KARAKTER EMPAT PEREMPUAN TANGGUH DALAM NOVEL KOOHII GA SAMENAI UCHI NI KARYA KAWAGUCHI TOSHIKAZU

Abstract

The novel Koohii ga Samenai Uchi ni by Kawaguchi Toshikazu discusses four women from different backgrounds who are portrayed as figures capable of facing various challenges in their lives. This study aims to identify the resilience reflected in the characters of Fumiko, Kootake, Hirai and Kei. This study uses Stanton's theory, focusing on the analysis of the facts of the story, namely the plot, setting, and characters. This qualitative study uses a descriptive comparative method. The results of the study found that the four women have both positive and negative characters. Positive characters are independence, ambition, caring, wisdom, courageous and perseverance. Negative characters include being short-tempered, selfish, unconfident, apathetic and stubborn. Based on the results of the abstraction of all the characters possessed by the four women, two prominent characters can be identified, namely independence and ambition. Fumiko's resilience stems from her ambitious character which drives her to be independent in her career achievements. Kootake's resilience stems from her independent character and her profession as a nurse, which makes her ambitious to fulfill her responsibility to care her husband with dedication. Hirai's resilience is rooted in her independent character in building her own business, because the situation ultimately forced her to return home and continue her ambition by continuing the family's lodging business. Kei's resilience stems from her ambition to have a child despite the risks involved in maintaining her pregnancy. Kei's independent character enables her to prepare herself for the worst-case scenario, which is losing her life. The concept of resilience among the four women in this novel cannot be ranked; each had pressured experiences in life that are depicted realistically and humanely