AN ANALYSIS OF PURITANISTIC VALUES IN NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE S THE SCARLET LETTER A THESIS BY FRISKA SINAGA REG. NO. 030705003 NORTH SUMATRA UNIVERSITY FACULTY OF LITERATURE ENGLISH DEPARTMENT MEDAN 2007 i
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS My huge thanks goes to Heavenly Father the owner of my life. Thank you Jesus Christ for blessings and salvation that you have given to me. You are my savior, my redeemer and thanks for all you ve done in my life. Praise The Lord. My gratitude goes to the Dean of Faculty of Letters North Sumatra University, Drs. Syariffudin, M. A, PhD, and all of the assistants and administrators. The Chief and Secretary of English Department, Dra. Swesana Mardia Lubis, M. Hum and Drs. Yulianus Harefa M.Ed. TESOL. I also would like to convey my deep thanks and appreciation to Drs. Razali Kasim, M.A as my supervisor and Drs. Parlindungan Purba, M. HUM as my cosupervisor who had spent their precious time, giving constructive comments and correction during writing this thesis. At the moment I also thank to all my lectures in English Department who have taught me lessons so long I can get good knowledge. My precious thanks goes to my beloved late father, St. S. Sinaga and my mother F. Situmorang. Thanks for your pure love that I feel in my life. I truly appreciate the spirit for struggling much to support my daily life and my study. Especially to my mother. Mom I love you so much, you are great mom and the inspiration in my life. And to my brothers and sister ( Erikson, Suharman,and Icce) I really love you all. I would like to share a basket full of thanks to all my friends, (Astri,Dhevi, Diana, Elia, Iren, Rika, Riris, Mely, Yanty) we have spent time together for so long, for my Small group Emmanuel- Joyful ( B Handa, B leo, B Amin, B Era, Lita, Leli) thanks for all your support and prayer, and my dear sisters and brother Tamariska and evangeline ( Dodek, Jelly, Siska, Nemdes, Grace, Sopie) keep on growing in Him! I thank also to my partnerts in koordinasi UKM KMK USU UP FS (Mafe, Friska, Hotlas, ii
Jelita, Shera, Dodek, Lely, Lilis, Hotma, Grace,Fera, Refy, Dhevi, Marline, Taruli.) come all servants be committed to Him. My special thanks to, K Eva metika, thanks for your support, Anthoni, Nelli, Evilina my appiri, Ida Solva thanks for being my friend! My hope is that this thesis will be useful for every reader. I would appreciatively accept every critic and suggestion for the improvement of this thesis. Medan, Maret 2008 The writer Friska Sinaga 030705003 iii
ABSTRAK Skiripsi ini membahas salah satu karya Nathaniel Hawthorne yang menjadi masterpiece dalam kesusasteraan Amerika yaitu The Scarlet Letter. Dalam novel klasik ini, bertutur tentang seorang wanita yang menjadi korban kejamnya sanksi sosial dalam struktur masyarakat Puritan. Hester Prynne adalah seorang tokoh utama dalam novel ini yang telah melanggar salah satu hukum taurat yaitu berzinah. Hester Prynne harus menjalani hukumannya dengan memakaikan huruf A di bajunya yang menjadi simbol pelanggarannya dan dia juga dikucilkan dalam masyarakat. Dalam skripsi ini penulis menganalisis tentang nilai moral masyarakat puritan dari sisi negatif yang ditemukan di novel ini yaitu kekejaman, kemunafikan, serta tidak adanya sikap toleransi terhadap sesama. Ketiga nilai moral ini sangat jelas dalam novel The Scarlet Letter. Didalam skripsi ini, penulis menggunakan pendekatan Sosiologi, yang memandang bahwa karya sastra dapat menjadi cerminan suatu masyarakat pada saat karya sastra itu ditulis. iv
TABLE OF CONTENTS page ACNOWLEDGEMENTS ABSTRAK TABLE OF CONTENTS i iii iv CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background of Analysis 1 1.2 Statement of Problem 4 1.3 Objective of Analysis 4 1.4 Scope of Analysis 4 1.5 Theoretical Approach 5 1.6 Method of Study 6 1.7 Review of Related literature 6 CHAPTER II HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF PURITANISM IN NEW ENGLAND 2.1 A Brief View on Puritanism 8 2.2 Characteristics of Puritanism Concepts 14 2.3 Facts of Puritanism 17 CHAPTER III AN ANALYSIS OF PURITANISTIC VALUES IN NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE S THE SCARLET LETTER 3.1 Intolerance 21 3.2 Cruelty 32 3.3 Hypocrisy 35 v
CHAPTER IV CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTIONS 4.1 Conclusion 43 4.2 Suggestion 44 BIBLIOGRAPHY APPENDICES A BRIEF BIOGRAPHY OF NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE S LITERARY WORKS SUMMARY OF THE NOVEL vi