FEMINISM: REPRESENTATION OF MARGARET AND
KATE IN SYDNEY SHELDON’S NOVEL
MASTER OF THE GAME
A THESIS
Submitted as the Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of Sarjana Sastra
By:
YOHANA.RJ.SIHOMBING
Registration Number 2111620015
ENGLISH AND LITERATURE DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF LANGUAGES AND ARTS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
First and foremost the writer would like to thank GOD, JESUS CHRIST
for the strength, health, mercy, grace and guidance which have belonged to her in
completing this thesis. This thesis is supposed to fulfill one of the requirements
for the degree of Sarjana Sastra (S-1) in English Department, Faculty of
Languages and Arts, State University of Medan.
This thesis would not be possible without the guidance and support from
all these individuals who keep contributing and extending their worthy assistances
since starting with proposal, doing the research and completing this thesis. Hence,
the writer would like to state her special thanks, appreciations and gratitude to:
1.
Prof. Dr. Syawal Gultom, M.Pd,
the Rector of State University of
Medan.
2.
Dr. Isda Pramuniati, M.Hum,
the Dean of Faculty of Languages and
Arts.
3.
Prof. Dr. Hj. Sumarsih, M.Pd,
the Head of English Department and
Dra.
Meisuri, M.A,
the Secretary of English Department.
4.
Syamsul Bahri, S.S, M.Hum,
the Head of English Literature and
Nora
Ronita Dewi, S.S, M.Hum,
the Head of English Education Department.
5.
Dr. I. Wy. Dirgayasa, M. Hum,
the writer’s Thesis Supervisor
.
6.
Isli Inriani Indiah Br. Pane, S. Pd, M. Hum,
the writer’s Academic
Counselor.
7.
Dra. Sri Juriaty Ownie, M.A., Dra. Masitowarni Siregar, M.Ed and
Drs. Elia Masa Ginting, M.Hum
, the writer’s
Examiners.
8.
All Lecturers
throughout her academic years in State University Medan
who have shared their knowledge, experiences and guidance for her as a
college student.
9.
Mr. Poltak Sihombing and Mrs. Meijen Siregar,
her beloved dad and
She thanks them for their unconditional and endless love. They become
her biggest mood-booster to go on her study and finish her thesis.
10.
Budi, Maria, Filipho, Noni and Natanael
, her beloved brothers and
sisters who encourage her to keep doing in her stuffed moments.
11.
Raja Guntar Simamora and Rezeki Sofian,
her brothers who let her be
confident with herself.
12.
Her Family,
her aunts and uncles who save her and teach even direct her
to do the best of her life.
13.
All Friends in English Literature A 2011
and especially Dinda, Juli,
Lana, Maria and Tesha who always help her and teach her to do
everything better and give her worthy memories as long as college years.
14.
Everyone
who can not be mentioned one by one who has given her
worthy moments and made her life more wonderful than
Medan, July 2015
ABSTRACT
Sihombing, Yohana RJ. 2111620015. Feminism: Representation of Margaret and Kate in Sydney Sheldon Novel Master of the Game. A Thesis. English Department. Faculty of Languages and Arts. State University of Medan. 2015
This study deals with the feminism representation of Margaret and Kate in
Sydney Sheldon’s novel Master of the Game. The objectives are to describe the
differences and similarities of two woman characterizations namely Margaret and Kate and to reveal the feminism value and varieties which are represented by the two characters. This study is conducted with the descriptive qualitative method.
The source of data is Sydney Sheldon’s novel Master of the Game. The data are
collected by the documentary technique and the instrument is documentary sheets. The data derived with the feminism analysis show that each character is differently presented in the novel. The study results that (1) The two characters appear dominantly divergent. Margaret is powerless and obedient woman whereas Kate is powerful and rebellious woman. (2) The feminism values presented in their each work (career), relationship and family. Margaret represents the woman who is not a professional business woman and stays with old fashioned mannered woman, she is a true lover fighting for her love admission and she is controlled by her father with patriarchal values supposing her to do chores. Meanwhile Kate is a master of business without manner but brain, she is a true lover striking to be loved and she is a woman living out of man’s control and with obsession (3) The varieties of feminism are differently shown by the treatments and behaviors of the two characters. Margaret dominantly represents the Liberal feminism in which she fights to be equal with the man whereas Kate tends to present development feminism as she leads and does more than man.
CONTENTS
ABSTRACT ... i
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ... ii
TABLE OF CONTENTS ... iv
LIST OF APPENDICES ... vi
CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION ... 1
A. The Background of The Study ... 1
B. The Problem of The Study ... 6
C. The Objective of the Study ... 6
D. The Scope of the Study ... 7
E. The Significant of the Study ... 7
CHAPTER II REVIEW OF LITERATURE ... 8
A. Framework Theory ... 8
1. Character ... 8
a. Defenition of Character ... 8
b. Types of Character ... 9
2. Feminism ... 11
a. Historical Feminism Movements ... 13
1) First Wave ... 13
2) Second Wave ... 14
3) Third Wave ... 14
4) Post Feminism ... 15
b. Feminism Principles and Values ... 16
1) Work ... 17
2) Relationship ... 18
3) Family ... 18
c. Feminism Varieties ... 19
1) Liberal Feminism ... 20
2) Marxist and Socialist Feminism... 20
3) Development Feminism... 21
3. Novel ... 21
4. Relationship between Mothers and Daughters... 23
B. Master of the Game ... 24
1. Synopsis of Novel “Master of the Game” ... 24
CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY ... 29
A. Research Design ... 29
B. Data Sources ... 29
C. Technique for Collecting Data ... 30
D. Instrument for Collecting Data ... 30
E. Technique for Analyzing Data ... 30
CHAPTER IV DATA AND DATA ANLYSIS... 31
A. Data ... 31
B. Data Analysis ... 31
1. Character Analysis ... 32
2. Feminism Analysis ... 35
a. Work ... 35
b. Relationship ... 39
c. Family ... 43
3. Feminism Varieties ... 46
CHAPTER V CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION ... 48
A. Conclusion ... 48
B. Suggestion ... 50
LIST OF APPENDICES
APPENDIX A ... 54
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
A. The Background of the Study
Feminism is one of literature interpretations and it becomes engrossing to
be analyzed in this study because it can help to realize about woman’s
circumstances. It is revealed from literary works mostly presenting daily lives of
the authors themselves or around of them.
The way we live is still patriarchy in which man still dominates in all
aspects of our daily lives such as in family, woman as a wife to follow man as a
husband and son’s priority is still cared more than daughter’s; in relationship, man
is supposed to be more aggressive or woman expressing her feeling is something
weird; and in work, man goes to office and woman does chores in house. This
phenomenon is still happening in our surrounding moreover in eastern culture
includes of Indonesia.
Nevertheless, it can not be denied that the movement has come up even in
Indonesia. The movement becomes clear to see in which woman does not longer
stay at home with children, woman has had her guts to state her love and woman
either occupies the same position with man. This situation shows that the changes
really occur and it is totally different with the past. As Krolokke (2005:15) states
that the third wave of feminism is in which the feminists generally see themselves
as capable, strong and assertive social agents.
Now a days, feminism does influence to the daily lives of woman to fight
women and woman occupations in governments, offices and even other jobs
which used to be for man. The woman has had their confidence because of
knowing the self-determination and realization. In accordance with Baumgardner
& Richards as cited by Krolokke (2005: 15) argues that the confidence of having
more opportunities and less sexism.
The intention comes up to do this study on feminism after the writer has
studied about theory of literature in the fourth semester. She was dragged into
confusion how the theory works to figure out the grounds of writing the novel.
Feminism made her blur to understand because it can be revealed either by the
man or woman although it is intended to woman. It is explained by Benstock et al
(2002) that feminist literary criticism offers strategies for analyzing texts to
emphasize issues related to gender and sexuality in works written by both men
and women. Therefore, this study is supposed to enrich the knowledge about
feminism and it can clarify about feminism to the readers which she did not
understand before and it is hopeful to make them understand about feminism more
easily.
The reasons why this study is referred to reveal feminism in Sydney
Sheldon’s novel Master of the Game are firstly, it is her first English novel to
read. Secondly, it has many unpredictable occurrences and they drag the readers
including the writer of this study into curiousness of the subsequent events to the
characters. Thirdly, the characters are presented as if they were real. In other
words, their characterization is commonly found in our daily lives such as Jamie
bows to her daddy until she is chased because of being pregnant and Kate is
obsessed to be the center of power due to realizing her property.
The two characters, Margaret and Kate are so catchy to the writer since
they are differently presented characters. However, they are told as a mother,
Margaret and a daughter, Kate. Thus their existence makes this study done
because they obtained are able to break the belief stating that a daughter is a
mother’s representative in which mother is the role model for the daughter.
Barunch argues that Mothers are followed as models when daughters make career
decisions (1972: 6). But it is not relied to them.
These are two quotations that can represent their attitudes to run their
lives:
He started toward the doorway that led into the shop “come along Margaret” She followed him meekly and Jamie thought. She’s like a
frightened kitchen. (Sheldon, 1982:
15)
Kate “I’m a woman I have a right to
change my mind” (Sheldon, 1982: 62)
Margaret can not stand on her own feet because she depends on her father too
much. She is afraid to show up because her father has controlled her life since
when she is a little girl. Meanwhile, Kate never depends on others even her
mother. She is a powerful woman and she decides everything by herself.
There are many researchers being interested to woman characters and
analyzing them from the angle of feminism. Then, this study will offer some
The first previous research done with the title The Representation Of Lucy
As A Typical Victorian Woman And Maggie As A Changing Victorian Woman In
George Eliot’s Novel The Mill On The Floss (Younas et al, 2014)to find out that
the journey of Maggie from her childhood to youth is contrasted to Lucy. Their
differences are figured from their each appearance and mentality to so with their
lives. Maggie is the one who are weird in that time because she is the one to have
the awareness of restrictions in her society in which woman is not about what she
earns but whom she belongs to.
In family, woman is supposed to follow the man as Lucy does but Maggie
struggles to fight her brother’s decisions on her own life. In relationship, she has
her desire to state her love though she is forced to deny by her brother while Lucy
prefers to bear it in her heart. In work or career, she does more than the man. She
prefers to escape from her family to get the education.
Another previous research conducted by Mahmoda Khaton Siddika (2013)
The Metamorphosis of Normative Feminism in Pride and Prejudice as Descriptive
Feminism in Beloved: Inevitable Path of a Woman reveals that Elizabeth in Pride
and Prejudice has intelligence and rationality. She deals all kinds of family
problem because she can take over the male member’s responsibility to family
maintenance. She justifies herself by refusing to engage as she never gives a space
anyone to hinder her rightful actions. Whereas, Sethe in Beloved: Inevitable Path
of a Woman has deep will to succeed with her motherhood till she is in the point
of insanity with her practical rationality. She is hindered to fight for her rights by
The third previous researcher is Mandrastuty (2010) with the title of her
study Novel Tarian Bumi Karya Oka Rusmini: Kajian Feminisme (Feminism
Oka’s Rusmini Earth Dance Novel). She figures out the socialist feminism in
Balinese culture due to Balinese is accustomed to dividing the people in to
classes. Telaga is woman in upper class (Brahmin) prefers to get married with a
guy in lower class (Sudra) she loves. She is chased out of her own family and she
is condemned by the society. But she is one of the Balinese women who oppose
their culture, she fights for her freedom and rights to choose her own life partner
in this case is husband.
Based on the explanation of feminism, reasons and previous researches,
this study is proposed to analyze the two woman characters, Margaret and Kate in
Sydney Sheldon’s novel Master of the Game from the angle of feminism. This
study is going to reveal how they are presented to fight for their freedom and
rights, the way they behave in their daily lives and they are treated by the men
around of them. The study will show them some aspects of their lives namely
B. The Problem of the Study
Based on the background stated above, the writer formulates the problem
of this study as following:
1. What are differences and similarities of Margaret and Kate characters in
Sydney Sheldon’s novel Master of the Game?
2. How is feminism represented by Margaret and Kate characters in Sydney
Sheldon’s novel Master of the Game through their each work, relationship
and family?
3. What are feminism varieties Margaret and Kate represented in Sydney
Sheldon’s novel Master of the Game?
C. The Objective of the Study
The study is aimed to know:
1. The differences and similarities of the two characters Margaret and Kate in
Sydney Sheldon’s novel Master of the Game
2. The feminism representation of the two characters Margaret and Kate in
Sydney Sheldon’s novel Master of the Game
3. The feminism varieties represented by the two characters Margaret and
D. The Scope of the Study
The study is focused on two characters, Margaret and Kate in Sydney
Sheldon’s novel Master of the Game. It deals with their circumstances in family,
love relationship, career and society related to the exponential and feminism
analysis.
E. The Significance of the Study
The findings of the study are expectedly useful for the writer and readers
and especially English literature students either theoretically or practically.
Theoretically, this study is expected to enhance the knowledge about
literary criticism especially from the angle of feminism. So it can be one of
references to the students who are interested to do the similar research.
Practically, it is expected to be able to reflect the feminism and to give
deeper awareness of the feminism values in our daily lives related to treat woman
and to behave as woman in accordance with the feminism represented by
Margaret and Kate characters in Sydney Sheldon’s novel Master of the Game for
CHAPTER V
CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION
A. CONCLUSION
After analyzing the data based on the theories, it is concluded that:
1. The two woman characters, Margaret and Kate are differently presented
in Sydney Sheldon’s novel Master of the Game. Margaret is a powerless and
obedient woman whereas Kate is a powerful and rebellious woman. Margaret is
minor character but she influences Kate as a major character due to their
relationship between mother and daughter. Margaret is told whose flat
characterizations shown up by her whole life story since she is a young lady till
her death. She does not change at all. She is a well-mannered girl when she is with
her father and she praises the manners in her old age on which she tries to have
her daughter behave as she does. Meanwhile, Kate’s characterization is
developed. She is a stubborn and rebellious young lady when she is with her
mother. Then she changes to an obsessive woman after her mother’s death until
her old age on which she has grand-daughters. Finally she resets her mind after
being her ninety year old woman when the novel is ended.
2. The two characters present contrary woman views and treatments so it
influences the feminism representations. Margaret is the representative of woman
who is controlled by man. She sticks to the patriarchy values which it is supposed
to make the woman stay home to do chores and it gets the unmarried woman to be
whore due to being touched even for love reasons. Margaret gives the value of
run the company. She is a true lover who stays with one man despite being
regardless. Otherwise she shows a woman’s power lay on giving birth. She is not
a possessive mother as she can not control her own daughter to follow her rules.
Meanwhile, Kate represents the woman who lives without man’s power. She stays
out of patriarchy. She controls her life and her surroundings. She realizes her
power as the chief or the highest in the company. She runs everything based on
her plans. Her career shows the movement of woman on which she has the
company managed and run as the rules she believes even she can not be stopped.
She behaves herself as true lover so that she is obsessed to have the man and he
belongs to her after playing her tricks. She is a wife whose control is dominantly
made in their households. She grows up with the brain working more than heart as
other women do. She manages her son’s life despite being not approved by her
son.
3. Feminism varieties represented in Sydney Sheldon’s novel Master of
the Game are liberal feminism and development feminism.Liberal feminism is
citing the equality between a man and a woman. Margaret and Kate are fighting to
be admitted by her lover while it is supposed to be made by the man and it
proposes the woman position is equal in the liberal feminism. Furthermore, Kate’s
career can be defined to reveal the development feminism in which she does more
than man. She is not controlled by any man but she has power on all things around
her including man as her husband and her son, business as the chief and values as
B. Suggestion
Grounded on the results of analysis, this study is intended to suggest that:
1. The students who study feminism should understand what feminism
means and how it is implied in literary works based on the results of analysis as it
becomes more easily learnt and revealed the feminism values that can be found in
the novel by analyzing the characters. They who are interested to do the similar
research can enrich their references.
2. The readers should implement the feminism value in their daily lives.
They realize how the woman should behave and be treated in the daily lives. They
are supposed to be reminded to do parting on obsession and achievement, to make
