Analyzing The Novel “Casino Royale” by Ian Fleming

Analyzing The Novel “Casino Royale” by Ian Fleming

BACKGROUND OF STUDY

     People in this era are very interested to literature. Literature is a way to express a work into writing, writings made with a beautiful and meaningful words, and it has high artistic value.

    Literature can be classified according to whether it is fiction or non-fiction and whether it is poetry or prose. It can be further distinguished according to major forms such as the novel, short story or drama.

       A novel is simply a fictional story that is told in narrative form and that is book length. Novel that we analyzed is a novel by Ian Fleming entitled Casino Royale which is published in 1953. This novel is about a British secret agent James Bond, gambling at the casino in Royale-les-Eaux to bankrupt Le Chiffre, the treasurer of a French union and a member of the Russian secret service. Bond is supported in his endeavours by Vesper Lynd, a member of his own service, as well as Felix Leiter of the CIA and René Mathis of the French Deuxième Bureau.

    Gender in the characterization of this novel is very interesting to discuss. "Gender" is often defined as a group of men, women, or the difference between the sexes. In this novel, James Bond role gender showed strong masculine side. According to Bem (1981). In general, gender is classified into four roles: masculine, feminism, androgyny, and not classified. Masculine type means that human nature was above average, femininity below the average. Characteristics associated with gender is more common in men, or roles or masculinity shaped by culture. Thus, the masculine is the extraordinary nature and in the form of culture as an ideal characteristic for men.

     Although many ways that can be served to be taken into a man, but there are some things that are considered more valuable to live so that a man considered a masculine man. This theory is called the hegemonic masculinity. R.W. Connell (1987, 1995) argues that in every society there is a concept of masculinity that is dominant,it also called Hegemonic Masculinity. Hegemony by large Indonesian dictionary means leadership influence, domination, power, etc. of a country on another country. Or in the context of hegemonic masculinity, it means a construction of masculinity influence of dominance over other forms of masculinity. According to Trigiani in his article, "hegemonic masculinity is the socially dominant form of masculinity in a particular culture within a given historical period" Kathleen Trigiani (2008).

     In this theory, the masculine associated with dominance and strength. The theory of hegemonic masculinity is considered as the most appropriate way and succeed in defining what should be a man. According to Ibid, masculinity is defined by physical force, Bravado, heterosexual, emotional control showed weakness, economic independence, authority over women and other men, and of great interest to be able to conquer a woman.

     Sociology Janet Saltzman Chafetz (2009) describes seven areas of masculine society, those are:

•Physical - male, athletic, strong, brave. Do not care about the appearance and the aging process.

•Functional - breadwinner, provider

•Sexual - aggressive, experienced single status is received

•Emotional - unemotional, always quiet

•Intellectual - logical, intellectual, rational, objective, practical

•Interpersonal - leader, dominated, disciplined, independent, individuos

•Other personal character - success-oriented, ambitious, proud, self-centered, moral, trustworthy, decisive, kompetetif, adventurous

PROBLEM FORMULATION

     In this novel, there is a problem that will be observed and analysed.

1. How is masculinity side of the main character James Bond reflected in the novel “Casino Royale”?

Object Of Study

     This research aims to complete the subjects task of Research Methods Literature. Besides that, this research can also increase our knowledge about masculinity in the novel James Bond : Casino Royale, which can be applied in daily life or environment. Moreover, we can figure out a way to make scientific research for the next semester.

Significant Of Study

     The analysis of this thesis is expected to give significance to the students of literature generally and particularly. The expected significances are:

1. This thesis will give information and add the readers’ knowledge or understanding about expressive speech acts.
2. This thesis can be a reference for those who want to analyze expressive speech acts in other literary works.
3. This thesis can add the realm of literature.

Result Of The Research

     In this study, the object studied is the masculinity side  portrayed by the main character in the novel Casino Royale in accordance with the theory of masculinity that we get from the experts. The main character, James Bond is a secret agent who was ordered to make bankrupt Le Chiffre in a poker game. Her role as a secret agent make him a dashing and think logically, according to the theory of hegemony masculinity. In addition, James Bond always wearing suits in a mission that is given, it is also reflected in the theory of masculinity in the mentioned by experts.