between the characters. For example, the conflict between Willy Loman and his son, Biff. In analyzing this thesis I use Lewis Coser’s theory of conflict. He
divided conflict into two terms, they are realistic conflict and non realistic conflict.
I.8 Review of Related Literature
To support the writing of this thesis, I use the thesis of Miranda Siregar which titled The Conflict of The Characters in Mark Twain Novel The Adventure
of Tom Sawyer 2008. This thesis explain about the types of conflict and this thesis alsi briefly explain that conflict related to plot. So, I can apply it in
analyzing my thesis.
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CHAPTER II
METHOD OF ANALYSIS
In the analysis of conflict in Arthur Miller’s Death of Salesman, I use the library research. I collect data from related books and other literature that can be
related to the topic that I analyzed. The books are related to conflict written by some scholars. In doing this thesis, I use some steps as follows:
II.1 Data Collecting Procedure.
The primary source of the data is the text itself. First of all, I read the play to understand the story and to find out the important information about the leading
character, for example how the leading character interact with other characters. I analyze the leading character based on the dialogues. And then I underline the
important information from the play. Not only the play, I also use some books and several other resources as references related to the topic that I analyzed.
II.2 Data Selecting Procedure.
The second step is data selecting. All information that I have got from thhe sources are being selected. Only the very significant data are used in the process
of doing this thesis.
II.3 Data Analyzing Procedure.
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The last step is data analyzing. All selected data are being analyzed to prove what are being written in the objective of this thesis and finally I can draw
the conclusion for this thesis.
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CHAPTER III
A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF CONFLICT 3.1 The Relationship between Plot and Conflict.
Actually conflict belongs to one of the basic elements of drama. As I told in chapter I, conflict is the part of plot. Plot is an ordered chain of physical,
emotional, or intellectual events that ties the action together. It is a planned sequence of interrelated actions that begins in a state of imbalance, grows out of
conflict, reaches a peak of complication and resolves into some new situation. Plot has some forms of structure depending on how the events and incidents are
arranged or problems are displayed. Some common forms of plot structure are
straight line construction, episodic construction and pyramidal construction.
Straight line construction is the simplest form. In this form Aristolle’s formula that plot should have a beginning, middle and an end is applied
completely. Episodic construction is the plot where incidents and problems are described separately in the form of episodes. The separated episodes are to be
united later. Consequently, there may exist a double plot or only secondary plot or subplot. The third form is pyramidal construction, this form of plot is commonly
applied to drama, but it also applicable to prose work. The structure of this plot can be divided into some parts they are exposition, complication, crisis or climax,
falling action and resolution. Exposition is a complete and detailed analysis of a work literature, often
word by word and line by line. Complication is a stage of narrative and dramatic structure in which the major conflict is brought out or the rising action of a drama.
Climax is the high point of conflict and tension preceding the resolution of a
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drama, the point of decision, of inevitability and no return. The climax is sometimes merged with the crisis in the consideration of dramatic and narrative
structure. Falling action or catastrophe is the turning downward of the dramatic plot, the fourth stage in the structure after the climax. The last stage is resolution,
is the final stage of plot development, in which mysteries are explained, characters find their destinies, and the work is complete. The pyramidal construction can be
shown in this diagram,
3
2 4
1 5
1. Exposition or introduction. 2. Complication or rising action.
3. Climax or crisis. 4. Falling action.
5. Conclusion.
From the explanation above, we can conclude that conflict is one of the important parts of plot because it can involve the character’s struggle against
another person, against the environment, or against himself or herself. Most commonly, the conflict in a play is a combination of these general types. Conflict
in drama can be more explicit than in prose fiction because we actually see the
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clash of wills and characters on the stage or on the page. Conflict is needed to move the order of plot.
3.2 The Definition and Types of Conflict
Conflict is a struggle between opposing forces or the opposition between large groups of people, or between protagonist and larger forces such as natural
objects, ideas, modes or behaviour, public opinion Roberts and Jacobs 1995: 1694. Conflict is usually reflected or accompanied by the external and internal
action. Conflict often forces characters to make a decision, to act or not to act, to behave according to a personal moral code or an external moral code, to
compromise or to refuse , to grow and change or to remain more less or less the same. The point at which characters make this choice is usually the climactic
moment of the story. The effects or implications of this choice usually represent the conclusion.
Conflict is also the opposition of two people. Their conflict may take the shape of envy, hatred, anger, argument, avoidance, gossip, lies, fighting, and
many other forms and action. Conflict may also exist between groups, although conflict between individuas is more identifiable and therefore more suitable for
stories. Conflict may also be brought out in ideas and opinions that may clash. In short, conflict shows itself in many ways.
Literary conflict includes internal conflict, also called man versus self conflict, and external conflict which includes man versus man, man versus nature,
man versus society and man versus fate. The way conflict is used and how the conflicts are resolved are all determined by the type of story being told. Internal
conflict is that which exists inside the character. Struggles with morality, fate,
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desire and belief, to name a few. This form of conflict is central to the character or characters and must be resolved by the character alone. Every good character
suffers from the weight of internal conflict; it lends them an air of complex believability. Internal conflict is also known as man versus self or person versus
self. While internal conflict is necessary for good characters, it is the least complicated form of conflict.
External conflict deals with the problems of the world. The storys characters will struggle against the circumstances of external conflict, they may
even suffer internal conflict resulting from the issues of external conflict, but this is not as simple as internal conflict. External conflict occurs when characters are
involved in the worlds woes, such issues as community, nature, government and other characters are all examples of external conflict. External conflict manifests
itself as man versus man, man versus nature, man versus society. Man versus man is the most fundamental type of external conflict. This
form of external conflict occurs when a character struggles against another character. These struggles may be born from moral, religious or social differences
and may be emotional, verbal or physical conflicts. Man versus man is almost always the conflict present when a hero fights a villain. This form of conflict may
present alone, or in conjunction with other external conflicts. Man versus nature conflicts occur when characters, or characters, find themselves at odds with forces
of nature. A character struck by lightning, characters whose boat sinks in a storm and a character who struggles against hypothermia in a snow storm are all
characters experiencing man versus nature conflicts. Man versus society is the
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form of conflict which often represented by a person who is an an outcast or by a character who tries to break the normal rules of the society that has established.
Lewis Coser says that conflict can be a process that is instrumental in the establishment, acquisition and maintenance of social structure. Conflict may place
and maintain the boundary line between two or more groups. According to Coser conflict can be devided into two terms, they are, realistic conflict, comes from the
disappointment of the special demands that occur in relationships and estimate the possible benefits of the participants, and which aimed at the object which is
considered disappointing. And the second is Non-realistic conflict, conflict which are not derived from the goals of antagonistic rivals, but from the need to ease the
tension, at least from one side. But Coser says that if the conflict develops in intimate relationships, then
the separation between the realistic conflict and non-realistic would be more difficult to maintain. quoted from id.wikipedia.orgwikiTeori_konflik.
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CHAPTER IV THE ANALYSIS OF LEADING CHARACTER’S CONFLICT IN ARTHUR
MILLER’S DEATH OF SALESMAN
Willy Loman is a salesman, he is around sixty. He has two sons, their name are Biff Loman and Happy Loman. For Willy, having much money and
good appearance are everything. Actually Willy Loman is a good father for his two sons Biff and Happy. He even doted on Biff and encoureged him to become a
high school football star at the expense of his studies. But when Biff can not pass an important course, and when his plans to make up the work a re subverted by
his disilusionment in his father, his dreams of a college football career are gone. He can not change, can not recover from this defeat.
A life of salesman has given Willy a sense of dignity and worth, and he imagines that the modern world has corrupted that sense by robbing salesman of
the value of their personality. He thinks that the modern world life has failed him. But he is wrong, his original belief that what count is not what you know, but
whom you know and how well you are liked lies at the heart is failure. Conflict that experienced by Willy begins, when he can not do the
travelling salesman’s job, because he can no longer drive to territory. He can not sell what he needs to sell. In that time his age is around sixty, while he has to
make much money for his family. Linda hearing Willy outside the bedroom, calls with some trepidation:
Willy Willy
: It’s all right. I came back. Linda : Why? What happened? Slight pause. Did something happen,
Willy? Willy : No, nothing happened.
Linda : You didn’t smash the car, did you? Willy with casual irritation: I said nothing happened. Didn’t you hear me?
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