| Summary: | This research is intended to reveal the social genesis of John Updike's
novel S., the novel text structure, and the author world view. Through these
studies it is expected to reveal the text totality of meaning of novel S.. To reach
these goals, this research utilizes Genetic Structuralism theory of Lucien
Goldmann.
Genetic Structuralism theory of Lucien Goldmann is utilized as the tool of
analysis to describe the genesis of the novel, the author world view and its
coherence to American society mental structure, author criticism to American
society in the 1980�s era and America society spiritual live which is implicitly
found in the description of the author world view.
World view which can be formulated in this novel is New Puritanism
world view in the 1980�s era. Basically, New Puritanism world view is equal to
Puritanism world view which is described empirically as that viewpoint, code of
values, which is brought to New England by the early settlers who were English
Protestants. Their fundamental beliefs are equal to Protestants, or at least
Calvinist Protestants, of all Europe. The New Englanders made Puritanism as one
of sustainable factors in Americans life and thought. Many of these Puritan
thoughts are still immanent although its original creed has lost. If Puritanism was
a reaction to Roman Catholic Church power over English Church, then New
Puritanism is a reaction to American society spiritual life in the 1980�s era which
is considered as having too much freedom.
Based on the formulation of New Puritanism world view, it is found that
the text structure and social structure of novel S. are none other than the
expression of this world view. The text structure of novel S. is centered on Sarah
Worth as the main character who expresses New Puritanism through her thought,
speech, and conduct. Sarah Worth characterization is formed by her relationship
to other characters in the relation of space, time, and also social situation existing
in novel S.. Novel S. social structure is related to American society spiritual life,
notably New England which is identical with its Puritanism, in the 1980�s era.
John Updike as the author of novel S. gave criticism to American society in the
1980�s era that he felt has deviated from their initial goals such as reaching
religious freedom, escaping from political pressure and seeking for economical
opportunity. In the 1980�s era Updike felt that the freedom has been intemperate.
It was seen from many denominations of Christian and free worship in America.
Such conditions of American society and his personal experience as a member of
American society who has once experienced spiritual crisis become social
experience as the background of John Updike. Therefore, novel S. shows its
homology to the reality of American society life in their effort in seeking for
spiritual peace.
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