Symbolism in Charles Dicken’s great expectations

ABSTRAK

Symbolism is one aspect in a novel which makes it beautiful and colorful. Through symbolism, a novel becomes interesting to be read. Without symbolism a novel is less in meaning. Due to the fact, we need good understanding to know the symbols, kinds of symbols and also the symbolic meaning in a novel.

The researcher chooses this novel because, this novel is considered as Dicken‟s masterpiece consisting of many significant symbols. Thus, the researchers conduct the problem of study; what kinds of symbols are found in Dickens Great Expectations and what the meanings of each symbol are.

Semiotic approach is an approach that study sign process (semiosis), or signification and communication, signs, and symbols. This approach is used to analyze symbols in Dickens Great Expectations by applying Charles Sander pierce‟s theory of symbols. The analysis is focused on some characters, objects and setting available in the novel.

Moreover, the result of this study finds that some symbols based on characters, objects and setting are included in the kind of cultural symbol, private symbol and conventional symbol. Some symbols based on characters are Maghwitch as a private symbol of tragic hero, and Bentle Drummle as a conventional symbol of the devil. Meanwhile, some symbol based on objects are Lock and Keys as a private symbol of secret and hidden thing, Stars and Twinkle as a natural symbol beauty, guidance, and wishes, and Animal and Plants as aprivate symbol of balance of life. And some symbol based on settings are; The Mist of the Marshes as private symbol of a strange place, the Castle as a conventional symbol of a pure of dirtiness and the Satis House as a conventional symbol of general decadence.

Based on the finding, the researcher suggest to the reader and the next researcher who wants to make this study as reference. The further researcher can analyze another novel which is same in the problem of study. Then the further researcher must be able to make her or his research more interesting and complete than this analysis.