Women`s struggles against the oppression of men in Toni Morrison`s paradise.

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ABSTRACT

NUGRAHENI, ELISABETH RUSTAVIANI. Women’s Struggles Against The Oppression of Men in Toni Morrison’s Paradise. Yogyakarta: Department of English Letters, Faculty of Letters, Sanata Dharma University, 2016.

The object of this study is a novel entitled Paradise. It is the third book of the trilogy that begins with Beloved and Jazz. The novel was first published in 1997 by Toni Morrison.

There are three objectives of this study. The first objective is to depict the characterization of the major female characters, Consolata, Gigi, and Mavis in the novel. The second objective is to analyze the condition of society which the major female characters live in. The third objective is to find out the unequal treatments which are done by Ruby men and the struggle of the major female characters against their oppression.

The research method applied in this study is library research which the primary source is a novel Toni Morrison entitledParadise. The secondary sources are taken from books and thesis that are related to the theory applied in this study. Theories which are applied in this study are the theory of character, theory of characterization, theory of patriarchy and feminist theory. Feminist approach is used to analyze the major female characters struggle against the oppression.

The result of the study shows that the characteristics of major female characters are kind, brave, nurturer. They have different stories in the past but they unite to fight against the oppression by living separately in the convent. There are some practices of patriarchal culture such as performing the duty as a good wife, serving and obeying husband and the laws. The struggles of the major female characters against the oppression are depicted through their action. The major female characters escape from the patriarchal society by leaving the town and start their life in new place. The influence of feminist idea is obviously seen through the portrayal of women struggle done by the major female characters against the men who treat them badly.

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ABSTRAK

NUGRAHENI, ELISABETH RUSTAVIANI. Women’s Struggles Against The Oppression of Men in Toni Morrison’s Paradise. Yogyakarta: Department of English Letters, Faculty of Letters, Sanata Dharma University, 2016.

Objek penelitian ini adalah novel Paradise. Buku ketiga dari trilogi yang diawali dengan Beloves dan Jazz. Novel ini pertama kali diterbitkan pada tahun 1997 oleh Toni Morrison dan novel pertamanya memenangkan Nobel Prize karya sastra pada tahun 1993.

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk, pertama menggambarkan karakterisasi dari tokoh utama wanita, Consolata, Gigi, dan Mavis di novel. Kedua, menganalisis bagaimana kondisi sosial tempat tinggal tokoh utama wanita. Ketiga, menganalisa perlakuan tidak adil yang dilakukan warga kota Ruby dan perjuangan tokoh utama wanita melawan penindasan.

Metode yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah metode penelitian pustaka dimana sumber utama adalah novel Paradise itu sendiri. Materi penunjang adalah buku dan makalah-makalah yang berhubungan dengan teori yang digunakan di dalam penelitian ini. Teori-teori yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah sebagai berikut, teori tentang tokoh, teori penokohan, teori patriarkal, dan teori feminis. Pendekatan feminis digunakan untuk menganalisa perjuangan tokoh utama wanita melawan penindasan.

Hasil dari analisis menunjukkan bahwa karakteristik dari tokoh-tokoh utama wanita antara lain pemberani, baik, dan penyayang. Mereka memiliki masa lalu yang berbeda tetapi mereka dapat bersatu untuk berjuang melawan penindasan dengan hidup dan tinggal terpisah dari pria. Ada beberapa praktek budaya patriarki seperti melakukan tugas-tugas istri dengan baik, melayani dan mematuhi suami serta peraturan. Perjuangan tokoh utama wanita dalam melawan penindasan terlihat dari aksi-aksi yang mereka lakukan. Mereka terbebas dari lingkungan patriarki dengan meninggalkan kota dan hidup di tempat yang baru. Pengaruh dari pemikiran feminis dilihat melalui melalui gambaran perjuangan karakter wanita yang dilakukan oleh tokoh utama wanita melawan pria yang memperlakukan mereka dengan buruk.

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WOMEN’S STRUGGLES AGAINST THE OPPRESSION

OF MEN IN TONI MORRISON’S

PARADISE

AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS

Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of Sarjana Sastra

in English Letters

ELISABETH RUSTAVIANI NUGRAHENI

Student Number: 114214088

ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS

FACULTY OF LETTERS SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY

YOGYAKARTA 2016

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WOMEN’S STRUGGLES AGAINST THE OPPRESSION

OF MEN IN TONI MORRISON’S

PARADISE

AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS

Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of Sarjana Sastra

in English Letters

ELISABETH RUSTAVIANI NUGRAHENI

Student Number: 114214088

ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS

FACULTY OF LETTERS SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY

YOGYAKARTA 2016

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viii

I dedicated this

thesis to My Lord

who has blessed me

with beautiful people

in my life,

especially my parents.

Thank you for

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to express my gratitude to God and my savior, Jesus Christ for His never ending love that strengthens me to go through this process in my life. I also thank mother Mary for Her encouragement when I felt hopeless and desperate. Thesis writing is one long process to me and in this process I'm blessed with these following lovely people who were never absent in helping me get through this process. My deepest gratitude goes to my humble advisor, Dr. F.X.Siswadi, M.A. and my co-advisor Theresia Enny Anggraini Ph.D. for their patience and tolerance during the consultation time.

I believe that I would never accomplish my thesis without the help from others. My warm gratitude also goes to my parents, especially my mother for her trust and for always putting up with me. I know this expression of gratitude would never replace her love in return. To my family, I am thankful to them for always asking when I will graduate so repeatedly that I got annoyed and felt the urge to finish this thesis as soon as I could. Even though it took me a long time to finish this thesis.

Thank you my lovely friend and partner who always bothered me about

this thesis. I’m glad he always reminded me to finish my thesis. I thank him for all

the words of encouragement (No, he is actually insulting me because I took long time to finish the thesis. How annoying!).

I would like also like to thank all of the lecturers and staff of English Letters Department Sanata Dharma University for helping me through this learning process and also all of the Crazy Kids in C Class batch 2011 I would like

to thank them very much for being part of my learning process. I’m surely going

to miss our time together in class.

Last but not least, I give thanks to all the people who give me thoughts, advice and awareness of this life.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE PAGE……… ii

APPROVAL PAGE ……….. iii

ACCEPTANCE PAGE ………... . iv

PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN PUBLIKASI KARYA ……….. . v

STATEMENT OF WORK’S ORIGINALITY………. vi

MOTTO PAGE ……… vii

DEDICATION PAGE………... viii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ……… ix

TABLE OF CONTENTS ………. .. x

ABSTRACT ……….… xi

ABSTRAK ……….... xii

CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION A. Background of the Study ………. 1

B. Problem Formulation ……… 4

C. Objectives of the Study ……… 5

D. Definition of Terms ………... 5

CHAPTER II: REVIEW OF LITERATURE A. Review of Related Study ………. 6

B. Review of Related Theories 1. Theory of Character and Characterization ………. 10 2. Theory of Patriarchy ………... 13

3. Feminist Theory ………. 15

C. Theoretical Framework ……… 17

CHAPTER III: METHODOLOGY A. Object of the Study ………. 19

B. Approach of the Study ……….... 20

C. Method of the Study ……… 21

CHAPTER IV: ANALYSIS A. Characteristic of the Major Female Character ……… 23

B. Form of Oppression That The Major Female Characters Receive ………. 31

C. The Major Female Characters Reaction toward The Oppression of Men ………... 42

CHAPTER V: CONCLUSION ……….. 59

BIBLIOGRAPHY ……… 62

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xi ABSTRACT

NUGRAHENI, ELISABETH RUSTAVIANI. Women’s Struggles Against The

Oppression of Men in Toni Morrison’s Paradise. Yogyakarta: Department of

English Letters, Faculty of Letters, Sanata Dharma University, 2016.

The object of this study is a novel entitled Paradise. It is the third book of the trilogy that begins with Beloved and Jazz. The novel was first published in 1997 by Toni Morrison.

The research method applied in this study is library research which the primary source is a novel Toni Morrison entitled Paradise. The secondary sources are taken from books and thesis that are related to the theory applied in this study. Theories which are applied in this study are the theory of character, theory of characterization, theory of patriarchy and feminist theory. Feminist approach is used to analyze the major female characters struggle against the oppression.

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xii ABSTRAK

NUGRAHENI, ELISABETH RUSTAVIANI. Women’s Struggles Against The

Oppression of Men in Toni Morrison’s Paradise. Yogyakarta: Department of

English Letters, Faculty of Letters, Sanata Dharma University, 2016.

Objek penelitian ini adalah novel Paradise. Buku ketiga dari trilogi yang diawali dengan Beloves dan Jazz. Novel ini pertama kali diterbitkan pada tahun 1997 oleh Toni Morrison dan novel pertamanya memenangkan Nobel Prize karya sastra pada tahun 1993.

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1 CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION

A. Background of the Study

An interesting story from Toni Morrison book titled Paradise is great to discuss. Paradise is a book which shows the gender discrimination and the oppression of women. The previous books titled Beloved and Jazz also have great story which tell different conflict of society. Morrison in Paradise depicts a portrayal of women who live in a Convent in the town Ruby (Oklahoma). The conflict is between female characters in Convent and the men who live in Ruby. Throughout the story, the treatment of the women is noticed which shows the patriarchal society that they live in, disturbing their own freedom and choices.

The difference of gender between male and female bring problems in

social life. It’s explained in Maggie Humm’s book titled A Reader's Guide to Contemporary Feminist Literary Criticism that all of the differences can put

humans in a serious and dangerous problem. Ideally, people try to see this kind of differences as an opportunity for them to build the stronger community. The different treatment between male and female cannot be avoided because it already becomes parts of life. As a social creature, people need other people to live with. A simple example is that men need women and women need men. Both men and women need each other to fulfill their life. Yet in social life, sometimes, the role of women is neglected. It is a fact that the positions of religious leader in the world are held by men. Most people will think that it is not discrimination because

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discrimination is thought to be bad and cruel. If this case is discussed deeper, it can be said that it is discrimination in the base of gender discrimination.

This study explains about the oppression of women within a black community, they are being oppressed by their own race. It is an interesting topic to discuss since there are only few people discussing it. Toni Morrison wants to tell the situation of Afro-American community through her novel Paradise. In this novel, Morrison's development of the female characters is similar in a way most of black female writers deal with feminism. Morrison shows these concern of oppression and patriarchy intentionally, but the main focus of the story is those

concerns don't allow them to control their whole experience.

The novel is titled Paradise although the situation is not the same as what people think about paradise in common. Morrison creates a community of black families named Ruby. Ruby is a town that is built consist of eight family names; the eight rocks. This community tries to build a community which gives a better life since they have been slaves for a long time. The people in Ruby try to find their own paradise in the earth by creating this community. The situations changes when one of the family founders tries to dominate.Ruby becomes the oppressive system by repeating the logic of the oppressor. It is built upon eight families who abandons Haven to create what they thought would be the Paradise on earth: a town in which only black people could live and be born.

In this story, the female characters seem to be described as a weak and unpowered person. The main female characters are oppressed by the men. They try to survive from their misery by making community whose members are female

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and they make their own shelter.The female characters try to find their own paradise despite the oppression toward them. From this circle they find their own potential and they have their own thinking. The free thinking of women is a threat to the men because it can stand in the way of men.

It can be seen in the novel that women are a threat to this society because

they stand in the way of “progress”. Female babies can not carry on the “holy”

family names of the town. Female midwife and child bearers stand between the successful births of healthy baby boys. To the men of the town, this is everything. Without the ability to continue the utopia, the dream dies. Any woman who is able to create too much power is a clear threat to their authoritarianism.

In the novel, church is another symbol of oppression which gives the evidences of the treatment of women by the Catholic Church. The nuns of the Church have been programmed with this repression to such a degree that they in turn act as the patriarchs in this very convent. Connie, one of the major female characters, is affected by the Chatolic church. Connie believes that she needs this authority to survive. She has been pushed down by patriarchy to the point where her thoughts are not her own. She has not learned the process of discovering her own individuality but at the end she will and does. It is the Covent, a place which is run by the law of Catholic Church. The Convent was once an orphanage run byRoman Catholic nuns. All the sisters have left by the time the book begins. People who live there are women who have experienced various hurts, abuses, and losses.

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From the explanation in Women: A Feminist Perspective written by Freeman Jo, feminist points out the gap in the relationship between women and men. It assists anyone to consider that the imbalance relationship of the two sexes can burden both of them. Society demand women to enjoy domestic affairs while men win in any access to develop themselves. In Paradise, the blacks already free from the white oppression, they try to get a better life but the women are still being oppressed by the men of their own race.

The point of view of feminist is interesting to discuss because Paradise gives the reader a critical point of view towards the issue of gender and patriarchy system that people can use as reflection materials in daily life situation. Discrimination of gender and patriarchy system is an actual problem to discuss and learn.

B. Problem Formulation:

1. How are the major female characters described in Paradise?

2. What is the form of oppression that the major female characters get? 3. How do the major female characters struggle against the oppression of

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C. Objectives of the Study

The objectives of this study are to find out the feminist idea in the story by analyzing the characters through their oppression. The female characters try to survive in the patriarchal society. First, it explains the character and characterization of the major female characters in the story. Second, it discusses what form of oppression that the major female characters get. Last, it finds out how the major female characters struggle against the oppression of men.

D. Definition of Terms

1. Oppression

Oppression is the inequitable use of authority, law, or physical force to prevent others from being free or equal (Rich, 1976: 270).

2. Struggle

The definition of struggle according to Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary is the fight against someone or something to prevent bad or difficult situation and result. It also can be mean as the fight against the subject or try to get away from them (Oxford, 2005: 1523)

3. Patriarchy

The power of the fathers: a familial social, ideological, political system in which men by force, direct pressure, or through ritual, tradition, law, and language, customs, etiquette, education, and the division of labor, determine what part women shall or shall not play and in which the female is everywhere subsumed under the male (Rich, 1976:275).

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6 CHAPTER II

THEORETICAL REVIEW

This chapter is divided into three parts. The first part is for review on related studies. The second part is for review on related theories. The last part is for theoretical framework.

A. Review of Related Studies

The study in Toni Morrison's Paradise had been done by other researchers. In order to get the basic or the main position for this thesis, other studies are used to compare this thesis and other studies. In this section, there are some passages which are taken from undergraduate thesis. Discrimination Within An Afro-American Community in The Unites States in 1960s-1970s as Depicted in Toni Morrison's Paradise written by Stanislaus Febri Atmaka is one of study which are used in this section. This study focuses on the social structure of the Ruby community. The structure of Ruby community which lives in isolation does not create equality. Atmaka says that

Every member of Ruby does not get the same treatment and

opportunity. There are three points which maintain the inequality. They are stratification, class system, and power distribution within Ruby community (Atmaka, 2003: 76).

The study discusses the influence of Morgan family which creates inequality in the community. Morgan family has an important role in the society

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because Morgan family is the upper class and they unconsciously creates rule for the society.

The most influential figures of the Morgan family members are businessmen since they have a bank as the central regulation of Ruby economy life. They provide loan for those who have financial problems (Atmaka, 2003: 52).

Morgan family is the center of the society and they can use their power to dominate the Ruby community because people in Ruby depend on Morgan family to keep living.

As a rich family, they have the ability to buy everything they want. It seems that they want to conquer all of the property in Ruby. Having all of the property of Ruby let them rule the community (Atmaka, 2003: 58).

The difference of power within one and another create the stratification and class system. People who have more power such as wealth and money can dominate the society, it makes the inequality of people appear in the Ruby community.

Unlike the previous study which is written by Atmaka, The Identity

Challenge in Toni Morrison’s Paradisewhich is written by Vida de Voss focuses

on the identity and behavior of the characters in Paradise, namely New Father and Old Father (Big Papa and Big Daddy). New Father and Old Father is symbol of the men identity in the society, New Father has different concept and rule from the Old Father.

For the Old Fathers, the true test of their triumph and achievement lay in the fact that none of their women had ever worked in a white man's kitchen. The Oven, as a kind of communal kitchen is in stark contrast to the white kitchens where the rape of their women was if not a certainty a distinct possibility (De Voss, 2010:24).

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New Father and Old Father is the leader of the Ruby Town. New Father has the similar ideologies to the Old Father, their ability to fulfill the responsibility to provide for and protect their women and children. Even the New Father has similar aspect of identity; they create the role of women and children by using concept of protection. Their concept of town it should be men as the ruler of the town and family because it gives protection to the women and children.

The New Fathers unfortunately take their responsibility to the extent that they define and determine the role of women and children. In the description of the sleepless woman, her possible thoughts are described as her thinking of food preparations, or family things, or lift her eyes to stars and think of nothing at all. (De Voss, 2010: 29).

De Voss says that Paradise not only focus in the inequality and intolerance. The identity of characters is important to discuss because their own identity create the present condition of the community. He explains that the group is affected by the image of one self and other self.

Her works are meant to impact human consciousness and affect change. Her works do not advocate specific courses of action. Morrison sketches an image of the self to the self and leaves the self with the choice of what to do with the self revelation held up in Paradise. Each group, affected by such an understanding, is similarly left with the same responsibility of choice (De Voss, 2010: 54).

The next study with title Feminist Literature: An Impossible? Working with Toni Morrison's Paradise which is written by Beatriz Revelles-Benaventeis different from the other studies.This study discusses the movement of the women in the community (story in the novel) and how literature can affect the politics in their era.

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Introducing this generational debate, Morrison aims at promoting a more inclusive politics since she is making her readers aware that time matters and the embodied experiences of the different members of the community are never equal because of their unique development (Benavente, 2014: 14).

Benavente explains that literature affects the politic condition in that era

because this Morrison’s work makes women to get their freedom and it gives

affection to the changes of politic in the society. It is explained that Paradise breaks the oppositional thinking. The ruby community becomes the oppressive system to the women by repeating the logic of the oppressor. Ruby is a town in which only black people could live and be born. The main focus of the story is the women who live in the Convent.

Women in the Convent live without societal rules congruent with conventional patriarchal systems. Ruby and the Convent could be considered as denominated the exteriority within (Benavente, 2014: 10). Benavente discusses the effects of the Morrison's work to women in

90’era. He explains that the impossibility to "identify with" is directly related to

the impossibility to organize social movements depending on certain identities.At the end of the story, the condition of the women in the Convent changes, they have another opportunity to make peace with their previous life in the Convent when supposedly they have all been killed.

The last study is journal fromJournal of the Association for Research

Mothering. It’s different from the previous studies. Maternal Resistance and

Redemption in Toni Morrison's Paradise which is written by Andrea O'Reilly discusses about how women live and mothering as healing theme in the story.

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Women in the Convent live by taking care each other, this shows that women is a symbol for healing.

In Paradise, as the women take refuge in the convent, they nurture and sustain one another. The convent itself, Connie's home and the women's refuge, signifies maternal nurturance; kitchens, and cooking, both metaphoricallyand literally central to the convent, represent in Morrison

fiction care andhealing (O’Reilly, 2000: 190).

The failure of nurturance and care is not much an individual woman's inability to mother because of her disconnection from her mother line, but a community's failure to nurture because of its denial, displacement of funk, and the ancient properties. The causes of the nurturance failures is abortions, miscarriages, sickly children, and dead babies, abandonment, motherlessness, mother loss. Because of those nurturance failures, the convent women create a maternal community from their own individual maternal losses.

Maternal Resistance and Redemption in Toni Morrison's Paradise has similar perspective with this study. It explains the connection between women and the society and how their action towards the oppression.

This study is different, it focuses on the work and discusses the feminism idea in the story while other studies discusses the discrimination of upper class and lower class. This study analyzesnot only the ideas of feminism but also the patriarchal practice reflected through the characters in the story. It relates the condition of life in the story and the characters to get the feminism idea and gives deeper explanation how the major female characters were abused by the men and how they tried to find their own freedom.

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B. Review of Related Theories

To answer the problem formulations that stated previously, these are some theories which are used:

1. Theory of Character and Characterization

The definition of character is explained by M.H. Abrams in his book A

Glossary of Literary Terms. He explained that experiences and feelings of the

character in a work of literature are shown by the author in his/her works of literature. M.H. Abrams stated:

Characters are the persons presented in a dramatic or narrative work, who are interpreted by 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, 1993:23). Character is a person/object that is responsible for the thoughts and actions within a literary works. Characters are extremely important because they are the medium through which a reader interacts with a piece of literature. Every character has his or her own personality, which a author uses to assist in forming the plot of a story. The different attitudes, mannerisms, and even appearances of characters can greatly influence the other major elements in a literary work, such as theme, setting, and tone. With this understanding of the character, a reader can become more aware of other aspects of literature, such as symbolism, giving the reader a more complete understanding of the work. The character is one of the most important tools in the story.

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According to M.H. Abrams in his book A Glossary of Literary Terms, the characteristic of characters in the story can be seen from the dialogue and the action. The characters show their attitudes toward what they say and express. The most important evidence of all is the character's own dialogue and behavior

(Stanton, 1965:18). It’s clearly stated by Stanton that dialogue and behavior have

important role to see the character. Every dialogue, speech, and actions are not only a sequence of the story, but it's also a manifestation of the character.

Based on his description, Stanton thinks that the most important evidence is the last evidence he has mentioned. That is the character's dialogue. He says that the dialogue and action are a manifestation of character (Stanton, 1965: 18). From the dialogue and action, reader will know exactly the implied meaning that lies in the story.

Character has important role in making up the story. In the Understanding

Unseens, M.J. Murphy explained nine ways of how to see the characters and

characterization in literary works. Those are as follows:

First, Personal Description, an author can describe a person's appearance and clothes. Second, Character as seen by another, an author uses character's eyes and opinions to describe a character. Third, Speech, what a character says can give the reader an insight of another person's characteristics. Fourth, past life; the author gives a clue to past events that help the readers to shape a person's characteristics. Then, Conversation of others, the conversations of other people and the things they say about a character can be a clue to a person's characteristics. Reactions, by allowing the readers to know how a person reacts to various situations and events, an author can also give them a clue to a person's characteristics. Direct comment, the author can describe or comment on a person's characteristics directly. Thoughts, an author can give the readers a direct knowledge of what a character is thinking about. And the last is mannerisms, means a person's mannerisms, habits can be described by the author to tell his readers something about the person's characteristics (1972:161-173).

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As Murphy explains, there are nine ways to see the characterization of the characters in literary works. The description of the characters which are described by the appearance and clothes and the characters can be seen by other characters such as the opinion and the eyes of characters. The important methods to support this research are the conversations, reactions, direct comments, thoughts, and mannerisms. The conversations of other characters can be a clue to find the characteristics. The reactions of various situations or events can also give the characteristics of the character. Then, the direct comment can give the direct comments of the characters. The thoughts of the characters can give the direct knowledge about what the characters are thinking about. Mannerisms, habit which is described by the author to tell the characteristics.

From the theories that already explained by some experts, it is clear that the important elements of the action done by the characters. From the dialogue and the action, the readers can understand what kind of characteristic that the characters have. The readers need to read the whole story to understand the characters and to avoid the misinterpretation of characters.

2. Theory of Patriarchy

Literary, patriarchy means "rule of the father" (Payne, 1997: 394). It means that the rule of society is held by the elder man of the society. In other words, a man takes control of society.The meaning of patriarchy is a system of social structures where men dominate, oppress, and exploit women. Women and men live together in the condition where they ruled to be in a different position. Men in

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higher position; they are the ruler, and women in the lower one because they are the follower (Walby, 1990:20). Patriarchy is a long history of injustice in the social status between men and women. Women's position is under men's control.In Using Critical Theory, Tyson states

A patriarchy is any society in which men hold all or most of the power. Usually a patriarchy gives men power by promoting traditional gender roles. Patriarchal men and women believe that anyone who violates traditional gender roles is in some way unnatural, unhealthy, or even immoral (Tyson, 2011:141-142).

Women are forced and conditioned by the society to believe that they are weak. Since early childhood, human being has been taught to play different role in the family. Men are taught to do the public job while women are taught to do the domestic one. The one who disobey the rule will be blamed by patriarchal society. Patriarchy means the authority of elder males or male. The father in the family or the younger man makes decision which control and rule the family's work, purchase, and etc. In here, women have no choices to make. There are no question as to their nature is simply obedience (Ehreinreich& English, 1992: 216).

In Contemporary Feminist Thought, Eisenstein states

Instead of being openly coerced into accepting their secondary status, women were conditioned into embracing it by the process of sex role stereotyping. From early childhood, women were trained to accept a system which divided society into male and female spheres, with appropriate roles for each, and which allocated public power exclusively to the male sphere (Eisenstein, 1984: 6).

In patriarchal society exist something called sex role. This sex role differentiates women and men's function in society. Men or masculine behavior is suited with the aggression, initiative, rationality, and objectivity, so that they are given the job to be the leader. Women or feminine behavior is suited with

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passivity, emotionalism, and subjectivity, so that they are given the job to be the follower; the house keeper (Eisenstein, 1984: 10-11).

In patriarchy men are seen to be more important than women. Their feeling and opinion are important. Women here just for men's pleasure and they are the assistance of men. They should fulfill their natural feminine functions. In patriarchy, women are different with men and they should not compete with men (Freeman, 1984: 553).

In patriarchy the role of women in family is so big and it is quite different from men. Women are responsible for the love of the family. They are responsible for cleaning, laundering, producing food, and child caring. Those duties need skills that are quite complicated for a human being to do. Because of that, women since their childhood were trained to learn those duties (Hoffnung, 1984:125).

In this society, women are only seen as mere object that are placed in the house in order to do householdwork. Things done by men outside the house are for money. It makes the whole family depend on the husband for the living. The wife, inside the house, has to provide the comfort and the love for the husband and children (Hoffnung, 1984: 125).

3. Feminist Theory

The explanation of feminist theory can be seen in Bijay Kumar Das' book, Twentieth Century Criticism. In his book, he stated an opinion that women are believe that they are inferior to men and found theirselves dependent on men. Male are the people who have power. In the society, people who have power tend

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to see other people not valuable. Women always have to obey the men; a wife should follow everything what her husband said. Women do not have their own freedom, their life already construct by the men.It is basically spreads out from his mind from the realization that " the world is masculine, because the whole who fashioned it, ruled it, and still dominate it today are men" (2002:145).

From the beginning of their life, women are always told that they should obey men because men are superior. Women believe that they are inferior to men because the society learned them to do so. Since men have power to rule, they tend to see women not value. This case makes men dominated the society and control the society, it also causes oppression for women. This kind of society happens because of the society is very religious and lives according what God wants in the middle ages. Catholic Bible also explains that Adam's role is to be Eve's Master. "...thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee." (Genesis 3:16). In Old Testament which is found in the Catholic Bible

“No wickedness comes anywhere near the wickedness of woman... Sin began with a woman and thanks to her we all must die”

(Ecclesiasticus 25:19, 24).

In middle ages, people truly believe in church's lesson, these beliefs have rooted to people mindset. It also builds stereotypes and perception in the society that women are less valued than men.

This study explains the feminist idea which is depicted through the major female characters. It contrasts with the stereotypes of women inside the novel. The beginning of feminist history are called as the first wave feminism, usually concerns about the establishment of the legal policy which states that woman are

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human beings and it never be treated as a property.According to Madsen theory, a woman must break the bonds of her patriarchal society and defines herself if she wishes to become a significant human being in her own right and defy male classification as the other (Madsen, 2000:182).

Stanton and Blatch says that personal freedom is the first right to be proclaimed, and that does not and can not now belong to the relation of wife, to the financial dependent (Stanton and Blatch, 1969, vol 2:70). It must become the basic idea that must be applied in women's life. Personal freedom is an important thing for human beings including women.Women must survive their condition of being oppressed but they must aware of their condition first and let their selves to be survived from their deepest heart.

In the novel, there are many scenes when women are being raped by men. It is clear that there is a hidden meaning from the existence of a rape scene in the novel.In her site, Susan Brownmiller states the action of rape connected with human primal act of sex and cannot be separated from biological matter. However, humans have a complex system of psychological signs and urges; our call to sex occurs in our head.

Without a biologically determined mating season, a human male can evince sexual interest in a human female at any time he pleases, and his psychologic urge is not dependent in the slightest on her biologic readiness or receptivity. What it all boils down to is that the human male can rape

(http://www.susanbrownmiller.com/susanbrownmiller/html/against_o ur_will.html).

In her book, Against Our Will: Men, Women, and Rape, Brownmiller argues that rape is the form of patriarchy, served as "the perpetuation of male domination

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over women by force" (1991:209). She suggested that the hidden meaning of rape is connected to the concept of treating women as property.

C. Theoretical Framework

In order to answer problem formulation, the contribution of theories is needed. Thus, the review of related study is needed to add more information, critique, and comment towards Paradise. The review of related theories along with the review of related studies gives deeper insight about the study.

Ever since the focus of the study is feminist, several theories will be used to analyze the study. Those theories are patriarchy and feminist theory. Those theories are significant since the writer uses feminist as the approach. To analyze the novel and to answer the problem mentioned in the first chapter, the character and characterization are analyzed using theories of character and characterization by M.H. Abrams, Murphy, and Stanton. Later on, from the analysis of the character and characterization, the writer analyzes what form of oppression that the major female characters get. In this step, theory of patriarchy is used to see how the oppression of women that are gotten especially the major female characters. Theory of feminist is used in order to see the unequal treatment and also to see how struggle is done by the major female characters.

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19 CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY

A. Object of the Study

The object of this study in this research is Paradise. The novel was written by Toni Morrison and published by Alfred A. Knoff, Inc in 1997. Paradise is a part of the trilogy including Beloved and Jazz, it is also about love, which takes a place in the history of African Americans. According to the author, it completes a "trilogy" that begins with Beloved and includes Jazz.The book was chosen as an Oprah's Book Club selection for January 1998. Morrison wanted to call the book War but was overridden by her editor (Mulrine,

swarthmore.edu/humanities/pschmid1.html).

Paradise is divided into nine sections: Ruby, Mavis, Grace, Seneca,

Divine, Patricia, Consolata, Lone, Save-Marie, and there are 318 pages altogether. Each section named after a character, all of them is the name of the female characters. Morrison writes her story without explanation about the name of the characters. None of them are named in the opening chapter, and in subsequent ways they are introduced in passing the story, often by nicknames or first name.

The first section is Ruby which has the important scene and sentence, "they shoot the white girl first". In Ruby, the story focuses on the description of the town of Ruby, the Convent and Haven. The character of name Ruby is not explained in this section. The second section is Mavis, it tells about Mavis life. She runs away from home, steals her husband's car, and arrives to the Covent. In

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this section, the characters of Mavis are explained, she is afraid of her husband, and she cannot tolerate her feeling guilt and she fears for her life.The third chapter, Grace, the real name of Gigi, she arrives in town of Ruby. This chapter generates a conflict between K.D and Arnette. The next chapter is Seneca, it focuses on Ruby's community. The people of Ruby has meeting at the oven to discuss about "The furrow of his brow."The next chapter is Divine, it tells about unpleasant wedding and Arnette claims her baby on her wedding night. In Patricia's chapter, it tells about the reconstruction of the town's story. Next chapter is Consolata, she has affair with Deek and becomes a guide for the women in the Convent. The last second chapter is Lone, she alerts the Convent with no success, she tells the relatives and finds the car with three victims in it. In the last chapter Save-Marie, they hold the first funeral of the town and the change of "The furrow of his brow" into "We are the furrow of HIS brow".

B. Approach of the study

In order to do the analysis, the writer uses feminist approach. Feminist approach is a type of academic approach to study about the work of literature which use the feminist thought in the context of production and also reception to analyze the literary text (Goodman, 1996: 11). The focus of this study is on feminist as seen through women's characters. According A Handbook of Critical

Approach to Literature sixth edition, feminism is an overly political approach that

criticizes women stereotyping (Guerin, 2011: 253).Literature is described as political, and its politics "is male". Therefore, in literature feminist critics explain

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how the position of women is reflected by literary texts to show patriarchal prejudices.The term of patriarchal society and patriarchy have big relation to feminism idea. By identifying the patriarchy condition in the text, it gives deeper explanation about the oppression of women and feminist idea in the novel.

Feminist approach gives a great support and contribution to this study. By applying this approach to this study, it has a better understanding in seeingfeminist idea to answer the problem formulation.

C. Method of the study

The method used in this study is library study. It used both primary and secondary sources in this study. The primary source is Paradise written by Toni Morrison. The secondary sources consisted of several books which describe the theory of approaches, characters, discrimination, gender, patriarchy, and feminism. The books are:A Glossary of Literary Terms,A Reader's Guide to

Contemporary Feminist Literary Criticism, Understanding Unseen: An Introduction to English Poetry and English Novel for Overseas Students, etc.

Some steps are used in conducting this study. First, the literary work is selected which will be analyzed. After reviewing some literary works, Paradise written by Toni Morrison's is chosen as the primary data of this study. The secondary data were taken from books that were related to the topic.

The next step was reading the novel several times to gain deeper understanding about the story. Took notes and highlighted some important information which was done while reading. Some important things from the book

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that can support this study were written. It helped me to analyze the novel and avoid confusion to analyze the novel.

Then, next step was started to think about the topic that was discussed in this study. An idea to write about the oppression of women that was depicted through the story came to mind.The next step was collecting the references that were related to this study. The references were some books that were available in the library and also other books outside the library. The references are also some study from student and people, it consisted of information about literature and the novel.

This study focuses on the female characters first, then on the male characters. From the differences of the female and male characters thought, it could be seen the oppression of men toward woman. Next, formulated the problems and answered the problem formulations; it means analyzing the collected data and supporting the data with related theories approach and studies.

After finishing the discussion of the analysis, this study proposed suggestion for future researchers and for the implementation for teaching and learning English using the novel Paradise. It is useful for people who would learn about literature.

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23 CHAPTER IV

ANALYSIS

There are three problems in the problem formulation which are discussed in this analysis. Firstly, it discusses how the major female characters are being described in the novel. Secondly, it discusses the society which the characters live in. In this part, it explains how the society treats women, society which is built from patriarchal system. Thirdly, it explains how the idea of feminism is conveyed through the female characters by observing the contrasts that is shown between the male domination societies with the major female characters.

A. Characteristics of the Major Female Characters

To understand the characteristics of the major female characters, it uses Murphy's theory of characters and characterization. They are personal description, character as seen by another, speech, past life, conversation of others, reactions, direct comment, thoughts, and mannerism.

Toni Morrison's Paradise has many female characters, but this study only focuses on the topic of the major female characters. The female characters are Connie (Consolata), Mavis, and Gigi who live in the Convent. The other characters are Seneca and Pallas, young girl who also live in Convent. The female characters in Ruby town are Dovey Morgan, Soane Morgan, Patricia, Arnette and Lone. All of the female characters have different background, yet they have common characteristic; they are being oppressed and controlled by the men. This

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study focuses on the female characters that live in the Convent because Convent is the place where the main actions are taken.

1. Consolata (Connie)

The first character is Connie or Consolata. She is the one who runs the Convent after all the nuns left. The central character, she is sexually abused and rescued in the young age by Mary Magna, who eventually takes her to an Oklahoma convent. The character's description can be analyzed from her action and explanation of her past life.

For thirty years Consolata worked hard to become and remain Mary

Magna’s pride, one of her singular accomplishments in a life time of teaching, nurturing, and tending in places with names the nun’s own

parents had never heard of and could not repeat until their daughter pronounced them. Consolata worshipped her (Morrison, 1997:224). Consolata was not a virgin. One of the reason she so gratefully

accepted Mary Magna’s hand, stretching over the litter like a dove’s

wing (Morrison, 1997:228).

The data above proves that Consolata obey the nun who rescue her, and work hard to please Mary Magna. She cannot do anything else, her mindset

already set to follow Mary Magna’s will. Consolata’s mannerism shows that she

is obedient, she always do anything that Mary Magna tell to her. She always helps every people who need and give them protection and shelter.

As in the other section, she is killed by her ex boyfriend’s twin.

He looks at Consolata and sees in her eyes what has been drained from them and from himself as well. There is blood near her lips. It

takes his breath away. He lifts his hand to halt his brother’s and

discovers who, between them, is the stronger man. The bullet enters her forehead (Morrison, 1997:289).

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In the second last chapter when the men start to attack and barge in the Convent. Consolata does not do anything when the man tries to kill her, she just gazes the man eyes and the other man kills her easily without resistance. Consolata as a woman still loves her ex boyfriend even her boyfriend betrayed her. Her soft character in this part shows that woman is nurturer, kind, and loving. Consolata as a woman has the main behavior of woman which is loving, kind, and caring. Her characteristic is shown from the conversation between her and other people. Her reaction also shows that she care with people who need help, she cannot abandon anyone. She helps everyone men and women who come to her.

“I broke down a ways back. Can anybody help? Is there someplace I can call?” The woman stood up, gathering the hem of her apron in

both hands, and came forward… “No telephone out here,”she said. “Come inside” (Morrison, 1997:38).

From the conversation and reaction above, Consolata responds and helps a stranger who asks her help. It is clear that Consolata always ready to help other people. Even though she is busy, she is willing to leave her work to help a stranger. Her kindness characteristic has always been the most suitable characteristic to describe her personality, as the author stated through other characters thought. There are some direct comments from other characters that

show the kindness of Connie. “Connie’s nice, isn’t she? Soane looked at her,” Yes. She is.” and “Yes. She’s nice. I feel better now” (Morrison, 1997:44). The

other proof in chapter Grace which show the kind and caring characteristic from Consolata. Consolata gives shelter to Gigi who does not have place to live.

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“Oh, that’s little Grace. She came the day after Mother died.” “Died? When?”

“Seven days now. Seven” (Morrison, 1997: 76).

It can be seen from the conversation, that Consolata accepts Gigi to live in

the Convent. She treats Gigi nicely by saying “Soon you’ll like her” to Mavis

(Morrison, 1997: 77). Consolta convinces Mavis that Gigi is nice girl not as what Mavis thought.

Consolata serves as the Mother of Saints, she is authoritative and wise. She tells the women, "If you want to be here you do what I say. Eat how I say. Sleep when I say. And I will teach you what you are hungry for." (Morrison, 1997:262). Every word and advice which she gives to other women in Convent

shows that she is wise and should be followed. Connie laughed, ”Scary things not always outside. Most scary things is inside” (Morrison, 1997:39).

No one left. There were nervous questions, a single burst of frightened giggling, a bit of pouting and simulated outrage, but in no time at all they came to see that they could not leave the one place they were free to leave (Morrison, 1997:262).

Everyone in the Convent chooses to stay and refuse to leave. Consolata in the story is represented as a leader in the Convent and other women chose to follow her. Her characteristics make women in the Convent choose to stay and follow her, this makes her as the main character. It can be seen from the action and manner of Consolata that she is authoritative in the convent. All of women in the Convent follow her teaching and advices. As the character who has big influence in the story, it makes sense that she is a leader of the Convent. Her characteristics allow her to lead and rule the Convent. She tells other women in the Convent to be aware of themselves and treat other women nicely. The story

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focuses on how men of Ruby town treat her and how Consolata escapes from her past and the patriarchal system in Ruby.

2. Mavis

Mavis is a negligent twenty seven year old woman with a patriarchal abusive husband, Frank. She suffocates her twin babies in their car and escapes from the house.

“Your babies suffocated, Mrs Albright. In a hot car with the

windows closed. No air. It’s hard to see that happening in five

minutes.”

“I’ve punished myself over that, but that’s pretty near the most it

could have been. I walked in there straight to the dairy section and

picked up two packs of Armours which is high you know…”

(Morrison, 1997:23).

From the data above, it can be concluded that Mavis is careless. She is negligent because she does not think more carefully about her children. Even though only in a short time she left her children, she lets her children die. Everyone in town blame Mavis for her carelessness. Ruby townspeople talk about

Mavis but no one think about Mavis’s husband fault.

The other characteristic of Mavis is coward. It is shown when she has a problem. She is so afraid of her husband that she chooses to escape from the

house. This characteristic is proven by “getting out of the house had been so

intense, she was pulling the Cadillac away from the curb when she realized she

had no idea of what to do next” (Morrison, 1997:27). After her escape, she sees

her husband Frank and she is afraid Frank will capture her.

I’ll scream, she told herself, pretend I don’t know him, fight him, call

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in the car, waiting for the attendant to collect the money, she examined her surroundings in the rear- and side view windows. Nothing. Hard as she tried to control it, the Cadillac lurched out of the gas lane. Scared now, she forgot what to look for. Junction what? Turn right to go south. No, west. Enter 70 at what? (Morrison, 1997:36).

It can be seen that Mavis is afraid of Frank. She knows very well that she will not win if she fights him. She chooses to escape from him, never let him see

herself. It is mentioned in the text that she is scared “Scared now”, her anxiety

makes she forget what she look for.

Mavis is caring and nice character. She always take cares all of the housework in Convent. “The house seemed to belong to them, although they

referred to somebody named Connie. They cooked for her and didn’t pry”

(Morrison, 1997:131). From the beginning of the story Mavis always shows her kindness to others.

“Nap awhile,” said Mavis. I’ll call you when dinner’s ready. You like fried chicken?”

“You like crepes?”

“Um, starved,” Pallas answered.

“There’s plenty. I put Connie’s aside, and I can make even more if you want.”

“It needs some clothes,” Gigi was scanning Pallas closely. “Nothing I

got will fit.”

“Stop calling her “it”(Morrison, 1997:131).

The dialog above shows that Mavis is nice and caring. She loves to take cares people who need help. The caring character of Mavis is the most suitable to describe her personality. Women usually is described as a nurturer, Mavis has every characteristics of women. It can be seen from her action, dialog, and manner. She is obedient to her men, she always follow and do what her husband told to her, and try to please her husband in bed. That is the ideal women which

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are accepted in Ruby town. As a woman, Mavis always choose to silence because it is what she supposed to do –“Mavis chose silence” (Morrison, 1997:26). From the conversation between Mavis and her husband, she never speaks or replies

every Frank’s words. She chooses to silence because she understand that she is

not permitted to answer her husband.

3. Gigi

The third character is Gigi. Gigi is a sensual liberated woman. Her charming and sexually enchanting characters are described by her appearance and clothes. Everywhere she goes, men are attracted to her by her appearance. In the chapter Grace, she is described as charming character it is shown in this passage -across the street from them in pants so tight, heels so high, earrings so large they forgot to laugh at her hair (Morrison, 1997:53).

She is described as a brave in the story, her brave character is described in her reaction toward other people. It is shown in the novel when she travels alone to meet her boyfriend in a town called Wish,her boyfriend, Mickey, is in jail but they have arranged a date in a town called Wish, her search to find the place is fruitless, and she ends up at the Convent.

There is no way to miss or mistake them if you know where they are: right outside Tucson on1-3, in a town called Wish. Pass through it; take the first left. Where the road ends and the serious desert begins, keep going. The tarantulas are poisonous but it is necessary to go on foot because no tires can manage the terrain (Morrison, 1997:63). From the data above, it can be seen that the way to the town called Wish is really difficult. Still, Gigi does not give up searching a town called Wish

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alone.She looks first for a "lovers'" rock formation in the desert, -where there is a rock that looks like a black man and woman fucking forever (Morrison, 1997:63).

There was no Mikey, there was no Wish, there was no 1-3 and nobody fucking in the desert. Everybody she spoke to in Tucson thought she was crazy.

“Maybe the town I’m looking for too small for a map,” she offered

(Morrison, 1997:64).

It is proven that Gigi is brave because she still goes to meet her boyfriend in unknown place. Even her boyfriend already explained the condition of road and the place of their meeting. Her brave character is also shown while Gigi on a train, she argues with the seller in the counter because the short man only orders a large cup of ice and the seller charges the cup. It is not fair because Gigi orders no ice and she does not get lower price. Her reaction and the dialog between Gigi and the seller show her characteristic.

“That ought to be free,” Gigi said to the man behind the counter. “He shouldn’t have to pay for the cup.”

“Excuse me, m’am. I just follow the rules.” “I ordered no ice. Did you deduct anything?” “Course not.”

“Don’t trouble yourself,’ the short man said…

“Listen, you. Give him the ice you weren’t going to charge me for, okay?”

“Miss, do I have to call the conductor?”

“If you don’t, I will. This is train robbery, all right- trains robbing

people.”

“It’s all right,” said the man. “Just a nickel.” “It’s the principle,” said Gigi (Morrison, 1997:65).

The dialog above shows the bravery of Gigi. She wants the fairness of the price in the train even though the seller will call the conductor. The seller tries to

scare Gigi by saying “call the conductor” (Morrison, 1997: 65). The seller threat

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Gigi towards the seller is the prove of her bravery. Even though Gigi is a woman, she is not afraid of the threat which is given by the seller.

B. Form of Oppression That The Major Female Characters Receive

Ruby as the main town in the story has a strong patriarchy culture. Thus, women in Ruby are regulated by culture and religion; they have to obey the rules that exist in that town. Ruby as a patriarchal town give less of freedom to women who live inside the town, women have to serve and obey their husband.Patriarchal practices in the story are shown by the experiences of the women characters.

From the beginning of building the town, the foundation of the town is based on racism and patriarchy ideologies. Ruby history and their personal experiences of racism, lead them to an all black town. Ruling families in Ruby would not consider light black people as pure as themselves. They exclude others, whether they are light black, or they are women. This case prevents Ruby from becoming a paradise.

Religion is the important point of patriarchal society, it is one aspect of patriarchal. From Kate Millet's Theory of Sexual Politics, it is concluded that religion is one aspect of the patriarchal society.

According to the classical tale of Pandora's Box and the Biblical story of the Fall, woman was the cause of all chaos in this world. When Pandora opened the box, the creature inside the box came out and spread the sadness, sufferings and insanity to the world. Adam and Eve fell into their first sin right after they are the forbidden fruit, and it was Eve who offered Adam that fruit. At that time, they started to feel pain and illness. From these two myths, people believe that woman is the one who is responsible and deserved to get punishment (Millet, 1971:318-319).

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In this discussion, ideology of Ruby people is also the part of their religion because ideology in patriarchy is that "aggression, intelligence, force and efficacy in the male; passivity, ignorance, docility ... and ineffectuality in the female" (Millet, 1971:292). The ideology brings the Ruby society into a judgment that men are always better than women, because each sex is attached with those attributes. In patriarchal interpretation of religion, it may offer the isolation and suppression of women. Religion in this case can be defined in a broad sense as any set of believes or ideology. The common believes between people of Ruby it may be derived directly from their church and bible, as they are very religious people, and a part of it that roots back to their past, their customs and traditions. The broad definition of Ruby religion is their respect toward an Oven, a statue in the center of Ruby, as a strong traditional belief. It is more than a sincere respect, or praise. The oven is a part of their beliefs and their traditions.

Oven is a sign of unity and landmark of the town should always be respected, and may not be changed in any way -"they are respecting it. It's because they do know the Oven's value that they want to give it new life." Everyone in Ruby value the Oven and respect it, it is their history and their past no one can change it –“That Oven already has a history. It doesn’t need you to fix

it” (Morrison, 1997:86). It is also a sign of protecting women from unrestrained

sexuality of whites; with the help of this oven, no black woman has ever needed to work in a kitchen belonging to whites.

In the past, Ruby women has used the Oven and cooked on it, but through these years, its practical function has changed to a patriarchal one. Women no

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longer meet in the Oven but it is now the men who meet about the Oven. Oven is no more a common Oven, it becomes a symbol of Ruby's primary goals, and is interpreted to justify Ruby's patriarchy.The holiness of the Oven, represent Ruby's dogmatism toward their ideology, women, and their situation.Men of Ruby cannot bear any change in their ideologies, or any freedom for women. The mind of Ruby men is preoccupied with the concepts of protecting women, their sexuality, and their freedom. They care more about their women, their awareness for women by limiting women action. The patriarchal way to protect is to have it under control.They have named their town Ruby to immortalize Ruby Morgan, sister of Deacon and Steward, who died because of white people. White people refused to accept the black patient and sent for a veterinarian, she died meanwhile. This means, Ruby men should protect the Ruby, their town, and indirectly the women in their town.

The Oven was once useful to keep their town as the foundation of townspeople. The women in Ruby logically should have helped in foundation of the town, but now the cold bricks of Oven have no function anymore. It should be there to be praised, it is only statue which have value of their history. No one can change anything about it. Deacon Morgan threats the new generation by saying that "You all listen to me. Real close. Nobody, I mean nobody is going to change the Oven or call it something strange. Nobody is going to mess with a thing our grandfathers built" (Morrison, 1997:85).

The other element in Ruby is the church, the function of church is always to support patriarchy system of Ruby people. The preacher always told Ruby

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people to follow their lesson and lead. They believe that God is what they need to keep living. Consolata in her early age always follow the church lesson and lead,

“For thirty years Consolata worked hard to become and remain Mary Magna’s

pride, one of her singular accomplishment in a life teaching, nurturing, and

tending in places with names the nun’s own parents had never heard of (Morrison,

1997:224). She follows and does what Mary Magna told to her, -she offered her

body and her soul to God’s Son and His Mother as completely as if she had taken

the veil herself (Morrison, 1997:225). People in Ruby are religious and obey the church to keep living. When the men in the novel go so far as to make their authority with the authority of their own God similar when they argue that something needs to be done about the women living in a former convent 17 miles

away from the town, stating that the women are a concern because “They don’t

need men and they don’t need God” (276). Men and ‘God’ are placed on balance terms within the structure of this sentence, and it suggests that the men see their authority as one that is supreme and should not be challenged.

The story makes it clear that women’s oppression occurs in historically integral to Christianity: in one scene, Gigi discovers the painting of the Roman

Chatolic Saint Catherine of Siena. The painting depicts “A woman. On her knees,

A knocked down look, cast-up-begging eyes, arms outstretched holding up her

present on a platter to a lord” (Morrison, 1997:74). Gigi leans close to see the woman with the “I-give-up-face” (Morrison, 1997:74), she is Saint Catherine of Siena. In this view, a woman is granted sainthood and considered valuable only if

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she completely acts like a slave and disowns her sexuality, as symbolized by presenting her breast on a serving platter.

In the church lesson, it can be found a letter in the New Testament, St.

Paul wrote “A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I don't permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the

woman who was deceived and became a sinner” (I Timothy 2:11-14). These beliefs had rooted and build stereotypes, perception in the society that female are less valued than male.

The one of the Reverends is an enlightened man, but the other one and the function of church are always to support patriarchy of Ruby people. This is a tool in the hands of leaders to suppress women and make them passive. Reverend Misner, who tries his best to make Ruby people aware of their isolated situation, and preaches of God's love, or comments on people's traditions and ideology, is treated an outsider and an enemy in the point of view of Ruby townspeople.

Church traditionally separates women into Good Woman or Bad Woman categories in which the sacrificial Virgin Mary reigns over the sinful Eve. Ruby men convince that God is at their side and label the convent women "Bodacious Black Eves unredeemed by Mary and take aim for Ruby" (Morrison, 1997:18). This act of protection is an exhibition of power that proclaims the consequences of challenging male authority.This action of patriarchal control defines who and what is Good and Evil, which women are Mary, which are Eve. It suggests that patriarchysystem is predicated on these divisions of church. Church has big

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influence on the patriarchal system in Ruby town, it has the control of Ruby townspeople which make Ruby people follow all the rule of Church.

Deacon Morgan and Steward Morgan are the twins of Rector Morgan. They are the leaders of Ruby. Men of ruby like to live in and remember their past. They cannot bear any change to their life styles and ideas. That is why they treat women as an object. Arnold Fleetwood, one of the leaders of Ruby plays an important role in Ruby. He also has the right to decide or control town, or its people.

Ruby men viewpoint of women is even worse than racism in Ruby. Within families of in society, the object or subject relation is dominant. It is clearly in the notion that masculinity is considered subject, and femininity is defines as the object. Women in Ruby are considered as an object and inferior.

Patriarchy system and the ruling men of Ruby who make this situation is not the only problem. Ruby women's mind, which is preoccupied with patriarchal ideology and men's superiority are also the fault of this situation.Women are responsible for their passiveness because women suppress themselves and willing to live in patriarchal. Women in Ruby are passive and never think about their situation. They accept everything that comes from their husband or their fathers, men already control their life.

It is shown from the action of men toward women in Ruby. In the case of Mavis, her life is controlled by her husband. She does not know anyone except her family because Frank her husband always prevent her for having friends.

…she realized she had no idea of what to do next. She drove toward

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funeral impressed Mavis. She had always wanted to know her better, but Frank found ways to prevent acquaintance from becoming friendship (Morrison, 1997:27).

It can be seen that Frank as husband has controlled Mavis life without she

realize it. Mavis’s characteristics strengthen the patriarchal system in Ruby. She

accepts everything which is decided by her husband. She is a coward that makes she did not have any will to get what she wants. That condition is already socially constructed which make women think it is not a problem. After she escaped from her house, she arrives at the Convent which change her way of thinking.

Mavis fear toward his men is a proof of patriarchy system in Ruby. She is always afraid with her husband; she does not have any courage to ask her husband about anything. She always did what her husband told, that is the patriarchy system. Women characteristics in Ruby support this system, and they do not have any courage to change. They think that is common thing to do, obey their men as a leader. Men always have more power than women so they follow their men. It makes patriarchal system in Ruby is last.

Different case comes from Seneca, one of the convent women, she is really passive and her boyfriend already controls her life. Her passive character is shown in the story before she comes to the Convent. She followed other people wants and she always tried to please other people. She has nothing to do if other people do not like her. She tries her best to change herself and she wants to be accepted in the society. It makes Seneca obeys her boyfriend and does anything for him.

They didn’t like each other at all, so Seneca had equalized her smiles

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59 CHAPTER V CONCLUSION

In this last chapter, it is drawn a conclusion of the analysis in the previous chapter. This study discusses the oppression of women by their own men. The major female characters have different characteristics which are used to find feminist idea which is depicted in the story. The discussion of society which the major female characters are lived states that they live in patriarchal society.

There are three women who are considered as the major female characters, Connie, Mavis, and Gigi. Each character has different characteristics. Connie, Mavis, and Gigi are women who were lived in Ruby town, now they live in Convent. Connie has women traits, kind, nurturer, and wise. Mavis has kind characteristic which is shown in many cases.Gigi’s characteristics show that women can fight against men, even win against men in Ruby.

The Ruby town society view women as inferior to men. Ruby is based on patriarchy. The fundamental system of the town is based on a traditional and patriarchal ideology, in which there is no space for women.The characteristics of women in the story support the patriarchal system in Ruby. They are weak, obedient, dependent, and coward. Women in Ruby have no will to struggle or to get their freedoms; they follow the men because they think that what they suppose to do.In daily life, women are expected to be obedient to their fathers and their husband/lover. In marriage life, women were expected to be obedient to their husband and regarded as the subjections of men. They are meant to please and

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serve their husbands.Through the rape scene presents in the story, it can be seen that raping is considered as control and power of men over women by force which represents the form of patriarchy.Women are inferior to men, men have more power than women, and women dependent towards men. Ruby men believe that they need to protect their women by limiting and controlling them and the dependency of women toward their men is big. It makes patriarchal system in Ruby cannot be erased easily. They believe their religion and ideology, it makes they cannot bear any changes in their town. As the explanation of the cause of patriarchal society, religion has big effect of the patriarchal development in Ruby.

At first Ruby ideology is alright, but when time passes and they become aware of their neighborhood, the Ruby rulers cannot bear the convent and women in it, who live free of patriarchy and are successful.Convent women were Ruby townspeople before they came to the convent. Each of them have their past and suffer, they came to the convent to find safe place and freedom. Convent women can live alone without men, they can make money, and they support each other. Frightened by the Convent women, Ruby men cannot face the awareness of women in Ruby, which may lead their women to a revolt against tradition and patriarchy. They can feel it, that this opposition is inevitable. They understand that their women are aware the next step is rebellion.Ruby men are afraid of losing their power, prestige, and the control over people. Their patriarchy prevents them from understanding everything except their belief and traditions. They are restricted by some traditional dogmas.They feel frightened from something that they cannot understand. They do not understand why convent women can live

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without men, so they think that convent women are witch.Their imaginations about convent women give patriarchal solutions. They must destroy everything which is different or prior to them. They think that it is threat for their community.Ruby men choose to assault the convent women, they must eliminate everything which stand in their way. Ruby men need to show their people that they still have power and control toward them. They attack the convent and kill Consolota. Even though Ruby men kill Consolata, the other women escape from their massacre successfully. Mavis and the other women save each other and escape from the convent by riding their Cadillac. Convent women who leave Ruby town are the symbol of the beginning of social reformation for Ruby townspeople. Convent women struggle against Ruby men to get their freedom. They can live freely without men who control them. It is shown in the epilogue, the condition of convent women after left the convent, they look happier. It shows that they get their freedom by leaving men behind. The death of Consolata left mystery for Ruby men. Ruby townspeople need to think more about their rules, society, and system.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

Abrams, M.H. A Glossary of Literary Terms. New York: Holt, Rineheart and Winston Inc., 1985.

Atmaka, Stanislaus Febri. "Discrimination Within An Afro-American Community in the United States in 1960s-1970s as Depicted in Toni Morrison's

Paradise" Undergraduate Thesis. Yogyakarta: Sanata Dharma University, 2003.

Barry, Peter. Beginning Theory: An Introduction to Literary Terms. New York: Oxford University Press, 1990.

Benavente, Beatriz Revelles. “Feminist literature: An Impossible? Working with Toni Morrison's Paradise” Undergraduate Thesis. Barcelona:

UniversitatOberta de Catalunya, 2014.

Das, Bijay Kumar. Twentieth Century Critism. 2002

De Voss, Viva. "The Identity Challenge in Toni Morrison's Paradise" Graduate Thesis.Iowa State University, 2010.

Eisenstein, Hester. Contemporary Feminist Thought. Boston: G.K. Hall, 1984.

Freeman, Jo. Women, A Feminist Perspective. California: Mayfield Publishing Company, 1984.

Guerin, Wilfred L. A Handbook of Critical Approaches to Literature. New York:Oxford University Press, 1995.

Hoffnung, Michele. Motherhood: Contemporary Conflict for Women. Houston: Mayfiled Publishing Company, 1984.

Humm, Maggie. A Reader's Guide to Contemporary Feminist Literary Criticism. New York. Harvester Wheatsheaf, 1992.

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Madsen, L. Deborah. Feminist Theory and Literary Practice. London: Pluto Press, 2000.

Millet, Kate. Theory of Sexual Politics. 1970. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanonich, Inc.

Morrison, Toni. Paradise. New York, Toronto : Alfred A. Knoff, Inc. & Alfred A. Knoff Canada, 1997.

Murphy, M.J. Understanding Unseen: An Introduction to English Poetry and English Novel for Overseas Students. London: George Allen &Unwin Ltd, 1972.

O'Reilly, Andrea. Maternal Resistance and Redepmtion in Toni Morrison's Paradise. Journal of the Association for Research on Mothering, 1999.

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Will.<http://www.susanbrownmiller.com/susanbrownmiller/html/against_o

ur_will.html> (20 May 2015)

Mulrine, Anna. On Toni Morrison’s Paradise.

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64 APPENDIX

SUMMARY OF PARADISE BY TONI MORRISON

The story opens with the massacre of a group of women living in a place called the Convent. The murderers are all men of the nearby town of Ruby, named for Ruby Best who was the first of the town’s inhabitants to die. Ruby, the town was founded by a group of black families who were seeking to create something of a utopian society. The elder man creates Ruby town to protect their people especially black people. The system of the town is based on a traditional and patriarchal ideology. The Ruby men believe in their ideology and history.

In the beginning, Mavis leave her house and family because of the mistreatment that she is gotten. She runs away and arrives at the Convent, she meets Connie who live alone in Convent. Eventually. Mavis lives in the Convent with Connie. Then, Gigi also comes to the Convent. Connie always helps every women that she meet. At the end, there are five women who live in the Convent. Connie, Mavis, Gigi, Seneca, and Pallas.

Convent women live separately from men, they work and money by themselves. Ruby men think that convent women are a threat for their town. Ruby men consider convent women as a witch because they do not need men to live. Ruby men think that Convent women are wrong, they must follow Ruby’s rule. To straighten the Convent women, Ruby men choose to massacre convent women. At the end, Connie is killed but the other women escape successfully. The other women start their life in different place and live happily.

Women`s struggles against the oppression of men in Toni Morrison`s paradise.

WOMEN’S STRUGGLES AGAINST THE OPPRESSION

OF MEN IN TONI MORRISON’S

PARADISE

WOMEN’S STRUGGLES AGAINST THE OPPRESSION

OF MEN IN TONI MORRISON’S

PARADISE

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