The study of the main characters in Bernard Shaw's Major Barbara

In this thesis, the writer analyzes the main characters in a drama. The writer chooses the study of characterization because most fictions are centered to the discussion of characters. And drama has the quality in character analysis. The methodology of this study uses judicial criticism. The writer uses this criticism because the analysis of the characters covers the character interrelations and emotional background through the actions and dialogues. And to follow this criteria the writer applies Knickerbocker's procedure in studying characters. In the study of characters of this play, the also applies the theory of characters. The theory includes the importance of character, its kinds, what a character reveals, and method of characterization. Studying character in a literary work is always important and interesting. We can understand and learn more about various people and their characters throughout the story. The writer chooses a play from Bernard Shaw because his creations mostly concern about social political, and religious problems. His plays sometimes arises the readers' emotions and critics. Major Barbara is one of his plays which had surprised the readers' emotion, because it shows his offence to the orthodox church at that time. The writer chooses it because he has the interest to understand the reason of why Bernard Shaw wrote this play. Hence, the writer describes it in his study of the characters in this play. From studying the characters of “Major Barbara”, we realize that the contribution of happiness can not be given by one side perception or action, but also through the other points. Shaw describes the characters into contrasting principles in each character. One character considers that the poor people need to be saved to God. And the other character shows that fulfilling human physical need is more important before their souls are blessed or saved in God. Those characters create the story in such way that it becomes life-like as the nature of human being. Those strength and wealth are reflected in the major character who becomes the hero of the story. In the conclusion, the writer shows the result of the analysis of characters in Little's points is able to embody the theme in a convincing presentation. It can also be inferred that the theory of characterization will be able to help students in studying literature