Study with the several resources on Docsity
Earn points by helping other students or get them with a premium plan
Prepare for your exams
Study with the several resources on Docsity
Earn points to download
Earn points by helping other students or get them with a premium plan
An academic essay discussing discrimination towards the character Tom Robinson in Harper Lee's novel To Kill a Mocking Bird. The essay covers three aspects of discrimination: in general, on trial, and towards the facts. The author uses Terry Eagleton's concept of discrimination based on social class to analyze Tom's experiences. research questions, theoretical framework, and analysis of discrimination on Tom's life, during the trial, and towards the facts.
Typology: Summaries
1 / 26
This page cannot be seen from the preview
Don't miss anything!
i
In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement For S-1 Degree in American Studies In English Department, Faculty of Humanities Diponegoro University
Sumited by : Adelland Sukma Putri 13020111140153
ii
I states truthfully that this project is compiled by me without taking the results from other research in any university, in S-1, S-2, S-3 degree and in diploma. In addition, I ascertain that I do not take the material from other publication of someone’s work except for the references mentioned in bibliography.
Semarang, 9 June 2015
Adelland Sukma Putri
iv
Strata 1 Final Project Examination Comitte Faculty of Humanities Dipenogoro University On 9Th^ July 2015
Project Advisor, Reader 1
Arido Laksono,S.S.,M.Hum Dra.Christina Resnitriwati, M.Hum NIP.197507111999031002 NIP.
Reader 2 Reader 3
Sukarni Suryaningsih,S.S.,M.Hum Dra. Cut AP Ellisafny,M.Ed. NIP. 1972122199802200 NIP. 195510031978122001
v
“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.” ― Albert Einstein
This project is dedicated to those I love.
vii
The writer realizes that this final project is still far from perfection. The writer will be glad to receive critis and recommendations to make this final project better. Finally, the writer hopes that this final project will be useful for the readers
Semarang, 9 June 2015
Adelland Sukma Putri
viii
TITLE .................................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
PRONOUNCEMENT........................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
APPROVAL ....................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
VALIDATION ................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
MOTTO AND DEDICATION......................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
TABLE OF CONTENT .................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
ABSTRACT ........................................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
INTRODUCTION.............................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
1.1. Background of Study ................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 1.2. Research Questions ..................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 1.3. Purpose of The Study .................................. Error! Bookmark not defined. 1.4. Method of The Study ................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 1.5. Significance of The Research ...................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
LITERATURE REVIEW .................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
2.1. Recent Studies on Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mocking Bird Error! Bookmark not defined. 2.2. Theoritical Framework ................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
x
Esai ini membahas tentang diskriminasi yang dialami oleh tokoh Tom Robinson yang di lihat dari sudut pandang tokoh Scout dalam novel To Kill A Mocking Bird karya Harper Lee. Kajian dalam esai ini di latar belakangi kurangnya pembahasan mengenai diskriminasi terutama pada tokoh Tom. Tujuan dari kajian dalam esai ini adalah untuk mendeskripsikan bagaimana To dalam novel ini nasib Tom berakhir tragis. Kajian dalam esm mengalami diskriminasi hinggaai ini mengadopsi teori perjuangan kelas menurut faham Marxisme. Metode yang digunakan dalam mengkaji novel ini adalah kajian pustaka, dengan narasi melalui sudut pandang tokoh Scout. Pembahasan dalam esai ini mencangkupi diskriminasi secara umum; diskriminasi yang terjadi pada Tom di pengadilan; diskriminasi terhadap fakta yang ditunjukan. Dari kajian yang dilakukan dapat disimpulkan bahwa tokoh Tom merupakan representasi dari diskriminasi yang dinarasikan oleh Tokoh Scout dalam novel To Kill A Mocking Bird.
Key words : (^) dciscrimination in street,lass struggle, discrimination on trial, discrimination in prison. characters.
1
Discrimination is the impression that the writer got when she read To Kill a Mocking Bird. In this novel, discriminations are experienced by its central character, Tom Robinson. How Tom’s experiences discrimination is narrated through the eyes of Scout. In short, this novel clearly describes discrimination which is indicated through class struggle.
This extended essay focuses on three parts of discrimination, discrimination in general, discrimination on trial and discrimination toward the facts. Several studies have been presented to elaborate discrimination as topics. One study has been discussed by Rob Atkinson on essay entitled Liberating Lawyers; Divergent Parallels in Intruder in the Dust and to Kill a Mocking Bird. Atkinson essay focused on the divergent parallels between the novel Intruder in the Dust and To Kill a Mocking Bird. Another study has been made by Jenifer Murray on the essay entitled More Than One Way To (Mis)Read Mocking Bird which explained about textual disturbances in the novel. The last but not least is the essay entitled Beyond Atticus Finch; Lessons on Ethics and Morality from a Lawyer and Judges on post colonial Literature Title by Renee Newmen Knake. This essay aims to give an information of the benefit from learning literary books that are related to
3
1.4 Method of The Study The writer used library research to get several necessary sources and factual information from the library. The writer used critical theory of racial discrimination and the Marxist theory as the approach method in this extended essay.
1.5 Significance of The Research This essays not only a pleasure reading but also have a practical and theoretical benefit. The practical benefit is to increase knowledge and information about discrimination toward the African American with the approaching theory from Eagleton’s. Theoretical benefits of this study can be used as reading material and reference for students.
4
2.1 Recent Studies on Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mocking Bird There are three recent studies. First study has been discussed by Rob Atkinson as an essay from Duke Law Journal vol. 49, no 3. Atkinson analyses the fundamental differences between Intruder in The Dust and To Kill a Mocking Bird. Both the novel narrates nearly the similiarities story about a a white malelawyer try to free black man that falsely accused for a capital crime. However there are the fundamental differences between the two novel finding by Professor Atkinson (Atkinson,1999:60 1 ). In Atkinson essay, he divided the divergent part of the two novels into several main points such as southern hospitality and the relationship between the lawyers and the client. Emphasizing white professional duty to social inferiors was affirmed basic position in To Kill a Mocking Bird. Most of racial tensions happen around the end of the story. Only the lowest of the low class of whites directly threatened by black principal status claim (Atkinson,1999:613). However the object of my extended essay is discrimination based on critical theory and the main topic was divided into three parts, discriminations in general, discriminations on the trial and discriminations toward the course of the justice and the evidence.
6
Knake disscuses the importance of studying ethnics and morality through Atticus Finch character. Whereas this extended essay is generally intended to raise the issue of discrimination toward Tom Robinson.
2. 2 Theoretical Framework
Terry Eagleton’s concept of discrimination is based on Karl Marx’s manifesto about social clash. Eagleton’s conceptualizes the manifesto to more simple forms. Eagleton’s says that political, social, and intellectual life process in general has been conditioned by the mode of productions of material life ( 1976 :2). In other words, the means of production manage the social life and control the society. Eagleton’s states that the change of social relations between the proletariat, the people who sell their labor power in return for salary and the capitalist class, who owns the means of productions can develop a new mode of productions ( 1976 :3). It means there are two divisions of social classes, bourgeois and the labor. Eagleton’s also says that the idea of its ruling class is the major ideas of the society where the ruling class using ideology to legitimate their power ( 1976 :3). In this case, racist ideology is used by the dominant class to legitimate their position as the ruling class. In the book titled C ritical Theory Today says that racial discrimination is defined as systematic practice that occur as result of institutionalized racism. The institutionalized racism is described as consolidations between practices in the
7
institutions and racist policies such as in local government, law, education, federal and states (1950:361). The institutionalized racism led to the establishment of racial discrimination into daily life. According to Marxism, Eagleton mentions that the virtuous class using law, politics even the various aspect to legitimate their position as the most powerful class in the society that owns the means of productions ( 1976 :3). It means that the ownership of the means of production may push some people to buy the law. Moreover, Tyson’s writes that the juror' inclination to use law's abstract language to hide the personal value opinions behind their neutral decisions always give advantages to the white society (1950:3 83 ). Finally, racial discrimination occurred because of the existences of social system that divides people into two major classes where the majority class using racist ideology to legitimate their power in society. Meanwhile, the inferior class struggles to get equality and justice.
9
4.1 Discrimination on Tom Robinson ’s Life
The writer describes how discrimination affected Tom’s life which is caused by the changes in social relation. Based on Eagleton’s concepts of discrimination which was explained in the previous chapter, there are two divisions of social classes, bourgeois and the labour. In Tom’s case, he is a black man who works as a labor in the cotton plantation. In other word social inferior status is belong to Tom Robinson. As a member of a minority group, he is most of the time treated cruelly by their owners and the society. Townsfolk usually call him Negro which is an abbreviation of a phrase “never grow”. The ugly term is used to label a black man as a hatefull creature. The younger generation then imitate this action from their enviroment.
‘’Do you defend niggers, Atticus?” the writer asked him that evening. “Of course the writer do. Don’t say nigger, Scout. That’s common.” ‘‘that’s what everybody at school says.” (Lee, 1960: 75) Another discrimination is white townsfolk excluded him to get educational opportunities. In addition Tom’s was illiterate and uneducated.
When in tranquility, her grammar was as good as anyb Atticus said Calpurnia had more education than most colored folks (Lee,ody’s in Maycomb. 1960: 22)
10
The issue of segregations in certain facilities also influenced Tom’s life. He cannot attend white public church. Moreover, the condition of black people church is bad. Tom’s also do not get any equal concern and respect because of white people gambled in his church on week days.
First Purchase African M.E. Church was in the Quarters outside the southern town limits, across the old sawmill tracks. It was an ancient paint- peeled frame building, the only church in Maycomb with a steeple and bell, called First Purchase because it was paid for from the first earnings of freed slaves. Negroes worshiped in it on Sundays and white men gambled in it on weekdays (Lee, 1960: 117). Moreover, their housing is placed in the area which is far away from the white rural place. Usually a slave cabin is placed near garbage dump near the place of the poor white folks who are considered by the society as a lower class above the slave. Maycomb’s Ewells lived behind the town garbage dump in what was once a Negro cabin (Lee, 1960: 170).
4.2. Discrimination on the Trial
There are social hierarchy that classifies the Maycomb society into several class. The lower class is black then above them is poor white clan. The highest class who has ownership of the means of production is considered as the winning class who struggles to legitimate its position. It means that the members of the highest class make a law that only give advantages to them like on the courts where black man practically does not have any opportunity to win the trials.
