denies the very possibility of cursing or voicing their angerwrath. The composition drawn from Gayatri Spivak, argues that to reclaim women’s ways for the field
requires a “strategic essentialism”, the ways in which subordinate or marginalized social groups may temporarily put aside local differences in order to forge a sense of
collective identity through which they band together in political movements Dourish, 2008. The strategic essentialism is designed to subvert the patriarchal, hierarchical
principles of current-traditional system Spivak, 1988: 41. In this undergraduate thesis, I will support the view of Gayatri Spivak which
argues that the Indian subaltern woman has a voice consciousness. Spivak’s conclusion that ‘the subaltern cannot speak’ will be the base for me to identify
Gauri’s characteristics in Jhumpa Lahiri’s The Lowland. The undergraduate thesis argues that Gauri has contributed with diverse representations of subaltern women in
the ‘Third World’ who—despite their oppressed and marginalized status—display the struggle to redefine the concept of motherhood.
B. Review of Related Theories
This undergraduate thesis has three things as my problem formulations: the main character’s characteristics, the concept of motherhood, and the attitude of
rebellion and resistance that typifies a Subaltern position. Therefore, the undergraduate thesis needs theories on the three fields in order to answer the problem
formulation. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
1. Theory on Characters and Characterization
The Postcolonial Feminism attitudes in the novel can be seen by analyzing the major character. According to Edgar V. Roberts and Henry E. Jacobs in Fiction: An
Introduction to Reading and Writing, a character can be disclosed by considering these factors: what the character say and think, what the character do, what other
characters say about himher, and what the author says about himher 1989: 147- 148.
From Holman and Harmon’s book, A Handbook to Literature, on page 95 stated that characterization has three fundamental methods,
The first one is the explicit presentation by the author of the character through direct exposition. Either in an introductory block or more often piecemeal
throughout the work, illustrated by action. The second one is that the presentation of the character in action, with little or no explicit comment by the
author, in the expectation that the reader can deduce the attributes of the actor from the actions; and the third one is the representation from within a character,
without comment by the author, of the impact of actions and emotions on the character’s inner self 2003: 95.
From the quotation above, there are three fundamental elements for a writer to deliver the character. The first one is the author will explicitly describe the character
through the direct exposition. It can also be explained by the action that the author illustrates through the story. The second one will be from the actions of the character
by explaining the comment from the author, so the reader can easily guess the character. The third one means that the character is clearly stated from the impact of
the action that they do and the inner self of the character itself. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
From that discussion, I conclude that character includes the idea of the human personality, the presence of moral uprightness and the simpler notion of the presence
of creatures in art that seem to be human beings of one sort of another. Characters describes the personality of the individual and gives the idea about their life.
Characterization gives the way how a character can be described through direct or indirect explanation. Therefore, I may reveal Gauri’s characteristics and, of course,
her attitudes and her concept of motherhood, using these factors.
2. Theory on Indian Motherhood
In order to understand the motherhood mentioned in the novel, theories on motherhood from several views have to be collected. There are two important points
in this section. First, the theories discussed are about the concept of motherhood, mainly taken form Suzan Lewis theories of motherhood. Second, the concept of
motherhood in Indian society, mainly taken from Maithreyi Krishnaraj from his book “Motherhood in India”.
a. The concept of Motherhood
R. Coward said in his journal, The heaven and hell of mothering: mothering and ambivalence in the mass media, in: W. Hollway and B. Featherstone eds
Mothering and Ambivalence, explained that images of motherhood are all around us; in the media, psychological and medical texts, childcare manuals, feminist texts,
biographies and autobiographies. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
These portrayals of motherhood communicate ideals and stereotypes. They tell us how mothers are expected to feel, think and act. But these images and
the concepts of motherhood that underpin them are full of contradictions. Mothers are simultaneously idealized and blamed for not living up to society’s
ideals. Discourses of motherhood as natural and instinctive coexist with a discourse of professional expertise, and ‘experts’ clamor to advice on how to
be a good mother 1997: 111–118.
Balancing the view of motherhood as instinctive, natural, joyful and women’s ultimate fulfillment, a less idealistic view has emerged from studies which focus on
mothers’ experiences, treating women as individuals in their own right, and not only in relation to children. Motherhood is portrayed as hard work, often isolating and
stressful, changing women’s lives and involving great responsibilities. A number of themes run through all the concepts of motherhood discussed by
Suzan Lewis. The first is that society has enormous expectations of mothers. She has examined some of the powerful stereotypes of the ‘good mother’ and the processes
by which these become social directives to attain impossible standards Lewis, 2002: 42. There are huge variations among mothers, not least in their social circumstances,
and evidence that adequate mothering can take place in a range of social contexts New and David, 1985.
A second theme is the widespread feeling of guilt and inadequacy as well as ambivalence among most mothers as a consequence of social pressures Lewis, 2002:
42. All mothers must find ways of coping with these feelings. Substance abuse may be one way of coping, but it also perpetuates the gap between mothers’ self-
perceptions and their internalized ideals of the perfect mother. This highlights the PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
crucial importance of non-judgmental support in helping them to manage these conflicts and do their best for their children.
Finally, when I look beyond the stereotypes and romanticization of motherhood, it is clear that being a mother is a highly demanding role Lewis, 2002:
42. Labeling a mother as deviant because she does not fit the stereotype, due to substance abuse or other factors can undermine her efforts to be a good mother, and
obscure the support she needs. It is in the children’s as well as the mothers’ interests to recognize that mothers need support – physical and material, and also emotional –
to help them manage the work of mothering and come to terms with the complex mixture of emotions that motherhood involves. Substance abuse is not in itself a
barrier to good mothering, but the myth of motherhood perfection and subsequent feeling of guilt and inadequacy, which this produces among mothers, can reduce self-
confidence.
b. Motherhood in India
An article, Arranging a Marriage in India, by Serena Nanda, stated that: In India, almost all marriages are arranged. Even among the educated middle
classes in modern, urban India, marriage is as much a concern of the families as it is of the individuals. So customary is the practice of arranged marriage
that there is a special name for a marriage which is not arranged: It is called a “love match.” In many cases, the bride and groom would not meet each
other before the marriage. At most they might meet for a brief conversation, and this meeting would take place only after their parents had decided that
the match was suitable. Parents do not compel their children to marry a person who either marriage partner finds objectionable. But only after one
match is refused will another be sought Nanda, 2012: 1. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
