Review of Related Studies

7 CHAPTER II REVIEW OF LITERATURE

A. Review of Related Studies

In this study, the writer discussed Matthew Quick’s The Silver Linings Playbook. The Silver Linings Playbook is a fictional novel made into a major film directed by David O. Russell which won The Big Five Oscars Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Adapted Screenplay. In analyzing the novel The Silver Linings Playbook the writer provided three previous studies about the influence of minor character toward major character. There are several studies that have been done previously by other researchers. There are three undergraduate theses to analyze the minor character influence toward the major character. The first related study is “The Influences of Minor Characters on Harriet’s Personality Development in Rumer Godden’s The River” taken from the thesis of Sanata Dharma University’s 2005 English Letters by Alvin Ginardi. The second related study is “The Influence of Minor Character toward The Main Character’s motivation for a better life as seen in Constance Briscoe’s Ugly” taken from the thesis of Sanata Dharma University’s 2008 English Letters by Rissa Egitia Yuniarti. From those undergraduate theses, three of them use the minor character to influence the minor character as the topic of their theses. The first one is as seen in undergraduate thesis entitled “The Influences of Minor Characters on Harriet’s Personality Development in Rumer Godden’s The River” is taken from the thesis of Sanata Dharma University’s 2005 English Letters by Alvin Ginardi. Ginardi says in his undergraduate thesis: This study shows that the major character, Harriet in The River. Harriet’s personality changes into a maturity in the way of thinking for a grown-up girl because of the influence of the minor character. The changes can be seen in the way of thinking by the changing of her personality from an extroverted person into introverted person and also her mature way of thinking. As time goes by, Harriet finally gets a new understanding about how she should treat life in a mature way of thinking 2010: xi. In this study, the writer used the same topic about the minor character who has ability to influence the major character but in different object and different way to analyze the problem formulation. The second is “The Influence of Minor Character toward The Main Character’s motivation for a better life as seen in Constance Briscoe’s Ugly” taken from the thesis of Sanata Dharma University’s 2008 English Letters by Rissa Egitia Yuniarti. Yuniarti says in her undergraduate thesis: The study shows that the minor character can be the influence of both good and bad treatments. The major character is Clare Briscoe that get bad and good treatments from her mother and her beloved teacher as minor characters on her motivation. Her mother never treats her well in her life. In her mother’s eyes Clare is a stupid and ugly girl who does not deserve to be treated really well. On the other side her beloved teacher treats her really nice like Clare is her own daughter. Both of these treatments from the minor character lead Clare to her motivation on a better life, to live in secure financially. It shows that her motivation influenced by the minor characters 2013: x. This study shows that the major character does not only act good things but also acts bad thing. All of the suffering of the major character is caused by people that are really close to the main character. This study shows that the major character has motivation from the minor character in bad and good way to reach her goal of life. The last, as seen in the undergraduate thesis entitled “The Major Characters’ Conflicts and Their Inability to deal with The Conflicts as seen in Williams’ The Glass Menagerie” taken from the thesis of Sanata Dharma University’s 2004 English Letters by Irene Sulistyo Utami. This study shows that the major character can deal with the conflicts in their life without any help of other characters in the novel. Utami states that the personality of major characters are strong. Although they have difficult conflicts in their life, they have ability to solve the conflicts. Utami says in her undergraduate thesis: This study used new criticism approach because the focus of the writer’s analysis in the text without involving other extrinsic elements. The characters in The Glass Menagerie are Laura, Amanda, Jim, Tom all of those characters have their own problems but they have their own motivation to keep moving on for better life. All the characters are having their own characteristics that are shown in their attitude and behavior. The result of this study is conflict that they experience in the play will give a clearer image about difficulties they face in their life, because of the stress and tension in life, the characters are having own way to deal with the conflicts 2011: x. In this study, the writer has the same topic about conflict but in this study the major character needs help from the minor character to solve his conflicts. From the previous statements it can be seen clearly that the writer states the minor characters influenced character development because of many factors. Experiences, emotions, and society are the factors that influence the main character’s development. It is right that those factors influence characters development, but the writer thinks that statement above is too general. Therefore, in this research the writer want to know more about the factors that influence major character to develop the main character. Since this novel has never discussed before. Those three undergraduates thesis stated that the minor character have capability to help the major character to reach the goals. In this study the writer found the minor character helps the major character find his silver linings. The main character in this research is Patrick ‘Pat’ Solitano Jr. in The Silver Linings Playbook. In this research Pat’s has conflicts with his mind. He is overthinking about his ex-wife, Nikki and he become sad, angry like crazy when he heard Kenny G’s song. After eight months of treatment in mental hospital in Baltimore he lives with his parents. He has new understanding about life. He believes in Silver Linings, his life is like a movie and God is the creator. He keeps thinking that his Silver Linings is getting back with his ex-wife, Nikki. The day when Pat meets Tiffany and they spend time together. As the time goes by he changes his understanding about his Silver Linings. The basic problem is because he cannot accept the reality that makes his life different from his dreams and imaginations.

B. Review of Related Theories