The idea of feminism as reflected through Joana Eberhart`s characteristics in Ira Levin`s The Stepford Wives - USD Repository

  THE IDEA OF FEMINISM AS REFLECTED THROUGH JOANNA EBERHART’S CHARACTERISTICS

  IN IRA LEVIN’S THE STEPFORD WIVES AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS

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

  By

  Student Number: 064214060

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ELIS WAHYU INDARTI

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

  

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There is no “Y” in “happiness”, it is an “I”.

  

(The Pursuit of Happiness)

I can make it through the rain.

  

(Through the Rain – Mariah Carey)

This beauty I know comes from inside my soul.

  

(Samantha Mumba-Don’t Need You to Tell Me I’m Pretty)

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I dedicate my undergraduate thesis to:

Ibu and Bapak PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI

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ACKNOWLEDMENT

  I would like to express my biggest gratitude for my Lord who always gives me strength to pass each chapter in my life through pain and laughter.

  My deep gratitude goes to my advisor, Maria Ananta, S.S., M. Ed., thank her for giving me her time to give her suggestions and guidance, and for her firmness so that I can really open my eyes to see a real world. I’m so thankful for my co-advisor, Elisa Dwi Wardani S.S., M.Hum., for rechecking my work from another perspective so that I can make it better. If only I had a billion buck, I would really pleased to give a Ferrari. My next gratitude goes to Ni Luh Putu Rosiandani, S.S., M.Hum for her patience to listen my problems during my study. For all the lecturers, thank them for being the best lecturers I’ve ever had. The last but not least, I thank all the staffs, esp.

  mbak Ninik, for being so kind and warm and wishing me lucky with my thesis.

  My greatest gratitude will be always and ever to my beloved parents, Surati and Ngatimin, S.E. who always give me their love, suppport and patience through their prayer and hope. I’ll never be able to finish my undergraduate thesis without your care. For my younger brother, Fadhli Arminansyah, thank you for being mature at your age. Also for my grandmother who always worries about me when I come home late.

  My special thanks go to my best-closest-friends Esti, Fira, and Rieka for PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI

  For my “pigs family”, Iong, Mella, Siska, Pia, Uci, thank you for being my sisters and new family in this university. Thanks for always supporting me in doing this undergraduate thesis. Am gonna miss y’all, gals.

  I am really thankful for Cita a.k.a cipay, Media a.k.a Nurbaya, Pipi a.k.a pekcay, Della a.k.a uni dendeng balado, Risca a.k.a Nurhalimah, Debi a.k.a Bia, Oca a.k.a sundel, and ica a.k.a Icun. Finding you, guys, like finding hectares of marijuana...tons of crystal meth!!

  The last but not least, I would like to thank all my friends in English Letters Department of 2006, my team in String Movie Maniacs, and Puppet Show. Thank you for giving me the best team during my study. For everyone that I can’t mention one by one who helped and supported me in doing this thesis, thank you so much. God bless ya all.

  Elis Wahyu Indarti

  

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  TABLE OF CONTENTS TITLE PAGE…………………………………………………………

CHAPTER I: INRODUCTION………………………………………

  7 A. Review of Related Studies…………………………………..

  

CHAPTER IV: ANALYSIS…………………………………………… 20

A. The Characteristics of Joanna Eberhart………….…………... 20 B. The Ideas of Feminism as Reflected through Joanna Eberhart’s Characteristics………………………………………………….. 40

CHAPTER V: CONCLUSION………………………………………... 49

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  16 C. Method of the Study………………………………………… 18

  15 B. Approach of the Study………………………………………

  15 A. Object of the Study………………………………………….

  2. Theory of Feminism…….……………………………….. 13

  1. Theory of Character and Characterization………….…… 10

  7 B. Review of Related Theory…………………………………... 10

  5 CHAPTER II: THEORETICAL REVIEW………………………….

  i

  5 D. Definition of Terms…………………………………………

  5 C. Objectives of the Study……………………………………..

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

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

  xi

  

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS………………………………………….. vii

LEMBAR PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN PUBLIKASI………. viii

TABLE OF CONTENTS…………………………………………….. ix

ABSTRACT…………………………………………………………… x

ABSTRAK………………………………………………………………

  vi

  

APPROVAL PAGE………………………………………………….. ii

ACCEPTANCE PAGE……………………………………………… iii

MOTTO PAGE………………………………………………………. iv

DEDICATION PAGE……………………………………………….. v

STATEMENT PAGE………………………………………………...

C. Theoretical Framework……………………………………… 14 CHAPTER III: METHODOLOGY………………………………….

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ABSTRACT

  ELIS WAHYU INDARTI. The Idea of Feminism as Reflected through Joanna

  

Eberhart’s Characteristics in Ira Levin’s The Stepford Wives. Yogyakarta:

Department of English Letters, Faculty of Letters, Sanata Dharma University, 2011.

  Ira Levin’s The Stepford Wives tells about the struggle of the main character, Joanna Eberhart, to gain the equality for the Stepford wives as their husbands. Stepford is a patriarchal society that treats the women as the subordination of men. The main character tries to change the situation that happens in Stepford, so that the Stepford women there will not be placed in the second position after men anymore.

  The research focuses on finding the idea of feminism that are reflected through the main character’s characteristics. In this research, there are two questions related to the topic. The first question is about the main character’s characteristics, and the second question is the idea of feminism that are reflected through the main character’s characteristics.

  The writer uses the library research method as the primary source. The writer also collects the data from the internet source to support the thesis. The approach that is used in this thesis is feminism approach. It is used because the goal of this analysis is to find out the ideas of feminism that are reflected through the main character’s characteristics. So, feminism approach is suitable to use.

  From the analysis, the writer finds that Joanna Eberhart’s characteristics are brave, caring, firm, independent, and persistent. They are shown from her reactions, speech, thought, manner, and conversation of other characters. From her characteristics, the writer can find an idea of feminism. That idea of feminism is equality. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI

ABSTRAK

  ELIS WAHYU INDARTI. The Idea of Feminism as Reflected through Joanna

  

Eberhart’s Characteristics in Ira Levin’s The Stepford Wives. Yogyakarta:

Program Studi Sastra Inggris, Fakultas Sastra, Universitas Sanata Dharma, 2011.

  Novel yang berjudul Stepford Wives kaangan Ira Levin bercerita tentang perjuangan tokoh utamanya, Joanna Eberhart, untuk mendapatkan kesetaraan bagi para istri di Stepford seperti suami-suami mereka. Stepford adalah wilayah yang bersistem patriarki yang membuat para wanitanya diperlakukan sebagai bawahan pria. Tokoh utamanya berusaha untuk mengubah keadaan yang ada di Stepford, sehingga wanita-wanita Stepford tidak akan lagi ditempatkan di posisi kedua setelah pria.

  Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menemukan pemikiran-pemikiran feminisme yang direfleksikan melalui karakteristik tokoh utamanya. Di dalam penelitian ini, ada dua pertanyaan yang berkaitan dengan topik. Pertanyaan pertama mengenai karakteristik tokoh utamanya, dan yang kedua mengenai pemikiran feminisme yang dicerminkan melalui karakteristik tokoh utamanya.

  Penulis menggunakan metode studi pustaka sebagai bahan utama. Penulis juga mengumpulkan data-data dari sumber internet untuk mendukung skripsi ini. Pendekatan yang digunakan adalah pendekatan feminisme. Pendekatan ini digunakan karena tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui pemikiran feminisme yang dicerminkan melalui karakteristik tokoh utamanya. Sehingga, pendekatan feminisme cocok untuk digunakan.

  Dari hasil analisa, penulis menemukan bahwa karakteristik yang dimiliki oleh Joanna Eberhart adalah berani, perhatian, tegas, mandiri, dan gigih. Karakteristik tersebut dapat terlihat dari reaksi, omongan, pemikiran, kelakuan yang dimiliki Joanna, dan pembicaraan karakter lain. Dari karakteristiknya, penulis menemukan sebuah pemikiran feminisme. Pemikiran feminisme itu adalah persamaan. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI

CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION A. Background of the Study Literature is a tool to reflect the life through the medium of language. As Hudson

  says in his book entitled An Introduction to the Study of Literature, literature is actually an expression of life through the medium of language. Literature can be regarded as something essential since it presents a description of a real life, people, feeling, thought, and feelings about life (1963:10).

  There are many kinds of literary works, such as novel, poetry, or drama. A literary work is considered good and has quality if it gives pleasure and meaning toward someone who reads it. A literary work which only offers pleasure, will give pleasure in a short period of time because the readers feel the pleasure only when they read it. Literature talks about human life and society, therefore reading a novel, as one of the literary works, is not only a matter of looking for a pleasure, but also learning about life.

  Since a long time ago, in our society, women have the second position under the men. This fact happens continuously and becomes a culture in our society. It happens PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI

  women as an object of the advertisement. They are used to make the products look more interesting, without showing the products in detail.

  Women are objectified in ads everywhere, whether we are half naked or covered in a sheet in a bed. When you look at most of the ads there is not a hint of what is being advertised on the models. We only see a brand name, is she supposed to be selling jeans? Lingerie? How about lipstick? No, no and no, she is selling perfume. Well, how on earth, if she is selling, perfume can she do that with a bra and blue jeans on? Where is the perfume? There is no inkling of a bottle in sight, how is she supposed to sell this perfume if all we see is a brand name, where is the bottle, where is the mist? Maybe it is hiding in her jeans. (Jaworski, ovember 2010)

  Moreover, women are still thought as a weak creature that cannot do what men do, and because of it women do not deserve to have what men have. Women are still positioned as house workers who are only able to take care of the babies. Women’s sensitivity is another reason why they are not as equal as men. It is because their sensitivity is thought to be dealt with their emotion, and women do not well in doing activities because of that. How women should be treated is not seen from the color of their skin, who they love, or from the anatomy of their bodies. But more, they should be treated as the same creature as men who have souls, feelings, and lives because they are people just like men. That is how women should be treated.

  We have come far, but do not stop wanting or striving for better. We all have one common thing in this world, we are people. This is how we deserve to be treated. Not as inferior because of the color of our skin, who we love, or the anatomy on our bodies, but because we have souls, feelings, lives, we are PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI

  a promotion. If I have a child, it does not mean I am incapable of feeling the qualifications for my job. If I am emotional, it is because I am a human being, not because I am a woman, men are emotional as well, women have just been taught how to deal with their emotions. Men keep them bottled up. (Jaworski, ovember 2010)

  Feminists try to have the equality as men have. They try to erase the subordination that happens to women. Based on this reality, there are some efforts to gain the equality between men and women which is called feminism (Wyrick, 1987: 64). Feminism shows the action of women to gain the same right position as men.

  They take the action to get their freedom to develop themselves. Feminism believes that women have the same right and privileges as what men’s have so far. As what is stated by Gilbert and Gubar in Bressler’s Literary Criticism: An Introduction to

  

Theory and Practice that feminism goal is to change this degrading view of women,

  so that women will realize that they are not “a person who is not significant,” but that each women is a valuable person who have the same privileges and right as what every men have. Women must declare themselves and assert their own voices in the arenas of politics, society, education, and also in the art (1999:180).

  In the novel, the main character, Joanna Eberhart, tries to gain the same right and position as the men in the Stepford. She rebels the situation that happens to the wives there. So, the wives would have the same right again as men. The idea of feminism is shown by Joanna’s actions. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI

  Ira Levin’s The Stepford Wives brings the idea of feminism that are brought by the main character, Joanna Eberhart. It tells about the roles of both the Stepford wives and husbands. It seems that the author wants to show us women’s way of life, such as women should take housekeeping, while men do everything they want to do. Women should act nicely all the time and stay inside the house, but men do not.

  Ira Levin shapes this issue through the different roles between the Stepford wives and husbands. He chooses to show the desire and effort of the female character to gain the equality as the Stepford husbands. The desire here is the desire to have the same right as what the Stepford husbands have and as what the Stepford wives used to have.

  From the explanations above, the writer tries to analyze about the idea of feminism as reflected through Joanna Eberhart’s characteristics in Ira Levin’s The

  

Stepford Wives ince the issue of feminism spreads in each chapter of the novel.

  Joanna tries to change the patriarchal society that has existed in Stepford before she moves there. So, the wives would have the same right again as men.

  On this account, this study tends to explore the idea of feminism that are reflected through the main character’s characteristics in the novel. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI

B. Problem Formulation

  In this study, the writer uses two problem formulations to be discussed. The problems can be formulated as follow:

1. How are the characteristics of Joanna Eberhart described in the novel?

  2. How is the idea of feminism reflected through Joanna Eberhart’s characteristics?

  C. Objectives of the Study

  The first problem formulation is to find out the characteristics of Joanna Eberhart. It is needed to know more about her characteristics since she becomes the main character of the novel who leads the issue of feminism in this study.

  The second problem formulation is used to see what idea of feminism that are reflected through Joanna Eberhart’s characteristics.

  D. Definition of Terms

  In this part, the writer would explain some important terms to avoid misunderstanding in reading this study. But, the terms should be defined in order to limit the meaning. The writer finds two important terms, they are characteristics and feminism. The two terms mentioned will be explained as follow:

1. Characteristics

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  means that they have some characteristics that the real human beings have so that characters also have temperaments and emotions (Holman and Harmon, 1986:82). Characteristics itself, based on Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, is very typical of something or somebody’s character.

2. Feminism

  Based on the Dictionary of Feminist Theory, feminism means the ideology of women’s liberation since intrinsic in all its approaches is the belief that women suffer injustice because of their sex (Humm, 1990:74). According to Terrey in Women’s Studies Encyclopedia, feminism means a belief and commitment to equal right and opportunities for women (Terrey, 1989:139). PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI

CHAPTER II THEORETICAL REVIEW Review of Related Studies A. Ira Levin has made several international best-selling novels such as A Kiss Before Dying, The Boys from Brazil, and Rosemary’s Baby. But, his novel that is

  entitled The Stepford Wives is the most unique one since the story consists of the changing of the women there from human beings into robots, and also the changing of the liberated women into the hausfraus immediately.

  In this part, the writer will review the related studies that have been found. There are three related studies. The first one is taken from The Stepford Wives The

  Re-created woman by Lilly Ann Boruzkowski. The second related study is taken

  from an article that is made by Veena Das: Science and Violence in Popular Fiction:

  

Four novels of Ira Levin. The last study entitled Waving or Drowning? Perceptions of

Second Wave Feminism through Twenty-First Century Lens by Helen Bralesford.

  Boruzkowski studies about the technology that is used to re-created women in the Stepford. She finds that there is a horror situation that happens in the Stepford since the women are changed into robots. She finds that the horror is not actually out PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI society. The Stepford men want to be the ones who can take control of everything.

  They want their wives become obedient wives to them and powerless. For that reasons, they finally decide to “kill” their wives and re-create the new ones to fulfill their desires.

  THE STEPFORD WIVES specifically addresses the changing role of women in contemporary society and apprehensions about technology. The "horror" has its basis in current social and cultural ideologies. The evil is not "out there," but in our culture, our society, our home, our family, and the very beliefs which govern our lives. The basic plot of THE STEPFORD WIVES concerns men who discover the ultimate method of controlling women. The men create robot duplicates of their wives, which have no will and become men's sexual and domestic slaves. (Boruzkowski,

   The second study by Veena Das still focuses her study on the science and violence in popular fiction. She studies that in the Stepford Wives, the patriarchal concept is not the only issue of the novel. But more, there is a mixing of the husband’s knowledge about science, sexual desire, and patriarchal concept. Their knowledge leads them to create a fantasy body that is applied to their wives. So, their wives can be like what the men want. But still, women are put up in the second position of men.

  But it would be a mistake to think Stepford Wives is only about the norms of a patriarchal society - the control which men exercise, or are supposed to exercise, over women. The husbands in Stepford use their new knowledge to PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI

  technology which gives Stepford homes that peculiar, picture-book quality, and the women bodies that neither sweat nor age, while their minds are completely tied to detergents and floor waxes. The fantasy bodies of these cherished wives are the body-made-whole or the body-without-organs of a capitalist, anti-oedipal society, living off commercials for detergents, soaps and deodorants. Whereas the household is vital in most traditional societies, in Stepford, household management has itself been transformed into ergs. (Das, On the other hand, the last study that comes from Helen Bralesford critics about the second wave feminism that has its peak when the novel is first published.

  She studies the feminism issue as what the writer studies. But, she finds two feminism issues in the novel. The first is like what the writer studies that the main character brings the feminism issue in the novel.

  The Feminine Mystique is cited in reverential as the work of feminist reference, but it is used to locate The Stepford Wives temporally; Joanna pointedly says that “The Mystique came out while I was still working“ (Levin 35) more than seven years before the date of the novel’s setting, a temporal distance that is reiterated when we learn that Joanna’s son, Pete, celebrates his eight birthday shortly after the family move to the Stepford. (Bralesford, She also mentions about another feminism issue of a black woman. She finds that in the novel, Ruthanne brings the black feminist movement. She studies that

  Ruthanne tries to get the same right as the white women in Stepford. Her moving to the Stepford to join with the white middle-class is the main issue of feminism she

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  Historically and socially accurate though it may be, Levin’s representation of Ruthanne could be read as putting the blame for the feminine mystique squarely on the shoulders of those of any colour who aspires to join the middle-classes. It seems that a move to Stepford, whether in Joanna’s case from city life to middle-class suburb or Ruthanne’s to an uneasy equality with the white middle-class, is the self inflicted source of threat to them both as women.

  (Bralesford,

  Review of Related Theories B.

  This part will discuss about the theories that will be used to analyze the problem formulations in this study.

  Theory of Character and Characterization 1.

  The first theory that the writer uses is the theory of character and characterization in order to analyze the main character’s characteristics in the novel.

  Regarding to Abrams in A Glossary of Literature Terms, character is “the persons in a dramatic or narrative work, endowed with moral and dispositional qualities that are expressed in what they say—the dialogue—and what they do—the action (1981: 20)”. So, the reader will be able to find out the characters’ moral and dispositional qualities through their dialogues or speech and their actions.

  In Understanding Unseen: An Introduction of English Poetry and the English

  

Novel for Overseas Student, Murphy, explained nine ways of how the author presents

  the characters:

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  clothes, etc. Personal description is used in many literary works by many authors; it is the easiest way to tell directly to the readers the clues to a character with certain feature.

  b. Character as seen by another.

  Instead of describing a character directly the author can describe him through the eyes and opinions of another. The readers get the clue of a character’s personality or attitude through the other character’s explanation or opinion about that character.

  c. Speech.

  The author can give us an insight into the character of one of the person in the book through what that person says. For example, whenever a person speaks, whenever he is in conversation with another, whenever he puts forward an opinion, he is giving some clues to his character. It means that the readers will get some clues about a character through the character’s own words.

  d. Past life.

  By letting the character learn something about a person’s past life, the author can give us a clue to events that have helped to shape a person’s character.

  This can be done by direct comment by the author, through the person’s thoughts, through his conversation or through the medium of another person.

  e. Conversation of others. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI

  about other people and the things they say often give us a clue to the character of the person spoken about.

  f. Reactions.

   The author can also gives us a clue to a person’s character by le ting us know how that person reacts to various situations and events.

  g. Direct comment.

  The author can describe or comment on a person’s character directly. By using direct comments, the author gives the opinion about the character. This is one of the most common ways that the most writer use.

  h. Thoughts.

  The author can give us direct knowledge of what the person is thinking about. In this respect he is able to do what we cannot do in real life. He can tell us what different people are thinking.

i. Mannerism.

  The author can describe a person's mannerism, habits, and also behavior whether positive or negative which tell us something about the reflection of his personality (1972: 161-173).

  Theory of Feminism 2.

  Pilcher and Whelehan in their book Fifty Key Concepts in Gender Studies PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI

  the late 1960s. Whereas the first wave lobbied for women’s enfranchisement via the vote and access to the professions as well as the right to own property, the second wave of feminism talked in terms of ‘liberation’ from the oppressiveness of a patriarchal society. Second Wave Feminism committed to building a body of knowledge which specifically addressed the ways in which women have historically been marginalized, both culturally and socially (2004: 145).

  Since this study deals with the goal of idea of feminism, therefore it is necessary to know about the idea of feminism.

1. Equality

  Jo Freeman states in Women: A Feminist Perspective that the idea of universal equality is that behind the differences, either men or women are born free and want to be placed equal. In front of God, both men and women want to have the same right in life. The purpose of equality is to avoid the justice of some existing inequality treatment. It means that women should have the same rights and duties as men have (1975:439).

  Theoretical Framework C.

  The first theory is theory of character and characterization. It is used to answer the first problem formulation. By using theory of character and PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI

  The second theory is theory of feminism. Since this study deals with the idea of feminism, the theory of feminism is needed to find out what kind of feminism’s struggle that is done by Joanna. Then, to answer what idea of feminism that are reflected through Joanna Eberhart’s characteristics, the writer also needs the idea of feminism. So, the idea of feminism that is reflected through Joanna Eberhart’s characteristics can be answered by providing the theory of feminism, including the idea of feminism. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI

CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY Object of the Study A. The study on the idea of feminism as reflected through Joanna Eberhart’s

  characteristics uses one of Ira Levin’s novels entitled The Stepford Wives as the object of the study. The novel is chosen because there is a strong issue about feminism in the story that attracts the writer’s attention. This novel was first published in 1972 by Random House by Ira Levin. In this study, the writer uses the first edition that consists of 123 pages and is divided into three chapters.

  In the 1975, Palomar Pictures created a movie based on the novel. It was released in the 12 February 1975, starring nd it was directed by Bryan Forbes. But, there’s a misconception about the clothes in this movie. Bryan Forbes reformulated the wardrobe into Victorian-style, while in the original novel dressed in tight sweaters and skirts. In 1976, this movie got 1 win in Golden Scroll foras the best actress, and 1 nomination as Best Science Fiction Film. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI While, in 11 June 2004 the same movie was released by Paramount Pictures.

  The movie that was located i he director, Frank Oz, made it into a comedy-thriller movie. In the same year, this movie won 3 awards from Golden Trailer as Best of Show, Most Original, and Summer 2004 Blockbuster.

  Basically, the story in this novel is about the superiority of men who did not want to be in the second position of women. They changed their wives into robots, so their wives would not able to defeat them and followed anything they asked for. When Joanna and her family moved to the Stepford, she feels that there was something weird with the situation in her surroundings, especially with the Stepford wives. She finally found what happened to the Stepford wives, and she started her rebellion to defeat against the Stepford husbands to get their right and freedom back.

  Approach of the Study B.

  Since this study discusses about the idea of feminism that are brought by the main character in the novel, the writer uses feminist approach in assisting the writer to analyze the topic. Feminist approach is an approach that focuses on the marginalization of all women: that is, one organized in favor of the interest of men.

  Feminist literary critics try to explain how power imbalance due to gender in a given

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  Wilfred L.Guerin in his book A Handbook of Critical Approaches to

  Literature that concerns with feminist criticism stated:

  Despite their diversity, feminist critics generally agree that their goals are to expose patriarchal premises and resulting prejudices, to promote discovery and reevaluation of literature by women, and to examine social, cultural, and psychosexual contexts of literature and literary criticism (1992: 197).

  Feminists try to expose the patriarchal concepts, to promote discovery and evaluate the literature done by women and to discuss social, cultural, and psychosexual contexts of literature and literary criticism. While, to interpret literary text, it is important to decide which approach that is suitable for the text.

  In A Handbook of Critical Approaches to Literature, Wilfred L.Guerin, stated that feminism has often focused on what is absent rather than what is present. It is a reflecting concern with the silencing and marginalization of women in patriarchal culture. It is a culture that is organized in the favor of men (2005: 222-223).

  Deborah L.Madsen in Feminist Theory and Literary Practice stated that feminist perspectives focus upon how women’s writing attempts to create a feminist consciousness of the oppression and injustice suffered by women (2000: 37). So, feminism approach is used to study the women’s position and role in the society that is oppressed and marginalized by the patriarchal culture. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI Method of the Study C.

  The writer used a library research to do this analysis. The primary source that was used in this study was a novel entitled The Stepford Wives by Ira Levin, the secondary were books and websites relate to the work and the theories, approach and undergraduate theses as related studies. In this study, there were several books that were used in analyzing the work such as An Introduction to the Study of Literature,

  

Literary Criticism: An Introduction to Theory and Practice, Handbook of Literature,

Dictionary of Feminist Theory, Women’s Studies Encyclopedia, etc.

  In this study, the writer took several steps. First, the writer read the novel comprehensively in order to understand the story well. After reading the novel, the writer found there was something attractive with the issue of the idea feminism that were brought by the main character’s characteristics from the very beginning of the story until the end. Then, in order to analyze more on it, several theories from proper books were used after the writer collected the data from the novel.

  The next step that was used by the writer was applying the approach and the theories in order to answer the two problem formulations that were used in this study.

  The theory of character and characterization were used to reveal the main character’s characteristics, while the theory of feminism and the idea of feminism were used to reveal the idea of feminism in the novel. After the first problem formulation was

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  formulations, the idea of feminism that were brought by the main character’s characteristics could be found. Finally, the writer could draw an analysis from it.

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CHAPTER IV ANALYSIS In this chapter, the writer will answer the two problem formulations as stated

  in first chapter. There will be two parts that will be divided in the analysis. The first one is on how Joanna Eberhart’s characteristics are described in Stepford Wives. The second one will be about the idea of feminism that are reflected through Joanna Eberhart’s characteristics.

  The characteristics of Joanna Eberhart A.

  In this first part, the writer will discuss about Joanna Eberhart’s characteristics. Joanna Eberhart is the main character in the novel. Joanna is a mother of two children, who is interested in women’s liberation movement and politics. She is also a career woman who creates her own money as a photographer. Here, the writer finds five characteristics of Joanna Eberhart. Those are brave, care, firm, independent, and persistent.

  Regarding to the theory of characterization by M. J Murphy, there are nine ways to find out how the author presents the character in the literary works. But, here in this analysis, the writer will only use five of them. They are speech, conversation of others, reactions, thoughts, and mannerism. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI

1. Brave

  The first characteristic of Joanna is brave. In analyzing Joanna’s braveness, the writer will use Murphy’s theory about speech and reactions. Based on Murphy’s theory about speech, the author describes the character through what the character says. It can be seen from whenever he speaks, having a conversation with another, or giving opinion (1972: 164). Besides, Murphy’s theory about reactions stated that the author gives a clue to analyze a person’s character by letting us know a person reactions to various situation and events (1972: 168).

  Joanna is a brave woman. She wants to change the situation in Stepford that already happens before her family and she move to Stepford. She is not afraid of facing Stepford men’s reactions in order to defeat Joanna’s plan. She wants the Stepford men not to think that their wives should be placed in the second position under them. Her bravery is shown from her action against her husband who do not want to move from Stepford after she knew what has happened to her best friend, Bobbie.

  “Listen to me, damn it!” She gripped the handset. “Go ahead,” she said. “I’ll try to get home early,” he said. “Don’t do anything till I get there. You hear me? Don’t make any commitments or anything. I think I can get away in about half an hour.” “I’m not going to stay here another day,” she said. (p. 83).

  When Bobbie is changed into robot by her husband after they spent weekend PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI

  Stepford men’s thought about women. She collects the facts from many sources she can find such as the written evidences from the library or from some people’s testimonies. Although in that time her husband starts changing his thought of women to have equality as men, Joanna does not stuck there.

  Another action that shows Joanna’s braveness can be shown from her reaction to face the three Stepford men who run after her when she leaves her house. She fights against the three men both physically and mentally.

  “Get away!” she cried at the lights bobbing toward her, two on one side, one on the other. She raised the branch. “Get away!” (p. 111). Shapes darker than the darkness stood before her. “Stay away,” she said, raising the branch higher. “You don’t need that.” “We’re not going to hurt you.” “Then get away,” she said. (pp. 3). “Get away and let me go on!” she said. “We can’t do that,” the man in the middle said. “You’ll catch pneumonia. Or get hit by a car.” “I’m going to a friend’s house,” she said. “I’ll be inside in a few minutes. I’d be inside now if you hadn’t—oh Jesus . . .” She lowered the branch and rubbed her arm; and rubbed her eyes and her forehead, shivering. (p. 113). From her conversation with the Stepford men there, Joanna shows her braveness by threatening them with the branch she gets. She also tells them to get out of her way in a strong stress. Through her action of leaving the house in the cold night without having well preparation, it shows that she is brave to face the dangerous situation

  Joanna’s speech and reactions that wants to change the Stepford men’s way of thinking reflect her characteristic as a brave woman. They are also suitable to Murphy’s theory about speech and reactions.

  Joanna Eberhart is also a caring woman who really loves and cares for her children and husband. It can be shown through her speech (1972: 164), reactions (1972: 168), thoughts (1972: 171), and manner (1972: 173) as stated in M. J Murphy’s theory.

  In the novel, there can be found where Joanna tries to make their children not to feel sad or cry. She always tries to pay attention more on her two children as what is shown when Kim cries because Pete changes the channel that Kim is watching.

  Crouching, she hugged Kim to her shoulder and rubbed her pajamas back, kissed her silk-soft ringlets. “Ah, come on now,” she said. “Don’t you want to play with that nice Allison again? Maybe you’ll see another chipmunk.” (p. 4). “And don’t kick,” she told Kim. She rubbed her back and tried to get kisses in at her squirming-away cheek. (pp. 9) Joanna shows her care from what she does to Kim. She hugs her, kisses her cheek, and rubs her back tenderly. She also tries to calm her down by telling her if she wants to play outside with Allison again or not and maybe she will see another chipmunk. Both her speech and reaction show her care to her daughter, Kim.

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2. Caring

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  Joanna also shows her habits of taking care her two children well. She always makes sure that when they sleep at night.

  So once Pete and Kim were sound asleep she went down to the cellar and did some measuring and planning in the storage room that was going to e her dark room, and then she went back up, checked Pete and Kim, and made herself a vodka and tonic and tonic and put it into the den (p. 13).

  Kim’s elephant was on the floor. She picked it up and tucked it under the blanket beside the pillow, then pulled the blanket up onto Kim’s shoulders and fondled her ringlets very lightly (pp. 4). Pete was on his back with mouth open, exactly as he had been when he had checked before. She waited until his chest move, then opened his door wider, switched the hall light off, and went into her and Walter’s room (pp. 5). Her manner that makes sure that her children sleep well at night shows her care to them. She really cares about them, so though they sleep, she will keep an eye on them. It can be also seen when she finds Kim’s doll lying on the floor. She picks it and puts it right beside Kim’s pillow. She pulls up her blanket, so her daughter will not feel cold at night and sleep tightly. Then, she checks her son, Pete that he sleeps comfortably as she has checked before. She looks at him and waits until his chest move, and makes sure that his door opened wider and switch off the hall light off.