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CHAPTER 2
CHARACTER
2.1 Introduction
This chapter contains the theories applied in the analysis of The Devil Wears
Prada. The theories include theories of character, such as major character, minor
character, static character, dynamic character, flat character and round character.
Theories of conflict and capitalism are also applied.
2.2 Character
Character is the creation of the imaginary people by writer…Major and minor,
dynamic and static are the classification of characters in fiction (DiYanni, 2000, p.55).
Character is a fictional person in a story that is divided into major or minor and dynamic
or static characters. All of the characters have different roles in arranging the story and it
makes the story become more interesting. As we know, major character has an important
role in the story and become the important character of the story; meanwhile the minor
character has the function to enlighten the function of the minor character (DiYanni,
2000, p.55). For the static character, it is the character that stays the same from the
beginning until the ending of the story, but the dynamic character is different. It is a
character that has changes and development of his or her behavior or purpose with her or
his role in the story. (DiYanni, 2000, p.55).
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2.2.1 Types of Character
There are many types of characters that hold an important role in the story. There
are major character, minor character, dynamic character, static character, flat character
and round character. The explanations are stated below:
2.2.1.1 Major Character
Major character is an important figure at the centre of the story’s action or theme
(DiYanni, 2000, p.55). Major character plays an important part in the story. It is also
called main character or protagonist. Protagonist is in conflict with or is opposed by
antagonist. The supporting character of major or protagonist is called minor character
(DiYanni, 2000, p.55).
2.2.1.2 Minor Character
Minor character is characters whose function is partly to illuminate the major
characters (DiYanni, 2000, p.55). Minor or supporting character is static. They do not
experience changes. They remain the same from the beginning to the end of the story.
Their personalities do not go through character development throughout the whole the
story (DiYanni, 2000, p.55).
2.2.1.3 Dynamic Character
The developing (or dynamic) character undergoes a permanent change in some
aspect of character, personality, or outlook. (Arp, 1998, p.79). Dynamic characters, on
the other hand, exhibit some kind of change-of attitude, of purpose, of behavior as the
story progress. (DiYanni, 2000, p.55)
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2.2.1.4 Static Character
The same sort of person at the end of the story as at the beginning.(Arp, 1998,
p.79). Static character is a character that remains the same from the beginning of a work
to the end. (DiYanni, 2000, p.55)
2.2.1.5 Flat Character
Flat characters are characterized by one or two traits; they can be summed up in a
sentence. Flat characters, though they touch life at only one or two points, may be made
memorable in the hands of and expert authors through some individualizing details of
appearance, gesture, or speech. (Arp,1998, p.79). A flat character has only one
outstanding trait or feature, or at most a few distinguishing marks. Flat characters tend to
stay the same throughout a story. (Kennedy & Gioia, 2005, p.92)
2.2.1.6 Round Character
Round characters are characters that are complex and realistic. Round characters
live by their very roundness, by the many points at which they touch life. (Arp, 1998,
p.78). Round characters, however, present us with more facets-that is, their authors
portray them in greater depth and in detail that is more generous. Such a round character
may appear to us only as he appears to other characters in the story. (Kennedy & Gioia,
2005, p.92).
2.2.2 Motivation
Motivation is a word used to refer to the reason or reasons for engaging in a
particular behavior, especially human behavior as studied in psychology and
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neurophysiology (Kennedy & Gioia, 2005, p.91). Should a character behave in a sudden
and unexpected way, seeming to deny what people have been told about his or her
nature or personality, people trust that there was a reason for this behavior and that
eventually people will discover it. (Kennedy & Gioia, 2005, p.91).
2.3 Conflict
Conflict is a creation when the characters and situations are opposing each other
and eventually reach the climax (Gillespie, Fonseca and Sanger, 1994, p.984). Conflict
is the clash of actions between the characters in the story that will rise into climax
(Gillespie, Fonseca and Sanger, 1994, p.984). The conflict itself is divided into personal
and interpersonal conflict. Personal conflict is an opposition that happens between an
individual against herself or himself and interpersonal conflict is an opposition that
happens between an individual against the other individual (Gillespie, Fonseca and
Sanger, 1994, p.984).
2.4 Capitalism
Capitalism is exploitation of one class by another (Nye, 1988, p.36). Capitalism
is a system, which makes the rich people, can oppress and exploit the poor people. They
know that poor people cannot do anything to help themselves and they only can accept
their fate to be exploited. Related with this condition, Tong (1989) explains, “Under
capitalism, women are divided into the bourgeois family and the proletarian family.
Bourgeois women cannot be victims of this capitalism system whereas working-class
women will always be exploited because of their position”.
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The exploitation itself can be varied, one of the example can be seen where the
employers exploit the energy of their employee. This fact is strengthened by Berberoglu
(1994) who notes that “The exploitation of labor for private profit is a central
characteristic of capitalism and capitalist societies around the world.” (p.98). People
who come from the lower status have to work hard to support themselves and their
family. Under this condition, they do not mind if they have to be exploited by their
employers. They know that their employers are the superior and they become the
inferior who have to follow their command. In the capitalism system, which can see that
this condition really happens and nobody can change the situation that happens between
the employer and the employee.
2.4.1 Exploitation of Working-Class Woman
Feinman (1992) says that “Exploitation is to make unethical use of for one’s own
advantage or profit; turn selfishly or unfairly to one’s own account.”(p.69). Because of
the power and the superiority that is held by the employers, they use it as a means to
exploit and take the advantage from their employers. As has been explained before about
the power-relations system that happens between the employer as the superior and the
employee as the inferior, Tong explains that employer has a monopoly on their
employee. They know that they have the authority to force the employee to work harder
and give more benefit for them and the tragic thing is they only give them a little
payment (1989, pp.40-41) They do not care for their worker’s energy that is forced for
their own benefit. They only know that they really need the job and will do anything to
get the money for their family although they have to work under the exploitative
condition.
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2.5 Women’s decision to fight against the Capitalism System
People know that some women accept their fate to be oppressed and dominated
by powerful people whether they are men or women. But, in the reality, some women
are aware that they have the right to get their freedom and live their life without pressure
that come from higher-class people. Berberoglu (1994) says that “Social emancipation
would be the outcome of a resolution of the struggle between the main opposing classes
in society.” (p.91). People who come from lower-class and always become the target of
oppression by powerful people have to realize that they have the right to fight against
that condition. Because of the capitalism system, they who come from lower-class
community will always be the object of subjugation by powerful people.