is the most dramatic of neurotic disturbances. The overpowering emotions that surround the acute trauma are preserved in the symptoms and played out over and
over again .”
C. Theoretical Framework
The theoretical framework illustrates of how the theories applied in answering the problem formulation. The theories of conflict and psychology are
used to answer the problem formulation.
Firstly, the analysis starts from the theory of conflicts. This paper describes Sophia’s conflicts objectively by applying theories. The theory of conflicts used is
based on Koesnosoebroto’s book which divides the conflict into internal and external conflicts. Furthermore, the external conflicts are classified into opposing
forces that are another person, society, environment, nature, and the universe. Secondly, as the conflicts are identified, the analysis explains
Sophia’s anxiety by seeing the influence of her conflicts toward her anxiety using the
anxiety theory. The external conflicts trigger her reality anxiety, whereas the internal conflicts support her neurosis anxiety. This paper derives the theory of
anxiety from Hall’s book. The analysis categorizes each of Sophia’s anxiety to the
reality anxiety, neurosis anxiety, and moral anxiety as explained by Hall. Thirdly, the analysis determines
Sophia’s reaction over her anxiety by using theory of neurosis. Based on the work, Sophia suffers from abnormal behaviors
and illness which are the signs of her struggle over anxiety. Therefore, the theory of neurosis is used to analyze Sophia’s reaction.
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CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY
A. Object of the Study
In this paper, a classical novel entitled The Old Wives’ Tale is used as the
object of the study. The novel was written by Arnold Bennett. The Old Wives’
Tale was first published by Chapman and Hall publisher in 1908, London. The
story comes with 624 pages with 4 chapters consisting 27 parts. The novel is adapted into a film
The Old Wives’ Tale in 1921. This film is produced by Ideal and directed by Denison Clift. Then, in 1988, BBC made a
drama film entitled Sophia and Constance adapted from The Old Wives’ Tale.
Furthermore, The Old Wives’ Tale made it to rank in 87 for 100 best English-
language novels of the 20
th
century in Modern Library list. England and France in the middle ages are the main setting in the novel. The
story starts with the life of Sophia in her younger days at her parents’ house. The story tells the closeness and rebellion of Sophia and her sister, Constance. In her
younger age Sophia does many reckless things with Constance. Sophia and Constance help their mother to manage the family shop. Sophia is the one who
does not like the idea of managing the shop. For this, she wants to be a teacher in school to avoid the shop which makes her mother to get really mad. Her father
also disagrees with So phia’s idea because he needs her to manage the family shop.
There is a day when her mother gives Sophia a duty to take care of her father. Sophia then leaves the duty for stalking an interested man occasionally coming by
