Review of Related Studies
In order to see the class struggle in the novel, the writer of this thesis analyzes the characters in the novel and then classifies into the two main classes
namely proletariat and the capitalist. After that the writer analyzes the oppression done by the capitalist towards the proletarian. On his thesis, the writer applies
theory on character and characterization, theory of Marxism that includes theory of social class, theory of oppression, theory of alienation, theory of class
consciousness and theory of class struggle to analyze the problems mentioned above.
Through the analysis, the writer finds that there are two main classes in capitalist society; they are capitalist and the proletariat. The former is the capitalist
while the latter is the proletarian. The writer discovers that the capitalist oppresses the proletarian to get benefit for their own sake. The class struggle then is done
when the proletarian start to realize that they are being used by the capitalist. However, before the class struggle, the proletarian encounter some phases. The
first phase is the alienation as the result of oppression, after that class consciousness when they realize that they as one united class are being tortured by
another class. The last phase is the class struggle when the proletarian as an oppressed class feel that they are facing the same enemy and they think they have
to struggle against the oppressor together. In the end the idea of Marxism can be seen through the struggle of the proletarian against the capitalist who bluntly
oppress them Pratama, 2009: 70-73. Yohanes Tuaderu on his thesis entitled “Class Struggle in Capitalist
Society as Depicted in George Bernard Shaw‟s Pygmalion” states that class
struggle occurs when the interest of the two classes are no longer the same. In other word, when the capitalist prioritizes their interest more than the working
class including ignoring the welfare of the working class and the human aspects of the workers Tuaderu, 2008: 140. There are two aims in this thesis, they are to
reveal the social condition in capitalist society and to find how the character‟s reaction toward the social condition as the portrait of the class struggle.
From the analysis, it can be seen that there are practices of class distinction and human exploitation in industry sphere in the society in England by the end of
nineteenth century till the early twentieth century. Meanwhile, the class struggle which is done by the main character of Pygmalion is the portrait of the working
class that is trying to free themselves from the poverty and gain the own rights. Another thesis entitled “Jerry‟s “Class Struggle in Edward Albee‟s The
Zoo Story ”. In his thesis, the writer tries to see the class struggle through an
absurd play. According to the writer, the play itself plays its role as a literary critic toward economy, political, and social life Kristanto, 2010: 7.
The aims of the study are to analyze the social conditions in the play and how the characters behave. This thesis uses Marxist theory and sociological
approach to examine the class struggle. From the analysis, the writer finds that social disparity cannot be separated from our lives and the disparity between the
upper class and lower class is clearly depicted in the play. The writer finds that the gap between the two classes is too wide. The upper class who owns a lot of wealth
becoming much richer but they have no empathy towards the lower class.
In the study, it is concluded that Jerry, as the representation of the lower class, tries to get Peter‟s attention because he wants to be equal to him. Meaning
to say, Jerry wants to omit the class distinction in the society so that he can be free from the alienation. In the end, Jerry succeeds in achieving his dream but it takes
his own life to get it. Second finding, is that Peter, who comes from the upper class, tends to control his position. By answering Jerry‟s questions reluctantly, he
shows that they are in a different position and his reluctance to share the bench symbolizes his willingness to keep his social status Kristanto, 2010: 60-62.
This research will develop other studies mentioned above but unlike the previous studies that have been mentioned before, this research will try to analyze
the same problem in a different literary work by using the same approach. This research focuses on how the unequal treatment performed by the upper class
shows how the power is maintained by the upper class thus will result the struggle among the class.