A critique toward renaissance humanism in Dr.Faustus` characteristics as seen in Christopher Marlowe`s Dr. Faustus - USD Repository
A CRITIQUE TOWARD RENAISSANCE HUMANISM IN DR.FAUSTUS’ CHARACTER AS SEEN IN CHRISTOPHER MARLOWE’S DR. FAUSTUS
AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra
In English Letters
By: JULIANA TANDO Student Number: 014214091 ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS FACULTY OF LETTERS SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY YOGYAKARTA 2009
I have no reason to get bitter and hopeless, to complain about my life to God . Yet, I have so many reasons to put my faith in Christ, to be strong and to be joyful in all conditions
(Juliana Tando)
What other people will never take from you are your faith and
knowledge.They have to learn and become your student, first. (Junus Tando) In remembering our beloved mother, Based on Rome 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to
those who love God, to those who are called according to
His purpose Everything happened in our life brings and teaches goodness,
(Lince Salukanan, 8,08,1961
- - 18,08,2008) “The heart has its reasons of which reason knows nothing. It is the heart which perceives God and not the reason. That is what faith is: God perceived by the heart, not by the reason” Blaise Pascal
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
First and foremost, I thank my Saviour, Jesus Christ for His unfailing love. He is the source of my life showing that my life is so precious, giving me hopes in all conditions, visions and the purpose of my life. I do not know what will happen without Him in passing my journey of life, especially my last year hardest time. I thank Him so much also for everything happened in my life.
I wish to express my special and profoundest gratitude to my beloved Mom in Heaven for her everlasting love, prayers, and her strong faith to recover from heart disease. I thank God also for giving me a great Father, a father who always teaches me to love learning and never stop dreaming to get my best future. To my youngest brother in heaven, Rudiangga Tando, I thank for teaching me patience, and my brother, Hendrianto Tando, I thank also for being my best brother that I ever and always have in my life. I am very proud of having a great family like you all.
I would like also to thank my advisor, G. Fajar Sasmita Aji S.S., M. Hum for all the helps, patience and time during my undergraduate thesis. I also thank my co- advisor, Drs. Hirmawan Wijarnaka, M. Hum for his corrections and suggestions.
I greatly appreciate Pak Arie Saptaji who gave me knowledge and lent me his books. For Romo Harry, I thank so much for his philosophical ideas, corrections and suggestions.
I would like to thank my friend Margareth Aritonang for her multi ideas toward my thesis. My special thanks also go to my best friends, Arita Dewi Effendi for the discussion, support, help and sharing many times together, especially in finishing our thesis, Verlin Maria and Friesca for their prayers and supports.
My warmest thanks also go to my lovely Agatha Center members: Ellen, Merry, Bebi, ex Agatha members: Mega and Ibeth for the love, prayer, supports and time we shared together. I thank you all for your understanding and accepting me whatever I was. I would like also thank to my GBI Generasi Baru, my Zone 1 pastor, kak Yeni Situmorang for her understanding and helps (especially my family’s departure to Papua for attending my Mother’s funeral) , my Zone 1 members, my lovely Elohim Kedoshim cell group members, Christopel, Ance, Anes, Lambok, K’ Kristin, Merry, Ana, Fanny, Eva, Dewi, Jimmy, Ester, Kaleb, Stefany, ex Elohim: Lamtua and Chandra, Iin Siahaan, kak Novi and Noni Purba for their prayer, understanding and support to finish my thesis. I thank Darle and Lambok for lending me their printers. I will not forget that. All of those names mentioned above make my days colourful and I am very thankful for having you all. God Bless.
Yuli
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TITLE PAGE....................................................................................................... i APPROVAL PAGE............................................................................................ ii ACCEPTANCE PAGE....................................................................................... iii LEMBAR PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN PUBLIKASI KARYA ILMIAH iv MOTTO PAGE................................................................................................... v DEDICATION PAGE........................................................................................ vi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .............................................................................. vii TABLE OF CONTENTS.................................................................................... ix ABSTRACT........................................................................................................ xi ABSTRAK.......................................................................................................... xii CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION....................................................................
1 A. Background of the Study..................................................................
1 B. Problem Formulation.........................................................................
5 C. Objectives of the Study.....................................................................
5 D. Definition of terms.............................................................................
6 CHAPTER II THEORETICAL REVIEW...................................................
7 A. Review of Related Studies ...............................................................
7 B. Review of Related Theory.................................................................
10 1. Character and Characterization....................................................
10 2. Theories on Theme......................................................................
13 3. The Relation Between Philosophy and Literature.......................
14 4. The Reviews on Medieval, Renaissance and Reformation Time.
15 5. Blaise Pascal Belief Alternatives.................................................
22 C. Theoretical Framework.....................................................................
24 CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY..................................................................
25 A. Object of the Study...........................................................................
25 B. Approach of the Study......................................................................
27 C. Method of the Study.........................................................................
28 CHAPTER IV ANALYSIS
30 A. The Characteristics of Dr. Faustus ...................................................
31
1. The Basic Characteristics of Dr. Faustus and How Dr. Faustus Sees Himself........................................................................................
31 2. The Other Characters’ View on Dr. Faustus...............................
39 3. Faustus’ Relationship with others................................................
41
B. The Character of Dr. Faustus Representing the Changing of View of God and Human Being From the Medieval Era to Renaissance and Reformation Era................................................................................
43 C. The Character of Dr. Faustus Serving as a Critique toward Renaissance Humanism using Blaise Pascal’s Belief Alternative........................
48 1. What If Dr. Faustus Believes in God?.......................................
48 2. What If Dr. Faustus Does not Believe in God?.........................
49 CHAPTER V CONCLUSION......................................................................
53 BIBLIOGRAPHY...........................................................................................
57 APPENDICES.................................................................................................
59
ABSTRACT
Juliana Tando (2009), A Critique toward Renaissance Humanism in Dr. Faustus’
Characteristics as seen in Christopher Marlowe’s Dr. Faustus, Yogyakarta :
English Letters Study Programme, Sanata Dharma University Life is not considered achieving all things and autonomy and temporal pleasure in this world freely without purpose. Undersanding life is also understanding the reason we live. In Christopher Marlowe’s Dr. Faustus, the main character Dr. Faustus is a person who achieved autonomy and termporal pleasures by defying God. He has sold his soul to Lucifer. This thesis also sees that the main character Dr. Faustus functions as a critique toward Renaissance Humanism.
Related to the problem formulation, there are three questions that should be answered to reveal the critique toward Renaissance Humanism during the Renaissance era in the main character, Dr. Faustus. The questions are (1) What are the characteristics of Dr. Faustus in the play? (2) In what way does the characteristics of Dr. Faustus represent the changing view of God and human being in the era of Renaissance? (3) Given the value of humanism and religion portrayed by the character of Dr. Faustus, how does Dr. Faustus serve as a critique toward Renaissance humanism using Blaise Pascal’s Belief Alternatives? Moral Philosophical Approach is used in analyzing the problems. The moral philosophical study is used to get the philosophical message, especially as a critique toward Renaissance Humanism of the character’s life.
The first part of the discussion is to point out the characterisatics of Dr. Faustus, his background of life and relationship with his friends. Dr. Faustus is seen as a smart, critical, self – conceited and inconsistent person.The second part of the discussion is about Dr. Faustus as the representation of human being who change his view of God and human being in the era of Renaissance. And the changing view of God and human being will influence the third part, that is, the critique toward Renaissance Humanism. The tragic end of life of Dr. Faustus is seen as a critique toward Renaissance Humanism that Dr. Faustus tries to defy God by turning his center of life to necromancy. At the end of the story, Faustus regrets and asks forgiveness from God, but it is too late.
The conclusion of these discussions of the character and characteristics of Dr. Faustus, his experiences and the end of his life as the critique toward Renaissance Humanism using Blaise Pascal’s Belief Alternatives that human being can not deny God, even though it is a choice whether he wants to choose believe in God or not.
ABSTRAK
Juliana Tando (2009), A Critique toward Renaissance Humanism in Dr. Faustus’
Characteristics as seen in Christopher Marlowe’s Dr. Faustus, Yogyakarta: Sastra
Inggris, Fakultas Sastra, Universitas Sanata Dharma.Hidup tidak diartikan sebagai suatu pencapaian segala hal dan kesenangan yang bersifat sementara dan duniawi secara bebas dan tanpa tujuan. Mengerti hidup juga adalah mengerti alasan kenapa kita hidup. Dalam drama Dr. Faustus karya Christopher Marlowe, karakter dalam cerita ini digambarkan sebagai orang yang mencapai kesenangan sementara dan duniawi dengan menentang Tuhan. Dr. Faustus menjual dirinya kepada Lucifer. Skripsi ini menemukan bahwa karakter Dr. Faustus merupakan kritik terhadap Renaissance Humanisme.
Berkaitan dengan permasalahan ini, ada tiga pertanyaan yang harus dijawab untuk mengetahui kritik terhadap humanisme di era Renaissance melalui karakter utama, Dr. Faustus. Pertanyaannya adalah (1) karakteristik apa saja yang terdapat pada Dr. Faustus, dalam drama Dr. Faustus? (2) bagaimana karakteristik Dr. Faustus mewakili perubahan cara pandang manusia terhadap Tuhan dan manusia pada era Renaissance? (3) Dengan berdasar nilai humanisme dan agama melalui karakteristik Dr. Faustus, bagaimana Dr. Faustus dianggap sebagai kritik terhadap Renaissance humanisme dengan menggunakan teori Blaise Pascal tentang Belief Alternative? Studi pendekatan moral filosofi yang digunakan dalam menganalisis permasalahan tersebut, dipakai untuk mendapatkan pesan filosofi, terutama kritik terhadap Renaissance humanisme dari kehidupan karekater utama.
Bagian pertama dari diskusi ini membicarakan mengenai karakteristik Dr. Faustus. Dr. Faustus digambarkan sebagai seorang orang yang pintar, kritis, sombong dan tidak konsisten. Bagian kedua dari diskusi ini mengenai perubahan cara pandang Dr. Faustus yang mewakili cara pandang manusia terhadap Tuhan dan manusia di era Renaissance. Perubahan cara pandang ini akan mempengaruhi bagian ketiga dari diskusi ini mengenai kritik terhadap Renaissance humanisme. Akhir hidup yang tragis dari Dr. Faustus dinilai sebagai suatu kritik terhadap humanisme bahwa Dr. Faustus mencoba menentang Tuhan dengan mengubah pusat hidupnya pada magis. Akhir dari cerita ini, Faustus menyesal dan meminta ampun pada Tuhan, namun semuanya sudah terlambat.
Kesimpulan dari diskusi mengenai karakteristik, pengalaman dan akhir hidup Dr. Faustus sebagai kritik terhadap Renaissans humanisme dengan menggunakan teori Blaise Pascal tentang Belief Alternative, yaitu bahwa manusia tidak dapat menyangkal Tuhan, meskipun itu merupakan suatu pilihan apakah dia ingin memilih percaya kepada Tuhan atau tidak.
CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION A. Background of the Study Today, people’s opinion and understanding toward God has already changed. It
can be seen clearly from what people believe now that there are people who become more religious and the rest of them become more secular. It is because people have their understanding or view about life; how she or he looks at life. According to Francis A. Schaeffer in his book “How Should We Then Live: the rise and Decline of
Western Thought and Culture” ,
“People have presuppositions, and they will live more consistently on the basis of these presuppositions than even they themselves may realize. By presuppositions people mean the basic way an individual looks at life, his basic world-view, the grid through which he sees the world. Presuppositions rest upon that which a person considers to be the truth of what exists. People's presuppositions lay a grid for all they bring forth into the external world. Their presuppositions also provide the basis for their values and therefore the basis for their decisions” (1983: 20).
Schaeffer adds that in order to understand where we are in today’s world – in our intellectual ideas and in our cultural and political views ---- we must trace three lines in history, namely, the philosophic, the scientific and the religious. History is very important for us in order to know that what we have now is resulted from the past.
What we have today about being secular and religious actually had already happened in the past especially in the transition from medieval to renaissance and reformation time. It can be explained from Francis A. Schaeffer that the problem of being religious and secular is first shown in both renaissance and reformation movement. Renaissance contained the humanistic elements whereas the Reformation used the scriptural Christianity. One of the causes of this divide was the distortions in medieval era (1983:56).
The two movements, Renaissance and Reformation brought human beings to the change of their thought; how human beings search their existence and their understanding about God. The changing thought can be acknowledged in literature as well. Drama is one of the genres of literature. According to Milly S. Marranger, drama is the special written way of imitating human experience. In other words, what human beings have and do can be imitated or presented trough drama (1994:5). One of the examples of literature, especially drama telling about Renaissance and Reformation is Dr. Faustus written by Christopher Marlowe.
Christopher Marlowe’s Dr. Faustus focuses more on the relationship between medieval and the renaissance era, because Dr. Faustus is written between the transition from medieval to Renaissance and Reformation time. As mentioned before, that drama is a presentation of human being seen from the action, the play Dr.
Faustus presents what had happened in the early of the rise of Renaissance after
medieval time; how people turn their way from the authority of the church to be secular and to return to the biblical teaching/ religious shown in the main character, Dr. Faustus.
In Dr. Faustus, there are reasons that make the work chosen as a source of discussion. First, is the fact that the play itself is from European legend/ mythology told by time to time and in Marlowe’s hand, it becomes different. As a historic figure, Faustus has been taken as literary work by other writers before or after Marlowe, for example Goethe’s Faust and Thomas Mann’s Dr. Faustus: The
Life of the German Composer Adrian Leverkuhn as told by friend . Seen from the
ending of the play, Marlowe’s Dr. Faustus has a different ending with Goethe’s
Faust . Goethe’s Faust has a happy ending, whereas Marlowe’s Dr. Faustus has a
tragic ending with the death of Dr. Faustus and goes to hell.Second, the most interesting thing in this play is that the play shows both a morality play and a play quite removed from the world of morality play. According to Sylvan Barnet with friends, Dr. Faustus is a play that is not only universally acknowledged as the first great tragedy, but also a tradition of a morality play, a form that originated in the late fourteenth century and survived until the latter part of the sixteenth century. The morality play conforms the standard value where a central character representing humanity, starts the play in a state of innocence (2001:221). Marlowe’s Dr. Faustus itself shares many characteristics in common with the medieval morality play. On the other hand, Kate Wild states that Faustus, rather than an innocent, is a man of ambition and desire. His fall and his resulting anguish are the result of a fierce internal figure. Doctor Faustus tends to focus on individuality.
http://www.youngvic.org/assets/attachments/resource-packs/doctor-faustus.pdf
Shortly, she wants to show the two sides of the play Dr. Faustus that it can be both morality play and not. The morality play showed a man to be frail and subject to temptation, but redeemable through God. Whereas, where the play removed from morality play is that, the play shows human aspiring to defy God and though he is shown to be ultimately destroyed, his defiance is compelling. The idea whether the play is a morality play or not, has a close relationship with the history of the transition from medieval to renaissance. The play was written between the two eras.
Furthermore, concerning with the character of Dr. Faustus, many scholars have discussed this play and most of them found that it is about Renaissance humanism. Many says Faustus stand between older, medieval and Renaissance tradition and others says that Marlowe as a playwright was trapped between the religious Middle Ages and the man- centered Renaissance influencing Faustus to defy an authority of God and sell his soul to Lucifer for knowledge and power.
(www.pinkmonkey.com/Dr.Faustus)
Based on all of the explanations above, it is very interesting to see a very well
- – known literary work influenced by two ideas; renaissance humanism and reformation, which are understood as movements against medieval era. The play shows the paradigm changing of human being; the change how people see the world resulting in two opposite ideas, being more religious and secular. Therefore, the writer is trying to elaborate the play, especially from the main character, Dr. Faustus. The writer wants to show that even though Dr. Faustus is said as Renaissance
In relation with the idea of Renaissance humanism and Reformation, this thesis wants to show how the idea humanism emphasizing human is great and the center of all things in Marlowe’s Dr. Faustus can not be defended, because the play shows Faustus’ inconsistency as humanist just in the theory. In practical life, he still needs God that can be seen from the end of the play. Furthermore, this thesis concerns with a critique toward the idea of Renaissance Humanism at that time, by using Blaise Pascal’s Belief Alternatives, known as Wager.
B. Problem Formulation
Considering the reasons above, the problem might be formulated as follows:
1. What are the characteristics of Dr. Faustus in the play?
2. In what way does the character of Dr. Faustus represent the changing view of God and human being in the era of Renaissance?
3. Given the value of humanism and religion portrayed by the character of Dr. Faustus, how does Dr. Faustus serve as a critique toward Renaissance humanism using Blaise Pascal’s Belief Alternatives?
C. Objectives of the Study
There three objectives of this study. The first objective is to identify the characteristic of Dr. Faustus in the play. The second objective is to find out in what way the character of Dr. Faustus represent the changing view of God and human being in the era of Renaissance. The third objective is to find how Dr. Faustus serves as a critique toward Renaissance humanism by giving the theme of humanism and religion using Blaise Pascal’s Belief Alternatives.
D. Definition of Terms
a. Renaissance Humanism M. H. Abram's in A Glossary of Literary Terms defines Renaissance Humanism, stating that some of the key concepts of the philosophy centered around "the dignity and central position of human beings in the universe" as reasoning creatures, as well as downplaying the " animal' passions" of the individual. The mode of the thought also "stressed the need for a rounded development of and individual's diverse powers... as opposed to merely technical or specialized training." (1985: 83) b. Reformation According to Francis A. Schaeffer in his book “How Should We Then Live: the rise
, reformation stressed on the authority
and Decline of Western Thought and Culture”
of the Bible that the infinite-personal God speaks in the Bible because Bible gives the unity to the universal and the particulars. In addition, Bible is not only the standard in religion but also in all of life. (1983: 86)
CHAPTER II THEORETICAL REVIEW A. Review of Related Studies As one of the greatest of the great Elizabethan plays and inspired by the
popular Renaissance tale of the historical Johannes Faust, many researchers have analyzed Dr. Faustus from various perspectives, even some of them have different and opposite ideas. Some critics see this play as a medieval morality play whereas others saw this play has many characteristic that are quite removed from the world of the morality play. Not only that, but Dr. Faustus is also understood both as a Renaissance play supporting the idea of humanism and a play against or criticizing Renaissance humanism. In this section, the writer presents some critique toward Renaissance humanism in the work as the background of this study for further analysis on the critique toward humanism in this thesis.
Dr. Faustus who is seen as the spirit of Renaissance shows the idea of
Renaissance humanism. In Renaissance humanities, humanities discipline included grammar rhetoric, history, poetry and ethics. The subjects were all studied, whenever possible, in the original classical texts. The humanities curriculum conflicted directly with a more traditional education that was based on scholaticism which concentrated on the study of logic, natural philosophy (science) and metaphysics, or the nature of reality. This training prepared students for careers in the fields such as medicine, law, nature of reality. The humanities believes that this scholastic course of study as focused too narrowly on too few professions. They claimed it was not based sufficiently on practical experience or the needs of society, but relied too heavenly on abstract thought. The humanist proposed to educate the whole person and placed emphasis only on the intellectual achievement, but also on physical and more development ( http://www.youngvic.org/assets/attachments/resource-packs/doctor-faustus.pdf )
- 13 April 2007
Larson’s criticism “Dr. Faustus --- Selling His Soul to Make a Point”, said that the character of Dr. Faustus is in conception, an ideal of humanism, but Marlowe has taken Dr. Faustus and shown the character to be damned nonetheless, thus satirizing the idea of Renaissance Humanism. In this term, Larson points out his criticism from the inconsistency of the main character, Dr. Faustus, especially his downfall.
For Larson, the tragedy of Dr. Faustus exemplified the downfall of a umanist, showing the fact that he is and will always be a human, flawed. In addition, Larson tried to show us how Marlowe creates a character that is intelligent, broad- based in his education, logical and poetic but still damned. It means that the character is seen failed in maintaining wisdom. ( http://www.luminarium.org/renlit/larsonmarlowe.htm )
It is the same with what Krantz explanation in his oral presentation on Marlowe. It is said that Dr.Faustus as the first English Interpretation of the German legend of Faust, a man who sells his soul to the devil in exchange for wisdom. Krantz also mentioned that Faustus’s decision to bargain with Lucifer stems, at first, from a belief that he has the limits of mortal wisdom. What Faustus think, became the seed of his downfall.
( http://www.faculty.weber.edu/dkrantz/en4620ren/Marlowe’s_Faust.html ) Another criticism from Pinciss shows the significance of the place in the play like Wittenberg and a person named Martin Luther. He states: “Marlowe did not randomly choose any city in which to set his play. The significance of the city lies in the fact that Wittenberg is the city associated with
Luther and his theses. Wittenberg is also identified with the Reformation and the Protestant movement, the city houses he cathedral on which Luther posts his theses about Protestism (Pinciss 73). By linking Faustus to Wittenberg, Marlowe is ultimately connecting Faustus with the ideas of Protestism. Using Wittenberg to denote the religious uncertainty of the time, Faustus gives his audience the background of theology that Faustus uses to come up with his ideas that relate sin, death and religion. One view of Christianity that affects his outlook is Luther’s Protestantism, which views faith not the value of man’s work and deeds, as the only way one can achieve salvation (Pinciss 74).”
According to Pinciss analysis of Dr. Faustus, Marlowe’s inclusion of the distinctly non – Catholics beliefs of the new Protestant faith may well have affected the play. In addition, it can be assumed that the play does not always represent the idea of Renaissance humanism, but also the idea of Reformation that human being turn to believe in God by faith. ( http://www.discoinfernothemusical.com/education2.htm ) ---- 2 April 2007
B. Review of Related Theories
1. Theories on Character and Characterization
Related to literature term, the writer will use some theories from several books concerning literature to see some definitions about the character and also the characterization.
According to M. H. Abrams in his book A Glossary of Literary Terms, he stated that, character is the person presented in a dramatic or narrative work, who are interpreted by the readers as being endowed with moral and dispositional qualities that are expressed in what they say – the dialogues- and what they do- the action. A character may remain essentially “stable”, or unchanged in his outlook and disposition, from beginning to end of a work, or may undergo a radical change, either through a gradual development or as result of an extreme crisis (1985:23). Richard Grill in Mastering English Literature (1995:235) mentioned that a character is established through four ways:
1. The way they speak
2. What they say about themselves
3. What they say about each other
4. How they are constrated
M. J. Murphy (1972: 161:173) in Understanding Unseen mentions nine ways of how the characters are presented to the readers.
1) Personal description To introduce his characters, the author explain to the readers about the physical appearance of the characters
2) Others characters As reflected image of a certain character will be caught by the other character’s eyes, the author uses the eyes of the characters to judge a certain character. 3) Speech
The personality of the character can be notified through his or her speech 4) Past Life
Since a person is often influenced by his past experience, the past life can give a hint to guess the personality of a character 5) Conversation of others
In a play there are dialogues spoken by some characters in the story and therefore the readers may refer to this conversation to know about a character in the story
6) Reaction The author may also mention the personality of a character by letting the readers know how the person reacts to various events or situation.
7) Thoughts When reading the description of what the character is thinking about, we will find a character’s personality. In reality, we can not guess what other people think but in a literary work we can know better about the character
8) Mannerism The author may describe a person’s mannerism that may also tell readers something about the characters.
9) Direct Comment In describing the characters, the author gives a direct comment.
Generally, Murphy theory is used to illustrate the characteristic of the characters. In this study, Murphy’s theory, as far as it is appropriate for analyzing the characters in the play will be used.
Furthermore, not all the characters take important roles, but at least one character appears to the center of the story.
Based on the theories above what kind of characters of Dr. Faustus are will be defined. In Marlowe’s Dr. Faustus, here Dr. Faustus can be understood as the major character since Marlowe always focuses himself on him (Dr. Faustus). Furthermore, having analyzed carefully the description of the characters, it can be concluded that Dr. Faustus himself as the major character because he takes the important role from the beginning through the end of the story, whereas others as the minor characters.
2. Theories on Theme
According to Holman and Harmon, theme is a central and dominating idea in a work. Further, it is said that in poetry, fiction, and drama, theme is an abstract concept made through its representation in person, action, and image in the work (1986: 502). Baldick also states that theme a salient abstract idea which appears from literary works’ treatment of its subject matter. A theme also can be said as topic recurring in a number of literary works. The theme of literary work is described more in abstract terms. In a literary work, the theme may be announced explicitly, but more often emerges implicitly through the recurrence of motifs (1986: 225).
Perrine shows that there is no prescribed method for discovering a theme but we should keep in mind the following principles:
1. Theme must be expressible in the form of statement with a subject and predicate
2. The theme must be started as a generalization about life. In stating theme, we do not use the name of the characters in the story, for to do so is to make specific rather than a general statement.
3. We must be careful not to make the generalization larger that is justified by the terms of the story. The terms like every, all, always, should, be used very cautiously; terms like some, sometimes are often more accurate.
4. Theme is the central idea and unifying concept of the story. (a) It must account for all the major details of the story. (b) The theme must not be contradicted by any detail of the story. (c) The theme must not rely on supported facts- facts not actually stated that or implied by the story. The theme must exist inside. Not outside, the story (Literature: Structure, Sound and Sense, 1974)
3. The Relation between Philosophy and Literature
Most of time, it is said that, philosophy has a close relationwith art because they know that some philosophers , such as Satre and Simon de Beauvior are novelist as well as philosophers (Randall, 1942 :1)
Guerin stated in his book, that some philosophers such as Plato and Horace said “the alrger function of literature is to probe philosophical issue” (1999: 25). In other words, Plato and Horace wanted to say that one function of literature is to reveal philosophical issue and to tell the society what philosophy is.
Knight in his book Literature Considered as Philosophy wrote that philosophy and literature have soem things in common; the first thing is that what philosophy and literature criticize is the issue that occurs in society (1962:14). Second, philosophy and literature criticize the issue that occurs in society to find the truth and the good (Knight, 1962: 14) Moreover, Knight wrote:
Literature remains necessarily under the tutelage of philosophy for as long as it is believed that truth or reality is hidden quantity accessible, like North Pole, only those with special equipment and training (1962:15)
4. The Reviews on Medieval, Renaissance and ReformationTime
It is important in reviewing those three events because those events have a close relationship about the idea of humanism and being religious seen from the rise of renaissance and reformation as the result of what had happened in medieval era. What we have now is closely influenced by the past. Here, the writer will explain the reason why renaissance and reformation appeared by turning back again to the medieval era. The review emphasizes on human’s views toward himself and God that come to the conclusion of the limitation of human being.
For considering, there are two things were happening almost simultaneously: First, in the south, much of the High Renaissance was based on a humanistic ideal of man’s being the center of all things, of man’s being autonomous; second, in the north of Europe, the Reformation was giving an opposite answer.
1. Review on Medieval Time
Based on Schaeffer opinion in his book How Should Then We Live: The Rise and
Decline of Western Thought and Culture , Middle Ages began with the breakdown of
Roman order and the invasions came a time social, political and intellectual turmoil.At the beginning of medieval time, Christian art was influenced by Roman culture that can be seen from painting. Roman painting was full of life influencing the early of Christian art. Schaeffer also saw that there is a parallel between the living quality of this early Christian art and the living Christianity of the early church. The emphasized a true biblical Christianity. But later, in the church there was an increasing distortion away from the biblical teaching and there also a change in art.
For example, in the middle ages, the early Christian arts like mosaics were not as symbols but real people.
In the early Christian arts like artists did with devotion and looking for more spiritual values. But there was something missing that they just saw the concept of spirituality but put aside nature and the importance of humanity of people. Then, the problem appeared when the Roman Empire had been divided into eastern and western. The Byzantine style developed in the east to the west. The religious theme changed that people were not depicted as real people like in the early Christian art, but as a symbols. It means that human element was removed and did not stress the idea of real people living in a real world which God has made.
Nevertheless, the positive Christianity set forth in the New Testament gradually became distorted. A humanistic element was added. Increasingly, the authority of the church took precedence over the teaching of the Bible. And there was an over growing emphasis on salvation as resting on man’s meriting of the merit of Christ, instead of on Christ’s alone. The change is also influenced in architecture. It has already been explained before that the Byzantine style from Roman culture influenced in making building. But then it was replaced by Gothic style as the result of Norman invasion. During the change from the Romanesque to the Gothic, Mariology began to grow in the church. The Romanesque churches were not dedicated to her. Here again, we see and feel a growing tension: the birth of pangs of the middle Ages were characterized by an awakened cultural and intellectual life and an awakened piety. Yet at the same time the church continued to move away from the teaching of early Christianity as distortions of biblical doctrine increased. Soon European thought would be divided into lines, both of which have come down influenced our own day: first, the humanistic elements of the Renaissance, and the second, the Bible- based teaching of the Reformation. (1983: 48)
2. Review on Renaissance
Among many concepts or explanations about Renaissance, the writer tries to show some ideas about the Renaissance related to the topic. It is defined that Renaissance is a transition from the Middle Ages to Modern history and referred as the “humanities”. It is an era emphasizing a revival of interest in the past, through an imaginative response to broader horizons. It also relies on an unlimited confidence in Man’s potential and places Man at the centre of the world where the divine used to reign during the previous centuries. In so doing, Renaissance is a direct condemnation of the middle Ages considered as a time of darkness.
The Renaissance influenced in three main disciplines, such as architecture, scripture and painting. In architecture, artists rediscovered ancient knowledge and confronted it to recent scientific discoveries. For example: the study of ancient monuments in Rome. In making sculpture, the artists are interested in Man, in is also a characteristic of the times). Many of the ideas are the same in painting; the painting concerned the representation of things and people.
In addition, Renaissance in art shows how arts are changed from medieval theocentricism (God as a central figure) into modern anthropocentricism (man became the central figure). It can be concluded that the focus is in Man. ( http://gala.univ-perp.fr/~dgirard/Exposes/therenaissance/therenaissance.htm )
Another explanation comes from Schaeffer. Generally, his idea is the same with Girard, but what makes it different is the basic idea of renaissance. He shows that we must recognize that there eventually came a change which does merit the name Renaissance.
“He shows that the idea of renaissance is not about the rebirth of man but it was the rebirth of an idea about man. There was a change in thinking about man, a change which put man himself in the center of all things, and this change was expressed in arts”.(1983:51) Schaeffer adds that the meaning of renaissance as rebirth is less obvious at this time if we relate it to political, economic, or social history, although the change of mentality do have an impact in all areas of life. He also said that we have to be aware that even the word can be used without qualification; it should not be taken to imply that every aspect of the rebirth was a gain for mankind.
Here, Thomas Aquinas relied on Aristotle, a classic philosopher who emphasized on individual things – the particulars – into the philosophy of the late Middle Ages and this set the stage for humanistic elements of the Renaissance and as autonomous and the center of all things. This view influenced in arts that the painting or statue were painted and made not as a symbol anymore but as a real person. For example, the statue of David (1504) made by Michelangelo. The statue was seen as a real person containing humanistic ideal that man is great, not see anymore as a biblical David.
It can be concluded that Renaissance people (for example: artists, philosophers) make a real humanistic statement: man will make himself great. Man as man is tearing himself out of the frock. Man make himself will tear himself out of the nature and free himself from it. Man will be victorious. (Schaeffer, 1999: 78)
3. Review on Reformation
Based on Columbia Encyclopaedia, although the word ‘reform’ means many things, ‘the Reformation’ always denotes the 16th-century. It was the division of Latin Christendom into protestant and catholic. It arose from objections to doctrines and practices in the medieval church and ultimately led to the freedom of dissent.
http://www.answers.com/topic/reformation (August 5th 2007)
England in the early sixteenth century had a single religion, Catholicism, who’s acknowledged head was the Pope in Rome. In 1517, the Reformation was exploding with Martin Luther just as the High Renaissance was coming to its close. Martin Luther, an Augustinian monk and a Professor of theology at the University of Wittenberg in Germany, challenged the authority of the Pope and attacked several elaborate hierarchical structure centered in Rome, its rich monasteries and convents, and its enormous political influence, had become hopelessly corrupt. It was a conspiracy of greedy priests who manipulated popular superstitions to enrich themselves and gain worldly power. Luther attacked many of the customs and beliefs of Catholics Church which had no foundation in Bible, in Luther’s view the only legitimate source of religious truth. Christian would be saved not by scrupulously following the ritual practices fostered by Catholic Church – observing fast days, reciting the ancient Latin prayers, endowing charities to say prayers for the dead, and so on – but by faith and faith alone. Luther’s teaching took hold all over Europe. The revolt against the authority of the Roman Church would come to be known as the Reformation. The Reformation emphasized on an individual’ relationship with God and rejected the central authority.
( http://www.youngvic.org/assets/attachments/resource-packs/doctor-faustus.pdf ) According to Schaeffer, it is understood that the Reformation centered in the infinite-personal God who had spoken in the Bible. It means that Bible is the basic way of understanding true things about God, people and about nature because the Bible gives a unity to the universal and the particulars. It is also added and the most important thing is that the only mediator between God and man is Jesus Christ.
Here, we are trying to see some ideas from the people of Reformation focusing on the Bible can be seen in arts and music, for example, Johan Sebastian Bach (1685 – 1722) and Rembrandt (1606 – 1669).
“Bach wrote on his score initials representing such phrases as: “with the help of Jesus” --- “To God alone be the glory” --- “In the name of Jesus.” Bach consciously relates both the form and the words of his music to Biblical truth.” (1983:92)