Analysis The Characterization of Bibi Saccelaphylaccas in short story The Infant Prodigy by Thomas Mann

Analyzed Of Short Story

Analysis The Characterization of Bibi Saccelaphylaccas in short story The Infant Prodigy by Thomas Mann

OLEH:

Lilis Holisoh

12.05.1.1.1.00114

ENGLISH STUDY PROGRAM

FACULTY OF SOCIAL AND CULTURAL SCIENCES

UNIVERSITY OF TRUNOJOYO

2014

Analysis The Characterization of Bibi Saccelaphylaccas in short story The Infant Prodigy by Thomas Mann

A.   Introduction

This paper will analyze the characterization of Bibi Saccelaphylaccas in the short story, The Infant Prodigy. I choose The Infant Prodigy because I think it has higher ranking, the story is higher on scale of literary value, the story is unique to analyze the main character that has maturity level of the child age, that describe an exceptionally talented child on piano and about his thought and his attitude. Characterization is how the author introduces the character. Character is the participant or the figure in the literary work. There are many ways to analyze the character such as, character`s speech, character appearance, character`s private thoughts, how other characters feel about the character and react to him/her, and character`s actions. This paper will focus on how the author produces the character of Bibi Saccelaphylaccas.

B.   Discussion

The characterization of Bibi Saccelaphylaccas`s character is described as talented person. This statement can be seen by How other characters feel about the character and react to him/her, like we can see in this footage, “All these people sat there in their regular rows, looking at the prodigy and thinking all sorts of thing in their regular brains. An old gentleman with a white beard, a seal ring on his finger and a bulbous swelling on his bald spot, a growth if you like, was thinking to himself, “Really, one ought to be ashamed” .  He had never gotten any further than “ Ah, thou dearest Augustin “ on the piano and here he sat now. A gray old man, looking on while this little hop-o’-may-thumb performed miracles. Yes, yes, it is a gift of god we must remember that. God grants his gifts, or he withholds them, and there is no a shame in being an ordinary man.” In how other character feel about the character and reacts to him, old gentleman with a white beard he felt that they must be shy to themselves when they see the talent of Bibi. He was aware that the talent is miracle a gift of God so. As the old man that is has not talented he must to be shy.

“ An officer, was leaning against a column. He looked on the Bibi’s success and thought : “yes, you  are something , each in his own way.” So he clapped his heel together and paid to the prodigy the respect which he felt to be due to all the powers that be.” In this footage the other character show Bibi’s character as talented person, and had power, he thinks that he is success on his own way.

The characterization Of Bibi’s character is described as honorable person that is showed by character`s appearance, like we can see in this footage, “ The prodigy comes from behind a splendid screen embroidered with empire garlands and great conventionalized flowers, and climbed nimbly up the steps to the platform, diving into the  applause as into a bath.” From the character appearance the prodigy comes to the stage with embroidered with empire garlands and great conventionalized flowers and all of the audience clap that make sign as honorable person. “He sat and played, so little, so white and shining. Against the great black grand piano, elect and alone, above that confused sea of  faces, above the heavy, insensitive mass soul, upon which he was  labouring  to work with his individual, differentiated soul. ”,  from the character’s appearance when he was sat and play as the artist on the stage and every eyes will be refers to him but he feels  something different in his soul, he feels alone . ”His lock of soft black hair with the white silk bow had fallen over his forehead, his trained and bony little wrists pounded away, the muscle stood out visibly on his brown childish cheek.” It describes that he was still child but he had talent so that he is famous as the infant prodigy.

“Bibi had smooth black hair reaching to his shoulders; it was parted on the side and fastened back from the narrow domed forehead by a little silk bow. His was the most harmless childish countenance in the world, with an unfinished nose and guileless mouth. The area beneath his pitch-black mouselike eyes already was already a little tired and visibly lined. He looked as though he were nine years old but was really eight and given out for seven. It was hard to tell whether to believe this or not.” From the character appearance it looks like the mysterious person, and he has round character.

The Characterization of Bibi Saccellaphylaccas`s character is described as a man has passion to plays the piano and he likes music, it can be seen by character`s private thought, like we can see this footage, “ Bibi  made his  face  for the audience because he was aware that he had entertain them a little. In this footage we can see that he really doesn’t care about to entertains the audience.

 “But he had his private enjoyment in the thing too, an enjoyment which he could never convey to anybody. It was that prickling delight, that secret shudder of bliss, which ran through him every time he sat at an open piano- it would always be with him”. In this footage describes that he just wants to enjoy by himself. So, it gives assumption that he will be confident to his performance.

 “And here was the keyboard again, these seven black and white octaves, among which he had so often lost himself  in abysmal and thrilling adventures-and yet it always looked as clean and untouched as newly washed blackboard. This was the realm of music that lay before him. It lay spread out like an inviting occan, where he might plunge in and blissfully swim, where he might let himself be borne and carried away, where he might go under  in night and storm , yet kept the mastery; control, ordain- he held his right hand poised in the air.” In the character’s private thought he was really happy, he felt that piano as his soul, and when he plays the piano, he felt that adventure in his life no one will knows about that.   

The characterization of Bibi can be seen by character’s private thoughts, that the character has described as reserved, closed and mysterious man, in this story he never talks and he had kept the secrets. This is the footage, “ He was called Bibi Saccellaphylaccas. And such indeed was his name. No one knew what Bibi was the pet name for, nobody but the the Impresario, and he regarded it as a trade secret”. That footage as the proof that bibi’s character is mysterious.“

“. Probably everybody knew better and still believed it, as happens about so many things. The average man thinks that a little falseness goes, with beauty. Where should we get any excitement out of our daily life if we were not willing to pretend a bit? And the average man is quite right in his average brains!.”  In this footage the character’s private thought gives statement that better to keep secret because he thinks that a little falseness goes with a beauty. So, it gives the proof that Bibi’s character is closed man. Because he just keeps a secret in himself also he looks like unsocial person.

 The Characterization of Bibi Saccellaphylaccas`s character is described as polite and genius person. It can be seen by Character’s action, we can see in this footage, “Bibi ended in a grand climax. With that power this wee manikin belaboured the keyboard! The audience could scarcely trust its ears. The march theme , an infectious, swinging tune, broke out once more , fully harmonized, bold and showy ; with every note Bibi flung  himself back from the waist as though he were marching in a triumphal procession. He ended fortissimo, bent over, slipped sideways off the stool, and stood  with a smile a waiting the applause.” The character’s action shows that he is a genius person because he knows to make the great climax to make the audience excited. Then, when he was ended the performance make bent over and slipped sideways off the stools that gives assumption that he is a polite person.

C.     Conclusion

In conclusion the analysis of characterization  of Bibi Saccellaphylaccas’s character are as honorable, genius, round, polite and mysterious person. It can be seen by: How other characters feel about the character and react to him/her, character`s appearance, character`s private thought, character’s action.