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BUSHIDO REVEALED BY THE MAJOR CHARACTER

AND THE PLOT IN SOSEKI'S BOTCHAN

AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS

Presented as Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements

For the Degree of Sarjana Sastra

In English Letters

By

LOUISA MEIGYTHA MANIHURUK

Student Number: 094214028

ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAM

DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS

FACULTY OF LETTERS

SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY

YOGYAKARTA

2014

PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJIPLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI

ii

BUSHIDO REVEALED BY THE MAJOR CHARACTERAND THE PLOT IN SOSEKI'S BOTCHAN

AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS

Presented as Partial Fulfilment of the RequirementsFor the Degree of Sarjana Sastra

In English Letters

By

LOUISA MEIGYTHA MANIHURUK

Student Number: 094214028

ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMDEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS

FACULTY OF LETTERSSANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY

YOGYAKARTA2014


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Above all: Don't lose hope.- Yan Martel


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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

First, I would like to devote my gratitude to my Almighty God for His

blessings. I also want to devote my gratitude to my advisor, Paulus Sarwoto, S.S.,

M.A., Ph.D. for his advices and corrections. I also give my thanks to my co-advisor,

Dr. G. Fajar Sasmita Aji, M. Hum., for his willingness to read and review this thesis.

I also thank my examiner, Elisa Dwi Wardani, S.S., M. Hum. I also want to thank all

the lecturers and staffs of English Letters Department.

My thanks go to my father, Posman Manihuruk, my mother, Dyah Kusumo

Winahyu, my sister, Nega Paramita Damayanti Manihuruk, and my brother, Tunggul

Natalius Hanandyo Manihuruk, for all of their supports.

My endless thanks go to Maria Puspitasari Munthe, Febi Riana Anindita

Pertiwi, Vina Yani Purwaningsih and Arianni Ayu Purnamasari for helping me finish

this thesis. I also want to thank Riza Azizah, Titus Dewa Brata, Helga Larissa Charity

Koraag, Menik Estunigntyas, Vindy Kartika Primaningrum, Richard Octha David

Taralalu, Saka Widhi Nirwa, Samuel Damartika, Rosa Putranti Winenggar, Anastasia

Filiana Ismawati, Hernowo Adi Saputro and Yoshua Endyanto. Lastly, my endless

thanks also go to Jean Gabriel Bagus Dwi Setyawan for his support.

Louisa MeigythaManihuruk.


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE OF THE PAGE ……………………………………………………. iiAPPROVAL PAGE …………………………………………………………ACCEPTANCE PAGE ……………………………………………………..

iiiiv

LEMBAR PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN PUBLIKASI KARYAILMIAH ……………………………………………………………………..

v

STATEMENT OF ORIGINALITY ……………………………………….. viMOTTO PAGE……………………………………………………………..ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ………………………………………………..

viiviii

TABLE OF CONTENTS …………………………………………………... ixABSTRACT ……………………………………………………………….... xABSTRAK ………………………………………………………………….. xi

CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION ……………………………………...….. 1A. Background of the Study ………………………………………..….B. Problem Formulation ………………………………………...…......C. Objectives of the Study…………………………………………......D. Definition of Terms …………………………………………………

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CHAPTER II: THEORETICAL REVIEW ……………………………….A. Review of Related Studies ……………………………………..…...B. Review of Related Theories………………………………………...

1. Theory of Character …………………………………….........2. Theory of Plot………………………………………………..3. Seven Principles of Bushido …………………………………4. Theory of Moral ……………………………………………...5. The Relation between Literature and Morality ………………

C. Theoretical Framework ……………………………………………..

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CHAPTER III: METHODOLOGY ………………………………….........A. Object of the Study………………………………………………....B. Approach of the Study……………………………………………...C. Method of the Study………………………………………………..

19191920

CHAPTER IV: ANALYSIS ………………………………………………...A. The Characteristics of the Major Character ………………………...B. The Plot……………………………………………………………..C. The Bushido ………………………………………………………...

22223239

CHAPTER V: CONCLUSION……………………………………………. 47BIBLIOGRAPHY………………………………………………………….. 50


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ABSTRAK

MANIHURUK, LOUISA MEIGYTHA. Bushido Revealed by the Major

Character and the Plot in Soseki’s Botchan. Yogyakarta: Program Studi Sastra

Inggris, Fakultas Sastra, Universitas Sanata Dharma, 2014.

Sastra merupakan salah satu sumber pedoman moral. Sastra bertujuan untukmendidik pembacanya. Botchan merupakan salah satu karya sastra Jepang yang berisibanyak nilai-nilai moral. Terutama nilai moral Jepang. Nilai-nilai moral Jepangdikenal dengan Bushido. Bushido merupakan kumpulan norma untuk para prajuritJepang. Namun, Bushido masih digunakan oleh generasi saat ini karena nilaimoralnya baik dan masih sesuai untuk masa kini. Nilai-nilai moral pada novel dapatdilihat melalui tokoh utama dan plot. Tokoh utama pada umumnya mempunyai nilaimoral yang baik. Nilai moral yang ada pada tokoh utama dapat dilihat darikarakteristiknya. Sedangkan plot membantu melihat aksi dan reaksi tokoh utamadalam melewati tiap fase dalam plot. Aksi dan reaksi tokoh utama dalam menghadapikonflik dalam plot juga membantu melihat nilai moral yang terkandung di dalamnovel. Maka, nilai moral Jepang, Bushido, dapat dilihat melalui tokoh utama dan plot.

Untuk mendapatkan hasil analisis yang lebih dalam, penulis menganalisiskarakteristik dari tokoh utama. Langkah berikutnya adalah penulis menganalisis plotcerita. Langkah yang terakhir adalah menganalisis nilai-nilai Bushido yang terdapatdi dalam novel melalui karakteristik tokoh utama dan plot.

Penulis menggunakan metode penelitian pustaka dalam studi ini. Penulismenggunakan buku, artikel, dan jurnal sebagai sumber informasi untuk mencarijawaban untuk penelitian ini. Buku pokok yang digunakan adalah Botchan karenabuku tersebut merupakan karya yang dibahas dalam penelitian. Ada pula beberapabuku yang digunakan sebagai sumber sekunder untuk menganalisis penelitian ini,seperti Bushido yang ditulis oleh Inazo Nitobe, A Handbook of Critical Approaches toLiterature yang ditulis oleh Wilfred L. Guerin, dan A Glossary to Literary Terms yangditulis oleh M.H. Abrams. Pendekatan yang digunakan adalah pendekatan moral-filosofis karena pendekatan ini paling sesuai untuk meneliti nilai-nilai moral.

Hasil analisis menunjukkan bahwa karakteristik dari tokoh utama adalah jujur,pemarah, membanggakan diri, dan pemberani. Selain itu, aksi dan reaksi tokoh utamapada tiap fase plot menujukkan bagaimana tokoh utama menghadapi konflik.Karaketeristik tokoh utama dan plot membantu mengungkap nilai Bushido. NilaiBushido yang terlihat adalah keadilan, keberanian, kebajikan, penghormatan padaorang lain, kejujuran, dan penghormatan pada diri sendiri. Satu-satunya nilai bushidoyang tidak terlihat adalah kesetiaan pada tugas.


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CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

A. Background of the Study

Literature is a work of art which imitates life. Wellek and Warren

(1956:94) stated that literature represents life and life,in a large measure, a social

reality, even though the natural world and the inner subjective world of individual

have also been object of literary imitation. Hence, literature represents an

individual which is seen as thesubject and at the same time can be also the object

of literary work.The individual and his qualities become the object of imitation of

the literature and also become the subject in the literature itself.

In relation to individual qualities, literature can be an important source of

moral guidance. It consists of didactic purposes to the readers. One of the

purposes of literature is to teach morality to the readers. Literature is a tool to

convey moral values to the readers. In On Moral Nature of Human, Gardner

(1978: 19) states that “A work of art, which contains moral lesson, provides values

and rouse trustworthy feeling about the best and the worst in human action.”Moral

values give a limitation to an individual to act based on the “good and bad” which

is concluded in particular society. It can be assumed that morality is the standards

of behavior concerning what can be done or acceptable and what cannot be done

or unacceptable.


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Different society might be having different standard of behavior as well.

For example, Japanese conduct their ownmoral values. Japanese has a set of

norms which is called Bushido. Bushido refers to a set of norms constituting a

code of conduct for the Japanese warrior class. Further, Daniel Meissner in his

article Bushido: Now and Zen, “Bushido developed over the centuries through the

influences of Buddhism, Confucianism, Shintoism.” Buddhism teaches stoicism

which concerns with controlling emotion. In Buddhism, emotion can affect the

cycle of life and death. The Buddhism meditation, which is well known as Zen

meditation, teaches to focus and to reach higher level of thought. It also teaches

love and respect to nature and the order of all things. Meanwhile, Confucianism

teaches the relationships of community and family. There are some different

obligations relating to the relationship to others. Shintoism teaches the purification

of one's soul and the removal of everything that plague the psyche.” Shintoism

also teaches nationalism and patriotism which is the base of loyalty. Those moral

lessons from Buddhism, Confucianism, and Shintoism are merged into Bushido

which covers of seven tenets.They are rectitude, courage, benevolence, respect,

honesty, honor and loyalty. These values spread and affect many Japanese

samurais. Although Bushido was a set of norms used by Samurai years ago, it is

still inspiring for the present Japanese. At least, the discussion about it is still the

topic of modern Japanese novels. The discussion about Bushido in a literary

works is still interesting because Bushido has been become the standard of

behavior in Japan.


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One of the literary works talking about Bushido is Botchan, written by

Natsume Soseki. It is a story about a fresh graduate student from big city, Tokyo,

who moved to Shikoku, a rural area of Japan, to become a teacher. The title of the

story, Botchan, is in fact the nickname of the major character of this story.

Botchan itself means young master. Usually, this nickname is used to name the

boys of honorable family, but Botchan comes from a middle class family. The

servant uses this nickname because she loves him. Botchan teaches mathematics

in a boarding school. He thinks that he is smarter and more civilized than any

other people there, but after teaching there for several days he finds himself being

played by his students and his fellow teachers.

Botchan is written by Natsume Soseki in 1906. It is an old book, but

Botchan is still worth read until now. The story is easy to understand, and it covers

also moral lessons. Botchan also becomes one of the required reading books in

some schools in Japan because of the moral values which are needed for Japanese

children. That is why Botchanis one of the most widely read novels in modern

Japan. This novel is interesting because it is one of the modern classic Japanese

literary works which carries traditional values of Japanese, Bushido. Although

Botchan was written in 1906, the story still makes sense and the moral values

which are contained in the story are still relevant to discuss. By examining

Botchan’s character and plot, we can understand more deeply the notion of

Japanese Bushido as previously stated.


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Character is one of the important elements of the story. Abrams (1993: 23)

wrote, “Character is the person presented in a dramatic or narrative, who is

interpreted by the reader as being endowed with moral and dispositional quality,

that is expressed in what he says -the dialogue- and by what he does -the action.”

Character conveys the moral and dispositional qualities which can help readers

find the moral values of the story. Bushido is a set of human qualities which

should be followed by the people, therefore character is the most important thing

to show those human qualities. As a means to reveal the Bushido through the

character, plot is needed to see the dynamic acts of the character. Here, plot helps

the readers understand the backbone of the story. Plot helps to see the

characteristics of the character by examining the action and reaction taken by the

character in each stage of the story. Therefore, on this thesis the elements of

character and plot become the main gate to reveal the “Bushido” of the novel

Botchan.

B. Problem Formulation

Based upon the previous background,some problems are formulated as

follows:

1. What are the characteristics of Botchan as the major character?

2. How is the plot described?

3. How Bushido is revealed through the major character and the plot

in Soseki's Botchan?


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C. Objectives of the Study

There are three objectives of the study in this thesis. The first objective is

to identify the characteristics of the major character in the novel. The second

objective is to see the plot of the novel. The last objective is to find the moral

values reflected by the major character and the plot in the novel.

D. Definition of Terms

This part discusses the definition of terms which can help the readers

understand this study easier.

1. Character

In A Glossary of Literary Terms, Abrams defines characters as:

The person presented in a dramatic or narrative, who is interpreted bythe reader as being endowed with moral and dispositional quality, thatis expressed in what he says -the dialogue- and by what he does -theaction (1993:23).

2. Plot

Stanton in An Introduction to Fiction states:

Plot is the backbone of a story and it has its own rules, which meansthat a plot must have a true beginning, middle, and end. The plotmovement comes mainly from its ability to arouse our curiosity, hope,and fear. The movement of the plot from the beginning to the endshould be reasonable, rational, and logical (1965: 15).

3. Bushido

According to Nitobe in his book Bushido(1908: 4), Bushido is “The code

of moral principles which the samurai were required or instructed to observe.”


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CHAPTER II

THEORETICAL REVIEW

A. Review of Related Studies

In conducting this novel, there are several reviews of related studies about

moral values and about the novel itself,Botchan, collected by the writer.

The first review deals with Renny Amit’s(2007) thesis, Naturalism as Seen

in Natsume Soseki's Botchan. Her thesis talked about the aspects that reflect

naturalism in Botchan. According to her, the idea of naturalism can be seen

through the major character’s way of thinking in seeing life. In page 57, she stated

“Hence, it can be seen that determinism is reflected through Botchan who is the

main character in the story. Botchan believes he has no free will because he is

strongly influenced by the heredity, chances and the environment. His way of

thought reflects the idea of naturalism.” In other words the actions of the main

character are determined by the circumstance. This thesis agrees with Amit’s

thesis that the actions taken by the main character follow the standard behavior

given by his society. This thesis wants to prove that the major character of the

novel determined by the Japanese standard behavior, Bushido.

Another review refers to Ward William Biddle’s article, The Authenticity of

Natsume Soseki(1973).It is about Natsume Soseki and his works, including

Botchan. In page 391, he stated “This article attempts to demonstrate how Soseki

seems to have attained a profound degree of self-consciousness and honesty, the


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sheer severity of which passes over as a creative energy to the serious student of

his fiction” (1973: 391). Botchan contains of self-consciousness and honesty. He

also stated “Botchan is irrepressible in his frankness, uninhibited by artificial

customs of the past, and yet as Japanese as he can be in so many of his attitudes

and manners” (1973: 401).This thesis agrees with Biddle opinions. Sometimes

Botchan break the custom, but at the same time he holds the other custom which

makes sense to him. This thesis wants to prove the custom Botchan hold is

Bushido.

The last review is about the article entitled Cross Cultural Experience by

Cherie Thiessen(2005). She reviewed Botchan from translation point of view.

Translating Japanese novel into English is a difficult job. It is difficult because

Japanese has many levels of communication. She stated that translating a classic

work that was well known in its country of origin was a wonderful way to build a

bridge between cultures. In order to translate that classic work, the translator

should have many extra tools to translate it.

The related studies of Botchan above discuss the naturalism in Botchan,

the characteristics of the author’s works, and the translation from Japanese

language into English of Botchan. Different with the previous study, this thesis

focuses on the Japanese moral values, specifically about Bushido. The Japanese

moral values, Bushido, are revealed by the characteristics of the major character

and the plot.


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B. Review of Related Theories

There are some theories needed to analyze this study. The theories are the

theory on character and characterization, theory of moral and the relation between

literature and morality.

1. Theory of character

Theory on character is an important theory to conduct this study. It is used

to understand the characteristic of the character in the novel. Hugh Holman and

William Harmon (1986:82) presented two types of characterization. According to

them, “A static character is one who changes little if at all. Things happen to such

a character without things happening within.”A static character changes slowly.

Some little changes happen as we read the novel. The dynamic character is the

opposite of the static character. According to them, “Dynamic character shows

changes by actions and experiences, and objective of the work in which the

character appears is to reveal the consequences of these actions.”

According to M.J. Murphy in Understanding Unseens(1972), there are

several ways to understand a character: The first way is by personal description. It

means the author can describe a person’s appearance and clothes. The second

ways is by the character as seen by another. Instead of describing character

directly the author can describe him through the eyes and opinions of another. The

reader gets, as it were, a reflected image. The third is speech. The author can give

us an insight into the character of one of the persons in the book through what the

person says. The fourth is seeing the past life. By letting the reader learn


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something about the readers past life the author can gives us a clue to events that

have helped to shape a person’s character. The fifth is conversations of others. The

author can also give us clues through a person’s character through the

conversations of other people and the things they say about him/her. The sixth is

by learning the reaction. The author can also give us clue to a person’s character

by letting us know how that person reacts to various situations and events. The

seventh is by learning the direct comment. The author can describe or comment

on a person’s character directly. The eighth is by learning the thoughts. The author

can give us direct knowledge of what a person is thinking about. He can tell us

what different people are thinking. The last is by learning the mannerisms. The

author can describe a person’s mannerisms, habits or idiosyncrasies which may

also tell us something about his character.

The theories of character are used to understand the characteristics of the

character. Those theories help the writer to dig the characteristics of the character

deeper. In order to have complete information about the characteristics of the

character, the writer should consider many aspects.

2. Theory of Plot

Abrams in A Glossary of Literary Terms(199: 224) states that plot in a

dramatic or narrative work was constituted by its events and actions, as these were

rendered and ordered toward achieving particular artistic and emotional effects.

He also said that the actions were performed by the particular characters in a


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work, and were the means by which they exhibit their moral and dispositional

qualities. The plot and characters help the story to convey the moral of the story.

According to Robert and Jacobs, in Fiction: An Introduction to Reading

and Writing(1987: 64), “The interrelationship of incidents and character within a

total design is the plot. Plot has been compared to a map, scheme, or blueprint.”

He also states “In a carefully worked plot, all the actions, speeches, thoughts, and

observations are inextricably linked to make up an entirety, sometimes called an

organic unity.” Besides, he adds “Plot in its simple stage is worked out in pattern

of causes and effect that can be traced in a sequence or chronology.” Plot

determines how the story will flow. The story follows the pattern of the plot which

makes the story runs chronologically. Besides, a plot is a plan or groundwork for a

story, based in conflicting human motivations, with the action resulting from

believable and realistic human response. Plot is the scheme that makes one actions

realistic and reasonable because one action and another action are related.

Robert and Jacobs set forth formal categories of structure that can be used

by/in all genres of literature. They are exposition, complication, crisis, climax, and

resolution or denouement.

a. Exposition

According to Robert and Jacobs in Fiction: An Introduction to Reading

and Writing (1987: 89), “Exposition is the laying out, the putting forth, of the

material in the story: the main characters, their backgrounds, characterization,

basic assumption about life, goal, limitation, and potentials. It presents everything


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that is going to be important in the story. It provides introduction of the characters,

the sketch of the background, and the description of the situation.

b. Complication

Robert and Jacobs (1987: 90) state:

The complication marks the onset of the major conflict in the story.The participants are all the characters in the story, whether they areprotagonist or antagonist; and whatever ideas or values thosecharacters represent, such as childhood and age, love and hate, goodand evil, freedom and slavery, and the like.

In addition, this section usually provides the rising of the problems and the

introduction of some difficulties faced by the characters. Abrams, in A Glossary of

Literary Terms (1981: 161), states that the situation keeps on increasing with

complexity and tensions of the problems and the difficulties until it reaches the

climax.

c. Crisis

According Robert and Jacobs (1987: 90), crisis is “the turning point, the

separation between what has gone before and what will come after. In practice, the

crisis is usually a decision or action undertaken in an effort to resolve the conflict.

Usually, crisis is the phase where the conflicts happen and need an action or

decision to solve the conflicts.


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d. Climax

Robert and Jacobs (1987: 90) state:

The climax is the high point in the action or the point of greatestexpectancy and the cumulative effect of the previous incidents.Another way to think of climax is to define it as that point in a story inwhich all the rest of the action becomes inevitable (Robert and Jacobs,1987: 90).

Climax is the peak phase in the story. It is part of the story where all of the

conflicts reach the most intense point. Robert and Jacobs also state “In this part

the conflicts and the following tension are brought to the fullest extent. Climax is

the point that is inevitable and no return, where all the rest of the action becomes

firmly set.”

e. Denouement

According to Robert and Jacobs (1987: 102), the resolution or denouement

is the last section of plot which brings the story to its conclusion. The resolution

usually directed as quickly as possible for the conflicts are over. On the other

hand, once the main conflict is resolved, a brief action of this sort emphasizes the

note of finality.

4. Seven Principles of Bushido

According to InazoNitobe in his book, Bushido (1906),Bushido means

way of the warrior. It is a set of codes which is applied by the Samurai and their

family. Those codes are still applied in the present to respect their ancestor.


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Bushido consists of seven virtues, they are: morality or rectitude, courage,

benevolence, respect, honesty, honor and loyalty.

a. Rectitude

The first principle is rectitude which is well-known as Gi in Japan.

“Rectitude is the power of deciding upon a certain course of conduct in

accordance with reason, without wavering; to die when it is right to die, to strike

when to strike is right" (Nitobe, 1908: 20). Rectitude can be defined as making the

right decision. It also can be said that rectitude is relating to something which

morally correct. Supporting Nitobe’s opinion, According to Yamamoto in

Hagakure – The Way of Samurai (2002; 10), “To hate injustice and stand on

righteousness is a difficult thing. Furthermore, to think that being righteous is the

best one can do and to do one’s utmost to be righteous will, on contrary, bring

many mistake.” Justice is one of important human qualities. To be just is difficult

because it will be hated by some people, especially the one who are wrong.

b. Courage

The second principle is courage, which is well-known as Yu. According to

Nitobe (1908; 25), “Courage here defines as doing what is right” It combines

bravery in doing something right. If one believes something is right, he should

have the boldness to fight until the last blood he has.While according to

Yamamoto (2002; 65), “courage is gritting one’s teeth, it is simply doing that and

pushing ahead, paying no attention to the circumstances.” In doing what is right,

one should not be afraid to anyone. One should have the boldness to do or say the


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right things. Having rectitude, making the right decision, is not enough, it should

be followed by courage, the bravery to do something right.

c. Benevolence

The third is benevolence toward humankind or Jin. It is universal love.

Nitobe(1908: 37) stated, “Benevolence was a tender virtue and mother-like. If

upright rectitude and stern justice were peculiarly masculine, mercy had the

gentleness and the persuasiveness of a feminine nature.” Benevolence can be

understood as well-meaning and kindly. Supporting Nitobe opinion, according to

Sonda (2007),

Benevolence was considered a princely virtue as shown in thefollowing words: Love, magnanimity, affection for others,sympathy and pity, were ever recognized to be supreme virtues, thehighest of all the attributes of the human soul.

Benevolence means kind of heart toward others. It covers all kind of goodness in

life to other people.

d. Respect

The fourth is respect or Rei. According to Nitobe (1908; 45-46),

“Politeness is a poor virtue, if it is actuated only by a fear of offending good taste,

whereas it should be the outward manifestation of a sympathetic regard for the

feelings of others.”Politeness should be a sympathy feeling to others’ feelings, not

a fear of offending. The value of this principles will lose the meaning if people

hold it only because they are afraid to hurt others feeling.


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e. Honesty

The fifth is honesty or Makoto. Nitobe (1908; 57) stated, “Lying or

equivocation were deem equally cowardly.” Truthfulness is taught to tell the truth

in everything. One should be ready to face everything which comes after telling

the truth. Telling lie is unacceptable for Japanese. It also means that someone is a

coward. Besides, a promise has to be fulfilled although without a written pledge.

f. Honor

The sixth is honor and glory or Meiyo. Nitobe (1908; 65-66) stated, “The

sense of honor, implying a vivid consciousness of personal dignity and worth,

could not fail to characterize the samurai, born and bred to value the duties and

privileges of their profession.” It is related to a quality of being respected. Sonda

(2007) stated, “Samurais, in defence of this honor (or avoiding shame), would

even go so far as to take their own lives.” It is one of the ways to defend the honor

to self. Honoris also related to sense of shame and reputation. A person should

have a personal dignity, a quality of being worthy of honor or respect. He also

should defend it to gain the respect. He should also defend it to gain the respect. A

person with honor should not let anyone humiliate or blacken his/her reputation.

g. Duty of Loyalty

The last principle is the duty of loyalty or Chugo. Bushido did not require

their society to become a slave of a king. To be loyal on duty means someone does


16

his or her job from their heart. While according to NozomuSonda in his journal,

Bushido (Chivalry) and the Traditional Japanese Moral Education (2007),

“Personal fidelity is a moral cohesion existing among all sorts and conditions

of men.” Loyalty is very important for the Japanese. Every person should be loyal

to the master.

Even though Bushido was a code from the old generation but it remains

until now in Japanese religion, ethics, and moral. As basic moral principles in

Japan, Bushido is taught since young and it starts from the family, school, and

society. Bushido appears as the moral education at school and also in someone’s

life experiences.

3. Theory of Moral

Related to moral, Chamber states “the moral is the principles of the good

and evil or right and wrong in human's life” (1973:606). Moral differentiates the

good and the bad of human behavior. It also tells us which one we should do and

which one should not do. Moral teach us to concern about other people's needs

first, than ours. We should do good things to others.

According to Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider, the term of moral

implies an ability to distinguish right from wrong, to act on this distinction, and

to experience pride when one does the right thing and guilt or shame when one

does not. Carol K. Sigelman, also states that there are three basic components of

morality. They are:


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(1) An affective or emotional component. An affective or emotionalcomponent contains the feelings of guilt concern for other feelingsthat surround right or wrong actions and that motivate thoughts andactions. (2) A cognitive component. A cognitive component focuses onthe way we conceptualize right and wrong and make decisions abouthow to behave. (3) A behavioral component. A behavioral componentreflects how we actually behave when for example we do or havesomething that we know is bad or wrong, or help a needy person(Sigelman, 1995: 330).

Those three basic components are related. The first is how we feel about right and

wrong, the second is how we conceptualize right and wrong and the last is how to

face that.

3. The Relation between Literature and Morality

Literature and morality usually support each other. Related with the

relation between literature and morality, Moody states that literary work always

offers moral messages that connect with human's noble behavior of the characters

in the novel. Novel contains of moral messages that can be revealed by the

character. There must be moral values or moral messages in every novel, either

explicit or implicitly.

Guerin states that the function of literature is to teach morality and to

probe philosophy issues. The reader would interpret within a context of the

philosophical thought in a period of group existence (1979: 29). In other words,

Guerin said that morality and philosophy issues can be taught by literature. One of

the purposes of literature is to teach morality to the readers.


18

Another statement comes from Gardner in his book On Moral Nature of

Human. He states that literature as an art is essentially and primary moral that is

life giving (1978:15). Besides, he also states that a work of art, which contains

moral lesson, provides values and rouse trustworthy feeling about the best and the

worst in human action (1978: 19). Moral values are delivered by literature.

Therefore, literature is a tool to convey moral values to the readers.

B. Theoretical Framework

The theories written in the review of related theories have their own

function. The function is to help the writer analyzing the topic and problem

formulation. First, the theory of character and characterization helps the writer to

understand the characteristics of Botchan as the major character in the story.

Second, the theory of plot is used to see the storyline of the novel. It is also used

to help to see the dynamic acts of the character. Third, the Seven Principles of

Bushido is employed to comprehend the moral values of Japanese people.

Japanese people have their own moral values, so that the writer needs this theory

in understanding Japanese moral values.Fourth, the theory of moral is used to find

out the moral values in the story through the major character and the plot of the

novel. Lastly, the relation between moral and literature is used to see how the

literature can convey can moral values.


19

CHAPTER III

METHODOLOGY

A. Object of the Study

Botchan is a story about youngest son in a middle class Tokyo family who

is hated because his naughtiness. After both his parents died, he continues his

study and becomes a mathematics teacher. He moves to unfamiliar place far from

Tokyo. It is hard for him to adjust in his new society. He should face his bad-

mannered students and school administrators who pitted him to the other teacher.

He also should face the thing he hates, lies.

Botchan is a timeless Japanese novel written by Soseki Natsume. Botchan

is a very popular novel and still widely read until now. The original novel is

written in Japanese language. The English version is translated by Umeji Sasaki.

The publisher of this novel is Tuttle Publishing. The first publication of this book

is in 1906 and still reprinted until now, but the writer uses the novel which is

published in 2006. It consists of 271 pages which is divided into eleven chapters.

B. Approach of the Study

This study is about moral values which are reflected by the major

character. Discussing moral values will always be related to the principles of right

or wrong and good or bad of human. Besides, it also related to ethics. Since this

study is about moral values, moral-philosophical approach is an appropriate


20

approach to go closer to the topic. Guerin in A Handbook of Critical Approaches

to Literature states

The basic position of Moral-Philosophical approach is to teachmorality and to probe philosophical issues. They would interpretliterature within the context of philosophical thought of a period orgroup. The important thing is the moral or philosophical taught (1979:39).

Moral-Philosophical approach helps to find the moral values which are taught

through the literature.

The writer chooses Moral-Philosophical approach because it helps the

writer in analyzing moral values carried by the major character in the story.

Guerin also states “Moral-Philosophical approach is approach which insists on

ascertaining and stating what is taught (1979: 39).” It means Moral-Philosophical

approach can help the writer to find out the moral values taught through the major

character in the story.

C. Method of the Study

This study is a library research. The writer uses books, articles and essays

as the sources of information in order to ascertain the problem in this study. The

primary source used in this study is Botchan because it is the literary work which

is discussed. There are also some secondarysources to help the writer discussing

this study. They are A Handbook of Critical Approaches to Literature written by

Wilfred L. Guerin, and A Glossary to Literary Terms written by M.H. Abrams,

Bushido written by Inazo Nitobe, etc.


21

There are some steps in conducting this study. The first step was reading

the novel intensively. It is done to get a topic of the research. The second step was

collecting the data which would be important in answering the problems as

formulated. The third step was analyzing the novel. The writer analyzes the

characteristics of the major character, the plot and the Bushido revealed by the

characteristics of the major character and the plot using the theories provided.

After having all the answers to the questions, the last part is drawing conclusion

based on the analysis. The conclusion is the results or the answers to the problem

formulation.


22

CHAPTER IV

ANALYSIS

The analysis in this chapter is divided into three parts based on the

problems that are formulated in the first chapter. In the first part, the writer

analyzes the characteristics of the major character. In the second part, the writer

analyzes the plot of Botchan. In the last part, the writer analyzes the virtues of

Bushido which revealed by the characteristics of the major character and the plot.

A. The Characteristics of the Major Character

The major character in the novel is Botchan. This part will analyze the

characteristics of Botchan. The characteristics of the major character can be seen

from the mannerism, dialogue, act, and many other aspects. The theories of

character are used to understand the characteristics of the character. Those

theories help the writer to discover the characteristics of the character deeper.

The major character's characteristics are described as follows:

a. Honest

Botchan is an honest character. Honest is one of the characteristics of the

major character which can easily be seen in the novel. There are many things in

the novel that show his honesty.

Botchan’s thought about honesty is one of the evidences that he is an

honest character.


23

Just think, if the honest does not win, what else is there in this worldthat will win. If I cannot beat them tonight, I will tomorrow; if nottomorrow, then the day after tomorrow. If not the day after tomorrow,I will sit down right here, get my meals from my home until I beatthem (Soseki, 1906: 84).

The quotation above explains about Botchan’s thought about honesty. He

thinks that honesty is an important thing in this world that should be done by all

people. In fact, sometimes some people do not apply it to their life because the

opposite of honesty, dishonesty, offers an easy way to win something, but it harms

others. It is not easy to make honesty wins, but he will fight for it in order to

maintain it in this world.

The honest characteristic of the major character can also be seen through

the past life of Botchan. Since he was a child, Botchan never tells lies. When he

makes troubles, he would admit it though his parents or anyone would be angry

with him. For example, one day he made trouble by ruining carrot patch and

stuffing irrigating bamboo with stones and sticks. Many people were angry with

him, but he admitted his faults and accepted the punishments. He will not tell lies

to avoid the punishment or anyone's anger. He will never run away from his

responsibility. His past life also shows that he is an honest person. Honesty is the

main moral virtues that he holds since he was a child. Honesty has become his

manner or habit in his life.

The other evidence showing that he is honest when he decides to return

the contract to be a mathematics teacher in Shikoku to the principle of the school

because he feels he cannot go along with the requirements given. He decides to


24

return the contract because he knows that he will not able to fulfill the

requirements given by the principal.

If they wanted me to fill such an onerous post, they should have toldall that before. I hate to tell a lie; I would give it up as having beencheated, and get out of this mess like a man there and then. I had onlyabout 9 yen left in my pocket after tipping the hotel 5 yen. Nine yenwould not take me back to Tokyo. I had better not have tipped thehotel; what a pity! However, I would be able to manage it somehow. Iconsidered it better to run short in my return expenses than to tell a lie(Soseki, 1906: 33).

The quotation above shows the reaction of Botchan about the requirements. The

principle asks him to be an example to the students; should become an object of

admiration for the whole school or should exert moral influence. Besides, he also

should master teaching technical knowledge in order to become a real educator. If

he takes the contract with such requirements, he will be counted as a liar because

he knows that he could not fulfill those requirements. The requirements given by

the principle seems hard to do. Botchan realizes that the requirements are

impossible for him. Botchan, as an honest person, decides to cancel the contract.

He does not want to tell lies and acts like he can fulfill the requirements. It is

better for him to cancel it if he knows that he cannot fulfill it. His decision to

return the requirement and cancel the job show how honest Botchan is.

Those actions and the thought of Botchan mentioned above show that

Botchan is an honest person. Botchan thinks that honesty is an important thing

that he should do. He also expects other people to be honest. Honesty has become

his manner or habit since he was a child until he turns to be an adult. Besides, he

also ready for the consequences, whatever it takes.


25

b. Bad-tempered

Botchan is a bad-tempered person. He easily gets annoyed or angry. It is

difficult for him to control his anger. If there is something wrong or someone does

a bad thing, he will get angry or annoyed. For example is when Botchan and his

brother played chess.

When we played a chess game one day, he placed a chessman as a"waiter," and had hearty laugh on me by seeing me in a fix. Hismanner was so trying that time that I banged a chessman on hisforehead which was injured a little bit and bled (Soseki, 1906: 7).

He is angry with his brother because his brother does an underhand trick to beat

Botchan. Botchan gets angry, and then he throws a chessman to him. It hits his

brother's forehead and injures. He hates lies and all the things related to lies. The

dishonest trick done by his brother is the reason why he is angry and throws the

chessman to him. The reaction toward the action of his brother can be concluded

as bad-tempered.

The other evidence is when his neighbor stole his chestnuts. He is angry

because his neighbor often stole it.

Nevertheless he had the temerity to come over the fence to our yardand steal my chestnuts. One certain evening I hid myself behind afolding-gate of the fence and caught him in the act. Having his retreatcut off he grappled with me in desperation (Soseki, 1906: 3).

Botchan wants to catch him red handed when he steals the chestnut. Botchan hates

someone who takes his property without asking. It is better getting into fight

rather than letting someone steals his property, therefore he manages to catch him

red handed and fight him. The reaction toward the action of his neighbor can be

concluded as bad-tempered.


26

He also gets angry when his students annoy him. One day when it was

his turn to do a night watch at school, his students put grasshoppers inside his

blanket. They want to make fun of him. Botchan is really angry because of their

naughtiness. Besides, they do not admit it when he asks them to. Botchan and his

students are debating.

"Grasshoppers or locusts, why did you put them into my bed? When Iasked you to?"

"Nobody put them in."

"If not, how could they get into the bed?"

"Locusts are fond of warm places and probably they got in thererespectfully by themselves,"

"You fools! Grasshoppers getting into bed respectfully! I should smileat them getting in there respectfully! Now, what's the reason for doingthis mischief? Speak out."

"But there is no way to explain it because we didn't do it" (Soseki,1906: 75-76).

The conversation above shows the anger of Botchan to his students. He forces his

students to confess their faults. Botchan cannot accept their action for not

admitting their fault. Botchan thinks that they has done two faults. The first is for

doing the trouble and the second is for not admitting it. He rebukes his students.

He also reports that incident to the principle which makes them to be punished.

His reaction and his speech toward the mischief of his students can be categorized

as bad-tempered.

Botchan's reactions and speech show that Botchan is a bad-tempered

person. He gets angry easily. He often solves his problems in anger. The way he

solves the problems often leads him into other problems. However, the reasons


27

behind his anger are usually right. Mostly, the reasons behind his anger are

dishonest things. He hates lies, therefore he will always angry when he faces

dishonesty.

c. Dignified

Botchan is a dignified person. He does not let anyone humiliate or

underestimate him. He does not want anyone to think that he is weak. Therefore,

if someone challenges him, he will take that challenge. He does not want to be

reputed as a coward.

During my grammar school days, I was once laid up for about a weekby jumping from the second story of the school building. Some mayask why I committed such a rash act. There was no particular reasonfor doing such a thing except I happened to be looking out into theyard from the second floor of the newly-built school house, When oneof my classmates, joking shouted at me; "Say, you big bluff, I'll betyou can't jump down from there! O, you chicken-heart, ha, ha!" So Ijumped down. The janitor of the school had to carry me home on hisback, and when my father saw me, he yelled derisively, "What at afellow you are to go and get your bones dislocated by jumping onlyfrom a second story!"

"I'll see I don't get dislocated next time," I answered (Soseki, 1906: 1-2).

His reaction toward challenge shows that he just does not want to be

underestimated by his friends. He does not want to be called chicken-hearted by

his friends because of he is afraid of jumping down from the second story.

Besides, he also says that he will not get dislocated when his father said “What at

a fellow you are to go and get your bones dislocated by jumping only from a

second story!”


28

At another time, his relatives presented a penknife. Botchan shows that

pen-knife to his friends, but one of his friends says that it seems rather dull for

cutting with. Then his friends challenge him to cut his finger to see that it is sharp.

"Rather dull? See if they don't cut!" I retorted.

"Cut your finger, then," he challenged. And with "Finger nothing!Here goes!" I cut my thumb slant-wise. Fortunately the knife wassmall and the bone of the thumb hard enough, so the thumb is stillthere, but the scar will be there until my death (Soseki, 1906: 2).

Without thinking, he cuts his finger with the pen-knife. He takes that action so that

his friends will not think that he is coward or weak. Besides, he cuts his finger to

prove his words are true. The reaction of Botchan shows that he wants to be

respected. He wants to show his friends that he is brave.

Botchan will not let anyone underestimate him. One day he felt

underestimated by the maid of the hotel. The servant gives him a bad room and

tells him that it is the only room which is empty. Soon he finds out that the other

rooms are empty and he is given a bad room because he does not give “tea

money” to the servant. Tea money is a kind of tip which is usually given to the

servant of the hotel.

I would give them a knocker with "tea money." I left Tokyo with about30 yen in my pocket, which remained from my school expenses.Taking off the railway and steamship fare, and other incidentalexpenses, I had still about 14 yen in my pocket. I could give them all Ihad; --- what did I care, I was going to get a salary now. All countryfolk are tight-wads, and one 5-yen bill would hit them square. Nowwatch and see. Having washed myself, I returned to my room andwaited, and the maid of the night before brought in my breakfast.Waiting on me with a tray, she looked at me with a sort of sulphuricsmile. Rude! Is any parade marching on my face? I should say. Evenmy face is far better than that of the maid. I intended of giving "teamoney" after breakfast, but I became disgusted, and taking out one 5-


29

yen bill told her to take it to the office later. The face of the maidbecame then shy and awkward (Soseki, 1906: 29).

Even he only has 14 yen left in his pocket; he still gives tea money in order to be

respected by the maid. After giving tea money to the maid, the maid becomes

awkward and shy because Botchan can give a lot of tea money. Botchan is

satisfied because he is not underestimated anymore. His reaction toward the

treatment of the maid shows that he is a dignified person.

The other evidence that show his dignity is his thought toward his problem

with his fellow teacher. He is pitted into a fight and is slandered to be the cause of

the fight.

Even so, if I am to be subjected to these pinpricking tricks, I am a manand got to risk losing off the last remnant of the honor of the Yedo kid.I became more convinced of the advisability of returning to Tokyoquickly and living with Kiyo. To live long in such a country townwould be like degrading myself for a purpose. (Soseki, 1906: 220)

He thinks that it is better to go back to Tokyo and live with Kiyo rather than living

in Shikoku. Living in Shikoku in long period will just discredit himself by his

own choice. Therefore, he wants to go back to Tokyo. His thought shows that he is

a dignified person.

From the evidences above writer concludes that Botchan is a dignified

person. He wants to be respected by others and does not let anyone underestimates

him. He does not want to be seen as a coward. He will also do anything to make

him respected.


30

d. Brave

Botchan is actually a brave man. He is not afraid of anything, though

sometimes he is lack of preparation. He is also brave enough to fight a person who

has a higher position than him, hence he sometimes does not think about the

consequences.

One day there was a fight between students of his school and students

from other school. One of the students asks to break the fight up. He immediately

goes into the crowd to break it up.

Shouting at the top of my voice, I attempted to penetrate the linewhich seemed to separate the hostile sides, but this attempt did notsucceed. When about ten feet into the turmoil, I could neither advancenor retreat. Right in my front, a comparatively large normal wasgrappling with a middle about sixteen years of ago.

"Stop that!"

I grabbed the shoulder of the normal and tried to force them apartwhen someone whacked my feet. On this sudden attack, I let go thenormal and fell down sideways. Someone stepped on my back withheavy shoes. With both hands and knees upon the ground, I jumped upand the fellow on my back rolled off to my right. I got up, and saw thebig body of Porcupine about twenty feet away, sandwiched betweenthe students, being pushed back and forth, shouting, "Stop the fight!Stop that!" (Soseki, 1906: 237)

He tries to break the fight up and save his students. The action and reaction he

takes to break the fight up can be regarded brave. He is brave to face the gang

fight, but he does not consider the number of students who are involved in the

fight. His lack of consideration makes him takes an action which makes him

injured.

Botchan is also brave to oppose the head teacher. He knows that the head

teacher is a bad person, but people think that the head teacher, Red Shirt, is a good


31

and educated person who is respected by the people there. Botchan wants to show

the people who Red Shirt really is because Red Shirt has lied to all the people.

Some of the people know that Red Shirt is a bad person, but they are not

brave enough to tell the truth because Red Shirt is sly and dangerous person and

they are afraid that Red Shirt will do something to them. Red Shirt lies to many

people for his own profit. Botchan cannot accept that. Therefore, he manages a

mission with Porcupine to reveal the wicked side of Red Shirt. Both Porcupine

and Botchan spy Red Shirt and his friend, Clown, when they enter a house of a

Geisha. After they successfully open Red Shirt's wicked side, they take revenge to

him.

"This is outrageous! It is rough to resort to force before deciding theright or wrong of it!"

"Outrageous indeed!" Another clout. "Nothing but wallopping will beeffective on you scheming guys." The remark was followed by ashower of blows. I soaked Clown at the same time, and made him thinkhe saw the way to the Kingdom-Come. Finally the two crawled andcrouched at the foot of a cedar tree, and either from inability to moveor to see, because their eyes had become hazy, they did not evenattempt to break away.

"Want more? If so, here goes some more!" With that we gave him moreuntil he cried enough. "Want more? You?" we turned to Clown, and heanswered "Enough, of course" (Soseki, 1906: 268).

They collect evidence of the sinful actions of Red Shirt and Clown then they

wallop them as revenge. They also reveal Red Shirt and Clown’s secret to the

people who think that they are good people. It is a brave decision and action

where not all people are brave enough to resist a person who has higher level

which has high risk.


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B. The Plot

Plot is one of the elements in the story which plays an important role in

linking up the events in order to make the story as a whole. The events are

arranged by using cause and effect relationship which put the idea of the story

focused. It keeps the reader’s interest and curiosity with its unpredictable

happenings and solutions.

This part analyzes the plot of the short story Botchan in order to find

some related events that support the unity of the story. The plot is divided into five

stages. They are exposition, complication, crisis, climax, and denouement.

a. Exposition

According to Robert and Jacobs in Fiction: An Introduction to Reading

and Writing, “Exposition is the laying out, the putting forth, of the material in the

story: the main characters, their backgrounds, characterization, basic assumption

about life, goal, limitation, and potentials” (1987: 89).

The exposition in the novel is written in the early chapter of the novel.

Soseki gives the description about the childhood of the major character, Botchan.

He is described as a naughty boy who often made troubles in his life. The author

narrates Botchan's mischief when he was a child. There are many mischiefs done

by Botchan which makes his family and others mad at him, such as cutting his

finger; jumping from second story, which made his bone dislocated, fighting with

his neighbor, ruining carrot patch, plugging irrigation duct using stones and sticks

which made the rice field damaged, and throwing chessman into his brother's


33

forehead. However, he never denies his faults to avoid the punishments. He

admits his fault, though it would burden him. The exposition shows the reaction of

the major character in facing the problems which he made. He is still telling the

truth about his mischief, though he knows that if he tells the truth he will get some

punishments.

In the early chapter the author also gives description about the

background of the major character, Botchan. Botchan is a middle-class Tokyo-

born boy. He lives with his parents, brother, and a servant. He is his parents’

younger son, and his older brother is the favorite child. It is because his brother

does not make many troubles as Botchan does. His parents also underestimate him

because they think that he cannot do anything but making problems. Another

person who lives in their home, Kiyo, is the one who loves Botchan. Although

Botchan often makes troubles she still loves him. Her reason for loving him is

because he has a clean heart and she believes that he will be a great person.

Basically, Botchan is a good person, though in the early story he is

depicted as a naughty boy. He is very honest and still maintains the other Japanese

moral virtues. Botchan is also a brave boy, but sometimes he lacks of

consideration that causes trouble. Besides, sometimes the troubles happen because

he faces dishonesty, such as fighting with his neighbor and throwing a chessman

to his brother. Actually his idea about honesty is right, but his reaction is wrong.

His wrong reaction to face the dishonesty is the cause of the troubles.


34

Although sometimes he makes troubles, he does not let anyone

underestimates him. He has dignity on him. He does not want to depend on others,

therefore he decides to continue his education to school of physic. He believes

with academia will come an easy life. He continues his study in a school of

physics. After his father and mother died, the house is sold, therefore he has to

live alone in a boarding house since his brother obtains a job in Kyushu. Kiyo

lives with her relatives because it is not possible to live with Kiyo in a small

boarding house. Actually, he wants to live with Kiyo, but he is not able to rent

larger boarding house.

b. Complication

According to Robert and Jacobs, 'The complication marks the onset of

the major conflict in the story. Complication also provides the rising of the

problems and the introduction of some difficulties faced by the character(s).”

Abrams adds, “This situation kept on increasing with complexity and tensions of

the problems and the difficulties until it reached the climax” (1981: 161).

The major conflict starts after his graduation. He takes a job as a

mathematics teacher in a middle school in Shikoku. It becomes the start of the

complication because it marks the beginning of Botchan's major conflict. Shikoku

is a small fishing city, where someone can surround the city in less than one day.

Many events, problems, and conflicts happen there. He has conflicts with his

students because his students often give him questions that are really hard to

answer. Their purposes are just to make him embarrassed. They also often try to


35

find Botchan's faults. For example, one day Botchan goes for a walk and finds a

noodle house. He does not satisfy eating one bowl of tempura noodle, hence he

orders three more. He does not notice that there are some of his students in that

noodle house. The following day when he enters the classrooms, he sees on the

black board written "Professor Tempura", "But four bowls is too much", and

"Four bowls of tempura noodles, but don't laugh." Botchan is really angry and

irritated with that. He gets similar treatments when he buys dango and goes to the

hot spring. Those kinds of joke happen again and again. The biggest conflicts

between Botchan and his students is when he gets the turn of night watch in the

school, his students make fun of him. When he decides to sleep, he finds a lot of

grasshoppers in his blanket. He is so angry. He blames the students for doing that,

but none of the students admit that action. The students pretend like they do not

know what happened there. Botchan becomes angrier because he considers that all

of his students are cowards for not admitting their faults. Besides, he is also angry

because the students do not respect him as their teacher. Finally, the incident is

reported to the principle. Those are the conflicts happening between Botchan and

his students. He does not want to stop until the students get punishment as the

result of their actions. If he stops, he will lose his honor as well. He wants to show

his dignity as a teacher to their students.

He also has conflicts with his fellow teacher. There are two teachers who

look very kind to him, but actually they back-stabs him. They are Red Shirt and

Clown. They invite Botchan to join fishing and tell him to be more cautious to the


36

two-faced teacher. The two-faced teacher refers to Porcupine. It makes Botchan

starts to keep distance with Porcupine.

c. Crisis

“Crisis is the turning point, the separation between what has gone before

and what will come after. In practice, the crisis is usually a decision or action

undertaken in an effort to resolve the conflict” (Robert and Jacobs, 1987: 90).

The crisis begins after Botchan moves to another boarding house. It is

considered as the beginning of the crisis because after he lives in the house of an

old couple called Hagino, he understands the truths about Porcupine, Red Shirt

and Koga. The owner of the house tells him that the marriage between Koga and

his fiancée is canceled because Red Shirt starts to court her. He also makes a plan

to transfer Koga to Noboeka to estrange Koga from his fiancée. Botchan cannot

understand why a person who is very kind like Koga can get such threats. He feels

sorry and sympathetic to Koga. Besides, Botchan finally knows that Porcupine is

the one who help Koga. Botchan feels guilty for suspecting Porcupine as a bad

person. Afterward, Botchan tries to fix his relation with Porcupine. This event is

the separation between what has gone and what will come after. He has gone the

enmity between him and Porcupine, then they will be together to fight Red Shirt.

They try to shame Red Shirt in the Koga's farewell party, but they get nothing

because the people are too drunk to listen to them.


37

d. Climax

“The climax is the high point in the action or the point of greatest

expectancy and the cumulative effect of the previous incidents.” Robert and

Jacobs also stated, “In this part the conflicts and the following tension are brought

to the fullest extent. Climax is the point that is inevitable and no return, where all

the rest of the action becomes firmly set” (1987: 90).

The climax happens after the celebration of Japanese victory. On that

night Botchan is invited to a celebration of Japanese victory by Red Shirt's little

brother. When he and Porcupine enjoy the celebration, suddenly a student calls

them because their students are fighting against students from another school.

Botchan and Porcupine are trapped into the fight, which planned by Red Shirt to

make them fall into problems. In the next day he found himself in a newspaper. It

is written that the riot is caused by Botchan and Porcupine. After that incident,

Porcupine is fired. It makes Botchan angry because there is someone that gives

false information to disfigure Botchan and Porcupine. He knows that the person

behind the incident is Red Shirt. Botchan demands the newspaper to straighten the

news about the riot. He also demands the newspaper that has blacken their name

to clear it. The tension of this event reaches the fullest extent on this incident. As

the result of the conflicts, Botchan and Porcupine manage to make revenge. They

plan to reveal the shame of Red Shirt. They want to catch him red handed with the

Geisha. They rent a room in front of the house where Red Shirt often stays

overnight with the Geisha. They wait for seven days and still get no evidence. On

the eighth day, they finally see Red Shirt's favorite Geisha there and she is


38

followed by Red Shirt. Botchan and Porcupine wait until morning to catch them

red handed. After Red Shirt leaving the house, Botchan and Porcupine follow him,

and then they beat him up. Red Shirt still does not admit that he is there with the

Geisha, but Botchan and Porcupine do not care about his explanation because they

know the truths. They are very satisfied because they can uncover his shame and

beat him. The revenge is the end of the climax.

e. Denouement

“Resolution or denouement is the last section of plot which brings the

story to its conclusion. The resolution usually directed as quickly as possible for

the conflicts are over.” (Robert and Jacobs, 1987: 102).

The beginning of the denouement happens after the revenge to Red Shirt.

Afterward, Botchan decides to quit from his job as a teacher without writing any

resignation letter. After the conflicts are over, he decides to leave Shikoku and

goes back to Tokyo. Porcupine also leaves Shikoku and moves to Shimbashi. The

denouement of the story is that Botchan decides to go back to Tokyo and lives

with Kiyo. He thinks it is better to live with the one he loves, Kiyo. Later on,

someone helps Botchan to get a job as an assistant engineer in the tram car office.

The salary is only 25 yen a month, but he lives in peace there. In February, Kiyo

died because of pneumonia. Kiyo is buried in the yard of a temple as her wish

before she died.


39

C. The Bushido Virtues Revealed by the Major Character and the Plot

Bushido means way of the warrior. It is a set of codes which is applied by

the Samurai and their family. Those codes are still applied at the present to respect

their ancestors. Besides, it contains of good virtues for the present generation.

Bushido consists of seven virtues, they are: justice or rectitude, courage,

benevolence, respect, honesty, honor and duty of loyalty. Those virtues are

morally good. All of those virtues teach us to do something good and right.

Moreover, those virtues teach us to have certain important qualities which should

be done by all people.

a. Rectitude

In the story, Botchan is described as person who is often engaged with

problems. He faces many problems and usually he solves his problems in anger

which make his problems become more complicated. However, the problems

which make him angry are because he tries to uphold his moral value, honesty.

Dishonesty often makes him angry. He knows which one is good and which one is

bad. He can differentiate the good and the bad. He tries keeping the right things

and fighting the bad things. For example, he finally decides to disclose the bad

side of Red Shirt where no one has the courage to do it. Botchan shows the

rectitude in the story by deciding to catch him red handed for doing something

bad. The virtue of Bushido about rectitude is revealed by the major character and

the plot of the story. Botchan knows that Red Shirt is a bad person, but nobody

has the courage to prove it. One of Botchan's characteristics is brave; therefore, he

has the courage to show the truth. He knows that there is something wrong in Red


40

Shirt and Botchan does not want to let the false judgments of Red Shirt keep

happening. It becomes the reason for Botchan to conduct the truth. He decides to

make everyone know the bad side of Red Shirt. Botchan also tries to help Koga

which also has problem with Red Shirt. He knows that Koga and Porcupine are

not wrong, but they are engaged into problem because of Red Shirt. He knows

which one is right and which one is wrong, therefore he tries to reveal the truth.

Botchan’s actions and reactions in deciding the good and the bad show

his rectitude virtue. In Bushido, rectitude virtue is understood as the power of

deciding upon a certain course of conduct in accordance with reason. Botchan can

make right decisions. Botchan decisions are morally correct. Therefore, it can be

said that Botchan has rectitude virtue.

b. Courage

Brave is one of Botchan’s characteristics. He is brave to do something

and fight someone. He is still brave, though whom he faces is someone who has

power. Botchan is brave to face Red Shirt, the head teacher in his school. Many

people do not have the courage to face someone who has a higher position than

them. Someone who has higher position regards to be better. Porcupine, Botchan's

friend, also states that the opposition of one man will not make anything, but

Botchan keeps doing it and believes that the right will always win. Botchan wants

to show the people in the city that Red Shirt is not a good man. He also wants to

protest for Red Shirt's bad attitude. Botchan keeps doing things that are right for


41

him, though he should face many difficulties. The difficulties he faces do not stop

him to do the right things. He decides to do it until his last breath. He does

everything that supports him to reach his goal, proving that Red Shirt is a bad

person. Finally, he can prove that Red Shirt is a bad person.

Botchan is not only able to understand what is right and wrong, but he is

also brave to fight for something right. He is brave to fight Red Shirt, although his

position is higher than Botchan. The reason why he is brave to fight Red Shirt is

because he knows that he is right and Red Shirt is wrong. His bravery in fighting

for something right shows that he upholds courage virtue. In Bushido, courage

means bravery in doing something right.

c. Benevolence

In the story, Botchan is not depicted as a kind person. He often makes

troubles and makes other people angry with him. He also likes to look for others

flaws. However, he always respects others goodness to him and he will also

response others goodness with goodness. In the story, Botchans servant, Kiyo,

loves Botchan with all of her heart. In the end of the story, Botchan shows his love

to Kiyo by coming back to Tokyo and living together with her. He also grants

Kiyo’s wish to be buried near the temple when she died. He is not only kind with

Kiyo, he is also kind with kind people around him, Koga and Porcupine. Botchan

shows his kindness to them by help them in facing their problems. Botchan tries


42

to solve their problem with Red Shirt because he knows that they are good people

who are right.

Botchan’s love to Kiyo, which actually his servant, and his kindness to

Koga and Porcupine show that he is also a kind person. The kindness of Botchan

shared to people shows that he holds benevolence virtue. In Bushido, benevolence

is considered as love, magnanimity, affection for others, sympathy and pity. It can

be also considered as universal love. Botchan’s actions have proofed that he

shared love and sympathy for others. Therefore, Botchan holds benevolence virtue

of Bushido.

d. Respect

Botchan is dignified person. He wants to be respected by others. He

respects others as well. When he knows that Red Shirt makes the engagement of

Koga and Madonna canceled. He feels pity for Koga because Koga's fiancée

cancels the engagement for a bad person, Red Shirt. Koga is a nice person, though

he is sad and experiencing bad thing he does not hate them. However, Koga as the

victim can accept the situations happen to him. Botchan really respects Koga for

his way in facing problem. Botchan also become more sympathetic to Koga.

Botchan’s sympathy to Koga shows the virtue of respect. According to

Bushido, respect means more than politeness. It is a sympathy feeling to others’

feelings. Botchan is not only pity to Koga, but he can also feel Koga’s feeling.


43

Therefore, he tries to help Koga to solve his problem. From Botchan’s actions, it

can be concluded that Botchan upholds respect virtue.

e. Honesty

Honest is one of the characteristics of Botchan. Since he was a child until

the end of the story Botchan never tells lies. In the early story, Botchan has always

confessed all of his actions. Most of his actions are naughty and causing others’

resentments. His actions often lead into others’ anger. Although he knows that

others will be angry with him because of his action, he will always keep telling

the truth. If the truth is that he ruins a carrot patch, he will admit it. He also will

accept others’ anger to him because he understands that he is wrong. He is ready

to face the consequences of his actions. Besides, Botchan, also wants to see

honesty in other people. Therefore, Botchan will be so angry if he knows that

other people tell lies to him. Botchan is really angry when his students make fun

of him and do not admit it. He considers his students as cowards because they are

not brave enough to admit their faults. He is also very angry to the Red Shirt

because Red Shirt has told many lies and done many dishonest actions to him and

other people in the town. There are many dishonest actions and words, such as

Red Shirt successfully pits Botchan to Hotta; Red Shirt poaches Koga's fiancée

and manages to move Koga to another city; he also does not admit that he stays

overnight with Geisha. Those Red Shirt's dishonest actions and words make

Botchan really angry and want to take a revenge to catch him red-handed, so all


44

people in the town know that Red Shirt is not a good teacher and he has lied to

many people.

He thinks that people who lie are coward. Botchan always tell the truth

in everything. He also wants anyone to be honest too. He will fight for honesty

because he thinks that honesty is an important quality that should be done by

people. Besides, he is also ready to face the consequences which come after

telling the truth. The honest characteristic and the actions of Botchan reflect the

fifth virtue of Bushido, honesty.

f. Honor

Dignified is one of Botchan's characteristics. As a dignified person,

Botchan will not let anyone humiliate or blacken his reputation. When his students

make fun of him, he is very angry because it means his students do not respect

him as their teacher. The incidents happen in the rising action. The actions made

by his students humiliate and blacken his reputation as a teacher. Therefore, he

manages to bring the case to the principal. He will lose his honor as a teacher if he

lets his students do things that harass him. He shows his dignity not only to his

students, but also to his friends. Botchan decides to return the money of the

Porcupine's treat after Red Shirt telling him that he should be careful to other

teacher who might back stab him. Botchan returns the money because he cannot

accept the treat from a person who talks bad behind his back. He would rather

refuse the kindness of someone who stabs his back because he does not want to


45

have any indebtedness to someone who blackens his name. Having indebtedness

to someone who blackens his name means someone successfully humiliates him.

Besides, finally he resigns from the place he works. The reason of his resignation

is because he feels some of the staffs have tried to discredit him. He will be more

ashamed if he keeps working there.

Dignified as Botchan’s characteristic and the actions in facing the

problems against his students and his friends show that he holds the honor virtue.

It can be said that he hold the honor virtue because he consciously feels having

personal dignity and worth. He does not want anyone humiliate or blacken his

name. He will do everything to protect and gain his honor. He has personal

dignity, a quality of being worthy of respect.

g. Duty of Loyalty

Botchan as the major character does not show his loyalty or commitment

to his job as a teacher. In the story, Botchan often complains about his job where

he should do many tasks, but he only gets a little salary. Besides, he also often

complains about his fellow teachers and his students. As an employee, actually he

should be loyal to the place where he works. He also should do his best in order to

make the place where he works better. He is not only complaining about his job,

but in the end of the story he decides to quit from his job. Moreover, he leaves his

job without any resignation letter or announcement to the principal of the school.


46

The actions done by Botchan do not show the duty of loyalty virtue. It

can be said that Botchan does not have duty of loyalty virtue because he is not

loyal to the place he works. He also complains a lot about his job and things

related to his job. He does not love and carry out his job from his heart. Besides,

he also does not really responsible to his duty as a teacher.


47

CHAPTER V

CONCLUSION

The problem formulation has been answered in the previous chapter,

analysis. The analysis and the conclusion cover the characteristics of the major

characters, the plot and the Bushido seen through the major character and the plot.

Based on the analysis, it can be concluded that honest, bad-tempered, dignified,

and brave are the characteristics of Botchan. The conclusions are based on the

speech, the conversation, the habit, the reactions and the past life of the major

character.

The plot covers exposition, complication, crisis, climax and denouement.

Each phase of the plot helps to reveal the Bushido in the major character. The plot

helps to see the actions and reactions taken by the major character in facing and

solving the conflicts. The exposition in the novel is written in the early chapter of

the novel. The exposition depicts the childhood, background and the

characterization of the major character, Botchan. The complication starts his

graduation; he takes a job as a mathematics teacher in a middle school in Shikoku.

He gets many troubles with his students and his fellow teachers. The crisis begins

when Botchan understands which person is good and which person is bad. Red

shirt is bad and Porcupine is actually good. Afterward, Botchan tries to fix his

relation with Porcupine. Red Shirt also gives false information to a newspaper

which blackens Botchan’s and Porcupine’s name. The climax is when Botchan


48

and Porcupine manage revenge to Red Shirt. They catch Red Shirt red handed

with a Geisha. After that they decide to beat him up. They are very satisfied

because they can uncover his shame and beat him. The denouement of the story is

that Botchan decides to go back to Tokyo and lived with Kiyo. Later on, someone

helps Botchan to get a job as an assistant engineer in the tram car office.

The characteristics and the reactions of the major character in facing and

solving the conflicts are things which help to see the virtues of Bushido. The

rectitude value can be seen through the power of deciding good and bad in certain

condition accordance to reason. Botchan can decide that Red Shirt is bad,

therefore he tries to uncover the hidden badness of Red Shirt. Botchan is not only

able to decide the good and the bad, but he is also able to do what it right. Brave

to do the right things mean he upholds courage values of Bushido. He will fight

someone who is wrong and he will also help the right person who is violated by

the wrong person. Helping the others means that Botchan is kind. Botchan’s

kindness to others shows that he upholds the benevolence virtue. He is not only

helping others which need his help, but he also respects them. The respect given

by Botchan is also added by sympathetic feeling. The sympathetic feeling and fear

of hurting other’s feeling means that Botchan upholds the respect feeling of

Bushido. From the story, we can see the honest characteristic of Botchan. It

reflects the honesty virtue of Bushido. Beside honest, Botchan is also dignified.

He wants to be respected by others. He will be angry if someone tries to humiliate

or underestimate him. The desire to be respected shows honor virtue of Bushido.

He will keep his honor until his last breath. The only virtue that cannot be seen in


49

the story is duty of loyalty. Botchan does not have the loyalty to the place where

he works and finally he manages to resign from his job as a teacher. As a loyal

person, he should love his job and do his best for his job, but he does not show it.

Botchan holds all Bushido virtues, except the duty of loyalty. In order to hold the

other virtues, he should violate the duty of loyalty virtue. He violates the duty of

loyalty virtue because this when he holds this virtue, he will violate more virtues

of Bushido. He prefers to violate one virtue in order to hold the other virtues than

tries to hold all the virtues but ends up losing the all of the virtues.


50

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