1 CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION A. Background of the Problem A literature work is not only imaginative but it also can be as the actual reflection of human life. Human life aspects such as religion, economy, and social are delivered implicitly or explicitly into a literature work to develop an emotion of the story. Wellek and Warren (1948: 89) states that "Literature imitates life and life is, in a large measure, a social reality eventhough the natural world of the individual have also been objects of literary 'imitation'". In other words, a literary work also can be an artificial world which can reflects a social life of society although there will be an imaginative story of someone s life. A social condition of the society that is formed and expressed then it is developed and presented into a literature work. This literary work is then analyzed in a study of sociology of literature where literature is referred as the reflection of a social condition of society. When We Were Orphans, a contemporary novel by Kazuo Ishiguro, tells about a back-forward-back memories of the main character who has ever lived in China together with his parents as a foreigner from England when he was a small boy in China opium war era. By using his childhood memories, the main
2 character tries to reveal the mystery of his parents disappearance related to China opium trade. Kazuo Ishiguro's When We Were Orphans is an captivating novel full of intrigue and conflict. The researcher is interested in analyzing the sociological approach of literature focused on the China social conditions in opium war era as reflected in the novel. The author of the novel describes and develops the actual history of the social conditions in China opium war and it is reflected in literary work in the form of novel. Based on the problem stated above, the researcher focuses the analysis on the occurences in Opium War Era and its relevant aspects. B. Statement of the Problem Based on the background of the research, the problem identification can be formulated as follows: 1. What are the settings in Kazuo Ishiguro's When We Were Orphans? 2. How are the China social conditions in opium war era reflected in to Kazuo Ishiguro's When We Were Orphans? C. Purposes of the Research Based on the background and statement of the problem, this research is aimed to the following matters: 1. To describe the settings in Kazuo Ishiguro's When We Were Orphans.
3 2. To describe the China social conditions in opium war era reflected to Kazuo Ishiguro's When We Were Orphans. D. Significance of the Research This research has three benefits, such as scientifical, institutional, and social significance. Scientifical significance of this research are the readers are able to get explanations and descriptions about the settings in Kazuo Ishiguro's When We Were Orphans. The readers are also able to get explanations and descriptions about the China social conditions in opium war era as reflected in Kazuo Ishiguro's When We Were Orphans and based on actual history. Moreover, this research may become a reference toward the sociological approach of literature. Institutional significance of this research is the students especially for students of Foreign Language and Culture Faculty get knowledge and understand about how to analyze literary work with sociology of literature approach. Furthermore, social significance of this research is the readers will be better to understand about literature work especially sociological approach of literature n analyzing a prose. E. Scope of the Research The object of this research is prose When We Were Orphans novel which is written by Kazuo Ishiguro. In this research the intrinsic approach focuses on the setting of the novel. The researcher merely focuses on the sociological
4 approach that is the China social conditions in opium war era as reflected in Kazuo Ishiguro's When We Were Orphans. F. Method of the Research 1. Research Approach Based on the purposes of the research, the researcher uses two kinds of approaches, those are: a. Structural approach method that is a theory related to the settings. It is used to explain the settings in novel Kazuo Ishiguro's When We Were Orphans b. Extrinsic approach uses sociological approach method focused on historical theory. 2. Method of Collecting Data In this research, method of collecting data is determined into two research categories, primary and secondary method. The primarily data source is When We Were Orphans novel written by Kazuo Ishiguro, and the secondary data source refers to library and online resources. G. Thesis Organization The researcher divides this thesis into five chapters as follows: CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION. This chapter contains the introduction of research that includes background of the study and statement of the problem, purposes of the research, significance of the study,
5 scope of the study, method of the research and thesis organization. CHAPTER II: LITERATURE REVIEW. This chapter contains biography of the author and summary of the novel which are a brief description about the biography of the author and summary of the novel. CHAPTER III: THEORITICAL REVIEW. This chapter contains a description of the literary review, including the description of the settings in the novel, and the explanation of China opium war history as historical theory. CHAPTER IV: ANALYSIS OF THE NOVEL. This chapter contains analysis that includes findings and analysis about the settings in the novel and the China social conditions in opium war era based on actual history reflected to Kazuo Ishiguro's When We Were Orphans. CHAPTER V: CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION. This chapter contains a closing which covers conclusion of this research and suggestion for the next research.