An analysis of irony in John Grisham`s the rainmaker.

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vi ABSTRACT

Asthereni, Patricia Vania Septhine Yulia. (2016). An Analysis of Irony in John Grisham’s The Rainmaker. English Language Education Study Program, Department of Language and Arts Education, Faculty of Teachers Training and Education, Yogyakarta, Sanata Dharma University.

The research discusses the irony portrayed in the novel The Rainmaker. The novel was selected out of other books because it was the only one screenplayed to be a movie despite the novel not being a best-seller. The novel also makes use of exciting plot. The exciting plot employs the use of irony throughout the story. Therefore, the researcher decided to analyse the relation between irony and plot.

In order to analyse deeply about the elements of the story, there are three problems examined in the research. First, analysing the plot structure of the story is essential. The second problem deals with how the irony is portrayed in the story. The last problem concerns how the irony influences the flow of the story.

Using library research as the method of the research, the theory of Abrams and Harpham and Arp and Johnson on irony is gained to analyse the use of verbal and situational irony portrayed in The Rainmaker novel. The data and references needed for the analysis were gathered from printed and electronic books, articles, encyclopedia, journals and some on-line references. There are three findings to answer the problems formulated previously.

The first finding discloses how Rudy confronts an experienced lawyer to prove the innocence of his client, which is categorised into exposition, crisis, climax, and resolution. The second finding shows the use of verbal irony in exposition and crisis parts of the story. The situational irony is also portrayed in crisis, climax, and resolution. The third finding shows that through the use of irony, the plot twist could add essential suspense needed by the readers to keep reading the story.

Keywords: irony, verbal irony, situational irony, The Rainmaker, plot, plot structure.

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vii ABSTRAK

Asthereni, Patricia Vania Septhine Yulia. (2016). An Analysis of Irony in John Grisham’s The Rainmaker. Program Studi Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris, JPBS, FKIP, Yogyakarta, Universitas Sanata Dharma.

Skripsi ini membahas bagaimana ironi digambarkan dalam novel The Rainmaker. Novel ini dipilih dari sekian banyak karangan John Grisham karena hanya novel ini yang tetap dibuat menjadi film meskipun bukan buku yang penjualannya termasuk paling laris. Buku ini juga menggunakan alur cerita yang menarik. Alur cerita dalam novel menggunakan ironi dalam cerita untuk membuatnya semakin menarik. Maka dari itu, peneliti memutuskan untuk menganalisis hubungan antara ironi dan alur cerita.

Untuk mendapatkan hasil analisis yang mendalam mengenai unsur suatu cerita, dalam skripsi ini terdapat tiga permasalahan yang akan didiskusikan. Hal pertama yang penting untuk dilakukan adalah menentukan struktur plot cerita. Permasalahan kedua adalah bagaimana ironi digambarkan dalam novel. Permasalahan terakhir membahas bagaimana ironi mempengaruhi jalan cerita dalam novel.

Menggunakan metode studi pustaka, teori ironi menurut Abrams dan Harpham dan Arp dan Johnson dikumpulkan untuk menganalisis penggambaran ironi verbal dan ironi situasi dalam novel. Data dan referensi yang diperlukan dikumpulkan dari buku, artikel, ensiklopedia, jurnal, baik yang cetakan maupun elektronik dan beberapa referensi dari internet. Untuk menjawab ketiga permasalahan yang telah dibuat sebelumnya, terdapat tiga hasil penyelidikan.

Hasil penyelidikan pertama mengungkapkan bagaimana cerita Rudy dalam menghadapi seorang pengacara yang lebih berpengalaman untuk melindungi kliennya yang dikelompokkan dalam eksposisi, krisis, klimaks dan resolusi. Hasil penyelidikan kedua menunjukkan penggunaan ironi verbal pada bagian eksposisi dan krisis cerita. Sedangkan ironi situasi juga ditemukan pada bagian krisis, klimaks dan resolusi cerita. Hasil penyelidikan yang ketiga menunjukkan bahwa dengan menggunakan ironi, alur cerita mampu menambahkan ketegangan yang diperlukan para pembaca untuk tetap mengikuti jalan cerita.

Kata kunci: irony, verbal irony, situational irony, The Rainmaker, plot, plot structure.

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AN ANALYSIS OF IRONY

IN JOHN GRISHAM’S

THE RAINMAKER

A SARJANA PENDIDIKAN THESIS

Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements to Obtain the Sarjana Pendidikan Degree

in English Language Education

Patricia Vania Septhine Yulia Asthereni Student Number: 121214155

ENGLISH LANGUAGE EDUCATION STUDY PROGRAM DEPARTMENT OF LANGUAGE AND ARTS EDUCATION FACULTY OF TEACHERS TRAINING AND EDUCATION

SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY YOGYAKARTA

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ASarjana PendidikanThesis on

AN ANALYSIS OF IRONY IN JOHN GRISHAM'S_• _I THE RAINMAKER

Patricia Vania Septhine Yulia Asthereni Student Number: 121214155

Approved by

Advisor Date

-Drs. Bambang Hendarto Yuliwarsono M.Hum.

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ASarjana PendidikanThesis on

AN ANALYSIS OF IRONY IN JOHN GRISHAM'S , I

THE RAINMAKER

PATRICIA VANIA SEPTHINE YULIA ASTHERENI Student Nurnnber: 121214155

Defended before the Board of Examiners On 1 June 2016

And Declared Acceptable

Chairperson

Secretary

Board of Examiners

: Paulus Kuswandono, Ph.D.

: Christina Lhaksmita Anandari, S.Pd., Ed.M.

Member : Drs. Bambang Hendarto Yuliwarsono, M.Hum..

~

Member

: Made Frida Yulia, M.Pd.

: Yuseva Ariyani Iswandari, S.Pd., M.Ed.

Yogyakarta, 1 June 2016

Faculty of Teachers Training and Education Sanata Dharma University

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STATEMENT OF WORK'S ORIGINALITY

I honestly declare that this thesis, which I hav~ vyritten, does not contain the work or parts of the work of other people, except those cited inthe quotations and references, as a scientific paper should.

Yogyakarta, 1 June 2016

The writer

Patricia Vania Septhine Yulia Asthereni

121214155

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LEMBAR PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN PUBLIKASI KARYA ILMJAH UNTUK KEPENTIN GAN AKADEMIS

Yang bertanda tangan di bawah ini, saya mahasiswa Universitas Sanata Dharma: Nama

NIM

: Patricia Vania Septhine Yulia Asthereni : 121214155

Demi pengembangan ilmu pengetahuan, saya memberikan kepada perpustakaan Universitas Sanata Dharma karya i1miah saya yang berjudul:

AN ANALYSIS OF IRONY IN JOHN GRISHAM'S

TIlE RAINA1AKER

Beserta perangkat yang diperlukan (bila ada). Dengan demikian, saYi1 memberikan kepada perpustakaan Universitas Sanata Dharma hak untuk menyimpan, menga1il1kan da1am bentuk media lain, mengelolanya dalam bentuk pangkalan data, mendistribusikan secara terbatas, dan mempublikasikannya di internet atau media lain untuk kepentingan akademis tanpa perlu meminta ijin dari saya maupun memberikan royalti kepada saya selama tetap mencantumkan nama saya sebagai penulis.

Demikian pemyataan ini saya buat sebenamya Dibuat di YogyakaI1a

Pada tanggal: 1.JUt'll₂₀₁₆

Yang menyatakan:

Patricia Vania Septhine YuJia Asthereni

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vi ABSTRACT

Keywords: irony, verbal irony, situational irony, The Rainmaker, plot, plot structure.

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vii ABSTRAK

Kata kunci: irony, verbal irony, situational irony, The Rainmaker, plot, plot structure.

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viii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I dedicate this thesis for the One and Almighty Lord, Jesus Christ, for the guidance and perseverance He has blessed me during the writing. I would also convey my deepest gratitude to Mother Mary for always listening to my silent prayers. I am fully aware that this thesis is one of the many prayers I whispered to Her at restless nights which is actualized through the helps of many other people. Thus, through these pages, I would also like to thank those who have helped me finish this thesis.

Firstly, I would like to convey my sincere gratitude towards my parents, Waskito, S. E. and Irmina Asther, S. Psi. They both had supported and encouraged me during the thesis writing. By understanding the burden I endured, my parents had been very tolerant towards my temperamental mood. I also thank my little sisters, Cathrine Vivian Daisy Octavian and Valentine Novita Asthereni Putri, and my little brother, Geoffrey Aldric Vandityo Rain Gunathrya who had supported me in many ways. They understood my tantrum generously, stayed up the nights with me, and served me with a cup of coffee every time I worked on my thesis. For their encouraging prayers and support, I gladly present them my thesis.

Secondly, I would like to express my deepest gratitude towards my thesis advisor, Drs. Bambang Hendarto Yuliwarsono M. Hum, for the time he had spent for reading and checking my writing, and for his willingness to respond to

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any difficulties of mine. I deeply appreciate it. Despite my lackings, he had supported, reinforced, and straightened me up to finish my duty. I hope that this thesis could fulfil the expectation that he had of me. I would also like to relay my deepest gratitude to all lecturers of PBI USD. They are great people I would always look up to. The study period I had been through was not an easy path, but I have learned a lot from them.

I would also express my gratitude towards my long-last friends for what they had done for me. I would love to convey my gratitude to Melissa and Sherly for daily support they had given to me during the writing. They were the very first people to look after the progress of my thesis writing. They were also the very first people to whom I would share of my difficulties, and I am deeply thankful for their loyalty. I would also convey my appreciation to Queen, who had spared her busy time to accompany me when I had the most difficult time, both in thesis writing and life. She had been the most encouraging friend to wish me luck from afar. I would also love to relay my token of appreciation to what Laras had done to me during the process. She sent me handful of gifts to encourage me to finish the thesis soon. For the care, consideration, and prayers she gave me from afar, I am deeply grateful. For all my beloved friends and family in ELESP USD, I would love to address them personally. I thank Cesa and Dewi for accompanying me during the ups and downs. I thank Desi for all the help and understanding she has given both on my study and life. I would also thank Erlin, a friend I dearly cherish, for lots of concerns she always has of me. I thank Nina, a precious comrade of mine since PPL period, for all the help and loyalty she has supported me for. We both struggled

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together during PPL period, and we also supported each other during thesis writing. I am deeply grateful for what she had done for me, even when I asked some help of her suddenly in the middle of the night. I would also express my appreciation towards Annis, Aji, Cilla, Cis, Doni, Eka, Gheza, Joko, Kasih, Khariton, Maria, Nanda, Nisya, Patrick, Riyo, Tasia, Tesa, and Vincent for being in the same class for four years together. I thank them for the four years of awkwardness, tantrum, laugh, friendship, and love.

I would also relay my gratefulness toward my colleagues in 4th Undergraduate Conference Committee for the fellowship and friendship built during the preparation. Especially to Adit, Gery, Kiki, Nilam, and Wulan who had always been considerate towards my duty, I am deeply thankful of it. I would also love to express my gratefulness to my comrades who have strived together since Proposal Seminar class; Agatha, Dwi, Dwitya, Michelle, Novi, Uut, and Venny. Certainly, I would convey my deepest gratitude to everyone who had supported me during my study period in ELESP. For the guidance and companion given to me, may His best be with them.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

TITLE PAGE... i

APPROVAL PAGES ... ii

STATEMENT OF WORK’S ORIGINALITY ... iv

PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN PUBLIKASI ... v

ABSTRACT ... vi

ABSTRAK ... vii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ... viii

TABLE OF CONTENTS ... xi

LIST OF APPENDICES ... xiii

CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION ... 1

A. Background of the Study ... 1

B. Problem Formulation ... 4

C. Research Objectives ... 4

D. Benefits of the Study ... 4

E. Definition of Terms ... 5

CHAPTER II REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE ... 7

A. Review of Related Studies... 7

B. Review of Related Theories ... 9

1. Theories of Irony ... 9

a. Definitions ... 10

b. Types of Irony ... 11

2. Theories of Plot ... 14

C. Theoretical Framework ... 15

CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY ... 17

A. Object of the Study ... 17

B. Approach of the Study... 18

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xii

CHAPTER IV ANALYSIS ... 22

A. Analysis of Plot Structure of the Story... 22

B. Analysis of the Irony ... 25

1. Verbal Irony ... 25

2. Situational Irony ... 31

C. Influence of Irony on the Plot of the Story ... 46

CHAPTER V CONCLUSIONS, IMPLICATIONS AND SUGGESTIONS .. 50

A. Conclusions ... 50

B. Implications ... 52

C. Suggestions ... 53

REFERENCES ... 55

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xiii

LIST OF APPENDICES

Appendices Page

Appendix I Biography of John Grisham ... 59 Appendix II Summary of The Rainmaker ... 62

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CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION

This chapter provides general explanations of the study. There are five subheadings which are the background of the study that explains why the topic was chosen, problem formulations which contains two problems formulated through this research, objectives of the study which are the aims of the study, the benefits for both the readers and the researcher and definition of terms which discusses the vocabularies used in this study to clearly limit the field of the study.

A. Background of the Study

John Grisham, the twentieth century legal thriller writer, is famous for his best sellers: The Firm (1989), The Pelican Brief (1991), A Time to Kill (1992), The Client (1992) and The Chamber (1994), The Runaway Jury (1996), Bleachers (2003), Playing for Pizza (2007) and The Litigators (2011), among many others. Working as a lawyer specializing in criminal defense and personal injury litigation, Grisham first wrote his first piece every day after getting off the work. After finishing A Time to Kill for three years, he directly wrote the next piece, The Firm; despite the modest copy and publishing of the first book. It was only after the success of The Firm and The Pelican Brief, his first book was renewed and republished then to be the next best seller (para from Grisham, 2012).

From around the thirty books he has been writing, there are currently over 300 million Grisham’s books in print worldwide, which have been translated into

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40 languages. Nine of his novels have been turned into films (The Firm, The Pelican Brief, The Client, A Time to Kill, The Rainmaker, The Chamber, A Painted House, The Runaway Jury, and Skipping Christmas), as was an original screenplay (Penguin Random House, 2015). John Grisham was awarded the Peggy V. Helmerich Distinguished Author Award by the Tulsa Library Trust in 2005 (Grisham, 2012).

Instead of discussing more about the books that have brought success and awards for Grisham, discussing the works of him which were not awarded as a best seller becomes one of the reasons why the writer chose The Rainmaker. Added by the fact that the film adaptation was still made from the book, even though it was not a best seller; it becomes another background of the selection. The Rainmaker was the sixth novel written in 1995, raising topic of insurance scam into public. Using his proven David vs. Goliath formula, Grisham returning to courtroom with the most complicated plot since The Firm (para from Pringle, 2007 p. 29).

Not only unfolding the story through complicated plot, but Grisham also uses irony in the story. Irony has largely known as one kind of figurative language in literary work. Commonly found and used in poems and scripts of play, it is not easy to find novelist using irony in the story. Irony has become one way to express hidden meaning behind a statement said by one character or events happening in the story. It is not used in the whole story, but rather in a part of the story. However, Grisham had succesfully combined both literary elements – aside from many other elements – into a whole story. Grisham builds up the story with the

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help of verbal irony and situational irony. Verbal irony is used whenever Rudy Baylor, the main character comments about something. However, because the story is told from Baylor’s point of view, there are not many verbal irony can be found. Situational irony is found throughout the story in concluding the conflict of the story.

In The Rainmaker, Grisham tells the story of a young man, Rudy Baylor, barely out of law school. Baylor is required to give legal advice to senior citizens in one of the subjects he takes on final semester. There, he meets his first “clients,” Dot and Buddy Black. Their son, Donny Ray, is dying of leukemia, and their insurance company has objected to pay for his medical treatments as insurance. Although Rudy establishes in court that his client, Donny Ray Black, deserves a medical treatment to treat leukemia, Donny Ray is dead and the company – despite the facts and cash the company has – argues it cannot afford to pay the punishment fees that the court has settled. Ending in Baylor leaving the law, he finds his happiness together with Kelly far from things related to law (Pringle, 2007 pp. 54-55).

In relation towards the English education, the researcher is interested to find how the future teachers would react upon the irony which may happen in the classroom. Rather than merely analysing the use of irony in the story only, the researcher would like to find out the importance of appropriate attitude expected from the teachers in facing unexpected occurences happening in the classroom, which may be classified as situational irony. The future teachers are expected to

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be able to gain experience from the use of two types of irony in the story as the illustration of what may occur in real life, especially in the classroom.

B. Problem Formulation

Based on the background above, the writer formulates the problems of this study in the following questions:

1. What is the plot structure of The Rainmaker?

2. How is irony portrayed in the story of Grisham’s The Rainmaker? 3. How does the irony influence the flow of plot of the story?

C. Research Objectives

This research is written to elaborate more on the relation between irony and plot in the story. The research starts by finding out the classification of plot structure of The Rainmaker. It also aims to analyse the verbal and situational irony and the practical use of the irony in the story. This study finds out verbal and situational irony used in the story in order to elaborate the use of irony in the story. It is also aimed to find out how the irony influences flow of the plot of the analysed story.

D. Benefits of the Study

The great hope of the researcher by writing this study is that it could become a great help and guidance for the future researchers who are interested and who work in similar fields. Through this study, the readers may get the information

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about the contribution of irony to the plot of story. It is also expected that the readers may deepen their knowledge of the many functions of irony as used in The Rainmaker story. By knowing the functions of irony as analysed, the readers could then, comprehend and adopt the important things, related to both irony and the story, into real life situation. Most importantly, by adopting the hidden values of the story, it may help the students of ELESP to find out proper behaviour as role models of their students when they become English teachers.

E. Definition of terms

There are terms used in the research which need to be elaborated more. The elaboration of the terms serves to associate similar perceptions of the researcher and the readers of the research.

1. Irony

In A Glossary of Literature Terms, irony is defined as the root sense in making discepancies, or of a dissembling, what is revealed and what the case really is (Abram, 1989 p. 89). According to Gibbs (2008) in The Cambridge Handbook of Metaphor and Thought, “irony emphasizes the difference between two states of affairs, making plain which is true” (p. 458). It is called ironic whenever the appearance of something is different from what actually is. However, by showing the different sides, the purpose of using irony is to emphasise which side is actually true.

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2. Verbal Irony

Burgers, Mulken and Schellens (2011) conclude verbal irony as “an utterance with a literal evaluation that is implicitly contrary to its intended evaluation” (p. 190). In other words, there is another intended meaning behind one statement spoken by the character in the story.

3. Situational Irony

Situational irony is the result of actions done by character in the story that falls out of readers’ expectation (Pettineo, 2012 p.7). It is also called situational irony when unexpected scenes occur which are different from what the readers expected. The readers’ expectation also include how they interpret certain points of the story. Thus, when some events in the story are interpreted differently from what they expected previously, it becomes situational irony. 4. Plot

According to Perrine (1974), plot is the sequence of incident or events which the story is composed and it may include what character says or thinks as well as what he does. It leaves out description and analysis and concentrates ordinarily on major happening (p. 43).

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CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

In this chapter, the researcher discusses three parts. The first part discusses the review of related studies. This part explains briefly how this research differs from other studies. The second part represents literary theory which are relevant to this research directly. The last part is theoretical framework. It summarizes on how the presented theories are used in solving research problems throughout the research.

A. Review of Related Studies

There are many studies concerning John Grisham’s books, which consist of more than thirty different titles raising legal cases, conducted by English department students of Sanata Dharma University. On discussing John Grisham’s books, there are various things pinpointed to be the main focus of the studies. His first book, A Time to Kill (1992) telling about a struggle of a black man fighting the practice of racism which existed at that time, was analysed by Ningrum (2011). She discusses about how the practice of racism experienced by the characters reflect the real condition on American society.

In 2008, Saliro discusses the intrapersonal and interpersonal conflicts of character in The Pelican Brief (1992). Saliro discusses on how conflicts build up the characteristics of Darby Shaw through the story. Analysing that Saliro

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experiences intra-personal and interpersonal conflicts in the story, he also determines how the character solves her conflicts. Both of the work focuses on the characters of the novel, although they use different light to raise the focus. On her study, Ningrum discusses the practice of racism and how it reflects the real social condition of American at that time, while Saliro raises conflicts to describe the characteristics of Darby Shaw. However, there has not been a single study analysing The Rainmaker novel.

Pringle (2007) also reviews the work of John Grisham in Revisiting John Grisham: A Critical Companion, a follow-up to John Grisham: A Critical Companion published by Greenwood in 1997. Though briefly, Pringle discusses that John Grisham focuses on heroes in a chaotic and meaningless modern world. Like much so-called serious modern literature, several of John Grisham’s novels—especially A Time to Kill, The Firm, The Rainmaker, and now The Brethren —lend themselves to existentialist readings. In The Rainmaker, Grisham targets corporate greed of a medical insurance company (p. xx). By the time Grisham published The Rainmaker (1995), he seemed less assured that a single hero could put a dent in the world’s wickedness or bring down evil institutions.

Discussing irony is not a new thing in the ground of English department, both in education or literature department. The latest study of irony is presented by Suzanna (2007). Raising the topic of Irony in the Main Characters Seen from Feminist Perspective to Reveal the Theme in Philippa Gregory’s Perfectly Correct, Suzanna raises the relation between the main characters, ironies and the theme of the novel. As for plot which the researcher will relate to the irony to,

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Estiningtyas (2015) explores it on The Significance of Dobby in the Plot of J.K.

Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Out of all the studies, the most similar study to the one the researcher discusses is the one written by Wibowo in 2001. Analysing irony of both the characters and story used in Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House, Wibowo relates it to the messages the novel conveys which becomes the only difference compared to this study.

This study is expected to be a complement to other studies for it discusses relation between irony and the plot of story. For this study is the first study in Sanata Dharma University focusing on The Rainmaker – this study offers new perspective and understanding of both the irony and the story. Therefore, in order to support the analysis, the writer uses theories of irony and theories on plot.

B. Review of Related Theories

In this part, there are the theories to be used in analysing the novel, namely theory on irony and theory on plot. The writer adopted several theories which are closely related to analysis.

1. Theories of Irony

In this section, the researcher discusses theories of irony brought forward by the experts. The researcher elaborates the definitions and types of irony which are discussed into separate headings. The two parts are both essential to further analyse irony in the story deeply.

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a. Definitions

According to Dube, the term of irony “involves both an incongruity and the opposite of what one expects” (quoted in Koesnosoebroto, 1988 p. 135). Booth (1974) calls irony as the good mark on distinguishing a good literary work in twentieth century. Similarly, Jay (2003) states that irony is a figurative language which creates the opposite meaning of the literal meaning. On 2011, Burgers, Mulken and Schellens argue that irony can be defined as an “utterance with a literal evaluation that is implicitly contrary to its intended evaluation” (p. 186). In A Glossary of Literature Terms, irony is the root sense in making discrepancies, or of a dissembling, what is revealed and what the case really is (Abrams, 2012 p. 184).

Rockliffe (2006, pp. 28-32) in Tristan Corbiere and the Poetics of Irony explains that irony has classically been one of rhetorical trope – though it is different from rhetoric – involving a discrepancy between what is said and what is meant. Booth (1974) calls this is traditional verbal irony because it makes the readers rejecting literal meaning of what is said. Besides, according to Booth (1974), irony takes place because of “either some incongruity among the words or between the words and something else that he knows”. Irony is not intended to hide the truth, but the texture of irony shows diversity of contradictory selves which may exist in utterances.

Rockliffe (2006, p. 38) describes irony as a transformation which is not semantic because it does not change the meaning; but “as the matrix will always have a positive or negative orientation, the transformation can consist ‘of nothing

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more than such a permutation of the markers, turning a mimesis which is normally positive into a code of universal condemnation”. As Booth (1974) says, irony provides a new perspective as a reflection or looking back upon an old inferior one. Corbiere argues that (in Rockliffe, 2006 p. 41), using irony, does not change reality into a myth or just cover it with beauty, but makes contradiction of what his essence is, and expresses the resultant irritation with precise concrete meaning behind.

As Hutcheon (as in Rockliffe, 2006, pp. 42, 48) points out, “Irony is a relational strategy in the sense that it operates not only between meanings (said, unsaid) but between people (ironists, interpreters, targets)”. This sort of irony can be related to terms by Sperber and Wilson (1962) of which it is a quotation of existing material in such a way in expressing an attitude in relation to it, as well as conveying something by the meaning. Irony itself is an indirect means of communicating and relaying an evaluation (pp. 59-60). In addition, according to Hutcheon, irony has “a cutting edge and thus an emotive force for it could affect others through its use” (p. 49).

b. Types of Irony

Irony can be distinguished into verbal irony, dramatic irony, irony of situation, and irony of fate or cosmic irony according to Perrine (1974, p. 215). As what Pettineo (2012) states as “the most common types of irony discussed in textbooks or anthologies” in his dissertation (p. 7), it is classified into verbal irony, dramatic irony and situational irony. Similarly, Arp and Johnson (2012) consider

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those three types of irony to be the most common type to be found in fiction work (pp. 301-303).

1). Verbal irony is created when the implied meaning of the stated message is either the opposite of or incongruous with the meaning of statement (Pettineo, 2012, p. 7). Booth (1974) defines it as ‘stable covert irony’ since the readers intend to reject a literal meaning because of ‘either some incongruity among the words or between the words and something else that he knows.’ (p. 10). Colebrook (2004) suggests that verbal irony shares notion of having hidden intended meaning behind spoken words (p. 15). It is not always the exactly opposite meaning because as Colebrook acknowledges, the meaning of verbal irony can be implied from assumptions which relies on norms and values (p. 16).

Arp and Johnson (2012) define it as “a figure of speech in which the speaker says the opposite of what he or she intends to say” (p. 301). Correspondingly, Abrams and Harpham (2012) refine verbal irony into utterance of which the implied meaning is different from what is conveyed (p. 184). There are cases which the statement is either straightforward or complicated. In the case of the spoken statement offers meaning and evaluation that is “simply reversed” or exactly opposite, it is then called as straightforward. On the other hand, if the meaning and evaluation delivered through the statement is slightly qualified and indirectly invite readers to assort themselves with “the knowing minority”, the verbal irony is likely to be more “oblique and unobtrusive” (pp. 184-185).

2). Dramatic irony is the result when discrepancy between audiences’ and characters’ understanding of events in a play occurs (Pettineo, 2012, p. 7). In

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dramatic irony, the characters are not aware of the upcoming fates which the audience are aware of. Similarly, Arp and Johnson (2012) depict it into the contrast that is created between what the character’s point of view unfold and what the readers know (p. 302). Since Grisham does not make use of this irony through Rudy’s use of point of view as the first person point of view in unfolding the events in the story, the writer thus limits the definition of dramatic irony as stated above.

3). Situational irony results from characters’ actions that bring different outcomes from what was expected (Pettineo, 2012, p. 7). Another elaboration by Arp and Johnson (2012) additionally limits that situational irony occurs in the incongruity between three things; “between appearance and reality, between expectation and fulfillment, or between what is and what would seem appropriate”. In their opinion, situational irony is the most important kind of irony to be used in fiction (p. 302). Further, van Thompson (2016) expands it into two limitations. First, it occurs “when a character's actions bring unexpected results” from readers’ point of view. Second, it is also an irony of situation when events in the story turn out either opposite of what readers expected or what the events should be. He states as well that “situational irony can make a plot twist more interesting, draw attention to a reader's unwarranted biases, or show how a character handles an unexpected situation”.

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2. Theories of Plot

Stanton (1965) states that plot is the story which is an order of events, one event leading to another event. Plot is something bigger and more complex than a story (p. 16). E.M. Foster (1974) says that a plot is a groundwork of a story. It is based on human motivation experiencing conflicts, thus result in actions which comes from believable and realistic human response (p. 86). Cuddon (1999) in The Penguin Dictionary of Literary Terms and Literary Theory defines plot as “the plan, design, scheme or pattern of events in a play poem or work of fiction; and, further, the organization of incident and character in such a way as to induce curiosity and suspense in the spectator or reader” (p. 676).

According to Kennedy and Gioia (2010), the plot structure is distinguished in An Introduction to Fiction into Exposition, Crisis, Climax and Conclusion – also is called as Resolution or Dénouement (p. 14). In exposition, there are “opening portion that sets the scene”, introduction of the main characters and “any other background information” needed for readers to understand the story. Crisis is where the “moment of high tension” is provided. In addition, there is also greater crisis when any action takes or reaches turning point. As for when the result is to be decided, supported by “the moment of greatest tension” the story has reached its climax. The resolution is the end of the story to be unravelled. On this part, every conflict and tension is resolved. Adversely, Roberts and Jacobs (1989) states that formal categories of structure is divided into 5 parts. They are Exposition, Complication, Crisis, Climax, and Resolution (p. 102). Differing from Kennedy and Gioia only in terms of complication, it is defined as the point in

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which the conflict begins. Separately, in An Introduction to Literature: Fiction, Poetry and Drama (2008); Barnet, Burto and Cain mention that traditionally, structure of plot is divided into Exposition, Conflict and Dénouement (p. 101). Since it is the traditional plot structure, the structure is much simpler than the ones which has been developed. However, the researcher would use the plot structure proposed by Kennedy and Gioia as the one proposed by Roberts and Jacobs would need more elaboration on differentiating between complication and crisis, while the one proposed by Barnet, Burto, and Cain is too simple to classify the many events leading to climax in the story just into conflict.

Disher (2001) defines plot based on its functions in the story. Plot is used by author as device to arrange events to make a point. Further, it is for characters to act, spring motives and react upon the plot. Simply put, plot is closely related to characters’ development. Plot is also set to “engage the reader’s emotional interest” until the story improves or even until the story ends (p. 100).

C. Theoretical Framework

The theories provided above are used to solve the research problems. There are three research problems to be answered through this study. By applying the theory of plot toward the story, it helps the researcher to identify the structure to correlate with irony. The researcher analyses the plot of the story based on the structure of plot proposed by Kennedy and Gioia, which classifies the story into exposition, crisis, climax, and resolution. The plot structure was selected since the conflicts found in the story would be too many just to classify them into conflicts

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as suggested by Barnet, Burto, and Cain and the scenes would need more elaboration to be differentiated into complications and conflicts as proposed by Roberts and Jacobs. Thus, the answer to the first research question is gained.

Using the theories of irony, the researcher analyses and identifies the use of irony in the novel. By fitting the characteristics and definitions of irony towards the presumed irony throughout the story, then the answer to second research question is gained. The researcher uses the definitions of irony according to the experts, among them are Booth, Colebrook, Hutcheon, Rockliffe, Arp and Johnson, and van Thompson and of what Pettineo adopts. On deciding the types of irony, the researcher follows the ones ruled on traditional classifications of irony of which there are three types of irony: verbal irony, dramatic irony, and situational irony.

Identifying the use of irony proposes the next step of this study to be done. Correlating the use of irony and the plot is needed to answer the third research question. In order to gain it, the theories of plot and irony becomes the foundation for the researcher to argue and discuss the correlation between irony and the plot. The findings of the use of irony also presume that it influences the flow of the plot as specific types of irony are found in certain points of the story.

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17 CHAPTER III

METHODOLOGY

This chapter consists of three parts to give the readers more understanding about the study, namely the object of the study, the approach of the study and the method of the study. The object of the study tells about the information of the novel which includes the physical description and brief summary of the novel. The approach of the study describes about the approach used to analyse the novel. The method of the study represents the steps taken to gain the finding.

A. Object of the Study

The object of this study is a novel entitled The Rainmaker, the sixth novel written in 1995 by John Grisham. The first edition was originally published in 1995 by Dell Publishing in New York. The copyright of The Rainmaker was published by Dell Publishing and was printed in United States of America. The novel is covered by soft cover of which is printed in United States of America. On the front pages are filled out by praises and reviews given by readers. Inside, there is writing addressing that the book is presented to American trial lawyers. At the very last page, there is a picture of John Grisham, the author of the book with his previous books as additional information written below his picture. The novel consists of 598 pages and 53 chapters. The genre of the novel is legal thriller; legal thriller because this book tells about law and the story thrills the readers. The tense used in the novel

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is present tense; this novel is the only Grisham’s novel which uses present tense for unfolding the story. The story goes at Memphis city, Memphis state starting around April until somewhere after June 1990 for one year.

The story tells about how a young graduate of Memphis State Law School, Rudy Baylor confronts a large insurance company seeking justice for his leukemic client, Donny Ray. The story goes on how Baylor at the beginning, has to struggle for his own life first before he can do anything for Donny Ray. The fact that he graduates from a law school does not instantly make his life easy and cherished. After having his life composed, Baylor has to deal with Donny Ray’s case. Going through many difficulties and challenges, Baylor finally gets to prove that his client deserves a bone marrow transplant from the company. However, the company successfully avoids the court’s decision after the death of Donny Ray. Feeling disappointed, at the end of story, Baylor quits his job as a lawyer knowing that law no longer can be a place to give justice.

B. Approach of Study

Analysing the object of the study, the researcher used formalist approach. Guerin et al, in A Handbook of Critical Approaches to Literature, argue that this approach assumes the autonomy of the work itself without even considering other elements –the author’s life, time, sociological, political, economic or psychological implications (1979, p. 70). Nonetheless, formalist approach was chosen because this approach regards literature as “a unique form of human knowledge that needs to be examined on its own terms” (Kennedy and Gioia, 1995, pp. 1790-1818).

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Further, the elements of form – in which irony as one of the figurative language is included – become the particular interest of this approach. In addition, the purpose of this approach is relevant to this study. The purpose of this approach is to determine how the analysed certain elements work together with the content in shaping effect upon readers.

According to The Virtual Theorist (2013), the formalist approach focuses on “grammatical, rhetorical, and logical connections within texts”. A formalist approach will generate technical terms to examine a piece of literary work. “The form, tone, language, characterization, figures of speech, point of view, setting and theme of a text” constitute a really wide range of aspects within an internal order. Formalists are well aware of the text or art-object or subject matter as a construction created to generate particular responses despite that the response of readers is beyond the control of any artist. Thus, formalists prioritize the medium used to convey the meaning over the content or the meaning itself.

Since the researcher investigated intrinsic elements of the novel, which are irony and plot, without correlating the use of them into either the meaning or content, formalist approach was a great help to determine the answers to the problems. Focusing on the plot structure, the researcher applied formalist approach to isolate the scenes based on the classification, then to classify the scenes into the plot structure. The same also was applied to answer the questions related to irony, where the researcher had to find the acceptable forms that fit in the definitions and types of irony. In classifying the types of irony which were found in the story as well, the researcher had to classify them into the most appropriate one without

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correlating them into other aspects aside from the ones in the novel. By isolating the certain elements which were to be analysed, the formalist approach was applied. Thus, formalist approach was the most appropriate approach to be used in conducting the study.

C. Method of the Study

The data and references needed for the analysis were gathered from printed and electronic books, articles, encyclopaedia, journals and some on-line references. Because the sources basically were information gathered and there was no additional data gathered from other sources, the researcher applied library research method to gain the findings. The primary source of this study was the novel entitled The Rainmaker. The secondary sources were any information from written sources related to theories of irony and plot.

Some steps were taken in conducting the study. First, the researcher read the English version of the novel many times in order to get deep understanding about the novel, both content and the elements. Second, the researcher decided which aspects to be analysed from the novel. After knowing which aspects to analyse, the researcher found sources from printed and electronic books, articles and journals about plot structure, irony and the relation between irony and plot. Third, the researcher analysed the story based on the structure of the plot. It was done to specify the data of research. Fourth, the theories were applied to analyse how irony influences the plot of the story. In this step, the researcher identified which irony was appropriate to be analysed. Then the irony was classified based on

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the characteristics and definitions shown in the story. The analysis of irony was carried out by showing the presumed intended meaning hidden behind the verbal irony and by contrasting the readers’ presumed expectations toward the reality happens in the story hidden in situational irony. The researcher tried to formulate the intended meaning in verbal irony, expectations and reality in situational irony based on the interpretation of characters’ intention, the situation which the characters are in, and what the readers would expect out of certain analysed scenes. Relating some evidences found in the primary source and secondary source was the sixth step done to gain what functions irony have towards the plot. The last step was drawing conclusion remarks. The conclusion in the end of this study contains the findings of analysis presented in this study.

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22 CHAPTER IV

ANALYSIS

In order to generate clear and deep analysis, this chapter is divided into three parts. The first part investigates the story according to structure of plot in relation to the next figures. The second and third part deal with verbal and situational irony found in the novel, at the critical parts of the plot. The last part discusses on the correspondence of irony towards plot of the story.

A. Analysis of Plot Structure of the Story

Plot is what embodies the story, not only as the sequence of events, but also on how the unfolded events can engage readers to keep reading (Disher, 2001, p. 100). As what Kennedy and Gioia (2010) distinguish structure of the plot, the analysis is carried through the limitations as follows; exposition, crisis, climax and resolution. The researcher would analyse and classify the important scenes in the novel into the four limitations mentioned previously, fitting them based on the definitions and characteristics of each stage in the plot structure. The researcher also provides the page numbers of the events for the readers in need to look up to the pages. Exposition in The Rainmaker covers background of how Rudy decides to study law as his major (pp. 1-2) – opening part where the setting of the story is described, introduction of Rudy (pp. 1-3), Booker Kane – his bestfriend (pp. 6, 29-32), Miss Birdie (pp. 6-17) and Blacks (pp. 17-27) – which covers introduction of the main characters. It also tells about family of Rudy (pp. 1-3), past love story of

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him (pp. 32-34), how he goes bankrupt and becomes broken-hearted (pp. 89-90) –

“any other background information” needed for readers to understand the story.

There is also a piece of how he does in his college (p. 3), having job in Brodnax and Speer (pp. 38-39), adding more information of Rudy’s character as a smart law student.

At the next part of structure, problems start to emerge. Rudy is fired from his job, before he goes to work for the company – Brodnax and Speer (pp. 43-48). Having two clients, Miss Birdie and Blacks, he ends up working with Bruiser (pp. 161-165). Bruiser Stone is his bartender boss’ bestfriend. Although his boss is very nice toward Rudy, job offer at Bruiser’s law firm is dilemmatic and desperate. Rudy is very persistent about his ideal about justice, while Bruiser is a lawyer with questionable ethics. Anyhow, he also meets Kelly – his future lover when he works under Bruiser (pp. 199-208). After taking the job at Bruiser’s law firm, he has acquainted to Deck who becomes his partner after Bruiser be trailed by FBI (pp. 256-261, 275-276).

Coping with Miss Birdie –Rudy’s first client, also contributes a conflict to face because she does not let Rudy to know anything about her fortune in her will to be redrafted (pp. 67-75, 114-116, 233-235). Blacks’ case is another problem to deal with because Rudy has to confront an experienced lawyer from a great firm – a firm which causes him to be fired from Brodnax and Speer. However, documents investigation also becomes problem for Rudy before the trial (pp. 294-296, 373-377). In addition, before the case can officially be tried, Donny Ray – his main client of Blacks’ case – has died because of leukemia without getting any treatment

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he deserves to get from Great Benefit – the insurance company which Rudy convicts (pp. 392-397). Those problems contribute to crisis where there are moments of eminent tension to resolve.

Regarding the matter of Blacks’ case, it reaches its climax when it comes to

the courtroom especially when Rudy and Drummond present their witness to the trial (pp. 467-533). Since the pretrial conference (pp. 437-441), the tension of the story increases. It also reaches the highest tension concerning on how Rudy wins

the Blacks’ case for fifty million dollars (pp. 553-554). There is one more story to

be regarded which reaches the lead taut. Love story between Rudy and Kelly – a previously battered wife abused by her husband – also contributes to the climax of the story. The love story reaches the highest tension because Rudy kills the husband inadvertently (pp. 569-570). The two crisis reaches stages in which the suspense is high, for the outcome to conclude.

The resolution concerns on how Rudy never gets the money of him winning

the Blacks’ case. Instead, he ends up being in fame. Great Benefit is reported to be

broke that it no longer could pay the huge punitive damages (pp. 585-587). The murder story unravells as the self-defense of a powerless wife confronting drunk husband (p. 582). Rudy who has to meet many persons finally has made Kelly out of jail (pp. 581-585). The story resolves as Rudy decides to quit law – to never go back – and to go wherever with Kelly at the time (pp. 597-598).

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B. Analysis of the Irony

Irony is a literal evaluation which involves discrepancy to set forth the truth (Gibbs, 2008, p. 458). As Booth suggests, it provides a new perspective as a reflection (as in Rockliffe, 2006, p. 38). In other words, by setting forth the truth through the discrepancies between two different sides, the use of irony indirectly provides reflection, as it is usually hidden, as evaluation. In analysing The Rainmaker, the researcher found the use of verbal and situational irony as follows.

1. Verbal Irony

Verbal irony is discrepancy of what the character says in the story which carries out different meaning intended by the speakers (Colebrook, 2003). As what Booth (1974) states that verbal irony has the characteristics as it makes the receptor rejects literal meaning, the discussion is carried out. It is used to perceive literal evaluation that is implicitly either the opposite of or incongruous with the meaning of statement (Pettineo, 2012). As the different meanings intended by the character in the novel depends on interpretation, it could be differently perceived from different points of view.

On the following discussion, the subchapter would provide the intended meaning behind the following statement. The intended meaning is interpretation

formulated by the researcher, considering the character’s point of view and facts

supporting the interpretation. There are three verbal ironies found in the novel:

absurdity in “This letter is incredible.”; understanding in “I don’t understand.”; and vulnerability in “It’s impressive.”

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a) Absurdity in "This letter is incredible."

The statement is said by Rudy in the exposition part of the story. Included

in the introduction of Blacks’ case, the letter mentioned is the letter from the

insurance company to deny the claim covered in the insurance which is supposed to cover all Blacks. The letter contains denial of claim for the eighth time, added by a Claims Supervisor of Great Benefit addressing Blacks as “stupid, stupid, stupid” (p. 23). Later, this letter is labeled as Stupid Letter. The letter is not incredible literally, because incredible in literal meaning is used to address something that is highly awesome. The statement here suggests meaning that is contradictory by overstating. Thus, the statement is verbal irony. As Booth (1974) says, verbal irony makes the receptor rejects literal meaning to perceive the hidden meaning. The intended meaning that the letter is absurd because it is inappropriate to be called an official letter from an honorable institution as big as Great Benefit.

Further, the story elaborates on how the letter is a good document to be tried in the bad-faith case of insurance company. The bad-faith case is a case of not fulfilling legal obligations that two parties has agreed on. In the story, it is not

covering Donny Ray’s treatment as what an insurance claim should. As it is written

in the story (p. 33), “It is shocking and mean, and obviously written by someone

convinced that Dot and Buddy would never show it to a lawyer”, it proves that if it

is shown to the lawyer, the letter can become a serious problem against the writer. Denying the claim is one thing, but the word stupid is terribly awful to be inside an official letter. The word stupid is absurd to be used to address anyone formally. Thus, a denial claim is classified as an official letter. Any written documents have

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a high possibility to be a good proof in the courtroom and this particular letter would be one beneficial proof for the plaintiff side. From Rudy’s point of view as a lawyer, incredible here means that the letter is a very favourable for him to collect as a document in the courtroom.

Max Leuberg, a professor at Rudy’s law school who is an expert in bad-faith cases also uses the exactly similar term in describing the Stupid Letter when he reads it for the first time in his office (p. 36). Max has assisted in bad-faith cases in

the north, which awards huge punitive damages for the insurers’ opposition.

Together with other documents, he is sure that this one particular letter is necessary to make Rudy win the case. In conclusion, Rudy describing the Stupid Letter as incredible is verbal irony. By saying incredible, he expresses disbelief of the use of

“stupid” word in an official letter. He also knows that it is a great supportive document to punish Great Benefit. Stating the contrary word instead of what Rudy wants to convey stresses the degree of absurdity he wants to convey through a verbal irony.

In conclusion, Rudy uses verbal irony by stating that the Stupid Letter is

incredible. The use of word “incredible” is ironic because he hides his true intention

of addressing the letter as something absurd by saying incredible. Even though the letter can be considered as a great document to win over the defense lawyer of Great Benefit, the word incredible cannot cover the whole intention just by saying incredible. Thus, it proves the sentence as verbal irony for expressing something to be more than just what the word literally means.

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b) Understanding in "I don't understand."

Pettineo (2012, p. 7) explains that verbal irony is created when the implied meaning of the stated message is either the opposite to or incongruous with the meaning of statement. As the subtitle suggests, verbal irony in the statement occurs because the implied meaning intended by Rudy is exactly the opposite of what he openly states. The statement occurs in the crisis part of the story when Rudy is about to lose his second job after he experiences similar matter with Brodnax and Speer (p. 151).

After getting a phone call from Dot Black saying that some random guy telling her that Barry X. is now her lawyer, Rudy feels something fishy. In addition, Dot gets to know from Barry that Rudy, her actual lawyer representing her as far as she knows, no longer works there (pp. 150-152). During the phone conversation with Barry Lancaster – his new immediate boss, the imminent bad feeling that Rudy feels previously, grows stronger as the conversation goes on. A sudden incomplete explanation of the whole situation makes Rudy abruptly realise of what is actually happening. He, that has never been given the key of the office (pp. 133-134), has never met the main superior of his workplace (p. 133) and has never received his contract of employment after three days of work (p. 138), finally gets the insight of the reason behind all preposterous treatment he receives back then.

Nonetheless, it would be terrible to experience disgraceful unemployment for the second time with another short record. Trying to prevent the prospect of him getting dishonourably jobless, Rudy announces that he does not understand what Barry tries to convey to him. Fully understanding the upcoming scenario that is

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about to happen, he wants to contend his job in any accounts. No matter how much he wants to deny the truth, however, the truth of him being fired is still coming. Barry will not keep him as an employee.

Rudy does not deny that he understands the situation through the statement.

On the other hand, he clarifies it more by saying “I don’t understand” towards what

Barry will say. Simply put, he says it not because he does not understand the situation, but he just cannot comprehend why this kind of experience recurs to happen to him. Since he is so optimistic in doing the job in the beginning, the reality of him being jobless in such a short time is too horrible for him to perceive that he states the sentence. The intended meaning behind the statement is also supported by actions described by the author as Rudy saying it. As found in page 151, “I close

my eyes and want to cry.”, the actions preceeding the statement enhance that Rudy

actually grasps the situation in which he is in. Otherwise, not fully comprehending the situation, Rudy will not act so in responding to Barry’s explanation.

Verbal irony occurs when the intention of the character is conveyed through the contradictory spoken statement. Following the story, the readers could perceive the background of causes and reasons which make Rudy state it. However, the discrepancy between true intention and spoken words remains in the sentence. The fact that Rudy himself saying something totally the contrast of something both readers and him know creates the irony.

c) Vulnerability in "It's impressive."

The word impressive is used to describe something which deserves respect and admiration. However, the statement of Rudy addressed to Drummond as the

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defense lawyer of Great Benefit contains many other things aside from respect and admiration. The utterance is found on the crisis part of the story, when the paper war between Rudy and the defense lawyer starts (p. 240). Rudy states it when he

receives the motion to dismiss Blacks’ case from the defense lawyer. It is incoherent

and rather contradictory from Rudy’s intention of saying it that it is analysed as

verbal irony. Rudy feels more than impressed with the motion sent by the defense lawyer to dismiss the Blacks' lawsuit, with a sixty-three pages supporting brief (p. 240).

Rudy who is still a rookie and has just started his career as a lawyer has to oppose Drummond from a great firm. He is described as a marvelous senior partner and trial lawyer from Tinley Britt who has represented all sorts of commercial litigation and rarely loses in the courtroom (p. 225). Not only it is Rudy’s first time to reply to a motion, but also he has to do it fast and accurate all by himself.

Compared to Drummond’s motion which is a work of three associates and two

paralegals (p. 241), Rudy’s is nothing. All those work cannot be considered as little to do alone. Every rookie in the world of lawyer job would respect and admire Drummond, the legend indeed. Nevertheless, by saying the statement, Rudy also acknowledges at the time that he is no juxtaposition to be considered as a plaintiff confronting a great lawyer.

More than respect and admiration, by complimenting the other side in a war, there is a sense of defeat that Rudy realises the moment he is to begin the paper war. The paper war is the beginning of the real war he initiates; and the war means that to attack and look for other side’s weaknesses. Obliquely, Rudy is also open to

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be attacked and harmed until the war is over, either by winning or losing that he has no vision of it. His vulnerability of being attacked is emphasised by Rudy’s feelings and additional response. The story illustrates that Rudy already feels tired and bothered from where he has to start on responding the motion (pp. 240-241). Instead of plainly expressing his admiration, Rudy embeds his nervous and tempted intention by praising the defense lawyer. Intending more than what he verbally states, the statement becomes verbal irony.

2. Situational Irony

Situational irony occurs when a character conducts different behaviours of what is appropriate according to the story. The use of it, thus, brings unexpected outcomes. It is also included as situational irony when events in the story turn out differently from what the events should be (van Thompson, 2016). It involves incongruity between appearance and reality and between expectation and fulfillment (Arp and Johnson, 2012). There are six situational ironies discovered in the story: worst scenario vs best chance on working with Bruiser; finish line vs new baton on Donny Ray’s death; justice vs eternal loss on Rudy winning the Blacks’

case; worth vs waste on Rudy winning the Blacks’ case; nightmare vs happy ending

on the murder of Cliff Riker; and responsibility vs avenge on Rudy quitting lawyer. As situational irony involves expectation and reality that happens, the

following analysis would provide the readers’ expectation in interpreting the

analysed events versus what actually happens in the story. Taking the first form of situational irony as an example, the readers would expect it to be the worst scenario

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for Rudy when he works for Bruiser. However, as the analysis is carried out, it is proven to be the situational irony since the event turns out to be the best chance for Rudy. The worst scenario presumes as readers’ expectation, while the best chance

presumes as the contradictory reality that happens in the story. Both the readers’

expectation and the reality that happens in the story are formulated into some terms. The terms are expected to convey similar meaning to the readers in order to have

similar understanding with the researcher’s point of view.

a) Worst Scenario vs Best Chance on Working with Bruiser

It is described in the novel that Bruiser Stone is well-known as a lawyer with questionable ethics. Bruiser is “an enormously fat and broad man with long, thick gray hair and sagging goatee” (p. 111). In addition to the location of Bruiser’s law firm which is around the industrial area of the town (p. 160), there are many rumours going around about Bruiser. Together with Prince Thomas, the boss of

Rudy’s part-time job, they have done many shady deals. Even they have bribed

politicians and police. Bruiser is the man behind every act of Prince and he is also ready to secure Prince in courtroom. Prince has never been afraid of guilty verdicts because Bruiser is a very effective lawyer in a courtroom who is supported by jurors in return of the significant amount of cash he gives (p. 111).

The fact that Bruiser is a best friend of Rudy’s boss gives Rudy no reason to talk with Bruiser. Aside from serving drinks for them, he has no further intention to go near Bruiser. The dreary reputation of his own boss is one thing that is though Prince has never treated him bad, speaking to Bruiser would be too much. Apart

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distance from Bruiser because what the rumours say about him is enough to tell. Contradictory to the idealism Rudy holds related to ethical guidelines, Bruiser clearly has crossed all those. It gives additional reasons for Rudy to not causing any problems to both Prince and Bruiser.

In spite of the many reasons mentioned above, the situation in which Rudy is finally compels him to speak to Bruiser. Rudy is wanted by police because he is the main suspect of arson and homicide in Lake firm (the firm of which Lancester pretends to give Rudy a job just to steal his case). Having his case stolen, losing his job suddenly, and added by the arson and homicide accusation happens only in one night, he has no power anymore (p. 150-157). However, not being able to stand powerless for any longer, Rudy asks for a help from Prince, who directly tells Bruiser every detailed thing. Bruiser directly takes care of everything related to the case. Remembering many triumphant legal cases won by Bruiser to defend Prince, Rudy oddly feels safe to be in the right hand to handle such kind of case (pp. 157-162).

Feeling safe is not the end of the story. Being offered a job at Bruiser’s law firm makes a highlight of the day. Rudy assumes that it is the last job available in the town. If he does not take the job as one last chance, he may end up not becoming a lawyer forever. Not becoming a lawyer means he also cannot actualize his ideal. Yet, working under Bruiser whose ethical guidelines is questionable becomes another thing to ponder about. If he is to actualize his ideal, can he really actualize it under Bruiser? It does not make sense to actualize his ideal ethic guidelines and

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help the weaklings if he becomes a successful lawyer through dishonourable ways (pp. 162-164).

I don't really want Bruiser Stone as my boss. But I can't insult the man either, not with the cops poking around, making not so vague references about the death penalty. I'm unable to muster the strength to tell Bruiser that he's sleazy enough to represent me, but too sleazy to employ me. Bruiser is watching me closely. He's offering me the only possible job left in the city of Memphis, and he seems to know I'm not anxious to take it (p. 163).

Thus, when Rudy decides to take Bruiser’s offer (p. 164), situational irony

takes place. On one side, he does not want to take it, given Bruiser as his superior. As if having Bruiser as superior is not enough, Rudy has never known how much he will be stepping on ethical lines as a lawyer. On another side, he has to take it as the best opportunity he has to start building his career. Putting the ethical points for granted, Rudy promises to give all his best he can to learn as much as possible before he is able to stand on his own. The event becomes situational irony as it falls out from worst scenario for Rudy into the best chance that he has gotten.

b) New Baton vs Finish Line on Donny Ray’s Death

As described in the story that Donny Ray, main client of Rudy, is diagnosed of having leukemia, the conflict occurs when the insurance company does not want to pay its insured money for him. After writing eight letters of plea addressed to the

company, Dot, Donny Ray’s mother, decides to sue them. She meets Rudy in

Cypress Garden when he is still a law student (pp. 18-27). Indeed, Dot hates the company for not giving what is supposed to be covered in the insurance. She feels outraged to be deceived and to lose his son forever. Although it takes a long time before she decides to sue Great Benefit – the insurance company, she vows to prove their misdeed to the world.

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As a mother, her situation is understandable, to fight for every account of

his son’s life. It does not matter anymore, in what ways she would take, as long as

she could accomplish it. The actions take more account for the goals to be actualised. Because writing letters does not make any good to Donny Ray, prosecuting Great Benefit becomes the last option she braces to take. Seeing him suffered without getting the treatment is already a torture for herself. It is supposed to be her that can provide the treatment. She has done what she is obliged. She pays eighteen dollars per week for five years as she purchases the insurance of Great Benefit to cover her family. Instead, all claims she proposes are denied. Further, she has to do everything before anything happens to him. Donny Ray’s life becomes the strength she has to strive. Aware of the situation, Rudy also does his best to save Donny Ray.

The hearing has started officially with the help of the judge. Even when Great Benefit tries to hinder the investigation process, the judge is more than capable of handling the situation. Both Rudy and Dot are nervous for their first case, but everything goes well. Great Benefit is actually wrong, and they also realise it that they offer sum of cash to settle the case. As the offer is conveyed to Dot, she grows more infuriated.

Her eyes are red and wet. I was wrong. This mother has not given up. She wants blood. "Just exactly what're we supposed to do with seventy-five thousand dollars? Donny Ray'll be dead, and it'll just be me and him." She points with her forehead in the direction of the Fairlane (p. 278).

The unfold of the next story is unexpected. Donny Ray has died, after his condition worsens days before. Dot, as if she already gets a feeling about it, does not cry much

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of him. In fact, she looks a bit tired of mourning on him when Rudy goes to meet her (pp. 392-395).

On the following days, Dot is still in grief that at one time, she is unable to handle the courtroom and its sessions. On the other hand, it would be too wasteful to give up in the middle of the hearing process. Since Rudy has found all wrongfulness and misdeed Great Benefit has committed towards Donny Ray, it needs only a short time for them to be punished. Fortunately, Dot is able to muster up all courage and rationality until the end of the legal process (pp. 467-512). Even when she has to choose between her feelings of despair and punishing the wrong ones. It is unexpected for her to keep going on with the process. It is more common to choose stopping the process as a mourn to the dead one.

Thus, the death of Donny Ray in the middle of hearing process is a situational irony. The death of Donny Ray which once is considered as the finish line of the law process actually turns out to be the new baton. The new baton still has to keep being passed onto the next runner in order to cross the finish line in a marathon race. Similarly, the death of Donny Ray is not the finish line where Rudy is supposed to stop the trial. It should be treated as a continuous struggle to prove that Great Benefit has actually done something wrong toward Donny Ray and his family. The death of Donny Ray occurs as situational irony since it carries two conflicting points; the new baton and the finish line as in a marathon race.

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c) Eternal Loss vs Justice on Rudy Winning the Blacks’ Case

D’ Amato (2011) argues that “justice is what law is for; justice is what lawyers should do; justice is what judges should render (p. 529)”. In common

people’s point of view, justice is the final goal of the hearing process. It is to say

the goal is to prove that someone is right based on the evidence and therefore punishing the wrong one according to the law. Dot decides to bring the case to a lawyer from a similar point of view. She takes the risk of her private life being exposed in order to gain the truth.

Knowing that he is the last hope of Dot, Rudy does a great work on Black’s case. He gets an essential evidence to convict Great Benefit. He consults professionals to determine the next steps to take in the courtroom. He learns more about the cases handled by Drummond, the lawyer of Great Benefit, to prepare the counterattack (pp. 367-389). Turning out that Dot is not the first person to convict Great Benefit, Rudy is also supported by people who are scammed by Great Benefit. The unexpected helps serve the expected results. Rudy is able to expose each and every blunder of Great Benefit in handling the claim of Dot (pp. 467-512). Added by his capability to get the twelve jurors on the table, Dot is awarded fifty million dollars as the punitive damages (p. 554). This amount of money is the biggest punitive award ever granted by jurors in Tennessee (p. 560).

They win the case gracefully. The initial goal of Dot bringing up the case has been fulfilled. She has proven to the world that she has been right to ask for treatment for his son. Dot proves that the guys and systems at Great Benefit are definitely to blame for denying every claim she requests. In Cleveland where Great

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APPENDIX I

BIOGRAPHY OF JOHN GRISHAM

A lawyer by profession and an author by fame, John Grisham is the brilliant American writer of numerous novels best known for his legal thrillers. He was born on February 8, 1955 in Jonesboro, Arkansas to parents who were never formally educated but encouraged their son to pursue an education and prepare himself for college. Grisham settled with his parents in Southaven where he spent his younger years.

A young Grisham could not have imagined of becoming a writer since he had not developed any interest in writing until after starting a professional career in law. John drifted through three different colleges before finally obtaining a degree. He attended the Mississippi State University in 1971 and received a BS degree in accounting and in 1981 graduated from the University Of Mississippi School Of Law to become a tax lawyer. However, he changed his mind and shifted interest in

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general civil litigation. Earning a Juris Doctor degree, John specialized in criminal law. He established a small legal practice of his own upon returning to Southaven. Grisham served Mississippi House of Representatives after being elected in 1983. He was later promoted to the position of Vice Chairman Apportionment and Elections Committee.

A case Grisham has been closely observing inspired him to start writing his first novel, A Time to Kill (1989). Rejected by 28 publishers, the book finally found an unknown publisher who agreed to publish a limited number of copies. Without the benefit of marketing by an established publisher, John was forced to directly request booksellers to stock his book. Despite a sale of only 5000 copies, Grisham quickly began work on a second novel, The Firm. He closed his office in Southaven, deciding not to seek a re-election in the legislature. John moved to Oxford, Mississippi with his family to give them more time and concentrate on his writing. The Firm (1991) secured the position of the bestselling novel of 1991 and maintained its place on The New York Times’ bestsellers list for 47 weeks.

Grisham continued to writer legal thrillers and produced brilliantly written works such as The Client (1993), The Chamber (1994), The Runaway Jury (1996), The Partner (1997), The Street Lawyer (1998), The Testament (1999), The Summons (2002), The Last Juror (2004), The Broker (2005), The Appeal (2008), The Associate (2009), The Confession (2010) and The Litigators (2011). 2001 onwards, Grisham broadened his scope of writing from law to other subjects, particularly his lifelong passion of baseball. A Painted House (2001) was his first

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non-legal book followed by Skipping Christmas (2001), Bleachers (2003) and Playing for Pizza (2007).

John Grisham was awarded the the Peggy V. Helmerich Distinguished Author Award by the Tulsa Library Trust in 2005. A John Grisham Room is maintained in The Mississippi State University Libraries, Manuscript Division where materials generated during the author’s tenure as Mississippi State Representative are archived. Grisham is a zealous supporter to new writers endowing scholarships and writers’ residencies in the University of Mississippi’s English Department and Graduate Creative Writing Program. He is also the founder of, Oxford American, a dedicated magazine for literary writing.

Today, John Grisham continues to write bestselling novels. He lives with his wife and two children in homes he has in Oxford, Mississippi and Charlottesville, Virginia.

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APPENDIX II

SUMMARY OF THE RAINMAKER

Rudy Baylor is about to graduate from Memphis State of Law School. He secures a position with Brodnax and Speer, which he loses when the firm is bought up by another larger firm, even before he could work there. As one of the few members of his class left without a job anywhere in Memphis, a desperate Rudy reluctantly allows Prince Thomas, the owner of a bar where he works part-time during his student period, to introduce him to Bruiser Stone –Prince’s bestfriend, a lawyer with questionable ethics but a successful ambulance chaser, who later becomes his boss. To earn his fee, Rudy is required to take shift at the local hospital looking for clients and sign them up to personal injury lawsuits, which is also well-known as ambulance chase. He is introduced by Bruiser to Deck Shifflet a partner with similar questionable ethics who has not passed the exam for license of lawyer yet after six times trying.

Rudy signs two clients he meets at a class for giving free law consultation of community service. One is his new elderly landlady, Miss Birdie who needs a revised will to leave her children nothing. The other is a humble family, Dot and Buddy Black, whose son, Donny Ray is scammed by Great Benefit Life Insurance. He is diagnosed to have leukemia and could have been saved if the company covered the procedure of a bone marrow transplant. The twin brother of Donny Ray is a perfect match for him to have the procedure, that money is the only thing hindering the procedure. Withal, the insurance company insists on denying the claim proposed by Blacks. Their insurance bad faith case could be worth several

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million dollars in damages because the evidences are accumulated for the good of Blacks. With Bruiser's firm about to be investigated by the FBI because of any illegal activities of Bruiser, Rudy and Deck set up their own practice and file suit on behalf of the Blacks.

Rudy, having just passed the bar exam, has never argued a case before a judge or jury in a trial but now finds himself up against experienced and ruthless lawyers from a large firm, headed by Leo F. Drummond. On his side, Rudy has a sympathetic newly appointed judge guiding him. While preparing the case and doing his shift in the local hospital, he meets and later falls in love with Kelly Riker, a young battered wife recovering from her latest injuries inflicted by her husband, Cliff.

Donny Ray dies just before the case is due to be heard in the trial. However, the evidentiary deposition of him has already taken before to be played before the jury in the trial. The case goes to trial and Rudy uncovers a scheme Great Benefit ran throughout 1991 to deny every insurance claim submitted, regardless of

validity. Getting help from unexpected people, Rudy gains jury’s sympathy. A

former employee of Great Benefit testifies that the scheme generated an extra $40 million in revenue for the company. A lawyer who once sued Great Benefit hands Rudy a profitable document hidden by the company. The trial ends with a plaintiff's winning the case of $50.2 million.

Rudy’s winning of the case leads to a series of lawsuits which forces Great

Benefit out of business. Great Benefit quickly declares itself bankrupt, thus allowing it to avoid paying the punitive damages. Ultimately, there is no payout for

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the grieving parents and no fee for Rudy, although Dot Black is never concerned about the settlement money. For her, helping to put the company out of business is an even greater victory in replacement of her losing her son.

During the Black trial, when Kelly is beaten again by Cliff, Rudy helps her to file for divorce. While he and Kelly retrieve items from her home, Cliff unexpectedly arrives, attacking Rudy with a baseball bat. Rudy unintentionally wrestles the bat away from Cliff and cracks his skull with it. Kelly, surprisingly calm, orders him to leave. Cliff dies from the injuries and Kelly allows herself to be charged with manslaughter to protect Rudy. Kelly spends a day in jail before Rudy is able to drop the charges but Cliff's vengeful family have made several death threats against them both. Rudy and Kelly leave the state, heading for someplace where Rudy - who has become disillusioned with the law – decides to not be associated with courtroom and then become a teacher, and Kelly can attend college. Adapted from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rainmaker_(novel)

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