The corrupted forms of democracy as the cause of the civil war as seen in Conn Iggulden\'s Emperor : The Gates of Rome - USD Repository

  

THE CORRUPTED FORMS OF DEMOCRACY AS

THE CAUSE OF THE CIVIL WAR AS SEEN IN

CONN IGGULDEN’S EMPEROR: THE GATES OF ROME

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

  By

JOHN ABRAHAM STEVE KALALO

  Student Number: 014214146

  

ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME

DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS

FACULTY OF LETTERS

SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY

YOGYAKARTA

2009

  

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  To begin with, I surely want to thank and praise my Heavenly God, Jesus Christ who has given me this wonderful life to live in. Millions of thanks to Ni Luh Putu Rosiandani, S.S., M.Hum as my thesis advisor and to Adventina Putranti, S.S., M.Hum as my thesis reader as well as to the board of examiners.

  I definitely thank my beloved Papi and Mami for the patience, prayer and support all of the time. Thanks to my dearest brother and sisters, Bill, Eudia and Ita for praying for me and for taking care the business while I am doing the thesis. My special gratitude goes to my dearest Maria Benedicta Dian Savitri for the love, prayer and support.

  I dedicate my gratitude to my lovely family in Kalasan as well as in Jakarta and Tobelo and my pals, 2001 English Letters fellows. In addition, thanks to Stenly, Evy Lesar, and Andrie Pinem for such support and prayer.

  I thank all the lecturers and the staff of the Department of English Letters USD for helping me in all occasions, and to the staff of USD library for helping me finding so much information.

  John Abraham Steve Kalalo

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  TITLE PAGE .......................................................................................... i APPROVAL PAGE ................................................................................ ii ACCEPTANCE PAGE ........................................................................... iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .................................................................... iv TABLE OF CONTENTS........................................................................ v ABSTRACT............................................................................................ vi ABSTRAK .............................................................................................. vii CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION..........................................................

  1 A. Background of the Study..........................................................

  1 B. Problem Formulation................................................................

  3 C. Objective of the Study ..............................................................

  4 D. Definition of Terms ..................................................................

  4 CHAPTER II THEORETICAL REVIEW.........................................

  5 A. Review of Related Studies .......................................................

  5 B. Review of Related Theories .....................................................

  7 C. Review on the Social Condition of Rome ................................

  19 D. Theoretical Framework ............................................................

  32 CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY .....................................................

  34 A. Object of the Study...................................................................

  34 B. Approach of the Study..............................................................

  36 C. Method of the Study .................................................................

  36 CHAPTER IV ANALYSIS ..................................................................

  38 A. Democracy Depicted in the Novel Seen through the Plot and the Setting ................................................................................

  38 B. The Civil War as a Consequence of the Democracy Depicted in the Novel...............................................................................

  53 C. The Corrupted Forms of the Democracy as the Source of the Civil War ..................................................................................

  59 CHAPTER V CONCLUSION .............................................................

  66 BIBLIOGRAPHY .................................................................................

  69

  

ABSTRACT

  JOHN ABRAHAM STEVE KALALO. The Corrupted Forms of Democracy as

  

the Cause of the Civil War as Seen in Conn Iggulden’s Emperor: The Gates of

Rome. Yogyakarta: Jurusan Sastra Inggris, Fakultas Sastra, Universitas Sanata

Dharma, 2009.

  Government system is crucial in one nation’s life since the political policy is determined by the government system. Therefore, the nation’s upshot has much dependence on the system applied. Democracy as a form of a government system is the most common applied system nowadays. In fact, it is used long before the modern era, when the tyranny was applied everywhere. It can be seen from Conn Iggulden’s Emperor: The Gates of Rome where the democracy in the novel is very significant to be explored.

  There are three problems revealed from the topic. The first problem is how plot and setting reveal a democracy as a form of government of Rome in the novel. The second is how the war as a consequence of the democracy is depicted in the novel. The last is how the corrupted forms of the democracy can be the cause of the civil war.

  In answering the problems, this study uses library research and sociocultural-historical approach. This approach is applied in this study since the study needs some evidences on the corrupted forms of the democratic that can be the cause of the civil war.

  The democracy in the novel is depicted through the plot and the setting. Through the first element of the plot, that is the exposition, it is clear that there are social classes: the Patricians, the Plebeians and the slaves exist in the Roman society. From the next element of plot, it is found out that Caesar has to face many challenging things outside his estate after his father’s death. Even, the conflicts are getting harder when there is another riot in Greece. It forces one of the Generals to get into the war. Later, it leads to the climax, where another war is happened and one of the Generals gets killed in the war. The resolution tells that Caesar is not arrested and predicted to be a fair and challenging opponent for the General in the future. In the way of the setting, the study sees the situation of Consul and Senate’s life at that time, as well as the Forums. Furthermore, the picture of democracy is shown from some forms: freedom of expression, free elections, majority rule and minority rights, political parties, the division of power, constitutional government and private organization. The civil war between two Consuls, Marius and Sulla, that leads to the climax, destroys everything in the society. Even, there are many corrupted forms of democracy that can be found in the system. One branch of the government system, judicative, becomes more powerful than others. It is the final form of conflict of interest among several powers that want to convert the democracy country to be a tyranny in which will bring many benefits to the dictator. Therefore, the corrupted forms of democracy

  

ABSTRAK

  JOHN ABRAHAM STEVE KALALO. The Corrupted Forms of Democracy as

  

the Cause of the Civil War as Seen in Conn Iggulden’s Emperor: The Gates of

Rome. Yogyakarta: Jurusan Sastra Inggris, Fakultas Sastra, Universitas Sanata

Dharma, 2009.

  Sistem pemerintahan adalah sangat penting dalam kehidupan suatu negara. karena kebijakan politik suatu negara ditentukan oleh sistem pemerintahannya. Karena itu, bisa dikatakan bahwa kemajuan atau kemunduran suatu negara akan sangat bergantung dari sistem yang dianut. Demokrasi sebagai suatu bentuk dari sistem pemerintahan adalah salah satu sistem yang paling banyak dianut pada zaman ini. Faktanya, demokrasi itu sendiri sudah digunakan jauh-jauh hari sebelum zaman modern, saat di mana kekuasaan tirani masih merajai. Ini bisa terlihat dalam buku karya Conn Iggulden yang berjudul Emperor: The Gates of

  Rome yang segi demokrasinya sangatlah menonjol untuk dibahas.

  Ada tiga pokok permasalahan yang bisa dibahas dari topik ini. Masalah pertama adalah bagaimana alur dan seting di dalam novel mengungkapkan demokrasi sebagai bentuk pemerintahan di Roma. Masalah kedua adalah bagaimana perang sebagai konsekuensi dari bentuk pemerintahan demokrasi dalam cerita digambarkan. Masalah yang terakhir adalah bagaimana bentuk- bentuk demokrasi yang rusak dapat menjadi penyebab terjadinya perang saudara.

  Untuk menjawab ketiga masalah tersebut, penelitian ini menggunakan studi pustaka dan pendekatan sosiokultural-sejarah. Pendekatan ini dilakukan karena dibutuhkan bukti-bukti mengenai bentuk demokrasi yang rusak yang dapat menjadi penyebab terjadinya perang saudara.

  Demokrasi di dalam novel ini terlihat melalui alur dan seting ceritanya. Dari elemen pertama alur, yaitu eksposisi, jelaslah bahwa ada kelas-kelas social yaitu Patrician, Plebeian dan kaum budak dalam masyarakat Roma. Dari elemen alur yang berikutnya, diketahui bahwa Caesar harus menghadapi banyak tantangan di luar kediamannya setelah ayahnya meninggal. Konflik bahkan menjadi lebih rumit saat muncul pemberontakan di Yunani. Pemberontakan ini mengakibatkan salah seorang Jenderal harus maju ke medan perang. Kemudian, perang lainnya pun terjadi pula, dan inilah yang merupakan klimaks, di mana salah seorang Jenderal tewas dalam perang tersebut. Bagian resolusi menjelaskan bahwa Caesar tidak ditangkap melainkan diramalkan akan menjadi lawan yang seimbang dan menantang bagi sang Jenderal di masa yang akan datang. Dari seting, penelitian ini memandang keadaan kehidupan Consul, Senate dan Forum yang ada pada waktu itu. Selanjutnya, gambaran demokrasi nampak dari beberapa bentuk ini: kebebasan berekspresi, kebebasan memilih, hak kaum minoritas yang tidak dilupakan oleh kaum mayoritas, pembagian kekuasaan, pemerintahan yang berdasarkan hukum, dan organisasi politik. Perang saudara yang terjadi di antara menghancurkan segala sesuatu yang ada di masyarakat. Selain daripada itu, ada banyak bentuk-bentuk demokrasi yang rusak yang dapat ditemukan di dalam sistem pemerintahan tersebut. Salah satu cabang sistem tersebut, yaitu dari segi yudikatifnya, menjadi lebih berkuasa dibandingkan segi lainnya. Inilah bentuk akhir dari konflik kepentingan yang terjadi di antara beberapa kekuasaan yang ingin mengubah negara yang demokratis menjadi negara tirani yang malah membawa lebih banyak keuntungan bagi si diktator. Oleh karena itu, bentuk- bentuk demokrasi yang rusak di dalam novel inilah yang menjadi penyebab terjadinya perang saudara.

CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION A. Background of the Study History is very important. Napoleon Bonaparte says that history is a

  version of past events that people have decided to agree upon. Cicero, who is one of Roman greatest leaders and lives long time before Bonaparte, has a very strong thought about history. He argues that history is the witness that testifies to the passing time; it illumines reality, vitalizes memory, provides guidance in daily life and brings tidings of antiquity. Therefore, to study history is something interesting and indeed important (http://www.quotationspage.com/quote/297.html).

  People can learn many things from history. One of them is the system of government. The system, of course, plays the most important role in a nation history. The policies made, based on the system, can determine the advancement of the nation. The policies, which are based on the system, can bring war to the nation as well as peace and wealth. In modern era, one system that is very famous is democracy.

  The word democracy is very well-known. Nowadays, almost all government call themselves as democratic government. Great Britain, France, United States of America, China and even a small and new country, such as Timor Leste call their system of government as democratic. The People’s Republic of China proclaims itself democratic even as protestors demanding freedom of

  2 imprisoned. It seems that no one wants to be called as antidemocratic. If all government try to say that they are democratic, then a problem of what the real democracy is or who the real democratic government is will appear.

  According to Winston Churchill, democracy is a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. In other words, democracy is a way of life recognizing the equality and dignity of all persons regardless of race, religion, sex, or social standing. It holds that everyone is equal in court trials and other legal matters. It provides freedom of speech, freedom of press, and the freedom of religion. A goal of democratic society is to assure each person an opportunity to make full use of his abilities. Despite the fact, democracy as a system of a government for instance, can be the source of conflict (Hallowell, 1971:104).

  Related to the history of democracy, literature can be one way to study democracy. Van de Laar says that it introduces us into living world: in some respect resembling the world we live in (Van de Laar, 1963:163). The author that creates the work makes an observation in the real world before creates the work.

  Therefore, the literary work becomes an important part of human life, because the literary work is one of the important mediums to express our thought, feeling, and experience as William Henry Hudson says:

  “Literary is a vital record of what men have seen in life, what they have experience of it, what they thought and felt those aspect of it, which have the most immediate enduring interest all of us. It is thus fundamentally an expression of life through the medium of language” (Hudson, 1958: 10).

  Some literary works are created on the experience of its author, some

  3 based on history. One of the literary works, in this case a novel, that created based on history is Conn Iggulden’s Emperor Series.

  Conn Iggulden’s Emperor has a very unique plot as well as the conflict. Since the novel is based on the life of Julius Caesar, one of Roman greatest leaders, and also based on the history happened around Caesar’s life, the novel offers us a story of vivid life of a nation which is well-known as the biggest nation at its era, indeed biggest empire that earth ever has. The struggle of the nation, the politics maneuver of the politician, the romance of the protagonist, all actions are poured in one great novel. The novel became bestseller in many countries. Even, producers create serial from the novel.

  From the novel, people can study many things. The war, as the rising conflict leading to the conflict of the story, for instance, is something that can be explored more. Questions, such as why the war happened, what the purpose of the war was, who were involved on the war, who became victims in the war, who won the war, what the result of the war was, and many other interesting topics can be explored from it. Therefore, people can collect information from the novel and make a study about those several things.

B. Problem Formulation

  Based on the background of the study, there are three questions formulated that will be the discussion of this thesis as following:

  4

  1. How do plot and setting reveal a democracy of Rome in Conn Iggulden’s

  Emperor: the Gates of Rome ?

  2. How is the civil war as a consequence of the democracy depicted in the novel?

  3. How can the corrupted forms of the democracy be the cause of the civil war?

  C. Objective of the Study

  This thesis has three objectives. First is to find out how the democracy revealed in the novel through plot and setting. The second objective is to discover how the war as a consequence of democracy depicted in novel. The final objective is to reveal the corrupted features of the democracy as the cause of the civil war.

  D. Definition of Terms

  To avoid ambiguity the writer wants to gives a definition on the special term that is used in this study, namely democracy. According to John Hallowell in his article in the World Book, democracy means a form of government, a way of life, and a goal or ideal (1971:104).

CHAPTER II THEORETICAL REVIEW There are four parts discussed in this chapter. The initial part is the review

  of certain studies related to the work and the topic of this study. Then, there is the review of several theories used in this study. The third part is the review on the democracy. Next is the review on the sociocultural-historical background that is the social condition of Rome. The last one is the theoretical framework where the contributions of all previous studies, theories and reviews in solving the problems of the study are stated.

A. Review of Related Studies

  There are some studies talking about Conn Iggulden’s Emperor: the Gates

of Rome . For example, in Jack Whites’s article in <www.brothersjudd.

com/index.cfm/fuseaction/reviews.detail/book_id/1494 >, it is said that in the first book of his Roman series, Iggulden demonstrated the early life of two young boys. The boys are Gaius, and the other is Marcus an orphan, who is Gaius’ best friend. The description and characterization of Caesar is closely pictured, with no difference from any other civilian. Caesar’s father is the Roman Senator who is sent to the city, Rome, to guard the country, and Caesar’s mother is a housewife who is ailed to madness. Gaius lives in an estate with the estate overseer, Tubruk, a former gladiator. Tubruk brings in Renius. The boys are trained by Renius and often given a lot of advices and guidance to be a strong soldier and great leader.

  This first from Mr. Iggulden features two young boys--Gaius, the son of a Roman Senator, and Marcus, an orphan--growing up on an estate just outside Rome. With Gaius's father often absent because the rise of Sulla threatens the Roman Republic and with his mother prey to madness, much of the boys’ upbringing is left to the estate overseer, Tubruk, a former gladiator. He in turn brings in one of the most famed gladiator's of the day, Renius, to train the boys to become soldiers worthy of Rome. Much of the book deals with the brutal regimen that Renius imposes, one that makes them men but causes them to hate their harsh mentor. When the final test he subjects them too leads to almost murderous violence an elderly healer, Cabera, fortuitously appears on the scene and the lives of the two young men and the three older become entwined as the action moves to the city and then to service in the Legions (www.brothersjudd.com /index.cfm/fuseaction/reviews.detail/book_id/1494/Gates%20of% 20Rom. htm).

  In this review, it is added that the strength of the novel is in the ability of Iggulden to put the historic setting and background as well as the characterizations of five great men and women with whom they become involved. All these things were wonderfully performed by Iggulden.

  The great strengths of the novel include not just Mr. Iggulden's facility with the historic setting and background but his ability to render action scenes in virtual Sensurround and, most of all, the characterizations of these five and of the great men and the women with whom they become involved. Tubruk, Renius and Cabera are perhaps the best trio of supporting characters this side of the Musketeers (www.brothersjudd.com /index.cfm/fuseaction/reviews.detail/book_id/1494/Gates%20of% 20Rom. htm). Another review is from Roz Kaveney’s article in www.amazon.co.uk. Here, the reviewer said that this first volume of a sequence of novels about Julius Caesar at its best in its scenes of grueling training in swordplay and dirty fighting.

  It means that Iggulden showed a great display of fighting and struggling during the story. He specifically put the politics side on the view. Even, Roz Kaveney, who is the reviewer, said that Iggulden “simplifies the pushing and shoving of loyalties too simple.” It creates such perception that politics is only about power and never about ideas in Rome.

  The next review on this book is from www.ebay.com which tells that the book is a historical novel. Moreover, it shows the fortunes of Julius Caesar, from his early childhood, when he was still called Gaius, his life adventure before becoming the Caesar of Rome, until his rise to be the ruler of Rome.

  From all these studies, it is clear that the novel pictures the early life of Gaius Julius Caesar, the great ruler of Roman Empire. He is surrounded by many people from his childhood. All of them have great possibilities to influence or to develop the personality and the character of Julius Caesar. These studies may help to discover the way the people around Caesar help him to be the great ruler of Rome.

  This study which has not been done by anybody will focus on the setting and plot that reveals the democracy in the novel. Also the study will focus on the war as the consequent of the form of democracy that employed in the novel. Lastly the focus is to reveal the weakness of the form of democracy employed in the novel that causes the war.

B. Review of Related Theories

1. Theories on Plot

  One of the elements that form a novel is a plot. It is the structure of its actions, as these are ordered and rendered toward achieving particular emotional and artistic effects (Abrams 1981: 137). It means plot is the incidents or action that being done in the novel. Plot it self has many form variety, for example some plot is made to achieve tragic effect, others to achieve comedy effect, romance, or satire (1981:137).

  Murphy in Understanding Unseens says that a plot is a carefully thought out plan in which all the events, all the actions and reactions of the characters, contribute towards the forward movement of the story. The story then moves on, carrying the reader with it up and over a series of crests until the climax of the story is reached and everything is resolved, generally to the reader satisfaction (Murphy, 1972: 134).

  Another theory on plot is Kennedy’s theory. Kennedy divides plot into three parts, it is the beginning, the middle, and the end. The initial statement of the conflict is stated in the beginning and as called the exposition. The middle comes from the rising conflicts to the climax. After climax, there will be a crisis to a denouement in which the resolution is stated in the end (Kennedy, 1999:14-19).

  For Stanton, plot’s structure tends to follow regular forms which are exposition, complication or rising action, climax and denouement. The reason is that the basic function of plot is to provide the structure of a unified and complete dramatic function (Stanton, 1965: 16-17).

2. Theories on Setting

  The setting of a story not just merely means its time and place but sometimes refers to the spiritual background where the story takes place. A better understanding of the setting will be gained from Holman and Harmon’s explanation in their A Handbook to Literature that there are four elements forming a setting, namely: (1) the actual geographical location, its topography, scenery, and such physical arrangements as the location of the windows and doors in a room; (2) the occupations and daily manner of living of the characters; (3) the time or period in which the action takes places, for example, epoch in history or season of the year; (4) the general environment of the characters, for example, religious, mental, moral, social, and emotional conditions through which the people in the narrative move (1986: 465). In other words, the setting is the environment of the events in the story and the immediate world in which they occur.

  The setting is generally presented through descriptive passages. However, during the reading of a work of literature, the readers should be aware of all the possibilities why the author has chosen such a background and stressed such details. The readers then may imagine how the setting is changed and how the story is described with different details in order to get to know how this change will affect the rest of story. Furthermore, the readers may find out how the setting directly or indirectly influences the characters and exemplifies the theme of the story (Stanton, 1965: 18).

  Murphy in his Understanding Unseen also has some points about how the setting is important. Firstly, he talks about the setting of time: a. Present time

  Murphy explains that an author may write a story about his or her own time, the things that are happening around him or her, or the events about them. b. Past time An author may choose to go backwards in time and writing about historical events to attempt to light up the past to readers. Some imagination may be used to go back to past historical times.

  c. Future time Through his imagination, an author may also take readers to the future.

  The story may deal with the condition of the world free from any economic- social-political pressure (totalitarian tyranny, anarchy, capitalism), or with the development of human civilization exploring other planets in the universe or dealing with robots.

  d. No specific time An author has the right to give the readers no indication of the time in which the story takes place. The story is something like the old fairy stories; they happen ‘once upon a time’ (1972: 143-144).

  Secondly, Murphy states some points on the setting of place. He says that a story may have four kinds of place as the settings. The first is a familiar place, which is considered by the author to be familiar to most of the readers, whether from experience or by close acquaintance. Thus a British writer may choose to write about events that take place in London or any other part of Britain. The second place is an unfamiliar place. The story may also be set in a place that is likely to be unfamiliar to many of the readers of the author’s own nation. An imaginary place is the third type of setting of place mentioned by Murphy. An entirely imaginary place which is not familiar to anyone at all may be used as well by the author to be the setting of his or her work of literature (1972:145).

3. Theories on Conflict

  Abrams states that generally plot deals with conflict. It is the relation of protagonist and the antagonist character. But in addition to the conflict between individuals, there may be the conflict of protagonist against the fate, or against circumstances that stand between the protagonist and the goal that he or she sets himself or herself to be achieved and in some works the conflict is between opposing desires or values in a character’s own mind (Abrams, 1981: 137).

  According to Holman and Harmon, conflict is the struggle that grows out of interplay of two opposing focus in the plot. They furthermore state that conflict may occur in the struggle against nature, against another person, against society and the struggle for mastery. Conflict may be an argument of opposing forces, like man against man, man against nature, man against fate or perhaps the internal one between two opposing parts of men personality (1986: 107).

  Stanton mentions that there are two important elements of plot, which are conflict and climax, and he divides conflict into two parts:

i. Internal Conflict

  Internal conflict is a conflict between two desires within a character, here the conflict happened because the opposing desires in the character’s mind, and the character has to choose the best one for him or her.

ii. External Conflict External conflict is the conflict between a character and his environment.

  It can be the conflict between character against fate, or the character against the circumstances that exist between the character and the goal that he or she sets himself or herself to be achieved (Stanton, 1965:54).

4. Theory of Democracy

  According to Hallowell in the World Book, democracy is a form of government, a way of life, and a goal or ideal. The term also refers to a country that has a democratic form of government. The word democracy means rule by the people. Abraham Lincoln described such self-government as “government of the people by the people, for the people” (Hallowell, 1971: 104).

  In addition, Hallowell says that the democratic way of life recognizes the equality and dignity of all persons regardless of race, religion, sex, or social standing. It holds that everyone is equal in court trials and other legal matters. It provides freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and freedom of religion. A goal of democratic society is to assure each person an opportunity to make full use of his abilities (1971:104).

  The characteristics of democracy vary from one country to another. According to John H. Hallowell in his article in the World Book, certain basic features are more or less the same in all democratic nations:

a. Freedom of Expression

  According to Montesquieu, all people in democratic nation have power (Errikson, 1971:106). It means the citizens of a democratic nation are able to select their leaders and influence the policies of their government. For this reason, discussion and understanding of public issues are necessary. To encourage the exchange of ideas, democracies guarantee freedom of speech, the press, assembly, and petition (giving a written request to a government official).

  Citizens of a democracy have many opportunities to make their government truly representative. Chances for taking part are usually greatest at the local level. In many local school districts in the United States, for example, voters elect the school board members, and may run for office themselves. Citizens may attend school board meetings and meetings of city councils, and listen to debates on matters that affect them. The people may form groups to influence opinion on public issues and policies. School bond issues and other steps that involve the spending of large sums of money must be given to the voters for approval.

  In a democratic society, it is important that politicians know how the people feel about public issues, if for no other reason than to be re-elected.

  Government officials are influenced by public opinion. They often can-and must- try to lead and change public opinion, but they are limited in the methods they can use. In seeking support for their own ideas, they must respect the rights of others to express different ideas.

  b. Free Elections John Locke argues that man by his nature has certain rights and duties.

  These rights include liberty, life and ownership of property (Errikson, 1971: 107). The liberty here is related to the political right to have equality or the same power. It can be applied in the freedom of electing national leaders. Free elections give the people a chance to choose their leaders or representatives and express their opinions on various issues. Elections are held periodically in democracies to ensure that elected officials truly represent the people. The possibility of being voted out of office helps assure that these officials pay attention to public opinion.

  In most democracies, the only legal requirements for voting or for holding public office have to do with age, residence, and citizenship. The democratic process permits citizens to vote by secret ballot, free from force or bribes. It also requires that election results be protected against dishonesty

  c. Majority Rule and Minority Rights

  Decisions in a democracy are made according to majority rule. The people accept the choices made by the majority of voters in free elections. After legislatures pass laws, the people follow the will of the majority of representatives. Such majority rule is based on the idea that the judgment of the many is likely to be better than the judgment of the few.

  Majority rule does not mean that the majority can do whatever it wants. The majority must keep in mind the rights and freedoms of the minority. Democratic countries guarantee that certain rights can never be taken from the people, even by extremely large majorities. These rights include the basic freedoms of speech, press, assembly, and religious worship. The majority must be willing to listen to the views of the minority. The majority also must recognize the right of the minority to try to become the majority by legal means (Hallowell, 1971:104).

d. Political Parties

  Parties are a necessary part of democratic government. Rival parties make elections meaningful by giving voters a choice among candidates who represent different interests and points of view. Most political parties try to unite as many of these divided interests and opinions as possible through a broad party program.

  The United States and Great Britain have found that a two-party system works best in uniting various interests. In a system with more than two major parties, it is more difficult to get and keep majority rule.

  In democratic countries, the party or parties that are out of power serve as the "loyal opposition." That is, they criticize the policies and actions of the party in power. In this way, the party in power is called on to justify its actions, and is made responsible to the people. In a totalitarian country, criticism of the party in power may be labeled as treason. Often, only the "government party" is allowed to exist. Elections mean little in these countries. The people have no real choice among candidates, and no opportunity to express dissatisfaction with the government (Hallowell, 1971:105).

e. Division of Power.

  Democratic societies believe it is important to divide and spread out political power. According to Montesquieu, a democratic nation should divide its power into three institutions, namely Executive, Legislative, and Judicative (Sills, 1972: 110). Under the separation of powers, each branch is independent, has a separate function, and may not usurp the functions of another branch. However, the branches are interrelated. They cooperate with one another and also prevent one another from attempting to assume too much power. This relationship is described as one of checks and balances, where the functions of one branch serve to contain and modify the power of another. Through this elaborate system of safeguards, the Framers of the Constitution sought to protect the nation against tyranny.

  Nowadays, those ideas of division of power by Montesquieu are improved. The Institution function and its rights and its duties become clearer.

  Legislative: According to Roche and Stedman, the primary function of the - legislative body has always been to declare law, to make law, or to act as a forum in which the merits of particular laws can be discussed. In other words, the function of Legislative are to become a law maker, and a government policy controller based on the voice of the people that they represents (1954: 196).

  Judiciary: Roche And Stedman state in their book that the judiciary stands as - the arbiter of differences between individuals and between individuals and the state. Its task to apply social norms, whether derived by common law techniques or from specific statutes or codes, to conflicts that arises in society and to see that these conflicts are settled in accordance with regularized procedure (1954: 320).

• Executive: Roche and Stedman state that executive as a democratic institution is an institution that has objective to supply strong, responsible direction to the community. It means its duty to enforce the decision of the community upon recalcitrant elements in the society and in the bureaucracy with a strong responsibility to make sure the power given is not misused to create a tyranny (1954:333).

  Democracy has various arrangements to prevent any person or branch of government from becoming too powerful. For example, the constitution of the United States divides political power between the states and the federal government. Some powers belong only to the states, some only to the federal government, and some are shared by both.

  The constitution further divides the powers of the US government among the President, Congress, and the federal courts. No one can serve in more than one of these branches of government at the same time. The power of each branch is designed to check or balance the power of the others. Powers not granted to governments by a constitution or charters are often reserved for the citizens.

f. Constitutional Government

  Democratic government is a government based on law, and in most cases is a constitutional government. Constitutions state the powers and duties of the government, and limit what the government may do. They also say how laws shall be made and enforced. Most constitutions include a detailed bill of rights that describes the basic liberties of the people and forbids the government to violate those rights.

  A constitution may be written or unwritten. The United States has a written constitution. The British constitution is unwritten. It consists of laws passed by Parliament, such documents as the Magna Charta, and common-law customs and beliefs (Hallowell, 1971:105).

g. Private Organization

  In a democracy, individuals and private organizations carry on many social and economic activities that are, for the most part, free of government control. For example, newspapers and magazines are privately owned and managed. Labor unions are run by and for the benefit of worker, not the state. Democratic governments generally do not interfere with religious worship. Private schools operate along with public schools. Most businesses in democratic societies are privately owned and managed. Great Britain, Sweden and some other democratic nations have government ownership and control of certain basic industries and services.

  In totalitarian societies, the government alone organizes and controls most associations. The people are not permitted to establish or join most groups without the permission of the state. In such countries as the Soviet Union, the economy is almost completely owned and managed by the state (Hallowell, 1971:105).

C. Review on the Social Condition of Rome

1. Social life

  This novel is a historical-based novel. Therefore, the history of Rome

  nd around 2 century BC has to be revealed to create an additional information.

  According to Franco Cavazzi’s article in www.roman-empire.net, every five years, each male Roman citizen has to register in Rome for the census. In this census, he has to declare his family, wife, children, slaves and riches. If he fails to do this, his possessions will be taken away and he will be sold into slavery.

  Throughout the entire republican era, registration in the census is the only way that a Roman can ensure that his identity and status as a citizen is recognized.

  Fathers registered their sons, employers, as well as their freedmen.

  Above all, the census is made to count the number of citizens and to review the potential military strength and future tax proceeds. However, the census performs a highly symbolical function. To the Romans, the census makes them more than a mere crowd or barbarian mass. It makes them a populus, a people, capable of collective action. The census is one of the foundation stones of their civilization. The job of compiling the lists is left to the incorruptible and noble-blooded men of substance who are appointed for their proven integrity and authority. They inspect each man, carefully evaluating his riches and his rank and placing him in his rightful place within the civic hierarchy of Rome.

  The whole concept of Roman life seems to center around the city. However, Romans are social creatures. The truly civilized citizen has to be more than educated or successful. The Roman needs a community, a family, or at least a group of friends around him. Therefore, there is no better place for him than the city. In the Roman mind, cities form its inhabitants into greater, abler, nobler beings. However, the barbarian tribes still live isolated all over the countryside.

  In the earliest days of Rome, the Forum changes several times, but it always remains the center of Roman life. In the early days, political life is restricted to the comitium, the northern corner of the Forum, while the rest of the open square is occupied by the market. In the later days of the republic, the shops and the market are largely moved to make way for a greater public meeting space, as well as for Caesar's Forum.

  Generally it is Caesar's contribution which initiated the Forum's greatest luxury. Every emperor in turn set out to add to the architectural glory of Rome's centre. With the growth of the empire and the increase in Rome's population, the old Forum becomes too small to cope with the total mass of numbers. In time other forum are added, the Forum of Caesar, of Augustus, of Vespasian, of Nerva and that of Trajan.

  The people in the Forum vary considerably as the day went on. Life in the Forum reaches its height at about 11 o'clock each day. Wheeled vehicles are prohibited from driving through the streets of Rome from sunrise until 4 o'clock in the afternoon. It means that during the daytime pedestrians alone made up the particularly women, being carried in litters by their slaves. During these busy hours in the city centre there iss a tremendous hustle and bustle in the Forum.

  Affairs of state are debated in the offices. In the basilica businessmen make deals, financiers discuss loans and the money-changes have their stands and stand jingling their money noisily in their hands to attract the attention of any potential customers. Close to the courtrooms the baying of the spectators and the loud voices of the lawyers can be heard from quite a distance. In other places perhaps the loud shout of a quarrel or a fight, about to break out can be heard.

  Sometimes, if a public figure had died, his funeral procession would lead through the Forum. Fathers would traditionally bring their sons to the Forum when their offspring wear his toga for the first time.

  As the empire expanded, the crowds on the Forum become yet bigger and more colorful. It seems that nearly every nationality is present on the Forum in the days of empire. However, the Romans are not very fond of such foreigners. Most despised of all are the Orientals. Eastern businessmen and scholars are the targets of a traditional Roman hatred of the eastern civilizations.

  Nobles that are moving about on the Forum always followed by a group of clients who is eager to please their patron and sure to see that he comes to no harm. Many such nobles show off their wealth. In addition, they are adorned in costly clothes as well as expensive rings. They have with them their exotic pets as well. Where there is such wealth, there are, of course, also many doubtful soothsayers and charlatans of all shapes and sizes are all around. The Forum may have lain at the heart of the centre of Rome, but it is not the only place of public life. Other areas too are busy during the day.

2. Social Class

  Franco Cavazzi in his article in www.roman-empire.net says that it is to others that a Roman had to look for any confirmation of his ability and identity. In Roman society, confirmation by others is sought as well as required. No Roman can be his own judge, but he or she can see himself or herself only through the eyes of others. One needs also to consider that Romans do not know of modern day psychology and hence do not analyze their thoughts and feelings. They look not inwards but to others to understand themselves. For it is the opinion of others which dictated the opinion a Roman ultimately held of himself. 'A good man' is hence a man deemed worthy by others, a man deemed honorable. Glory or honor is also measured only in the recognition it drew from others.

  To Romans the only advantage to be gained from glory and honor is to use it to climb the social ladder. Any credit among one's fellow men gained by one's ability, either in office or on the battlefield, is immediately used to further one's political fortunes; all in the hope of finally achieving that distant goal—a seat in the Roman Senate. Therefore, any achievement is obviously boasted about to do the bragging oneself, simply finds others who will do it for him. In Rome, where nobility, military and political leadership are all intertwined, there will be no end of bragging, showing-off and a boundless supply of flattering rumors.

  However, in a society in which so much depended on the light in which others see you, their view can not only elevate others, but it could destroy others as well. Any news, whether it is good or bad, spread like wildfire in a society that spends much of the day gossiping in the public baths, or mingling at the forum. In the theatres, actors would in their plays praise or deride public figures of the day.

  From the points of economic and social condition, generally Romans can be divided into three classes as stated by Franco Cavazzi’s article in www.roman- empire.net. The classes are:

  a. Patricians The Patricians are the highest class of all. The right to be a member of

  Patrician family is hereditary or in another words it is for highborn person. Every head of a Patrician family can join the Senate. It does not mean every Patrician man can be a senator after he is married. Only the head of a family has the right. For example, the Julius family, the one that can be the senator is the older person of the family, or the head, except the person retires from the Senate. But it does not happen all the time. For family with has many sons, they can also promote their sons into the Senate, if they have power or position in the Senate. The position such as Consul can do this action. Therefore almost every Patrician is a Senate member.

  Usually the Patrician family is a rich family. They have houses in the city but also they have estate, a land with house on it and field of plant to produce food, cattle and also other goods, outside the city. The man of Patrician family works as a politician or having a military career. They leave the estate to an overseer that controls the estate cash flow.