ANALYSIS OF THE MAIN CHARACTERS IN ROBERT
HARRIS’ NOVEL “THE GHOST WRITER”
A PAPER
BY
JOKO HADI SUNAWAN
REG. NO. 082202027
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH SUMATERA
FACULTY OF CULTURE STUDIES
DIPLOMA III ENGLISH STUDY PROGRAM
MEDAN
It has been proved by Supervisor,
Dra. Syahyar Hanum, DPFE NIP. 19510907197902 2 001
Submitted to faculty of Culture Studies University of North Sumatera
In partial fulfillment of the requirements for DIPLOMA (D-III) in English
Approved by
Head of Diploma III English Study Program,
Dr. Matius C.A Sembiring, M.A. NIP.19521126198112 1 001
Approved by the Diploma III of English Study Program
Faculty of Culture Studies, University of North Sumatera
Accepted by the Board of examiners in partial fulfillment of the requirements for
the D-III Examination of the Diploma III of English Study Program, Faculty of
Culture Studies, University of North Sumatera.
The examination is held on June 2011
Faculty of Culture Studies, University of North Sumatera Dean,
Dr. Syahron Lubis, M.A. NIP. 19511013197603 1 001
Board of examiner Signature
AUTHOR’S DECLARATION
I, JOKO HADI SUNAWAN, declare that I am the sole of author of this paper.
Except where reference is made in the text of this paper, this paper contains no
material published elsewhere or extracted in whole or in part from a paper by
which I have qualified for or awarded another degree.
No other person’s work has been used without due acknowledgement in the main
text of this paper. This paper has not been submitted for the award of another
degree in any tertiary education.
Signed :
ABSTRAK
ABSTRACT
This paper entitled "Analysis of the Main Characters in Robert Harris' novel, The Ghost Writer". There are four main characters in the novel, namely: The Ghost, Adam Lang, Ruth Lang, Amelia Bly. Each character has different characters and roles. Adam Lang recruited The Ghost to continue the work of Mc Ara who had died in his work of Adam Lang's memoirs record that will be used as evidence of an international court charges in case of war crimes. Like Mc Ara, The Ghost also knows too much about the past of Adam Lang and his wife, Ruth Lang who turns out to be CIA agents, thus threatening the safety of himself. Recognizing that too many lies to hide the family, especially Ruth Lang, The Ghost took the initiative to dismantle the Lang family reality by writing a memo given to Ruth Lang at the launch of the book of Adam Lang's autobiography, which was attended by many invited guests. In working on this paper, the method pursued is the study of literature by using the books as relevant sources and information from the Internet. As for analyzing the novel, the author applies an approach that focuses on text analysis.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Bismillahirrahmanirrahim
First of all, I would like to thank and praise to the Almighty God, Allah
SWT, for blessing and giving me strength, health, patience, and ease in finishing
this paper in order to get a Diploma degree in English from Faculty of Letters,
Univbersity of Sumatera Utara.
Then, I would like to express a deep gratitude, love, and appreciation to
the Dean of Faculty of Culture, Drs. Syahron Lubis M.A and I wishes to express my sincere gratitude to all lecturers for their valuable knowledge and guidance
and advice during the years of the my study at the faculty and also my sincere
gratitude goes to Dr. Matius C.A Sembiring, M.A as the Head of English (D-III) Study Program and Dra. Persadanta karokaro, M.Hum as the secretary of English (D-III) Study Program who gives me advice to finish this paper.
To Dra. Syahyar Hanum, DPFE as my supervisor and my reader for the valuable time in giving the correction and constructive critics from the very
beginning up to the end of the writing and Drs. Mohammad Syafi’i, M.A. as my reader. Thanks for time, patience and supportive guidance in completing of my
paper.
To all lecturers in English Diploma Study Program for giving me the
To all my closed friends in the college especially Yolanda, Agnes, Doni, Rizka, Jimmy, Maria, Leni for being such nice friends and supporting me in life, keep on our friendship forever.
To my parents, brothers and sisters, especially to my oldest sister, Dra. Siswati, S.Ag. Thank you for the material and emotional support. You all know how much I love you and I present this paper for you.
Finally, I realized that this paper is still far from being perfect. Therefore, I
am ready to welcome creative suggestion and criticism, so that this paper will be
much better.
Medan, ...2011
The Writer
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.4Significance of Writing ... ..4
1.5Method of the Study ... ..4
2. BIOGRAPHY OF THE AUTHOR... ..5
3. SUMMARY OF THE NOVEL ... ..7
4. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE ... 13
ABSTRAK
ABSTRACT
This paper entitled "Analysis of the Main Characters in Robert Harris' novel, The Ghost Writer". There are four main characters in the novel, namely: The Ghost, Adam Lang, Ruth Lang, Amelia Bly. Each character has different characters and roles. Adam Lang recruited The Ghost to continue the work of Mc Ara who had died in his work of Adam Lang's memoirs record that will be used as evidence of an international court charges in case of war crimes. Like Mc Ara, The Ghost also knows too much about the past of Adam Lang and his wife, Ruth Lang who turns out to be CIA agents, thus threatening the safety of himself. Recognizing that too many lies to hide the family, especially Ruth Lang, The Ghost took the initiative to dismantle the Lang family reality by writing a memo given to Ruth Lang at the launch of the book of Adam Lang's autobiography, which was attended by many invited guests. In working on this paper, the method pursued is the study of literature by using the books as relevant sources and information from the Internet. As for analyzing the novel, the author applies an approach that focuses on text analysis.
1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
Literature is a body of written works related by subject- matter, by
language or places origin, or by dominant cultural standard. Literature has long
been related to the collection of poem, prose, novel, and drama. The term of the
novel can be defined as a literary composition. It tells a story which usually shows
the human conflict through writting a dialogue ( Koesnosoebroto, 1998: 78).
Some of novels are fiction and based on true stories. Both of those not only
entertaint but also give meaning messages and impression to readers. Most novels
are concerned with ordinary people and their problems in the societies in which
they find themselves (Peck and Martin Coyle, 1998: 102).
Today, many novels are published to the people. The novel that I
discussed is about politic which titled The Ghost Writter by Robert Harris, one of
his best seller. The author is really creative so that the messages of the story can
be sent to the readers.
The Ghost Writer is a story of an unnamed successful British ghostwriter,
he is called as the ghost. When the ghost agrees to complete the memoirs of the
former British Prime Minister Adam Lang, his agent assures him it is the
opportunity of a lifetime. But the project seems doomed from the start, not least
because his predecessor on the project, Lang’s long-term aid, died in an apparent
at an oceanfront in the fictional village of Old Haven. But the day he arrives, a
former British foreign minister named Rycart accuses Lang of authorizing the
illegal seizure of suspected terrorist and handling them over for torture by the
CIA. Adam Lang faces the threat of prosecution by the International Criminal
Court, unless he stays in the U.S or goes to another country that does not
recognize that court.
The controversy brings reporters and protesters swarming to the security
perimeter of the island home where Adam Lang is staying with his wife, Ruth,
and his personal assistant Amelia Bly. As the ghost writer works, he uncovers
clues suggesting his predecessor may have stumbled on a dark secret concerning
and that somehow this information is hidden in the manuscript he left behind. The
next morning, the ghostwriter follows the GPS in the car of the previous writer,
which leads him to the estate of Professor Paul Emmett. The ghostwriter can tell
that Emmett is hiding something. As the writer leaves Emmett's estate, he is
followed by a car, but eludes it. The writer boards the ferry, but then flees the boat
as he sees the car that had followed him drive onboard. He decides to spend the
night on the mainland, and stays in a small motel and while there, finds
information on the Internet that points to Paul Emmett as a CIA agent.
The writer then contacts Rycart, whose phone number had been among the
effects of his predecessor, and who tells him that the previous writer had said that
he had hidden information in the "beginning" of the book. The men cannot,
writer is told by Rycart to go with Lang. The writer warns that Lang will be able
to avoid Rycart no matter what he does. On the plane, the writer accuses Lang of
being a CIA agent recruited by Emmett, but Lang derides his suggestion. Upon
departing the aircraft, Lang is assassinated by an anti war. Despite Lang's death,
the ghostwriter is asked to complete the book for posthumous publication.
Realizing that the clues were hidden in the original manuscript at the
beginning of each chapter, he underlines the words at the beginning of each
chapter and reveals the message, "Lang's wife Ruth was recruited as a CIA agent
by Professor Paul Emmett of Harvard University." Ruth Lang has shaped Lang's
every political decision to benefit the U.S as directed by the CIA. After passing a
note to Ruth of his discovery, the ghostwriter leaves with the original manuscript
in hand.
The Ghost Writer (The Ghost: UK title) is Robert Harris’ best seller novel.
The story of The ghost Writer is a contemporary political fiction. Robert Harris is
recognized English novelist and journalist.
This novel is chosen not only for the story, but also to let the readers know
and understand the story, the main characters and the political intricacy.
1.2 Scope of the Study
This novel is a fascinating fiction that can take the readers into the main
limit the discussion into the main characters only. I will discuss each characters
clearly and completely.
1.3 Purpose of the Study
In this study, I have two main purposes. First, to understand the whole
story and the main characters in this novel. Second, to inform that politics are
also interesting to be learned.
1.4 Significance of Writing
In general, I hope this paper can enrich the readers’ knowledge, especially
the students of English Diploma Study Program.
1.5 Method of the Study
The source of this paper analysis is novel. In this paper I discussed The
Ghost Writer. The focus of analysis is the main characters.
The method used in writing this report is library research and internet
research. In this research, all the data and information related to the analyses are
2 BIOGRAPHY OF THE AUTHOR
Robert Dennis Harris was born in Nottingham, England on 7 March 1957,
is an English novelist.
Harris spent his childhood in a small rented house on a Nottingham
council estate. His ambition to become a writer arose at an early age, from visits
to the local printing plant where his father worked. Harris went to Belvoir High
School in
a hall is now named after him. There he wrote plays and edited the school
Harris read English literature at
was president of the
TV correspondent for the BBC and has also worked as a columnist for the London
Sunday Times and the Daily Telegraph, and as Political Editor for The Observer.
He was named 'Columnist of the Year' in the 2003 British Press Awards.
As well as several non-fiction books, including Selling Hitler: The Story of the
Hitler Diaries (1986), he is the author of six novels: Fatherland (1992), set in
1964 in Berlin; Enigma (1995), set in World War II; Archangel (1998), set in
present day Russia; Pompeii (2003), a dramatisation of the eruption of Mount
Vesuvius in AD79; Imperium (2006), the first of a trilogy of novels about Cicero;
and The Ghost (2007), narrated by a professional ghost writer. Robert Harris lives
in Berkshire. His novel Enigma, about the code breakers of Bletchley Park, was
made into a feature film directed by Michael Apted, from a script by Tom
Stoppard. Archangel, the story of a historian on the trail of Stalin's secret diaries,
was adapted for BBC Television in 2005, starring Daniel Craig. Pompeii has
recently been adapted for film by the author, and will be directed by Roman
Polanski. Robert Harris is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. His latest
novel is Lustrum (2009), the second in the Cicero trilogy, shortlisted for the 2010
Walter Scott Prize.
Harris lives in a
Hornby, herself a writer and sister of best-selling novelist
3 SUMMARY OF THE NOVEL
"Of all the advantages to be a ghost writer, one of which must have been
an opportunity for you to meet interesting people," said Robert Harris, author of
The Ghost, at the beginning of his novel. His sentence is excerpts from the book
Ghostwriting (2004) by Andrew Crofts.
"I am your ghost," said the ghost at the first met with Adam Lang (p. 75).
As a ghost writer, someone is not unlike a ghost for the owner of the name that
will be specified as an author. He is there but invisible. He is exist but unknown.
His pride may be just one: has been in contact with one interesting person in the
world. Although in this novel, meeting political celebrity was not a thing that
appeals to the ghost. Instead, he is like Kate’s saying, his girlfriend, named as, "...
the only rat to jump into a sinking ship." (P. 85).
Adam Lang, a former British Prime Minister, must belong to the
'interesting people'. Not everyone can get a chance to meet him. But the man who
becomes the narrator of The Ghost, the ghost whose name never be mentioned
until the end of the novel, with easy to acquire this rare opportunity. The ghost is a
ghost writer and was recruited to help write Lang memoirs.
The narrator is the second choice. At first the writing of Lang memoirs
written by Michael McAra, Lang's political aide when he was prime minister.
McAra has conducted a series of research which he described in his memoir
dead on the beaches of Martha's Vineyard. So this work is transferred to the new
ghost who experienced in writing celebrities memoirs.
Leaving London, the ghost went to Martha's Vineyard. He will continue
the work of McAra together with Lang in Martin Rhinehart resort, the owners
who want to publish Lang memoirs. In fact the ghost have never read a political
memoir as his belief that no one who reads this genre. He accepted the offer
because it lured 250 thousand dollar reward for the targeted job in a month.
Martha's Vineyard, where Lang Adam hide from the pursuit of the public
because of alleged human rights crimes. At the house, it's Lang personal assistant
whom met by the ghost, very strict and disciplined that is Amelia Bly.
At that house the ghost met with Lang's wife, Ruth, who is also former
party activist. Because of Ruth's political knowledge is good enough, then the
ghost also think that Ruth as the prime minister's political mentor.
After reading the manuscript prepared by McAra, the ghost concluded if
this article would be the most failed projects in the history of publishing. No
doubt, outworn itself as the worker would become scapegoats. McAra manuscript
hardly ever mentions Ruth, Lang's wife who is known for his independence and
intelligence. She also did not find matters of Operation Tempest which was
become the news of the various world mass media.
There is indication that the five-year-old Lang past has supported
(SAS) in Peshawar, Pakistan and the behest of the CIA handed over to Lang.
After they get torture, one of them was killed and three others were imprisoned at
Guantanamo. This operation is considered illegal under UK and international law.
Lang case boiling increasingly when Richard Rycart-former British
foreign minister who once dismissed Lang from the Cabinet and now serves
superb ambassador for the UN humanitarian problems-ask the International Court
in The Hague to investigate the involvement of Lang. Presumably, although
thought to have a personal vendetta on Lang, Rycart-who claim to be sacked
because he was not pro-America had evidence of Lang's involvement in Operation
Tempest.
In line with the rise of the preaching of the role of Lang in the case of the
so-called war crime, the publishers decided to publish the memoirs. For the
publisher this time is the moment to reap the benefits while for the ghost it is
became critical moment because there is only two weeks left.
The ghost continues to explore the private lives of Adam Lang, especially
during at Cambridge University. From here some puzzles started to opened,
including the death of the earlier author of biography of the prime minister, Mike
McAra, who is found his death body floating in the sea.
McAra apparently did not want to left things just end even though he's
dead. He left a form of memorabilia from the times of Lang lecture at Cambridge;
McAra’s clue, without anyone realizing it, the ghost found that the persistent
curiosity has hired himself as the next victim will be.
By tracing the clue left by Mike McAra, the ghost started looking for
another figure which has very close relation to Adam Lang, namely Paul Emmett,
a professor at Harvard University. Mike McAra death due to drunk very dubious.
Then the ghost was visiting Paul Emmett to extract some information. After
coming back from the house he was, he was being followed by unknown people
and about to kill him.
The ghost survived, then met with Richard Rycart. By using the google
search engine, the ghost is trying to figure out who Paul Emmett and his
relationship with Adam Lang. With a piece of information, he knows that Paul
Elmett is a CIA agent, who recruited Adam Lang in 1973.
The ghost also confirm his meeting with Richard Rycart to Adam Lang
through a conversation full of emotion on his private plane. Adam Lang unlucky
fate. When he had just got off the plane, he was immediately bombarded with
machine guns by a father whose son was killed in the Iraq war.
But the story does not end here. At the launch of this biography, the ghost
managed to answer the puzzle long over this: Apparently, Paul Emmett was a
member of the CIA, and he has recruited Ruth, Adam Lang’s wife. Those who
were both trying to control Adam Lang, including the following U.S. foreign
Reportedly, Adam Lang character was inspired by former British Prime
Minister Tony Blair who also had a ghost writer for his memoir. Maybe this is
what led to the idea to write a novel that tells the ghost writer. For Harris, the
name of the person does not guarantee memoirs sales. He pushed the idea of
writing political memoir in which the writer have to give the heart in writing to
obtain the sympathy of readers. Successful political memoirs will be able to
persuade the readers to identify their emotionally with the owner of the memoir.
And able to invite the reader to recognize similarities in them with the characters.
Of course, The Ghost is not a theory book in writing memoirs. What
mentioned above is only one part even if it is not removed will not give any
systemic impact on the quality of the novel. For a thriller novel, the conflict is the
main selling. The more classy conflict is presented, the more viscous its power
suspension, and the novel becomes more compelling.
This novel not only contains a single conflict. All the main characters are
connected with the old secrets stored by one character. When the secret was
revealed, and can only be read ahead of the seal, it is becoming a heavy blow that
struck the reader's mind. It's remarkable.
Initially the ghost that becomes the narrator is present as spectators, but
gradually he developed into the main character which is threatened by the choices
made without thinking carefully. "Ghosts" inappropriate to expect greatness
(Ghostwriting, p. 314), but as a "ghost" really inappropriate for me to expect the
The Ghost is a kind of novel that can not be ignored reader who liked the
novel of politics and intelligence support. Harris was able to prove that despite not
primp in terms of plot, he was able to dress the world's second dish is a
4 REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
4.1 Plot
Plot is a literary term for which the events that make up a story,
particularly as they relate to one another in a pattern, a sequence, through cause
and effect, or by coincidence. One is generally interested in how well this pattern
of events accomplishes some artistic or emotional effect. An intricate,
complicated plot is called an imbroglio, but even the simplest statements of plot
may include multiple inferences, as in traditional ballads.
Stories are made up mostly of actions or incidents that 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
developement of the actions.
The english novelist E.M.Forster, in aspect of the novel, present a
memorable illustration of plot. To show a bare set of actions, he uses the
following: “The king died, and then the queen died.” He points out, however, that
this sequence does not form of plot because it lacks motivation and causation,
which he introduces in his next example: “The king died, and then the queen died
of grief.” With the phrase “of grief,” which shows that one thing (grief) controls
or overcomes another (the normal desire to live), motivation and causation enter
other not simply because time thicks away, but more importantly because effects
follow causes. In a good story nothing is irrelevant or accidental: everything is
related and causative.
4.2 Theme
Theme is a broad idea, message, or moral of a story. The message may be
about life, society, or human nature. Themes often explore timeless and universal
ideas and are almost always implied rather than stated explicitly.
All stories have a theme or purpose, no matter how deviously the author
chooses to present it. At one time authors stated their purpose, but such a
prosedure has become old-fashioned; no self-respecting writers at present will do
more than imply their theme. They suggest it through character, athmosphere,
setting, plot, and style-thus theme is a kind of composite statement which requires
our comprehension of numerous other elements.
4.3 Character
A character is the
kharaktêr, the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from th
Character, particularly when enacted by an actor in th
"the illusion of being a human person. In literature, characters guide readers
through their stories, helping them to understand plots and ponder themes. Since
effectiv
characters, as practised by actors or writers, has been called
In fiction, a character maybe defined as a verbal representation of a human
being. Through action, speech, description and comentary, authors portray
characters who are worth caring about, rooting for, and even loving, although
there are also character we may laugh at, dislike, or even hate.
A character who stands as a representative of a particular
people is known as a type. Types include both
more fully
and
specific positions in the
between the characters reveal
The study of a character requires an analysis of its relations with all of the
other characters in the work. The individual status of a character is defined
through the network of oppositions
that it forms with the other characters. The relation between characters and the
action of the story shifts historically, often
about huma
4.4 Setting
Setting is the natural, manufactured, political, cultural, and temporal
setting includes the
and initiates the main
as story world o
immediate surroundings of the story. Elements of setting may include
Setting is a key role in plot. In some stories the setting becomes a character
itself. In such roles setting may be considered a
term "setting" is often used to refer to the social milieu in which the events of a
novel occur. Novelist and novel-writing instructor
how this social milieu shapes the characters’ values.
4.5 Point of view
Point of view refers to the position and stands of the voice, or speaker, that
authors adopt their words. It supposes a living narrator or persona who tells
stories, presents arguments, or expresses attitudes such a love, anger, or
excitement. Practically, point of view involves the actual physical location of this
speaker and his or her position to see and record the man 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 impact. It may also be considered as a way of seeing, the perfective into
There are three types point of view: first person point of view, second
person point of view, and third person point of view. If the voice of the work is an
“I,” the author is using the first person point of view-the impersonation of a
fictional narrator or speaker. Of all the points of view, the first person is
potentially the most independent of the author, for such a speaker is often given
unique identity, with name, job, an economic and social position. The
second-person point of view, the least common of the points of view, offers the writer two
major possibilities. In the first, a narrator tells a present and involved listener what
he or she has done and said at a past time. The action might be a simple retelling
of events, as when a parent tells a child about an action of the child during
infancy, or a doctor tells a patient with amnesia about events before the causative
injury. The actions might also be subject to dispute and interpretation, as when a
prosecuting attorney describes a crime for which a defendant is on trial, or a
spouse lists grievances againts an alienated spouse in a custody or divorce case. If
event is in the work are described in the 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 create a
distinct authorial voice. There are three varians of the third-person point of view:
5 THE ANALYSIS
5.1 The Ghost
A nameless British writer who makes his living writing other people’s
autobiographies. He is hired by a major US publishing firm to work up the
memoirs of a former British prime minister, Adam Lang.
It can be seen quoted below:
Maddox and Kroll looked at one another and I knew then that I had thejob. As Rick said afterward, the trick is always to put yourself in their position. “It’s like interviewing a new cleaner. Do you want someone who can give you the history of cleaning and the theory of cleaning, or do you want someone who’ll just get down and clean your fucking house? They chose you because they think you’ll clean their fucking house.”
“We’ll go with you,” said Maddox. He stood and reached over and shook my hand. “Subject to reaching a satisfactory agreement with Rick here, of course.” Kroll added, “You’ll also have to sign a nondisclosure agreement.”
“No problem,” I said, also getting to my feet. That didn’t bother me. Confidentiality clauses are standard procedure in the ghosting world. “I couldn’t be happier.”
(Robert Harris, The Ghost Writer, 2007, p. 15)
The Ghost is a brave person; the walking self. He has an English face with
the rounding face, the titled nose, the small mouth. He is average, shape body;
black to blonde hair, blue eyes, and has serious expression.
He is an intelligent man, competent, talented but also friendly, curios and
brave. He always want to search everything and workaholic.
It can be seen quoted below:
month to finish my new book, the autobiography of a footballer, and the world beyond my study had become a blur.
(Robert Harris, The Ghost Writer, 2007, p. 7)
He is about thirtiest years old. He lives alone, but sometimes his partner
comes to see him and stay.
It can be seen quoted below:
Kate had already let herself in and was watching the news. Kate: I had forgotten she was coming over for the evening. She was my—? I never knew what to call her. To say she was my girlfriend was absurd; no one the wrong side of thirty has
a girlfriend . Partner wasn’t right either, as we didn’t live
under the same roof. Lover? How could one keep a straight face? Mistress? Do me a favor. Fiancée? Certainly not. I suppose I ought to have realized it was ominous that forty thousand years of human language had failed to produce a word for our relationship.
(Robert Harris, The Ghost Writer, 2007, p. 10)
He is thinker, silent, and mature. He is a man full with consideration . But
sometimes he is egoist.
It can be seen quoted below:
She got up then and went into the bedroom to collect the bag she always brought on the nights she planned to stay. I heard her filling it noisily with lipstick, toothbrush, perfume spray. I knew if I went in I could retrieve the situation. She was probably expecting it; we’d had worse rows. I’d have been obliged to concede that she was right, acknowledge my unsuitability for the task, affirm her moral and intellectual superiority in this as in all things. It needn’t even have been a verbal confession; a meaningful hug would probably have been enough to get me a suspended sentence. But the truth was, at that moment, given a choice between an evening of her smug left-wing moralizing and the prospect of working with a so-called war criminal, I preferred the war criminal. So I simply carried on staring at the television.
The ghost has so many ideas to solve any kind of problems and always
ready to take serious risks even he knows that it will become serious threat for his
writing carrier.
It can be seen quoted below:
“Great. They gave me the Gulfstream Four—you know, the transatlantic one, with the beds and the shower. Hi, Amelia. Hi, Jeff.” He noticed me. “Hello,” he said. “Who are you?” “I’m your ghost,” I said.
I regretted it the instant I said it. I’d conceived it as a witty, self-deprecatory, break-the-ice kind of a line. I’d even practiced my delivery in the mirror before I left London. But somehow out there, in that deserted airport, amid the grayness and the quietness, it hit precisely the wrong note. He flinched.
“Right,” he said doubtfully, and although he shook my hand, he also drew his head back slightly, as if to inspect me from a safer distance. Christ, I thought, he thinks I’m a lunatic. “Don’t worry,” Ruth told him. “He isn’t always such a jerk.” (Robert Harris, The Ghost Writer, 2007, p. 33)
The Ghost is a sociable personal and he can be a jerk in the same time. He
often to saying jokes although it is not funny at all, without thinking with whom
he is talking and its impact.
It can be seen quoted below:
I was online, I addressed an email to myself, attached the manuscript file, and pressed Send.
(Robert Harris, The Ghost Writer, 2007, p. 33) 5.2 Adam Lang
Appear quite convincing and authoritative. Super busy public figure,
emotional, ambitious, and sports hobby.
It can be seen quoted below:
I’d anticipated that my biggest problem on the first day would be physically getting Adam Lang into a room and keeping him there for long enough to start interviewing him. But the strange thing was that when we reached the house,he was already waiting forme . Amelia had decided we should use Rhinehart’s office, and we found the former prime minister, wearing a dark green tracksuit, sprawled in the big chair opposite the desk, one leg draped over the arm. He was flicking through a history of World War Two that he’d obviously just taken down from the shelf. A mug of tea stood on the floor beside him. His trainers had sand on their soles: I guessed he must have gone for a run on the beach.
“Hi, man,” he said, looking up at me. “Ready to start?”
“Good morning,” I said. “I just need to sort out a few things first.”
“Sure. Go ahead. Ignore me.”
(Robert Harris, The Ghost Writer, 2007, p. 33)
A charismatic high opolitician and tough yet vulnerable. Not a powerful
politician until he met his wife, Ruth. Dare to take a big decisions to wrestle with
the political world. In fact, if it is examined further, when he was in Cambridge
University Adam Lang did not show much interest in politics.
It can be seen quoted below:
And that’s it—I’m in love. And it quickly becomes clear that the best way of getting to see her again is to take one of her leaflets and turn up the next Tuesday evening, or whenever it is, and join the local party. Which I do.”
“And if she’d been a member of a different political party?” “I’d have gone along and joined it just the same. I wouldn’t
havestayed in it,” he added quickly. “I mean obviously this
was the start of a long political awakening for me—bringing out values and beliefs that were already present but were simply dormant at that time.
(Robert Harris, The Ghost Writer, 2007, p. 42)
Character of the Prime Minister is quite temperamental, complete with a
"furrow", gentle style.
It can be seen quoted below:
Lang reluctantly let go of me and I fastened my seat belt. He did the same. He glanced out of the window at the terminal, then back at me, appalled, as we dipped gracefully onto the runway.
“My God, you’ve already told someone, haven’t you?” I could feel myself turning scarlet.
“No,” I said. “You have.”
“I haven’t.” On the tape I sound as feeble as a child caught red-handed.
He leaned forward again. “Who have you told?”
Looking out at the dark forest beyond the perimeter of the airport, where anything could belurking, it seemed like the only insurance policy I had.
“Richard Rycart,” I said.
That must have been a devastating blow to him. He must have known then that it was the end ofeverything. In my mind’s eye I see him still, like one those once grand but now condemned apartment blocks, moments after the demolition charges have been exploded: for a few seconds, the façade remains bizarrely intact, before slowly beginning to slide. That was Lang. He gave me a long blank look and then subsided back into his seat.
(Robert Harris, The Ghost Writer, 2007, p. 132) 5.3 Ruth Lang
The wife of disgraced former British P.M Adam Lang. Ruth is a marvel of
tighly wound fury and brittle, self-deprecating humor. She skulks about the
publisher) in high dudgeon, her ire seemingly the only thing preventing her from
being crushed underneath the outsize wall art and huge plate-glass windows that
don't frame the drear wintery landscape as much as invite prying eyes to look in.
Ruth is a very complicated and mysterious figure. Characteristics to
describe Ruth which began with clever, dominating, vulnerable, jealous, cunning,
neurotic and proud of her husband, but contemptuous of him.
It can be seen quoted below:
From somewhere inside the house I heard a woman with a British accent shouting, “This isabsolutely bloodyridiculous !” A door slammed.
“Actually, forget I said that: it’sfucking ridiculous!” shouted the unseen woman.
(Robert Harris, The Ghost Writer, 2007, p. 27)
Ruth appeared full of charm as the dialogues assertive, loud argument
about politics, and concern for her husband. She is sharp-tongued and likes to
speak bluntly. Sometimes clashing arguments with her husband's secretary.
It can be seen quoted below:
She didn’t say anything for a while, just stared at the ocean, biting her lip. Then she looked at me, sizing me up. “You did sign that confidentiality agreement?”
“Of course.” “You’re sure?”
“Check with Sid Kroll’s office.”
“Because I don’t want to read about this in some gossip column next week, or in some cheap little kiss-and-tell book of your own a year from now.”
“Whoa,” I said, taken aback by her venom. “I thought you just said I was your idea. I didn’t ask
Ruth is an emotional woman, her mood can change suddenly, a very
unpredictable person, full of mystery.
It can be seen quoted below:
She nodded. “All right then. I’ll tell you why I can’t go home, between you and me. Because there’s something not quite right with him at the moment, and I’m a bit afraid to leave him.”
Boy, I thought. This just gets better and better.
“Yes,” I replied diplomatically. “Amelia told me he was very upset by Mike’s death.”
“Oh, did she? Quite whenMrs. Bly became such an expert in my husband’s emotional state I’m not sure.” If she had hissed and sprung claws she couldn’t have made her feelings plainer. “Losing Mike certainly made it worse, but it isn’t just that. It’s losing power—that’s the real trouble. Losing power, and now having to sit down and relive everything, year by year. While all the time the press are going on and on about what he did and didn’t do. He can’t get free of the past, you see. He can’t move on.” She gestured helplessly at the sea, the sand, the dunes. “He’s stuck. We’re both stuck.”
As we walked back to the house, she put her arm through mine. “Oh, dear,” she said. “You must
be starting to wonder what you’ve let yourself in for.” (Robert Harris, The Ghost Writer, 2007, p. 31)
Ruth Lang is a former party activist, strong women, manipulative, and
harsh personality. Slowly not only lose the love of her husband, but also against
her husband's political influence. Ruth was the wife of loneliness and then use
Ghost as a runaway love.
It can be seen quoted below:
of magnetic field. Finally, I stroked her hair and tried to murmur words of reassurance I didn’t really believe.
(Robert Harris, The Ghost Writer, 2007, p. 90)
The role of Ruth Lang, the ex-Prime Minister’s wife, proved a tougher
challenge. intelligent and she’s the person who really makes everything work.
She’s also the funniest and the sharpest. She is charm and the gift of
communication becomes the public face of the relationship and the one with the
acute political brain but less charisma. So upfront and seemingly transparent no
one sees the threat that she is incredibly idealistic and driven. She will make the
ultimate sacrifice for her beliefs.”
5.4 Amelia Bly
Skilled personal Assistant and mistress to a former British Prime Minister,
Adam Lang. serious personal and skilled assistants and curt. She looks always
arguing with Lang’s wife, Ruth Lang.
It can be seen quoted below:
“Actually, I thinkI’ll go to the airport,” said Ruth, suddenly pulling her windbreaker back down.
“Amelia can stay here and polish her nails or something. Why don’t you come?” she added to me. “He’s keen to meet you.” Score one to the wife, I thought. But no: in the finest traditions of the British civil service, Amelia bounced off the ropes and came back punching. “Then I’ll travel in the backup car,” she said, snapping her cell phone shut and smiling sweetly. “I can do my nails in there.”
(Robert Harris, The Ghost Writer, 2007, p. 32)
A very powerful figure. She’s a kind of super secretary or personal
relationship between the boss and this professional who tells him he’s marvelous
or makes sure his tie is straight.
It can be seen quoted below:
After that I shut up for a while. I could see why Ruth didn’t like her. She was a shade too clever and several shades too blonde for comfort, especially from a wife’s point of view. In fact it struck me as I sat there, passively inhaling her Chanel, that she might be having an affair with Lang. That would explain a lot. He’d been noticeably cool toward her at the airport, and isn’t that always the surest sign? In which case, no wonder they were so paranoid about confidentiality. There could be enough material here to keep the tabloids happy for weeks.
(Robert Harris, The Ghost Writer, 2007, p. 34)
A career out of helping politicians and she is always one step ahead
anticipating his needs. She's smart, she's capable and she's really indispensable.
Her support of Adam Lang is unconditional and I think she feels that he has done
the right thing.”
It can be seen quoted below:
“We’re a small team,” said Amelia. “Myself, Alice here”—the girl in the corner looked up—“and Lucy, who’s with Adam in New York. Jeff the driver’s also in New York—he’ll be bringing the car back this afternoon. Six protection officers from the UK—three here and three with Adam at the moment. We badly need another pair of hands, if only to handle the media, but Adam can’t bring himself
to replace Mike. They were together so long.” “And how long have you been with him?”
“Eight years. I worked in Downing Street. I’m on attachment from the Cabinet Office.”
(Robert Harris, The Ghost Writer, 2007, p. 28)
An elegant blond woman, wears blazer, collar style. Aged 40s, but she
looks 10 years younger. Amelia has a friendly smile, beautiful blue eyes, and
It can be seen quoted below:
“Amelia Bly,” she said with a fixed smile. She was probably forty-five but at a distance could have passed for ten years younger. She had beautiful large, clear blue eyes but wore too much makeup, as if she worked at a cosmetics counter in a department store and had been obliged to demonstrate all the products at once. She exuded a sweetly opulent smell of perfume. I presumed she was the spokeswoman mentioned in that morning’sTimes . “Adam’s in New York, unfortunately, and won’t be back till later this afternoon.”
(Robert Harris, The Ghost Writer, 2007, p. 28)
His demeanor calm, relaxed, elegant, and completely regular. Wise in
words and very polite.
It can be seen quoted below:
“I’m so sorry. I’m afraid Ruth’s a little busy at the moment. She sends her apologies. She’ll catch you later.” Amelia’s smile had hardened somewhat. It looked as natural as her nail polish. “So, if you’ve finished your coffee, I’ll show you where we work.”
(Robert Harris, The Ghost Writer, 2007, p. 27)
Always be graceful in doing any kind, gentle, and motherly. But still has a
firmness, impresses that she was an elegant woman who can not be
underestimated.
It can be seen quoted below:
“This is not to be removed from this room,” she said, laying it on the desk. “It is not to be copied. You can make notes, but I must remind you that you’ve signed a confidentiality agreement. You have six hours to read it before Adam gets in from New York. I’ll have a sandwich sent up to you for lunch. Alice, come on. We don’t want to cause him any distractions, do we?”
6 CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION
6.1 Conclusion
After reading the novel The Ghost Writer by Robert Harris, there are four
major characters in the novel. Namely The Ghost, Adam Lang, Ruth Lang and
Amelia Bly. Character is an important element in literature. Characters are
fictitious living person who live as if they were real. They talk, have feelings and
live together to fulfill their needs as individuals and social living in a character or
person. He or she has the quality of being person.
The Ghost writer is one of the most interesting political stories in English
Literature: the relation between Lang’s family and The Ghost. Through character
The Ghost, he appears to be representation of independent man. He is workaholic,
thinker and full of consideration.
In real life, we can find some of advantages by reading the novel like the
6.2 Suggestion
Hopefully, this paper will give some advantages for the readers. It can also
enrich our knowledge and open insights about many things from the characters in
this novel. For exampple: courage, determination, indepence, reputation, and
loyalty. Robert Harris conveys a message for the reader through this novel, The
Ghost Writer. It is also valuable to improve and intensify our ability in learning
English.
Studying the main character in a novel is very interesting and there are still
many elements of fiction that are also interesting to be studied. Plot, point of
view, setting, theme, are other elements of fiction that can be studied. Therefore,
this paper is just a part of these elements. This study could at last become
REFERENCES
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Harris, Robert. 2010. The Ghost Writer, Sang Penulis Bayangan. Jakarta: PT. Gramedia Pustaka Utama.
Harris, Robert. 2007. The Ghost, A novel. London: Hutchinson.
Roberts, Edgar V and Henry E. Jacobs. 1987. Literature: An Introduction to Reading and Writing. New Jersey: Pretice Hall, Inc.
Singarimbun, Masri,1985. Metode Penelitian Survei. Jakarta: LP3ES
Subagyo, P.Joko,1997. Metode Penelitian Teori dan Praktek. Jakarta: Rineka Cipta.
Taylor, Richard, 1981. Understanding the Element of Literature. Hongkong: The MacMilln Company.