Object of the Study

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CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY

A. Object of the Study

The object of this study is a novel entitled The Awakening, the original title is A Solitary Soul, by Kate Chopin. This novel is regarded as a late Victorian Romantic fiction, first published in 1899 by the H.S. Stone Co. publishing house. At the beginning, only a few critics praise the novel’s artistry, most are very negative calling the book “morbid”, “unpleasant” and “unhealthy”. It is banned because it is seen as too bold work, but in the middle of nineteenth century until now, finally it is considered as one of the best feminist literary works that give the unsparing truth about woman’s submerged life. Though Kate Chopin gets no award for this novel, but this novel is assumed as the contributor of feminist ’s movement. The novel has 121 pages and the novel which is analyzed by the researcher is published by Signet Classic, a division of Penguin Books USA Inc, first printing on April, 1976, and edited by Barbara H. Solomon. The Awakening publish many times and becomes a 10 best seller book listed in Amazon in 1993. www.amazon.com. The Awakening is a story of a married couple named Mr. Leonce Pontellier and Edna Pontellier. It tells the reader about an ordinary, middle class woman married to a middle-age, upper class man of Creole society, Leonce Pontellier. She misunderstands her feeling as love to Leonce that makes her agree to marry him. She is depressingly unhappy with her marriage life and she experiences several oppressions caused by the social class gap and a patriarchal system that PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 22 portrays an ideal “mother-woman”. Leonce, her husband exploits Edna both in capitalism Leonce’s businesses and a private area children and housework. Her husband and the upper class Creole society expect a “mother-woman” role, yet it is still far away from Edna’s mindset. The story starts with the flow of Edna’s adultery with Robert, a young man comes from middle class as Edna. Then, Edna realizes that the way of middle class’s treat is suitable for her. By then, she finds her freedom to liberate herself against her husband ’s exploitation and the upper class Creole society. Kate Chopin wants to emphasis the strong patriarchal system believed by the Creole society in 1899. The setting and the main character are adopted from the original society of Lousiana-Creole society, where she lived. Most of them are rich businessmen and elite members of the society and they are also educated people. Creole people love to gather and to celebrate a Tuesdays to know each other. In Lousiana, Creole people are very strict to the rule and there are a lots of limitation works for a woman. A “mother-woman” is placed in a private sphere: house and children. She needs to fulfill her main tasks to take care the household, childr en, and to please their husband’s needs. For a “mother-woman”, family is the most significant thing in her life.

B. Approach of the Study