THE REACTION OF NISEI TOWARD WORLD WAR II AS REPRESENTED BY HATSUE MIYAMOTO AND KABUO MIYAMOTO SEEN IN DAVID GUTERSON’S SNOW FALLING ON CEDARS
THE REACTION OF NISEI TOWARD WORLD WAR II AS
REPRESENTED BY HATSUE MIYAMOTO AND KABUO
MIYAMOTO SEEN IN DAVID GUTERSON’S SNOW FALLING
ON CEDARS
AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra in English Letters
By
CHRISTA DEWI AMETHA SEMBIRING
Student Number: 044214090
ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS
FACULTY OF LETTERS
SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
YOGYAKARTA
2010
i A Sarjana Sastra Undergraduate Thesis
THE REACTION OF NISEI TOWARD WORLD WAR II AS
REPRESENTED BY HATSUE MIYAMOTO AND KABUO
MIYAMOTO SEEN IN DAVID GUTERSON’S SNOW FALLING
ON CEDARS
By
Christa Dewi Ametha Sembiring
Student Number: 044214090 Approved by
Maria Ananta Tri S., S.S., M.Ed. August 13, 2010 Advisor Dewi Widyastuti, S.pd., M.Hum. August 13, 2010 Co-Advisor ii
iii A Sarjana Sastra Undergraduate Thesis
THE REACTION OF NISEI TOWARD WORLD WAR II AS
REPRESENTED BY HATSUE MIYAMOTO AND KABUO
MIYAMOTO SEEN IN DAVID GUTERSON’S SNOW FALLING
ON CEDARS
By
Christa Dewi Ametha Sembiring
Student Number: 044214090 Defended before the Board on Examiners
On August 24, 2010 And Declared Acceptable
BOARD OF EXAMINERS Name Signature
Chairman : Dr. F. R. B. Alip, M. Pd., M.A. ______________ Secretary : Drs. Hirmawan Wijanarka, M.Hum. ______________ Member : Tatang Iskarna, S.S., M.Hum. ______________ Member : Maria Ananta Tri S., S.S., M.Ed. ______________ Member : Dewi Widyastuti, S.Pd., M.Hum. ______________
Yogyakarta, August 31, 2010 Faculty of Letters
Sanata Dharma University Dean Dr. I. Praptomo Baryadi, M.Hum.
STATEMENT OF WORK’S ORIGINALITY
I honestly declare that this thesis, which I wrote, does not contain the works or parts of the works of other people, except those cited in the quotations and the references, as a scientific paper should.
Yogyakarta, August 31, 2010 The writer
Christa Dewi Ametha Sembiring iv
LEMBAR PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN
PUBLIKASI KARYA ILMIAH UNTUK KEPENTINGAN AKADEMIS
Yang bertanda tangan di bawah ini, saya mahasiswa Universitas Sanata Dharma: Nama : Christa Dewi Ametha Sembiring Nomor Mahasiswa : 044214090
Demi perkembangan ilmu pengetahuan, saya memberikan kepada Perpustakaan Universitas Sanata Dharma karya ilmiah saya yang berjudul:
THE REACTION OF NISEI TOWARD WORLD WAR II AS REPRESENTED
BY HATSUE MIYAMOTO AND KABUO MIYAMOTO SEEN IN DAVID
GUTERSON’S SNOW FALLING ON CEDARS
beserta perangkat yang diperlukan (bila ada). Dengan demikian saya memberikan kepada Perpustakaan Universitas Sanata Dharma hak untuk menyimpan, mengalihkan dalam bentuk media lain, mengelolanya dalam bentuk pangkalan data, mendistribusikan secara terbatas, dan mempublikasikannya di internet atau media lain untuk kepentingan akademis tanpa perlu meminta ijin dari saya maupun memberikan royalti kepada saya selama tetap mencantumkan nama saya sebagai penulis.
Demikian pernyataan ini saya buat dengan sebenarnya. Dibuat di Yogyakarta Pada tanggal: 31 Agustus 2010 Yang menyatakan (Christa Dewi Ametha Sembiring) v
Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.
Hold fast to dreams
For when dreams go
Life is a barren field
Frozen with snow.
(Langston Hughes)
But life is long. And it is the long run that balances the short flare of interest and passion.(Sylvia Plath)
Change will not come if we wait for some other person or
some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We
are the change that we seek. (Barack Obama)vi vii
This undergraduate thesis is dedicated to
My wonderful Mother My courageous Sister My beloved Andry
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
First of all I would address my thankful to Jesus Christ for the blessing and encouragement in realizing one of the happiness in my life which is this undergraduate thesis. I do believe that without Him nothing would be realized.
I am deeply indebted to my advisor Maria Ananta Tri S., S.S., M.Ed., whose help and motivating suggestion helped me in writing this undergraduate thesis.
I would also thank to Dewi Widyastuti, S.pd., M.Hum., as my co-advisor who has carefully correcting my thesis and has given me suggestions in my thesis. I thank to
Tatang Iskarna, S.S., M.Hum., for brought me into the thesis defense experience. I
also express my gratitude to all the lecturers and staffs of the Department of English Letters for assisting me in going through the years of my study at Sanata Dharma University.
I would like to express my momentous admiration to my beloved mother F.D.
Ginting and my sister V. Sri Alem Sembiring who has always supported with
unconditional prayers and always preparing fund during my study at this university.This thesis would simply be impossible without their unflagging love. I also thank my one beloved Andry Silawidarta for patiently supporting me in doing this thesis and for always be there whenever I need to share my sadness and joy. I also thank my brother in-law, my niece and my nephew for their fun that always makes me smile. I viii would like to express my gratitude to Bapak and Ibu in Wonosari who make me feel like I have a family in Yogyakarta.
I also thank my cousin Kana for his companionship to Gajah Mada University library in gathering all data I need for my thesis. I thank all of my friends in English Letters Department especially bang Icon “Panda”, Jojo, Martha, Peme,
Wawan, Rony “mbahe” and Edward for the last crazy classes. Also to my friends
from “The Engagement”, thank you for the adventure we have spent together. To
Global Sport buddies, thank you for the time we shared. Lastly, I thank everyone
who cannot be mentioned one by one.Christa Dewi Ametha Sembiring
ix
x
CHAPTER III: METHODOLOGY....................................................................... 23
A. Object of the Study ........................................................................................ 23 B. Approach of the Study ................................................................................... 24 C. Method of the Study ...................................................................................... 25CHAPTER IV: ANALYSIS .................................................................................... 27
A. The Characteristics of Hatsue Miyamoto and Kabuo Miyamoto .................. 282. The Characteristics of Kabuo Miyamoto.................................................. 39
d. Patient................................................................................................. 37
c. Realistic.............................................................................................. 35
b. Persistent............................................................................................ 30
a. Assertive............................................................................................. 28
1. The Characteristics of Hatsue Miyamoto ................................................ 28
D. Theoretical Review…..................................................................................... 21
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TITLE PAGE ............................................................................................................... i
APPROVAL PAGE .................................................................................................... ii
ACCEPTANCE PAGE .............................................................................................iii
MOTTO PAGE .......................................................................................................... vi
DEDICATION PAGE .............................................................................................. vii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.....................................................................................viii
TABLE OF CONTENTS............................................................................................x
ABSTRACT ...............................................................................................................xi
ABSTRAK .................................................................................................................xii
C. Review on Nisei on WW II............................................................................ 15
4. Theory on Racial Prejudice................................................................ 13
3. Theory on the Relation between Literature and Society.....................12
2. Theory of Setting……………........................................................... 11
1. Theory of Character and Characterization.......................................... 10
CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION.............................................................................. 1
A. Background of the Study.................................................................................. 1 B. Problem Formulation........................................................................................ 4 C. Objectives of the Study..................................................................................... 4 D. Definition of Terms.......................................................................................... 5CHAPTER II: THEORETICAL REVIEW..............................................................7
A. Review of Related Studies................................................................................7 B. Review of Related Theories.............................................................................. 9a. Responsible......................................................................................... 39
xi
b. Pessimistic.......................................................................................... 41
c. Helpful................................................................................................ 42
B. The Influence of World War II toward Nisei Represented by Hatsue Miyamoto and Kabuo Miyamoto................................................................... 44
C. The Reaction of Nisei Toward World War II as represented by Hatsue Miyamoto and Kabuo Miyamoto .................................................................. 53
CHAPTER V: CONCLUSION .............................................................................. 64
BIBLIOGRAPHY .................................................................................................... 69
ABSTRACT
CHRISTA DEWI AMETHA SEMBIRING (2010). The Reaction of Nisei toward
World War II as Represented by Hatsue Miyamoto and Kabuo Miyamoto seen
in David Guterson’s Snow Falling on Cedars. Yogyakarta: Department of English
Letters, Faculty of Letters, Sanata Dharma University.
Snow Falling on Cedars is a historical novel which major topic is racial
prejudice goes to Japanese. The setting of the novel that is in 1940s to 1950s in America, gives clear explanation about Japanese experience in America before, during and after World War II. The setting of the novel also gives the portrayal of the society that is shaped through the time when they live. In this study the writer focuses on Nisei’s reaction toward World War II represented by two major Nisei characters: Hatsue Miyamoto and Kabuo Miyamoto.
In this study there are three problems that the writer formulated. First is about the characterization of Hatsue Miyamoto and Kabuo Miyamoto. The second is the influences of World War II toward Nisei represented by Hatsue Miyamoto and Kabuo Miyamoto. The third is the reaction of Nisei represented by Hatsue Miyamoto and Kabuo Miyamoto
In doing this research, the writer uses library research method to obtain some data and books that were provided in the library. In conducting the analysis, the writer uses sociocultural-historical approach because this study discusses the social condition and historical aspects that invite reaction from Nisei as the members of the society.
Based on the analysis, the results of this study are as follow. First,the characteristics of Hatsue and Kabuo. Hatsue describes as assertive, persistent, realistic and patient. Meanwhile, Kabuo describes as responsible, pessimistic and helpful. The World War II gives some influences to Nisei which are they racially prejudiced sharply then before the war by the hakujin, Nisei’s war veterans get bad psychological effect, and they loose their land. These influences next will lead to
Nisei ’s reaction toward World War II represented by Hatsue and Kabou. Hatsue
Miyamoto represents Nisei that is not trap in the past war experience and chooses to live as truly Japanese with all its custom after struggling with herself during the war including marry a man of the same blood. She continues her life as she has to. She loves her family and does everything to defend her husband on the trial for murder accusation. Meanwhile, Kabuo represents a Nisei that gets bad psychological effects after volunteered to the war to prove his loyalty to America. His way of thinking and behavior are changing. His guilty feeling of killing Japanese from Japan on the war always haunts him. He becomes a pessimist and give up to situation, but he tries hard to gets the land that his father inherited back to him as he promised to her wife. xii
ABSTRAK
CHRISTA DEWI AMETHA SEMBIRING (2010). The Reaction of Nisei toward
World War II as Represented by Hatsue Miyamoto and Kabuo Miyamoto seen
in David Guterson’s Snow Falling on Cedars. Yogyakarta: Jurusan Sastra Inggris,
Fakultas Sastra, Universitas Sanata Dharma.
Snow Falling on Cedars adalah novel mengenai sejarah yang topik utamanya
adalah prasangka rasial yg ditujukan kepada orang Jepang di Amerika. Pelataran dalam novel yakni pada tahun 1940an sampai 1950an di Amerika, memberikan penjelasan yg jelas mengenai pengalaman orang Jepang di Amerika sebelum, semasa dan setelah Perang Dunia II. Pelataran dalam novel juga memberikan gambaran masyarakat yang dibentuk oleh waktu semasa mereka hidup. Dalam studi ini, penulis fokus pada reaksi Nisei terhadap perang yang direpresentasikan oleh dua karakter
Nisei utama; Hatsue Miyamoto dan Kabuo Miyamoto.
Dalam studi ini terdapat tiga permasalahan yang diformulasikan penulis. Pertama mengenai penokohan Hatsue Miyamoto dan Kabuo Miyamoto. Kedua adalah mengenai dampak Perang Dunia II terhadap Nisei direpresentasikan oleh Hatsue Miyamoto dan Kabuo Miyamoto. Ketiga adalah reaksi Nisei direpresentasikan oleh Hatsue Miyamoto dan Kabuo Miyamoto.
Dalam melakukan analisa ini, penulis menggunakan studi pustaka yang berguna untuk memperoleh data serta buku acuan yang terdapat di perpustakaan. Dalam melakukan analisa, penulis menggunakan pendekatan sosiokultural-historikal karena studi ini membahas keadaan sosial dan aspek bersejarah yang mengundang reaksi Nisei sebagai bagian dari masyarakat.
Berdasarkan analisa, hasil temuan studi ini adalah sebagai berikut. Pertama, karakterisasi Hatsue dan Kabuo. Hatsue digambarkan sebagai tokoh yang tegas, berkeinginan keras, realistis dan sabar. Kabuo digambarkan sebagai tokoh yang bertanggung jawab, pesimistis dan suka membantu. Perang Dunia II memberikan beberapa dampak terhadap Nisei yaitu mereka memperoleh prasangka rasial yang lebih tajam daripada sebelum perang dari para hakujin, veteran perang Nisei mendapatkan efek psikologis buruk dan mereka kehilangan lahan. Dampak-dampak tersebut kemudian akan membawa kepada reaksi Nisei terhadap Perang Dunia II direpresentasikan oleh Hatsue dan Kabuo. Hatsue Miyamoto merepresentasikan Nisei yang tidak terperangkap dalam pengalaman perang di masa lalu dan memilih untuk hidup sebagai orang Jepang sejati dengan semua adat istiadatnya setelah berjuang melawan dirinya sendiri semasa perang termasuk menikahi pria keturunan Jepang. Dia melanjutkan hidupnya sebagaimana seharusnya. Dia mencintai keluarganya dan melakukan apa saja untuk membela suaminya dalam sidang karna tuduhan pembunuhan. Sementara Kabuo merepresentasikan Nisei yang mendapat dampak buruk psikologis setelah sukarela ikut perang untuk membuktikan kesetiannya kepada Amerika. Cara berpikir dan perilakunya juga berubah. Rasa bersalah karena xiii membunuh orang Jepang dari negara Jepang semasa perang selalu menghantuinya. Dia menjadi seorang yang pesimis dan menyerah pada keadaan, tapi dia berusaha keras agar lahan yang ayahnya wariskan kembali padanya seperti yang sudah dia janjikan kepada istrinya. xiv
CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION A. Background of the Study Literary works are sometimes reflecting the condition of the society where
the author lives. It can be social, economical or religious condition. Rohrberger and Woods in Reading and Writing about Literature stated They divine civilization as the attitude and actions as its subject matter. They feel, therefore, that it is necessary that the critics investigate the social milieu in which it necessarily reflects. No one, of course, can deny their assertion: first, that literature is not created in a vacuum, and second, that literature embodies ideas significant to the culture that produced it (1971: 1). These conditions may influence an author to write a literary work because through literary work an author can express his or her thoughts about what happen around him or her. Often, a literary work is used as a tool or device by an author to criticize the conditions that become his or her concern. We cannot deny that literary work records as values, thoughts, problems and conflicts in society because the author of a literary works is the member of the society it self. In his or her work, he or she conveys the daily life of their experience certain social, political, economical, cultural issues or historical movement.
Literature is the principle element of cultures. It contains the record of the peoples values, their thoughts, their problems, and their conflicts. Whether transmitted through the spoken or the written word. Literature stands a tool to pass from one generation to the next. Literature then functions as presentation of the situation and the thought happening in a certain setting and place (Little, 1981: 1).
Snow Falling on Cedars won the PEN/Faulkner Award in 1995. This illustrious award has been given to many of America's most admired writers.
Guterson thoroughly researched the history of the Japanese internment camps he writes about in the novel, speaking with many Japanese people from the towns near where he lives. In Snow Falling on Cedars, Guterson wanted to write about commonplace tragedy, about the way accidents can affect people's lives tremendously. He sees this as part of his writing and his way of life. He enjoys the vast, unyielding power of nature much more than the bustle of city life and civilization. (http://www.bookrags.com/notes/sno/BIO.htm).
Snow Falling on Cedars is one the best 20 th
century American fiction novel, which won PEN/Faulkner Award in 1995, and the writer named to
Granta 's list as the Best Young American Novelists. Guterson got the
story by interacting with the Japanese American, explore and investigate about what really happened to them and about how the native American threat them during the World War II. Moreover, the setting of time in
Snow Falling on Cedars was a real event happened, but Guterson had bunched up the characters, place and plot to draw more public attention.
The story tells about racism goes to the Japanese American and about racism that Japanese American however will never be at the same place in the society with the whites; in right, profession, and place to live. The whites think that Japanese are disturbing to their country because of their culture and they will not become good citizen because of their culture. Even if they live in the same environment with the whites they have no willing to blend. Kitano in Japanese
Americans, the Evolution of a Subculture quotes the writing of V. McClatchy the
publisher of the Sacramento Bee The Japanese cannot, may not and will not provide desirable material for our citizenship; 1. The Japanese cannot assimilate and make good citizen because of the racial characteristics, heredity and religion. 2. The Japanese may not assimilate and make good citizens because their government claims all Japanese, no matter where born, as its citizen. 3. The Japanese will not assimilate and make good citizens. In the mass, where opportunity offered, and even when born here, they have shown no disposition to do so… there can be no effective assimilation of the Japanese without intermarriage. It is perhaps not desirable for the good of either race that there should be intermarriage between whites and the Japanese. They cannot be transmuted into good American citizen (Kitano, 1976: 1888).
The writer interests to study the topic because the writer is interested in the complexity of life and the significant role of the Japanese characters. Character is one of the important elements of the story. According to E.M. Forster in his book
Aspects of the Novel , an actor in a story is, or intended to be, human being. He
says that since the novelist himself is a human being, there must be an affinity between him and his subject matter. More, he explains that a novelist is a creator who makes up a number of characters then gives them names and sexes, and assign them to be similar to human, and causes them to speak and perhaps to behave consistently (Forster, 1974:30-32).
Forster’s statement implies that the characters in fiction are the same as those in real life. In Snow Falling on Cedars, the Japanese characters that the writer will focus on, not only given name and appearance but the characters also has different behavior, attitude, appearance and other things that differentiate them to another character and give them a special characterization.
The work of literature is suitable to study the topic because Snow Falling
on Cedars emphasizes its story on racism that contains conflicts and struggles
which are related to social condition that however cannot separate from our life.Further, the writer will try to find out the characteristic of the Japanese characters in Snow Falling on Cedars and how the characters deal with racism in their life.
B. Problem Formulation
1. How are Hatsue Miyamoto and Kabuo Miyamoto presented in the novel?
2. What are the influences of World War II toward Nisei represented by Hatsue Miyamoto and Kabuo Miyamoto?
3. What are the reaction of Nisei toward World War II as represented by Hatsue Miyamoto and Kabuo Miyamoto?
C. Objectives of the Study
In this study, first, the writer is going to analyze how Hatsue Miyamoto and Kabuo Miyamoto characterized as the representation of Nisei. The analysis about character and characteristic can be seen in the novel from the beginning up to the end of the story.
Second, the writer is going to investigate the influences of World War II toward Nisei represented by Hatsue Miyamoto and Kabuo Miyamoto. The description of the influence is analyzed from the condition of Nisei before, during and after World War II.
The last, the reaction of Nisei toward World War II as represented by Hatsue Miyamoto and Kabuo Miyamoto is going to be analyzed. The reaction is seen from the influence of World War II toward Nisei and relates it with some events in the novel that experienced by Hatsue and Kabuo.
D. Definition on Terms
There are some terms that the writer needs to define in order to avoid confusion and differences in understanding certain terms in this thesis.
1. Reaction According to The New International Webster’s Comprehensive Dictionary
of the English Language , reaction is a reverse or return action; tendency toward a
former or reversed state of things; especially a trend toward an earlier social, political or economic policy or condition (1996: 1049). In Dictionary of Sociology
and Relate Sciences , reaction is a typical, standardized, essentially spontaneous or
automatic response to a (usually external) stimulus (Fairchild, 1975: 250).2. Influence In The New Oxford American Dictionary, influence is the capacity to have an effect on the character, development or behavior of someone or something, or the effect itself (McKean, 2005: 1151). In Webster Encyclopedia, influence is the capacity of power had by a man to produce affects on others indirectly (1980: 730). In Longman Dictionary of English Language and Cultures, influence is as an effect on someone or something without the use of direct force or command (Summers, 1992; 674). In Dictionary of Modern Sociology, influence is a special form of Power; the informal ability of persons or groups to have their will obeyed, the basis of such ability being character, social position or cleverness, rather than force or institutionalized authority (Hoult, 1969: 163).
3. Nisei
According to Face to Face Glossary for Japanese American term, NISEI: Literally, “second generation.” American-born children of Japanese immigrants.
Two-thirds of Japanese Americans imprisoned in the U.S. during World War II were Nisei (http://www.itvs.org/facetoface/glossary/). In Webster’s Third New
International Dictionary of English Language Unabridged Volume II , Nisei is
[Japanese literary second generation from ni second + sei generation]: a son or daughter of issei parents who is born and educated in America and especially in the U.S. (1976: 1530) According to The New Oxford American Dictionary, Nisei is a person who is born in the U.S or Canada whose parents were immigrant from Japan. Literary ‘second generation' (McKean, 2005: 1151).
CHAPTER II THEORETICAL REVIEW A. Review of Related Studies Snow Falling on Cedars is a very interesting novel. It gives understanding
to readers about the condition of Japanese American during the World War II and it also able to make readers feel what they feel on that time. David Guterson collects his descriptive words very clearly and in detail in the novel. He explicates all the moment in the story completely about condition and situation of the Japanese American related with law, rights, racism, and their relation one to another and with the whites.
In the afterward of the novel, Guterson gives explanation about his view and respect to the people that experienced the real event that inspired him in creating his fictional characters and story in the novel. On an interview with Ellen Kanner he said "My book is traditional. A lot of writers are concerned with life in the '90s.
I'm not. The conventional story endures because it does. I'm interested in themes that endure from generation to generation. Fiction is socially meaningful. Every culture is sustained by certain central myths. At its heart, fiction's role is to see these roles and myths are sustained. My work comes from inner disturbances, from seeing injustices and accidents and how they affect people's lives in a tragic way. It must succeed in its own terms. It has to be just as powerful, though. It must have an impact on people" (http://www.bookpage.com/9601bp/fiction/snowfallingoncedars.html). On his explanation about Hatsue Miyamoto, one of the fictional characters in his novel, he said that Hatsue explained her emotional reserve . . . Didn't mean her heart was shallow. Her silence, she said, would express something if she would learn to listen to it. What some people interpret as brooding melancholy is serenity. I grew up in Seattle, but I always knew I wanted to leave. The greenness of the world, the play of light and living things, stretching endlessly and regenerating season after season-to have that in daily life is so much more satisfying than buildings and people. (
Ellen Kanner on her opinion says that Guterson's stories possess an emotional edge, his novel has a certain maturity, sweeping the reader away with its lush physical description. Guterson's gift of evoking a sense of place comes from his love of it. The islands off Puget Sound bear an almost mythic weight for him. Snow Falling on Cedars goes beyond ethnicity. Guterson explores humanity, penetrating the core of the human heart. Guterson agrees one can make almost anything political, including his book, but he hopes it transcends both politics and history (http://www.bookpage.com/9601bp/fiction/snowfallingoncedars.html).
There is also another opinion that explain about the characters and their relation in the story in the novel
Snow Falling on Cedars , by David Guterson, is an emotional story in
which we see the life of a man who could not move on and a woman that did. The man, Ishmael, is hopelessly in love with the woman, Hatsue. His love for her can not be dissuaded by anything; not her words, her wishes, or her marriage. He holds on to Hatsue because of his feelings for her, even after he gains the knowledge that it is extremely improbable that he could ever be with her. Hatsue is much more logical and rational with her feelings. She saw her love with Ishmael for what it was. She realized she did not really love him and that she was still learning what love really is. She moved on with her life, whereas Ishmael could not (
Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson is set in 1945 and is a story of
love, tragedy, and deception. Kabuo Miyamoto, a citizen of San Piedro Island, is on trial for the murder of Carl Heine, Jr. This novel essentially deals with San Piedro Island's prejudice against Japanese Americans. The book's conclusion is doubtful until the very end, provoking the uncertainty which makes the reader analyze the story long after the book has been set aside. Guterson brilliantly weaves the wound on the victim's head and Miyamoto's. Snow Falling on Cedars is a mysterious, unpredictable novel which "keeps you on the edge of your seat." The story's creative turn of events and intervention of past and present distinguishes it from most others. Guterson challenges not only the mind but also the heart in this work of art (.
Furthermore, different with the studies on Snow Falling on Cedars submitted above, in this undergraduate thesis the writer will try to relate two main
Nisei characters with the social condition in the novel to find out the influences of
World War II toward Nisei represented by these two characters then to find out the reaction of Nisei toward Word War II as represented by these two characters.
B. Review of Related Theories
1. Theory of Character and Characterization
The first theories to be reviewed are those that are related to character and characterization. Murphy in his book Understanding Unseen: an Introduction to
Poetry and the English Novel for Overseas Student (1972: 161-173) defines that
there are some ways in finding the character and characteristic of a person in a literary work: a. Personal description: the author can give a person’s appearance and clothes.
b. Character as seen by another: instead of describing the character directly the author can describe him through the eyes and opinions of another. The reader gets, as it were, a reflected image.
c. Speech: the author can give us an insight into the character of one person in the book through what the person say. Whenever a person speaks, whenever he is in conversation with another, whenever he puts forward an opinion, he is giving us some clues to his character.
d. Past life: by letting the reader learn something about a person’s past life the author can gives us a clue to event that have helped to shape a person’s character.
e. Conversation of other: the author also can give us clues to a person’s character through a conversation of other people and the things they say about him.
f. Reactions: the author also can give us clues to a person’s character by letting us know how that person reacts to various situations and events.
g. Direct comment: an author can describe or comment on a person’s character directly h. Thoughts: the author can give us direct knowledge of what a person is thinking about. The reader than is the privileged position; he has, as it were, a secret listening device plugged into the inmost thoughts of a person in the novel. i. Mannerism: The author can describe a person’s mannerisms, habits or idiosyncrasies, which may also tell us something about.
Stanton in his book An Introduction to Fiction says that there are some indications to understand the character. First is from the character’s name fits the character. Second is the author description and comments on the character clearly. Third is from the other characters’ opinion and attitude toward the character meant. Forth, as the most important indication is the character’s own dialogue and behavior because every speech, every action is a manifestation of the character (Stanton, 1965: 18). It means that the writer has the opportunity to judge the character of a literary work. Moreover, the writer may have his or her impression toward the characters.
2. Theory of Setting
It is important to understand the setting before analyzing a novel. Abrams in A Glossary of Literary Term defines setting as The general local and the historical time in which its action occurs, the setting of an episode or scene within a work is the physical location in which it takes place… In a limitation sense, setting refers to “the general place and historical sense”, it is when and where the action occurs. In a broader sense, setting refers to “the social circumstances in which its action occurs (Abram, 1985: 175). From the definition above the writer concludes that the actual setting consists of not only setting of place and setting of time but also it is also about the social circumstances where the story occurs.
Holman and Harmon (1986: 468), report that there are some elements of which the setting is composed. They are: a. The actual geographic location; its topography, scenery and such physical arrangements as the location of the windows and doors in a room.
b. The occupation and daily manner of living of the character.
c. The time or periods in which the action takes place, for example: epoch in history or scene of the play.
d. The general environment of the characters, for example, religious, mental, moral and emotional condition through which the people in narrative move.
According to Richard Gill in Mastering English Literature, setting can be an important aspect of the novel since most novelist have learnt about the setting to give significant into their novels (1995:148). For the writer, this is the reason why readers should learn much about setting of the novel in order to know and understand the significance.
3. Theory on Relation between Literature and Society
Literature and society are in their nature two interesting aspects that intertwine each other. Yet to understand their relation, Rene Wellek and Austin Warren in Theory of Literature:
The object of the literature, the world, and the people are the imitation of social reality. Therefore, literature with its medium devices and objects is the representation of life itself. Literature can also be viewed as the essence, the abridgment, and summary at all history (1956: 94).
In Narrative Discourse, Ganette said that society or social setting refers to everything related to the society’s life in a certain place being described in the story. It includes the custom, tradition, belief, ideology, the way of thinking, and behaving, and perhaps the social status of the character (1980: 33–35).
Elizabeth Langland in Society in the Novel explains that the society in the novel is not always resemble or same with society in the real life. Society in the novel cannot always be found in the real world, but there is a possibility that we can find it in the real world, although it is not exactly the same (1984: 5).
Langland also explained that everything which is seen such as norms, conventions, codes, background, places, peoples, institutions are included in society. But its particular manifestations in the novel will be determined by its role within the work (1984: 6-7). It can be concluded that society, the story and events, and the setting in the novel are the representation of the real world.
4. Theory on Racial Prejudice
Everyone must have their own race as it is inherited by their ancestor, but sometimes this racial variation becomes a problem among society. One of social problem that can cause by race is prejudice. Prejudice is a negative attitude toward an entire category of people, often an ethnic or racial minority (Schaefer, 1986: 228). The main cause of being racially prejudice is the difference of skin colors. In a society where there is racism the superior group will racially prejudice the subordinate who is usually immigrant. Richard T. Schaefer in Sociology, points out
There are three elements in racism; prejudice, discrimination and exploitation. Prejudice is state of mind, or we can say it is bad assumption toward the others especially toward racial minority… Those three are elements that experienced the subordinate racial minority (Schaefer, 1986: 228-230). In America there are so many races gather together. Even they live in the same town, they usually live in groups according to their race. On the other words, they live in groups according to their physical look. Without looking at the person indeed prejudice has loose what only eyes see that is the physical appearance; different skin, eyes and hair color. It shows that each race in America separate themselves from other races to avoid uncomfortable life cause by racial prejudice. Parrilo on his note title “Cause of Prejudice” says that
Prejudice: an attitudinal “system of negative beliefs, feelings, and action- orientations regarding a certain group or groups of people.” This text focuses on what prejudice is and the different forms of it. Prejudicial attitudes exist among members of both dominate and minority groups; for instance, the most common would be whites and blacks (http://kaylaelyse.wordpress.com/2010/02/02/reading-post-6-causes-of- prejudice/).
In this study, racial prejudice is experienced by Nisei who is the second Japanese generation in America. Like other non Caucasian in America, such as Blacks, they are racially prejudiced because of their different physical appearance.
Racial prejudice has been characterized as “the myth that threatens America” and has been diagnosed as “the disease of hate.” Almost every ill that can beset a nation has been ascribed to its baneful influence, ranging from debilitating economic waste to the ultimate danger of social chaos. In such definition, therefore, the word “racial” is used in its popular and not anthropological and scientific meaning. These groups and others are minority groups in the United States in the sense that they differ from the dominant group with respect to race, culture, or nationality origin (Krech and Crutchfield, 1948; 443-444).
This idea support by Kuper in The Social Science Encyclopedia that racism is the idea that there is a direct correspondence between a group’s values, behavior and attitudes, and its physical features, is one of the main social problems confronting contemporary societies. These events make it possible for color and race to become pivotal link in the relations between European, American and the people of Africa, Asia, Latin America and Australia (1996: 715). This quotation shows that how race may cause problem in shaping social life among people with different races who live together in the same environment.
In this study the case is American discriminate Japanese by their physical appearance.
C. Review on Nisei on World War II
The Nisei were the second generation. Within weeks, all persons of Japanese ancestry--whether citizens or enemy aliens were ordered to assembly centers near their homes. Soon they were sent to permanent relocation centers outside the restricted military zones. Sites included Tule Lake…Idaho; Manzanar…Arkansas (http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/japanese- relocation/)
The Nisei were Americans who grew up in American culture, but they had the face of the enemy. The problem for the Nisei is that, even if they had wanted to, the Nisei could not assimilate, they were already immersed in, and had internalized (http://evrything2.com/title/Nisei+Dilemma).
Nisei is the second generation of Japanese in America after their Issei
parents who are the immigrant in America. The Nisei are able to speak English fluently even their accent are still Japanese. In America they speak two languages which are Japanese and English. At home they usually speak Japanese because their parents hardly speak English, while in school they speak English. These
Nisei are American citizen legally but because they have the physical appearance
of their Japanese ancestor, it is hard for them to gain society acceptance as American.
Kitano in his book Japanese Americans, The Evolution of a Subculture states about the General background of the Japanese group in America. He informed that the children of the Issei (the first generation), or Nisei (the second generation)…influenced by their parents’ attitudes toward education, availed themselves fully of American educational facilities, and became much more “American” than their parents. But opportunities for this group were still greatly restricted by prejudice and hostility from the majority, especially up through World War II. At the outbreak of World War II, all Japanese Americans on the West Coast were evacuated from their homes and business and interned in relocation centers for the duration of the war. This evacuation had incalculable consequences, such as the destruction of the economic position of the group, the disruption of families, and loss of homes and business (1976; 8-9).
Because they were born, developed and educated in America, Nisei get input from both American and Japanese culture. It makes them think that they are both American and Japanese culturally. At home or at the Japanese neighborhood, their parents teach them Japanese culture and at school when they blend with the whites, they learn American culture from their friends or teachers.
When America get involve in World War II, which caused when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, the whites prejudice to all Japanese in America is getting bigger including to the Nisei. This racial prejudice becomes the disease of hate in America after World War II. The whites automatically hate Japanese in every ways. The ruin that caused by Japan makes the whites look at all Japanese in America are the same. The whites regard them as bad person.
Leonard Dinnerstein and David M. Reimers in their book Ethnic