Binary Oppositions As the Result of Deconstruction Analysis in the Goldfinch Novel by Donna Tartt

BINARY OPPOSITIONS AS THE RESULT OF DECONSTRUCTION ANALYSIS IN THE GOLDFINCH NOVEL BY DONNA TARTT Cheristine Aprilia1 English Department, Putera Batam University, Batam, Kepri, Indonesia [email protected] Tomi Arianto2 English Department, Putera Batam University, Batam, Kepri, Indonesia [email protected] Abstract This research is aimed to analysed the binary opposition in the ―The Goldfinch‖ novel by Donna Tartt. The problem that analysed in this research focused on binary opposition of major character in the novel. The approach to analysing binary opposition used Derrida's concept, namely the theory of deconstruction by Jacques Derrida which is categorised as a poststructuralist approach. Deconstruction theory is understood as a theory that dismantles existing general views. The concept of binary opposition is directed to analyze the difference between two things which are considered to produce a new perspective and can be accepted by many people. The method used in this research is qualitative descriptive method, namely the author described and analysed existing data. The data is from the quotation of the novel. The result of the research is there are five binary oppositions, they are good – bad, valuable – worthless, honest – dishonest, caring – ignorant, and crowded – silent. The binary oppositions are found in the characters of the story. The characters in the story represent some of the characters of other people in the real world. People's perceptions about certain human characteristics can be explored deeper and have opposite sides. Keywords: Binary Opposition, Deconstruction, Post-Structuralism 1. INTRODUCTION Each literary work has its own also be made based on the author's language style and approach. When imagination. A novel consists of talking about language, there are literary element of fiction (theme, works that follow. According to Wellek characterisation, plot, setting, and point & Warren (2013), literature is a creative of view). Reader can understand of a activity that produces work of art. story based on the element of fiction. Literary work is a work created by an Novel is a reading text. A reading author using thoughts and feelings. text can be criticized using various Therefore, a literary work can contain theoretical approaches and a reader's inspiration and feelings of the author. point of view. The theoretical approach Literary works consist of various used is tailored to the needs of the kinds. One of them is fiction. Fiction researcher. If use the reader's contains several aspects of a person's perspective, there are many factors that life. A novel is a part of fiction. A novel influence it, namely social, is not only told about a person's life psychological, experience, belief, and story or a real incident, but a novel can moral factors. Every aspect of social 65 | P a g e can be expressed in literature. Every but there was one painting that was not aspect of life can be translated into a destroyed, namely the painting The literary work. Goldfinch, his mother's favorite A literary work can be criticized by painting. Apart from that, this novel using a text-reading strategy. This also tells about Theodore's life after the reading strategy is divided into two death of his mother, his teenage life, approaches, structuralist and post- and his adult life. He got into the wrong structuralist. According to Barry (2014), association and became an alcohol and structuralism have the view that a text drug addict. The researcher tried to has a static and predictable meaning, deconstruct his work through language. while post-structuralism have the view The main focus of the researcher in that a text has a meaning that is deconstructing the text is on the binary interrelated and unpredictable. The opposition. The researcher examined structuralist and post-structuralist views this research using Derrida’s theory. in assessing a literary work are very The research that examines similar different, as are the strategies in reading things has also been done by Omam the text. The structuralist treading Tanvir & Nazish Amir (2017) entitled strategy focuses on the internal of the ―Deconstructive Analysis Of The Short text itself, but the post-structuralist Story ―Saleema‖ By Daniyal comes out of the text itself but is related Mueenuddin‖. This research focussed to the text itself. on the main character, Saleema, who is Deconstruction theory by Derrida considered by the surrounding people as (1976) is the one of post-structuralist a weak and oppressed woman. But in approach. This theory explains how a reality Saleema is a woman who is reading text is understood and seen not tough, independent, and does everything only from the structure of the reading she can to get what she wants. This itself, but a reading text can also be happens because of the detailed reading understood and seen from another side of the text which results in binary and not outside the context of the text. opposition in the reading. Deconstruction theory explains that in Other research that is quite relevant the reading text there are two opposing is a reference in this study analyzed by elements, which is called binary Kobis (2019) regarding a comparative opposition. Binary opposition aims to study: genetic structuralism on jane eyre open the reader's mind to see other and the great Gatsby. Arianto (2018) meanings and not stick to one thing also implemented a postructuralism only. An example of the concept of approach with Faucault theory which binary opposition is between honesty examines the discourse of death in the and dishonesty. novel my sister keeper. Kasimbara A novel entitled ―The Goldfinch‖ (2020) can be used as a reference in written by Donna Tartt is one example research related to deconstruction with of a literary work that criticizes by the theme of desire with a using deconstruction theory. The novel psychoanalysis approach. Even though tells the life of 13 years old boy, using a psychological approach to Theodore, who experienced the searching behind meaning which bombing of an art museum in New reverses the phenomenon can be quite York with his mother. As a result of that inspiring. but among all these studies crime, his mother died and all the are different from the researchers did. paintings in the museum were destroyed 66 | P a g e 2. THEORETICAL REVIEW structure of the reading itself. 2.1. Post-structuralist Approach Deconstruction is a theory pioneered by Post-structuralism is a literary and Jacques Derrida. According to (Derrida, philosophical work that rejects ideas the 1976) deconstruction is a literary structuralism approach. According to criticism theory which shows that the Barry (2014), post-structuralism accuse meaning in the reading text experiences structuralism not following through the contradictions and opposing implications of the views about oppositions. Unlike the structuralist language on their intellectual system. approach which always relies on the Structuralism approach is only based on structure in the text, deconstruction the structure, form, and framework of a theory explains that outside of the text text. Structuralism approach is only structure there are many meanings that based on the structure, form, and experience differences according to the framework of a text. Meanwhile, post- content of the text itself. structuralism is different from According to deconstruction theory, structuralism approach. The post- in literary texts there is no absolute structuralism argues that to understand meaning. Literary texts always produce an object, it is necessary to study and multi-interpretative meanings (multiple the system of knowledge that produced interpretations). This multi- the object. Post-structuralism emphasize interpretation occurs when a text is read that the text is not only analysed based and interpreted by different readers. on its structure but based on other This is because each reader has a knowledge outside the structure of the different point of view and opinion. text such as history and culture. This meaning will create a new The role of the post structuralism interpretation when it is related to approach in literature is very influential. various events or situations in human This is because in a literary work has life. The new interpretations in the view many aspects that can be discussed. of post-structuralist are part of the According to the structuralism view in process of the presence of a sign (sign), literary works that language has a static from the object, and binary opposition. structure, in contrast to the post- The reader can interpret a text out of structuralism view which considers context but still pay attention to its language not to be a form that has static relation to the reading text. In other rules, but can be free form. The words, the text is considered not to have meaning of language in the post- a single definite meaning. According to structuralism view is free and not bound Derrida (1976), small and marginalized by any structure. Although free, it does things are important to be given not mean that meaning is taken from meaning. outside the text. The meaning of the text Deconstruction is a method in remains based on the inside of the text reading text with use conceptual and itself. That is why the post-structuralism differentiation. Through differentiation, approach influences literary work. there is a binary opposition which explains that each reading text has 2.2. Deconstrction Theory opposite but related meanings. Binary Deconstruction is part of the post- opposition leads the reader to the structuralist approach. According to uncovering and reconstruction of signs Barry (2014), deconstruction discusses or meanings which in turn invites the a text that is analyzed outside of the reader to reflect on the philosophy of 67 | P a g e truth and human existence as God's Indifference is categorized into a bad creatures.

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