1. Educated
One of Roxana‟s characteristics is revealed through her action, as it is affirmed by Holman and Harmon that one method of characterization is through
the presentation of the character from actions 1986: 81. Roxana is an educated upper class woman. It can be seen from the following quotation.
I went to English schools, and, being young, I learnt the English tongue perfectly well, with all the customs of the English young women; so that I
retained nothing of the French but the speech, nor did I so much as keep any remains of the French language tagged to may way speaking, as most
foreigners do, but spoke what we call natural English, as if I had been born here Defoe, 2000: 2.
Murphy states that a person‟s character in the novel can be revealed
through what the character says. Whenever a character speaks in conversation, we can see his personality from the opinion that he gives 1972: 161. Once Roxana
was young, her parents sent her to English schools. She studied well and became a smart student.
Roxana‟s characteristic as educated woman can be seen through her speech.
I was speaking of myself as about fourteen years of age tall and very well made, sharp as a hawk in matters in common knowledge, quick and smart
in discourse, apt to be satirical, full of repartee, and a little to forward in conversation; or as we call it in English, bold, though perfectly modest in
my behaviour. Being French born, I danced, as some say, naturally, love it extremely, and sang well also; and so well, that, as you will hear, it was
afterwards some advantage to me. With all these things, I wanted neither of wit, beauty, nor money. In this manner, I set out into the world, having
all the advantages that any young women could desire to recommend me
to others and form a prospect of happy living to myself Defoe, 2000: 2.”
From the speech above show, that Roxana is an educated woman. She comes from middle class or rich family. At that time, only a child of the upper or
middle class family can go to school. The middle class girls must learn it for recommended as a future wife. They must learn basic skills such as reading,
dancing and singing. Roxana learns those girl‟s educations. With those
advantages, Roxana can appeal to aristocrat men. Roxana believes that her skills may bring her fortune and happy future life.
Roxana‟s educated characteristic somehow also influences her other characteristics. She studies well at school so that she turns to be critical. Murphy
states that a person‟s character in the novel can be revealed through what the
character thought . Roxana‟s critical way of thinking is expressed through her
argument against what her husband said. She cannot do anything except obeying what her husband has ordered.
Never ladies marry a fool, any husband rather that a fool, with some other husband you may be unhappy, but with a fool you will be miserable; with
another husband you may, I may be unhappy, but with a fool you must; nay, if he would, he cannot make you easy; everything he does is so
awkward, everything he says is so empty, a woman of any sense cannot be surfeited, and sick of him twenty times a-Day Defoe, 2000: 2
Roxana‟s critical way of thinking is the reflection of her dissatisfaction to her husband for unhappy marriage life and their gap of intelligence. Everything
her husband‟s say is right and the best. He does not care with his wife‟s opinion. It is true that
woman at that time is weakness because man‟s control. Though her husband is a conceited fool in managing his family business, he is dominant in the
family. This following quotation implicitly shows how Roxana criticizes him. First, and which, I must confess, is very insufferable, he was a conceited
fool, Tout oponiatre, everything he said, was right, was best and was the purpose Defoe, 2000: 3.
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