The study of conflicts experienced by young werther as reflected in Johann Wolfgang Goethe`s The Sorrows of Young Werther.

PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI

THE STUDY OF CONFLICTS EXPERIENCED BY YOUNG
WERTHER AS REFLECTED IN JOHANN WOLFGANG GOETHE'S
THE SORROWS OF YOUNG WERTHER
A SARJANA PENDIDIKAN THESIS
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements
to Obtain the Sarjana Pendidikan Degree
in English Language Education

By
Fransiska Sirait
Student Number: 061214144

ENGLISH LANGUAGE EDUCATION STUDY PROGRAM
DEPARTMENT OF LANGUAGE AND ARTS EDUCATION
FACULTY OF TEACHERS TRAINING AND EDUCATION
SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
YOGYAKARTA
2012

PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI

THE STUDY OF CONFLICTS EXPERIENCED BY YOUNG
WERTHER AS REFLECTED IN JOHANN WOLFGANG GOETHE'S
THE SORROWS OF YOUNG WERTHER
A SARJANA PENDIDIKAN THESIS
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements
to Obtain the Sarjana Pendidikan Degree
in English Language Education

By
Fransiska Sirait
Student Number: 061214144

ENGLISH LANGUAGE EDUCATION STUDY PROGRAM
DEPARTMENT OF LANGUAGE AND ARTS EDUCATION
FACULTY OF TEACHERS TRAINING AND EDUCATION
SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
YOGYAKARTA
2012

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STATEMENT OF WORK’S ORIGINALITY

I honestly declare that this thesis, which I have written, does not contain the work or
parts of the work of other people, except those cited in the quotations and the
references, as a specific paper should.

Yogyakarta, 24 January 2012
The Writer

Fransiska Sirait
061214144

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LEMBAR PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN
PUBLIKASI KARYA ILMIAH UNTUK KEPENTINGAN AKADEMIS

Yang bertanda tangan di bawah ini, saya mahasiswa Universitas Sanata Dharma :
Nama

: Fransiska Sirait

Nomor Mahasiswa

: 061214144

Demi pengembangan ilmu pengetahuan, saya memberikan kepada Perpustakaan
Universitas Sanata Dharma karya ilmiah saya yang berjudul:

“THE STUDY OF CONFLICTS EXPERIENCED BY YOUNG
WERTHER AS REFLECTED IN JOHANN WOLFGANG GOETHE'S
THE SORROWS OF YOUNG WERTHER”

beserta perangkat yang diperlukan (bila ada). Dengan demikian saya memberikan
kepada Perpustakaan Sanata Dharma hak untuk menyimpan, mengalihkan dalam
bentuk media lain, mengelolanya dalam bentuk pangkalan data, mendistribusikan
secara terbatas, dan mempublikasikannya di internet atau media lain untuk
kepentingan akademis tanpa perlu meminta ijin dari saya maupun memberikan
royalti kepada saya selama tetap mencantumkan nama saya sebagai penulis.
Demikian pernyataan ini yang saya buat dengan sebenarnya.
Dibuat di Yogyakarta
Pada tanggal: 24 Januari 2012
Yang menyatakan

(Fransiska Sirait)

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ABSTRACT

Sirait, Fransiska. 2012. The Study of Conflicts Experienced by Young Werther as
Reflected in Johann Wolfgang Goethe's The Sorrows of Young Werther. Yogyakarta:
English Language Education Study Program, Sanata Dharma University.

This study discusses a novel entitled The Sorrows of Young Werther by Johann
Wolfgang Goethe. In this novel, the author presents many kinds of conflicts experienced by
the main character. This study discusses about the conflicts of the main character and how
he deals with it. This novel tells about a man named Werther who suffers from love.
Werther falls in love with a woman who already has a fiancé and ready to get married. This
novel tells Werther’s hard life in facing the truth written in a form of letters to his friend,
Wilheim.

There are two research problems analyzed in this thesis. The first one
concerns the description of the character. The second one concerns the analysis

about Werther’s interpersonal and intrapersonal conflicts which finally lead him to
commit suicide. The method used for the analysis is library research and using two
sources to obtain the data. The primary source is obtained from a novel entitled The
Sorrows of Young Werther. The secondary source is obtained from library books
which consist of psychological and literary books. The literary books are used to
answer the first research problem that is the description of Werther’s characteristics.
The psychological books are used to answer the second research problem. From
psychological books, Werther’s conflicts are analyzed using the theory of conflict
and then using the conflict resolution theory to analyze the method Werther used to
resolve his conflicts.

Based on the analysis, Werther has five dominant characteristics. He is caring,
excessive, sensitive, easy to give up and disobedient. Werther suffers both interpersonal and
intrapersonal conflicts. The interpersonal conflicts that Werther faces are between him and
his mother, him and the ambassador, and the last between him and the noble society. His
intrapersonal conflicts are falling in love with Lotte who is already engaged and ready to get
married to a fine man, the decision about leaving or staying with Fraulen B-, a noble woman
who he feels comfortable because of her good personality, keeping love or surrendering for
love he has for Lotte, which is growing bigger day after day, and the last is the decision he
chooses between dead or alive. In dealing with almost every conflict he has, Werther takes

mostly avoidance as his way in solving his conflict. Beside avoidance, he takes informal
problem-solving discussion, mediation and violence approach. From his entire problem he
faces, finally Werther takes violence approach as way of his problem solving to be his
resolution conflicts by doing physical coercion to himself as the action of inability to face
the fact that he cannot live with the woman he loves. The way he does the physical coercion
to himself is by killing himself.

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From all the problems he faces, from how his characteristics it shows that all of it
affects his action towards certain events and conflicts, and how he takes action to solve his
conflicts. He cannot find any other happiness from others then he is forced to do something
to end his sorrows. The pressure from all of his conflicts then finally forces him to do
physical coercion for himself that is by committing suicide to solve the problem and end his
pains.
There are two suggestions in this thesis. The first is suggestion for future
researchers who are interested to analyze this novel. The second is suggestion for teaching
English by using The Sorrows of Young Werther. The materials are taken from the content

of the novel for Critical Reading and Writing I.

Keywords: sorrows, conflicts, conflict + resolution

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ABSTRAK

Sirait, Fransiska. 2012. The Study of Conflicts Experienced by Young Werther as
Reflected in Johann Wolfgang Goethe's The Sorrows of Young Werther. Yogyakarta:
Program Studi Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris, Universitas Sanata Dharma.

Studi ini membahas sebuah novel berjudul The Sorrows of Young Werther oleh
Johann Wolfgang Goethe. Di dalam novel ini terdapat banyak konflik yang dialami oleh
pemeran utamanya. Studi ini membahas konflik-konflik yang dialami oleh Werther dan
bagaimana ia menghadapinya. Novel ini menceritakan sebuah kisah seorang pemuda
bernama Werther yang menderita karena cinta. Werther jatuh cinta kepada seorang wanita
yang sudah mempunyai tunangan dan sudah siap untuk menikah. Novel ini menceritakan

tentang kehidupan Werther yang pelik dalam menghadapi kejamnya kenyataan yang ditulis
dalam bentuk surat-surat yang Werther tulis untuk sahabatnya yang bernama Wilheim.

Terdapat dua permamasalahan yang didiskusikan didalam studi ini.
Permasalahan pertama mengenai deskripsi karakteristik dari Werther. Yang kedua
adalah mengenai analisis dari interpersonal dan intrapersonal konflik yang dialami
oleh Werther yang akhirnya membuatnya memilih untuk melakukan bunuh diri.
Metode yang dipakai dalam studi ini adalah studi pustaka dan menggunakan dua
jenis sumber untuk mendapatkan data. Surmber utama untuk mendapatkan data
berasal dari novel yang berjudul The Sorrows of Young Werther. Sumber kedua
berasal dari buku-buku pustaka yang berisikan buku-buku psikologi dan buku-buku
literatur. Buku-buku literatur digunakan untuk menjawab permasalahan pertama
yaitu deskripsi karakteristik Werther. Buku-buku psikologi digunakan untuk
menganalisa konflik yang dialami Werther menggunakan teori konflik dan
bagaimana Werther menghadapinya dengan menggunakan konflik resolusi.

Hasil dari analisis studi ini menunjukkan bahwa Werther mempunyai lima
karateristik yang dominant. Kelima karakteristik tersebut adalah penyayang, berlebihan,
sensitif, cepat menyerah dan pembangkang. Interpersonal konflik yang Werther hadapi
antara lain adalah antara ia dan ibunya, antara ia dan sang duta besar, dan yang terakir antara

ia dan kalangan bangsawan. Intrapersonal konflik yang Werther hadapi adalah jatuh hati
kepada Lotte yang sudah bertunangan dan siap untuk menikah, keputusan untuk
meninggalkan Nona B-, seorang wanita bangsawan dengan sifat yang baik dan telah
membuat Werther merasa nyaman kepadanya, atau berjuang demi bisa bersama cintanya,
konflik batin antara terus mencintai Lotte, yang cintanya terus bertambah besar setiap
harinya, atau menyerah, dan yang terakhir konflik dalam memilih hidup atau mati. Dalam
mengatasi hampir semua masalah yang ia hadapi, Werther mengambil cara menghindar
(avoidance) sebagai resolusi permasalahannya. Selain mengindar dia juga memgambil cara
informal problem-solving discussion, mediation dan violence approach. Dari semua
permasalahan yang ia hadapi akhirnya ia memutuskan untuk mengunakan pendekatan
kekerasan (violence approach) untuk menyelesaikan masalahnaya sebagai bukti

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ketidakmampuannya menerima bahwa ia tidak dapat hidup bersama wanita yang ia cintai.
Cara violence approach yang ia lakukan adalah dengan menyakiti dirinya sendiri dengan
bunuh diri.
Dari semua konflik yang Werther hadapi, dari bagaimana karakteristiknya

dijabarkan terlihat bahwa semua itu mempengaruhi tindakannya dalam menghadapi
peristiwa-peristiwa ataupun semua konfliknya, dan bagaimana dia mengambil tindakan
untuk menyelesaikan masalah-masalahnya. Werther tidak lagi menemukan sumber
kebahagian yang lain dan dia dipaksa untuk melakukan sesuatu untuk mengakhiri
penderitaannya. Tekanan dari semua permasalahnnya akhirnya memaksa dia untuk
melakukan paksaan kekerasan terhadap dirinya sendiri yaitu melakukan bunuh diri untuk
menyelesaikan semua permasalahannya.
Terdapat dua saran dalam skripsi ini. Saran pertama adalah untuk peneliti-peneliti
selanjutnya yang berminat menganalisa novel ini. Saran kedua adalah untuk pengajaran
bahasa Inggris dengan menggunakan The Sorrows of Young Werther. Materi-materi
pembelajaran di ambil dari isi novel untuk Critical Reading and Writing I.

Keywords: sorrows, conflicts, conflict + resolution

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
First of all, I would like to thank my beloved Jesus Christ who has given
strength, love, grace and for His blessing so that I am able to finish my thesis. I
believe that God always blesses me in every step I take. I thank God for guiding me
during the process of completing my thesis.
I would also like to thank people who have been very helpful to me. My
deepest gratitude goes to my advisor, Drs. L. Bambang Hendarto Y., M.Hum., for
his precious time to read, correct, and to give suggestion to make my thesis better. I
really appreciate his patience, guidance and brilliant ideas. I thank him for his
correction and advice through writing my thesis.
I am also deeply grateful to all lecturers of English Education Study Program
of Sanata Dharma University for their guidance, dedication, and knowledge they
have shared during my study in this university. I also thank all secretary staffs of the
English Education Study Program for their services and help during my study in this
institute.
I thank those who always accompany me through the hard days. I would like
to thank my beloved mother Ibu Berkawati Hutagalung, for always teaching me
the best lesson in my life and always supporting me for every action I take. I would
like to thank my father, Bapak Ir. Eddy P Sirait who always supports me, and also
my beloved brother Djosh Dermawan Sirait for his patience and support.
I send my best gratitude to my best friend, Hosana Priladosi Nugroho.
Thanks to him for always there for me, spending the precious time together and
helping me whenever I have troubles. I am also deeply grateful to my friends in
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English Education Study Program Intan, Niken, Ata, Tita, Yoana and Nana for
their support and kindness. For my other best friend Lydia and Arul, I thank them
for the support they have given so far.
Finally, I would like to show my gratitude to all those who have helped and
supported me that cannot be mentioned one by one. This thesis might not have been
finished without them.
God bless them all and may we be wealthy in goodness.

Fransiska Sirait

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE PAGE ..........................................................................................

i

APPROVAL PAGES ..............................................................................

ii

STATEMENT OF WORK’S ORIGINALITY ..................................... iv
LEMBAR PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN PUBLIKASI .................... v
ABSTRACT .............................................................................................

vi

ABSTRAK .................................................................................................

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ......................................................................

x

TABLE OF CONTENTS ........................................................................ xii
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION...........................................................

1

1.1 Background of the Study ................................................................ 1
1.2 Problem Formulation ...................................................................... 4
1.3 Objectives of the Study................................................................... 4
1.4 Benefits of the Study .....................................................................

4

1.5 Definition of Terms ........................................................................ 5
CHAPTER 2: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE……..........

8

2.1 Review of Related Theories ..........................................................

8

2.1.1 Critical Approaches ..........................................................

8

2.1.2 Character............................................................................

9

2.1.2.1 Definiton.....................................................................

9

2.1.2.2 Kinds of Character......................................................

10

2.1.3 Characterization.................................................................

11

2.1.3.1 Definition....................................................................

11

2.1.3.2 Ways of Characterization...........................................
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2.1.4 Conflict..............................................................................

13

2.1.4.1 Definition....................................................................

13

2.1.4.2 Types of Conflict........................................................

14

2.1.4.2.1 Interpersonal Conflict………………………

14

2.1.4.2.2 Intrapersonal Conflict………………………. 15
2.1.5 Conflict Resolution ……………………….......................

16

2.1.5.1 Private Decision Making Parties ...............................

17

2.1.5.2 Private Third-Perty Decision Making.........................

18

2.1.5.3 Legal Authoritative Third-Party Decision Making.....

19

2.1.5.4 Extralegal Coered Decision Making...........................

20

2.2 Theoretical Framework ................................................................... 21
CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY .......................................................... 22
3.1 Object of the Study ......................................................................... 22
3.2 Approach of the Study ..................................................................... 24
3.3 Method of the Study ....................................................................... 24
CHAPTER 4: ANALYSIS ...................................................................... 25
4.1 The Description of Werther ............................................................ 25
4.1.1 Caring ................................................................................... 26
4.1.2 Excessive............................................................................... 28
4.1.3 Sensitive................................................................................ 29
4.1.4 Easy to Give up...................................................................... 31
4.1.5 Disobedient........................................................................... 33
4.2 The Interpersonal and Intrapersonal Conflict that Werther Faces.. 34
4.2.1 The Interpersonal Conflict.................................................... 35
4.2.1.1 Werther vs His Mother.................................................

35

4.2.1.2 Werther vs The Ambassador........................................

36

4.2.1.3 Werther vs Noble Society............................................

38

4.2.2 The Intrapersonal Conflict.................................................... 39
4.2.2.1 Falling in Love with Lotte............................................ 40
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4.2.2.2 Leaving or Staying with Fraulein B-............................ 44
4.2.2.3 Keeping or Surrendering Love.....................................

46

4.2.2.4 Dead or Alive................................................................ 49
CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSIONS, IMPLICATION AND
SUGGESTIONS...............................................................

54

5.1 Conclusions ...................................................................................

54

5.2 Implication...................................................................................... 56
5.3 Suggestions..................................................................................... 57
REFERENCES ........................................................................................

60

APPENDICES.........................................................................................

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CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION

This chapter consists of five parts namely background of the study, problem
formulation, objectives of the study, benefits of the study, and definition of terms.
Background of the study provides background information for choosing the topic.
Problem formulation provides the questions of the topic to discuss. Objective of the
study explains the focus of this study. Benefit of the study provides the advantages
from this study. The last, definition of terms, explains the important or key terms
used in this study.
1.1 Background of the Study
Human cannot live alone. Everyone needs another to fulfill all of his or her
social needs. They have to interact with others. This interaction, however, can lead
someone who is trying to build relationships with others to face some problems.
This social interaction could make someone experiences conflict within him or her
or with others.
Redman (1984, p. 363) states conflicts in general are divided into two. They
are intrapersonal and interpersonal conflicts. Intrapersonal conflict is a conflict
which happens within oneself. Interpersonal conflict is a conflict which happens
between character and the power outside the character.
According to Redman (1984, p. 363), intrapersonal conflict usually happens
because of a person’s inability to do something he wants to. He is lack of power,
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ability or knowledge to create something to fulfill his needs. He had better to do self
evaluation when the character facing this kind of conflict. Self evaluation is needed
for us to know whether we can achieve our goals or not with the character’s ability.
Intrapersonal conflict usually occurs when someone has just entered a new life or
move to a new home where the situation and the people are all different from the
earlier settlement.
Redman (1984, p. 363) states that interpersonal conflicts happen almost every
day in our lives. Every day we meet people because we live with them. This
interaction often brings us to face some conflicts with others. For example, a girl has
a boyfriend who is a hard smoker whereas the girl does not like the habit of her
boyfriend. However, the boyfriend does not want to quit his habit because he likes
smoking very much. Based on the example we can see that there is a conflict
between the girl and her boyfriend. Everyone has their own habits and opinions that
may be against ours, and the result is we will face interpersonal conflicts.
In a novel, we can see various conflicts portrayed in the characters’ lives.
Because of the story in novels is written to portray real life experiences to the
readers, the readers can see many conflicts written by the author as the reflection of
real condition of what is happening in society. Conflicts make the novel priceless to
read. One of the novels which portray such conflicts is “The Sorrow of Young
Werther” written by Wolfgang Goethe. In this novel, we can see the conflicts that
the main character faces both intrapersonal and interpersonal conflicts.
This novel is unique because most of the story is told through a series of
letters. The sender of the letters is a young man named Werther and the receiver is
his friend named Wilhelm. The author applied two points of view, one is through

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Werther who tells almost the whole story through his letters and only in the third
part of the book does an unnamed ‘Editor’ come in and interject comments.
The novel entitled The Sorrow of Young Werther tells the readers about a
young man named Werther who sends letters to his best friend, Wilhelm. In these
letters, Werther says that he lives in a village of Wahlheim. He meets and falls in
love with Lotte (Charlotte), a beautiful young girl who is taking care of her siblings
and has no mother anymore. Lotte is a girl who makes Werther feels happy with his
life that he wants to possess her, whatever the risk is. Charlotte is, however, already
engaged to a man named Albert, who is eleven years older than her. Knowing this,
Werther feels the pain that Lotte will never be in love with him. Werther suffers
great more pain when he comes back to the village he knows that Lotte and her
fiancé have married. Werther loves Lotte so much that he cannot let anyone get her
expect him. Finally, he faces a situation where he has to decide either he or Lotte’s
fiancé must die so he can live peacefully. However, unable to hurt anyone else, he
finally decides to shoot his own head to end his life.
It is interesting to discuss the conflicts within the novel to know what cause
the main character finally decided to do suicide. It is more interesting to discuss this
novel because of the fact that many young men and women inspired by this novel
and die by committing suicide. ”It turned out that these 18th century fashion victims
all had one thing in common; they had all been exposed to first novel of Johann
Wolfgang von Goethe, The Sorrows of Young Werther” (Brocke, 2010). Soon after
that, this novel was banned in several areas across Europe. Because of this
phenomenon, this study is conducted to analyze the content of the novel. This study

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is to analyze both the interpersonal and intrapersonal conflicts that have happened in
Werther’s life which finally make him decide to commit suicide.
1.2 Problem Formulation
There will be two problems to discuss in this study. The problems are
formulated as follow.
1.

How is Werther as the main character described in the novel?

2.

How do the conflicts he faces lead him to commit suicide?

1.3 Objectives of the Study
The objectives of this study are to describe the characteristics of Werther, to
find out both the intrapersonal and interpersonal conflicts which have happened in
Werther’s life and how that conflicts cause him committing suicide.
1.4 Benefits of the Study
This study hopefully gives benefits to the readers who reading this thesis and
to other researchers. The readers hopefully will understand more about the content
of the novel which the novel tries to convey. From this study the readers can also
understand the characteristics of Werther and all his conflicts. Thus, when the
readers have the same experiences as Werther has had, the readers can learn from
this novel to find that what Werther has done is totally wrong. The readers hopefully
can understand what interpersonal and intrapersonal conflicts are, so that the readers
can differentiate between interpersonal and intrapersonal conflict. While for the
other researchers of the same novel, hopefully this study can be an aid for other

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5

topics. For researchers in the same topic, the researcher hopes this study can help
t he m

conduct

studies

concerning

the

characterization,

interpersonal

a nd

intrapersonal conflicts.
1.5 Definition of Terms
This part presents the definition of the terms used in this study.
1.5.1 Character
Abrams (1981, p.20) defines character as the persons showed in narrative work
and interpreted by the readers as being given with “moral, dispositional, and
emotional qualities that are expressed in what they say – the dialogue-and by what
they do – the action”. According to Milligan (1983, p.155) there are two
classification of fictional character. They are major and minor character. Major
character plays important role in the novel while on the other hand minor character
play less important in the story. This study discussed the character of Werther in the
novel to find the answer of the first problem formulation. In this study, character
refers to Werther as the main character and also his characteristics.
1.5.2 Conflict
Jones and Gerard in Worchel and Cooper (1979, p.460) define conflict as a
state that requires the person when he is motivated to make two or more mutual
incompatible actions. Somebody will be in conflict when he cannot do two or more
mutual actions in one time; therefore he has to choose one action only as the
consequence of being in conflict. According to Worchel and Cooper (1979, p.499),

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there are two types of conflicts, namely interpersonal conflict and intrapersonal
conflict. This study discussed the conflict that the main character faces both in
interpersonal and intrapersonal conflicts.
1.5.2.1 Intrapersonal Conflict
This study analyzed Werther’s intrapersonal conflicts to find how the conflicts
lead him to commit suicide. According to Worchel and Cooper (1979, p.499),
intrapersonal conflict is defined as conflict within the individual. Intrapersonal
conflict happens when individual makes a choice between two or more options
while other people do not behave as the person wants or expects them to do.
1.5.2.2 Interpersonal Conflict
This study analyzed Werther’s interpersonal conflicts to find how the conflicts
lead him to commit suicide. Worchel and Cooper (1979, p.499) state that
interpersonal conflict is a conflict that can involve competition between two or more
individuals to reach a goal (competition) or it can involve a disagreement as to the
means for reaching a goal. In other words, interpersonal conflict exists between two
or more persons or parties in achieving an incompatible goal.
1.5.3 Conflict Resolution
Conflict resolution is a means that people generally do to resolve their conflict.
This study discussed the conflict resolution that Werther takes to solve all of his
problems. Moore (1999, pp. 23-38) suggests four continuums to be the strategy to
achieve resolution and divides the approaches into four categories. They are private
decision making by parties, private third-party decision making, legal (public)
authoritative third-party decision making and extralegal coerced decision making.

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7

This study discussed the strategies that Werther takes to solve his problems, both
interpersonal and intrapersonal conflicts.

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CHAPTER 2
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
This chapter consists of the theories used to analyze this study. This chapter is
divided into two parts, first is the review of related literature and second is the
theoretical framework. The review of related theories contains the critical
approaches, theory of character, theory of characterization, theory of conflict, and
theory of conflict resolution. Theoretical framework explains how the theories are
applied in the analysis of this study.
2.1 Review of Related Theories
This part consists of the theories of the critical approaches, the theories of
character and characterization, theory of conflict and the theory of conflict
resolution.
2.1.1 Critical Approaches
Rorhberger and Woods Jr. (1971, pp.6-15) propose five approaches that can be
used to analyze the novel. The five approaches are the formalist approach, the
biography approach, the sociocultural approach, the mythopoeic approach and the
psychological approach. The approach used in this study is the psychological
approach.

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9

2.1.1.1 The Psychological Approach
The main concern of this approach is to identify any aspects of psychology that
underlie a certain element of literary works. The element particularly points up the
character in the story. In this case, theory of psychology is meant to explain the
character’s personality, where it comes from, the idea that each character’s behavior
could be referred to the psychology of human being. This approach can be used to
understand the character’s behavior and thought.
2.1.2 Character
This part is divided into two parts. The first is the definition of character and the
second is the kinds of character.
2.1.2.1 Definition of Character
Abrams (1981, p.20) defines character as the person showed in narrative work
and interpreted by the readers as being given with “moral, dispositional, and
emotional qualities that are expressed in what they say – the dialogue-and by what
they do – the action”. Abrams also adds that there is a similarity between a character
in a novel to real human being. The similarities can be found in their moral and
temperaments of the character in a novel which are the base or the reason of the
character’s action. This will make the reader feel as if he reads a real story of
someone although he knows he reads a fiction story.
According to Stanton, character is a person who does the action in a story
(1965, p.17). The reader can enjoy the development of the story from beginning to
the end from characters. Fictional characters of a story will lead the reader to

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imagine or may experience the course and the emotional aspects of the story through
their action and their dialogues.
2.1.2.2 Kinds of Character
According to Milligan (1983, p.155) there are two classification of fictional
character. They are major character and minor character. Major character is the most
important character in a novel. Major character plays important role in the story
because everything the character does becomes the content of the story. The whole
story is built with the major character’s experiences in his life from beginning until
the end of the story. That is why the major character is showed more often than the
other character. Minor characters, on the other hand, play less important in the
story. The function of minor character is to support the major character to develop
the story. That is why minor characters do not appear often and only appear in
certain setting.
Henkle (1977, pp.87-100) defines major characters as the ones who deserve the
fullest attention from the readers and other characters, those who will change
because of certain events, and those who are able to express and dramatize human
issues. Henkle called minor character as the secondary characters. According to him,
secondary character functions in a variety of ways, as an ordinary individual, normal
point of reference, as baffles to the major characters, as analogous to the major
characters, as blended representation of human situation, and as symbols of aspects
of the governing state of being.
Foster (1974, pp. 46-54) divides character into two kinds, namely flat character
and round character. A flat character is a character that does not change from the

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beginning until the end of the story. The character is easily recognized and
remembered because he or she acts and remains the same. A round character is a
character that makes the readers surprised because of the action. Round characters
are very complex which means they often undergo significant changes.
Holman and Harmon (1986, p. 83) state that character is divided into two, static
and dynamic. A static character does not change within the story. There are no
changes in his behaviors, appearance and his way of thinking. He remains the same
from the beginning until the end. On the other hand, a dynamic character is a
character that changes from what he is in the beginning. The character’s experiences
and actions in the story modify his personality and ways of thinking.
2.1.3 Characterization
This section are divided into two parts namely definition of characterization and
the ways of characterization.
2.1.3.1 Definition of Characterization
Holman and Harmon (1986, p.81) state that characterization can be defined as
the creation of imaginary people. This kind of character should seem as a real person
although he is created imaginatively. The purpose is to make the readers feel they
exist as lifelike. The readers, then, will understand him or her as a person not an
imaginary person.
Baldick (1991, p.34) defines characterization as the “representation of persons
in narrative or dramatic work.” According to Perrine (1974, pp.68-69)
characterization can be presented in two ways, direct and indirect. Direct

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presentation is when the author tells the reader about the character in his story
directly using some exposition. The author describes the character’s appearance (for
example the character is black, white, fat, slim etc) or the author explains the
personality of the character (for example, she is sensitive, obedient, hard worker,
etc).
On the other hand, in indirect presentation method, the author tells the reader
about the character through other characters. The author makes the other characters
will tell the reader about the character by giving their opinion about the character.
The clue the author gives may be through the conversation between the other
characters about the related person. From there, the readers may get the clue of
description about the related person. The readers can also get the clue through what
the characters say and do about the related person. Their action will tell the readers
what sort of person they are.
2.1.3.1 Ways of Characterization
Murphy (1972, pp.161-173) defines nine ways of characterization. The nine
ways are stated as follows. Personal description means the author describes a person
from his appearance and clothes. Character as seen by another means instead of
describing a character directly, the author can describe a character through the eyes
and opinions of another. Speech means the author gives the reader an insight into the
character of one of the persons in the book through what that person says. Past life
means by letting the reader learn something about a person’s past life, the author
gives the reader a clue to events to shape a person’s character. Conversation of
others means the author can also gives the reader clues to a person’s character

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through the conversation of another people and the things they say about him.
Reactions means the author gives the reader clues to a person’s character by letting
the reader know how that person reacts to various situations and events. Direct
comment means the author describes or comments on a person’s character directly.
Thought means the author gives the reader direct knowledge of what a person is
thinking about. And the last, Mannerism, means the author describes a person’s
mannerism habits or idiosyncrasies which may also tell the reader something about
the character.
2.1.4 Conflict
This section is divided into two parts. The first part is the definition and the
second part is the psychological theory of conflict. The definition explains the
meaning of conflict in literary world whereas the latter explains the theory of the
conflict types.
2.1.4.1 Definition
Jones and Gerard (1979) define conflict as “a state that obtains for an individual
when he is motivated to make two or more mutually incompatible responses” (qtd in
Worchel and Cooper p.709). On the other hand, Hocker and Wilmot (2000) define
conflict as an exposed struggle between at least two interdependent parties that
perceive incompatible goals, inadequate resources and intrusions from the other
party in obtaining their goals (qtd in Issenhart and Spangle p.3). The conflict
involves two or more parties.

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Pooley says that conflict may be an argument between opposing forces like man
against man, man against nature, man against fate or perhaps an internal one
between two opposing parts of man’s personality (1974, p.44).
2.1.4.2 Types of Conflict
There are two types of conflict in psychological point of view namely
interpersonal and intrapersonal conflict. The further explanations about interpersonal
and intrapersonal conflicts are stated on the next page.
2.1.4.2.1 Interpersonal Conflict
Beebe, Beebe and Redman (1996, p.215) state that interpersonal conflict is an
expressed struggle between at least two interdependent people who perceive
incompatible goals, scarce resources, or interferences in the achievement of their
goal. William Wilmot and Joyce Hocke (1996) state that interpersonal conflict
includes four elements. The elements are an expressed struggle, between at least two
interdependent people, who perceive incompatible goals, scarce resources, or
interference from others and who are attempting to achieve specific goals (qtd in
Beebe, Beebe and Redman p.216).
The first element is an expressed struggle. Conflict usually expresses
displeasure with verbal and non-verbal behaviors such as glare, bad facial
expression and an emotion tone of voice. Beebe, Beebe and Redmond (1996, p.216)
state the intensity of a conflict often correlates with the partners’ perceptions of the
importance of their unmet needs or goals. Expert stated that the reason of the

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violence occurs in a relationship is that people do not have ability to manage the
conflict they have.
The second element is between at least two interdependent people.
Interdependent means that people are depended on each other. If somebody is truly
interdependent to the other one, then what the one says and does will affect to the
other one. Interpersonal conflicts might often occur to someone we spend most of
the time. Interpersonal conflict only occurs when there are at least two people.
The third element concerns incompatible goals, scarce resources, and
interference. Conflicts often occur because two people want the same thing, but both
of them cannot have it. Conflicts often happen when one person wants the opposite
of what the other one wants. When resources (time, money, or something else) are
scarce, there is more likely to be tension.
The last element is achieving a goal.

People in conflict situation want

something. Many conflicts happen because both of them cannot achieve their own
goals. The important step to manage the conflict is by understanding what the
individuals in conflict wants.
2.1.4.2.2 Intrapersonal Conflict
Worchel and Cooper in their book (1979) define intrapersonal conflict as a
conflict where an individual experiences one or more situations when making a
choice between two or more alternatives. This individual must take one choice and
in a situation where he cannot decide more than one alternatives. They also stated
that the intrapersonal conflict will lead to a result where other people do not behave
as the individual expects them to (p.460).

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Lewin and Miller (1979, qtd in Worchel and Cooper 461) categorize two types
of response tendencies namely those who are motivated the individual to approach
the goal and those who motivated him to avoid the goal. From those two types, four
types of conflicts can be identified.
The first type is approach-approach. This kind of conflict will result that the
individual is motivated to approach two attractive and positive goals but he can only
choose and do one goal. This simplest conflict is easy to resolve since the two goals
are positive and attractive to the individual.
Then, the second type is avoidance-avoidance. This conflict occurs when the
individual faces two equally unattractive goals. This conflict is difficult to resolve
since the individual cannot choose other alternatives except leaving the field.
The third type is approach-avoidance. This conflict involves only one goal but
contains two positive and negative qualities in it. The individual faces a goal which
he wants to approach but want to avoid the negative aspect which will trap him.
The last type is double approach-avoidance. This conflict occurs when the
individual faces two goals which both of them have two positive and negative
aspects. This conflict is difficult to resolve since the individual has to choose one of
the goals and he will take the risks from the negative aspects whatever goal he
chooses.
2.1.5 Conflict Resolution
People face conflicts in their life. Disagreements and problems can emerge in
relationship. People need resolution for their problems and disagreements. There is a
variety of means to resolve conflicts which people could generally do.

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The theory of resolving conflicts is presented by Moore. In his book he suggests
four categories to be the strategy to achieve resolution. Moore (1999) divides the
approaches into four categories. They are private decision making by parties, private
third-party decision making, legal (public) authoritative third-party decision making
and extralegal coerced decision making (pp.23-38).
2.1.5.1 Private Decision Making Parties
Private decision making parties is divided into four points, namely avoidance,
informal

problem-solving

discussion,

negotiation

and

mediation.

Further

explanations are explained below.
2.1.5.1.1 Avoidance
Most people prefer to interact with certain condition in which they feel it has
less potential of problems. Some of them prefer to repress their feeling in order to
avoid problems. They tend to avoid the problems or the conflicts because they do
not have the motivation to face the potential conflict and even try to resolve the
problems. These kinds of people tend to see a relation based on the potential of
problems which could emerge than the value of the relation itself. These people
would tend to leave the conflicts or the problems unsolved.
2.1.5.1.2 Informal Problem-Solving Discussion
Parties usually use the informal problem-solving discussion when they meet the
situation where they cannot possibly avoid the conflicts and they cannot let the
situation growing worse. The result from the discussion is either the conflict are

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resolved more or less to the satisfaction of the people involved or the conflicts are
dropped because they unable to solve the conflicts.
2.1.5.1.3 Negotiation
The parties in conflicts can use negotiation when they find that the way to
resolve their conflicts is by communicating their interest between them. The result
of negotiation may lead to a conflict resolution in which both sides can achieve what
they want.
2.1.5.1.4 Mediation
In mediation, a volunteer is needed to help the parties to find the resolution of
their conflicts. It is done when the parties cannot achieve resolution by their own
capabilities. The volunteer acts as a source that provides information needed to
resolve the conflicts. The success result of the mediation depends on the degree of
emotional status of the parties involved in conflicts. The decision is made by the
parties in conflicts not by the volunteer.
2.1.5.2 Private Third-Party Decision Making
Private third-party decision making is divided into two approaches. There are
administrative or executive dispute resolution approach and arbitration. The
explanations of both approaches are stated below.

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2.1.5.2.1 Administrative or Executive Dispute Resolution Approach
In this resolution, a third party who has some distance from the dispute parties
can provide a decision for the conflicts faced by the dispute parties. However the
third party is not a total stranger for the dispute parties. This third party’s integrity
and judgment should be trusted by the dispute parties, so that the agreement process
can be done. This decision making is only implemented when a conflict happens in
an organization.
2.1.5.2.2 Arbitration
Arbitration process involves a fully impartial and neutral party to make decision
for the dispute parties. The third party can just provide information needed to solve
the conflicts for the dispute party. This decision making is private and not open for
public.
2.1.5.3 Legal Authoritative Third-Party Decision Making
Legal authoritative third-party decision making is divided into five approaches.
The approaches are judicial approach, the legislative approach, extralegal coerced
decision making, non-violence approach and violence approach.
2.1.5.3.1 Judicial Approach
In this approach, the institutionalized authority is involved and the process of
the resolution process is more on public area. The dispute parties usually hire lawyer
to defend their own behalf. The decision of the case is not considered by the disputeparties’ concern, interest, and arguments but more on the broader society’s standard

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and value. The result of this process is usually a win-lose condition where there is
one who is declared as the right one and the other as the wrong one.
2.1.5.3.2 The Legislative Approach
The legislative approach is another public means of solving conflicts which
related to law. This approach probably uses voting and the result of the process is
win-lose condition. This process of resolution might take a long time.
2.1.5.4 Extralegal Coerced Decision Making
This approach deals with forced means to force opponent into submission.
There are two types of extralegal approaches.
2.1.5.4.1 Non-violence Approach
This approach is done when there are people or parties who do not behave as
they should. This approach is usually used when the disputing parties must rely on
each other for their living.
2.1.5.4.2 The Violence Approach
This approach involves violence or physical coercion on resolving conflict of
the dispute parties. Usually in this approach the party who has more power than the
other will be able to force a result he/she wants to. It is called violence approach
when the means to achieve the result of resolving conflicts is physical coercion.

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21

Theoretical Framework
The approach and the theories mentioned above will be used to analyze the

novel. This part explains the approach and the theories used and how they are
applied in the analysis of this study.
The approach used in this study is the psychological approach. Since this is the
study about the interpersonal and intrapersonal conflict experienced by Werther
which makes him to commit suicide, the appropriate approach is the psychological
approach. To do the analysis first is to know the character of Werther. So, the
theory of character and characterization are used to study the character of Werther.
There are some ways that of Murphy’s nine ways of characterization are applied to
study Werther’s character, namely personal description, speech, reactions,
mannerism, character as seen by another, and conversation of others.
After knowing the characteristics of Werther, then the next theory used is the
theory of conflict. There are two types of conflict namely interpersonal and
intrapersonal conflicts. Both types will be used in analyzing the conflicts faced by
Werther and how his conflicts make him commit suicide in the end.
The last theory used in this study is the theory of conflict resolution. The theory
of resolution is categorized into four strategies. They are private decision making by
parties, private third-party decision making, legal (public) authoritative third-party
decision making and extralegal coerced decision making. The theory of resolution is
applied to analyze how every conflict is solved by Werther.

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CHAPTER 3
METHODOLOGY
There are three points in this chapter: