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The Portrayal of Antihero in Mario Puzo's the Godfather (1969

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The Portrayal of Antihero in Mario Puzo's the Godfather (1969 Mohamad Sidiq Femy Hadirojaq The Portrayal of Antihero in Mario Puzo’s The Godfather (1969) The Portrayal of Antihero in Mario Puzo’s The Godfather (1969) Mohamad Sidiq Femy Hadirojaq, Ahmad Bukhori Muslim* English Language and Literature Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia [email protected] ABSTRACT This study aims to discover how the antihero is portrayed by Michael Corleone in The Godfather (1969) novel by Mario Puzo. The data were in the forms of words, phrases, sentences, and dialogues between the characters in the novel, which were then categorized into four types of characterization according to Rimmon-Kenan (2003), namely act, appearance, speech, and environment. Furthermore, the data were framed by conflictual points while identifying certain events and narrations that are considered as the portrayal of an antihero using the theory of antihero by Wilson et al. (2013). The data were then analyzed through a descriptive qualitative method to obtain deeper explanation and understanding. The result shows that the novel portrays Michael Corleone as an antihero for having the identical characteristics of an antihero proposed by Wilson et al. (2013), namely empathy, humility, self-awareness, flexibility, and an ability to acknowledge the uncertainty. Therefore, it is found that the characteristics of an antihero are not entirely dominated by negative traits as argued by Pangestu (2017), Jati (2018), and Garcia (2013). An antihero may have some negative traits, but they also have some positive ones. The findings of this study also indicate that the original antihero is the antithesis of a hero because an antihero portrays human nature in general. Keywords: antihero, portrayal, characterization 53 Passage2019, 7(2), 53-63 INTRODUCTION is weak and doubtful. On the other Character is one of the most important hand, antihero is an emphatic, elements in literary works. In a story, flexible, and brave character (Rand, the plot is steered by the main 2004.). As Jones (2012) states, “an character. Normally, a character who antihero contradicts everything in has better traits or visualization than Joseph’s Campbell’s theory about other characters often become the how all heroes acts or should, by main character, and most literary virtue of being merely average” (page works usually include the main 58). Thus, the antihero characters character as a hero who has good have characterization that is similar to personality traits. However, there can a real-world person. They are flexible be a main character who lacks either as a good or bad character. conventional heroic qualities and The existence of antihero in the attributes such as idealism, courage, literary works introduces a new kind and morality; it is called antihero. of character that is worth analyzing “Historically, the term antihero was since antihero is neither a hero nor a first used as early as 1714, emerged in villain (Maryani, 2017). There is also works such as Rameau's Nephew in a trend of antihero in literary works the 18th century: 1990–2000 and is which are indicated by the appearance also used more broadly to cover of new kind of characters such as Byronic heroes as well” (Palfy, 2016, Forrest Gump, Deadpool, and Jack p.16). Sparrow. Apparently, this trend The word hero derives from the Greek suggests that antihero characters’ term for defender or protector and moral complexity more closely presented as a virtuous and flawless reflects our own. They are still character (Campbell, 2004), while the developing, making mistakes, antihero has the opposite growing, and sometimes they tend characterization; besides he has good towards heroism. or positive characterization, he also Moreover, a number of studies have has some negative characterization. looked at and investigated antihero For example, experts say that antihero characterization in different literary 54 Mohamad Sidiq Femy Hadirojaq The Portrayal of Antihero in Mario Puzo’s The Godfather (1969) works. The research of antihero was shown clearly when the anti-hero characterization in a novel has been character plays a role as a partner of done by Mikulaková (2009) which the hero. Both of the studies analyzed analyzed the antihero in Clockwork the antihero using the same theory Orange written by Anthony Burgess from new criticism perspective. (2000). His writing also contains two According to the previous studies types of antihero characterization: above, the researchers discussed the one of them is the presentation of the traits of the antihero using the new character’s asexuality that can be criticism perspective. However, this called an antihero for the absolute research focuses on analyzing the lack of masculinity and heroism. In portrayal of antihero of the main that case, the important part of Alex’s character named Michael Corleone characterization is his free choice to that is framed by conflictual points. be violent unlike others. The analysis emphasizes the method In addition, Fauzi (2018) explores the of indirect characterization theory ambiguity of antihero in Mel proposed by Rimmon-Kenan (2003) Gibson’s Hacksaw Ridge (2016) which describes a character through movie to discover the layers of the character’s actions, conversations, meaning or interpretation of appearance, and environment. It is ambiguity of the character. There are supported by the classification of two main problems in this research; antihero proposed by Wilson et al. the first one is the characterization of (2013), which suggests that an main character in the movie, and the antihero is not entirely dominated second one is the ambiguity that with negative traits. generates a provisional interpretation This research analyzes a novel of antihero. Additionally, the research entitled The Godfather written by method is descriptive, which is Mario Puzo which was first published conducted with descriptive in 1969. Meanwhile, studies on The qualitative analysis and objective Godfather has been done by some criticism. The result of this research researchers. In her writing, shows that the ambiguity of anti-hero Yuaningtyas (2008) discusses family 55 Passage2019, 7(2), 53-63 loyalty of the Corleone family. In become a villain which is considered addition, Utami (2010) analyzes the as an antihero. major character and focuses on the struggle for a better life of Michael METHODOLOGY Corleone in Mario Puzo’s The Since this research aims to discover Godfather through psychological how the main character of The approach developed by Alfred Adler. Godfather, Michael Corleone, is The Godfather novel details the story portrayed as an antihero, a qualitative of a fictional mafia family based in study is used. Therefore, this study New York City, headed by Vito uses a qualitative method to be able to Corleone. The mob war between the reach a further understanding of the Corleone family and the other four of portrayal of antihero in literary works. the Five Families of New York is the More specifically, the study is in the central issue. After Vito Corleone is form of textual analysis. Thus, the shot by his rival, his son named data in this study were used to Michael must run the family business. elaborate on the concept and theories Michael, the young and idealistic son that have been explained in the of Vito Corleone, becomes the head previous chapter. of the most powerful Mafia clan in The data were collected from the New York. novel written by Mario Puzo, entitled The novel is chosen since the main The Godfather (1969). Before character in the novel has certain collecting the data, the writer read the criteria that are categorized as an novel in English version twice. The antihero and believed to be able to data are in the forms of words, provide the data of how the antihero phrases, sentences, and dialogues is portrayed. Michael Corleone’s between the characters in the novel. character is researchable due to the Furthermore, the data were framed by fact that he becomes the new main conflictual point while identifying character in the story and his role is certain events and narrations that are changing from a good character to considered as the presentation of the antihero in the novel. The research is 56 Mohamad Sidiq Femy Hadirojaq The Portrayal of Antihero in Mario Puzo’s The Godfather (1969) limited to discuss and analyze how Michael Corleone are portrayed each sentence and dialogue show the through four elements based on the presentation of antihero in the novel. indirect characterization theory Regarding the research question, proposed by Rimmon-Kenan (2003), questioning how the antihero is which are: action, speech, external portrayed by the main character role, appearance, and environment. procedure for the analysis of the Michael Corleone is regarded as a antihero portrayed in The Godfather powerful, calm, clever, and emphatic was conducted in three steps. The first character. However, he also shows his step is paying attention to methods of antihero’s characteristic inside him at characterization of the main character the end of the novel. Other textual in the story. The collected data are in evidences show that Michael is a the form of text and presented in the flawed hero. For instance, Michael is form of a table. The data are portrayed as a weak character at the categorized into four aspects of the beginning of the novel. He also is methods of indirect characterization known as the weakest Corleone from Rimmon-Kenan (2003). The compared to the other family second step is interpreting and members. The findings and the analyzing some selected conflictual elaboration are presented below. point and events. The analysis focuses on the presentation of the antihero in FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION the main character. This step Findings have shown that Michael investigates the five characteristics of Corleone is portrayed as an antihero antihero that is presented in the novel in the novel The Godfather (1969) by that is suggested by Wilson et al.
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