THE SATIRE AND MOCKERY TOWARD TWENTIETH CENTURY BRITISH AS SEEN IN PLOT AND MAIN CHARACTERS' ACTION AND ATTITUDE IN EVELYN WAUGH'S DECLINE AND FALL

ROLLY, RESKI ANANDA (2015) THE SATIRE AND MOCKERY TOWARD TWENTIETH CENTURY BRITISH AS SEEN IN PLOT AND MAIN CHARACTERS' ACTION AND ATTITUDE IN EVELYN WAUGH'S DECLINE AND FALL. Diploma thesis, Universitas Andalas.

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Abstract

Literature is art that present imaginative world. Mario Klarer in his book entitledAn Introduction to literary Studies states that “In most cases, literature is referred to as the entirety of written expression, with the restriction that not every written document can be categorized as literature in the more exact sense of the word” (1). From the Klarer’s statement, the writer thinks not all written works belong to literary works. There are some characteristics that should be acquired in order a work can be called a literary work. Then, Charles Bressler in his work entitled Defining Criticism, Theory, and Literature, said that ” imaginative and creative aspects of literature are essential components of the word Literature itself “(13). This statement supported the writer’s opinion that literature is art which is characterized by creativity and imagination of its author. Without those two elements, there is no works that can be called literary works. In addition, Peter Barry in his book entitled Beginning Theory, emphasizes that the “literary text contains its own meaning within itself. It does not require any elaborate process of placing it within a context”(20). This statement is seeing a work in intrinsic way like character, plot, and theme of a novel, drama, or poetry. Next, David Carter in his book entitled Literary Theory, said that “ Literature is what a given society at a given time considers it to be”(17). It means that music, drama, and art belong to literature in specific society at a specific time. The writer thinks Carter sees literary works from historical perspective. From several explanations above, the writer concludes thatliterary works from a society at specific time contain meaning and we can analyze that meaning within the literary text. In addition, Boris Ford in his book entitled From Dryden to Jhonson, adds that “the quality of civilization shows itself best in its arts”(420). This means literary works as part of arts are mirror of a civilization. The writer chooses Decline and Fall as an object of analysis because this is the first and possibly the best work of Evelyn Waugh. Because this novel is his first work that gains him famous in Britain in twentieth century. The novel is notable for its economy of time and space because the action extends over one year. In that short time, the writer thinks Waugh can make an interesting story from Paul’s experience since he drops out from Oxford until he comes back to this university with new appendix and faked his identity. Then, there are too many characters in Decline and Fall and it is hard to understand the characters. The characters are complex. As Jane Elizabeth Neff (1972) from Iowa State University stated that Evelyn Waugh's Decline and Fall characters do not remain flat. A single character may perform the work of two or more separate characters functions. Decline and Fall tells about Paul Pennyfeather's experience since he drops out from his college, then seeking for work in Llanabba school, getting engage with student's mother, Margot, in jail, and ending in same place where the novel started, Paul's college. From Paul's movement from one place and situation to another, he meets many people with complicated problems, mostly they are high class people. Their names are Dr.Fagan, Philbrick, Captain Grimes, Margot, and many mores. According to Jane Elizabeth Neff in her thesis entitled Character development in the novels of Evelyn Waugh, “The author Evelyn Waugh was born in Hampstead, England in 1903. His works are mostly satiric in theme. He elegantly criticizes british society intwentieth century era or between the World War (first and second)”(3). The writer argues Waugh’s works mock the British society who praise material pursuit and class-oriented. Then, the writer also thinks that the problem that Waugh criticizing in the form of satire inDecline and Fallis still relevant today as Altshuler in his book entitled Prose as Experience points out: “the problem that our civilization faces today is its inability to focus on moral, social, and religious truth”(284). This shows most of society in this century face similar problem as British society has. In addition, Evelyn Waugh is one of the giants of 20th-century English literature and one of the greatest English stylists of any age. According to Evelynwaughsociety.org: “Though his faith, politics and temperament remain out of step with the norms of literary culture today as they were at the time of his death in 1966, he is perennially in print and likely to survive as one of the giants of 20th-century English literature and one of the greatest English stylists of any age”( Evelynwaughsociety.org). Therefore, Waugh is one of the important figures of novelist in twentieth century era. His works stand as leading works in literary tradition . Afterward, this research is aimed at uncovering the satire and mockery of Evelyn Waugh in the Decline and Fall based on the analysis of A.J. Greimas theory.

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