Readers’ Interpretation about Geisha Portrayed in Arthur Golden's Memoirs of a Geisha

ABSTRACT

Reader is an important component in literature. This assumption shows that literature will exist only when it is read by the reader. In this reading process, then, the reader will try to find the meaning of text. So, it can be said that both the text and the reader cannot be separated one another. In consideration to the above reasons, this study discusses the relationship between reader and text. In this case, the topic discussed is the readers’ interpretation about geisha portrayed in Arthur Golden’s Memoirs of a Geisha. In Memoirs of a Geisha, it is not described clearly who geisha is. It makes the readers have different interpretations about it. In relation to the above reason, this study is aimed to know the readers’ interpretation about geisha, including their reasons in interpreting geisha, and also the aspects that influence the readers’ interpretations.

This study is categorized into literary criticism; while, in accordance with the topic studied the critical theory used is reader-response criticism. The theory is used to analyze the interpretations of informants. In this case, the informants interviewed are 12 students who have completely read the novel. To get data from them, the researcher uses questionnaire and interview sheet. Then, the data from both sources are analyzed and related to the novel.

The result of this study shows different interpretations of the informants about geisha. There are, at least, three interpretations about geisha; geisha as an artist, prostitute, and kept woman. From all interviewed informants, the researcher also finds some informants who have multiple interpretations. Those all interpretations are supported by different reasons of the informants. Generally, the informants, who interpret geisha as an artist, see geisha as a woman who has ability in art and works in art area. On the contrary, the informants, who interpret geisha as a prostitute, see geisha as a woman who works not only by performing her ability in art but also by doing sexual activity with her customers. The informants, who interpret geisha as a kept woman, on the other hand, see geisha as a woman who has a danna (a man who is posited as her husband) without marriage status. Besides, the different interpretations given by the informants are also influenced by some aspects. Those aspects cover the text of Memoirs of a Geisha which is multi interpretable, the readers’ knowledge brought into interpretative process, and the way of the readers in understanding the text. Those aspects directly influence the result of their interpretation.

From the analysis on readers’ interpretation, it can be concluded that a text can be interpreted by the readers differently. Thus, it also can be said that the readers hold an important role in giving and accepting meaning. So, the study on reader-response criticism directly proves the relationship between text and reader.