An Analysis of the Major Characters, Setting, and Plot in Inding the Theme of Jane Austen’S Northanger Abbey

AN ANALYSIS OF THE MAJOR CHARACTERS, SETTING, AND PLOT IN INDING THE THEME OF JANE AUSTEN’S NORTHANGER ABBEY

AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS

Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Sarjana Sastra in English Letters

INDAH SRI HAYU RUKMIADI Student Number: 064214073

ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS FACULTY OF LETTERS SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY YOGYAKARTA 2010 AN ANALYSIS OF THE MAJOR CHARACTERS, SETTING, AND PLOT IN INDING THE THEME OF JANE AUSTEN’S NORTHANGER ABBEY

AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS

Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Sarjana Sastra in English Letters

INDAH SRI HAYU RUKMIADI Student Number: 064214073

ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS FACULTY OF LETTERS SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY YOGYAKARTA 2010

iii Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe. (Saint Augustine)

iv LEMBAR PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN PUBLIKASI KARYA ILMIAH UNTUK KEPENTINGAN AKADEMIS

Yang bertanda tangan di bawah ini, saya mahasiswa Universitas Sanata Dharma:

Nama : Indah Sri Hayu Rukmiadi Nomor Mahasiswa : 064214073 Dalam pengembangan karya ilmiah, saya memberikan kepada Perpustakaan Universitas Sanata Dharma karya ilmiah saya yang berjudul:

AN ANALYSIS OF THE MAJOR CHARACTERS, SETTING AND PLOT IN FINDING THE THEME OF JANE AUSTEN’S NORTHANGER ABBEY beserta perangkat yang diperlukan (bila ada). Dengan demikian, saya memberikan Perpustakaan Universitas Sanata Dharma hak untuk menyimpan, mengalihkan dalam bentuk media lain, mengelolanya dalam bentuk pangkalan data, mendistribusikan secara terbatas, dan mengaplikasikannya di internet atau media lain untuk kepentingan akademis tanpa meminta ijin kepada saya maupun memberikan royalty kepada saya. Selama nama saya tercantum sebagai penulis.

Demikian pernyataan ini saya buat dengan sebenarnya. Di buat di Yogyakarta Pada tanggal: 16 November 2010 Yang menyatakan

Indah Sri Hayu Rukmiadi

v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to express my deepest gratitude and respect due to my advisor, Maria Ananta, S.S, M.Ed., for her patience and her guidance. My greatest thanks go to my co-advisor, Harris H. Setiajid, S.S, M.Hum., for giving suggestions and advices. I thank you for your criticisms and your force to motivate me.

My enormous thanks go to my mommy Alexandra Jovita Poedjianti, my mama Irene Herawati and my aunty Sundari for all supports and prayers.

You are wonderful women I have. Thank you for being my fences. I also give thank to my brother, Michael Abraham ‘Jojok’, who always accompanies me with his patience, my lovely sister, Vera Ayu, who teaches me to survive, and all of my relatives who encourage me to finish this thesis.

I give my special thanks to my beloved daddy, Yosef Wahjoedie for all memories that strengthens me. Although he is in heaven, I know he never stops holding me tight when I finish my study in English Letters. Love u dad…

My big thanks come to Mas Bowo, Mas Talok, and Rm. In Nugroho, who always give me motivation to finish my study. I miss every moment to meet with you all.

I thank for all of the lecturers of English Letters of Sanata Dharma

University and for all of the staff who also give me support to finish my study.

My special thanks come to Mbak Ninik who helps me sincerely when I study.

Thanks to all friends in English Letters of Sanata Dharma University,

Mela, Elis, Siska, Ucy, Viana, Adit (Achong) for your supports. I will not forget

vi to say to Mela that I will never stop teasing at her. I love your patience and your understanding. For all my friends in Pemalang; Iqga, Baktiawan (Tuyul), Andi,

Tinus, Ali, Sinta (‘Ndut) and Fuby who always support me in finishing this thesis, I thank you all. I also give thanks for my KKN friends; Thea, Fani, Dika,

Tara, Rara, Vivin and Arga for the time to share knowledge.

For everyone who supports me in finishing my study, I thank you so much. I am so sorry if I cannot mention your names one by one. I will always remember your lessons in my heart.

Finally, I give my deepest honor for Jesus Christ, my Almighty God in heaven. I praise Your name for all Your grace, Your power, and Your mercy for

You sent to me many wonderful people I mentioned to help me finishing my study. In this part, let me present this undergraduate thesis for You and now, I am ready to continue my life with You.

Indah Sri Hayu Rukmiadi

vii TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE PAGE………………………………………………………… i APPROVAL PAGE………………………………………………….. ii ACCEPTANCE PAGE……………………………………………….. iii MOTTO PAGE………………………………………………………. iv LEMBAR PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN………………………... v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS………………………………………….. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS…………………………………………….. viii ABSTRACT…………………………………………………………… x ABSTRAK……………………………………………………………… xi

CHAPTER I: INRODUCTION……………………………………… 1 A. Background of the Study…………………………………… 1 B. Problem Formulation……………………………………….. 4 C. Objectives of the Study…………………………………….. 4 D. Definition of Terms………………………………………… 4

CHAPTER II: THEORETICAL REVIEW…………………………. 6 A. Review of Related Studies………………………………….. 6 B. Review of Related Theories………………………………….. 8 1. Theory of Character and Characterization……………… 8 2. Theory of Setting…….………………………………….. 11 3. Theory of Plot…………………………………………… 13 4. Theory of Theme…………………………………………. 14 C. Theoretical Framework……………………………………… 16

CHAPTER III: METHODOLOGY…………………………………. 17 A. Object of the Study…………………………………………. 17 B. Approach of the Study……………………………………… 18 C. Method of the Study………………………………………… 19

CHAPTER IV: ANALYSIS…………………………………………… 21 A. The Description of the Characteristics of the Major Characters 21 1. The characteristics of Catherine Morland……………. 22 2. The characteristics of Henry Tilney………………….. 26 B. The Description of the Setting ………………………………. 28 1. The Setting of Time………………………………….... 28 2. The Setting of Place…………………………………… 30 3. The Portrayal of the Society in Northanger Abbey…… 30 C. The Description of Plot ……………………………………….. 33 1. Beginning………………………………………………. 34 a. Exposition/Introduction……………………………… 34 2. Middle………………………………………………….. 38 a. Rising Action……………………………………….. 38 b. Climax ……………………………………………….. 40

viii 3. End ……………………………………………………… 42 a. Falling Action………………………………………… 42 b. Resolution …………………………………………… 43 D. Theme………………………………………………………….. 45

CHAPTER V: CONCLUSION………………………………………... 51

BIBLIOGRAPHY……………………………………………………….. 52

SUMMARY………………………………………………………………. 54

ix ABSTRACT

INDAH SRI HAYU RUKMIADI. An Analysis on the Major Characters, Setting, and Plot in Finding the Theme of Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey. Yogyakarta: Department of English Letters, Faculty of Letters, Sanata Dharma University, 2010. Northanger Abbey is a classic novel that was written by Jane Austen and published in 1817 in England. This novel is very interesting because it tells about the English social condition that is reflected by a love adventure of an uptown girl named Catherine Morland and Henry Tilney, a noble clergyman, in the city of Bath. Two interesting problems will be discussed in the analysis. The first problems are; the description of the characteristics of the major characters, the setting, and the plot. In the second problem, the writer explains what the significances of those internal elements in finding the main idea or the theme of Northanger Abbey. This thesis is based in the library research as the methodology. There are theories on character and characterization, theories on setting and theory on plot that are used in answering the first problem formulation. In the second problem formulation, the writer uses theory on theme in finding the theme. To go deeper into the analysis, the writer uses the formalistic approach, which was analyzing the internal elements of the literary work. The approach supports the writer and the readers to get the value and the meaning of the literary work such Northanger Abbey. Although Northanger Abbey is a classic mild novel, the main idea is very strong. The characteristics’ of the major characters, the setting, and the plot are very well connected in finding the theme. The writer finds the theme is “social status and wealth are the obstacles in building a relationship.” This is the suitable theme because Northanger Abbey tells about the struggle of Catherine Morland and Henry Tilney to reach their happiness by breaking the social perception about marriage.

x ABSTRAK

INDAH SRI HAYU RUKMIADI. An Analysis on The Major Characters, Setting, and Plot in Finding the Theme of Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey. Yogyakarta: Jurusan Sastra Inggris, Fakultas Sastra Inggris, Universitas Sanata Dharma, 2010. Northanger Abbey adalah sebuah novel klasik karangan Jane Austen yang dipublikasikan pada tahun 1817 di Inggris. Novel ini sangat menarik karena mengangkat kehidupan masyarakat Inggris yang digambarkan melalui petualangan cinta Catherine Morland, seorang gadis desa dan Henry Tilney, pendeta muda bangsawan. Penulis akan mengangkat dua permasalahan dalam novel Northanger Abbey. Permasalahan pertama adalah deskripsi mengenai karakteristik para tokoh utama, deskripsi latar, dan deskripsi plot. Pada permasalahan yang kedua, penulis akan mengaitkan pengaruh dari analisa deskripsi dalam menemukan tema atau pokok pikiran dari novel tersebut. Penulis menggunakan metode pustaka. Ada beberapa teori yang digunakan dalam penulisan tesis ini, yaitu teori penokohan dan karakterisasi, teori seting, dan teori plot yang digunakan untuk menjawab permasalahan pertama. Pada permasalahan kedua, penulis mengaplikasikan teori tema untuk menyelesaikannya. Untuk memperdalam analisis, penulis menggunakan pendekatan formalistik yang menggali karya sastra melalui intrinsik elemennya. Pendekatan ini membantu penulis dan para pembaca untuk menangkap pesan dan pokok pikiran karya sastra itu sendiri, seperti halnya dalam Northanger Abbey. Meskipun Northanger Abbey adalah novel klasik yang ringan, namun isinya sangat kuat. Setiap intrinsik elemennya saling mempengaruhi. Penulis mengungkapkan bahwa tema Northanger Abbey adalah “status sosial dan kekayaan merupakan hambatan dalam suatu hubungan ”. Tema ini sesuai dengan Northanger Abbey yang menceritakan perjuangan Catherine Morland dan Henry Tilney dalam memperjuangan cinta mereka meraih kebahagiaan dengan melawan persepsi sosial.

xi CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

A. Background of the Study

Reading a book opens knowledge and perspective. It also gives spiritual experience for the readers. Literary works are part of reflections of human life.

They have meaningful values for the author even for the readers. In the literary works, the author, share everything about some issues such as politics, humanity, education, social, and even their life experience.

According to Wilfred L. Guerin in A Handbook of Critical Approaches to

Literature, analyzing literature needs more than a pure pleasure. It has to maintain the knowledge (1998:5). The readers perhaps are capable of predicting and assuming such knowledge and the intelligent application of several interpretive technique of a piece of literature.

In literature, it is very important and requires attention to other elements in the story. Intrinsic elements of the fiction such as plot, character, message, setting, atmosphere and symbols cannot be forgotten because those elements are considered to lead the story into a good story. When understanding those elements and realizing that they are connected each other, it will help the reader to find theme that is offered in the novel.

In this analysis, the writer tries to find the theme. The focus is to find what the story is about. The theme is interesting elements that enriching a fiction and inspiring the readers. A successful fiction has an invisible story that is indicated

through the other device or elements of a fiction. Therefore, Stanton says in An

Introduction to Fiction that at finding the theme, the readers must find and go deeper to the characters’ characteristics, the situation, and the plot (1965: 21).

Intrinsic elements have aesthetic values if the author can make it into a beautiful idea. The author arranges her idea by presenting the characters. Without the characters, the readers cannot enjoy it. They are like breath in a novel or fiction. Sometime an author puts the characters on to the story to convey her ideas, opinion, criticism or messages about life or social condition.

A novel is different. A novel picks and focuses on that. If it is an historical novel, it picks a theme that (hopefully) of the true historical era or the life central character and uses versions of actual historical characters (a few fictional ones, of necessary) to illuminate that theme. (http://www.historicalnovelsociety.org/solander theme character.htm _taken October 12, 2010)

Steven Pressfield explains that the theme of a historical fiction is description of a relation between the character and historical events. It is indicating how the characters react to the problem that happens in a certain condition. The character itself has its own role to represent the historical reality that is packaged in a plot that flows the reader to feel the sense of the story.

The setting helps the readers to have a description about the place or condition in the novel. The setting and the characters cannot be separated because they are connected each other. In the book of An Introduction to Reading and

Writing, Edgar and Jacobs state that the setting in a novel can influence the characteristics of the characters (1987:218).

Combining characters and setting support the author’s idea to create a plot.

It serves a story or the arrangement of the author’s idea. Most of plot serves some events or phenomenon. It is like a stream in a fiction that flows to the points where the author wants to reach.

Knowing that each element has the contribution and the uniqueness for a fiction, the writer is interesting to go deeper to analyze them. Besides those elements are important, the writer considers that those elements are wonderful.

They have the power that builds and lead a novel to be a good literary work.

The writer chooses Northanger Abbey as her object of study. Northanger

Abbey is one Jane Austen’s masterpieces. The writer selects Austen’s work because Jane Austen was an excellent novelist. She provides beautiful novels in her life such as Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Persuasion, Mansfield

Park, Northanger Abbey and Emma. One of her masterpieces is Northanger

Abbey. It was written in 1797 and published in 1818. Northanger Abbey tells about a heroine named Catherine Morland, a young and naïve girl from middle class, who is living around society which is influenced by literature, fashion, balls, party, and wealth. It is told that Catherine has difficulties to find a true friend because she is betrayed by her friend, Isabella Thorphe. Since Isabella is engaged, flirts another man who is richer that her brother was, Catherine becomes so disappointed and uneasy to seek such a best friend. Her love adventure with

Henry Tilney gets an obstacle form Henry’s father, General Tilney, who does not allow him to marry too Catherine since the girl is not coming from the upper class.

in Northanger Abbey is interesting for the writer. By knowing the theme, the writer will find what the point of the story is. To find the theme, the writer will go deeper by analyzing some intern elements of Northanger Abbey such as plot, setting, and the major characters’ characteristic.

B. Problem formulation

1. How are the plot, major characters, and setting described in the story?

2. How are the plot, setting, and the major characters significant in finding the theme of the story?

C. Objective of the study

The objectives of the study are to find out the answer that is to reveal the theme in the Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey. Based on the problem formulation, the writer has to find the description of the major character’s characteristics, plot, and setting. After solving those problems, the writer will try to analyze how those elements are connected to reveal the theme.

D. Definition of terms

The writer writes the definition of terms to help the reader in understanding the meaning of some words that are considered important to convey of this study.

1. Character

M. H. Abrams in his book, A Glossary of Literary Terms, defines characters as “the person presented in a dramatic or narrative, who is interpreted

by the reader as being endowed with moral and dispositional quality, that is expressed in what he says- the dialogue-and by what he does- the action.”

(1993:23).

2. Plot

Peter Barry in his Beginning Theory explains that plot is the narrative account. In the plot, those events are edited, ordered, packaged, and presented as narration. (2002:223).

3. Setting

M. H. Abrams says that the settings of a narrative or dramatic works are taken from the general locale, historical time and social circumstance in which the action occurs. Settings also represent a particular scene which positioning the actors (1993:193).

4. Theme

To reveal theme, the writer also uses term “theme” in definition of terms in her thesis. in Glossary of Literary Terms, Abrams defines theme as a general concept or doctrine, whether it is implicit or asserted in the literary work that is designed to incorporated and persuade the reader to find the meaning or the imagery of the literary works and the purpose of the author (1993:121)

CHAPTER II

THEORETICAL REVIEW

A. Review of Related Studies

It is interesting to analyze Northanger Abbey for the writer. Northanger

Abbey is one of Jane Austen’s works that was written in 18th century. It is successful to influence her readers and other novelists. Northanger Abbey seems like a reflection of Austen’s life. In the novel, she became an author who could combine social concerns and social values, such as: history, humanity, and even personal development into a good mixture.

Elizabeth Langland in Society in the Novel opines that Northanger Abbey is a novel that was written in good technique to highlight the concern about the society and the individual. It presents the society as acceptable context for the characters although there are sources between private and public lives (1984:26).

The Harvard Students studies that Northanger Abbey is a novel that sees the reality life in eighteenth century in British. It contains the worry about the necessary of marriage for the British women to raise their social status.

Concerns over matters of marriage and courtship proliferate in Northanger Abbey. Throughout the novel, Austen foreground the economic significance of marriage: in 18th century England, fortune were built through family alliances. (http://www.gradesaver.com/northanger-abbey/study-guide/major- theme/_taken October 31, 2010)

As it is noted down in Northanger Abbey Essay, the novel of Northanger

Abbey is a mild novel that tells about the youth life of Catherine Morland who experiences to live in a new hectic circumstance. She is introduced with the higher- level life and survives among her sophisticated friends.

Northanger Abbey is a novel that is about more than a girl who is looking to find a husband. Its author Jane Austen is able to create a type of gothic parody that throughout the novel is integrated into the characterization and able to show the realities of a young girl growing up in a complicated and complex adult society.

(http://www.exampleessays.com/viewpaper/36551.html_taken: May 10, 2010)

According to Dusty Carter, Jane Austen is an anti-romantic author. On the contrary, she presents the difference things in Northanger Abbey. The romantic story between the major characters is served meaningfully for the readers.

Jane Austen is commonly viewed as anti-romantic, but her novel, Northanger Abbey, possesses and promotes many of the ideas prevalent in romantic literature. Heroine Catherine Morland is an especially romantic characters whose spontaneity, emotion, and sincerity eventually lead her to happiness. (http://www.gradesaver.com/northanger-abbey/essays/essay4/_taken: October 31, 2010) For a girl like Catherine Morland is not easy to deal with the problems that she must face in the society. To reach her happiness, she and her mate must work hard to break the social perception that intimidates her relationship.

This thesis will explore further the romantic experience of Catherine

Morland that is suitable with Catherine Morland’s love journey. Intrinsic elements

of the novel especially the characters, the setting, the plot, and the theme, become the focus of this thesis.

B. Review of Related Theories

Before analyzing the theme, the writer focuses to analyze the major character so that the writer knows the characteristics of the main characters, the setting, and the plot of the story. In this thesis, the writer uses theory on character and characterization, theory on setting, theory on plot and theory on theme.

1. Theory of Character and Characterization

In Abram’s A Glossary of Literary Terms, it defines that characters are the person presented in a dramatic or narrative work, who are interpreted by the reader as being endowed with moral, dispositional, and emotional qualities that are expressed in what they-say that is called the dialogue and by what they-do or the action (1993:193)

He adds that character in a fiction is divided into two types;

a. Major Characters

This is the three-dimensional or round characters. They revealed the bad and the good qualities. They have goals, ambitions and values that change as the result of what happen to them. They are also called as the dynamic character.

b. Minor Characters

This is the flat or the two-dimensional characters. They have only one or two significant qualities. They are usually all good or all bad. they are also mentioned as the static characters because they reveal no change (1993:24)

Murphy in Understading Unseens states that there are nine ways to characterize the characters. They are:

a. Personal Description

The author describes a person by looking his/her appearance or clothes

(1972:161).

b. Character as seen by another

The author describes a character from other characters’ opinion. It is like a

reflected image. It means that one way to make reader understand the

character easily by observing what the other characters say about him/her

(1972:162).

c. Speech

This is the way which author describes the character by observing what

he/she says. The author must observe whenever the character speaks,

whenever the character talks with other characters (dialogue), and

whenever the character shares his/her opinion (1972:164).

d. Past Life

The author gives the readers clue to events that have helped to shape a

person’s characteristics by letting them learn something about a person’s

past life. It is observed through the direct comment by the author, through

the person’s thought, through his/ her conversation or through the medium

of another person (1972:166).

e. Conversation of others

Person’s characteristics are also presented through the conversation of

other people and the things that other characters say about him/her

(1972:169).

f. Reactions

In this stage, a person’s characteristics observed through the reactions

toward the various situations and events (1972:169).

g. Direct Comment

Direct comment is one of methods, which can convey character’s

characteristics (1972:170).

h. Thoughts

By knowing the thoughts of the character, the readers will get some

knowledge about his/her characteristics. The author gives us description

what different people are thinking about the character (1972:171).

i. Mannerism

Through this stage, the author gives us clue to observe the character’s

characteristics through his/her mannerism, habits, or idiosyncrasies

(1972:173).

2. Theory of Setting

Holman and Harmon in A Handbook to Literature, describe the setting as the physical, sometime the spiritual background against which the actions a narrative in novel, drama, short story, and poem take place (1986: 465).

They list that there are some elements, which can signify the setting. They are: a. The actual geographical location, its topography, scenery and such physical arrangement as the location of the windows and doors in a room. b. The occupation and daily manner of living of the characters . c. The time/period in which the action take place, for example epoch in history/ season of the year. d. The general environment of the characters, for example religious, mental, social, emotion condition through which the people in the narrative move.

While in Understanding Unseen, Murphy says that the setting has three points that must be concerned. They are: a) Time.

Murphy divides the setting of time into four parts. First is the present time.

In this period, author writes a book about his own time or about the things that happen around her. The second, the author uses past time to go backwards in time.

Usually the author uses this setting to write about historical events or to attempt in illuminating the past to his readers. The next period is the future time. The author uses this setting by using her imagination and she tries to take the readers into the future. The last is setting of time is no specific time. In this case, the author gives no any specific time to indicate when the story happens (1972: 143-144). b) Place

According to Murphy, the author uses two kinds of setting of place. First, the author uses the familiar place to set her story in places that have a familiar background with the readers. The author also uses the unfamiliar place as the setting that is unknown by the readers or perhaps this is an imagination of the author (1972:145). c) Atmosphere

Atmosphere is a general feeling that is conveyed to the readers. The atmosphere could be like the breath or the mood of the character. The atmosphere is abstract. Atmosphere covers the story. The readers indicate the novel’s

atmosphere by feeling sorrow, happy, evil, optimistic, and so on after reading the novel (1972: 146).

In addition, Edgar V. Roberts and Henry E. Jacobs in their book, Fiction:

An Introduction to Reading and Writing, said that setting gives important roles that are to bear the character and to give some effect for them. It is signified by some questions such as, whether the characters happy or unhappy where they live, whether they could express their feelings or not, whether the place amused them to stay or not, how the cultural, economic and ethnic level influence them, what kinds the job that characters do, and how the setting influence the characters in terms making decisions, transportation, speech habits, eating habits, attitude about love and honor and their general folkways (1987:218).

3. Theory of Plot

In this thesis, the writer uses theory on plot as one of her theories in this thesis. According to William Kenney in the book How to Analyze Fiction,

William Kenney explains in that the arrangement of the plot (1966:13-14).

The stages could be like following stages;

1) Exposition

It is the beginning of a story. It provides the background information and introduces the characters, the setting and the basic situation.

2) Rising action or complications

This is the event where the conflict reveals. In this part, the author provides the problem that the major characters must encounter.

3) Climax

It is the turning points (the high suspense) in the story. In this process, the readers will be led into what the outcome is going to be. Climax usually occurs near the end of the story.

4) Falling action

The event in the story will lead to the resolution in this session.

5) Resolution or denouement

This is the ending of the story when the conflicts are resolved and the readers know the result of the story.

In addition, Peter Barry is his Beginning Theory says that the events in a plot can be divided into two; flashback and flash forward. The author will turn to events that happened in the previous era when using flashback. In the flash forward, the author refers to the events, which happen in the future time

(2002:223).

4. Theory of Theme

Clarence Hugh Holman in A Handbook to Literature explains that theme is a central idea in a work. In nonfiction literary works such prose, it may be

thought of as the general topic of discussion or will be the subject of the discourse. In other words, theme is the main idea that the writer expresses and can be defined as the underlying meaning of the story. Holman adds that theme of a novel is more that its subject matter. Subject matter is something concrete that influences the author. Commonly it could be something abstract. The theme of a novel is what it is about but it is better to say that the theme is what a novel’s story means. In a novel, theme is beneath of the surface of the novel, while the surfaces are the characters, plot, and setting. Theme of a novel is beneath the surface because the readers must draw and tie up the all of the surface before they get the meaning (1986:502).

According to Virgil Scout in Studies in the Short Stories, theme can be defined as the generalization that is implied or stated. It can lie behind the narration of a specific situation that involves specific individuals. Theme appears when human being lives in the same world and they want to share similar emotions and react to face the similar problem. Theme cannot be associated with moral message and the pat of maxim or the ethical or moral value to judge which one the good and which one the bad or to show that the good party always win the bad one (1968:8).

To determine the theme, it needs some steps. Since the theme cannot be justified with some subject such as materialism, death, or justice, or ethical value, the writer must determine firstly what the story is about. A theme must be stated in a statement. In the second step, the reader must consider the ways the characters are represented or what the typical of the characters are. It is necessary

to know their disposition, the attitude or the concept of the characters. The last steps to determine a theme is considering how the characters react to the problem of the situation in the story and see what happens to them (1968:11)

C. Theoretical Framework

This study aims to find out the theme of Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey through analyzing the major characters, plot and the setting in the novel. In this analysis, the writer provides some theories to find the answer of the problems.

They are theory of character and characterization, theory of setting, theory of plot and theory of theme. These theories will support the analysis and help to answer the problem formulations.

In answering the first question of the problem formulation, the writer will apply theory of character and the characterization toward the major characters in

Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey. After finding a clear description of the characters and their characteristics, the writer will jump to look for a description of the place and the social situation of the Northanger Abbey. The writer will apply theory of setting to do this analysis. In the end, the writer will apply theory of plot to find the clear sequence of Northanger Abbey,

In the second problem formulation, the writer will examine how the major characters, setting and the plot are significant in finding theme. The writer will apply theory of theme to support the research in order to get the right theme.

CHAPTER III

METHODOLOGY

A. Object of the Study

The object of this study is taken from a literary work as a novel that was written by Jane Austen, which is entitled Northanger Abbey. This novel was the first writing of Austen, but published at last in 1818. As the object of analysis, the writer reads Northanger Abbey, which was the third printing, published by The

New American Library in 1965. The work contains of 221 pages and is divided into thirty-one chapters.

Jane Austen was a great female author in the Victorian era. She had written some popular novels such as Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice,

Persuasion and Emma. To appreciate Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey was made in movie for twice. The first Northanger Abbey movie was released in 1986 and the second release was in 2008. Northanger Abbey movie got IFTA Award in

2008 for the category the Best Director of Photography.

Northanger Abbey is a novel that told about a young girl named Chaterine

Morland. She is a daughter of a clergy from middle class. One day, she has a chance to visit the city of Bath with her wealthy relation whose childless named

Allen family. While staying in Bath, she is introduced with some new friends.

They are Isabella Thorpe and her brother, John Thorpe, who make trouble in her life later. Besides that, she also know some good friends like Eleanor Tilney and

Henry Tilney. The girl falls in love with Henry Tilney. Unfortunately, she is rejected by the Tilney’s father because of her social status. Living in Bath makes

Chaterine Morland learns many things. She faces the society that considers that status, class, and money are important in making a relationship.

B. Approach of the study

In this research, the writer uses the formalistic approach to analyze her work. Guerin says in A Handbook of Critical Approach to Literature that to fulfill the formalistic approach, the readers need to make a close reading (2004:

94).

In reading literature, especially a fiction, the reader will be served some question in their mind about the fiction. The question could be how the readers see the readings, what the readers’ responses, and what the novel’s author wants to say by arranging those internal elements. Those questions can encourage the readers to be more sensible to go deeper in analyzing each word or each element.

It will lead that every words and form have special function and the meaning. This process of analysis supports the readers to feel close to the work (2004:93).

Using the formalistic approach means to emphasize objective and literal interpretation which is in the internal elements. The readers are not allowed to discuss the elements which are in outside, such as: the politic or the historical issue or the opinion of the novel’s author.

From the explanation above, the writer knows and understands the characteristics of the formalistic approach. Since this thesis will discuss about the

internal elements of Northanger Abbey, the writer uses the formalistic approach.

This approach will help the writer in analyzing how the internal elements such as the characters, the setting, the plot are related each other to reveal the theme.

C. Method of Study

The writer used library research as the method of the study. The writer collected some sources and uses them to analyze the problem formulations that were presented in the first chapter. In this study, the writer used the story

Northanger Abbey itself as the primary source of the study and used another sources to support this study.

Northanger Abbey was the main source of this study, written by Jane

Austen. For the secondary sources, the writer used some books that could be considered as references. To add more information, the writer also collected online resources which were taken from internet that are related to the research problems, such as some analysis done by previous researchers on the short stories and on the author, theories on plot, theories on character and characterization, theories on setting and theories on theme.

The writer made some steps in discussing the topic. The first step was reading Northanger Abbey. The second step was reading some reference books and some online journals about Northanger Abbey. The third step, the writer decided formulating the problems and to apply the suitable approach to analyze the study. The fourth step was answering the problems of the study and figured out how plot, major characters and the setting are significant in finding the theme.

In the last part, the writer would draw the conclusion based on the analysis in the previous chapter.

CHAPTER IV

ANALYSIS

The analysis in this chapter is divided into two parts based on the problems that are formulated in the first chapter. In the first part, the writer will analyze the characteristics of the major characters, the setting and the plot of

Northanger Abbey. The second, the writer jumps to analyze how the major characters, the setting and the plot are related each other to reveal the theme.

A. The Description of the Major Characters of Northanger Abbey

To analyze the characters, the writer deals with the theories that are written in the previous chapter. In the previous chapter, the writer uses two kinds of theories. First, the writer uses the theory on character from Abram. Second, the writer uses the theory on characterization from Murphy to help the writer to analyze the characteristics of the major characters.

To start analyzing it, the writer looks back to what Murphy says in his

Understanding Unseens that there are some ways to analyze the characters. Those ways are; personal description, characters as seen by another, speech, past life, conversation of other, reaction, direct comment, thoughts, and mannerism.

Northanger Abbey provides two major characters. The novel introduces

Catherine Morland as the first major character closely in the first chapter.

No one who had ever seen catherine Morland in her infancy would have supposed her born to be an heroine. Her situation of life, the character of

her father and mother, her own disposition, were all equally against her (p.9) The disposition of Catherine Morland is introduced close and quickly from her infancy through age ten to seventeen and the rest of the previous chapters are telling about her experience.

Henry Tilney is the second major character of the novel. Henry Tilney is

Catherine’s friend and advisor. The figure of Henry Tilney is very important because he is not only a lover, but also a hero for Catherine.

This short of mysteriousness, which is always so becoming in a hero, threw a fresh grace in Catherine’s imagination around his person and manners (p.28)

1. The Description of the Characteristics of Catherine Morland

Northanger Abbey is a novel that introduces Catherine Morland as the first major characteristics. She is a young girl from Wiltshire, Fullerton that comes to the city of Bath when she is seventeen years old. She lives with her parents. Her mother named Sarah, and her father was Richard Morland. Her family is respected in her village (p.9).

Catherine Morland is a pretty and attractive girl. Her characteristics are also drawn as the below explanation: a. Modest

The characteristics of a character can be observed by her mannerism or the way she has daily life or her habit. Therefore the mannerism description is

reflected when Catherine lives with her family. Catherine Morland lives in a big family. They live in sufficiency. Although their lives are enough, they never feel inadequacy. It influences Catherine Morland to be a modest girl that is not greedy to gain fortune or money.

A family of ten children will be always called a fine family, where there are heads and arms, and legs enough for the number; but the Morland had little other right to the word, for they were in general very plain and Catherine, for many years of her life, as plain as any (p.9). When she gets an invitation to have a trip in Bath for six weeks from her kind neighbor, the Allens, Catherine does not demand money in a big amount from his father. She is obedient to accept every amount that was given by her father.

Her father, instead of giving her unlimited order on his banker, or even putting an hundred pounds bank-bill into her hands, gave her only ten guineas and promised her more when she wanted it (p.14). For Catherine, her father’s trust is more important than money. She obeys her father in using less money while she was in Bath. She will not to ask more than that because her father’s permission to let her go to Bath was very expensive or even unaccountable.

When she arrives in Bath, she finds many acquaintances that are pressed by social pressure. The daily glamour living in Bath influences the habitants to live excessively. For they who have less money, tried to gain money or wealth when they built relationships. Some of her acquaintances such Isabella and her brother, John Thorpe, are also influenced to be greedy. They are ambitious to look for wealthy friends to support their finance. Before Catherine Morland realizes

their motives, she refuses the thought of marrying for money that is implied by

John Thorpe when he tries to propose Catherine,

“By Jove, no more do I. It is not my way to bother my brains with what does not concern me. My notion of things is simple enough. Let me only have the girl I like, say I, with a comfortable house over my head, and what care I for all the rest? Fortune is nothing. I am sure of a good income of my own; and if she had not a penny, why, so much better.” And Catherine replied, “Very true. I think like you there. If there is a good fortune on one side, there can be no occasion for any on the other. No matter which has it, so that there is enough. I hate the idea of one great fortune looking out for the other. And to marry for money I think the wickedest thing in existence…” (p.105) In the conversation, the writer considers that Catherine give the strong response in replying John Thorpe. Catherine disagrees with the materialistic thought. People should not build a relationship with the property. For her, love and trust must be the foundation in making a relationship. Since that her parents’ lesson to her, Catherine Morland is durable to face the socialite that is greedy and is not influenced to follow them.

Knowing that Catherine Morland is modest, Isabella Thorpe, her friend tries to manipulate her. She knows that her heart that is full of kindness for everybody. She treats her friends gently and will not let them hurt.

She was sure her dearest, sweetest Catherine would not seriously refuse such a trifling request to a friend who loved her so dearly. She knew her beloved Catherine to have so feeling a heart, so sweet temper, to be easily persuaded by those she loved (p.82).

Catherine feels difficult when she hears people talk about money or property, but she cannot let Isabella live in suffering. Isabella knows that

Catherine will do everything for her lovely people.

“Nobody can think better of Mr. Morland than I do. I am sure. But everybody has their failing, you know and everybody has a right to do what they like with their own money.” Catherine was hurt by these insinuations. “I am very sure,” said she, “that my father has promised to do as much as he can afford.”(p.113) Through the characteristics, Catherine does the same when she loves

Henry Tilney. She loves him without having desire to gain his wealth. She loves to marry to him not for the property, but for the love (p.211).

Isabella manipulates Catherine easily because she sees that Catherine was a kind girl. Isabella’s perspective about Catherine Morland is the way to know the characteristics of Catherine Morland. c. Honest

Catherine grows in a plain family that is sincere. Her parents never teach her to lie and tell hypocrisy.

Her own family were plain, matter-of-fact people who seldom aimed at wit of any kind; her father, at the utmost, being contented with a pun, and her mother with a proverb; they were not in the habit therefore of telling lies to increase their importance, or of asserting at one moment what they would contradict the next. (pp.54-55) They also teach her to be proud of herself in every condition. This family background supports Catherine to be a girl who regards the honesty in making a friendship. The mannerism make her dislike lying even to convince other people to show her superiority.

Those characteristics prove that Catherine Morland is not greedy unlike some other characters in Northanger Abbey. Through those characteristics,

Catherine Morland is successful to maintain her relationship with Henry Tilney.

2. The Description of the Characteristics of Henry Tilney

Henry Tilney is the second major character in Northanger Abbey. He is a young handsome man whose professions as a clergyman and an entrepreneur of his family company from Gloucestershire (p.23).

Henry Tilney is described as a rich attractive man. In addition, the characteristics of Henry Tilney are drawn in the following brief explanation: a. Tolerant

His profession as a clergyman supports Henry to be humble and gentle to everyone. He is very tolerant in making a friendship and never has any objection about equality. He never treats anybody rudely, but gently and politely. He is a man that respects women. He puts his caring for them and will not let them hurt or agitated by his behavior.

" Very true," said Henry, "And this is a very nice day, and we are taking a very nice walk and you are two very nice young ladies. Oh, it is very nice word indeed! It does for everything. Originally, perhaps it was applied only to express neatness, propriety, delicacy, or refinement-people were nice in their dress, in their sentiments or their choice. But now every commendation on every subject is comprised in that one word."(p.91) By reading at his polite speech toward Eleanor Tilney and Catherine

Morland, the writer knows that Henry Tilney loves to be modest and loves to give sincere compliment for every acquaintance. His politeness toward the women

proves that he has a fine quality as a man. His fine does not change him to be an arrogant man.

Henry Tilney does not have any objection or consideration about some importance such property or wealth, status, race and gender in making friendship or relationship. For his relationship, Henry loves to live in adequacy. He leaves all of his pride. He does not consider that it was important.

She was assured of his affection; and that heart in return was solicited, which, perhaps, they pretty equally knew was already entirely his own; for, though Henry was now sincerely attach to her, though he felt and delighted in all the excellencies of her character and truly loved her society, I must confess that his affection originated in nothing better than gratitude, or, in other words, that a persuasion of her partiality for him had been the only cause of giving her a serious thought (p.204). b. Fair Henry is an intelligent man that supports himself to be a man who never restricts his friendships. Henry gives the above analogy about a relationship between men and women. Although he lives in the society that adopts the patriarchy, Henry considers that women should be treated equally. Henry’s smart thought supports theory on character and characterization by Murphy that characteristics of a character can be seen by his thought (1972:171).

"...but I think I could place them in such a view. You will allow, that in both, man has advantage of choices and women only the power of refusal; that in both, it is an engagement between man and woman for the advantage for each... In one respect, there certainly is a difference. In marriage, the man is supposed to provide for the support of the woman, the woman to make the home agreeable to the man; he is to purvey and she is to smile. But in dancing, their duties are exactly changed; the agreeableness the compliance are expected from him, while she furnishes the fan and the lavender water. That, I suppose, was the differences of duties which struck you, as rendering the conditions incapable of comparison." (p.64)

In building a relationship with Catherine, Henry believes that love is the basic and strong foundation. Henry does not want to be an ambitious man who wants a rich woman to be his wife. He wants a loyal woman who loves and cares him gently. He will not consider that money is the most important in his relationship. He is contrast from his father, General Tilney who always is an ambitious man to get wealthy children-in-law (p.210).

Those characteristics support Henry to maintain his relationship with

Catherine Morland. He does not care whether Catherine is well breed or not, he does not care about her social status. He loves her very much for she has an affectionate heart unlike the other girls in Bath (p.94).

B. The Description of the Setting of Northanger Abbey

In this part, the writer divides the analysis into three parts. The first is the description of the setting of time. It gives the explanation briefly about the time, which the story of Northanger Abbey takes place. After the writer finishes the first one, the writer jumps to analyze the setting of place. In the last part of the analysis, the writer finishes it by analyzing the portrayal of the society, which is drawn in Northanger Abbey.

1. The Description of the Setting of Time

The writer indicates that the setting of time of Northanger Abbey is taken around eighteenth century. This indication is based on the description, which the

narrator gave by some ways such as; the ways of characters’ dressing (p.21), their daily manner of living (p.20), and the architecture (p.161).

First, the indication of the setting of time by the way the characters to dress. It can be seen by the kinds of clothes that are worn by the characters in the story.

“Do you understand muslin, sir?” “Particularly well; I always buy my own cravats and am allowed to be an excellent to be an excellent judge; and my sister has often trusted me in the choice of a gown. I bought one for her the other day, and it was pronounced to be prodigious bargain by every lady who saw it. I gave it but five shilling a yard for it and a true Indian muslin.” (p.21) From the conversation between Henry Tilney and Mrs. Allen, it is mentioned some types of clothes, muslin and cravat. Both muslin and cravat are the clothes that are so popular for men and women in Europe especially in

England in eighteenth century.

The second indication is based on the daily manner of the living that happens in the city of Bath.

“Indeed! Have you yet honored the Upper Rooms?” “Yes, sir, I Was there last Monday.” “Have you been to the theatre?” “Yes, Sir, I was at the play on Tuesday.” “To the concert?” “Yes, sir, on Wednesday.” “And are you altogether pleased with Bath?” (p.20)

In the eighteenth century in the city of Bath, those activities are regularly hold. The habitants routinely gather in the party or gathering in the public assemblies.

The last indication is based on the architecture of Northanger Abbey, the house where the Tilney family lives. The description of the building of

Northanger Abbey is described as the ancestral building.

She saw a large, well-proportioned apartment, and handsome dimity bed, arranged as unoccupied with an housemaid’s care, a bright Bath stove, mahogany wardrobes and neatly painted chairs, on which the warm beams of a western sun gaily poured through two sash windows… This apartment, to which she had given a date so ancient, a position so awful, proved to be one of the ends of what the general’s father had built. (p.161) Although it brings the scary atmosphere, the building of Northanger

Abbey expensive interior that symbolizes the prestige and nobility of the owner.

2. The Description of the Setting of Place Northanger Abbey also mentions some particular places as the setting of place. The first place is Fullerton (p.12). It is the place, where the Morlands lives.

It is the village where far from glamorous. Second place is the city of Bath. Bath city is a big city near with London. That is a crowded and hectic place. Everyone loves to go there to look for job and getting money. Since Bath is glamour and expensive, most of the habitants are coming from noble or people are known as the upper class (p.14).

3 .The Portrayal of the Society in Northanger Abbey

The city of Bath is introduced when Catherine arrives in the city for the first time. Bath is introduced as a metropolis, which has the expensive daily living

cost. The glamour of the city is shown by the conversation between Mrs. Allen and Henry Tilney.

“Bath is charming place, sir; there are so many good shops here. We are sadly off in the country; not but what we have very good shops in Salisbury; but it is so far to go – eight miles is a long way; Mr. Allen says it is nine, measured nine, but I’m sure it cannot be more than eight; and it is such a fag- I come back tired for death. Now, here one can step of doors and get a thing in five minutes.” (p.22).

The glamorous of Bath attracts many people, especially strangers from rural area that migrate and look for their fortune. They have no knowledge or important information that Bath city is a rough place that has social pressures.

A girl like Catherine Morland is an example. She is a young girl who comes from remote area, Fullerton that has nor enough information neither experience to live in big city like Bath. She thinks that Bath is alike Fullerton, a place where she could find nice and good- hearted people. (p.66).

The thought is made up by Henry Tilney’s information. He tells Catherine that Bath is different from Fullerton.

“Bath, compared with London, has little variety, and so everybody finds out every year. ‘For six weeks, I allow Bath is pleasant enough; but beyond that; it is the most tiresome place in the world.’ You would be told so by, people of all descriptions, who came regularly every winter, lengthen their six weeks into ten or twelve and go away at last because they can afford to stay no longer.” (p.65) Like another regions in England, in eighteenth century there is a distinction to line social classes in society. The noble or rich families, such as

Henry Tilney’s family, reflect the upper classes.

“…for he had early in the evening taken pains to know who her pather was, and had been assured of Mr. Tillney’s being a clergman, and of a very respectable family in Gloucestershire.” (p.23)

In contrast, the lower and middle classes were reflected by the description of The Thorpes family which not rich or poor.

“Are they a wealthy family?”

“No. not very. I don’t believe Isabella has any fortune at all; but that will not signify in your family. Your father is so very liberal! He told me the other day that he only valued money as it allowed him to promote the happiness of his children.” (p.171).

The lower class or the poor appear to have no fortune to support their lives. Men and women must work and look for by any means to get welfare. The condition is getting worse when remembering that the society adopts patriarchal systems. The writer regards that for the situation of English women during the eighteenth century, they have less right or freedom than men within the family do do and marriage do. Most of the women are forced marrying to the rich men to support their financial problems.

A living, of which Mr.Morland was himself patron and incumbent, of about four hundred pounds yearly value, was to be resigned to his son as soon as he should be old enough to take it; no trifling deduction from the family income, no niggardly assignment to one of ten children. An estate of at least equal value, moreover, was assured as his future inheritance. (p.112).

For women such as Isabella and Mrs. Thorpe, marriage is only way of having a recognized position in society. In the period, it is true that it is more preferable for women from lower (elevate) social status to marry for money.

“Since that it is the case, I am sure I shall not tease you any further. John desired me to speak to you on the subject and therefore I have. But I confess, as soon as I read his letter, I thought it a very foolish, imprudent bussiness, and not likely to promote the jood of either; for what were you to live upon, supposing you came together?you have both of you something, to be sure but it is not a trifle that will support a family nowadays; and after all that romancers may say, there is no doing without money. I only wonder John could think of it; he could not have received my last.” (p.120).

For lower classes; such as Isabella and her mother, it is an opportunity to marry a wealthy man who had potencies, commercial values, and name or title. It will strengthen to increase or maintain their economic prosperity. For other reasons, it is also important reason to carry their husband prestigious name bearing a child.

C. The Description of Plot

Plot is part of the analysis. It is used for helping the writer in analyzing more clearly. The writer considers that plot is important to be analyzed because the sequence of Northanger Abbey has significant effect in finding theme.

Northanger Abbey uses plot of flash forward. It is plot, which the writer refers to the events, which happen in the future time (Barry, 2002: 223). The writer considers that through the plot of flash forward, the writer finds the point of

Northanger Abbey is more visible and easy to be understood.

In the section, the writer starts her analysis by dividing it into three parts:

The first part is the beginning. It is exposition or introduction. In the exposition, the writer introduces the setting, the character, and the situation that leads the

major characters into a conflict or the problems that they faced. The second is middle. Those are parts that consists of rising action or complication and climax.

In the last part of Northanger Abbey, the writer describes the end. The end is divided into two parts; falling action and resolution.

1) Beginning a) Exposition or Introduction

The first stage of plot is exposition. In this part, the writer introduces the novel and gives some important information about the characters, setting, and the basic situation (Kenney, 1966:13).

In the beginning of Northanger Abbey, it is started by the introduction of the city of Bath as the place that is mostly told in the story. The city of Bath is a metropolis that is located in England nearby London and Salisbury (p.26). The city is very crowded. Many frequenters or newcomers come into this city to look for fortune and happiness (p.65). The beauty of Bath city also attracts Catherine

Morland to visit when she got an invitation to have a trip for six weeks with her kind neighbor, Mr. and Mrs. Allen (p.12) .

Catherine Morland, the major character, is introduced in Northanger

Abbey. She is a young girl who is seventeen years old grows in an adequate family from Wiltshire. It is a remote village, which is located in Fulleton. Catherine and her family lives in the place where is far from the crowd and the crimes, unlike

Bath (p.13).

Catherine is a daughter of a respectable clergyman in her village name

Richard. For the writer, Richard Morland and his wife are the description id independent parents that never force Catherine to marry to the selected man in their village (p.9).

Coming into Bath city is a new experience for Catherine because she is accustomed to live in a rural area. The crowds of Bath amaze her.

They arrived at Bath. Catherine was all-eager delight- her eyes were here, there, everywhere as they approached its fine and striking environs, and afterwards drove through those streets which conducted them to the hotel- she was come to be happy and she felt happy already. (p.14) Six-week-trip is long for Catherine. She looks for some new friends. In this part, some of Catherine’s acquaintances are introduced. They are Isabella and

John Thorpe as Catherine’s friend in her early coming. They are also newcomers from Putney. The Thorpes are the children of Mrs. Thorpe, Mrs. Allen’s acquaintance, that is known as a middle class woman because she is not rich

(p.171).

Catherine Morland makes a friendship with Isabella Thorpe. She is the most beautiful girl in Bath who attracts all men. Isabella’s brother, John Thorpe, is a friend of Catherine’s brother, James Morland. In the early meeting, the Thorpes seem to be kind and pleasant. On the other hand, the Thorpe siblings reveal their actual nature in the middle of story. The readers will know the fact that they are kinds of villains in Northanger Abbey.

The pretty Isabella is drawn that she uses her beauty to attract the rich man. John, her brother, also looks for wealthy women to support his daily living

so he does not need to work hard anymore. The background of the behavior is the social pressure in Bath.

The other acquaintances of Catherine Morland are the Tilneys siblings.

They are Henry and Eleanor Tilney. They are used to live big cities such Bath and

Woodston. Therefore they have more experience than Catherine does. They are the good friends of Catherine Morland (p.108). Henry and his sister are

Catherine’s advisor to face the trouble that the Thorpes makes for Catherine. The

Tilneys’ characteristics are different with the Thorpes. The Tilneys are the heroes and the Thorpes are the villains. The writer thinks that the contrast is used for drawing a description which the good and the bad. Besides the Tilneys and the

Thorpes, General Tilney, Mrs. Thorpes, and Richard Morland are also introduced as the parents. Although they are the minor characters and are not told much about, the writer finds that they have important roles in Northanger Abbey.

General Tilney and Mrs. Thorpe are similar kinds of ambitious parents in ruling their children. General Tilney is a noble that ruled his children to have an acquaintance or to marry to the other nobles or the likely degree acquaintances.

He did it for maintaining the nobility of his family. That is shown by Henry when he came to Fullerton to beg the Morlands’ apologize for the general for he sends

Catherine from Northanger Abbey.

Henry saved her from the necessity of a conscientious rejection, by engaging her faith before he mentioned the subject; and as he proceeded to give the particulars, and explain the motives of his father’s conduct, her feeling soon hardened into even a triumphant delight. The general had had nothing to accuse her of, nothing to lay to her charge, but her being the involuntarily, unconscious object of a deception which his pride could not pardon, and which a better pride would have been ashamed to own. She

was guilty only of being less rich than he had supposed to be. Under a mistaken persuasion of her possession and claims, he had courted her acquaintance in Bath, solicited her company at Northanger and designed her for his daughter-in-law. (p.205) Like General Tilney is Mrs. Thorpe. She is a widow from Putney who comes to Bath with her children. She is not rich. Although she is an indulgent mother, she is ambitious. Since she does not want to see her children living insufficient, she suggests her children to look for the wealthy men or nobles to support their finance. Her arrival in Bath is a part of her purpose to look for the potential husbands for her daughters. When she finds James Morland, who engages to her daughter, is not rich as she supposes to be, she has a disappointment for the engagement.

“I wish I could do as much. One could not expect more from him, you know. If he finds he can s more by and by, I dare say he will, for I am sure he must be an excellent good-hearted man. Four hundred is but a small income to begin on indeed, but your wishes, my dear Isabella, are so moderate, you do not consider how little you ever want, my dear.” (p.112) In contrast, Northanger Abbey introduces the character of Richard

Morland, Catherine’s father, as a moderate and humble old man. Although he is very respected by the villagers in his village, he lives in modesty and adequacy.

He and his wife always teach their children, especially Catherine to live in affection. He is said that he is an independent father that never force her daughter to marry to a man for the reason of income or wealth.

He had a considerable independence besides two good livings-and he was not in the least addicted to locking up his daughters (p.9). For the writer those three kinds parents help to analyze the background of the family of the characters which also influence their characteristics. Henry

Tilney is an example of son that against his father’s perception about marriage.

John and Isabella Thorpe are the examples of children who support their mother’s idea marriage for money. The last, Catherine Morland is a description of a daughter that Mr. Morland is successfully taught to be a modest and humble girl in among the materialists.

2. Middle a) Rising Action

In the section, the writer continues her analysis to jump to the second stage, conflict. It is the process that of the problem that the major characters must encounter and leads the story into the climax. Catherine Morland faces the sequences of problems from her friends when she is in Bath.

The progress of Catherine’s unhappiness from the events of the evening was as follows. It appeared first in a general dissatisfaction with everybody about her, while she remained in the rooms, which speedily brought on considerable weariness and a violent desire to go home. (p.49)

Catherine’s desire to go home gets bigger after she know the John Thorpe pursuit her. She does not like the man. John Thorpe meanwhile wants Catherine to be his lover. He wants Catherine for she is pretty and rich. He assumes that after he knows that Catherine lives closely with the rich Allens, a kind neighbor that invite Catherine to go to Bath (p.52).

The difficulty of finance of the Thorpes makes them deceiving Catherine and her brother, James. They consider that the Morlands are rich enough to solve

their financial problem. Therefore, they arrange the engagement to achieve their property.

Catherine thought this reproach equally strange and unkind. Was it the past of a friend thus to expose her feelings to the notice of others? Isabella appeared to her ungenerous and selfish, regardless of everything but her own gratification (p.83). One of their engagements is successful. That is the engagement of James and Isabella. They are happy because Richard Morland has given his consent to them. Unfortunately, the Thorpes are irritated enough for Richard give James a regulation to finish his study of priest for two years in London before he get an estate form his father (p.112).

Isabella is disappointed for the regulation because she has to delay their marriage. It means she must wait for two years to achieve the property of the

Morlands. She is getting more impatient to maintain her engagement. She betrays

James to flirt with Federick Tilney, eldest son of General Tilney. She does it because the man is richer than James Morland is (pp. 121-122). The flirtation of

Isabella and the cancellation of the engagement help Catherine to understand that

Isabella only uses her beauty figure to attract the rich men to gain their property and wealth.

The second effort of the Thorpes is arranging the engagement for John to

Catherine Morland. John Thorpes is sly to use the Isabella’s friendship to approach Catherine. John thought that he can use her sister, Isabella, to convince

Catherine that he is the best man by deceiving Catherine that Henry Tilney and his family is unkind for her.

“ Oh! Don’t defend her! Then the brother, he who had appeared so attached to you! Good heavens! Well, some people’s feelings are incomprehensible. And so he hardly looked once at you the whole day/” “ I don’t say so; but he did not seem in good spirits.” ‘How contemptible! Of all things in the world inconstancy of my aversion. Let me entreat you never to think of him again, my dear Catherine; indeed he is unworthy of you,” “Unworthy! I do not suppose he ever think of me.” “ That is exactly what I say; he never thinks of you. Suck fickleness! Oh! How different to your brother and to mine. I really believe John has the most constant heart.”(p.107) Isabella is smart to deceive Catherine well. She convinces Catherine that

Henry Tilney and his sister are not good friends. She tells Catherine to avoid them because the Tilneys are such friends who would hurt her someday. Through

Isabella’s lie, John is sure that he could be successful to propose Catherine

Morland. Unfortunately, John receives his failures after he proposes Catherine

Morland for twice. The last proposal of John is conveyed by Isabella.

Catherine refuses the proposal because she only loves Henry Tilney. The last refusal irritates John Thorpe. He will not give up getting Catherine even he tried to break Catherine and Henry’s relationship (p.206). b) Climax

This is the high suspense or the turning points in a fiction. In this stage, the readers are led into what would happen in the future. Climax is the closer part to resolution or the ending.

The failures of getting the Morland’s property get closer. After Catherine’s refusal toward John’s proposal, their situation become worse by the cancellation

of the engagement by James Morland after he heard that Isabella has flirted with

Federick Tilney and plans to engage to him (pp.168-169). The cancellation makes the Thorpe family feel disappointed. However, John Thorpe is not giving up reaching their property. He designs a trick to damage Catherine’s relationship.

In another chance, Catherine is invited by General Tilney to visit his family in Northanger Abbey. John Thorpe knows that the general is an ambitious that is so selective who never let his children make acquainted with strangers.

Catherine meanwhile feels very happy because it is an entrance to be closer with

Henry Tilney. John Thorpe also can read that the general wants his children marry to nobles. Throughout the information, John is successful in lying General Tilney.

John Thorpe meets with General Tilney. He deceives him that Catherine

Morland is a girl from an unrespectable and insufficient family (p.205). Through the conversation, John Thorpe is successful to make the general mad. He feels that

Catherine Morland has been lying him and manipulating his kindness to gain his family property. The general feels that he is careless in accepting Catherine

Morland in Northanger Abbey as an acquaintance of his children and him. The general will not let the gossip spread over the Bath socialite. He comes home and orders his daughter, Eleanor, to sent Catherine home to Fullerton (p.187).

The general’s behavior hurts Catherine. When she comes home, Henry follows her two days later. He explains that the general has been misled by John

Thorpe. After she knows the information, Catherine can be humbly to understand that the general is not a rude person. He only wants to be a realistic father that

protects his children of being poor. Catherine also understands that John Thorpe must be hurt for she had refused his proposal.

The general’s agitation is getting worse. He orders his children to break their friendship with Catherine Morland. The general also orders Henry to forget the girl because she is unworthy for his family. However, Henry disagrees with his father. He loves Catherine without considering about Catherine’s family background. (p.204)

Henry’s disappointment for his father’s misunderstanding is increasing.

The general should be good in reading the obvious motives and the people’s characteristics such John’s. Henry keeps convincing his father that Catherine

Morland is not as he supposed. He wants the general to realize that he is wrong in assuming Catherine Morland. Considering that his father give no reaction even give him long punishment, Henry come to Fullerton to beg apologize and to purpose Catherine (p.208).

3. End a) Falling action

In this stage, the event in the story leads the readers to the resolution.

Henry and his father have not stopped argued. He uses his chance to apologize.

He says that he is sorry for his father sends Catherine home and explains the misperception of the general. After Henry explains that, he is so surprised because the family of Morland is good to accept his explanation. They have no irritation for the general’s attitude toward their daughter. Their kindness persuades him to

purpose their daughter. Amazingly, Mr. and Mrs. Morland give them the consent.

They know that the young couple love each other and they know that Henry’s proposal can heal Catherine’s hurt. Nevertheless, they will not be able to marry before the general give the consent for them because, a father’s consent is important and it legalizes the marriages (p.209). b) Resolution

This stage consists of the ending of the story. Northanger Abbey ends in happy resolution. Catherine Morland and HenryTilney reach their happiness after they get consent of General Tilney.

Henry believes that Catherine is different from any girls such Isabella and other greedy girls in Bath. He finds that she grew up among the independent and honest family that influences her characteristics. Catherine is not poor and dejected as his father supposes. Her father is respected in his village. Through the knowledge, Henry convinces his father to break his perception about Catherine

Morland and her family. At last, General Tilney realizes his mistake and confesses his fault to listen John Thorpe.

It taught him that he had been scarcely more misled by Thorpe’s first boast of the family wealth than by his subsequent malicious overthrow of it; that in no sense of the word were they necessitous or poor and that Catherine would have three thousand ponds (p.211). For fulfill his punishment, Henry is allowed marry after Eleanor marry to a viscount. Her marriage removal the general’s agitation because Eleanor has fulfilled his ambition to marry a noble as her father wanted to. Although the

general gives the consent, he feels reluctant for Henry and Catherine. On the other hand, he cannot against his son anymore to stop loving at the girl.

The circumstances which chiefly availed was the marriage of his daughter with a man of fortune and consequence, which took place in the course of the summer- an accession of dignity that threw him into a fit of good humour, from which he did not recover till after Eleanor had obtained his forgiveness of Henry, and his permission for him “to be a fool if he liked it!” (p.210) Henry and Catherine win their marriage. They have to prove their power of love to break the general’s perception. They do not give up showing that their love was unbreakable for their love grows stronger after passing every injury moment to have the consent. They are successful to break the perception of people such the general that wealth and nobility are not the foundation in building a relationship. Their ambition is only to get marry for happiness ever after. Through the end of the story, it appears that the perception of marrying for money is hardly to break. A lover who is seriously in building a relationship should not give up.

To gain their happiness they needed to against the wall and prove that they are worthy to get their own happiness.

To begin perfect happiness at the respective ages of twenty six and eighteen is to do pretty well; and professing myself moreover convinced that general’s unjust interference, so far from being really injurious to their felicity, was perhaps rather conducive to it, by improving their knowledge of each other, and adding strength to their attachment, I leave it to be settled, by whomsoever it may concern, whether the tendency of this work be altogether to recommend parental tyranny of this works be altogether to recommend parental tyranny, or reward filial disobedience (p.211).

D. Theme

In this part, the writer needs to relate the elements in a fiction that support the writer to find the theme. Therefore, it is a duty for the writer to go deeper to analyze the other elements and relate it each other and determine it the theme through some steps. According to Scott to determine theme, the writer must deal with some steps. The first step is to determine what the story about is. Northanger

Abbey is a novel than was written by Jane Austen around eighteenth century. The genre of novel is romantic comedy. The second step, the writer continues to describe how the major characters react to face the problem they have. Before the writer go further, it is important to explain about that at first Northanger Abbey draws the reader into the initial setting.

Every creature in Bath, except himself, was to be seen in the room at different periods of the fashionably hours; crowds of people were every moment passing in and out, up the steps and down; people whom nobody cared about and nobody wanted to see; and he only was absent (p.24)

The opening of the plot reveals the daily life of Catherine Morland in her early coming in Bath. For many frequenters like Catherine Morland and her acquaintances, the city of Bath is very attractive. They dream that they will live happy in the glamorous of the city. For the inexperienced uptown girl like

Catherine, she thinks that the habitants are alike the habitants of her village,

Fullerton, who are kind and very affectionate (p.60). In this place, she meets with her close acquaintances, the Thorpes and the Tilneys.

Although the Thorpes seem good in her early coming, Catherine finds that they are materialists. The Thorpe siblings manipulate her to get money from the

her family. The Thorpes do it for they are not strong to face the pressure to live in

Bath. They have lack of income that cannot support their glamour necessity.

Unfortunately, they get failure to rob Catherine’s property.

The second stage of the plot comes into a new situation that presents how the major characters react to the new situation that resulted from the opportunity.

After Catherine breaks her friendship with the Thorpes, she has a chance to make her friendship with the Tilney intensely. She enters into a situation with a feeling of excitement. After solving her first problem, she believes that she the new problem she faces can be easily solved. On the other hand, she realizes that she faces the greater problem than she used to face.

Catherine and Henry love each other. To face the struggle they have to face some conflicts that are coming from Henry’s father. Henry’s father, General

Tilney, is a realistic man who rules his children in a strict way. Like other fathers of the social classes in a big city, especially Bath, he authorizes regulation over his children, includes a regulation to marry. General Tilney wants his children to marry to respectable and wealthy couple to make sure they live in prosperity and to maintain their nobility.

The general wants their children to marry to the nobles to supply the wealth. They disagree with his father’s regulation. One of his children, Henry

Tilney, is a fair man that has a different perception about marriage and relationship. Henry has an open view about marriage. He wants a marriage for

love, not for money. He does not want to build any relationship with an obvious motivation.

In the beginning of their relationship, it is told that everything seems smooth. They find no any objection to build it. Both Catherine and Henry are pleased with the General Tilney’s attitude. He welcomes Catherine even asks her for accompanying her daughter Eleanor to move to Northanger Abbey. The general also leads her to think that Catherine is the suitable girl for his son. This compliment is an entrance gate for their relationship.

Catherine’s happiness is equal with Henry. He feels that his father is being open. Since they never meet with Catherine’s parents before, he thinks that his father will never have an objection with Catherine’s family class because that is not a necessary to be considered.

In the above explanation, there is an indication that the major characters wants to achieve their goals. They love each other and want to engage. Before they get their engagement, they have to approach the General Tilney, Henry’s father to give them consent.

Unfortunately, the situation changes. The favor of the general toward them is gone. He changes his mind, turns it into refusal for their relationship. One day, a friend of Catherine, John Thorpe, meets the general and lies him. He convinces the general that Catherine’s background is unclear and says that that her family was unrespectable and wealthy. The general decision to disallow Henry to meet

Catherine hurts them. Both Henry and Catherine are very disappointed. They

cannot understand how the wise and intelligent general can be misled by a man such John Thorpe.

That is not easy for Catherine and Henry to pass it. They suffer so much.

Catherine is suffering for the general sends her back to Fullerton and Henry is angry at his father. He keeps protesting him and convinces that Catherine Morland is supposed to be a good girl for him. He refuses his father’s engagement for him.

He is not patient enough to meet Catherine in Fullerton. He decides for his own way to propose Catherine.

He steadily refused to accompany his father into Herfordshire, an engagement formed almost at the moment to promote the dismissal of Catherine and as steadily declared his intention of offering her his hand. The general was furious in his anger, and they parted in dreadful disagreement. Henry, in an agitation of mind wich many solitary hours were required to compose, had returned almost instantly to woodston, and on the afternoon of the following day, had begun his journey to Fullerton (p.208) Henry cannot accept his father’s regulation. He takes a bigger risk to reach his goal. If he wants to marry Catherine, he must prove it. Coming into Fullerton represents that he really wants Catherine to be his wife and he will not give up to show that he is seriously loves Catherine Morland.

His father’s disagreement does not make him stop. He remains to propose

Catherine Morland.

Mr. and Mrs. Morland’s surprise on being applied to by Mr. Tilney for their consent to his marrying their daughter was, for awfew minutes, considerable, it having never entered their heads to suspect an attachment on either side; but as nothing, after all, could be more natural than Catherine’s being beloved, they soon learnt to consider it with only the happy agitation of gratified pride, and, as far as they alone were concerned, had not single objection to start (p.208)

Henry’s effort results that Mr. Morland gives him consent in replying his proposal. On the other hand, Mr. Morland cannot allow them to marry before

Henry’s father gives the consent. They have to wait sometime patiently until the general gives his consent.

Through the above explanation, the writer finds that the major characters’s problem mostly tells about their attempt to beg the consent of the general. Without the consent, they will never live together. However, it is so hard to open the heart of the general and convince him that they are worthy to marry. For the writer, the suitable theme for Northanger Abbey is “social status and wealth are the giant obstacles in building a relationship.” The theme refers to the general’s ambition.

Social status is important to keep the nobility and the wealth is necessary to expand the family business of the Tilney family. General Tilney wants make his children as his media to supply his wealth by marrying them to the rich nobles.

In the final stage, the major characters are successful to reach their goal that is to live in happiness. The general gives them consent to marry; on the other hand, he remains to feel reluctant to accept Catherine Morland as his daughter in law.

The circumstance which chiefly availed was the marriage of his daughter with a man of fortune and consequence, which took place in the course of the summer-an accession of dignity that threw him into a fit of good humor, from which he did not recover till after Eleanor had obtained his forgiveness of Henry, and his permission for him “to be a fool if he like it.” (p.210). The general accept Catherine Morland as Henry’s wife. On the other hand, he could not stop mocking Henry. He has a regret for Henry’s decision to marry

the uptown girl. The general is more proud of his daughter who marries to a viscount. He considers that his daughter, Eleanor, is very lovely because she marries the noble man.

…and never had the general loved his daughter so well in all her hours of companionship, utility and patient endurances as when he first hailed her “Your Ladyship!” her husband was really deserving of her; independent of his peerage, his wealth, and his attachment, being to precision to the most charming young man in the world (p.210) The general’s daughter helps Catherine and Henry to achieve their happiness. The reward of their suffering is paid by the wedding or Eleanor. Henry cannot satisfy his father to marry a noble woman; he chooses to go to his own way. He does not feel sorry to marry Catherine.

To begin a perfect happiness at the respective ages of twenty six and eighteen is to do pretty well; and professing my self moreover convinced that the general’s unjust interferenee, so far from being really injurious to their felicity was perhaps rather conducive to it, by improving their knowledge of each other, and adding strength to their attachment, I leave it to be settled, by whomsoever it may concern, whether the tendency of this work be altogether to recommend parental tyranny or reward filial disobedience (p.211)

CHAPTER V

CONCLUSION

After analyzing the major characters, setting, and the plot of the story, the writer finds out the theme of the story. The theme is “social status and wealth are the giant obstructions in building a relationship.” The writer selects this theme after analyzing the major characters in the way they survive and face the problem in the place that is described in the explanation through the plot.

That is the most suitable theme because the major characters must break the wall of society perception that considers status and money are the priorities in building a relationship. Henry and Catherine prove that their love can be a strong foundation to overcome the problems.

Henry and Catherine survive in the situation that does not support their relationship. They have to face the general that is so intimidating them who considers that they are not equal to live together and he is afraid if by taking

Catherine as his daughter in-law, he will lose people respect. The general is influenced by the society that thinks that money and wealth to gain in a relationship. However, both Catherine and Henry will not give up. They believe that love and trust can resolve the obstacles.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Abrams, M. H. Glossary of Literary Terms. Ed. Ted Buchhols. 6th ed. New York: Harcourt Brace College Publisher, 1993. Austen, Jane. Northanger Abbey. New York: The New American Library, 1965. Barry, Peter. Beginning Theory: An Introduction to Literary and Cultural Theory. Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2002. Dusty, Carter. “Romantic Themes in Northanger Abbey”. Gradesaver: Northanger Abbey Essay. October 27, 2007.

Langland, Elizabeth. Society in the Novel. 1st ed. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1984. Murphy, M.J. Understanding Unseens: An Introduction to English Poetry and the English Novel for Overseas students. London: George Allen & Unwin Ltd., 1972. Robert, V. Edgar & Henry E. Jacobs. Literature: An Introduction to Reading and Writing. New Jersey; Prentice Hall, Inc, 1987. Stanton, Robert. An Introduction to Fiction. New York: Holt, Rineheart, and Winston. Inc, 1965. ---,”Northanger Abbey.”Example Essay. (May 10, 2010) Pressfield, Steven. “Theme and Character in the Historical Novel”. Solander: The Magazine of the Historical Novel Society. May 8.2004:20-21. (October 12, 2010)

Scott, Virgil & Andrian H. Jaffe, eds. Studies in the Short Stories. 3rd eds. New York: Holt, Rineheart, and Winston. Inc, 1968.

Students, Harvard. “Marriage and Courtship”. Gradesaver: Northanger Abbey Theme. (October 31, 2010)

SUMMARY OF NORTHANGER ABBEY

Catherine Morland is a seventeen-year-old living in a small village,

Fullerton.Fortunately for Catherine, her rich neighbor, The Allens, invite

Catherine to visit the city of Bath with them. Catherine is so amazed.

While in Bath, Catherine meets and befriends two families: the poor Thorpes and the wealthy, educated Tilneys. She meets Henry Tilney at a ball and quickly develops a warm friendship on him. Luckily, Catherine also befriends Isabella

Thorpe and her brother, John Thorpe. Since John Thorpe is a rude man, Catherine feels reluctant to know him.The Thorpe siblings try manipulating both Catherine and her brother, James the advantageous marriages for themselves. While the

Morlands are certainly not rich, they do have more money than the Thorpes.

Catherine also also befriends his polite and quiet sister Eleanor, who is the polar opposite of the artificial Isabella. While Catherine grows closer to Henry, Isabella is engaged to James. But, within a few days, Isabella meets the handsome Captain

Tilney, Henry's older brother, and begins to flirt with him.

Henry, Eleanor, and their father, General Tilney, decide to leave Bath and invite

Catherine to visit them at their home, Northanger Abbey.

While at Northanger Abbey, Catherine makes some bad assumptions after hearing of Mrs. Tilney's death, and she suspects that General Tilney is a murder.

Henry leads her out on this. Catherine feels sorry for her thought.

After this, Catherine also learns that James cancel his engagement to Isabella.

Isabella makes a relationship with Captain Tilney, but, unfortunately for her,

Captain Tilney leaves her alone to join his regiment.

Things are going well with Henry and Catherine, however. On the other hand, before their relationship can progress towards an engagement, General Tilney sends Catherine out of his house. Catherine returns home to Fullerton and feeling disappointed . Henry argues with his father. He refuses an engagement that made for him to promote Catherine’s dismissal. He decides to meet Catherine and her family in Fullerto. Henry’proposal to Catherine is legalized by Catherine’s father.

Eleanor, meanwhile, marries a wealthy man, and General Tilney soon gives his approval to Henry and Catherine. Henry and Catherine then marry.