CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION. experience. The use of imagination is important and has been shown in the literary

Transcription

1 CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background of the analysis. Taylor ( 1981:1) says that, literature like other arts, is essentially an imaginative act, that is an act of the writer s imagination in selecting, ordering, and interpreting life experience. The use of imagination is important and has been shown in the literary extracts already considered. The choice and relationship of words is directed by the fact that the writer is not attempting a straight forward factual exposition of his subject matter. He is creating his own sort of reality, making up characters, places, and conditions on his own terms ( Chapman, 1982:26). Both definitions show that literature can be the interpretation of experience, life experience, everything felt, seen, heard or even read by an author can be put into a literary work by using the author s creative imagination. Literature is divided into three major genres of literature, they are drama, prose and poetry in which each genre has its own characteristic. Taylor ( 1981:101) explains that drama as re-create action immediately and physically on a stage in front of an audience. The title of the play is Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller. Arthur Miller Death of a Salesman is a story of a man, Willy Loman, whose struggling efforts to live the American dream are unsuccessful. Willy s efforts to have it all and live the life of a salesman, like his hero David Singleman, unfortunately are not enough pushing his dreams further away from reality. Death of a Salesman is a true and intelligent criticism of the American Dream. Willy Loman's dreams are unattainable, thus

2 pointing out that the American dream can be insurmountable for many people. The Loman's displays of dishonesty and immorality prove that the American Dream can often diminish any respectable values an individual may have. Possessing the finest of everything and placing great importance on looks and material things such as Willy does, begins to create a materialistic world where success and wealth are of the utmost importance. The Loman family's longing to achieve the American Dream presents a clear image that allows insight into the imperfections and phoniness of the dream itself. The writer decide to analyze symbols in Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller because there are many symbols found in the play that makes it mysterious, unique, and interesting to be analyzed. symbols are abstract idea and not easy to understand the real meaning of symbol, symbol is important in literary work as transferring meaning hidden behind the words and to share ideas feelings the authors and also the author inderictly expressed his idea by using symbols. Symbols are all we have to communicate with one another, something hidden to share our ideas and feelings. Symbols are object, character or colour used to represent abstract ideas or concept. A symbol may be defined as any object that suggest a larger meaning than itself or as applied specially to literature a symbol may be an objector even action that embodies the nature of class off things or an abstract idea. Kasim (1998: 55) says that para penganut aliran simbolis adalah menciptakan karya karya yang berisikan buah pikiran yang tersembunyi, yang samar samar, yang merupakan gambaran perasaan manusia yang tidak diungkapkan secar terus terang, sehingga semuanya ini akan mendorong kemampuan dan daya pikir para pembaca karyakarya mereka untuk memahami dan sekaligus menikmati karya karya tersebut. Peck and Martin (1984:72) explains that a symbol are only used when a writer wants to express an apprehension of something in his mind which is not directly

3 observable in the everyday world. This definition mean that the writer has to use a symbol because he can only convey his non rational apprehension of something by using object and words from the familiar word. In analyzing symbol need deep understanding. Symbol is not expressed directly by the author but it is expressed by the object, figures, characters and colours where it represent abstract ideas or concept. 1.2 The Problems of the analysis In doing a research, it is important to decide the problems that are going to analyze to avoid the ambiguity of the research and to assist the writer to get the clear description on the object of the study. Deciding statement the problem would help the writer in collecting data for the analysis. 1. What kinds of symbols are found in the play? 2. What is the meaning of each symbol? 1.3 The object of the analysis Objective of a study is a statement about the activities and objects that are going to analyze based on the problem of the analysis. This research hold on to this objective in doing the research. In this research, the writer conclude that there are objective based on statement of the problems that has been decide: 1. To find out the kinds of the symbol found in the play. 2. To explain the meaning of each symbol. 1.4 The Scope of the Analysis

4 In research it is important for the writer to limit the analysis to concentrate on the specific object that has been chosen in order to get the best result from it. This would help the writer to avoid over complicating the issues and analysis. This research limits the discussion only on analyzing the symbols found in Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miler. 1.5 The Research of the Method In analyzing Death of a Salesman s symbols, this research apply two methods. The first is descriptive method. First read the play, try to understand the play and describe the symbols in the play. The second is interpretive method. After describe the symbols, the writer try to interpreted the meaning of the symbols. In doing the analysis, the writer apply library research by collecting the references that support and related to the analysis from library and also find suitable references from the internet to complete the analysis. 1.6 The Significance of the Study This research really expected that it can achieve some significance for the readers as follows: 1. To help the readers more understand the story by explaining the symbols. 2. To help the readers familiarize with Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller 1.7 Review of The Related Literature are: In this research, the uses a number of books which are concerned with the discussion

5 1. A Handbook of Critical Approaches to Literature, by Wilfred L. Guerin, et al talked about some critical approaches in literature such as traditional approach, the formalistic approach, the psychological approach, mythological and archetypal approaches, the exponential approach, and other approaches. 2. Theory of Literature, by Rene Wellek and Austin Warren (1956). In this classic book, Wellek and Warren talked about two kinds of approach in analyzing a literary work. The first approach is extrinsic approach that is an approach that is an approach which relates the literary work to the other subject. Secondly, intrinsic approach, that is an approach which emphasizes on the elements of the literature itself. 3. Understanding the Elements of Literature, by Richard Taylor (1981), explain three major genres ( drama, prose and poetry), which are defined and discussed in detail. Critical process in the appreciation and interpretation of literature are high lighted through the book. 4. An Introduction of Literary Studies, by Razali Kasim (2006). In this book, he talked about symbol; meaning and kinds of symbol in two kinds are conventional and private symbols. 5. Sigmund Freud s The Interpretation of Dreams Totem and Taboo, Three Essays on the Theory of Sexuality and Other Works a Critical Commentary, by Robert N. Pasotti this book consists of some interpretation of dreams, clinical period, cultural period, theory of art. 6.