THE SPIRIT OF FEMINISM REFLECTED IN AUSTEN S EMMA A Thesis Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements to Obtain the Sarjana Sastra Degree in the English Letters Study Programme By: Yunita Tintin Hoetomo 02.80.0022 ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME FACULTY OF LETTERS SOEGIJAPRANATA CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY SEMARANG 2007 i
A thesis on THE SPIRIT OF FEMINISM REFLECTED IN AUSTEN S EMMA By Yunita Tintin Hoetomo Student Number: 02.80.0022 Approved by, Angelika Riyandari, SS., MA. February 21, 2007 Major Sponsor G.M. Adhyanggono, SS., MA. February 21, 2007 Co sponsor ii
A thesis defended in front of the board examiners on February 21, 2007 and declared acceptable BOARD OF EXAMINERS Chair Person : Angelika Riyandari, SS., MA.. Secretary : G.M. Adhyanggono, SS., MA.. Member : Dra. R.M. Sri Suryaningsih, MA.. Semarang, February 21, 2007 Faculty of Letters Soegijapranata Catholic University Dean, Heny Hartono, SS., M.Pd. 058.1.1998.221 iii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT First of all, I would like to thank Christ Jesus and Mother Marry who have given their guidance, love, support, and blessing I would like to say thank to Mrs. Angelika Riyandari, SS, MA as my major sponsor who has given guidance, support, advice, and her time to help me in finishing my thesis and Mr. G.M. Adhyanggono, SS, MA who has given support and help in finishing my thesis. I would like to thank for my mother, my father, and my little brother, thank you so much for always support me, guide me, love me, and pay attention to me all the time. For my aunts and uncles who help me in financial to finish my college, thank you so much for the support and help. All my families who always support me to finish this thesis, thank you so much for the support. For all my friends, Erna, Vivie, Padma, Novie, Prima, Wahyu, Tika, and Ronny, finally I find you; all my friends at Soegijapranata Catholic University for always help me whenever I need you guys. Finally, I would like to thank everyone that I cannot account one by one, thank you for the support. God bless us. The writer iv
TABLE OF CONTENTS Pages of Title.i Page of Approval.ii Acknowledgement.i v Table of Contents. v Abstract.v i Abstrak.vi i Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background.1 1.2 Field of the Study.6 1.3 Scope of the Study.6 1.4 Problem Formulation.6 1.5 Objectives of the Study.6 1.6 Significance of the Study.6 1.7 Definition of terms.7 Chapter 2: REVIEW OF LITERATURE 2.1 Jane Austen and her Novels.9 2.2 18 th Century Liberal Feminism.9 2.3 19 th Century Liberal Feminism.10 2.3.1 Harriet Taylor Mill.10 2.3.2 John Stuart Mill.12 Chapter 3: RESEARCH METODOLOGY.14 Chapter 4: DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION 4.1 Emma.16 4.2 Emma s idea of Match Making and Marriage.17 4.3 Emma from the Perspective of Liberal Feminism in 18 th Century and 19 th Century...23 Chapter 5: CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION 5.1 Conclusion.28 5.2 Suggestion.29 BIBLIOGRAPHY. viii v
ABSTRACT Emma is a novel by Jane Austen that tells about a girl s life and her struggle to be independent without marriage. Emma, the main character in this novel is sure that she can live without being married. Emma s character is portrayed by Jane Austen as an independent woman. The writer uses feminist approach to analyze Emma novel. The character of Emma in this novel is suitable to be analyzed using 18 th century and 19 th century liberal feminist theories by Mary Wollstonecraft, Harriet Taylor Mill, and John Stuart Mill. This thesis finds that women should be able to be independent without depending on man. Although they choose to marry, they can show their opinion and their perspective without fear. Emma is brave to show her opinion and her perspective in front of men and women. However, finally Emma chooses to marry a man of her own choice. She tries to be independent but she lives in a society which does not really support a radical change in women s role. vi
ABSTRAK Emma adalah novel karangan Jane Austen yang menceritakan tentang kehidupan seorang gadis dan perjuangannya untuk mandiri tanpa menikah. Emma, karakter utama dalam novel ini yakin kalau dia bisa hidup sendiri tanpa menikah. Karakter Emma digambarkan oleh Jane Austen sebagai wanita mandiri. Penulis menggunakan pendekatan feminis untuk menganalisa novel Emma. Karakter Emma dalam novel ini cocok di analisa menggunakan teori liberal feminist abad 18 and 19 oleh Mary Wollstonecraft, Harriet Taylor Mill, dan John Stuart Mill. Skripsi ini menemukan bahwa wanita-wanita seharusnya bisa mandiri tanpa bergantung pada pria. Meskipun mereka memilih untuk menikah, mereka bisa mengemukakan pendapat dan pandangan mereka tanpa rasa takut. Emma berani mengungkapkan pendapat dan pandangannya di depan pria dan wanita. Tetapi pada akhirnya Emma memilih untuk menikah dengan pilihannya sendiri. Dia mencoba mandiri tetapi dia hidup dalam masyarakat yang belum mendukung perubahan yang radikal tentang peranan wanita. vii