SOCIAL CRITICISM AS REFLECTED BY WILLIAM BLAKE’S SELECTED POEMS
THESIS
Submitted to the Board of Examiners
In Partial Fulfilment of the Requirement for Literature Degree at English Literature Department
By MONALISA NIM.AI.150315
ADAB AND HUMANITIES FACULTY THE STATE ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY SULTHAN THAHA SAIFUDDIN JAMBI
2019
MOTTO
ميِحهرلا ِنَم ْحهرلا ِ هاللَّ ِمْسِب
ۚ ِرَكْنُمْلا ِهَع َنْىَهْنَيَو ِفوُرْعَمْلبِب َنوُرُمْأَيَو ِرْيَخْلا ىَلِإ َنىُعْدَي ٌةَّمُأ ْمُكْنِم ْهُكَتْلَو نىُحِلْفُمْلا ُمُه َكِئََٰلوُأَو
ََ
1―And let there be among you a community calling to virtue, and advocating righteousness, and deterring from evil. These are the
succesful‖.
2―Dan hendaklah diantara kamu ada segolongan orang yang menyeru kepada kebajikan, menyuruh berbuat yang makruf, dan mencegah dari yang mungkar. Dan mereka itulah orang-orang yang beruntunng‖.
3
1 Alqur’an dan Terjemahannya “Sepecial for woman”. Surah Ali-Imran :104. p.63
2 Al-Qur’an Arabic and English Translation. Surah Ali-Imran Ayat 104
3 Alqur’an dan Terjemahannya “Sepecial for woman”. Surah Ali-Imran :104. p.63
DEDICATION
ميِحهرلا ِنَم ْحهرلا ِ هاللَّ ِمْسِب
In the name of Allah SWT for the blessing and the merciful, with deep thanks and proud, sholawat to the prophet Muhammad SAW, his coming really changed the
world.
Special thanks to:
My parents, my beloved father (Bandung) and my beloved mother (Badria) who always give me everlasting love, guidance, motivation and praying.
My beloved old brothers (Syamsuddin and Abdul Kadir) and my beloved old sister (Dahlisa) thanks for your support and praying.
My big family who has support me in finishing this thesis
My beloved friends (Mahya, Dayah, Ina, Lusi, and Rika) thanks for your support, suggestion, and motivation.
My friends English Literature 2015. Especially class A thanks for your kindness, supports, and togetherness during my study at English Literature department.
May Allah Subhanahu Wata‘ala bless us.
Amin Ya Robbal ‗Alamin.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
ميِحهرلا ِنَم ْحهرلا ِ هاللَّ ِمْسِب
Firstly, the writer would like to say Alhamdullilahirabil‟alamin, all the praise to Allah SWT the lord of all creatures, for His Blessing from the starting point of my study until now the end of my study. After that, Shalawat and salam be upon to our Prophet Muhammad SAW, hopefully we will get His syafa‟at later at The Last Day.To accomplish this thesis, the writer had been given one great deal to many people. So, the writer would like to say thanks for their contribution, they are:
1. Prof. Dr. H. Su‘aidi Asy‘ari, MA,. Ph.D as the rector of the State Islamic University of Sulthan Thaha Saifuddin Jambi.
2. Prof. Dr. Maisah, M.Pd. I as the dean of Adab and Humanities Faculty.
3. Dr. Alfian, S.Pd, M.Ed as the first Dean of Academic. Dr. H. M. Fadil, M.Ag as the second Dean of Finances, and Dr. Roudhoh, S.Ag., M.Pd.I as the third Dean of University Student of Adab and Humanities Faculty.
4. The Head of English Literature Department Ulfatmi Azlan, SS., MA and The secretary of English Literature Department Dian Mukhlisa, MA.
5. My supervisors Bahren, S.S, M.A and Chandri Febri Santi, M.Pd I would like to express deepest gratitude to people who helped the writer in accomplishing this thesis. I would like to thanks a lotto helped, adused, supported and suggested me in writing this thesis and finish this thesis.
ABSTRACT
Monalisa, 2019: Social Criticism as Reflected by William Blake‘s selected poems.
English literature Department Adab and Humanities Faculty, The State Islamic University Sulthan Thaha Saifuddin Jambi.
Supervisor I : Bahren, S.S. M.A
Supervisor II : Chandri Febri Santi, M.Pd
This study discusses social criticism in literary works, poem by William
Blake. Which poem that the writer wants to analyze is based on the real-life of the author. The purpose of this study is (1) to find social criticism in William Blake's poems (2) to find out the problems social criticism in William Blake's poems based. This writer uses the descriptive qualitative method.
In this research, the writer uses Expressive theory and social criticism theory to support the writing of this thesis. In addition, the writer also uses a sociological approach. Data sources from this research are some poems by William Blake in which there are social criticisms, namely: Earth‘s Answer, The Little Black Boy, The Chimney Sweeper, and London.
From the results of this study, the writer finds four problems of social criticism that exist in William Blake's poems: (1) social criticism of gender issues in the Earth Answer poem, in which the poetry describes the suffering of women (2) social criticism of moral problems in the poem Little Black boy, who explains the difference in skin color between white people and black people (3) social criticism of technological problems in the poem The Chimney Sweeper, which explains the suffering of children due to technological progress (4) social criticism of economic problems in London poem, which explains about the economic decline of the community at that time.
Keywords: Social criticism, Literary work, Poem, Expressive theory
ABSTRAK
Monalisa, 2019: Social Criticism as Reflected by William Blake‘s selected poems.
English literature Department Adab and Humanities Faculty, The State Islamic University Sulthan Thaha Saifuddin Jambi.
Supervisor I : Bahren, S.S. M.A
Supervisor II : Chandri Febri Santi, M.Pd
Penelitian ini membahas tentang kritik sosial yang ada didalam karya sastra yaitu puisi karya William blake. Yang mana puisi yang ingin dianalisis penulis ini berdasarkan kehidupan nyata dari pengarang. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah (1) untuk menemukan kritik sosial yang ada didalam puisi karya William Blake (2) untuk mengetahui masalah kritik sosial yang ada didalam puisi karya William blake. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode kualitatif descriptive.
Dalam penelitian ini penulis menggunakan teori ekspressive dan teori social criticism untuk mendukunng penulisan thesis ini. Selain itu penulis juga menggunakan pendekatan sosiologi. Sumber data dari penelitian ini adalah beberapa puisi karya William Blake yang didalamnya terdapat kritik sosial, yaitu:
Earth‘s Answer, The Little Black Boy, The Chimney Sweeper, dan London.
Dari hasil penelitian ini, penulis menemukan empat masalah kritik sosial yang ada didalam puisi karya William Blake: (1) kritik sosial masalah gender didalam puisi Earth Answer, yang mana puisi tersebut menjelaskan tentang penderitaan para wanita (2) kritik sosial masalah moral didalam puisi The Little Black boy, yang menjelaskan tentang perbedaan warna kulit antara orang kulit putih dan orang kulit hitam (3) kritik sosial masalah teknologi didalam puisi The Chimney Sweeper, yang menjelaskan tentang penderitaan anak masyarakat akibat kemajuan teknologi (4) kritik sosial masalah ekonomi didalam puisi London, yang menjelaskan tentang menurunnya ekonomi masyarakat pada masa itu.
Kata kunci: Kritik sosial, Karya sastra, Puisi, Teori ekspressive
TABLE OF CONTENT
COVER...i
APPROVAL... ...ii
LETTER OF RATIFICATION...iii
ORIGINAL THESIS STATEMENT...iv
MOTTO...v
DEDICATION...vi
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT...vii
ABSTRACT...ix
ABSTRAK...x
TABLE OF CONTENT...xi
CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION A. Background of the Problem………..1
B. Formulation of the Problem………...………...4
C. Limitation of the Problem………...……….4
D. Purpose of the Research...4
E. Significance of the Research………5
CHAPTER II THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK A. Expressive Theory...6
B. Sociological Approach...8
C. Poem...10
D. Social Criticism...11
E. England Social Life History...18
F. Review of Related Research...21
CHAPTER III METHOD OF RESEARCH
A. Design of Research... 24
B. Source of Data...25
C. Technique of Data Collection... 25
D. Technique of Data Analysis... 26
CHAPTER IV FINDING AND ANALYSIS A. Social Criticism as Reflected by William Blake's Selected Poems ...28
1.The Social Criticism on the Situation of Women...28
2.The Social Criticism on the Difference between Black and White...29
3. The Social Criticism on the Industrial Revolution...31
4. The Social Criticism on the Destitution and Slavery...32
B. The Problems of Social Criticism as Reflected by William Blake's Poems...33
1. Social Criticism of Economic Problems…..………...…33
2. Social Criticism of Moral Problems…………...…….…...35
3. Social Criticism of Gender Issues...………..……..36
4. Social Criticism of Technological Problems………38
CHAPTER V CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION A. Conclusion...,...41
B. Suggestion...42 REFERENCESS
APPENDIX1 APPENDIX 2 APPENDIX 3
CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION A. Background of the Problem
Human beings are created by God in different traits. It can be seen from the physic, character and so forth. When humans are born, they can not choose their physical shape, and skin color and they also can not determine the life that they want, because this is God's gift and destiny.
God also created a human condition with different goals. The differences are not a matter that makes people think their race is higher than other races, but these differences should be understood as a diversity so that people can learn and know each other ethnicity or race.
In this life, humans are encouraged to interact and communicate with others, because humans are destined to socialize and to help one another.
By communicating we can more easily be heard and understood by others in the literature. One way to communicate is to create literary works.
Literature is the result of human experience. It is influenced by the feeling of the human experience of their daily life. The human experience is affective and symbolic; literature, which uses affect and symbol, it can represent as we genuinely experience and imagine it. It means literature represents and explores human experience in society, so between human and experience are inseparable, It was supported by Moody who said that literature spring from our inborn love of telling the story, of arranging words in pleasing patterns, of expressing in words some special aspect of our human experience.4 The human experience can be both good and bad in daily life. Many lessons about human life experiences that can inspire the birth of a literary work which eventually served as a medium for express aspirations, ideas, ideas or advice. Finally, it is useful when applied in everyday life, for example, is poem.
4 Moody. The Teaching of Literature in Developing Countries. London: Longman Group Ltd. 1971. p. 4
Poem is the tool to express the human feeling and sense that used selected language as a media to explore and filed up with figurative language and another element to beautify the tone, rhyme, and another aspect which make the poem more interest. Poem deals with the deepest emotions, it seeks to capture in a few linguistics sign the realities of life.
Poem can be analyzed from many aspects like structure and its elements, styles, and point of view of the story. Poem appears and created by poet illustrates the human life which is explored by using some figures of speech.
Poem is arranged by a good and a bright thinking. Pradopo said
―puisi itu mengekspresikan pemikiran yang membangkitkan perasaan yang merangsang imajinasi panca indra dalam susunan yang berirama”.5 So that poem is an experience that is explored in the beautiful words with many poetic elements like figurative language or another speech act like rhyme, tone, thyme, and symbol.
Reading a poem, we will discover ourselves and our world, expressing the fact of art and imagination as a human life manifestation with language as medium and have a positive effect on human life (humanity), writers of literature want to express their ideas, feeling, emotion or imagination in their mind so reader will feel what the writers feel and the last side reader can take what is the meaning of it. Poem helps us learn more about human life, understands how human character and emotion are influenced by natural surroundings. Understanding more about a particular life, like social, culture, politic, and education.
A poem written by a poet is also inseparable from the situation to do social criticism. According to Kleden, puisi ditulis dengan dua alasan, pertama, dorongan hati seorang penyair untuk mengejawantahkan kemampuan mencipta; kedua, dimanfaatkan karena kemungkinan sifat puitis yang ada padanya sebagai medium untuk menyampaikan sesuatu
5 Rachmat Djoko Pradopo. Pengkajian Puisi. Yogyakarta: Gajah Mada University. 2005.
p.7
yang lain.6 In this case, poetry is used the poet to convey criticism of events that occur in society. The delivery becomes effective because of the evocative stimulation owned by each poem, that is, stimulates the emergence of certain feelings and images in the reader who moves him to take a stand.
Sociological criticism is literary criticism directed to understanding (or placing) literature in its larger social context; it codifies the literary strategies that are employed to represent social constructs through a sociological methodology.This form of literary criticism was introduced by Kenneth Burke, a 20th-century literary and critical theorist, whose article "Literature As Equipment for Living" outlines the specification and significance of such a critique.7
The selection of social criticism is the main problem in this study can not be separated from the literary role that cannot be underestimated in voicing criticism of social conditions in society. In this case, then it becomes a group that builds awareness of the public so as not to remain silent about the injustice, moral decadence, and social problems around them. This is according to Mahayana's opinion, which states that literary creative freedom is embodied in the form of literary works that describe oppression, moral depravity, or social criticism as a form of literary social responsibility.
Based on the background above, the writer is interested to analyze a study on William Blake's poems, because the writer thinks William Blake‘s poems is good and gives her inspiration. By reading poem, we will find more information about social which plays an important role in our lives. Therefore, it means that it can be drawn so many lessons that the author provides for the reader through the poems
6Kleden. Sastra Indonesia dalam Enam Pertanyaan: Esai-Esai Sastra dan Budaya.
Jakarta: Pustaka Utama Grafiti. 2004.p.277
7Kenneth Burke. Literature as Equipment for Living. Critical Theory Since Plato. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich. 1971
The writer is also interested in William Blake‘s literary work because William Blake‘s poems describes human life and contains social values. Based on the background above, the author chooses the title of this research with the titleof “Social Criticism as Reflected by William Blake‘s selected Poems‖.
B. Formulation of the Problem
Based on the background of the problem above, there are some problems that the writer wants to answer in this research.
1. What are the social criticism as reflected by William Blake‘s selected poems?
2. What the problems of social criticism as reflected by William Blake.s poems?
C. Limitation of the Problem
William Blake has written many literary works, especially in poem.
To limit the analysis, the writer only analyzes social criticism from the selected poems ― Song Of innocence and experience‖ by William Blake namely: ―Earth‘s Answer, The Little Black Boy, The Chimney Sweeper, and London‖ . I choose those four poems because it seems like those poems have interesting social criticism.
D. Purpose of the Study
Based on the formulation of the problem above, the writer writes the purpose of this study as follows:
1. To find out the social criticism as reflected by William Blake‘s selected poems.
2. To find out the problems of social criticism as reflected by William Blake‘s selected poems.
E. Significance of the Study
The writer hopes that the result of this study gives a contribution to her self, society, the readers and the next researcher to understand literary work. Besides that, the writer also hopes that the study will be interesting for another researcher who analyzes a literary work. Practically, this research is beneficial for the reader to get more understanding about social criticism as reflected by William Blake's selected poems.
CHAPTER II
THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK A. Expressive Theory
In this research, the writer analyzes about the reflection of the author‘s life as seen her selected poems. Expressive theory is meaning of something that relates to research. Because of that, the writer chooses the expressive theory for this research after that the writer analyzed it to find the answer of the research.
Longinus stated that Untuk menciptakan karya agung yang terpenting adalah unsur kreatif penulis; passion and emotion.8 From that statement it can be concluded to get good literary work is depend on the writer itself, the important thing is the element of creativity of the writer such as her passion and her emotion.
Andrew stated that the idea of the author is not a timeless given: the figure and significance of the author varies across time and from one culture to another, from one discourse to another and so on.9 It means that expressive theory is analyzing about activity creative of human being, from their imagination, develop and through to become an art.
Expressive theory treats a literary work primarily in relation to the author. It defines literary work as an expression, overflow, utterance, or projection of the though and feeling, or as the products of human feelings.10 Here, the writer decided to use expressive theory because it is suitable with the research that will be analyzed about the author‘s life with the poem itself. According to Abrams In Partini Sardjono Pradotokusumo‘s book:
8 Longinus in Partini Sardjono Pradotokusumo. (2005). Pengkajian Sastra. (Jakarta:
Penerbit PT Gramedia Pustaka Utama). 72.
9 Andrew Bennett and Nicholas Royle. (2004). An Introduction to Literature, Criticism and Theory. (Great Britain). Third Edition, 22.
10 M.H.Abrams. (1999). Romantic Theory and the Critical Tradition, (London, New York:
Oxford University).p.22
―pendekatan kritis yang terkandung yang utama terhadap karya sastra yaitu : 1). Pendekatan yang menitikberatkan pada karrya itu sendiri (pendekatan objektif. 2). Pendekatan yang menitikberatkan pada penulis (pendekatan ekspresif). 3). Pendekatan yang menitikberatkan pada semesta (pendekatan mimetic)”11.
Based on means that expressive theory is theory that focus on the writer or the author itself and usually the story tells about the author life that has happened in the past event and the author through their life to the literary work such as the selected poems by Elizabeth Barrett Browning that will be analyzed, because some of the poems by Elizabeth is reflect of the her life.
According to Gerry Mackie said:
―Expressive theory studies the psychological aspects of the writer during the creative process is projected through the works of creation, both of in the relation to the writer as a person and the writer as a representative of the community to choice in many circumstances of life‖12.
From explanation above, expression theory treats literary work primarily in relation to the author. It defines poem as an expressive, or overflow, or utterance of feeling. As a type, as well as those associated with the creative process by which this occurred.
Here, the writer analyze about social criticism as reflected by William Blake‘s selected poems. Where expressive theory focuses on the writer or the author itself usually the story tells about the author‘s life that has happened in the past event and the author through her life to the literary work such as William Blake‘s poems. This theory is very suitable with this research because this research tells about the reflection of the author‘s life and one of the experiences of the author.
11 Pradopokusumo Partini Sardjono. (2005). Pengkajian Sastra”, (Jakarta: Gramedia). p.63
12 Gerry Mackie (2007). On The Expressive Theory Of Voting, (University Of California, Sandiego). P.2.
B. Sociological Approach
Approach is one of important things to analyze a literary work. In Oxford dictionary explain, ―approach is the way of dealing with something‖13 it means, in analyzing a literary work have correlation with what will be analyzed by using approach. In this research, sociological approach analyzes a society by using the process of understandingeach other.
Through literary works, the authors express his problem and sometimes participate in it. Literary works is influenced by society and able to give effect to the public and society will determine the value of literary works that live in an age, while the poet himself who is a member of the public who can not escape from the influence it received from the environment that raised him.
According to Atar Semi, ―Pendekatan sosiologis juga dimanfaatkan untuk mengkaji mengenai masyarakat yang digambarkan didalam karya sastra”14 it can be concluded that approach is a basic assumption hold in looking at an object with choice of approach in a study, criticism or research may help direct further investigation or research that is sharper and deeper. Because this research from social view, so sociological approach is chosen by the writer.
Sociological approach analyzes human in society. Literature could reflect an expression of human life which can not be separated from the roots of society. Sociological approach is important role in literary works.
It is caused by the relation between literary work and society. Actually the literary works were created by authors and the authors are a member of society and exploite their riches in society.
13Oxford Learner‟s Pocket Dictionary.2005.p18
14M.Atar Semi. Metode Penelitian Sastra. Angkasa: Bandung.2012.p94
According to Nyoman Khuta Ratna in his book, ―Pendekatan sosiologis menganalisis manusia dalam masyarakat”.15 It means that sociological approach has implication like based understanding about human life in society. It means that sociological analyzes everything that sociology does in order to describe and understand of social and moral criticism.
This study analyzes Social Criticism in William Blake‘s selected poems by Sociological approach. Sociologi is explained that most literary study of companionship quoted in Burns. Other conception came from Wellek and Warren who describe the most common approach to the relations of literature as social documents, as the portraits of social reality.
Therefore, literature can be made to yield the outlines of social history if it is used in social document. It portraits many aspects of social structure, family relationship, class friction, and so on. Laurenson and Swingewood state sociology of literature is one ofliterary approaches which can beapplied in the study of literary work. Sociology of literature is basically aimed to analyze literary works in terms of the author‘s social status, the availability of the markets, the stipulation of type of publication, and also the structure of the readers.16
Sociology is the scientific study of human behavior in society or social forces that influence that behavior. It focuses in influence of social relationship, as filed the study sociology has extremely broad scope.
It is concerned about love, discrimination, community, feeling, and culture and confirming. From the goal of sociology is as an instrument is social relationship of human life and to the literary.
15Nyoman Kutha Ratna. Teori, Metode, dan Teknik Penelitian Sastra. P.65
16Hafid Muhadi. Social Criticism Of Bob Dylans‟s Song Lyrics: A Sociological Study of Literature. Surakarta: Muhammadiyah University of Surakarta. 2014.p.4
C. Poem
Poem is a part of literary work; poem describes a wide variety of spoken and written forms styles, styles, and patterns, and also a wide variety of subject. Because of the variety, it is not possible to make a single, comprehensive definition. The poem is arranged in lines, but does not follow measured rhythmical patterns, nor does it rhytme. The most important thing about it is that, as it engages us and amuses us, it also rings of truth.
According to Riffaterre in Pradopo, ―Poem is indirect expression, meaning that is describe something by using connotative meaning. Then indirect expression caused by displacing of meaning, distorting of meaning and creative of meaning.‖17 Frost in Arp Thomas‘s book stated that,
―Poem is provides the one permissible way of saying one thing and meaning another‖.18
From explanation above, the writer can take assumption that, the poem is not only a tool to express the human‘s ideas. But also often teaches the readers a moral lesson, share something that have experienced, and give pleasure to the readers. Indirectly, poem is enable the readers to look ‗into the life of things‘, while science sharpens our intellect, poem enriches our moral insight.
There are some kinds of poem, those are:
a. Descriptive
Descriptive poem is the poem which describes people or experiences, scenes, or objects.
b. Reflective
17 Pradopo. (2007). Pengajian Puisi. (Yogyakarta: University Press). P.77.
18 Thomas. (2012). Perrine‟s Sound and Sense: an Introduction to Poetry. (Boson: Printed in the United State of America).P.72.
Thoughtful poems often containing a great deal of description which the poet comments or from which he draws conclusion are directly stated; at other times implied.
c. Narrative
Narrative is a telling of a story or a description of an event.
d. The lyric
The lyric is usually a short poems like a song which is usually the expression of a mood or feeling.
e. The sonnet
The sonnet is a poem of fourteen lines which follows a very strict rhyme pattern. It is usually divided into two parts: the ‗octave‘ (the first eight lines), and ‗sestet‘ (the last six lines).
D. Social Criticism
Social aspect is point of view about social condition in society.
Istilah sosial pada ilmu-ilmu sosial mempunyai arti yang berbeda dengan istilah sosialisme atau istilah sosial pada departemen sosial. Istilah sosial pada ilmu-ilmu sosial menunjuk pada objeknya yaitu masyarakat.19
From the definition above. It could be seen that social object is society. Social science those field of learning and research that are primarily concerned with human relationship. From the definition, it could be seen that social related to society. The object of social sciences are society that occurred the human relationship in society. According to Herman J. Waluyo:
―Kritik sosial adalah sebuah tema dalam karya sastra tentang adanya ketidakadilan dalam masyarakat, dengan tujuan untuk mengetuk nurani pembaca agar keadilan sosial ditegakkan dan diperjuangkan.
Kritik sosial adalah sanggahan terhadap hal-hal yang dianggap menyalahi aturan, hukum dan tata nilai yang sudah menjadi konvensi umum. Kritik sosial dalam karya sastra adalah sarana pengarang untuk
19The Ensyclopedia Americana. Crolier incorporated. USA: 1995,p.130
menyampaikan ketidakpuasannya terhadap sendi-sendi kehidupan masyarakat”20.
From the definition above, it can be concluded that social criticism is a criticism, suggestion, protest, satire, respon, or evaluation of something that is deemed deviant or violates the values that exist in people‘s live. Good social criticism always wants improvement and usually associated with the need for an ideal situation and your ideal. This matter indicates the existence of social change in a community context.
Thus, social criticism can also be a means of social control of the way community systems and processes so that community members can respect and car about social process in accordance with existing norms and values.
Social criticism is one form of social control in society. Social criticism can be interpreted as something form of communication in society which aims to describe, convey, control and critize a social reality society. The function of social criticism is as controllers and benchmarks related to social reality occur in society.
Social criticism has been expressed through literature for centuries, taking various forms depending on how acceptable it was to criticize the state of the world at various times. Naturally, works of literature that contain social criticism are strongly linked to the time in which they were written. In some cases, it is even necessary to study the time in which the texts were written in order to understand their arguments at all. However, there are some cases where it might be relevant to study how the manifestation of social criticism in earlier works of literature has affected subsequent works.21
20Herman. J. Waluyo. Teori dan Apresiasi Puisi.p.119
21Lundborg Matilda. Wonder in London Below: Comparison of G.K. Chesterton‟s the Napoleon of Nothing Hill and Neil Gaiman‟s Neverwhere. Lund University. 2012.p.1
The form of the delivery of social criticism in literary works can be both direct and indirect. Directly the reader can see the criticism that the author wishes to convey. Indirectly, the message is implicit in the story, so the reader must interpret what is meant by the author himself.22
1. Form of Direct Submission
The form of direct delivery using a description or explanation.
With this description technique, the reader does not need to be difficult to interpret the message conveyed by the author through his work, because the author directly describes social criticism, in this case, the author is patronizing the reader, giving advice, and advice.
2. Indirect Delivery Forms
The author does not convey the message in his work directly. This message is only implicit in the story, combined, coherence with other elements of the story. To be able to understand the message that the author wants to convey, the reader must interpret what the author intends for himself. This form of delivery is indeed considered less communicative, because the reader may not necessarily be able to grasp what is meant by the author. The possibility of misinterpretation has a great chance.
However, this is considered normal in a literary work, even considered as the essence of a literary work, which is an indirect expression of something. Through this characteristic, literary works have the opportunity to have a complexity of meaning. That fact is seen as an advantage in literary works, that is, an advantage in terms of the many possibilities of interpretation from one person to another, from time to time.
22Burhan Nurgiyantoro. Teori Pengkajian Fiksi. Yogyakarta: Gadjah Mada University Press. 2000.p. 340-355
E. Problems of Social Criticism
According to Soekanto Social problem will arise if there is a disharmony between the values and norms that apply to the reality that is faced. The problem of social criticism is divided into nine aspects: social criticism of political problems, social criticism of economic problems, social criticism of educational problems, social criticism of cultural issues, social criticism of moral problems, social criticism of family problems, social criticism of religious issues, social criticism of gender issues, and the last criticism of social technological problems.23
1.Social Criticism of Political Problems
Sumaadmaja said that humans are political beings because the human can regulate welfare, security, and governance within the group.
Human is beings who can govern government and statehood. To regulate his government, humans must implement an appropriate mechanism so that there are no imbalances that will harm the community.24
From the description above it can be concluded that social criticism of political problems is a criticism that appears along with the imbalance in political aspects which include influence, power, and authority. Inequality can occur if political mechanisms are not implemented according to the priority scale of each aspect.
2. Social Criticism of Economic Problems
According to Karl Marx, economics are the most dominant determinant agent of society, more than the determinant, it is not dominant. The economy becomes a very important community. The economic level in this community is not evenly distributed. However, economic compilation in a stable society, the priority factor for the
23 Soekanto. Sosiologi Suatu Pengantar. Jakarta: Rajawali Press. 1990. p.462-463
24Sumaadmaja, Nursid. Perspektif Study Sosial. Bandung: Penerbit Angkasa. 1980. P.42
community is no longer economic factors, but other factors, such as cultural and moral factors.25
From the description above it can be concluded that social criticism of economic problems are problems related to the way how humans meet their material needs from limited resources, even from scarce resources. Social criticism of economic problems is criticism that arises due to economic inequality in society, such as unemployment, high prices of staples, and lack of jobs.
3. Social Criticism of Educational Problems
Sumaadmaja said thateducation is broadly a formation of personality, the advancement of science, advancement of technology and progress of social life in general.26 Further states about the problems of education problems that occur in society. These problems are influenced by several factors, namely educator factors, both educators in the family, school and community as well as the problem factors that originate in the students themselves.
From the description above it can be concluded that social criticism of educational problems is criticism caused by problems caused by educators and students themselves. Problems from educator factors include problems of economic ability, the ability of knowledge and experience, skill, authority, personality, attitude, nature, wisdom, craft, responsibility, health, and so on. The problems stemming from students' factors include problems of family economic ability, intelligence, talent and interest, growth and development, personality, attitudes, traits, craft and perseverance, association, and health.
4. Social Criticism of Cultural Issues
Koentjaraningrat said that culture is the whole system of ideas, actions, and results of human work in the context of community life that
25Beilharz, Peter. Teori-teori Sosial. Yogyakarta: Pustaka Pelajar. 2003. P.2
26Sumaadmaja, Nursid. Perspektif Study Sosial. P.89
is shared by learning. The emergence of culture is caused by human interaction as members of society with their social environment.27
The culture that develops in society is influenced by cultural elements, one of which is the norm. The culture that develops in a certain area will be different from other regions, because of the influence of norms. For example, in Western culture, free sex is considered to be a common thing. But not all Westerners agree with that opinion. People who live in rural areas still consider this as something taboo and prohibition. This is influenced by norms that still apply in the area, including religious norms. Various opinions, both the pros and cons of a cultural outcome, can cause problems in society.It can be concluded that social criticism of cultural problems is a criticism that arises due to problems that occur due to deviations from the cultural elements.
5. Social Criticism of Moral Problems
Salam said that moral is a value system of how we should live well as humans. The value system comes from consultation, discourse, regulations, orders, and the like which are passed on through religion and special crafts about how humans should live.28
Through work, writers or authors want to convey the values of truth that exist in society, but also criticize moral values that do not pay attention to humanity and norms that exist in a society. The assessment of moral issues is based on the ethics adopted by the author as a member of the community.Social criticism of moral problems is criticism that aims to convey the values of truth and criticize moral values thatnot pay attention to the human aspect, as well as the norms that exist in a society.
27Koentjaraningrat. Pengantar Ilmu Antropologi. Jakarta: PT. Rineka Cipta. 2002.p.180
28Burhanuddin, Salam. Etika, Sosial, Asas Moral dalam Kehidupan Manusia. Jakarta:
Rineka Cipta. 1997.p.3
6. Social Criticism of Family Problems
M. John Charon said that a family is a primary group living together in one household, responsible for the socialization of children and usually built around one man, one woman, and one child.29 Social criticism of family problems is criticism that arises due to disorganization within the family. Disorganization in the family arises due to social conflict due to differences in views or economic factors.
7. Social Criticism of Religious Issues
In addition to horizontal relationships, namely relationships with fellow humans, humans also have vertical relationships, in this case, the relationship between humans and their Lord as the creator of the universe. The relationship is manifested in the form of religion.
Religion is a belief that contains norms or rules governing how to deal with humans and their gods. These norms are eternal.30
Social criticism of religious issues is criticism that arises due to the weak foundation of human faith so that humans are unable to carry out God's commands and stay away from its prohibitions, this inability can lead to distortion which results in problems of social problems.
8. Social Criticism of Gender Issues
Gender differences are social and cultural interpretations of gender differences. So, gender refers to the role and position of women in society to socialize with other communities. Gender differences are not a problem when they do not cause gender injustice. One aspect that can be seen to find out gender inequality is to look at it through manifesting subordination.
A based gender view can result in subordination to women.
Women are considered weak and cannot lead. This assumption then led
29John, M Charon. Sociology: A Conseptual Approach Third Edition. United State of Amerika : Alin and Bacon. 1992.p.466
30Burhanuddin, Salam. Etika, Sosial, Asas Moral dalam Kehidupan Manusia. p.179
to an attitude to give priority to women. The position of women is considered inferior, in the sense that its position is always below the men who are considered superior.
From the description above it can be concluded that social criticism of gender issues is a criticism that arises due to the subordination of women, women are considered weak and unable to lead, and women are positioned below men.
9. Social Criticism of Technological Problems
In general, technology can be summed up as entities, objects, and non-objects created in an integrated way through actions and thoughts to achieve a value. In this usage, technology refers to the tools and machines used to solve real-world problems.
With the existence of technology, humans obtain a series of conveniences. However, if humans are too dependent on, technology and less self-empowering, then humans can experience decreased performance. This is what attracts someone to criticize technology issues.
F. England Society Life History
The romantic period also called the romantic era is a term of a movement which includes the fields of art, literature and socio-politics in society which began in the late 18th century until the 19th century in europe. At first this movement occured in Western Europe, then spread to Britain and America. The ideologi and events surrounding the French and the Industrial Revolution were considered to have affected this movement.
The French Revolution started on July 14, 1789, with the storming of the Bastille. The Bastille was a fortress in Paris, known formally as the Bastille Saint-Antoine. It was used as a state prison by the kings of
France. It was stormed by a crowd on 14 July 1789 in the French Revolution, becoming an important symbol for the French Republican movement, and was later demolished and replaced by the Place de la Bastille (a square in Paris) It was a mass uprising against the absolute power of the king and the privileges of the upper classes. The rebellion was carried out in the name of liberty, equality and fraternity. In reality it led to the loss of liberty, dictatorship and nationalism. To crush the resistance to the new order thousands of people were executed. France was governed under a dozen of different constitutions as a republic, a dictatorship, a constitutional monarchy, and two different empires.
Subsequent events caused by the revolution included the Napoleonic wars and the restoration of the monarchy31.
Britain waged the war against Napoleon. Napoleon‘s navy was defeated by England at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. In 1815 Napoleon‘s armies were beaten by British forces at Waterloo, Belgium. Many changes in the English life were caused by the Industrial Revolution.
The revolution which changed England from an agricultural to and industrial country, and introduced competition as the regulating principle of industry, could not fail to be attended with great sufferings for the people. The immediate profits went to the capitalists. Any combination amongst the workpeople to improve their condition was forbidden by law.
The rise of wages was very slow, whilst the rise of prices, owing to the war with france, was rapid. Taxation was excesive, and the scarcity of money, produced in part by the fact that large sums is specie were sent out of England as subsidies to her Continental allies, led to the issue of a paper currency which became excessively depreciated, and thus added to the sufferings of the wage-earning classes. Frequently recurring periods of
31A.A. Webyehko. History of English Literature (from Romanticism to Modern Period).
2016.p.21
depression, the natural consequence of the new unregulated industrial system, led to times of exceptional distress.32
The cities became overcrowded. Despite the economic improvements most people continued to live and work in dreadful conditions. The majority of workers, including women and children, slaved for long hours on miserable pay. They lived in overcrowded slums where sanitation was poor or non-existent. Diseases and epidemics became a common feature of everyday life. The social and economic difficulties were neglected by the government. Those who were troubled by the exploitation of workers and the degradation of the cities sympathized with the ideals of the American and French Revolutions. They oftern supported the workers‘ protests.
From 1811 to 1817, textile artisans came together to destroy the machines which were threatening their livelihood in what were known as the
‗Luddite‘ riots. An agricultural variant of Luddism, centering on the breaking of threshing machines, occurred during the widespread Swing Riots of 1830 in southern and eastern England33.
Revolutions represented a challenge to the 18th century political, social, religious, philosophical and artistic ideals that were no longer considered adequate. The balance and symmetry of the early 18th century society was in danger of collapsing under the weight of new ideas about man and nature, freedom and democracy, art and literature. By the end of the century, many poets and artists had started reacting against the suppression of human nature. They refused to treat man as a "social animal" and believed in the importance of the individual and his creative potential.
These artists were called Romantics.
32Louise Creighton. Social History of england. Amerika: Rivingtons. 1887.p.111-112
33A.A. Webyehko. History of English Literature (from Romanticism to Modern Period).
G. Review of Related Research
The first, Hafid Muhadi (2014), Muhammadiyah University in his thesis with title ―Social Criticism of Bob Dylan‘s Song Lyrics: A Sociological Study of Literature‖. This research paper aimed to show visible image of Bob Dylan‘s song lyrics which are analyzed by using a sociology of literature. This research paper belongs to qualitative research.
Data of the research is the text from and it has taken based on the theme, thereabout consisting fifteen lyrics thematically. The method to analyze this data is descriptive analysis. The researcher comes to the conclusion as follows. Based on the sociological analysis, it is evident that in his lyrics, Bob Dylan reflects the social society of the America social since the sixties in which the American society experienced a big change socially and culturally. In addition, in his lyrics, Bob Dylan also criticizes the government and society that he perceived to have marginalized the poor.
The second, Nurul Faizah (2007), The State Islamic University of Malang, entitle ―An Analysis on The Social Problems of David Copperfield by Charles Dickens‖. In this research, the writer interested in analyzing one of popular novels David Copperfield by Charles dickens, one of the great english novelist of the Victorian era, and then this research is aimed finding the kind of social problems happened in David copperfield. The writer limits her study only on the social problems occured in English society. To give clear desscription of how this study is conducted the writer uses literary criticism as her research design in the novel, and she uses structuralism approach.
The third, Dewik Sefrian (2008), State Islamic University Sulthan Taha Saifuddin in her thesis with title ―Social and Moral Criticism On Slank‘s Song‖. In this research is qualitative research with decriptive method. Primary data are six song of Slank. And secondary data in this research was taken from books, magazines and internet. In analysis of the
data, the writer tell about the meaning of the six song of Slank. After analyze the meaning of the six songs, the writer find social criticism, they are take care of environment, in Lapindo song, imbalanced social in Lembah Baliem song. And the worry of parents to their children in Indonesiakan UNA. The writer also finds moral criticism, they are decline of moral in American Style and Systa Petty song, and respect to women in respect song. And the last, the writer analyze social and moral criticism on the six songs according to islam views.
The forth, Harnanto Prasgiyardi (2016) Muhammadiyah University in his thesis with title ―A Marxist Criticism on Veronica Roth‘s Novel‖.
The research consists of an objective: analyzing the novel based on Marxist Criticism. The researcher employs qualitative method. The object of the study is Divergent novel by Veronica Roth which is published in 2011. The data sources consist of primary data source and secondary data source. The primary data source is the text of Divergent by Veronica Roth, published by Harper Collins and the secondary data sources are references or materials related to study which are taken from books, websites, and other matters that support this thesis.
The last, Shefield Fahmysari (2014) Sebelas Maret University of Surakarta, entittle ―Social Criticism in Maya Angelou‘s Poems‖. The objective of this research are to identify the social criticism in Maya Angelou‘s poems and to describe how she expresses her social criticism in her poems. This research employs semiotics approach and applies Riffaterre‘s Semiotic of Poetry to answer the problrm of statements. This research is a descriptive qualitative library research. The data divided into the main and secondary data.
From the previous research above, different from previous research, in this research, the writer is going to focus on the social Criticism as reflected by William Blake‘s selested poems, such as: ―Earth
Answer poem by William Blake‖, ― The Little Black Boy poem by William Blake‖. ―The Chimney Sweeper poem by William Blake‖.
―London poem by William Blake‖. So the title in this proposal is ―Social Criticism as Reflected by William Blake‘s Selected Poems‖.
CHAPTER III
METHOD OF RESEARCH A. Design of Research
In this research, the writer uses qualitative research and descriptive method. According to Arikunto; ―Penelitian deskriptif merupakan penelitian yang dimaksud untuk mengumpulkan informasi mengenai status suatu gejala yang ada yaitu keadaan gejala menurut apa adanya pada saat penelitian dilakukan‖34. Then to interpet the meaning of metaphor expression in the poem is suitable with the significance of the sentence itself. This research belongs to this method because the data that are collected are written data that is form of words in the statement of paragraph.
According to Mukhtar ―Penelitian kualitatif adalah prosedur penelitian yang menghasilkan data deskriptif berupa kata-kata tertulis atau lisan dari orang-orang dan perilaku yang dapat diamati (diobservasi)”35.Sothat meant this research belongs tothis methodbecause the data collected is written data. The discussion of the research picked up the data one by one in order to cllarify the problem concerning the subject matter.
Qualitative descriptive method aims to obtain in – dept data and close reading of the text, a data contains the meaning. The meaning is the actual data,definitive data, which is a value beyond the data that appears.
Therefore, aqualitative study does not emphasize generalization, yet concentrates more on the meaning to express a variety of qualitative information with careful and nuanced description to describe accurately the properties of case (individual or group), the state of the phenomenon,
34Suharsimi Arikunto. Manajemen Penelitian. Jakarta:Rineka Cipta. 1995). p.309
35Mukhtar, Bimbingan Skripsi, Thesis dan Artikel Ilmiah (Pandangan Berbasis Penelitian Kualitatif Lapangan dan Perpustakaan), (Jambi: Sulthan Thaha, press), p.19
and it is not restrictedn on data collection, but rather includes the analysis and interpretation. Descriptive assesment advised on the assesment is made solely based on the fact or phenomenon that empirically lives in is speakers (writer). This means that recorded and analyzed are elements in literary works as it is.
B. Source of Data
Data can be defined as the quantitative or qualitative values of a variable. Data is plural of datum which literally means to give or something given. Data is thought to be the lowest unit of information from which other measurements and analyis can be done. Data can be number, images, words, figures, facts or ideas. Data in itself cannot be understood and to get information from the data one must interpret it into meaningful information. There are various methods of interpreting data. Data source are broadly classified into primary and secondary data.
Based on the above considerations, the primary data in this study were four poetries by William Blake, namely Earth‘s Answer (1794), The Little Black Boy (1789), The Chimney Sweeper (1793), and London (1794).
C. Technique of Data Collection
There are some techniques of data collecting such as interview, documentation, observation, and discussion. In this thesis, the writers use only whose theory documentation technique to get the data. Dokumen adalah suatu kumpulan bahan tertulis seperti di media, notulen-notulen rapat, surat menyurat dan laporan laporan untuk mencari informasi yang diperlukan36. Based on statement, the writer concluded that how important the way of data collecting in the research because the result of research is
36Afrizal, M.A. Metode Penelitian Kualitatif. Jakarta: P.T. Raja Grafindo Persada, 2014.p. 21
according to data collected, if data is suitable with result, so the formulation of the problem would be solved in research.
There are some steps that the writer does in collecting the data. They are:
1. The writer collect the data that are get from the William Blake‘s poetries.
2. The writer reads carefully poetries intesively
3. After read the poetries, the writer marks some important words or sentences from that the writer indicate as the social criticism.
4. After the data has been found and completed, then the writer processes and analyzes the data.
5. Then the last, the writer arranges the thesis based on the data collected in the final step of this research.
D. Technique of Data Analysis
According to Sugiono: ―Data analysis is the process of sistematically searching and arranging the interview transcript, fieldnote and other materials that you accumulate to increase your own understanding of them and to enable you to present what you have discovered to other.‖37
All data are collected was analyzed. There are steps in technique of data analysis in this research:
1. Collecting Data
In this research, the data in process of collecting all relevant sources based from four selected poetries from William Blake. The tittles of the poems are Earth‟s Answer, The Little Black Boys, The Chimney Sweeper, and London. In the procces of collecting data, they are collecting all relevant information from the internet source, writing down the information related to the data that analyze reading
37Sugiono, Metode Penelitian Pendidikan Kualitatif, Kuantitatif, dan R&D, (Bandung:
Alfabeta, 2008)
them and rechecking all of the data to avoid falsity. In the phase of collecting information from the internet source, the writer needs a lots of experts in poetry. The poetry hunter website, the poetry blog spot, and write the summarize of that poetry.
2. Identifying and Classifying
After the writer collects all of data, next step is identifying and classifying the data that are contained the social criticism.
The writer gets two poetries as a data that contained social criticism.
3. Analyzing
After that all the data are analyzed. In this research is the analyzing the data of the five selected poetries. The writer already uses the technique of analyzing data from internet source in the previous explanations. Analyzing the data always uses the inward visions and linguistics intelligence for gaining the soft results.
4. Conclusion
After the analysis the last phase is drawing the conclusion in every poetry that has been analyzed by the writer. In each poetry, the writer must search what is the sweet crop of the poetry that can finally transmit in to the readers based on the accuracy results.
CHAPTER IV FINDING AND ANALYSIS
A. Social Criticism as Reflected by William Blake’s selected Poems
In this research the writer uses the theory of Herman Waluyo to analyze poems. The writer focuses on social criticism in poem. The writer found twelve data from this research, they are: three data from the Earth‘s Answer poetry, three data from the Little Black Boy poem, three data from the Chimney sweeper poem, and then three data from the London poem.
The following data and analysis found by the writer in the poem by William Blake:
1. The Social Criticism on the Situation of Women Earth raised up her head
From the darkness dread and drear.
Her light fled, Stony dread!
And her locks covered with grey despair (Earth‘s Answer stanza 1) In the above stanza, William Blake criticized the situation of women at that time. In the words "Darkness, dread, and drear and her locks covered with gray despair" is a description of how the women suffer in the poem above. the darkness of fear and despair which is a reflection of the expression of suffering. A woman whose life is dark as if she would be so tormented by her life at that time because of the social conditions in the stanza of the poem.
Prison‟d on watery shore,
Starry jealousy does keep my den:
Cold and hoar, Weeping o‟re,
I hear the father of the ancient men (Earth‘s Answer stanza 2)
In the above stanza, William Blake criticized the suffering of women at that time. In the words ―Prison‘d on watery shore and weeping o‘re‖ is description of how the Women feel confined and imprisoned for living in this social condition. Women can only cry and express what happened to him without daring to fight and rebel against the social conditions that made him suffer because of the impact of the industrial revolution. They have to work hard to make ends meet, not only working at home to take care of the household and family, but they also have to work outside the home to make a living.
Selfish father of men, Cruel, jealous, selfish fear,
Can delight,
Chain‘d in night
The virgins of youth and morning bear (Earth‘s Answer stanza 3) In the stanza of poetry above William Blake criticized the cruelty of men at that time. In the words ―Selfish father of men and cruel, jealous, selfish fear‖ is a description of how That cruel, jealous and selfish nature makes women feel restrained. Women's lives are very different from men, women work a lot and bear all household responsibilities rather than men.
At night the woman is bound in the house, and cannot go anywhere because she must serve men physically or physically. Most of them are young girls who should enjoy adolescence, but they must be forced to work to help their families to survive.
2. The Social Criticism on the Difference between Black and White People And I am black, but oh my soul is white;
White as an angel is the English child,
But I am black, as if bereaved of light ( The Little Black Boy stanza 1)
In the stanza above, William Blake criticizes the difference between blacks and whites people. In the word ―And I am black, but my soul is
white‖ is a description of how William Blake expressed his sympathy for black people who were always treated unfairly by white people. William Blake wants people to know that even though their skin color is black but their souls are white and holy, and they should not be distinguished from white people, because of this difference black children feel suffering because of their skin color which seems to prevent the world from realizing the purity of their souls.
a. Social Criticism of The Freedom of Black Children
When I from black, and he from white cloud free,
And round the tent of God like lambs we joy (The Little Black Boy stanza 6)
From the stanza of poem above William Blake criticizes the freedom of black children. In the word ―When I from black, and he from white cloud free‖ is a description of how William Blake explains how pure the soul of a black child is because even though they are always treated unfairly by white children, they still want to play with white children.
William Blake hopes that from this temple white people will realize the purity of the hearts of black children, and give them freedom so that there is no difference in skin color between them.
And then I‘ll stand, and stroke his silver hair,
And be like him, and he will then love me (The Little Black Boy stanza 7)
In the stanza above, William Blake criticizes the equality between blacks and whites. In the word ―And be like him, and he will then love‖ i a description of how the black children want love from white children, even though white children always give suffering to him but black children still want to protect their skin white. Because black people
expect fair treatment from white people. William Blake hopes that white people can accept and love black people.
3. The Social Criticism on the Industrial Revolution And my father sold me while yet my tongue
Could scarcely cry “‟weep, „weep,‟weep,‟weep!
So your chimneys I sweep and in soot I sleep (The Chimney Sweeper stanza 1)
In the stanza of poem above William Blake criticized small children who were treated badly during the industrial revolution. In the word
―And my father sold me while yet my tongue and could scarcely cry, weep, weep, weep, weep!‖ is a description how the small children should enjoy their childhood by learning and playing but in the poem verse above children must work as adults, and also young children who are used as commodities in the trade industry. They were sold and later made into factory chimney sweepers.
And so he was quite; and that very night, As Tom was a sleeping, he had such a sight;
That thousands of sweepers, Dick, Joe, Ned, and Jeck
Were all of them lock‟d up in coffins of black (The Chimney Sweeper 3)
In the stanza of poem above William Blake criticized the suffering of small children at that time. In the word ―Were all of them lock‘d up in coffins of black‖ is a description of how the children suffering from being victims of industrialization. To play and live happily is only part of their dreams while sleeping. because they seemed to be locked in a dark dead turtle and could not get out of this suffering.
And so Tom awoke; and we rose in the dark, And got with our bags and our brushes to work.
Though the morning was cold Tom was happy and warm:
