Comparison of the main characters in Flaubert`S Madame Bovary and Saadawi`S Woman At Point Zero From Feminist Perspective - USD Repository

COMPARISON OF THE MAIN CHARACTERS

IN FLAUBERT’S MADAME BOVARY AND

SAADAWI’S WOMAN AT POINT ZERO

FROM FEMINIST PERSPECTIVE

AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS

Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra in English Letters

LATIFA ROMADHON

Student Number: 084214115

ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME

DEPARTMENTOF ENGLISHLETTERS

FACULTY OF LETTERS

SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY

YOGYAKARTA

2013

YOU CAN ACHIEVE ANYTHING, IF YOU ARE

WILLING TO DO THE THINGS TO ACHIEVE IT

(mario teguh 2009 :153)

YOU HAVE TO SUCCEED NO MATTER WHAT

This undergraduate thesis is dedicated to My dearest father and mother H.Mas’ud and Sukartini My beloved brothers and sister

Emy Andrini Anisa Hidayati Chasan Mohammad Sobary Mohammad

And For those who believe that I can finish my study

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

First of all, I would like to thank Allah S.W.T for the love and guidance me until today. He never leaves me and always guides me in doing my thesis. I also want to thank those who help me in finishing my thesis.

My deeper gratitude goes to my advisor, Elisa Dwi Wardani, S.S., M.Hum. I would like to thank for her attention, ideas, and time during my graduation thesis. I could not have imagined having a better advisor for my thesis. I would like to express the deepest appreciation to my Co-Advisor, .

Dr. F.X. Siswadi, M.A for the valuable guidance and advice Without his

supervision and constant help this thesis would not have been possible.

I thank also Maria Ananta Tri Suryandari, S.S., M.Ed and Dr. F.X

Siswadi, M.A for introducing me to the novel Woman at Point Zero and

Madame Bovary

I thank the administrative staffs for English Letters Department for the help during my study. I thank also all library staffs of Sanata Dharma University for helping me to find so many sources related to the undergraduate thesis.

I also thank my beloved parents, Mr. Mas’ud and Mrs Sukartini, for the motivation. They gave me the endless love, for supporting me spiritually throughout my life . They are the biggest motivation why I should finish my study. I would like to offer my special thanks to Senindya Yon

Elang Sambara, my special friend, for his love and kindness and support

he has shown when I am writing this thesis. I am thankful for his time, and

his willingness to accompany me to finish my study And for my close friend, Nurul Fajriana, thank you for being good friend for me. I also would like to thank Farella Naharani for the personal support and motivation when I getting bored with my thesis. And for my other friends,

Sisilia Triana Dewi, Frida Rana, Zepherina Cindy, Apriyani Susanti,

Fransisca Desi Nathalia, Rizky Yuga, Yulia Rahmawati, Christina

Laviani, friends from KKN, Ayuk and Epan, Muti, Wulan, Titus,

Indra, and Demen. Thanks for my friends in Jogja Music School. My

Research would not have been possible without their help. Last but not least, I would like to express my appreciation to all people in the world who are determined to stop violence and make the world peace.

Latifa Romadhon

TABLE OF CONTENTS TITLE PAGE .......................................................................................... i APPROVAL PAGE ................................................................................ ii ACCEPTANCE PAGE............................................................................. iii

MOTTO PAGE.......................................................................................... iv

DEDICATION PAGE.............................................................................. v LEMBAR PERSETUJUAN PUBLIKASI KARYA ILMIAH............. vi STATEMENTS OF WORK’S ORIGINALITY .................................. vii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS......................................................................viii TABLE OF CONTENTS........................................................................ x ABSTRACT ........................................................................................... xii ABSTRAK ............................................................................................. xiii

CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION............................................................ 1 A. Background of the Study.............................................................. 1 B. ProblemFormulation..................................................................... 4 C. ObjectivesoftheStudy................................................................... 4 D. Definition of Terms........................................................................ 5 CHAPTER II:THEORETICALREVIEW............................................. 6 A. Review of Related Studies............................................................ 6 B. Review of Related Theories......................................................... 9 C. Theoretical Framework................................................................ 15 CHAPTER III: METHODOLOGY........................................................ 17 A. Object of the Study........................................................................ 17 B. Approach of the Study.................................................................. 19 C. Method of the Study ..................................................................... 19

CHAPTER IV: ANALYSIS .................................................................... 21

A. The Characteristics of Firdaus and Emma ................................ 21 B. Contrast Between Firdaus and Emma as Viewed From Feminist Perspective.................................................................................... 27 1.a Abuses Toward Firdaus.......................................................... 28 1.b Abuses Toward Emma........................................................... 33 1.c The Contrast Between Firdaus and Emma Through Abuses They Receive........................................................................... 35 2.a Firdaus in Egypt’s Patriarchal Society................................ 40 2.b Emma in France’s Patriarchal Society................................ 43 2.c The Contrast Between Firdaus and Emma Related To the Patriarchal Society in Which They Live .............................. 45

CHAPTER V: CONCLUSION................................................................ 48

BIBLIOGRAPHY .................................................................................... 51

APPENDIX 1............................................................................................. 53

APPENDIX 2............................................................................................ 55

ABSTRACT

LATIFA ROMADHON (2008 Comparison of The Main Characters in ).

Flaubert’s Madame Bovary and Saadawi’s Woman at Point Zero From

Feminist Perspective. Yogyakarta: Department of English Letters, Faculty

of Letters, Sanata Dharma University.

This study analyzes two novels that talk about women’s problem. The first work is entitled Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert. This story tells about an unhappily married woman who is dissapointed with her marriage and tries to fulfill her fantasy of love by having forbidden relationship with other men. The second work is entitled Woman at Point Zero by Nawal El Saadawi. This story tells about an imprisoned prostitute who kills a pimp and she awaits her death sentence.

This study aims to find out the answers of two problems. The first problem is the characteristics of Firdaus and Emma. The second is revealing the contrast between Firdaus and Emma as seen from feminist perspective.

In answering those questions, the writer used library research where the information can be found from the books related to the topic. There are two kinds of sources:the primary source, which is obtained from the novel itself, which are Madame Bovary and Woman at Point Zero. The secondary sources which are sources from other books related to the topic and also from the Internet.

The result of the study shows that in Madame Bovary Emma as the main character has a strong will to achieve what she really wants in her life. In Woman at Point Zero, Firdaus wants to show that women can be equal with men through her actions. From feminist perspective, both of them can be contrasted through abuses they receive and through the patriarchal society in which they live. Through the abuses they receive, Emma and Firdaus have different reasons. Emma accepts abuses because of her dissapointment of her marriage life and also because of her habit in reading many kinds of romantic books, while Firdaus gets abuses because of her powerlessness living in patriarchal society. The patriarchal society in which Emma and Firdaus live different. In France, the patriarchal society is influenced by culture and law regulation. And in Egypt, where Firdaus lives, the patriarchal society is also influenced by religion interpretation. Both Firdaus and Emma live in a patriarchal society. There is a difference between Firdaus and Emma in facing patriarchal society in which they live. Firdaus shows her rebellion toward the patriarchal society through her action. She wants to show her bravery by refusing to ask the President to be pardoned when she is sentenced to die for killing a pimp. She wants to be listened by men and society. On the other hand, Emma faces the patriarchal society in a weak way. She does not do anything, even she wants to escape from the patriarchal society by committing suicide. It can be noticed that Emma is a weak woman.

ABSTRAK

LATIFA ROMADHON (2008). Comparison of The Main Characters in

Flaubert’s Madame Bovary and Saadawi’s Woman at Point Zero From Feminist Perspective. Yogyakarta: Jurusan Sastra Inggris, Fakultas Sastra, Universitas Sanata Dharma.

Skripsi ini menganalisa dua novel yang berbicara tentang permasalahan wanita. Karya pertama berjudul “Madame Bovary”, yang ditulis oleh Gustave Flaubert. Novel ini bercerita tentang seorang istri yang tidak bahagia dan kecewa dengan kehidupan pernikahannya, kemudian mencoba berselingkuh dengan bebebrapa pria untuk memenuhi fantasi cintanya. Sedangkan karya kedua berjudul “Woman at Point Zero”, yang ditulis oleh Nawal El Saadawi. Novel ini bercerita tentang seorang pelacur yang dipenjara karena membunuh seorang germo dan menunggu hukuman mati.

Skripsi ini bertujuan untuk menjawab dua permasalahan. Permasalahan pertama mengenai karakteristik Firdaus and Emma. Permasalahan kedua mengungkap perbedaan antara Firdaus and Emma apabila dilihat dari perspektif feminis.

Dalam menjawab pertanyaan tersebut, penulis menggunakan penelitian perpustakaan dimana infromasi dapat ditemukan dalam buku yang berhubungan dengan topik. Ada dua jenis narasumber: yang pertama dari novel itu sendiri, yaitu Madame Bovary dan Woman at Point Zero. Sumber yang kedua yaitu buku buku lainnya yang berhubungan dengan topik dan juga dari Internet.

Hasil dari analisa menunjukkan bahwa di “Madame Bovary”, Emma sebagai pemeran utama mempunyai kemauan yang kuat untuk mencapai apa yang dia inginkan dalam hidupnya. Sedangkan di “Woman at Point Zero”, Firdaus ingin menunjukkan bahwa wanita bisa setara dengan pria melalui perkataan dan perbuatannya. Dilihat dari perspektif feminis, keduanya dapat dibandingkan dilihat dari pelecehan seksual yang mereka terima, dan dilihat dari masyarakat patriarkal dimana mereka tinggal. Dilihat dari pelecehan yang mereka terima, Emma dan Firdaus mempunyai alasan yang berbeda. Emma menerima perlakuan tersebut karena kekecewaanya terhadap kehidupan pernikahannya atau bisa dikatakan pelecehan yang ia terima dikarenakan karena dirinya sendiri. Sementara Firdaus mendapat pelecehan tersebut karena ketidakberdyaannya hidup dalam masyarakat patriarkal. Masyarkat patriarkal dimana Emma dan Firdaus tinggal berbeda. Di Prancis, masyarakat patriarkal dipengaruhi juga oleh budaya dan peraturan hukum yang berlaku di sana. Dan di Mesir, dimana Firdaus tinggal, masyarakat patriarkal dipengaruhi oleh tafsir keagamaan. Firdaus dan Emma sama- sama tinggal si masyarakat patriarki. Tetapi ada perbedaan antara Firdaus dan Emma menghadapi masyarakat patriarki dimana mereka tinggal. Firdaus menunjukkan pemberontakan terhadap masyarakat patriarki melalui tindakannya. Ia ingin menunjukkan keberaniannya dengan cara menolak untuk meminta maaf kepada Presiden ketika ia dihukum mati karena membunuh seorang germo. Ia ingin didengarkan oleh laki-laki dan masyarakat. Sedangkan Emma menghadapi masyarakat patriarki dengan cara yang lemah. Ia tidak melakukan pemberontakan atau apapun, bahkan ia ingin lari dari masyarakat patriarki dengan cara bunuh diri. Dapat disimpulkan bahwa Emma adalah seorang wanita yang lemah.

CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION This chapter consists of four parts, which are background of the study, problem fomulation, objective of the study, and definition of terms. The bakground of the study explains about the topic of the study. The

problem formulation consists of two questions that will be analyzed in this thesis. Objective of the study deals with the purpose of this study.

Definition of terms gives the explanation about some terms related to the topic to avoid misunderstanding.

A. Background of the study As the writer knows, it is assumed that women are weaker than men.

Women are considered as needing protection from men. Men are considered to be superior than women in all aspect of life. Even though the situation now is different, in the past women were not supposed to have career or public duty like man. They are supposed to stay at home to cook, to take care of children, and to serve their husbands. However, some women were even forced to satisfy men.

Women marginalization does not only happen in work place, but also in house hold. Assumption that women is caring and diligent, and not suitable to be house holder makes all the house works become women’s responsibility. As a consequence, many women have to work hard to clean and tidy house, such as brooming, cleaning the floor, cooking, etc. Moreover, if women had to work in a public sphere, so they have burden.

The problem of gender, human being categorized into man and woman, is a topic that is always discussed in the society. This problem that is caused by social construction has made many inequalities between men women. St Thomas pronounced woman to be an “imperfect man”, an incidential being. (Humm, 1992:xxii)

Woman discrimination also appear in a literary world. Literary world is powered by men. It means literature work is purposed to men. If the reader is women, she is forced to read as a man. (Selden,1991:140)

Since women were like the second class citizens, what they think, what they feel, what they say are not often heard. The condition had forced some women to take action. They started to stand for themselves, to demand their rights of equality. Even though at that time, feminism had not even been described yet, some feminists started to appear.

For example, in Indonesia, there is R.A Kartini, who struggles for equality between man and woman. In her letters, she states that rights and obligations of women in east still under man. Woman cannot study at school and even have difficulties socializing with others. Kartini wants to end all of this discrimination. (Pradopo,1995:188)

That condition above can be reflected in a literary world, such as novel. Some literary works based on feminism started to flourish and they continue growing until now. Some literary works based on feminism started to flourish and they continue growing until now. There are so many literary works that reflect feminism. Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert and

3 Woman at Point Zero by Nawal El Saadawi convey the idea of women oppression, especially through the main female characters.

“Feminism is organized movement to achieve women’s basic rights and a social transformation ideology which the purpose is to create the world for women by simple social similarity.”(Humm:2002:158).

Above is a quotation that is taken from Dictionary of Feminist

Theories . Feminism is women’s struggle to be equal with men as a result of

awareness about women which are being treated unfairly.

Finally, modern reformer group requires two things. First, they want appreciation toward women. Second, they want that housework is done together between husband and wife so that they can respect each other.(Sugihastuti:2002:89)

In this study, the writer wants to make comparison between two main female characters Firdaus in Woman at Point Zero and Emma in Madame Bovary. From the feminism point of view, the writer wants to contrast how the characters are described in this story in react to their problems.

The writer becomes interested in these two novels because in these two novels the writer can see two different characters. Both Emma and Firdaus have the same problems in her life. They get abuses and live in a patriarchal society. Emma and Firdaus live in a difficult situation, but they face the situation differently.

In Woman at Point Zero, Firdaus is a poor woman because she gets sexual abuse as long as she lives. She is really bold to faces all her problems. This situation does not make her depressed but it makes her stronger. She wants her words to be listened by the surrounding.

In Madame Bovary, Emma as a wife feels that her husband does not give enough attention to her, even it does not true. She has high fantasy of her marriage but the reality is not the same as her fantasy. It makes her having affair with some men to fulfill her fantasy. Unfortunately, it does not work. She decides to give up and comitting suicide.

At first, the writer is interested in Firdaus character, in her effort to be listened to the surrounding. Then, the writer finds that Firdaus character is contrasted with the main female character in “ Madame Bovary”, that is Emma.

B. Problem Formulation

In this thesis, the writer formulates two questions :

1. What are the characteristics of Firdaus and Emma?

2. What is the contrast between Firdaus and Emma revealed as viewed from the feminist perspective?

C. Objectives of the Study

The aim of the writer with the two questions on problem formulation is to reveal the contrast between the two main female characters from

feminism point of view. The first objective is to find out the characterization of Emma and Firdaus by analyzing the way they behave and the way they think in the stories. The second objective is to understand the character of Emma and Firdaus from the feminism point of view.

D. Definition of terms

There is a definition of terms used in this study.This study uses the term feminism to analyze this study. To avoid misunderstanding, the writer uses the definition of feminism by Maggie Humm :

According to Humm, Feminism is a belief that women have equal rights and sexist domination should be removed.

(Humm,1992 : 1)

CHAPTER II THEORETICAL REVIEW This chapter contains all reviews of related literature used in this

study. It discusses related studies, related theories, and theoretical framework. In the related studies, the writer presents studies that related to the topic of this study. In the related theories, the writer presents theories that related to the problem formulation. They are theory of character and characterization and also theory of feminism. Meanwhile, in the theoretical framework review some theories that used in this study.

A. Review of related studies

Woman has always become an interesting topic to be discussed. On one side, women have enchantment which can make men get infatuated. But on the other side, women are assumed as weak persons. Because of this weakness, it makes men exploit their beauty.

Aristoteles said that the female is a female by virtue of a certain lack of qualities, while St. Thomas said that women to be an “imperfect man”, an “incidental being”. (Humm, 1992:xxii) From quotation above, the writer can notice that woman are assumed to be weaker than man and it makes man feels superior. This superiority makes man do violence toward woman. Violence which is caused by this gender bias is called as “Gender-related- violence”. ( Fakih,1996:17)

In “Woman at Point Zero”, the main character, Firdaus often gets violence. The most painful violence is from Sheikh Mahmoud, her husband.

Sheikh Mahmoud likes to beat her and this becomes his habbit.

Another kind of violence that Firdaus experience is prostitution. In “Woman at Point Zero” , Firdaus becomes prostitute. Life which really hard makes her choose this situation. First, Sharifa who persuade her to do this job and then Firdaus herself who choose become a prostitutes because of her dissapointment to all of man whom she met.

Another violence can be seen in novel “Madame Bovary” in the character of Emma. The form of violence which she experience is rape.

Rudolphe likes Emma at the first sight, although she has a husband. It makes him tease her and then rape her in a hill. (162) The example of gender inequalities above makes feminism appear. Feminism appear because of the gender prejudice that women are seen as secondary people. Women are assumed to be different from men universally. It is not only from the biological criteria, but also from socioculture criteria.

(Susilastuti, 1993:29-30).

It reflects on the character of Firdaus in “Woman at Point Zero”. Feminism that appears in the story is also influenced by the socioculture. The culture in Egypt contributes on how Firdaus reacts to her problems in her life.

Egypt, where Firdaus lives, is a city that most of the citizens are Moslem. This situation influences how Firdaus react to her problem.

According norm in Moslem society, if a girl wants to marry, there should be permission from her father. A father may marry off her daughter with a man even she does not love at all. (Nurhayati,2012:XIV).

It can be seen in Firdaus life. Firdaus as a girl in Egypt, which her father has died, then she is under controlled by her uncle. She is very submissive to him. When her uncle wants to marry off her with Sheikh Mahmoud, Firdaus accepts that marriage although she does not like him at all.

Khalid Abou Fadl as a Moslem thinker said that although the society praise women role as a mother, women are portrayed as ones who are imperfect and disobedient. So a wife should serve and be controlled by her husband. As a child, a girl is controlled by her father and as a society member a girl is under controlled by all men. (Fadl,2005:308).

Firdaus also experience this. She is controlled by her husband, Sheikh Mahmoud. She is unhappy with her marriage. Firdaus often gets physical abuse from her husband but she just silents and accepts that bad treatment. She tries to complain to her uncle but it is useless.

”Her uncle said that all husband beat their wives and my uncle’s wife said that her husband often beat her. I was said a respected Sheikh, well versed in the teachings of religion, and, he, therefore could not possibly be in the habit of beating his wife. She replied that it was precisely men well versed in their religion who beat their wives.The percepts of religion permitted such punishment. A virtous woman was not supposed to complain about her husband. Her duty was perfect obedience.”(Pp.46-47)

B. Review of Related theories The writer uses two kinds of theories to explore deeper the work.

The writer uses theory on character and characterization, and theory on feminism. The writer will combine the theories from many experts to support the analysis.

1. Theories on Character and Characterization

The writer focuses the analysis on the main character both of the two novels. Character plays an important role in a literary work, such as in a novel. Abrams defines character as the person presented in a dramatic or narrative work, who are interpreted by the reader as being endowed with moral and disposition qualities that are expressed in what they say-the dialogue-and by what they do-the action (Abrams, 1981:20). Here, Abrams stated that to know the character of a person in dramatic or narrative work, we can see from how the person act and say.

The chief character in a plot, on whom our interest centers, is called the protagonist (or alternatively, the hero or heroine), and if the plot is such that he or she is pitted against an important opponent, that character is called the antagonist. (Abrams,1999:224)

Here, Abrams states that there are two kinds of character, which are protagonist and antagonist. Protagonist is a character that observed many times and the central of the story. Anatagonist is a character which has the opposite attitude with the protagonist character.

A broad distinction is frequently made between alternative methods for characterizing. There are two methods of characterization, which are

telling method and showing method. In a telling method, the author explain all in details and give a direct comment so the readers can know the character directly. In a showing method, the author let the readers to conclude by themselves about the character by see the dialogue and their acts. (Abrams, 1999:33)

E.M Foster classified characters according to the development stage into two parts, which are round and flat character. Round character is complex in temperament and motivation, flat character is a character that have one characteristic only. According to him there are two kinds of character if we see from the development stage which are round and flat character. Round character is a character that have many attitudes and qualities inside of him or her. While flat character is a character that have one attitude and quality inside of him or her.(Abrams, 1999:33)

There are many kinds of the theory of characterization above. In this thesis, the writer will only uses some of it. The writer will only use the theory that have correlation to this study. The writer will focus to analyze their speech, act, and thoughts.

2.` Theories on Feminism According to Humm patriarchy is men authority system which opress women through social institution, economic, and politic. (Humm,

2002:332) Humm states that patriarchy is situation where man is superior than women, and it makes women are being opressed by them in all aspect of life.

Woolf’s fundamental contribution to feminism is her argument that patriarchy is not caused by natural factor but it happen because of the social construction. (Humm,1992:21) Here, he states that patriarchy is not God certainty, but it is created by human itself through long social process.

The concern with ‘conditioning’ and ‘socialization’ underpins a crucial set of distinctions, that between the terms ‘feminist’, ‘female’ and ‘ feminine’. As Toril Moi explains, the first is ‘a political position’ , the second ‘a matter of biology’, and the third ‘a set of culturally defined characteristics’. (Barry, 1995:122) Barry states that feminist concern with women marginalization.

Then, female is the matter of biology, it means that being a female is a God’s desitny, while feminine is the traits which is constructed culturally.

Feminine is women’s trait that is not women’s destiny but it is constructed culturally. Feminine is not the matter of sex but it is about gender. Gender differences has made many inequalities toward both men and women, but especially toward women.

Many feminists notice that in patriarchal world, there are so many inequalities between men and women. Women are described as a secondary sex or the second class. They are assumed to be an imperfect human. It can be seen in how Simeone de Beauvoir describes a woman below. Simeone de Beauvoir, like other Western philosopher before her, categorized women, somewhat derisive, as having no sense of logic and being more attuned to

intuition, nature, and “the ............ world and world of poetry” than men. (Simeone de Beauvoir, 1989:620)

According to de Beauvoir, she states that women are categorized as more irrational or emotional than men. This gender perspective can cause women subordination. Assumption that said women are irrational and emotional can make women are placed in unimportant position, or we can say they cannot be a leader. It is a subordination process and discrimination based on gender.

Another example of feminine traits can be seen below. Aristotle wants to show that women are identical with passiveness. He wants to show it by giving the example of how fetus arouse. While men are assumed to be active, stronger and have many activities in their life. Aristotle fancied that the fetus arouse from the union of sperm and menstrual blood, woman furnishing only passive matter while the male principle contributed force, activity, movement, and life. (Simeone de Beauvoir, 1989:8)

From the quotation above, Aristotle wants to show that passive is one of woman’s characteristic or it can be said feminine traits. While men are assumed to be active, stronger and have many activities in their life. Passive is not one of the man charcteristic or masculine traits.

Some examples above shows that there is inequalities between men and women. Men are assumed to be superior than women. Men has more power than women. The inequalities between them may lead to violence. Violence becomes masculine traits because man are assumed to be stronger

and women are weaker. In masculine hands logic is often a form of violence, a sly kind of tyranny . . . . he tirelessly proves to her that he is right. (Simeone de Beauvoir, 1989:463) We can see so many aspect which put women in a difficult position.

Many kinds of inequalities toward women above makes women aware their position in society is still inferior. Their awareness makes they want to change this situation. They want to liberate themselves from all of this oppression. They want to rebel against men.

The rebel simultaneously experiences a feeling of revulsion at the infringement of his rights and a complete and spontaneous loyalty to certain aspects of himself . . . . Awareness . . . develops from every act of rebellion; the sudden, dazzling perception that there is something in man with which he can identify himself, even if only for a moment.” (Camus, 1956:14) According to Camus, rebellion is a disapproval feeling that interferes with your rights and the freedom you are entitled to. Rebellion appears because someone awareness to rejects the condition of slavery. Women rebellion is one of the characteristic that feminist should have. According to Basin and Said Khan, a feminist is someone who makes the decision in her life based on her own will not because of conditioning or oppression from other person, and the decision can satisfy herself and it can mantain her independence. (Basin and Said Khan, 1993:31-32) Feminist gather together to organize women wovement which is called feminism. Feminism is concerned with the marginalization of all women: that is, with their being relegated to a secondary position. (Guerin, 1999:196) Here, Guerin states

that feminism is a women movement which concerned in women subordination, as a result of their position in the society.

In this thesis, the writer will see Firdaus in “Woman at Point Zero”” and Emma in “Madame Bovary” from feminism point of view. The writer uses feminism because it focuses on the equality between women and men.

3.Theories on Comparative Studies

In 1961, in a collection of essays on comparative literature published by the Southern Illinois University Press and edited by Newton Stallknecht and Horst Frenz, Henry Remark attempted to define what he called the ‘American School’:

“Comparative Literature is the study of literature beyond the confines of one particular country, and the study of the relationships between literature on the one hand, and other areas of knowledge and belief, such as the arts (e.g painting, sculpture, architecture, music), philosophy, history, the social sciences (e.g politics, economics, sociology), the sciences, religion, etc., on the other. (Bassnett, 1993:31).

Bassnett states that comparative literature is the study inter-relationship between two or more literary works. According to Foucault, there are two kinds of comparison, the first is comparison of measurement which analyses the similarity and differences between two literatures. The second is that of order which finds the basic principle of the subjects and organizes the differences.

Michael Foucault has suggested that there are only two forms of comparison: the comparison of measurement, which ‘analyses into units in order to establish relations of equality and inequality’ and that of order, which establishes the simplest elements and arranges differences. (Bassnett, 1993: 92)

In doing the comparative study, the writer uses the comparison of measurement, which analyses the similarity and differences between two literatures. First, the writer finds similarities between Firdaus and Emma, then finds differences between them by contrasting their attitude in facing problems in their life.

According to Edel, comparative study should compare not only some part but also all of the contents. Besides, in doing the comparative study requires both facts and personal opinion. (Edel, 1961:14)

A comparative literature study does not have to be comparative on every page nor even in every chapter, but the overall intent, emphasis and execution must be comparative. The assaying of intent, emphasis and execution requires both objective and subjective judgment. No rigid rules can and should, therefore, be set down beyond these criteria.

C.Theoretical Framework

The writer uses two theories to answer the problem formulation. The first is theory of character and characterization, and the second is theory of feminism. First, the writer uses the theory of character and characterization to answer the first problem formulation that is about the characterization of Firdaus and Emma as the main character. The writer applies the theory of character and characterization proposed by Abrams. Abrams stated that to know the characterization, it can be noticed by what they say in dialogue and what they do in action. Therefore, this theory is very usefeul to understand the character deeper. Next, the writer uses the theory of feminism in order to answer the second problem formulation. The writer

used this theory to see the main female character’s action in facing their problem that can be categorized as a feminist or not.

CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY This chapter consist of three parts, which are object of the study,

approach of the study and method of the study. Object of the study deals with the subject matter. Then, approach of the study explains the approach that used in this study. Method of the study consists of some steps in completing this study.

A. Object of the study

In this study, the writer will use two stories, Woman at Point Zero by Nawal El Saadawi and Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert's. The first story is Woman at Point Zero. It is an Egyptian novel based on a true story of a woman who gets death sentence because of murdering a pimp. This novel tells about a woman who really hates men because of so many oppression that she got as long as she lived. Then she becomes a prostitute and finally kills a pimp. This makes her sentenced to death. This story was first published in Beirut in Arabic in 1979, then it is translated in English in 1983, then in 1986 it is translated in French. It consists of 112 pages. Nawal el-Saadawi as the writer on that book, is a feminist writer from Egypt with international reputation.

Nawal El Saadawi was born in 1931 in Kafr Tahla village, Egypt. She study at Cairo university in medical faculty. She was once imprisoned because of her writing in aWoman and Sex which too vulgair in discussing about sexuality. After she free from pison, in 1982 Nawal bulit Women

Solidarity Association in Arab. Maybe, so many activities that she did above that makes her becomes the most intellectual woman in Arab.

She has written a lot of books about feminism. Nawal El Saadawi has achieved widespread international recognition of her work. She holds honorary doctorates from the university of York, Illinois at Chicago, St Andrews and Tromso. Her many prizes and many awards include the Great Minds of Twentieth Century Prize, awarded by the American Biographical Institute in 2003, the North-South Prize from the Council of Europe and the Premi International Catalunya in 2004. Her books have been translated into over twenty eight languages worldwide. They are taught in universities across the world.

The second story is Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert's. Gustave Flaubert was born in Rouen in 1821, the son of a prominent physician. He is interested in writing at an early age. The novel “Madame Bovary was published in two volumes. The novel, with the subtitle ”Moeurs de

Province” (“Provincial Customs”), first appeared in installment in the

Revue de Paris from the first of October to the fifteenth of December. The

book was published by The New American Library of World Literature, Inc, 501 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10022. This book is written in 1857. It consists of 361 pages. Madame Bovary first printing , July, 1964 and printed in the United States of America. ”Madame Bovary” was one of the most influential literary achievements of the nineteenth century. The success of Madame Bovary was ensured by government prosecution for “immorality”; Salammbo (1862) and The Sentimental Education (1869) get

a cool public reception; not until the publication of Three Tales ( 1877) was his genius popularly acknowledged. This story is about a desperate housewife that cannot able to see her husband kindness because her high fantasy of marriage and love. It is a fiction story of French Literature.

B. Approach of the study

The writer uses feminist approach as the basic of the study.”Feminist literary criticism is concerned with the marginalization of all women: that is, with their being relegated to a secondary position” (Guerin:1999:196). The writer applies this approach to understand the reaction of the main female characters in facing their problems from feminist point of view. The writer uses feminist approach because it focuses on the equality between men and women.

C. Method of the study

There were some stages during the process of this study. First, the writer chose the novel Saadawi’s Woman at Point Zero and Flaubert’s Madame Bovary. The writer will read the whole both novels as the primary source. It is very important to read the novel very carefully in order to get deeper understanding. After reading both of the stories, the writer will concentrate on the main character’s reactions and actions. The writer also took some important points of the main character in the novel that can show the nature of her characteristics.

Second, the writer collected necessary information, data related both of the characters through literary criticism, the Internet, lectures, and discussion with friends. Then, the writer analyzed the data gathered. The writer analyzed both of the characters by seeing their attitudes and thought.

After that, the writer tried to apply some supported books that related in this study. Then, the writer collected all of the data and information and findings into the final argument. In the last part, the writer concluded important points about the topic.

CHAPTER IV ANALYSIS In this chapter, the writer analyzes the problems stated in problem

formulation in the first chapter. The first part is the discussion on the main character which are Firdaus in “Woman at Point Zero” and Emma in “Madame Bovary”. The second part is contrast between Firdaus and Emma as seen from feminist perspective.

A. The Characteristics of Firdaus and Emma Bovary

1. The Characteristics of Firdaus in “Woman at Point Zero”

a. Progressive Minded

Firdaus is a woman that have progressive thinking. She is different from the other woman. When, normally woman at young age dream about man and love, she imagines that she will become the head of state although it is impossible to do at that time.

”I knew that women did not become the head of state, but I felt that I was not like other women, nor like the other girls around me who kept talking about love, or about men. For these were subjects I never mentioned. Somehow I was not interested in the things that occupied their mind, and what seemed of importance to them struck me as being trivial.” (Saadawi, 1983:25) Another proof that shows Firdaus is having progressive thinking is when she tries hard to look for a job although she only has a secondary school certificate. Commonly, woman often assumed that they do not need a job, be a housewife and just do houseworks. But Firdaus is different, she thinks that a job is really important in her life. I have a secondary school certificate. Maybe I can find a job with my secondary, or with my primary school certificate. But if necessary I’m prepared to do anything, even the kind of work that requires no certificates. (Saadawi ,1983:49)

Here, it can be noticed that Firdaus is having progressive thinking from her speech above. She is different from the other woman. She has a greater and modern way of thinking.

b. Brave

What she has experienced in her life makes her become a brave woman. Male oppression since she was in her childhood continued until she became an adult. She has got physical abuse from her uncle, betrayal by lovers, married with someone whom she does not like at all, and exploitation by a pimp. All of this bad experiences has changed her from an innocent become a brave woman. She can protect herself from every man that tries to hurt her. All the men I did get to know, every single man of

them, have filled me with but one desire: to lift my hand and bring it smashing on his face. (Saadawi, 1983:10) Her bravery toward man she showed with the real actions. She can threaten, slap, even kill someone who tries to hurt her. It can be seen in this quotation :

“How can I convince you that what I say is true?” “I do not really know how you can do that.” So I lifted my hand high up above my head and landed it violently on his face. “Now you can believe that I have slapped you. Burrying a kinfe in your neck is just as easy and requires exactly the same movement.”(Saadawi, 1983:109) In the end of the novel, she is sentenced to death for killing a pimp.

Comparison of the main characters in Flaubert`S Madame Bovary and Saadawi`S Woman At Point Zero From Feminist Perspective - USD Repository