A character study on the protagonist in Anton Chekhov's Ivanov - Widya Mandala Catholic University Surabaya Repository
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTKR I
INTROOOCTION
1.1 Background of the study.
It
is.
would be difficult
The
to define what
great eighteenth century
English
literature
critic,
Samuel Johnson, once said that Literature is like
everyone
Dr.
light:
k."lows what light is but few can define or
even
describe it. Howe, Hollander, and Bromwich (1979:2) state
that
literature means Imaginative writings which can
be
stories novels, plays, poems which portray or reflect
or
deal
with human existence. According to Barnet,
Berman,
and Burto (1968:1), Literature is a performance in
which
words
holds an attention with a complete composition
itself.
It
is
not
regarded as
a
source
of
in
factual
information, but offers a unique delight or satisfaction.
Literature seems to give
valuable
about
situations
authors
portray
of
the
world
and
and
its·
with the intrigues of humanbeings. Here,
and
expertise
perceptions
something important
playwrights
through
the
are demanded
language and
to
also
loath
the
their
gestures
or suggest something significant which
leave
to
a
great impression to the reader.
Learning
think.
Literary work is not as easy
as
It needs a deep discussion to reveal the
people
message
2
Because
from the poet or the narrator to the reader.
this
problem,
Literature
most
students
to
discourage
of
study
does
and some others even think that it
not
worth the effort and also does not support the education.
it~s
However
likely only a wrong interpretation.
Courtney
(1966:vii) knocks down this
arguing
that
education
interpretation
from ancient times until today
have
been closely
Richard
associated.
drama
any literary works such as: poem, short
play
drama, and novel, the reader can get
enJoyment,
but
value,
facts
states
that
study
of
schools
also understanding about
and some other
things.
story,
only
culture,
life
Little
(1966:1)
wherever there is education, there
is
learned
and colleges because literature is an
peol~s
by
not
literature. It is important to be
element of
and
Actually,
learning
or
by
the
in
important
value, their thought, their
problems
and conflicts.
ln some ways, reading and writing about a work
literature
such
autobiography
as
a
poem,
a
story,
a
but nevertheles literary prose
play,
is
of
an
easier
than working on most non literary subJects (Annas, Rosen,
1990:1).
broaden
In
the
automatically
life.
addition,
read~s
studying
Literature
vocabulary and grammar.
learn
about another culture
can
also
They
also
and
way
By reading a literary work, they can immerse
of
into
3
the
of
feeling of happiness, sadness, anger, and
chartes~
life
beauty
which are written
in
and wisdom to be found in literary
available
struggles
there.
works
to the reader who has developed not
The
become
only
the
basic abilities in reading but also to the reader who has
those
special
judging,
skills
and
of
interpreting,
understanding
what
appreciating,
is
read
(Thonis,
1970:97).
According
to
the
writer
himself,
learning
a
literary work is interesting and challenging.
If someone
observes
find
a
human~s
literary work carefully, he
issues
guidance
can
that are very essential to learn
to the better value of life. Learning
work is able to broaden
observing
many
as
literary
mind and also deepen insight
beings~
by
problems
and
reasons,
the
writer is challenged to write a literary research as
his
their
and learning from human
a
solutions.
Because of the previous
thesis.
There
are
at least two major types
works. The first type is such as
novel.
of
literary
poem, short story,
While play or drama and opera are categorized
the second type. The function both of them are the
They
and
in
same.
say something worth saying and also help people
to
appreciate and criticize about the value of life surround
us.
4
The
of
the
writer here takes play as the subject
study
interaction
because
observe
the
of the characters than if it is done in
the
novel or poem.
it
is
easier
to
It is because of the language of drama or
play is more natural and put in the appropriate
So
the reader can see the interaction of the
which
are shown in dialogs and action
Berman,
· and
playwrights
matter
Burto
often
(1989:13)
characters
clearly.
Barnet,
the
modern
says
help the reader by
context.
providing
fairly
full stage directions. The following, as an example, is a
passage from Anton Checkhov·a IVANOV :
IVANOV ( Sees Borkin, starts and jumps up )
Miaha, my God ! What are
you frightened
me .... I·m upset enough as it is, and now you,
with your stupid tricks .... ( sits down ) You
frightened me, and of course you·re only too
pleased ..... .
BORKIN ( Laughs heartily ) There, there
r·m
sorry ( Sits down beside him > I won•t do it
again, honestly I won·t.
From
easier
the
passage
cited above,
the
reader
can
imagine how Ivanov in his impatience waiting
for
Barkin, suddenly jumped up from his seat as he saw Barkin
and then scolded him for making such a worry. But
Barkin
took it lightly by laughing and then sat beside Ivanov.
Drama
quality
as one of Literature genres has
a
special
which is hardly found in other genres. It has
a
magic quality. "Whether We are taking part or looking on,
or
simply
reading
a play silently, there
is
a
magic
guality surrounds the drama as it doesn't exsist in other
form
The
of Literature."
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTKR I
INTROOOCTION
1.1 Background of the study.
It
is.
would be difficult
The
to define what
great eighteenth century
English
literature
critic,
Samuel Johnson, once said that Literature is like
everyone
Dr.
light:
k."lows what light is but few can define or
even
describe it. Howe, Hollander, and Bromwich (1979:2) state
that
literature means Imaginative writings which can
be
stories novels, plays, poems which portray or reflect
or
deal
with human existence. According to Barnet,
Berman,
and Burto (1968:1), Literature is a performance in
which
words
holds an attention with a complete composition
itself.
It
is
not
regarded as
a
source
of
in
factual
information, but offers a unique delight or satisfaction.
Literature seems to give
valuable
about
situations
authors
portray
of
the
world
and
and
its·
with the intrigues of humanbeings. Here,
and
expertise
perceptions
something important
playwrights
through
the
are demanded
language and
to
also
loath
the
their
gestures
or suggest something significant which
leave
to
a
great impression to the reader.
Learning
think.
Literary work is not as easy
as
It needs a deep discussion to reveal the
people
message
2
Because
from the poet or the narrator to the reader.
this
problem,
Literature
most
students
to
discourage
of
study
does
and some others even think that it
not
worth the effort and also does not support the education.
it~s
However
likely only a wrong interpretation.
Courtney
(1966:vii) knocks down this
arguing
that
education
interpretation
from ancient times until today
have
been closely
Richard
associated.
drama
any literary works such as: poem, short
play
drama, and novel, the reader can get
enJoyment,
but
value,
facts
states
that
study
of
schools
also understanding about
and some other
things.
story,
only
culture,
life
Little
(1966:1)
wherever there is education, there
is
learned
and colleges because literature is an
peol~s
by
not
literature. It is important to be
element of
and
Actually,
learning
or
by
the
in
important
value, their thought, their
problems
and conflicts.
ln some ways, reading and writing about a work
literature
such
autobiography
as
a
poem,
a
story,
a
but nevertheles literary prose
play,
is
of
an
easier
than working on most non literary subJects (Annas, Rosen,
1990:1).
broaden
In
the
automatically
life.
addition,
read~s
studying
Literature
vocabulary and grammar.
learn
about another culture
can
also
They
also
and
way
By reading a literary work, they can immerse
of
into
3
the
of
feeling of happiness, sadness, anger, and
chartes~
life
beauty
which are written
in
and wisdom to be found in literary
available
struggles
there.
works
to the reader who has developed not
The
become
only
the
basic abilities in reading but also to the reader who has
those
special
judging,
skills
and
of
interpreting,
understanding
what
appreciating,
is
read
(Thonis,
1970:97).
According
to
the
writer
himself,
learning
a
literary work is interesting and challenging.
If someone
observes
find
a
human~s
literary work carefully, he
issues
guidance
can
that are very essential to learn
to the better value of life. Learning
work is able to broaden
observing
many
as
literary
mind and also deepen insight
beings~
by
problems
and
reasons,
the
writer is challenged to write a literary research as
his
their
and learning from human
a
solutions.
Because of the previous
thesis.
There
are
at least two major types
works. The first type is such as
novel.
of
literary
poem, short story,
While play or drama and opera are categorized
the second type. The function both of them are the
They
and
in
same.
say something worth saying and also help people
to
appreciate and criticize about the value of life surround
us.
4
The
of
the
writer here takes play as the subject
study
interaction
because
observe
the
of the characters than if it is done in
the
novel or poem.
it
is
easier
to
It is because of the language of drama or
play is more natural and put in the appropriate
So
the reader can see the interaction of the
which
are shown in dialogs and action
Berman,
· and
playwrights
matter
Burto
often
(1989:13)
characters
clearly.
Barnet,
the
modern
says
help the reader by
context.
providing
fairly
full stage directions. The following, as an example, is a
passage from Anton Checkhov·a IVANOV :
IVANOV ( Sees Borkin, starts and jumps up )
Miaha, my God ! What are
you frightened
me .... I·m upset enough as it is, and now you,
with your stupid tricks .... ( sits down ) You
frightened me, and of course you·re only too
pleased ..... .
BORKIN ( Laughs heartily ) There, there
r·m
sorry ( Sits down beside him > I won•t do it
again, honestly I won·t.
From
easier
the
passage
cited above,
the
reader
can
imagine how Ivanov in his impatience waiting
for
Barkin, suddenly jumped up from his seat as he saw Barkin
and then scolded him for making such a worry. But
Barkin
took it lightly by laughing and then sat beside Ivanov.
Drama
quality
as one of Literature genres has
a
special
which is hardly found in other genres. It has
a
magic quality. "Whether We are taking part or looking on,
or
simply
reading
a play silently, there
is
a
magic
guality surrounds the drama as it doesn't exsist in other
form
The
of Literature."