The Discrimination happend to mary in the bald soprano

CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

A.  Background of Study

Absurdist drama is the most  popular non realistic genre of the 20th century. It was at its peak in the 1950s, but continued to influenced drama through the 1970s. The Bald Soprano is one of the absurdist drama that began writing by Eugene Ionesco in 1984, He began a series of "anti-plays" that inside a decade established his place in the new-French theater, the group of new dramatists that included Samuel Beckett, Arthur Adamov, and Jean Genet. In the 1950s, La Cantatrice chauve was translated into various languages and widely staged; by 1960, in the United States, where it had been translated and produced as The Bald Soprano, it was already being documented as a modern classic, an important inspirational work in the theater of the absurd, which by then was first coming into trend in America. The Bald Soprano, a one-act "anti-play,'' opens in a "middle-class English" interior, furnished with typically English furniture and a typically English couple, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, whose first names remain strange.

According to me. Ionesco as the author of this play would criticize the  system class of British as we known that the British Society is devided into three main class;

Ø  Upper Class

Ø  The Middle Class and

Ø  The lower Class

The upper class is consist of people who has inherited wealth and many of them holding aristocratic titles not only that but also their Education. Whereas the middle class is consist of industrialists, professionals, businesspeople and shop owners. And the lower class is the people are mostly agricultural, mine, service industry, and factory workers.

From this issue we are going to talk about behavior that incompatible with society life at this moment. It was about the discrimination happened to one of the characters who’s name Mary. She was a Mr and Mrs Smith’s Maid, where Mary worked for them for several years but they did not treat her well, this event occurred when Mary wanted to tell story to Smiths and their friends, but he did not  allow her to do it, instead she was ridiculed by the ugly words and sent off her from the room when she want to read a poetry for fire chief.
            We interested to discuss it because it was very important to our life, if we know that in the several Nation this case always exist. Usually it was happen to woman worker weather as housemaid or employee in one company or other. Whereas we were as human being in this world has the same human right. Related with this equality of human right so that it has been written in the declaration of human right as world-wide in 1948, such as

1^st paragraph: all of human was born independently, and has the same grade and right, they are given mind, reason and ordered to gather each other in brotherhood.

2^nd verse one: everyone be entitled to personality right which written in this expression without exception, such as nation, color, sex, language, religion, politics, opinion, ownership, or position. Mawardi (2007: 249)

B.  Statement of Problem

This analyzing is surfaced by social indication that happened among characters especially smiths and their maid ‘’Mary’’ who got a bad act from her employer. It was occurred when she was going to tell a story and read a poem in front of both of them, but they did not allow her to do it because she was not suitable according to Mr and Mrs Smith. So she is pushed off stage while reading poem. We call it ‘’DISCRIMINATION’’ as we knew together that it was a kind of attitude which difference other human being in any place. It can be influenced by several factors such as; Factor of wealth, dominance, respectability and knowledge. Mawardi (2007:249)

After reading the whole play, I think there are some factors that effected smiths measure to Mary. It is influenced by factor wealth and dominance which is owned by Mr Smith and Mrs Smith and they Felt that Mary just only a servant in their house.

To analyze this play we need some questions to make it easier understood by the readers:

1.      Why did Mr and Mrs smith not allow her to tell story?

2.      How did Mary react when she got a bad act her from her employer?

C.  Theoretical Framework

To analyze this play we are going to use the Marxism theory. As far as we know that it was explained by Karl Marx and Frederick Engels in Germany in the eighteen eighty four (1845) about materialism historic and dialectic. In their economic theory they explain about the conflict between the upper class and the lower class whereas the upper class has dominance to the lower class. So that we use this theory to help us in analyzing this drama especially about discrimination issue that occur to Mary in the Bald Soprano. We think it is very interesting because in the real life it really happen.

The drama told us that Mary is a maid of smiths who always communicate to each other for fussily. Example when Martins came to her employer’s house she went to open the door for them. But in the other case Smiths Scolded her when she want to tell story because she is not suitable to tell the story in front of them.

The existence of difference classes like in this drama will effect to more dividing in society. Of course, it will occur a discrepancy among them. For instance named Gusti and Nyoman or Wayan in Bali society, Gusti is often used by people who have a great caste in society whereas Nyoman and Wayan will be used by people who are in the lower class such as Servant.

Like this events Eugene Lonesco told us clearly in The Bald Soprano as satirizing and criticizing of the British society. Britain was once a class-ridden society; class was a staple part of the British way of life. Today, multiculturalism and a changing economy are gradually eroding the British class system, but some features of the system still remain.

The Discrimination happened to Marry in The Bald Soprano

A.      The Brief  Of Author

Eugene Ionesco was born in Slatina, Romania on November 13, 1909, Eugène Ionesco grew up in France but returned to Romania with his father after hir parents divorced in 1925. He studied French literature at the University of Bucharest from 1928 to 1933. In 1936, Ionesco married Rodica Burileanu. He and Rodica had one daughter for whom he wrote several unconventional children’s stories. Ionesco and his family lived in Marseilles during World War II, and then settled in Paris after its liberation in 1944.

 Ionesco did not write his first play until 1950. Having decided at the age of 40 that he ought to learn English, Ionesco acquired an English text and set to work, conscientiously copying whole sentences from his primer for the purpose of memorizing them. Rereading them attentively, he learned not English but some astonishing truths that, for example, there are seven days in the week, something he already knew, that the floor is down, the ceiling up, things he already knew as well, perhaps, but that he had never seriously thought about or had forgotten, and that seemed to him, suddenly, as stupefying as they were indisputably true.

As the lessons became more complex, two characters were introduced, Mr. And Mrs. Smith. To Ionesco’s astonishment, Mrs. Smith informed her husband that they had several children, that they lived in the vicinity of London, that their name was Smith, that Mr. Smith was a clerk, that they had a servant, Mary, English, like themselves. What was remarkable about Mrs. Smith, was her eminently methodical procedure in her quest for truth. But then, as Ionesco would later write, “A strange phenomenon took place’’. I did not know how the text began imperceptibly to change before my eyes. The very simple, luminously clear statements I had copied so diligently into my notebook, left to themselves, fermented after a while, lost their original identity, expanded and overflowed. The cliches and truisms of the conversation primer, which had once made sense gave way to pseudo-cliches and pseudo-truisms; these disintegrated into wild caricature and parody and in the end language disintegrated into disjointed fragments of words.”

Ionesco set about translating his experience into a play, The Bald Soprano, which was staged by Nicolas Bataille on May 11, 1950, at the Noctambules. The Bald Soprano went unnoticed, however, until a few established writers and critics (Jean Anouilh, Raymond Queneau, and Jacques Lemarchand) saw the play and supported it publicly. Their campaign to attract an audience for the play succeeded and the middle-aged Ionesco soon found himself in a position of international renown. He went on to write more than twenty plays including Rhinoceros, The Chairs, Jack or The Submission, The Lesson, The Killer, Exit the King, Macbett, and Journeys Among the Dead.

Lonesco rejected the logical plot, character development, and thought of traditional drama, instead creating his own anarchic form of comedy to convey the meaninglessness of modern human existence in a universe ruled by chance. His awards include the Tours Festival Prize for film in 1959, Prix Italia 1963, Society of Authors theatre prize in 1966, Grand Prix National for theatre in 1969, Monaco Grand Prix in 1969, Austrian State Prize for European Literature in 1970, Jerusalem Prize in 1973, and honorary doctorates from New York University and the universities of Louvain (France), Warwick (England), and Tel Aviv (Israel). He was elected into the Academic Francaise in 1970. Ionesco passed away at the age of 84 in 1994. 

ANALYZING

O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise (each other). Verily the most honored of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things).
(QS. Al-Hujurat:49:13)

A.  Definition of Discrimination

Discrimination is a treatment of making a distinction in favor of against, a person or thing based on the group, class, category to which that person or thing belong rather than on individual merit. In other words discrimination is the act of prejudice against a person because they have a certain set of characteristics. Discriminated characteristics ca include disability, age, gender reassignment, religion, race, sex and sexual orientation.

Discrimination can take many forms but in many countries around the world there are laws prohibiting any form of discrimination. In the United States, employment laws are very strict regarding discrimination and the laws serve to protect individuals from being discriminated in the workplace. The laws also serve to guide employers on acceptable conduct for its employees with regards to discrimination.

The equality would influence people to do something good, no resist and discrimination to others, so they were aware must be respect to each other. This is a must for us as human being in the world but Eugene Ionesco as the author of this drama as if to show genesis reserved what we think, such as when Mary will read her poem to the fire chief absolutely Miss Smith did not allow her and asked her to read it in the kitchen. Not only that, but also Mr and Mrs Smith push up her from their front. Mary in this drama has taught us that really unjust if someone is appreciated and respected because of their authority among other people. And this character also taught us how to we will be respected by other human being well. And also we can life normally without difference class.

B.  Analysis

The hassle class as one of theories which delivered by Karl Marx in 1845, it is very interesting to discuss because it describe the society life in generally. We think Ionesco as the author of this play maybe was influenced by Marx theory or motivated by his Experience when he Learned English and then try to describe it to the Character who is name Mary as we explain above, for us Mary in this play is a represent of delineation Marx theory in several literary work, where he said that the literary work is an image of economic system. So there are many authors make it as the main theme in their literary work. From Indonesia we knew Pramoedya Ananta Toer and Putu Wijaya who always write a novel which related with this theory. From here I conclude that marxism theory has extraordinary influence in the literary work such  as Promoedya Ananto Toer, Eugene Lonesco also one of the author who often create social issue as the main theme in his literary work. It is proved by his play which told the audience about women struggle who work as a maid in one of rich family. This play was titled ‘’ The Bald Soprano’’.  

In The Bald Soprano Mary is told as the Fussy girl and obedient to his employers, he was a servant in smiths’s house, he always did what Mr and Mrs Smith want. Because she knew that she was a maid who always submissive to her employer’s command. Let’s pay attention to this conversation;

Mary                :Mr. and Mrs. Martin, your guests, are at the door. They were waiting for me. They didn't dare come in by themselves. They were supposed to have dinner with you this evening.

Mrs. Smith        :Oh, yes. We were expecting them. And we were hungry. Since they didn't put in an appearance, we were going to start dinner without them. We've had nothing to eat all day. You should not have gone out!

Mary                : But it was you who gave me permission.

Mr. Smith         : We didn't do it on purpose.

Mary [bursts into laughter, then she bursts into tears; then she smiles] I bought me a chamber pot.

Mrs. Smith      : My dear Mary, please open the door and ask Mr. and Mrs. Martin to step in. We will change quickly.

[Mr. and Mrs. Smith exit right. Mary opens the door at the left by which Mr. and Mrs. Martin enter.](page 6)

The Describing above clearly tell us that there is difference class between Mary and Mrs Smith. Mrs Smith as her employer who felt he has the right to do what she or he want. Not only that but also they thought that they have the right to ridicule Mary in front of public. For instance like conversation bellow between Mary, Mr Smith, Mrs Smith and their Friends; we are as human being would refused this action because we felt our self esteem were taken offense by other people.

Mary                     : Madam . . . sir . . .

Mrs. Smith             : What do you want?

Mr. Smith              : What have you come in here for?

Mary                : I hope, madam and sir will excuse me . . . and these ladies and gentlemen too . . . I would like . . . I would like . . . to tell you a story, myself

Mrs. Martin          : What is she saying?

Mr. Martin            : I believe that our friends' maid is going crazy . . . she wants to tell us a story, too

Fire Chief              : Who does she think she is? [He looks at her.] Oh!

Mrs. Smith             : Why are you butting in?

Mr. Smith              : This is really uncalled for, Mary . .

Fire Chief             : Oh! But it is she! Incredible!

Mr. Smith              : And you?

Mary                     : Incredible! Here!

Mrs. Smith            : What does all this mean?

Mr. Smith              : You know each other? (page 27)

            The sentences above are told by Smiths and their Friends to objurgate Mary. Actually Mary could not receive the treatment but she still thought that she had a moral duty to Mr Smith and his wife so that she tried to be patient there. The difference class between Mary and Mr Smiths is really surface a discrepancy and treatment inhuman. A bad treatment to Mary still continued to rage when she talked to Mrs Smith that she would read the poem but they did not allow her even they ridiculed and pushed her off the house.

Mary                    : don't be upset! . . . They're not so bad really.

Mr. Smith            : hm . . . Hm . . . You two are very touching, but at the same time, a little   . . . A little . . .

Mr. Martin            :  yes, that's exactly the word.

Mr. Smith. . .         : A little too exhibitionistic . . .

Mr. Martin             : there is a native british modesty-forgive me for attempting, yet again, to define my thought--not understood by foreigners, even by specialists, thanks to which, if i may thus express myself . . . Of course, i don't mean to refer to you . . . Mary i was going to tell you

Mr. Smith              : don't tell us anything . . .

Mary                     : oh yes!

Mrs. Smith         : go, my little mary, go quietly to the kitchen and read your poems                           before the mirror . . .

Mr. Martin            : you know, even though i'm not a maid, i also read poems before the      mirror.

Mrs. Martin          : this morning when you looked at yourself in the mirror you didn't see yourself.

Mr. Martin            : that's because i wasn't there yet . . .

Mary                     : all the same, i could, perhaps, recite a little poem for you.

Mrs. Smith            : my little Mary, you are frightfully obstinate.

Mary                 : I'm going to recite a poem, then, is that agreed? It is a poem entitled "The Fire" in honor of the Fire Chief: The polypoids were burning in the wood (page 29)

Mary in this drama has learned us that really unjust if someone is appreciated and respected just because their puissance to other people. And this character has taught us how to we will be respected by other human being well. And also we can life normally without difference class. In Islam we know Bilal bin Rabah and Sumayyah. Both of them are bond servant who got bad action from quraysh. It is happened when Bilal became a bondservant of Umayyah bin Khalaf, he is an important figure of quraysh. Whereas Sumayyah who was insulted and abused by Abu Jahal that later killed her by thrust a spear to the Sumayyah’s stomach until she died. Abi Humaidi (2008: 1)

C.     Conclusion

Basically human being was born with the same potential because as we know that Human was born from the same father and the same mother they are Adam and Hawa (peace upon them). But a long with the different of human interest, it is usual if  next moment show a rasizm and discrimination term around us.

 Actually From this character Eugene Ionesco will criticize the system class in British in other side he will show the reader about how to someone should be treated and fought their self esteem. Mary’s character showed us how to Marx through his theory became a symptom over the length of social life. He said that the equivalence of society should be all the right human being in the world. And Al-Quran also explain how to we respect to each other well

The different class of society will create space among people were then will lead to social inequality it is influenced by the upper class who always dominate the lower classes like Marx said in his theory.

Mary is one of the victims of the different classes in the community who is told by Eugene Ionesco in this drama. We are as human being must be respect to other people without view of social status among them; things like was exemplified by the prophet Muhammad when bringing his friends regardless of where they came from.

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