Golden`s view toward the life geishas as reflected in the characters in golden`s memoirs of a geisha - USD Repository
GOLDEN’S VIEW TOWARD THE LIFE OF GEISHAS AS REFLECTED IN THE CHARACTERS
IN GOLDEN’S MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra in English Letters
By
DESY WAHYU HASTIKA
Student Number: 994214021 Student Registration Number: 99005112010612021
ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS FACULTY OF LETTERS SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY YOGYAKARTA
Oh, God of dust and rainbows, help us see
That without dust the rainbow would not be.
Langston Hughes (1902-1967)
This thesis is dedicated to My Beloved Parents,
Bapak B. Saparudin & Ibu T.M. Listifah
Mas Didik Mbak Denny
And those who love Japanese cul ure t
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This is a very special moment for me to express my greatest thanks to the people who have helped me in writing the thesis. Firstly, I would like to thank my lovely Jesus Christ for this unbelievable life. I will not forget to thank Mother Mary for the love and help she gives me.
My greatest gratitude is dedicated to Dewi Widyastuti, S.Pd., M.Hum as my advisor. I thank her for the patience to read and reread, give correction to my thesis, and also for her kindness to spend time for my thesis. I realize that without her help I cannot finish and improve my thesis. I am grateful to have Drs.
Hirmawan Wijanarka, M. Hum as my co-advisor for sparing his time to criticize and give helpful advice to this thesis.
My sincere thanks also go to all lecturers of The Department of English Letters of Sanata Dharma University for the knowledge and guidance during my study. I also would like to give my big thanks to the secretariat and library staffs for the good service and patience.
My exceptional gratefulness goes to my family, Bapak B. Saparudin and Ibu T.M Listifah, my brother who is also the main sponsor of my study Antonius Didik (Black) Listiawan and my sister Denny Dwi Kristanti for their support, and never stop praying. Thanks for the opportunity given to me.
My special thanks go to my only family in Jogjakarta, Beo 34 community Anna “Beo”, “Bronie” Kus, Citra “Cepu”, Widhie “Pepeng”, Agnes “Brindil”, Lucy, Retti, Mbak Ida, Asti “Astot”, Diena, Tante Lisa, Josephine, Wiwied
“O’ong” thanks to be a place to share and to be the partner in crime and fellowship. I also want to thank Pondok MAPASADHA for the colors and adventures they give in my life especially for DRAGON’S family. My special big thank to Tilik (RIP) for the challenge and great experience.
I would like to thank Oh Lala Bistro and New Zealand Ice Cream crews for the laugh and big understanding and also Mrs. Ling Ling and Mas Denny for the duties entrusted to me. Without their help I would have never printed my thesis.
Thank to Neelam and Ita for checking my grammar, and also thank to Tri Reno Purnomo “Ipunk” for the experience, the spirit and enjoyable togetherness.
And if there are people who have helped me but I have not mentioned their names on this page, I do apologize.
Desy Wahyu Hastika
TABLE CONTENTS
TITLE PAGE…………………………………………………………...……… i
APPROVAL PAGE ……………………………………………………..……. ii
ACCEPTANCE PAGE ……………………………………………….…….. iii
MOTTO PAGE ………...……………………………………………….….… iv
DEDICATION PAGE …………………………………………………..……. v
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS …………………………………………….…… vi
TABLE CONTENTS ................................................................................…...viii
ABSTRACT ........................................................................................................ix
ABSTRAK ...........................................................................................................x
CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION ……………………………………..………1
A. Background of the study ……………………………………..…….. 1 B. Problem Formulation ………………………………………..………3 C. Objectives of the Study ………………………………………..…… 3 D. Definition of Terms ……………………………………………..….. 4CHAPTER II: THEORETICAL REVIEW ………………………….............5
A. Review of Related Studies ……………………………………..……5 B. Review of Related Theories …………………………………............71. Theories of Character ...................................................…......7
2. The Relation between Literature and Society …..................10
3. Theory on Society in the Novel ...................................….....11 C. Review of Geisha …………………………………………………..12 D.
Theoretical Framework …………………………………………….18
CHAPTER III: METHODOLOGY …………………………………………20
A. Object of the Study …………………………………………………20 B. Approach of the Study …………………………………………….. 21 C. Method of the Study ………………………………………………..22CHAPTER IV: ANALYSIS ………………………………………………….23
A. The Characterization of Sayuri, Hatsumomo, Pumpkinand Mameha .............................................................................….....23 . 1. Sayuri ……………………………………………………...23
2. Hatsumomo ..................................................................…....28
3. Pumpkin .......................................................................…....31
4. Mameha ....................................................................….......33 B. The Life of Geisha as Reflected in the Novel ...…...........................35 C.
Golden’s View toward the Geisha’s Life as Reflected in the Novel. ......................................................................................45
CHAPTER V: CONCLUSION...……..............................................................55
ABSTRACT
DESY WAHYU HASTIKA.(2007). GOLDEN’S VIEW TOWARD THE LIFE
OF GEISHAS AS REFLECTED IN THE CHARACTERS IN GOLDEN’S
MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA.Yogyakarta: Department of English Letters, Faculty of Letters, Sanata Dharma University, 2007.
Memoirs of A Geisha is a novel, written by an American in 1998. This
novel talks about the social life of a geisha. The job as an entertainer demands the geisha to attract men in such parties every day. It makes the geisha is assumed as a prostitute. A bravery and tenacity are most needed to become a geisha. Geishas are placed in the house called Okiya, a house with strict rules where they learn much about the cultural tradition of Japan. A hard life, competition, authorization and loneliness are coloring the life of geisha which are full of elegance, glamour, and happiness. Through the characters of the novel, Arthur Golden gives a new view and depiction of the real life of geisha which is unexposed, referring to his experiences.
In this thesis, the writer uses a literary research. The data are taken from the novel Memoirs of A Geisha, encyclopedias, some dictionaries and also some articles from internet which are related to the topic. The writer uses socio-cultural historical approach, because this novel is related to the Japanese culture and the thesis aims to give a depiction of the geisha’s life in the author’s view.
The research result find out that Sayuri is depicted as a beautiful woman, a brave, a clever and also an optimistic person. Hatsumomo is depicted as an antagonist, arrogant, jealousy, and does not like to be competed. Mameha is an intelligent and a successful geisha. Pumpkin is a weak woman and a person who bears a grudge. From these characters, Arthur Golden gives a suggestion that a geisha is not the same as a prostitute as common people think. Strict rules, and demands on ability of dancing and singing are the most things which differentiate the geisha with the prostitute. Behaviors and politeness in the society make a geisha is respected as a person who is loyal to the tradition.
ABSTRAK
DESY WAHYU HASTIKA. (2007). GOLDEN’S VIEW TOWARD THE LIFE
OF GEISHAS AS REFLECTED IN THE CHARACTERS IN GOLDEN’S
MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA.Yogyakarta: Jurusan Sastra Inggris, Fakultas Sastra, Universitas Sanata Dharma, 2007. Novel Memoirs of A Geisha ditulis pada tahun 1998 oleh seorang laki- laki yang berasal dari Amerika. Novel ini menceritakan tentang kehidupan sosial geisha, wanita penghibur Jepang. Pekerjaannya sebagai wanita penghibur yang harus menemani pria setiap hari membuat geisha dinilai sebagai kelompok sosial yang sama dengan prostitusi. Keberanian dan keuletan sangat dibutuhkan untuk menjadi seorang geisha. Para geisha ditempatkan dalam suatu rumah yang disebut
okiya , rumah yang mempunyai peraturan yang sangat ketat, tempat dimana
mereka belajar segala hal tentang tradisi budaya Jepang. Kehidupan yang keras, persaingan, ketidak bebasan dan kesendirian mewarnai kehidupan geisha yang penuh dengan kemewahan, keindahan dan kegembiraan. Melalui karakter-karakter dalam novelnya, Arthur Golden memberikan cara pandang dan gambaran tentang kehidupan geisha yang sebenarnya yang kurang terangkat berdasarkan pengalamannya.
Dalam penulisan skripsi ini, penulis menerapkan studi pustaka. Data-data diambil dari novel Memoirs of A Geisha, ensiklopedia, kamus-kamus dan jaringan situs internet yang berhubungan dengan topik. Pendekatan yang digunakan penulis adalah pendekatan sejarah sosial budaya, karena novel ini sangat erat hubungannya dengan budaya Jepang dan tujuan dari skripsi ini adalah memberikan gambaran tentang kehidupan geisha dari sudut pandang pengarang.
Hasil pencarian menunjukkan bahwa Sayuri digambarkan sebagai wanita yang cantik, berani dan pandai serta optimis. Harsumomo digambarkan sebagai antagonis, arogan, iri dan tidak mau tersaingi. Mameha adalah geisha yang cerdik dan sukses. Pumkin digambarkan sebagai geisha yang lemah, bodoh dan pendendam. Melalui karakter-karakter tersebut, ditemukan bahwa kehidupan geisha sangatlah berat. Calon geisha harus melalui berbagai tahap yang berat untuk menjadi geisha. Melalui gambaran-gambaran tersebut, Arthur Golden memberikan pendapat tidak sama seperti pelacur seperti anggapan orang-orang awam. Peraturan yang ketat serta tuntutan kemampuan dalam menari, menyanyi dan lain-lain adalah hal yang membedakan geisha dengan prostitusi. Tingkah laku dan nilai sopan santun berbudaya menjadikan geisha lebih dihargai dan dianggap sebagai orang yang teguh pada tradisi.
CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION A. Background of the Study A Memoirs of A Geisha is one of the literary works written by Arthur Golden. This novel talks about the story of a geisha. Although Arthur Golden is
an American, he has learned much about Japanese culture. Therefore, he succeeds in bringing the reader entering a new dimension and time. This novel in narrative way describes a woman’s life as a geisha from the point of view of Nitta Sayuri, the main character and at the same time becomes the narrator of the story. The novel describes the process of Sayuri becoming a top geisha starting from her childhood, her training time to become the geisha, until she becomes the top geisha, and then the story continues with her story in reaching her dream to live with a man to whom she wants to be married.
A Memoirs of A Geisha is the result of Golden’s studies on Japanese culture. He interviewed a top geisha in 1970s, Mineko Iwasaki to correct the misconception about geishas. He transforms his research result into fiction in order to depict the true concept of geishas and to give the correct information to the readers about the reality life of the geishas. Golden is successful in making the story of geishas in a simple language but strong description. His writing style is witty to strengthen the description of the characterization of the main character of the story which helps the reader to understand the life of the geishas.
In this novel, Nitta Sayuri is described as a famous geisha in 1930s. At the beginning of the story, Nitta Sayuri is depicted as a fishing village’s young girl.
She lives with her parents and her sister in the village. Because of the financial difficulties, Sayuri and her sister are sold into slavery. Luckily, Sayuri is sold into
Okiya , a place where the famous geishas are living. On the other hand, Sayuri’s
sister is sold into prostitution.Arthur Golden describes the rules of geisha’s society, which are different from common prostitution. The characters in the novel are portrayed briefly.
Hence, the readers will recognize whether the characters are the loyal geishas or not. Sayuri and Mameha are the pictures of the professional geishas at that time.
Geishas are the Japanese entertainers. The professions of geishas are entertaining men in some places. Therefore, some of the people think that geishas are similar to prostitutes. It is hard to concur that geishas’ life style is a kind of prostitution or not, because to become a geisha is not as easy as to become a prostitute. The geisha must be knowledgeable about Japanese culture; Japanese tradition and also the geisha should not have any personal relation with any man except her danna, the man who paid her virginity and also responsible on fulfill her needs.
There are three reasons why this novel is interesting to be analyzed. The first reason is the fact that the writer is an American but he understands well about Japanese culture and geisha’s life. He wants to show to the readers about the genuine life of geishas. He makes a different point of view about geishas that is influenced by his knowledge and his educational background of Japanese culture. The second reason is that many people do not understand much about the life of geishas since geishas’ world is not exposed. However, Golden gives detailed information about the geishas to the readers, thus the readers become understand about the geishas’ life after they read the novel. The last reason is that the existence of geishas are still become the topic of discussion up to now. There are pros and contras about their existence. In this thesis, the writer wants to analyze how the view of the author toward the geishas as it is reflected in the characters of the novel so it can contribute the new idea of geishas to the readers. However, geisha’s life states in the middle of prostitute and artist.
B. Problem Formulation
There are three questions formulated as the problem formulation which are interesting to be to discuss
1. How are the characteristics of the characters described in the novel? 2.
How is the life of geishas described in the novel? 3. What is Golden’s view toward geisha’s life reflected in the novel? C.
Objectives of the Study
The objective of this study aims to answer the three questions above. The writer will describe each of the characters who have relation with the main character and have influence the main character. Then, the writer will describe the life of geishas as reflected in the novel by the characters of the novel. Finally, the writer will describe the author’s point of view about the geisha’s life as reflected in the novel.
The analysis of the life of geishas and the author’s point of view as reflected through the characters in the novel are hoped to be useful for those who interested on geisha’s life.
D. Definition of Terms
In analyzing the novel, some terms need to be clarified, in order to provide a clear and accurate picture of the study. It will help the readers to understand this thesis.
A geisha, also known as geigi or geiko, is a woman skilled in classical dancing, singing, playing a banjo- like stringed instrument called the shamisen and witty conversation who entertain wealthy clients at banquets (Perkins, 1991: 111).
The definition of a geisha expands that geisha is also a bar girl today. She is a girl or unmarriageable woman who essentially works in company of professional female entertainment (Reischauer, 1988: 74).
In his novel, Golden tries to describe that a geisha is an entertainer woman whose life is very secret. A geisha can be available as a long-term kept mistress to a wealthy man for a significant sum of money.
CHAPTER II THEORETICAL REVIEW A. Review of Related Studies In this thesis, the writer wants to analyze Arthur Golden’s novel entitled Memoirs of A Geisha. The novel was published in 1998 by Vintage Publisher. Many critics review in this novel. There are some criticisms and comments in this novel. Steeve Green says that “Golden does a masterful job of enveloping the
reader in the atmosphere of another time and place.” He judges Memoirs of A
Geisha as “having an interesting plot, well-drawn, and evocative language.”
(Steve Green, http://www2.chass.nesu.edu/shgreene/readwholelist.htm).Pyco Lyer stated that Arthur Golden is knowledgeable in Japanese culture and Golden also understands woman’s life “I can’t still quite believe that an American male can be such intelligent to enter the soul of a Japanese woman and to catch her world with its texture and its hopes with such perfection (http://www.browse.com/index.cmf?page=titlle&titlleID:332).
This novel has some transformations in its story. The setting of the story at the beginning is pre-colonial transform to post colonial. The point of view of the author in the story shows the talent of the author. From the point of view of the author as a man, Golden is successful in transforming the story in the point of view of woman to depict the society of geisha.
Golden’s success in transforming the new world and new time from his point of view. Margareth Foster, an author also agrees about his success in transforming the world of a man into the world as a woman as follows
Memoirs of A Geisha is the sort of novel that novel – lovers yearn for, which is to say, so convincing that while reading it you become transported to another time, another place, and feel you’re listening and seeing with someone else’s ears and eyes (Margareth Foster, http://www.bookbrowse.com/index.cmf?page=author&authored=242&vie w=interviewrostitute) Not all of the criticisms are proud with Golden’s novel. Some criticisms criticize about the unpleasant things inside the novel. Ann Hasting, CNN News writer criticized that Golden gives too much Japanese language in writing Memoirs of A Geisha.
But while Golden captures your attention with information, this is also the book's minor downside. With so much detail you almost get bogged down by the numerous definitions of Japanese term. Golden explores the concept of freedom within a slavelike society as Chiyo uses her brains more than her beauty to make an independent life for herself. (http://edition.cnn.com/books/reviews/9805/25/index.html) Dean H. Ruetzler, a fiction commentator stated that Golden can not develop the characters of the novel well. There are some characters that are supporting the existence of the main character are well developing, but a few of character do not show any movement. He also said that Golden gives a little description in his novel, because there are many term still in Japanese language.
For most of the book, Golden is doing a great job, but when the time comes to kick the book up a metaphorical notch, Golden did not succeed in my eyes. He could not build beyond the description, and bring the book to a conclusion that astonished me. He also did not develop a few of the characters in the book well. However, other characters do not fare as well in their development. "Auntie", "Mother" and "Granny", the owner/caretakers of Sayuri`s "okiya" (home/training place/management/owners) really do not meet their full development. (http://www.hackwriters.com/Geishamemoirs.htm).
Thus, in this thesis, the writer wants to find out Golden’s view toward geishas’ life as described in the novel. The geishas’ life which is related to men and parties gives many opinions both of negative or positive by the common people. The geishas’ life style which is state in part of prostitution because there are part of a geisha’s level selling sexual services which is called mizuage; but geisha cannot says as prostitute because her job is entertaining such as an artist. It is interested to look up deeper about the life of geishas. In this novel, the view of the author is interesting to analyze because the novel is the result of his reservation which are make in fiction. Through the experiences of the narrator, the writer tries to understand the point of view of the author in differentiate geishas with prostitutes.
B. Review of Related Theories
1. Theories of Character
According to Abrams, a character is the person presented in a dramatic or narrative work who are interpreted by readers and being endowed with moral and dispositional qualities that are expressed in what they say or the dialogue and what they do or the action (Abrams, 1981: 20). The readers can interpret the character from the dialogue and the action in a story. The readers can learn something as people by studying the character in a story. Furthermore, Abrams says “as human being presented in a story, certain characters have some characteristics like real human beings. They also have temperament and more nature. That is the basic for his/her speech and action that influence his/her motivation” (Abrams, 1981: 20).
Barnet, Berman and William Burto on their book Literature for
Composition give the definition of a character as “a figure in a literary work, and
personalities or the mental and moral qualities of a figure. A figure in literary work means a person or individual in the literary work. Mental and qualities refer to the personalities of the figure or person in the literary work, for example, strong, weak, fussy, kind (1988: 71).”
According to Henkle, character can be divided into two: major and secondary character. Major characters are the most important and complex characters in a novel. They can be identified as such through the complexity of their characterization, the attention given to them (by the other characters), and the personal intensity that they seem to transmit. It is the major character who deserves our fullest attention because they perform a key structural function, upon them. We build expectations and desires, which in modification, shift or establish our values. Secondary characters are characters that perform more limited functions. They are limited in ways that the major characters are not. They may be less sophisticated, so that their responses to the experience are less complex and interesting (Henkle, 1977: 20).
In The Mirror and the Lamp, Abrams mentioned about the protagonist and the antagonist characters. Protagonist character is also called hero, is the chief character of a work, on which our interest centers. Antagonist is the character who is pitted against an important opponent (1971: 128).
A character does something to fulfill some motive, but in doing so he or she starts doing a sequence of action which gives certain effects on the characters.
The character is not always the same of the beginning until the end. Every character in the story, at the end of dramatic work, may be a very different person from the one at the beginning (Brooks, 1952: 11).
Murphy in his book gives the way in which the author attempts to make his characters to be understood so that the readers understand the character of his novel (Murphy, 1972: 11).
1. Personal description The characters can be displayed through the appearance and clothes. The usage of adjective gives personal description of a character in more details and clearer.
Details mean to cover more than one part of the body, such as face, skin, eyes and clothing. While clear mean each aspect is described using good choice of adjective.
2. Character as seen by another Through the eyes and opinions of another, the readers get the description as a reflected image.
3. Past life The clues of the characters also can be known through his or her past life by using direct comment from the author, through the person’s thought, conversation or a medium of another person.
4. Speech The character can also be seen in the way of a person give opinion and speak and also what person says.
5. Conversation of others The author can also give us clues to a person’s character through the conversation of other people and the things they say about him or her. People do talk about other people and the things they say give us a clue to the character of a person spoken about.
6. Reactions Reaction of characters or person in the story toward various situation and events can also show the characterization of the person.
7. Direct comment The author can describe or comment on a person’s character directly.
8. Thought The different characteristic of person influences people’s way of thinking.
9. Mannerism A character manners and habits can give us understanding about his or her character.
2. The Relation between Literature and Society
Wellek and Warren in the book of Theory of Literature stated that literature has usually arisen in close connection with particular social institutions and has also a social function, or use, which cannot be purely individual ( 1956:
94). According to them, the relation between literature and society beginning with a point that literature is an expression of society as De Bonald suggested.
Literature describes society as some social realities. Literature is not the mirrors of the current social institution. Literature mirrors or expresses life is even more ambiguous.
Further more Wellek and Warren said that a writer can expresses his experienced and total conception of life but it will be wrong to say that he expresses the whole life even the whole live at the time completely. In a specific evaluative reason saying that an author should express the life of his own time and that he should be representative of his age and society. The writer should be aware of specific social situation (1956: 95). Literature cannot be seen as a documentary.
Wellek and Warren said that the writer has been a citizen, has pronounced on questions of social and political importance, and has taken part in the issue of his time (1956: 97).
3. Theory on Society in the Novel
The society, as do all other aspects of novels, functions as an element in a structure, that is, at least, self-referential. Society is not only a concept and a construct in fiction, but also in life. Society in novel does not depend on points of absolute fidelity in and outside world in details of costume, setting, and locality because a novel’s society does not aim at a faithful mirror of any concrete, existent thing (Langland, 1984: 5).
Society in the novel cannot always be found in the real world, but there is possibility that we can find it in the real world, although it is not exactly the same.
The fact that society is a concept and constructs both in fiction and life shows that there is an intersection of art and life which is important. The society depicted in the novel has possibility in commenting on roles and possibilities of society in our lives. Langland defines society in a wider sense, not merely peoples and their closes, but also custom, conventions, beliefs and values, their institutions-legal, religious, and cultural- and their physical environment. In brief, society remains everything we have seen it to be –norms, conventions, codes, background, places, people, instructions- but its particular manifestations in a novel will be determined by its role within the world (Langland, 1984: 6-7).
C. Review of Geisha
The existence of geisha’s culture firstly, came up in Tokugawa period or it also called Edo period (1600-1869). First geisha appeared in the early 1600s.
They were men who become a geishas. In Tokugawa period, the rise of urban merchant culture is quite distinct from that of ruling Samurai class. The job of the geisha at that time is making the guest of samurai or warrior laugh. It centered on the amusement quarters of the cities, where merchants, who were essentially hardworking, sober moneymakers, and family men, went to relax in the company of a professional entertainers. In 1751, some customers in a Shimabara brothel were surprised when a female drum bearer came to their party. She was referred to as geiko, the term still used in Kyoto instead of geisha. By 1780 female geisha outnumbered the men; by 1800, a geisha was a woman.
(http://www.mtholyoke.edu/~oaandrey/geisha/history.html).
The word of geisha was first used to describe female entertainer of the century who was skilled in singing, playing the traditional music instrument called
shamisen and dancing. Over the decades, the training of geisha becomes more
formalized and the status of geisha begins to rise. Since the social system in Japan is such that wives maintain the house works and do not participate with men in business or politics, they can not entertain their husbands’ business associates or host any related functions. Therefore, geisha becomes an integral part of business entertainment by serving as gracious host at the many ryokan (inns), ryotei (restaurant) and o-chaya (teahouses) where banquet facilities are rented for this purpose. Well-to-do business men will rent these rooms, arrange for the food and drinks, and then hire geisha to entertain their associates with music, dance, and light conversation. Some businessmen become patron of a favorite geisha for which he paid handsomely. Because of economic hardship during the Second World War, many geishas were forced to work in factories. Under the Occupation Army, geisha entertainment was outlawed, however was soon reinstated once Japan was stable. Since the war, a number of geishas were decline. In 1970, geisha numbered about 17,000 and today there are fewer than 1,000.
Contemporary geisha also studies the English language and sometimes are called upon to participate in special functions both in Japan and internationally (http://www.japancorner.com/geisha.asp).
Dorothy Perkin in her book Encyclopedia of Japan stated the story of geisha as follows. Geisha also known as geigi or geiko;woman skilled in classical dancing, singing, playing a banjo- like stringed instrument called the shamisen and witty conversation who entertain wealthy client at banquets. Geisha means “art person”. Geishas are knowledgeable about etiquette and wearing of elaborate
th
kimono. Geisha as an occupational category originated in the 18 century in the floating world of government licensed pleasure quarter of large Japanese cities, such as the Yoshiwara in Edo, where geishas were hired to entertain at parties for
th
courtesan and their client. By the 19 century geishas were considered trendsetters and influenced fashion with their elegant style, described as iki (chic). They also inspired the literary musical and graphic art, and were depicted by many artists of woodblock prints (Perkin, 1991: 111).
The geisha world is poetically known as karyukai, the flower and willow world. Geisha still wears beautiful, expensive kimono, and elegant hairstyles and stylized white make up known as shiroi. Now, Japanese women wear western styles, geisha have changed from fashion innovators to be the conservators of traditional Japanese styles. Their function has also been largely assume by bar hostesses, who pour drinks and provide companionship for men, but who wear expensive western dresses and do not engage in the difficult study of the traditional arts (Perkins, 1991: 111).
A geisha usually has an intimate relation with the patron (danna). Geisha is also has a number favorite customers (gohiki) who hires geisha for parties and also helps geisha to pay the formidable expenses for kimono and ongoing lessons in classical dancing, shamisen playing and several styles of singing. Many geishas also study flower arranging, the tea ceremony and calligraphy. A girl who is apprenticing to become geisha is called a maiko (little dancers) She wears a special long sleeves kimono and particular hairstyle. In former time, poor girls were often indentured to geisha houses by their parents and were required to work hard as a maid before training to be a geisha. Now, women make their own choice to become a geisha, and they are legally required to stay in school through age 15. Many become geishas in their 20s without a period of apprenticeship (Perkin, 1991: 111). Each geisha districts has its own registry office which handles the assignment for geisha to entertain at parties in private restaurant (ryotey, chaya, teahouse in Kyoto); also known as kashizhaziki, rental banquet room. The geisha union (geigi kumiai) regulated the time of attendance and the fees paid for geisha, who is called “mother” (okasan/okami). Customers hire geisha through the restaurants where they hold parties. The restaurant manager tells to the registry officer how many geisha they require, and then the registry officers contact the
okiya . A geisha may be invited to more than one party in an evening. Geisha
receives tips in addition to standard hourly wages (Perkin, 1991: 112).Some geisha districts sponsor annual public stages performances of singing and dancing such as the auntum Kamo River Dances (kamogawa odori) in
Pontocho . There are small numbers of regional chicho geisha in other Japanese
cities. In addition, there are so called onsen geisha, who entertain or not spring resort (onsen) and engage in prostitution as well as entertaining customers (Perkins, 1991: 112).
There are some roles in the world of geisha. Naomi Graham Diaz in her article Immortal Geisha (http://immortalsgeisha.com?ig/fag_geisha.cfm#fag) states some rules of the geisha life as follows: 1.
Geishas must train themselves in various traditional arts such as classical dancing, playing the shamisen, and several styles of singing in the hanamachi (geisha community).
2. Geishas work by entertaining guests at expensive teahouse. They will serve drinks, talk with the guests, and perform.
3. Geishas maintain many different relationships with men. They are not prostitutes. It is appropriate for a geisha to have a patron (danna), whom she is involved with emotionally, economically, and sexually, however it is up to the geisha whether she wants or not.
4. Geishas wear their hair in a bun or a uniform style with a single comb and two pins. They also wear elegant kimono and beautiful white make up.
5. Geishas also entertain at business banquet parties for a considerable amount of money. There they engage the conversation and perform for the guest. Geisha will either perform “Tachikata” which mainly does traditional Japanese dance or “Jikata” which mainly sings or plays an instrument. Tachikata are usually the
maiko girls while jikata are older geisha women. They also pay greater attention
to the guests of honor. Geisha also do not discuss anything that was said at a parties or business meeting outside.
6. Geishas do not prepare or serve food. They also never have one- night stand.
The life of geisha that relates into the glamorous, men and parties makes incorrect view of geisha. For common people, geisha is state in one line or similar to a prostitute. Actually, the existence of geisha has a bend meaningful differentiation with prostitute.
To become a geisha, a woman should be attractive. She should have an ability to entertain men. Thus, she should have ability in dancing, singing and playing some instruments. As Marian said in her article below,
Geisha are expected to be excellent careers and entertainers of men; they should be refined in the art of conversation as well as more traditional art such as dancing or singing, most Kyoto Geisha are adept at the shamisen (a traditional Japanese 3 stringed instrument similar to a guitar) however this is a talent dying out amongst the Tokyo geisha <http://marian.creighton.edu/~marian- w/academics/english/japan/geisha/becomegeisha.html.> The training to be a geisha and the ability to be geisha that are closer to the culture is the main point to differentiate the geisha with the prostitute. Geisha may be more knowledgeable to the common Japanese woman as well as having more glamorous lifestyle. Geishas have some way to make their life lack of restrictions more than Japanese women at that time; of course it include some consequences that they should be taken.
Prostitution is the sale of sexual service (typically manual stimulation, oral sex, sexual intercourse, or anal sex) for money or other kind of return, generally indiscriminately with many persons. Geishas’ society is kind of legally exclusive prostitution because there is time when the geisha should sell her virginity to the man. Though, it should be done to one person in time. A professional geisha should have a mizuage (the time when geisha should lose her virginity for her
danna ). However, we cannot say that the geisha is the prostitute. A person selling
sexual favor is a prostitute, a type of sex worker. In a more general sense of the world, anyone selling their services for a cause thought to be unworthy can be described as prostituting themselves. Although in the past the right to take their virginity, an event called mizuage was sold, they were not oblige to have sex with any customers, even the men who paid dearly for their virginity (http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/geisha).
In the interviewed with CNN anchor Miles O’Brien on CNN’s Sunday
Morning , Golden stated that a geisha is seemingly as a mistress than prostitute.
Though the geisha sold her virginity, in her first debut, she won’t make herself available to men on nightly basis. She just makes herself sexually available to her patron or danna exclusively. This phenomenon might be unknown by the common people thus they have an idea that geisha is similar to prostitute. Thus, geishas are states in the middle of prostitutes, mistress and entertainers or artists (http://edition.cnn.com/books/dialogue/9903/golden.interview/).
D. Theoretical Framework
The writer uses theory of characters in order to know how the characters of the novel are characterized. Theory of characters helps the writer to understand the important of each character in the novel in depicting the life of geishas.
The review of geisha is used to help the writer in understanding how the author reflects the life of the geishas in the novel. It is important to know how the life of geishas because most of the setting in the novel is taken on the geisha’s life. The way of the author portrays the life of geishas is reflecting the author’s view toward the geishas itself.
The theory of character is used to understand how the characters in the novel are described. It is important to know the characters of the novel, because the author gives his view through the characters in the novel. The author is characterizing the characters in the novel in order to make a depiction of his view toward the life of geisha.
This thesis analyze about the view of the author toward the life of geishas, which are in the novel becomes the society in the novel. The society of geishas is also finding in the real world. Therefore, the writer needs the theory of society and the relation between the literature and society in order to get the criticisms of the author toward the life of the geisha as reflected to the novel.
CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY A. Object of the Study The object of the study in this thesis is a novel, written by Arthur Golden
entitled Memoirs of A Geisha. This novel contains of 428 pages, published in 1998 by Vintage Publisher. Arthur Golden was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
He studied and received the title in art history, especially in Japanese art in Harvard College. His educational background strengthens him in understanding the Japanese culture. In writing his novel, he was influenced by the information he got from Mineko Iwasaki, a famous geisha at sixties and seventies. She was the woman who corrected his misconception about geishas. Therefore, through his novel Golden tries to give the truth information through the reader so there is no misconception about geisha. Memoirs of A Geisha is the novel about woman who has a career as an entertainer woman in Japan. It is a story about a girl living in poverty who later becomes a famous geisha. Her ups and downs of the main character, Nitta Sayuri (or Chiyo- her child name) are cleverly depicted by the author. The novel begins with Sayuri’s childhood in which she was sold into slavery by his father. She became a slave at the okiya, a geisha’s house. Luckily, she entered the geisha’s training helped by Mameha; a top geisha who gave interest in Chiyo. A hard training, discipline, and rivalry condition makes Sayuri feel depressed in her difficulties.
B. Approach of the Study To conduct this study, the writer use socio-cultural historical approach.
This approach is appropriate to answer the three problem formulation above.
Rohrberger stated a socio-cultural historical approach attempts to relate the novel to the society. Critics whose major interest is socio-cultural historical approach insist that the only way to locate the real work is in the reference to the civilization that produced it. They define civilization as the attitudes and actions as its subject matter (Rohrberger and Wood, 1971: 9).
Guerin in his book A Handbook of Critical Approaches to Literature stated that socio-cultural historical approach is an approach that studies a literary work from its social background and literary work (Guerin, 1979: 272). It means that this approach is applied to see a literary work as reflection and commentaries on something certain society. There is an interaction between social milieu and literary work.
The socio-cultural historical approach is suitable to apply in this thesis because the culture of geishas is the part of the culture of Japan and Arthur Golden tries to give his point of view toward this tradition through his novel. This approach is suitable to understand how the author related his story into the real Japanese society instead.