A STUDY ON CHRIS GARDNER’S MOTIVATION TO
SURVIVE IN THE “PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS “FILM BY
GABRIELLE MUCHINO
THESIS
By:
RIAN KURNIAWAN
201010100311029
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF TEACHER TRAINING AND EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY OF MUHAMMADIYAH MALANG
This thesis was defended in front of the examiners of the Faculty of Teacher Training and
Education of University of Muhammadiyah Malang
and accepted as one of the requirements to achieve
Sarjana Degree In English Education.
On August 23,2015
Approved by:
Faculty of Teacher Training and Education
University of Muhammadiyah Malang
Dekan,
Dr. Poncojari Wahyuno, M.Kes
Examiners: Signatures:
1. Dra. Thathit Manon Andini, M.Hum 1. ……….
2. Nina Inayati, M.Ed 2………
3. Dra. Erly Wahyuni, M.Si 3………
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Alhamdulillahi rabbil ‘aalamiin, wassholatu wassalamu ‘ala rasulillah. Praise to Allah SWT, the main source of strength who always gives strength and patience to finish this thesis.
Shalawah and salam may always be upon the holy prophet, Muhammad SAW.
The writer would like to express respect and deepest gratitude toward thesis advisors, Dr
Erly Wahyuni M.Si and Nurakfhini, M.A,M.Ed for their suggestions, guides, advices, and their
times during the consultation period. May Allah always bless them. Aamiin.
The writer also express big thanks are aimed to his parents, Bawadi and Rodiyah for the
endless patience, love, and advice, for his brother (Edi Rudianto and Dimas Ario Putra) for their
loves and supports. The writer also wants to thank the friends of English department year of 2010
for their togetherness, especially aimed to Candra Irawan, Ardik Ardianto, Muhammad Dasy
Lamowa, Indah Charismayani, Dwi ayu satyani, Adni Firdausi, for their endless jokes and
supports. And adolescent friends, especially aimed to Muhammad Fahrizal, Yusuf kertanegara for
support.
Malang, August 23, 2015
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.2 Statement of the Problems ... 3
1.3 The Purpose of the Study ... 4
1.4 Scope and limitation ... 4
1.5 Significance of the study ... 4
1.6 Definition of Key Terms ... 5
CHAPTER II REVIEW OF RLATED LITERATURE 2.1 Literature ... 6
2.5.1 Kinds of motivation ... 15
2.5.2 Intrinsic motivation ... 15
2.5.3 Extrinsic motivation ... 15
CHAPTER III RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 3.1 Research Design... 16
3.3 Object of study ... 18
3.4 Data collection technique ... 19
3.5 Data Analysis ... 20
CHAPTER IV RESEARCH FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION
4.1 Research Findings ... 21
4.1.1 Kinds of motivation done by Chris Gardner in the pursuit of happiness film 21
4.1.2 Intrinsic motivation done by Chris Gardner in the pursuit of happiness film
4.1.3 Extrinsic motivation done by Chris Gardner in the pursuit of happiness film
4.2 Discussion ... 33
CHAPTER V CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTIONS
5.1 Conclusion ... 34
5.2 Suggestions ... 35
REFERENCES
APPENDIX I
REFERENCES
Abrams, M. H and Geofrey Harpham G. 2008. A Glossary of Literary Terms (9th Edition). US:
Wadsworth publisher.
Ary, Donald. 2010. Introduction to Research in Education (Eighth Edition). USA:
WADSWORTH CENGAGE Learning.
Buck, Ross 1998. Human motivation and emotion. New York: Wiley
Cuddon j (2013). A dictionary of literary terms and fifth edition literary work. A john Wiley &
Sons, Ltd., Publication
Franken, E. Robert. 2007. Human motivation, Australia. Thomson Wadsworth
Omrord, Jeanne, ellis. (2003) Motivation and affect. Essential of educational psychology.
University of northen colorado
Richard M. Ryan and Edward L. Decy (2000). Intrinsic Motivation and Extrinsic Motivation:
Classical Definition and New Direction. Contemporary Educational Psychology University
of Rochester
1 CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
In this chapter, the writer deals with background of study, the statement of
problem, the objective of the study, scope and limitation, the purpose of study, and
the definition of key term. These sections are presented as follows.
1.1Background of the Study
Literature is personal expression feeling including experience, ideas,
motivation and confidence which are describe by using language. It is the way of
author to reveal ideas that poured out through poem and poetry. Literature can also
become a reflection in daily life such as about social life and love. Most often the
authors choosing theme about them, the author’s reason is social life and love are
endlessly matter to be discussed.
By enjoying literary work, it indirectly brings us to learn messages sent by
the author to the readers. The benefits of literature are found through implicit
meanings of the literary work that are made by the writer. The notion goes in line
with Eagleton (1996) who states that, “the literary work was neither vehicle for
ideas, a reflection of social reality nor the incarnation of some transcendental truth :
it was material fact, whose functioning could be analyzed rather as one could
examine machine”. Based on theory of Eagleton (1996) about literature, it can be
2 human can be described through novel or film. Literature also teaches us about
things that we have not known before or we could take some lessons out of it.
The purposes of literature are to entertain, to educate, and even to give
messages to consumers. Horatius (in Budianta, 2006: p.19), “a roman, has a
terminology about purpose of literature, it is dulce et utile”. The terminology refers
to literature which has two purposes; those are to entertain and also to give benefits
to the readers.
There are many branches of literature, one of them is Film. Film is series of
moving pictures usually shown in cinema or television aiming to give information
and ideas about ways of life. As what stated by Bordwell and Thompson (2008: p.2)
film is “communicative information and ideas, and it show us places and ways of life
we might not otherwise know”. Hence, the Writer concludes that Pursuit of
Happiness film gives information and ideas about ways of life.
“Film also contains of different part of expression, technologies and event”
(Bazzin: 2008: p.2). Film reveals many expression, technologies or events through
moving picture or animation. Existence of films is profitable toward human being.
Human gets considerable knowledge such as history and modern technologies. Film
cannot be separated in literature. Film reveals motivation, love, sacrifice, betrayal,
and so on. Particular film might reflect or motivate human life.
Motivation may exist anywhere and anytime such as in school when the
teacher faces student who is lazy. He will give motivation towards student.
3 motivation will get motivated to change his behavior. It goes in a line with Santrock
(2008) stated that “motivation is something that energize, direct, and sustain
behavior”. He also adds that, motivation can change someone’s behavior be active.
Jess Feist and Gregory (2006: p.303) also stated that motivation is complex, people
may be driven by several needs at the same time, and even healthy people are not
always fully aware of all the reason underlying their behavior.
Previous research about Motivation was An Analysis of Kino’s motivation in
saving the pearl in “The Pearl” novel by Jhon Steinbeck conducted by Muhammad
Yusuf (2008). He analyzed the social interaction reflected in the novel by Jhon
Steinbeck. The finding of the research was about the description some aspect of social
interaction such as relationship between person and person and group of people on
interpersonal among the people.
The writer of this study concerned on Chris Gardner’s motivation as the main
character. The writer chose to analyze the main character’s motivation because
motivation is very important in human being. Motivation will take major thing to
achieve the goal of life and to get a proper life. Considering the above background,
the researcher conducted the literary study entitled “The study on Chris Gardner’s
4 1.2 Statement of the Problems
Based on the background of the study, the researcher formulates the problem
of research as follows:
The purposes of the study are made to answer the statement of problems in
this research. The purposes of the study are as follows
a. To find out Chris Gardner’s motivation to survive.
b. To describe the effects of Chris Gardner’s motivation to survive in “Pursuit of
Happiness” film.
1.4 Scope and Limitation
In the study, the writer intends to analyze “Pursuit of Happiness” film as the
scope. The writer also limits this study on Chris Gardner’s motivation to survive,
because he is the main character in the film.
1.5 Significance of Study
It is expected that the result of this study will give contribution to the readers,
especially to the students and the lecturers of English Department of University of
Muhammadiyah. For the teachers, it is expected to be used as references in teaching
literature subjects, especially prose and poetry. While for the students, it is expected
5 1.6 Definition of Key Terms
a. “Motivation is ability refers to what a person can do; motivation, to what a person will do” (Schmidt, Boraie & Kassabgy in Oxford, 1996:11).
b. Film is a “sequence of photographs projected onto a screen with sufficient rapidity as to create the illusion of motion and continuity.” It communicates
information and idea. The information and idea are often driven by stories, with the
characters we come to care about, but a film might also develop an idea or explore
visual qualities or sound textures” (Vassiliou, 2006:2).
c. Pursuit of Happiness: The Pursuit of Happiness is a 2006 American biographical drama film based on Chris Gardner's nearly one-year struggle with
homelessness. Directed by Gabriele Muccino, the film features Will Smith as
Gardner, an on-and-off-homeless salesman. Smith's son Jaden Smith co-stars, making
his film debut as Gardner's son, Christopher Jr. Will Smith and Jaden Smith later
appeared together in the film After Earth. (Wikipedia)
d. Chris Gardner : Main character in “Pursuit of Happiness” film.
