AN ANALYSIS OF INTRINSIC ELEMENTS IN ROALD
DAHL’S NOVEL MATILDA
A PROPOSAL
BY
MAHRITA
REG.NO 070721015
UNIVERSITAS OF NORTH SUMATERA
FACULTY OF LETTERS
ENGLISH LITERATURE DEPARTEMENT
MEDAN
▸ Baca selengkapnya: elements of story structure
(2)TABLE OF CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS……… i
AUTHOR’S DECLARATION……… ii
ABSTRACT…………...………... iv
TABLE OF CONTENTS……… v
CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION
1.1. The Background of the Analysis 1.2. The Problem of the Analysis 1.3. The Scope of the Analysis 1.4. The Significance of the Analysis 1.5. The Objective of the Analysis 1.6. The Method of the Analysis
1.7. The Review of the Related Literature
CHAPTER II. A BRIEF VIEW AT INTRINSIC ELEMENTS 2.1. Character
CHAPTER III. THE ANALYSIS OF INTRINSIC ELEMENTS IN MATILDA
3.1. Character 3.1.1. Matilda
3.1.2. Mr. Wormwood 3.1.3. Mrs. Wormwood 3.2. Theme
3.3. Plot 3.4. Setting 3.5. Point of View
CHAPTER IV. CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS 4.1. Conclusion
4.2. Suggestion
BIBLIOGRAPHY
APPENDICES
ABSTRACT
One of the creative expressions of literature is novel.Anovel is consists of some elements; Character, theme, plot, setting, point of view. Character is one of crucial element of the novel. Because without character there will be no interactions and conflicts in the story. In this thesis I decided to analyze the intrinsic element in Matilda. This novel was written by Roald Dahl and has awarded Children’s Book award in 1999 and voted the most popular children’s book in a World Book Day survey. In analyzing the character of Matilda in this research, I applied several steps; (1) reading the text from the beginning to end to get an overall picture of the story, (2) describing the importance of the characteristics of the characters. (3) gaining an overview of how the character interacts with each other. (4) identifying what actions bring out important characteristics of the some character. (5) identifying the character of Matilda if she real or unreal, consistent or incosistent, and believe or not believable. All those elements are elaborated with other elements such as Character, theme, plot, setting, point of view.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Bissmillahirrahmanirrahim
Thanks and praises be to Allah, The Almighty for His Mercy and Blessing until the I able to finish this thesis. Then I would like to bestow prayers to His Prophet Muhammad SAW, and all this followers.
In this occasion, I would like to express my deep gratitude and high appreciation to:
1. Mr. Drs Syaifuddin, M.A, Ph.D as Dekan Faculty of Letter
2. Mrs. Dra. Swesana Mardia Lubis, M.Hum as Head of English Departement.
3. Mr Drs. Yulianus Harefa as secretary of English Departement
4. My Supervisor, Mr Drs. Syahri Saja, M.A. Who has givenfor valuable time, patient and suggestions during the consultation.
5. My Co – supervisor, Drs. Parlindungan Purba, M. Hum. Who has given the motivation and suggestion during the consultation.
6. I also would like to thanks deeply all lectures in English Departement especially, who has given me their precious thoughts and knowledge of entire academic years.
8. And all of my brother and sisters: abang BAHRUL, ASWAD, SYARIFUDDIN, KAK YULI, ROSMAWATI, ERMAYANI and also my cousins: Evo, farell, adam, vio, salwa, fira, ifa, chacha, nazla, kahfi, daffa, oval, dede, for making a lovely brotherhood and heavenly home. 9. My special thanks to my lovely dee- dee for borrowing me the spirit; “
Keep struggle and work hard.” and thanks so much for all support and courage: your full attention has made my life more colorful and precious. 10. I would like bestow my special thanks to BUK guru (ade riasantika)
Anak2 Parwis: vi2t, widya, ank setan, for useful books, attention, change and a unique friendship also My friends in the kost G4; yesi, si jelek yg slalu pinjemin duit saat bokek,ank2 kos G26 and also ibu kost and bapak kos.
11. Finally, my gratitude is also due to all my friends in English Literature Departement, May Allah bless you all.
Medan, Januari 2009
ABSTRACT
One of the creative expressions of literature is novel.Anovel is consists of some elements; Character, theme, plot, setting, point of view. Character is one of crucial element of the novel. Because without character there will be no interactions and conflicts in the story. In this thesis I decided to analyze the intrinsic element in Matilda. This novel was written by Roald Dahl and has awarded Children’s Book award in 1999 and voted the most popular children’s book in a World Book Day survey. In analyzing the character of Matilda in this research, I applied several steps; (1) reading the text from the beginning to end to get an overall picture of the story, (2) describing the importance of the characteristics of the characters. (3) gaining an overview of how the character interacts with each other. (4) identifying what actions bring out important characteristics of the some character. (5) identifying the character of Matilda if she real or unreal, consistent or incosistent, and believe or not believable. All those elements are elaborated with other elements such as Character, theme, plot, setting, point of view.
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
1.1. The Background of the Analysis
Literature is an imaginative kind of writing which is rather far from factual truth. The word ‘imagination’ sounds subjectivity is more reliable than objectivity. Irrespective of what contains in literature, it is a kind of creative art which belongs to knowledge or science (Welleck, 1985:1). It can be studied for it summarizes a sum of man’s life experience. To quote Roberts (1993:1) who says that :
“Literature refers to composition that tell stories dramatize situations, express emotions, and analyze and advocate ideas. Before the invention of writing, literary works were necessarily spoken or sung, and were retained only as long as living people perform them. In some societies, the oral tradition of literature still exists, with many poems and stories designed exclusively for spoken delivery. Even in our modern age of writing and printing, much literature is still heard aloud rather than read silently. No matter how we assimilate literature, we gain much from it. In truth, readers often cannot explain why they enjoy reading, for goals and ideas are not easily articulated. There are however, areas of general agreement about the value of systematic and extensive reading.”
From the quotation above, I am interested in the phrase ‘analyze and advocate ideas’. It implies that literature contains ideas. Which are inherent in the work. These inherent ideas are analogous with intrinsic elements in my perception. That’s why I analyze the ideas in terms of plot, character, setting, point of view and theme which are found inside the novel Matilda by Roald Dahl.
related to ‘what happen’ as reflected in plot and ‘where’ in setting and so is the novelist’s involvement in the character’s mind as stated in point of view. Since I believe these internal elements are important, I come to choose my thesis title as: “An Analysis of Intrinsic Elements in Roald Dahl’s novel Matilda”.
1.2. The Problem of the analysis
In completing this thesis, I focuses my analysis on intrinsic elements through Roald Dahl’s novel Matilda, what I mean intrinsic elements are the internal structure of creating literary works such as character, theme, plot, setting and point of view. In reference to this point, I would like to put forward my problem as follows:
1) How are intrinsic elements portrayed in the novel Matilda ?
2) Are the intrinsic elements such as character, theme, plot, setting and point of view congruent with unity in the story of the novel Matilda ?
1.3. The Objective of the Analysis
1.4. The Scope of the Analysis
There is a tendency of analyzing literary work is firstly related to its structure forms. These forms are better known as intrinsic elements in which every particular literary work presents different aspects though they have similar internal building – structure.
Roald Dahl’s novel Matilda has that structure which will be analyzed in this thesis. By so doing, I restrict my scope of analysis in portraying the character or persons who are dominant in the novel; the plot or the sequence of events of the novel; the central idea or theme of the novel; the place or setting and the position of the novelist in relation to the character in terms of point of view.
1.5. The Significance of the Analysis
This analysis is purely literary field of study because it is the internal elements which are analyzed. Therefore, the significance of this analysis is to enrich literary studies especially in literature through novel as one genres of it besides drama and poetry. I hope this analysis could become reference for further study of literary works whatever forms they will be.
1.6. The Method of the Analysis
In Roald Dahl’s navel Matilda, the intrinsic elements I want to focuses is character, plot, theme, setting and point of view. So, the first step I have to do is to read the novel several times. After that I make separation of analyzing the persons or character in relation to sequence of events or plot, setting, theme, and point of view. This is important to do because each of them is closely connected to one another to support the story of the novel.
I also select some questions which become my data in the analysis. These quotations are taken from the text of the novel in order to strengthen then my analysis. In doing the analysis I do interpret the text the far proper understanding of the text. Since the focuses of analysis is internal elements of the novel. The method I applied is known as intrinsic method of analysis.
1.7. The Review of Related Literature
The following books are the main sources of data and information to wrote the analysis of intrinsic that pictured in Matilda.
Koesnosoebroto, S., B. (1988:67), in his book ‘The Anatomy of Prose Fiction’ says that distinguishes two types of characters, main or major character,
virtues, who is morally good. The antagonist is unsavory enough the world villain or villainess is used.
Meyer. (1990:65) in his book The Bradford Introduction to English Literature explain that most stories the characters act plausibly and are consistent
with their personalities, but that does not mean that characters can not develop and change. Therefore there are static (unchanging) and dynamic (changing) character. A static character is a character that stills the same from the beginning to the end of story, while dynamic character is a character that may change his or her attitude from good to bad or vise versa. Matilda is static character because she does not change her attitude and behavior up to end of story.
According to Gill. (1995:128). in his book Mastering English Literature there are some elements that the author must pay attention in creating a character. First is to range the character, something which makes one character different from other characters. Secondly, how a character speaks and how they use the words and phrases to express his personality. Thirdly, the appearance of character. Here the author must describe the character that shows the inner world of its character so that the reader will understand the character’s personality. Fourthly, is the way how the character dress up, which describe the social status or social class and also describe the character’s personality by wearing good clothes.
CHAPTER II
A BRIEF VIEW AT INTRINSIC ELEMENTS
2.1. Character
There are some used to analyze the character. According to Andrew Koh and Elvira Holmberg, in analyzing characters we need to know the real life characters and study a movie character briefly, it is time to put down some ideas about how the writers use prose in stories and books to create characters. First thing to do is to get some ideas and then draw a mind showing all the ways you think writers could use and include in their writing to create characters in stories.
Thinks to look out for when studying character are:
• Words ( adjective) or phrase that describe a character’s appearance i.e. how they look. • Description of the things a character does – general behavior, the way they move,
their actions and reactions in events.
• Accent, dialect, and the tone they use in certain situations. • The things a character says.
• A character’s different roles: mother; boss; friend; neighbor
• Different kinds of relationship: loving; unfriendly; bully – victim
• Background: age; gender; race; education; occupation; personal; history; when they
live – city? Country – side? Flat? Mansion? • Personal values and beliefs
• Habits
In his book “A Guideto Books for Character – Fiction,” Starbuck (1930:12) said that character is the word stands for the deeper integrations of the selfhood in terms of conduct actual or potential. It is a descriptive word indicating how one will act and the spirit or temper in which the deed is done. It consists of the sum of one’s attitude at any given moment which determines how one will act and fell toward any specific situation. It has its integrating centers like kindliness or thoughtfulness or thrift or loyalty. Even these nuclei of conduct and attitude are shifting quantities that are subject to cultivation and training. They cannot be influence, however, without changing the entire personality. It is the nature of art to appeal directly and powerfully to fundamental attitude like courage, love, or curiosity. The entire personality shifts and drift in the direction of its dominant interest.
According to Steven Croft (2002:113)characters are the central feature in any play or novel. Here are some ways to get a picture of character :
• What the characters looks like (physical appearance, clothing ect.) • What characters says and how it is said.
• What the character thinks (often we learn about this from a character’s soliloquies)
• How character acts – watch out for reaction to different situations.
• How character’s words match their actual deeds or their underlying motives.
• What other character changes as the play goes on.
center of attention. Sometimes, of course, the traits we encounter are minor and therefore negligible. But often a trait may be a person’s primary characteristic (not only in fiction but also in life). Thus, characters may be ambitious, lazy, serene or anxious, aggressive or fearful, thoughtful or inconsiderate, open or secretive, confident or self-doubting, kind or cruel, quiet or noisy, visionary or practical, careful or careless, impartial or biased, straightforward or underhanded, “winner or looser,” and so on.
To sum up, in analyzing the characters there are several elements that should be considered such as words, thoughts, appearance, actions, interactions, and chosen setting.
Character is any person, identify, or entity whose existence originates from a fictional work or performance. Such existence is presumed by those participating in the performance as audience, readers, or otherwise. In addition to people, characters can be aliens, gods, an artificial intelligence or, occasionally, inanimate objects. According to Edgar, a character may be defined as a verbal representation of a human being. Through action, speech, description, and commentary, authors portray characters that are worth caring about, rooting for, and even loving, although there are also characters you may laugh at, dislike, or even hate.
but necessary in elements of the plot. Despite their small parts, such characters are often vivid. To create complex, realistic characters, authors usually combine traits that do not correspond to any single real person. But are aspects of several people. To give these characters motives for their action, authors highlight the character’s thoughts, feelings, conflicting impulses, and capacity for change.
Koesnosoebroto(1988:67) distinguished two type of characters, main or major character, and minor character. Major character is the most important character in the story. Basically, a story is about this character, but he cannot stand on his own; eh needs other characters to make the story more convincing and lifelike. Minor characters are of less important than those of the main. The main character in fiction or in a play is called protagonist. In traditional fiction the protagonist is also the hero or heroin, an admirable character who embodies widely accepted strengths and virtues, who is morally good. The antagonist is unsavory enough the world villain or villainess is used.
Meyer (1990:65)explain that most stories the characters act plausibly and ways consistent with their personalities, but that does not mean that characters can not develop and change. Therefore there are static (unchanging) and dynamic (changing) character. A static character is a character that stills the same from the beginning to the end of story, while dynamic character is a character that may change his or her attitude from good to bad or vise versa. Matilda is static character because she does not change her attitude and behavior up to end of story.
the words and phrases to express their personality. Third, the appearance of character, here the author must describe about the character that show the inner world of its character so the reader will understand about the character’s personality. Fourth, is the way how the character dress up, which describe the social status or social class and also describe the character’s personality by wearing good clothes. Fifth, the social standing of characters, in that in what social class that the character is created. Sixth, is the name of characters, for example in Matilda novel. Dahl gives a name to the antagonist Miss Trunchbull, the head teacher of Matild’s school, which describe her personality like a monster for everybody in Crunchhem Hall School, terrible, hard and rigid. Seventh is the company of character should describe although not in details. Eight, the way the characters think in that when he speaks he uses a lot of moral words, for instance. This though must be evident to a reader so that the reader will understand how the character thinks and how the characters approach the problems and challenges. The last is what the characters do, this is the action or reaction of the character in the novel and an author can make everything a character does important.
2.2. Plot
Stories are made up mostly of actions and incidents and the follow each other sequentially. Finding a sequential or narrative order, however, is only the first step toward the more important consideration – the plot, or the controls governing the development of actions.
nothing is relevant or accidental; everything is related and causative. The controlling impulse in a connected pattern of causes and effects is conflict, which refers generally to people or circumstances that a character (often the protagonist) must face and try to overcome (often the antagonist). Conflict brings out the extremes of human energy, causing characters to engage in the decisions, actions, responses, and interactions that make up most stories. Conflict is the major element of plot because opposing forces arouse curiosity, cause doubt, create tension, and produce interest.
2.3. Setting
Setting is the natural, manufactured, political, and temporary environment, including everything that characters know and own. Like all human beings, fictional characters do not exist in isolation. Just they become human by interacting with other characters, they gain identity because of their cultural and political allegiances, their possessions, their jobs and their location where they live and move and have their being. Stories must therefore necessarily include description of places, objects, and backgrounds- the setting.
Characters may either helped or hurt by their surroundings, and they may fight about possession and goals. Further, as characters speak with each other, they reveal the degree to which they share the custom and ideas of their times.
a. Nature and the outdoors
snakes ), and also conditions in which things happen( sunlight, darkness, calm, wind, rain, snow, storm, heat, cold) – any or all of which may influence character and action.
b. Objects of human manufacture and construction
To reveal or highlight qualities of character, and also to make fiction lifelike, authors include detail about buildings and objects of human manufacture and construction. Houses, both interiors, are common, as are possessions such as walking sticks, fences, park benches, toys, automobiles, hair ribbon, necklace, and so on.
c. Cultural conditions and assumptions
Just as physical setting influence characters, so do cultural conditions and
assumptions, such as characters live, the primitive beliefs, human sacrifice, modern scientific beliefs, and so on.
2.4. Point of view
first – person point of view (observation of a character who narrates the story), second –
person point of view and third – person point of view, outside narration focusing on one
character’s observation (ibid:181). The followings are the explanation of each:
a. First- person point of view, is one of the novel’s characters narratives the story. For example, a sentence in a novel n the first – person might read, “As I waited in the corner, I remembered the last time I had seen her, I am a fool. “The first person provides total subjectivity and all immediacy, intimacy, and urgency of a single individual’s conflict. The first person – the impersonation of a fictional narrator or speaker also shows a character’s awareness at telling a story. Soon however, the narrator shifts into an imaginative reconstruction of events leading up to major event in the character’s life.
Third – person – limited point of view, if events the work are described in third person
(he, she, it, they) the author is using the third – person point of view. It is not always easy to characterize the voice in this point of view. Sometimes the speaker may use an “I” and be seemingly identical with the author, but at other times the author may author may create a distinct authorial voice. There are three variants of the third – person point of view: dramatic or objective, omniscient, and limited omniscient. (ibid:182)
2.5. Theme
Fiction necessarily embodies issues and ideas. Even stories written for entertainment alone are based in an idea or position. In fiction ideas take from of an underlying theme or central idea, which helps to tie the work together. Often the author makes theme obvious, it does not much imagination to state the theme.
different aspects of the work to uncover different interpretations of the meaning of the tale.
A common theme in novels is the conflict between appearance and reality. Another common theme is the search for personality identity. The theme of individual who strikes out alone to face the world is used in many works. Some novels feature people who cannot break from their society’s convention and instead become disillusioned with conflict between their inspiration and the reality of their lives. Throughout the history of the novel, a major theme has been whether people can change their situations in life or whether they are in the grips of forces beyond their control. Other common themes in novels include how art and reflected in one another, the meaning of religion, and whether technology helps people or whether it is a harmful aspect of society.
CHAPTER III
THE ANALYSIS OF INTRINSIC ELEMENTS IN MATILDA
3.1 Character
3.1.1 Matilda
The text above shows the narrator’s comments on Matilda that she is a clever, diligent, and bright-minded who able to understand on what she learns very quickly. Besides, Matilda is described as a genius child who has superiority that she is speak fluently and master many words well in which not all of one age half child can do that. In her age of three, she is able to read and study through the newspapers and magazines, and at five she become a school girl with all those multi – talents and it was admitted by her teacher not her headmistress and parents instead. Otherwise her father jugged her as stupid and noisy girl who pretends to be smart but it then again was replied gently and wisely by Matilda
In one part, the clear description that in Matilda’s mind she wanted to have lovely and smart parents, in which they would care of her, understand and respect her thoughts or decisions. In fact, her parents were not that kind of people who will get enough time and Matilda all the time and Matilda frequently developed brilliant ideas to solve that sort of problems, even it considered difficult for a child of that age. All of those problem have made her become braver to decide thing, it was then proved when she decided to leave her parents and stay with her teacher, Miss Honey.
On another hand, as a small young girl with all problems she face, sometimes, Matilda also felt anxious, fear, anger, hatred, worry, disappoint, and dilemma. This situation somehow does not make her down and feel embarrassed, but it motivates her to do some actions and tricks with her bright ideas to solve the problems she faced.
In my opinion, what Matilda feels in the story is commonly happen in real life. Some children are having a completely happy family, but some other has not. In this story, Matilda’s brother or parents are a kind of unexpected family. They are no caring, warmness, smiling, supporting and respecting of each other, but oral violence instead. Even the novel was not a true story, as the children literature, this should be a good lesson learn for children to know by children as the readers. In fact, the author has implicitly put a worse image on parents that might influence children’s thoughts on their
parents.
mentioned that Matilda’s physique is like other children’s physique normally, average, small or tiny. But, Matilda’s brain is unlike to other children’s brain usually. Consequently, the researcher sees that it is too contradicted things that unlikely that occur in the same time in real life normally. It would be wiser if the author could create a character with possibly capacity of both physique and thought, in concerning of the readers are mostly children.
In the section, Matilda has different ways to interact with other characters both protagonist and antagonist. For instance, because Matilda loves reading books very much she then ask her father’s opinion about buying her a book and apparently her father replied her inconveniently. This is shown that Matilda still wanted. In other examples, also Matilda behaves in a kindly and wisely ways toward both protagonist and antagonist characters in her interactions.
respective figures, both father and teacher. Therefore, parents of children who are the readers of this novel should be aware of this guide their children in their reading time.
In other sentences, Matilda was showing her appreciation by world “Pretty marvelous” while she speaks to one of her friend and also showing her sympathy and empathy by an utterance “Tell me” when her teacher, Miss Honey shares her feeling to Matilda. What probably can be captured from that word is Matilda keep hearing on Miss Honey’s and it shown that Matilda is a good listener. Those are some ways to create well communicative interactions.
3.1.2 Mr. Wormwood
Mr. Wormwood is abusive parent and also became boorish parent. Mr Wormwood don’t undrestand that Matilda is a clever,diligent, and bright – minded who able to understand on what she learns very quickly. Besides, Matilda is described as a genius child who has superiority that she is able to speak fluently and master many words wll in which not all of one age and half child can do that. In her age of three, she is able to read and study through the newspapers and magazines, and at five she becomes a school girl with all those multi – talents and it was adnitted by her teacher not her headmistress and parents instead.
3.1.3 Mrs. Wormwood
Mrs Wormwood is a mother has bad habit. She does not care about Matilda than Matilda’s brother. Mrs Wormwood abusive parent and also became boorish parent. Mrs Wormwood too busy with her life like plays binggo not far away from their house.
3.2 Theme
Matilda is not only genius but also brilliant with lots of extraordinary ideas and actions to fight against fragility of abusive parents and teacher. In some occasions, she made a revenge by putting superglue in his father’s hat, and creating invisible voice by a parrot she hided though in the chimney. All those actions worked naturally. Besides, she also has a supernatural power called telekinesis that she used to face her vicious headmaster.
The last paragraph tells us about Matilda’s effort against her Headmaster, Miss Trunchbull. There are again no lesson – learnt that could be drawn by readers, in which a headmaster ought to be a good paragon for teachers and students to behave. But here, Miss Trunchbull is a cruel and vicious character. The readers will not be able to find the educative values it is expected from a teacher.
This novel is originally fantasy and full of imagination. I thinks that values of Matilda’s character are more appropriately to be adopted by children if they are serving naturally than using magical power. Moreover, the children in the real life are used to solve their own problems naturally. Apparently, this story is presented more than the imagination of the author.
3.3 Plot
and save the school from the Trunchbull insanity. The Trunchbul, Matilda’s head master is known as a monster. She keeps children in a horrific torture device called The Chokey, a thing which resembles a toned – down iron maiden, or swings them through the air, often without any evidence they have actually committed a crime or simply because she does not like them. The Trunchbul treatment of her students is nothing short of child abuse and she seems to believe intimidation is the best method of teaching. She says her ideas of a perfect school would be “one in which there were no children at all”.
Meanwhile, Matilda discovers she has telekinetic powers, a secret which she confides only to Miss Honey. She learned this when her best friend, Lavender, puts a newt in Miss Trunchbul’s water, and when Miss Trunchbul blames Matilda for it, Matilda gets so angry, she tips the glass over with her eyes. Miss Honey is very curios about Matilda’s powers and she takes Matilda to her home. They arrived at her cottage, where Matilda discovers Miss Honey is extremely poor. Matilda asks why, Miss Honey explains how when she was two years old her mother died and her father was a doctor, who needed someone to look after everything at home, so he invited her mother’s sister to come and live with him, but she turned out to be a mean person who treated Miss Honey very badly when not in the father’s presence.
so terrified of her so that she agreed. She found the tiny cottage and rented it from a rhubarb farmer for 10 pence a week, and she covered it in honeysuckle and she planted hundreds of wildflowers, and she moved out her aunt’s house she finally got her freedom. Matilda asks who the aunt is and Miss Honey reveals that it is none other that Miss Trunchbul. With this information, Matilda formulates a plan as to how she gets rid of the Miss Trunchbul for good.
When Miss Trunchbul investigates Miss Honey’s class, Matilda uses her powers to write on the blackboard. She pretends to be the spirit of Miss Honey’s father and demands that Miss Trunchbull give that Miss Honey her wages and her father’s house. At the sight of seeing this being written as though by an invisible hand, Miss Trunchbull faints and is carried from the school by the teachers. The day following the chalkboard incident, Miss Trunchbull disappears, abandoning her brother – in – law’s house. Also, his will turns up, it is discovered that Miss Honey is the rightful heir to his property. Thereafter, Miss Honey moves into her father’s house and, with the Trunchbull gone, Matilda is moved into the top from where she loses all of her powers. Miss Honey believes that Matilda’s brain now has to work hard instead of accumulating spare “brainpower” the powers would need.
3.4 Setting
The primary themes or settings chosen in this story are the library; where Matilda spent many time of reading books before entering the school, living – room; where the Wormwood family used to eat their supper on their knees in front of the television, school; where she meet a vicious Headmistress who always against her, and an up – town village; in which Miss Honey lived. However, she is able to adjust herself through all kind of these chosen setting.
Matilda is not only genius but also brilliant with lots of extraordinary ideas and actions to fight against fragility of abusive parents and teacher. In some occasions, she made a revenge by putting superglue in his father’s hat, and creating invisible voice by a parrot she hided though in the chimney. All those actions worked naturally. Besides, she also has a supernatural power called telekinesis that she used to face her vicious headmaster.
The last paragraph tells us about Matilda’s effort against her Headmaster, Miss Trunchbull. There are again no lesson – learnt that could be drawn by readers, in which a headmaster ought to be a good paragon for teachers and students to behave. But here, Miss Trunchbull is a cruel and vicious character. The readers will not be able to find the educative values it is expected from a teacher.
This novel is originally fantasy and full of imagination. I thinks that values of Matilda’s character are more appropriately to be adopted by children if they are serving naturally than using magical power. Moreover, the children in the real life are used to solve their own problems naturally. Apparently, this story is presented more than the imagination of the author.
3.5. Point of View
Point of view refers to the position and stance of the voice, or speaker, that authors adopt from their works. It supposes a living narrator or personal who tell stories, present arguments, or expresses attitudes such as love, anger or excitement. Practically, point of view involves the actual physical location of this speaker and his or her position to see and second the main actions and ideas. More abstractly and psychologically, point of view may be considered as the centralizing or guiding intelligence in a work – the mind that filters the fictional experience and presents only the most important details to create the maximum possible impacts. The three major types of point of view in novel are first – person point of view (observation of a character who narrates the story), second –
person point of view and third – person point of view (outside narration focusing on one
character’s observation)
CHAPTER IV
CONCLUSSIONS AND SUGGESTION
A. Conclusions
After completing an analyzing of main character, Matilda, in Roald Dahl’s novel
“Matilda”, I would like to draw some conclusion. The character of Matilda can be
clearly observed from conversations she was involved in and the way she interacts with other characters.
In this novel, the author describes Matilda as a very fictional character, a brilliant and genius, and as the heroine that owns the super power to solve all problems in the story. This story, especially with the additional ability that owned by the main character is not perfectly suitable with real life situation where the children cope with their problem naturally. The story would appeal naturally if the author did not overwhelm the character with such extra super abilities. On the other hand, the author seemed to “sell” this super power fantasy to attract more children interest to read the story.
Besides, this story also contains other daring action, and harassment besides some simple fantasy of children with super power of the author in order to echo attention and attraction from the readers. But as the novel is targeted for children, an abusive fantasy was not the right choice.
After finishing the analyzing of main character of Matilda, I would like to take some points to for discussion. The first one is character of Matilda, in the story. Actually, Matilda has played a very good role in performing her characterization, yet there are some shortcomings of this character. Matilda interacts with some other protagonist and antagonist characters.
I see that Matilda, by the author, is created in very perfect character. She is not only superior in her brain but also gain a magical power to overcome with problem she faces. In fact, there so many children in the real life of Matilda’s age might have same problems as Matilda’s but unfortunately they just only have brain to think for solutions but no magical power to support them. In one side, the researcher thinks that this story more likely to be consumed by children if it is naturally, without magical or mental power, in which children as the readers could gain the lesson learn about how to cope with their problems in natural manner. On other side, this story has contaminated deeply the children’s fantasy with imaginations of author.
B. Suggestions
To end this writing, I would like to propose some suggestions in regarding to an analysis of the character in “Matilda”. In reading a novel, readers should not only pick an explicit meaning but also implicitly. Because some words, phrase, and sentences used by characters may have a deeper meaning than it looks like.
Then , there is a way can be used to encourage and challenge readers to read more and more, they could read other author’s books to get the understanding of improvisation and characterizing of characters in the novel and it would be more appreciated if the readers could share their experiences about excitement of reading novels with other readers to increase reading among other students.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Alexander, L. G. 1963. Poetry and Prose Appreciation for Overseas Students. London. Longman Group Limited.
Bain, C. E. et al. 1973. The Norton Introduction to Literature. New York: WW Norton Company.
Di Yanni, Robert. 1990. Literature: Reading Fiction, Poetry and Essay. New York: Mc Graw – Hill Pub. Com.
G. Chistopher. 1978. Movement in English Literature. Cambridge University: Press., Cambridge,
Gill, R. 1995. Mastering English Literature, Second Edition, New York: Palgrave.
Gollier. 1986. Gollie’s Encyclopedia. New York: MacMillan Educational Co.
Jacob, Sumarjo.1965. Memahami Kesusastraan. Jakarta: Pustaka Jaya.
McArthur, T. 1992. The Oxford Companion to English Literature. New York: Oxford University Press.
Mayer, M. 1990. The Bradford Introduction to English Literature. Second Edition. Boston: Bradford Books of St. Martin’s Press.
Scripen, Michel. 1966. Primary Philosophy. New York: Mc Graw Hill Inc.
Taylor, Richard 1981. Understanding the Elements of Literature. New York: Macmillan Press Ltd
APPENDICES
The Summary of the Story
Originally published in 1988, “Matilda” was one of the last books of Roald Dahl works before his death in 1990. The heroine of this books also carries its name. Matilda, the main character in the story, is small child with an incredible intelligence, even as a
Meanwhile, Matilda discovers she has telekinetic powers, a secret which she confides only to Miss Honey. She learned this when her best friend, Lavender, puts a newt in Miss Trunchbul’s water, and when Miss Trunchbul blames Matilda for it, Matilda gets so angry, she tips the glass over with her eyes. Miss Honey is very curios about Matilda’s powers and she takes Matilda to her home. They arrived at her cottage, where Matilda discovers Miss Honey is extremely poor. Matilda asks why, Miss Honey explains how when she was two years old her mother died and her father was a doctor, who needed someone to look after everything at home, so he invited her mother’s sister to come and live with him, but she turned out to be a mean person who treated Miss Honey very badly when not in the father’s presence.
When Miss Trunchbul investigates Miss Honey’s class, Matilda uses her powers to write on the blackboard. She pretends to be the spirit of Miss Honey’s father and demands that Miss Trunchbull give that Miss Honey her wages and her father’s house. At the sight of seeing this being written as though by an invisible hand, Miss Trunchbull faints and is carried from the school by the teachers. The day following the chalkboard incident, Miss Trunchbull disappears, abandoning her brother – in – law’s house. Also, his will turns up, it is discovered that Miss Honey is the rightful heir to his property. Thereafter, Miss Honey moves into her father’s house and, with the Trunchbull gone, Matilda is moved into the top from where she loses all of her powers. Miss Honey believes that Matilda’s brain now has to work hard instead of accumulating spare “brainpower” the powers would need.
Appendices
A. Biography of Roald Dahl
Roald Dahl was born in Wales, on September 13, 1916 in llandaff of Norwegian parents. He spent his childhood in England and, at age 18, went to work for the Shell Oil Company in Africa. When World War II broke out, he joined the Royal Air Force and became a fighter pilot. At the age of 26 he moved to Washington, D.C., and it was there he began to write. His, first short story, which recounted his adventures in the war, was bought by the Saturday Evening Post, and so began a long and illustrious career. After establishing himself as a writer for adults, Dahl began writing children’s stories in the early 1960s while living in England with his family. His first stories were written as entertainment for his own children, to whom many of his books are dedicated.
Roald Dahl is now considered one of the most beloved storytellers of our time. Although he passed away in 1990, his popularity continues to increase as his fantastic novels, including James and the Giant Peach, Matilda, The BFG and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, delight an ever – growing legion of fans.
Dahl didn’t go to university, but applied for a job at the Shell Company, because he got the was sure they would and him abroad. He was sent to East Africa, where he got the adventure he wanted: great heat, crocodiles, snakes and safaris. He lived in the jungle, learned to speak Swahili and suffered from Malaria. When the Second World War broke out, he went to Nairobi to join the Royal Air Force. He was a fighter pilot and shot down German lanes and got shot down himself. After sx months in hospital he flew again.
In 1942, he went to Washington as Assistant Air Attach. There, he started writing short stories. In 1943, he published his first children’s book The Gremlins with Walt Disney and in 1945, his book of short stories appeared in the US. His marriage with the actress Patricia Neal was unhappy. During the marriage she suffered a stroke and when she regained consciousness, she could hardly read, count and talk. But Roald managed to nurse her back to health, so that she could act again. Nevertheless, he got devorced in 1983 and married Felicity Crosland. He received several awards such as Edgar Allan Poe award. His collections of short stories have been translated into many languages and have been best-sellers all over the world. Among them are Someone Likes You, Sweet Mystery of Life, Kiss Kiss, and Roald Dahl’s Book of Ghost Stories Tales of the Unexpected and the novel My Uncle Oswald.
His book are mostly fantasy, and full of imagination. They are always a little cruel, but without humor – a thrilling mixture of the grotesque and comic. A frequent motif is, that people are not what they appear to be. Mary Maloney in Lamb to the Slaughter, for example, is not a friendly widow, but a clever murderess. In his stories, the
Roald Dahl wrote books not only for grown – ups but also for children, such as James and the Giant Peach, Fantastic Mr. Fox and The Gremlins. About his children’s stories he said once: “I make my points by the exaggerating wildly. That’s the only way to get through to children.” Roald Dahl is perhaps the most popular and best – selling children’s book author. However, these stories are so sarcastic and humorous, that also adults appreciate reading them. (ibid: 46)
Publish in 1988, “Matilda” was one of the last books Roald Dahl wrote before his death in 1990. Most authors as they age become more cynical and dour. Think of the final writing of Dickens or Twain and how bitter they seemed in their late years. Then look at “Matilda”. Here we have a sweet charming little piece of literature about a girl that is both and interesting. Creating characters that you identify intrinsically with is not only difficulty but (in children’s books) sometimes near impossible. Reading “Matilda”, it becomes clear that Roald Dahl never lost his touch for creating wonderful original characters and situations.
This novel is tells about Matilda” who is an exceptionally bright young girl with an insatiable appetite for books and reading. Her parent, Mr. and Mrs. Wormwood, think she is just a nuisance. Matilda thinks, rightly, that all they are interested in is watching TV and making money by cheating people. She decides to punish them. She soon discovers that she has supernatural power – telekinetic which are not only going to prove useful at home but also at Crunchem Hall School where Matilda and her classmates must contend with the scariest headmistress of the all – Miss Trunchbull.
fine cracks as his fellow kiddies lit authors. I was especially fond of the portion in which Matilda points out that through C.S Lewis and Tolkein are fine writers, “they are not many funny bits”. And as well as all know, Dahl is the master of the funny bit for kids. This book is crook is full of them too. It contains all the usual peculiar Dahl touches (like kids being swung out of the playground by their pigtails) as well as practical jokes nd nasty adults. The Trunchbull is perhaps the nastiest adult ever to grace the pages of the Dahl’s world. Definitely unhinged, she abuses the children around her, coming just shy of actual physical contact. It is amazing then that Dahl does not dispatch of her in a violent or crazy fashion. Dahl was quite soft in his old age, it seems. Roald Dahl died in 1990, at the age of 74.
