EXISTENTIAL NIHILISM REFLECTED IN CARO L SHIELDS’S
THE STONE DIARIES NOVEL (1993):
AN EXISTENTIALIST CRITICISM
RESEARCH PAPER
Submitted as a Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for Getting Bachelor Degree of
Education in English Department
by:
AL IT DESI RAHMAH A320090060
SCHOOL OF TEACHER TRAINING AND EDUCATION M UHAMM ADIYAH UNIVERSITY OF SURAKARTA
v MOTTO
“
Jika kamu lunak terhadap dirimu maka hidup akan keras
terhadapmu dan jika kamu keras terhadap dirimu maka
hidup akan lunak terhadapmu
”
−
Andri Wongso
“
The idea I have never ceased to develop is in the end that a man can
always make something out of what is made of him
”
−
Jane Paul Sartre
"...reading can be part of your life...and there will be times when it is
the best part..."
−
Carol Shields
Jangan befikir untuk jadi sempurna tapi selalu berfikirlah
kearah kemajuan
vii
DEDICATION
This research paper is dedicated to:
Allah SWT
My dearest mother and father
My beloved sister
All my friends
viii
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Bismillahirrahmanirrahim
All the praises and thanks be to Allah for His mercies and glories so I can complete this thesis entitled “Existential Nihilism Reflected in Carol Shields’s The
Stone Diaries (1993): An Existentialist Criticism ”
I realize that this thesis never succeeds without the support, help and compassion from others. For that I want to thank to firstly Allah SWT, without Him I might be lost and never finish this thesis. I would like to extent m y thanks to the following people:
1. Dra. Nining Setyaningsih, M. Hum. as the Dean of the School of Teacher
Training and Education Muhammadiyah University of Surakarta.
2. Titis Setyabudi, S.S, M.Hum. as the chief of English Departm ent in Muhammadiyah University of Surakarta.
3. Dr. M. Thoyibi, M.S. my first consultant who gave suggestions, guidance,
advices, instructions and also motivation.
4. Mauly Halwat H, Ph.D. as my second consultant who gave suggestion and
guidance in m aking this research paper better.
ix
6. Giri Lumakto, S. Pd. as the academic consultant for the guidance.
7. All the lecturers in English Departm ent of Muhammadiyah University of Surakarta who transferred their knowledge for me and for all students.
8. All staff in UMS Library who gave me an opportunity and convenience in collecting data and reference to arrange this thesis
9. My big family, especially m y dearest mother and father, I know “thank you” is
11. And for everyone whose nam es I cannot mention one by one.
I realize that this thesis is far from the notion of perfection. Because of that I
x
Finally I hope this thesis can give advantage for all readers and the future researcher. Amin.
Surakarta, November 2013
The Researcher
xii
2. Sartre’s Existentialism………... 14
a. Existence Precede Essence……….. 14
b. Freedom and Responsibility……… 16
c. Being………... 18
d. Bad Faith………. 20
B. Nihilism………... 21
C. Existential Nihilism………. 24
D. Structural Elements of Novel……….. 25
1. Plot………. 25
2. Character and characterization………. 26
3. Setting………... 26
4. Point of View………... 27
5. Theme………. 27
6. Style……… 28
E. Theoretical Application………... 28
CHAP TER III. STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS……… 29
A. Structural Element………. 29
1. Character and characterization………. 29
a. Major Character………. 29
b. Minor Characters………... 33
2. Setting……….. 49
a. Setting of Place……….. 50
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CHAP TER IV. EXISTENTIALIST ANALYSIS………. 63
A. Existentialist Issues in Daisy Stone Goodwill’s Life………. 6 3 1. Existence and Essence in Daisy Stone Goodwill………. 6 3 2. Freedom and Responsibility in Daisy Stone Goodwill… 66
3. Bad Faith in Daisy Stone Goodwill……….... 70
B. Existential Nihilism Analysis in Daisy Stone Goodwill…… 73
C. Discussion……….. 76
CHAP TER V. CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION……….. 78
A. Conclusion………. 78
B. Suggestion……….. 79
xiv BIBLIOGRAPH Y
xiv
SUMMARY
Alit Desi Rahmah, A320 090 060. Existential Nihilism Reflected in Carol Shields’s
The Stone Diaries Novel (1993): An Existentialist criticism. Research Paper.
Muhammadiyah University of Surakarta. 2009.
This paper displays existential nihilism in The Stone Diaries. The study asking firstly what the indicators of existential nihilism in the novel are, secondly why Carol Shield necessarily presents such issue in her novel.
The object of this study is The Stone Diaries by Carol Shields. It uses Existentialist criticism. This study belongs to qualitative research. In this method there are two types of data source namely primary and secondary data source. The primary data source is the novel and the secondary data is other works or any information related to the study. Both data are collected through library research and analyzed by descriptive analysis.
The result of the study shows that: in the novel Carol Shields illustrates a search for identity and meaning of life in which the major character experiences different existential situation and the necessity of making moral choice.
