to invite a peer to debrief as an attempt to review the research (Cresswell, 2009: 192). Meanwhile, triangulation is an attempt to use multiple angles to strengthen a perspective (Vanderstoep and Johnston, 2009: 242). There were two students of English Language and Literature program involved to check the validity of the research by giving their responses on the interpretation of the data. The researcher’s interpretation on the data was contested with the peers’ to build discussion and validate the data. Last, but not least, the researcher also consulted the data to his two advisors. Both of them are credible and professional in the field of English Language and Literature. The consultation covered the holistic part of this research.

4. Heroism a) He is here. He is right below me. Do something. Save her.

But God is only a white cold eye, a quarter-moon poised above the smoke, blinking, blinking, as the city is gradually pounded to dust.

393

b) The morning fog is so dense that he cannot see the roofline. He entertains pipe dreams: the Frenchman will invite him in. They’ll drink coffee, discuss his long-ago broadcasts. Maybe they’ll investigate some important empirical problem that has been troubling him for years. Maybe he‟ll show Werner the transmitter. Laughable. If Werner rings the bell, the old man will assume he‟s being arrested as a terrorist. That he might be shot where he stands. The antenna on the chimney in itself is cause for execution. Werner could bang on the door, march the old man away. He would be a hero.

411

c) On the first of August, a lieutenant comes to Volkheimer. The demand for men on the lines, he says, is overwhelming. Anyone not essential to the defense of Saint-Malo must go. He needs at least two. Volkheimer looks them over, each in turn. Bernd too old. Werner the only one who can repair the equipment. Neumann One. Neumann Two.

An hour later, both are seated in the back of a troop carrier with their rifles between their knees.

167

No. Category Sub

Category

Quotation Page

d) It seems to Werner that in the space between whatever has happened already and whatever is to come hovers an invisible borderland, the known on one side and the unknown on the other. He thinks of the girl who may or may not be in the city behind him. He envisions her running her cane along the runnels. Facing the world with her barren eyes, her wild hair, her bright face. At least he protected the secrets of her house. At least he kept her safe.

437

e) “She keeps saying, „Help me.‟ She begs her father, her great

-uncle. She says, „He is here. He will kill me.‟ ” A moan shudders

through the rubble above them, and in the darkness Werner feels as if he is trapped inside the Nautilus, twenty meters down, while the tentacles of a dozen angry kraken lash its hull. He knows the transmitter must be high in the house. Close to the shelling. He says, “I saved her only to hear her die.”

442

f) They said what he needed was certainty. Purpose. Clarity. That pigeon-chested commandant Bastian with his grandmother’s walk; he said they would strip the hesitation out of him. We are a volley of bullets, we are cannonballs. We are the tip of the sword. Who is the weakest?

460

g) The brick claps onto the floor. The voices stop. She can hear a scuffle and then the shot comes like a breach of crimson light: the eruption of Krakatoa. The house briefly riven in two. Marie-Laure half slides, half falls down the ladder and presses her ear against the false back of the wardrobe. Footsteps hurry across the landing and enter Henri’s room. There is a splash and a hiss, and she smells smoke and steam.

h) He is a ghost. He is from some other world. He is Papa, Madame Manec, Etienne; he is everyone who has left her finally coming back. Through the panel he calls, “I am not killing you. I am hearing you. On radio. Is why I come.” He pauses, fumbling

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i) Then they hurry. He cannot find the shoes she asks for, but he finds a pair of men’s loafers in a closet and helps her put them on. Over his uniform he pulls on some of Etienne’s tweed trousers, along with a shirt whose sleeves are too long. If they run into Germans, he will speak only French, say he is helping her leave the city. If they run into Americans, he will say he is deserting. “There will be a collection point,” he says, “somewhere they’re gathering refugees,” though he’s not sure he says it correctly. He finds a white pillowcase in an upturned cabinet and folds it into her coat pocket. “When it comes time, hold this as high as you can.”

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j) She goes into the museum on Etienne’s arm to talk with various officials, many of whom remember her. The director himself explains that they are searching as hard as they can for her father, that they will continue to help with her housing, her education. There is no mention of the Sea of Flames.

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k) When he offers dinner, the giant says yes. Albert pulls the table away from the wall and sets a fourth place. In his wooden chair, Volkheimer reminds Jutta of an image from one of Max’s picture books: an elephant squeezed into an airplane seat. The duffel bag he has brought waits on the hall table.

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l) For something so old, the zipper on the duffel opens smoothly. Inside is a thick envelope and a package covered in newspaper. When she unwraps the newspaper, she finds a model house, tall and narrow, no bigger than her fist. The envelope contains the notebook she sent him forty years before. His book of questions. That crimped, tiny cursive, each letter sloping slightly farther uphill. Drawings, schematics, pages of lists.

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m) The man behind the museum counter is bearded, maybe fifty. Old enough to remember. She opens her purse and unwraps the partially crushed wooden house and says in her best French, “My brother had this. I believe he found it here. During the war.” The man shakes his head, and she returns the house to her purse. Then he asks to see it again. He holds the model under the lamp and turns it so that its recessed front door faces him.

“Oui,” he says finally. He gestures for her to wait outside, and a

moment later, he locks the door behind him and leads her and Max down streets narrow and sloping. After a dozen rights and lefts, they stand in front of the house. A real-life counterpart to the little one that Max is right now rotating in his hands.

“Number four rue Vauborel,” says the man. “The LeBlanc house. Been subdivided into holiday flats for years.”

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n) The woman, Jutta, must be watching her very closely. She says, as though apologizing, “Did he take it from you?” Over time, thinks Marie-Laure, events that seem jumbled either become more confusing or gradually settle into place. The boy saved her life three times over. Once by not exposing Etienne when he should have. Twice by taking that sergeant man out of the way. Three times by helping her out of the city. “No,” she says.