1 SHELLEY SEGAL’S REBELLION AGAINST RELIGIOUS INSTITUTION IN AN ATHEIST ALBUM
A THESIS
BY:
RUTH MARTHA FEBRINA HUTASOIT REG.NO.110705095
UNIVERSITY OF SUMATERA UTARA FACULTY OF CULTURAL STUDIES ENGLISH LITERATURE
i SHELLEY SEGAL’S REBELLION AGAINST RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS IN AN ATHEIST ALBUM
A THESIS BY
RUTH MARTHA FEBRINA HUTASOIT REG.NO.110705095
SUPERVISOR CO-SUPERVISOR
Dr. Martha Pardede,M.S. Mahmud Arief Albar,SS. M.A
Submitted to Faculty of Cultural Studies University of Sumatera Utara Medan in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Sarjana Sastra from Department of English
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH
ii Approved by the Department of English, Faculty of Cultural Studies University of Sumatera Utara (USU) Medan as thesis of The Sarjana Sastra Examination.
Head, Secretary,
iii Accepted by the Board of Examiners in partial Fulfillment of requirement for the degree of Sarjana Sastra from the Department of English, Faculty of Cultural Studies University of Sumatra Utara, Medan.
The examination is held in Department of English Faculty of Cultural Studies University of Sumatra Utara on Tuesday April 28, 2015.
Dean of Faculty of Cultural Studies University of Sumatra Utara
Dr. H. Syahron Lubis, MA NIP.19511013 197603 1 001
Board of Examiners
v AUTHOR’S DECLARATION
I, RUTH MARTHA FEBRINA HUTASOIT DELARE THAT I AM THE SOLE AUTHOR OF THIS THESIS EXCEPT WHERE REFERENCE IS MADE IN THE TEXT OF THIS THESIS. THIS THESIS CONTAINS NO MATERIAL PUBLISHED ELSEWHERE OR EXTRACTED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FRO A THESIS BY WHICH I HAVE QUALIFIED FOR OR AWARDED ANOTHER DEGREE. NO OTHER PERSON’S WORK HAS BEEN USED WITHOUT DUE ACKNOWLEDGMENTS IN THE MAIN TEXT OF THIS THESISHAS NOT BEEN SUBMITTED FOR THE AWARD OF ANOTHER DEGREE IN ANY TERTIARY EDUCATION.
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vi COPY RIGHT DECLARATION
NAME : RUTH MARTHA FEBRINA HUTASOIT
TITLE OF THESIS : SHELLEY SEGAL’S REBELLION AGAINST
RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS IN AN ATHEIST ALABUM
QUALIFICATION : S-1/SARJANA
DEPARTMENT : ENGLISH
I AM WILLING THAT MY THESIS SHOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR REPRODUCTION AT THE DISCRETION OF THE LIBRARIAN OF DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH, FACULTY OF CULTURAL STUDIES, UNIVERSITY OF SUMATERA UTARA ON THE UNDERSTANDING THAT USERS ARE MADE AWARE OF THEIR OBLIGATION UNDER THE LAW OF THE REPUBLIC INDONESIA.
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vii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
First of all, I would like to say thank You to my Savior, Jesus Christ for His love and grace to me. No words can express my gratitude for everything He has done for me. Thisthesis is madeonlybecause ofHisgrace, notbecause ofthe greatness ofthe author. I do really thank You, Lord Jesus who never tired to help me.
This is dedicated to my lovely parents. For my father,Drs.Josia Hutasoit who never stopped supporting me from the beginning until the end in writing this thesis. For my mother, Rosida Juwana Sirait, S.KM thank you to your spirit, prays and love to me in each time. Thank you to be my guardian angel whocare about me and teach how to be a patient girl. Then, I would like to say thank you to my grandparents who like to support and prays to me.
I would like to express my deepest appreciation to my supervisor, Dr. Martha Pardede, M.S. and my co-supervisor, Mahmud Arief Albar,SS. M.A who have given my valueable suggetions, knowledge, and also corrections in writing this thesis.
viii Thank you to my sweetest sisters, Kiti and Cici, and my brothers Bang Jun and Muel, and of course tomy the only one nephew, Niel. Thank you to colourful my life so I can be cheerful in my live.
I would like to thank my best friends in English Department, Greacia (bulek), Evcis (ecis) and Renatha (rere), all my friends in English Department students class of 2011 and my juniors from ’12, ’13, and ’14 and also Kak Petra and Kak Apri who have been give inspirations to me. Thank you for Elsa Grace, for our togetherness in during writing our thesis. And the last but not least, thank you for my bestiest, Raymond A. Sitorus, S.T who is always with me in hard and happy times in the process of this thesis. Thank you for the support and prays to me.
The Writter,
ix ABSTRAK
x ABSTRACT
This thesis entitled “SHELLEY SEGAL’S REBELLION AGAINST RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS IN AN ATHEIST ALBUM” analyze about Shelley segal’s decision in her life towards religious regulations. This album consist of seven songs which can be devided into two principal theme of rebellion, they are Rebellion against Religious Institutions and Rebellion against Religious Regulations. Inher rebellionagainstreligiousinstitutions, ShelleySegalfirstlyexpresses her opiniontowards theexistence of God in her songentitledI Don’tBelieve inFairies. In thesong Saved, sherejects thereligious dogmawhich statesthat people needa saviorin their life. InthesongAfterlife, sherebelagainstthe religiousdogmawhich statesthatthere is a life after the death. The next Shelley’s rebellion is towards religious regulations. In song Eve, Shelley rebel against religious regulations which states that every woman should be submit to the man and Shelley rejects these regulations because she thinks that women have the same position as men. In the songGratitude, she expresses that people not to be too religious in their live to be grateful.
RebellionagainsthypocrisyisShelleySegal’scriticismagainsther surrounding communitieswhohave chosenacertain religionbutdo notobeythe rules as express in the
xi TABLE OF CONTENTS
AUTHOR’S DECLARATION ...v
COPYRIGHT DECLARATION ...vi
DEDICATION SHEET ...vii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ...viii
ABSTRACT ... x
TABLE OF CONTENTS ...xi
CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background of the Study ... 1
1.2 Problems of the Study ... 4
1.3 Objective of the Study ... 4
1.4 Scope of the Study ... 5
1.5 Significance of the Study ... 5
CHAPTER II REVIEW OF LITERATURE 2.1 Song as Literary Works... 7
xii
2.2.1 The Elements of Meaning... 10
2.2.2 Structural Devices ... 11
2.2.3 Figure of Speech ... 12
2.2.4 Sound Devices ... 15
2.2.5 Types of Poems ... 16
2.3 Rebellion ... 18
CHAPTER III METHOD OF THE STUDY 3.1 Methodology Research ... 20
3.1.1 Source Data ... 21
3.1.2 Data Collecting ... 21
3.1.3 Data Analysis ... 22
CHAPTER IV DESCRIPTIONS AND FINDINGS 4.1 Rebellion against Religious Institutions ... 23
4.1.1 Rebellious Idea against The Existence of God ... 25
4.1.2 Rebelious Idea against Religious Dogma ... 30
4.2 Rebellion against Religious Regulations ... 41
4.2.1 Rebellious Idea against Religious Regulations ... 41
4.2.2 Rebellious Idea against Hypocrisy ...51
xiii 5.2 Suggestion ... 61
ix ABSTRAK
x ABSTRACT
This thesis entitled “SHELLEY SEGAL’S REBELLION AGAINST RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS IN AN ATHEIST ALBUM” analyze about Shelley segal’s decision in her life towards religious regulations. This album consist of seven songs which can be devided into two principal theme of rebellion, they are Rebellion against Religious Institutions and Rebellion against Religious Regulations. Inher rebellionagainstreligiousinstitutions, ShelleySegalfirstlyexpresses her opiniontowards theexistence of God in her songentitledI Don’tBelieve inFairies. In thesong Saved, sherejects thereligious dogmawhich statesthat people needa saviorin their life. InthesongAfterlife, sherebelagainstthe religiousdogmawhich statesthatthere is a life after the death. The next Shelley’s rebellion is towards religious regulations. In song Eve, Shelley rebel against religious regulations which states that every woman should be submit to the man and Shelley rejects these regulations because she thinks that women have the same position as men. In the songGratitude, she expresses that people not to be too religious in their live to be grateful.
RebellionagainsthypocrisyisShelleySegal’scriticismagainsther surrounding communitieswhohave chosenacertain religionbutdo notobeythe rules as express in the
1 CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of The Study
In Stardust Memories, one of Woody Allen’s movies, there isasceneofa conversationof twomen dealing with their perspective of the existence of God. The first man asks to his friend, “Why is there so much human suffering?” The reply comes back, “This is unanswerable.” So, the first man tries again, “Is there a God?” Later, his friend replays, “These are wrong questions.”
The parable above is not just a mere joke or humorous. This scene depicts the human condition. Lately, the perspective of God has become a common topic to be discussed. This can beevidenced by themovies, songs andotherthings that no longer taboo to talk about the existence of God as the theme. Since a long time ago, people have tried to find out about the existence of God. Peoplebegan towonder wherethe earthandeverything in itis derived from. They begin to think about who made the earth and everything in it because it is beyond of human power. They think that it needed a huge power to make a solar system, and it is God. Scientists are convinced that the universe began with one enormous explosion of energy and light, which called as the Big Bang. This is the singular start to everything that exists: the beginning of the universe and all things in it. Astrophysicist Robert Jastrowstates:
"The seed of everything that has happened in the Universe was planted in that first instant; every star, every planet and every living creature in the Universe came into being as a result of events that were set in motion in the moment of the cosmic explosion...The Universe flashed into being, and we cannot find out what caused that to happen."
2 Moreover, Steven Weinberg, a Nobel laureate in Physics (2013: 63), says “The universe was about a hundred thousand million degrees Centigrade...and the universe was filled with light." The universehas abeginningbutno one knowswho the creator. It had a start, but the scientists have no explanation for the sudden explosion of light and matter. It is that makes some people concludes that there is an enormous power to make the entire universe, and its great power is named God.
The existence ofGodis often identifiedwith religion. Even though the religion and God has a close relationship, but both have different meanings. Chan (2006:3) said that God refers to an all-good, all-powerful, all-knowing, eternal creator of the world than religion is formed because it believes the presence of God. Religion is organized and structured, since it is an institution formed by people to be obeyed by its followers.
Religious institution teaches about what people should do and shouldn’t. People start placing themselves in a religious institution and follow the dogma, but not all people want to be religious in their life, Shelley Segal for instance. She ignores the existence of God and the rules because she wants to live in freedom.
Shelley Segal is an Australian-Jewish singer and a song writer who likes to express her feeling in beautiful songs. Shelley was born in Melbourne and she follows her father’s professions as a musician, especially as a guitarist, singer and song writer. She is interested in folk-rock genres and has published six albums since 2009.
3 where at the end she prefer to rebel against religious institutions and has her own way. It is very interesting to discuss because Shelley lives in religious family where her father is known as a local president of synagogue but later she rebel against religious institutions to get freedom and prefer not to obey in any religions. Shelley Segal’s figure represents most human figures nowadays who don’t want to be bounded by any rules. She wants to do what she likes and regardless any religious rules.
The creativeness of Shelley Segal is expressed in her albums. Each song which produced based on her own feeling or experiences. An Atheist Album is the first of Shelley’s album. It talks about her perspective towards the idea of religious institution such as about the existence of God, the dogma, religious regulations and hypocracy. This album consists of seven songs that express the way of life she chose. There are seven songs in this album; they are Afterlife, House with No Walls, Saved, Apocalyptic Song, Eve, I Don’t Believe in Fairies and Gratitude. Each song conveys her perspective towards belief in God. Shelley Segal’s lyrics interpret her view or her motto “Find Your Own Way and Be Happy”. She lives by her own way and doesn’t care of what people talk about.
4 Franciss Scott Key gives argument about the relationship between song and poetry. He says:
“Both poetry and song are literary poems that deal with emotion of a particular individual, regarding a particular situation. Furthermore, poetry verses and lines of song often follow a rhyming scheme giving a sense of melody to the verses, even when the lines are merely recited. There are a number of different lyrics used in songs that derived from poetry. The lyrics of the song were actually derived from the poem of the same title and written”,
(Key, 2003: 101)
So does John Dryden (1966:38) who says, “Poetry is articulate music”. In conclusion, it can be says that poetry and music are similar in characteristics.
1.2 Problems of The Study
An Atheist Album is an album that expresses Shelley Segal’s rebellion against religious institutions to how she chose her live. There are several questions related to this background to help find ideas in this thesis, they are:
1. How is Shelley Segal’s rebellion against religious institutions towards the existence of God and dogma expressed in An Atheist Album?
2. How are the issues of Shelley Segal’s rebellion against religious regulations?
1.3 Objectives of The Study
5 1. To find out how is Shelley Segal’s rebellion against religious institutions
towards the existance of God and dogma expressed in Shelley Segal’s album “An Atheist Album”
2. To know the issues of rebellion against religious regulations expressed in Shelley Segal’s album “An Atheist Album”
1.4 Scopes of The Study
In analyzing these songs, this thesis needs a scope of study in order to avoid an excessive analysis. This thesis focuses on issues of rebellion in Shelley Segal’s perspectives which are described in her album entitled An Atheist Album. There are some perspectives which are connected to the issues of rebellion against religious institutions. They are: rebellion against the existence of God, rebellion against religious dogma, rebellion against religious institutions and rebellion against hypocrisy. These themes are implied in her songs:
1. Afterlife, talks about believe regarding afterlife 2. House with no Walls, talks about believe in a God 3. Saved, talks about salvation
4. Eve, talks about religious laws/regulations
6 1.5 Significance of The Study
Every literary works have significance to be submitted, because there some writer’s message implied in their works. A song is not only consists of words by words which can be sung but also has a meaning in it. Each song in An Atheist Album has a significance to be submitted. This thesis provides the significance of analysis, they are:
1. This thesis is made to answer the curiosity of the writer towards the rebellion found in songs because religious institution has become a common thing to be talked.
7 CHAPTER II
REVIEW RELATED LITERATURE
2.1 Song as Literary Works
Nowadays, people have been familiar with the presence of music. Since the first time, music is not only a vehicle for expression, but it is also a way to mobilize and inspire listeners to think differently and take action.Music can be heard by all people whether they are young or old, poor or rich, and educated or not. Musicis presentedas aninstrument ofsongthatcan besung byeveryone. Therefore, music is easily accepted in society until this period.
Music is one of instruments which can’t be separated with human life. Musicis a human activity which involves structured, audible sounds and is used for artistic, entertainment or ceremonial purposes. The development of musichasa big impactto human lifeinvariousaspects, such aspolitical, social,cultural, orevenreligion. The development of the music itself is indicated by the growth of several genres of songs, like, Hip Hop, Reggae, Metal, Pop, Rock n 'Roll, Jazz, etc. These music genres show that music affects a lot of people and make them want to know and explore more about the music.
8 differentfromothermusicgenresbecausethisgenresungwithloudinstrumentsandusingharsh words. RockorRockn'Roll usuallyexpresscriticism tosomepeopleorevenrebellion against therules whichconveyedthroughmusic. Frank Sinatra in his book entitled Taboo Tunes: A History of Banned Bands & Censored Songs expresses that:
“Rock ‘n Roll smells phony and false. It is sung, played and written for the most part by cretinous goons and by means of its almost imbecilic retardation and sly, lewd in plain fact dirty lyrics, it manages to be the martial music of every side-burned delinquent on the face of the earth” (Sinatra, 2004:45)
The development of music is notonlyshownbya variety of genres, but italsoshownina widevariety ofmusicalthemeswritteninto thelyrics ofthe song. Before 18th century, the theme of music usually talks about love, nature and everything that is beautiful, but by the following time, the theme of music to be so diverse, such as talking about the political, social, cultural or even God.
In 20th century, people have a freedom in expressing their mind, feeling, attitude without any judgments. This period is knownasPostmodernismwhere noexactbinding rulesso peoplehave a freedomto expresstheirlives. Postmodernism is hard to define, because it is a concept that appears in a wide variety of disciplines or areas of study, including art, architecture, music, film, literature, sociology, communications, fashion, and technology. It's hard to locate it temporally or historically, because it's not clear exactly when postmodernism begins. Dennis Mc Callum (in Proctor,2012:17) argues:
9 The development of music is one the characteristic of Postmodernism where people can express their mind in music. In addition to providingsomegreat impact, this periodalsogivessomenegativeeffects, one of themisrebellion. Rebellious is an attitude which rejected or resistingsomeestablishedauthority,government,ortradition and regulations. Rebellioncan beexpressedin various ways, includingmusic. Musicbecomesone of thetools commonlyusedtoexpressrebellioninsociety. It isbecausemusic can beacceptedin all people.
The power of song or music is in lyrics itself. Music also uses figurative speech to deliver the meaning as well as poetry. Poetry is a kind of literary works. Wellek and Warren classified literature into three categories or genres; they are novel, drama and poetry. Poetry has the same characteristics with the song, especially in expressing the ideas of the writer. Poetry also usually used as the media in expressing the feeling of the writer or even the social condition at that time.
10 Since the eighteenth century, people have used thepoemasa songto expresstheir ideas, Popefor instance. At that time, Pope has used poetry to explore his ideas in order to preach the epistle. It shows that song and poetry have the same function which not only amuses the reader or listener, but it also as a way in order to influence people. The relation between song and poetry as one of literature is also expressed by Wellek and Warren in their book entitled Theory of Literature which says:
“The relationships of literature with the fine arts and music are highly various and complex. Sometimes poetry has drawn inspiration from paintings or sculpture or music. Like natural objects and persons, other works of art may become the themes of poetry. Those poets have described pieces sculpture, painting, or even music presents no particular theoretical problem.”
(Wellek and Warren, 1949:125)
2.2The Elements of Poetry
11 2.2.1 The Elements of Meaning
L. G. Alexander classifies the elements of meaning into three kinds, they are: a. General Meaning
This should be expressed simply in one, or at the most sentences. It should be based on a reading whole poem. Very often, but not always, a poem’s title will give you some indication of its general meaning.
b. Detailed Meaning
Detailed meaning should be given stanza by stanza, but this should not paraphrase the poem or worry about the meaning of individual words. The detailed meaning may be written as continuous paragraph, but you must take every care to be accurate and to express yourself in simple sentences. Similarly people must pay special attention to the prose style by showing how the poet begins, how he develops his theme and then how he should make some rough attempt in your reading to divide the lines into fairy self-contained groups.
c. Intention
12 most important to explain what you have understood a poet’s purpose to be. Just as it is impossible to give the meaning of the poem if you have read it carefully, it is impossible to appreciate the poem if you are unable to define the poet’s intentions of the writer are simply the means.
2.2.2 Structural Devices
Structural devices consist of three elements as the indicates that a poem has been built into a good poetry and make the reader easy to found the meaning.
a. Repetition
Poet often repeats single lines or whole stanza at intervals to emphasize a particular idea. Repetition is to be found in poetry which is aiming a special musical effect or when a poet wants us to pay very close intention to something. Below is the example of repetition in Filling Station by Elizabeth bishop.
b. Contrast
This is one of the most common of all structural devices. It occurs when tried find two completely opposite pictures side by side. Sometimes the contrast is immediate obvious and sometimes implied.
c. Illustration
13 2.2.3 Figure of Speech
Figure of speech is one elements of poetry which talk about the figure and symbol used in poetry. Wren and Martin (1981:488) state that figure of speech is a departure from the ordinary form of expression or the ordinary course of ideas in order to produce a greater effect. This definition explained that figure of speech related what is called connotative meaning. Figure of speech divided into:
a. Simile
A simile defines as a comparison of two things for purposes of explanation, allusion, or ornament introduced by a word such as ‘as’, ‘like’, or ‘such’. Simile usually used in order to comparing two different things.
b. Metaphor
Metaphor describes something as though it actually were something else, thereby enhancing understanding and insight (Robert and Jacobs 1995:649). Metaphor is always a two sided things, they are the original literal meaning of the world and a new transferred meaning. Metaphor can help a poet to achieve the conversation, to arrange some word into little space and also shape a reader’s attitude.
c. Personification
14 d. Hyperbole
Hyperbole is commonly used in daily conversation and also in all kinds of literature, such as prose and drama. Hyperbole is used to make the object become greater than real object. Wren and Martin (1981: 491) state, “In hyperbole a statement is made emphatic by overstatement”. It means that some words which are used in a poem is overstatement from true meaning.
e. Metonymy
Metonymy is the substitution of one term for another with which is closely associated. Metonymies using a word where that word have understand by other people. Metonymy is a figure of speech that uses a concept closely related to the thing actually meant. X. J Kennedy (1991:595) gives definition about metonymy. He said that metonymy is the substitution of one term for another with which is closely associated.
f. Symbol
15 g. Antithesis
Antithesis is a device for placing opposing the ideas in grammatical parallel. For example: speech is silver, silence is golden.
h. Irony
Irony is a verbal device which implies an attitude which quite different to literary expressed. Harry Shaw (1972:208) states that a figure of speech in which the literal (denotative) meaning of a word or statement in the opposite of that intended.
i. Allegory
Allegory is a figure of speech which consist an exaggerated statement which is not meant be taken literary. It is an abstractions presented in concrete imagery, almost always the form of a humanized character.
j. Euphemism
Euphemism is figure of speech in which a mild or vogue expression is substituted for a harsh or blunt one.
2.2.4 Sound Devices
16 feminine ending, alliteration, assonance, onomatopoeia, euphony, cacophony. For analyzing sound devices, it can be analyzing into:
a. Alliteration
Alliteration is the repetition of the same sound at frequent intervals.
b. Onomatopoeia
Onomatopoeia imitates sounds and thus suggests the object described. Scott defines it as the formation of words from sounds which seem to suggest and reinforce the meaning when applied to the choice of words in poetry, where by the sound is made ‘an echo to the sense’, and has real value.
c. Rhyme
Rhyme usually occurs at the end of a poetic line.
d. Assonance
Assonance is the repeating of stressed vowel sound.
2.2.5 Types of Poems a. Ode
17 b. The Epic
Epic is the most ambitious kinds of poetry deals with great heroes whose action determined the fate of their nation or of mankind. To read the world’s true epic in the original we would have to know, Greek, Latin, Italian.
c. The Elegy
The elegy is written to express the feeling of sorrow or loss. The elegy is often to commemorate some one’s death.
d. The Pastoral
The pastoral usually uses the fiction that all character concerned shepherds and shepherdess. The very name is derived from the Latin pastor meaning “Shepherd” and is related to pasture or meadow.
e. Satire
18 f. Epigram
Epigram is the brief form of all poems. It is may be a short as two lines, indeed the shorter the more effective. The qualities of a good epigram are pithiness, point and neatness of a form.
2.3 Rebellion
Albert Camus in his book entitled Resistence, Rebellion and Death: Essays argues that the only way to deal with a unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your existence is an act of rebellion. However, rebellion refers to the action of some people or group in order to reject the authority because of wanted some changes.
Rebellion is a kind of behavior with some reasons. No behavior comes without any reason. Somereasons of rebellionare usually causedfromfamiliesandsocietywhich are not integrated well. How parents behave and the social condition really gives a great impact on people. What the parents preached and how they behave give a big impact in their children’s personal life. In addition, when their children try to reject their behaviour, so it is a signal that their children tried to do rebellion. A rebellious person likes to choose another way and live without rules.
19 There are some kinds of rebellion, such rebellious idea towards religious regulations, rebellious idea towards religious dogma, rebellious idea towards the existence of God and rebellious idea towards hypocrite people. ThisthesisusesReligion and the Rebel book in analyzingofrebellionin addition tousing Poetry and Prose: Appreciation for Overseas Student book which talks about the structure of poetry. This thesis focuses on rebellion against religious institutions. Rebellion explained by Colin Wilson in his book entitled Religion and the Rebel. Colin says:
“I have tried to show how religion, the backbone of civilization, hardens into a Church that is unacceptable to Outsiders, and the Outsiders — the men who strive to become visionaries — become the Rebels. In our case, the scientific progress that has brought us closer than ever before to conquering the problems of civilization, has also robbed us of spiritual drive; and the Outsider is doubly a rebel: a rebel against the Established Church, a rebel against the unestablished church of materialism. Yet for all this, he is the real spiritual heir of the prophets, of purest religion of any age lies in the hands of its spiritual rebels.” (Colin, 1957: 320)
21 CHAPTER III
METHOD OF THE STUDY
3. 1 Methodology of Research
A methodology research needs to be conducted in order to help finding the implied data. In book The Elements of Library Research: What Every Student Needs to Know, George (2008:6-8) talks about some kinds of methodology research, they are; Library, Experimental, Explicatory, Field, Observational, Interview, Survey, Longitudinal, Archival, Qualitative, Quantitative, Empirical and Theoretical.
Library research and qualitative method are used to support to analyze the data. Library research is a methodology where the researcher took the data from the book or the written text. George (2008:1) said that library research is not a mystery or lucky dodge, but an investigation you control from the start to finish, you cannot usually tell what sources you will discover. Library research is a form of structured inquiry with specific tools, rules, and techniques.
22 Furthermore, George (2008:7) also says, “Qualitative research designates any research whole result are capture in words, images, or nonnumeric symbol, for instance research on dreams”. Johannsen and Kajberd (2005: 11) added that in qualitative research, the generalizability of research result does not depend on the sample and data gathering, procedures but on the method of analysis and the formulation research questions.
Talking about qualitative research can’t be separated with talking about quantitative research. Different from qualitative research, quantitative research serve data into tables, numbers or diagrams. This thesis uses qualitative research because data which will be analyzed in words and do not need to use tables or numbers to present the data. This thesis will analyze the secondary data by apply the qualitative research.
3. 1. 1 Sources Data
This thesis tried to find out about Shelley Segal’s feeling toward religious institutions in her album entitled An Atheist Album. The data presented in this analysis are intended to describe about rebellion found on those songs. Library research is used on this analysis because the data are taken from some books, articles, and it will be completed by some data which are taken from internet. The data which are going to be analyzed in this thesis are the texts itself in An Atheist Album. They are Afterlife, House with No Walls, Saved, Eve, I Don’t Believe in Fairies, Gratitude and Apocalyptic Love
23 3. 1. 2 Data Collecting
After taking the data from some books and internet, so the procedure needs another step in order to get the main idea of Shelley Segal’s rebellion on religious institutions. The next step is collecting the data.
The processes of collecting data in this analysis are:
1. Listen to all Shelley Segal’s songs in An Atheist Album and understand the lyrics 2. Read the book or search some data and information in internet to know about
Shelley Segal personal life in order to find the things that influence her 3. Select these cases, determine and analysis data
4. Evaluate and prepare to report
3. 1. 3 Data Analysis
24 CHAPTER IV
DESCRIPTIONS AND FINDINGS
4.1 Rebellion Against Religious Institutions
The term religion comes from Latin, religare, which means “to tie orto bind”. Moreover, religion can be defined as an institution which ties or binds its followers by its regulations. Religion involves more than a simple belief in the existence of God or even a complex belief regarding supernatural beings. Instead, religiousbeliefsinvolvelinkingmoral values, position in society, the meaning of life, rituals and all things which are connected through people and God. Shoni Labowitz in his book, God, Sex and Women of the Bible, expresses the definition of religion:
“Religion is an institution established by man for various reasons. Exert control, instill morality, stroke egos or whatever it does. Organized, structured religions all but remove God from the equation. You confess your sins to a clergy member, go to elaborate churches to worship, and told what to pray and when to pray it. All those factors remove from your god.”
(Labowitz, 1998: 10)
25 How do we know that God exists, while hecannot be seen? That is a common question emerging in society. It is not easy to answer, because the experience of each person towards God is different. Kelley Mahoney (in Nye 2003:56) says:
“Understanding that God is there when we can’t see him sometimes takes some reminding. A great place to turn when we’re feeling abandoned or doubting God’s existence is the Bible itself. God’s word reminds.”
(2003:56)
In Mahoney’s perspective, to understand about God can be found in the Holy Book itself, because each person has a different perspective of God. Religion ties person who belief the existence of God by making some regulations that must be obeyed by its followers. Time by time, religionhas evolvedandemergedmany kinds of religionsinthe world. Global Religious Landscape released in 2010shows thatbased on the analysis of the approximately 230 countries in the world more than 2,500 censuses, surveys and population registers that there are at least 9 kinds of religion evolved in the world
(Retrieved frompewforum.org).This showsthatmanypeoplehave chosentolivereligiouslyandreadyto follow theexistingrules. However, not all people want
to be too religious in their lives.
26 reject the existence of God and the regulations because she wants to follow things that can be seen.
Shelley Segal is a songwriter and singer who likes to express her feeling in beautiful songs. In her album, An Atheist Album, she clearly shows her rebellion against religious institutions towards the existence of God and dogma and religious regulations. In the middle of her life journey, she found that many unfair regulations in religious life, such as a woman who should submit to the man. Personally, Shelley likes to live in a freedom where no one ties her, even religious regulations. In An Atheist Album, sheclearlyexpressesher rebellionagainstseveraltypes ofreligious institutions and religious regulations and choosesher own waytobe an atheist to getfreedom.
This thesis focuses on some kinds of rebellions against religious institutions towards the existence of God and religious dogma and rebellion against religious regulations written in An Atheist Album. There are two kinds of Shelley Segal’s rebellions against religious institutions which are expressed in songs entitled Eve, Gratitude, Saved, Afterlife, I Don’t Believe in Fairies, House with No Walls and Apocalyptic Love Song.
27 4.1.1 Rebellious Idea Against The Existence of God
Religion and God or supernatural power have a close relationship. A religion is made of the belief in God’s presence and makes a few ways to get closer to God. People began to think that God is in the highest place that cannot be reached by man and His power is beyond human logic. Thiscauses people to make various regulations that can make them closer to God. Before realizing the existence of God, people had realized another power in the Earth, such as ghosts, fairies, goddesses, etc. Until this time, the topic ofthe existence of Godandothersupernaturalthingsare stilldiscussedinseveralaspects ofhuman life. But, the recognition of the existence of God is not followed by faith of its follower.
28 useless. Further, in this song Shelley says that she is not only rebelling against a religious institution, but also to all religious institutions.
The SongI Don’tBelieveFairiesisthe sixthsong in An Atheist Albumwhich describes Shelley’s attitude towardsreligious institution through the existence of God. From the title, the readercanunderstandthatthissongspeaksabout therebelliousattitudetowardssupernatural things. The song is writtenprimarilybyusingrepetitionI do notbelieve in, itmeansthatShelleywants toinserther feelingsthatshe does notbelieve in the existence of God and any supernatural things. Inthissong sheuseslessfigurativespeechandusesimple words because shewantsthe reader focusonthe meaning in thissonglyric.
I don’t believe in fairies I don’t believe in ghosts I don’t believe in vampires Hungry for our throats
(I don’t believe in Fairies-stanza 1)
29 Shelley does not only describe that she does not believe in ghosts, but also mention that she also does not believe in vampires, I don’t believe in vampires-line 3. Vampireportrayedasa ghostwholikesto suckthe bloodfromthe throat, Hungry for our throats-line 4. Inthe first stanza shedescribes thevarioustypes offairies whicharecommonlyheard bychildren. Thisshowsthatsincethe early children have beenintroduced withvariouskinds ofsupernatural powers.
I don’t believe in Jesus I don’t believe in Zeus I don’t believe in Allah I think they have no use
(I don’t believe in Fairies-stanza 4)
30 against religious institutions, but she also mocks them. It seems that she wants to show her desire to live in freedom which doesn’t believe in a specific religion and follow its regulations.
I don’t believe in heaven I don’t believe in hell
I don’t believe that we are children Who need to fear to behave well (I don’t believe in Fairies-stanza 7)
Religious institutions usually teach what people should do and shouldn’t. As a reward to someone who obey all the regulations is heaven while those who break the rules is hell. Moreover, unfortunatelyShelley does not choose one of them. In line 23, she immediately expresses that she does not believe in heaven, I don’t believe in heaven -line 23 or in hell, I don’t believe in hell-line 24. Religious institutionsteach its followersto be faithfullike a childbecausethe childis stillpureandspiritso thattheycan be morefaithfulandspiritedinobeyingthe rules. Still, Shelleyrebelagainagainstthisstatement. She thinksa child isobeying the rulesbecauseheis afraid of being punished.Shesaidthat she would notactas childrenwho are afraidof punishmentso thatthey will behavewell, Who need to fear to behave well-line 25.
I don’t believe in salvation I don’t believe in sin
I don’t believe it will be easy But I believe that reason can win (I don’t believe in Fairies-stanza 8)
31 rebellion against Christianity rather than other religious institutions, stanza nine for instance. This stanza expresses that Shelley thinks about the salvation, but she mentions that she will not believe in a savior, I don’t believe in salvation-line 26. In the song Saved, Shelley has mentioned that she doesn’t believe in salvation, even the consequence if she does not believe it, she will not be saved. Then, she adds that she also doesn’t believe in sin, I don’t believe in sin-line 27. Shelley has mentioned her doubt towards some mythology and religious rules, but the line 29 she shows that she believes the reasons can win over it all, But I believe that reason can win-line 29. Shelley writes this song by using less figurative speech but strong in repetition, in ninth and tenth stanzas for instance. Ninth stanza is the repetition from third stanza. This stanza talks about her courageous that she is not afraid of being in dark situation because she considers that all supernatural things is only human’s imagination, Of creations imaginations have made-line 32. As in the ninth stanza, tenth stanza is also a repetition from the sixth stanza. This stanza also repeats her place when in the dark, but she will not be afraid because she thought that it is only her and what she face, I know it’s only me and what I face-line 35.What her face in this case is refers to the problems that should she face in her life. Dark place refers to difficult situation in her life, it expresses that in this situation she is not afraid of anything that she should face.
32 Shelley also expresses her rebellion against all religious institutions by saying that they are useless and she takes responsibility for herself and her own actions.
4.1.2 Rebellious Idea Against Religious Dogma
Religious institutionis notjust talking aboutthe rulesthathave tobe obeyedbyit followers. Dogma becomes one of the essential things in religious institution besides the religious regulations. Dogma has a wide meaning. Based on Wikipedia, dogma’s definition is:
“Dogma is the principle or set of the principles laid down by an authority as incontrovertibly true. It serves as part of the primary basis of an ideology or belief system, and it cannot be changed or discarded without affecting the very system’s paradigm, or the ideology itself. The term can refer to acceptable opinions of philosophers or philosophical schools, public decrees, religion or issued decisions of political authorities”.
(Retrieved from wikipedia.org)
Dogma is being one of the important thing in religious institutions since it refer to the ideology or belief system. Eduoardo Le Roy (in Gregoriana1985:96) also defines dogma. He states:
“Dogma are not simply dark and enigmatic formulae that God promulgates in the name of his omnipotence in order to humble the pride of our mind. They have a moral and practical sense. They have a vital sense more or less accessible to us, according to the degree of spiritually we have attained.”
Gregoriana (1985:96)
33 plays an important role in religious life. Each religion has different dogmas and regulations.
In An Atheist Album, ShelleySegalalsocriticizes religious dogma. Religious dogmais aprinciplewhichcan be foundinreligious institutionsasthe characteristics of eachreligion. In this album, Shelley rebels against the religious institutions which talks about dogma that people need a savior in their lives so they can be saved as expressed in the song entitled Saved. Morever, she also criticizes another dogma which talks about the issue of afterlife as expressed in the song Afterlife. These dogmas are the issues found in her society and have disturbed her mind for a long time. She isrebellingagainstthese issuesbecause shehas anopinionwhich iscontrary tothesedogmas. In the songsSaved and Afterlife, Shelleyclearlystates to rebellingagainstthese issuesandtrytofind her own way.
The song Saved is probably the most critical song in this album. This song is the expression of Shelley’s rebellion against the dogma which says that people need a salvation in their life so they can be saved. Saved is a song which expresses a direct mockery that she needs a salvation and when she refuses, she would be punished. Shelley was born in Jews family where her father was known as the local president of Synagogue, so the mockery of a salvation has been familiar to her.
Say that i need to be saved
Say with me the devils got his way
I want to know how when you are praying And when you are dooms-daying
34 The meaning in the first stanza is to shows the rebellion of Shelley Segal towards the isuues in the society. This stanza showing the sound device of onomatopoeia where each lines in this stanza uses consonant ‘S’. In the first line of first stanza, Shelley doesn’t use any metaphor or another figurative of speech to open her lyrics. She directly talks about the issues of dogma that she needs to be saved, Say that I need to be saved -line 1. When she says that she needs to be saved, it seems that she wants to show the reader that she is in danger. Danger in this case is referring to the life nowadays, which becomes difficult and life can be hard. Then on the following line Shelley shows her attitude towards the issue. She disagrees with the issue and rebel against it. She challenges the people to show her if the devil gets his way when she is saved, Say with me the devils got his way-line 2. Shelley expresses her doubt towards the issues that she must be saved and the devils will go away. Then Shelley challenges how holy they are that they dare to judge her to be saved or not. She wants to know how when they are praying, how close they are with God, I want to know how when you are praying-line 3. Shelley continues to challenges the people in the following lines. She wants to know when they are dooms-dying, to prove whether it is true that they are saved or not, And when you are dooms-daying-line4. Later, she closes the first paragraph by expressing her feeling to people by mocking them of how they will know when someone listens to what they are saying, How you think you know that someone is listening to what you are saying-line4. She thinks that people around her are talking too much without realizing whether their words are accepted or not.
So you think that you
Can tell us how to live our lives
35 I wonder, I wonder
When we’ll be rid of your lies (Saved-stanza 3)
Shelleyconstantlyexpressesher rebellionin thenext stanza. She turns to ask people to prove how good their lives, Can tell us how to live our lives-line 7. Shelley knows how people live their lives where not all people are too religious in their life, but unfortunately they like to force her to accept the salvation that she will be saved. Shelley seems to be disturbed with this issue because it is so incompatible with her character. Shelley describes people todays as she has written in the song House With No Walls, she shows her feeling in order to reject her friend’s attitude which chooses a certain religion but at the last he doesn’t follow the regulations at all. Her friend is the picture of people todays who have decided to choose a certain religion but later they don’t follow the regulation at all and this condition which makes Shelley rebel against the religious institution.
36 between religion and human life.She mentions that she hesitates to this statement. Shelley uses repetition in word wonder, this is to emphasize that she is really hesitate of this statement.
What will it take for you To start opening your eyes
To start questioning the bullshit everyone around you buys
You think it’s any of your business what goes on between my thighs? I wonder, I wonder,
When we’ll be rid of your lies (Saved-stanza 5)
37 people saying about need a salvation is just a lies, and what she wants to do is riding the lies and living in her perspective.
In the songSaved, Shelley expresses the rebellious idea against the issues in society which talks about the Christianity dogma of salvation. It implies that Shelley does not only live in the religious family, but she also lives in the religious society. This is indicatedbythe issues in her society which is connected withreligious lawandbecome the themein one of her song entitled Savedwhich is the expression of rebellion against religious dogma towards what people said about the necessity to have salvation so that they will be saved. Actually, Shelley Segal's rebellion against religious dogma is not only talking about salvation, she also criticizes about the afterlife. As well as in the song Saved, the songAfterlife also contains the issues of religious dogma in her society. Afterlife raises issues concerning the return of the Messiah, and the end of life in which most religions believe the existence of heaven and hell.
The song Afterlife deals with the issues arising from religious dogma regarding an afterlife. These issues include religious dogma about the coming of the Messiah, the belief in an immortal soul and the belief about heaven. From this song, Shelley expresses her attitude towards these issues. These issuesare talking aboutthe end of the timewherethere is noevidenceonthisissue. These issuesaffectShelleySegalin writingthissong. Finally, after Shelleysays about the issue of the return of the Messiah who saved the people, she then reveals her choice of life on these issues
38 (Afterlife-stanza 1)
In the first stanza, Shelley opens the song by saying the issue which stuck in her minds, it is about afterlife. She says that to have a life after the afterlife or doomsday she needs a guidebook, Follow the guidebook for an afterlife-line 1. Guidebook talks about what should people done and shouldn’t. Moreover, a guidebook in this line is a metaphor which refers to the Holy Book, or in other hands Shelley wants to criticize the regulations in Holy Book. In the following line, Shelley expresses her confusion about this situation. Shefeels confuse whether to followwhat is saidinthe Holy Bookornot. It is because she has heard the issues that she will not be saved if she does not accept the savior. Then, she will get the consequences if she does not follow it, she will not has a life after the afterlife. But, her confusion does not take a lot of time; she immediately shows her choice on the following line which says that she will believe that she will not be dying,I’d like to believe that i’ll never die-line 3. This statement implies that she doesn’t believe either the Holy Book or afterlife. She prefers not to comply with the guidebook which shows in the fourth line that she uses figurative speech of repetition to emphasize her choice that she will not believe the guidebook, But I can’t comply, no I can’t comply-line 4. This statementdescribes thehuman charactersin this periodwhodo notwant to be boundedbyrules.
Thousands and thousands are humming that the second comings coming And environmental responsibility is succumbing
To the suicidal longing for paradise
40 the second coming, but in fact they have never seen it before, Can’t we see it’s already before our eyes?!-line18. She argues that the issue is only nonsense. This showsthe attitude ofrebellionagainstreligiousdogmaof salvationby rejectingthe Holy Bookandrejected the second coming.
All that makes us who we are we find, cannot survive without a mind But you’re so afraid to die you’re willing to sacrifice
Living through it all with the knowledge that you have only ONE LIFE (Afterlife-stanza 6)
In the sixth stanza, Shelley expresses the reason why people decided to choose a certain religion. She mentions that people are too afraid to die, that's why they chose a religion which offers a life after theafterlife, although they have to make sacrifices in the world to be saved,But you’re so afraid to die you’re willing to sacrifice-line 20. This is in accordance with what has been said before that people are too busy to think of paradise so they forget to environmental responsibility. From this statement it is known that the salvation is not free, people have to make sacrifices in their lives to be saved. Then, Shelleysays that she still believes in heropinion that there is only one life and nolifeafterthe death, Living through it all with the knowledge that you have only ONE LIFE-line 24. Fromthis statement,it can be seenthatShelley'slifebased on her knowledge, not byfaith. Shelley likes to compare the Biblical ruling with her knowledge and perspective becauseshe onlybelievesto what canbe seenandproven, notjusta mere issue.This describes the character of Shelley, who prefers seeking the truth to trusting the issues, including in religious life.
41 Using the body of knowledge which is our shared heritage to further
understand
The historical and evolutionary context of man (Afterlife- stanza 9)
In the ninth stanza, Shelley describes what she has done in this life. Sheexpressesthat she istryingtofollowthe worldbecause shewants tofeel close withothers,I spend my days, trying to engage with the world-line 29. Why does she want to be close to the world? This is because she wants to learn everything as much as what she could learn. She wants to expand her knowledge more than trusting the issues towards the salvation.Thislive showsthat shewants tobe closerto theworldly thingsrather thanreligious thingswhich are notproven.Still, unfortunately, the knowledge does not make her accept the existence of God. By comparing all the Biblical rulings, she makes a conclusion not to believe in any religion and chooses to follow her own way as an atheist. This is in accordancewith thefeelingsthat shewritesinline 31,Using the body of knowledge which is our shared heritage to further understand. In addition, she explains that a person who holds a higher revelation is like spitting to people who choose to dedicate their lives to enriching in many aspects of life, To hold revelation in a higher place is to spit in the face of those who chose to dedicate their lives to enrich our
42 sherebelledagainst thereligious dogmaanddoes notwant tobe boundedbyanyrulesbecause shewants tolive in freedom.
Afterlifeis asongthat was createdasa criticism of theissueof theguidebookwhich talksabout the lifeafterdeath. Guidebook in this case is refers to the Holy Bible. When in the song Saved Shelley expresses about people who judge her to receive the Messiah so that she will be saved, then in this song she continues that she believes there is no life after death so that she does not need to believe in that Holy Book. In this song, Shelley expresses her feelings that she believes there is only one life, so she prefers to trust in knowledge rather than religious issues. This songconsistsofelevenstanzasandeach stanzatalks aboutissuestowardthe second coming,the reasonwhy sheshouldbelieve in theguidebook, andthe reason shedoes notbelievethe guidebook. Shelley wasbornfroma religiousfamily, so she has understoodaboutsome of therules ofthe Bible, but shelikestocompare thereligiousregulationswiththe knowledgeandfinally shechoosesher ownnot tofollowanyreligiousinstitution.
The songsSaved and Afterlife talk about the same theme of the religious dogma which develops in Shelley Segal’s environments. These songsarewrappedinmelody, but the meanings of every word in these songs expressher rebellionagainstreligious dogma towards salvation. In Savedsong, Shelleyexpressesher thoughtstowards the issuewhich saysthat sheneeds asaviorso that shecanbe saved. This songdescribesthat the world is increasinglyroughandthat'swhypeopleneed a salvationin their lives. In contrastwiththe peoplearound him, Shelleyshowsher contrast attitude by rebelling against religionandchoosingher own way as the atheist. Furthermore, in thesongAfterlife
43
issueswhichsaysthateverypersonshouldfollowtheguidebookso thattheywillbe savedandhave alifeafterthe afterlife.Inthis song, she also expressesher rebellionby
comparingthe religious ruleswithknowledge. Further, this song describesthe character ofShelleywhichlikesto believewhat canbe seen bythe eyethanto believewhat she had never seen.
4.2 Rebellion against Religious Regulations
Emile Durkheim argues that the religion is comprised the sacred elements of social life. Durkheim also identifies collective interests and group unity as part of sacred, whereas individual concerns fall into profane category (Retrieved fr Emile Durkheim argues that the elements of a religion are comprised of the scared elements of social life. It means that religion cannot stand without the relationship between its regulation and the society. Religious regulation takes the most important place in life to organize the social life. Shoni Labowitz in his book, God, Sex and Women of the Bible, (1998: 89) also expresses that a conventional social scientific view understands religion as a group’s collective beliefs and rituals relating to the supernatural.
This thesis analysis Shelley Segal’s rebellion against religious regulations. There are two aspects which Shelley rebel against religious regulations, they are rebellious idea against religious regulations and rebellious idea against hypocrisy.
44 All religions have God comments. Even though they have different ways of praying, they purpose to make a better live to others and have a close relationship with
God. Ritualorreligiousregulationsarerulesthatmustbe obeyedbyreligious peoplewithoutany reasontobreak. Unfortunately, not all people are comfortable with
these regulations.
Shelley Segal was not born in the atheist family who didn’t believe in the existence of God. She was born on religious family where her father was known as a local president of synagogue, she is a Jews. Based on this background, Shelleyhas beenaccustomed toreligiousrulesboundin her life. She has followed her family’s religion by years. However, in themidstof her life, shemakes abig surpriseby statingthat shedoesn’t believe the existence of God and doesn’twant tobe boundbyanyrulesanymoreandthen choosestorebel againstreligious institutions.Her choicetoagainst towardsreligionis reasonable. She clearly shows her reasons in songs entitled Eve and Gratitude.
Eve is one of the songs in An Atheist Album which talks about the reason why Shelley rebel against religious regulations. This song was written after Shelley had watched a YouTube clip and it stuck in her minds. This video shows a Christian woman who explained to other women why they must submit to their husband. This video really annoyed her. Through this song, she rebel against religious regulation which states that the position of woman is not equal to man, that’s why a woman should submit all the man asked to do.
45 I must surrender to his will, yeah I must submit
I can’t make the household decisions coz I am unfit It tells me my place
With ever-lasting grace (Eve-stanza 1)
Shelley opens the song Eve by using I to emphasizes the listener that the subject of this song is herself. Bible is also mentioned in the opening of this song. The Bible is the Holy Book of Christianity. From this first line, Shelley seems to impress the reader’s mind to focus on one religion, it Christianity. The reason why she criticizes Christianity in this song is because she lives in a religious society most of whomare Christian. In first line, she says that the Bible tells her that she was made from and for a man,The bible tells me I was made for and from man-line 1. The bible tells me is a kind figurative of speech of personification where Bible as a noun can acts similar to human acts. In this line, the Bible tells to her that she has been made for and from a man.
The Bible announce its regulation to Shelley rather than to another person. This statement seems want to emphasize that Shelly must have obey this regulation too. The Bible tells that a woman is made for and from man,The bible tells me I was made for and from man-line 1. It wants to emphasize that a woman is firstly made for her husband to obey all the commands and later the reason why woman should submit her husband because a woman is made from man. From this line, Shelley opens the song by showing her problem to the listener that a woman should submit the man.
46 surrender to her husband will and submit him,I must surrender to his will, yeah I must submit-line 3. After she talks about the regulations that she has to do, then in the following line she began to express her feeling toward these regulations. In fourth lines, she expresses her sigh that she can’t make the household because she is unfit,I can’t make the household decisions coz I am unfit-line 4. Household and unfit in this case are not a denotation meaning. They are metaphor where household is refers to the way of life and unfit is refers to the inability. Moreover, what Shelley wants to say in this line that a woman can’t choose her own way and must submit all the man’s commands because a woman is not able to walk in their own way.From the first line bythe fourth line Shelley has expressed about the Bible said toward woman’s attitude to man than her close the first stanza by emphasizing that she should do the regulations forever (It tells me my place, With ever-lasting grace-line 5&6).
In this first stanza, she opens the song by showing what she rebel against religious regulations. Shearguesthat it is unfairwhen the men andwomenare createdwithdifferent positionsin religious life. She clearly shows her rebellion against this situation wherea womancannot choosingher own way. Then, in the following stanza, she emphasizes again about her feelings towards the religious regulation against the position of man and woman.
The bible tells me I must be silent you can’t hear my voice My role has been divinely defined and I have no other choice I may not be a teacher of man, I must cover up my shame These are the laws of the one who in vain I cannot name He tells me my place
47 In the second stanza, the Bible is continuously talks about how woman’s attitude towards the man. Shelley expresses that the Bible tells her to be silent until no one can hear her voices, only the men who are allowed to speak. Inthiscondition,the womenmayfeelunfair, depressedandbored, buttheyare notallowedtospeakandexpresstheirfeelingsto the world. Then, she says that her role has been defined so that she can’t change her life even though with hard effort,My role has been divinely defined and I have no other choice-line 8. It seems she wants to show that women feel uncomfortable in this situation and she want to get freedom but unfortunately her life has been defined. Then, in the following line she says that she could not possibly be a teacher of man I may not be a teacher of man, I must cover up my shame -line 9. She wants to say that she has more capability than othermen, but the Bible said that a woman must be silent then she has to submit and cover her shame. This is expressed that a woman not only obeys all what the man says, but she also be silent. The last line is the repetition of the first stanza,He tells me my place, With ever-lasting grace-line 11&12. Same with the first stanza, in the second stanza Shelley also mentions about the Bible that this book is good with its grace, but she doesn’t like with the rule which showing that the position between womn and woman is not equal. But, what makes them different that in the first stanza she says that the Bible talks to her about her place rather than in the second stanza she uses he to refers the man who vain that she doesn’t know,These are the laws of the one who in vain I cannot name-line 10.
The bible tells me that I am unclean
I am impure you cannot touch me and it has nothing to do with where I’ve been
48 I was asking for it just by being a woman
He tells me my place With ever-lasting grace (Eve-stanza 4)
49 man,It is part of who I am, It is because I corrupt man-line 18. A corrupt man in this case means that a woman can damage the life of a man that is why a woman does not have equal status with man. As usual, this stanza also closed by a repetition of everlasting grace,With ever-lasting grace-line 20. This shows a contrast condition where in the previous lines Shelley expresses a negative side from the Holy Bible, but in this line she shows a positive side of the Bible. Shelley wants to mention that the Bible is good with everlasting grace, but she disagrees with the rules in Bible that women do not equal with men.
From the first and second stanza, it is known that Shelley is expressive in rebelling against the religious regulations, especially about the position between man and woman. In the third stanza, she emphasizes about what the Bible says to her. The woman’s life has been defined to comply the men because women’s voices are not being heard by religious men. Then, Shelley explains what women will get if they combat these inequalities. She says that the punishment for wanting to learn is a painful birth from which she may not return,And my punishment for wanting to learn; Is a painful birth from which I may not return- lines 13&14. This is show how poor to be a woman.
50 The songGratitude is Shelley Segal’s another song which lifts the theme of rebellion against religious institutions, especially towards how to be grateful in life. In the song Gratitude, Shelley makes the point that somebody doesn’t need to be too religious to appreciate and be grateful in their life. In facing the dissatisfaction, fear, loneliness and the rest of life’s hardships, it is possible to be overwhelmed with gratitude. She is sure of her perspective that to live in this world, it doesn’t need to belief a specific religion or be religious in life to be able to expressgratitude.
Life can be hard, things can get rough
Stay on your guard and protect the good stuff Sometimes we all feel like we’ve had enough (Gratitude-stanza 1)
51 all feel like we’ve had enough-line 3. From this statement Shelley wants to express that women are fed up with it all.
Coz one day my memories will all be gone Not a single one of all whom I love will go on I’m afraid of the end yeah I don’t want it all to But it won’t take away from my gratitude (Gratitude-stanza 4)
In the fourth stanza, Shelley mentions that all things are not everlasting, including any memory in the mind. Shelly says that one day she will lose all her memories,Coz one day my memories will all be gone-line 11. From this statement she expresses that she is just an ordinary person who will lose her memories one day, not only may she forget about the beautiful things but she may also be forgetting who she loved,Not a single one of all whom I love will go on-line 12. Moreover, in the following line she expresses her feeling toward this condition thatshe feels no fear if one day she must lose the memories of the people she loved and to the contrary that people will forget her. Furthermore, when she cannot avoid this situation, it will not take of her gratitude. She will be grateful even one day people will forget of her kindness.
I’d rather find out what’s real than deny
The truth may be hard but it’s better than living a lie
So before disaster strikes and everything I’ve built comes unglued I’ll be revelling and dancing in my gratitude
(Gratitude-stanza 9)
