View of THE POINT OF VIEW OF ‘THE GARDEN PART’

THE POINT OF VIEW OF ‘THE GARDEN PART’
St. YatimahDjamaliahRachman
SMAN 2 Bangkalan
styatimah@yahoo.co.id
Abstrak: Analisis dalam tulisan ini diarahkan pada pointof viewdalam memperkuat penggambaran
dan pengembangan alur cerita, pengkarakteran, dantema.The Garden Party. Untuk mencapai hasil
yang maksimal digunakan metode dokumentasi dengan teknik baca dan catat dengan kekuatan
peneliti sebagai instrument utama. Hasil identifikasipoint of viewdari cerita The Garden
Partydalam pengembangan alurcerita, pengakarakteran, dan pemilihan tema. Point of viewThe
Garden Partydipertimbangkan dan dipiliholeh pengarang secara cermat untuk memperkuat wujud
karakter tokoh sekaligus sebagai kekuatan rangkaian persoalan yang diusung dalam cerita,
demikian juga dengan alur dilukiskan secara rapat sehingga setiap bagian dari The Garden
Partynyaris tiada yang kosong tak bermakna. Keberhasilan dalam pembentukan alur dapat
dirasakan secara halus dan lambat sebagai penopang inti cerita.
Key words: The Garden Party andPoint of view,

accident is going to be different from

Introduction

the first reporter’s.

If people hear the term point of
view, their interpretation will be

However, point of view has a

different from one another.Some of

deeper meaning than the definition

them think that point of view is a kind

Bowen has given. According to Edgar

of opinion. As Tom Gibbson has stated

V. Roberts, in writing themes about

that the term ‘point of view’ which is

literature, point of view is a method of

used in everyday has a sense as the

presentation,

equivalent of ‘attitude’ or ‘opinion’

particular voice with which to tell a

(Gibbson, 1979; 30).Point of view, on

story, define a problem, or scribe a

the other hand, according to Robert O.

state of mind (Roberts, 1977; 65).

Bowen, is the way one sees things

Therefore, in a story, point of view is

including actual sight (Bowen, 1956;

one of important elements but it isoften

172).For example: one day, while

forgotten by readers. When the readers

driving down Kertajaya Street, a

read a story, they have to know the

reporter

a

point of view which is chosen by the

motorcycle. He decides to write about

author as a narrative technique to

this accident directly. Another reporter

tellthem the story. The point of view of

who is not an eye-witness comes to the

one story is different from other stories

place and obtains the information from

since I depend on the choice of the

an eye-witness. His account of the

author. As

sees

a

bus

hitting

232

the

selecting

of

a

Laurence Perrine has

The Point Of View Of ‘The Garden Part’, St. Yatimah Djamaliah Rachman

pointed out that: ‘Ideally, the choice of

The Garden Party tells about the

the author will depend on his materials

party which is carried out by the

and purpose. He should choose the

Sheridan. After preparing of the party

point of view which enables him to

such as: the marquee has been up, the

present his particular materials most

flowers and the cream puffs have been

effectively in terms of his purpose

ordered, and the hired band soon to

(Perrine, 1966; 164). Thus, the author

arrive; there is news which comes to

has to be careful in choosing the point

the kitchen. The news is about a young

of view because he must use it most

carter who dies because of a horrible

appropriate to the story he wants to

accident. He leaves a wife and five

tell.

children. He lives in a little cottage

In addition, the point of view of the

below the Sheridan’s house. Laura is

story affects the presentation of the

one of the Sheridan’s daughters. After

happenings which are selected and

hearing the news, Laura wants the

arranged by the author. They are the

party to be stopped but her mother and

plot, the characterization, and the

sister disagree with her opinion so that

meaning of the theme. It deals with

the party is going on. After the guests

Leon Sumerlian’s statement that is:

of the party have gone, Mrs. Sheridan

The point of view should bring out the

commands Laura to give the scraps to

significance of the events, and it is the

the poor family. After giving the

point of view in its double sense that

basket which is heaped by the scraps,

would give the story shape and

Laura sees the corpse of the man. Then

meaning(Sumerlian, 1968; 88).

she goes home and she is picked up by

The short story which is going to be

her brother.

analyzed is “The GardenParty”. It is a

After reading the short story, the

literary work of Katherine Mansfield.

writer wants to know the role of the

She is one of the very few writers of

point of view since it is very important

the 20th century to devote her efforts in

in developing and describing the plot,

fiction exclusively to the short story

the characterization, and the theme of

(Cohen, 19887; 613).

the story. Hence, the writer tries to
analyze the point of view and its
233

The Point Of View Of ‘The Garden Part’, St. Yatimah Djamaliah Rachman

relation to the plot, the character-

(Roberts, 1977; 65). Therefore, in

rization, and the theme of “The Garden

presenting the story, one of the

Party”. The analysis is done in order

important consideration is that the

that the readers are able to understand

point of view that the author uses. It is

and study the point of view fur-

position from which the events are

thermore.

observed.

The

author

selects

a

This study tries to present the

particular voice that isgenerally known

following problems such as: What

as a speaker is familiar with a narrator.

point of view is used in “The Garden

Readers need to know through whose

Party”, How does the point of view

eyes and mind the events are being

develop the plot and the theme and

relayed. They ask, who is supposed to

depict the characterizationof “The

be telling the story?” (Potter,1967: 28).

Garden Party”. Based on the problems

In telling his story, the author

above, the purposes of the study can be

chooses

stated as follows: Identifying the point

narrator. The narrator is created by the

of view of “The Garden Party”,

author. Sometimes the readers hear the

developing the plot and the theme and

author’s idea through this created

depicting the characterization of “The

narrator. The narrator may be allowed

Garden Party”.

to enter the minds of the characters in

his

invented

speaker

or

the story. So he knows the characters’
think and feel (ibid. p.29).

Review of Literature, Point of View
Point of view is one of the

Point of view can be divided into

important elements in fiction. It is the

sorts: participant or first person point

position from which action in a literary

of view and nonparticipant or third

work is seen, heard, and described. In

person point of view. If the story is

other words, the term point of view

told by an ‘I’, the author is using the

relates to tell a story. An author has to

first person point of view. The narrator

choose the point of view from which

or the speaker is the character of the

he will tell his story.

story. The character may be either a

Edgar V. Roberts calls point of

major or minor character. If the major

view as a method of the presentation

character as the narrator, he will tell
234

The Point Of View Of ‘The Garden Part’, St. Yatimah Djamaliah Rachman

the story is chiefly about him but if the

is going on in the mind of the

minor character as the narrator, he will

characters. Therefore, the narrator

tell the story that focuses on someone

reveals what the characters are doing,

other than himself (Barnet, 1963; 38).

seeing, hearing, saying, thinking and

The first person speaker can report

feeling.

everything he sees, hears, and thinks

Another type of the third person

and as he does, so he conveys not only

point of view is limited or selective

the actions but also of his background,

omniscient point of view. In the

thinking, and attitude.

limited omniscient point of view, the

In the third person point of view,

narrator tells the story by focusing on

the narrator of the story does not

one character in the story. He tells the

introduce himself as a character. As an

readers what his focus character sees,

outsider, he observes and tells about

hears, says, does, thinks, and feels. The

the characters. He also describes the

narrator knows everything about the

action and the background of the story.

focus character but he doesn’t know

Furthermore, the narrator of the third

what other characters are thinking and

person point of view has power to

feeling. In other words, the narrator

enter his characters’ mind (Meredith,

describes the focus character from

1972; 50).

inside and outside, and describes other

There are three kinds of third

characters from outside. His chosen

person point of view: The omniscient

character may be either major and

point of view, the limited omniscient

minor (Perrine, 1977; 161).

point of view, the objective point of

In the objective point of view, the

view.

narrator disappears. His role is like

In the omniscient point of view, the

moving sound camera. This camera

story is told by the narrator using third

can go anywhere, but it can record

person. This is also called as the all-

only what it sees and hears (ibid, p.

knowing point of view. In this method,

163). In the objective point of view,

the narrator not only describes the

the narrator makes no comment; he

actions and the dialogues of the story

does not interpret or enter into his

but also seems to know everything that

characters’
235

mind.

Therefore,

the

The Point Of View Of ‘The Garden Part’, St. Yatimah Djamaliah Rachman

readers are placed in the position of the

The second is conflict. The term

spectators at the movie because they

‘conflict’ is familiar. It is the result of

just see what the characters do and

an opposition between at least two

hear what they say. However, they do

sides. In a story, the conflict takes two

not know the characters think and feel

opposition people or forces to produce

since the narrator does not explained it

a plot. Without this opposition, there is

(ibid).

no conflict and without conflict, there

Plot

is no plot. Therefore, in a story, the

Plot is a very important in a literary

conflict is the heart of the plot

work. It constitutes the frame work of

(Altenbernd, 1970; 23) as the essential

a story. As Laurence Perrine has stated

part of the plot; the conflict must be

that plot is the sequence of events of

obvious importance of the characters

which a story is composed (ibid. p.

involved.

50). Sequence means a group of

There are four kinds of conflicts:

incidents or actions arranged in order

the conflict may be one of man against

to be followed one another to create a

nature, man against another man, man

unified story. The author has planned

against society, and man again himself

and selected the incidents or events to

(Little, 1966; 83). The conflict usually

present the story.

leads to another conflict until it raises

Plot contains some parts. They are
exposition,

conflict,

climax,

and reaches a climax.

and

The climax is a highest crisis of the

resolution. The first part is exposition.

story. It is reached when the compli-

The exposition refers to the opening of

cation attains its highest of intensity,

literary work. The exposition is used to

from which point of the outcome of the

describe the characters and their

story is inevitable (Kenney, 1966; 18).

relationship, to explain the setting and

The climax can be point at which

situation, and to reveal the back-

issues and conflict in the plot are fully

ground. Thus, the readers get a certain

and clearly resolved, or it can establish

amount of early information of the

the circumstance which the author to

story.

explain and unravel the events.
236

The Point Of View Of ‘The Garden Part’, St. Yatimah Djamaliah Rachman

The last part is resolution. The

action and the readercan know what he

resolution is what happens at the end

is like from what he thinks, says, and

of the story. According to Graham

does. The direct presentation should be

little,

supported by the indirect one in order

the

resolution

consist

of

everything from the climax to the end

that the story is to be believable.

of the story (Little, op. cit. p. 85).

In a fiction, the character may seem

Thereby, the resolution constitutes the

flat or round, depending on how the

rounding off the actions and the

author creates him. The flat or static

conclusion of the story.

character is characterized by one or
two traits and can be summed up in a

Characterization

sentence,

Characterizationis the creation of

85). The flat character is described in

people are familiar with the characters

simple way. The important thing is that

in a fiction. ‘The character in literature

the flat character tends to stay the same

is an author’s represent of human

through the story, the same sort of

being specifically of those qualities

person from beginning until the end of

that determine how an individual

the

reacts to various conditions or attempts
other

environment’

(Roberts, op. cit. p. 54). In a story,

The

contrasts

with

because

the

round
the

round

flat

character
character

character

is

detail. The dynamic or round character

characters.

undergoes a change in some aspects of

author

may

present

his

his character, personality, or outlook.

character either directly or indirectly.

Characterization is used by the

In direct presentation, he describes

author to reveal the personality and

what the character is like, through the
narrator’s

story.

described in greater depth and in

there are both major and minor

The

or

for full analysis (Perrine, op. cit. p.

(Holman, 1980; 810). The imaginary

his

round

many sides, perhaps requiring an easy

they exist for readers as lifelike

shape

the

dynamic character is complex and

the imaginary people in fiction so that

to

whereas

explanation.

character of fictional person. The

Indirect

author

presentation, he shows the character in

reveals

the

character

by

describing his physical appearance,
237

The Point Of View Of ‘The Garden Part’, St. Yatimah Djamaliah Rachman

action and speech, inner thought and

Every pieces of literary work has its

feeling, and his effect on other

theme but the way, it is conveyed may

characters. To be convincing, charac-

beit different. The author sometimes

terization must also observe three other

states his theme directly, yet, more

principles: First, the characters must be

often he implies it. In the story, theme

consistent in their behavior, second,

is

the characters must be clearly moti-

Therefore, the readers must interpret

vated in whatever they do, especially

by themselves.

usually

presented

impliedly.

when there is any change in their

Interpretation of the theme cannot

behavior, and third, the characters have

be separated from other elements of

to be lifelike or plausible (ibid).

fiction because the theme can be

Theme

discovered by analyzing the elements.

A theme is the message or the moral

Thus, the readers must always pay

of the story (Jones, 1968; 31). The

attention the separate parts of fiction’s

theme is underlying ideas of general

elements and the relationships among

truth about life expressed in a literary

them in order to discover the theme.

work. As Lynn Altenbernd has pointed
out that the theme is general vision of

Point of view in relation to Plot,
Characterization, and Theme
As a literary work, a story has

life or more explicit pro-position about
human

experience

that

literature

elements that make it up. The elements

conveys (Altenbernd, op. cit. p. 30).

have relation among them. Hence, they

Thereby, by writing a story the author

cannot be separated from one another.

has purpose to convey the readers his

The relation of the elements to the

message.

whole provides a unity of the story.

A good story is composed by a

The unified and complex whole of the

theme or central idea since in a story,

literary work can be understood by

theme has function as controller. The

analysis of the elements (Kenney, op.

theme controls and unifies everything

cit. p. 6).

that goes into the story. Theme is what

One of the elements is point of

give a good story its unity (Perrine, op.

view. It has relation to other elements

cit. p. 118).
238

The Point Of View Of ‘The Garden Part’, St. Yatimah Djamaliah Rachman

such as: plot, characterization, and

character in a story. The characteri-

theme. The choice of point of view

zation has relation to the point of view.

will influence the presentation of

As B. Bernard Cohen has stated that

character, incident, and every other

point of view is relevant to the

thing represented (Scholes, 1966; 275).

characterization (Cohen, 1963; 115).

Thereby, the author must give careful

Therefore, in the story, the depiction of

attention to choose point of view since

the characterization deals with the

it must appropriate to the story he

using of particular point of view. In

wants to tell. The choosing point of

this case, the readers know which

view is the first and most fundamental

characters chosen by the narrator to be

decision which the author has to make

depicted internally and externally.

(Gibson, 1979; 30).

Point of view relates to the theme of

The author makes his story by

the story. According to Walter James

presenting the elements of it. One of

Miller, point of view helps establish

the elements is plot. In a story the plot

the theme (Miller, 1984; 40). In other

cannot be separated from point of view

words, point of view has role in

which is used. The plot of the story

developing the theme. For the readers,

that is presented to the readers depends

the theme can discover by analyzing of

on the point of view (Brook, 1959;

the characterization. Therefore, the

129). As the readers know, the plot

readers deduce that the theme is

exist because of its elements or parts

conveyed through the presentation of

such as: exposition, conflict, climax,

the

and resolution. Thereby, the point of

presentation of the characterization is

view develops the plot by employing

determined by using of point of view.

the plot parts suitably. In other words,

Thus, the point of view develops the

in the story, the using of certain point

theme through the presentation of the

of view has to appear in the plot’s parts

characterization.

which employed in developing the

Analysis and Conclusion
Point Of View The Garden Party
After reading “The Garden Party”,

plot.
Characterization is one of fiction’s

characterization.

And

the

The Writer can deduce that the type of

elements. It is usedto show the
239

The Point Of View Of ‘The Garden Part’, St. Yatimah Djamaliah Rachman

the point of view which is used in “The

Windless, warm, the sky without a cloud.
Only the blue was veiled with a haze of
light gold, as it is sometimes in early
summer. The gardener had been up since
dawn, mowing the lawns and sweeping
them, until the grass and the dark flat
rosettes where the daisy plants had been
seemed to shine.’(Mansfield, 1958; 65-66).

Garden Party” is the limited omniscient point of view. The reason is:
first, the narrator of “The Garden
Party’ is not character of the story. The
narrator is outsider and everything in

person, that is; he, she, it, and they.

The Narrator’s Description of The
Focus Character
In “The Garden Party”, the narrator

Second,

the

concentrates mainly only one character

author’s theme and focuses on one

in her description. The narrator choos-

character and the character has a role

es Laura as a major character and

of the story. The narrator knows

makes the focus of narrator’s attention.

everything about the focus character.

The narrator tells what Laura sees,

The narrator describes the inside and

says, and hears, does, thinks, and feels.

outside of the focus character. Third,

In other words, the narrator describes

the narrator only describes the outside

the inside and outside of Laura. Here,

of other characters.

the writer presents the narrator’s

the story is described in the third

the

narrator

brings

description of Laura as the focus

The Evidences of Using the Limited
Omniscient Point of View of The
Garden Party

character, as follows:
The narrator describes what Laura
does, and then the narrator enters
Laura’s feeling:
‘Away Laura flew, still holding her
piece of bread and butter. It’s so
delicious to havean excuse for
eating out of doors, and besides,
she loved having to arrange things;
she always felt she could do it
so much better than anybody else.’
(ibid. p. 66).

The Narrator as an Outsider
In “The Garden Party”, the narrator
is not a character of the story. Every
thing in the story is described in the
third person. Here, the writer can prove
that the narrator is an outsider by
showing the beginning of “The Garden
Party” as the following narrator’s

Furthermore, the narrator describes
the speeches between Laura and one
the
Workmen:

description:
‘And after all the weather was ideal. They
could not have had a more perfect day for
a garden party if they had ordered it.

240

The Point Of View Of ‘The Garden Part’, St. Yatimah Djamaliah Rachman

‘Good morning,’ she said, copying
her mother’s voice. But that
sounded so fearfully affected that
she was ashamed, and stammered
like a little girl, ‘Oh – or – have you
come – is it about the marquee?’
‘That’s right, miss,’ said the tallest
of the men, a lanky, freckled fellow,
and he shifted his tool-bag, knocked
back his straw hat and smiled down
at her. ‘That’s about it.’ (ibid)

Bedroom. There, quite by chance,
the first thing she saw this charming
girl in the
Mirror, in her black hat trimmed
with gold daisies, and a long black
velvet ribbon.
Never had she imagined she could
look like that. Is mother right? She
thought. And now she hoped her
mother was right.’ (ibid. p. 79-80).
The Narrator’s Description of Other
Characters
In “The Garden Party”, the narrator

The following quotation is the
narrator’s description about what
Laura sees of the men and what Laura
feels:
‘His smile was so easy, so friendly,
that Laura recovered. What nice
eyes he had, small, but such a dark
blue. And now she looked at the
others, they were smiling too.
‘Cheer up, we won’t bite, their
smile seemed to say. How very nice
workmen were.And what a beautiful
morning. She mustn’t mention the
morning; she must be business-like.
The marquee.’(ibid. p. 66-67).

describes other characters from their
outside. In other words, the narrator
only describes what other characters
say and do. Here, the writer presents
the narrator’s description about other
characters say and do, as follows:
The

narrator

describes

the

conversation between Mrs. Sheridan
and her child:
‘Where do you want the
marquee put, mother?’
My dear child, it’s no use asking
me. I’m determined to leave
everything to you children this year.
Forget I am your mother. Treat me
as an honor guest.’ (ibid. p. 65).

Further, the narrator describes what
Laura hears, sees, and says, and what
Sadie says and does:
‘The front door bell pealed, and
there sounded the rustle of Sadie’s
print skirt on the stairs. A man’s
voice murmured; Sadie answered,
careless, ‘I’m sure I don’t know.
Wait. I’ll ask MRS Sheridan.’ ‘What
is it Sadie?’ Laura came into the
hall. ‘It’s the florist, Miss Laura.’ It
was, indeed.’ (ibid. p. 70-71).
The following quotation is the
narrator’s description about what
Laura says, does, sees, and thinks:
‘I don’t understand,’ said Laura
and she walked quickly out of the
room into her own

Next, the narrator describes what
some characters say and do:
“I have never seen such exquisite
sandwiches,’ said Jose’s rapturous
voice. ‘How many kinds did you say
there were, cook? Fifteen?’
‘Fifteen, Miss Jose.’
‘Well, cook, I congratulate you.’
(ibid. p. 74-75).
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The Point Of View Of ‘The Garden Part’, St. Yatimah Djamaliah Rachman

The Development of the Plot of “The
Garden Party” Using the Limited
Omniscient Point of View

point of view by presenting the
narrator’s description. As an outsider,
the

The Garden Party uses the limited

scient point of view. As we know, the
plot exists because of its parts such as;

resolution.

Therefore,

the

and

limited

omniscient point of view develops the
plot by employing the plot’s parts. In
other words, in development the plot
of “The Garden Party” the type of the
limited omniscient point of view

The Limited Omniscient Point of
View in the Conflict
InThe Garden Party. There are

always appears in exposition, conflict,
climax, and resolution.

some conflicts. The involving of the

The Limited Omniscient of View in
the Exposition

limited omniscient point of view seems
that the conflicts occur on the focus

The exposition of “The Garden

character ‘Laura’ whether conflicts

Party” begins with a situation in a

happen inside of Laura or conflict

morning when breakfast is not yet

between Laura and other characters.

prepared in Sheridan’s’ house. In the

First, conflict happens inside of

morning, there is a conversation
between

Mrs.

Sheridan

and

focus

‘Breakfast was not yet ever before
the men came to put up the
marquee. ‘Where do you want the
marquee put, mother?’ My dear
child, it’s no use asking me. I’m
determined to leave everything to
you children this year. Forget I am
your mother. Treat me as an
honored guest.’ But Meg could not
possibly go and supervise the men.
She had washed her hair before
breakfast, and she sat drinking her
coffee in a green turban with a dark
wet curl stamped on each cheek.
(ibid. p. 65-66).’

Party” is based on the limited omni-

climax,

the

the inside and outside, a follows:

lopment the plot of “The Garden

conflict,

describes

character ‘Laura’ who has a role from

omniscient point of view. And deve-

exposition,

narrator

Laura. When the workmen come,

her

Laura is confused because she is still

children. Then the arriving of the men

holding a piece of bread and butter.

who build the marquee. From the

Laura doesn’t want to hand it but there

exposition above, the writer can prove

is no place to put it. And she doesn’t

the involving of the limited omniscient

want to throw it away.
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The Point Of View Of ‘The Garden Part’, St. Yatimah Djamaliah Rachman

The conflict above is described by

neighbor,

the narrator as an outsider. The
the

narrator

enters

Laura’s

her

from the narrator’s description about
speeches between Laura and Jose, as

‘Four men in their shirt-sleeves
stood grouped together on the
garden path. They
Starves covered with the rolls of
canvas, and they had big tool-bag
slung on their backs. They looked
impressive. Laura wished now that
she was not holding that piece of
bread and butter, but there was
nowhere to put it, and she couldn’t
possibly throw it away.’ (ibid. p.
66).

follows:
But Jose was still more
amazed. ‘Stop the garden
party? My dear Laura, don’t be
so absurd. Of course we can’t
do anything of the kind.
Nobody expects us to.
‘But we can’t possibly have a
garden-party with a man dead
just outside the front gate.’
(ibid. p. 76).
Fourth, conflict happens between

Second, conflict happens inside of
Laura.By seeing the workmen who are
nice and energetic to work. Laura
thinks why she doesn’t friends like the
men and she actually wants to join
with them.
The conflict above can be known
from the narrator’s description about
Laura sees and thinks, as follows:
How many men that she knew
would have done such a think.
Oh, how extraordinary nice
workmen were, she thought. Why
couldn’t she have workmen for
friends rather than the silly boys
she danced with and came to
Sunday night supper? She would
get on much better with men like
hem.’ (ibid. p. 68).
conflict

opposes

The conflict above can be known

thought, as follows:

Third,

Jose

opinion.

narrator describes what Laura sees, and
then

and

occurs

Laura

and

her

mother.

Laura’s

opinion’s is opposed by her mother.
Her mother disagrees to stop the
party.Their conversation as follows:
‘Mother, a man’s been killed,’
begun Laura.
‘Not in the Garden?’ interrupted
her mother.
‘No, no.’
‘Oh, what a fright you gave me.’
MRS Sheridan sighed and relief,
and took off the big hat held it on
her knees.
‘But listen, mother,’ said Laura.
Breathless, half-choking she told
the dreadful tory. ‘Of course, we
can’t have our party, can we?’ she
pleaded. The band and everybody
arriving. They’d hear us, mother;
they’re nearly neighbors.’
(ibid. p. 78-79).

between

Laura and Jose. They have different
opinions. Laura wants to stop the party
because of the death of her poor
243

The Point Of View Of ‘The Garden Part’, St. Yatimah Djamaliah Rachman

Fifth, conflict happens inside of
Laura. Laura has to accept her mother
and sister’s opinionthough the opinion
is opposite to her feeling. This conflict
can be known about Laura feels and
says, as follows:
‘Laura had to say ‘yes’ to that,
but she felt it was all wrong.
She sat down on her mother’s
sofa and pinched the cushion
frill.
‘Mother, isn’t it really terribly
heartless of us?’ she asked.
(ibid. p. 79).

Sheridan orders Laura to give the grief

The Limited Omniscient Point of
View in the Climax
In climax, the focus character has a

narrator’s description:

family the scraps. Laura is happy to
hear it and she goes to the poor family
house to deliver them. Further, she
sees the grief wife and a man who is
lying forever. After that, Laura is out
of the house with her sob. She picked
up by her brother. Then, she goes
home with her crying in her brother’s
embrace.

Laura as the focus character. Laura has
her highest inner conflict that is: the
party will be stopped or gone on. The
climax can be known from the
description

about

the

following

the

‘Laura came. There lay a young
man, fast asleep – sleeping so
soundly, so deeply, that he was far,
far away from them both. Oh, so
remote, so peaceful. He was
dreaming. Never wake him up
again. His head was sunk in the
pillow, his eyes were closed; they
were blind under the closed eyelids.
(ibid. p. 66).’

role since the climax happens inside of

narrator’s

As

what

The Development of the Theme of
“The Garden Party Using the
Limited Omniscient Point of View
The Garden Party” uses the limited

Laura says, does, sees, and thinks, as
follows”:
‘I don’t understand,’ said Laura
and she walked quickly out of the
room into her own
Bedroom. There, quite by chance,
the first thing she saw this charming
girl in the
Mirror, in her black hat trimmed
with gold daisies, and a long black
velvet ribbon.
(ibid. p. 79-80).

omniscient point of view; the narrator
brings the author’s theme and focuses
on one character. The character has a
role in the story. The narrator knows
everything about the focus character.
The narrator depicts her from the
inside and outside and he only depicts

The Limited Omniscient Point of
View in the Resolution
The resolution of “The Garden

other characters from the outside. In
other words, the narrator invites the

Party” is the finish of the party, MRS
244

The Point Of View Of ‘The Garden Part’, St. Yatimah Djamaliah Rachman

readers to give more attention to the

“The Garden Party” uses the

focus character than others. In “The

limited omniscient point of view. The

Garden Party”, the focus character is

limited point of view is suitable to the

Laura. Laura dominates the story and

story as a short story since it can

she is a major and complex character.

scarcely hope to develop several minds

Therefore, the writer analyzes what

of characters. The author of” The

Laura confronts in the story to discover

Garden Party” limits to focus on

the theme of “The Garden Party”.

developing one mind of character that

In

“the

Laura

is Laura. She is described from her

events,

inside and outside. The other charac-

namely; the party is carried out by her

ters are only described from their

family, and the death of young carter is

outside.

confronts

Garden
two

Party,

opposites

caused by horrible accident. The

In “The Garden Party”, the

events happen nearly together since the

limited omniscient point of view has

accident and the carter’s house is

an important role in relation to the plot,

nearby to Laura’s house. In the story,

the characterization, and the theme.

the party is symbol of happiness and

First is the limited omniscient

the death is a symbol of sadness.

point of view in relation to the plot, the

Therefore, it can be deduced that the

limited omniscient point of view

theme of “the Garden Party is “The

employs the plot’s parts such as:

Happiness and Sadness exist side by

exposition, conflict, climax, and reso-

side in Life,”

lution. In other words, in developing
the plot, the type of the limited point of
view especially the role of Laura

Conclusion
The point of view is used by

always appears in exposition, conflict,

the author to present a story. In
presenting

the

story,

the

climax, and resolution.

author

Second is the limited omni-

chooses a certain point of view which

scient point of view in relation to the

appropriates to the material of the story

characterization.

and the elements of the story such as:

characterization, the limited point of

plot, characterization, and theme.

view focuses on Laura. Laura is
245

In

depicting

the

The Point Of View Of ‘The Garden Part’, St. Yatimah Djamaliah Rachman

Bowen,

Robert O.1956. Practical
Prose Studies. New York:
Alfred A. Knopf.
Brooks, Cleanth, and Robert Pen
Warrant. 1959.The Scope of
Fiction. New York:Appleton
Century Crofts.
Cohen, B. Bernard. 1963. Writing
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Foresman
and
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Cohen, Coral. 1987. Benet’s Reader’s
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Gibbson, Tom. 1979. Literature and
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Gordon, Ian A. 1971. Katherine
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Holman, C. Hugh. 1986. A Handbook
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Kaplan, Fred. 1986. The Reader’s
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Kenney, William. 1966. How to
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Meredith, Robert C., and John O.
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depicted from her inside and outside.
Hence, Laura dominates the story and
she is a major and complex character
who has many traits and behaviors.
Third is the limited point of
view in relation to the theme. By using
the limited point of view, the narrator
brings the author’s theme and focuses
on describing the characterization of
Laura. Therefore, by analyzing what
Laura confronts in “The

Garden

Party”, the theme of the story can be
discovered. The theme of “The Garden
Party” is Happiness and Sadness exists
side by side in life.
Thus, in “The Garden Party”,
the limited point of view is very effecttive because it appropriates to present
the story, develop and describe the
elements such as plot, characterization,
and the theme.

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247