CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

A. Background of Study
The province of literature is human condition. Literature illuminates life by
shaping our insight. Koesnosoebroto in his book The Anatomy of Prose Fiction
states that:
Literature has its root in one of the most basic human desire, i.e.
the desire for pleasure. Since the invention of language, men have taken
pleasure in following and participating in the imaginary adventure and
imaginary experiences of imaginary people. Reader drives pleasure from
literatures power to intimate life. A truly good book can speak of
imaginary people so vividly that they seem more alive than people in real
life, and can make us care about its characters as if they were close
friend.1
The experience of literature always involves both the book and the reader.
Literature helps people to observe a problem objectively, when people face a
problem and are not able to see the space to leave, literature assists them to
indicate other point of view. Literature is one of references of life, place to
mirrors, and source to find the solution, because literature was created based on
experiences or imaginations of authors, people are able to learn much from the
other experiences and imaginations. James Earl Jones states that when I read
great literature, great drama, speeches, or sermons, I feel that human mind has not
achieved anything greater than the ability to share feelings and thoughts through
language2

Koesnosoebroto, Sunaryo Basuki, The Anatomy of Prose Fiction, (Jakarta, Departemen

Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan, 1988), p.1.

It is often read many story books or listen to the story which is told by
teacher. Some of the stories even have a deep impression to us, and it changes our
life. Literature influences our mind, feeling and idea through their language. Saini
and Sumarjo states that, literature is expression of human personality in form of,
experiences, mind, feeling, idea, spirit, belief in a real illustration forms that can
raise enhancement with language as organs.3 Therefore, Literature is really
related to human life.
In my opinion, Reader of all age usually enjoys reading literature (short
story, novel, drama, or play). As one of interesting object for reading, novel is
being found by reader. Especially for young reader and teenager whose hobby is
reading. Novel has the power to invite reader to enter the story world and
experience the live of the characters deeply. Novel, as one of the most popular
fictions, is a product of literature. It means that novel is unusual writing which
contains group of words, but novel is the writing that includes artistic touch in
series of its words. Through novel, the author is able to deliver condition of
society beautifully or critically because it is able to connect between the author
and the public. Therefore, novel is also considered as one of discourse analysis
fields.
Djasi asserts that, novel is a kind of writing that talks about human life. It
can be real story or based on the imagination of the author. 4 A novel is able to
2

Satwase, Vaishali. (cited James Earl Jones opinion) Type of Literature:

http://www.buzzle.com/articles types-of-literature.html, retrieved on March 10 th 2013
3
4

Saini, Jacob, Sumarjo, Apresiasi Kesuastraan, PT, Gramedia, Jakarta. 1991, p. 17

Hasballah M.Djasi, (cited Baribin) Introduction to Literature. (Banda Aceh, Nurani

Press.2001), p.1

serve a message to the public about past, present and future condition of the
society, because it is based on the experience or imagination of the author, so that
the reader is able to learn about the society problem generally and briefly.
In modern literary usage, Lernout and Hauspie claims novel is a sustained
work of prose fiction a volume or more in length.5 It usually has many plots and
conflicts, changeable characters, and a very long story. Even though it contains
many pages, possibly hundred pages, many people still love to read novel. In the
art of Fiction john Gardner says:
A novel is like a symphony in that its closing movement echoes
and resounds with all that has gone before. . . its unexpected connections
begin to surface; hidden causes become plain; life becomes, however
briefly and unstably, organized; the universe reveals itself, if only for the
moment, as inexorably moral; the outcome of the various characters
actions is at last manifest; and we see the responsibility of free will.6
One of the most important aspects of a novel is the character. Edgar
defines a character as a verbal representation of a human being7. According to
me, it could be meant that the character represents individual personality from the
real life into the novel. In addition, Novel is often filled with dynamic characters
that can surpass print and become part of readers life. A skilled author has the
power to develop characters that people can relate to and grow to love. With each
detail, reader can discover about character, as a result strong relationship begins to

Lernout & Hauspie, Novel. The Columbia Encyclopaedia, Sixth Edition, Columbia
University Press, New York, 2004, p.1
6

Gardner, John. The Art of Fiction. The Critical Muse: Selected Literary Criticism.
New York: Penguin, 1987, p.1
7

1995, p.6

Robert V, Edgar, Writing about Literature, eight Edition, New York: Prentice hall.

form between themselves and the important people in the story. Thus, reader
could hate, love, laugh, cry or worry about the characters in novel.
According to me, novel will have effects on the reader. Both children and
adult alike are fascinated by the intense storylines, memorable, characters, vivid
settings and compelling themes that a novel can provide. In addition, reading and
responding to novel facilitate the building of knowledge and language skills in
complex way. As human, our world is shaped by our interactions to others.
Especially young readers who are interested in this aspect of human life, making
the theme of relationships become a suitable one to be explored through novel. By
reading novel, they will have the opportunity to develop the ability to analyze the
text, interpret the idea related to them and make connections to their lives. These
experiences can contribute in cognitive development and higher level process
such as critical and creative thinking for all reader ages. Moreover, the rich variety
of novels available recently serves as wonderful vehicles for literary exploration
and reading response. Therefore, it is not only for children who love reading novel
but also adult like it. It also for English students, by reading novel, they can create
the inspiration and affect him to consider the characters actions and their
consequences. As a result, the students know the character in a literary work very
well because he has read their thought and followed their action. For this reason,
they will provide a reference point for insights into others. While novel can be
enlightening, it also entertaining. A work can touch on primal feelings like rage
and desire as we identify with characters whose live are complicated with drama.

The novel can delight with more subtle humour, elicit wry chuckles or arouse
curiosity.
In addition, characters in novel can be classified into two; protagonist
(good character) and antagonist (bad character). Paul mentions in his book, yet,
while antagonist may be less prominent and less complex, they are ultimately just
as important to a story as protagonist. 8 In fact, antagonists often play role in
shaping readers interpretation, and attitudes toward the protagonist and in
precipitating the changes that protagonist undergo. Hence, both of protagonist and
antagonist are really important to create a good story.
Novel Harry Potter and Goblet of Fire is one of popular series of J.K.
Rowlings Novel that is very often read by people both young and adult. It is
caused by interesting story in the novel that inspire the readers through characters
that shown in the novel. One of most interesting character to the reader is
antagonist character, because antagonist character always made the problems in
the story of the novel. One of antagonist character in the novel is Voldemort. In
order to make us sure about the character of Voldermort, we have to know the
characteristics of the character itself. Based on the reason, the writer would like to
analyze the personality of Voldemort and its roles in J.K. Rowling Novel Harry
Potter and The Goblet of Fire under the title An Analysis of Antagonist
Character in J.K Rowling Novel Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire.
B. RESEARCH QUESTION

Hunter Paul, Literature-Collections, 8th ed, New York: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc.
2002, p.103

After limiting the scope of the analysis, the researcher perceived the problem.
She will analyze the antagonist character Voldemort in the novel. Therefore, the
researcher formulates some research questions as follow:
1. What are the characteristics of the antagonist character in novel Harry
Potter and The Goblet of Fire?
2. What are the roles of antagonist character in novel Harry Potter and The
Goblet of Fire?
C. TERMINOLOGY
The researcher considers that is necessary to clarify some terms which are
uses in this thesis to avoid misinterpretation; the terms used are as follow:
1. Analysis
To analyze means to break into parts and to examine the components. In
literature and the other humanities, to interpret or critically analyze means to
break a subject (such as a work of art or, in other fields, a culture, person, or
event) into its constituent parts and then interpret the parts, step by step.
Holman states that definition of analysis is a method by which a thing is
separated into parts, and those parts are given accurate, logical, detailed scrutiny,
resulting in a consistent and relatively complete account of the elements of the
thing and the principles of their organization. 9 In this thesis, the researcher will
break J.K. Rowling Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire into some parts and
afterward continue to clarify those parts, one after another. Then, it will be clear to
see the meaning inside the novel. Besides, the researcher will also analyze the
characteristics of this novel.
2. Character

C. Hugh Holman & William Harmon, A Handbook to Literature, 5th edition, New York:
Macmillan Publishing Co, 1986, p.20

According to Donald, the characters of a literary work are the imaginary

persons whose fiction, thoughts, and emotions are described in the work. 10 Egdar
and Henry in their book also explains that character is person in literary work,
whose characteristics are revealed in his/ her, actions, his/ her descriptions, his/
her dramatic statements and thoughts, others statements to him/ her, and authors
statements.11 Based on experts opinions above, the writer concludes that
Character can describe based on what the character says or does, how he or she is
dressed, or what other characters think about him or her around character is
sometimes called a Protagonist and Antagonist. Protagonist who is central of the
action, moves againts an antagonist and holds our attention. Antagonist is the
cause of the problems which spark the stays conflict.
In this research, the writer want to analyze antagonist character based on
characters actions, characters descriptions, written or orally, characters thought
to other characters, other characters point of view to the character, and authors
point of view to the character.

3.
Antagonist
Hornby claims that antagonist can be defined as a person who actively
opposes somebody or something.12 In novel, antagonist contradicts with other
characters in story. He does many tricks and strategies to defeat the main character
10

Good, Donald W, Handbook, New York: Macmillan Publishing Co, INC, 1995, p.390
11

Edgar V. Robert and Henry E. Jacobs, Literature . . . , New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1995,

p.135
12

Hornby, A S, Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary of Current English, Fifth Edition,

Oxford University Press, New York, 1995, p.42

or protagonist. The antagonist usually against not only the main protagonist, but
he also struggles against all protagonist characters in story. It is often a villian, but
may be a force of nature, set of circumstances, an animal, or other force that is in
conflict with the protagonist. To sum up, this means that the antagonist is a
character or group of characters, or, sometimes an institution of a happening that
represents the opposition against which the protagonist (s) must contend.
In this thesis, the researcher will focus on the main antagonist character in
J.K. Rowling novel, Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire that is Voldermort. It will
be analyzed are his action, expressions, thoughts and words.
4. J.K. Rowling
Joanne Kathleen Rowling (pronounced rolling) was born on July 31 st, 1965 in
Chipping Sodbury, Gloucestershire, England. Rowling writing career started at the
age of six when she wrote a story called Rabbit. Since then Rowling has
graduated from Exeter university, worked as a teacher and been an unemployed
single parent. Divorced and living on public assistance Rowling wrote Harry
Potter and The Philosophers stone at the table in a cafe during her daughters
naps. When Harry Potter and The Philosophers stone was bought and publishing
by Bloomsbury in 1997 her life changed dramatically, the Harry potter series has
since then won numerous awards and become a tremendous success around the
world.
Like that of her own character, Harry Potter, J.K. Rowlings life has the luster
of a fairy tale. Divorced, living on public assistance in a tiny Edinburgh flat with
her infant daughter, it was Harry Potter that rescued her.
5. Novel

Djasi asserts that novel is a long fiction story which describes characters,
movements, and represents life like scene in a plot or a disorganized and
complicated situation13 Gifford in his article also explains that:
The novel is new. The youngest of the major forms of literary
expression, it is only about 200 years old. It is a distant cousin to the
ancient epic poems of Grecee, and a closer cousin to the prose-poem
romances of the middle ages. But further back, the oral narrative, which
was mainly poetic, set patterns that evolved into the novel we read
today.14
According to me, novel is able to serve a message to the public about past,
present, and future condition of the society, because it is based on the experience
or imagination of author, so that the reader is able to learn about the society
problem generally and briefly.
The novel that will be analyzed in this research is Harry Potter and The
Goblet of Fire, the fourth J.K. Rowlings novel. Consist of 37 chapters and
contents of 636 pages, was published in 2002, become the bestselling book in
2006.
D.

THE AIM OF STUDY

The results of this study will help those novel readers to know further about

the fictional characters in the novel, the aims of this study are:
1. To find out the characteristics of antagonist character in the novel
2. To know the roles of antagonist character in the novel Harry Potter and
The Goblet of Fire
E. METHOD OF STUDY
1.

Research Design
13

Hasballah M. Djasi, Introduction to Literature, Banda Aceh: Nurani Enterprise, 2011,

p.26
14

18th 2013

Gifford, Katya. The Novel http://www.humanitiesweb.org/human. retrieved on January

10

In this research, the writer uses descriptive analysis method. Soedjono and
Abdurrahman explains that descriptive is describing something without judging.
Analysis is studying something with examining its parts and its relationships.
Thus, descriptive analysis method is method which describes facts to find out real
conditions and situations of something and explains the facts accurately. 15
In this research, descriptive mean the writer would like to describe antagonist
character based on characters actions, characters descriptions, written or orally,
characters thought to other characters, other characters point of view to the
character, and authors point of view to the character

2.

Instrument
a. Document
Document is a record or the capturing of some event or thing so that the

information will not be lost.16

Document that uses in this research is Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire,
the fourth J.K. Rowlings novel. Consist of 37 chapters and contents of 636 pages,
was published in 2002, become the bestselling book in 2006.
b. Note Taking

15

Soedjono and Abdurrahman, Metode Penelitian: Suatu Pemikiran dan Penerapan, Jakarta:
Rineka Cipta, 2005, p.23
16
http://www.whatis.com/defenition/dosument.org. retrieved on March 10st 2013

11

Novak and Gowin claims that taking note is the practice of reading information
captured from another source. By taking notes, the writer records the essence of
the information, freeing their mind from having to recall everything.17
On note taking, the writer writes parts of characteristics antagonist
character in some chapters that representative the description of antagonist
character.
c. Technique of Data Analysis
Holsti defines that definition of content analysis as any technique for making
inferences by objectively and systematically identifying specified characteristics
of massages.18
In this research, the researcher will apply some steps in writing this thesis.
First, the researcher reads and revises the novel with the specific questions in
mind. Second, the researcher creates basic ideas, events and names which related
to main antagonist character in novel. Third, the researcher focuses the analysis of
character on antagonist character, and then the researcher identify and consider the
important idea and written to the novel to locate specific evidence and passage
coraleted to main antagonist character. Fourth, the researcher describes the
actions, thoughts, words, expressions and other statements about main antagonist.
As a final point, the researcher will give the analysis result about the antagonist
character.

17
Novak, J. D. and Gowin, D. B., Learning How to Learn, New York: Cambridge
University Press, 1984, p. 24
18

Ole, Holsti., Content Analysis, California: Stanford University Press, 1969, p.10