CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
This chapter presents background of the study, statement of the problems,
purposes of the study, significance of the study, scope and limitation, and definition
of the key terms.
1.1Background of the Study
Human beings know the way to express their feeling, thought, and emotion.
Something to provide “a place” for all of the people’s expression is literature.
Literature means writing valued as work of art. It also refers to the composition that
tells stories, dramatizes, situations, expresses emotions, and analyzes. Thus, literature
for the readers can give a pleasure and knowledge.
According to Bennet and Royle (2004), literature is the kind of writing which
most persistently and most provocatively engages with the uncanny aspects of
experience, thought, and feeling. It means that literature connects human beings to
share experience, thought, and feeling. Through literature people can express what
they feel and their idea into written language.
Literature is divided into three genres: poetry, prose, and drama. Drama has
developed into high technology form into film. Cascardi (2014) states that film builds
on the novel, in some ways, but does not overtake it in any ultimate sense - no more,
at least, than film put an end to photography or to the theatre. Film is media of literary
has also the elements of literary works, such as: character, plot, theme, setting, and
conflict.
Conflict is an increasingly common feature of modern life, and often has
disastrous and destructive outcomes (Liebmann, 2004). According to Kellett and
Dalton (2001), conflict is part of our everyday lives in relationship, families, and
workplaces. In literature, a conflict is a literary element that involves a struggle
between two opposing forces usually aprotagonistand anantagonist. Moreover,
people’s life cannot be separated from conflicts which happen in all aspect of family,
school, environment, etc. Conflict happen as long as people live in the world when
people communicate and socialize with other people. One of the best films which is
valuable to analyze is The Pursuit of Happyness film.
The Pursuit of Happyness is a film directed by Gabriele Muccino, released on
December 15, 2007 by Columbia Pictures. Based on a true story, this film tells about
the struggle of main character from nobody to somebody. The main character, Chris
Gardner can inspire people to pursue the happiness and the conflicts that he faced did
not make him give up.
The writer choose The Pursuit of Happyness film to be analyzed because this
film has interesting story dealing with struggles done by Chris Gardner in order to
pursue his happiness, the conflicts which appear in this film inspire how to pursue the
happiness, and this film won six awards for Movie of the Year, Best Breakthrough
Performance, Outstanding Motion Picture, Best Young Actor, Choice Movie -
thesis is intended to analyze the social conflicts faced by Chris Gardner in The
Pursuit of Happyness film.
The previous research related to this film was conducted by Mawardi (2014)
entitled A Study on Chris Gardner Suffering in The Pursuit of Happyness Film. The
result of his study found that there are three kinds of Chris Gardner’s suffering in the
film they were, Chris Gardner had been left by Linda for going to New York, Chris
was disappointed and frustated because he could not pay the motel and Chris was hit
a by car. Then, there were three causes of Chris Gardner’s suffering. They are Chris Gardner’s carelessness to typing to be entrepreneur, Chris Gardner took the Bone
Density Scanner from madman. Afterwards, there were three the ways Chris solved
his suffering. They were Chris Gardner did positive action, Chris Gardner was
queved in glade memorial to get a room sleep, and tried to sell the Bone Density
Scanner.
Meanwhile, the other previous research related to social conflict was conducted
by Triaguna (2012) entitled An Analysis of Erin Gruwell’s Social Conflicts in The Freedom Writer Film. The result of her study found that there are four social conflicts
happened, three causes of social conflicts, and four effects of social conflicts
Conflicts between Erin and her father, and between Erin and her husband caused by
differences of idealism, interpretation, and thought. The effects, there are positive
effect and negative effect. Conflict between Erin and her student, Eva, it was caused
by differences kinds of the culture but the effects it can make the relation between
chair, Campbell was caused by differences goals among person and groups, the
effects Erin was discharged from school but eventually she asked to return.
Based on those previous researches, it is clear that literature is very interesting
to study to increase our knowledge about social conflict. Many people do not know
how to find the best solution for their conflict. They are usually not aware about the
cause and effect of their conflict. So, the writer wants to explain about cause and
effect of social conflict that found in The Pursuit of Happyness film. In this film,
social conflict is taken as the point of analysis because social conflicts always happen
in human’s life.
Based on the statements of the problems above, the purposes of the study are:
1. to investigate the social conflicts faced by Chris Gardner as a main character in
2. to find out the causes of Chris Gardner’s social conflicts in film The Pursuit of Happyness.
3. to find out the effects of Chris Gardner’s social conflicts on his life in film The Pursuit of Happyness.
1.4Significance of the Study
Every kind of study has its own significance. From this study, the writer hopes
that this study will bring some significance:
1. For students
It is hoped this study will be able to help the students in analyzing literature
especially film. Moreover, this study is also expected to enlarge the student’s knowledge and appreciation toward literary works and to motivate students always
to get success.
2. For teachers and lecturers
The result of this study will encourage the teachers or lecturers to use film as
reference in teaching learning process in order to improve the students’ knowledge and motivation toward literature especially film.
3. For the further researcher
It is also expected that the study may provide a helpful reference for the further
researchers who are interested in conducting the study in the same field.
1.5Scope and Limitation
The study is analyzing The Pursuit of Happyness film. There are many things
Meanwhile, for the limitation of study, the writer only analyzed Chris Gardner’s social conflict as the main character.
1.6Definition of the Key Terms
Definitions of key terms which are necessary to be defined are as follows:
1. An analysis is the study, discussion, evaluation, and interpretation of the nature
of the literature, book, or text itself (Koss: 2008).
2. Conflict is the struggle either within or between characters that is often the basis
of the plot of a play or story (Quinn: 2006).
3. Social conflict is a struggle over values or claims to status, power, and scarce
resources (Coser, in Jha: 2003).
4. Main character or major character is the most important character in the story
(Koesnosoebroto, in Hutami: 2014).
5. Chris Gardner is the main character in The Pursuit of Happyness film.
i
AN ANALYSIS OF MAIN CHARACTER’S SOCIAL CONFLICT IN
FILM T HE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS
THESIS
By:
NILA TRI SEPTYARTI
201010100311102
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF TEACHER TRAINING AND EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY OF MUHAMMADIYAH MALANG
ii
AN ANALYSIS OF MAIN CHARACTER’S SOCIAL CONFLICT IN
FILM T HE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS
THESIS
By:
NILA TRI SEPTYARTI
201010100311102
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF TEACHER TRAINING AND EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY OF MUHAMMADIYAH MALANG
iii
AN ANALYSIS OF MAIN CHARACTER’S SOCIAL CONFLICT IN
FILM T HE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS
THESIS
This thesis is submitted to meet one of the requirements to achieve
Sarjana Degree in English Education
By:
NILA TRI SEPTYARTI
201010100311102
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF TEACHER TRAINING AND EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY OF MUHAMMADIYAH MALANG
vi
writer would like to express her gratitude and appreciation to all of them.
1. The writer expresses deepest thank to her first advisor, Puji Sumarsono, M.Ed.,
M.Pd who has given her valuable guidance, suggestions, detail correction, and
constructive criticism which lead to useful improvement. Then, thank you very
much for your support, experience, and chance to me to finish this thesis in a short
time.
2. The writer thanks to her second advisor, Drs. Munash Fauzie Anwar, M.M who
always gives her advice and suggestions.
3. The writer thanks to all lecturers of the English Department of UMM for being so
kind, patient, and generous in giving a lot of valuable knowledge.
4. The writer expresses greatest thank to her beloved family, her mother in heaven
Tri Hartini, her father Suwito, her older sister Nina Widyaningrum, her oldest
sister Nisya Dwi Cahyaningtyas and all of her big family for their never ending
love, unconditional support, advice, prays, patience, and understanding.
vii
Reni, Iin, Mita, Diyah, who always give her the best power, help, advices, and
happiness when I am getting problems and depress.
6. Finally, the writer also thanks to all her friends who cannot be mentioned one by
one and who always help the writer in finishing her thesis and everything, may
Allah SWT bless you all. Aamiin.
The Writer
viii
4.1.1 The Social Conflict Faced by Chris Gardner ... 20
4.1.1.1 The Social Conflict between Chris Gardner and Linda ... 21
4.1.1.2 The Social Conflict between Chris Gardner and the Cabbie ... 22
4.1.1.3 The Social Conflict between Chris Gardner and Charlie ... 23
4.1.1.4 The Social Conflict between Chris Gardner and Cops ... 24
4.1.1.5 The Social Conflict between Chris Gardner and the Driver ... 25
4.1.1.6 The Social Conflict between Chris Gardner and Wayne ... 26
ix
4.2.1 The Cause of the Social Conflict between Chris and Linda ... 27
4.2.2 The Cause of the Social Conflict between Chris and the Cabbie .... 27
4.2.3 The Cause of the Social Conflict between Chris and Charlie ... 27
4.2.4 The Cause of the Social Conflict between Chris and Cops ... 28
4.2.5 The Cause of the Social Conflict between Chris and the Driver ... 28
4.2.6 The Cause of the Social Conflict between Chris and Wayne ... 28
4.3 The Effect of the Social Conflict toward Chris Gardner’s life ... 29
4.3.1 Negative Effect of Social Conflict between Chris and Linda ... 29
4.3.2 Negative Effect of Social Conflict between Chris and the Cabbie... 29
4.3.3 Negative Effect of Social Conflict between Chris and Charlie ... 30
4.3.4 Negative Effect of Social Conflict between Chris and Cops ... 30
4.3.4 Negative Effect of Social Conflict between Chris and the Driver ... 31
4.3.5 Negative Effect of Social Conflict between Chris and Wayne ... 31
4.4 Discussion ... 32
5.2.3 Suggestion for the Next Lecturer ... 36
5.4 Lesson ... 36
References ... 37
Appendices Synopsis of The Pursuit of Happyness ... 40
37
REFERENCES
Abrams, M. H. Geofrey Harpham. 2008. A Glossary of Literary Terms (9th Edition). Boston: Wadsworth Cengage Learning.
Ary, Donald et all. 2010. Introduction to Research in Education Eight Edition.
Belmont: Wadsworth Cengage Learning.
Bennett, Andrew. Nicholas, Royle. 2004. Introduction of Literature, Critism, and
Theory. Harlow: Pearson Education Limited.
Braudy, Leo. Cohen, Marshal. 2009. Film Theory and Criticism Introductory
Reading. New York: Oxford University Press.
Cascardi, Anthony J. 2014. The Cambridge Introduction to Literature and
Philosophy. New York: Cambrige University Press.
Coy, Patrick G and Woehrle, Lynne M. 2000. Social Conflicts and Collective Identities. Plymounth: Rowman & Littlefield Publisher Inc.
Cuddon, J. A. 2013. A Dictionary of Literary Terms and Literary Theory. New York: Blackwell Publishing.
DiYanni, Robert. 2002. Literature, Reading, Fiction, Poetry and Drama. New York: McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Eagleton, Terry. 2008. Literary Theory: An Introduction: Anniversary Edition.
Minneapolis: Blackwell Publising Ltd.
Hutami, Handari Prasetyaning. 2014. An Analysis of The Main Character’s Characteristics in The “Step Up Revolution” Movie. English Department of University of Muhammadiyah Malang.
Jha, Rakesh Raman. 2003. Sociology of Peace and Nonviolence. New Delhi: Paragon Enterprises.
Liebmann, Marian. 2004. Arts Approaches to Conflict. London: Jessica Kingsley Publisher.
Kellet, M. Peter and Dalton, G. Diana. 2001. Managing Conflict in A Negotiated
World. London: Sage Publications Ltd.
Kriesberg, Louis. 2007. Constructive Conflicts: From Escalation to Resolution.
38
Koss, Melanie Debra. 2008. A Literary Analysis of Young Adult Novel with Multiple
Narrative. Chicago: ProQuest LLC.
Pickering, Peg. 2000. How to Manage Conflict. New York: Career Press.
Putri, Wahyu Ika. 2013. An Analysis of Mark Zuckerberg’s Social Conflict in “Social
Network” Film. English Department of University of Muhammadiyah
Malang.
Ranciere, Jacques. 2011. The Politics of Literature. Cambridge: Polity Press.
Soeroso, Andreas. 2008. Sosiologi. Jakarta: Quadra.
The Pursuit of Happyness Synopsis (http://www.imdb.com/title/synopsis) downloaded on 19th March 2015.
The Pursuit of Happyness Script (http://www.coloradofilmschool.net) downloaded on 20th March 2015.
Quinn, Edward. 2006. A Dictionary of Literary and Thematic Terms. Second Edition. New York: Facts On File.
Vassilou, Andrew. 2006. Analysis Film Content: A text-Based Approach. Department of Computing School of Electronics and Physical Science. Guildford: University of Surrey.
