THE REVELATION OF AUTHORIAL IDEOLOGY THROUGH THE CLASS STRUCTURE AND CLASS CONFLICT REPRESENTED IN KEVIN KWAN’S CRAZY RICH ASIANS.

A THESIS

Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements of the Attainment of a Sarjana Sastra Degree in English Language and Literature

by

GALANT NANTA ADHITYA 10211141010

ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE STUDY PROGRAM ENGLISH EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

FACULTY OF LANGUAGES AND ARTS YOGYAKARTA STATE UNIVERSITY

iv Nama : Galant Nanta Adhitya NIM : 10211141010

Program Studi : Bahasa dan Sastra Inggris

Fakultas : Bahasa dan Seni Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta

Judul Skrpsi : THE REVELATION OF AUTHORIAL IDEOLOGY THROUGH THE CLASS STRUCTURE AND CLASS CONFLICT REPRESENTED IN KEVIN KWAN’S CRAZY RICH ASIANS

Menyatakan bahwa skripsi ini adalah hasil karya sendiri dan sepanjang pengetahuan saya tidak berisi materi yang ditulis oleh orang lain sebagai persyaratan penyelesaian studi di UNY atau perguruan tinggi lain kecuali pada bagian-bagian tertentu yang saya ambil sebagai acuan dengan mengikuti tata cara etika penulisan karya ilmiah yang lazim.

Apabila terbukti pernyataan ini tidak benar, hal ini sepenuhnya menjadi tanggung jawab saya.

Yogyakarta, 7 Desember 2015 Penulis,

v

vi

vii

1. My encouragingly resourceful advisors, Drs. Sugi Iswalono, M.A. and Nandy Intan Kurnia, S.S., M.Hum.

2. My untiringly outstanding lecturers in English Language and Literature Program. 3. My hearteningly inspiring mentor Laurence Joseph Splitter, BA(Hons Monash).,

BPhil DPhil(Oxon).

4. My awesome classmates, Nurul Istikomah, Juani Vinafari, Fifin Solicha, Siska Adonia, Lupita Mayangsari, Tria Arista, Diah Kurnia, Dita Pravita, etc.

5. My childhood best friends, Ventura, Ira Rachma and Putri Lestari.

6. My amazing best friends, Rasmadanti Drajat, Gity Mandini, Azizah Suli, Richa Clara, Raihan Bani, and Dian Astuti.

7. My wonderful neighbors, Thomas Aquino, Krissa Paramastri, Muhammad Riyanda, Amandus Bangkit and Rachmanda Putra.

Yogyakarta, 7 December 2015

viii

RATIFICATION SHEET ... iii

PERNYATAAN ... iv

DEDICATIONS ... v

MOTTO ... vi

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ... vii

TABLE OF CONTENTS ... viii

LIST OF FIGURE ... xi

LIST OF TABLES ... xii

LIST OF APPENDICES ... xiii

ABSTRACT ... xiv

CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION ... 1

A. Research Background ... 1

B. Research Focus ... 5

C. Research Formulations ... 7

D. Research Objectives ... 7

E. Research Significance ... 7

CHAPTER II LITERATURE REVIEW ... 9

A. Theoretical Review ... 9

1. Karl Marx and Marxism ... 9

a. Base and Superstructure ... 12

b. Marxist Definition of Ideology ... 13

2. Marxist Literary Theory ... 15

a. Terry Eagleton’s Marxist Literary Theory ... 17

ix

C. Previous Researches ... 30

D. Conceptual Framework ... 32

CHAPTER III RESEARCH METHOD ... 34

A. Research Design ... 34

B. Data and Source of Data ... 35

C. Research Instruments ... 36

D. Data Collecting Technique ... 36

E. Data Trustworthiness ... 37

F. Data Analysis Technique ... 38

CHAPTER IV RESEARCH FINDINGS AND DISCUSSIONS ... 40

A. The Class Structure and Class Conflict reflected in Kevin Kwan’s Crazy Rich Asians ... 40

1. The Youngs vs. The Chus ... 43

2. The Leongs vs. The Teos ... 57

B. Discussions on Kwan’s Authorial Ideology ... 70

CHAPTER V CONCLUSIONS ... 74

References ... 76

xi

xii

Appendix II : The Data ... 85 Appendix III : Surat Pernyataan...113

xiii

Galant Nanta Adhitya 10211141010

ABSTRACT

This research aims to investigate the authorial ideology revealed in Kevin Kwan’s Crazy Rich Asians through the class structure and class conflict reflected in the novel. To achieve the answers of the research objectives, the researcher employed

Terry Eagleton’s Marxist literary theory on Authorial Ideology (AuI).

This research applied descriptive qualitative method using content analysis technique. The main source of this research is a novel entitled Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan, published in 2013 by Allen & Unwin. The data were some expressions used to convey the class structure and class conflict reflected in the novel in order to reveal the authorial ideology. The researcher acted as the primary instrument, whilst the data sheets functioned as the secondary instrument. The data were analyzed through six steps: identifying and organizing the data, reading and re-reading the data, categorizing the data, sorting the data into category based on the analytical construct, interrelating the data with the theory to get the findings, and interpreting the meaning of the findings. The data trustworthiness was obtained by conducting triangulation with intra-rater method and peer debriefing technique.

After a careful analysis, the researcher is able to answer the research objectives. The findings are related to the class structure and class conflict reflected in the novel. There are two class structures, consisted of (1) the Youngs and Chus, and (2) the Leongs and Teos, in which the Youngs and Leongs represented the bourgeoisie, whereas the Chus and Teos act as the proletariats. The class conflicts involving each of the class structures are intra-class conflicts from the side of the bourgeoisie. Both class conflicts are triggered by differences on ideological perspective. The outcome of these conflicts shows the socioeconomic improvement of the proletariat characters. It can be concluded that Kwan exalts the bourgeoisie, which indicates his Authorial Ideology (AuI) of capitalism.

Keywords: Marxist literary theory, class structure, class conflict, authorial ideology, Crazy Rich Asians

1

In the eighteenth century, English bourgeoisie used literary works to introduce and to enforce the values of capitalism to the proletariats. It can be seen from the themes that were affected by social pressures, and the characters that were portrayed in pursuit of individual interests, i.e. money and power (Watt in Eagleton, 1976b: 12). In that case, literature disguises the capitalist ideology in the most natural ways. The ideology that is delivered through literary works not only to govern people’s opinion and judgment, but also to function as a tool in strengthening the system of society which has been led to believe.

Hence, the term ‘ideology’ has become an important vocabulary to understand in the field of social science. As a starting point, it can be said that ideology is a series of beliefs or values that form the perspective of seeing the world that a particular group of people hold true at a period of time (Hornby, 1995: 589). Ideology is not only ideas or mental products in the brains of intellectuals, but also practical activities in everyday life. It frames people’_s standpoint, guides their thinking and regulates their actions. Therefore, the chance of ideology to make rules of conducts and moral behaviour is open.

Ideology is the central instrument in Marxism. Marxism itself is a theory in which the condition of a society is constructed by the political and socioeconomic power (Bottomore, 1991: 347). The society is divided into what has been labeled as the ‘base’ and the ‘superstructure’ (Marx, 1859: vi). The base refers to the

economic infrastructure where the relations between the bourgeoisie who possess the means of production and the proletariats who possess the labor-power rely. From these relations arise the superstructure that contains certain customs of social consciousness or ideology.

Ideology contributes to the legitimation of a given social order in ways that conceal the benefits to the interests of the bourgeoisie (Eagleton, 1976b: 3). The bourgeoisie take advantages of the system of laws, religions, politics and arts to bring their ideology to society. Therefore, those institutions have the ability to control and to exploit people by altering their consciousness. They can also counter other ideologies exist in another society. Meanwhile, the proletariats also have their own ideology. They feel oppressed so that they need to free themselves, or at least share their feelings about it (Eagleton, 1976b: v).

One work of arts, as well as a branch of knowledge, that portrays the phenomena happening in society is literature. It reproduces human life and experience. In addition, it signifies the feeling of living in a specific situation at certain period of time (Althusser in Eagleton, 1976b: 9). Therefore, literature can be seen as a valuable and powerful device to spread ideas to society because it has an ideological dimension (Selden and Widdowson, 1993: 71). It represents ideologies through imaginary worlds with social, cultural, historical, political and economic references.

The ideology in literary works is associated with the authors’  intention. Several authors exclaim that they just pitch a yarn, and then it will evolve by itself. Yet, that is a total hogwash. As stated by Eagleton (1976b: 4), there are

some works that are written from particular ideological perspectives. The ideology that authors manifest in their works is called authorial ideology (Eagleton, 1976a: 54). The authorial ideology is related with the authors’ situations of the time and place in which literary works are written.

In relation to the authors’ _{ideology, every published literary work has two} main effects on its readers. The readers are either curious or furious about its authorial ideology. They are furious if the authors blatantly reinforce their ideology in their works. On the other hand, the readers are curious if the authorial ideology is discreetly depicted. For instances, J. K. Rowling manifests her progressive, liberal ideology in the Harry Potter series by showing characters with sympathetic behaviors (Samson, 2010: 25). As in Animal Farm, George Orwell, who is a socialist, attempts to attack totalitarianism by using animal characters as symbols of social castes in Russia (Bachler, 2003: par.4-15).

In both novels, the characters, settings and storyline are presented in a particular way to manifest the authorial ideology. The authors use the characters, tell the story and describe the setting to deliver their opinions about what is happening in the world around them. The characters are placed in society that structurally divides them into two opposing classes, and set their interactions to become class conflicts. This way, the authors are able to shape the outcome of their work and influence the readers in a given society. Another author who intends to achieve the same purpose is Kevin Kwan with Crazy Rich Asians.

Although Crazy Rich Asian is Kwan’_{s debut fiction, the novel has become a} worldwide bestseller and earned him the second spot of the 2013 Power List (Lui,

2013: par.25). The novel is a funny, escapist trifle about three intermarried, superrich Singaporean Chinese families of the Youngs, Leongs and Chengs with their intrigues and extravagant lives. The descriptions of fame, fortune, fashion, and fusion surround their lives take big portions of the novel. Hundreds of pages are filled with endless spectacle of prosperity, describing houses, clothes, jewelries, arts and events. Almost no character appears without an exclamation of the brand names they possess.

Among this profligate society, there are two characters that do not come from similar background: Rachel Chu and Michael Teo. Rachel is Nick’s girlfriend and Michael is Astrid’s husband, both are the scions of the Youngs and Leongs, respectively. The story follows Nicholas Young taking Rachel Chu to Singapore to attend Colin Khoo and Araminta Lee’_{s wedding. Rachel finds herself in the} middle of Singaporean elites like Nick’_{s mother Eleanor Young and grandmother} Shang Su Yi. At the same time, Astrid is being suspicious of Michael cheating behind her back. In fact, Michael feels rather intimidated by his wife’s wealth that it affects their marriage.

Furthermore, Kwan uses realist forms of literature to draw the characters, setting and plot of the novel. He crafts this debut with social, cultural, historical, political and economic details. The Chinese characters in the novel are treated as individuals to resemble the socioeconomic relation in Singaporean society. Hence, either the interactions in the class structure of Singaporean society are made alive vividly. Additionally, the realist writing allows the class conflict that might take place between two socioeconomic classes to be observed. As such, by publishing

the novel, he takes advantages of literature to spread the truths about the Singaporean Chinese as well as their lives and society based on his own experience who were born and bred in Singapore.

In addition, the fact that Kwan himself is a product of an established Singaporean family suggests that the novel is an insider look on the vastly profligate lives of the Chinese that most people can only catch a glimpse of. Most importantly, the novel is worth analyzing because it elegantly conceals his authorial ideology. A problem arises because not all the readers aware of any significance to the authorial  ideology. Therefore, such voyeuristic qualities in novels, like Crazy Rich Asians, do not mean that they can be taken merely for amusement.

B. Research Focus

In this research, the researcher analyzes ideology embedded in literary works. The analysis points out the ideology that the author intends throughout the work. This case is found in Kwan’_{s Crazy Rich Asians by telling a story about the filthy} wealthy Singaporean Chinese complete with their over-the-top lifestyles in a fascinating society from his point of view as a Chinese. He draws the novel with deep exploration on society, culture, history, politics and economy. The storyline depicts especially Nick and Rachel’_{s relationship as well as Astrid and Michael}’_s marriage.

In analyzing the data, the researcher employs Marxist literary theory because it examines not only the explicit values but also the implicit assumptions on

culture, race, class, and power. For Marxist theorists, a literary work is the expression of an ideology that naturally does not appear on the surface, but can be felt within its gaps, absences and silences (Macherey, 1978: 87). They pay close attention to literary forms, styles and symbols, and grasp them as the representations of a particular ideology. To emphasize Kwan’s ideology concealed in the novel, the researcher specifically uses Terry Eagleton’s concept in Criticism and Ideology: a Study in Marxist Literary Theory, in which he develops “Categories for a Materialist Criticism” (1976a: 44). These categories are General Mode of Production (GMP), General Ideology (GI), Literary Mode of Production (LMP), Authorial Ideology (AuI), Aesthetic Ideology (AI) and, taken as the object, Text.

However, the researcher only discusses the constituent of authorial ideology (AuI) in analyzing the data because the main focus of the research is the author’_s ideology. Eagleton (1976a: 58) suggests that authorial ideology is the outcome of the method to implant the author’s personal accounts. Accordingly, the knowledge of Kwan’s background is essential to the research. The information about the way he was raised and which schools he attended is valuable during the analysis process. The more information the researcher gets, the more the researcher understands his way of thinking.

Furthermore, the researcher relates the intrinsic element of the novel to the extrinsic elements from which the novel develops. The characters, setting and plot are analyzed based on the theory as well as the social and the author’_{s personal} background. This analysis is expected to generate the class structure in

Singaporean society and the class conflict between the two socioeconomic classes. The researcher analyzes main characters, i.e. Nicholas Young, Rachel Chu, Astrid Leong, Michael Teo, and supporting characters, i.e., Eleanor Young, Shang Su Yi, Colin Khoo, Francesca Shaw, Harry Leong and Charlie Wu, because they are intertwined with the plot and clearly positioned in the social setting. Other characters are omitted due to their lack of involvement in the class conflict that happens. Nevertheless, they might be mentioned alongside those characters being analyzed.

C. Research Formulations

According to the research focus above, the problem of this research is formulated into: How does the class structure and the class conflict represented in Kwan’s Crazy Rich Asians reveal Kwan’_{s authorial ideology?}

D. Research Objectives

According to the research formulation above, the objective of this research is to determine the class structure and to scrutinize the class conflict represented in Kwan’s Crazy Rich Asians, in order to reveal Kwan’_{s authorial ideology.}

E. Research Significance

The research hopefully brings contributions to the study of literature. The findings of this research are expected to be beneficial to the following parties:

1. Academically

a. This research reveals some important points on class structure and class conflict in the effort of revealing the authorial _{ideology. Thus, the finding} generated from this research will give supportive information to students of literature, primary to those who employ Marxist literary theory on their researches.

b. The finding will be a stepping-stone for other researchers on the relationship between literature and the author, primary to those who analyze the authorial _{ideology to conduct further research.}

2. Practically

This research will be an enlightenment to literary connoisseurs. It is also as one indication that authors’ ideal visions toward the world around them are embedded in their literary works. Behind a beautifully written story, there are the conscious intentions of the authors hidden. Henceforth, the readers will not take for granted every word feed to them.

9

aim of this research is to reveal the authorial ideology by analyzing class structure and class conflicts represented in the novel. In acquiring the answers, the

researcher employs Marxist literary theory discussed in Eagleton’s Criticism and

Ideology: a Study in Marxist Literary Theory (1976). The researcher also uses

background information of the novel and its author to help during the analysis process.

This chapter is divided into five sub-chapters. The first sub-chapter is the theoretical review of Marxist literary theory, which focuses on Eagleton’s Authorial Ideology. The second sub-chapter is the social backgrounds and

information, which consists of Kwan’s Crazy Rich Asians, his biography, the

social background of the Singaporean Chinese, Mainland Chinese and American Chinese. The third sub-chapter is the review of previous research findings. The fourth sub-chapter is the conceptual framework, which shows the mind-map of how this research is conducted.

A. Theoretical Review 1. Karl Marx and Marxism

Karl Heinrich Marx, a German philosopher and revolutionary socialist, was born in Prussia on May 5, 1818. After receiving his Ph.D. from the University of Berlin in 1836, Marx became a journalist at a liberal newspaper, which was

suppressed by the government. One-year later, Marx was exiled from Germany due to radical activities in 1849 and moved to Paris, where he met his collaborator, Friedrich Engels. Few months later, Marx was expelled form France,

and he fled to Belgium before he spent the rest of his life in London.In works like

The German Ideology and The Communist Manifesto written with Engels, Marx

originated the philosophy that now refers to as Marxism.

Marx develops Marxism as a criticism towards the Industrial Revolution, which is the transition from hand-production methods to new

manufacturing-machine processes occurred in the period from the 18th to the 19th century. Starting

in England and Western European countries, the impact of this change was enormous that it increased the average income and improved the living standard. However, numbers of employment were decreased, resulting majority of the people lost their jobs. Marx believes that the Industrial Revolution leads into the rise of capitalism.

Bottomore (1991: 71-74) defines the word ‘capital’ as wealth, assets or investments possessed by individuals. Meanwhile, the suffix ‘-ism’ means a system of principles. Therefore, a capitalist society is characterized by the economic-based value in which the means of production are controlled by private ownerships. The determination for personal affluence causes competitions amongst capital owners. Free competitions will simultaneously lead to rapid growths of technology and the needs of those in society. Thus, the basic idea of

capitalism is materialism, which means that the socioeconomic conditions affect

According to Marx (1845: 80), people are classified into class structure, which consist of two economically defined classes: bourgeoisie and proletariats. Bourgeois class refers to those who own the capitals. Meanwhile, the workers who own only their labor belong to proletariat class. Tyson (2006: 54) states further that socioeconomic differences put an even bigger gap in class structure than religious, racial or ethnical dissimilarities. It is worth knowing the term ‘socioeconomic’ is used to signify the class that is in possession of the economic power holds higher social position as well,

In a capitalist society, the bourgeoisie exploits the proletariats for their

advantages. This condition is called class conflict, which refers to the problems

due to the impact and role of economy. Explained by Isaac et al. (2008: 2-3), there

are two types of class conflict. The first is interclass conflict, in which the clashes involve two different socioeconomic classes, i.e. the bourgeoisie and proletariats. The second is intra-class conflict, which suggests to the tension inside one particular class, i.e. different opinions among fractions of the proletariats. Inevitably, the proletariats will develop class-consciousness, and then struggle to free themselves from the oppressions and interferences of the bourgeoisie (Tyson, 2006: 54).

In addition, these social and political interactions between individuals from

different socioeconomic classes can be examined through Marxism. Eagleton

(1976b: v) defines Marxism as a theoretical analysis of people’s lives and their societies. Its sole purposes is to explain how the society goes through a certain process of change. Therefore, the fields of a Marxist analysis are the historical

changes and material alterations that take place in the society (Selden and Widdowson, 1993: 99). Marxism is also a theory of revolution because it scrutinizes the social conditions in order to transform them. It is stated by Hallas (2011: par.10-11) that:

Marxism is about freedom ... and it is about how these circumstances can be changed and how working men and women can create a truly free society in which all contribute according to their ability and receive according to their needs-a society free from exploitation, free from oppression, free from racism, from unemployment, from war, from poverty and inequality.

Marxism favors the development towards a classless society without discrimination or domination. Equal roles and positions in social relation of production are the goal of Marxism.

a. Base and Superstructure

The social relation of production in a society is composed of the structure namely base and superstructure (Marx, 1859: vi). In addition, Eagleton (1976b: 3)

elaborates further the building-like metaphor stating that the base or infrastructure

is the economic structure of society, which arises from the relation between the means of production owned by the bourgeoisie and the productive forces of the proletariats. Within this economic structure, a form of state is built which functions to maintain the power structure in the society. The state constructs

definite forms of social consciousness widely known as superstructure. These

forms are manifested within all aspects of society, stretching from the state to the structure of social system.

The relation between the base and the superstructure in the power structure

of a society is not strictly causal. Just as the base strongly determines the

superstructure, the superstructure also heavily influences the base (Williams,

1977: 75). The base includes the mode of production, employer-employee work

relations, technical labor conditions and property relations. The superstructure of

the society consists of cultural products, i.e. politics, laws, religions, ethics and arts that, intentionally or not, carry with them a set of beliefs called ideology (Eagleton, 1976b: 3).

b. Marxist Definition of Ideology

The term ideology is the main constituent in all Marxist thoughts and analysis. The conventional reference of ideology brings to mind words that end in “-isms”, like feudalism, communism, fascism, liberalism and socialism. Nonetheless, ideology is one concept in social science that is difficult to be understood. It can be approached from various angels with diverse senses of meaning and function (Larrain, 1979: 1). Moreover, ideology is also employed broadly in day-to-day routine activities with infinite definitions and connotation (Gramsci, 1971: 328).

Furthermore, in Ideology: An Introduction, ideology is defined as a set of

ideas, beliefs and valuespeople in a particular society adopt at a specific period of

time (Eagleton, 1991: 28). Ideology has a quality to provide orientations for actions in which the ways individuals behave and interact in society are governed by the rules of conducts that the ideology regards to be normative and valuable. In

broader sense, it ties people to their own social class, so they give contributions to society.

By representing the relation of the social class, ideology has important parts in blurring the real conditions and interactions between the bourgeoisie and the proletariats (Larrain: 1979: 47). It gives the proletariats distorted perception of their society and its situations. The frames of seeing the world that ideology provides are limited in order to prevent the proletariats from a true knowledge of how society works as a unity. It helps the bourgeoisie to ensure that the proletariats feel like they share mutual beliefs and values under one roof of the same ideology (Eagleton, 1991: 30).

In this sense, ideology acts as a false consciousness (Engels, 1893: 4). It designates to the situation where the ideology set by the bourgeoisie as a tool to legitimate their own interests and achieve their ultimate goals. Moreover, to maintain their domination over the proletariats, the bourgeoisie covertly manifest their ideology to society in the forms of superstructure, such politics, laws, ethics and religions. For instance is the use of religions as a medium of ideologies. The religious figures give dogmas told as creations of divine reasons, and for those who embrace, they are unquestioned guides to God alone (Selden and

Widdowson, 1993: 71).

On the other hand, such systems are lack the foundations of justice and equality, and the proletariats are aware of this condition. Therefore, the proletariats also create their own ideology. Because of the dominance of the bourgeoisie in the social system, the proletariats can only voice their ideology in

the medium of arts. They share their feelings and opinions about the oppression that they have received like the exploitation of their labor and low salary through music, movie and literature.

2. Marxist Literary Theory

Literature, in its broadest sense, refers to all kinds of printed, written language device vary from scientific to technical works. However, it is commonly used for creative and imaginative works, such as prose, poetry and plays. In

Literary Theory: An Introduction, Eagleton (1983: 11-13) asserts that literature is

unstable, not due to subjective value-judgments, but because there is a linkage between the values that underlies the judgments and ideology. Thus, literature has an ideological dimension, which is even stronger than politics, laws and religions, that it can shape people’s consciousness (Selden and Widdowson, 1993: 71). It is because literature has the ability to bring a complex series of ideas and explains them to people who otherwise might not be able to understand them.

Furthermore, people in possession of power, whose intention is to influence others, use literature to spread the principles of their ideology. Conquest (2000:

101-111) gives Communist propaganda as an obvious example. In the 20th

century, the Soviet Union applied an extremely strict censorship toward the literary works. They built Glavlit, a censorship department, to ensure that every published work was in accordance with the desired ideology. Authors were repressed to produce only novels that glorified the government. In this case, literature serves the interests of the ruling class by disguising the reality.

On the other hand, as stated by Lukács (1963: 18), literature must reflect authors’ view of the world. He sees literature as the expressions of the authors’ feelings so that it is produced based on the situations at their times. They reproduce the social, cultural, historical, political and economic materials because they have their own intentions. Through their literary works, the authors show their observation of the world around them, and their intentions are driven by their ideologies. However, the way the authors draw their ideologies in the intrinsic elements of literature – like theme, tone, characters, characterizations, setting, plot and point of view – can either support or challenge the dominant ideology. Therefore, their works need to be analyzed scientifically. One of which is by employing Marxism.

Marxism is not merely a theory of political economy, but can be extended for

an analysis of literary works, called Marxist literary theory. The theory views

literature as the products of social forces. Eagleton (1976b: v) in Marxist and

Literary Criticism states that literature can be properly analyzed within the

framework of historical materials. To understand the historical materials, Marxist literary analysts pay close attention to the economic conditions in which literary works are produced. The superstructure of a society rests upon its economic base, and the relation of both constructs the literature of that age (Newton, 1997: 158). The economic developments, historical changes and social conflicts in society are

apparent in literature (Selden & Widdowson, 1993: 99). Basic purpose of the

theory is to understand the nature and the working of all societies and human positions within them as represented in literary works.

Most importantly, Eagleton (1976b: v) affirms that Marxist literary theory is a theoretical analysis with ideology as its central instrument. Literature has a specific ideological dimension because it can bring a complex series of ideas and explains them to people who otherwise might not be able to understand them (Fischer, 1969: 272). Marxist literary analysts have to disclose the truths of ideology that literature emphasizes within the representation of social, cultural, historical, and political and economic materials. Since the existence of ideology in literature is not apparent, literary forms, styles and symbols need to be interpreted in order to reveal it (Althusser, 1971: 74).

Furthermore, in Marxist literary analysis, the authors’ social background and condition are noteworthy. It is significant to understand their intentions of writing certain works. The ways the authors construct the literary elements in their works are influenced by their own ideological intentions. Their intentions are poured into both the intrinsic and extrinsic elements, such as the types of characters that will be developed, the storyline that will be drawn as well as the social and moral impacts expected from the works. One Marxist literary theorist who develops the relation between literature and the authors’ ideological intention is Terry Eagleton.

a. Terry Eagleton’s Marxist Literary Theory

Eagleton is an important figure in literary studies because he has made remarkable contributions in enriching Marxist literary theory from the 1970s to the latter half of first decade of the 2000s. He is the one who makes a distinction

to distance Marxist literary theory from sociology of literature. He (1976b: 2) states that:

Marxist criticism is not merely a ‘sociology of literature,' concerned with how novels get published and whether they mention the working class. Its aim is to explain the literary work more fully; and this means a sensitive attention to its forms, styles, and meanings. But it also means grasping those forms, styles, and meanings as the products of a particular history.

Unlike sociologists of literature who examine only the intrinsic and extrinsic elements of literature, Marxist literary theorists also scrutinize the ways and the reasons those literary elements written in literary works. This way, that the forms, styles and meanings of the elements are contextualized as social, cultural, historical, political and economic materials. Moreover, both explicit values and implicit assumptions on those materials are important for the analysis of Marxist literary theory.

Marxist literary analysts shall not concern in showing all explicit parts of the work together, or in harmonizing and smoothing over any apparent contradictions. They have to show literary works as they cannot know themselves (Eagleton, 1976a: 43). Similar to psychoanalysts, the task of Marxist literary analysts is to reach unconsciousness in the works; what is unspoken and inevitably repressed. To do so, the ideology embedded in the works has to be exposed. Taking account on Macherey’s work, Eagleton (1976b: 16) acclaims the importance to reveal the implicit gasps, absences and silences in order to articulate the ideology. Otherwise, it will not be a complete Marxist literary analysis.

To be more detailed, Eagleton deepens William’s theory of materialist aesthetics by elaborating the complex layering of ideology. To reveal the

embedded ideology in literary works, Eagleton (1976a: 44) in Criticism and

Ideology: a Study in Marxist Literary Theory develops a schematic form namely

“Categories for a Materialist Criticism” consisted of:

1) General Mode of Production (GMP) refers to the social formation where the

historical construction and social relation of material production unite together (Eagleton, 1976a: 45). A social formation can be composed by more than one GPMs. One of these GMPs is more dominant than the others. In this sense, that GMP is used by Eagleton to denote the dominant mode of production.

2) Literary Mode of Production (LMP) is a substructure of GMP conceived as

the social formation where the historical construction and social relation of literary production unite together (Eagleton, 1976a: 45). There are several distinctive LMPs in a society, which one of them is more dominant than the rests. An LMP consists of the process of production, distribution, exchange and consumption (Eagleton, 1976a: 47). The forces of the LMP are constructed by the linkage of the authors, editors and publishers to the materials and instruments of the LMP. Thus, the relation between a literary work and its LMP is both extrinsically and intrinsically.

3) General Ideology (GI) is the most powerful ideological formation formed by

an interrelated set of values and beliefs that is manifested in material existence and correlated with the construction of material production (Eagleton, 1976a: 54). The empirical relations of humans and their social situations are reflected by GI to disguise how society really works; the misinterpretations of the

reality influence the social relations. A GI, which is determined by the LMP, has components of linguistic or language, politics and cultures.

4) Authorial Ideology (AuI) is the result of the way authors’ attempt to attach

their biography into their literary works (Eagleton, 1976a: 58). An AuI is affected by the authors’ background, such as origin, gender, social class, spirituality and education. The establishment process of the AuI is not to be separated from the GI because the establishment process of both is reproductive and contradictive (Eagleton, 1976a: 59). Thus, it is possible for an AuI to be or not to be in line with the dominant ideology in the material existences, which the authors surround themselves with. In addition, the AuI is not to be confused with the ideology of literary works as the latter refers to the result of the GI processed using an aesthetic technique.

5) Aesthetics Ideology (AI) is an internal complex structure of the function,

meaning and value of the aesthetic in a social construction (Eagleton, 1976a: 60). It is a specific area of GI, aside from other areas, such as ethics and religions.

6) Text, in this sense, refers to literary texts. It is a series of certain events and

experiences that is served in written forms (Eagleton, 1976a: 63).

Since the text is a production of ideology, thus treated as the object of the theory. Only the other five constituents are considered the major layers of ideology in Eagleton’s method. He also provides examples to explain these constituents and discuss the relations between them. However, due to the focus of this research, not all of the constituents will be described. The researcher only

elaborates the Authorial Ideology (AuI), in order to find the author’s ideology concealed in the novel being analyzed.

b. Authorial Ideology (AuI)

The major strength of Eagleton’s approach is his insistence on the relation of literary works and the authors’ ideologies. Influenced by Althusser’s work, he (1976a: 60) insists that it is important to center the analysis of the literary works on the individual subjects who produce them. In reverse, the personal accounts of those individual subjects are liquidated into literary works. Authors are not the creators of material existence, such as society, culture, history, politics and economy (Eagleton, 1976b: 32). For him, they are the producers of literary works that are ultimately determined by those given material existences. Each of them has their own unique techniques in transforming the given materials into the literary works. The authors have the luxury to transform those materials based on their views of the world, or ideologies.

Eagleton (1976a: 58) names the ideology that is in accordance with the authors’ biography, background and over-intended standpoint as ‘Authorial Ideology’ (AuI). It is influenced by the authors’ social position, gender, race, origin, citizenship and religion as well as their specific intentions in writing particular literary works. This ideology is the authors’ intentions that have arisen even before the creative and imaginative writing process begins (Emenyonu, 2004 384). However, great authors do not simply evoke the ideology they intend in a descriptive language. Supposedly, an AuI does not appear on the surface, but is

does not mean that it is undiscoverable. Its invisibility exerts it greater influences upon a society and the people live in it.

Hence, it is fundamental to relate the intrinsic element of a literary work to the extrinsic elements from which its author originates. Stated by Kurniawan (2012: 49), characters, settings and plot need to be analyzed in order to achieve a wholesome Marxist analysis. The characters are classified as collective individuals in context of class structure divided into socioeconomic classes. The class structure is then analyzed in motion with its relations to the situation within the social, cultural, historical, political and economic settings portrayed in the work. From these relations, the interactions among the characters can be observed to seek their destiny, which at some points will rouse class conflict. As the storyline rolls, one of the given socioeconomic classes succeeds to struggle, thus the outcome of that conflict indicates social standing of the author.

Accordingly, the AuI is implied by the socioeconomic class made won in the conflict (Kurniawan, 2012: 51). However, Marxist analysts need to take a closer look to how the representatives of that class strive from struggles before jumping into any conclusion. At some cases, the authors put a twist on the ending, which might seem to go into one way, but actually lead to another direction. It is aimed to make the ideology they reinforce appear even more natural. In addition, the authors’ way of thinking is necessary to be acknowledged in order to discover the AuI. Their biography and background, like how their childhood was, how they were brought up, how the writing process of the literary works was and how the authors’ social lives are, can ease the analysis (Eagleton, 1976a: 59).

B. Crazy Rich Asians

In Western societies, literary works about Chinese people usually raise the theme of their dynasty or their struggling experiences as immigrants living overseas. Nevertheless in July 2013, Kevin Kwan publishes an entirely different

kind of story about the Chinese entitled Crazy Rich Asians. The novel revolves

around three old-moneyed clans of Singaporean Chinese. The Young, Leong and Cheng families are filthy-wealthy, thereby regarded as Singaporean aristocrats. The novel deliciously rouses on the excesses of their everyday lives, as well as their jealousies, feuds, schemes and sabotages.

The storyline follows the youths in the families, Nicholas Young and Astrid Leong. Nick invites his girlfriend, Rachel Chu, to spend a summer holiday in Singapore since he is going to be the best-man at his best-friend’s wedding. Rachel, who originated from a modest background in Mainland China, is an American Chinese professor who teaches in New York University. She has no idea of how ‘hot’ this summer will be because it turns out that Nick comes from one of the wealthiest families in Asia. Her naiveté brings the readers into the excessive world that used to only exist on fantasy.

Before they even land at the Changi airport, gossips and rumors about Rachel have already spread. The biased assumptions shape a bad pre-judgment for Eleanor Young, Nick’s calculating mother, and Shang Su Yi, Nick’s influential grandmother. They usually are not close, but to break Nick and Rachel’s relationship they conspire together. It is because as the heir apparent to the Young’s great fortune, Nick is expected to marry a woman from the same strata.

There are also other competitive attempts both from the girls and their mothers who want their daughters to be the next Mrs. Young.

At the same time, his cousin Astrid is having suspicions about her husband Michael Teo having an affair with another woman. Michael is a tech-specialist who comes from a less fortunate background, which makes him feel rather intimidated by his wife’s family. Moreover, the entire Leong family treats him not as their equal. Astrid’s father, Harry, considers Michael as a security guard to escort and protect his daughter, plus her brothers and their wives regard him as a repair guy to solve their technical problems. These mistreatments provoke the reaction of insecurity in Michael, to the extent that it tears their marriage apart.

Additionally, the novel gains worldwide success because it instantly becomes a bestseller in many countries since its first release in June 2013 with 75,000 first prints (Lui, 2013: par.25). Praises come from influential magazines, like Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar and Vanity Fair. Celebrities like Oprah Winfrey, Anna Wintour and Bryan Boy declare the novel as the ‘must-read’. The novel has been reprinted several times, and in May 2014 the book is exclusively revealed in paperback

version. The fact that its international publisher, Doubleday, decides to run Crazy

Rich Asians and pulls big promotions for it proves that Kwan succeeds to change

media attitudes towards the Chinese.

1. A Brief Biography of Kevin Kwan

Kevin Kwan himself is a member of an established Singaporean Chinese

his childhood there with big extended family members, including a bunch of cousins (Ayudya, 2013: par.2). His grandfather was a renowned doctor who had an arranged marriage to his grandmother. Like other boys from rich families, he went to the spoiled Anglo Chinese School. When he was 12 years old, his family moved to Houston, Texas, the United States. Moving to suburbia was quite shocking for him who used to be a big city boy because Singapore in mid 1980s was far more modern and sophisticated than Houston (Wong, 2013: par.16).

At the age of 16, he graduated from Clear Lake High School. Afterwards, he applied to the University of Houston-Clear Lake majoring in media studies and creative writing. Turning 21 years old, he attended Parsons School of Design in New York for a degree in fashion photography. He used to work for Marta Steward Living and Interview magazines (Galehouse, 2013: par.9). Since then, he had done lots of other works, like designing an umbrella for Tibor Salman at M&Co and helping TED to launch their website.

Now, he has been living in Manhattan, New York City for 19 years. He is the

author of a photograph collection I Was Cuba: Treasure from the Ramiro

Fernandez (2007), co-author of a non-fiction book Luck: The Essential Guide

(2008), and a contributing writer to SOMA magazine. Besides writing, he is also a

sought-after creative consultant for clients such as The New York Times and Rockwell group. Some of his works are Oprah Winfrey’s and Elizabeth Taylor’s books, and the biography of Ulysses S. Grant.

Since he was a kid, he has been a keen observer of the Chinese elites. He

Christensen, 2013: par.2-3). He utilizes his big and wealthy, intermarried family as an example to draw the lineage of the family tree in the beginning of the novel. Furthermore, his interest in fashion grows because during his childhood he was surrounded by family who were solemnly conscious of what they put on their body. He tells that his grandparents were immensely fashionable. Her grandmother used to order shoes from Paris in the 1930s, and his mother’s clothes were especially custom-made and shipped to Singapore for her (in Christensen, 2013: par.12).

After living in the United States, he regularly visits Southeast Asia to see his old friends and family. During these trips, he observes deeper the lifestyles of the

Chinese elites. He reproduces his observation into Crazy Rich Asians. As this

novel is a fictional work, the Chinese upper class family members he encounters

are dramatized and sensationalized into fictional characters. Kwan (in Chung, 2013: par.5) admits that his characters are the mixtures of people he knows, like some of his cousins, distance relatives and old friends. Therefore, it makes them more real.

Throughout the novel, his personal experiences are also inserted. For

example, Kwan (in Christensen, 2013: par.8) has attended many weddings as

lavish as Colin and Araminta’s, even some that are more abundant than theirs. There are lots of details that he has to tone down because the reality is much more excessive and outrageous. He simplifies lots of elements in the novel so the readers can relate to story and its characters. As for being a creative consultant, Kwan is knee-deep in the fields of fine arts (Chung, 2013: par.8). No wonder, the

readers find various references of paintings, architecture and dishware in the novel.

Moreover, living in the United States for more that two decades has exposed him to the American way of thinking. This change of society and environment has brought him new perspectives in seeing the world. He is driven by the spirit of individualism and American success myths, i.e. rags to riches, zero to hero and self-made men, that all people, regardless of their background, have the same opportunity to succeed. He realizes that in Asia people still have conservative point-of-view, where someone can only go not too far from the condition they were born and bred with. However, the Capitalism in the United States, with the attitude of American Dream, allow people to go as far as they want to if they work hard.

2. Singaporean Chinese, Mainland Chinese and American Chinese

People of Chinese origin or ethnicity constitute the biggest population in the entire world. As such, the Chinese are often mistaken that they are all citizens of the People’s Republic of China. In fact, explained by Wang (1998: 1), there are two kinds of Chinese. The first is the Mainlanders. These are the Chinese originated and widespread in their ancestral continent; exclude Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. The second is the Overseas Chinese. It refers to the ones who have left Mainland China long before the Communists invaded, and resided in Asia-Pacific countries, such as North America and Southeast Asia, but predominantly in Singapore and the United States.

The terms ‘Chinese Singaporeans’ and ‘Singaporean Chinese’ are used interchangeable, and they serve the same function to explain the citizens or residents of Singapore whom are of Chinese ancestry. Because the education system in Singapore use English, most Chinese Singaporeans do not speak proper Mandarin. Although they are influenced by Western cultures, the Singaporean Chinese still uphold the values of Confucianism, i.e. care for families and respect for elders. Their traditions also include the perpetuation toward male dominations, which mark Chinese culture to be patriarchal (Windows on Asia, 2014: par.1).

Furthermore, the Singaporean Chinese tend to distant themselves from the Mainlanders. Singapore is a capitalist state, whereas China is a communist country (Ian, 2014: par.9). Additionally, in the past, the Mainlanders immigrated to Singapore, called ‘coolies’, were employed by the wealthy Chinese Singaporeans for hard work but with little money (Thulaja, 1998: par.1). Nowadays, they blame the Mainlanders for raising real-estate prices, cumulating high-end goods and clogging streets with European sport cars. The Chinese Singaporeans call to themselves as ‘Old Money’, and they call the Mainlanders ‘New Money’.

The Chinese Singaporeans pursue the namely 5Cs – cash, car, condo, credit card and country club (Mydans, 1996: 6-7.). As the majority, the Chinese Singaporeans are well represented in all sectors of life, including in politics and economy. They are controlling the commerce, as well as running the government. Thus, they enjoy systematic, institutional and racial privileges, as opposed to the country’s minorities, such as Malays and Indians. These privileges function

similar to White privileges in the Western Countries, i.e. Australia, Western Europe and the United States.

On the contrary, the Chinese ethnic, minorities in the United States, have faced discriminations in forms of racial violence, legislative discernment and opportunity limitation, i.e. extralegal persecution and anti-Chinese sentiment (National Park Service, 2004: par.4). Discriminations are created to validate the structure of power relations in society in favor of the group at the higher status and to keep the lower group to their negligible social position (Jones, 1972: 4). Nowadays, the discriminations might not be as vulgar as they were in the past. However, discriminations still happen in daily interactions, which take forms in purposely-bad treatments from the superior group to the inferior group (Dovidio, et al., 2010: 8).

Migrating for search of labors in 1820, the Chinese have proven to be hard, diligent workers. The Chinese have grown throughout history, and made contributions in American culture. Despite many Chinese Americans are no longer live in Chinatown, they are always proud of their cultural ancestry, such as

teaching children Mandarin or Cantonese, decorating houses according to feng

shui and throwing Chinese festivals. Nowadays, most of the American Chinese

have advanced educational levels, so they work as white-collar professionals with high salaries and live in racially mixed neighborhoods (Omaye, 2013: par.18).

These advancements bring with them the ‘model minority’ archetype. This change of perception spreads racial prejudice like jealousy and hatred towards the American Chinese.

Furthermore, the Chinese, regardless where they settle, are culturally and historically influenced by Confucianism. It is a system of socioeconomic, political philosophical and ethical beliefs. Confucianism is also often considered as a set of religion, ideology or teaching principles. The core of Confucianism is humanism, with strong concerns on the maintenance of family and social harmony, i.e. filial piety. The secular emphasis of Confucianism lies on the faith that human beings are profoundly kind-hearted, ‘teachable, improvable, and perfectible through personal and communal endeavor’ (Fingarette, 1972: 463-477). The influence of Confucianism is deep-rooted in Chinese society that it is assimilated with modern values, as it can be seen in education, economic and religious sectors. Confucian churches are examples of the assimilation between Confucianism and religion found in Singapore.

C. Previous Researches

The researcher cannot find any research on Crazy Rich Asians yet. However,

the same theory to analyze ideology has been applied to some researches. One of them is entitled “Mark Twain’s Racial Ideologies and His Portrayal of the Chinese” by Hsin-yun Ou (2010). Ou analyses the way Twain portrays Chinese in several works of his, i.e. short stories “Disgraceful Percussion of a Boy”, “John

Chinaman on New York”, “Goldsmith’s Friend Abroad Again”, novel Roughing

It, and play Ah Sin.

Ou discovers that there is a connection between Twain’s portrayals of Chinese and his ideological intention. To dig his ideological intention, Ou also

studies Twain’s biography, journals, letters, life records as well as other relevant documents. Twain depicts Chinese in a more sympathetic way than what is majorly depicted in the popular media. In such manner, he intends his humanitarian sentiments, tolerance and sense of moral righteousness for minority. Moreover, he ideally views the United States as a symbol of social justice and liberalism.

Yuli Arti Rahmawaningsih conducts a dissertation entitled “Struktur Ideologi

dalam Antologi Puisi “Al-Qasā’Id As-Syāsiyyah” karya Nizār Qabbāniy: Kajian

Materialisme Eagleton” (2013). Rahmawaningsih uses Eagleton’s “Categories for

a Materialist Criticism” to analyze the ideological structures of the anthological poem. She mainly focuses on the ideological aspects articulated during the writing

process. The findings suggest that the “Al-Qasā’Id As-Syāsiyyah” anthology

constitutes political gigantism embracing authoritarianism, which dominates Syrian forces and relation of production. The public confronts against the ruling power to earn their citizenship rights, namely civil right (the right to be free), political right (the right to choose) and economic rights (the right to enjoy prosperity). Hence, the freedom that poem seeks gives influences to the aesthetic ideology (AI) in its free form, that in return affects the authorial ideology (AuI).

In addition, this research is distinctive from the previous ones. Firstly, Ou’s topic is similar to this research. However, the object being analyzed is different. She uses Twain’s novel, play, short stories and journals. She also only analyzes one character on each of his works. Conversely, this research analyses Kwan’s work, but many characters in it are being analyzed. Secondly, although

Rahmawaningsih’s research and this research employ the same theory, she uses all the five major constituents of the theory; while this research only uses the Authorial Ideology.

D. Conceptual Framework

Literature is a valuable and powerful device for the bourgeoisie to reinforce their ideology on society. Every author has their own intentions in writing certain works, which are driven by their own ideological concerns. Hence, it is important to expose the authorial ideology concealed behind the works. Literary analysis concerning ideology is the field of Marxism, and particularly Terry Eagleton’s Authorial Ideology (AuI) is focused on the linkage between literary works and the authors’ ideological intention concealed in them.

Based on the theoretical basis above, this research analyzes Kwan’s Crazy

Rich Asians, which conceivably reinforce its author’s ideology to the readers.

Therefore, the researcher employs Terry Eagleton’s Marxist literary theory on Authorial Ideology (AuI) to dig deeper on the author’s ideological intentions behind the novel. The theory is able to answer the research question mentioned in the previous chapter, which is to determine the class structure and scrutinize class conflicts among the Singaporean Chinese as reflected in the novel. The result of this analysis will allow the researcher to reveal the authorial ideology embodied in the novel. To ease in understanding the research, the researcher provides the

Figure 1.The Framework of Thinking the Research

Singaporean Society

Bourgeios Class Proletariat Class

Class Conflict Kevin Kwan’s Crazy Rich Asians

AI AuI

LMP GMP

Terry Eagleton’s

Categories for a Materialist Criticism Ideology

Marxist Literary Theory

Literature Marxism

GI

Kevin Kwan’s Authorial Ideology

34  

A. Research Design

This research applied descriptive qualitative method. A qualitative research is designed to focus on natural phenomena without interferences of experimental settings or unnatural treatments. It attempts to examine those phenomena experienced by people and to describe the subjective meanings behind. A descriptive qualitative research is a research procedure resulting descriptive data in the form of words or pictures, in contrast to the quantitative research, which data are in the form of numbers and statistics (Bogdan and Binklen, 1982: 28). Thus, the textual description of the data helps the readers to understand the complexity of the research.

In analyzing the data, this research employed a content analysis technique. According to Krippendorff (2004: 18-19) content analysis is a method in qualitative research used to analyze data in form of text. In the largest sense, text can be varied from artworks, pictures, maps, songs, signs and symbols. Every text produced is bound to have subjective, sentimental meanings both for its author and its readers that need to be interpreted. Thus, the researcher aimed this research to reveal the authorial ideology concealed in the novel. The researcher collected any data related to the information about the author as well as the social background. This information was used to help the researcher analyze the research objectives.

 

B. Data and Source of Data

Given (2008: 85) defines data as a compilation of information that will be analyzed in a research. The data of a qualitative research are mainly in the form of

nonnumeric data taken from various sources. Therefore, the data type of this

research were in form of language features, such as words, phrase, clauses and

sentences expressed in the main source of this research, which was Crazy Rich

Asians.

The novel was written by Kevin Kwan in 2013 and was first published in July 2013. The researcher used the hardcover edition from Allen & Unwin publisher in

Australia. The novel was composed of 403 pages and 3 parts with 56 subparts.In

addition, the data collected were related to the authorial ideology concealed in the

novel.

The supporting references and information were used to analyze the data. The supporting data of this research were from books, magazines and websites on the internet. To help understanding Kwan’s work, the researcher used articles of his interviews with magazines like Vanity Fair, the Strait Times, Asia Society, Asian Fortune and Banana Writer.

To analyze the novel, the researcher used Marxist literary theory specifying

on Eagleton’s approach on Authorial Ideology in his book entitled Criticism and

Ideology: A Study in Marxist Literary Theory (1976). It is also supported by his

other books, such as Marxism and Literary Criticism (1976), Literary Theory: An

 

C. Research Instrument

Research instrument is defined as an equipment that is applied in a certain work, study or research for a scientific purpose (Hornby, 1995: 619). A protocol or an instrument might be used to collect the data. However, as stated by Lincoln and Guba (in Vanderstoep and Johnston, 2009: 188), the human instrument plays an important part in a qualitative research. It is because they are shaped by experience, and are actually the ones who gather the information.

Therefore, the researcher worked as a human instrument. He planned the research, collected the data, analyzed and interpreted them, and also made conclusion and reported the result. Moreover, data sheets were additional instruments that were employed in this research. Data sheets were functioned to arrange the data systematically.

D. Data Collecting Technique

There were four steps in the process of collecting data: reading, note taking,

interpreting and categorizing. Firstly, the researcher read Kwan’s Crazy Rich

Asians carefully, and repeated it extensively until he understood it comprehensively. Secondly, the researcher took notes and highlighted the contents of the novel that could be used as data. These first two steps were the most important ways in the data collecting technique. Thirdly, the researcher looked at the data carefully to be interpreted. Finally, the researcher categorized the data into a particular form of data sheet, and highlighted the part of the quotations, related to the findings, to strengthen the significance of them. During

 

the process of the data collection, the researcher used the data sheet to easily see the progress of the research. The form of data sheet is presented in the figure below.

Table 1. The Example of the Data for The Class Structure and Class Conflict represented in Kevin Kwan’s Crazy Rich Asians 

No. Quotation Page Category Sub

Category Explanation

1. “The Youngs are descended, I believe, from a long line of royal court physicians, going all the way back to the Tang dynasty. James Young––Sir James Young, actually––was the first Western-educated neurologist in Singapore, trained at Oxford.”

…

“So if James Young never made money, how did––“ Wye Mun began. “You didn’t listen, Wye Mun! I said that James Young wasn’t interested in making money, but I never said he didn’t have any. The Youngs had money, generations of money. …” 232-233 The Youngs vs. The Chus Class Structure

It can be seen that the Youngs is a long-pedigreed family, who are considered as an old money because their prosperity have been inherited from many generations before them.

E. Data Trustworthiness

According to Given (2008: 859), there are several ways to gain trustworthiness in a qualitative research. One of them is by checking the validity and reliability of the data. Thus, the researcher employed a technique called ‘triangulation’ to prove the data trustworthiness. This technique, used to establish validity and reliability of the data in this research, is essential in a qualitative research since the chances of bias in the data collection and interpretation are relatively high, thereby must be reduced.

 

This research achieved reliability by using intra-rater technique through the

following steps. First, the researcher evaluated the data of this research with the theoretical concept presented in the figure of conceptual framework. Second, the researcher reads and re-reads the data until he was certain that the data had valid interpretation with the reference presented in the conceptual framework. The purpose of doing this technique was to keep the consistency of the data.

The validity of this research was checked by employing peer-debriefing

technique (Creswell, 2009: 192). It means during the process of collecting the data, the researcher asked two of his friends who are literature students to review the data of this research and give their inputs. To achieve validity of the data, the discussion with reviewers was also conducted, so that the interpretations could be in line. Besides, the researcher also consulted the data to his first and second thesis advisors who are competent in analyzing literary works. Those processes were done through the whole data.

F. Data Analysis Technique

The essential part of a qualitative research is the data analysis because the researcher does not only collects the data but also relates them to the theory (Given, 2008: 186). In this research, the researcher used Creswell’s six steps of data analysis (2009: 185). He organized and prepared the data, read the whole data, categorized the data into several categories and sub categories, gave a description, interrelated the description, and interpreted the meaning of the

 

1. Identifying the data from the novel by making some notes and highlights,

according to the theme: class structure and class conflict reflected in the novel that reveal the authorial ideology;

2. Reading and re-reading the whole data, and also arranging the data into the

data tables;

3. Categorizing the data in the data tables into some categories based on the

research objectives, which are the class structure and class conflict reflected in the novel in order reveal the authorial ideology;

4. Sorting the data by selecting the relevant data and excluding the irrelevant data.

The selected relevant data were interpreted and organized according to its thematic meaning;

5. Making the interrelation between the description of the data and the theory to

get the findings, which are the class structure and class conflict reflected in

Kwan’s Crazy Rich Asians in order to reveal Kwan’s authorial ideology;

6. Making an interpretation of the findings based on the understanding about the

40 

Kevin Kwan’s Crazy Rich Asians by employing Eagleton’s Marxist literary theory which focuses on Authorial Ideology (AuI). Therefore, this chapter elaborates the findings and the discussion about the meanings of the collected data. The analysis of this chapter is based on the theoretical reviews and social background on the chapter two. The researcher dedicates this chapter to determine the class structure and to scrutinize the class conflicts reflected in the novel. In addition, a sub-chapter for the discussion of the authorial ideology Kwan reinforces throughout the novel is provided. The comprehensive explanation can be seen in the narration below.

A. The Class Structure and Class Conflict represented in Kevin Kwan’s Crazy Rich Asians

From a Marxist perspective, an analysis of a literary work is emphasized on the ideology it conceals. The ideology can be identified through the socioeconomic condition of the society that is depicted in the work. Taken as collective individuals, characters are classified into class structure based on the setting they are placed. To do so, the analysis begins by identifying the social setting reflected in the novel. Crazy Rich Asians was written and set in Singapore in 2010. As such, the novel is the enchanting story of modern Singaporean society.

 

Looking at the setting of time and place, it can be identified that the social setting of the novel is an urban Chinese society. The majority of Singapore’s citizens are descendants of Overseas Chinese that bring with them a strong influence of Chinese cultures and traditions, especially from the southern China. In the novel, it is marked by: (1) the tradition of intermarried families living interdependently with extended members; (2) the verbal use of Mandarin, Cantonese and Hokkien; and (3) the perpetuation of Confucianism, i.e. filial piety, self-depreciate modesty and humanist ethic. Meanwhile, the characteristics of an urban society found in the novel are: (1) density of settlement; (2) multiracial and multicultural population; (3) individualist characters; (4) sophisticated and globalized lifestyles; (5) standardization of behaviors; and (6) rapid change of technology and trend. The combination of Eastern values and Western viewpoints make Singapore an urbanized environment; yet it still retains its own heritages and beliefs.

Furthermore, Singapore is a highly developed and greatly industrialized country. Due to its limited lands and natural resources, the country adopts a trade-oriented economy system. Being at the tip of Malay Peninsula gives Singapore advantages as a hub of economic circle in Southeast Asia. Its free-market orientation and open-door policy attract local companies and foreign investments (Ian, 2014: par.9). The country has a solid economic base, which establishes its steady superstructure. The political climate is stable, the education is advanced, the labors are skilled and the wage rate is high. These aspects construct the country’s welfare, so that the majority of its citizens are able to live in prosperity.

 

As a matter of fact, Singapore has more millionaires per capita than any other country (Leyl, 2014: par.10).

The reliance of its economy on buy-and-sell activities marks Singapore as a capitalist country. However, the state undertakes the control towards the means of production, such as government-owned housing corporation and state-owned business enterprises. Therefore, Singapore is considered as a state-capitalist country. Capitalism puts a wide wealth gap in Singaporean society with unequal power and authority, which determines the economic relations among its citizens. Those, who are close to the government, are in favor because the political decisions function in supporting their hierarchy of positions. Nowadays, major companies are owned by individual and institutional shareholders. Using realist form of literature, these realities are reproduced throughout novel.

Seen from the identification toward the social setting of Singapore as a capitalist Chinese society, the class structure is classified according to differences in socioeconomic condition. The Chinese characters in the novel can be divided into bourgeoisie and proletariats. The bourgeois class is represented by the members of two wealthy Chinese families, the Youngs and the Leongs. On the other hand, the representations of the proletariat class are the Chus and the Teos, who are outsiders to the Singaporean elites. Apparently, the socioeconomic distinctions between the bourgeoisie and the proletariats demonstrate the wealth gap in Singaporean society.

Within this class structure, the economic relations amongst the Chinese characters can be scrutinized. Their economic relations create tensions and

 

conflicts in society, and then generate class struggles for the sake of economic power. In addition, the storyline that rolls is consciously determined by Kwan’s ideological intention. The socioeconomic class that struggles from the conflicts indicates which side of class he stands. Therefore, his authorial ideology can be discovered. To ease in presenting the findings, analysis of the class structure is broken down into two sections based on the conflicts that happen to the Chinese characters. The first is between the Young and the Chu families, and the second is between the Leong and the Teo families.

1. The Youngs vs. The Chus

In this class structure, The Chus comes from the proletariat class, whereas the Young family belongs to the bourgeois class. The members of the Chu family analyzed in this section are Rachel and her mother Kerry, meanwhile Nicholas Young, his mother Eleanor Young and his grandmother Shang Su Yi are analyzed as representatives of the Young family. The main substance concerning the distinction of class structure between the bourgeoisie and the proletariats is the means of production, which are controlled by private ownerships (Eagleton, 1976b: 3). As the bourgeoisie, the Youngs own material qualities, such as resources, lands, assets and properties. Their ownerships place the family at the upper position in Singaporean society, to the extent that they are regarded as aristocratic elites.

Furthermore, the Youngs are considered old money because their wealth has been inherited since many generations before them. In a society as urban as

 

Singapore, the old-moneyed families are more respected than the new moneyed families, who usually come from Mainland China and display their wealth vulgarly. As a long-lineaged family that has been long savoring prosperity, the Youngs are severely secretive. Their secretiveness creates an exclusive social sphere among Singaporean and Asian bourgeoisie that is untouchable for the proletariats. On top of the family tree provided at the beginning of the novel is Nick’s grandfather, the majestic Sir James Young.

“The Youngs are descended, I believe, from a long line of royal court physicians, going all the way back to the Tang dynasty. James Young–– Sir James Young, actually––was the first Western-educated neurologist in Singapore, trained at Oxford.”

…

“So if James Young never made money, how did––“ Wye Mun began.

“You didn’t listen, Wye Mun! I said that James Young wasn’t interested in making money, but I never said he didn’t have any. The Youngs had money, generations of money. …”

(Kwan, 2013: 232-233) In their culture, arranged marriages are common among Chinese bourgeoisie. The ultimate goal is to tie up the fortunes of both bride’s and groom’s families (Ji, 2010: par.9). It can be seen when Sir James Young was married off to Shang Su Yi. The Young family’s wealth is accumulated because Su Yi also comes from a prosperous family. The unification of these two long-pedigreed bourgeois families constructs an even greater economic power, which set them further apart from the proletariats.

Furthermore, traditional Chinese principles are known to be patriarchal. The means of power only rely on, and for the advantage of, men. For example, family’s inheritance is divided only among male siblings with the eldest son receives the biggest amount. Daughters only obtain dowries given when they are

Category Kees––we’re Teos. You can’t really blame your parents. They were born that

way––it’s just not in their DNA to associate with anyone who isn’t from their class, anyone who isn’t born rich or royal.”

62. “But you’re on your way to doing just that, Michael. Look at how well you company is doing,” Astrid said encouragingly.

“My company––ha! You want to know something, Astrid? Last December, when the company finally broke even and we did our first profit sharing, I got a bonus check for two hundred and thirty-eight thousand. For one minute, one whole minute, I was so happy. It was the most money I had ever made. But then it hit me … I realized that no matter how long I work, no matter how hard I sweat my ass off all day long, I will never make as much money in my whole life as you make in one month alone.”

“That’s not true, Michael. That’s just not true!” Astrid cried.

“Don’t patronize me!” Michael shouted angrily. “I know what your income is. I know how much those Paris dresses cost you! Do you know how much it feels to realize that my pathetic two-hundred-thousand-dollar bonus can’t even pay for one of your dresses? Or that I’ll never be able to give you the type of house you grew up in?”

“I’m happy where we live, Michael. Have I ever complained?” “I know about all your properties, Astrid, all of them.”

356 The Leongs vs. The Teos

Class Conflict

It can be seen that the distinctive upbringing background between Astrid and Michael starts to become a struggle in their marriage. Michael starts to doubt his capability of being the breadwinner. The amount of money Astrid earns far more than he does. This huge income disparity makes him feel economically inferior in front of his own wife.

63. “Yes, your dear brothers. I never told you what happened when we got engaged. Your brothers called me one day and invited me to lunch, and they all showed up. Hendry, Alex, and even Peter came down from K.L. They invited me to the snotty club on Shenton Way that they all belong to, took me into one of the private dinning rooms, and sat me down. Then they showed me one of your financial reports. Just one. They said, ‘We want you to have a glimpse of Astrid’s

financial picture, so you have an idea of what she netted last year?’. And then

Henri said to me––and I’ll never forget his words––‘Everything Astrid has is safeguarded by the best team of lawyers in the world. No one outside the Leong

family will ever benefit from or come to control her money. Not even if she

357 The Leongs vs. The Teos

Class Conflict

It can be seen that since Michael does not come from an established family, Astrid’s brothers are worried that he only marries her is for money. They spitefully inform him that he will not get a cent from her assets because they hire the world-renowned lawyers.

No. Quotation Page Category Sub Category Explanation

110 divorces, not even if she dies. Just though you should know, old chap.’”

64. “What good would that do?” Michael said bitterly. “Don’t you see? From day one, your family didn’t trust me.”

“You don’t ever have to spend a single minute with my family again, I promise. I am going to talk to my brothers. I am going to give them hell. And no one will ever ask you to recover their hard drives or reprogram their wine fridge again, I promise. Just please, don’t leave me,” she pleaded, the tears flooding down her cheeks.

“Astrid, you are talking nonsense. I would never want to deprive you of your family––your whole life revolves around them. What would you do if you weren’t at Wednesday mah-jongg with your great-aunt Rosemary, Friday-night dinner at your Ah Ma’s, or Pulau Club movie night with your dad?”

“I can give it up. I can give all of that up!” Astrid cried, burying her head in his lap and clinging to him tightly.

“I wouldn’t want you to. You’ll be happier without me in the long run. I’m just holding you back.”

…

“… I can’t stay married to you. I just don’t want to live in your world anymore. There’s no way I can measure up to your family, and I don’t want to keep resenting you for who you are. I made a terrible mistake, Astrid. Please, please let me go,” he said, his voice getting chocked up.

357-358

The Leongs vs. The Teos

Class Conflict

It can be understood that the class conflict pits Astrid against her own bourgeois family. She and her family have distinctive perceptions towards Michael and her marriage with him because they see from different ideological perspectives She is willing to leave her glamorous life behind to save their marriage.

65. “I was happy, Charlie. And more important, Cassian was happy. Now he’s going to have to grow up a child of divorce, ping-ponging between two households. I’ve failed my son.”

“You haven’t failed him,” Charlie scolded. “The way I see it, Michael was the one who abandoned ship. He just couldn’t take the heat. As much of a coward as I think he is, I can also empathize a bit. Your family is pretty intimidating. They sure gave me a run for my money, and they won in the end, didn’t they?” “Well, you weren’t the one who gave in. You stood up to my family and never let them get to you. I was the one who caved,” Astrid said, expertly peeling a longan

378-379

The Leongs vs. The Teos

Class Conflict

It is clearly seen that Astrid does not want a divorce and she blames herself for it. However, Charlie tries to understand both her and Michael’s feeling.

Category and popping the pearly fruit in to her mouth.

“Still, it’s far easier for a beautiful woman from an ordinary background to marry into a family like yours that for a man who doesn’t come from any wealth or lineage.”

66. “Well, I thought he was up for the challenge. When I first met Michael, he didn’t seem to care one bit about my money or my family. But in the end I was wrong. He did care. He cared too much.” Astrid’s voice cracked, and Charlie stretched out his arms to comfort her. Tears streamed down her face quietly, turning quickly into racking sobs as she leaned into his shoulder.

379 The Leongs vs. The Teos

Class Conflict

It shows that money is not the reason Michael marries Astrid, in fact it is the reason he wants a divorce.

67. “Can I make a suggestion, Astrid?” Charlie said as the junk made its way back to Repulse Bay to drop her off.

“What?” Astrid asked sleepily.

“When you get home tomorrow, do nothing. Just go back to your normal life. Don’t make any announcements, and don’t grant Michael a quick divorce.” “Why not?”

“I have a feeling Michael could have a change of heart.” “What makes you think that will happen?”

…

“Think about it––Michael’s deluded himself into thinking he’s been trapped in an impossible marriage for the past five years, But a funny thing happens when men truly get a taste of freedom, especially when they’re accustomed to married life. They begin to crave that domestic bliss again. They want to re-create it. Look, he told you the sex was still great. He told you he didn’t blame you, aside from blowing too much money on clothes. My instinct tells me that if you just let him be, he will come back.”

“Well, it’s worth a try, isn’t it?” Astrid said helpfully.

“It is. But you have to promise me two things: first, you need to live your life that way you want to, instead of how you think Michael would want you to. Move into one of your favorite houses, dress however it pleases you. I really feel that what are into Michael was the way you spent all your time tiptoeing

380-381

The Leongs vs. The Teos

Class Conflict

It can be understood that the advise Charlie gives to Astrid is because he knows that it is Michael economic inferiority that makes him to leave their marriage, and obviously Charlie has already had a plan to help Astrid saves their marriage.

No. Quotation Page Category Sub Category Explanation

112

around him, trying to be someone you weren’t. Your overcompensating for him only increased his feeling of inadequacy.”

“Okay,” Astrid said, trying to soak it all in.

“Second, promise me you won’t grant him a divorce for at least one year, no matter how much he begs for it. Just stall him. Once you sign the papers, you lose the chance of him ever coming back,” Charlie said.

68. “Great, great. Aaron, I want you to do me a special favor … I want you to look up a small digital firm based in Singapore called Cloud Nine Solutions.”

“Cloud Nine …” Aaron began, keying the name into his computer. “Headquartered in Jurong?”

“Yes, that’s the one. Aaron, I want you to acquire the company tomorrow. Start low, but I want you to end up offering at least fifteen million for it. Actually, how many partners are there?”

“I see two registered partners. Michael Teo and Adrian Balakrishnan.” “Okay, bid thirty million.”

“Charlie, you can’t be serious? The book value on that company is only––“

“No, I’m dead serious,” Charlie cut in. “Start a fake bidding war between some of our subsidiaries if you have to. Now listen carefully. After the deal is done, I want you to vest Michael Teo, the founding partner, with class-A stock options, then I want you to bundle it with that Cupertino start-up we acquired last month and the software developer in Zhongguancun. Then, I want us to do an IPO on the Shanghai Stock Exchange next month.”

“Next month?”

“Yes, it has to happen very quickly. Put the word out on the street, let your contacts at Bloomberg TV know about it, drop a hint to Henry Blodget if you think it will help drive up the share price. But at the end of the day I want those class-A stock options to be worth at least $250 million. Keep it off the books, and set up a shell corporation in Liechtenstein if you have to. Just make sure there are no links back to me. Never, ever.”

381-382

The Leongs vs. The Teos

Class Conflict

A change of economic condition is used to end this class conflict. While it sounds ironic, with the secret help from Astrid’s ex-boyfriend Charlie Wu, Michael will finally succeed to advance his tech-firm. Henceforth, he can fully support his own family and thrive from his own inferiority over the economic superiority of his wife’s family.

Saya yang Nama NIM Program S Fakultas Menyatak dilakukan REVELAT STRUCTU CRAZY RI

Apabila te jawab say

g bertanda ta : Tria N : 1021 Studi : Baha : Baha kan telah m

oleh maha TION OF URE AND ICH ASIAN

erbukti pern a.

SUR

angan di ba Nur Arista 1144024 asa dan Sast asa dan Seni melakukan asiswa bern

AUTHOR CLASS CO NS”.

nyataan ini t

APPENDI RAT PERN

awah ini:

tra Inggris i

triangulasi nama Galan RIAL IDEO ONFLICT R

tidak benar IX III NYATAAN

i data dal nt Nanta A OLOGY T REPRESEN

, hal ini sep

Yo

am penelit dhitya deng THROUGH NTED IN KE

penuhnya m

ogyakarta, 6 Yang mem

Tria

tian yang gan judul “ H THE CL KEVIN KWA

menjadi tang

6 Desember mbuat perny

a Nur Arista telah “THE LASS AN’S

ggung

2015 yataan

 

Saya yang Nama NIM Program S Fakultas Menyatak dilakukan REVELAT STRUCTU CRAZY RI

Apabila te jawab say

g bertanda ta : Diah : 1021 Studi : Baha : Baha kan telah m

oleh maha TION OF URE AND ICH ASIAN

erbukti pern a.

SUR

angan di ba Kurniasari 1141023 asa dan Sast asa dan Seni melakukan asiswa bern

AUTHOR CLASS CO NS”.

nyataan ini t

RAT PERN

awah ini:

tra Inggris i

triangulasi nama Galan RIAL IDEO ONFLICT R

tidak benar

NYATAAN

i data dal nt Nanta A OLOGY T REPRESEN

, hal ini sep

Yo

am penelit dhitya deng THROUGH NTED IN KE

penuhnya m

ogyakarta, 6 Yang mem

Diah

tian yang gan judul “ H THE CL KEVIN KWA

menjadi tang

6 Desember mbuat perny

h Kurniasari telah “THE LASS AN’S

ggung

2015 yataan