B. Review Related Theories
To answer the problems, the writer needs some theories to support the analysis. The theories are the theory of character, the theory of setting, the theory
of the relationship between literature and society, and the review on the 19
th
century British society.
1. Theory of Character
Abrams states that character is the person that is represented in a dramatic or narrative work, character interpreted by the reader possessing moral,
intellectual, and emotional qualities that are express in what they say –the
dialogue- and what they do –the action 1993: 23. Based on that statement,
character is a person that appears in the story, this person does not need to be strong. Character also has particular moral qualities, intellectual, and emotional
that is built them. In this study, the writer will use those values to describe the characters in A Kiss at Midnight novel.
There are nine ways authors can make their characters understandable by the readers, as M.J Murphy states is his book Understanding Unseen. The first is
personal descripstion. Personal description is a way the author uses to describe a person‟s appearence and costume. The second is the character as seen by another.
This is the way the author describe a character throught the eyes and opinions of another. The third is speech. Whenever the character involves in a conversation
with other, or gives opinion, he is actually giving the reader some clues to his character. The next way is past life. Past life can be a clue for the reader to shape a
character in the novel. The author also can give the readers clues about the character or says something about the character. The next is how the character
reacts to various situations and events. The autor also can describe a character throuh direct comments. The author can give the reader direct knowledge of what
a person is thinking about. In this case, an author is able to do what his reader cannot do in real life. The last is mannerism. It means that the author can describe
a person‟s mannerism or habit which may also tell the readers about the character 1972: 161-173.
2. Theory of Setting
Setting is very important in a literary work such as novel. Setting of story can create events in which the characters are involved. Guth says that setting is the
time and place of the events of a story. Setting often helps shape the characters and events. North or south, village, city, poor, wealthy neighborhood, mountain
country, or coasts, all these help decide how people live 1981: 729. It means that setting can help readers to decide the character‟s look like and the most
important thing in their lives. Holman and Harmon state that there are four elements that making up the
setting. the actual geographical location, its topography, scenery, and such
physical arrangements as the location of the windows and door in room; the occupation and daily manner of living of the characters; the time or
period in which the action takes place, for example, epoch in history or season of the year; the general environment of the characters, for
example, religious, mental, moral, social, and emotional condition trough which the people in the narrative move. 1985: 465
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
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