THE MODERN LIFESTYLES IN F. SCOTT FITZGERALD’S THE GREAT GATSBY: A CULTURAL STUDY CRITICISM - Unika Repository

  THE MODERN LIFESTYLES IN F. SCOTT FITZGERALD’S

  : A CULTURAL STUDY CRITICISM

  A THESIS By:

  Emilia Klara Lesmana Student Number: 99.80.0127

  Perpustakaan Unika

THE GREAT GATSBY

ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAM FACULTY OF LETTERS SOEGIJAPRANATA CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY

  Perpustakaan Unika THE MODERN LIFESTYLES IN F. SCOTT FITZGERALD’S THE

GREAT GATSBY

  : A CULTURAL STUDY CRITICISM A Thesis Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements to Obtain the Sarjana Sastra Degree in the English Letters Study Program

  By: Emilia Klara Lesmana

  99.80.0127

ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAM FACULTY OF LETTERS SOEGIJAPRANATA CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY

  Perpustakaan Unika

  A thesis defended in front of the Board of Examiners on February 15, 2008 and declared acceptable BOARD OF EXAMINERS Chairperson : Angelika Riyandari, SS, MA.

  Secretary : Heny Hartono, SS, M.Pd.

  Member : Adhyanggono, SS, MA.

  Semarang, February 15, 2008 Faculty of Letters Soegijapranata Catholic University

  Perpustakaan Unika

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

  First of foremost, I would like to thank Allah SWT who always helps and guides me to accomplish this thesis from the beginning to the end. I would like to express my sincerest gratitude to those who have helped me finishing this thesis:

  1. My parents in heaven, who are always and still “there” for me, in every step of my life. I dedicate this thesis to my late father and my late mother especially. I love you, and so much missing you both.

  2. My brothers and sister who always take care of me, thanks for all support, attention, prayers and love.

  3. My Abieb, thank you for all support, attention and love.

  4. My sponsors, Angelika Riyandari, SS, M.A. and Heny Hartono, SS, MPd. who patiently guide and encourage me with advices and knowledge in conducting this thesis. Thank you very much.

  5. To all my friends who give me support and motivation. I am very thankful to have you all around.

  As an imperfect individual, the writer realizes that there are many mistakes communities.

  

TABLE OF CONTENT

PAGE OF TITLE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . i PAGE OF APPROVAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iii TABLE OF CONTENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv ABSTRACT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vi ABSTRAK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vii

  1.1. Background of the Study ………………………… 1

  1.2. Scope of the Study …………………………...….. 3

  1.3. Problem Formulation ……………………………. 3

  1.4. Objectives of the Study ………………………….. 3

  1.5. Significance of the Study ………………………... 3

  1.6. Definition of Terms ……………………………… 4 2.1.

  Culture ………….…...…………………………… 5 2.2. The 1920s American Lifestyle ……………...…… 7

  Perpustakaan Unika

CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION ……………………………………… 1

  Perpustakaan Unika

  CHAPTER IV: ANALYSIS ……………………………………………. 15 4.1. Materialism ……….….………………………… 15 4.2. Woman Emancipation ………...………………... 19 4.3. Activities .………………………………………. 22 4.4. Attitudes ……………………………………...… 26 CHAPTER V: CONCLUSION ……………………………………….. 31 BIBLIOGRAPHY APPENDICES

  Perpustakaan Unika

ABSTRACT

  The 1920s was an important era for people of the United States of America considering that in that period, they experienced Golden Age which only within a few years it was followed by economic depression as well as cultural and social chaos. In Golden Age, most American people lived in prosperity that supported the developments in many areas of life, including culture and technology. This brings the American people to the era of modernity and results in the change of society’s lifestyle. Such a description is seen in one of the greatest American Novel, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. Therefore, American modern lifestyle in the novel is interesting to explore through this study. The objectives of this study are to find out the modern lifestyles and to reveal how modernity influences the characters in The Great Gatsby. In conducting this study, the writer uses Cultural Studies approach because the topic concerns with American people’s lifestyle as part of their culture. The analysis on the novel reveals how developments in all milieus influence American people’s lifestyle that changes drastically than before. Materialism is seen from the interest and the ownership of many expensive materials such as glamorous car, mansion, telephone and imported expensive clothes. Woman emancipation also becomes an important change with the shift of women’s performance marked by bobbed hairstyle and the application of cosmetics as well as the popularity of simple and shorter dresses, beside actively involved in social activities like party and professional career. People also start to have interest on sports, newspaper reading, party, Jazz music and exotic dances. Various new attitudes emerge likewise such as becoming materialistic, interest on alcohol, love affairs and non- marital sexual behavior.

  Perpustakaan Unika

ABSTRAK

  Era 1920-an merupakan suatu masa yang penting bagi masyarakat Amerika Serikat mengingat bahwa dalam periode tersebut, mereka mengalami jaman keemasan dimana hanya dalam beberapa tahun diikuti dengan tekanan ekonomi serta kekacauan budaya dan sosial. Pada jaman keemasan, sebagian besar masyarakat Amerika hidup cukup mapan yang mendorong kemajuan di berbagai bidang kehidupan, termasuk budaya dan teknologi. Hal ini membawa rakyat Amerika memasuki era modernitas dan berdampak pada perubahan gaya hidup masyarakat. Gambaran ini tampak di dalam salah satu novel Amerika terhebat The Great Gatsby karya F. Scott Fitzgerald. Maka, gaya hidup Amerika modern yang terdapat di dalam novel tersebut menarik untuk ditelusuri melalui penelitian ini. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui gaya hidup modern serta mengungkapkan bagaimana modernitas mempengaruhi tokoh-tokoh yang ada di dalam novel The Great Gatsby. Dalam menjalankan penelitian, penulis menggunakan pendekatan studi budaya karena topiknya berhubungan dengan gaya hidup masyarakat Amerika sebagai bagian dari budaya mereka. Analisa terhadap novel tersebut mengungkapkan bagaimana perkembangan di segala bidang mempengaruhi gaya hidup masyarakat Amerika yang berubah cukup drastis dari sebelumnya. Kehidupan materialisme tampak dari ketertarikan dan kepemilikan berbagai barang mahal seperti mobil mewah, rumah megah, telepon serta pakaian impor yang mahal. Emansipasi wanita juga menjadi salah satu perubahan penting dengan perubahan penampilan para wanita yang ditandai dengan gaya rambut bob dan penggunaan kosmetik serta mewabahnya pakaian sederhana dan lebih pendek, selain terlibat aktif dalam kegiatan masyarakat seperti pesta dan karir profesional. Masyarakat juga mulai menggemari bermacam aktifitas seperti olahraga, membaca koran, pesta, musik Jazz dan tari-tarian eksotis. Berbagai sikap baru juga muncul seperti materialistik, kegemaran terhadap minuman beralkohol, selingkuh dan perilaku seksual di luar pernikahan.