The Ideas of Existentialism as Revealed through the Main Character in Albert Camus’ The Stranger AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra in English Letters By YOHANA RETNO TIARA DEWI Student Number: 034214059 ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS FACULTY OF LETTERS SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY YOGYAKARTA 2008 The Ideas of Existentialism as Revealed through the Main Character in Albert Camus’ The Stranger AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra in English Letters By YOHANA RETNO TIARA DEWI Student Number: 034214059 ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS FACULTY OF LETTERS SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY YOGYAKARTA 2008 i ii iii LEMBAR PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN PUBLIKASI KARYA ILMIAH UNTUK KEPENTINGAN AKADEMIS Yang bertanda tangan di bawah ini, saya mahasiswa Universitas Sanata Dharma: Nama : Yohana Retno Tiara Dewi Nomor Mahasiswa : 034214059 Demi pengembangan ilmu pengetahuan, saya memberikan kepada Perpustakaan Universitas Sanata Dharma karya ilmiah saya yang berjudul : The Ideas of Existentialism as Revealed through the Main Character in Albert Camus’ The Stranger Beserta perangkat yang diperlukan (bila ada). Dengan demikian saya memberikan kepada Perpustakaan Universitas Sanata Dharma hak untuk menyimpan, mengalihkan dalam bentuk media lain, mengelolanya dalam bentuk pangkalan data, mendistribusikan secara terbatas, dan mempublikasikannya di internet atau media lain untuk kepentingan akademis tanpa perlu meminta ijin dari saya maupun memberikan royakti kepada saya selama tetap mencantumkan nama saya sebagai penulis. Demikian pernyataan ini yang saya buat dengan sebenarnya. Dibuat di Yogyakarta Pada tanggal : 31 maret 2008 Yang menyatakan (Yohana Retno Tiara Dewi) iv Life is a Matter of Choice Even Not to Choose is also a Choice (Jean Paul Sartre) v This undergraduate thesis is dedicated to My beloved parents My amazing brothers and sisters My wonderful friends vi ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The most beautiful song in the world is never enough to express how wonderful You are. The most amazing friend I ever had, who never leave me in every single step I take. Thank you Jesus for giving me so many miracles in my life. Thank you for your guidance in every phase of life, especially during the process of making this undergraduate thesis. I do believe that without Your guidance I will not be able to finish this undergraduate thesis on time. I would like to express my best gratitude to my amazing advisor, Mrs. Ni Luh Putu Rosiandani, S.S, M.Hum. for her attention, precious suggestions and also for the lunch. I realize that without her encouragement, this thesis will not be completed. Thank you Mrs. Putu for your never-ending support, it really means a lot. Special thanks to my co-advisor, Mr. Paulus Sarwoto, S.S., M.A. for the corrections and suggestions that make this undergraduate thesis better. My gratefulness goes to Romo Harry for the discussion. I do believe that without him I cannot understand this novel well. My best gratitude is for my incredible family, the best father ever, Ag. Mudyo Hartono, to give me his extraordinary patience and my unbelievable mother ever, Elizabeth Sri Rahayu, for the struggle and for her never lasting prayer. To my lovely brothers, Mas Hardi, Mas Agus, Mas Edi, Mas Heri, Mas Darsono, Mas Sigit, Mas Agung, Mas Wawan, and Mas Viki, and sisters, Mbak Retno, Mbak Tutik, Mbak Wiwin, Mbak Rini, Mbak Erni, Mbak Oni and Mbak Dewi thanks for endless support and love. To my nieces and nephews for the laughter, it is really inspiring. I do love you all. Thank vii you also for Pak Nardi’s family for the prayers and for being another family for me. And for lovely my aunt’s family, thank you for the love. Thank you for my wonderful friends, Danik, Stella, Danang and Tika for sharing a lot of things, for the laughter, love and tears. To my lovely friends, Sari, Meme, Alice, Dwi, Poppy, Nilla, Sari, Novi, Wayan, Anita, Nitnot, Susi, Bayang, Dodi, Wedhus, Mbendol, Tio, Budi, Makwik, Yabes and all ’03 English Letters Students. For Tartuffe family (Frida, Tyas, Ocha, Lusi, Poppy, Yabes, Jony, Danang, Deon, Danik, Mas Dika, Mas Jody, Galang, Sunu, Mas Dito and Mas Teguh), thanks for helping me learning how to work as a team. Thanks to Ginting, Wahmuji, Mando and Kethek for the support and suggestion. Thanks to Dewi and Lolin who lent their computer. Thanks to ERROR crew, especially Reta, Desy and Darti for the fantastic moments we have spent. For Magis ’08 community, thanks for the sharing, support and friendship. Special thanks goes to FCJ sisters for their guidance, love and prayer. For my wonderful CAS CIS, thanks for the beautiful voices. All of you are truly angels. Much thanks to my new sisters, Cindy, Mei and De’ Ari. Thanks for being true friends for me. I learn a lot how to be a friend and to be a loveable person. The three of you already change my view about friendship and thanks for always beside me in my happiness and sadness. I love you. Thanks to my boarding house friends, Mbak Nina, Lolin and Meta, for the laughter and silly things you have shared. Thank you for Nino who gives me the insight to see the world differently, thanks for everything. Last but not least, thanks for a miracle happens in my life. Yohana Retno Tiara Dewi viii TABLE OF CONTENTS TITLE PAGE ........................................................................................................ i APPROVAL PAGE .............................................................................................. ii ACCEPTANCE PAGE ......................................................................................... iii LEMBAR PENGESAHAN ...................................................................................iv MOTTO PAGE ..................................................................................................... v DEDICATION PAGE .......................................................................................... vi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................................................. vii TABLE OF CONTENTS ..................................................................................... ix ABSTRACT .......................................................................................................... xi ABSTRAK ............................................................................................................. xii CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION ........................................................................ 1 A. Background of the Study ........................................................................ 1 B. Problem Formulation ............................................................................ 4 C. Objectives of the Study ......................................................................... 4 D. Definition of Terms ............................................................................... 5 CHAPTER II: THEORETICAL REVIEW ...................................................... 6 A. Review of Related Studies .................................................................... 6 B. Review of Related Theories ................................................................... 10 1. Theories of Character ................................................................... 10 2. Theories of Characterization ........................................................ 12 3. Theory of Existentialism .............................................................. 14 3.1. Existentialism View and Existentialist Literature ............ 14 3.2. Nietzsche’s Theory on Existentialism .............................. 17 3.3. Sartre’s Theory on Existentialism ..................................... 18 3.4. Camus’ Theory on Existentialism ..................................... 19 4. Literature and Existentialism ........................................................ 21 C. Theoretical Framework .......................................................................... 22 CHAPTER III: METHODOLOGY .................................................................... 24 A. Object of the Study ................................................................................ 24 B. Approach of the Study .......................................................................... 25 C. Method of the Study .............................................................................. 26 CHAPTER IV: ANALYSIS ................................................................................. 28 A. The Characterization of the Main Character .......................................... 28 B. The Ideas of Existentialism Revealed through in the Main Character ... 39 1. Mersault’s view towards God ....................................................... 40 ix 2. Mersault’s view towards love ....................................................... 44 3. Mersault’s view towards death ..................................................... 48 4. Mersault’s view towards freedom ................................................ 52 CHAPTER V: CONCLUSION ........................................................................... 57 BIBLIOGRAPHY ................................................................................................... 60 x ABSTRACT YOHANA RETNO TIARA DEWI. The Ideas of Existentialism as Revealed through the Main Character in Albert Camus’ The Stranger. Yogyakarta: Departement of English Letters, Faculty of Letters,