Review of Related Studies

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CHAPTER II REVIEW OF LITERATURE

The second chapter of this study consists of three parts: review of related studies, review of related theories and theoretical framework. Review of related studies aims to provide the undergraduate thesis, journal, academic article or any reliable sources which are relevant to the topic and object of this study. The review of related theories is the compilation of certain theories required to conduct the research. These theories include: theory of conflict, character and characterization, defense mechanism, and persona and shadow. The last part of this chapter discusses the correlation between these theories and the problem formulation and their significance for this study.

A. Review of Related Studies

To be able to support the validity of this study, it is necessary to find similar approaches, topics and concepts from previous research. The researcher discovered the similar topic i n Gerisca Scara Belli‟s undergraduate thesis, “The Interconnection of Self Defense and Conflict in Anna ‟s Identity Search Process as Designer Children in Jodi Picoult‟s My Sister’s Keeper ”. This study mainly discusses the conflicts experienced by Anna, how those conflicts can influence Anna to reveal her self-defense mechanism and how Anna‟s self defense mechanism affects her true self. To analyze these three problems, the psychological approach is applied. Three main theories: theory of conflict, theory of self defense mechanism, and theory of identity are also applied as the basic theories of this study. In the end of the study, it is found that Anna experiences both internal and external conflict. Her self- defense mechanism reveals when she undergoes the external conflict with her mother. At that time, she notices that in fact, she does not live her own life. Thus, she loses her true self-identity, which is an essential part of being human. Facing the conflicts makes Anna reveal her real self-identity. Moreover, it also influences her characteristic; she undergoes a significant change in her nature Belli, 2011: IX. The similar object was found i n Augusten Ayunda‟s undergraduate thesis, “Alma Winemiller‟s Psychological Conflict as Seen in Tennessee William‟s Play Summer and Smoke ”. The goal of conducting this research is to find and examine the psychological conflict experienced by Alma. For that reason, this research discusses the characteristic development undergone by Alma, the psychological conflict experienced by Alma and the contribution of other characters in affecting the change of Alma‟s characteristics. The approach used here is the psychological approach, mainly applying the dynamic approach from Freudian theory. The study results in three conclusions: Alma experiences the noticeable characteristic transformation, the psychological conflict is found when Alma feels that she is different from other ordinary girls, and the four characters that take parts in changing Alma‟s characteristic are Alma‟s father Mr. Winemiller and mother Mrs. Winemiller, John Buchanan and Mrs. Basset Ayunda, 2004: X. In the review of Summer and Smoke play performance written by Tom Valeo, it is stated that people have a „dual nature‟ and reconciling these two characteristics is every person ‟s problem Valeo, 2014. This message is what Tennessee William would like to deliver in Summer and Smoke; it is perfectly portrayed through the contrasting characteristics of Alma and John. As Valeo quoted, Alma‟s biggest conflict is that she strongly feels her desire to be loved, but she “repressed her sexual nature and emphasized her spiritual nature” instead for the sake of her father Valeo, 2014. This sexual repression, in fact, becomes the main cause of Alma‟s internal conflicts Bloom, 2005: 407. However, after falling in love with John, Alma finds that her physical desire is something that she could not resist for it is a human nature Valeo, 2014. Since the first study shares similar topics with this study, the researcher finds some relevant theories that can also be applied in this research, such as the theory of conflict and defense mechanism. Furthermore, along with the similar concepts found in Ayunda‟s study, there is some important additional information that might be useful to better conduct this research. It is found that Alma undergoes a significant change in her characteristic. One of the causes of the change is the contribution of other characters in the play, such as Mr. and Mrs. Winemiller, John Buchanan and Mrs. Bassett. Last but not least, both the review is able to support this study by giving additional and useful information about the the character‟s background. Although this research shares several similarities with other studies, there are still various differences that make this study outstanding. This study highlights the cause-and-effect-relationship between the overused defense mechanism and character change; it focuses on how the realization of excessive operation of defense mechanisms which is the response towards internal conflict might transform one‟s character according to the psychoanalysis point of view.

B. Review of Related Theories