THE IMPACT OF MORES ON THE MAJOR CHARACTERS’ LIFE IN IBSEN’S GHOSTS
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THE IMPACT OF MORES
ON THE MAJOR CHARACTERS’ LIFE IN IBSEN’S GHOSTS
AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements
for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra
in English Letters
By
ROBERTUS WIDYA YUDHA PRAWITA
Student Number: 07 4214 030
ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS
FACULTY OF LETTERS
SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
YOGYAKARTA
2011
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THE IMPACT OF MORES
ON THE MAJOR CHARACTERS’ LIFE IN IBSEN’S GHOSTS
AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements
for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra
in English Letters
By
ROBERTUS WIDYA YUDHA PRAWITA
Student Number: 07 4214 030
ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS
FACULTY OF LETTERS
SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
YOGYAKARTA
2011
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EVERY PERSON SUFFERS PAIN
EITHER THE PAIN OF HARD
WORK
OR THE PAIN OF REGRET
(DBL ENTERTAINMENT 2008)
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g{|á hÇwxÜzÜtwâtàx g{xá|á
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`ç UxÄÉäxw ctÜxÇàá
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LEMBAR PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN
PUBLIKASI KARYA ILMIAH UNTUK KEPENTINGAN AKADEMIS
Yang bertanda tangan di bawah ini, saya mahasiswa Universitas Sanata Dharma:
Nama
NIM
: Robertus Widya Yudha Prawita
: 07 4214 030
Demi pengembangan ilmu pengetahuan, saya memberikan kepada Perpustakaan
Universitas Sanata Dharma karya ilmiah saya yang berjudul:
THE IMPACT OF MORES
ON THE MAJOR CHARACTERS’ LIFE IN IBSEN’S GHOSTS
beserta perangkat yang diperlukan (bila ada). Dengan demikian saya memberikan
kepada Perpustakaan Universitas Sanata Dharma hak untuk menyimpan,
mengalihkan dalam bentuk media lain, mengelolanya dalam bentuk pangkalan
data, mendistribusikan secara terbatas, dan mempublikasikannya di Internet atau
media lain untuk kepentingan akademis tanpa perlu meminta ijin dari saya
maupun memberikan royalti kepada saya selama tetap mencantumkan nama saya
sebagai penulis.
Demikian pernyataan ini yang saya buat dengan sebenarnya.
Yogyakarta, 29 Juli 2011
Yang menyatakan,
(Robertus Widya Yudha Prawita)
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
First of all, I would like to express my greatest gratitude to Jesus Christ,
Holy Mother Mary, St. Robert and St. Polycarp for their blessing and strength so I
am able to finish my undergraduate thesis. Their love and sacrifice have inspired
me to be stronger in facing all difficulties and obstacles in the writing process.
I am particularly grateful to my Advisor, Ni Luh Putu Rosiandani, S.S., M.
Hum. and my Co-Advisor, Dewi Widyastuti, S.Pd., M.Hum. who have given their
precious time and energy in helping me to finish this thesis. Their patience,
guidance, support, advices and criticism are very invaluable for me to make this
thesis better. I thank them and hope that God will give the best return. I also
would like to thank all of the lecturers and staffs in English Letters Department
for their guidance.
My greatest gratitude also goes to my parents and family for their love,
care, support and prayer. My biggest dream is to make both of you happy and
proud of me. I also would like to thank some people who give great contribution
in my life. The special one goes to Maria Danastri for her care and prayer. My
biggest thank goes to Nicolaus Gogor, Brahma Putra, Adolphus Satria, Emeilya
K.S, Herman M., Adhitiya Dicko, Sondang M., Yoseva Yona, Yovita S. and all
my friends in English Letters Department for their friendship, then, to my friends
in high school, Indra, Banu, Krisna and Windry for their craziness. Last, I would
like to thank to the people that I can not mention one by one for their contribution
in my life.
Robertus Widya Yudha Prawita
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
TITLE PAGE .................................................................................................
APPROVAL PAGE .......................................................................................
ACCEPTANCE PAGE .................................................................................
MOTTO PAGE .............................................................................................
DEDICATION PAGE ...................................................................................
LEMBAR PERSETUJUAN PUBLIKASI KARYA ILMIAH...................
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS...........................................................................
TABLE OF CONTENTS ..............................................................................
ABSTRACT ...................................................................................................
ABSTRAK .....................................................................................................
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iv
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CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION ................................................................
A. Background of the Study.................................................................
B. Problem Formulation.......................................................................
C. Objectives of the Study ...................................................................
D. Definition of Terms.........................................................................
1
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7
8
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CHAPTER II: THEORETICAL REVIEW ...............................................
A. Review of Related Studies ..............................................................
B. Review of Related Theories ............................................................
1. Theory of Character and Characterization ...........................
2. Theory of Mores...................................................................
3. Social Life in Norway in Nineteenth Century......................
C. Theoretical Framework ...................................................................
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CHAPTER III: METHODOLOGY ............................................................
A. Object of the Study..........................................................................
B. Approach of the Study.....................................................................
C. Method of the Study ........................................................................
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CHAPTER IV: ANALYSIS ..........................................................................
A. The Presentation of Major Characters.............................................
1. Manders................................................................................
2. Mrs. Alving ..........................................................................
3. Oswald .................................................................................
B. The Mores Practiced Seen through the Presentation of Major
Characters.......................................................................................
1. The Esteem of Religious Leader ..........................................
2. The Importance of Public Opinion.......................................
3. The Importance of Marriage Bond.......................................
4. Husband’s Reputation ..........................................................
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5. Women’s Position in the Society .........................................
6. Children and Parents Relationship .......................................
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C. The Impact of Mores on the Major Characters’ Life ......................
1. The Impact of the Mores on Manders’ Life .........................
2. The Impact of the Mores on Mrs. Alving’s Life..................
3. The Impact of the Mores on Oswald’ Life...........................
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CHAPTER V: CONCLUSION.....................................................................
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BIBLIOGRAPHY ..........................................................................................
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ABSTRACT
ROBERTUS WIDYA YUDHA PRAWITA. The Impact of Mores on the Major
Characters’ Life in Ibsen’s Ghosts. Yogyakarta: Department of English Letters,
Faculty of Letters, Sanata Dharma University, 2011.
The object of analysis of this undergraduate thesis is a drama entitled
Ghosts which was written by Henrik Ibsen. It is a drama about the life of family in
dealing with demands and regulations exist in the society such as norms, mores,
laws, and etc.
In regard to the story of Ghosts, three problems have been formulated to
comprehend the drama. The first problem will be used to analyze the presentation
of the major characters in the drama. The second point focuses on the mores
practiced as the representation of social aspect found in the play. The last point is
the impact that may occurs on one’s lives in their efforts to respond the presence
of those matters.
To obtain the answer, the writer uses library research method. Through
this method, the supporting data and theories such as theory character and
characterization, theory on mores and review of Norwegian life will be obtained.
Meanwhile, the approach that will be used in this undergraduate thesis is
sociocultural-historical approach.
Based on the analysis, there is a possibility that the presence of the mores
as a manifestation of society’s demand may affect one’s life. The characteristics
and power of mores that may embarrass one’s name in front of the society cause
the people to show various respond to them. This respond is usually influenced by
one’s characteristics and background. Manders who is presented as a pastor with
obdurate and timorous mind treats the practice of the mores rigidly. As the impact,
he deifies the practice of the mores though it may lead him to ignore other
important values in life. Being different from Manders, Mrs. Alving is presented
as a widow with her traumatic experience toward the mores’ practice. She
believes that her obedience toward mores has contribution in her failure to
maintain her family life. For that background, Mrs. Alving becomes a person who
stands in the grey area. Her confusion in responding to the mores finally brings
more problems in her life and ruins her relationship with her son. In the meantime,
Oswald who is presented as a critical person for his experience in living abroad
also feels the impact of the mores practiced. He becomes alienated from the
family and his right to get enough care from the parents is carried away for his
mother’s sake. Therefore, it can be inferred that as long as the application of
mores ignores its humanity side and stay inflexible, the people might be oppressed
by their presence. Unfortunately, it may lead the people to behave recklessly
before finally ends in confusion and disorder in life.
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ABSTRAK
ROBERTUS WIDYA YUDHA PRAWITA. The Impact of Mores on the Major
Characters’ Life in Ibsen’s Ghosts. Yogyakarta: Jurusan Sastra Inggris, Fakultas
Sastra, Universitas Sanata Dharma, 2011.
Objek dari skripsi ini adalah drama berjudul Ghosts karya Henrik Ibsen.
Sebuah drama mengenai kehidupan keluarga ditengah berbagai tuntutan dan
aturan seperti hukum, adat-kebiasaan yang ada di dalam masyarakat.
Dari drama ini telah dirumuskan tiga masalah untuk mendalami drama ini.
Masalah pertama akan membahas presentasi dari para tokoh utama. Masalah
kedua berfokus pada keberadaan adat-kebiasaan di masyarakat mewakili aspek
sosial drama. Permasalahan terakhir adalah akibat yang dialami seseorang dalam
usaha mereka merespon keberadaaan adat-kebiasaan tersebut.
Dalam memecahkan permasalahan, penulis menggunakan metode studi
pustaka. Melalui metode ini, data dan teori pendukung seperti teori tokoh dan
penokohan, teori adat-kebiasaan, dan ulasan mengenai kehidupan masyarakat
Norwegia akan dikumpulkan dan dibahas dengan menggunakan pendekatan
sosial-budaya-sejarah.
Berdasar pada proses analisis, adat-kebiasaan sebagai perwujudan dari
tuntutan sosial dimungkinkan dapat memberikan suatu akibat dalam kehidupan
seseorang. Karakteristik dan kekuatan dari adat-kebiasaan
yang dapat
memcemarkan nama baik seseorang mengakibatkan orang-orang untuk
memberikan berbagai macam respon dalam menyikapinya. Respon yang
ditunjukkan umumnya banyak dipengaruhi oleh karakteristik dan latar belakang
seseorang. Manders, tokoh yang ditampilkan sebagai seorang Pastur dengan sifat
keras kepala dan kaku akan memperlakukan adat-kebiasaan sebagai sesuatu yang
mutlak. Hal tersebut membuatnya bersikap semakin kolot terhadap pelaksanaan
adat-kebiasaan. Akibatnya, dia akan me-tuhan-kan pelaksanaan adat-kebiasaan
meskipun hal tersebut dapat membuatnya tak acuh terhadap nilai-nilai luhur
kehidupan yang lain. Berbeda dengan Manders, Ny. Alving digambarkan sebagai
seorang janda dengan trauma akan pelaksanaan adat-kebiasaan. Dia percaya
bahwa kepatuhannya terhadap adat-kebiasaan di masa lalu turut andil dalam
kegagalan rumah tangganya. Atas alasan tersebut, Ny. Alving menjadi seseorang
yang berada pada area abu-abu. Kebingungannya dalam menyikapi adat-kebiasaan
pada akhirnya membawanya pada berbagi masalah baru dalam hidupnya dan
merusak hubungannya dengan putranya. Pada saat bersamaan, Oswald yang
digambarkan sebagai seseorang yang kritis sebagai akibat dari pengalamannya
hidup di luar negeri juga harus ikut merasakan akibat yang ditimbulkan oleh
keberadaan adat-kebiasaan. Dia menjadi terasing dari kehidupan keluarganya dan
haknya untuk memperoleh kasih sayang dan perhatian dari orang tuanya juga
dirampas oleh keputusan ibunya. Secara umum, dapat disimpulkan bahwa selama
pelaksananaan dari adat-kebiasaan mengabaikan sisi kemanusiaannya dan kaku,
maka masyarakat dapat menjadi tertekan oleh keberadaannya. Lebih buruk lagi,
keadaan tersebut dapat membuat orang-orang untuk bertindak gegabah yang dapat
mengakibatkan kekacauan dan ketidakteraturan dalam hidup.
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CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
A. Background of the Study
Every person in this world was born differently between one another. Each
of them has different physical features that can be seen clearly from their
appearance. Besides, each person also possesses mental characteristics that is
various from one and another. It means that even though each of them was born
the same creature called human, each of them still has special or distinctive
features that differentiate one and another. These distinctive features reflect how
every person is unique.
Every person is also known for his power to manage himself as he likes it.
It means that every person is the master of his own body and soul. A person has
the authority to command his own body to move and he has capacity to let his
own brain to think or to take decision independently. In other words, every person
has full authority on himself. Each of them is the decision maker of their own life
and each of them is the director as well the actor of their own life.
At first glance, it seems that each person was born with a great
independence in running his life in this complex world. However, based on the
fact, the world of reality is truly complex for a human to handle all of the
circumstances individually. In a solo action, a person may have total authority on
himself but in the world of reality which constitutes the society, he may not.
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In this world of reality, every person was born to live side by side with
other people. There is always another person in every occurrence of new life in
this world and it means that there is always a point of contact between an
individual with another individual even from the beginning of life. Later, this
point of contact will be the seeds or the starting point of interaction between two
different individuals that will lead them to the more complex situation in human
life. When both of them start to realize the complexity and the uniqueness of their
own self, they will find those characteristics in another individual as well. From
this condition they will understand and see that both of them share similarities and
differences or weakness and strength. Later, it will lead them to realize the need of
others’ presence in their life to complete each other.
The overview above then can be strengthened with the common view on
human which is widely known as social creature for his nature that can not live
without the existence of other humans. A man needs the presence of other men so
they will learn how to communicate and make relation in order to complete one
and another in life. Through the illustration it can be said that even a new born
baby needs and has to make contact with another human being, at least his
mother, to sustain or even to develop the life of the person.
Then as the time goes by, every person will have bigger dependence on the
surrounding or the environment where he lives in. This dependence will always be
in proportion to the increase of a person’s need in his or her life. The material
needs such as food, drink, house, or clothes can be seen as one aspect that
influences a person’s dependence toward the presence of others. It is hard to fulfill
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all of material needs alone without the help of others. The people need farmers
and sellers to get food stock; they also need tailors to make their clothes and many
more. That is one factor that can be drawn from the material need in human life.
Next, the need of interaction, communication, happiness, satisfaction,
safety and comfort and also the need of acknowledgement and respect from others
are some non material aspects that have significant influence in a person’s
dependency toward the environment and the presence of others. When a person
needs material need like food, it is still possible for him to get and fulfill it by
himself but when the need of love occurs in one’s life then he will not be able to
satisfy that feeling without the presence of another person. Then it can be
concluded that at last human is social creature for their dependence toward the
presence of others.
Starting from the inability of a person to handle all of the matters in his
life individually and the presence of billions different individuals in this world
finally have constituted the nature of human that can not live alone without any
contact with the world outside. Then the conditions that require a person to always
make contact with different individual, at last, consciously or not will lead them to
form a group called society. Society here can be said as a mass of people who
lives together in creating, sustaining and developing the life into a better direction
and condition. “It (society) refers to a definable group of people, with common
interests, functions, and activities, and arranged into a structural system that has a
degree of continuity” (Neumeyer, 1953: 7).
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Then, to live in a society will also bring someone to the new
responsibilities to know, to understand and to adapt with the way of living and the
culture applied in the society. Not only that, based on the culture applied, each
member in a society will also be expected to follow and to take part on the social
system practiced. In every society, it is believed that there must be some rules,
norms, or laws as the result of verbal or written agreement among the members of
the society to give such kind of direction toward human behavior in their
interaction and relation in the middle of society. “Nonetheless, in each society
there are norms that govern this; that is to say there are definite patterns of
behavior, deviation from which is disapproved” (Becker, 1992: 910).
The statement above shows a depiction about the importance of such
patterns on the perpetuity of society and how the people are expected to follow
and fulfill certain qualification to be considered as the part of social group or
society. Then, it can be seen that the norms can give such kind of push or pressure
toward every member of the society to follow them. The members of the society
have to be aware of this condition in order to avoid all possible negative
consequences that can happen as the result of violating the norms applied and
believed in their own society. “Sanctions are the supporters of the norms, the
punishment applied to those who do not conform and the rewards given to those
who do” (Bierstedt, 1963: 229).
For the negative consequences faced by those who violate and break the
norms as one sub division of culture, every member of the society is demanded to
bring his mind and behavior in line with the content of the norms which still can
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be divided into three sub divisions; folkways, mores and laws. Every person is
supposed and expected to accept and stand in the same position with the norms
used since it will be very difficult for a person to make an opposition individually
for his dependencies toward society. “They (people) have not all arrived at the
same formula for their common happiness, but each individual must live in a
group, tribe, city, or nation to which he or she belongs, and must adapt to its way
of living” (Gonsalves, 1986: 93). This quotation indirectly implies that to live as
the part of the society require a courage to sacrifice one’s perspectives or even
ideals to be considered as a good member of society and to avoid embarrassment
and sanctions for breaking the norms.
The condition that requires one’s sincerity and obedience toward the
norms has possibility to create an internal or even external conflict for those who
become the member of certain society. The demand to adapt with the patterns
applied may create a tendency whether norms are bundles of way of living which
are static. This situation creates an image of norms as something that can not be
compromised with the development of age and change of society’s characteristics
based on the real condition in the field. As the consequence, it may result in
deconstruction on the functions and purposes of norms and on the other hand it
will just degenerate the society and create a fertile area for the growth of
hypocrisy.
Starting from the depiction above, the topic about the impact of the mores
as one sub division of the norms was chosen to show how the mores may have
unpredictable influence and effect on some people. The position of the mores
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which is respected and seen as something noble and has relation to morality
sometimes make many people mistreat the presence of the mores. Later, this
condition may fail the real purpose of the mores that is to create the harmony in
life. Ironically it may degenerate the society and lead to hypocrisy and fake.
Then, for the function of literary works that can be used as a media to
express and represent about certain object or topic in certain era, the writer is
going to use Ghosts which was written by Henrik Johan Ibsen in 1881 to make a
research on this issue. The literary work will be the starting point of the research
to see and to observe the application of the mores in the middle of the society and
their influence toward the member of society seen from the presentation of the
major characters.
Ghosts is chosen here because of its story about the life of a family as the
smallest unit of society. Since family is a product of a society, then we can see
how the life and situation in a certain family represents the mores applied in the
society. Besides, the family is also well known as the first, closest, and most
important community in one’s phase of life that can introduce to the culture as the
product of a society. “Its (family) importance is especially great in the
transmission of ideas and ideologies and, above all, of the mores; indeed, the
family is the initial source of all of our moral ideas” (Bierstedt, 1963: 379).
In this case, the Alving’s family as the subject in Ghosts will be the focus
of the research. The presence of the Alving’s family here will be the starting point
to observe the presence of the mores in the society. Besides, the impact of the
mores on the social life of the major characters also will be examined.
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Ibsen’s big name in writing about family, woman’s role and social life of
his age also becomes the reason to use Ghosts as one of his works to be analyzed.
“At the time, both (Ibsen and Zola) gained notoriety through plays that challenged
prevailing notions of acceptable subject matter, social conventions, and moral
values” (Brockett and Findlay, 1991: 15).
Through the play entitled Ghost, people may see implicitly the way Ibsen
articulate his perception on the social condition through his writing style. Besides,
people also can see Ibsen’s courage to move one step further, to see something
clearer and more careful, to think little more critical and to break through normal
border of common people at that time as seen from his masterpieces. “Of these,
two-A Doll’s House and Ghosts-did more than any other plays of their era to call
attention to innovations then underway, largely because both were viewed as
attacks on the very foundation of society” (Brockett and Findlay, 1991: 17).
B. Problem Formulation
In conducting the research, the writer has formulated three problems to
answer as the starting point of the analysis. Those problems are:
1. How are the major characters presented?
2. What are the mores practiced in the society as seen through the presentation of
major characters?
3. What is the impact of the mores on major characters’ life?
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C. Objectives of the Study
The main purpose of this study is to obtain the answer of the problems
formulated in the previous section. This study is expected to produce accurate and
reliable answers based on the qualified data. In order to accomplish the
expectation, three objectives of this study have been formulated.
First, this study is aimed to see and observe precisely the author’s
presentation on the major characters in his work through their utterances, body
language, and the way of thinking. It is very important to understand a literary
work deeper since the characterization of the characters will always be interrelated
with other elements in the work.
Next, this study is aimed to find out the mores as one subdivision of the
norms in the society in the play. Here, the mores which have significance in the
daily life of the characters will be identified and listed. Last, this study also will
see and understand how the presence of the mores applied show their influence or
impact in major characters life.
D. Definition of Terms
The society is identical to the presence of culture as its product. The
culture is often called as the result of cumulative process in the human interaction
in their society or even it is used to show the level of quality and complexity of a
society. Meanwhile, the culture itself is already complex since it can be classified
into many sub divisions. First, culture can be classified into material and non
material culture before the non material culture can be classified again into ideas
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and norms (Bierstedt, 1963: 157-158). Later, inside the norms as one subdivision
of non material culture, the mores can be found. The position of the mores is equal
to folkways and laws even each of them has different quality on the practice
(1963: 224-225).
The mores can be simply said as one concept under the norms. It is one
form of the demand required by society on individuals to live together with them
which contain normative power and important to social welfare (Merril, 1965:
117). Then, when it is traced back to the origin of the word, the mores have strong
connection with morality. “Mores forms the root of the English word ‘moral’, thus
literally referring to any act or belief in accord with customary group
expectations” (1965: 118).
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CHAPTER II
THEORETICAL REVIEW
A. Review of Related Studies
Henrik Johan Ibsen, one of the most prominent figures in the world of
literature from Scandinavia, is known as the one who has capability to promote
social issues through the work of literature. His concern on the problems in the
middle of society brings some of his works to be categorized as realistic dramas
for their close relation with the fact in the society and one of them is Ghosts.
Some subjects such as morality, ethics, and emancipation of individual and
patriarchal system have been coloring many of his works. Those conditions then
attract many researchers or analysts to work on particular aspect in Ibsen’s works.
One of the analyses is conducted by Francis Fergusson who also works on
Ibsen’s Ghosts. In his research, Fergusson uses the work to study modern realism
in the literary work. Besides, he also analyzes this play as a thesis in which can
also be read as thriller and tragedy. Here, the plot of the story is also being
examined in order to find some important points in that become the basic or the
key in the story as a whole.
Fergusson in his analysis states that this play is a work of literature which
sees and analyzes the topic of marriage. Besides, in accordance with the principle
of thesis play, Ghosts is depicting about the debate between two opposite sides on
that topic (Fergusson, 1962: 40).
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Meanwhile, as a thriller, Ghosts is presenting a story which is full of new
development and it will always keep some surprise without breaking the suspense.
“It may also be read as a perfect well-made thriller. The story is presented
with immediate clarity, with mounting and controlled suspense; each act
ends with an exciting curtain which reaffirms the issues and promises
important new developments” (Fergusson,1962: 40)
Based on the quotation above, Ibsen’s ability to keep the rhythm in his
story can be observed implicitly. He maintains the tension of story in a very good
way, in line with the readers’ curiosity without making them losing the issues.
Next, as a tragedy, it can be seen from the story which portrays so many
sadness and problems in the life of Mrs. Alving as one of woman major characters
in the play.
“She (Mrs. Alving) is tragically seeking; she suffers a series of pathoses
and new insights in the course of the play; and this rhythm of will, feeling,
and insight underneath the machinery of the plot is the form of the life of
the play, the soul of the tragedy” (Fergusson, 1962: 40)
In his analysis, Fergusson also sees and gives credit on the ability of Henrik Ibsen
to pay special attention on the major character in his story especially on the reality
of his characters’ live in his works (1962: 39).
On the other side, quite different from Francis Fergusson, Elini tries to be
more specific in doing her topic research on the same literary work. In her
undergraduate thesis entitled Ibsen’s Attack against the Ideal of Women’s Role
Demanded by Society in Ghosts, the portrayal of woman life is positioned as the
main focus. The presence of woman in the play, especially Mrs. Alving, is
examined thoroughly as the main source of the data needed in the analysis (Elini,
1997: vi).
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In general, the research done by Elini is meant to reveal the criteria of
ideal women at that time and the role performed by Mrs. Alving as an illustration
of ideal women besides to obtain the message of the play (Elini, 1997: vi).
Again, through the analysis conducted by Elini, it is found that the center
point of Ghosts is about the position of Mrs.Alving as a woman who is trapped in
the patriarchal society and become the victim of society’s demands toward
women.
Ibsen portrays the role of Mrs. Alving who is trying to be an ideal wife
and not Mr.Alving as an ideal husband to expose the images of women
that women are always the victim of the conventional ideals of the society
(Elini, 1997: 38).
Indirectly, the quotation above states how Mrs. Alving is playing the
central part in revealing the pressure given to women. Besides, it also shows how
the position of women, especially in the family, is subordinated in comparison
with men.
Elini, in her undergraduate thesis, also stated that Mrs.Alving, as one of
woman character, represents the condition of women as the part of family at that
time. The role of women tends to be no more than a complement which has a
duty to fulfill what society expect, and there is no proper place for women at that
time except house. Here, women live under the pressure and oppression to reach
the ideal point set by the society.
There was no major function left for women outside their home; their
main place was at home. Consequently, being a good house keeper, a
loyal wife, and a good mother were women’s duties which were also their
ideal position as a wife but they never given a chance to have their rights
(Elini, 1997: 60).
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Related to the quotation above, then it can be concluded here how
Mrs.Alving’s suffering as the result of her position as one of the woman character
becomes the focus in the discussion. Meanwhile the other characters, both major
and minor, are functioned as the confirmation of Mrs.Alving‘s suffering and
sorrow in facing the pressure in her society. One important point here is that
women always suffer more than men and become the victim of the demand of
patriarchal society.
Not only stopping there, through Ghosts, Ibsen also inserts the topic of
hereditary venereal disease which is considered as a taboo topic at that time.
Oswald, the son of Mrs. Alving, is the one who inherited the disease must be the
victim of his father’s sin as written in Hoenig’s Congenital Neuroshypilis as
Portrayed in Henrik Ibsen’s Ghosts.
Ibsen indicates that Oswald’s father, Captain Alving, was the source of
the infection which he acquired through risky sexual behavior and then
passed on to his son. Ibsen doesn’t specify exactly how this transmission
occurred although the favored late 19th Century medical view held that
congenital syphilis was passed on in a hereditary fashion directly by the
father to the offspring at the time of conception. By contrast, current
understanding of syphilis transmission would explain that Captain Alving
first infected his wife, who then transmitted the spirochete to her unborn
son,
via
the
placenta,
during
pregnancy.
(Hoenig,
http://www.dermanities.com/detail.asp?article =282,)
Through, the quotation above, he shows how Captain Alving contributes
to the disease that later will be passed on from himself to his son as the
consequences of his affair in the past. The event which becomes one of the root of
Alving’s family problems that resulted on the misery experienced by Mrs. Alving
in her effort to keep all of this disgrace as a secret. One important point here is
that how a mistake done by the member of the family in the past can result in
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deadly effect in the next generation and may cause to the destruction of the
family.
In general, those previous studies have given rich opinion and analysis on
Ibsen’s Ghosts which can be used as the consideration before the writer
conducting a research on certain topic under the same work.
In regard to all of the analyses and comments about Ibsen’s Ghosts above,
the writer concludes that society and all of its complexity plays an important role
in the development of human life for our nature is social creature. Starting from
the most basic thing such as the requirements for each individual to share the
same world as the place to live till the sophisticated thing like norms, that limiting
and conducting our live, are only two from many elements that play significance
influence in this social life. Every person has to be ready to face that reality. At
the first glance those conditions will only add more burdens and problems in
human life. However, there must be awareness from the people that the function
of society and all of its complexities inside, include the norms, are to help and
ease the life of human in this world.
Related to the previous studies, this thesis is going to reveal how the
society especially through its mores as the sub division from the norms can affect
and give influence toward human’s behavior in their life. There must be certain
impact when the various characteristics of a person meet with the mores which
are usually already agreed and applied commonly in his or her society.
Implicitly, this topic shares relation with some points in the previous
studies. The previous studies have already analyzed Ghosts based on its plot that
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can be read as thesis, thriller, tragedy and also the topic of gender classification,
duty’s classification or even the process of neuroshypilis transmition. Therefore
to make the difference, this research will try to combine and develop the previous
studies by focusing on the sociological aspect of the major characters in the play.
Besides, in this research the writer is using different approach with those previous
studies since the sociocultural-historical approach will be used as the fundamental
on the analysis process.
In this research the analysis will not only stop on the way the major
characters response the presence of the applied mores in their society but it will
also reach on the effect or impact experienced by major characters in their life
based on their response toward the mores. It can be said that based on the play;
each of the major character in the play is presented with his own characteristics.
Therefore, the process or condition when their characteristics meet with the mores
applied will be the central of this research. How the presence of the mores bring
the influence on the way of major characters behave and their life in general will
be analyzed here. Last, based on what happen when the presentation of major
characters meet with the mores applied, the impact that they may gain in their life
will be the next point of analysis.
B. Review of Related Theories
1. Character and Characterization
Generally, characters in literary works can be defined as the persons who
deliver the run of the story from their action, feeling, and utterances to the reader.
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Character is one of the most important elements to build the story. Each character
in literary works has role in creating and visualizing the run of the story starting
from the beginning, rising action, conflict, climax, falling action, until conclusion.
These facts were stated by M.H. Abrams in A Glossary of Literary Terms as
quoted in the following.
Characters are the persons presented in a dramatic or narrative work, who
are interpreted by the reader as being endowed with moral, dispositional,
and emotional qualities that are expressed in what they say -the
dialogue- and by what they do –the action (Abrams, 1981:20)
Here Abrams based on E.M. Forster explanation on Aspect in the Novel
also stated that a character may experience a physical and or psychological
change in the middle of the story or remain just the same from the beginning until
the end of the story which are known as round or flat characters (Abrams, 1981:
20).
From the definition above, then the existence of characters are very
important since they are the soul of a literary work. From their appearance,
people can see the purpose of literary works from the dialog, interaction and
change experienced by the characters. Then, based on this theory, the characters’
contribution in a play can be analyzed whether they play significant role or depict
a certain issue or not.
Meanwhile characterization can be defined as the way a writer of literary
work tell the reader about characteristics and motives of character based on the
utterances, gestures, body language and the way of thinking produced by character
(Abrams, 1981: 21).
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Similarly, based on A Handbook of Literature, characterization also has a
purpose to introduce the characters, especially in the works of literature, to the
reader. Then hopefully the presence of characters can be understood and the
reader can feel the real atmosphere of the characters like in the real world. It can
be analyzed from the author’s narration and character’s performance.
There are three fundamental methods of characterization in fiction: (1) the
explicit presentation by the author of the character through direct
exposition, either in an introductory block of the character or more often
piecemeal throughout the work, illustrated by action; (2) the presentation
of the character in action, with little or no explicit comment by the author,
in the expectation that the reader will be able to deduce the attributes of
the actor from the actions; and (3) the representation from within a
character, without comment on the character by the author, of the impact
of actions and emotions on the character’s inner self, with the expectation
that the reader will come to a clear understanding of the attributes of the
character. (Holman and William, 1986: 81)
Related to the way an author conveys the character on the work of
literature, based on Murphy’s Understanding Unseens; An Introduction to English
Poetry and the English Novel for Overseas Students, it is stated that there are
several ways for an author to deliver what behind the characters (1972: 161-173)
a. Personal Description
It is the way an author conveys the character based on his physical and
external appearance or the way he dresses up.
b. Characters as Seen by Another
A character can be revealed through other character’s opinion in the work
of literature. The way the other character sees a character is very important and it
gives big contribution to understand a character.
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c. Speech
The way a person use a language and the way he speaks to other characters
can give an understanding to a character since it can lead to social and cultural
background of a character.
d. Past Life
The story of a character’s past life also can give a contribution in
understanding what forms the background of character’s recent condition.
e. Conversation of Others
Others utterances in a literary work also can give addition to the
information about a character.
f. Reactions
The way a character gives response to a certain situation or condition also
can reveal a person’s characteristic.
g. Direct Comment
Direct comment is a comment given by the author directly toward a
character so he can convey the character to the reader of a work of literature. It is
usually written in direct quotation.
h. Thought
Quite different with direct quotation, an author also can convey a character
through the thought of the character. It gives a special circumstance for the
readers so they can see the whole context of what the character is thinking about.
It is usually written in a form of narration.
i. Mannerism
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The author can also give the depiction of a character through the habit in
daily life. The character’s activity and manner also give significant contribution to
the character.
2. Theory of Mores
In a society there are so many people with different characteristics. Each
of them is a unique creature. With those attributes they live side by side. Starting
from this condition they are required to make interaction between one another.
Through this interaction, each person will realize that there are so many
differences in their life. There are so many different needs and self interests in
this world, and this condition may lead into conflict between one and another.
Starting from this situation, the people will realize that to minimize the possibility
of conflict they have create a system and pattern to reach the conformity. Besides,
they also have to produce something to fulfill their need. Those two responses
above basically can be summarized into what we call culture. “Culture is that
complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, custom, and
any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society”
(Bierstedt, 1963: 129).
Under the concept of culture as one thing which covers many essential
aspects in human life, the concept of ideas and norms as the representation of non
material culture will be found. Under the concept of norms, the concept of mores
which has contribution to create the conformity and regularity in the society is
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found together with folkways and laws. The interrelatedness of those concepts
basically can be summarized in the flowchart below:
Culture
Non Material
Ideas
Folkways
Norms
Mores
Material
Laws
Based on the illustration above, it can be seen that there is an integrated
system in human life. The position of culture is on the top of the flowchart. It
means that culture is a big concept which covers all of the subdivision below.
First, culture can be classified into two big classes. The first one is non-material
culture which can be made more specific into ideas and norms while the second
class is material culture.
As mentioned above, the non-material culture is classified into ideas and
norms. Basically both ideas and norms still can be spelled out into more specific
terms but the focus here is given to the norms. The norms here actually can be
simply said as a conduct life for human to live in society.
A norm, then, is a rule or a standard that governs our conduct in the social
situations in which we participate. It is a societal expectation. It is a
standard to which we are expected to conform whether we actually do so
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or not. It is a cultural specification that guides our conduct in society
(Bierstedt, 1963: 222).
The norm here is explained as an instrument of the society to control its
member. It is a big and complex concept which gives certain requirement for the
people to live and it is applied for everyone. In other words, it can be said that
society through norms also gives certain direction and limitation or even
expectations for those who live inside.
This organization, society, liberates and limits the activities of men, sets
up standards for them to follow and maintain; whatever the imperfections
and tyrannies it has exhibited in human history, it is necessary condition
of every fulfillment of life. Society is a system of usages and procedures,
of authority and mutual aid, of many grouping and divisions, of controls
of human behavior and of liberties (Maciver and Charles, 1950: 5).
The quotation above implicitly stated how a person will meet certain
requirements in living as the part of society. There will be an agreement and
demand from the society for each of its members in order to create regularity or
certain purpose to be gained in the society. Though the norm is already defined
as an standard and instrument for the people but the context of norm is still too
wide.
As the illustration, in the social life there are so many expectations from
the society. Starting from the simplest till the most complex expectations can be
found in the society. This condition is the evidence that though the norm is more
specific than culture but it still can be made more specific as seen in the
flowchart.
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The norms can be subsumed into folkways, mores and laws. There are
some differences that creates the norms is spelled out into those three concepts.
Folkways here are more about our customary conduct in daily life or habit.
Folkways, in short, are norms to which we conform because it is
customary to do so in our society. Conformity to the folkways is neither
required by law nor enforced by any special agency of society (Bierstedt,
1963: 226).
Based on the definition above, then it can be concluded that folkways are
more about our daily life. Our habit to wear good clothes, our habit to a
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THE IMPACT OF MORES
ON THE MAJOR CHARACTERS’ LIFE IN IBSEN’S GHOSTS
AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements
for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra
in English Letters
By
ROBERTUS WIDYA YUDHA PRAWITA
Student Number: 07 4214 030
ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS
FACULTY OF LETTERS
SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
YOGYAKARTA
2011
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THE IMPACT OF MORES
ON THE MAJOR CHARACTERS’ LIFE IN IBSEN’S GHOSTS
AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements
for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra
in English Letters
By
ROBERTUS WIDYA YUDHA PRAWITA
Student Number: 07 4214 030
ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS
FACULTY OF LETTERS
SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
YOGYAKARTA
2011
i
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ii
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iii
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EVERY PERSON SUFFERS PAIN
EITHER THE PAIN OF HARD
WORK
OR THE PAIN OF REGRET
(DBL ENTERTAINMENT 2008)
iv
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g{|á hÇwxÜzÜtwâtàx g{xá|á
|á Wxw|vtàxw àÉ
`ç UxÄÉäxw ctÜxÇàá
v
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LEMBAR PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN
PUBLIKASI KARYA ILMIAH UNTUK KEPENTINGAN AKADEMIS
Yang bertanda tangan di bawah ini, saya mahasiswa Universitas Sanata Dharma:
Nama
NIM
: Robertus Widya Yudha Prawita
: 07 4214 030
Demi pengembangan ilmu pengetahuan, saya memberikan kepada Perpustakaan
Universitas Sanata Dharma karya ilmiah saya yang berjudul:
THE IMPACT OF MORES
ON THE MAJOR CHARACTERS’ LIFE IN IBSEN’S GHOSTS
beserta perangkat yang diperlukan (bila ada). Dengan demikian saya memberikan
kepada Perpustakaan Universitas Sanata Dharma hak untuk menyimpan,
mengalihkan dalam bentuk media lain, mengelolanya dalam bentuk pangkalan
data, mendistribusikan secara terbatas, dan mempublikasikannya di Internet atau
media lain untuk kepentingan akademis tanpa perlu meminta ijin dari saya
maupun memberikan royalti kepada saya selama tetap mencantumkan nama saya
sebagai penulis.
Demikian pernyataan ini yang saya buat dengan sebenarnya.
Yogyakarta, 29 Juli 2011
Yang menyatakan,
(Robertus Widya Yudha Prawita)
vi
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
First of all, I would like to express my greatest gratitude to Jesus Christ,
Holy Mother Mary, St. Robert and St. Polycarp for their blessing and strength so I
am able to finish my undergraduate thesis. Their love and sacrifice have inspired
me to be stronger in facing all difficulties and obstacles in the writing process.
I am particularly grateful to my Advisor, Ni Luh Putu Rosiandani, S.S., M.
Hum. and my Co-Advisor, Dewi Widyastuti, S.Pd., M.Hum. who have given their
precious time and energy in helping me to finish this thesis. Their patience,
guidance, support, advices and criticism are very invaluable for me to make this
thesis better. I thank them and hope that God will give the best return. I also
would like to thank all of the lecturers and staffs in English Letters Department
for their guidance.
My greatest gratitude also goes to my parents and family for their love,
care, support and prayer. My biggest dream is to make both of you happy and
proud of me. I also would like to thank some people who give great contribution
in my life. The special one goes to Maria Danastri for her care and prayer. My
biggest thank goes to Nicolaus Gogor, Brahma Putra, Adolphus Satria, Emeilya
K.S, Herman M., Adhitiya Dicko, Sondang M., Yoseva Yona, Yovita S. and all
my friends in English Letters Department for their friendship, then, to my friends
in high school, Indra, Banu, Krisna and Windry for their craziness. Last, I would
like to thank to the people that I can not mention one by one for their contribution
in my life.
Robertus Widya Yudha Prawita
vii
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
TITLE PAGE .................................................................................................
APPROVAL PAGE .......................................................................................
ACCEPTANCE PAGE .................................................................................
MOTTO PAGE .............................................................................................
DEDICATION PAGE ...................................................................................
LEMBAR PERSETUJUAN PUBLIKASI KARYA ILMIAH...................
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS...........................................................................
TABLE OF CONTENTS ..............................................................................
ABSTRACT ...................................................................................................
ABSTRAK .....................................................................................................
i
ii
iii
iv
v
vi
vii
viii
x
xi
CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION ................................................................
A. Background of the Study.................................................................
B. Problem Formulation.......................................................................
C. Objectives of the Study ...................................................................
D. Definition of Terms.........................................................................
1
1
7
8
8
CHAPTER II: THEORETICAL REVIEW ...............................................
A. Review of Related Studies ..............................................................
B. Review of Related Theories ............................................................
1. Theory of Character and Characterization ...........................
2. Theory of Mores...................................................................
3. Social Life in Norway in Nineteenth Century......................
C. Theoretical Framework ...................................................................
10
10
15
15
19
24
29
CHAPTER III: METHODOLOGY ............................................................
A. Object of the Study..........................................................................
B. Approach of the Study.....................................................................
C. Method of the Study ........................................................................
31
31
32
34
CHAPTER IV: ANALYSIS ..........................................................................
A. The Presentation of Major Characters.............................................
1. Manders................................................................................
2. Mrs. Alving ..........................................................................
3. Oswald .................................................................................
B. The Mores Practiced Seen through the Presentation of Major
Characters.......................................................................................
1. The Esteem of Religious Leader ..........................................
2. The Importance of Public Opinion.......................................
3. The Importance of Marriage Bond.......................................
4. Husband’s Reputation ..........................................................
36
36
36
42
48
viii
52
53
55
58
60
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5. Women’s Position in the Society .........................................
6. Children and Parents Relationship .......................................
63
65
C. The Impact of Mores on the Major Characters’ Life ......................
1. The Impact of the Mores on Manders’ Life .........................
2. The Impact of the Mores on Mrs. Alving’s Life..................
3. The Impact of the Mores on Oswald’ Life...........................
67
69
79
89
CHAPTER V: CONCLUSION.....................................................................
96
BIBLIOGRAPHY ..........................................................................................
101
ix
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ABSTRACT
ROBERTUS WIDYA YUDHA PRAWITA. The Impact of Mores on the Major
Characters’ Life in Ibsen’s Ghosts. Yogyakarta: Department of English Letters,
Faculty of Letters, Sanata Dharma University, 2011.
The object of analysis of this undergraduate thesis is a drama entitled
Ghosts which was written by Henrik Ibsen. It is a drama about the life of family in
dealing with demands and regulations exist in the society such as norms, mores,
laws, and etc.
In regard to the story of Ghosts, three problems have been formulated to
comprehend the drama. The first problem will be used to analyze the presentation
of the major characters in the drama. The second point focuses on the mores
practiced as the representation of social aspect found in the play. The last point is
the impact that may occurs on one’s lives in their efforts to respond the presence
of those matters.
To obtain the answer, the writer uses library research method. Through
this method, the supporting data and theories such as theory character and
characterization, theory on mores and review of Norwegian life will be obtained.
Meanwhile, the approach that will be used in this undergraduate thesis is
sociocultural-historical approach.
Based on the analysis, there is a possibility that the presence of the mores
as a manifestation of society’s demand may affect one’s life. The characteristics
and power of mores that may embarrass one’s name in front of the society cause
the people to show various respond to them. This respond is usually influenced by
one’s characteristics and background. Manders who is presented as a pastor with
obdurate and timorous mind treats the practice of the mores rigidly. As the impact,
he deifies the practice of the mores though it may lead him to ignore other
important values in life. Being different from Manders, Mrs. Alving is presented
as a widow with her traumatic experience toward the mores’ practice. She
believes that her obedience toward mores has contribution in her failure to
maintain her family life. For that background, Mrs. Alving becomes a person who
stands in the grey area. Her confusion in responding to the mores finally brings
more problems in her life and ruins her relationship with her son. In the meantime,
Oswald who is presented as a critical person for his experience in living abroad
also feels the impact of the mores practiced. He becomes alienated from the
family and his right to get enough care from the parents is carried away for his
mother’s sake. Therefore, it can be inferred that as long as the application of
mores ignores its humanity side and stay inflexible, the people might be oppressed
by their presence. Unfortunately, it may lead the people to behave recklessly
before finally ends in confusion and disorder in life.
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ABSTRAK
ROBERTUS WIDYA YUDHA PRAWITA. The Impact of Mores on the Major
Characters’ Life in Ibsen’s Ghosts. Yogyakarta: Jurusan Sastra Inggris, Fakultas
Sastra, Universitas Sanata Dharma, 2011.
Objek dari skripsi ini adalah drama berjudul Ghosts karya Henrik Ibsen.
Sebuah drama mengenai kehidupan keluarga ditengah berbagai tuntutan dan
aturan seperti hukum, adat-kebiasaan yang ada di dalam masyarakat.
Dari drama ini telah dirumuskan tiga masalah untuk mendalami drama ini.
Masalah pertama akan membahas presentasi dari para tokoh utama. Masalah
kedua berfokus pada keberadaan adat-kebiasaan di masyarakat mewakili aspek
sosial drama. Permasalahan terakhir adalah akibat yang dialami seseorang dalam
usaha mereka merespon keberadaaan adat-kebiasaan tersebut.
Dalam memecahkan permasalahan, penulis menggunakan metode studi
pustaka. Melalui metode ini, data dan teori pendukung seperti teori tokoh dan
penokohan, teori adat-kebiasaan, dan ulasan mengenai kehidupan masyarakat
Norwegia akan dikumpulkan dan dibahas dengan menggunakan pendekatan
sosial-budaya-sejarah.
Berdasar pada proses analisis, adat-kebiasaan sebagai perwujudan dari
tuntutan sosial dimungkinkan dapat memberikan suatu akibat dalam kehidupan
seseorang. Karakteristik dan kekuatan dari adat-kebiasaan
yang dapat
memcemarkan nama baik seseorang mengakibatkan orang-orang untuk
memberikan berbagai macam respon dalam menyikapinya. Respon yang
ditunjukkan umumnya banyak dipengaruhi oleh karakteristik dan latar belakang
seseorang. Manders, tokoh yang ditampilkan sebagai seorang Pastur dengan sifat
keras kepala dan kaku akan memperlakukan adat-kebiasaan sebagai sesuatu yang
mutlak. Hal tersebut membuatnya bersikap semakin kolot terhadap pelaksanaan
adat-kebiasaan. Akibatnya, dia akan me-tuhan-kan pelaksanaan adat-kebiasaan
meskipun hal tersebut dapat membuatnya tak acuh terhadap nilai-nilai luhur
kehidupan yang lain. Berbeda dengan Manders, Ny. Alving digambarkan sebagai
seorang janda dengan trauma akan pelaksanaan adat-kebiasaan. Dia percaya
bahwa kepatuhannya terhadap adat-kebiasaan di masa lalu turut andil dalam
kegagalan rumah tangganya. Atas alasan tersebut, Ny. Alving menjadi seseorang
yang berada pada area abu-abu. Kebingungannya dalam menyikapi adat-kebiasaan
pada akhirnya membawanya pada berbagi masalah baru dalam hidupnya dan
merusak hubungannya dengan putranya. Pada saat bersamaan, Oswald yang
digambarkan sebagai seseorang yang kritis sebagai akibat dari pengalamannya
hidup di luar negeri juga harus ikut merasakan akibat yang ditimbulkan oleh
keberadaan adat-kebiasaan. Dia menjadi terasing dari kehidupan keluarganya dan
haknya untuk memperoleh kasih sayang dan perhatian dari orang tuanya juga
dirampas oleh keputusan ibunya. Secara umum, dapat disimpulkan bahwa selama
pelaksananaan dari adat-kebiasaan mengabaikan sisi kemanusiaannya dan kaku,
maka masyarakat dapat menjadi tertekan oleh keberadaannya. Lebih buruk lagi,
keadaan tersebut dapat membuat orang-orang untuk bertindak gegabah yang dapat
mengakibatkan kekacauan dan ketidakteraturan dalam hidup.
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CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
A. Background of the Study
Every person in this world was born differently between one another. Each
of them has different physical features that can be seen clearly from their
appearance. Besides, each person also possesses mental characteristics that is
various from one and another. It means that even though each of them was born
the same creature called human, each of them still has special or distinctive
features that differentiate one and another. These distinctive features reflect how
every person is unique.
Every person is also known for his power to manage himself as he likes it.
It means that every person is the master of his own body and soul. A person has
the authority to command his own body to move and he has capacity to let his
own brain to think or to take decision independently. In other words, every person
has full authority on himself. Each of them is the decision maker of their own life
and each of them is the director as well the actor of their own life.
At first glance, it seems that each person was born with a great
independence in running his life in this complex world. However, based on the
fact, the world of reality is truly complex for a human to handle all of the
circumstances individually. In a solo action, a person may have total authority on
himself but in the world of reality which constitutes the society, he may not.
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In this world of reality, every person was born to live side by side with
other people. There is always another person in every occurrence of new life in
this world and it means that there is always a point of contact between an
individual with another individual even from the beginning of life. Later, this
point of contact will be the seeds or the starting point of interaction between two
different individuals that will lead them to the more complex situation in human
life. When both of them start to realize the complexity and the uniqueness of their
own self, they will find those characteristics in another individual as well. From
this condition they will understand and see that both of them share similarities and
differences or weakness and strength. Later, it will lead them to realize the need of
others’ presence in their life to complete each other.
The overview above then can be strengthened with the common view on
human which is widely known as social creature for his nature that can not live
without the existence of other humans. A man needs the presence of other men so
they will learn how to communicate and make relation in order to complete one
and another in life. Through the illustration it can be said that even a new born
baby needs and has to make contact with another human being, at least his
mother, to sustain or even to develop the life of the person.
Then as the time goes by, every person will have bigger dependence on the
surrounding or the environment where he lives in. This dependence will always be
in proportion to the increase of a person’s need in his or her life. The material
needs such as food, drink, house, or clothes can be seen as one aspect that
influences a person’s dependence toward the presence of others. It is hard to fulfill
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all of material needs alone without the help of others. The people need farmers
and sellers to get food stock; they also need tailors to make their clothes and many
more. That is one factor that can be drawn from the material need in human life.
Next, the need of interaction, communication, happiness, satisfaction,
safety and comfort and also the need of acknowledgement and respect from others
are some non material aspects that have significant influence in a person’s
dependency toward the environment and the presence of others. When a person
needs material need like food, it is still possible for him to get and fulfill it by
himself but when the need of love occurs in one’s life then he will not be able to
satisfy that feeling without the presence of another person. Then it can be
concluded that at last human is social creature for their dependence toward the
presence of others.
Starting from the inability of a person to handle all of the matters in his
life individually and the presence of billions different individuals in this world
finally have constituted the nature of human that can not live alone without any
contact with the world outside. Then the conditions that require a person to always
make contact with different individual, at last, consciously or not will lead them to
form a group called society. Society here can be said as a mass of people who
lives together in creating, sustaining and developing the life into a better direction
and condition. “It (society) refers to a definable group of people, with common
interests, functions, and activities, and arranged into a structural system that has a
degree of continuity” (Neumeyer, 1953: 7).
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Then, to live in a society will also bring someone to the new
responsibilities to know, to understand and to adapt with the way of living and the
culture applied in the society. Not only that, based on the culture applied, each
member in a society will also be expected to follow and to take part on the social
system practiced. In every society, it is believed that there must be some rules,
norms, or laws as the result of verbal or written agreement among the members of
the society to give such kind of direction toward human behavior in their
interaction and relation in the middle of society. “Nonetheless, in each society
there are norms that govern this; that is to say there are definite patterns of
behavior, deviation from which is disapproved” (Becker, 1992: 910).
The statement above shows a depiction about the importance of such
patterns on the perpetuity of society and how the people are expected to follow
and fulfill certain qualification to be considered as the part of social group or
society. Then, it can be seen that the norms can give such kind of push or pressure
toward every member of the society to follow them. The members of the society
have to be aware of this condition in order to avoid all possible negative
consequences that can happen as the result of violating the norms applied and
believed in their own society. “Sanctions are the supporters of the norms, the
punishment applied to those who do not conform and the rewards given to those
who do” (Bierstedt, 1963: 229).
For the negative consequences faced by those who violate and break the
norms as one sub division of culture, every member of the society is demanded to
bring his mind and behavior in line with the content of the norms which still can
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be divided into three sub divisions; folkways, mores and laws. Every person is
supposed and expected to accept and stand in the same position with the norms
used since it will be very difficult for a person to make an opposition individually
for his dependencies toward society. “They (people) have not all arrived at the
same formula for their common happiness, but each individual must live in a
group, tribe, city, or nation to which he or she belongs, and must adapt to its way
of living” (Gonsalves, 1986: 93). This quotation indirectly implies that to live as
the part of the society require a courage to sacrifice one’s perspectives or even
ideals to be considered as a good member of society and to avoid embarrassment
and sanctions for breaking the norms.
The condition that requires one’s sincerity and obedience toward the
norms has possibility to create an internal or even external conflict for those who
become the member of certain society. The demand to adapt with the patterns
applied may create a tendency whether norms are bundles of way of living which
are static. This situation creates an image of norms as something that can not be
compromised with the development of age and change of society’s characteristics
based on the real condition in the field. As the consequence, it may result in
deconstruction on the functions and purposes of norms and on the other hand it
will just degenerate the society and create a fertile area for the growth of
hypocrisy.
Starting from the depiction above, the topic about the impact of the mores
as one sub division of the norms was chosen to show how the mores may have
unpredictable influence and effect on some people. The position of the mores
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which is respected and seen as something noble and has relation to morality
sometimes make many people mistreat the presence of the mores. Later, this
condition may fail the real purpose of the mores that is to create the harmony in
life. Ironically it may degenerate the society and lead to hypocrisy and fake.
Then, for the function of literary works that can be used as a media to
express and represent about certain object or topic in certain era, the writer is
going to use Ghosts which was written by Henrik Johan Ibsen in 1881 to make a
research on this issue. The literary work will be the starting point of the research
to see and to observe the application of the mores in the middle of the society and
their influence toward the member of society seen from the presentation of the
major characters.
Ghosts is chosen here because of its story about the life of a family as the
smallest unit of society. Since family is a product of a society, then we can see
how the life and situation in a certain family represents the mores applied in the
society. Besides, the family is also well known as the first, closest, and most
important community in one’s phase of life that can introduce to the culture as the
product of a society. “Its (family) importance is especially great in the
transmission of ideas and ideologies and, above all, of the mores; indeed, the
family is the initial source of all of our moral ideas” (Bierstedt, 1963: 379).
In this case, the Alving’s family as the subject in Ghosts will be the focus
of the research. The presence of the Alving’s family here will be the starting point
to observe the presence of the mores in the society. Besides, the impact of the
mores on the social life of the major characters also will be examined.
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Ibsen’s big name in writing about family, woman’s role and social life of
his age also becomes the reason to use Ghosts as one of his works to be analyzed.
“At the time, both (Ibsen and Zola) gained notoriety through plays that challenged
prevailing notions of acceptable subject matter, social conventions, and moral
values” (Brockett and Findlay, 1991: 15).
Through the play entitled Ghost, people may see implicitly the way Ibsen
articulate his perception on the social condition through his writing style. Besides,
people also can see Ibsen’s courage to move one step further, to see something
clearer and more careful, to think little more critical and to break through normal
border of common people at that time as seen from his masterpieces. “Of these,
two-A Doll’s House and Ghosts-did more than any other plays of their era to call
attention to innovations then underway, largely because both were viewed as
attacks on the very foundation of society” (Brockett and Findlay, 1991: 17).
B. Problem Formulation
In conducting the research, the writer has formulated three problems to
answer as the starting point of the analysis. Those problems are:
1. How are the major characters presented?
2. What are the mores practiced in the society as seen through the presentation of
major characters?
3. What is the impact of the mores on major characters’ life?
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C. Objectives of the Study
The main purpose of this study is to obtain the answer of the problems
formulated in the previous section. This study is expected to produce accurate and
reliable answers based on the qualified data. In order to accomplish the
expectation, three objectives of this study have been formulated.
First, this study is aimed to see and observe precisely the author’s
presentation on the major characters in his work through their utterances, body
language, and the way of thinking. It is very important to understand a literary
work deeper since the characterization of the characters will always be interrelated
with other elements in the work.
Next, this study is aimed to find out the mores as one subdivision of the
norms in the society in the play. Here, the mores which have significance in the
daily life of the characters will be identified and listed. Last, this study also will
see and understand how the presence of the mores applied show their influence or
impact in major characters life.
D. Definition of Terms
The society is identical to the presence of culture as its product. The
culture is often called as the result of cumulative process in the human interaction
in their society or even it is used to show the level of quality and complexity of a
society. Meanwhile, the culture itself is already complex since it can be classified
into many sub divisions. First, culture can be classified into material and non
material culture before the non material culture can be classified again into ideas
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and norms (Bierstedt, 1963: 157-158). Later, inside the norms as one subdivision
of non material culture, the mores can be found. The position of the mores is equal
to folkways and laws even each of them has different quality on the practice
(1963: 224-225).
The mores can be simply said as one concept under the norms. It is one
form of the demand required by society on individuals to live together with them
which contain normative power and important to social welfare (Merril, 1965:
117). Then, when it is traced back to the origin of the word, the mores have strong
connection with morality. “Mores forms the root of the English word ‘moral’, thus
literally referring to any act or belief in accord with customary group
expectations” (1965: 118).
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CHAPTER II
THEORETICAL REVIEW
A. Review of Related Studies
Henrik Johan Ibsen, one of the most prominent figures in the world of
literature from Scandinavia, is known as the one who has capability to promote
social issues through the work of literature. His concern on the problems in the
middle of society brings some of his works to be categorized as realistic dramas
for their close relation with the fact in the society and one of them is Ghosts.
Some subjects such as morality, ethics, and emancipation of individual and
patriarchal system have been coloring many of his works. Those conditions then
attract many researchers or analysts to work on particular aspect in Ibsen’s works.
One of the analyses is conducted by Francis Fergusson who also works on
Ibsen’s Ghosts. In his research, Fergusson uses the work to study modern realism
in the literary work. Besides, he also analyzes this play as a thesis in which can
also be read as thriller and tragedy. Here, the plot of the story is also being
examined in order to find some important points in that become the basic or the
key in the story as a whole.
Fergusson in his analysis states that this play is a work of literature which
sees and analyzes the topic of marriage. Besides, in accordance with the principle
of thesis play, Ghosts is depicting about the debate between two opposite sides on
that topic (Fergusson, 1962: 40).
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Meanwhile, as a thriller, Ghosts is presenting a story which is full of new
development and it will always keep some surprise without breaking the suspense.
“It may also be read as a perfect well-made thriller. The story is presented
with immediate clarity, with mounting and controlled suspense; each act
ends with an exciting curtain which reaffirms the issues and promises
important new developments” (Fergusson,1962: 40)
Based on the quotation above, Ibsen’s ability to keep the rhythm in his
story can be observed implicitly. He maintains the tension of story in a very good
way, in line with the readers’ curiosity without making them losing the issues.
Next, as a tragedy, it can be seen from the story which portrays so many
sadness and problems in the life of Mrs. Alving as one of woman major characters
in the play.
“She (Mrs. Alving) is tragically seeking; she suffers a series of pathoses
and new insights in the course of the play; and this rhythm of will, feeling,
and insight underneath the machinery of the plot is the form of the life of
the play, the soul of the tragedy” (Fergusson, 1962: 40)
In his analysis, Fergusson also sees and gives credit on the ability of Henrik Ibsen
to pay special attention on the major character in his story especially on the reality
of his characters’ live in his works (1962: 39).
On the other side, quite different from Francis Fergusson, Elini tries to be
more specific in doing her topic research on the same literary work. In her
undergraduate thesis entitled Ibsen’s Attack against the Ideal of Women’s Role
Demanded by Society in Ghosts, the portrayal of woman life is positioned as the
main focus. The presence of woman in the play, especially Mrs. Alving, is
examined thoroughly as the main source of the data needed in the analysis (Elini,
1997: vi).
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In general, the research done by Elini is meant to reveal the criteria of
ideal women at that time and the role performed by Mrs. Alving as an illustration
of ideal women besides to obtain the message of the play (Elini, 1997: vi).
Again, through the analysis conducted by Elini, it is found that the center
point of Ghosts is about the position of Mrs.Alving as a woman who is trapped in
the patriarchal society and become the victim of society’s demands toward
women.
Ibsen portrays the role of Mrs. Alving who is trying to be an ideal wife
and not Mr.Alving as an ideal husband to expose the images of women
that women are always the victim of the conventional ideals of the society
(Elini, 1997: 38).
Indirectly, the quotation above states how Mrs. Alving is playing the
central part in revealing the pressure given to women. Besides, it also shows how
the position of women, especially in the family, is subordinated in comparison
with men.
Elini, in her undergraduate thesis, also stated that Mrs.Alving, as one of
woman character, represents the condition of women as the part of family at that
time. The role of women tends to be no more than a complement which has a
duty to fulfill what society expect, and there is no proper place for women at that
time except house. Here, women live under the pressure and oppression to reach
the ideal point set by the society.
There was no major function left for women outside their home; their
main place was at home. Consequently, being a good house keeper, a
loyal wife, and a good mother were women’s duties which were also their
ideal position as a wife but they never given a chance to have their rights
(Elini, 1997: 60).
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Related to the quotation above, then it can be concluded here how
Mrs.Alving’s suffering as the result of her position as one of the woman character
becomes the focus in the discussion. Meanwhile the other characters, both major
and minor, are functioned as the confirmation of Mrs.Alving‘s suffering and
sorrow in facing the pressure in her society. One important point here is that
women always suffer more than men and become the victim of the demand of
patriarchal society.
Not only stopping there, through Ghosts, Ibsen also inserts the topic of
hereditary venereal disease which is considered as a taboo topic at that time.
Oswald, the son of Mrs. Alving, is the one who inherited the disease must be the
victim of his father’s sin as written in Hoenig’s Congenital Neuroshypilis as
Portrayed in Henrik Ibsen’s Ghosts.
Ibsen indicates that Oswald’s father, Captain Alving, was the source of
the infection which he acquired through risky sexual behavior and then
passed on to his son. Ibsen doesn’t specify exactly how this transmission
occurred although the favored late 19th Century medical view held that
congenital syphilis was passed on in a hereditary fashion directly by the
father to the offspring at the time of conception. By contrast, current
understanding of syphilis transmission would explain that Captain Alving
first infected his wife, who then transmitted the spirochete to her unborn
son,
via
the
placenta,
during
pregnancy.
(Hoenig,
http://www.dermanities.com/detail.asp?article =282,)
Through, the quotation above, he shows how Captain Alving contributes
to the disease that later will be passed on from himself to his son as the
consequences of his affair in the past. The event which becomes one of the root of
Alving’s family problems that resulted on the misery experienced by Mrs. Alving
in her effort to keep all of this disgrace as a secret. One important point here is
that how a mistake done by the member of the family in the past can result in
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deadly effect in the next generation and may cause to the destruction of the
family.
In general, those previous studies have given rich opinion and analysis on
Ibsen’s Ghosts which can be used as the consideration before the writer
conducting a research on certain topic under the same work.
In regard to all of the analyses and comments about Ibsen’s Ghosts above,
the writer concludes that society and all of its complexity plays an important role
in the development of human life for our nature is social creature. Starting from
the most basic thing such as the requirements for each individual to share the
same world as the place to live till the sophisticated thing like norms, that limiting
and conducting our live, are only two from many elements that play significance
influence in this social life. Every person has to be ready to face that reality. At
the first glance those conditions will only add more burdens and problems in
human life. However, there must be awareness from the people that the function
of society and all of its complexities inside, include the norms, are to help and
ease the life of human in this world.
Related to the previous studies, this thesis is going to reveal how the
society especially through its mores as the sub division from the norms can affect
and give influence toward human’s behavior in their life. There must be certain
impact when the various characteristics of a person meet with the mores which
are usually already agreed and applied commonly in his or her society.
Implicitly, this topic shares relation with some points in the previous
studies. The previous studies have already analyzed Ghosts based on its plot that
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can be read as thesis, thriller, tragedy and also the topic of gender classification,
duty’s classification or even the process of neuroshypilis transmition. Therefore
to make the difference, this research will try to combine and develop the previous
studies by focusing on the sociological aspect of the major characters in the play.
Besides, in this research the writer is using different approach with those previous
studies since the sociocultural-historical approach will be used as the fundamental
on the analysis process.
In this research the analysis will not only stop on the way the major
characters response the presence of the applied mores in their society but it will
also reach on the effect or impact experienced by major characters in their life
based on their response toward the mores. It can be said that based on the play;
each of the major character in the play is presented with his own characteristics.
Therefore, the process or condition when their characteristics meet with the mores
applied will be the central of this research. How the presence of the mores bring
the influence on the way of major characters behave and their life in general will
be analyzed here. Last, based on what happen when the presentation of major
characters meet with the mores applied, the impact that they may gain in their life
will be the next point of analysis.
B. Review of Related Theories
1. Character and Characterization
Generally, characters in literary works can be defined as the persons who
deliver the run of the story from their action, feeling, and utterances to the reader.
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Character is one of the most important elements to build the story. Each character
in literary works has role in creating and visualizing the run of the story starting
from the beginning, rising action, conflict, climax, falling action, until conclusion.
These facts were stated by M.H. Abrams in A Glossary of Literary Terms as
quoted in the following.
Characters are the persons presented in a dramatic or narrative work, who
are interpreted by the reader as being endowed with moral, dispositional,
and emotional qualities that are expressed in what they say -the
dialogue- and by what they do –the action (Abrams, 1981:20)
Here Abrams based on E.M. Forster explanation on Aspect in the Novel
also stated that a character may experience a physical and or psychological
change in the middle of the story or remain just the same from the beginning until
the end of the story which are known as round or flat characters (Abrams, 1981:
20).
From the definition above, then the existence of characters are very
important since they are the soul of a literary work. From their appearance,
people can see the purpose of literary works from the dialog, interaction and
change experienced by the characters. Then, based on this theory, the characters’
contribution in a play can be analyzed whether they play significant role or depict
a certain issue or not.
Meanwhile characterization can be defined as the way a writer of literary
work tell the reader about characteristics and motives of character based on the
utterances, gestures, body language and the way of thinking produced by character
(Abrams, 1981: 21).
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Similarly, based on A Handbook of Literature, characterization also has a
purpose to introduce the characters, especially in the works of literature, to the
reader. Then hopefully the presence of characters can be understood and the
reader can feel the real atmosphere of the characters like in the real world. It can
be analyzed from the author’s narration and character’s performance.
There are three fundamental methods of characterization in fiction: (1) the
explicit presentation by the author of the character through direct
exposition, either in an introductory block of the character or more often
piecemeal throughout the work, illustrated by action; (2) the presentation
of the character in action, with little or no explicit comment by the author,
in the expectation that the reader will be able to deduce the attributes of
the actor from the actions; and (3) the representation from within a
character, without comment on the character by the author, of the impact
of actions and emotions on the character’s inner self, with the expectation
that the reader will come to a clear understanding of the attributes of the
character. (Holman and William, 1986: 81)
Related to the way an author conveys the character on the work of
literature, based on Murphy’s Understanding Unseens; An Introduction to English
Poetry and the English Novel for Overseas Students, it is stated that there are
several ways for an author to deliver what behind the characters (1972: 161-173)
a. Personal Description
It is the way an author conveys the character based on his physical and
external appearance or the way he dresses up.
b. Characters as Seen by Another
A character can be revealed through other character’s opinion in the work
of literature. The way the other character sees a character is very important and it
gives big contribution to understand a character.
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c. Speech
The way a person use a language and the way he speaks to other characters
can give an understanding to a character since it can lead to social and cultural
background of a character.
d. Past Life
The story of a character’s past life also can give a contribution in
understanding what forms the background of character’s recent condition.
e. Conversation of Others
Others utterances in a literary work also can give addition to the
information about a character.
f. Reactions
The way a character gives response to a certain situation or condition also
can reveal a person’s characteristic.
g. Direct Comment
Direct comment is a comment given by the author directly toward a
character so he can convey the character to the reader of a work of literature. It is
usually written in direct quotation.
h. Thought
Quite different with direct quotation, an author also can convey a character
through the thought of the character. It gives a special circumstance for the
readers so they can see the whole context of what the character is thinking about.
It is usually written in a form of narration.
i. Mannerism
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The author can also give the depiction of a character through the habit in
daily life. The character’s activity and manner also give significant contribution to
the character.
2. Theory of Mores
In a society there are so many people with different characteristics. Each
of them is a unique creature. With those attributes they live side by side. Starting
from this condition they are required to make interaction between one another.
Through this interaction, each person will realize that there are so many
differences in their life. There are so many different needs and self interests in
this world, and this condition may lead into conflict between one and another.
Starting from this situation, the people will realize that to minimize the possibility
of conflict they have create a system and pattern to reach the conformity. Besides,
they also have to produce something to fulfill their need. Those two responses
above basically can be summarized into what we call culture. “Culture is that
complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, custom, and
any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society”
(Bierstedt, 1963: 129).
Under the concept of culture as one thing which covers many essential
aspects in human life, the concept of ideas and norms as the representation of non
material culture will be found. Under the concept of norms, the concept of mores
which has contribution to create the conformity and regularity in the society is
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found together with folkways and laws. The interrelatedness of those concepts
basically can be summarized in the flowchart below:
Culture
Non Material
Ideas
Folkways
Norms
Mores
Material
Laws
Based on the illustration above, it can be seen that there is an integrated
system in human life. The position of culture is on the top of the flowchart. It
means that culture is a big concept which covers all of the subdivision below.
First, culture can be classified into two big classes. The first one is non-material
culture which can be made more specific into ideas and norms while the second
class is material culture.
As mentioned above, the non-material culture is classified into ideas and
norms. Basically both ideas and norms still can be spelled out into more specific
terms but the focus here is given to the norms. The norms here actually can be
simply said as a conduct life for human to live in society.
A norm, then, is a rule or a standard that governs our conduct in the social
situations in which we participate. It is a societal expectation. It is a
standard to which we are expected to conform whether we actually do so
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or not. It is a cultural specification that guides our conduct in society
(Bierstedt, 1963: 222).
The norm here is explained as an instrument of the society to control its
member. It is a big and complex concept which gives certain requirement for the
people to live and it is applied for everyone. In other words, it can be said that
society through norms also gives certain direction and limitation or even
expectations for those who live inside.
This organization, society, liberates and limits the activities of men, sets
up standards for them to follow and maintain; whatever the imperfections
and tyrannies it has exhibited in human history, it is necessary condition
of every fulfillment of life. Society is a system of usages and procedures,
of authority and mutual aid, of many grouping and divisions, of controls
of human behavior and of liberties (Maciver and Charles, 1950: 5).
The quotation above implicitly stated how a person will meet certain
requirements in living as the part of society. There will be an agreement and
demand from the society for each of its members in order to create regularity or
certain purpose to be gained in the society. Though the norm is already defined
as an standard and instrument for the people but the context of norm is still too
wide.
As the illustration, in the social life there are so many expectations from
the society. Starting from the simplest till the most complex expectations can be
found in the society. This condition is the evidence that though the norm is more
specific than culture but it still can be made more specific as seen in the
flowchart.
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The norms can be subsumed into folkways, mores and laws. There are
some differences that creates the norms is spelled out into those three concepts.
Folkways here are more about our customary conduct in daily life or habit.
Folkways, in short, are norms to which we conform because it is
customary to do so in our society. Conformity to the folkways is neither
required by law nor enforced by any special agency of society (Bierstedt,
1963: 226).
Based on the definition above, then it can be concluded that folkways are
more about our daily life. Our habit to wear good clothes, our habit to a