The influence of American dream on Willy Loman in Arthur Miller`s Death of a Salesman - USD Repository

  THE INFLUENCE OF AMERICAN DREAM ON WILLY LOMAN IN ARTHUR MILLER'S DEATH OF A SALESMAN

  AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra in English Letters

  By: Luminto Tri Astono

  044214057

ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS FACULTY OF LETTERS SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY YOGYAKARTA 2011

• Barack Obama –

  

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  First of all I would like to thank Jesus Crist for His love and guidance for giving me the best day of my life. I believe with His blessing, finally I would finish my thesis.

  I would like to dedicate this thesis with all of my deepest gratitude to my beloved family, especially my parents, my beloved father (alm) Matias Bejo Suwarno and mother Marni Milaningsih for love, patience, and supporting me, so that I can finish my thesis, also for my beloved brother, Iwan Handoko and Herman Purwanto for the kindness and support to remind me to finish this thesis. I also dedicate this thesis to my beloved wife, Ony Novita who always supporting me during finishing my thesis.

  I would like to thank my thesis advisor Dewi Widyastuti, S. Pd, M.Hum. who always helps and gives advice during my undergraduate thesis writing. Without her help and kindness, I might have lots of trouble to do this undergraduate thesis. I also would thank to my co-advisor Drs. Hirmawan Wijanarka M. Hum. for his carefulness in reading and checking my writing.

  My special gratitude goes to my beloved best friends Dedi and Arif, class of 2004; Adi, Sesqo, Bayu, Anto, Ison, Wawan, Deva, Adit, Dani, Ade, Eling, Patrik, Rony, and others that I cannot mention one by one. Rexs community: Mas Arya, Mas Ian, Mas Ibnu, Putra, Dedek, Jawir, Dika, Adi, Agunk, Arif, and Ari. Impact crew: Mas Adi, Mas Aang, Ocek, Semplon, Arik, Peter, Hendra, Edo, Rian, Ingway, Handoko, Yoseph, and Rendi. Fresh Water crew: Mas Rian, Mas Anjar, Mas Agung, Iim, Ayu and Deta, Thank for the unforgettable memories and spending the valuable time.

  I am aware that there are many people who have not been mentioned yet, and I thank to them for coloring my life.

  

TABLE OF CONTENTS

  TITLE PAGE..................................................................................................... i APPROVAL PAGE .......................................................................................... ii ACCEPTANCE PAGE ...................................................................................... iii LEMBAR PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN PUBLIKASI KARYA ILMIAH UNTUK KEPENTINGAN AKADEMIS ….. iv MOTO PAGE ................................................................................................... v DEDICATION PAGE ...................................................................................... v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .............................................................................. v TABLE OF CONTENTS .................................................................................. vii ABSTRACT ...................................................................................................... viii ABSTRAK ........................................................................................................ ix

  

CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION ................................................................. 1

A. Background of the Study ................................................................. 1 B. Problem Formulation ...................................................................... 5 C. Objectives of the study .................................................................... 5 D. Definiton of Terms .......................................................................... 6

CHAPTER II: THEORETICAL REVIEW .................................................. 8

A. Review of Related Studies .............................................................. 8 B. Review of Related Theories ............................................................ 12

  1. Theory of Character and Characterization .......................... 12

  2. Theory of American Dream ............................................... 15

  3. Relation between Literature and the Society ...................... 18

  C. Review on Historical Background .................................................. 19

  D. Theoretical Framework ................................................................... 22

  

CHAPTER III: METHODOLOGY .............................................................. 23

A. Object of the Study .......................................................................... 23 B. Approach of the Study .................................................................... 23 C. Method of the Study ........................................................................ 25

CHAPTER IV: ANALYSIS ............................................................................ 27

A. The characterization of Willy Loman ............................................. 27 B. The American Dream that is Described in Death of a Salesman  ............................................................................  

  36 C. The Influence of American Dream to Willy Loman ........................ 41

  

CHAPTER V: CONCLUSION ...................................................................... 51

BIBLIOGRAPHY ........................................................................................... 54

APPENDIX: Summary of The Play .............................................................. 57

  

ABSTRACT

  Luminto Tri Astono. 2011. THE INFLUENCE OF AMERICAN DREAM ON

WILLY LOMAN IN ARTHUR MILLER'S DEATH OF A SALESMAN.

Yogyakarta: Department of English Letters, Faculty of Letters, Sanata Dharma Univesity.

  This study is concerned with the play entitled Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller which was first published in 1949. The play tells the story of Willy Loman who is a salesman and his struggle in order to reach his American Dream.

  The writer chooses to analyze the American Dream in the play Death of a

  

Salesman because by reading the play, the writer is interested in the

  characterization of major character and how the major character struggle to reach his American Dream.

  There are three main problems based on the study of the play. The first is related to characterization. The writer focuses on the way the author describes the

  th

  main character. The second problem is to identify the American Dream in the 19 century with the play Death of a Salesman. The third problem is to identify how the American Dream influenced the main character that described by the author as

  th the representation of people in the 19 century.

  In order to analyze the problem, the writer conducted a library study. The primary data are gathered from the Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman. The approach used in analyzing the problem is the socio-cultural approach. Besides some theories of character and characterization, American Dream theories are applied to solve those problems of the thesis. This is due to the fact that this thesis deals with Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman and the relation with the American

  th Dream in the 19 century.

  The writer found that the character of Willy Loman is ambitious to reach his American Dream, the ambitions that lead Willy into great depression because of the failure to reach the American Dream. The writer also found that Arthur Miller uses character in Death of a Salesman to explore the issues of American Dream in the society in the 19th century. The writer also found that Willy Loman's key of success is being well-liked to get a better life for his family and it is connected with the idea of American Dream.

  ABSTRAK

  Luminto Tri Astono, 2011. THE INFLUENCE OF AMERICAN DREAM ON

WILLY LOMAN IN ARTHUR MILLER'S DEATH OF A SALESMAN.

Yogyakarta: Departement of English Letters, Faculty of Letters, Sanata Dharma University

  Skripsi ini mengenai drama yang berjudul Death of a Salesman yang di tulis oleh Arthur Miller dan di terbitkan pertama kali pada tahun 1949. Drama ini mengisahkan tentang seorang pedagang yang bernama Willy Loman dan perjuangannya untuk mencapai American Dream.

  Penulis memilih untuk menganalisis American Dream pada drama Death

  

of a Salesman karena dengan membaca novel ini, penulis tertarik pada penokohan

  dari pemain utama dan bagaimana tokoh utama tersebut berjuang untuk mencapai ‘American Dream’nya.

  Ada tiga pokok permasalahan yang muncul berdasarkan analisis pada drama ini. Pertama yaitu berhubungan dengan penokohan. Penulis fokus pada penggambaran pengarang tentang tokoh utamanya. Permasalahan kedua adalah mengidentifikasi kaitan antara American Dream pada abad ke19 dengan drama

  

Death of a Salesman . Permasalahan ketiga adalah identifikasi bagaimana

  American Dream mempengaruhi karakter utama yang di gambarkan oleh pengarah sebagai gambaran masyarakat pada abad ke19.

  Untuk memecahkan masalah, penulis melakukan penelitian kepustakaan. Dengan data primer yang dikumpulkan dari karya sastra dari Arthur Miller yang berjudul Death of a Salesman. Pendekatan yang digunakan dalam menganalisa permasalahan adalah dengan pendekatan social budaya. Disamping beberapa teori tentang tokoh dan penokohan, teori tentang American Dream juga digunakan untuk memecahkan pokok-pokok permasalahan pada tesis ini. Hal ini disebabkan karena tesis ini berkaitan tentang Death of a Salesman karya Arthur Miller dan kaitannya dengan American Dream pada abad ke19.

  Penulis menemukan bahwa tokoh Willy Loman itu berambisi untuk meraih American Dreamnya, ambisi yang akan menuntun Willy Loman menuju keputusasaan yang mendalam karena kegagalan dalam mencapai American Dream. Penulis juga menemukan bahwa Arthur Miller menggunakan tokoh pada

  

Death of a Salesman untuk menggambarkan isu tentang American Dream dalam

  masyarakat pada abad ke19. Penulis juga menemukan bahwa kunci kesuksesan dari Willy Loman adalah menjadi terkenal untuk meraih hidup yang lebih baik untuk keluarganya dan hal ini berkaitan dengan ide dari American Dream.

CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION A. Background of the Study There are so many ideas or inspirations that we can choose to create a play,

  for example life, society, and family. Those ideas or inspirations can be seen from characters in a play, for example, the struggle of a character to get a better life.

  The idea or inspiration in the play is usually reflected from the reality on real life, for example the struggle of a character to get a better life may be reflected people's attitudes in a certain society from. People’s attitudes are influenced by the social and cultural values of the society from where they come. Usually people’s attitudes or their developments are influenced by the social interaction and the culture in their place in a certain place and time.

  A literary work does not only give us pleasure and satisfaction, but also to enrich our knowledge of the individual and the society. According to Roberts and Jacobs in their book Fiction: An Introduction to Reading and Writing:

  Literature helps us grow, both personally and intellectually; it provides an objective base for our knowledge and understanding... it enables us to recognize human dreams and struggles in different societies that we would never otherwise get to know; it helps us to develop mature sensibility and compassion for the condition of all living things (1987:2). Definitely, literature can stimulate our understanding of life and sensibility of human issues. It also broadens our knowledge of the individual and the society of a particular time and place as portrayed in the work of literature.

  According to Rohberger and Woods, there are four modern literary genres. has its own form (1971:19). The play is also a piece of prose fiction, but its length is greater than the short story so that it deals with more characters and more situations.

  In the the 19

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  century, people in America had a perspective of success called as American Dream. James Truslow in his book The Epic of America (1931: 374) said that an American Dream is a dream of a land where life should be better, richer, and happier. The concept of American Dream influences the American society in their way of life in general. The American Dream also can be says as the declaration of the Independences of every society to get the material wealth if they wants to working hard to reach it. for some others of the society, American Dream is the dream of happy and better life.

  Harold Clurman in Lies Like Truth says that Willy Loman is a victim of American Dream. He criticizes the society of America and the false belief of American Dream. He expresses the cause of Willy Loman’s downfall, as he “never acknowledges or learns the error his way. To the very end, he is a devout believer in the ideology that destroys him” (1958: 70). Culrman also says that

  Death of a Salesman is a challenge to the American Dream. Lest this be

  misunderstood, I hasten to add that there are two version of the American Dream. The historical American Dream is the promise of a land of freedom with opportunity and equality for all. This dream needs no challenge, only fulfillment. But since the Civil War, and particularly since 1990, the American Dream has become distorted to the dream of business success. A distinction must be made even in this. The original premise of our dream of success-popularly- was that enterprise, courage and hard work were the keys to success. Since the end of the First World War this too has changed. Instead of the ideals of hard work and courage, we have salesmanship. Salesmanship implies a certain element of fraud: the ability to put over or sell a commodity regardless of it intrinsic usefulness. The

  Some plays also use the American dream perspective to describe people's idea of ideal life. One of them is Death of a Salesman written by Arthur Miller, one of the famous writers in the world. Death of a Salesman is the story about the family that tries to reach their American Dream, to get a better job and salary.

  During the 1950s, men began to feel pressured to not just provide income for their family and to give them the luxurious things that the society was coming to believe every household was supposed to have. Every family was supposed to have a house with a new car in the garage, big salary, etc.

  Arthur Miller creates Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman as the main character in this play that represents men at that time. According to Willy, the key to success in life is to be “well-liked”. If a man can become popular and get people to like him, it means he has succeeded in his life. Willy is a salesman that always has a dream of being successful and tries to reach it. Unfortunately this dream became the conflict in the family. Sometimes Willy Loman also gets some illusion about his brother named Ben who was very rich when he went to Africa. It is a very interesting play because the writer shows the American dream’s idea from the character, so it can attract us to know more about the story of the play.

  The socio-historical theory is used to seek the understanding of a literary work by investigating the social, cultural, and intellectual context that produced in that time. The historical theory takes into consideration of the influences from ‘the outside’ factors in shaping the content of a text. This theory is to reflect the reader want to understand the literary work, the reader can be consider in the historical context. By studying the time period in which an author wrote, the reader will be able to make revealing connections between the content and the context.

  Charles Busha and Stephen Harter in the book Research Methods in

  

Librarianship: Techniques and Interpretations argued that historical theory is the

  process of learning and understanding the background and growth of a chosen field of study or profession can offer insight into organizational culture, current trends, and possibilities. They said that “Historical method applies to all fields of study because it encompasses their: origins, growth, theories, personalities, crisis, etc. Both quantitative and qualitative variables can be used in the collection of historical information. Once the decision is made to conduct historical research, there are steps that should be followed to achieve a reliable result” (1980: 91).

  Death of a Salesman is a play that was writen in post war years, the time

  after World War II and the play was published in 1949. The setting of the time was in 1949. The play Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller explores issues about

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  American Dream in the 19 century, and the difficulty of achieving economic and personal success after Post World War II. The author creates the character of Willy

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  Loman as one of the pictures of the people in the 19 century that had failure to reach his American Dream.

  The purpose of this study is to know the idea of American Dream as seen from the way of thinking of people at that time and also to know the main approach. The writer limits the discussion only to the main character Willy Loman's efforts in reaching his American Dream.

  B. Problem Formulation

  1. What are the characteristics of Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman?

  2. How is the American Dream described in Death of a Salesman?

  3. How does American Dream influence Willy Loman?

  C. Objectives of the Study

  This study is to understand the situation or the condition of the American society when the Death of a Salesman was published. First, this study is to identify the character of Willy Loman as the main character. Second, this study is to identify the reflection of the situation or condition of society in the play. Third, this study is to identify how the American Dream influenced Willy Loman that

  th

  described by the author as the representation of a man in the the 19 century. The writer uses the play Death of a Salesman because the play of the interesting topic about American Dream that appears in the character’s performance, especially Willy Loman as the main character. Beside that, the writer also very interested in this play because the play got many awards such as The New York Drama Critic’s Circle Award, The Theatre Club Award.

D. Definition Terms

  The American Dream is a national ethos of people in America. James Truslow Adams (1931: 374) said that The American Dream is a dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement. People in America feel that they can get a better life if they can get a lot of money. They think that ideal life of family if they can earn a lot of money in their job, have their own house, have their own car, etc.

  The term “American Dream” is used in a number of ways, but essentially the American Dream is an idea which suggests that all people can succeed through hard work, and that all people have the potential to live happy, successful lives.

  Many people have expanded upon or refined the definition of the American Dream, and this concept has also been subject to a fair amount of criticism. Many people believe that the structure of American society belies the idealistic goal of the American Dream, pointing to examples of inequality rooted in class, race, and ethnic origin which suggest that the American Dream is not attainable for all.

  The idea of an American Dream is older than the United States, dating back to the 1600s, when people began to come up with all sorts of hopes and aspirations for the new and largely unexplored continent. Many of these dreams focused on owning land and establishing prosperous businesses which would theoretically generate happiness, and some people also incorporated ideals of religious freedom into their American Dreams. James Truslow Adams in his book The Epic of America which was written in 1931, states that "The American Dream is a dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement” (1931: 404). By migrating to America, people wants to fulfill their dream to get a new life. Many of the early immigants believes that they have a better chance to succeed in America than in their native countries.

CHAPTER II THEORETICAL REVIEW A. Review of Related Studies Some writer interests with the point of view of American Dream in Death of

  a Salesman . Yasinski in Max Notes for Death of a Salesman argued that:

  When the play opened, ‘today’ meant 1949, a moment in American history when many people – riding an economy rescued from Great Depression of the 1930s by the domestic industrial boom of World War II (1939-45) – found a more prosperous life within reach. In the late 1940s and throughout the 1950s, many pursued ‘the American Dream’ of hard work rewarded by middle-class signs of success such as a house, a car, a college education, and household appliances (1995: 3).

  Yasinski also said that “Death of a Salesman has frequently been understood as a commentary on the American Dream and whether (1) the dream’s economic prosperity is truly available to anyone who works diligently, and (2) the importance the dream places on material wealth invites selfishness and social injustice.” (1995: 3). Death of a Salesman opened on Brodway at the Morosco theatre on February 10, 1949 for more than two years, and more than742 performances. The audience has come out to see Death of a Salesman in significant numbers, and they regard Willy Loman as the symbol of the American Dream. According to Yasinski “Although the play appears to pose as one of its central questions how much sympathy Willy deserves, Miller himself has endorsed the idea that the play is tragedy in the true dramatic sense of the word - a tragedy of the common man, the ‘low man’, but some critics and academics in tragedy. They argue that Willy is not a compelling protagonist but merely a pitiful man, a loud-mouth and cheat”. (1995: 5).

  The play Death of Salesman takes place in New York and Boston. When the play opened in that time, many people are trying to rescued from the Great Depression of the 1930s by the domestic industrial boom of World War II (1939 – 1945). They are tries to found more prosperous life with hard work. Yasinski in

  

Max Note for Death of a Salesman “In the late 1940s and throughout the 1950s,

  many pursued ‘the American Dream’ of hard work rewarded by middle-class signs of success such as a house, a car, a college education, and household appliances.

  The dream held the possibility for greater personal wealth, even while African – Americans, Hispanic – Americans, Asian – Americans, Native Americans, and new immigrants struggled to gain the civil rights that would give them equal opportunity to chase that dream” (1995: 3). Yasinski also argued that “Death of a Salesman has frequently been understood as a commentary on the American dream and wheter (1) the dream’s economic prosperity is truly available to anyone who works diligently, and (2) the importance the dream places on material wealth invites selfishness and social injustice.” (1995: 3)

  Lauren Tomlinson in the Literary analysis: The American Dream as

  

Portrayed in Death of a Salesman, by Arthur Miller argued that Miller makes

  clear that in American society, it is difficult to keep identity and material things separate. The future implications for American society, through Miller’s eyes, are an increased materialism and further concept of ideals American society is already suggesting that if America continues on the path of the ‘thing’, society will further break apart and turn becoming increasingly invested in commodities. She also said that Miller’s play highlights the tragic consequences of an increasing materialism and obsession with all that is material, and the different version of the American Dream. He presents illustrate not only the breaking apart of the individual, but the instability and fracture of society as a whole”.

  Murphy and Abbotson in their studies Understanding Death of a Salesman,

  

a student case book to issues, sources, and historical documents state that Death

  is a unique achievement as a play. It is a compelling drama about an

  of a Salesman

  American family whose members are unable to communicate the love that they feel for each other or the existential despair that each of their experiences. It is a modern tragedy, moving relentlessly and inevitably from its opening scene to Willy Loman's death. It is an experimental piece of drama and theater, a melding of the two styles that were prevalent on the stage at the time it was written and produced, realism and expressionism, and symbolism into a unique theatrical idiom (1999: 1).

  James Topham, Miller tries to create that the story is about a working-class family, the Lomans, live. The father of the house, Willy Loman, is the salesman in this story: an aging, disgruntled man who finds it difficult to come to terms with the fact that his life--a life in which he has done his best to get ahead by being "well liked"--is, in fact, a failure. When the play begins his eldest son, Biff, is visiting home. Biff and Willy fight because Willy wants him to get a good job and, noticed Willy speaking to himself. Then, we see this for ourselves when we enter into his fantasy world--the memories of the past crowd into Willy's mind. He remembers his cousin Ben who went off into the jungle and came out a rich man; he remembers Biff as a boy (when he had hopes of being a football star); and he remembers the day Biff visited him at work, only to find him in a hotel room with a woman. Topham mentioned that back in the present day, Willy's life slowly falls apart: he is sacked from the job he has been working for years and Biff, who has been trying to get a job, realizes that he is entirely unsuited to work because he has believed in a fantasy life that his father told him. In the final moments of the play, Willy, who had previously attempted to commit suicide, wildly drives off in his car, crashes off a bridge, and dies. The final miniature act or "requiem" (as Miller calls it), is set at Willy's funeral.

  rd

  (http://classiclit.about.com/od/deathofasalesman/fr/aa_death.htm: april 23 , 2010).

  Harold Bloom in Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman, analyze the play is an American play that written for American people. He implies that American Dream is not real, and Willy Loman’s problem is quite common in American society. He depicts the play as “it reverberates, echoes, resonates. It rhythms roll deep down toward and into American desires and delusions” (1988: 47). He emphasizes American images presented here to call it a real social play.

  From another point of view, Alan S. Downer in his book Fifty Year of

  

American Drama explores Death of a Salesman as a social play. He said that success in business” (1951: 74). According to Downer, Willy Loman fails to realize the meaning of his actions, therefore misses the chance to understand the realism of his life. Referring to the foundations of American Dream in that particular society, it is true when he said that “For American and societies similarly organized, Death of a Salesman is tragedy, but for other societies, it is a lesser thing, a case history, perhaps” (1951: 75).

  Learning about the review studies above, the writer then states that this undergraduate thesis will not be totally similar to the previous studies. This undergraduate thesis will try to convey any possible messages revealed through the analysis of the character in the play under study. Another thing that differentiates the study with the previous is that the writer also relates the extrinsic element with the intrinsic one in revealing the possible message.

B. Review of Related Theories

1. Theory of Character and Characterization

  A character in literary works is usually defined as the creation of imaginary persons that seem life-like and the characterization is the whole things that are related to the character. Stanton in An Introduction to Fiction state that a character as an individual that appears in the story brings their human personalities such as interests, desires, emotions, moral principles. Still according to Stanton, a central character is the one who is relevant to every event in the story, usually the events cause some change either in him or in our attitude toward him (1965: 17-18).

  Equally, Abrams in A Glossary of Literary Terms stated that characters narrative work, who are interpreted by the reader as having moral, dispositional, and emotional qualities that are expressed in what they say or the dialogue and what they do or the action. A character may remain essentially stable or unchanged in outlook and disposition, from beginning to the end of a work. This kind of character is called a flat character, but one may experience a radical change, either through a gradual process of motivation and development, or as the result of a crisis. This is called a round character (1981: 23).

  In Literature An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama, Kennedy and Gioia explain that a character is an imagined person who inhabits a story (1998: 50). Readers usually recognize human personalities that become familiar in the main character of a story.

  Kennedy and Gioia further explain that there are at least three types of character. The first one is stock character. Stock characters are often known by some outstanding traits. Stock characters are especially convenient for writers of commercial fiction: they require little detailed portraiture (1998: 50). The second one is flat character. A flat character has only one outstanding trait or feature, or at most little distinguishing marks. Flat characters, however, need not to be stock characters. Some writers try to distinguish the flat ones by giving each a single odd physical feature or mannerism. Kennedy and Gioia also explain that the third type, round character, present us with more facets. It means that the author portrays the round character in greater depth and in detail that is more generous.

  The difference between flat and round characters also lies on that flat characters tend to stay the same throughout a story, but round characters often change – learn or become enlightened, grow or deteriorate (1998: 51).

  In her other book, E. M. Forster explain more detail about the definition of the character. Forster divided character into two categories; they are flat and round characters. Flat character has only one outstanding trait or feature, or at most a few distinguishing marks, and tend to stay the same throughout a story. Round characters present us with more facets, greater depth in their portrait, more generous detail and often change – learn or becoming enlightened, grow or deteriorate. Round character may appear to us only as he appears to the other characters in the story (Forster, 1927: 61).

  According to Reaske, drama is a work of literature or a composition which describes life and human activity by means of presenting various action and dialogues between characters (1966: 47). The essence of drama is the development of character and situation through speech and action of characters.

  Another theory of character is from Holman and Harmon in their book A

  

Handbook to Literature . According to Holman and Harmon, character is one of

  the important elements in the literary work. It is a complicated term that includes the idea of the moral constitution of the human personality, the presence of moral uprightness, and the simple notion of the presence of creatures in art that seem to be human beings of one sort of another. Holman and Harmon also mention three methods of characterization, first, the explicit presentation by the author of the character trough directs exposition, it means that the author directly describes the without explanation of the author, the reader understand the character. Thirdly, the representation from within character, it means that emotion of the experience reflected in the character (1986: 81). Holman and Harmon also says that a character might to be static or dynamic.

  A static character is one who changes little if at all.. Sometimes a static character gives the appearance of changing simply because our picture of the character is revealed bit by bit. A dynamic character, on the other hand, is one who is modified by actions and experiences, and one objective of the work in which the character appears is to reveal the consequences of these actions (1986: 83).

  Perrine in his book Literature: Structure, Sound and Sense also note that characterization must observe three principles in order to be convincing. First, the character must be consistent in their behavior. They do not behave one way in one occasion and in a different way on another unless there is clearly a sufficient reason for the change. Second, the characters are clearly motivated in whatever they do, especially when there is any change in their behavior. Third, the characters must be plausible or lifelike. They must be neither paragons or virtue nor monster of evil (1974: 69).

2. The American Dream

  According to S. E. Smith, The term of American Dream is used in a number of ways, but essentially the American Dream is an idea which suggests that all people can succeed through hard work, and that all people have the potential to live a happy, and successful life. The American Dream is also referred to by many liberty, and happiness. People began to come up with all sorts of hopes and aspirations for the new and largely unexplored continent. Many of these dreams focused on owning land and establishing prosperous businesses which would theoretically generate happiness, and some people also incorporated ideals of religious freedom into their American Dreams. The term “American Dream” is used in a number of ways, but essentially the American Dream is an idea which suggests that all people can succeed through hard work, and that all people have the potential to live happy, successful lives. Many people developed the definition of the American Dream, and this concept has also been subject to a fair amount of criticism. Many people believe that the structure of American society belies the idealistic goal of the American Dream, pointing to examples of inequality rooted in class, race, and ethnic origin. The idea of an American Dream in 1600s is when people begin to come with all sorts of hopes and aspirations for the new and largely unexplored continent. Many of these dreams focused on owning land and establishing prosperous businesses which would theoretically generate happiness, and some people also incorporated ideals of religious freedom into their American Dreams. In general, the American dream can be defined as being the opportunity and freedom for the society to achieve their goals and become rich and famous if only they work hard enough. (http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-american-

  th

  dream.htm: July 10 , 2011) According to James Truslow Adams in his book The Epic of America which was written in 1931, states that "The American Dream is a dream of a land in each according to ability or achievement (1931: 404). Therefore, according Truslow, the notion of having the opportunity of achieving something without being restricted by social borders developed out of a need of “being able to grow to fullest development as man and woman” (1931: 404). James Truslow Adams also states:

  The American Dream is that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement. It is a difficult dream for the European upper classes to interpret adequately, and too many of us ourselves have grown weary and mistrustful of it. It is not a dream of motor cars and high wages merely, but a dream of social order in which each man and each woman shall be able to attain to the fullest stature of which they are innately capable, and be recognized by others for what they are, regardless of the fortuitous circumstances of birth or position (1931: 214-215).

  According to James Truslow Adams, Since 1931, the concept of the American Dream has lured a lot of immigrants from another country to the America with promises of prosperity and happiness far beyond anything available in their countries. During the last decade many immigrants have crossed the border of the United States of America. They want to pursue the most valuable thing in life. Every person works towards achieving The American Dream. Many immigrants sacrifice their jobs, their education, and leave families behind to start their new life in America and succeed in reaching their dreams. Some people describe the definition of an American Dream is the ability to have personal freedom, the highest level of education and successful employment. All these factors make up the American Dream and It still exist as a goal for every person who is trying to reach it (1931: 416). According to Cullen in The American dream: A Short History of an Idea

  

That Shaped a Nation, the American Dream is not a single concept, but rather

  comprises various ideas and ideals that can even be contradictory. The American Dream has become a kind of a national motto or key word (2003: 5). Cullen explains that it is “the most immediate component of American identity and the American Dream remains a major element of our national identity, and yet national identity is itself marked by a sense of uncertainty that may well be greater than ever before” (2003: 6).

3. The Relation between Literature and the Society

  According to Michael E. Price in his book Stories With a Moral: Literature

  

and Society in Nineteenth-Century Georgia , state that “literature illuminates past

  social reality and literature also communicates the richness of the human experience” (1953:1). He also states that “the vital contribution that linguistic theorists have made to our understanding of the social development of the American within the world capitalist system has been to draw attention to the dynamics of ideological communication”. (1953:7).

  According to Bernard Cohen in his book Sociocultural Changes in American

  

Jewish life as Reflected in Selected Jewish Literature, he said that a close

  relationship between literature and actual human society is a view held by many literary critics and social historians. Miss Ruth A. Ingles, investigating the relation between literature and social change, distinguishes between the “reflection” reflect social changes that are already taking place. According to the second, people are socially controlled through their reading habits. The control theory maintains that literature, like art in general, has been used effectively as a means of bringing about social change through the centuries (1972: 27).

C. Review on Historical Background

  The socio-historical theory is used by the writer to understand about the literary work by investigating the social, cultural, and intellectual context that produced in that time. The socio-historical theory is concidering to the influences of ‘the outside’ factors in shaping the content of a text. This theory is to reflect the literary work with the event that happened in that time. Charles Busha and Stephen Harter in the book Research Methods in Librarianship: Techniques and

  

Interpretations argued that historical theory is the process of learning and

  understanding the background and growth of a chosen field of study or profession can offer insight into organizational culture, current trends, and possibilities. They said that “Historical method applies to all fields of study because it encompasses their: origins, growth, theories, personalities, crisis, etc. Both quantitative and qualitative variables can be used in the collection of historical information. Once the decision is made to conduct historical research, there are steps that should be followed to achieve a reliable result” (1980: 91). This theory used to help the writer to found the connections between the play with the society in that era when the play published.

  Charles Busha and Stephen Harter divide six steps for conducting historical research: (1) the recognition of a historical problem or the identification of a need for certain historical knowledge, (2) the gathering of as much relevant information about the problem or topic as possible, (3) if appropriate, the forming of hypothesis that tentatively explain relationships between historical factors, (4) the rigorous collection and organization of evidence, and the verification of the authenticity and veracity of information and its sources, (5) the selection, organization, and analysis of the most pertinent collected evidence, and the drawing of conclusions, and (6) the recording of conclusions in a meaningful narrative (1980: 91).

  th

  Many people through the 19 century have immigrated to America, some legal and some illegal but in either case they were searching for a dream. The

  th

  Market Revolution of the early 19 century expanded on the already existing capitalistic society that was quickly exploiting the lower income masses of the working class. Jeremy Thornton in New Industries, New Jobs: British Immigrants

  Come to America, 1830s-1890s says that:

  Millions of people have come to America since the 1600s. The earliest immigrants came mainly for religious or political freedom, adventure, or money. During the 1800s, many people who immigrated to the United States came to find work. Between 1820 and 1860, about four million immigrants came to America from Europe. More of than half of these immigrants came from Great Britain. The British came to escape famines, overpopulation, and poor living and working conditions. After 1830, they also came because of the industrial revolution, which started in Britain and then spread to Europe and the United States (2004: 5). The American Dream can be described as a concept for the society in order to reach their dream, a dream of being wealth and rich during the Great Depression after World War II. This concept leads the society of America to reach their goals in life through working hard. The first term of American Dream is used by James Truslow Adams in his book The Epic of America which is written in 1931.