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THE CHARACTER OF PISCINE MOLITOR "PI"
PATEL IN THE
LIFE OF PI
KADEK AYU DWI PRAMITA YANTI
(1218351085)
NON REGULER PROGRAM OF ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF LETTER AND CULTURE
UDAYANA UNIVERSITY
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AKNOWLEDGEMENT
First of all, I would like to gratitude Almighty God, Ida Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa for blessing me in doing this paper therefore I can finish this paper in a proper time. So in this chance, I would like to express sincerest gratitude to my first supervisor, I Nyoman Aryawibawa, S.S., M.A., Ph.D. and my second supervisor Dra. Luh Putu Laksminy, M.Hum who have already given me a lot of advices, correction, encouragement, patience, suggestion, attention, and contribution in doing this study.
I also would like to dedicate my thanks to the following people for their assistance both morally and materially to finish this study.
1. Prof. Dr. Ni Luh Sutjiati Beratha, M.A. as the Dean of Faculty of Letters and I Gusti Ngurah Parthama, S.S., M.Hum as the Head of The English Department, Faculty of Letters Udayana University.
2. My special thanks are also due to my beloved parents I Wayan Suparsa and A.A Mirah Rahmawati who supported my studies, my lovely sister Putu Ayu Rosy Pramita Dewi. And all of my beloved family who have given me the motivation and supports. I believe that without their support this study would have been much more difficult to complete.
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I realize that this study is very far from being perfect; therefore, constructive criticism, suggestions and new ideas will be much welcome to improve this study. This study is wished to be useful for everyone who is interested in writing about Adverbs of degree.
Denpasar, March 2016
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This study discusses the character of a person in real life by the author are written in a novel. Character is one important aspect of the novel because it can build into a unified whole section interesting story. The study entitled "The characterization of Piscine Molitor" Pi "Patel in the Life of Pi" to find out three aspects characterization in main character which found in the novel and to know the storyline written by the authors.
The data of this study was collected through library research. The data was taken from the novel as the data source. In technique of collecting data is reading the novel frequently and intensively to understand the content of the novel, especially about aspect that made up the character, methods characterization used by the author and also plot in that story, taking note on certain statement and information that can support to answer the problem and then organize or classify them in order to find out which one is appropriate to the need of the study.
After analyzing the data, I found that, the psychological dimension of Piscine Molitor Patel’s character can be concluded that Pi was described as small, slim man, has pleasing coffee-colored complexion, dark hair, dark eyes, and expressive face. In this story, also stated that Pi is someone who a clever person, modern thought, religious person, has conscience, respect of the others, happy, curious, genius, but sometimes felt upset, embarrassed, frustrating, disillusioned, concerned, worried, fear, confused, and desperate From the sociological dimension can be concluded that Pi is a person comes from family who was owner and care take of a zoo in the Pondicherry city and he has higher education, which after high school to go on to university to take a baccalaureate degree in two areas at once. Pi was ranked top for four years at St. Michael's College and received an award in the Department of Zoology.
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1.5.2 Method and Technique of Collecting Data ... 4
1.5.3 Method and Technique of Analyzing Data ... 4
CHAPTER II REVIEW LITERATURE, CONCEPTS, AND THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
2.2.5 The Concept of Characterization ... 9
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2.3 Theoretical Framework ... 10
2.3.1 Character ... 10
2.3.1.1 Physiological aspect ... 11
2.3.1.2 Psychological aspect ... 12
2.3.1.3 Sociological aspect ... 12
2.3.2 Plot ... 13
3.3 The Characterization of Piscine Molitor “Pi” Patel in Terms of Physiological, Psychological, and Sociological Dimension ... 20
3.3.1 Pi’s Characterization Based on Physiological Dimension ... 21
3.3.2 Pi’s Characterization Based on Psychological Dimension ... 28
3.3.3 Pi’s Characterization Based on Sociological Dimension ... 42
3.4 The Plot of the story entitled Life of Pi ... 48
3.4.1 Beginning that introduction of character and setting ... 48
3.4.2 Middle ... 49
3.4.3 Climax ... 50
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1 CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background of study
Characters are actors in a literary work. The existence of character is important in a story, because the purpose of reading a story is to see plot works, find out what happens, and equally compelling reason to follow the fortunes of the character. A good character must be human like, which means that the character must reflect the conduction of human.
Character must have relationship with other elements in the story, such as setting, conflict, plot and theme, between characters, and also with the story as a whole. Character must be considered as part of the internal structure story (Kenney, 1966:26), because a character is made up of three aspects. Analyzing and understanding a short story through a character can be done through physiological, psychological, and sociological aspect. It means that one aspect influences the other one or the characters could not be completed if one aspect is omitted.
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how to become a good person in life. The novel Life of Pi, which is written by Yann Martel contains many values of life.
The main character, Piscine Molitor "Pi" Patel was presented as a young man who survived in lifeboat with a Bengal tiger and stuck in the vastness of the Pacific Ocean for 227 days. Pi is a very captivating character to be discussed; because this character has a unique characterization for example has 3 religions because his parents never forbade Pi to learn and be bound by any one religion. For along with Richard Parker, Pi was taught about morality, God and philosophy of life. This study will tell about the development of Pi’s character in order to survive and his relation with the tiger.
1.2 Problem of Study
1. What are the characters of Piscine Molitor “Pi” Patel in Life of Pi? 2. What is the plot of the story in the Life of Pi?
1.3 Aim of Study
This study has several aims, which are related to the problems of this study. They are:
1. To find out the characters of Pi Patel in terms of physiological, psychological, and sociological aspect of Piscine Molitor “Pi” Patel in
the Life of Pi.
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1.4 Scope of Discussion
Based on the problems and aims stated above and to make the research more specific, the scopes of discussion are formulated as follows: the character of Pi Patel in terms of physiological, psychological, and sociological aspect of
Piscine Molitor “Pi” Patel in the Life of Pi and also the plot of the story in the Life
of Pi.
1.5 Research Method
Methodology is the system of methods and principles of doing something, for example for teaching or carrying out research. The methodology that are used in this research were divided into three points namely data source, method and technique of collecting data, and also method and technique of analyzing data. 1.5.1 Data Source
The data of this study was taken from the novel Life of Pi by Yann Martel which published in 2001. The novel explains about someone named Pi Patel who survived with Bengal tiger (Richard Parker) for 227 days in the middle of Ocean Pasific. The novel won some awards in 2002 – 2004, and won the Asian / Pacific American for Literature for Best Adult Fiction 2001-2003. The novel was adapted
into a theatrical feature film directed by Ang Lee’s theater in 2012 with a
screenplay by David Magee.
1.5.2 Method and Technique of Collecting Data
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technique of collecting data is reading the novel frequently and intensively to understand the content of the novel, especially about aspect that made up the character, methods characterization used by the author and also plot in that story, taking note on certain statement and information that can support to answer the problem and then organize or classify them in order to find out which one is appropriate to the need of the study.
1.5.3Method and Technique of Analyzing Data
In technique of analyzing data is the process to find and arrange the data systematically, by classifying into several categories and analyzed in accordance with the theories in order to come to a conclusion, which hopefully responds well to the problems raised for this study. Qualitative method was used in the analyzing, it means this study explains and describes the result of analysis in the form of words and sentences.
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CHAPTER II
REVIEW OF LITERATURE, CONCEPTS, AND THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
2.1Review of Literatures
This chapter deals with some reviewing from undergraduate students’ thesis and also from the article that contain the theory about character to support the study. There are several students of the English Department who are interested in characterization as the topic of their study.
The first study entitled “The Analysis of Main Character in The Short Story Entitled Markheim by Robert Louis Stevenson” written by Dani (2007). This study discussed on the main character of Markheim which used theory of Kenney (1966) and Bernhardt (1953) that has physiological, psychological, and sociological aspect in the character and also method of characterization which the author used are like describe characters, told the reader how Markheim was, environment or condition during the conflict and used Characters on the Other Character Method. Most main character’s life spent bad thing through his
conversation with supporting is mysterious man.
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The second study was written by Agustini (2009), entitled “The Analysis of Main Character in The Color Purple by Alice Walker (A Psychological
Approach)”. This study focuses on analysis of the main character in one of Alice
Walker’s novel; this is a famous novel which was written in 1982. The aspect that
influence the development of the main character are the aspect of appetite, the aspect of want, aspect of emotion, aspect of feeling and attitude and the last is motives.
Agustini explained the novel The Color Purple has many moral values. It tells how important to respect other people started from our family. Besides that, the conflicts are main character experience with other people or man versus society and conflict within main character himself/herself or man versus himself. The different between this undergraduate thesis and this study is in the source of data, the undergraduate thesis focused analyzed to the psychological analysis of main character in this novel which used theory of Wellek and Warren (1989) and Sukasada (1987), while this study focused on discussing about physiological, psychological, and sociological aspect of main character in a novel. In undergraduate thesis does not describe the weakness, the excess or what is considered to be relevant in her study in review literature.
The third undergraduate study entitled “The Reflection of Bhagawan
Vyasa in Yudistira’s Characterization in The Epic Mahabrahata” by Dewi (2010).
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moral and religious messages which indirectly give an understanding of the noble value of life. The similarities both this study analyzed the characterization in the three dimension. There is differences that found between the study and this study, those are: data source, and the scope of discussion.
There is an article entitled ”An Analysis the Main Characters and the Plot in the Novel of Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie’s Habibie and Ainun” by Yuliani,
Markus K Salombe, and Abdul Waris which has the similarity to this study that gives the inspirations in analyzing this study. The similarity the article and this study are same analyzed about character and plot but different in choosing the object of study. The article only discussed about personalities of the main character, while this study focuses on characterization in the three dimension aspects of main character and also the plot in which this novel uses progressive plot in which the exposition and rising actions are in the ending of the story. This study have similarities but different in choosing the object of study.
2.2 Concept
The concept of the study is based on the ideas proposed by the experts in the field of literature. The concepts will be presented in this study as literature, prose, novel, character, characterization and also the concept of the plot. Novel is one many forms of creative or literary writing use prose, and prose part of literature.
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Literary works reflect about real life, which happens in society connected to something like social life. It can also be author’s private experiences, imagination in daily incidents or events (Sukada, 1987:62). A literary text is as any imaginative material that stimulates a response in the reader including songs, cartoons, idioms and proverbs (McRae, 1991).
In the post-modern, deconstructionist age, the definition of literature took on a new shape to include texts such as advertising copy, graffiti and public notices which use literary devices like parallelism, rhyme, rhythm and metaphor (Maley, 2001).
2.2.2 The Concept of Prose
Prose comes from a Latin word which means straightforward, and that is what prose writing is like. Prose is a form of language which has no formal metrical structure. It applies a natural flow of speech, and ordinary grammatical structure rather than rhythmic structure, such as in the case of traditional poetry. Daily speech is spoken in prose and most people think and write in prose form. Prose comprises of full grammatical sentences which consist of paragraphs and forgoes aesthetic appeal in favor of clear, straightforward language. It can be said to be the most reflective of conversational speech. Types of literature that usually fall into the prose category include most essays, short stories, novels, and plays.
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A novel is a story of someone’s life which tells about the life of the
character and society in a particular time and sometimes reflects the real life of that time. In addition, according to Knickerbrockers (1996:103) novel is generally thought to contain about forty five thousand words or more.
2.2.4 The Concept of Character
Characters are figures who participate in the action or the people who play roles in a story and it is expected to be natural and life like (Kenney, 1966:24). According to Muir (1979:23), characters are people or actors of the stories that are represented by the authors in such fictional works as drama, short story or novel. In addition, Kenney (1966:33) said that character has three dimensions such as the physiological, psychological, and sociological dimensions. Characters also mean the essential nature and values of an individual figure, or the substance of human personality (Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, 2000:201)
2.2.5 The Concept of Characterization
Characterization is a crucial part of making a story compelling. In order to interest and move readers, characters need to seem real. Good characterization gives readers a strong sense of character’s personalities and complexities; it makes
characters vivid, alive and believable.
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2.2.6 The Concept of Plot
The plot reveals events to readers not only in their temporal, but also as intricate pattern of cause and effect. The plot reveals events to readers not only in their temporal, but also in their causal relationship (Kenney, 1966:13).
2.3 Theoretical Framework
Literary theory is body of ideas and methods that used in the practical reading of literature. Literary theory is a description of the underlying principles which we attempt to understand literature.
The main theory that was used in this study is theory taken from Rene Wellek and Austin Warren (1966:12) literature defined only to “Great Books”,
which are the books of whatever subjects notable for literary form expression. Literature must always be interesting; it must always have structure and an aesthetic purpose, a total coherence and effect. And also stand in recognizable relation to life. We have to know the knowledge independence of literature in order to know the relation of specific work to life (Wellek and Warren, 1966:219). 1.3.1 Character
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Human being is free, but the fictional character will never entirely free since it is part of an artistic whole and must always serve the needs of whole (Kenney, 1966:30). According to the function of the role of the characters in fictions, characters could be divided into main character, secondary character, complementary or supporting character. Characterization can be seen in terms of three dimensions of the character which include physiological, psychological, and sociological aspect.
2.3.1.1 Physiological aspect
This aspect can help to describe the physical appearance of the character in the story such as age, body build, eye color, strength, skin color, and size. Physiology is study of human body stated in Fundamental of Physiology (1957) by Elbert Tokay. All criteria have no value in determining the personality of individual but it may have an indirect effect on the development of individual's personality.
2.3.1.2 Psychological aspect
The reader may be directly told about how a character thinks and feels based on what the character does. It deals with the personal qualities of a character and observes the behavior and activities of character as human being. Psychology is interested in all human activity, but cannot be used because they are unacceptable.
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studies, mysterious, such as mental telepathy, thought transference, mind reading, and character analysis by the stars.
2.3.1.3 Sociological aspect
From this aspect, we can understand the character’s background of life
which characterizes his thinking, behavior, and the way his respond to certain problems, a social system which is be composed of the system of family, belief, politics, education, economy and institution. It is related with all things in social environment, such as family relationship, job, economic status, and his fellow. Sociology is study of human being in their group relationship. It is interested in the behavior of individuals, which occur in social interaction (Roucek and Warren, 1963:3).
2.3.2 Plot
The definition of plot is to reveal events to readers not only in their temporal, but also in their causal relationship. Plot makes reader aware of events not merely as an element in chronological series but also as an intricate pattern of cause and effect, scene and sequel, beginning, middle, and end, suspension of disbelief, and forms (Kenney, 1966:13).
1. Cause and Effect
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2. Scene and Sequel
In the mid-level, plot is structured in scenes and sequels in with scene providing drama and sequels providing an aftermath. (Bickham 1993, pp 23-62). 3. Beginning, Middle, and End
In universal, the structure of plot divided into three parts: a. Beginning : introduction of character and setting b. Middle : the conflict is rise
c. End : the problem is solved
Then the plot structure according to their function in the story may belong to such categories are exposition, complication, climax and denouement.
a. Exposition is the process of giving the reader necessary initial information concerning some characters and even before the action proper of story begins.
b. Complication is the movement from initial statement of the conflicts to the climax
c. Climax is reached when the complication attains its highest point of intensity, from which point the outcome of the story is inevitable.
d. Denouement is the end, which consist of everything from the climax to the denouement or outcome of the story.
Plot is itself composed of smaller narrative structure (episodes, incidents) (Wellek and Warren 1955:225).
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The term plot-driven is sometimes used to describe fiction in which a preconceived storyline is the main thrust, with the characters’ behavior being
