CLA CLASS STRUGGLE IN THE KNIGHT’S TALE MOVIE DIRECTED BY BRIAN HELGELAND: A MARXIST APPROACH.

CLASS STRUG
GGLE IN
N THE KNI
NIGHT’S T
TALE MOV
VIE
DIREC
CTED BY
Y BRIAN HELGELA
H
AND:
A MARX
XIST APPR
ROACH

RESE
EARCH PA
APER

Submitted as a Partial
P

Fulfilllment of thee Requiremeents for Gettiing
Baachelor Degrree in Englishh Departmennt

by:
SI EVAWA
ATI
DES
A. 320 050 370

E
ENGLISH
H DEPAR
RTMENT
T
SCH
HOOL OF TEACHER
T
R TRAININ
NG AND E
EDUCATIO

ON
MU
UHAMMA
ADIYAH UNIVERSIT
U
TY OF SU
URAKARTA

2010
i

APPROVAL

CLASS STRUGGLE IN THE KNIGHT’S TALE MOVIE
DIRECTED BY BRIAN HELGELAND:
A MARXIST APPROACH

by

DESI EVAWATI

A. 320 050 370

Approved to be Examined
The Consultant Team

Consultant I

Consultant II

(Drs. M. Thoyibi, M. S.)

(Titis Setyabudi, S.Si)

ii

ACCEPTANCE

CLASS STRUGGLE IN SPARTACUS MOVIE
DIRECTED BY ROBERT DORNHELM:
A MARXIST APPROACH


by

DESI EVAWATI
A. 320 050 370

Accepted and Approved by the Board of Examiners
School of Teacher Training and Education
Muhammadiyah University of Surakarta
on ……… …..2010

Team of Examiners:
1. Drs. M. Thoyibi, M. S.
(Chair Person)

(……………………..)

2. Titis Setyabudi, S.Si
(Member I)


(……………………..)

3. Drs. Abdillah Nugroho, M. Hum.
(Member II)

(……………………..)

Dean,

Drs. H. Sofyan Anif, M.Si.
NIK. 547

iii

MOTTO

™ The man who says he never has time is the lazy man.
(Litchenberg)
™ The worst in the business world is the situation of no decision.
(Napoleon)

™ Segala sesuatu dalam kehidupan sifatnya sementara. Bila
berjalan dengan baik nikmatilah, karena hal itu tidak akan
berlangsung selamanya. Bila tidak berjalan baik, jangan
khawatir, karena hal itu tidak akan berlangsung selamanya.
(Ecy)

iv

DEDICATION

Affectionately and wholeheartedly, dedicated to:
Allah SWT
Muhammad SAW
Thanks for always giving me the right way
My Parents
Thanks for praying, supporting, guiding, and loving me
My Brother and Sister
Thanks for protecting and loving me
My Beloved Admirer Unforgettable
Thanks for accompanying and inspiring me


v

SUMMARY

DESI EVAWATI. A. 320 050 370. CLASS STRUGGLE IN THE KNIGHT’S
TALE MOVIE DIRECTED BY BRIAN HELGELAND: A MARXIST
APPROACH. RESEARCH PAPER, MUHAMMADIYAH UNIVERSITY
OF SURAKARTA. 2010.
The major problem of this study is to elucidate the struggle of William Thatcher
reflected in Brian Helgeland’s The Knight’s Tale movie. The objectives of the
study are; to analyse the structural elements of the movie and to analyse the
character of William Thatcher based on Marxist perspective.
In conducting this study, the researcher uses qualitative research in which the data
are based on primary data from Brian Helgeland’s The Knight’s Tale movie.
While secondary data are taken from references and materials related to study,
whether by picking up from books and internet.
In analysing the data, she applies two approaches. Firstly, structural approach is
used to analyse the elements of the movie. It consists of characterization, setting,
point of view, plot, style, theme, intent/ message, and cast. Meanwhile, technical

elements involve mise-en-scene, cinematography, editing, and sound is analyzed
to bring the readers understand totally. Secondly, the Marxist approach is used for
analysing the class struggle and optimism of William Thatcher that influences his
daily activity and behaviour toward life. These approaches are applied in order to
get the appropriate analysis and answer the problems. The writer finds that
William Thatcher’s struggle leads him to an autonomous personality that has a
great self confident in life.

vi

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

Assalamu’alaikum Wr.Wb.
Praise to Allah SWT, the Lord of the universe, with blessing, the
researcher can finish this research paper. She believes that it is impossible to
finish the research paper without help, guidance and support from others.
Therefore, the researcher would like to express her gratitude to all people who
support and guide her in doing this research paper.
She expresses her gratitude to:
1. Drs. H. Sofyan Anif, M.Si., as the Dean of School of Teacher Training and

Education, Muhammadiyah University of Surakarta.
2. Koesoemo Ratih., S.Pd., M.Hum., as the Head of English Department,
Muhammadiyah University of Surakarta.
3. Drs. Abdillah Nugroho, M.Hum., as the first consultant who has given
encouragement, guidance in doing and finishing the paper. And the consultant
academic.
4. Drs. Mauly Halwat, as the second consultant who had given correction,
suggestion and advice patiently and wisely.
5. Her beloved father and mother for love and affection, prayer, motivation, and
support.
6. All her beloved sister and brother for the trust, support affection, prayer and
spirit of life.

vii

7. All librarians, for giving permission and privilege to obtain the required
references.
8. All her dearest family, for uncles and aunt, for the supports, all cousins, and
sisters who always accompany her to go every where.
9. All her friends, for giving her the best moment and supports to finish this

study.
10. All of best friends and all of in class G’03 for helps and kindness, advice and
support.
11. Her sweetheart AR 3f Te 7 for support, inspiration, love, spirit, and happiness.
12. Radio Rapma FM 94,2 UMS for knowledge of broadcaster, experience, skill,
togetherness, organization, and friendship.
13. Her best friend, Bodro, Candra Jamela, Pongki, Boy, a joke, care, fun, etc.
Finally, she realizes that this research paper is still for from being perfect.
Therefore she hopes and needs the constructive criticism and suggestion to make
this research paper better. She also hopes this research will be useful for those
who want to study

Robert Dornhelm’s Spartacus and enrich the reader’s

knowledge dealing with this study.
Wassalamu’alaikum Wr.Wb.

Surakarta, September, 2010

viii


TABLE OF CONTENT
TITLE ............................................................................................................

i

APPROVAL ..................................................................................................

ii

ACCEPTANCE .............................................................................................

iii

MOTTO .........................................................................................................

iv

DEDICATION ...............................................................................................

v

SUMMARY ...................................................................................................

vi

ACKNOWLEDGMENT ..............................................................................

vii

TABLE OF CONTENT ................................................................................

ix

CHAPTER I : INTRODUCTION ..............................................................

1

A. Background of the Study ..................................................

1

B. Previous Study ..................................................................

6

C. Limitation of the Study .....................................................

7

D. Problem Statements ..........................................................

7

E Objective of Study.............................................................

7

F. Benefit of the Study ..........................................................

8

G. Research Method ..............................................................

8

H. Paper Organization ...........................................................

10

II : UNDERLYING THEORY ...........................................

11

A. Notion of Marxist Theory .................................................

11

B. Marxist Literary Criticism ................................................

12

C. Marxist View on Literature…………………………….. .

13

D. Major Prinsiples. …………………………….. ................

18

CHAPTER

ix

CHAPTER

1. Dialectical Materialism………………………………

18

2. Historical Materialism…………………….……….

20

3. Alienation……………………………………………..

21

4. Class Struggle………………………………………....

23

5. Revolution…………………………………………….

24

E. Structural Elements of the Movie…………………… .....

25

F. Theoretical Application .....................................................

39

III: SOCIAL BACKGROUND OF THE ENGLISH
SOCIETY

IN

THE

LATE

TWENTIETH

CENTURY .................................................................

41

A. Social Aspect .............................................................

41

B. Economic Aspect ………………………………… 45
C. Political Aspect ………………….…………………

47

D. Science and Technology …………………………… 48
E. Cultural Aspect ……………………………………..

55

F. Religious Aspect…………………………………….

58

CHAPTER IV : STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS ………………………..

61

A. Narrative Elements…………….……………………… 61
1. Character and Characterization…………………..

61

2. Setting…………………………………………….

68

3. Plot………………………………………………..

72

4. Point of View…………………………………….

75

x

5. Theme ...................................................................

76

B. Technical Elements…………………………………… 77
1. Cast………………………………………………… 77
2. Mese-en-Scene……………………………………

79

3. Cinematography……………………………………. 83
4. Editing……………………………………………… 87
5. Sound……………………………………………… 90
C. Discussion ...................................................................

94

CHAPTER V : THE MARXIST ANALYSIS…………………………….96

CHAPTER

A. Marxist Principles…………………………………..

96

1. Dialectical Materialism…………………………

96

2. Historical materialism……………………….….

100

3. Alienation………………………………………..

102

4. Class Struggle…………………………………...

104

5. Revolution………………………………………

106

B. Discussion…………………………………………

108

VI: CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION………………

111

A. Conclusion…………………………………………

111

B. Suggestion………………………………………….

111

BIBLIOGRAPHY
APPENDIX

xi