Paste yCHAPTER I
Introduction
1.1. Background of the Study
Literature is the written form to describe anything from creative writing to more technical or scientific works by an author. Literature is imaginative; expresses thoughts and feelings; deals with life experiences; uses words in a powerful, effective and yet captivating manner; and promotes recreation and revelation of hidden facts.
Literature is divided into three groups, there are prose, poetry, and drama. In prose, there are fiction and non-fiction prose. Novel is a fiction prose made up or shaped based on the author s creation and imagination in a specific setting. Richard Taylor in Understanding the Elements of Literature (1981:46) explains that a novel is normally a prose work of quite some length and complexity which attempts to reflect and express something of the equality or value of human experience or conduct. Since a novel is lengthier than other prose fiction, it can contain many characters, themes, and subplots which make the content more complex than other literary genres. It can also cover a long period of time; some novels span several generations. It can be divided into chapters and sometimes volumes, and can be categorized into different genres such as supernatural, thriller, fantasy, romance, western, paranormal, etc.
In every fiction, especially in the novel, character becomes the most important thing to develop the story because without character there could be no fiction. Characters are the people represented in a dramatic or narrative work, who are interpreted by the reader as being endowed with particular moral, intellectual, and emotional qualities by inferences from what the persons say and their distinctive ways of saying it the dialogue and from what they do the action. (Abrams, 1999: 32-33). In other word, character is the entity in the story (it can be a person or an animal)
Main character is the character that is emphasized in a story. This character always appears in almost each event, so it seems dominated in that story, either as subject or object. It also always has connection with another character and in a certain novel main character can be found in each page of the novel.
The analysis of main character in The Mark of Athena novel by Rick Riordan is chosen to be analyzed because the story is interesting and has the great value. Rick Riordan s seamless weaving of various cultural mythologies into modern times, especially Greek myths. The story tells about how to be brave in every situation, be confidence with your own self, and do what you think you have to do.
1.2. Problems of the Study
1. Who is the main character in The Mark of Athena novel by Rick Riordan?
2. How the physiological, psychological, and sociological aspects build the main character?
1.3. Aims of the Study
Here are two aims of the study based on the problems:
1. To know the main character in The Mark of Athena novel by Rick Riordan.
2. To analyze the physiological, psychological, and sociological aspects build the main character.
1.4. Scope of Discussion
Character is the intrinsic element of novel which is really important to make the story looks real. This study discuss about how the characters become the main character which is compared to the other characters, such as supporting characters, the function or rule of the characters, and the last one is the physiological, psychological, and sociological aspects that build the main character in The Mark of Athena novel by Rick Riordan.
1.5. Research Method
Method is a procedure, technique, or way of doing something. The right method will make the correct study, so a correct method should be applied to make the better research. There are three steps to do it, such as:
1.5.1. Data Source
The data of this study was taken from a novel entitled The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan that was published by Disney Hyperion Books New York in 2012. The novel became the data source because it provides enough data related to the characters to be analyzed. It is an interesting novel consists of 586 pages and tells about the Greek and the Roman demigods whose cooperate in order to defeat the giants, and the monsters released by the Earth Mother, Gaea. They have to sail together to the ancient land Greece itself to find the Door of Death.
1.5.2. Method and Technique of Collecting Data
In this study, the data were collected by reading every chapter in the novel thoroughly and repeatedly to understand the story, making summary according to the series of the whole chapters, and noted the necessary quotations that relevance to the main characters. The noted used as the materials of the discussion to indicate the relevant statements of the problems.
1.5.3. Method and Technique of Analyzing Data
This study applied qualitative method in analyzing the main character based on the theoretical characterization in order to determine three aspects of the character, such as the physiological, psychological, and sociological aspects of the main characters in Rick Riordan s The Mark of Athena . It means that the analysis of this study is not using table, graphic, or numbers. In other words, analyzing data of this study will present descriptively.
CHAPTER II
LITERATURE REVIEW, CONCEPTS, AND THEORITICAL FRAMEWORK
2.1. Literature Review
The first thesis that inspired the writing is The Analysis of Main Character in the Short Story entitled Markheim by Robert Louis Stevenson written by Dewi Wulan Dani (2007). The analysis of her thesis focuses on the main character; the physiological, psychological, and sociological aspect that makes up the main character; and the methods that the author used to describe the characters. She used the theory of characters proposed by Wellek and Warren in Sukada s book Pembinaan Kritik Sastra Indonesia Masalah Sistematika Analisis Struktur Fiksi . The other theory proposed by Lajos Egry that is quoted by Sukada which is conveyed the three dimension of the characters, they are physiological, psychological, and sociological. She also used William Kenney theory in How to Analyze Fiction which explain about five methods of characterization, they are discursive, dramatic, characters on other characters, contextual, and mixing method (1966: 33). She found that Markheim is the main character of the short story Markheim. The existence of Markheim as the main character is supported by some reasons: Markheim is the title of the short story, he became the central character in this story, he often appears from the beginning to the end of the story, the conflict in the story always related to him, and the author often comment and discuss about him. Markheim is psychologically has both bad and good side in his life as everybody has. He comes from poor family and grows in bad environment. He is thirty-six years old tall man who has wavy hair, and pitiful horrible look. The author of Markheim short story, Robert Louis Stevenson used Discursive Method and Characters on the Other Characters Method to describe the main character in Markheim short story.
There are the similarities and the differences between Dewi Wulan Dani s paper and this study. The similarity is both of these papers analyzed the main character from three aspects of the character, they are physiological, psychological, and sociological. She also used Wellek and Warren theory of characters and Lajos Egry theory of three dimensions of characters. The difference between Dewi Wulan Dani s paper and this paper is the data source. She used the short story as the data source while this paper used a novel. Her paper also discuss about characterization method that the author used to describe the main characters while in this paper only discuss about how the characters become the main character and the physiological, psychological, and sociological aspects that build the main character.
The second thesis written by I Dewa Ayu Mirah Yuliari (2010) entitled The Analysis of the Main Character in The Catcher in The Rye by J. D Salinger . The analysis of her thesis discusses about the physiological, psychological, and sociological aspects of the main character; and the factors contribute to the main character s development. She used the theory proposed by William Kenney in How to Analyze Fiction (1966), states that there are two types of characters, they are flat and round characters (1966: 28-29). She also used theory proposed by Wellek and Warren which divided three aspects of characters; they are physiological, psychological, and sociological aspects. She found that Holden Caulfield physiologically described as a seventeen years old young man with tall and skinny body, and has grey hair. In sociological aspect he is a governor son who is quite wealthy. The psychological of Holden Caulfield is a funny, unstable, upset, confuse, and desperate adolescent. The factors that develop Holden s character are age, the family bonding, social environment, and religion.
The difference between I Dewa Ayu Mirah Yuliari s paper and this paper is in the theory used to analyze the character from the three aspects of character. I Dewa Ayu Mirah Yuliari s paper used theory proposed by Wellek and Warren while this study used the theory proposed by Lajos Egry. She also discuss about the factors contribute to the main character s development while this study only discuss about how the characters become the main character and the physiological, psychological, and sociological aspects that build the main character. The similarity is both of these papers analyzed the main character from three aspects of the character, they are physiological, psychological, and sociological. Both of these papers also used novel as the data source.
The third thesis is The Analysis of Characters of the Novel Deadly Embrace (2002) by Jackie Collins written by Pande I Putu Hendra Widnyana (2007). This thesis analyze the characteristics of the major and the minor characters in psychologically aspects, and the relationship between the major character with the four minor characters based on their past and present. He used some theories to his study; first theory is adopted from Robert DiYanni s book Literature Reading Fiction, Poetry, and Drama (2001). According to DiYanni, the explanations about character and characterization are necessary to describe the characteristics of each character. In analyzing a character or characters relationships we relate one act, one speech, one physical detail to another until we understand the character (2001: 55). The second theory proposed by William Kenney in his book entitles How to Analyze Fiction (1966), state that there are five methods of characterization, they are discursive, dramatic, characters on the other characters, contextual, and mixing methods (1966: 34-36). The third theory comes from the theoretical book Psychology (2003) by John W. Santrock. Pande I Putu Hendra Widnyana found that Michael and Madison were the major characters that dynamics while Dani, Max, Vito Giovanni, and Mamie were the minor characters that static from the beginning to the end of the story. The relationship among the characters were only analyzed from Michael relations to the four minor characters based on their past and present: Michael and Dani love each other very much, Michael and Max were true friends since they were kids, Michael and Vito Giovanni had a good relationship and gave benefits to each other, and the relationship between Michael and Mamie was very bad.
The difference between Pande I Putu Hendra Widnyana s paper and this study is in the theory used to analyze the character. He used the theories proposed by Robert DiYanni, and William Kenney while in this study used the theories proposed by Lajos Egry, and Wellek and Warren. He also analyzes the major and the minor characters while in this paper only focus on the main character. The similarity is both of these paper used novel as the data source.
In the International Journal of English and Literature (2011) Epistemological and moral implications of characterization in African literature: A critique of Patrick Chakaipa s Rudo Ibofu (love is blind) , states that character development is very important in character-driven literature, where stories focus not on events, but on individual personalities. This paper examines African epistemology and axiology as expressed in African literature through characterization, and it adopts the Zimbabwean Patrick Chakaipa s novel, Rudo Ibofu as a case study. The paper thus criticizes, dismantles and challenges the inherited colonial legacies which have injured many African scientists and researchers consciousness; it is not only against the vestiges of colonialism, but of neo-colonialism and western cultural arrogance that have been perpetuated by some African writers through characterization.
2.2. Concepts
There are two concepts which are related to this study, they are concept of character, and concept of three dimensions of character.
2.2.1. Concept of Character
Characters are the entity of the story. In literature, characters guide readers through their stories to helping them to understand the plot. There are many types of characters that exist in literature, each with its own development and function. According to Wellek and Warren, characters are divided into main, secondary, and supporting character based on their function and role in the story (1977: 86). Characters may be presented by means of description, through their actions, speech, thoughts interaction with other characters.
2.2.2. Concept of Characterization
Characterizations refer to the way the author present and reveal the character. Character has three aspects of characterization, they are physiological, psychological, and sociological aspects. These components are builds up characterization in fiction. So to make the discussion more specific and clear, the main character will be analyzed based on the there aspects of characterization, they are:
a. Physiological Aspect
Physiological aspect means that the analysis will be done through physical identity, such as age, appearance, sex, physical handicapped, etc.
b. Sociological Aspect
Sociological aspect based on social background of the character, such as social activity, nationality, religion, etc.
c. Psychological Aspect
Psychological aspect means that the analysis will be done through psychological background, such as temperament, abilities, motivation, learning, emotions, attitudes, feelings, dreams, etc.
2.3. Theoretical Framework
This study is focused on describing the main character in The Mark of Athena novel by Rick Riordan. There are some theories applied to analyze the main character in this study. The first theory adopted from Rene Wellek and Austin Warren in Theory of Literature (1977). According to Wellek and Warren, characters are divided into main, secondary, and supporting character based on their function and role in the story (1977: 86).
The second theory comes from Lajos Egri in The Art of Dramatic Writing (1972). Lajos Egri discusses how to construct drama based on conscious revisions for premise and characterization. He states that there are three dimensions of character; they are physiological, psychological, and sociological. The physiological dimension should be identified through physical identity, such as sex, age, physical appearance, etc. The sociological dimension should be connected to the social background including the environment and social activity of the character. The psychological aspects within the works of literature focused on the main character s attitude, feeling, thought, mentality, dreams as well as on what the writers say in the works about it.
2.3.1. Theory of Literature
Literature is imaginative; expresses thoughts and feelings; deals with life experiences; uses words in a powerful, effective and yet captivating manner; and promotes recreation and revelation of hidden facts. A literary work is a result of the writer s imagination. Novel is one of the literary works that often makes the reader curious about the story inside. According to Wellek and Warren in Theory of Literature (1977), there are two types of approaches to analyze literary work, namely intrinsic and extrinsic approach. Extrinsic approach is the approach that is out of the text, such as author s biography, sociology, and psychology. While intrinsic approach is based on the approach of the text itself, such as characters, theme, plot, setting, point of view, and style.
2.3.1.1. Characters
Character is the most important element in a novel. It is not only in the form of human, but also it can be animals. It is interesting to be analyzed because it can guide us to the author s thought expressed in his or her writing. Character is an imagined person who fills up the story. Characters are obviously relevant to us and to our experience if they are like ourselves or like others whom are familiar with us. Since the end 18th century, the art of creating characters, as practiced by actors or writers, has been called characterization. Character can be defined as the entity of the story. Fictional characters in a novel are controlled by the plot and have no history outside that. The characters are the people in a text; they are part of ordinary life that the readers meet as they read. According to Wellek and Warren (1977), a character is the figure that participates in the action and it is expected to be natural or life like. In this case, naming is an important way to reflect the life, the spirit, and the individual of each character and supporting character. According to Wellek and Warren in Sukada s book Pembinaan Kritik Sastra Indonesia Masalah Sistematika Analisis Struktur Fiksi (1986: 92), characters are divided into:
a. Main Character
Main character is the most important in the story and does the most to support the plot. It is mostly narrated by the author and involved to the theme of the story.
b. Secondary Character
Secondary character is the character that plays important role and gives influences to the main character. It helps the main character in forming the theme of the story.
c. Supporting Character
Supporting character is the character that supports the main character in the story, it may take an important part in a story, but incidentally it acts as the supporter.
Eventually, character is different from characterization. Character is someone shown in narrative work, or play, interpreted by the reader that the people has moral quality and particular tendency expressed in utterance and action. While characterization refers to the way the author present and reveal the character.
According to Egri, there are three dimensions of character, they are physiology, sociology, and psychology. Essentially, the dimensions of character are the same as the dimensions of people. This makes character analysis an art in reading people and also a part of psychological analysis.
a. Physiology Aspect
This is the physical aspect of a character, which affects his or her sociological experience and behavior. The physicality of a person in real life makes the first impression, which dictates how a person will be treated, and this, in turn, affects a person s life experience and behavior. A character in a novel is no different because the character also has a physical description somewhere in the text. It is related to appearance of a person, such as eye color, sex, age, skin color, and many other physical appearances.
b. Sociology Aspect
The sociological aspect of a character give affects on the character s behavior. There are several factors at play for this aspect of character, and along with the physiological, these aspects shape behavior.
c. Psychological Aspect
This is the way a character behaves, which is the culmination of that character s physiological and sociological aspects. It is the part of character analysis that involves labeling the character as a type or using adjectives to describe that character. It deals with the nature of human being such as, temperament, abilities, motivation, learning, emotions, attitudes, feelings, dreams, etc.
2.3.1.2. Theme
According to Staton (2007:7), theme gives a strong explained about the unity of what is happening in the story, and tells about the story of life in a common context. The purpose of theme is to give a shape and effect in our mind, so make the story easy to remember. A good theme has to represent the entire story in the novel. Sometimes the theme shapes in to the fact that comes from the human experience. It is explored by the story and then gives impression for each of event in life. On the other words, theme of literary work is the central message, concern or purpose of the story and expressed as a generalization or general statement about people or life.
2.3.1.3. Plot
Staton (2007:26) stated that plot is a series of the events in a story. A certain event affecting another event cannot be ignored because the event will be affecting the entire story. Plot is very close to the existence of the character. According to Staton (2007:29), the character is affecting the plot, if the story only has a few character, there will be more close and simple story. If we do not know the plot of the story, it will be hard to understand what the story tells about. In short, plot is literary element that describes the structure of a story.
Kenney William explains about the structure of plot (1966:17), such as:
(1) Beginning Plot: This part introduces the elements of the story like character, setting, and the picture of a situation in which there exists source of instability. The beginning of the story then, in addition to the necessary exposition, gives us the picture of a situation in which there exist the sources of instability.
(2) Middle Plot: the middle consists of conflict, complication, and climax. The movement from initial statement of conflict to the climax is often referred to as complication. The climax is reached when the complication attains its highest point of intensity, from which point the outcome of the story is derived.
(3) The End of Plot: the end consists of everything from climax to the outcome of the story.
2.3.1.4. Setting
Setting is the environment that surrounds an event in the story, the universe that interacts with the events taking place (Stanton, 2007: 35). It is extremely important to a story because it can have immense effects on the plot and the character. In fiction, setting refers to the point in time and space at which the events of the plot take a place.
Setting is composed by several elements as follows:
1. The actual geographical location including topography, scenery or a room interior;
2. The occupation and modes of data to date existence of the characters; and
3. The times when the action take place.
2.3.1.5. Point of View
According to E. M. Forster in Aspects of the Novel (1956), a story is a narrative of events arranged in their time-sequence, whereas a plot organizes the events according to a sense of causality . Point of view has psychological connection to the readers, and the readers need clear perception about the point of view. The readers understanding about the novel will be influenced by a clear point of view. On the other words, point of view is a narrator s device to indicate the position from which he will narrate his story.
Roberts and Jacobs (1995:183) divided point of view into three kinds, there are first-person point of view, second-person point of view, and third-person point of view.
a. First person point of view (participant)
First person point of view or participant is the use of first person as a narrator of a story; he or she takes a part in the action. In this point of view, the narrator is involved in the story. He or she the I or the character who is telling him or her self awareness, telling event and action that are known, seen, and felt by the character.
b. Second person point of view
The narrator speaks using the pronoun you . It is the least common of voices. Some recent modern novels have been quite successful with it. The second person is often used to create a special relationship between the reader and the work. By using you , the author, in effect, makes the reader a character in the book, rather than just an observer.
c. Third person point of view (non participant)
Third person point of view of the story does not introduce as a character. It has receded from the story, outside of the story and appears character by calling their names or their substitutes he, she, and they. The name of characters, especially main characters is called continuously to make the readers easier to recognize who the character is.
2.3.1.6. Style
Abrams (1999: 303) stated that style has traditionally been defined as the manner of linguistic expression in prose or verse as how speakers or writers say whatever it is that they say. The style specific to a particular work or writer, or else distinctive of a type of writings, has been analyzed in such terms as the rhetorical situation and aim characteristic diction, or choice of words; type of sentence structure and syntax; and the density and kinds of figurative language.
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