46
They assume that by doing that, they can defeat their landlord. At least it show to the landlord that tenant farmers have power to rebbels and get the land with the
low rent.
4.2 Motivation of Joseph Donelly
People always have motivation to achieve their goal or to get something. During the process, people do some efforts through various behaviors, including
everything that is integrated with the goal. In this study, the main character joined in Oklahoma land race because he wants to get a piece of land that he assumed to
be his property and identity in his society. Kleinginna and Kleinginna 1981: 263- 91 as quoted from
http:chironvaldosta.eduwhuitmotivationmotivat.html state
that motivation is an internal state or condition that acts behavior and gives direction, desire or wish that energize and direct goal oriented behavior; influence
of needs and desires on the intensity and direction of behavior. Motivation that is found in the movie is related with social status. The
main character, Joseph Donelly joined in the Oklahoma land race because he has a motivation, that is he wants to get rich and have a social status. There is a great
animosity between the wealthy land owners and share croppers. Joseph Donelly is the son of a poor farmer, whose dying words to Joseph are, A man is nothing
without land. This word is laid in the conversation between Joseph and his father when his father is dying.
Joseph : “I’ll work my own land someday.”
Joe : “Without land, a man is nothing.
47
Thats it. Yeah. Land is a mans very own soul. A miracle-thats what youre looking for. And by God, if you
manage it...your old da will be smiling down on you...from heaven above.”
These words become a spirit for Joseph to achieve his father’s dream. For the first time, he plans to kill Daniel Christie, the landlord who causes his father’s death.
However, when Joseph mends in Christie’s home, Shannon, Christie’s daughter, tells him of her dream to seek her fortune and adventure in America where
citizens will be given one hundred sixty acres of Oklahoma land. The dialogue can be seen in the quotation below:
Shannon : “Im running away. Excuse me.
Theres something in here I need. Perhaps youre wondering why Im running away.
Well, Ill tell you. Im running away because Im modern.
Im modern, and Im going to a modern place. Youre not the only one whos trapped.
If I stay here, my mother will turn me into one of her stuffy old
friends. No, thank you. Im a little more interesting than that.
Im very smart, and Im very modern. Thats all you need to know about me.
Boy, here Have a look at this. Look. You cant read, can you? How pathetic.
‘Land,’ it says.”
Joseph : “Land?”
Shannon : “’Wanted: strong, healthy men and women.
Every resident of the United States is entitled to 160 acres of land.’ Theyve got so much of it they give it away for free.”
Joseph : “No land is given away...in any part of the world.”
Shannon : “ln America it is...and Im going there.
Im going to have a place of my own. And I will have horses on it, and I will raise them...and I will ride them any way I please.”
48
Although Joseph is not quite sure with what Shannon said about the free land in America, at last he decides to do adventures in coming to America to acclaim
land. And of course, it becomes Joseph’s main desire. He always imagines how proud he is if that dream really comes true.
Joseph : “Imagine me...
Joseph Donelly, standing on my own plot of land. What would I plant, I wonder?
Oats, corn, potatoes- Oh, God, no, not potatoes.
Maybe wheat. Wheat.
Oh, Shannon... Im dreaming of it now. Great fields of wheat as far as the eye can see.”
4.3 Oklahoma Land Race in Far and Away
