From that quotation, the writer conclude that setting can be divided into setting of place, setting of time and social setting.
According to Van De Laar, the characters of the novel and scenes are drawn somehow from real life. Setting has important function in identifying the
type of novel. From the setting, author can create events and characters in the novel. The characters‟ behaviors and attitudes are related to the setting. Authors
decide kind of characters they want based on the place and time that they used in the setting 1963: 172. It means that setting is very important to reveal the real
life of the people in the novel.
3. The Relationship between Literature and Society
Literature and Society has some relation. Literature could represent social condition. Literature also has some social function in the society. Wallek and
Warren state that Literature has also social function that is which cannot purely individual.
Hence, literary study has raised some social questions, ultimately or by implication. These questions are “of tradition and convention, orms, and
genres, symbols, and myths” 1956: 94
Wellek and Warren also state that The common approach to the relations of literature and society is the study
of works of literature as social documents, as assumed pictures of social reality. It cannot be doubted that some kind of social picture can be
abstracted from literature. 1956: 102
It means that social condition can be seen from literature. Literature is a picture of reality in society. Elisabeth Langland states that the societies in the reality and in
the novel are almost the same. Authors describe the society based on the real society. The society in the novel is just a reflection of any concrete and not
depend on the society in the real world. The author can express society in the novel as a house, city, country, institution, object, or a group of relationship
trough characters, patterned interactions, and their common expectations of one another 1984: 5-6.
Literature also has limitation as Wallek and Warren states: There is great literature which has little or no social relevant; social
literature is only one kind of literature and is not central in the theory of literature unless one holds the view that literature is primarily and
„imitation‟ of life as it is and of social life in particular. It needs to be remembered that literature is no substitute for sociology or politics. It has
its own justification and aim. 1956: 109
Literature has limitation in accommodating the facts, since literature is just the imitation of life. It is not always have social relevant.
4. Review on the 19
th
Century British Society
Reviews on historical background are important to strengthen the topic that will be discussed. The topic is Eloisa J
ames‟ views towards British social condition in the 19
th
century as reflected in A Kiss At Midnight. In the 19
th
century, every Englishman loves their country and have great nationalism. J.S Bentwich, A.S. Mendilow, and J. Catford, said that most people
in Britain love their country because it is strong in Eng lishmen‟s heart. Every
Englishman were dream to afford a country house 1949: 1-3.
