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a Mr .Lewishamversu sChaffery ………... 0 4 .
b Mr .Lewishamversu sEthel ………... 4 4 .
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b LeavingEthe lo rnot ………... 4 5
T P A H
C ERVCONCLUSIONS,I MPLICATIONS ,ANDSUGGESTION S . . 59 .
A Conclusions ………... 9 5 .
B Impilcaitons ………... 2 6 .
C Suggesitons ………... 3 6
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S E C I D N E P P A F O T S I L
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A TheSummaryoft heStory……… ( 2) .
B TheBiographyoft heAuthor ……… ( 5) .
1
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
This chapter consists of five parts. The first part is the background of the
study which gives a reason for choosing the novel. The second part is problem
formulation which describes the problems which will be analyzed. The third part is
the objectives of the study to state the purpose of the study undertaken related to
the problem formulation. The fourth part is the benefit of the study which explains
the contribution of this study to the readers generally. The last part is the
definitions of terms to avoid misunderstanding and misinterpretation.
A. Background of the Study
For all couples, marriage symbolizes a holy bond between a man and a
woman. Marriage, establishing a home, and landing a good position are social
correlatives for happiness and fulfillment which represent personal enrichment and
success; they stand for it, in a way (Henkle, 1977, p. 36). That is why there is no
doubt that when a couple has a commitment to live together, they are demanded to
have a responsibility as a husband and a wife.
In a marriage, the couple loves each other and love gives the power or some
motivation to their life. Love gives an affection of living together for any condition,
bad or good. When both spouses live in one roof, there is something that cannot be
avoided, namely conflict. The conflict that happens between a husband and a wife
intrapersonal conflict. Sometimes, a husband and a wife need their own time, to
reflect what he/she wants actually.
As a young married couple, a man and a woman usually have a little picture
of what marriage is. It can be because of their youth. Niwano (as cited in
Dhammananda, 1995, p. 25) says that young people in love usually think and do
sweet and romantic things. Their minds are still full of pleasurable things to please
each other. However the way they think and do at dating cannot reflect the real life
of a marriage because in marriage, they will face many problems that they have not
imagined at dating previously. So, it means that they have not been ready to take a
big responsibility for a marriage. Living together as a husband and a wife means
that life is not always full of romantic sides. When they are quarrelling, they will
know the other’s sides or the other’s characteristics, weaknesses or bad habits that
they did not know while dating.
When the young couples come to a transition of life after they get married,
they should prepare many things. They not only share about their love and affection
but also many others. The more they spend their time in one roof, the more
demands that they want or need. Niwano also says that
"When the time of dates, emotional pictures, dances, and parties has passed, the young married couples will have to live together, share meals, and reveal to each other their defects as well as their merits. They will have to spend more than half of their life each day together; this kind of living makes demands that are different from the less exacting needs of dating and first love. (as cited in Dhammananda, 1995, p. 26).
It can be seen that when the young couple begins a serious relationship, there is one
have to be responsible for taking care of each other, fulfilling some living needs,
especially if they have children.
Novel as one of genres of literature can portray human life experience as
discussed above. The story may affect the readers emotionally. Eastman (1995)
argues that novel “is a fictitious account of human life, told in a prose on a large
scale, and so constructed as to give the reader emotional and intellectual pleasure of
a designed quality” (p. 5). It means that a novel gives stimulus to the readers to
react or respond what happens in the novel as it reflects life experiences.
This portrait of life is also reflected in Mr. Lewisham, the main character, in
the novel entitled Love and Mr. Lewisham written by H.G. Wells. As a young man of eighteen years old, he has many dreams to realize. At his young age, he is
married to a girl named Ethel. Both of them actually are idealists. He wants to be
someone more than just an assistant master at Whortley proprietary school as a
science teacher. He works hard to pay the tuition for his schooling. However, Ethel
emphasizes that he should pay more attention to their marriage life. In fact, when
they are married, he only has little money. His salary actually is not enough for
both of them but it is not a matter of money that can be a problem. Here, he has an
interest in Socialism and he cannot share his interest with Ethel easily but only with
Alice Heydinger who can understand and appreciate his ideas. He is also surprised
to know that Alice has an interest in poetry. Both of them become best friends and
often talk about their interests to each other.
Here, the readers can see how Mr. Lewisham decides to keep his marriage
but he seems doubtful even though he has a deep love for Ethel since they meet for
is married to Ethel, all of his desires or dreams are totally focused on his schooling
to achieve his dream as a teacher. However, he gives up his efforts. He decides to
work only for his marriage financial income.
This way of life gives the readers, especially the youth, a lesson of how
getting married at young age will not be beneficial for them. It does not mean that
marriage totally breaks young people’s dream, but marriage, once again, is a long
lasting relationship so people need to do it at the right age and time. Because of
this, I am interested in analyzing Mr. Lewisham’s conflicts in his marriage life as
reflected in H.G Wells’ Love and Mr. Lewisham.
B. Problem Formulation
As seen in the background of the study previously, it can be drawn up some
problems formulation related to the Mr. Lewisham’s conflicts in his marriage life.
There are two questions which can be analyzed:
1. How is Mr. Lewisham described in H.G. Wells’ Love and Mr. Lewisham? 2. How does Mr. Lewisham solve his conflicts in his marriage life as reflected in
H.G. Wells’ Love and Mr. Lewisham?
C. Objectives of the Study
This study is aimed to answer the questions in the problems formulation.
There are three objectives for this study which are to find out how Mr. Lewisham is
described, what Mr. Lewisham’s conflicts are, and how Mr. Lewisham solves his
D. Benefits of the Study
This study gives benefits to the readers of this novel. They can learn how to
solve the problems in a marriage life and how young people can keep their
marriages when they are still ambitious to reach their dreams. It also presents the
meaning of marriage when they want to start to begin the new life together with
someone they love.
Through the characters in this novel, the readers can see that it is not easy to
build the relationship, especially to make a new family. It is because there are many
things to prepare and how some couples shares what they have each other. The
readers also learn how a husband and a wife must adjust their characteristics,
habits, the way of thinking, especially when they have a problem each other.
E. Definition of Terms
There are some terms in this study are defined to avoid the
misunderstanding. They are:
1. Conflict
Thomas says that conflict is " a process that originates when one individual
perceives that another party has frustrated, or is about to frustrate some goal or
concern of his or hers” (as cited in Borisoff and Victor, 1989, p. 1). It means that
conflict happens in many or various situations. It depends on what kind of
problems some people face or deal. The conflict that they should solve must be
some pros and cons between or among others when they interact each other or
2. Marriage
Marriage is “an essentially private, intimate, emotional relationship created
by two people for their own personal reason to entrance their own personal being
(Gallagher, 2002, p. 3). It means that marriage is a private relationship between a
husband and a wife where they can express their intimacy and emotion to maintain
their relation. Through this way, their relationship becomes more intense so that
they can express their feelings freely.
3. Victorian Age
The Victorian age “referring to the Queen Victoria’s reign, from 1837 to
1901, was a period of drastic political, economic, and social exchange” (Schluter,
2008, p. 1). During Industrial Revolution in Victorian age, the social life in
England changed. Men and women had an equal position. Women could work as
typists, secretaries, etc. They also could study until university. Some men and
women, especially from the middle class, were not married at the young age but at
7
CHAPTER II
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
This chapter consists of four parts. The first part is a review of related
studies to show other studies of the same novel Love and Mr. Lewisham with different topics. The second part is a review of related theories that presents critical
approach, theory of character and characterization, theories of conflict, and theory
of marriage. The third part is a review of historical background to explain Victorian
Age as the setting of the novel. The fourth part is a theoretical framework that
explains how those theories are applied to analyze the problem formulated.
A. Review of Related Studies
There are three studies of the same novel conducted by three undergraduate
students of Sanata Dharma University. The first study is from Anna Kus Saparti in
2004. Her study is about The Influence Two Female Characters towards Mr.
Lewisham’s Life in H.G. Wells’ Love and Mr. Lewisham. The writer discusses three
points in his study. First is the characteristics of two female characters, who are
Ethel Henderson and Alice Heydinger, in the story. Second is the influences of two
female characters in Mr. Lewisham’s life. Third is how Ethel Henderson can lead
Mr. Lewisham to his failure in life.
The second study is from Mateus Budhi Prabowo in 2005. His study is about The Analysis on Message in H.G. Wells Love and Mr. Lewisham Seen
through Mr. Lewisham’s Character Development. The writer discusses three main
attitude toward ‘love’. Second is how other main characters influence Mr.
Lewisham’ characteristics development. Third are some messages which are
presented in the novel from the main character’s characteristics.
The third study is from Ika Krisnawati Kurniadi in 2007. Her study is about
Love Needs as The Obstruction of Mr. Lewisham’s Achievement Motivation in
H.G. Wells’ Love and Mr. Lewisham. The writer discusses two points in his study.
First is how Mr. Lewisham’s achievement motivation is portrayed. Second are the
factors that obstruct Mr. Lewisham’s achievement motivation and the results.
B. Review of Related Theories
This part is divided into four sections. They are critical approach, theories of
character and characterization, theory of conflict, and theory of marriage. All of
them are reviewed and give a clear understanding about the topic itself which is
conflict.
1. Critical Approach
Rohberger and Woods Jr (1971) explain that there are five approaches,
which are the formalist approach, the biographical approach, the socio-historical
approach, the mythopoeic approach, and the psychological approach, in literature
to study the elements of a story or a novel (6-15). Critical approach in literature is
used to understand and to analyze the literature works. In this study, the approaches
which are used are the psychological approach and the socio-historical approach.
The psychological approach is the study of human behavior or the
psychological aspects especially about the characteristic or the human motivation.
literary works. This approach digs up some characteristics or the personality
through his thought, imagination, perception, expression, and action as seen in the
story. Those aspects affect how a person interacts to others (interpersonal) and also
to him/herself (intrapersonal). While the socio-historical approach studies the
history or the civilization of the specific group of people including their culture that
gives some influences to the literary works. In other words, the society which is
reflected in the literary work is the representation of the society in a real history
when the literary work is being written. It can be said that the civilization in the
story may be the same as the time when the author lives and it can be one of the
factor as the inspiration for the author to write the story.
2. Character
Character is “an imagined person who inhabits a story” (Kennedy & Gioia,
1999, p. 61). Through the character as the central of the action, the story can be
alive. Rohrberger and Wood Jr (1971) say that “characters acts out in a particular
time and place (setting) some kind of conflict in a patterns of events” (p. 20). It
means that the characters as the single element of the story cannot be separated
from other elements. The characters need time and place to speak and to act which
create the story of the novel itself that can lead to the conflict as human interaction.
There are many classifications of the character in the story. First, character
can be divided into flat and round characters (Kennedy & Gioia, 1999, p. 61). Both
of them depend on how the author figures them. Flat characters have only one trait
or one side. In some stories, the minor characters tend to be flat characters because
they always stay in certain personality and attribute which have already known by
features or many sides that the author figures them deeply and more detailed than
flat characters. When the round character appears, other characters will see him
from many different ways, especially about who he is. However, the readers have
different way from them. The readers will see the round character from his own
feeling, thought, and perception based on his experiences. Round characters
frequently change because of growing, enlightening, or learning through the plot of
story. This makes them have many dimensions in the other characters or the
readers’ minds.
Besides those kinds of character, there are also major and minor characters.
Major characters “perform a key structural fiction and deserve our fullest attention”
(Henkle, 1977, p. 92). It means that the major characters are the center of the
fiction which lead the events and the plot of the story. The minor characters are
“less complex, or less intense, and drawn in the shallower relief, present what is
often only one side of experience” (Henkle, 1977, p. 97). So here, the minor
characters do not have full attentions in the story. The role of the minor characters
supports the major characters’ experiences. It can be said that the minor characters
have a little effects or nothing to the story which are different from the major
characters which give many big effects to the elements of the novel.
A character can be classified into protagonist and antagonist (Rohrberger &
Woods Jr, 1971, p. 20). A protagonist is the central character which is the most
important character in the story and he is the one to whom all the events have
significance. Usually, there is more than one central character in many stories or
to the protagonist in the conflict. Both antagonist and protagonist can be good and
bad or good and good but they have different perception on something.
3. Characterization
Characterization is “the process by which an author creates a character”
(Rohrberger & Woods Jr, 1971, p. 20). Through the experiences from the
characters themselves, the author can build many sides of characterizations. The
experiences themselves can be the process of the author creations; how the
characters can be developed by them. Moreover, the way of an author develops the
characters can be from an inspiration of someone. Henkle (1977) also says that
“characterization is the attention given certain figures and the personal intensity
that a character seems to transmit” (p. 87). Therefore in characterization, the
characters, especially the important characters, in the story are complicated due to
the attention given. The personal intensity is the emotion and sense which the
characters do their actions to build their personal descriptions.
Rohrberger and Woods Jr (1971) also say that “characters have particular
personalities and physical attributes that distinguish them from each character” (p.
20). It means that each character has his own style which means that each of them
can be compared or it can be said that he has his own uniqueness from the
characteristics and some physical attributes that represent something. There are
many explanations why real people behave and act as they do at present time. It can
be known from their outward appearances of their dress, gestures, conversation,
opinions, and the personal contacts. However, there is one thing that a person
cannot do like the author to get those reasons, which is coming to the thought of the
As the way to characterize the characters, Murphy (1972) proposes nine
ways, namely personal description, character as seen by another, speech, past life,
conversation of others, reactions, direct comment, thoughts, and mannerisms (pp.
161-173). First in the personal description, the character can be described from a
person’s appearance and clothes. The appearance is physical description that the
author has given such as the face, skin, eyes, and other parts of body. The clothes
worn usually indicate the person’s background and origin whether he wears
traditional clothes, middle age era, or modern era.
Second is character as seen by another. In this way, the author describes the
character through another’s eyes and opinions. Here, the author puts himself as the
third person in the novel by using one character who sees and makes a remark of
another character’s behavior. So, the author will not directly say the behavior from
his thought but he will use another’s thought of another character to convey what is
in the character’s mind.
Third is speech. By using speech in conversation, the reader will know how
the character is described. Every time a person says something or gives his opinion
about anything in a dialogue with others, it means that the person gives a portrait to
the readers about his personality or characteristic. Even the way he speaks and the
choice of words that come from his mouth will give some information about what
kind of person he is.
Fourth is past life. By having the past events experienced by the character,
the readers will know that the experiences shape the character building as the
effect. Sometimes, the effect of past life can be revealed by the character until the
at the present. This propose can be applied through the author’s direct comment,
person’s thought, or conversation.
Fifth is conversation of others. The author informs the readers about the
person in the novel through other characters in the novel. What people say about
him through conversation can be a clue to the readers to understand the character. It
does not mean that the person which is spoken always has a trouble but it is just
people’s opinion about him.
Sixth is reaction. When the person faces certain situation or events, he will
react as the response of that situation. This way can be a description to the readers
about that person’s characteristics. The way he reacts even though it is only in the
form of body movements such as gesture and facial expressions, can be the
additional information to the readers.
Seventh is direct comment. The author can describe a person’s
characteristics by using direct comment about that person’s personality as stated in
the novel directly. So here, the author does not need to use other characters’
thought or speech to describe the character.
Eight is thought. In the real life, it is difficult to know what someone thinks
about. This way can only happen in the novel where the author creates and knows
what the character or the person thinks about and gives this information directly to
the readers.
The last is mannerism. In this way, the readers will understand the person’s
characteristics through his manner or habit that he usually does when he wants to
finger into his pocket or taking some notes when someone else speaks to him.
Those are the manners that the readers take as the references.
4. Conflict
a. Meaning
Conflict creates such situation where there are many gaps between two or
more person’s relationships. Rubin et all say that “conflict means perceived
divergence of interest, or a believe that the parties’ current aspirations cannot be
achieved simultaneously” (as cited in Isenhart & Spangle, 2000, p. 3). It means that
conflict happens when one has already noticed that other’ minds are different from
him to cooperate together.
Conflict also happens when an agreement is broken and one side does not
have responsible to take or to do what is stated in the agreement including the risk
of it. Here, Edelman and Craig say that “conflict occurs when two people cannot
agree on the actions that one person takes or that he or she doesn’t want the other
take” (as cited in Isenhart & Spangle, 2000, p. 3). So, a conflict between two
people can happen when one thinks that the decision to take is good but it is not
good as another thinks. There is no balance situation between them; one gets the
advantage but another gets the disadvantage.
b. Types of Conflict
1) Interpersonal Conflict
Interpersonal conflict happens between two or more individuals. Worchel
and Cooper (1979) explain that interpersonal conflict can arise when both parties
have same goals but they have different approaches to achieve them (p. 463). It
techniques to solve the problem in interpersonal conflict. Hocker and Wilmot also
say that conflict is “an expressed struggle between at least two interdependent
parties who perceive incompatible goals, scarce resource, and interference from
other party in achieving their goals (as cited in Redmond & Beebe, 2010, p. 216). It
means that interpersonal conflict happens when two or more parties have tension
among them because they have different opinion, arguments, or backgrounds in
reaching their goals.
From Hocker and Wilmot’s definition, there are four elements in the
interpersonal conflict. First is expressed struggle. People show their emotion
through non-verbal behavior such as facial expression or voice. Keltner says that
the struggle they express is developed from mild differences, disagreement,
dispute, campaign, litigation, until fight (as cited in B. Steven, B. Susan, and
Redmond, 2010, p. 217). Second is between at last two interdependent people. In
this case, all people are dependent each other in the society. The more they interact
or spend time together, the more they have conflict among them. If there is
someone who independent from another, then what another person does will have
minimal effect on him. Third are an incompatible goal, scarce resource, and
interference. Here conflict happens when both parties want the same thing but both
of them cannot have it or one of them wants the opposite one from another one.
Last is achieving goals. In achieving goals, sometimes there is no understanding
process to know more what the party wants. Therefore, there are some goals which
2) Intrapersonal Conflict
Intrapersonal conflict happens within an individual and himself while the
interpersonal conflict deals with two or more than one individuals. The
intrapersonal conflict is related to the individual’s experiences when making a
choice between two or more alternatives. Jones and Gerard also explain that
intrapersonal conflict is “a state that obtains for an individual when he is motivated
to make two or more mutually incompatible response” (as cited in Worchel &
Cooper, 1979, p. 460). Here, it means when facing an intrapersonal conflict, a
person, as the individual, has many sides to take. When he is faced by more than
one choice, there must be pros and cons inside him. Worchel and Cooper (1979)
explain that there are four kinds in intrapersonal conflict (p. 461). Those are:
a) Approach-approach
This type of conflict will happen when a person is motivated or encouraged
to get two positive goals but he can only achieve one at the end. Both of the goals
actually are attractive to have. Usually, it is because the stronger is the closer one
or the motivation to have one is higher than another one.
b) Avoidance-avoidance
This type of conflict happens when someone should choose between two
unattractive goals. It means that both of them are negatives or disadvantages. The
best solution is choosing the one which has little risk and leaving another one
which is the worst.
c) Approach-avoidance
This type of conflict contains attractive and unattractive things in one goal.
time. In another word, one goal has a disadvantage and an advantage, which equal
each other. The solution usually is by taking the advantage of that goal but also
directly avoiding the risks.
d) Double approach-avoidance
In double approach avoidance, there are two goals and each of them has
positive and negative aspects. Here, a person can choose one of the goals. This type
of conflict also provides any options to choose the goal, which has two positives or
two negatives. Many approach-approach conflicts mostly show to be double
approach-avoidance because usually the choice of the goal will eliminate the other
goals.
c. Conflict Resolutions
1) Interpersonal Conflict Resolution
There are five resolutions to reduce interpersonal conflict (Isenhart &
Spangle, 2000, pp. 45-152). Those are:
a) Negotiation
Negotiation is a process where both parties find a way or a solution which
can satisfy both of them. The solution agreed is a win-win solution where the final
decision is acceptable and does not give disadvantages to one party. The best
negotiation is integrative negotiation where the process is problem solving and
collaborative by emphasizing on empathy and understanding others’ interest than
self interest to protect the relationship of both parties.
b) Mediation
Mediation is a process which involves third party as a neutral party to guide
his/her concern to the mediator and there will be another party who does not stand
in any party to clarify the problem. The success of the mediation depends on how
the party shares his/her problem honestly to get the mutual agreement for both
parties.
c) Facilitation
Facilitation is a process where a person helps a community or group to solve
the problem to work together. Facilitation is placed in a group discussion to help
the members to complete the group goals. The duty of the facilitator is to hold all
group members so that all of them are involved together in problem solving and
decision making.
d) Arbitration
Arbitration is a process where a neutral person listens to some problems
from two parties and makes decision for them. The relationship between an
arbitrator and the party is not really necessary like in mediation. The decision itself
is controlled by the arbitrator fully without any interfering from the parties. It can
be said that the final decision cannot be bargained anymore because the power is in
the arbitrator.
e) Judicial Processes
Judicial process is a process where both public and private format and any
legal or non legal procedures are blended together through case law. The method
uses fact finding where the neutral party investigates and reports the problem to the
court. The third party will tell the parties about the strengths and the weaknesses of
the court. Usually, there is a mini trial to specify the argument from each party and
to provide a face to face dialogue.
2) Intrapersonal Conflict Resolution
In intrapersonal conflict, there is cognitive dissonance theory proposed by
Festinger (Worchel & Cooper, 1979, p. 116). It describes how people change their
actions of their attitudes when they face some choices in their minds. There are
three things namely cognition, consonance, and dissonance. Cognition includes
some thoughts in people’s mind. Consonance is about two cognitions that fit each
other or what people do because they like it and support their goal. Dissonance
concerns two cognitions that are opposite to each other or an act that people dislike
but they have to do it because this is the only way to get the goal. Those three
things lead some pressures and lead to intrapersonal conflict. To resolve it, there
are three resolutions (Worchel & Cooper, 1979, p. 118). Those are:
a) Changing Cognition
When two cognitions or thoughts are against each other like something that
one wants to get and another thing that one dislikes but he must do it, he can
change his thoughts or perceptions. One can see the positive sides of the choice that
he takes. When one can change the thoughts into one direction with his act, the
conflict will be reduced.
b) Adding Cognition
In adding cognition, one can add more cognitions or thoughts to reduce the
conflict. One can add some thoughts as the way to ensure that the choice he takes is
the right decision. He can have or give reasonable reasons why he acts in that way
c) Altering Importance
In altering importance, one measures consonance and dissonance through
necessity or which one is the most important among something liked and disliked
and advantageous. When something disliked gives more advantage in the result,
one should think that the thing he hates is nothing compared to the benefit that
he/she gets in the result. When one thinks in that way, the portion of dissonance
(thing that he hates) can be minimized to reduce the conflict inside him.
5. Marriage
a. Meaning
Marriage is a commitment between a man and a woman that comforts each
other and the government has established marriage relationship through a law not
only based on religion. Skolnick (1983) argues that “marriage is a social institution,
a legally status involving legal rights and obligations” (p. 288). So, here, the law
itself facilitates a marriage as a legal relationship so that a man and a woman can
live in one roof as a husband and a wife.
Marriage life is not only about the duty of a man as the husband and a
woman as the wife but there is also a process of how the relationship between a
husband and a wife starts together, how they know each other deeper than previous,
how they trust each other as the opportunity to grow together for the new life.
Ramey says “marriage relationship is not a state but a process providing endless,
opportunity for growth”(as cited in Heyer, 1980, p. 1). In another word, marriage
is a new opportunity for both spouses to end the dating phase and to start the family
b. Conflict in Marriage
Conflict in marriage usually begins from a condition which is not acceptable
for both spouses especially about their acts. Noller and Fitzpatrik (1993) say that
“Conflict occurs when family members do not agree about the events and situations in their lives. They may not agree about what is appropriate behavior in a given situation, who should perform particular family task, how resources should be shared, or how decisions should be made. In other words, conflict arises because family members perceive a difference between them” (p. 99).
It means that a conflict happens when there are different decisions about family
matters like who should do this work according to family role but there is no way
out because all members have different ways of thinking.
Hart explains that there are some areas for the treatment of conflict in a
marriage namely how to think about conflict in marriage and conflict resolution (as
cited in Heyer, 1980, p. 19). There are at least five views of conflicts in marriage
life. First is that conflict in marriage cannot be avoided. It means that marriage is
an intimate relationship where both spouses have different culture, perceptions, or
shaping background. So, it is impossible that there is no conflict in a marriage life.
Second is that conflict in a marriage has a positive opportunity. The
opportunity here is that conflict helps both spouses to grow so that they can resolve
conflict and learn how to manage conflict later. They will be accustomed to face
the crisis moment and protect each other so that relationship will not over. Third is
a chance to give and receive as response. This view describes that when one gives
something good to his spouse, then the good thing will come back as the response
to him/her. Fourth is a different result from expectation as the key for conflict.
someone else to behave as he demands but in the reality the expectation is different
from the result. And each of spouses finds that there is a changing habit when both
spouses have lived together for many years. When a husband or a wife finds that
changing, one of them will have complaint. The last is the communication skill
which is crucial. Here, the communication is important because one can share what
his/her feeling is. When there is a little or no communication, something which is
important is just left or the important thing is said but no one hears.
Sometimes, the age factor can be one of conflict causes. White (1983) says
that “early marriages are risky as compared with later marriage” (p. 176). It is
because the young couples are not ready to put duties, responsibility, and mental
defense on their shoulders.
Schaap et all argue that one of the reasons why conflict in marriage happens
is a non-acceptance feeling (as cited in Noller & Fitzpatrik, 1993, p. 117).It is such
kind of behavior when someone expresses his own feeling, another spouse cannot
accept or finds it difficult to understand. Because of this, it can lead to
misunderstanding that his spouse ignores him.
c. Conflict Resolution in Marriage
There are some conflict resolutions in marriage which are proposed to
resolve the conflict. Black and Mouton say that those are care for one’s own
interests and care for the relationship (as cited in Noller & Fitzpatrik, 1993, pp.
105-106). It means that when one spouse concerns about his/her own needs or
interest, he should also consider his relationship with his/her spouse whether
his/her interest will break the relationship (marriage) or keep it as the effect.
Fitzpatrick, 1993, p. 95). Intimacy includes affection, expressiveness, personal
idioms, sexuality, and others. Through intimacy, a couple spends the time to show
their true feeling whether they still love each other or not.
Rusbult also says that there are four kinds of conflict resolution in marriage
namely exit, voice, neglect, and loyalty (as cited in Noller & Fitzpatrick, 1993, p.
107). Exit contains such acts as leaving home, negletting the partner, threatening,
and getting divorce. Voice involves open discussion which seeks the causes of the
conflict together. Here, both spouses will share many things which are not
satisfying for each other and how they clarify some misunderstanding. Neglect is a
kind of conflict resolution by letting the relationship become worse by doing
nothing. Loyalty is another resolution where a spouse has such faith that things will
get better by supporting another partner.
Green says that the best way to resolve any conflict is communicating about
who he really is and what he feels (as cited in Heyer, 1980, p. 67). It shows what
actually happens in both spouses life. What are needed in good communication is
good listening and clarification to avoid misunderstanding. Therefore, in
communication, both spouses should be honest about their feeling. Communication
also happens within him/herself. Here, one reflects his personality or what he has
done. This stage is called identity development. It involves psychological processes
of personal exploration and psychological differentiation (Noller & Fitzpatrick,
1993, p. 83). Psychological differentiation explores how different someone is
among others. While personal exploration explores what kind of person he is for
Green also argues that there are some guidelines in resolving conflict (as
cited in Heyer, 1980, p. 67). First of all is the willingness to bring up the problems
that bother one. Second is willingness to listen to each other. Third is arranging
some break time and place which is appropriate for the discussion. Fourth is
postponing the dialogue until both spouses are ready. Fifth is responding verbally
as well as emotionally to the problems that being discussed. Sixth is stating the
position and expression why it is important for him. Seventh is checking with the
spouse to make sure that one understands how he feels. Eight is giving options to
show respect and consideration for both spouses’ feelings. Ninth is resolving the
conflict by choosing some considerations. Tenth is doing on communal decision.
C. Review on the Historical Background
The historical background which is related to this study is the Victorian Era.
The Victorian Age was the crucial era in England because all life aspects were
totally changed at that time. The society was divided into upper class (income
heritage), middle class (white collar workers), and poor class (working/labor class)
(Schluter, 2008, pp. 1-2).
There are many points pointed out in the marriage life at the Victorian Era.
British couples at that time had many considerations to choose between renting and
having their own house. Schluter (2008) says that “many couples remained with
their parents after marrying or moved in as lodgers with another family due to
shortage and expensiveness of housing” (p. 9). It means that at that time, the
financial income of both spouses could not afford to have their own home. In other
indicated their life standard of the upper to the poor family. Morgan (1988)
explains that
Styles and standards of architecture varied enormously, from indestructible stones tenements of Glasgow, through the “back-to-back, two up, two-down’ little houses in the mining towns, often built of poor quality brick, to the decorous suburbs of the lower and upper middle classes. A common feature of this house was that it was almost all leased or rented - owner-occupiers were rare, though becoming more common by the end of century (p. 474).
From the quotation above, it can be seen that most houses were rented at that time
and it gives a reason why the new wed preferred to stay in the house of their big
family or rented a cheap lodging due to the living cost.
Mostly, a man and a woman were married in the same occupation or social
set. Mitchell (1996) says that the average age of married for men was twenty-seven
or twenty-eight years and twenty five for the women but for the working class
couple, the average age was younger (p. 142). Sometimes, the couples who came from the middle to the upper class had late age of marriage because of the
preparedness. The man would prepare all that a family needed or would have saved
to keep the future. In the working class, if they were given a chance to continue
schooling after high school, they would choose not to get married first. Here, it can
be seen that education also became a factor of people at that time to choose at what
age they would marry. Schluter (2008) also presents same reason that “one reason
of this phenomenon is the parents needed to save up resources to wed their
children” (p. 5). So here, marriage was not only a pleasure but how there was a
future responsible for their children wed.
In Victorian Era, ladies wore dresses which reached down to their ankles,
the public opinion that it was impolite and immoral to expose the body. But one
thing that the girls could do was getting outside. Tregidgo (1971) says that “girls
were no longer closely guarded, and they could do more or less what they like” (p.
38). This was also the reason why at that time women had opportunity to work in
office. Morgan (1988) also says that “shops, offices, and telephone exchanges
offered new opportunities for the employment of women” (p. 488). The Industrial
Revolution led to such kind of women emancipation and the change of social role
in the society when women could support the family financial even though men
still wanted women as wives for taking care of the household at that time.
There was a role in a Victorian family showing the authority of the head
family that “Victorians families were large: the wife was wholly subservient to the
husband, and the children wholly subservient to both of them and the golden rule
for children was to be “seen but not heard” and to obey their parents
unquestioningly” (Tregidgo, 1971, p. 44). It shows that the relationship among a
husband, a wife, and children had the power level which meant that the husband as
the leader was the rule or the decision maker and could not be disturbed anymore.
Whatever the husband said, the whole member of family should listen and gave all
the attention without asking something or just a little question.
At that era, the middle class family reflected the nature of morality, stability,
and comfort. Those were showed by the husband who had legal and economic
control over his wife, children, and servants (Mitchell, 1996, p. 142). All the family
income was from the husband even though the wife had opportunity at that time to
work in the office. But the concept which was put in the husband’s mind was the
left their members in the care of nurses and governesses or sent their children to the
boarding schools so that the parents could devote themselves to the social pleasure
(Herne, 1996, p. 132).
There was an act to end a marriage namely Matrimonial Act of 1857 that
established a civil court for judicial divorce (Mitchell, 1996, p. 105). The ground
for divorce was different for men and women. A man could divorce his wife if she
did adultery. However, it was not enough for a woman to divorce his husband only
because of adultery. She should also prove his husband guilt on extreme physical
cruelty or desertion. Both husband and wife should give some evidences when they
brought their divorce to the court. Divorce was considered shameful at that time
especially for a woman. Many divorced cases were reported in the newspaper. It
would be hard form women to retain and manage their reputations after divorce.
In the education system, there was a liberal system of education which gave
a teacher a very precious liberty. This liberty was prominent in the British
universities. They were self governing institution and not controlled by the state
(Barker. 1955, pp. 127-128). The professor and the lecturers were appointed freely
and their teaching was only set by their own ideal curriculum. They were freely to
choose their own textbooks and they were free to express their own political and
social views.
D. Theoretical Framework
There are two problems which will be analyzed in this study. First is how
Mr. Lewisham is described. Second is how he solves his conflicts in his marriage
The first theory is critical approaches which are the psychological and
socio-historical approach. The psychological approach covers some aspects from
the character in the novel about his personality, motivation, and also interaction
with others. Here, this study applies this approach to analyze Mr. Lewisham’s
description through his personalities. To support it, the writer uses theory of
character and characterization as the second theories. Theory of character is applied
to classify Mr. Lewisham into which type of character is. Theory of
characterization is applied to characterize Mr. Lewishams’ personalities by some
ways.
Beside using those theories above, the writer uses theory of conflict as the
third theory to analyze the second problem. By using this theory, the writer will
classify or categorize each conflict that the character faces and what kind of
conflict resolution he applies. Since he deals with his conflict in marriage, the
theory of marriage is applied as the fourth theory. The writer uses this theory to
observe conflict and its resolutions in marriage life and compare to the novel.
The next approach is the socio-historical approach which studies about the
history in the novel. Here, the writer applies this approach to compare the history in
the real life to the story in the novel at the specific time or era. The history which is
used is Victorian Era. The writer uses this era as the historical background to
compare the time when the character spends and to observe some influences from
Victorian Era to the story.
29
CHAPTER III
METHODOLOGY
This chapter is divided into three parts. The first part is the object of the
study which is novel used for this study. The second part presents the approach
which will be used to the study. The third part is the method of the study which
explains the procedure to analyze.
A. Object of the Study
The novel to analyze for this study is H.G. Wells’ Love and Mr. Lewisham. It consists of 208 pages within 32 chapters. This novel was published by Everyman
in London 1993. The author wrote this novel in 1900. Love and Mr. Lewisham tells about the life of the young student named Mr. Lewisham.
In the beginning of the story, the readers will see how Mr. Lewisham is
described through his physical appearances, manners, and his habits. Then, he
meets Ethel, his soul mate, finally. The problem begins when both of them get
married. He is trapped between his personal life and his dreams. As a husband, he
needs to finance his daily life. However, he still wants to keep his study and the
result is he does badly in a biology exam and says goodbye to Alice, his best friend,
because he will not come back for his study anymore. He always shares about
Socialism and Literature to her. Those are things that Ethel does not understand at
all. The relationship between Alice and him makes her jealous especially when
Alice sends letter to him about common things that they often talk. They quarrel
Here, the readers can see that it is not easy especially for young married
couples to live together. As a young couple, they are still dynamic especially when
one still wants to catch his dream but he/she still faces the reality that he/she is
married and both spouses should share their time not only for oneself but also for
another. The problem starts from a simple thing into the big problem. It is common
because there must be different thoughts of two different persons facing the
problem. That is why understanding each other is really important to reduce some
problems.
B. Approach of the Study
In this study, the psychological approach is applied to analyze the
characteristics of the character and also his/her behaviors and motivations which
can affect the way he/she solves the conflict in the story. Here, the psychological
approach is used to analyze the characteristics of Mr. Lewisham. By analyzing his
characteristics through the psychological approach, it can be known how the
character faces his problems to decide which choice he wants and to end his
matters. Therefore, by this approach it will explain the way that the character
solves his problems.
Beside the psychological approach, the socio-historical approach is also
applied. The socio-historical approach is used to see the relationship between the
setting of the time in the novel and the historical facts which happened in the
country. It will explain how the problem or the social condition is built in the novel
and what the effects of the historical facts on the story. Then, to analyze the
understand the conflict itself and the resolution which can be used to solve his
conflict. The theory of marriage is also applied to understand the role of a marriage
life generally.
C. Method of the Study
The researcher used library study as the method of this study by searching
the sources or the data documented in books or articles related to the problem
formulation which would be answered. Thus, the primary source of this study was
H.G. Wells’ Love and Mr. Lewisham.
There were several steps taken to analyze the subject which became the
focus of this study. First, the researcher read the novel Love and Mr. Lewisham
many times to get better understanding. Then, after reading, the researcher
formulated two problems; Mr. Lewisham’s characteristics and Mr. Lewisham’s
conflicts in his marriage life, including the resolution for his conflicts. Second, the
researcher looked for the theoretical review to be the basic technique for the
analyses. As the references, some theories were taken from books related to the
problems of the novel which would be discussed. Third, the researcher discussed
by answering two problems which dealt with his characteristics and his conflicts.
While discussing these problems, the novel was read many times especially some
parts that could prove the answers. Finally, in the end, the researcher drew the
32
CHAPTER IV
ANALYSIS
This chapter is divided into two parts. The first part is to find out how Mr.
Lewisham is described. The second part is to find out what his conflicts are, and
how he solves his conflicts in his marriage life.
A. The Description of Mr. Lewisham
A character is an element in the story that plays an important role. Through
the character, the story moves from a flat situation to be more complicated. The
character is an essential part that makes the story alive from its acts in a particular
setting as a role (Rohrberger & Wood Jr, 1971, p. 20).There are two kinds of
characters. They are main and minor characters. The main character is a center for
all characters in the story that gets the fullest attention than others because he
appears from the beginning until the end and the story itself tells about his entire
life as the main story (Henkle, 1977, p. 92). In Love and Mr. Lewisham, Mr. Lewisham is the main character. The whole story is about him. It describes how he
spends all of his life time which catches readers’ attention.
A round character shows changes of some characteristics due to some
problems or the way people see him from the different interactions (Kennedy &
Gioia, 1999, p. 61). Compared to the story, Mr. Lewisham himself is described as a
loving and thoughful person generally. The way he cares to his wife until he is
married to her never changes. No matter what kind of conflict he faces with his
thoughtful person, he always asks other’s opinion to ensure him that he chooses the
right choice for him. Those two chracteristics are never gone from him. However,
there are some moments when he faces some new or different situations which
affect and change his characteristics. When he has not married, he has a great effort
to study by focusing his life on his school as a pricipled person. Nevertheless, his
passion to study is gone slowly when he starts loving Ethel by abandoning his
works and he leaves his school in the end. His experience of falling in love which
he has not felt before is one of the examples which change his characteristics as a
round character.
There are also some ways used by the author to characterize the character.
They are personal description, character as seen by another, speech, past life,
conversation of others, reactions, direct comment, thoughts, and mannerisms
(Murphy, 1972, pp. 161-173). To analyze Mr. Lewisham’s characteristics some of
the methods of characterization are applied. Mr. Lewisham is described as:
1. Well-Organized
Mr. Lewisham is really well-organized. He arranges his perfect plans to
achieve his degree. He even indicates when and where he must finish his study
through his Schema. He plans to take B. A. degree with ‘hons’ for all subjects in
1892 and to get a ‘gold medal’ in 1895 at the London University (p. 4). In other
words, he has to accomplish his study for three years.
The way he arranges his life is also shown through his daily activities. He
sets his routine behavior in every minute or every hour in a whole day through his
The lumps of a mellow chocolate on the prepared ledge by the bed-head, indorsed that evidence. ‘French until eight’, said the time table curly. Breakfast was to be eaten in twenty minutes; then twenty-five minutes of ‘literature’ to be precise, learning extras (preferably pompous) from the play of William Shakespeare-and then to school and duty. The time table further prescribed Latin Composition for the recess and the dinner hour, (literature,’ however, during the meal), and varied its injunction for the rest of the twenty-four hours according to the day of the week. Not a moment for Satan and that ‘mischief still’ of his. Only three-score and ten has the confidence, as well as the time, to be idle (p. 4).
He knows how to organize between his available time and all activities very well.
In 24 hours, his time is enough for resting, working, and also studying. He does not
spend some times for pleasurable things like socializing with his friends.
However, he changes his habit when he is in love with Ethel. He changes
into a messy a person. It starts when he is late for dinner. The reason is he meets
her when he is going home in the afternoon. The result is he only has a little time to
prepare before he is going to go to school tomorow (p. 23). Even Mrs. Munday, the
owner of his lodging, is wandering about his act because he is never late for
anything previously and this is the first time he does differently from his time table.
Not only being late for dinner but he also escapes from his duty as a cricket
supervisor when Mr. Bonover asks for his help (p. 26-27). As a well organized
peson, he must priotities his work or job as tated on the Time Table but he changes
it into the last priority to see her.
When their relationship are over, he is back to his former characteristic as a
well-organized person. He tries to calculate his money only for his school needs
such as books (p.44). However, when he meets her for the second time and wants
to please her, he becomes inefficient. Suddenly, he spends his money to buy her a
thinking his saving for his school. At this short time, he is not a well-organized
person but he changes into a messy person by buying unimportant things without
considering his budget first.
However, when both Mr. Lewisham and Ethel have to manage their
financial matter after marying, he turns himself anymore into a well-organized
person. He makes some notes to calculate his income and outcome. He counts how
much money that is used for his study and daily needs compared to the money
Ethel and he have in hand, and also from his saving at a bank and scholarship (p.
129). His calculation is very detailed. He makes sure that those things are balanced.
Through his manners, it can be seen that he keeps his characteristics as a
well oerganized person but he also changes himself into a messy person in the
middle of the story. Mostly, he changes himself into the bad one when he meets his
love. He cannot manage himself especially to separate between important and
unimportant matters or between job and pleasure.
2. Doubtful
One of Mr. Lewisham’s characteristics which has changed is doubtful.
Before he is married, he is a principled person. He determines his life into one goal
which is his study (pp. 3-4). Even he never lets anything break his goal. It can be
seen from some proverbs in his room.
Those proverbs show that he has high motivation to gain much knowledge. Every
act he does, those proverbs are stuck into his mind.
Nevertheless, he cannot keep his principles as long as he can. His great
ambition and motivation are gone when he falls in love with Ethel for the first time.
Suddenly, he feels that love is better than knowledge (p. 16). Love is the greatest
thing than all of he has. His mind is full of love. He even forgets about his Schema
and Time Table. His Schema becomes like a ghost for him (p. 17). Step by step, it
affects his dream to be unfamiliar thing that cannot interest him anymore.
However, when both of them are separated because of her job in London, he
realizes how far he has been neglected his Schema and his works by assuring
himself that she is his inspiration (p. 36). He regrets his carelessness and expects
that it will not happen anymore when he continues his study in South Kensington.
On the other hand, what he expects is diferent from the reality. When he has
already assured himself that he will not abandon his study anymore, he still cannot
throw his desire to stay beside her (p.73). Moreover, when he plans to marry her,
he still asks himself which means he is still doubtful although he has already said to
her that he will never lose her anymore.
No matter how hard is for Mr. Lewisham to be a pricipled person, he will
change himself into a doubtful person. The problem is he cannot choose his goal
whether it is for his study or for his love. When love gives more attraction to him,
suddenly he feels nothing for his passion to become a professor. When love makes
him become a fool person, suddenly he finds himself has been trapped. He realizes
His dream of success and fame had been very real and dear to him, and the realization of the inevitable postponement of his long anticipated matriculation, the doorway to all the other great things, took him abruptly like an actual physical sensation in his chest.
He sprang up, pen in hand, in them midst of his corrections, and began pacing up and down the room. ‘What a fool I have been!’ he cried. ‘What a fool I have been!’ (p. 38).
It can be seen that the greatness of his dreams wake him up, but the matter is he
comes back to his sense after separating from Ethel. He cannot keep his principles
when he falls in love. The only way if he wants to be a principled person is he
should leave her for a while but it is difficult to do because the more he meets her,
the more he loves for her.
Through his thoughts and manners, it can be seen that Mr. Lewisham is
doubtful. When he decides to pursue much knowledge, he cannot keep it as a
promise for himself when love comes to him. He even forgets what his goals are.
However, when love gives him unpleasant ending, he decides to forget about love
and comes back to his study.
3. Sensitive
Before Mr. Lewisham moves to South Kensington, he lives in Whortley. He
never pays attention to his environment. He is such an introvert person. There, his
public place for his interaction with others is only at his university where he works
as an asssitant master. Even if he is on the way to his home, he will read a book
along the street (p. 19). However, his charateristic changes into sensitive. He
begins paying atttention to the social gap around his environment that he cannot see
it clearly when working in Whortley. Studying in South Kensington has opened his
He had begun to realize certain aspects of our social order that Whortley did not demonstrate, begun to feel something of the dull stress deepening to absolute wretchedness and pain, which is the colour of so much human life in modern London. One vivid contrast hung in his mind symbolical. On the one hand were the coalies of the Westbourne Park yards, on the strike and gaunt and hungry, children begging in the black slush and starving loungers outside a soup kitchen; and the other, Westbourne Grove, two streets further, a blazing array of crowded shops, a stirring traffic of cabs and carriages, and such a spate of a standing that a tired students in leaky boots and graceless clothes hurrying home was continually impeded in the whirl of skirts and parcels are sweetly pretty womanliness” (p. 45).
He begins to see how lower people live in an undeserved situation where some
children become beggars to satisfy their hunger and how the differences between
the low and the upper class are very great in London. He also thinks about poverty
and injustice in a society of how some people should not take many pleasures while
there are many miserable things near them (p. 45).
Furthermore, he joins a club in his school at South Kensington. He becomes
a member of the Debating Society committee (p. 48). There, he expresses his view
about Socialism. In fact, he never joins a student organizasation in Whortley. The
memories which he spends are only for his study and his love. However, when he
deals with many contrast situations between Whortley and South Kensington, he
builds his new characteristic as a sensitive person.
Mr. Lewisham, as a sensitive person, can be seen from his reactions, and
manners. It can be seen how he reacts the social condition differences between
Whortley and London. He also delivers his ideas at an organization at his school.
B. Mr. Lewisham’s Conflicts in his Marriage
Marriage is an intimate relationship between a man and a woman which is
marital satisfactions are happiness, quality, adjustment, a lack of distress, and
integration (p. 164).Love and communication understanding are the keys for some
couples to build a happy marriage. In Well’s Love and Mr. Lewisham, Mr. Lewisham’s marriage portraits how two young people, Mr. Lewisham and Ethel,
are married at young age, at the age of twenty one and twenty two. Both of them
are full of love to each other but the power of communication itself shows their
lack of understanding to solve the problem. Noller and Fitzpatrick (1993) say that
the couples often argue about family members, feelings about relationship and
personal appearances, belief, plans for the future, and others that lead to frustration
(p. 102). Mr. Lewisham himself, as a student as well as a young husband, faces his
personal problems and some matters about his relationships with people around
him. There, his ability to handle some difficult situation is measured through his
conflicts.
1. His Interpersonal Conflicts
Raven and Kruglanski see interpersonal conflict as a tension between two or
more individuals, groups, or larger organizations arising from significance
difference (as cited in Worchel & Cooper, 1979, p. 460). It is clear that
interpersonal conflict starts from conflicting opinion or desires in decision making.
Mr. Lewisham as a main character in Wells’ Love and Mr. Lewisham gets in touch with many people around him including his conflicts with them. The way he thinks
as a student as well as a husband brings about different views when he interacts
with some people at his school and of Ethel’s family. When there are some
dissonances between him and his relations, these lead into conflicts with Chaffery
a. Mr. Lewisham versus Chaffery
Chaffery is Ethel’s stepfather and Mr. Lewisham’s father-in-law. He works
as a medium at Séance. Séance is a community gathering where people
communicate to the spirits (p. 56). His image before Mr. Lewisham’s friends is
bad. Smither and Alice Heydinger, who are Mr. Lewisham’s friends, consider his
job as cheating people (pp. 62-62).
The conflict between Mr. Lewisham and Chaffery starts when he gets
married with Ethel without asking his consent. Ethel herself does not tell him
because the day she marries with Mr. Lewisham is the day when she is supposed to
come and work in the house of his sister. Chaffery thinks that their marriage is not
in an appropriate way.
‘Maggie,’ said Mr. Chaffery to Mrs. Chaffery, ‘there is a class of being upon whom delicacy is lost-to whom delicacy is practically unknown. Has your daughter got her marriage lines?’
‘Mr. Chaffery!’ said Mr. Lewisham, and Mrs. Chaffery exclaimed, ‘James! How can you?’
Chaffery shut his penknife with a click and slipped it into his vest-pocket. Then he looked up again, speaking in the same equal voice. ‘I presume we are civilized person prepare to manage our affairs in a civilized way. My stepdaughter vanishes for two nights and return with an alleged husband. I at least am not disposing to be careless about her legal position.’ (p. 115).
Here, it can be seen how he sees that Mr. Lewisham does not respect him by taking
away his daughter. He feels that his position as a father and a family leader is
ignored. Historically, the position of a husband or a father was like a king in a
Victorian family. What the husband said was a rule for his children and his wife
and also no one of his family members could interrupt or disregard the husband’s
