ANALYSIS OF MAIN CHARACTER DEPICTED IN
LEO TOLSTOY’S
GOD SEES THE TRUTH, BUT
WAITS
A THESIS
Submitted as Partial Fulfillment of The Requirements for The Sarjana Degree of English Department Faculty of Humanity UIN Sunan Ampel
Surabaya
By :
Wahyu Riski
Reg. Number : A03212070
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF LETTERS AND HUMANITIES
STATE ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY SUNAN AMPEL SURABAYA
LE MBAR PE RNYATAAN PE RSE TUJUAN PUBLIKASI KARYA ILMIAH UNTUK KE PE NTINGAN AKADE MIS
Sebagai sivitas akademika UIN Sunan Ampel Surabaya, yang bertanda tangan di bawah ini, saya:
Nama : Wahyu Rizki
NIM : A03212070
Fakultas/Jurusan : Adab dan Humaniora / Sastra Inggris E -mail address :
Demi pengembangan ilmu pengetahuan, menyetujui untuk memberikan kepada Perpustakaan UIN Sunan Ampel Surabaya, Hak Bebas Royalti Non-E ksklusif atas karya ilmiah :
Sekripsi Tesis Desertasi Lain-lain (………) yang berjudul :
ANALYSIS OF MAIN CHARACTER DEPICTED IN LEO TOLSTOY’S GOD
SEES THE TRUTH, BUT WAITS
beserta perangkat yang diperlukan (bila ada). Dengan Hak Bebas Royalti Non-E kslusif ini Perpustakaan UIN Sunan Ampel Surabaya berhak menyimpan, mengalih-media/format-kan, mengelolanya dalam bentuk pangkalan data (database), mendistribusikannya, dan menampilkan/mempublikasikannya di Internet atau media lain secara fulltext untuk kepentingan akademis tanpa perlu meminta ijin dari saya selama tetap mencantumkan nama saya sebagai penulis/pencipta dan atau penerbit yang bersangkutan.
Saya bersedia untuk menanggung secara pribadi, tanpa melibatkan pihak Perpustakaan UIN Sunan Ampel Surabaya, segala bentuk tuntutan hukum yang timbul atas pelanggaran Hak Cipta dalam karya ilmiah saya ini.
Demikian pernyataan ini yang saya buat dengan sebenarnya.
Surabaya,
Penulis
KEMENTERIAN AGAMA
UNIVERSITAS ISLAM NEGERI SUNAN AMPEL SURABAYA
PERPUSTAKAAN
xii
ABSTRACT
Risky, Wahyu 2017. Analysing of Main Character depicted in Leo Tolstoy’s God Sees the Truth, But Waits. Thesis. English Department. Faculty of Letters and Humanities. States Islamic University Sunan Ampel Surabaya.
The Advisor: Abu Fanani, S.S., M.Pd.
This thesis talks about Tolstoy’s life which is found Leo Tolstoy’s God
Sees the Truth, But Waits Short Story. This thesis focuses on Aksionov as
one of main characters in the Story. The aim of this thesis is to describe Aksionov character and Conflict influencing Aksionov.
It uses library based study to collect books, journals and internet sources having related with this analysis. Besides, the study used New Criticism theory.
The result of this thesis finds Aksionov is a seller having handsome face with yellow gray hair. Besides that, Aksionov undergoes internal conflict when is accused as killer, while external conflict happens when Aksionov meets the real killer. So it influences Aksionov to become someone receiving life to stay in prison.
xiii
INTISARI
Risky, Wahyu 2017. Analysing of Main Character depicted in Leo Tolstoy’s God Sees the Truth, But Waits. Skripsi. English Department. Faculty of Letters and Humanities. States Islamic University Sunan Ampel Surabaya.
Pembimbing: Abu Fanani, S.S., M.Pd.
Skripsi ini menceritakan tentang perjalanan hidup yang ditemukan dalam novel karya Leo Tolstoy’s berjudul Good Sees the Truth, But Waits.
Skripsi ini fokus pada karakter Aksionov. Tujuan dari skripsi ini menjelaskan penggambaran Aksionov dan pengaruh konflik terhadap Aksionov.
Jenis penelitian ini adalah penelitian kepustakaan yaitu mengumpulkan buku-buku, jurnal dan referensi internet yang memiliki hubungan dengan analisis ini. Disamping itu penelitian ini juga menggunakan teori New Criticism
Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa Aksionov adalah seorang pedagang yang memiliki wajah yang tampan dengan rambut bergelombang berwarna kekuningan. Selain itu, Aksionov mengalami konflik internal ketika dia dituduh sebagai seorang pembunuh, sedangkan dia mengalami konflik eksternal ketika bertemu pembunuh sebenarnya. Sehingga hal itu membuat Aksionov menjadi seseorang yang menerima kehidupan di penjara.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Inside cover page ... . i
Declaration page ... . ii
Dedication ... . iii
Motto ... . iv
Approval sheet ... . v
Examiner sheet ... . vi
Acknowledgements ... . vii
Table of Contents ... . ix
Abstract ... . xi
Intisari ... . xii
CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background of the Study ... 1
1.2 Statement of the Problem... 3
1.3 Objective of the Study ... 3
1.4 Scope and Limitation of the Study ... 4
1.5 Significance of the study ... 5
1.6 Method of the Study ... 5
CHAPTER II: LITERATURE REVIEW 2. Theoretical Framework ... ....8
2.1 New Criticism Theory ... ....8
2.1.1 Character ... .... 10
2.1.2 Characterization ... .... 12
x
2.1.3.1 Exposition ... 17
2.1.3.2 Conflict ... 18
2.1.3.3 Climax... 24
2.1.3.4 Anti Climax ... 24
2.1.3.5 Denouement ... 25
2.2 Review of Related Study ...25
CHAPTER III: ANALYSIS ……….27
3.1 Characterization of Aksionov ... 27
3.2 Conflict ... 31
3.2.1 Internal Conflict ... 31
3.2.2 External Conflict ... 34
CHAPTER IV: CONCLUSION ………..40
1
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
1.1. Background of the Study
Literature has been generally known and used by many people all around the world as the reflection of human imagination. The writer built or imagined her story by using her life experience. Taylor states that literature is essentially an imaginative act; that is an act of the writer’s imagination in selecting, ordering and interpreting life experience (1981:1). So, a literary development cannot be
separated from human life because literature has been part of it.
In literature, there are fiction and non-fiction. Fiction is a sort of literary work showing; plays stories, novel, drama based on imagination of the author. Further, non-fiction is the real world or based on factual events, for example: newspaper, journal article, text book, and legal document. Fiction is a narrative work that tells something that is imaginative, something that does not exist and happen in the real world. As a work of imaginary, fiction directs various problems of man and humanity, life and living. Fiction tells the various problems of human life in the interactions with the environment and others.
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By having well understanding to the character, we will understand everything which are going to be presenetd and delivered by an author in exploring the works. Besides that, there is also conflict which happens as result of character action. Cuddon says that conflict is the tension in a situation between characters, or the actual opposition of characters (1999:175). Conflict is a part of plot. The presence of plot in a story, it has connection with character in the story because it shows the conflicts happening in the story. According Luken (2003:97) says that plot is the sequence of events showing characters in conflict.
An event that occurs in a story certainly will not be separated by the presence of the characters as actors in the story. Through the plot, every event is described and the characters involve in there because plot and character are interdependent (Abrams: 1999:224). The characters are the main actors experiencing these events that make the story become clear through the conflict depicted by the characters of the work.
Plot has some of parts and one of them is conflict. There are two types of conflicts. The first type is internal conflict. The conflict occurs between a character and himself / herself. The second is external conflict. The conflict is a character versus other characters, a character versus society and a character versus nature. In literary work such short story, the two conflicts can be found in the characters in the story like God Sees the Truth, but Waits written by Paulo Coelho.
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specific characteristics in character which is explored by an author explicitly and implicitly. It is also applied in short story which is written by Russian author Leo Tolstoy first published in 1872. Leo Tolstoy's short story titled 'God Sees the Truth, but Waits' centers on the theme of forgiveness.
The thesis writer chooses this story God Sees the Truth, but Waits because this story tells about the struggle of the main character to survive of his
life.Basically, this story tells about the own life of Ivan Dmitrich Aksionov. Aksionov was a merchant and he has a bad past. A long time ago, Aksionov was a drunker and he frustrated society, but he realized and did not want to frustrate society after he owned a wife. When he went trading, his wife reminded about a bad evident that would happen to him in the middle of his journey of trading.
Aksionov was interrogated by some people because he was subjected of killing his friend’s merchant. Aksionov was then settled to the jail. He was sentenced for 26 years. But, what makes the story more interesting was Aksionov could control his ego when he was subjected of killing someone, while he knew the killer was a new prisoner. Aksionov knew about the murder but he tried to be patience although he wanted to revenge. But, after thinking and musing for some times, Aksionov forgave the murder, Makar. Makar also realized his mistake and he apologized to Aksionov.
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who could help him at the time. But finally he was dead in the prison before he released. Therefore, the writer emphasizes that Aksionov can change his behavior to be a better character. The conflicts happens in Aksionov will be analyzed by applying New Criticism. After the writer reads this book carefully, the writer find that Leo Tolstoy as the main character undergoes conflicts.
Therefore, the writer chooses the topic about the Character, Aksionov, in
God Sees the Truth, but Waits. Leo Tolstoy not only tells the tragedy, but who
also tells about a painful memory happens to the main character (Aksionov). The story god sees the truth but waits makes him have many conflicts that lead him in to depression and anxiety.
That is way the writer is interested in discussing about the dominant topic of the story which is using conflict theory to analyse. The writer prefers to take it as the issues in this thesis, because conflict always happens in life that will be faced by every human being. How people deal with conflict is very important. However, for some people, it is not easy to deal with the situation. Therefore Aksionov experience conflict problems in this life because of the story .After suffering from conflicts, a person will try to find a way out to handle this situation..
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1.2. Research Problem
Referring to the background of the study, the writer attempts to provide the research problems as the following:
1. How is Aksionov characterized in Leo Tolstoy’s God Sees the Truth, but Waits?
2. What is the conflict experienced by the main character in Leo Tolstoy’s God Sees the Truth, but Waits?
1.3. Objective of The Study
As the stated following research problem above, the objectives of the research can be seen as the following below:
1. To describe Aksionov character in Tolstoy’s God Sees the Truth, but Waits.
2. To describe how conflict influence of Aksionov in Tolstoy’s God Sees the Truth, but waits.
1.4. Scope & Limitation
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1.5. Significance of the study
There is some significance that will be gained through this analysis, especially in literary field. Then, the researcher divides the significance into two categories. Both are theoretically and practically categories.
Theoretically, the results of the study are expected to give contribution to develop the study and analysis on literary study related to New Criticism theory on the story Good Sees the Truth, but Waits by Leo Tolstoy’s. The researcher expects that it can give knowledge about the characterization, characters and conflict.
Practically, the researcher also expects this study will give an inspiration for other studies especially in English Letters Department of State Islamic University of Sunan Ampel Surabaya. Also, the researcher hopes that this study can be a helpful reference for other writers who are interested in conducting further research on analyzing story God Sees the Truth, but Waits by Leo Tolstoy’s.
1.6 Method of the study
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1. Reading the story The God Sees the Truth, but Waits by Leo Tolstoy’s.
2. Taking a note and understanding the intrinsic element of the story The God Sees the Truth, but Waits by Searching for data related to the statement of problems.
3. Making conclusion based on the result of the data analysis.
1.7 Technique of Data Analysis
In research method, the data is obtained from various sources by using various techniques of data collection, and it is done continuously up to the final and considered-sufficient data. By this, in this research proposal, the writer deals with several techniques in analyzing the data by referring to the technique of data collection.
a. Quoting and analyzing the main character’s problem in Leo Tolstoy in God Sees the Truth, but Waits
b. Stating moral values which can be a compass for life in Leo Tolstoy in God Sees the Truth, but Waits
8
CHAPTER II
LITERARY REVIEW
2. Theoretical framework
In this chapter, the writer will discuss main theory to support the description
in the next chapter: In order to analyze the statements of the problem in thesis, the
writer uses new criticism theory. It focuses on the influence of the conflict of the
character.
2.1 New Criticism
New criticism introduced to America and called “close reading “, which has
become a standard method in high school and university and use it when they study
about the literary since several decades. So in this sense, new criticism is still a real
presence among us and probably will remain so for some time to come (Tyson 135).
At the time New Criticism became standard when doing literary studies in high
school and college .At the past people analyze literary text based on author’s life and
book’s history. According to Tyson’s that previously, biographical -historical
criticism was popular among literary critics (136).
The New Criticism is an Anglo-American variety of Formalism that emerged
in the early decades of the twentieth century and dominated teaching and scholarship
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I.A. Richards, Renne Wellek dan Austin Warren, Alan Tate, T.S. Eliot, Cleant Brook,
John Crowe and etcetera (Teuw, 1984: 133-134).
Unlike biographical historical criticism, new criticism focuses its analysis on
the literary text, instead of on the author’s life and time (Tyson 136). Further, Tyson
explained that new critics believe that a literary text is sometimes more meaningful
and complex than its author’s intention. The text’s meaning could be dissimilar with
the meaning which was constructed by the author (137). Wrong impression about the
literary text might be constructed if the focus of analysis is put on the author’s
background. Then, the best way to get an understanding of a literary text is by
examining its own details.
Although the author’s intention or the reader’s response is sometimes
mentioned in New Critical readings of literary texts, another people are the focus of
analysis. For the only way we can know if a given author’s intention or a given
reader’s interpretation actually represents the text meaning (Tyson 137).
New Criticism appears as reaction to give refusal toward previous criticism
which focused on external material of literary works, such as the biography of the
author. New Criticism is clearly characterized in premise and practice: it is not
concerned with context – historical, biographical, intellectual and so on; it is not
interested in the ‘fallacies’ of ‘intention’ or ‘affect’; it is concerned solely with the
R I S K I | 10
2005:19). It means that New Criticism claims that the text in self is enough to make
interpretation and we do not need other outsides of text to get the true meaning of it.
New Criticism asserts that text of literary works is a complete system or
structure. As complete structure of literary works, text of literary works is constructed
by elements of literary works which have correlation each other to make a meaning.
In this way, a New Critic attempts to study the “formal elements” of the text, such as
characters, setting of time and place, point of view, plot, images, metaphors and
symbols to interpret the text.
2.1.1 Character
In a literary work as well as in the work of fiction; drama, short story and the
novel, the character is an important element which will always be present to build the
story in the work because some elements that form the shape of a literary work one of
them is a character. Characters are another element of fiction vital to the enjoyment of
a story (Tomlinson, 1999:29). Besides that, Nurgiyantoro says that character is one of
important elements in fiction story (2013:246).Therefore, the role of a character in
building a storyline is absolutely something because it is not possible in a story
without presenting a character that make up the story so it makes the story becoming
interesting.
According to Abrams (1999:32) Characters are the persons represented in a
dramatic or narrative work, who are interpreted by the reader as being endowed with
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persons say and their distinctive ways of saying it—the dialogue— and from what
they do—the action. It means that the characters in novel can be stated as a verbal
representative of human being because the characters in novel can do action, speech
and qualities like people in real life and also pass the way of the life of real human
Character is the single most important intrinsic element in the literary works.
The things that characters do and say are more obvious than are the logic and
meaning of the pattern in which they say and do them. Character is showing at
perpetrator of presented story or the player of the story, whereas characterization is
portraying of clear picture about someone who present in a story. (X.J.Kennedy 47)
There are 2 (two) kinds of character based on their function, they are: main
character (major character), they have good and bad qualities. Their goals, ambitions
and values change. A round character changes as a result of what happens to him or
her. A character that changes inside as a result of what happens to him is referred to
in literature as dynamic character and minor (supporting) character; they have only
one or two striking qualities. Their predominant quality is not balanced by an
opposite quality. They are usually all good or all bad.
Such characters can be interesting or amusing in their own right, but they lack
depth. Flat characters are sometimes referred to as static characters because they do
not change in the course of the story. Beside that, characterization can classified into
2, they are; protagonist is the main character, who is not necessarily a hero or a
heroine. Antagonist is the opponent; the antagonist may be society, nature, a person,
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In the novel appear conflicts which occur among the characters. They are
internal conflict that appear from inside of the main character that influence d the
characteristic of the main character in the novel and external appear among the main
character and other character or even with the environment. And also have a simple
(flat) character, is less representation of a human personality than the embodiment of
a single attitude, or the other word the reader only sees one side of this characters, but
different to complex (round) character that the character show their all side, sometime
good even sometime bad (26).
2.1.2 Characterization
We knew about the meaning from some opinion and all types of characters.
So, after that we should know more exactly about characterization as one of elements
in fiction. Characterization means that writers present and reveal character, by direct
description, by showing the character in action or by the presentation of the other
characters that help to define each other (Element of Fiction). From Literary Devices,
characterization is the act of creating and describing characters in literature.
Characterization includes both descriptions of a character's physical attributes as well
as the character's personality. It can be said that the way that characters act, think, and
speak also adds to their characterization. Character and characterization can not be
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In other definition, characterization is the creation of these imaginary person,
so that they exist for the reader as real within the limits of the fiction and have ability
to characterize the people of someone imagination successfully is a primary attribute
of a good novelist, dramatist, or short story writer (Holman, 1986:75).
Tomlinson (1999:29) says that characterization refers to the way an author
helps the reader to know a character. By this characterization the authors try to
describe the physical appearance and personality of characters in their works. Sanger
(2003: 47) says that a writer’s use of speech for a character can obviously be very
important to indicate what that character thinks, feels or believes. Through
description of every character in the story, it makes clearer about the position of the
characters in the story and also characterization makes the story more interesting.
Card (1999:52) says that characterization is not needed, except to make the characters
entertaining.
There are two types of characterization, direct characterization and indirect
characterization. According to Bernardo (2001) direct characterization refers to what
speaker or narrator directly says or thinks about character, the reader is told what the
character is like. It means, the author telling the audience what a character is like. A
narrator may give this information, or a character in the story may do it. Meanwhile,
indirect characterization refers to what the character says or does. The reader then
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the character is like. It can be said that indirect characterization consists of the author
showing the audience what kind of person a character is through the character's
thoughts, words, and deeds. This requires the reader to make inferences about why a
character would say or do those things.
Holman (1986), also states that there are three fundamental methods of
characterization in fiction: (1) the explicit presentation by the author of the character
through direct exposition, either in an introductory block or more often piecemeal
throughout the work, illustrated by action; (2) the presentation of the character in
action, with little or no explicit comment by the author, in the expectation that the
reader will be able to deduce the attributes of the actor from the actions; and (3) the
representation from within a character, without comment on the character by the
author, of the impact of actions and emotions upon the character's inner self, with the
expectation that the reader will come to a clear understanding of the attributes of the
character (76). According to Pooly (1967:538) through Astutik thesis, he argues that
the authors may use any or all of four different methods in characterizing their
characters. Those methods are:
1. He may describe the character's physical traits and personality, in terms of
physical traits, the author may use the adjective such as beautiful, short, blond
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2. He may show the character's speech and behavior, in this point, the
characterization is shown by the behavior and speech of the character such as
when the character speaks in a loud tone, the author maybe wants to show the
reader that his character is bad-tempered.
3. He may give the opinions and reaction of other character toward and behavior,
in this point the characterization of character is show through other's character
opinion toward the certain character.
4. He may show the character's thought and feelings, in this point the
characterization of certain character is show a certain character always think
that no one in the world is smart than him, by this thought, the reader can
determine that his character is arrogant.
In this study, the writer prefers to description the characterization of the
character based on Pooly (1967:538) methods. In description Aksionov’s
characterization, the writer will asses her physical traits and personality, her speech
and behavior, her thought and feeling, and what other characters opinion toward her.
2.1.3 Plot
Plot is the structure of the happenings or events so it has important position in
the story. Hall says that plot is what happens in the story, the story organized
development, usually a chain linking cause and effect and Plot is the first and most
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of the story and the sequence in which they are told constitute the plot of the story
(1999:26). A story of literary works can be understood through the sequence of the
plot chosen by the author to tell his or her story. Nurgiyantoro (2013:164) says the
clarity of the plot represents the clarity of the story; the simplicity of the plot denotes
the simplicity of the story to be understood. So plot is one of important fiction
elements in the story.
Plot is found in novel or short story but is not in human life. Plot is the events
that make up the story, particularly as they relate to one another in a pattern, in a
sequence, through cause and effect, how the reader views the story. Dietch states that
plot is the series of actions or conflicts that occur in a narrative. Broadly defined, plot
includes not only physical action, but also words and thoughts (2003:433).
Staton (2007:26-29) states that plot is a series of the events in a story. How a
certain event affecting another event that cannot be ignored, since the event will be
affecting for all the story. Plot is very close to the existence of the character. The
simple plot deals with one character or a single group of characters, and it follows
their fortunes to the conclusion. (Jones, 1986: 83). If the story only has a little in
character, there will be more close and simple to plot, in contrast a novel that has
many characters in the story the plot will be more complicated.
Plot also helps the reader in understanding the story of the novel. The clarity
of the plot makes the reader easier in understanding the story. Luken says plot is the
sequence of events showing characters in conflict where this sequence is not
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2003:97). Moreover, plot refers to the sequence of events or action in a story which a
good plot produces conflict to build the excitemen and suspense that are needed to
keep the reader involved (Tomlinson,1999:26).
Perrine (1974:41) says that plot is the sequence of incident or events which
the story is composed by and it may conclude what character says or thinks, as well
as what he does, but it leaves out description and analysis and concentrates ordinarily
on major happening. Kenny (1966: 14) says that the plot as the events are displayed
in a not simple story, because the author set the events was based on a causal
connection. The plot is basically sequences of events in logical and chronological
relations are interrelated and are caused or experienced by the characters. The plot
outline is divided into three parts, namely early, middle, and end. The first part
contains the exposition that contains instability and conflicts. The middle part
contains the climax which is the height of the conflict. The final section contains
troubleshooting.
According to Gustav Freytag quoted in Abrams (1999:227) divide plot into
five parts known as Freytag pyramid, these part are exposition, rising action, climax,
falling action, and resolution.
2.1.3.1Exposition
Exposition states the explanatory information a reader needs to understand the
situation in the story. The exposition introduces all of the main characters in the story.
It shows how main characters relate to one another, what their goals and motivations
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characters and perhaps some minor ones, the situation, and any necessary background
information about what happened before the story began. (Gordon and Kuehner,
1975:3). Most importantly, in the exposition the audience gets to know the main
character, and the main character gets to know his or her goal and what is at stake if
he fails to attain his or her goal. This phase ends, and the next begins, with the
introduction of conflict.
2.1.3.2Conflict
Conflict is an inseparable part of human life. There are no people live without
any conflict around them. It can be said that conflict is the "color" of human life.
Conflict is one of social process which happened in our life which involves some of
people or group of people which challenge each other which has inviolacy impact.
Conflict always happens in human life. According to Luken (2003:99-100), a conflict
is a struggle againts opposing forces, occurs when the protagonist againts an
antagonist, or opposing force. While Gordon and Kuehner (1975:2) say, “Conflict is
an internal or external struggle between main character and an opposing force”.
Conflict happened when there is a clash between at least two opposites side.
Potter (1967:26) describes conflict as follows: The term conflict is familiar; it is the
result of an opposition between at least two sides. Without this opposition there is no
conflict may overt and violent, or implicit and subdued; it may be in visible in action,
or it may take place entirely in a character's mind, it may exit in different and
R I S K I | 19
it is inherent in the concept of plot. However, Writer Just focus on analyzing the
character and internal conflicts that occur in this story.
The existence of conflict in literary work is caused by action. It happens in
character‘s life in story, whether internal and external conflict. Conflict is divided
into two categories as the following: Conflict is clash of action, ideas, desires, or
will‖. Character may be pitted against some other person or group of persons (conflict
of person against person); they may be in conflict with some external force physical
nature, society, or fate‖ (conflict of person against environment); or they can maybe
in conflict with some elements in their own natures (conflict of person against
himself or herself). The conflict may be physical, mental, emotional, or moral (1984:
42).
The statement above explains that conflict can be classified into two types:
internal and external conflict. Internal conflict is a conflict that happened inside the
character itself. This conflict happens in character's mind and feeling. According to
Meyer (1990:46), conflict may also be internal such as case some oral or
psychological issue must be resolved with the protagonist. Inner conflicts frequently
accompany external mess". It relates with relationship between one and another
characters. According to Meyer (1990:46), "external conflict may place the
protagonist in opposition to another individual, nature, or society". In line with
Meyer, Drubeck (1982:26) also classifies conflict into two main streams such as
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External and internal conflict, the term internal conflict refers to the conflict
that took place within the character own mind and consciousness. The battle in the
internal conflict takes place in his consciousness. Imagine when the world has no
conflict. Everything is flat, peaceful, maybe it can be described as imagine song that
we could be living in the piece of harmony. However, if we had no conflict, maybe
there will be no God where people depend on, there will be no wept, there will be no
violence, there is no wars, and may be there will be no literary work. Conflict is
important to literary work because it provides the basic materials for the construction
of the plot. Without conflict nothing would happen.
In a novel, a novelist arranges a story about human life where is in the story we
can find some events that correlate each other, and that is conflict. Where conflict is
something that to assess the somebody behavior or a group of people in each every
their life. In the appeared as the result something unpleased of in our interaction with
another people. Therefore, we can see that conflict as one important element that
determines a story in the novel is interesting for the reader.
According to Adrian H. Jaffe and Virgil Scott, conflict is a backbone of the
story. It is the conflict that provides us with pattern and direction and gives us the
sense of a story going somewhere (Jaffe&Scott 3). For the writer, the existence of
conflict is the important part for the reader of the story to understand the whole story
R I S K I | 21
Conflict must exist if we want to analyze the character, and it usually involves
studying conflict as well. If someone talks about conflicts, it means “the struggle” or
the problem that is usually brought about, because of something the character face in
the story (Christensen, 1977:152). However, conflict itself is not only implying the
existence of some motivations for the conflict or the goal to be achieved (Holman,
1986:108). Moreover, Holman states that conflicts provide interest, suspense, and
tensions, which keep the story becomes interesting to be read.
Based on Literary Glossary, conflict (conflict in a work of fiction) is the issue
to be resolved in the story. It usually occurs between two characters, the protagonist
and antagonist, or between the protagonist and society or the protagonist and himself
or herself. Nurgiyantoro said (2009, p.123), “conflict is the accident that is important,
the essential element in plot development”. Based on these statements, it can be said
that conflict can be main part of a novel in order to make the plot of the story more
interested. It means that, plot is necessary to use and develop in order to make the
story become interested.
Perrine (1993), classifies conflict into three types. That are: mental, physical,
and moral. Mental conflict emerges when the main character pitted against some
other person or group of person or in other words, it is man against man. Physical
conflict emerges when the character is in conflict with some external forces, such as
R I S K I | 22
conflict with some elements in his own nature or in short, it is a conflict against
himself.
In A Handbook to Literature, Holman (1986) divides conflict into four different
kinds of conflicts. The first is conflict of struggle of a man against nature. The second
is the struggle of a man against man. The third is the struggle of a man against
society. These three kinds of conflicts are called “The external Conflict.” The other
kind of conflict is called “Internal Conflict,” that is the conflict of two elements
within a man who is in struggle for mastery (Holman, 118). in a short sentence
according to Holman (118) conflict can be divided into two main conflicts that are
internal conflict and external conflict. In internal conflict, it involves an opposition
between a person against himself. Then, in external conflict, it can be an opposition
between a character and an outside force; man against man, man against society or
man against nature. Hurtik and Yarber support Holman is thought of conflict, they
said that a conflict the result of a need for both excitement and meaning, it may be
internal or psychological, within the main character himself, or between the character
and outside force, including other individual, nature, society, fate, or any combination
of these (7).
Another statement, Muller and John A William (1982:44) divides conflict into
two kinds. The conflicts are external and internal conflicts. External conflict deals
R I S K I | 23
conflict deal with struggle between desires within a person. Thus, it happens in the
mind of character.
From the explanation above the writer can conclude that the point of the idea in
classifying the conflicts are the same actually. In other words, that classify of conflict
into two kinds, internal and external conflicts. Internal conflict is conflict between
man against himself, where the main character conflict with himself. Character
conflict with himself caused by character usually has something to do with a choice
(choosing between right and wrong) or it may have to do with overcoming emotions
or mixed feelings. .
Meanwhile, external conflict is conflicts between man against man, man
against society and man versus nature. A conflict that occurs between the character
and the character here, where a character against his opponent, usually the conflict
that took place between character with character here between the protagonist and
antagonist. The conflict between characters with social, in this conflict occurs
between the character with those who are around them, either friends or even his
family. And the last follows character with nature, in this conflict occurs between
human against nature, such as floods and so forth. In this study, the writer focuses in
the some of internal conflicts that faced by Aksionov in the . God Sees the Truth but
R I S K I | 24
2.1.3.3Climax
A story climax often requires the main character to choose some form of
action that will either worsen or improve his or her situation. The point of climax is
the turning point of the story, where the main character makes the single big decision
that defines the outcome of their story and who they are as a person. Climax is a
consequence of the crisis. It is the story’s high point, which may take the shape of a
decision, an action, an affirmation or denial, or an illumination or realization. It is the
point when the protagonist completes the growth of her character arc, coming into her
new figure.
2.1.3.4Anti Climax
Freytag called this phase "falling action" in the sense that the loose ends are
being tied up. However, it is often the time of greatest overall tension in. Falling
action is what happen after the main problem of the story has been solved, simply
ended directly after the climax, at the height of the action. it deals with everything
shifts then, everything is different afterwards and the falling action shows that. It
leads the reader to the denouement of the story. Without the falling action, the
audience would be left wondering what happens next. It is important because it gives
R I S K I | 25
2.1.3.5Denouement
In the final phase of Freytag's five phase structure, there is a final
confrontation between the protagonist and antagonist, where one or the other
decisively wins. This phase is the story of that confrontation, of what leads up to it, of
why it happens the way it happens, what it means, and what its long-term
consequences are. This means it is the end in story.
The action and even character traits of the main character affects the
resolution. Resolution is how the story finally ended as a result of what the character
did or discovered during the climax.
2.2 Review of Related Study
In writing this thesis, the writer uses some review studies having relation
with the topic about Analysis of Main Character depicted in God sees the truth,
But Waits from other universities.
Firstly, Riska Melia Siregar is student of North Sumatera entitled the
analysis of plot used in paulo coelho’ novel aleph. In her thesis, she explains the
cause and effect relation happening in the plot of the novel which consist of
exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution.
Secondly, Yulia Dewi is student of North Sumatera entitled An Analysis
R I S K I | 26
she analyses conflicts including internal conflicts and external conflicts occurring
in main character in the novel.
Thirdly, Kartika Sari is student of North Sumatera entitled Analysis of
conflict in Alexandre Dumas the Count of Monte Cristo. In her thesis, she
describes the events happening in the plot which relate with conflicts. It explains
how the conflict begins because of the disagreement of satisfaction to a choice in
the novel.
Fourthly, Tuti Wardani is student of North Sumatera entitled An Analysis
Of Conflicts In Erich Segal’s Love Story. In her thesis, she analyses conflicts
happening in main character including internal conflict and external conflict.
Based on the review studies above, the writer knows that writer’s
analyzing has similarity and difference. The similarity focuses on analyzing conflict
27
CHAPTER III
The focus of the chapter is to answer all the statement of the problem in
chapter one. this chapter is divided into two parts. First, study analyzes type the
character of Aksionov and second the study analyzes the conflict influence Aksionov
in the God Sees the Truth, but Waits.
3.1 Characterization of Aksionov
Abrams says that character are the person represented in a dramatic or
narrative work, who are interpreted by the reader as being endowed with particular
moral, intellectual, and emotional qualities by inferences from what the person say
and their distinctive ways of saying in the dialogue and from what they do the action.
(33).
The short story God Sees the Truth, but Wait is written by Leo Tolstoy has several characters which have their own positions and roles in the story. Based on the degree of involvement of the characters in various events in the story, it could be determined that Aksionov is the main characters in this story. Aksionov is considered the major character because he functions to determine where the story goes. From the beginning until the end, Askionov dominantly plays an important role and determines the flow and progress of the story.
R i s k i | 28
readers give empathy totally to that character (Nurgiysntoro, 179). So, Aksionov is the protagonist character because the problem and struggle of Aksionov can influence too much about reader response.
“In the town of Vladimir lived a young merchant named Ivan Dmitrich Aksionov. He had two shops and a house of his own. Aksionov was a handsome, fair-haired, curly-headed fellow, full of fun, and very fond of singing. When quite a young man he had been given to drink, and was riotous when he had had too much; but after he married he gave up drinking, except now and then” (1).
The quotation above the narrator tells that Aksionov is a seller in Vladimir.
The narrator also explain some problems of Aksionov when he was young like his
drink habbit until make noisy sensation. From that explanation the problem that is
faced by Askionov is a comman problem that occurs in the life of community or
other.
Aksionov is also a dynamic character. He has some expressions of her life. A
dynamic character changes in the course of the work and gives expression of any
personality, living and identity. Dynamic character exhibits the full range of human
emotions and reactions to people and events. They have histories and more than one
possible future. They have hopes and fears (Altenbernd Lewis 183).
In the begining of the story he tells as rich man which like drunk and make
chaos. But, that habbit was gone after he got married. In the middle of the story he
has conflicts and he was taken prisoner twenty six years, without knowing what is his
matter. While in the end of the story in the prison Aksionov must over his life and
R i s k i | 29
Aksionov is one of characters who is described as a seller. He is handsome with
yellow wavy hair and funny person. Besides that, He like to sing even though
Aksionov is famous as a seller but he also has good voice but it is only hobby to
comfort himself.
Aksionov was a handsome, fair-haired, curly-headed fellow, full of fun, and very fond of singing. When quite a young man he had been given to drink, and was riotous when he had had too much; but after he married he gave up drinking, except now and then (Tolstoy 1)
But in other side, when Aksionov was young, he spent his time to drink.
Aksionov also made disturbance when he drank overly.
When Aksionov begins to realize that he has bad habit during this time. He
finally decides to stop it indirectly because sometimes he still drinks it little.
Aksionov also realizes that he has a family and must be responsibility because he is a
man having still respect by society although he was young liking to drink.
One day in summer, Aksionov has a plan to go in Nizhy Fair to make his
business. When he wants to leave his house, his wife forbids him to go out because
on night his wife got a bad dream about him. His wife says that his husband must not
leave. Aksionov only laughs when his wife forbids him and he say his wife that she
only is afraid if Aksionov will drink again when arriving the place.
His wife answers “ I don’t know that you do after you arrive there and I
R i s k i | 30
dream that when you come back home you have gray hair. Because of that his wife
forbids him to leave.
Aksionov say his wife that it is a luck without thinking twice. Aksionov is
optimism when he is back with good which have been sold, He promises his wife to
take a present.
When he undergoes a half of journey, he meets another seller. After Aksionov
talk little, they search a lodging to stay a night. After finding it, they come in a place
to drink tea together to disappear weary. In the night they go back to the room to take
a rest which their place is near but Aksionov cannot be sleep because in the condition,
he decides to continue her journey even though it is still late night. She meets a
coachman and wake up and asks him to prepare his horse. Then he walk to the owner
of lodging to pay it and continue his journey.
In the story the narrator tells that Aksionov is honest person as the quotation
below. In this quotation the other chracter give assesmnet about his honest
chracterization.
At last the Governor turned to Aksionov whom he knew to be a just man, and said: "You are a truthful old man; tell me, before God, who dug the hole?" (7).
Askionov also describes as forgiving man. He forgives Makar which make him prisoner.
R i s k i | 31
him. He no longer had any desire to leave the prison, but only hoped for his last hour to come.” (8).
Quotation above explains that Aksionov is kinds person. He was forgive the fault that Makar do to him although Makar make him suffer and lost his family for twenty six years.
3.2 Conflict
3.2.1. internal conflict
Internal conflict is a conflict that happened inside the character itself. This conflict
happens in character's mind and feeling. According to Meyer (1990:46), conflict may
also be internal such as case some oral or psychological issue must be resolved with
the protagonist. Inner conflicts frequently accompany external mess". It relates with
relationship between one and another characters.Here Askionov faced some internal
conlicts with the other characters.
First Askionov faced conflicts with his wife when his wife reminds him about
her bad dream.
One summer Aksionov was going to the Nizhny Fair, and as he bade good-bye to his family, his wife said to him, "Ivan Dmitrich, do not start to-day; I have had a bad dream about you."
Aksionov laughed, and said, "You are afraid that when I get to the fair I shall go on a spree."(1)
In this quotation when Aksionov go to Nizhny Fair to sell. His wife forbiden
R i s k i | 32
dream Aksionov just lough and not believe in her dream. And Aksionov said that it is
a good sign for him after back from Nizhny Fair.
In other hand, Conflict inmates incipient sign one day a bunch of new inmates
dating there, in the evening, the inmates come together and ask each other what the
case is indicted to get into the jail while Aksionov just sitting near the prisoners
newly come, and listen to the expression sad to what is told by them.
One of the new convicts, a tall, strong man of sixty, with a closely-cropped grey beard, was telling the others what be had been arrested for.
"Well, friends," he said, "I only took a horse that was tied to a sledge, and I was arrested and accused of stealing. I said I had only taken it to get home quicker, and
had then let it go; besides, the driver was a personal friend of mine. So I said, 'It's all right.' 'No,' said they, 'you stole it.' But how or where I stole it they could not say. I once really did something wrong, and ought by rights to have come here long ago, but that time I was not found out. Now I have been sent here for nothing at all... Eh, but it's lies I'm telling you; I've been to Siberia before, but I did not stay long."
"Where are you from?" asked some one.
"From Vladimir. My family are of that town. My name is Makar, and they also call me Semyonich."
R i s k i | 33
The conflict was beginning of conflict of new inmates started to feel curious
and when Makar semyonich heard that inmates can only be silent by thinking still
curious about what happened between them, and then out of that conversation
Aksionov increasingly convinced that men have killed merchants for the other.
Makar Semyonich know about murder the account after the evening Aksionov began
to contemplate what was heard before he felt hurt and began to emerge thoughts
about the past of them thought that time was his wife who had advised and her
children who was still small but the other he also remembers where and how it feels
to be whipped by the executioner and witnessed by another inmate who suffered for
twenty-six years and all the thought it made her very sad and was thinking of suicide.
Character Aksionov is the vengeful anger at Semyonich was great as he wants to
avenge though she realizes later be punished for doing it on a it. After Only go i
Aksionov looks nervous because he cannot do anything and when the night could not
sleep and it was made more miserable.
"Just you keep quiet, old man, and you shall get out too. If you blab, they'll flog the life out of me, but I will kill you first." Aksionov trembled with anger as he looked at his enemy. He drew his hand away, saying, "I have no wish to escape, and you have no need to kill me; you killed me long ago! As to telling of you--I may do so or not, as God shall direct."
R i s k i | 34
betray Makar Semyonich, knowing he would be flogged almost to death. At last the Governor turned to Aksionov whom he knew to be a just man. and said:
"You are a truthful old man; tell me, before God, who dug the hole?" Makar Semyonich stood as if he were quite unconcerned, looking at the Governor and not so much as glancing at Aksionov. Aksionov's lips and hands trembled, and for a long time he could not utter a word. He thought, "Why should I screen him who ruined my life? Let him pay for what I have suffered. But if I tell, they will probably flog the life out of him, and maybe I suspect him wrongly. And, after all, what good would it be to me?"
"Well, old man," repeated the Governor, "tell me the truth: who has been digging under the wall?"
Aksionov glanced at Makar Semyonich, and said, "I cannot say, your honour. It is not God's will that I should tell! Do what you like with me; I am in your hands." However much the Governor! tried, Aksionov would say no more, and so the matter had to be left. That night, when Aksionov was lying on his bed and just beginning to doze, someone came quietly and sat down on his bed. He peered through the darkness and recognised Makar. (Tolstoy 7,8)
3.2.2 External Conflict
According to Meyer (1990:46), "external conflict may place the protagonist in
opposition to another individual, nature, or society". Here Askionov faced some
external conlicts with the other characters.
…Then the official, calling the soldiers, said, "I am the police-officer of this district, and I question you because the merchant with whom you spent last night has been found with his throat cut. We must search your things."
R i s k i | 35
Aksionov looked, and seeing a blood-stained knife taken from his bag, he was frightened. "How is it there is blood on this knife?"
Aksionov tried to answer, but could hardly utter a word, and only stammered: "I--don't know--not mine." Then the police-officer said: "This morning the merchant was found in bed with his throat cut. You are the only person who could have done it. The house was locked from inside, and no one else was there. Here is this blood-stained knife in your bag and your face and manner betray you! Tell me how you killed him, and how much money you stole.? (Tolstoy 2)
This quotation explains Aksionov decided to rest well because they
already feel exhausted and Aksionov entered into a warm shop .To order a drink,
and then he pulled out his guitar and then he began to sing to entertain
themselves and relieve a tired and then shortly afterwards a carriage stopped in
front of the bar, and came down a detective with two police officers from the
train and walked Aksionov and begin to ask and interrogate him. He asked about
who and where it came from. Aksionov answered all the question and then said,
"like some tea with me?" But did not heed his words detective, he was constantly
interrogated and asked, 'Where did you stay last night? "Are you alone or with
someone? Did you meet with a dealer this morning. And why did you leave them
all at the inn before dawn?
The police-officer ordered the soldiers to bind Aksionov and to put him in the cart. As they tied his feet together and flung him into the cart, Aksionov crossed himself and wept. His money and goods were taken from him, and he was sent to the nearest town and
R i s k i | 36
Then the trial came on: he was charged with murdering a merchant
from Ryazan, and robbing him of twenty thousand rubles. (Tolstoy 3)
This quotation tries to describe external Aksionov conflict to the
police-officer. Here, Aksionov try to explain and could have sworn that he was at the murder
and he also said that he was not with her anymore after tea because they can not stay
up too late at night and then he left the merchant and then decided to continue
running even though he realized that time was still late night but when Aksionov
deliver it all with a hoarse voice, pale face and his whole body shook as if feeling
guilty fears. The cop then catch Aksionov and tied him and took him into the wagon
in the train was Aksionov seen curled up and crying. all the money and goods
confiscated by the police because he will be input into the prison located in the
nearby town of the police was looking for evidence and investigate to find out who
Aksionov, and began to move to Vladimir. Info obtained from the public and traders
there that when young Aksionov drunk and throw away their time, but on the other
hand Aksionov is a good person. After that day arrives Aksionov court convicted on
charges merchants did kill somebody and rob the money as much as twenty rubles.
When news Aksionov was known by his wife, was desperate and confused
and did not know to whom he should trust with the state of the mindless and their
children are still very small and still need a father, not long after she took her children
to visit her husband who was in the jail. After begging beg to the eventual arrest his
R i s k i | 37
prisoner, and chained in a room along with the thieves and other criminals he fainted
while.
One day a fresh gang of convicts came to the prison. In the evening the old prisoners collected round the new ones and asked them what towns or villages they came from, and what they were sentenced for. Among the rest Aksionov sat down near the newcomers, and listened with downcast air to what was said.(Tolstoy 4)
Character of newly inmates and the character the family of Aksionov. here
this person characterized by traits of body height and body stocky and about sixty
years old he told me what he had done so to sign in prison, he just took the horses
were abandoned for reasons that quickly got home and he'll even let go of the horse's
back, after the horse is owned by a friend who had known but she still accused of
stealing the horse., though on the other hand she was once committed a crime and he
should have been from the first he was taken to prison, from where he realized what
indicted probably is a reply to the ever commit a crime like him.
R i s k i | 38
speak and laugh. Then he saw his children, quite little, as they: were at that time: one with a little cloak on, another at his mother's breast. And then he remembered himself as he
used to be--young and merry. He remembered how he sat playing the guitar in the porch of the inn where he was arrested, and how free from care he had been. He saw, in his mind, the place where he was
flogged, the executioner, and the people standing around; the chains, the convicts, all the twenty-six years of his prison life, and his
premature old age. The thought of it all made him so wretched that he was
ready to kill himself. "And it's all that villain's doing!" thought Aksionov. And his anger was so great against Makar Semyonich that he longed for vengeance, even if he himself should perish for it. He kept repeating prayers all night, but could get no peace. During the day he did not go near Makar Semyonich, nor even look at him. A
fortnight passed in this way. Aksionov could not sleep at night, and was so miserable that he did not know what to do. (Tolstoy 6 )
Character of plots like threatening because it is found by Aksionov which is
making secret hole for a way out of prison even in threatening to kill Aksionov not
afraid even she was silent, who initially hated treason finally he can hold the guards
prisoners gather inmates and asked the neighbor Aksionov the hole, but he remained
silent with her trembling lips cover up what has been done by those in the story
Makar Aksionov protect Makar because he has been steadfast with the decisions that
have been taken.
Night when Aksionov daydreaming him and turns Makar, Makar already regretting
R i s k i | 39
Makar apologizes sincerely and full of regret and eventually both cry and forgive
40
CHAPTER IV
CONCLUSION
Based on the analysis above, there are some results that is concluded. The
first is about description of Aksionov. Aksionov is one of main character that is
described as a seller. He is handsome with yellow wavy hair and funny person.
Besides that, He like to sing even though Aksionov is famous as a seller but he also
has good voice but it is only hobby to comfort himself.
The second is about conflict which influences Aksionov. Aksionov gets
prison for 26 years because he is accused killing another seller when he stayed in
Prison, Aksionov learns to receive a life and tries to give forgiveness for someone
making him to stay in prison.
The third is an unconscious of Aksionov’s behavior. In this story, Aksionov’s
unconscious started when he was declared as defendant on seller’s died. The pain
whis occurred to Aksionov made him became a good man. Finally, he knew who has
made him become in prison. It was made by Makar. Nobody knew why Aksionov
could apologize Makar who has made all have done. Then, they apologized each
41
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