The influence of culture in woman inferiority as seen in lavryle spencer`s November of the heart and Pramoedya Ananta Toer`s the girl from the coast : a comparative study.

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xiv ABSTRACT

Ulrikayanti, Alene R. 2008. The Influence of Culture in Women Inferiority as seen in LaVyrle Spencer’s November of the Heart and Pramoedya Ananta Toer’s The Girl from the Coast: A Comparative Study. Yogyakarta: English Language Education Study Program. Department of Language and Arts Education. Faculty of Teachers Training and Education. Sanata Dharma University.

This study is about Lorna’s and Mas Nganten’s inferiority which is influenced by culture as they experience in the novels November of the Heart (1994) and The Girl from the Coast (2002). It is interesting to discuss women inferiority because it provokes us to learn about societies and their cultures. During the late of nineteenth century, women are treated as inferior. Each society may have different treatment. This differentiation is affected by their cultures. These cultures will influence women inferiority and the development.

This study will discuss two problems. They are how Lorna’s and Mas Nganten’s inferiority reveals in the nove ls, and how culture influences their inferiority. This study is aimed to answer the problems mentioned.

The theory of character and characterization were used to understand Lorna’s and Mas Nganten’s characters and also to find out what actually happen to them. The feminist literary criticism is used to analyze the position of Lorna and Mas Nganten as women in the novel, and to criticize their inferiority. This criticism is used to answer the first and the second problem formulation. Since this study focuses on culture and women inferiority, it uses sociocultural-historical approach as the critical approach.

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xv ABSTRAK

Studi ini berbicara mengenai inferioritas Lorna dan Mas Nganten yang dipengaruhi oleh budaya masyarakat mereka yang mereka alami di dalam novel November of the Heart (1994) dan The Girl from the Coast (2002). Inferioritas wanita merupakan suatu hal yang menarik untuk dibicarakan karena hal ini membuat kita belajar mengenai masyarakat dan budaya mereka. Pada akhir abad ke 19, wanita diperlakukan sebagai makhluk inferior. Setiap masyarakat memiliki perbedaan perlakuan terhadap hal tersebut. Perbedan tersebut dipengaruhi oleh budaya masyarakat itu sendiri. Budaya akan mempengaruhi inferioritas wanita dan perkembangannya.

Studi ini akan mendiskusikan dua permasalahan. Masalah-masalah tersebut adalah bagaimana inferioritas Lorna dan Mas Nganten digambarkan di dalam kedua novel tersebut, dan bagaiman budaya mempengaruhi inferioritas mereka.

Teori kesusasteraaan seperti teori tokoh dan penokohan digunakan untuk memahami karakter Lorna dan Mas Nganten dan untuk mencari tahu mengenai yang sebenarnya terjadi pada Lorna dan Mas Nganten. Selanjutnya, kritik sastra feminis digunakan untuk menganalisa posisi Lorna dan Mas Nganten sebagai wanita di dalam kedua novel tersebut, dan untuk mengkritisi inferioritas mereka. Kritik ini digunakan untuk menjawab permasalahan pertama dan kedua. Mengingat fokus dari studi ini adalah mengenai budaya dan inferioritas wanita, maka studi ini menggunakan pendekatan sosial budaya dan sejarah.

Hasil dari studi ini menunjukkan bahwa Lorna dan Mas Nganten diperlakukan sebagai makhluk inferior. Mereka tidak boleh membuat keputusan, tidak boleh melakukan semua hal yang mereka sukai, dan mereka juga tidak boleh mengungkapkan seluruh perasaan dan ide-ide mereka. Patriarkhi dan agama, sebagai budaya mereka, mempengaruhi inferioritas mereka. Pada akhir novel, Lorna digambarkan mampu membuat keputusannya sendiri dimana hal ini menunjukkan perkembangan atas inferioritasnya. Hal ini juga dipengaruhi oleh budaya Lorna, budaya Amerika, yang lebih bebas dan terbuka sehingga memungkinkan adanya perubahan. Sementara itu, Mas Nganten tetap inferior karena budaya masyarakat Jawa lebih ketat dan kuat.

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i

THE INFLUENCE OF CULTURE IN WOMAN INFERIORITY AS SEEN IN LAVYRLE SPENCER’S NOVEMBER OF THE HEART

AND PRAMOEDYA ANANTA TOER’S THE GIRL FROM THE COAST: A COMPARATIVE STUDY

A Thesis

Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements to Obtain the Sarjana Pendidikan Degree

in English Language Education

By

ALENE ROSABEL U. 031214009

ENGLISH LANGUAGE EDUCATION STUDY PROGRAM DEPARTMENT OF LANGUAGE AND ARTS EDUCATION FACULTY OF TEACHERS TRAINING AND EDUCATION

SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY YOGYAKARTA

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STATEMENT OF WORK’S ORIGINALITY

I honestly declare that the thesis I wrote does not contain the works or part of the works of other people, except those which were cited in the quotations and the bibliography, as a scientific paper should.

Yogyakarta, March 11, 2008 The writer

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LEMBAR PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN

PUBLIKASI KARYA ILMIAH UNTUK KEPENTINGAN AKADEMIS

Yang bertanda tangan di bawah ini, saya mahasiswa Universitas Sanata Dharma: Nama : Alene Rosabel Ulrikayanti

Nomor Mahasiswa : 031214009

Demi pengembangan ilmu pengetahuan, saya memberikan kepada Perpustakaan Universitas Sanata Dharma karya ilmiah saya yang berjudul:

THE INFLUENCE OF CULTURE IN WOMEN INFERIORITY AS SEEN IN LAVYRLE SPENCER’S NOVEMBER OF THE HEART AND PRAMOEDYA ANANTA TOER’S THE GIRL FROM THE COAST: A COMPARATIVE STUDY

beserta perangkat yang diperlukan (bila ada). Dengan demikian saya memberikan kepada Perpustakaan Universitas Sanata Dharma hak untuk menyimpan, mengalihkan dalam bentuk media lain, mengelolanya dalam bentuk pangkalan data, menditribusikan secara terbatas, dan mempublikasikannya di internet atau media lain untuk kepentingan akademis tanpa perlu meminta ijin kepada saya atau memberikan royalti kepada saya selama tetap mencantumkan nama saya sebagai penulis.

Demikian pernyataan ini saya buat dengan sebenarnya, Dibuat di Yogyakarta

Pada tanggal : 11 Maret 2008 Yang menyatakan

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

First of all I would like to express my thank to Jesus Christ. He is not only the one who saves me, but He is a loyal and great companion. He gives me strength, He stays on my side, and gives me tremendous bless that I can stand up once again and again. His helpful hands support me that I can finally finish this thesis.

I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to my major sponsor Dr. Wigati Yektiningtyas Modouw, M. Hum., for her patient, motherly

understanding, and her motivating guidance in helping me finish this thesis. I will not forget those great moments we share together. My deepest gratitude also goes to my co-sponsor Drs. Concilianus L. Mbato, M.A.. He assists me on my every page of this thesis. He is unbelievably efficient, and critical, and I am honored to be one of his students.

I would also like to express my great thanks to all lecturers for their great contribution in my development, their honest and critical sharing, and unforgettable memories. I would like to express my thanks to all staff in the secretariat, especially Mbak Tari and Mbak Dani for supporting me since my very first day in this campus. I also thank to all the librarians who are always willing to help me, and provide students’ needs in the library services.

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about respect for individua l difference from him. My special thanks also go to my beautiful mother Priscilla Susi Siti Maryati, who has become my loyal bestfriend. Nothing in this world can replace her and her great love and caring. My greatest debt is to them, whose influence in this thesis was indirect but profound. To my gorgeous sisters Gabey and Aggie who has become a light on my night. No one can make me as happy, as sad, as proud, as confuse as they do.

My sincerest thanks go to my best friends, Paulina Gupta, who is the best friend ever. She never judges me but encourages me with multiple perspectives on any problems. She stays on my side during the hard days, and I promise I will pay that someday somehow. My sincerest thanks also go to my closest friends Nina Indarjo, Viana Rolos, Yani Bali, Chichil, Ari (Cret), and Aryo (UGM). I found precious friendship, honesty, and respect and share the

greatest feeling of friendship with them.

My deep gratitude and admiration are addressed to my favorite lecturer Drs. Petrus Garanim Purba, M.Pd. I found a figure of strong and loving man

from him. He assists me during my study on this university, and during crucial parts of my development. He is more than just a lecturer; he is a grandfather of mine who is always willing to provide me with chances for sharing and learning. The only thing I want to do before I leave this university is to attend his class again and enjoy his magnificent behavior, which is now impossible.

I also thank to my precious friend of PBI: Rizta, Dame, Monic, Daniel, Meiske, si Bhe, Miertah, Tony Tonol, Pun-pun, Beni Suki, Rere, Tia Protee,

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Tante-Tante Tua ‘02, Lady Dee and Siddha ’04 for crazy critical ideas in this thesis, Mas Yudi ’00, Haris 04, Mas Punto ‘00 and all of them I cannot mention one by one. You guys give me a lot.

My great appreciation, finally, goes to my greatest friend, my boyfriend, Batista Ismoyo “beibi” Sedjati. Thanks for supporting words, inspiring

encouragement, and splendid love. He is all that suits me. He is the one I want to have in this life, beside my own Grand Piano, of course, and he is the answer of my prayer.

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5.1 Conclusions ... 5.2 Suggestions ... 5.2.1 Suggestions for Future Researchers ... 5.2.2 Suggestions for English Teachers ... 5.2.2.1 The Teaching Learning Activity in Prose II Class Using November of the Heart... 5.2.2.2 The Teaching- Learning Activity in Prose II Class Using The Girl from the Coast ... BIBLIOGRAPHY ... APPENDICES ...

APPENDIX 1 Portrait of LaVyrle Spencer ... APPENDIX 2 Portrait of Pramoedya Ananta Toer ... APPENDIX 3 Summary of November of the Heart ... APPENDIX 4 Summary of The Girl from the Coast ... APPENDIX 5 LaVyrle Spencer’s Biography ...

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APPENDIX 6 Pramoedya Ananta Toer’s Biography ... APPENDIX 7 LaVyrle Spencer’s Novels ... APPENDIX 8 Pramoedya Ananta Toer’s Novels ... APPENDIX 9 The Implementation of Teaching Prose II Using Some

Parts of the Novel November of the Heart for the Fourth Semester Students of English Language Education Study Program ... APPENDIX 10 The Implementation of Teaching Prose II Using Some Parts of the Novel The Girl from the Coast for the Fourth Semester Students of English Language Education Study Program ... APPENDIX 11 Material to Teach Prose II class Using November of the Heart ... APPENDIX 12 Material to Teach Prose II class Using The Girl from the Coast ...

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xiv ABSTRACT

This study is about Lorna’s and Mas Nganten’s inferiority which is influenced by culture as they experience in the novels November of the Heart (1994) and The Girl from the Coast (2002). It is interesting to discuss women inferiority because it provokes us to learn about societies and their cultures. During the late of nineteenth century, women are treated as inferior. Each society may have different treatment. This differentiation is affected by their cultures. These cultures will influence women inferiority and the development.

This study will discuss two problems. They are how Lorna’s and Mas Nganten’s inferiority reveals in the nove ls, and how culture influences their inferiority. This study is aimed to answer the problems mentioned.

The theory of character and characterization were used to understand Lorna’s and Mas Nganten’s characters and also to find out what actually happen to them. The feminist literary criticism is used to analyze the position of Lorna and Mas Nganten as women in the novel, and to criticize their inferiority. This criticism is used to answer the first and the second problem formulation. Since this study focuses on culture and women inferiority, it uses sociocultural-historical approach as the critical approach.

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xv ABSTRAK

Studi ini berbicara mengenai inferioritas Lorna dan Mas Nganten yang dipengaruhi oleh budaya masyarakat mereka yang mereka alami di dalam novel November of the Heart (1994) dan The Girl from the Coast (2002). Inferioritas wanita merupakan suatu hal yang menarik untuk dibicarakan karena hal ini membuat kita belajar mengenai masyarakat dan budaya mereka. Pada akhir abad ke 19, wanita diperlakukan sebagai makhluk inferior. Setiap masyarakat memiliki perbedaan perlakuan terhadap hal tersebut. Perbedan tersebut dipengaruhi oleh budaya masyarakat itu sendiri. Budaya akan mempengaruhi inferioritas wanita dan perkembangannya.

Studi ini akan mendiskusikan dua permasalahan. Masalah-masalah tersebut adalah bagaimana inferioritas Lorna dan Mas Nganten digambarkan di dalam kedua novel tersebut, dan bagaiman budaya mempengaruhi inferioritas mereka.

Teori kesusasteraaan seperti teori tokoh dan penokohan digunakan untuk memahami karakter Lorna dan Mas Nganten dan untuk mencari tahu mengenai yang sebenarnya terjadi pada Lorna dan Mas Nganten. Selanjutnya, kritik sastra feminis digunakan untuk menganalisa posisi Lorna dan Mas Nganten sebagai wanita di dalam kedua novel tersebut, dan untuk mengkritisi inferioritas mereka. Kritik ini digunakan untuk menjawab permasalahan pertama dan kedua. Mengingat fokus dari studi ini adalah mengenai budaya dan inferioritas wanita, maka studi ini menggunakan pendekatan sosial budaya dan sejarah.

Hasil dari studi ini menunjukkan bahwa Lorna dan Mas Nganten diperlakukan sebagai makhluk inferior. Mereka tidak boleh membuat keputusan, tidak boleh melakukan semua hal yang mereka sukai, dan mereka juga tidak boleh mengungkapkan seluruh perasaan dan ide-ide mereka. Patriarkhi dan agama, sebagai budaya mereka, mempengaruhi inferioritas mereka. Pada akhir novel, Lorna digambarkan mampu membuat keputusannya sendiri dimana hal ini menunjukkan perkembangan atas inferioritasnya. Hal ini juga dipengaruhi oleh budaya Lorna, budaya Amerika, yang lebih bebas dan terbuka sehingga memungkinkan adanya perubahan. Sementara itu, Mas Nganten tetap inferior karena budaya masyarakat Jawa lebih ketat dan kuat.

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1 CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

This chapter is divided into five sections. The first section is Background of the Study. This section explains the background knowledge of the study. It also explains why the novels were chosen as the primary data of this study. The second one is the Aim of the Study. This section mentions the main purpose of this study. The third section is Problem Formulation that contains questions to be answered as the focus of this study. Next, Benefits of the Study is discussed. It contains the advantages of this study. The fifth section is Definition of Terms. It explains the terms used in this study to enable the reader to understand this thesis better.

1.1 Background of the Study

Literature is a special work of art. Literature involves social phenomena, thoughts, feeling, attitude, and even the society itself in it. Literature is special in the way that it provides us with a very clear reflection of our living. So, by reading literature, we can understand about our selves`, about people around us, even about the society. Moreover, literature enables us to learn something about life without experiencing by our selves.

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interest. It is, thus, fundamentally dealing with an expression of life through the medium of language.

Literature is a means that provides us with chances to reflect. We can see life and its aspects very clearly, because literature lets us stand as observer; we don’t experience, but watch. In modern literature we have three major sections, namely fiction, poetry, and drama. According to Milligan (1983: 4), novel is classified as fiction that has a close relationship to human life. Novels convey reality. Novel tells us something just how it is.

A novel is a book that tells a story of life. De Laar (1963: 163) says that a novel is a work of art in so far as it introduces us into living world; in some respects resembling the world we live in, but with individuality of its own. Every novel may have different way and style of telling the story, but they tell the same thing; life.

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misunderstanding, his controversial way enables the readers to explore more meaning and value concerning on woman inferiority. The strengths of both novelists become the reason why I choose their novel. These novels are exactly what this study is about.

When we discuss the issue of woman inferiority, especially in the middle age, we will include matters that influence the particular issue such as culture, politic situation, tradition, and life style on that age. Since it includes many matters, the practicality of the issue may vary, and it will be very challenging to find out how it differs among countries. That is the reason why I choose two novels that use two different countries as the setting. The differences among them make us know that one particular issue may vary in different setting of place and time.

November of the Heart (1994) tells us about the story of how woman in that age was treated strictly by man. This novel is about a young woman named Lorna Barnett who was born in a rich family. Lorna has the spirit of a modern woman. She is willing to learn many things and to try new things. But, culture and society never let her grow as she wishes. She must marry a man who is the choice of her father, while she is in love with another man. She may not do what man at that time can do. She may not make her own decision.

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a temporary wife before her husband marries to another woman from the same class to be the “real” wife. She is married in proxy manner where a dagger represents her husband to be. The interesting point of this novel is how this novel describes the situation when Indonesian woman were treated as inferior. It is clearly described how women had no right upon their own life. Their destiny is thoroughly arranged by men. Mas Nganten finds herself dumped when she is in love with her husband and having their baby.

Those two novels illustrate the issue on woman inferiority in different ways. They do not merely talk abut the issue, but the stories of those two novels pictures the clear situation, feeling, thought, even the effect of the practicality of the issue. Those two novels are exactly what this study is about.

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1.2 The Aim of the Study

The first objective of this study is to find out how women inferiority reveals in the life of Lorna and Mas Nganten. It tries to give a clear description of treatment toward woman in past time, both in western area and culture, and in eastern area and culture. The second objective is to find out whether different culture may result in different influence toward Lorna’s and Mas Nganten’s inferiority. It tries to give a clear description if western culture and society influence women inferiority differently from how eastern culture and society do.

1.3 Problem Formulation

Based on the aim of the study, the questions to be answered in this study can be formulated as fo llows:

1. How is woman inferiority revealed in the life of Lorna and Mas Nganten? 2. How does culture influence Lorna’s and Mas Nganten’s inferiority?

1.4 Benefits of the Study

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struggle to be able to get or defend it. Moreover, this study can be such an enjoyment and pleasure.

This study also helps the reader to understand more about the novel, so that the readers are able to enjoy reading the novel.

1.5 Definition of Terms

In this study, some terms are used. In order to have a clear understanding of this study, I include the definition of some terms used in this thesis.

A Comparative Study

According to Levin (1966: viii), comparative literature already sets its discipline which has tended to focus its interest on interrelationships-traditions and move ments, the intellectual forces that find their logical termination in –ism – rather than on the contemplation of individual masterpieces. So, comparative study here means to compare two or more people or things. This study seeks for the interrelationships between two different society and culture, and seeks for the difference and similarities among them.

Woman Inferiority

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The American and the Javanese

This study compares the practicality of a certain issue from two different areas. The areas are American and Java. The American area refers to Minnesota, which is the setting of place of the first novel, November of the Heart. While, the Javanese area refers to Rembang and the north coast of Central Java which is the setting of place of the second novel, The Girl from the Coast.

Culture

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8 CHAPTER 2

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

This chapter consists of two sections. The first section is the Theoretical Review. The second section is the criticism of LaVyrle Spencer and her work November of the Heart, and Pramoedya Ananta Toer and his work The Girl from the Coast, and the theoretical framework.

The first section, that is the theoretical review, consists of two theories. Those theories are theory of literature, and the feminist literary criticism. The theory of literature itself consists of three parts. They are theory of character, theory of characterization, and the theory of critical approaches. The theory of character and characterization are used to find out the clear and detailed description of the characters in the two stories. It helps us to understand more about what happens to the two main characters in the stories. The theory of critical approaches are used to find the appropriate approach I am going to use in this study to analyze the two novels. This study uses sociocultural- historical approach. Rohrberger and Woods (1971: 12 – 13) state that this approach enables us to investigate the place and society. Using sociocultural- historical approach, I can analyze women inferiority in the two stories in deep. The feminist literary criticism is used to enrich the analysis by giving a keen analysis on the subject matter.

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work The Girl from the Coast. Most of the criticisms are stated by comparing the works with what happen in the real life, and also by considering the values that revealed through the work. I also include the context of the two novels to provide a clear background about the two novels.

2.1 Theoretical Review

This section presents theory of literature, and the feminist literary criticism. The first is the theory of literature. It is divided into two, namely theory of character and characterization, and theory of critical approaches. The second is the feminist literary criticism.

2.1.1 Theory of Characte r

In this thesis, I use the theory of character and characterization to help me to understand about women inferiority through the main characters of the two novels, Lorna and Mas Nganten. Women inferiority deals with society, culture and also historical background of the environment, that is why I mostly use the sociocultural- historical approach to analyze the novels. The theory of character and characterization itself can be used in the analysis, especially when I need to examine the subject matter through Lorna’s and Mas Nganten’s character. I apply this theory by relating the theory with their behaviour and actions.

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and disposition qualities that are expressed in the dialogues of the novel and the actions. Abrams also adds that characters are like human beings. Characters have emotion, temperament, moral, and social values that become the basic motivation of his or her speech and actions. Characters can remain stable or can have some changes during the story. The events or experiences that characters have during the story can affect their thoughts, ideas, or judgements about life and their environment or society.

In the two novels, Lorna and Mas Nganten are also presented in dramatic and narrative way with dialogs and actions. Those dialogs and actions are means for Lorna and Mas Nganten to express their feeling. Through their dialogs and actions, we can understand more about their thoughts, idea, feeling, judgements and even social values. Their behaviour, as presented in the novels, also expresses their emotion and feeling, and even their moral values. Using this theory, I can analyze those behaviour, dialogs and actions, and get the fact beyond the issue of women inferiority.

2.1.2 Theory of Characterization

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novels, November of The Heart and The Girl from The Coast, Spencer and Toer present their characters in the novel very lively and understandable for the reader through several ways, like speech, conversation of others, mannerism and direct thoughts. The theory of characterization is able to reveal a character’s description.

Murphy (1972: 161-173) states that there are nine ways which enable an author to present the character in the story understandably and lively for the readers. The nine ways are personal description, character as seen by another, speech, past life, conversation of others, reaction, direct comment, thought, and mannerism.

1. Personal description

The author can describe one’s appearance and clothes that he or she wears. A character’s character and personality can be seen through his and her appearance and clothes.

2. Characters as seen by another

The author can describe a character’s character from another characters’ point of view and opinion. Another characters’ opinion on character can help the reader to understand the character more.

3. Speech

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4. Past life

The author can invite the reader to know and learn something about a person’s background or past life. The author can provide the reader with clues about the events that have given some help in shaping the person’s character. The clues can be given through the author’s direct comment, through the person’s thoughts and feeling, through the person’s conversation, and also through another person in the story. A person’s past life also influences his or her ways of thinking and behaviour toward other people. 5. Conversation of others

The author can provide the readers with clues about a person’s character through other people conversation and what they say about him or her. People talk about other people and all the thing they say may give a clue about the character of the particular person spoken about.

6. Reactions

The author can provide the reader with clues about a person’s character through his or her way in reacting various situation or events he or she faces. A person’s reactions will show his or her character and personality.

7. Direct comment

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8. Thoughts

The author can give the reader direct knowledge about a person’s thoughts. This is what an author cannot do in real life. The author can provide the reader with special device which plugged into the deepest thought of a person in the story, so that the reader knows what the particular person is thinking about, and what his or her opinion on certain things.

9. Mannerism

The author sometimes describes a person’s mannerism, habits or idiosyncrasies. This description will provide the reader with clues about the person’s character. The author usually reveals both the positive and negative habits of the person to enable the reader to know more about the person’s character.

Character is one of internal aspects in a novel. The term character is used in two ways: (1) it designs the individual who appears in the story and (2) it refers to the mixture of interests, desires, emotions, and principles that make up each of these individuals. Through some of these ways, the author makes the reader aware of the personalities and the characters of certain person he wrote in his books.

2.1.3 The Theory of Critical Approaches

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explore more. By using an appropriate critical approach, I can understand more about what value is revealed in the novels and how literature is shaped. Rohrberger and Woods in Reading and Writing about Literature (1971: 3) distinguish five critical approaches. Those approaches are the formalist approach, biographical approach, sociocultural - historical approach, mythopeic approach, and psychological approach.

In this thesis, I employ the sociocultural- historical approach. According to Rohrberger and Woods (1971: 9-10), sociocultural- historical approach insists that the only way to locate the real work is be in the reference to the civilization that produces it. It is needed to investigate the place or society, which reflects a created work. The historical critic examines either the work itself or the work in relation to other works by the same author or works of similar kind of subject matter by different authors in the same or in the different periods.

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2.1.4 Feminist Literary Criticism

In the novel November of the Heart and The Girl from the Coast, the influence of culture toward the main characters’ inferiority is very interesting to be analyzed because the influence reflects the power of society in controlling as well as destroying their own life. Culture is made by the society, to control themselves and their own life. Since this study is closely related to culture and women inferiority, it is necessary for me to use the feminist literary criticism. Feminist Literary Criticism is a theory that explains how women are placed in the novel. Humm states (1994: ix) that gender is the focus and the fundamental category of this criticism analysis. Feminist literary criticism gives a big contribution toward my study. It helps me in understanding how woman is characterized in the two novels. It also makes me understand the cultural background that influences the main characters’ inferiority better.

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Literary texts may tell a life phenomenon. The life phenomenon represents social ideologies, culture, traditions, and many other aspects through the story. In this study, the two novels, November of the Heart and The Girl from the Coast, represent the culture of the societies throughout the story. The feminist literary criticism helps me in understanding the cultural implications behind the story by showing how women behave, how they are treated, the social attitude and society tradition, patriarchal practices, and the mind concepts of the society.

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3) enables the readers to understand the ways in which we acquire a gender through language, and to perceive the role played by language in creating our subjectivities and our oppressions.

In her further explanations, Humm (1994: 4) tries to explain what feminist criticism is by mentioning three basic assumptions which are shared by feminist criticism based on the writing of many critics. The first assumption is that gender is constructed through language, and is visible to writing style; and style, therefore must represent the articulation of ideologies of gender. The second assumption is that there are sex related strategies. It underlies the fact that some writing is written by women, and how women wrote is how they were allowed to write. Therefore, the language may appear as not the real expression. It also underlies that men and women have different vocabularies and use their vocabularies in different kind of sentences. The third assumption is that the tradition of literary criticism uses masculine norms to exclude or undervalue women’s writing and scholarship.

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is a consumer of male- produced works. The second (Humm, 1994: 7) is the issue of the invisibility of women writers has been addressed. It underlies the consideration on the texts of neglected women, and women’s oral culture. The third (Humm, 1994: 8), the feminist criticism confronts the problem of the feminist reader by offering readers new methods and a fresh critical practice. Humm adds that the practice focuses on those techniques of signification which are undervalued in traditional criticism. The fourth, Humm explains (1994: 8) that feminist criticism aims to make us act as feminist readers by creating new writing and reading collectives.

Using this criticism, I am able to analyze the two novels deeper. The criticism enables us to find values under the issue of gender, and also to find the role played by women in the society during the period of time which also shows us the civilization and tradition of society.

2.2 Review on American and Javanese Culture

This section presents the cultural background of the two areas of the two novels. This section is divided into two. They are review on American culture and review on Javanese culture.

2.2.1 Review on American Culture in the Late of 19th Century

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As the enterprises get bigger, there were migrants who decided to come to America to work on those enterprises. Hinsley (1967:501) also states that in this period, America economic growth was supported fully by the great wealth entrepreneur. They were asked to chary for the development of America. The gap between the great wealth and ordinary businessman was so great that they were separated into classes. Hinsley (1967:505) mentions that the businessmen began to enjoy their separate existence. This economic growth produced not only big enterprises, but also brought immigrants. Immigrants were accepted in the society only as strangers and were put in lowest social class.

Women on that time already had education. Hinsley (1967: 197) states that in the period of time a class distinction cut across the sex distinction. For worker girls, they may have the same education level with boys. Those girls went to the same school with boys and learnt the same things, even though their maximum level of education was very low.

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long-continuing fight for the equality of the sexes and the rights of women. Hinsley (1967:197-200) mentions certain names who struggle for justice for women. They are Frances Mary Buss (1827-1894), Dorothea Beale ( -1906), Emily Davies, Anne Jemmima Clough, Professor Henry Sidgwick, and also Maria Grey. Therefore, during the time, the equality of men and women starts to be developed.

2.2.2 Review on Javanese Culture in the Late of 19th Century

Conley (1988:221) says that during this period, Java was still under the authority of the Dutch imperialist. There were many Javanese people who work for the Dutch as the administration workers. They were given with luxury and privilege. They later became a part of high class society which commonly named priyayi. People worked as farmer, fisherman, and employee of high class people. Those who were common people usually forced to work for the Dutch without any payment.

There were social classes that separate the Javanese (Budiman, 1990:67). Common people live to serve the upper classes people. Upper classes people may decide the lower people destiny, whether they are right or wrong, and whether they should live or die.

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choice. Polygamy was also common among the upper class society, and women did not have any rights to protest or deny it. Kenji (1990:105) adds that divorce happens very often as the effect of arranged marriage and polygamy. In this case, after the divorce, women can choose their own future husband.

During the time, men could have sufficient education as long as it was for the Dutch importance (Conley, 1990:561). Many men were sent to Dutch to attend universities. Only people and the son of upper class people who had the right. While women were taught at home by private teacher who would teach them how to read and write, read the Koran, and maybe to draw batik. This education was only for upper class women.

Conley (1990:266) explains that there were schools for girls but not many. He explains that these schools taught common girls the same thing with what has been taught to upper class girls. These schools were pioneered by R. A. Kartini. Since women independence was still considered as ashamed, common parents decided not to send their daughters to the schools. Instead of send them to schools, common people prefer to marry their young daughters.

2.3 Criticism on Literary Work

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on this book. I also add some of my criticism on this book along with other reviewers.

2.3.1 Criticism on LaVyrle Spencer’s Novel November of the Heart

In this part, I would like to present some criticism on LaVyrle Spencer’s novel November of the Heart. Much of the criticisms is from websites because there is very little information and analysis on this novel. I also add my criticism on this novel along with other reviewers. The objective of presenting these criticisms is to enable us to understand more about LaVyrle’s November of the Heart. The criticism contains of some critical opinion about her work, and it will help us to get further understanding on her writing. This criticism also helps me to explore more on the novel, so that I can understand more about what happens to Lorna Barnett.

Publishers Weekly (www.barnesandnoble.com/novemberoftheheart.

html/, accessed on January 8th, 2006) says that November of the Heart is a

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her tale’s dramatic impact by failing to provide a similarity full portrait of lower class society. Moreover, her ornate and old fashioned language is not that good.

A reader from California (www.barnesandnoble.com/novemberofthe heart.html/, accessed on January 8th, 2006) says that he loves Spencer’s work, because Spencer has the ability to put very strong feeling into words like no other author. He also thinks that November of the Heart is her best work. It affects him and makes him emotional. He feels so bad especially when Jens and Lorna have rough time. He also feels rejoices over Jens and Lorna happiness.

A reader from Chicago (www.barnesandnoble.com/novemberofthe heart.html/, accessed on January 8th, 2006) mentioned three strengths of this

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2.3.2 Criticism on Pramoedya Ananta Toer’s Novel The Girl From the Coast

In this part, I would like to present some criticisms on Toer’s The Girl from the Coast. Much of it is from websites. I also add some of my criticism on this book along with other reviewers. The aim of presenting them is to understand Toer’s The Girl f rom the Coast. It explains some of the critical opinions about his writing, so that we can understand more his well-known work. By reading the criticism, I got many informations related to Javanese culture and its’ treatment toward Mas Nganten.

A reader named Sarah Rachel Egelman (http://www.bookreporter. com/reviews/0786868201.asp, accessed on September 7, 2006) says that she loves this novel. For her, this novel is beautiful of its emotional tale. This emotional tale is deceptively simple. It contains the rich history and landscape of Java surge against the economical use of words and the sparseness of the action. This novel is masterfully crafted, which is apparent even in translation. It is often dark, often witty and always thought provoking. According to her, one reading of this novel is likely to inspire many trips to the bookshelf to delve into other works by Toer and non- fiction about the island of Java.

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book’s action is imposed upon characters by the ideas of the writer. Her operative word for many of its situations is improbable. She echoes what various critics of Pramoedya, often those hostile to his political views, have said before: politics stifles artistic beauty and insight. The “desire to communicate and the urgency of his message,” she says, “have overwhelmed his art.” The girl herself displays the “banner of oppressed Indonesian womanhood.”

In my opinion, what is probable in fictional characters comes, first of all, from the sociologically truthful. It may appear in spite of the writer’s conscious political beliefs, if he or she is an honest artist. In a successful work of art, a character can be both individualized and universal, both a shy teenager exposed to abuse and the “banner of oppressed Indonesian womanhood.” What Freudenberger and many other critics miss is the fact that Pramoedya’s theme is rooted in a century- long social process in Indonesia, the struggle against imperialism and the mass striving, despite betrayals and setbacks, for an alternative to capitalism. On the whole, the manner in which this novel portrays the emergence of a dissenting consciousness in an oppressed person feels authentic.

2.4 Theoretical Framework

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27 CHAPTER 3

METHODOLOGY

This chapter is divided into three parts; namely subject matter, approach, and procedure. The first part, subject matter, is explaining the focus of this study. The second part, approach, discusses the approaches being used in this study. The third part, procedure, contains the phases that I used in analyzing the problem formulation.

3.1 Subject Matter

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The two novels tell us about old culture, which treats woman as inferior. The two main characters, Lorna and Mas Nganten, suffer from this cultural attitude, and were facing bitter life. They are tired of this situation, and tried so hard to survive.

These novels teach us that life is full with unpredictable and unavoidable things. The only way out of those very bad conditions is face it and try hard to survive. These two novels also provide us with the fact how human could be so cruel, considering woman as inferior, and treating them as if they have no feeling and their own right to live.

3.2 The Approach

In order to get the answers of the problem formulation, certain approach is needed to analyze a literary works, and to give boundaries of the aspects to discuss in the study. It gives background of knowledge on the study and helps me develop the analysis based on the work to discuss. The focus of this study is on the treatment toward the main characters from the two novels as inferior that is influenced by the culture of their country.

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influence the life of the society. Using the sociocultural – historical approach, I can analyze the culture and attitude in the two novels, November of the Heart and The Girl from the Coast.

3.3 Research Procedure

There were two ways that could be used to do the research in order to get some information and data, named field research and literature review. I preferred using the second research, literary review, since it was sensed as the most

appropriate way in collecting some information, data, and theories that would be used latter in the discussion.

The first thing I did in analyzing this novel was read the novels November of the Heart and The Girl from the Coast over and over again to find the message of the novels. I used the two novels as the primary source to find evidence for this study. From the very first, I read the novel Novemeber of the Heart, I am

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Secondly, I tried to find some important theories to support my findings about the cultural attitude toward woman as inferior. In this phase, I read many books especially those, which have relation with the problem of culture and women inferiority. These books on literature were the secondary sources. Books that deal with society and culture, and history were mainly used to analyze the treatment toward Lorna and Mas Nganten, and their inferiority. Since the main topic of this study was the cultural attitudes toward women inferiority, the sub discussions on the socio-cultural and historical books that dealt with the issues became the main interest to read. Besides these socio-cultural and historical books, the books on the literature theories also become the main interest to read. Those books gave more information and guidance in understanding the two novels. I also browsed in the Interne t to find information related to my analysis.

The third step was analyzing the novel. In this step, I answered the problems in the problem formulation using the approaches and references, which are related to the study.

The last step was making the conclusion of the study. I made conclusion of the study after answering the questions in the problem formulation. The

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31 CHAPTER 4

ANALYSIS

This chapter discusses the answers to questions that are formulated in the problem formulation. The discussion is divided into two parts. The first part is the analysis of Lorna’s and Mas Nganten’s inferiority. The analysis focuses on the disability of both characters in order to show their inferiority in the society. The second part or the last part is the analysis on cultural influences toward Lorna’s and Mas Nganten’s inferiority. It focuses on cultural value that influences Lorna’s and Mas Nganten’s inferiority and its effect. Each analysis is discussed using the theories that are stated in the review of related theories.

4.1 Women Inferiority in the Life of Lorna and Mas Nganten

Inferiority is something that can be seen in daily life, but maybe invisible for particular persons. Women inferiority has not been noticed for a long time until many people started to talk about it. A woman’s inferiority is revealed in how people treat her, and how she behaves. In the two novels, both the authors show women inferiority very clearly in the life of Lorna and Mas Nganten.

In the novel, Lorna is described as a pretty girl. It can be seen through the manner of people around her (Murphy: 1972). She is 18 years old. Besides her beauty and young age, the author also describes her as a girl who has brown eyes and auburn hair that make her even prettier than others.

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combed in a “Gibson girl” pompadour, its intentional droop and neckline squiggles so much more than her mother-braided crown (3).

The author describes that even man cannot deny her beauty. It reveals through the thought of other people (Murphy: 1972) that is Jens when he meets her for the first time. “She was too pretty to deny himself the pleasure (20)”. Lorna’s beauty can provoke a man to be sweet on her. It can be seen through the speech of Lorna’s sister, Daphne. Daphne realizes that Lorna is so beautiful that Taylor DuVal behaves very nicely to Lorna. “Gosh, Lorna, it’s no wonder Taylor DuVal is sweet on you (68)”.

The author even gives more evidence about Lorna’s beauty. She is so gorgeous that no man will ignore her pretty face and her slim body. She also inherits interesting features from her mother. It can be said that she is perfect as a woman.

But there she stood, looking at him expectantly from the shadow from a straw bonnet, with a faint sheen of sweat on her brow and a hint of it dampening the armpits of her ham shaped sleeves. From the waist down she was as slim as a buggy whip, while above she’d inherited her mother generous breast. A man would have to have two glass eyes not to notice all that plus her pretty face (41).

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They read like the Who’s Who in Minnesota, their vast wealth earned in railroading, iron ore mining, flour milling and, in Gideon Barnett’s case, lumbering (5).

As a rich family, the Barnetts got a life style other than the ordinary family. Lorna’s father has an interest in boat race. As a rich man, he has his own style in expressing his interest in it. He bets for thousand dollars for a race, yet other people bet for few dollars.

“How? Gideon Barnett threw up both hands. “I don’t know how, but I for one refuse to lose ten thousand dollars to those damned Minnetonka sandbaggers, not when it was they who challenged us to these three years of races (3).

Gideon Barnett’s success has put him and his family into high-class society. They live among rich people, and make friends with them. They share the same interests, and do the same hobby. The Barnetts often invite their friends in certain occasions to maintain their relationship with those people.

… Around the table glances were exchange among the men-Gideon, Taylor, Nathan, Percy Tufts, George Whiting and Joseph Armfield-the most powerful and persuasive cartel not only of the White Bear Yacht Club, but of the Minnesota financial scene in general (5).

From the evidences, I can conclude that Lorna is a beautiful girl who lives in a rich family.

Meanwhile, in The Girl from the Coast, Toer describes Mas Nganten as a beautiful girl. She was fourteen years old when she married a nobleman from the city of Rembang. She has nothing special with her profile or her nose line, but she is attractive, because she has a beautiful skin color and eyes.

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outside the regency seat of Rembang on the north coast of Java, she was the flower of the town (3).

She was too young to realize that she has a beautiful face. Some people around her may also think that she was just a little girl, but a person from the city saw her and report her beauty to his Bendoro. The author describes how Mas Nganten’s beauty attracts man from the city who even reports her beauty to a person higher than him self. “…there was a man who had taken note for her and informed his employer in the city of this village girl’s beauty (4).”

Her beauty is said to be very attractive and that every man will have a desire on her. The author describes her as a village girl who has smooth and tawny skin. Her beautiful eyes with supple eyelids and her slim body make her perfect as a young woman.

“What man would not desire the woman you see here?” the servant asked. “Just look,” she said to the girl’s mother. “With her small body, no heavier than a cotton ball, and her tawny skin, as smooth as a flat iron to the touch. It’s only her hands that need some work, but if we soak them in saltwater, they’ll soon lose their roughness. And with her supple eyelids and almond-shaped eyes, she looks for all the world like a Chinese princess. Who would not recognize such beauty? (44)”

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“Mbok?” “Yes, Young Mistress.” “Do you think I’m pretty?” “You’re beautiful, Young Mistress.” “But weren’t the others prettier?” “In this world, Young Mistress, when beauty passes, everyone steps aside.” At the inner courtyard, they rested momentarily. “But the others,” the girl continued, “weren’t they nice, too?” “You’re much nicer, Young Mistress. (67)”

Besides her beauty, the author describes that Mas Nganten comes from a poor fisherman family in the north coast of Rembang. She used to help her parents to work. Her family was poor that she must do a lot of works to help her parents to get extra money. She also did some helps for her neighbour and relatives too.

At home, in the village, she had always helped her parents and lent a ready hand to relatives and fellow villagers. She herself sometimes had to gather her father’s net, heavy with its metal sinkers, and hang it from the crossbeam in the house to dry; using a wooden pole for a lever, she would, all by herself, hoist the net onto a pulley and raise it to the joist. She also had to help grind the dried shrimp. Now her mother would be performing the task alone, all for few cents that she would receive from the Chinese trader from town (62).

She usually works in sunny days and does rough things like carrying fishes, and repairing the net. “Accustomed as she was to the coarse fiber of the fishing nets that she made and lugged about in the village… (21)”. The situation requires her to do a lot of works and provides her with no chance to care about her appearance.

Since her marriage with Bendoro, Mas Nganten has to live with different life style and she must adapt herself to this situation. Her new house is a nobleman house which is filled with luxury that Mas Nganten could never imagine before. She could have what other people cannot have.

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of pandanus leaves similar to the one she might now be sleeping on if she were at her parents’ home in the village (24).

Mas Nganten sleeps on mattress instead of a woven mat as she used to in the village. This shows different social class she belongs to. She can enjoy a soft mattress, and she has her servants sleep near her in case Mas Nganten needs something. Living in a high class family also enables her to own jewellery to wear. “She looked at her necklace, bracelets, and ring, all od them made of gold and studded with gems (45).”

4.1.1 Making Decisions and Choices

Women’s life in Minnesota is just the same as other women on the age. Men rule their lives. Women live as their properties whose feeling and thought are not considered to exist. As it happens to women, the same thing happens to daughters. Their parents, especially their fathers, decide their lives as women. Everything is decided and chosen. They may only agree with the decision.

Living in a rich family with a high-class social status does not give Lorna any right to make any decision for herself. It can be seen through the manner of people around her, especially her parents who decide everything for her including her marriage. As a daughter of a rich man, Lorna cannot marry to anyone out of the social circle or she will take her father’s wealth and position as the risks. It becomes the reason why her parents choose a certain man for her to marry with.

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Taylor DuVal is the son of a rich man in town. He pays a lot attention to Lorna. When Taylor and Lorna get even closer to each other, their parents agree to marry Lorna to Taylor. Considering the background of Taylor, the marriage between Lorna and Taylor is considered to be beneficial for both families financially and for the sake friendship of the families.

The matchmaking of Lorna and Taylor is different from the general matchmaking. Lorna will marry someone she already knows, instead of stranger in general matchmaking on the days. This may be potential for helping Lorna to be even more ready for the marriage. Lorna even likes Taylor and often agrees to spend time with him. “The other night, when you and Taylor came home from the band concert.”(59). She occasionally watches for concert with him, attends the dance party, or goes for just a little walk in town. The friendship of their family also becomes another consideration for the marriage.

…Your marriage to Taylor will put you in a house as grand as our own, and you’ll move among the cream of society… (202)

Lorna’s parents have a hope that if she marries to Taylor, she will get a good life and belongs to the same social class as her parents. Lorna will leave in a beautiful house. She can also attend for everything she usually attends like concert, and dance part and any other event for high class society. In short, the marriage is proposed both for the beneficial of Lorna’s family and for the sake of Lorna’s bright future.

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The matchmaking takes time for the process. Lorna’s parents, through her mother, often involve Lorna on certain occasion in order to get her closer to Taylor. They sometimes held a dinner and tennis match with other families including Taylor’s. The sentence above shows us that Lorna is not quite comfortable with the occasions which are merely objected for her and Taylor. Unfortunately, she has no right to refuse. This shows Lorna’s inferiority where she cannot refuse and can only follow her parents’ decision.

Sometimes, Lorna’s disagreement can be seen through her manner. On a dance party, when she must be Taylor’s consort, Lorna was involved to a conversation with her father. She mentioned that becoming Taylor’s consort would not stop her from dancing with another man in the party. “But that doesn’t mean I won’t dance with others Papa” (71). Lorna’s behaviour shows Lorna’s disagreement to her parents. Lorna likes Taylor and makes friend with him, but it does not mean that she agrees to marry him. She hopes for a chance for her to choose her own husband which rarely happens to woman on that time.

Realizing her daughter’s manner, Gideon Barnett immediately forbids her to do so. “I don’t want you doing anything that will give Taylor the idea you don’t want to marry him.”(71). Lorna’s behaviour may provoke Taylor to think that Lorna does not want to marry him, so he may cancel the proposal. It means problem for Lorna’s father. He insists that Lorna cannot marry a person out of their social circle, and he chooses Taylor, so Lorna must marry to Taylor.

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would not approve. “…Oh, Jens Harken, I love you so much that everything in my life has changed.”(187). Jens builds a boat for Gideon Barnett, but he does not come form the same social circle with Lorna. Once, Lorna tries to tell her parents that she does not love Taylor and that she does not want to marry him, but her parents remain unchanged.

… Now, the matter is settled! You’re marrying him in June at whatever function your mother plans!” Lorna stared at him, helpless, angry, her insides trembling. “Papa, please…don’t-“ “The matter is settled, I said!” (208)

It is tragic that her own parents do not really care about her feeling about the decision. The right of making the decision and choosing from choices does not belong to Lorna but her father as a man, and as the head of the family. From the sentence above, we can see how Lorna’s’ father tells her about the marriage. It has been decided and Lorna cannot change that. She is marrying to Taylor. The marriage has been approved by both families, and Lorna cannot avoid or refuse it. Lorna’s parents do not even want to hear any argument from Lorna. The incident clearly shows how Lorna’s right, as a woman, to decide her own marriage has been taken off of her. She is not only incapable to make a decision, but she is also not being asked when the decision is made.

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final!”(249). Jens even gets fired and has to leave the ho use. He maybe cannot see Lorna anymore while Lorna is forced to leave the town for some time in order to hide her pregnancy from her father’s colleagues.

“Where are we going?” “Where this disgrace can be handled in a discreet manner.” “Mother, please…where?” “There’s no need for you to know. Just do as I say and be ready. Your sisters and brother will be in the library to bid you goodbye. They are to be given to understand that you’re going off to school, and that your father pulled plenty of strings to get you there at this odd time of year, primarily as an assuagement for refusing to let you skip the boat in the regatta next summer.” (273)

It is said to Lorna’s brother and sisters that she must go to attend college. The truth is Lorna is decided to be sent to a catholic abbey of Benedictine nuns. The nuns will take Lorna and give Lorna good care and seclusion, as well as the help of the good nuns and a doctor when time comes for her to deliver the baby. This decision is clearly made without considering Lorna’s wants and feeling. She is sent away so she cannot come to the next regatta and make people find out about her pregnancy. It is merely made by her father for the sake of his position.

“ And what about the baby? Will I be allowed to keep it?” “ Keep a bastard? And do what with it?...” (275).

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From the evidences above, I can conclude that, as a woman, Lorna lives as inferior. All of her life is decided by her parents, mostly her father, instead of her own self. Her inferiority can be seen through her incapability in deciding her own marriage and her own will and also in her incapability in defending her right to have her baby. In short, Lorna’s life has been chosen and decided, and she has no right to change it or to state her will, her wants, or even her own decision.

What happens to Lorna also happens to Mas Nganten. During the time, in Javanese society, men are considered higher than women. It can be seen on how man rules on that time. When a decision is needed, it is man who has the right to make one. The same thing happens to Mas Nganten, where she is a woman, and woman lives under the authority of man. Mas Nganten lives under the authority of her father.

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marry a man she never met before. She even had never heard his name. In short, Mas Nganten marries a stranger, and she has no right to refuse or complaint.

Mas Nganten’s condition shows the condition which is encountered by women at that age. It is the duty of men to decide something. Women must follow the decision, and they are placed as inferior. Even for a marriage, women cannot pick their own choices. They cannot also refuse or complaint. They are inferior that wome n is positioned as merely an object.

The same thing, Mas Nganten’s inferiority in making decision, happens during her marriage with Bendoro. Mas Nganten’s parents’ hope for her daughter comes true. Mas Nganten gets a much better life. She lives as a high class woman. However, this change does not bring any significant development on Mas Nganten, because she still cannot state any decision even though she was given with authority for her household. “The servant repressed a laugh. She looked at her new and very young employer (20).” Mas Nganten has a personal servant who had become the personal servant of Bendoro’s escorts before Mas Nganten. “For now, it is my duty to take care of you (22).” The servant’s duty is to serve Mas Nganten and help her whenever she has difficulties in the house. Mas Nganten possesses power to her servant. She is allowed to ask her to do anything she wants her to do, because the ecistence of this servant is merely to serve and fulfil Mas Nganten’s need. Mas Nganten has the authority to rule her servant. Beside her authority on her personal servant, Mas Nganten has another authority.

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Mas Nganten has the power to manage the house financial expenses. She is in charge to pay all the house need, including payrolls for servants and shopping things. She holds the whole money needed to run the household, and she makes the decision on what should be bought and what should be replaced. Mas Nganten also has the responsibility on Bendoro’s food. She will come to the kitchen every morning, and check whether the food is good, healthy, and tastes good. This is for Bendoro’s importance. However, having the authority to the house hold does not make Mas Nganten able to make every decision. Her authority includes only supervision of the kitchen, shopping for food, and serving her husband’s meal. She is still living under her husband’s power.

Mas Nganten’s authority gives a clear description abut women’s authority during the time. They posses power to rule their household only. They can manage the servants and their work as well as food for the family but they cannot give command on other things. Their power is limited. In here, women are inferior because they have no power to decide on bigger things. They are considered as dumb and weak so that they are not able to make any decision. Although house things are their authority, women are still inferior because they are still living under their husband’s power.

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The servant opened a drawer in the vanity, took out a key, and handed it to the girl. “After three month, you’ll be able to go wherever you want, as long as, it’s with the Bendoro’s permission (48).”

As a woman, Mas Nganten may not go anywhere unless she has the Bendoro’s permission. Mas Nganten may have the desire to go to certain places, but this is not her own self who must decide whether she must go there or not. It is under her husband’s permission. Therefore, Mas Nganten will spend her days only on her room, kitchen, and dining room for sometimes, unless Bendoro permits or asks her to go. It is Bendoro who is in charge in making the decision.

“You belong to me, and I will determine what you can and cannot do and also what you must do. But now be quite, it’s getting late (133).”

Bendoro also has determined that he owns Mas Nganten. As an owner, he has the right to ask Mas Nganten whatever he wants her to do. It shows the power of man in controlling woman’s life. Bendoro’s authority seems to control the whole life of Mas Nganten. Mas Nganten has been treated as a property that must always follow her husband’s wants. Mas Nganten’s feeling and wants play no rules in it, and will not become a consideration of her husband. It happens because, on that period of time, woman complete obedience to man is a duty that must be fulfilled. Feeling and wants of a woman is considered as nothing and does not exist. Therefore, Bendoro does not need any opinion when he makes decision, not even from Mas Nganten, his own wife.

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During her marriage, Mas Nganten focuses only on serving her husband. She stays and spends her spare time at home. Sometimes, it makes her feel bored. When she has nothing to do, she longs for her village. She, sometimes, wants to see her parents and visit her village, but Mas Nganten realizes that she cannot go visit her village and her parents.

“Tomorrow morning go to the market and buy a bolt of fabric, a few sarong, sealing resins, sandals, and some tins of cookies.” He paused to think. “And some good rosaries, too, the ones with the black and shiny beads.”…And as personal gift from me, take with you a basket of scented rolling tobacco (134).”

When the time comes when Mas Nganten is allowed to go visit her home, Mas Nganten still has duty to do. The duty is following her husband’s command. She must do his command in order to avoid people diminish the respect they hold toward Bendoro. She cannot decide wha t gifts she should bring. Her husband decides things she must bring to home, and also where and when she should buy the things. All Mas Nganten has to do is merely following his command. She is also not allowed to go alone, so Bendoro send her to the village with a servant. Mas Nganten actually does not like this particular servant for her bad treatment toward Mas Nganten. However, she must obey her husband’s order to take the servant with her. Mas Nganten also has to go with certain carriage her husband wants her to ride. Mas Nganten has no rights to decide anything, not even on things when she visits her own parents.

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intended to harm Mas Nganten. The servant is in coalition with Bendoro’s aunt in eliminating Mas Nganten’s position in the house. Mas Nganten actually wants to dismiss her, but she knows, she has no authority in dismissing employee. Even though the servant is evil and harms her safety, she has no right to defend her own self of it.

Mas Nganten is in charge to give orders and watch the servants’ work. She may also critice their work, but she does not decide whether a servant still works for the house or not. It is Bendoro’s authority. Mas Nganten opinion is not liable. Mas Nganten also, once, said to her new personal servant that she would like her to leave. “”When will you be leaving the house?” the girl then asked. “You can’t order me out of here. This isn’t your house (128).” A servant also knows that Mas Nganten has no authority in dismissing her. It is Bendoro who will decide and do such of things, and every of Be ndoro’s decision cannot be changed by anyone, not even Mas Nganten, his own wife. Another example is when Bendoro dismissed Mas Nganten’s previous personal servant.

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Mas Nganten’s incapability in making decision is also seen in her divorce. After her first birth giving, Bendoro decided to divorce Mas Nganten. Even