In this study, the writer tries to examine the essence of the conflict and then relates them to racial discrimination. To achieve the goal of the study, the
writer uses socio-cultural historical approach. According to William Harmon and Hugh Holman, in their book, A Handbook to Literature
, “Historical criticism is criticism that approaches work in terms of social, cultural, and
historical context in which it was produced” 2009:245. Based on John K. Roth in International Encyclopedia of Ethics, the
following discussion is divided into two subchapter, legal discrimination and institutional discrimination. Legal discrimination is an “unequal treatment that
sustained by law”, whereas institutional discrimination is unequal treatment to a person or some groups that is noted in social custom 1995:231-231.
1. Legal discrimination.
There are some conflicts that reveal racial discrimination toward the Aborigines. This subchapter discusses legal discrimination that happens
to the Aborigines. The conflicts that reveal racial discrimination especially legal discrimination are between Alice with a worker man, Mr. Neville, anda
man who own a hotel.
a. Conflict between Alice and a white male worker.
The racial discrimination that is revealed through the conflict is legal discrimination. That is because the discrimination is based on the
law on 19
th
century which proh ibits the Aborigines‟ movement.
The conflict is between Alice and a man in the train station at night. The conflict is caused by the existence of Alice in the station at
night. The man extrudes Alice from the station, and at first Alice tries to defend herself by telling that she has no place to go. The man finally
threatens Alice that he will kill her, so Alice get out. In the morning, Alice is told that in that area, at night, no Aborigines are allowed to go
out p.125-126. The racial discrimination towards the Aborigines that is
described on above is sustained by the law. The law makes restrictions for the Aborigines in owning land, where they can live, where they can
go, and even to whom they can marry. The law controls Aborigines‟ life
and makes the Aborigines lose their right and freedom. In that time, the Aborigines were prohibited too from particular
jobs, including working in a post office and were expected to work for much less money, and prohibited in some areas. The Aborigines require
permits to obtain a job Winch, Joan and Ken Hayward, 2007:7. The result from the law is unequal treatment toward the Aborigines.
b. Conflict between the Aborigines and the Chief Protector of
Aboriginal, Mr. Neville.
The conflict happens when Alice lives at Gerald town. The Chief Protector of Aborigines is told by the town police to build
