MADAME WU’S MOTIVATION IN CHOOSING
A CONCUBINE FOR HER HUSBAND AS SEEN IN
BUCK’S PAVILION OF WOMEN
A Thesis
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements to Obtain the Sarjana Pendidikan Degree
in English Language Education
By
PRIMA PUTRI NARDIANTARI
Student Number : 991214054
ENGLISH LANGUAGE EDUCATION STUDY PROGRAM DEPARTMENT OF LANGUAGE AND ARTS EDUCATION
FACULTY OF TEACHERS TRAINING AND EDUCATION SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
Because You Love Me
You were my strength when I was weak You were my voice when I couldn’t speak You were my eyes when I couldn’t see You saw the best there was in me You lifted me up when I couldn’t reach You gave me faith ‘cos you believe I’m everything I am because you love me
“Celine Dion”
Dedicated with love and gratitude to :
My parents who have introduced me to the beauty of life My husband who makes my life so beautiful My beautiful child who has been a good child All my beautiful family and friends
v
I honestly declare that this thesis which I wrote does not contain the
works or part of the works of other people, except those cited in the quotations
and bibliography, as a scientific paper should.
Yogyakarta, July 10, 2007
Yogyakarta, January 22, 2008
The Writer
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
First of all, I would like to express my deepest praise and greatest gratitude to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I thank Him for blessing life and always surprise me with all the miracles of life.
I also would like to express my deepest gratitude to Ibu Dra. Wigati Yektiningtyas, M.Hum., my major sponsor, for her patience to guide and share her
knowledge to write this thesis. I thank her for support, advice, suggestions, and care. My gratitude also goes to Ibu Yohana Veniranda, S.Pd., M.Hum., my co-sponsor, for her willingness to give suggestions and corrections. Her patient guidance makes my thesis better.
I would like to thank all the lecturers of the English Language Education Study Program of Sanata Dharma University for their guidance during my study.
The same gratitude also goes to all of the staff of Sanata Dharma library and the secretariat of PBI for being helpful and kind.
My special gratefulness goes to my parents, Bapak Sunardi and Ibu Sri Lestari. I would like to thank them for being my great and marvelous parents, for
their endless love, care, trust, prayers, patience, tolerance, and encouragement. I thank, especially my beloved husband, Tri Wiyono, for being my inspiration in life. I am blessed to love him beside me in happy and sad moments. He has taught me to be a more mature woman. His prayers, patience, and support keep me struggle in this life. I also thank him for loving and spending his money for me. Without his love, guidance, and financial support, I could not continue study in this university.
To Yunita (Ho-ho), Windhy, Erna, and Arum for their great friendship, loyality, love, support, understanding, for sharing good and bad time together, and for being my best friends.
My gratitude also goes to De’ Indra for helping me in finding some important sources and any other sources.
Finally, I would like to thank all of the people who have given me supports, endurance, and prayers who I could not mention one by one. I love them all.
Prima
LEMBAR PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN
PUBLIKASI KARYA ILMIAH UNTUK KEPENTINGAN AKADEMIS
Yang bertanda tangan dibawah ini, saya mahasiswa Universitas Sanata Dharma:
Nama : Prima Putri Nardiantari
Nomor Mahasiswa : 991214054
Demi pengembangan ilmu pengetahuan, saya memberikan kepada Perpustakaan
Universitas Sanata Dharma karya ilmiah saya yang berjudul:
Madame Wu's Motivation In Choosing A Concubine For Her
Husband As Seen In Buck's Pavilion Of Women
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, mendistribusikan secara terbatas, dan mempublikasikannya di Internet atau
media lain untuk kepentingan akademis tanpa perlu meminta ijin dari saya
maupun memberikan royalti kepada saya selama tetap mencantumkan nama saya
sebagai penulis.
Demikian pernyataan ini yang saya buat dengan sebenarnya.
Dibuat di Yogyakarta
Pada tanggal: 22 Januari 2008
Yang menyatakan
TABLE OF CONTENTS
STATEMENT OF WORK’S ORIGINALITY ……….. v
Page
CHAPTER 3 METHODOLOGY ………. 21
3.1 Subject Matter ……….. 21
3.2 The Approaches ……….. 22
3.3 Procedures ……… 23
CHAPTER 4 ANALYSIS ……….. 25
4.1 The Description of Madame Wu’s Character . …… 25
4.1.1 Being Wise ……… 26
4.1.2 Being Stubborn ……… 29
4.1.3 Being Selfish ……… 31
4.1.4 Being Firm ………... 32
4.1.5 Being Intelligent ……….. 33
4.2 The Motivations of Madame Wu in Choosing a Concubine for Her Husband ……… 35
CHAPTER 5 CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS ………. 43
5.1 Conclusions ………. 43
5.2 Suggestions ………. 45
5.2.1 Suggestions for Future Researchers ……….. 45
5.2.2 Suggestions for Using Literature in Teaching English ………. 46
BIBLIOGRAPHY ……… 48
APPENDICES: APPENDIX 1 THE SUMMARY OF THE NOVEL ……….. 50
APPENDIX 2 THE LIFE OF PEARL S. BUCK ……… 52
APPENDIX 3 THE WORKS OF PEARL S. BUCK ……….. 56
Page APPENDIX 4 LESSON PLAN TO TEACH READING II USING
PAVILION OF WOMEN ………. 58
APPENDIX 5 SYLLABUS OF READING II ……… 60 APPENDIX 6 EXERCISES TO TEACH READING II ……… 61 APPENDIX 7 READING MATERIAL TAKEN FROM
PAVILION OF WOMEN ………. 62
APPENDIX 8 THE PICTURE OF THE AUTHOR ………... 64
ABSTRACT
Nardiantari, Prima Putri. 2007. Madame Wu’s Motivation In Choosing A Concubine for Her Husband as seen in Buck’s Pavilion of Women. Yogyakarta: English Language Education Study Program. Department of Language and Arts Education. Faculty of Teachers Training and Education. Sanata Dharma University.
This thesis analyzes the novel Pavilion of Women by Pearl S. Buck. It is about a Chinese woman named Madame Wu who is a perfect woman that decides to choose a concubine for her husband. Her motivation in choosing a concubine for her husband makes her take the decision when she reaches her forty-years-old birthday.
The thesis intends to answer the two questions stated in the problem formulation, namely (1) How is Madame Wu’s character described? (2) What is Madame Wu’s motivation in choosing a concubine for her husband? Therefore, the aim of the study is to explore the description of Madame Wu’s characters, and to find out Madame Wu’s motivation in choosing a concubine for her husband.
This thesis is a library study. It employs psychological approach, socio cultural-historical approach and several theories that are related to the study. The primary source is the novel itself, while the secondary sources are some books in literature and psychology, as well as some articles from the internet.
Based on the analysis, the thesis concludes that the character of Madame Wu’s is wise, stubborn, selfish, firm, and intelligent. Secondly, it concludes that she has a motivation in choosing a concubine for her husband. Her motivation is based on her needs. Choosing a concubine for her husband is influenced by her self-esteem needs. Her motivation is also influenced by her self-actualization needs. It is clearly shown by her desire for self-fulfillment to get freedom in her life. Her motivation is also influenced by the values of the society in China at that time, that women have to serve her husband and conceive in such old age. It brings a shame for her and her husband.
ABSTRAK
Nardiantari, Prima Putri. 2007. Madame Wu’s Motivation In Choosing A Concubine for Her Husband as seen in Buck’s Pavilion of Women. Yogyakarta: Program Studi Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris, Jurusan Pendidikan Bahasa dan Seni, Fakultas Keguruan dan Ilmu Pendidikan, Universitas Sanata Dharma.
Skripsi ini menganalisa novel Pavilion of Women yang ditulis oleh Pearl S. Buck. Novel ini mengisahkan tentang seorang wanita dari China bernama Madame Wu yang merupakan wanita sempurna yang memutuskan untuk memilih seorang selir bagi suaminya. Motivasinya mengambil keputusan tersebut muncul ketika dia mencapai usia empat puluh tahun.
Skripsi ini mempunyai tujuan untuk menjawab dua pertanyaan yang tertera di perumusan masalah, yaitu (1) Bagaimana tokoh Madame Wu digambarkan? (2) Motivasi apa yang membuat Madame Wu memilih selir bagi suaminya? Maka dari itu, tujuan dari studi ini ialah untuk menggambarkan karakteristik Madame Wu. Kedua, studi ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui motivasi yang membuat Madame Wu memilih selir bagi suaminya.
Skripsi ini merupakan studi pustaka. Studi pustaka yang dilakukan adalah dengan cara menggunakan pendekatan psikologi, pendekatan sosial budaya dan sejarah, dan beberapa teori yang berhubungan dengan studi ini. Sumber primernya adalah novel itu sendiri, sedangkan sumber-sumber sekunder adalah buku-buku tentang kesusasteraan, psikologi, dan juga beberapa artikel dari internet.
Berdasarkan analisis yang dibuat, dapat ditarik kesimpulan bahwa Madame Wu mempunyai karakter yang bijaksana, keras kepala, egois, tegas, dan cerdas. Kedua, skripsi ini menyimpulkan bahwa Madame Wu mempunyai suatu motivasi dalam memilih selir bagi suaminya. Motivasi tersebut timbul oleh karena beberapa kebutuhan yang harus dipenuhi. Memilih selir bagi suaminya dipengaruhi oleh kebutuhan akan harga diri. Motivasi tersebut juga dipengaruhi oleh kebutuhan akan mengaktualisasikan diri. Hal ini ditunjukkan dengan jelas oleh keinginan Madame Wu dalam pemenuhan kebutuhannya untuk mencapai kebebasan dalam hidupnya. Motivasi tersebut juga dipengaruhi oleh nilai-nilai yang dianut masyarakat di China pada waktu itu, bahwa perempuan harus melayani suaminya dan melahirkan pada usia lanjut. Hal ini mempermalukan namanya dan suaminya.
0
MADAME WU’S MOTIVATION IN CHOOSING
A CONCUBINE FOR HER HUSBAND AS SEEN IN
BUCK’S PAVILION OF WOMEN
A Thesis
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements to Obtain the Sarjana Pendidikan Degree
in English Language Education
By
PRIMA PUTRI NARDIANTARI
Student Number : 991214054
ENGLISH LANGUAGE EDUCATION STUDY PROGRAM DEPARTMENT OF LANGUAGE AND ARTS EDUCATION
FACULTY OF TEACHERS TRAINING AND EDUCATION SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
This chapter consists of the Background of the study, the Objective of the Study, the Problem Formulation, the Benefit of the Study and the Definition of Terms. The Background of the Study is focused on the study, the need of analyzing the topic and my personal reason of choosing the topic. The Objective of the Study explains the goal of the study. Then the Problem Formulation gives the general description of the problem that will be analyzed. The Benefit of the Study gives the explanation of who can get the benefit from the study. The last part is the Definition of Terms. In this part, some terms that are related to the study will be defined.
1.1 Background of the Study
Literature is a creative working, an art that contains imagination, and figurative language. It is not designed for direct or practice communication (Welleck, 1962: 3). So, it is different from any other writing. In reading a literary work, a person must do an exploration and contemplation toward the contents, while it is not happen in reading an ordinary writing. The exploration and contemplation are needed in order to get the ideas and messages of the work.
The exploration covers 7 elements. They are theme, plot, setting, character, structure, style, and atmosphere. They are an entity that exists in a literary work. Each of the elements is constructed to support the main idea existing in the work.
2
After the exploration of the literary work, the readers are expected to contemplate the idea and message of the work in the real life. It is as one of the functions of literature, i.e. to educate.
In this thesis I choose a novel, written by Pearl S. Buck, Pavilion of Women to be analyzed because it portrays human beings’ life. This novel talks about Chinese women’s life at the early of 20th century. At that time, concubinage is a very common issue in China since there is an assumption that a man has a bigger right or authority than a woman. As Hsu (1948: 65 – 67) states in his study on Chinese families, the origin for a male to hold a concubine is for sexual pleasure since any children that resulted from a concubine is considered illegitimate. Unless allowed by their father, they have no right of inheritance. Usually a concubine has a lower status than a wife in the household. This phenomenon of having a concubine(s) is affected by the fact in China that women have the lowest places in the family. It is quite common for the poor to sell a daughter to a rich man to be a concubine to get money to take care of the rest of the family.
Buck in Pavilion of Women tells us a quite uncommon behavior of a woman that she chooses a concubine for her husband eventhough he does not want it. This research deals with the main character’s characterization and motivation in choosing a concubine for her husband in Pearl S. Buck’s Pavilion of Women. It means there is an exploration about some character’s characterization. As we know that most of Pearl S. Buck’s works are about the Chinese society or culture. This is based on her forty-year experience in China. What encourages me to choose this novel as the
life especially the Chinese women’s life in the shifting of the old traditions to the new traditions, where Chinese people in the past before the communist era underwent foot-binding, lower position then men, illiteracy, concubinage, and the abandoned baby girls. In her work, Pavilion of Women (1946), Buck illustrates how Madame Wu, the main character, who is a good wife for her husband, Mr. Wu, and a good mother for her sons, decides to take a concubine for her husband. The focus sets on the Wu’s family, it represents an ancient Chinese tradition with all it rules and norms. The situation of the house begins to change when Madame Wu takes a concubine for her husband. There is a big question here why she does it. Thus, in my analysis I would like to find out what motivates Madame Wu to do it. This study describes it from the psychological point of view.
1.2 Objective of the Study
I focus on two objectives of the study. First, I want to explore Madame Wu’s character in the novel. It is important since Madame Wu is the main character. Second, the thesis will try to find out Madame Wu’s motivation in choosing a concubine for her husband.
1.3 Problem Formulation
There are two problems that I want to analyze in this research, they are: 1. How is Madame Wu’s character described?
4
1.4 Benefit of the Study
This research can give two benefits. The first is for the readers, it is hoped that after studying this research they can get a clear understanding about the story and the messages that the author gives. While the second is for the future researchers, it is hoped that this research can give reference to their research.
1.5 Definition of Terms
In order to avoid some misunderstanding and misinterpreting. I will define some terms that are closely related to this research.
1. Character
According to Abrams in his Glossary of Literary Terms, character is the person presented in a dramatic or narrative work, who is disposition quality, that are expressed in what they say-the dialogue, and by what they do-the action (1981:20).
2. Motive
According to Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, motive is “a cause of or reason for action; that which urges a person to act in a certain way” (p.711).
3. Motivation
4. Concubine
6
CHAPTER 2
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
This chapter consists of three parts. The first part is the Theoretical Review. In this part, all the theories that are applied in this study are presented. The second part is the Chinese Culture, in which I explore the Chinese Culture includes the Chinese Community and the Chinese family life. Then, the last part consists of the criticism toward Pearl S. Buck and her novel.
2.1 Theoretical Review
2.1.1 Theory of Critical Approach
A critical approach to literature is important to be taken as a basic in understanding literary work, that is the nature, function and positive values. Here, the readers must know what literature is, how to read it, and finally how to judge it. Rohberger and Woods in their book Reading and Writing About Literature (1971: 6-13), mention five kinds of approaches in literary works. They are the formalist approach, the biographical approach, the sociocultural-historical approach, the mythopoeic approach, and the psychological approach.
The formalist approach insists on the total integrity of the literary piece. The biographical approach asserts the important for an appreciation of the ideas and personality of the author to understand the literary object (1971: 8). The mythopoeic approach tries to discover certain universally recurrent patterns of human thought, which they believe will find an expression in significant works of art (1971: 11).
The sociocultural-historical approach insists that the only way to locate the real work is in reference to the civilization that produce it (1971: 9). Here, they define civilization as the attitudes and actions of a specific group of people and point out that literature takes these attitudes and actions as its subject matter. It means that the literary works is created in the society. There is a possibility that different societies and different cultures can produce different types of literary works.
The psychological approach involves the effort to locate and demonstrate certain recurrent pattern (1971: 13). It explains the personality and the behavior of the characters in the novel based on objectification of the internal states of the character’s or of the persuasive spiritual condition.
From all those five approaches mentioned by Rohrberger and Woods, the approach that is closely related to my study is the psychological approach. As it is already mentioned before, psychological approach views literary works through the lens of psychology. Psychological critics look either at the psychological motivation of the characters or of the authors themselves. In my study I will seek the psychological motivations of the character from the novel Pavilion of Women. Hence, I decide to use the theory of psychology by Maslow because this theory can help me in analyzing the essence of the novel.
2.1.2 Theory on Character and Characterization
8
endowed with moral and dispositional qualities that are expressed in what they say-the dialogue-and by what say-they do-say-the action.
In the same way, he says that characters are the representatives of human beings. They are presented not merely depend on the narration of the author in his work but also from their speech and actions which the author shows. Therefore, what is meant by characters in this study are the persons who are presented in the story. Based on the importance, characters are categorized into:
a) Main or major character
A major character is usually the center of the story. He or she is the most important character in the story. Usually, the acts of the story are focused on this character from the beginning until the ending parts. The core of the story is highlighted through this characters experience.
b) Minor character
Minor characters appear in a certain setting, just necessarily to become the background for the major character. Their roles are less important than the major character because they are not fully development of the major character (1981: 20).
Characters are also divided into two types based on the internal complexity, they are: a. Flat character
easy to identify. He is not likely to change, he is static, and his responses are predictable (Eastman, 1965: 18).
b. Round character
A round character is the character that often appears as the counter of the story. This type of character is more complex and has many sides. This character lives by his roundness and many points at which he touches life. This character appears in different action, personality, and outlook. This character also undergoes a permanent change. The change may be large or small, better or worse. The change is something more important and basic. It is more than a change in a condition and a minor change in opinion. (Perrine, 1974: 71).
The process by which an author creates a character is called characterization. Characterization has a very important role in literary work, especially in narrative and dramatic works. Characterization is the creation of imaginary persons. They are created imaginatively, but they have to be seen real, so that they exist for the readers as life like (Holman & Harmon, 1986: 81-82).
10
1. Personal Description
The author can describe a person’s appearance and clothes. The author usually uses adjectives in order to give him personal description of a character. The description of a character should be detailed and clear. Clear means that each aspect is described using good choice of adjectives. The readers can get details from the physical view of a character, such as from the character’s face, skin, eyes, hair, build, and clothing.
2. Character as seen by another
Instead of describing a character directly, the author can describe him through the eyes and opinions of another. The readers get the description as a reflected image. The author can give description of one character by using another character’s ideas or thoughts.
3. Speech
The author can give readers an insight into the character of one of the persons in the book through what that person says. Whenever a person says, whenever he is in a conversation with another, whenever he puts forward an opinion, he is giving readers some clues to his character.
4. Past Life
author, through the person’s thoughts, through his conversation or through the medium of another person.
5. Conversation of others
The author can also give readers clues to person’s character through the conversations of other characters and the things they say about him. People talk about other people and the things they say often give readers a clue to the character of the person spoken about.
6. Reactions
The author gives the clue by letting readers know how the character in the story reacts to various situations and events in the story.
7. Direct Comment
It is possible for the author to describe or comment on the person’s character of the story directly. Usually the author gives his opinion about the characters in the story.
8. Thoughts
The author can give readers direct knowledge of what a person is thinking about. In this respect, he is able to do what he cannot do in real life. He can tell readers what different people are thinking.
9. Mannerism
The author can describe a person’s mannerism or habits, which may also tell the readers about his character. The author reveals the habits of the character both the positive and the negative one.
12
2.1.3 Theory of Motivation
In this thesis, I use the theory of motivation presented by Maslow. This theory helps me to find out Madame Wu’s motivation in choosing a concubine for her husband. Maslow in Globe’s The Third Force develops a theory of motivation that emphasizes on the human needs. According to Maslow, human motivations are based on human needs. He introduces the hierarchy of human needs. He argues that the lowest need on the hierarchy has to be satisfied first before the higher needs on the hierarchy being satisfied.
The hierarchy of needs according to Maslow from the lowest level or the first level is physiological needs, safety needs, love and belongingness needs, esteem needs and self-actualization needs (1970:38-43).
1. Physiological Needs
The basic need for human being is physiological for physical survival. It includes the needs for food, water, sex, sleep, and oxygen.
2. Safety Needs
3. Love and Belongingness Needs
When the physiological and safety needs are met, the needs for love and belongingness emerge. The need of love is true in the absence of friends, or a sweetheart, or a wife, or children. Love according to Maslow is different from sex. Love in this case, is not restricted to romantic love, but it includes the feeling of closeness between two good friends, feeling the closeness to the society and some community. It involves a hunger for affectionate relationship with others, a need to feel part of a group, or a feeling that one belongs. The love requires both the receiving and giving of love, love from another and someone to love.
4. Esteem Needs
It means needs for a positive, high evaluation of oneself. According to Maslow, there are two categories of self-esteem. They are: a need for self-esteem and a need for esteem from others.
a. The need for self-esteem motivates the individual to strive for achievement, strength, adequacy, confidence, independence, and freedom.
b. The need of esteem from others involves a desire for reputation, status, recognition, attention, appreciation by others of one’s abilities, and a feeling of importance.
14
5. Self-Actualization Needs
The need of self-actualization emerges after the satisfaction of the physiological, safety, love and belongingness, and esteem needs. At the self-actualization level, the person’s behavior is motivated by different conditions than at the lower levels.
Self-actualization needs refer to the desire for self-fulfillment, to the tendency for him to become actualized in what he is potentially. It values such as truth, honesty, beauty, goodness and they provide meaning to the life of the self-actualized individual.
2.2The Chinese Culture
2.2.1 Chinese Community
Hsu in his book Under The Ancestor’s Shadow (1948: 30) writes that the life in Chinese community is full of rituals. Starting from their birthday until their death, Chinese people have to obey the ritual and tradition in their religion properly. To be more particular, here I will discuss some custom especially which are related to marriage and concubinage.
1. Marriage and Betrothal
are some kinds of marital traditions that have to be obeyed, such as only two marriage are permitted between two clans, then the mate must not from the same clan.
2. An Ideal Marriage
It is called an ideal marriage if both of the families already know each other well. If the marriage happens between two families which do not know each other, they need a go-between to arrange the matters. The go-between usually a woman (sometimes a man) who knows about both of the families. She must carry the proposal to the girl’s family and ask for the girl and the boy about all the things needed, such as the year, month, and date of their birth. Based on the conclusion taken, she will decide whether the boy and the girl are suited to each other.
3. Remarriage
In Chinese community, there is rarely found a single old spinster or bachelor. A widower is suggested to remarry. Most of them marry widows but there is no social objection if they want to marry a virgin girl. The second marriage for a man to a virgin girl involves just as much of a wedding ceremony as did his first marriage. A woman in her second marriage is a dishonored object. It was generally believed that if a woman had a son or even a daughter, she should not try to remarry.
4. Concubine
16
origin for a male to hold a concubine is for sexual pleasure since any children that resulted from a concubine is considered illegitimate. Unless allowed by their father, they have no right of inheritance. Usually a concubine has a lower status than a wife in the household. This phenomenon of having a concubine(s) is affected by the fact that in China women have the lowest places in the family. It is quite common for the poor to sell a daughter to a rich man to be a concubine to get money to take care of the rest of the family.
2.2.2 The Chinese Family Life
China, as one of the oldest countries in the world, has been ruled over by many dynasties that fall and rise one to another for millennia as other nations do. However, the most interesting fact that is found by Francis L.K. Hsu his study on Chinese families. It was a funny fact that the Chinese families do just the same as their rulers do.
appropriateness, not by considerations of personal preference, comfort or hygiene (Hsu, 1948: 56-57).
The usual contents in a Chinese family are usually more than just parents and children. Chinese people like to group their clan in one place as possible as it is and it is a sin to abandon their olds. So, a house may contain some families living together under the same roof. A wealthy family with long lineage of generations may has a clan village to keep their land in the hands of the same bloodline forever.
The most important relationship is father and son relationship. The father has the authority of life and death over the son, and the son has revere and support his parents as long as their life and (even) after their death. A father or a mother can command his son everything he/she wants them to do. Then, as a filial dutiful son, the son (and daughters) must obey him/her. When the father dies, the mother will take the responsibility of the household and the rights over her children as well as the new head of the family.
Although it looks like a tyrannical world for the sons, we cannot judge it is so. The father’s great authority is marked on the fact that actually the father and the son are part of each other. The son must be obliged to place and support his father, but the father also the provider for the son. A father who abuses his son or lets them hungry, will have no respectable place in the eyes of the society. The relationship is much better described by the literary saying: “The father is kind toward his son, and the son is filial toward his father” (Hsu, 1948: 65).
18
comes, the father should hand the family business upon his eldest son, the next head of the family. This father and son relationship is considered as the basic relationship in a Chinese family as the other relationship only became the supplement.
The relationship between a husband and a wife is only a supplement to the father and son relationship above. A marriage is made in the name of the parents taking a daughter-in-law, not in the name of a son taking a wife (Hsu, 1948: 59). Some expressions of erotic life between a husband and a wife are sociably banished in front of public. The new wives usually only sleep together in one bed for seven days after their marriage and then they will sleep in different beds or even in different rooms.
2.3 Criticism
Pearl S. Buck was a famous writer who wrote a lot of novels about Chinese people and culture. Pavilion of Women (1946) was one of her works that told about Chinese culture. As a well-known novel, Pavilion of Women had attracted many critics to give reviews or criticism. The majority of the criticism use feminist approach and social-historical approach.
critic who also used feminist perspective was Manuela Bonfanti (Reviewer: Manuela Bonfanti from Geneva, November 8, 1999). She discovered that Madame Wu was a representation of a woman with beauty and intelligence, which can justify her husband’s affection perfectly. The changing of Madame Wu’s way of thinking after she met a foreign priest represents a liberal way of thinking. Her courage to break the old-traditional Chinese’s way of thinking had made her admired.
Although she was an American, Buck spent almost half of her life in China. So, her knowledge of the life in China is mostly seen in her novels. Some critics regard this as her special talent. Critics comment that it must be difficult for a foreigner to write a story with a setting, which is not native to her. Bentley notes:
The landscape in Mrs. Buck’s novels is always presented as seen by familiar eyes. Now this is one of the great difficulties of the novelist who chooses to write about a land not native to him (Bryfonski, 1979: 69).
20
2.4 Theoretical Framework
The theories which I have explained above, are used to help the analysis of this study. In this section, I would like to explain the reason why the theories are needed and how I use those theories in the analysis of this study.
The first analysis aims to describe the character of Madame Wu. Thus, I use the theory of character and characterization by Murphy to analyze and get better understanding about Madame Wu’s character in Pavilion of Women.
CHAPTER 3
METHODOLOGY
I divide this chapter into four main parts, namely subject matter, approach, data collection, procedures and organization of study. In subject matter, I discuss the subject of the study. In the approach, I mention the literary approach that I use to analyze the novel, which is sociocultural-historical approach and psychological approach. Data collection deals with the sources that I use in analyzing the study. In procedures, I mention the steps that I take to do my analysis on this study. While in organization of study, I explain the parts of the whole chapters in this study briefly.
3.1 Subject Matter
The object of the study is Pearl S. Buck’s novel entitled Pavilion of Women. It is Buck’s sixth novel. It was acknowledged, as Buck’s another literary triumph after The Good Earth (1931). This novel was published as serial version in Woman’s Home Companion in August, September, October, November editions of the year 1946. The novel that I used in this research was published by Pocket Book Inc, CARDINAL edition published on August 1953. This CARDINAL edition was published by arrangement with The John Day Company, printed in USA. This novel contained of 15 chapters and 419 pages.
The main character of this novel was Madame Wu. She was the first lady in a big old-fashioned Chinese family. She could manage the whole household matters in good orders. After her fortieth birthday, Madame Wu decided to withdraw herself
22
from her husband in some duties and chose a young country bred girl to be the second lady in the house. Even Mr. Wu refused this idea but Madame Wu forced him with many reasons until he agreed. She has her own motivations in choosing a concubine for her husband based on her needs, such as: physiological needs, love and belongingness needs, self-esteem needs and self-actualization needs. The focus of my study is the motivations of Madame Wu in choosing a concubine for her husband.
3.2 Approaches
In this study, I apply the sociocultural-historical approach and the psychological approach in analyzing the novel. The sociocultural-historical approach is suitable for my study. It is significant for me to know the background of the culture where the novel was created. It is also important to find out what kind of tradition of the characters. I also need to understand the condition of the place and time when the story happens.
3.3 Procedures
The research that I conducted was a library research. It means that the main procedures that I used to gain the data were by reading and taking important notes that help me in analyzing the novel. Beside reading and taking notes, there are other steps that I used in the process of the study.
First, I choose Pearl S. Buck’s novel entitled Pavilion of Women. I choose this novel because for me it is an interesting novel. The decision of the main character, Madame Wu, to choose a concubine for her husband inspires me to write this thesis. It is uncommon thing. Then I read the novel and tried to understand what Pearl S. Buck wanted to express in the novel. I focused my attention on the main character that is Madame Wu, and her motivations in choosing a concubine for her husband. I made some notes in the novel as reminders of important points. This would be helpful in analyzing the problem formulations later.
Second, I also read other sources from internet, books on literature and dictionaries. The information in the books helped me to see critics on the novel and the author. The books on literature also supported me writing the literary approach in chapter two. And then, I reread the whole text of the novel thoroughly to get the essence of the story.
24
Fourth, I made critical analysis by using sociocultural-historical approach and psychological approach. I analyze Madame Wu’s characteristic to give the description of how she is presented in Pavilion of Women. After character analysis, I analyze the motivations of Madame Wu in choosing a concubine for her husband. Here I found out how the analysis meets the theory.
Fifth, I drew conclusion of the study based on the result of the analysis. I suggested any other aspects from the novel Pavilion of Women that could be analyzed by the next researchers. I also wrote the suggestions that are the implementation of teaching learning using a literary work.
CHAPTER 4
ANALYSIS
This chapter discusses two problem formulations stated in chapter one. The first analysis deals with the descriptions of Madame Wu’s characters, which are divided again into five parts; they are Madame Wu’s characters such as being wise, stubborn, selfish, firm, and intelligent. The second analysis is conducted to know the motivations of Madame Wu in choosing a concubine for her husband.
4.1 The Description of Madame Wu’s Character
Pearl S. Buck, as the author of the novel, describes the characters of Madame Wu through her personal description, character as seen by another, speech, past life, conversation of others, reactions, direct comment, thoughts, and mannerism (Murphy, 1972 : 161-173). The characters of Madame Wu can be described very clearly by using the theory of characterization.
Pavilion of Women, one of Pearl S. Buck’s works, illustrates the Chinese people at that time had a lot of ancient traditions, and they held those traditions strictly. They must receive the punishment and ceased by the society if they were act against the traditions. Chinese people at that time had old fashioned ways of thinking about different status between men and women, and their opinion about marriage was very different. They had a lot of rituals, for example the ritual of birthday, the ritual of death, and so on.
26
The focus of this story sets on the Wu’s family, one of the rich families in China that represent an ancient’s Chinese tradition with all its rules, norms and old fashioned ways of thinking. Madame Wu (Ailien) is the main character in this story. Madame Wu. The first lady in the house of Wu’s family is considered as a perfect Chinese woman. She has beautiful frame and slender figure, although she is already forty years old. She has wisdom and knowledge. She is a dutiful and filial daughter in law to the old lady (her mother in law), a good wife for Mr. Wu (her husband), and adorable mother for her sons (Liangmo, Tsemo, Fengmo, and Yenmo).
Below are some of characters of Madame Wu, which dominates her reasons why she choose a concubine for her husband.
4.1.1 Being wise
marriage with Meng (Madame Kang’s daughter) he accepts the arrangement without any objection. “Choose someone for me, Mother. You know me better than I know myself” (p.19)
Her second son, Tsemo, has once disobeyed his mother arrangement but all these years he always respects his mother and regards her as the wisest woman in the world. “You do not know my mother,” Tsemo had replied, laughing. “Even when I wish her wrong, I know she is right. She is the wisest woman in the world.” (p.65)
The old Gentleman (her father in law) also realizes that Madame Wu is a woman who has the wisdom in arranging and managing every problem.
“Your mind is an excellent one for a woman,” he had said at last. “I would even say, my daughter, that had your brains been inside the skull of a man, you could have sat for the Imperial Examinations and passed them with honor and become thereby an official in the land.” (p.79)
The Old Lady (her mother in law) is very pleased with her because she knows how to make the Old Lady happy; she knows the Old Lady’s heart skillfully. She can easily make the Old Lady trust and be pleased flowers that must be planted in the garden.
“Narcissus?” Madame Wu had suggested gently. “Orchid? Flowering shrubs? I am only anxious to please you, Mother.” But she had put orchids in the middle of the sentence. They were her preference. By putting them in the middle, Old Lady would think she did not care for them.
“Orchid,” Old Lady said. She was fond of her daughter in law, but she liked to show her own authority. (p.5)
From here we can know Madame Wu’s wisdom and her skill to win the sympathy and make all the members of the house obey her.
28
head of the Wu’s family for twenty four years. She has a big authority in the Wu’s family.
Thus at the threshold of the great dining room, Fengmo parted from his mother and went to one end, where his father and brothers and the men cousins were already seated, and Madame Wu walked with her usual grace to the tables where the women were seated. All rose at her approach. She took her own place at the highest seat and picked up her chopsticks. (p.144)
On these twenty four years she has managed the house in good ways, all the problems, all the decisions, and the family businesses are under her control. Under her control and her good management, the Wu’s family becomes the richest and the most honorable family in the society. “This is the house of the Wu family; this is not a common house like Wang or Hua.” (p.4)
She make all the decisions in the house. No one can disobey her because she is the head of the family. “Only when some decision had to be made did they turn to her by instinct, for they knew that in this house she made all decisions.” (p.32)
Because of her power in the Wu’s family, the members of the family are also under her control. All of them are fed on her, she arranges everything for them. No one in this house can disobey her arrangement; they let her arrange their food, their shelter up to their life.
“She is tired because in this great house all feed on her, like suckling children.” (p.63)
“But Madame Wu had long ago learned that the affairs of a great household must be managed one by one and in order.” (p.138)
Madame Wu. “But I can assure you that nothing happens in this house without my knowledge and my permission.” (p.135)
Madame Wu, with her wisdom can know easily what other people like and dislike. She will not show her dislike expression to the others when they do something that make her dislike. First, she will show her good expression to the others, she makes them think that she is a very understanding woman, she makes them regard her. For example, we can hear her conversation with Ying (her servant) about Little Sister Hsia (the foreign nun). Actually Madame Wu is not pleased with little sister Hsia because Little Sister Hsia always comes to her house and prays for her. “Do not tell me that on this day of all days Little Sister Hsia is here!” She exclaimed. (p.13)
But when she meets Little Sister Hsia she will not show her disliked expression to Little Sister Hsia. She will show her pleased expression and make Little Sister Hsia feels that she is very welcome in Madame Wu’s house. She knows that Little Sister Hsia likes to pray, Madame Wu will let Little Sister Hsia prays for her but actually she does not like it.
In her great kindness Madame Wu now said, “I have guests coming in a short time, Little Sister, but before they come preach a little gospel to us.” (p.16)
She knows that nothing pleased the foreign woman so much as to preach.
4.1.2 Being Stubborn
30
with Mr. Wu, that she will bring a concubine for him, we can know that Madame Wu is a stubborn woman.
“I have been preparing for this day for many years. You are a young man still. Your fires are burning and strong,“ She went on. “You ought to have more sons. But I have completed myself”.
“No,” he said, “I will not agree to your plan. What would my friends say? I have never been a man to go after women.”
“It looks very ill for a woman over forty to bear a child,” she said. “Your friends would blame you for that, too. I should like to be spared the fear of embarrassing you.” (pp.41-42)
In Madame Wu’s mind, she never makes mistake in all her life. The decision that she makes will always be the right decision for all. If she has made one decision, no one can change it. She knows her arrangement and decision will make her family happy. “I know you are so devilish stubborn a woman that I could kill myself beating against your wish.” (p.105)
Madame Wu has a close minded ways of thinking about marriage. She never understands the love between men and women for she never uses to love anyone in this world. According to her, marriage is a way for human to continue their generation and not a place for love, friendship and understanding. Marriage is like a food, drink and shelter; it must be arranged for. She treats men and women like a beast and then mates them together without thinking of their feeling. She does not know that human hates to be mated by the other. She believes that if she mates two couples then these two couples although they do not love each other at first but after they have married the love will grow.
4.1.3 Being Selfish
Madame Wu is very selfish. It can be seen from character as seen by another, her speech, and thoughts (Murphy, 1972: 161-173). In doing her duties, she always depends on her own thinking, she never thinks of others’ feelings. If she thinks the decision and the arrangement is good and right for the others then she will make the decision. She believes that her decision and arrangement can give the happiness to the others. She always sacrifices others for her own good. Actually all her doings toward all people around her are for herself. She gives a concubine to her husband because she does not love her husband; she wants to end her duty toward him. Therefore she sacrifices Chiuming (the young country bred) to be Mr. Wu’s concubine to continue her duty toward Mr. Wu. She does not care whether Mr. Wu loves this woman or not and whether Chiuming wants to serve Mr. Wu or not. Since she sends Chiuming to Mr. Wu it means her duty toward Mr. Wu is over. But Brother Andre views that this is wrong.
“Then tell me what I have done that is wrong,” she asked. He answered her: “You have not considered that man is not entirely flesh. You have considered only the filling of his stomach and the softness of his bed. And even worse than this, you have bought a young woman as you would buy a pound of pork. But a woman, any woman, is more than that, and of all women you should know it. What has been your purpose, Madame?”
“Only to be free,” she faltered. “I thought, if I did my duty to everyone, I could be free.” (p.264)
32
4.1.4 Being Firm
Madame Wu is very firm. Her firm character can be seen from her speech (Murphy, 1972 : 161-173). She always compels others to obey all her decisions. Everyone must do what she wants and what she has arranged for. She will use her wisdom to know other’s thinking, she will give many reasons to them and make them agree with her decision. For example when she wants Mr. Wu to have a concubine. She knows that Mr. Wu will not agree with her decision, but she gives him many reasons then he will obey her and takes a concubine.
“You must have heard she was here,” Madame Wu went on in her clear voice. “Unless you are unwilling, I will send the girl to you tomorrow,” she said. “Do not talk to me about this matter,” he said. He blew a sudden gust of smoke. “Never mention the girl to me again!”
“There is no reason why we should talk about her,” Madame Wu agreed. “I will send her to you tomorrow night.”
“And, bye the bye, I have forgotten to tell you her name. It is Chiuming. She will be brightness in your autumn.”
Mr. Wu heard this, opened his mouth, closed it, and walked away (pp.104-106)
She knows Mr. Wu always depends on her and he will obey her, he always listens to what she says. He listens to anything she said, as though he knows that her words always carry a weight of meaning. She knows Chiuming does not love Mr. Wu, she knows Chiuming is very suffered but for her own she will not let Chiuming free, if Chiuming does not want to serve Mr. Wu that mean Madame Wu must continue her duty toward Mr. Wu. Therefore, she will talk to Chiuming; she wants Chiuming to obey Mr. Wu. She also insults Chiuming in hope that by hearing these words Chiuming will want to continue her duty toward Mr. Wu.
richest in the city, a house to which any family in the region longs to send its daughters. You are dressed in silk. Jade hangs in your ears and you wear gold rings. You may not return to my court. How could I explain it to the house? Go back at once to that court where you belong, for which you were purchased.” (p.177)
Madame Wu also compels her third son (Fengmo) to marry Linyi (Madame Kang’s third daughter). She knows Fengmo does not want to marry Linyi but she arranges the marriage as soon as possible with an excuse that she does not want to repeat her fault with Tsemo (her second son) marriage. Tsemo has disobeyed her, he chose his own wife when he studied in Shanghai.
“We must marry that third son of ours,” she told Mr. Wu. “What would you say if I spoke to Madame Kang at once, perhaps tomorrow, and asked for Linyi?” “You have always chosen the boys’ wives,” he returned. “Tsemo chose his own,” she reminded him. “I wish to avoid that mistake with Fengmo.” (p.105)
“If he will not, then I will let him decide for himself to marry Linyi,” Madame Wu said with her pretty soft laugh. (p.108)
4.1.5 Being Intelligent
34
her own time. She wants to read all these books by moving to the Old Gentleman’s court.
Now, however, since the first half of her life was over and she was alone, she could reach them all. “You will find me here now every morning until I die,” Madame Wu said calmly. (pp.48-49)
The Old Gentleman is very wise because he had read a lot of books and he also taught a lot of knowledge to Madame Wu. Old Gentleman had been good to Madame Wu; he knew that Madame Wu was intelligent and learned as well as beautiful. When he knew Madame Wu liked to read book, he sent for her that she might read the old books in his library, but not all. Certain of these books he had put aside as unfitting for a woman, and she had never touched them. (p.48)
Madame Wu respects the Old Gentleman but she is not satisfied with him. The reason is because the Old Gentleman had an old fashioned ways of thinking about the different status between men and women. “What all men know.” Madame Wu now asked herself, “ought not a woman to know?” (p.82)
Old Gentleman did not allow Madame Wu to read the books that were not suitable for woman. According to the Old Gentleman, woman could not too well educated because the men were not pleased if their wife were too learned and wiser than them. Old Gentleman wanted her to learn love as a source and did not read too much books. “These books, my child,” he had said to her in his grave way, “these books are not for you.” “Because I am a woman?” she had asked. (p.78)
The Old Gentleman realizes that Madame Wu is an intelligent woman even if it is compared with his son. Madame Wu is more intelligent and wiser than his son. We can know this from his speech to Madame Wu.
“Your mind is an excellent one for a woman,” he had said at last.
“I would even say, my daughter, that had your brains been inside the skull of a man, you could have sat for the Imperial Examinations and passed them with honor and become there by an official in the land. You are so beautiful, you also have wisdom, a most unusual wisdom for one so young. You can control yourself.” (pp. 78-80)
4.2 The Motivations of Madame Wu in Choosing a Concubine for Her Husband
The novel Pavilion of Women talks about the life of the Wu’s family, one of the rich families in China. It is also told that Madame Wu, the first lady in the Wu’s family chooses a concubine for her husband. In choosing a concubine for her husband, Madame Wu has a motivation. Her motivation in choosing a concubine for her husband is influenced by her needs. As Maslow (1970 : 38 – 43) says, human motivations are classified into hierarchy of human needs. It starts from the physiological needs, the safety needs, the love and belongingness needs, the esteem needs, and the self-actualization needs. The lower level of needs should be at-least-partially satisfied before going to the higher level of needs.
Before I explain more about Madame Wu’s motivation in choosing a concubine for her husband, I would like to discuss about Madame Wu’s past life that supports her to choose a concubine for her husband. Her past life is divided into two, her family and her childhood.
36
was traveling to foreign countries as an ambassador. She feared her father and always obeyed him although he was away from her. Her mother often used Madame Wu’s fear toward her father to force her obey her mother’s words. “What would your father say if he came home and found your feet splayed like a farmer’s wife’s feet? Madame Wu’s mother had demanded. (p.124)
Madame Wu’s mother and her grandmother still held the old tradition of foot-binding. The first time Madame Wu faced the tradition when she was five years old. Her mother began to bind her feet as the tradition in that time. The feet bondage for a girl is the end of her happy childhood and the beginning of the education to be a good wife. The pain of the slowly broken feet makes the girl cannot walk steadily, not to mention to run about like common children. Lucky for little Madame Wu (whose maiden name was Ailien), her father went home with new knowledge and views from foreign countries. He came back just in time to save her feet from further destruction. He also taught her reading and writing although she is only a woman.
“Take these bands from off the child’s feed!” he had commanded. Her father had learned new ways in new countries, and he had insisted that she be taught to read”. (pp. 124-125)
Three years afterwards, her father died but it was already too late to bind her feet again. She was betrothed in that age and it was lucky for her to find a rich family that do not bade to have daughter-in-law with small feet.
in her modern-educated daughter-in-law, Rulan, who also cries out for her freedom from woman’s bondage to serve her husband and her husband’s family.
“I want to go out of this house-away from Tsemo,” Rulan said, “I want to be free of him forever, I ought never to have married. I hate what I feel for him. I am a slave to it. He has me as he wants me, not as I want to be.” (p.241) She could see how the values also bind other women just as herself. She feels sorry for her friend, Madame Kang, who ceases to follow her good example because this best friend of her loves her husband too much. She conceives again in her old age. It brings a shame for Madame Kang herself and her husband. “I am so ashamed,” Madame Kang said, “I am one of those women who conceive when my man puts even his shoes by my bed.” (p.163)
Even the Old Lady still claims for the unjust Heaven decision in her old age. The Old Lady could not be angry to Madame Wu’s decision for taking a concubine for Mr. Wu. She could feel that the decision is a painful one for every woman, and for herself too. “Oh Heaven, that has made man and woman of two different earths!” the Old Lady groaned. (p.53)
38
Madame Wu’s want to get freedom become her motivation in choosing a concubine for her husband, and it is supported by her characters of being wise, stubborn, selfish, firm and intelligent. Madame Wu’s main purpose is to get freedom in her life. Her decision to choose a concubine for her husband is derived from her unfulfilled needs. Maslow (1970 : 38 – 43) said that human motivations are based on human needs.
There are some of the basic needs that cannot be fulfilled by Madame Wu, which may motivate her to choose a concubine for her husband. Madame Wu is lacking of self-esteem and self-actualization.
According to Maslow, there are two categories of self-esteem. They are : a need for self-esteem motivates the individual to strive for achievement, strength, adequacy, confidence, independence, and freedom. While the need of esteem from others involves a desire for reputation, status, recognition, attention, appreciation by others of one’s abilities, and a feeling of importance (1970 : 38-43).
Madame Wu needs the feeling of the first category of self-esteem, that is the need for self-esteem because she wants to get the freedom. She wants to be free from her duties. It is shown by her thought. “As soon as I am free, I shall leave the house. I shall go straight up until I know what stuff the stars are.” Madame Wu thought. (p. 205)
beauty, goodness and they provide meaning to the life of the self-actualized individual (1970 : 38-43). Freedom to her is merely to be free; free from her duties, free to do everything she wants at all times, free to be her own-self. “What do you mean by freedom?” Brother Andre inquired. “Very little,” she said humbly. “Simply to be mistress of my own person and my own time.” (p. 264)
During her life as the first lady in the Wu’s family, she doesn’t feel a piece of freedom. She is always be burdened by many of her duties. Her duties toward her husband, her duties toward her son, and her duties toward everyone in the Wu’s house. All of the members of the Wu’s family are fed on her, she arrange everything for them, from their food up to their life. “She is tired because in this great house all feed on her, like suckling children,” Ying muttered. (p.63)
40
Madame Wu is a woman who always wants to reach freedom. All these years the thing that she wants to reach most is freedom. She wants to free herself from all her duties and responsibility. For her freedom, she will not allow herself to love anyone, she will not love her husband and her sons. She sacrifices everything to reach her freedom. She sacrifices Chiuming to continue her duty toward her husband. “You understand – you come here to serve my own lord – to take my place – in certain things,” Madame Wu said. (p.96)
She arranges her sons’ life one by one. She does all of these because she wants to be free from her duties toward them. Freedom for her is simply to be mistress of her own person and her own time. All these years, she never has time for her own. She is too busy with her business, her duties, and her family matters.
“Child,” she said, leaning toward Rulan, “I think Heaven is kind to women, after all. One could not keep bearing children forever. So Heaven in its mercy says when a woman is forty, ‘Now, poor soul and body, the rest of your life you shall have for yourself. You have divided yourself again and again, and now take what is left and make yourself whole again, so that life may be good to you for yourself, not only for what you give but for what you get.’ I will spend the rest of my life assembling my own mind and my own soul. I will take care of my body carefully, not that it may anymore please a man, but because it houses me and therefore I am dependent upon it.” (pp. 61-62)
“Yesterday I was forty years old. I had long made up my mind that when that day came I would retire from my duties as a female and find someone for my lord who is young. He is only forty-five years old. He has many years left him yet.” (p.51)
“I want nothing but your happiness,” Madame Wu said with her beautiful voice. (p.42)
Her sons (Liangmo, Tsemo, Fengmo, and Yenmo) are also her duties. She never loves her sons more than as their role as her sons and the continuity of generation in her role as parent. She had often shrunk from the touch of her own children when they were small and she sometimes disliked even when their hand upon her. Her duties for her sons are kept them satisfied in every need of food, clothing, knowledge and money. When they reach their proper age, she will arrange their marriage one by one. She will choose a good wife for them. If their life is settled, it means her duties toward them are over. “I must somehow do my duty toward all,” she murmured, and pulled the sleeve down again over her pretty arm. (p.46)
42
“I want you to be happy – that is all. I do not want you to see Linyi if you would rather not. I can tell her mother it is not convenient. Then she will know you care nothing for Linyi,” Madame Wu said.
“Of course I will see her,” Fengmo said in a lordly way, “Why should I object?” (p.168)
Madame Wu’s motivation in choosing a concubine for her husband is to reach freedom. She has her own reasons for the decision. It is her own will. She feels free when all of her duties had been done.
She has found the girl as the concubine for her husband. She brought her to her husband. All her duties have now fulfilled. No one in the house lacked anything which s/he needed. “Then when this is done I can think again about my own freedom.” (p.227)
CHAPTER 5
CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS
The last chapter of this thesis consists of two parts. The first part is the conclusions of the analysis and the second part is suggestions. The conclusions contain the answers of the problems. The suggestions contain the suggestions for future researchers on the novel as well as the suggestions for teaching-learning activities using the novel.
5.1 Conclusions
In this part, I will give the conclusions of the analysis. The first conclusion is based on the analysis to answer the first question of the problem formulations, which is to know the descriptions of the character of Madame Wu as the main character of the novel. The second is to know the motivations of Madame Wu in choosing a concubine for her husband.
The character of Madame Wu is described in four ways of characterization out of nine. From her character as seen by another, her speech, conversation of others, and her thoughts. Madame Wu is the first lady in the house of Wu’s family that is considered as a perfect Chinese woman. She has a beautiful frame and slender figure, although she is already forty years old. She is wise, stubborn, selfish, firm, and intelligent.
The fact that she always be able to manage all the problems in the Wu’s family proves that she is a wise woman. In Madame Wu’s mind, she never makes a
44
mistake in all her life. Her assumption that the decision that she makes will always be the right decision for all shows that she is a stubborn woman. If she has made one decision, no one can change it. Madame Wu is very selfish. In doing her duties, she always depends on her own thinking, she never thinks of others’ feelings. It is proved by her act in taking a concubine for her husband. She gives a concubine to her husband because she does not love him; she wants to end her duty toward him. Therefore, she sacrifices Chiuming to be Mr. Wu’s concubine to continue her duty toward Mr. Wu without caring whether Mr. Wu loves this woman or not and whether Chiuming wants to serve him or not. She is a firm woman. She always compels others to obey all her decisions by giving many reasons to them and make them agree with her decision. I also conclude that she is an intelligent woman. She likes to read and has more knowledge. It is also realized by the Old Gentleman (her father-in-law) that Madame Wu is an intelligent woman even if it is compared with his son. Madame Wu is more intelligent and wiser than his son.
Madame Wu’s desires to get freedom in her life motivated her to choose a concubine for her husband.
5.2 Suggestions
In this part, I will divide my suggestions in two. The first suggestion is for future researchers, for those who are going to make a study on Pavilion of Women. The second suggestion is for the English teaching and learning process using the novel Pavilion of Women.
5.2.1 Suggestions for Future Researchers
The novel that I analyze Pavilion of Women is an interesting novel. It consists of many kinds of interesting topics that can be studied. The future researchers may analyze the novel based on psychological approach. They can analyze the personality development of the main character of the novel.
This thesis uses both the psychological approach and sociocultural historical approach. Other researchers may also use the same approach. They may analyze concubinage in Chinese culture.
46
5.2.2 Suggestions for using Literature in Teaching English
The literary works such as novels can be used as a resource of teaching language. This part presents the implementation of a literary work, a novel titled Pavilion of Women in language teaching. The implementation of the novel is limited from the intermediate to advanced level of language control. We know that novel is one of literary works, which can be enjoyed by reading and get much fun from it, but on the other side novel also teaches us about many things. A novel can teach us about the meaning of life or feeling. The language learners can also get benefits by using the novel to increase their language skills, especially English learners. Therefore, I suggest the lecturers, especially from Sanata Dharma University, to use this novel in teaching English, for example in teaching Reading II.
The next part, will discuss the implementation of the novel titled Pavilion of Women in language teaching. It is the implementation of teaching Reading II.
5.2.2.1 The Implementation in Teaching Reading II
Since reading is one of the four language skills, the students should master that skill. To master the reading skill, the students should have some experience in reading to broaden their knowledge of the language. Usually, the students are hesitant to read when they are finding some difficult vocabularies that make them are not able to understand a passage. Therefore, the teacher should choose the best way to teach reading to make the students able to understand the passage easily.
grammatical structures. It requires the ability of the students to understand the meaning and to comprehend the text.
48
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Abrams, M.H. 1981. A Glossary of Literary Terms (4th edition). New York: Holt, Rhinehart, and Winston, Inc.
Bryfonski, Deidra. 1979. Contemporary Literary Criticism. Volume 11. Detroit: Gale Research Company.
Buck, Pearl S. 1953. Pavilion of Women (Cardinal edition). New York: Pocket Book Inc.
Eastmen, Richard M. 1965. A Guide to the Novel. San Francisco: Chandler Pub. Comp.
English Education Study Program. 2004. The 2002 Curriculum of S-1 Degree: English Education Study Program. Yogyakarta: USD.
Forster, E.M. 1974. Aspects of the Novel. London: William Clowes & Sons Ltd. Goble, Frank G. 1970. The Third Force: The Psychology of Abraham Maslow. New
York: Grossman Publisher, Inc.
Holman, C. Hugh and William Harmon. 1986. A Handbook to Literature (5th edition). New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.
Hsu, Francis L.K. 1948. Under The Ancestors’ Shadow. New York: Columbia University Press.
Kalish, Richard A. 1973. The Psychology of Human Behavior (3rd edition). California: Brooks/Cole Publishing Company.
Miles, Dudle and Robert C. Pooley. 1943. qLiterature and Life in America. New York: Scott, Foresman and Company.
Murphy, M.J. 1972. Understanding Unseens : An Introduction to English Poetry and the English Novel for Overseas Students. London: George Allen & Unwin Ltd.
Perrine, Lawrence. 1974. Literature: Structure, Sound and Sense. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Inc.
Procter, Paul. 1979. Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English. London: Longman Group Limited.
