Analysis of The Theme Through The Protagonist in Oliver Goldsmith's 'The Vicar Of Wakefield'.
ABSTRACT
Dalam skripsi ini, penulis membahas tema dari sebuah novel berjudul The
Vicar of Wakefield, karya dari Oliver Goldsmith, seorang penulis berkebangsaan
Irlandia.
Melalui protagonis dalam novel ini, penulis mendapati tema dari novel ini
adalah Kebahagiaan akan datang dalam kehidupan seseorang bila seseorang tersebut
tetap berjuang dan tidak menyerah dalam permasalahannya. Tema ini diambil dari
penggambaran Dr. Primrose, seorang pendeta yang mula-mula memiliki kehidupan
yang bahagia dan tentram, namun hal tersebut harus direggut darinya karena
permasalahan yang datang silih berganti. Tetapi dia tidak pernah menyerah berupaya
mengembalikan kebahagiaan dalam keluarganya yang hilang.
Protagonis dalam novel ini berusaha mengembalikan masa kejayaannya yang
hilang akibat usaha yang dia miliki bangkrut, dia tetap berjuang keras demi
mengembalikan kehidupan yang layak bagi keluarganya. Selain permasalahan
financial tersebut, masalah-masalah lain pun timbul, peranan Dr. Primrose sebagai
ayah yang baik, orang yang beriman pada Tuhan, dan seorang pekerja keras pun diuji
melalui setiap permasalahan yang muncul.
Universitas Kristen Maranatha
Tetapi protagonis dalam novel ini pantang menyerah dalam setiap
permasalahannya dan akhirnya dia berhasil mengatasi semua permasalahan yang
timbul dalam kehidupannya. Ia pun akhirnya memperoleh kembali kebahagiaannya
yang hilang. Selain itu, karena kerja kerasnya, dia pun berhasil dalam pekerjaannya
dan meraih kesuksesan. Hal ini mampu diwujudkan olehnya karena dia tetap
berusaha keras dan tidak menyerah dalam menghadapi masalah-masalah yang datang.
Universitas Kristen Maranatha
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PREFACE……………….…………………………………………………………
TABLE OF CONTENTS………………………………………………................
ABSTRACT…………………………………….………………………………….
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study………………………………….……………......
Statement of the Problem…………………………………………………...
Purpose of the Study…………………………………………….………….
Method of Research…….………………………..........................................
Organization of the Thesis………………………..………………………...
CHAPTER TWO: ANALYSIS OF THE THEME THROUGH THE
PROTAGONIST IN OLIVER GOLDSMITH’S THE VICAR OF
WAKEFIELD..............................................................................................
CHAPTER THREE: CONCLUSION…………………………………………...
BIBLIOGRAPHY…………………………………………………………………
APPENDICES:
Synopsis of The Vicar of Wakefield ………..............................................
Biography of the author…………………………………………………..
i
ii
iii
1
2
2
3
3
4
14
17
18
19
Universitas kristen Maranatha
APPENDICES
SYNOPSIS OF THE VICAR OF SAKEFIELD
Dr. Primrose has six children, and they live in town named Wakefield. They
are happy family until on the evening of his son George's wedding to Arabella
Wilmot, the Vicar loses all his money through the bankruptcy of a merchant. The
wedding is called off, George is sent away to town and the rest of the family move to
a new place on the land of Squire Thornhill. They also meet a poor and eccentric
friend, Mr. Burchell, at an inn, rescues Sophia from drowning and Sir William
Thornhill, the uncle of Mr. Thornhill. Dr. Primrose works hard to fulfill the family’s
needs as a worker in the land which belongs to Mr. Thornhill.
Dr. Primrose shows that there are no obstacles that can change him as a good
person and responsible father for his family. He struggles when his daughter, Olivia,
is missing. He never gives up finding her everywhere. During his pursuit,
accidentally he meets his son George who was sent to town. Dr. Primrose is able to
find Olivia accidentally, after he has a long journey finding her. He finally knows that
the bad guy is not Mr. Burchell, but Mr. Thornhil is the one who kidnaps his
daughter. So Mr. Thornill is sent to prison for his crime. The happiness which was
missing finally come back, the merchants that made him bankrupt is captured.
18
Universitas Kristen Maranatha
The happiness continues when finally Mr. William Thornhill, the landlord, trusts him
to be his assistant in running his company.
BIOGRAPHY OF OLIVER GOLDSMITH
Oliver Goldsmith was born in an Irish village (usually believed to be Pallas,
near Ballymahon) on 10th November 1730. His father was a poor Anglican
clergyman. He is the fifth of eight children. He entered Trinity College, Dublin when
his age was almost 16 years old. He became a hack writer, turning out books and
articles on all sorts of subjects for London booksellers. They were a novel, `The Vicar
of Wakefield'; a play, `She Stoops to Conquer'; and a long poem, `The Deserted
Village'.
He claimed to be a physician with a degree from a foreign university, and
people called him "doctor." Nobody came for treatment, however, so he turned to
writing. Goldsmith's essays `The Citizen of the World', published in 1762, won the
attention of Samuel Johnson, then England's leading man of letters. Oliver Goldsmith
died on April 4, 1774, because of fever.
19
Universitas Kristen Maranatha
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODECTION
BACKGROEND OF THE STEDY
Although The Vicar of Wakefield did not achieve any greatness until the 19th
century, I would like to analyze the theme through protagonist from this book. The
Vicar of Wakefield discusses the loss of nobility, faith, and innocence. But mostly I
want to show the character of Dr. Primrose as the protagonist to reveal the theme.
In this book, the reader will see the character of a man who never gives up
although many obstacles come in his family life. He shows his persistence in dealing
with the problems to make his family life better.
This book gives its readers a moral message which is still applicable in our
life nowadays. As a human, we cannot run from problems, but the important part is
how we face the problems.
Oliver Goldsmith’s novel is chosen because I am interested in the background
of Goldsmith’s writings which are usually based on his social life. From Goldsmith’s
writings, it can be seen by the reader that the focus centers on the simple agrarian life
style of the yeoman farmer and the struggles of a man in facing his life. This focus
would be natural, since Goldsmith was born and
1
Universitas Kristen Maranatha
raised in the rural culture of Ireland, and he came from a poor family, but he
struggled and gained success. (www.smarrpublisher.com/page6056). His writings are
greatly influenced by his social background.
Novel is much easier to understand. Through novel the main idea of the story
can be clearly seen. Novel is ‘a lengthy fictitious prose narrative portraying characters
and presenting an organized series of events and settings.’ (Shaw, 1972 : 257), and
theme is ‘the central and dominating idea in a literary work.’ (Shaw, 1972 : 378). But
one of the important parts in revealing the theme of a novel or any other literary
works is the protagonist character as ‘the leading character of drama, novel, or other
literary works.’ (Shaw, 1972 : 305). That is why based on the above reasons, I would
like to analyze theme through protagonist of this novel.
STATEMENT OF THE PROBNEM
1. What is the theme of the novel?
2. How does the protagonist help to reveal the theme?
PERPOSE OF THE STEDY
1. To show the theme of the novel.
2. To show how the protagonist helps to reveal the theme.
2
Universitas Kristen Maranatha
METHOD OF RESEARCH
The library research is used in analyzing the theme of the novel and a
formalist approach is applied. First of all, I read the primary text entitled The Vicar of
Wakefield by Oliver Goldsmith. Then I make some research to gather the information
that is related to the thesis from some references and the internet to support the
analysis of the primary text. Finally, then I start to analyze the novel using the
theories that support my analysis and draw some conclusions.
THE ORGANIZATION OF THE THESIS
The thesis is divided into three chapters. Chapter one is the Introduction,
which consist of the Background of the Study, Statement of the Problem, Purpose of
the Study, Method of Research and Organization of the Thesis. Chapter Two is the
Analysis of Theme through Protagonist in The Vicar of Wakefield. Chapter Three is
The Conclusion of what has been analyzed in the previous chapter. The next part is
the Bibliography, which contains the list of all the references which have been used.
At the end of the thesis, the Summary of The Vicar of Wakefield and the author’s
biography are presented in the Appendices.
3
Universitas Kristen Maranatha
CHAPTER THREE
CONCLUSION
Having analyzed the novel, I am of the opinion that the theme of the novel is
happiness will come to one who keeps struggling in one’s life. I think that the author
has successfully revealed the theme through the protagonist of the novel, Dr.
Primrose. The protagonist’s struggles and characteristics also help me to reveal the
theme of this novel.
The struggles in this novel are portrayed when Dr. Primrose looses his fortune
because of bankruptcy, but he feels thankful to God in his bad condition, and he
keeps finding ways to get their happiness back.
Dr. Primrose, the protagonist is portrayed as a person who can survive from
his bad condition and keeps struggling to find his happiness. He is a clergyman who
keeps his faith in God although his life is full of struggles, and he is also described as
a person who never gives up in every circumstance, and he is also a good father for
his children, he also leads his family to get their happiness, and learn to be thankful in
every circumstance and during his journey to find his fortune. And he is also a
hardworking person, who never gives up finding his fortune so that he and his family
can get their happiness back.
14
Universitas Kristen Maranatha
From the story, I can conclude that happiness is everything that one wants to
have in one’s life, but to achieve it; one needs to struggle in one’s life. Struggle is a
condition when someone has to give all his or her efforts to come out from his or her
bad condition to the happiness that everyone has dreamed for.
Life is full of obstacles, so one must struggle and must have courage to face it
so that one can get one’s happiness. Dr. Primrose is an ordinary man, but he shows
extraordinary actions in facing his life. His life changes, from wealthy condition into
poor condition, but his actions show that he does not give up to his bad condition. He
struggles hard to face his bad condition, he keeps his faith in God and he believes that
he is able to pass his bad condition and get his happiness back with God’s protection.
As father for his children, he shows full responsibility and he struggles to keep his
family as comfortable as possible in facing the bad condition.
Dr. Primrose’s struggle can also be seen when he has to find a job to fulfill the
family needs. He believes that his hard working will be able to bring back happiness
and joy to his family. From his struggles I can find that struggle makes one aware in
facing one’s life, and it makes one wise in making decision that will affect one’s life
in the future.
Happiness will come to one who keeps struggling in one’s life, just like what
Dr. Primrose has done. The author uses the character of Dr. Primrose in this novel
because the author wants to show that all people in the world has to deal with
problems but what make them different is how they struggle until they get their
happiness. The author also comes from a low level society, so he is able to express
15
Universitas Kristen Maranatha
his writing by using the character of Dr. Primrose to show the struggles and the
happiness.
Finally, the author shows how Dr. Primrose is able to find his happiness. I
believe that all people as human being, have their own problems, but one can achieve
one’s happiness if one struggle hard for it, and keep one’s faith to God. One can
learn from Dr. Primrose, that he never gives up to bring his happiness back, but
before he can get his happiness, he has to fight for it, he struggles hard and keeps his
faith in God.
I believe that the theme of this novel is universal, as it can happen to all
people who are dealing with bad conditions. I think that the author makes the readers
aware that although they have so many obstacles in their life, they should not give up,
because their happiness will come if they keep struggling and never give up in their
bad conditions.
16
Universitas Kristen Maranatha
BIBLIOGRAPHY
References:
Shaw, Harry. Dictionary of Literary Terms, New York : Mc Graw Hill Book
Company, 1972
Internet websites
Godsmith, Oliver. www.Theatrehistory.com/british/goldsmith001.html. May, 17th.
2005.
Vicar of Wakefield, The Concise Oxford Companion to Irish ...
www.highbeam.com/ref/doc0.asp... May, 17th. 2005.
Primary text:
Goldsmith, Oliver. The Vicar Of Wakefield. New York : Published by Pocket Books,
Inc, 1957.
17
Universitas Kristen Maranatha
Dalam skripsi ini, penulis membahas tema dari sebuah novel berjudul The
Vicar of Wakefield, karya dari Oliver Goldsmith, seorang penulis berkebangsaan
Irlandia.
Melalui protagonis dalam novel ini, penulis mendapati tema dari novel ini
adalah Kebahagiaan akan datang dalam kehidupan seseorang bila seseorang tersebut
tetap berjuang dan tidak menyerah dalam permasalahannya. Tema ini diambil dari
penggambaran Dr. Primrose, seorang pendeta yang mula-mula memiliki kehidupan
yang bahagia dan tentram, namun hal tersebut harus direggut darinya karena
permasalahan yang datang silih berganti. Tetapi dia tidak pernah menyerah berupaya
mengembalikan kebahagiaan dalam keluarganya yang hilang.
Protagonis dalam novel ini berusaha mengembalikan masa kejayaannya yang
hilang akibat usaha yang dia miliki bangkrut, dia tetap berjuang keras demi
mengembalikan kehidupan yang layak bagi keluarganya. Selain permasalahan
financial tersebut, masalah-masalah lain pun timbul, peranan Dr. Primrose sebagai
ayah yang baik, orang yang beriman pada Tuhan, dan seorang pekerja keras pun diuji
melalui setiap permasalahan yang muncul.
Universitas Kristen Maranatha
Tetapi protagonis dalam novel ini pantang menyerah dalam setiap
permasalahannya dan akhirnya dia berhasil mengatasi semua permasalahan yang
timbul dalam kehidupannya. Ia pun akhirnya memperoleh kembali kebahagiaannya
yang hilang. Selain itu, karena kerja kerasnya, dia pun berhasil dalam pekerjaannya
dan meraih kesuksesan. Hal ini mampu diwujudkan olehnya karena dia tetap
berusaha keras dan tidak menyerah dalam menghadapi masalah-masalah yang datang.
Universitas Kristen Maranatha
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PREFACE……………….…………………………………………………………
TABLE OF CONTENTS………………………………………………................
ABSTRACT…………………………………….………………………………….
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study………………………………….……………......
Statement of the Problem…………………………………………………...
Purpose of the Study…………………………………………….………….
Method of Research…….………………………..........................................
Organization of the Thesis………………………..………………………...
CHAPTER TWO: ANALYSIS OF THE THEME THROUGH THE
PROTAGONIST IN OLIVER GOLDSMITH’S THE VICAR OF
WAKEFIELD..............................................................................................
CHAPTER THREE: CONCLUSION…………………………………………...
BIBLIOGRAPHY…………………………………………………………………
APPENDICES:
Synopsis of The Vicar of Wakefield ………..............................................
Biography of the author…………………………………………………..
i
ii
iii
1
2
2
3
3
4
14
17
18
19
Universitas kristen Maranatha
APPENDICES
SYNOPSIS OF THE VICAR OF SAKEFIELD
Dr. Primrose has six children, and they live in town named Wakefield. They
are happy family until on the evening of his son George's wedding to Arabella
Wilmot, the Vicar loses all his money through the bankruptcy of a merchant. The
wedding is called off, George is sent away to town and the rest of the family move to
a new place on the land of Squire Thornhill. They also meet a poor and eccentric
friend, Mr. Burchell, at an inn, rescues Sophia from drowning and Sir William
Thornhill, the uncle of Mr. Thornhill. Dr. Primrose works hard to fulfill the family’s
needs as a worker in the land which belongs to Mr. Thornhill.
Dr. Primrose shows that there are no obstacles that can change him as a good
person and responsible father for his family. He struggles when his daughter, Olivia,
is missing. He never gives up finding her everywhere. During his pursuit,
accidentally he meets his son George who was sent to town. Dr. Primrose is able to
find Olivia accidentally, after he has a long journey finding her. He finally knows that
the bad guy is not Mr. Burchell, but Mr. Thornhil is the one who kidnaps his
daughter. So Mr. Thornill is sent to prison for his crime. The happiness which was
missing finally come back, the merchants that made him bankrupt is captured.
18
Universitas Kristen Maranatha
The happiness continues when finally Mr. William Thornhill, the landlord, trusts him
to be his assistant in running his company.
BIOGRAPHY OF OLIVER GOLDSMITH
Oliver Goldsmith was born in an Irish village (usually believed to be Pallas,
near Ballymahon) on 10th November 1730. His father was a poor Anglican
clergyman. He is the fifth of eight children. He entered Trinity College, Dublin when
his age was almost 16 years old. He became a hack writer, turning out books and
articles on all sorts of subjects for London booksellers. They were a novel, `The Vicar
of Wakefield'; a play, `She Stoops to Conquer'; and a long poem, `The Deserted
Village'.
He claimed to be a physician with a degree from a foreign university, and
people called him "doctor." Nobody came for treatment, however, so he turned to
writing. Goldsmith's essays `The Citizen of the World', published in 1762, won the
attention of Samuel Johnson, then England's leading man of letters. Oliver Goldsmith
died on April 4, 1774, because of fever.
19
Universitas Kristen Maranatha
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODECTION
BACKGROEND OF THE STEDY
Although The Vicar of Wakefield did not achieve any greatness until the 19th
century, I would like to analyze the theme through protagonist from this book. The
Vicar of Wakefield discusses the loss of nobility, faith, and innocence. But mostly I
want to show the character of Dr. Primrose as the protagonist to reveal the theme.
In this book, the reader will see the character of a man who never gives up
although many obstacles come in his family life. He shows his persistence in dealing
with the problems to make his family life better.
This book gives its readers a moral message which is still applicable in our
life nowadays. As a human, we cannot run from problems, but the important part is
how we face the problems.
Oliver Goldsmith’s novel is chosen because I am interested in the background
of Goldsmith’s writings which are usually based on his social life. From Goldsmith’s
writings, it can be seen by the reader that the focus centers on the simple agrarian life
style of the yeoman farmer and the struggles of a man in facing his life. This focus
would be natural, since Goldsmith was born and
1
Universitas Kristen Maranatha
raised in the rural culture of Ireland, and he came from a poor family, but he
struggled and gained success. (www.smarrpublisher.com/page6056). His writings are
greatly influenced by his social background.
Novel is much easier to understand. Through novel the main idea of the story
can be clearly seen. Novel is ‘a lengthy fictitious prose narrative portraying characters
and presenting an organized series of events and settings.’ (Shaw, 1972 : 257), and
theme is ‘the central and dominating idea in a literary work.’ (Shaw, 1972 : 378). But
one of the important parts in revealing the theme of a novel or any other literary
works is the protagonist character as ‘the leading character of drama, novel, or other
literary works.’ (Shaw, 1972 : 305). That is why based on the above reasons, I would
like to analyze theme through protagonist of this novel.
STATEMENT OF THE PROBNEM
1. What is the theme of the novel?
2. How does the protagonist help to reveal the theme?
PERPOSE OF THE STEDY
1. To show the theme of the novel.
2. To show how the protagonist helps to reveal the theme.
2
Universitas Kristen Maranatha
METHOD OF RESEARCH
The library research is used in analyzing the theme of the novel and a
formalist approach is applied. First of all, I read the primary text entitled The Vicar of
Wakefield by Oliver Goldsmith. Then I make some research to gather the information
that is related to the thesis from some references and the internet to support the
analysis of the primary text. Finally, then I start to analyze the novel using the
theories that support my analysis and draw some conclusions.
THE ORGANIZATION OF THE THESIS
The thesis is divided into three chapters. Chapter one is the Introduction,
which consist of the Background of the Study, Statement of the Problem, Purpose of
the Study, Method of Research and Organization of the Thesis. Chapter Two is the
Analysis of Theme through Protagonist in The Vicar of Wakefield. Chapter Three is
The Conclusion of what has been analyzed in the previous chapter. The next part is
the Bibliography, which contains the list of all the references which have been used.
At the end of the thesis, the Summary of The Vicar of Wakefield and the author’s
biography are presented in the Appendices.
3
Universitas Kristen Maranatha
CHAPTER THREE
CONCLUSION
Having analyzed the novel, I am of the opinion that the theme of the novel is
happiness will come to one who keeps struggling in one’s life. I think that the author
has successfully revealed the theme through the protagonist of the novel, Dr.
Primrose. The protagonist’s struggles and characteristics also help me to reveal the
theme of this novel.
The struggles in this novel are portrayed when Dr. Primrose looses his fortune
because of bankruptcy, but he feels thankful to God in his bad condition, and he
keeps finding ways to get their happiness back.
Dr. Primrose, the protagonist is portrayed as a person who can survive from
his bad condition and keeps struggling to find his happiness. He is a clergyman who
keeps his faith in God although his life is full of struggles, and he is also described as
a person who never gives up in every circumstance, and he is also a good father for
his children, he also leads his family to get their happiness, and learn to be thankful in
every circumstance and during his journey to find his fortune. And he is also a
hardworking person, who never gives up finding his fortune so that he and his family
can get their happiness back.
14
Universitas Kristen Maranatha
From the story, I can conclude that happiness is everything that one wants to
have in one’s life, but to achieve it; one needs to struggle in one’s life. Struggle is a
condition when someone has to give all his or her efforts to come out from his or her
bad condition to the happiness that everyone has dreamed for.
Life is full of obstacles, so one must struggle and must have courage to face it
so that one can get one’s happiness. Dr. Primrose is an ordinary man, but he shows
extraordinary actions in facing his life. His life changes, from wealthy condition into
poor condition, but his actions show that he does not give up to his bad condition. He
struggles hard to face his bad condition, he keeps his faith in God and he believes that
he is able to pass his bad condition and get his happiness back with God’s protection.
As father for his children, he shows full responsibility and he struggles to keep his
family as comfortable as possible in facing the bad condition.
Dr. Primrose’s struggle can also be seen when he has to find a job to fulfill the
family needs. He believes that his hard working will be able to bring back happiness
and joy to his family. From his struggles I can find that struggle makes one aware in
facing one’s life, and it makes one wise in making decision that will affect one’s life
in the future.
Happiness will come to one who keeps struggling in one’s life, just like what
Dr. Primrose has done. The author uses the character of Dr. Primrose in this novel
because the author wants to show that all people in the world has to deal with
problems but what make them different is how they struggle until they get their
happiness. The author also comes from a low level society, so he is able to express
15
Universitas Kristen Maranatha
his writing by using the character of Dr. Primrose to show the struggles and the
happiness.
Finally, the author shows how Dr. Primrose is able to find his happiness. I
believe that all people as human being, have their own problems, but one can achieve
one’s happiness if one struggle hard for it, and keep one’s faith to God. One can
learn from Dr. Primrose, that he never gives up to bring his happiness back, but
before he can get his happiness, he has to fight for it, he struggles hard and keeps his
faith in God.
I believe that the theme of this novel is universal, as it can happen to all
people who are dealing with bad conditions. I think that the author makes the readers
aware that although they have so many obstacles in their life, they should not give up,
because their happiness will come if they keep struggling and never give up in their
bad conditions.
16
Universitas Kristen Maranatha
BIBLIOGRAPHY
References:
Shaw, Harry. Dictionary of Literary Terms, New York : Mc Graw Hill Book
Company, 1972
Internet websites
Godsmith, Oliver. www.Theatrehistory.com/british/goldsmith001.html. May, 17th.
2005.
Vicar of Wakefield, The Concise Oxford Companion to Irish ...
www.highbeam.com/ref/doc0.asp... May, 17th. 2005.
Primary text:
Goldsmith, Oliver. The Vicar Of Wakefield. New York : Published by Pocket Books,
Inc, 1957.
17
Universitas Kristen Maranatha