THE CONTRIBUTION OF CONFLICTS IN REVEALING
NINA SAYERS’ PERSONALITY DISORDER SEEN IN MARK
HEYMAN’S
BLACK SWAN
AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra
in English Letters
By
THEODORA FILLI ASTRIDA
Student Number: 034214086
ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS
FACULTY OF LETTERS SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
YOGYAKARTA 2011
i
THE CONTRIBUTION OF CONFLICTS IN REVEALING
NINA SAYERS’ PERSONALITY DISORDER SEEN IN MARK
HEYMAN’S
BLACK SWAN
AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra
in English Letters
By
THEODORA FILLI ASTRIDA
Student Number: 034214086
ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS
FACULTY OF LETTERS SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
ii
iv
TO SEE A WORLD IN A GRAIN OF SAND
AND A HEAVEN IN A WILD FLOWER
HOLD INFINITY IN THE PALM OF YOUR HAND
AND ETERNITY IN AN HOUR.
(William Blake)
v Dedicated to
My Little Sun, Arda My Amazing Mother, Yohana My Incredible Father, Hendry
vi
STATEMENT OF WORK’S ORIGINALITY
I honestly declare that this thesis, which I have written, does not contain the works
or parts of the work of other people, except those cited in the quotations and the
references, as a scientific paper should.
Yogyakarta, September 26, 2011.
Theodora Filli Astrida
vii
LEMBAR PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN
PUBLIKASI KARYA ILMIAH UNTUK KEPENTINGAN AKADEMIS
Yang bertanda tangan di bawah ini, saya mahasiswa Universitas Sanata Dharma:
Nama : Theodora Filli Astrida
Nomor Mahasiswa : 034214086
Demi pengembangan ilmu pengetahuan, saya memberikan kepada Perpustakaan Universitas Sanata Dharma karya ilmiah saya yang berjudul:
The Contribution of Conflicts in Revealing Nina Sayers’
Personality Disorder in Mark Heyman’s
Black Swan
Beserta perangkat yang diperlukan (bila ada). Dengan demikian saya memberikan kepada Perpustakaan Universitas Sanata Dharma hak untuk menyimpan, mengalihkan dalam bentuk media lain, mengelolanya dalam bentuk pangkalan data, mendistribusikan secara terbatas, dan mempublikasikannya di internet atau media lain untuk kepentingan akademis tanpa perlu meminta ijin dari saya maupun memberikan royalti kepada saya selama tetap mancantumkan nama saya sebagai penulis.
Demikian pernyataan ini saya buat dengan sebenarnya.
Dibuat di Yogyakarta
Pada tanggal: 20 September 2011.
Yang menyatakan,
viii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Firstly, I would like to give my deep thanks to God who always be my
savior in every difficulty and for His blessings during the completion of this
thesis. I also would like to express my gratitude to Modesta Luluk A.W., S.S. as
my advisor and Maria Ananta T.S., S.S., M.Ed. as my co-advisor who have spent
their precious time to read and to share their opinion on my thesis. Their concerns,
suggestions, and corrections are very meaningful to make this thesis be easier to
present.
My endless gratitude is also given to my parents, Drs. Martinus Hendry
and Maria Yohana, who make it all possible for me to pass through. And also for
my brothers, Oktavianus and Thomas, my sister Dian, my niece, Dita; thank you
for reminding me about dreams and hopes.
I also would like to thank to Ndut for serving me hot milks while I was
busy finishing my thesis; and my 2003 friends: Ella, Poppi, Ika, for being my
great companion during the making of this thesis. I do thank them for their joys,
care, help, and support, and for friends who can not be mentioned one by one. To
my other parents: Ibu Maria, Bpk. Darso, Bpk. Guntur, Ibu Hartati, and Ibu Ika.
Thank you for your support, kindness, helps, and prayers.
And the special gratitude is presented to my beloved Ali and Arda. Thank
you for your sacrifices and making my dreams come true.
Theodora Filli Astrida.
ix
STATEMENT OF ORIGINALITY ……….. vi
PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN ……… vii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ………. viii
TABLE OF CONTENTS ……….. ix
1. Theory of Character and Characterization ... 10
2. Theory of Conflict. ……….. 13
3. Theory of Personality Development ………. 14
4. Theory of Personality Disorder ……… 16
C. Theoretical Framework ……… 17
CHAPTER III: METHODOLOGY ……….. 18
A. Object of the Study……….. 18
B. Approach of the Study ……… 20
C. Method of the Study ……… 21
CHAPTER IV: ANALYSIS A. Analysis on the Major Characters Presented in the Script …… 22
x
i. Naïve ………. 30
2. Erica ……… 31
a. Excessive Mothering ………. 31
b. Over-Estimate ……… 31
f. Unpredictable Person ………. 37
4. Lily ………. 38
B. The Conflicts between Characters Revealed in the Story ……. 40
1. Internal Conflict ………. 41
2. External Conflict ……… 42
a. Conflicts between Nina and Erica ……… 42
b. Conflicts between Nina and Brennan ………. 46
c. Conflicts between Nina and Lily ………. 48
xi ABSTRACT
THEODORA FILLI ASTRIDA. The Contribution of Conflicts in Revealing Nina Sayers’ Personality Disorder Seen in Mark Heyman’s Black Swan.
Yogyakarta: Department of English Letters, Faculty of Letters, Sanata Dharma University, 2011.
Black Swan is a fictional literary work written in the form of movie script. It reveals a story of a young girl and talented ballerina, Nina Sayers, who lives with her single parent mother. Being raised with excessive love and negativistic parental behavior makes her have a particular and introvert personality.
This study tries to discuss the personality disorder that occurs to the character of Nina Sayers as the result of the conflicts that rise between her and the other characters as described in Mark Heyman’s Black Swan movie script. These influential characters include her mother, her dance director, and Lily. Related to the title of the thesis, the researcher would like to analyze the problems: 1) How are the characters described in this script? 2) What are the conflicts between the characters? 3) How do the conflicts contribute to Nina Sayers’ personality disorder?
By presenting this thesis, the researcher aims to identify the characterization of the characters based on the Abrams and Murphy’s theory. Moreover, the researcher also tries to explain about the conflicts that appear between main and minor characters. And at the final, the researcher wants to find out how the conflicts contribute to Nina Sayers’ personality disorder.
Through the analysis, the researcher finds that the existences of other character with their own characteristics are influential toward Nina Sayers’ personality. The conflicts that are experienced by Nina and the other characters have a contribution toward Nina’s psychological state that is best described as a schizophrenic person. The method used in this research is a kind of library research which data are obtained from the movie script itself and some books as its references. The approach used is the psychological approach since this thesis aims to analyze the psychological state of the character,
xii ABSTRAK
THEODORA FILLI ASTRIDA The Contribution of Conflicts in Revealing Nina Sayers’ Personality Changes Seen in Mark Heyman’s Black Swan.
Yogyakarta: Jurusan Sastra Inggris, Fakultas Sastra, Universitas Sanata Dharma, 2011.
Studi ini menganalisa sebuah naskah film dengan judul Black Swan yang ditulis oleh Mark Heyman. Black Swan menceritakan tentang kehidupan seorang gadis remaja bernama Nina Sayers yang dibesarkan oleh ibu yang merupakan orang tua tunggal baginya. Sebagai anak tunggal, ia dibesarkan dengan kasih sayang yang terlalu berlebihan dan pola asuh yang negatif dari orang tuanya.
Studi ini mengangkat tema tentang perubahan kepribadian yang terjadi pada Nina Sayers setelah konflik-konflik yang dialaminya. Konflik-konflik yang muncul itu terjadi antara Nina dan ibu, pelatih dansa, dan saingannya Lily. Penulis akan membahas tiga rumusan masalah yaitu: 1) bagaimana deskripsi karakteristik dari karakter utama dalam cerita? 2) Konflik apa yang muncul dalam cerita? 3) Bagaimana kontribusi konflik terhadap penyimpangan kepribadian diri Nina .
Pertama, penulis akan menganalisa bagaimana karakter-karakter utama dideskripsikan dalam cerita berdasarkan teori Murphy dan Abrams. Kemudian, penulis akan mengidentifikasi konflik-konflik yang terjadi, baik konflik internal maupun konflik eksternal. Dan selanjutnya, penulis akan merelasikan konflik-konflik tersebut dengan penyimpangan kepribadian yang terjadi dalam diri Nina. Metode yang digunakan dalam studi ini adalah metode penelitian kepustakaan dimana data-data yang digunakan diambil dari teks naskah film dan beberapa buku sebagai referensinya. Pendekatan yang digunakan dalam studi ini merupakan pendekatan psikologi karena sangat berhubungan dengan pembelajaran psikologi tokoh yang dimaksud.
Kesimpulan yang dapat diambil dari studi ini adalah bahwa konflik-konflik yang terjadi terhadap Nina mempunyai kontribusi untuk memunculkan potensi Nina sebagai seorang Schizophrenia. Potensi ini karena latar belakang Nina yang diasuh oleh ibu yang sangat protektif..
1 CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
A. Background of the Study
Nowadays, literature has existed in all over the world and presented their
uniqueness found in their elements, whether it is in their extrinsic or intrinsic
parts. Novel, short stories, poems, and plays are some of literary works which are
familiar and can be found easily in our daily life. By reading literature, whether it
is a fiction or non-fiction such as autobiography, the reader may have a
fascinating and excited feeling, or even enjoy the imaginary character, condition,
or places which might be far away from the reality.
A (movie) script can be regarded as a literature in the way it fulfills the
imaginative, aesthetic quality and creative aspect which is highly structured by its
plot, character, tone, symbols, conflict, and other elements, which involves
emotions, actions, and ideas in the form of a story (Bressler, 1999). A script is
different from other genres of literature because, as it is a dramatic text, it is
potential to be performed or enacted. Barranger in his book Understanding Plays
emphasizes that the words “text” or ‘script” to describe the written form which is
performable (1990:4).
Wellek and Warren in Theory of Literature stated that literature reflects human feeling toward his life and closely related to human experience that is
2
emotional and intellectual pleasure to its reader, literature through their medium
of language, is also a media to represent some aspects of human life such as
history, social, moral, psychology, and so on (1960:10). It means that, by reading
literary work, whether it is poetry, prose, or play, the reader are not only provided
a certain amount of aesthetic pleasure by stimulating imaginations but also able to
explore the human experiences and their life problems which relates to the human
aspects of life.
Terry Eagleton in his book entitled Literary Theory: An Introduction stated that “Literature may provide valuable insights into human behavior” (1996:9). It
means that literature not only represents human feeling but also can be considered
as a media to understand their attitude toward their life experiences. This human
behavior, or personality, can be observed through the existence of characters in
the literary works.
In a literary work, a character is employed as somebody who acts to
represent the content of the work. As Heinrich Boll said in his book The Elements of Fiction, “A character simply means a person (or personified or anthropomorphized animal, object, or deity) who acts, appears, or is referred to in
a work”(1957:604). It means that the characters in the story are significant in the
way they build the story or become the central of the story itself.
When there is a need to observe the characters’ behavior in a literary
work, the reader will be in touch with the psychological state of the characters
itself. The concept of relationship between literature and psychology is also one of
By ‘psychology of literature,’ we may mean the psychological study of the writer, as type and as individual, or the study of the creative process or the study of the psychological types and laws present within works of literature, or, finally, the effects of literature upon its readers (audience psychology) (1956:81).
The story presented in a literary work involves actions. These actions will
create movement which will develop particularly as conflict or even a dilemma.
The conflict appears in a condition where there is a clash between characters,
between a character and his environment, a clash of forces in the universe, even a
struggle for meaning on the part of the reader. A dilemma happens when a conflict
doesn’t need to be resolved, where there is a situation in which there are two
courses of action both of which are equally bad or equally impossible.
In relation to the title of the study, the researcher will try to understand
the individual aspect of a character in a particular literary work, which is the
aspect of personality development, in a psychological point of view. The
researcher tries to identify character’s changing of mind and its influential factors,
especially the factor of other character’s existence toward one character’s
behavior. Hurlock in her book Personality Development stated that human’s personality development itself is influenced by two major factors. First major
factor is human early experiences within the family and the second major factor is
important events happening outside the home (1974: 19-20). It means that a
character/person in their interaction with others may receive some influences from
his/her environment which affect their behavior unconsciously. Personality
development of a character can be observed through the character relationship
4
Black Swan is quite interesting for the researcher to be the object of the study in the way it reveals the psychological aspects that is represented by its
main character. The story of this fictional work is also mysterious, leaving
question in readers’ mind: what did really happen toward the character and what
did not; which part is real and which one is fantasy.
In this study, the researcher will analyze and take a deeper look on a
character in Black Swan namely Nina Sayers as the protagonist characters and the other antagonist characters such as Erica, Brennan, and Lily. The character of
Nina Sayers is revealed as an interesting one: talented young ballerina, introvert,
“perfectionist”, “ambitious”, and beautiful. As a major character in the story,
Nina leads the readers into the conflicts which result in her radical personality
changes. The researcher is interested in analyzing Nina character since Nina is
having a lot of oppression from her environment, not only from the family, her
mother, but also with people in Ballet Company.
Nina, in her seventeen, the only daughter in the family, lives in an
apartment in New York with her mother, Erica, who seriously controls her life and
pushes her to become a great ballerina. Her mother’s past life as a failed ballerina
is the reason of the mother to insist Nina. Her narcissistic attitude toward Nina is
also proven with a number of Nina’s picture as a ballerina on the mother’s
bedroom wall. In addition to take control in Nina’s life, her mother also alienates
Nina from any activities outside or interaction with others. The door is always
locked and the mother is always over-worrying Nina when she gets home late.
Nina’s activities are just focused on her ballet so that she can not easily get closer
with others. Her mother’s controls give much influence toward Nina in her
behavior. Some conflicts with her mother’s attitude sometimes make her feels
irritated, dilemma, annoyed, and lose her own privacy and raises as her internal
conflict. Moreover, the external conflicts which are experienced by Nina with her
dance director, Brennan and her rival Lily make her become more depressed of
her own ambition. Nina begins to fantasying her double, having visual
hallucinations, strong delusions, and paranoid.
The researcher finds that there is a changing in Nina’s characteristic or
personality from the beginning to the ending of the story as the influence of
conflicts between other characters. This fact becomes the idea of the researcher in
conducting the study of Nina’s characteristic and other influential character as
well as the conflicts which make her suffers the psychosis symptoms as a kind of
her personality disorder.
Francis Bacon in his book Selected Essays stated that,
Ambition makes a man active, energetic, and prompt in the performance of his duties. But if an effort is put to make some restraint on an ambitious man, he is likely to become spiteful and dangerous (2000:273).
From the quotation above, it means that an ambition can give people spirit to
act and to achieve, but if they are prevented to reach or to get what they are desire
to, they would become unconsciously dangerous and might influence them to
develop a totally new character beyond their mind. As seen in Nina’s character,
the mother’s overbearing attitude, Brennan’s discouraging behavior toward Nina’s
6
are considered as “efforts to make some restraint on her ambition” and makes her
revealing the other side of her personality as the result of oppressive situation.
B. Problem Formulation
Based on the background of the study explained above, the researcher draws
the problem formulations in the form of question, as follows:
1. How are the major characters described in the script?
2. What are the conflicts revealed in the story?
3. How do the conflicts contribute in revealing Nina’s personality
disorder?
C. Objective of the Study
According to the problem formulations which have been stated previously,
this paper has three objectives to analyze. First, the researcher tries to analyze the
characteristic of characters as stated directly or indirectly based on the script.
Next, it is also important for the researcher to identify the conflicts which appear
in the story. And at the final, the researcher tries to see how the conflicts influence
and reveals Nina’s personality disorder at the end of the story.
D. Definition of Terms
There is one term which is commonly used by the researcher in conducting
this study. In order to avoid misunderstanding, the term can be defined as follow:
- Personality Disorder is a psychological term which describes behavior
deviation from the expected values/norms, meaning to say that the person
does not behave as he/she normally does. The scientist used some similar
terms to describe the person, such as “disturbed”, “neurotic”, “psychotic”,
while the layman says this kind of person as “crazy”, “peculiar”, “nutty”.
8 CHAPTER II
THEORETICAL REVIEW
A. Review of Related Study
Literature is the expression of life through medium of language. To reveal
it, an author creates one character or several characters to keep the movement of
the story so that it can reach the purpose of its writing that is to convey the
author’s idea. Of course, there are many human aspects that people can learn from
a character. As mentioned in the previous chapter, through a literature, we can
have the appreciation toward the historical up to moral and social aspects which
are indirectly stated in the story. And also, through a character, the readers may
learn about the characters’ personality which naturally includes each individual’s
most striking or dominant characteristics. So, when reading a literary work, we
also get into the idea of its close relationship with psychology in the way they
have object in common that is human being.
When we analyze a text, Black Swan in this case, it means that we can observe the characters’ personalities, from both physical and psychological point
of view and also the influential aspects which might shape the personalities.
There are some comments that appear concerning Black Swan, especially toward the major character in the story. The researcher finds that there are a lot of comments that tries to analyze the character of Nina Sayers from many points of
view. Steve Limberti, a professor of psychiatry at University of Rochester
Medical Center, for example, stated his comment on the character of Nina Sayers.
He is interested on Nina’s psychological manner. According to him, Natalie
Portman’s character was involved in a highly stressful competition, she had
conflicted relationships with her mother and with her understudy, and she was the
object of sexual advances by her director. Anyone of these issues alone would be
stressful, but experiencing all of them at once would be emotionally devastating,
particularly for a young woman who is somewhat naïve and sheltered. Moreover,
Limberti also suggest that the repeated vomiting and weight loss in the days
leading up to her final performance may have caused an electrolyte disturbance
that could have contributed to the psychosis.
Kevin Spacey also posted his comment on Nina Sayer’s mental disorders.
He stated that, “Nina is nuts. She is suffering from a mental condition known as
schizophrenia. The schizophrenia is brought on by the extreme pressure Nina is
under, both from her mother, her dance director, and herself. She desires to be
perfect, and this is unattainable desire is slowly eating away at the walls of her
psyche. It also doesn’t help that she’s struggling with confused sexual feelings,
from the advances of her boss to the strong attraction to her chief rival.”
(
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Movies/black-swan-psychiatrists-diagnose-natalie-portmans-portrayal-psychosis/story?id=12436873.
Based on Browler’s case study which was conducted in a mental hospital
toward a schizophrenic patient, there are some factors which become the cause of
this personality sickness, especially from her family environment. It described
how the mother’s of the patient was an unstable woman, aggressive, and
10
dependency and submissive characteristic of the patient. Moreover, the father also
had contribution toward the sexual disorder of the patient since he was weak and
passively seductive.
Compared with both study above, this study has the same object to identify
that is the character of Nina Sayers. The researcher tries to relate the
psychological development of the character based on her relationship or their
conflict with others, and how then the conflicts lead Nina to her personality
disorder.
B. Review of Related Theories
1. Theory of Character and Characterization
There are some opinions that reveal the definition of character. M.H.
Abrams in his book “The Glossary of Literary Terms” defines characters as the persons presented in a dramatic work, who are interpreted by the readers as being
endowed with moral and dispositional qualities that are expressed in what they
say-the dialogue and what they do-the action (1981:20). Meaning to say that the
characters’ dialogues and actions in a literary work shows the moral value and
distinctive qualities which will be based on reader’s interpretation.
Based on their level of importance, characters can be divided into major
character and minor character. A major character is the most important person
who becomes the center of the story. His or her action in the story is focused from
the beginning until the final part of the story. While minor character is a character
that appears in certain setting and become the background of the major character.
Their roles are less important in the way they are not fully developed characters
and they just support the development of the major characters (Abrams, 1981:20).
According to Murphy in Understanding Unseens: An Introduction to English Poetry and English Novel for Student Overseas, there are nine ways to understand the character of the story (1972: 161-173). These nine ways that are
suggested to characterize a character can be explain as follows.
a. Personal Description
The character’s personal description is the first .way to characterize a character by
observing his/her physical or external appearance such as the character’s outfits or
part of the body.
b. Character as seen by another
Through this way, the author gives a description of a character by other
characters’ point of view, attitudes, or direct comments
c. Speech
Through their speech, the author can describe a character by their using of
language. The way they speak in a conversation and giving their opinion may also
reveal the personality of the character.
d. Past life
A person’s past life can shape his/her nature. We can find out the character’s past
life by the author’s direct explanation, through the character’s thought, or from
the conversation of others.
12
The conversation of other people and the things they say about him/her can give a
description of the character’s nature. Readers will understand that others’ saying
about a character may reveal her/his characteristic.
f. Reactions
By perceiving the character’s reactions in a various situations or events, the author
may give clues about the character’s personality from his/her tendency in facing
the situation.
g. Direct Comments
The author describes the character by his/her own direct comments on the
characteristic of the character in the story directly to the readers. It becomes easier
for the readers to understand one character by the author’s direct explanation
h. Thoughts
The nature of the character can be known by what he/she is thinking. The author
shows the character’s personality by understanding his/her thought.
i. Mannerism, habits, or idiosyncrasies
We can understand the character through the way the author presents the character
and the way they behave, their gesture and habits. These become the clue for the
readers to understand the characteristic of the character.
From the theories above, the researcher draws a conclusion that a character
in a story is a person which expresses the human qualities through their dialogues
and actions. A character also used to show how an individual is different in their
desires, interest, emotions, and moral principles, and to understand each character,
the readers can get the knowledge from the personal description up to their
behavior.
2. Theory of Conflict
According to Webster Tenth New Collegiate Dictionary (2000:242), the
term conflict has more than one meaning:
1. fight, battle, war
2. – a competitive or opposing action of incompatible antagonist or state
action (as of divergent ideas interest or persons)
- mental struggle resulting from incompatible or opposing needs, drives,
wishes, or external or internal demands.
3. The opposition or person of forces that give rise to the dramatic action in
drama or fiction. (1986: 383)
According to Stanton in his book An Introduction to Fiction, conflict can be a clash between characters, between character and his environment, within
himself (1999:57). It means that, when there is a clash situation between two or
more characters or between one characters and his/her social life, it is categorized
as an external conflict. While, if the conflict occurs in person’s mind and feeling,
it can be regarded as internal conflict.
According to Ferster in his book Arguing Through Literature: A Thematic Anthology and Guide to Academic Writing, conflicts may include clashes or tensions between people or groups who want exclusive possession of the same
thing or who have contrasting goals and values. The problems may appear as the
14
According to Hurlock in her book Personality Development, conflicts may cause stress that give rise to anger, jealousy, envy, or some other unpleasant
emotion. This emotional stress takes the form of anxiety, frustration, jealousies,
and envies. Anxiety may come from parental over protectiveness which results in
the person’s inability to handle his problem. (1974:223).
3. Theory on Personality Development
Elizabeth Hurlock in her book Personality Development explains that parent has an important role on their children personality development in the way
they raises them. Some parents use authoritarian method by using strict rules and
regulations to enforce the desired behavior. This will produce a child with
particular manner: quiet, well behaved, socially passive, and restricted in
curiosity, originality, and fanciful. Hurlock also explains that besides the influence
of the family, the environment where the child lives also has contribution toward
child’s shape of personality. (1976:96-102)
Hurlock also stated that the changes in the personality can be divided into
three categories. First, the changes can be in the matter of their direction, whether
it is for the better or might be for the worse. The changes in personality can be
slow or fast, and when the radical changes occurs, which means that it happens
suddenly and persist, are generally indicative of mental illness (1976: 122)
4. Theory on Personality Disorder
According to Hurlock in her book Personality Development, a sick personality is a condition where there is a change in the personality structure
which results in poor personal and social adjustment. It is also stated that during
the periods of stress, any forms of personality sickness are likely to be intensified
and to develop into a characteristic pattern of adjustment. Children who are in
their puberty may experience personality sickness because of their failure to find
their self-identity. They feel dissatisfaction with themselves and with the
adjustments they make to others and to the goals they have set for themselves.
Hurlock also states that common example of the persistence of maladjustive
behavior develops early in life is juvenile delinquency. For example the situation
of hostile and defiant attitudes toward parents. The children will become
disobedient, troublesome, and unruly because of their unfavorable attitudes
toward the treatment they receive. The personality sickness can be fundamentally
caused by anxiety which comes from self-dissatisfaction or self-rejection. This
dissatisfaction is revealed because of any obstacles to the fulfillment of the
person’s interest, needs, and desire. Lack of self-perspective also leads a person to
self-dissatisfaction and self-rejection in the conditions where lack of opportunities
for contacts with people; inability to communicate things with others; and
unwillingness to see oneself realistically. When a child experienced a
hallucinations and fantasy, it can be the danger signals of personality sickness in
irrational degree, for example when she fantasying with her imaginary
companions. Fantasy can be an imaginary satisfaction of wishes which has been
forbidden by repression (1974: 389-399).
According to Steve Limberti, what Nina faces is a kind of psychosis.
Psychosis is a loss of contact with reality that usually includes false beliefs or
16
is a symptom rather than a disease, and can be caused by a variety of triggers,
exposure to mercury, drugs like amphetamines, epilepsy, a brain tumor, dementia
or psychiatric disorders like schizophrenia. Schizophrenia itself, is a psychotic
disorder which is characterized by loss of contact with the environment, by
noticeable deterioration in the level of functioning in everyday life, and by
disintegration of personality expressed as disorder of feeling, thought (as in
hallucinations and delusions), and conduct. It also can be the contradictory or
antagonistic qualities or attitudes. According to Robert W. White in his book The Abnormal Personality, the basic developmental disorder found in schizophrenic histories is a protective avoidance of contact with surroundings, especially human
surroundings. He also proposes schizophrenia as “splitting of the mind” which
emphasizes on the principal characteristic (1948:279). Schizophrenia is included
as functional psychoses which has no observable physical basis and can be
regarded as an mental illness.
What Nina Sayers undergoes is a kind of paranoid schizophrenia in the way
she is so ambitious person who sets unobtainable goals and then blames others for
her failure to achieve them. White also states that homosexuality usually appears
in the history of paranoid schizophrenic patient. (1948:283).
Schizophrenia is included as functional psychoses which has no observable
physical basis and can be regarded as an mental illness.
C. Theoretical Framework
In this thesis, the researcher uses some theories which are the theory of
character and characterization, theory of conflict, theory on personality
development, and theory on personality disorder. Those theories are chosen based
on their relevancy to the topic in order to do the analysis. The theory of character
and characterization is used to identify the characteristic of the four characters that
are significant in the story development. Theory of conflict is applied to
understand the movement of the story in order to find out the factor of main
character’s reaction toward her environment. Then, the theory of personality
development is used as the basic knowledge of the personality shaping in a
character. The last, theory of personality disorder is used to analyze the
18 CHAPTER III
METHODOLOGY
A. Object of the Study
The object of this study is a movie script entitled Black Swan which is written by Mark Heyman. The script consists of 117 pages and is divided into 116
scenes. The script itself has been filmed by Darren Aronofsky and been released
on September 2010 and has received so many critics and comments. On January
25, 2011, Black Swan movie has been nominated in Academy Awards in five categories those are: Best Actress, Best Picture, Best Director, Best
Cinematography, and Best Picture Editing. Natalie Portman, who played as Nina
Sayers, the major character in the movie, has won the Best Actress nomination,
As a psychological thriller movie, Black Swan reveals some horrors acts with psychological aspects applied. Aronofsky in his interview stated that the
concept is of making this film is inspired by Dostoevsky’s ‘The Double’. He also
implies the double motifs in this film.
Then I went to see a production of Swan Lake, which I thought was just a bunch of girls in tutus. I didn’t know what it was. But when I saw that there was a Black swan and White Swan, played by one dancer, and it was a kind of a Eureka moment, it was like ‘oh wow, a double..’ So then it started to come together.
The story of Black Swan is centralized on the character of Nina Sayers. She is a young, talented, and beautiful ballerina. She lives with her
over-protective mother who always controls her life in an apartment in New York City.
Her mother, Erica, is an ex-ballerina who is really obsessive to Nina’s career as a
ballerina. When Nina was a child, she took Nina to a ballet company in order to
fulfill her obsession toward Nina. With her mother’s force, Nina becomes an
obsessive and perfectionist ballerina.
When the ballet company is making plans to put on a production of
Swan Lake, Nina follows the cast session in order to take the precious dual lead
role as a Swan Queen and alters the ballet superstar, Beth, who is now in her 40s.
Swan Queen is a kind of difficult role since the dancer has to perform two
different characteristic of dance, the innocent, fragile White Swan and its darkly
sensual, evil twin the Black Swan.
Brennan, dance director, has chosen the other person to take the role,
and this makes Nina, who is really obsessed to have the role, becomes
disappointed. She practices a lot in home and successfully did the 32-spins to
prove that she can. Then, she tries to meet Brennan in order to ask him to give the
role to her. Brennan, who is a sexually aggressive, tries to kiss her but Nina bites
her lips and leaves him.
Nina was excited when Brennan finally changes his mind and gives her the
Swan Queen role. Brennan compliments her on her perfect White swan dance but
tell her that she is frigid to dance the Black Swan dance. Brennan shows Nina how
Lily, her understudy, was sensually fit to dance the Black Swan. This makes Nina
becomes paranoia that sometimes Lily will take the role from her.
The story also tells about how Nina reveals some psychotic symptoms like
having some visual and auditory hallucinations and delusions. These all
happenings make her become confuse and unable to find the reality, especially
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thinks that it is Lily who has been stabbed by her. As the result, the story is
leaving the question in reader’s mind about “what did happen and what did not”.
B. Approach of the Study
To analyze the problem formulation that has been stated in the previous
chapter, the researcher applies the psychological approach. The reason of the
researcher for choosing this approach in this study is because psychology analysis
is often used as a method to analyze the psychological development of human
being, which is the topic of this thesis itself.
Psychological approaches target the “software’, learned faulty behaviors
and habits, along with damaging words, thoughts, interpretations, and feedback
that direct strategies for daily living. Psychological approaches assume that many
disorders result from mental, behavioral, and social factors, such as personal
experiences, traumas, conflicts, and environmental
conditions.(http://www.learner.org/discoveringpsychology/therapeutic/psychologi
cal.html). By applying the psychological approach, the researcher can identify
one’s behavior and how the personality disorders within a character is resulted
from her mental, social, personal, and environmental experiences.
C. Method of the Study
This study of Mark Heyman’s Black Swan is a kind of a library research. The researcher looked for, found, and quoted the data from many kinds of
relevance sources. The primary source of this undergraduate thesis was taken
from the script itself. In analyzing the primary data, the researcher read and
re-read the script to have a better and deeper understanding toward the story and its
elements, especially the character. After deciding the topic intended and
formulated the questions, the researcher started collecting data from the script by
quoting some reliable dialogues as the supporting point. The data was helpful to
emphasize and to prove researcher’s argument on the analysis. Some theoretical
books, which were related to the topic, were also used in analyzing the data.
Comments on this work which were taken from the internet or other research or
essay at the same topic as the secondary source in doing the analysis. The
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CHAPTER IV
ANALYSIS
This chapter will give analysis on the three questions that are stated in
problems formulation. The first part discusses about characters presented in the
script which are the major characters in the story. Afterwards, the second part
describes the conflicts which appear between the four major characters. And the
last part will explain how the conflicts contribute to the personality order that
occur to Nina Sayers.
A. Analysis on the Major Characters Presented in the Script
Based on the script, there are four characters that have important acts in
the story: Nina Sayers, Erica as the mother, Michael Brennan as Nina’s dance
director and Lily as Nina’s competitor to get the role as the Swan Queen.
According on Henkle’s categorization on the characters, those characters
mentioned above are best included as the major character in the story since they
present the main issue that the author tried to reveal. They are also the focused
character who has built the entire story and have contribution in the movement of
the story.
There are some dominant characteristics that can be observed from the
major characters in Black Swan. The nine ways to understand a character as suggested by Murphy are applicable in the characterization of each character. In
the beginning, the researcher analyzes every character’s outer side or physical
appearance. After that, the researcher analyzes their inner characterization based
on their feeling and thought.
1. Nina Sayers
As described previously, Nina is a young girl who loves ballet and
obsessed to be a great ballerina. She spends most of her time and energy for ballet
and always shows her seriousness in every move she make. Her willing is
manifested through her dream, which the author presented in the beginning of the
story. It shows how Nina metamorphoses into the White Swan, assumed through
her saying about “when Rothbart cast his spell.” Nina feels amazed with her own
dream and tries to share it with her mother.
Nina rubs her knees to get the warm, and then begins her morning exercises, extending and contracting her feet and legs in precise and rtythmic motions. Nina is completely focused as she moves, obsessed with doing everything correctly, quietly counting out the beats.
NINA. (while stretching) Had the most amazing dream last night. I was dancing the White Swan. (no answer) Different choreography, like the Bolshoi’s. It was the prologue, when Rothbart cast his spell. (still no answer).
Nina continues stretch. (scene 3, page 2)
Nina obsession is going strong to be fulfilled because she believes that
Brennan will give her important part in the next performance which is coming
soon, as he promises it to her. It can be concluded that Nina expects Brennan to be
serious with his promise.
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Physically, Nina’s appearance is described as a very thin and beautiful
ballet dancer, as the author gives his direct personal description in scene 2 (page
1), which states “Like all ballerinas, she’s beautiful and her feet are atrocious.”
The personal description of Nina character is not only shown from her face
but also her body which is very thin with muscles, and slender neck, and hair style
is simple and twisted round into a bun.
She is very thin, even or a ballerina. The skin on her chest stretches tautly over her sternum. Defined vertebrae run up her back, sinewy muscles contract as she moves. Her slender neck leads into her hair, contained in a ballerina’s bun. (scene 3, page 2)
Instead of her appearance, there are some points that show her inner side
that able to obtain from other character’s eyes, conversation, past life, reactions,
and so on. These Nina’s inner side can be defined as follows:
a. Quiet
Nina is described as a quiet girl because she seldom involves in a fun
conversation with others. In the company, she just talks with several people in a
particular situation and gives only short comments. It is the mother, Erica, whom
Nina always talks with. Nina always shares everything with her mother, about her
failure and happiness that she experience. For example, she calls her mom when
Brennan chooses her to be a nominee of the Swan Queen.
NINA. Hey..Everything’s fine.. He picked me, mommy. She waits for a response.
NINA. Did you hear me?.. Yes, I’m going to be the Swan Queen. Nina laughs at her mother’s response and can’t help but start crying. NINA. I’ll be right home, okay? I just wanted to tell you. (scene 26, pg. 23)
On the other hand, Nina feels discomfort to share conversation with to
others and avoids to talks her personal matters. It can be seen in scene 50, when
Nina is crying, Lily accompanies her and tries to ask her about her problem. Nina
does not want to talk about her problems and walks away.
LILY. Big day’s coming closer and closer, huh? I can’t wait. You’re going to be amazing.
NINA. Thanks. (wipes off her tears with her hand) LILY. So, want to talk about it?
NINA. Just had a hard day. LILY. Brennan plays too rough? Nina looks at her, surprised.
LILY. Just a guess. He seems like a prick. NINA. He’s brilliant.
LILY. Sure, but not exactly warm and fuzzy. NINA. You don’t know him.
Lily smirks with a realization. LILY. Someone’s hot for teacher. Nina gives her a withering glance. LILY. It’s okay. I don’t blame you. Nina stands up.
NINA. I should go. It’s getting late. LILY. Hey. I was only playing.
Nina walks towards the door. She ignores Lily and exits.
b. Shy
Nina is defined as a shy young girl who often shows her discomfort when
she meets new people. In such situation, she will be calm and quiet, and never
able to start a conversation with them. It can be seen when Nina was
acknowledged to the Goldmans and the Steinhardts in a company party which was
held to celebrate her success for being the Swan Queen. Brennan, who
recognized Nina’s nervous feeling, tries to calm her down. It shows Nina’s lack of
capability to get along with others.
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Nina repeats the pleasantries, then takes a nervous sip of champagne. Brennan leans in close and whispers in her ear.
BRENNAN. Relax, you’re doing fine. (scene 36).
Instead of showing her nervousness when meeting new people, Nina is
also described as a person who always avoids eye contact when talking to others.
Moreover, she also becomes a nervous girl when she has to be with others. She
always avoids joining in the crowd.
Nina exits the elevator with a brown shopping bag. She walks down a stark hallway and approaches Beth’s hospital room. A group of friends surround her bed, blocking Beth from view. Nina considers going in, but shyly sulks past, drawing the attention of an older nurse. (scene 46, pg. 44)
c. Obsessive
In order to fulfill her mother’s willingness, Nina is obsessed to be a great
ballerina. In ballet, the perfection is achieved when someone able to play the role
as Swan Queen which means that the dancer has to be able to dance and to fully
embrace both beautiful-glacial White Swan and dark-lustful Black Swan. The two
dances are different in their characteristic so that it is not easy to dance. Brennan
sees Nina’s perfection in White Swan dance, but thinks that Nina will not
qualified to dance Black Swan since she has no characteristic of sexy, sensual, or
aggressive. At first, when she is not chosen to play the role, she is so upset and
tries to prove to Brennan that she deserves to be given a chance to play the role.
Her effort shows Nina’s obsessive characteristic to get everything that she wants.
BRENNAN. Truth is, when I look at you, all I see is the White Swan. Yes, you’re beautiful, restrained, glacial. Perfect casting. But the Black Swan.. It’s a hard fucking job to dance both.
NINA. I know.
BRENNAN. I don’t want a prim little school-girl pretending to e sexy. That would be distasteful, don’t you think?
NINA. I can be the Black Swan, too.
BRENNAN. Really? She’s a risk-taker. In years I’ve never once seen you take any risks. In you’re dancing or otherwise.
NINA. I’ve never had a chance.
BRENNAN. And you’d like one now, is that what you’re saying? NINA. Yes. (scene 23)
d. Envious
In the ballet company, Nina learns from Beth’s condition that popularity is
something amusing and makes her be envious of it. This characteristic can be seen
in scene 11, page 9 when Nina comes into Beth’s room on purpose and without
being seen by Beth or other people in the company. She is amazed by the facilities
of big and comfortable room which is provided for Beth. She also sees how
Beth’s profile is being big-pictured in the principal’s dressing room.
Large and comfortable. There’s a small loveseat and a large wardrobe closet. Pictures of Beth adorn the mirror and wall. Nina looks at herself in the mirror and smiles, imagining how great it would be. (scene 11, pg. 9)
Nina’s envy toward Beth’s popularity is also shown by her attitude when
she steals Beth’s lipstick in her room. The attitude of Nina to own Beth’s lipstick
strengthens the idea that Nina wants to own popularity like Beth, as seen in scene
11, page 5;
She touches Beth’s make up, almost in reference. She picks up a tube of lipstick and swirls it open. Nina quickly slips the tube of lipstick into her bag and exits the room.
Nina is considered as a quiet and shy girl who is lack of social activity. In
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conversations among her peers. This also makes her become a person with
unfavorable personality. Meanwhile, the existence of Lily as the new comer is
totally different from Nina. Lily, who is so popular among her peers and in the
company itself, can easily attract Brennan, David, or people from opposite sex.
Moreover, Nina is also amazed with Lily’s dance which she thinks that “explosive
and exudes sex” (scene 34, page 28). This makes Nina become jealous to her and
feels threatened. It is obviously revealed when Brennan approaches her. He asks
Nina to give her attention to Lily’s dance and then he gives his positive comments
on Lily’s sensuality which comes naturally within her soul.
BRENNAN. Watch the way she moves.
Brennan has snuck up behind Nina at the doorway and gets very close to her.
BRENNAN. A little sloopy, but sensual. She’s not faking it. Pay attention. (scene 34, page 28)
Nina’s jealousy is caused by her incapability in accepting others’ success.
It is also shown when Brennan compliments Veronica for her White Swan
variation, as described in scene 13, page 6;
The door to the practice room closes behind her. Nina paces back and forth, losing it. Music begins playing. She glances back through the glass window and sees Veronica spinning, a smile on her face.
BRENNAN. (muffled, through door) Yes, Veronica. Good. Good.
Nina’s face tenses. She hears the voices of dancers approaching, and bottles her anger in. she clips down the hall, desperate to leave.
e. Submissive
Nina is described as a submissive girl who always obeys her mother. The
mother has a power to controls everything for Nina, requires Nina to do
everything she wants Nina to do. Even, Nina is incapable to make her own
decision. It can be seen in scene 41, page 38.
Nina sits on the toilet, stripped to her underwear. She does her best to cover herself. Erica places a band aid over her cream covered back and side. She replaces the cap on a tube of prescription cream. She pulls out nail clippers. Erica carefully cuts her nails down to their base. Each click makes Nina twitch.
NINA. Mom, please.
Erica grabs Nina’s other hand.
Even, Nina also obeys Brennan suggestions to masturbate at home.
However, her effort is failed to do because of the existence of the mother who is
sleeping in her room and gives her no privacy.
Nina lies wide awake after the restless night. She slowly reaches down under the covers, down between her legs, to complete Brennan’s “homework assignment”. She closes her eyes and starts to maneuver. She suddenly hears a rustling sound and a short snore. She freezes and opens her eyes. She slowly sits up in bed and sees Erica sleeping on a chair in the corner of the room. Nina glares at her, frustrated.
f. Optimistic
When facing the condition of losing chances to become the Swan Queen
because she can not do the 32 spins, Nina shows her despair. But she keeps trying
at home and finally succeeds in doing it. It makes her believe that she will win the
role. Even when her mother discourages her that Brennan will not change her
mind, Nina is still unconvinced. She still meets Brennan in the hope that Brennan
will consider her. It shows her optimistic characteristic.
NINA. I should go talk to him. Tell him I finished it.
ERICA. Don’t you think he’s made up his mind already? He’s always so sure of himself. (scene 18)
BRENNAN. Now’s fine, what is it?
NINA. I just want to tell you, I practiced the coda last night, and I did it. BRENNAN. How thrilling for you.
NINA. (thrown) Well..
BRENNAN. Okay, Nina, listen, I honestly don’t care about your technique, you should know that by now.
NINA. Yes, but..
30
He lifts his hands in the air, “there you go.”
g. Frigid toward Man
BRENNAN. And you enjoy sex? NINA. Excuse me?
BRENNAN. Sex. Copulation. Fucking. Nina can’t respond.
BRENNAN. Have you ever climaxed?
Blushing and feeling awkward, she takes a sip of champagne. BRENNAN. We need to be able to talk about this.
NINA. Okay.
BRENNAN. So? Have you?
Nina looks at him, embarrassed, and shrugs. (scene 39, pg. 37-38)
From the quotation above, the researcher finds the idea that Nina never
enjoys her sex and even fails to feel her orgasm. Nina’s incapability in getting her
orgasm is included as frigid, which term used to refer to a condition when a
person unable to achieve orgasm during sexual intercourse. This characterization
is vividly shown by the conversation between Beth and Nina. Beth tells Nina how
Brennan always says about Nina’s frigidity, not only her dance but also in her
sexual life.
BETH. What’d you do to get the role? NINA. Nothing.
BETH. He always said you were a frigid little girl.
Her words needle Nina, too close to the truth. (scene 38; page 32)
h. Anorexic
The physical condition of Nina, which is very thin, reveals the assumption
that she suffers from Anorexia nervosa, a serious disorder in eating behavior and primarily of young women in their teens and early twenties that is characterized
especially by a pathological fear of weight gain leading to faulty eating patterns,
malnutrition, and usually excessive weight loss (Webster, 2000). The indications
of this assumption are shown from the quotations below.
Nina sits at the table, a half-grapefruit placed in front of her, and a neatly arranged row of vitamins beside it (scene 4, pg. 2).
Post-shower, Nina’s fuzzy reflection stares back in a steam covered mirror. Nina takes her hand and wipes a streak across, to see herself more clearly. She looks nervous. The enormity of what’s in front of her setting in. She turns side to side, scrutinizing her body. She lifts her arm and pinches the skin to check her weight (scene 29, pg. 24).
Nina and Erica eat dinner. Nina wears a loose sweatshirt, hiding her body. ERICA. Has he tried anything with you?
Nina doesn’t respond. Just downs a few vitamins, and then starts in on her meal of vegetable and rice (scene 59, pg. 57).
NINA. I don’t eat red meat (scene 61, pg. 62)
i. Naïve
LILY. One for me..
Lily grabs one of the pills and slides it over. LILY. And one for you.
Lily grabs her pill and downs it with a beer.
Nina stares at her pill, too embarrassed to admit she doesn’t know what it is. Lily notices.
LILY. Don’t worry, it’s pure. Straight from San Fran. NINA. What is it?
LILY. You’re kidding? You never rolled? Nina blinks. (scene 61, pg. 63)
From the quotation above, the researcher gets the idea of Nina’s naïve
characteristic which shows that she is not having previously used a particular
drug. Meaning to say that, she never uses drugs.
2. Erica
Starting her career as a ballerina, Erica has to stop her obsession when she
32
daughter by her own, and stays in a tiny living place in an upper west apartment in
New York. She has passed through 17 years to take care for Nina in a great
expectation that Nina would be a great ballerina someday.
Erica’s past life is not clearly revealed in the script, but in scene 59, she
indirectly indicates how she got pregnant and she is worrying that Nina would be
taken advantage by her dance director that might finish her career, as Erica did.
ERICA. I have a right to be concerned, Nina. Staying late so many nights. “rehearsing”. I hope he’s not taking advantage, that’s all.
NINA. (staring at her plate) He’s not.
ERICA. Good. I don’t want you making the same mistake I did. NINA. (insulted) Right.
Erica’s dark experience in her past life has influenced her personality as
well as her parental behavior. Since the mother’s parental attitude are very
influential and becomes the primary factor on child’s personality development,
the researcher focuses only on how Erica treats Nina as her daughter. There are
some characteristics that apparently can be observed from Erica and has a close
relationship toward Nina’s characteristics which have been discussed previously.
a. Excessive Mothering
From the beginning of the story, Erica is vividly profiled as a mother who
really loves her daughter. It is not only seen from her utterances but also from her
attitude. Her excessive love is showed with some words as “angel”, “sweet girl”,
or “darling” or acts like hugging or kissing. She also does things that should be
done by Nina herself even for simple activities for example helping Nina in
wearing her sweatshirt (scene 4). Moreover, she also shows her attentive behavior
by helping Nina to take off her dress. Even though Nina wishes to do it herself,
Erica is insisting to do it for Nina (scene 40).
NINA. I wanna get out of this dress.
Erica walks behind her and reaches to unzip her. NINA. I can do it.
ERICA. Turn.
Nina turns around, reticent.
b. Over-estimative
Erica’s love toward Nina not only results on her over-bearing attitude, but
also makes her becomes over-estimate toward Nina and her career. Drives by her
ambition, she adores Nina and is really proud of her daughter’s career as a
ballerina. In scene 28, Erica is revealed as a mother who collects many pictures
which shows Nina’s profile.
Nina opens the door and pokes her head in. But Erica’s not in there either. Nina glances at the walls. They’re covered with snapshots, programs with star-stickers next to Nina’s name, newspaper and company pictures with Nina’s face circled in marker. An obsessive catalogue of Nina’s entire career. Nina withdraws.
c. Over-protective
Another characteristic that Erica has is about her over-protective parental
behavior. As Nina is the only child in the family whose becomes so much
precious for Erica, she appeals her momism- a situation of maternal over-protection in many ways. In scene 16, Erica shows her worry when Nina gets
home late and does not answer her call.
Nina enters and locks the deadbolt and chain-lock behind her. She turns and is startled to see Erica standing right there.
ERICA. (relieved) For heaven’s sake..
34
NINA. I didn’t hear it.
d. Authoritarian
The over-protective behavior results to be over supervision. Erica always
controls everything and watching constantly for Nina’s doing. She also interferes
in everything that Nina wears. Even when Nina puts on lipstick on her lips, Erica
shows her authoritarian behavior that as a mother she has the power to rule and to
make any decisions for Nina.
Nina readies to leave, Erica waits by the door to say goodbye. Nina keeps her head down, trying to hide her mouth under her scarf, but Erica notices. ERICA. What’s that?
Erica reaches her hand towards Nina’s face. Nina flinches away. NINA. Mom..
ERICA. Thought we agreed you would not go talk to him. Nina stares at her, defiant.
ERICA. Especially not like that. You look cheap. What will he think? Erica uses her thumb to wipe the lipstick off her lips. Nina lets her, silently fuming.
e. Introvert
Instead of her authoritarian behavior, Erica also controls Nina from any
relationship outside home. This makes the situation in home has the tendency of
lack of social activity. Her introvert characteristic is proven in scene 59 pg. 58-59
when Lily comes to Nina’s apartment. Erica and Nina are shocked with the fact
that there is somebody in front of the door. It can be assumed that they are seldom
visited by others. And when Erica opens the door, she keeps the door locked,
which can be assumed that they do not let people easily come in into their house.
Knowing that the person outside is looking for her daughter; Erica purposely
prevents the stranger to meet Nina by saying that her daughter is not home.
The doorbells startles them both.
ERICA. Are you expecting someone?
Erica looks at Nina questioningly. Nina shrugs.
Erica goes to the door and cracks it open, keeping the chain engaged. ERICA. (to person outside) Can I help you? (pause) I’m sorry, she’s not in.
Erica shuts the door. Nina rushes out to see who it was. NINA. Who was it?
Erica doesn’t answer. Irritated, Nina walks around Erica and quickly opens the door to find out.
ERICA. It’s no one
Since Erica applies authoritarian attitudes in home, she becomes a
dominant mother for Nina in the way she controls everything about Nina by
supplying all her needs and taking control of her life.
3. Michael Brennan
a. Attractive
As a dance director in the ballet company, Brennan is described as a good
looking man, physically attractive, and artistic. The author states directly in the
script about Brennan’s appearance. His physical appearance makes him becomes
so special and makes the girls in the company try to get her attention.
Suddenly, the girls around Nina begin stripping off their sweatshirts and insulated pants. Nina sees that the intense and brooding director of the company, Michael Brennan, has entered the space. He has the unkept look of an artist. Magnetic and intense. The ballerinas remove their warm-up gear to show off their bodies. Brennan walks around the room, judging his flock. Smile and glances are thrown his way.
b. Emotional
Instead of his attractive physical appearance, Brennan is described as an
emotional, not warm and fuzzy person. It can be seen from the author direct
36
also defines this characteristic through his reaction in facing the problem,
especially when he faces some conflicts with Nina, who is unable to meet her
sensuality in her dance. This characteristic can be proven through some scenes
mentioned below.
BRENNAN. Seduce us! Not just the prince, but the court, the audience, the entire fucking world! The fouttes are like spider spinning her we. Come on! Explode! This isn’t a school play, it isn’t church. No..No..
He runs his hand through his hair, frustrated
A look of worry spreads across Nina’s face. Knows she’s blowing it. (scene 12, pg. 11)
c. Flirtatious
Instead of his sweet persona, Brennan also described as a person who has
the reputation of a seductive person. He loves art and beauty and he is easily
attracted to Lily who is sexually attractive. This characteristic is recognized by
Nina’s mother and makes her worry that Nina will be seduced by him.
Brennan’s sexually aggressive is also known by David, which is described
in scene 48. The author gives the description of Brennan’s characteristic through
other’s point of view.
BRENNAN. Nina, right now, your Black Swan looks no different than your White Swan. She’s just as.. frigid.
Nina nods, insecure.
BRENNAN. (looking at watch) Okay David, you can go. Nina, you stay. We need to keep working.
David gives her an insulating glance, then shakes his head. Very used to Brennan “methods”.
DAVID. Have fun you two.
d. Confident
The other characteristic that Brennan has is about his confidence. He is not
a person who easily changes his mind. This can be seen in scene 18 when Erica
tries to convince Nina that Brennan would not change his mind.
NINA. I should go talk to him. Tell him I finished it.
ERICA. Don’t you think he’s made up his mind already? He’s always so sure of himself.
Nina looks away, unconvinced.
Brennan is also confident with his decision to choose Nina as the Swan
Queen even though he knows from the beginning of the selection that Nina is lack
of capability in dancing Black Swan. But the moment when Nina bites his lips is
crucial in making up his mind to pick Nina than the other three competitors.
d. Money Oriented
VERONICA. Company’s broke
GALINA. It’s always broke. (scene 8, pg. 4)
From the quotation of the conversation of both Veronica and Galina
above, it can be understood that the company is facing the financial crisis. As the
director of the company which is in their financial problems and is almost
bankrupt, Brennan obsesses to make the Swan Lake project as an effort to get
more money. He relies on the performance of the Swan Queen which is played by
Nina. In a fundraiser party which is attended by rich people, Brennan introduces
Nina as the new and talented Swan Queen.
Brennan grabs a couple champagne glasses off a waiter’s tray. He hands a glass to Nina with a smile. He downs his in a single gulp and grabs another to replace it. He leads her up a staircase to a landing that overlooks the party.
BRENNAN. Ready to be thrown to the wolves? We need their cash, so.. smile.
She smiles as instructed. (scene 35, pg. 29)
The situation of the company makes Brennan has to be able to persuade
the rich people attending the party to give their money for the Swan Lake project.
