as structure, shape, interplay, interrelationships, denotations and connotations, contexts, images, symbols, repeated details, climax, denouement, balances and
tensions, rhythms and rhymes that catch our attention, sounds that do the same, the speakers apparent voice, a single line--or even a word--set off all by itself
Guerin, 1999: 75-76. According to Rohrberger and Woods, formalistic approach is an approach
that assumes “total integrity of the literary piece” and “concentrates almost entirely on its aesthetic value” 1971: 3.
Since this study will discuss about the message and the conflict that are revealed thorugh the main characters of the play, the formalistic approach is
chosen as the suitable approach. With this approach, the writer assumes the autonomy of the work itself and judges it by the intrinsic elements, instead of
extrinsic elements like the authors biography, social condition at the time of its production, or its psychological and moral effects Wellek and Warren, 1956.
In this study, the intrinsic elements are the characters, the conflicts and the messages which considerably make the work unique. The analysis in this study is
completely based on the text itself.
C. Method of the Study
In completing this thesis, there were some steps that the writer took. The writer conducted library research to carry out this study. Library research means
that the research based on the data which were entirely gathered from books on
literature, criticism, dictionary, encyclopedia, undergraduate theses, or other writings that maybe helpful.
There were two kinds of sources that used in this analysis, the primary and secondary sources. The primary source is the play itself, David Henry Hwang’s
Family Devotions, while the secondary sources are taken from relevant books, theses, and online references. The secondary sources compromised the books that
provided criticism on the play, the approach on the work, the theory of message, conflicts, and characterization which was important for the study, and some
critical reviews taken from certain internet sites. There were some steps that the writer did in analyzing the novel. Firstly,
the writer read the main source that was Family Devotions, then re-read it so that the writer understood what actually the author wanted to say through the drama.
Secondly, the writer tried to figure out the interesting things in the drama, which made the drama different from other dramas.
As it had been achieved, the writer formulated the problems that were to analyze the character and the characterization to get the message from the main
characters. To answer the first problem, the writer analyze from the primary book, which related to the characterization of the main characters - Ama, Popo, and Di-
Gou from the beginning to the end of the story and then analyze them one by one. To answer the second problem formulation, the writer also analyzes from the
primary book, to see the conflicts from the main characters and then analyze one by one.
After the first and second problems were answered, the writer tried to answer the third question. The writer had different way to answer the third
question, because the writer answer it by making conclusion and some message from the main characters based on the writer’s point of view. After the analysis
part had been done, finally the writer drew conclusion. In making conclusion, the writer concluded all of the analysis; starting from how the main characters - Ama,
Popo, and Di-Gou, are described in the story, what the conflicts founded in the drama, and lastly the messages revealed through the main characters’
characterization and their conflicts. This study uses theories of character, characterization, conflict and
message in literary work. The theories of character were taken from Abrams’ A Glossary of Literary Terms 1981 and Holman’s A Hand Book to Literature
1986. The theories of characterization were taken from Murphy’s Understanding Unseens 1972, Perrine’s Literature: Structure, Sound, and Sense
1974, and Little’s Approach to Literature 1981. The theories of message in literary work were taken from Beaty and Hunter’s New Worlds of Literature
1989. In addition, this study also refers to Rohrberger and Woods’ Reading and
Writing about Literature 1971 and Guerin’s A Handbook of Critical Approaches to Literature 1999 regarding formalistic approach employed in this study,
Dryden’s Selected Criticism 1970, Moody’s books Literary Appreciation 1968 and The Teaching of Literature with Special Reference 1971 regarding the
