Revealing theme through main character conflicts in prodigal son novel by Danielle Steel.

Revealing Theme Through Main Character Conflicts in

Prodigal Son

Novel by Danielle Steel

A THESIS

Submitted as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Bachelor Degree of English Department Faculty of Arts and Humanities State Islamic

University of Sunan Ampel Surabaya

VIVI TRISNANDARI

Reg.Number: A03212019

ENGLISH DEPARTMENT

ADAB FACULTY

THE STATE ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY OF SUNAN AMPEL

SURABAYA

ABSTRACT

Trisnandari, Vivi. 2017.Revealing Theme Through Main Character Conflicts in Prodigal Son Novel by Danielle Steel. Thesis. English Department. Faculty of Arts and Humanities. The State Islamic University of Sunan Ampel Surabaya. The Advisor : Dr. Mohammad Kurjum, M.Ag

Key words: Prodigal son, sibling rivalry, external conflict, internal conflict

This thesis discusses about revealing theme through conflicts in Prodigal Son Novel. The writer choose the work of Danielle Steel to be analyzed for being interested of her work which is usually in accordance with the realities that exist in real life, one of her work is Prodigal Son selected writer to be analyzed. The writer choose this novel because usually twins brother are always compact and interdependent if there is a conflict between them usually will not carry over to adulthood. Whereas in this story many conflicts occur between twins until they grow up.So I felt interested to know the cause of conflict occur between twins children. Besides that this is bestselling novel, it also has never been analyzed by students of Department of English Literature at UINSA.

In this thesis the writer uses New Criticism theory to analyze the conflicts and theme. New Criticism theory is a theory that focuses on the text itself as the sole source of evidence to interpret a piece of literature. This thesis the writer uses a descriptive qualitative method , its means that the data collected are in the form of words or sentences not numerical data. The writer expected this study could help literary student to understand how to reveal theme from conflict in a story. The writer also hope this analysis could become reference for further study of literary works whatever forms they will be.

The finding of this thesis is there are two types of conflicts appears in Prodigal Son that is external conflict and internal conflict. There are seven external conflicts experienced by the main characters are: Peter vs his classmate, Peter vs Michael, Peter vs Alana (his wife), Peter vs his parents, Peter vs father-in-law, Peter vs uknown man, Peter vs realtor. The internal conflicts that occurred with Peter were mostly about feeling uncertain to believ or not about a thing he was hearing and seeing. While for the theme, there are two kinds of themes; major theme and minor theme. Major theme of the novel is sibling rivalry and minor theme is money.

INTISARI

Trisnandari, Vivi. 2017.Revealing Theme Through Main Character Conflicts in Prodigal Son Novel by Danielle Steel. Tesis.Sastra Inggris.Fakultas Adab dan Humaniora. Universitas Islam Negeri Sunan Ampel Surabaya.

Pembimbing: Dr. Mohammad Kurjum, M.Ag

Kata Kunci:Prodigal son, rivalitas saudara, konflik luar, konflik dalam

Tesis ini membahas tentang tema yang diungkapkan melalui konflik karakter utama dalam novel Prodigal Son karya Danielle Steel. Penulis memilih karya Danielle Steel untuk dianalisis karena tertarik dengan karyanya yang biasanya sesuai dengan realitas yang ada dalam kehidupan nyata, salah satu karyanya adalah Prodigal Son yang dipilih penulis untuk dianalisis. Penulis memilih novel ini karena biasanya saudara kembar selalu kompak dan saling bergantung, kalaupun terjadi konflik di antara mereka biasanya tidak akan terbawa sampai dewasa. Sedangkan dalam cerita ini banyak terjadi konflik antara anak kembar yang terbawa hingga mereka tumbuh dewasa. Jadi, saya merasa tertarik untuk mengetahui penyebab konflik yang terjadi antara anak kembar. Selain itu, novel ini adalah novel yang banyak peminatnya, selian itu novel ini juga belum pernah dianalisis oleh mahasiswa Jurusan Sastra Inggris di UINSA.

Dalam tesis ini penulis menggunakan teori New Criticism untuk

menganalisa konflik dan tema. Teori New Criticism adalah teori yang berfokus pada teks itu sendiri sebagai satu-satunya sumber bukti untuk menafsirkan sepotong sastra. Tesis ini penulis menggunakan metode deskriptif kualitatif, artinya data yang dikumpulkan berupa kata atau kalimat bukan data numerik. Penulis juga berharap penelitian ini bisa membantu siswa sastra memahami bagaimana cara mengungkapkan tema dari konflik dalam sebuah cerita. Penulis juga berharap analisis ini bisa menjadi referensi untuk studi lebih lanjut tentang karya sastra apapun bentuknya.

Hasil dari penelitian dalam tesis ini adalah ditemukan dua jenis konflik dalam novel Prodigal Son yaitu konflik eksternal dan konflik internal. Terdapat tujuh konflik eksternal yang dialami oleh tokoh utamanya yaitu: Peter vs teman sekelasnya, Peter vsMichael, Peter vs Alana (istrinya), Peter vs orang tuanya, Peter vsmertua, Peter vs pria tidak dikenal, Peter vs agen penjual. Konflik internal yang terjadi pada Peter kebanyakan tentang perasaan tidak yakin untuk

mempercayai atau tidak tentang hal yang didengar dan dilihatnya. Sedangkan untuk temanya ditemukan dua macam tema; Tema utama dan tema kecil. Tema

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Inside Cover ... i

Inside Title ... ii

Declaration ... iii

Thesis Advisor’s Approval ... iv

Thesis Examiner’s Approval ... v

Motto ... vi

Dedication ... vii

Acknowledgement... viii

Table of Contents ... ix

Abstract ... xi

Intisari ... xii

CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION ... 1

1.1. Background of the Study ... 1

1.2. Statement of the Problem... 3

1.3. Purpose of the Study ... 3

1.4. Scope and Limitation ... 3

1.5. Significance of the Study ... 4

1.6. Research Method ... 4

CHAPTER II: LITERARY REVIEW ... 6

2.1. Literary Theories ... 6

2.1.1. New Criticism ... 6

2.1.2. Conflict ... 7

2.1.3. Theme ... 9

2.2 Review of Related Study ... 12

CHAPTER III: Analysis ... 14

3.1. Main Character Conflicts ... 14

3.2. Theme ... 36

3.2.1 Major Theme ... 37

3.2.2 Minor Theme ... 39

CHAPTER IV: Conclusion ... 43

REFERENCES ... 46

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Chapter 1

Introduction

1.1 Background of Study

The term of ‘literature’comes from Latin Language, ”littera” means a written or printed words. But, literature not only writing literature but also oral literature (Rene and Werren 11). Minderop says that literature is a work that was delivered with beautiful language and contain moral values (74). Based on the explanation above the literature is any kind of writing or orally works that has the beautiful language and moral values as characteristics and functions.

In another book, Susanto said that literature as a work of imaginative, fiction and innovative (1). In the same book,the romantic believes that literature is a form to express a thoughts or feelings of the authors (5). Therefore, literature is a imaginative work by the authors to express of thought or feelings.

Generally, genres of literature are divided into three types; poetry, drama, and prose (Okunoye 22). According The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Literay Terms, prose is a form of written language that is not organized (218). The prose could be fiction or non-fiction. A fiction prose is the events presented did not occur in real life, although they might be real life. Non-fiction prose is more or less true life stories. It included biography, autobiography, travels and adventures and the essay. The novel falls under prose(Isaac and Okunoye 8)

Novel as a literary works had been known since eightenth century in England. Novels are works of fiction; they were written in prose; and at least 150

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to 200 pages long (Spurgin 6). Novel is human creation. So, the story in a novel is a world created by imaginative author with character creation to play in his story. In a novel there are some elements can be analyzed, like extrinsic elements and intrinsic element. The extrinsic elements are the elements outside of a literary works, but indirectly give influence the literay works. There are elements such as biography, psychology of the author, economi, social, politic, and etc (Rene and Warren 65). While intrinsic element is the interpretation and analysis of the works of literature themselves (Rene and Warren 139). There are elements such as themes, character, charcterization, plot, and setting, all these elements are

connected to each other. The study analyzed the intrinsic elements such as themes and conflicts in the Prodigal Son novel, because of the conflict and the theme is an important element in making the story into a good work until the reader can enjoy and understand the whole story.

My study is to analyze the novel by Danielle Steele. Danielle Fernands Dominique Schuelein-Steel (born August 14, 1947) is an American novelist. She had published many novels and five non-fiction books. All her novels have been bestseller, including those issued in hardback. Her books have been translated into 28 languages, with 22 adapted for television, including two that have received Golden Globe nominations (Wikipedia). The author choosed the novel with the tittle Prodigal Son (2015).

The writer choose the work of Danielle steel to be analyzed for being interested in the whole of his work which is usually in accordance with the realities that exist in real life. One of her works in accordance with the existing

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reality titled Prodigal Son selected writer to be analyzed. This novel tells about twins brother whose relationships are like a enemy. Usually twins brother are always compact and interdependent if there is a conflict between them usually will not carry over to adulthood. Whereas in this story many conflicts occur between twins until they grow up. So I felt interested to know the cause of conflict occur between twins children. Besides that this is bestselling novel, it also has never been analyzed by students of Department of English Literature at UINSA.

The story is about twins children grow up in the same family, same town, they are Peter and Michael. Peter has bad attitude and Michael had good attitude. Peter is stupid, Michael is smart. Peter is always considered bad in every way. So, Peter decided to leave his house after Senior High School graduation. After a long time away from his house, Peter successed as a financial in New York and

Michael as a doctor same with their dad’s at hometown. One day, Peter’s career as a financial shattered in an instant because of the company which he worked

bankrupt due to the global economic crisis. He lost all of its work, mansion, apartments, and car. Now he is a jobless, therefore his wife gives the option is move to L.A and stay in one of pavilions by his father. He refused her advice because his life in New York. In the end, he also lost his wife and childrens for his decision. Peter just got lakeside house from the parents and he decided back to his hometown. Finally, after few years Peter and Michael reunited.

This study is entitled “Revealing Theme Through Conflicts in Prodigal Son novel by Danielle Steel.” The writer choose the title because of the conflict is one of element that helps in determining the theme of the story.

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1.2 Statement of problem

1) What are the conflicts that happen to Peter’s life in Prodigal Son Novel by Danielle Steel?

2) Based on the conflicts in Peter’s life , what is the theme of the novel Prodigal Son by Danielle Steel?

1.3Purpose of Study

1) To describe of the conflict that happen to Peter’s life in the novel Prodigal Son by Danielle Steel.

2) To reveal theme in the novel Prodigal Son by Danielle Steel.

1.4Scope and Limitation

The writer focused on the instrinsic element of the novelProdigal Son by Danielle Steel. The writer limited the data only on conflicts that happen to Peter’s life and theme.

1.5Significances of study

The significances of this analysis is to enrich literary studies, especially in literature trough novel as one genre of it besides drama and poetry. The writer expected this study could help literary student to understand how to reveal theme from conflict in a story. The writer also hope this analysis could become reference for further study of literary works whatever forms they will be.

1.6Research Method

This research was library based. The writer used descriptive qualitative method, this means that the source data will be analyzed derived from words or sentences, not numbers. The writer use two sources of data: The primary data and

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secondary data. The source of primary data is the novel by Danielle Steel Prodigal Son. The secondary data of this research was from the related books, journal, and online resource which related with the novel. There are steps to collect and analyze the data:

1. The first step, the writer read the novel and understandingthe wholestory of novel.

2. Found the data which related with the statement of problem of the study about conflict and theme.

3. Selecting and collecting the data frm the narration or conversation from the novel related to the problem of the study.

4. Analyzing the data collected which related with the statement of problem and selected theory. Firstly collect the data which related about conflict and analyze the conflict, that appear in Peter’s life then

analyzing the theme based on the conflicts.

5. Making conclusion based on the result of data analyzing.

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Chapter 2

Review of Related Literature

2.1 Literary theories

The writer explains intrinsic element related to the novel using a New Criticism theory (conflict and theme). The New Criticism theory is used to understand the text of the novel. The concept of conflict is used to analyze

conflicts occur in the novel. The concept of the theme is used to analyze the theme in the novel.

2.1.1 New Criticism

New Criticism was known as formalism. It was dominated American literary Decades in the middle of the 20th century between 1920 to 1960 years. New Criticism emphasized the formal structure of literary works, isolating the work from the author's personality and social influences (Sharma 2). In other words, It was a focus on the text itself and ignore any historical context like author biography, psychology of author, political issue.

New Criticism is quite well connected with the term "close reading" for the only way we can know if a given author's intention or a given reader's

interpretation actually represents the text's meaning is to carefully examine. In this way, a New Criticism tries to examine all the evidence provided by the language of the text itself: its images, symbols, metaphors, rhyme, meter, point of view, setting, characterization, plot, and so forth, which, because they form, or shape, the literary work are called its "formal elements" (Tyson 137), to find their

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relationship with the theme, in a way that confirms the single best interpretation of the text, Because New Criticism believes that there is such a complete single interpretation, the which is timeless and is not related to individual readers or social events (Sharma 2).

New Criticism believe that a single best, or most accurate, interpretation of each text could be discovered that best represents the text itself: that best explains what the text means and how the text produces that meaning, in other words, that best explains its organic unity (Tyson 148). Therefore, New Criticism saw the text itself as the sole source of evidence to interpret a piece of literature.

New Criticism methods can work with any work of literature, but they are especially effective at explaining works like short poems and short stories, the more of its formal elements could be analyzed. When longer works were

examined, such as long poems, novels, and plays, New Criticism readings usually confined themselves to the analysis of some aspect of the work, for example, its imagery, the role of the narrator or of the minor characters, the function of time in the work, the pattern of light and dark created by settings, or some other formal element. Of course, whatever the formal element was analyzed, it had to be shown to play an important role in the text's advancement of its theme and thus

contribute to the unity of the work as a whole (Tyson 149). 2.1.2 Conflict

Conflict in fiction works used to support the plot and make it into an interesting story. In the literature of conflict is regarded as an important element for developing the plot. According to Brooks and Warren state that conflict in the

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story shares some contribution in making the story interesting and powerful (11). It means that conflict is an important element in developing the plot to make the story more interesting.

Conflict is a social process between two people or more (can also group) where one party trying to get rid of the other party to destroy it or make it powerless (Bardis 149).Conflict is referred to as a social process because it is always present in everyday life. Therefore, the conflict is regarded as a reasonable situation in the community and none of the people who have never experienced the conflict (Haniati 5). Someone who in life without conflict will become saturated due to undergo the same routine every day. But it would be different if someone is experiencingconflict in their lives. Conflict itself not only in everyday life but also in works of fiction.

While Okunoye conflict is the struggle between the protagonists and antagonists of the play (27). In Addition of Diez and Pia (3) Conflict is a struggle or contest between people with opposing needs, ideas, beliefs, values, or goals. Based on the statement of conflict is the struggle between the characters of the stories due to differences such as needs, ideas, beliefs, values, or goals.

In his book, Perrine (59) says that the conflict is divided into four kinds; physical conflict, mental conflict, emotional conflict or moral conflict. Physical conflict emerges when the main character pitted against some other person or group of persons or in other words, it is man against man. Mental conflict is conflicted figure to determine a good choice based on various considerations bad. Emotional conflict arises due to feelings of anger, mistrust, resentment, and fear

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experienced leaders. Moral conflict that refers to moral contest between protagonist and opposed force such as fate, environment, and institution.

Being different from Perrine, Holman mentions that there are four kinds of conflict; The first is the conflict of the struggle of a man against nature. The second is the struggle of a man against man. The third is the struggle of a man against society. The fourth is the struggle for mastery by two elements within the person (98). In simple terms the four sorts of conflicts can be subdivided into two, namely external conflict and internal conflict. External conflict consists of man against man, man against nature, and man against social. While that included internal conflict is the struggle for mastery by two elements within the person.

From the above explanation, the authors focus on the external conflict (man against man) and the internal conflict by Holman to analyze the conflicts shown in the Prodigal Son novel.

2.1.3 Theme

Theme is very important in the short story and other fictions, therefore it must exist in every good literary work. To obtain a good understanding on the term theme it is better know the definition of it first. According to Perrine, a theme of a piece of fiction is the controlling idea, its central insight (117). Other statement, the theme of a story is whatever general idea or insight reveals the entire story (Kennedy 189).

Kenny and Stanton (in Nurgiyantoro) state that the theme is the meaning contained in a story (67). Meanwhile, according to OnyekaIwuchukwu theme is the abstract concept which is made concrete through its representation in person,

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action and image (63). In addition, the theme is the subject of the novel and can usually be expressed in one word, or at least in one sentence (Doubtfire, 1).

From the explanation above, the theme is the main idea or major insights presented with a word or a phrase in which there are the overall meaning of the story is revealed through the person, action and image.

The theme for literary works including short stories are always dealing with problems of life. Author chooses the problems of life based on the

experiences and observations of events or problems that exist in the environment. Through his work that the author offers a specific meaning in life by way of looking at the problem as he looked at it.

The function of a theme is to give feedback to the other elements of

fiction, such as plot, character, and setting. Functions important theme in literature is to be the unifying element of last the whole story

(

http://infodanpengertian.blogspot.co.id/2015/04/pengertian-dan-jenis-tema.html.). It means that the selection of the intrinsic elements that support a story always follow the theme that had been predetermined by the author.

In works of fiction, the theme of the story may be stated explicitly or implicitly. According Perrine, sometimes the theme of a story is explicitly stated somewhere in the story, either by the author or by one of the characters (119). Sometimes there is also a new theme can be found after the whole content of the story is understood by the reader, not only based on a certain story elements, such as the theme is stated implicitly by the author (Nurgiyantoro 69). This is why the theme in the literature is not always easy to find. Therefore, the meaning

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contained in works of literature are not always the same as what is meant by the author. http://adeku-bahasaku.blogspot.co.id/2011/10/cerpen-cerita-pendek-atau-sering.html.

Based on the explanation above that the interpretation of different themes considered reasonable, but endeavored not too many differences in interpretation. In interpreting the theme as much as possible are the principal and additional themes. The main theme is stated implicitly in a story. To be able to find the main theme the reader should understand the whole story, not just based on certain elements of the story, as told by Nurgiyantoro, principal themes implicit in most of the story, not just on certain elements of the story (83). Different again with additional themes expressed explicitly in a story. Additional theme is only found in certain parts of the story (Nurgiyantoro 83). Additional themes in a story supports and reflects the central theme of the story. Perrine says (121-123) in the determining the theme, there is no prescribed methods. Sometimes the best we can get it by asking in what way the main character has changed in the course of the story and what, if anything, he has learned before the end. Sometimes the best approach is to explore the nature of conflict and the results center. Sometimes the title will provide vital clues. Every time we have to keep in mind the following principles:

1. Theme must be expressive in the form of a statement with a subject and a predicate.

2. The theme must be stated as a generalization about life, the use of the names of the characters must be avoided.

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3. One must be careful not to make the generalization larger than is justified by the terms of the story. Terms like some, sometimes, may are often more accurate.

4. Theme is the central and unfying concept of the story. hence,must not be contradicted by any detail of the story, and it must not depend on supposed facts.

5. There is no one way of stating the theme of a story. It only presents a view of life that may surely be stated in more than one way. 6. One should avoid any statement that reduces the theme to some

familiar saying that he has heard all his life.

2.2 Review of Related Studies

During the process of this study, the writer did not find any students who use the Prodigal Son novel for their analysis. But the writer found some students with the same object of analysis is about conflict and theme.

First, the thesis belong to Kartika Sari a student of the University of North Sumatra, entitled An Analysis of Conflict in Alexandre Dumas' The Count of Monte Cristo. The researcher focused her research on the conflicts portrayed and the conflicts resolved in the novel. In her thesis, the researcher use theory of character, of plot theory, and theory of conflict.

Second, the thesis belong to Indah Rachmawati a student Wijaya Putra University entitled An Aanalysis of theme and characterization in the novel Heart of Peace by Nh Dini. The researcher focused her research on the theme and

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characterization in the novel. In her thesis, the researcher use theory of theme and theory of characterization.

Based on the previous studies above, this research is different from previous studies. In this research the writer wants to analyze novel Prodigal Son as the object of the research entitled Revealing Theme Through Conflicts in Prodigal Son Novel by Danielle Steel. To analyze the research the writer uses new criticism theory include the theory of conflict and theory of theme.

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Chapter 3

Conflicts and Themes in Prodigal Son

Prodigal son tells about a boy named Peter as the main character. In this novel it is told that he has a twin brother named Michael. Although they are twins, but their attitude is contradictory. If little Peter is always considered a

troublemaker by parents and people around him because he often got into a fight with his twin brother or with his friends, Michael was always considered a good boy. Peter does not want his parents and people around him to live in the city of Ware, so, after graduating school Peter decided to go far away from them all to achieve success in his own way. After a dozen years away from the city of Ware and no word about him, Peter returned to his hometown. Peter's return to Ware is because he has nothing, he has no job, no home, and the household he has built with his wife is in a bad state and is in danger of ending.

Referring to question in the statement of the problem, the writer will discuss the development of conflicts in the main character. Based on the related theories that conflict can be divided into two types in the story, the writer finds that there are two conflicts, external conflict and internal conflict.

3.1 Conflicts in Prodigal Son Novel

3.1.1 External Conflicts

In Prodigal Son, the external conflict happened between Peter with his classmates, conflicts between Peter with Michael, conflict between Peter with his wife Alana, conflicts between Peter with his father, conflict between Peter with

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realtor, conflict between Peter with a man. Most of the external conflicts occur in Prodigal Son conflicts is man vs man.

a. Peter’s conflict with his classmate

The first conflict in this novel occurred when Peter was a child and still lived in his hometown of Ware. As a child he was often regarded as a problem maker because of frequent fights with his friends. As in the following quote:

He punished the boys who made fun of him, with his fists. It was common for him to come home from school with a torn shirt and a black eye, and having delivered worse, while in the lower grades (10).

The quarrel between Peter and his classmates was in physical form. Because, Peter often fights with his friend, until it becomes a common thing that he came home from school with messy conditions.

Another quote described the cause of the fight that occurred between Peter and his friends. As in the following quote:

Peter had been regarded as a bully at school, particulary when the other children teased him about not being able to red until he was nearly twelve years old, and awkwardly even after that. Anyone who dared mention it to him was sure to get a black eye or bloody nose. (43)

The above quote describes the cause of the fight between Peter and his friends because he was ridiculed as a fool for being unable to read. Even up to the age of twelve Peter could not yet read, while at that age a child should have been fluent in reading. Peter who was annoyed and angry because he was constantly ridiculed for his shortcomings finally beat his friends.

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To avoid the same incident repeating itself, Peter as he grew up began to act indifferently, arrogantly and ferociously in front of his friends to cover up the short comings that still can not read to be derided again by them.

b. Peter’s conflicts with Michael

In the novel is told that Peter has a twin brother named Michael. Although they are twins but their attitude is very contradictory. If Peter is known as a naughty child, then Michael is known as a good child. At the result to their

contradictory attitudes, there happen frequent conflicts between them. The conflict between Peter and his twin brother was due to the many problems Michael had given him. As in this quote:

He and his brother were staunch enemies by then, and Peter saw him as the cause of many of the ills that plagued him, or even most of them. (10)

Conflict between the twin brothers was shown by Peter's hatred toward Michael. Peter's hateful feelings were expressed with him as Michael's enemy. The cause of his hatred of Michael has been mentioned in the above quotation, that is, because Michael often gives Peter such problems as making Peter a scapegoat for his mistakes to make people around hate Peter.

The conflict between the twin brothers was not only because of Michael's habit of making Peter a scapegoat, but also because of Michael's habit of

manipulating their parents to hate him. As in the following quote:

..., and his relationship with his twin brother was a lost cause. Michael had caused him too much grief, they had shared too many bad times, and Peter blamed him in great part for his parents’

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poor opinion of him. Michael had put too much energy into it for too long. (12)

The quotation above explains conflict between Peter and Michael is shown through Peter's statement if the relationship between them is really bad. The cause of the conflict between Peter and Michael has resulted in the deterioration of their relationship because of Michael's habit of using dirty ways to have their parents sidestep Peter and be more caring and compassionate about him (Michael).

Among the many conflicts between them, there is one of the conflicts Peter remembered most as a child. At that time, Peter and Michael brought their dog named Scout to go camping by the river. However, while playing together there was an incident that caused Scout to die. As a result of the incident, Peter became angry with Michael. As in the following quote:

Peter had never forgiven him,...(12)

Peter was furious with Michael who was revealed to himself that he would never want to forgive his twin brother. Peter anger caused Michael did not want to help Scout and let the dog die when stream dragged.

Peter, already bored and angry at all the troubles that had happened to Michael's actions for eighteen years, decided to stay away from Michael by going from home to New York to pursue his own success.

Growing up, they achieve success in their respective fields. Peter succeeds with his career at Whitmand Bank, while Michael succeeds with his career as a doctor in their hometown of Ware. Although each has been successful and make a lot of money, still when they meet again they quarrel again. The quarrel between

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Peter and Michael this time was due to an unfair division of Pat's inheritance. As in the following quote.

There had been unpleasant words exchanged between the brothers after their father died, and again when their mother died the following year, when Peter accused his brother of manipulating them and turning them against him all his life. (14)

The quarrel between Peter and Michael after their father's death, caused by most of their father's estate, was given to Michael, while Peter only got a lakeside house. They even quarreled after their mother died. This time their quarrel caused Peter not to like the actions of Michael all this time who always tried to influence their parents to hate him.

The quarrel between those who took place after their father and mother died was the last burning incident between Peter and Michael. Because, after that Peter never talked to his twin brother again. He deliberately severed contact with Michael by never again returning to Ware .

Another conflict that occurred between Peter and Michael caused

Michael's treats him (Peter) like a little brother and cause their parents also treats him like a little brother from Michael. Peter got angry at being treated like that. As in the following quote:

...Their treating him that way just made him act out more, and angrier at Michael. (38-39)

Peter was furious with Michael because he did not like being treated like a little brother from him (Michael).

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Peter, who was constantly being treated like that, became angry and not comfortable living with Michael. Therefore, after graduating school Peter decided to go to New York and pursue his success on Wall Street.

Another conflict between Peter and Michael when their children happened because of Michael's habit of showing off his achievements before Peter to make his twin mum. As in the following quote:

..., and had beaten him up more than once, which inevitably got him punished too. (43)

The beating that Peter did to Michael vent his anger over the habit of his twin who likes to show off his achievements. Michael who was beaten by Peter hit back by hitting him too, until there was a fight between them. Fighting between them occurred because their parents did not believe Peter's story about Michael's habit. Therefore, Peter chose to solve this with his own way that is with a physical match.

The conflict between Peter and Michael was also expressed by Peter himself when he reunited with Michael after a dozen years never met and

interconnected. Their encounter took place when Michael visited his house on the lakeside. Here is Peter's statement that shows a conflict between himself and Michael:

Peter felt his hatred and disgust well up in him like a volcano,.... (84)

Peter's statement states that if he hates and disgusts with Michael shows that there are conflicts between them. Peter's disgust and disgust with his brother

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was due to all of Michael's actions to Peter during the eighteen years they lived together.

In addition, the conflict between Peter and Michael also revealed by Peter when he remembered about their mother. As in the following quote:

His mother had hated the constant rift between them, and had begged Peter to make peace with his brother the last time he saw her. Both brothers had refused. (88)

Peter's statement above shows if his mother does not like if her two

children often quarrel even until they grow up. Therefore, at the end of her life she asked them to make peace, but her request was rejected by her children.

c. Peter’s conflicts with Alana (Peter’s wife)

Peter and Alana are married couples whose home life is very harmonious and far from conflict. However, when Peter fell poor and had to lose all the luxuries he has had so far due to the economic crisis that hit New York, conflicts began to arise in their marriage. The first conflict between Peter and his wife Alana occurred when Peter who now had no job was given advice that sounded a little forced by his wife to work or help his father invest. Like the following quote:

...Why not work for him? He’ll find something for you to do. ...

“You can help him with his investments,” she said...

“ I’m sure he’d be thrilled,” Peter said cynically. “ I just lost him a bunch of money when Whitmand folded. He doesn’t need me for his investments. (19)

The conversation between Peter and Alana shows that if his wife gives her a little suggestion for her to work or help her father invest. His coercion was

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strongly opposed by Peter, he showed the challenge by replying to his wife's words in a cynical way. Peter's reasoning was against his wife, because in his mind his father-in-law did not really need his strength for his company or his services to invest, especially in the circumstances Peter had just eliminated a stack of his father-in-law money when Whitmand Bank went bankrupt. Although at first Peter opposed his suggestion of istrin, but in the end he still rethink the advice of his wife. This he did to stop them from clashing and to please Alana.

Due to the economic crisis that hit New York, Peter not only lost his job but also must be willing to lose his house where his family lived. That's because their homes will be sold to increase income for the family. Since his home would be sold, Peter and his wife quarreled and argued about their next residence. As in the following quote:

...“I want us to stay here,” he said firmly, as Alana looked at him with sorrow in her eyes.

"I want to go home," she said quietly, and just a firmly. "I told my father we would. You can not support us here, and I do not want to move to some shit place where we'll all be miserable. They boys will hate it, and so would I. That's not fair to them when my father wants to help us. (19)

Conversation between Peter and Alana above shows the arguments and debates that occur between them. The arguments and debates between them happen no one wants to budge and try to defend each other's desires. On the one hand Peter wants his family to stay in New York, while his wife wants their family to move to L.A ..

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The clash between Peter and Alana about where he lives is getting heated up when his wife still strongly wants to move to L.A., and started using their children as an excuse to move from New York. However, the reason his wife used was unacceptable to Peter, causing her to be angry. As in the following quote:

“Or yourself. Is that what you’re saying?” He was starting to look angry, as defeat and frustation welled up in him...(20)

The above quote shows Peter's anger against Alana that can be known when he snapped at his wife and from the expression on his face that showed anger. Peter is angry to shout at his wife because in his thinking who really does not want to live poor is Alana. But he uses their child as his reason.

Although Alana's desire to move to L.A. is rejected by Peter, it still did not dampen her desire to move. Alana remained in his position to move to L.A., she even honestly admitted if she did not want to stay in New York with Peter in the event that her husband did not have anything. Alana's confession caused Peter to be angry with her. As in the following quote:

“What are you saying?” Peter asked her harsly... (21)

Peter's anger against Alana was appointed by snapping at his wife. His anger was because Peter was offended by the words of his wife who at least hurt her pride as a man, husband and head of the family. However, In order to avoid the constant quarrels and debates between them regarding where to live, Peter finally let his wife move to L.A. by bringing their children, but he remains on his decision to stay in New York.

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When Peter was visiting Alana and his sons at L.A., they again quarreled after a month of not meeting. The quarrel between them this time because Alana tried to force Peter to work with her father. But Alana's wish was opposed by Peter. As in the following quote:

“I can’t. I have nothing to offer him, and he has no real use for me. I can’t take an enormous salary from him and do anything. That’s not me, Alana. I need. A real job. I can’t just be your lapdog out here, or his lackey.” (29)

The stern opposition from Peter to Alana is because, her intention desire to force her husband to work for his father. The reason for Peter against Alana's desire to work for his father-in-law is because he wants a job that suits his field and abilities.

Alana who is tired of persuading Peter to move to L.A. finally decided to request divorce from her husband. Peter himself did not want to get divorced, but if he had to move to L.A., he did not want to. And, in the end, Peter approve Alana's request for a divorce.

d. Peter’s conflict with realtor

The conflict between Peter and the realtor begins when Peter asks the sales agent to offer his apartment to an interested buyer at a price that matches the market price. However, it turns out the sales agent gave the apartment sale price that is far from the market price at Peter. This caused Peter to be upset with the realtor. As in the following quote:

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The quote above shows Peter's annoyance with the realtor he expressed with tightly clenched teeth as it gave the price for his apartment below the market price. However, despite his annoyance with the sales agent, Peter still agreed to accept the price offered by the sales agent for the apartment.

e. Peter’s conflicts with his parents

Since childhood Peter's relationship with his parents can be said to be very bad. This happens because of the many conflicts between Peter and his parents. One of the conflicts between Peter and his parents was due to his parents' treatment of him, as Peter puts it in the following quotation:

... He had been labeled the family black sheep, compared to his perefect fraternal twin brother, whom his parents had revered. (9)

Peter reveals his parents' bad treatment to him with called him a troublemaker in the family and always comparing himself to his twin brother Michael. Their treatment to him caused Peter's hatred of them.

Peter who is constantly perceived as the source of trouble and always compared to Michael by his parents becomes tired and desperate to deny all their accusations about him. Therefore, Peter moved increasingly decided not to care about all the opinions of his parents and also do not want to try again to do something to be able to take the heart of his parents.

Conflict between Peter and his parents is getting heated up when in his parents do not have confidence to him. As in the following quote:

...their faith in Peter had been too badly shaken, and their relationship with him too strained by the time he moved

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to New York. ...it was more than Peter could cope with, and too hurtful,... (11)

The quote above indicates if Peter's parents have no belief in Peter's abilities. This kind of parental attitudes caused Peter's pain in them to make the connection between Peter and his parents distance and the distance Peter moved to New York. In venting this pain, after graduating college and his career on Wall Street became a success, Peter deliberately ignored his parents and decided to rarely go home to visit them.

Conflict between Peter and his parents as already described above is also due to the attitude of favoritism made by his parents As happened in the following quote:

It was always Michael who was protected and never Peter. Their father had always had a soft spot for Michael and talked about what a “good boy” he was, with the implication that Peter was the “bad boy”, and often enough he was (38)

The quote above shows the favoritism their dad makes to his twin sons. Their father in giving his unfortunate love by putting more of Michael than Peter. Like, the attitude of their father who preferred to talk about Michael rather than Peter. His father's attitude caused Peter to become angry and resentful with his father.

In addition, the conflict between Peter and his parents is also clearly stated by Peter in the following quotation:

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He had been so angry at them for always siding with Michael and never with him, and for believing all the lies Michael told about him. (97)

From Peter's statement above it is clear that he is really angry with his parents because of their unfair treatment. Peter's anger with his parents is because they love Michael more and trust him more than Peter.

f. Peter’s conflict with Gary his father-in-law

Conflict between Peter and his father-in-law is in the form of conflict. Peter's opposition to his father-in-law came when his father-in-law supported Alana's daughter's desire for a divorce from Peter because he did not want his daughter to suffer. As in the following quote:

“I thought that was what ‘for better or worse’ was all about,” Peter said grimly.

...

“Life isn’t always easy,” Peter said doggedly. “That’s what love is all about.” (64)

Peter's opposition to his father-in-law's thoughts, in expressing his opposition, he says if the true meaning of love is not measured by money or wealth. The true meaning of true love is always shared in difficult or happy, in poverty or rich because a marriage does not always live in ease or just about money alone.

g. Peter’s conflict with a man.

The conflict between Peter and an unknown man began when the man came to his house to ask Peter for help. The man asks Peter to be willing to go with him to the police station to report Michael that he has been killed by the man

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has killed his father. However, the accusation of the man was not trusted by Peter until there was a quarrel between them. As in the following quote:

“You don’t know that,” the man said angrily. “I think he did.” “You don’t know taht either,” Peter shot back. (123)

The Conversations that occurred between Peter and the man showed a clash between them. The argument between Peter and the man is because they have nothing to lose in defending their respective opinions.

Because Peter did not believe the man's words, so he refused to go to the police station and let him go from his house in anger at him.

3.1.2 Internal Conflicts

Peter’s conflicts with himself

The internal conflict experienced by Peter first occurred when he thought of the ultimatum Alana had given him about the fate of their marriage. As in the following quote:

...He had heard her message loud and clear. If he wanted to save their marriage, which was about all he had left now that he cared a out, he had to move to L.A., on her terms. And he could see what would happen if he did not. He laid his head back againts the deck chair and closed hie eyes as he tought about it, and silent tears rolled slowly down his cheeks. He had never been so miserable in his life. (22)

Peter was sitting pensively alone when he began to shed a tear because he felt depressed thinking about the ultimatum given his wife. Feelings of distress experienced by Peter because of his wife's ultimatum, he faced with two difficult choices that did not benefit him.

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In another quotation it is explained that Peter also had felt the same feeling as in the above quote that is feeling depressed and helpless. As in the following quote:

It reminded him of the days when he could barely red. When it seemed as though everyone else knew the answers except him. It was a terrible helpless sensation. (22)

Feelings of distress that is currently experiencing also happened to Peter when he was a child. As a child, Peter experiences depression because he can not read until high school, while his age friends have been able to read all.

While preparing to move his wife and children to L.A., suddenly in the mind of Peter terbesit curiosity about the loyalty of his wife on whose side. But Peter was hesitant to ask his wife about it. As in the following quote:

Peter wondered if her loyalty was greater to her father or to him? He din’t know if he wanted the answer to that question right now. (24)

Peter experiences mixed feelings when on one side he is curious and curious about his wife's loyalty on whose side. But on the other hand, Peter is also not ready if the answer he received was not in accordance with his expectations.

In the last few days Peter bore the brunt of the thought of the fate of his family when he had no work and enough money. As in the following quote:

He looked tired these days, and he felt ancient after slepless nights, worrying about how to take care of his family. (26)

Peter is depressed because he bears the heavy burden of thinking about how he can meet the needs of his family with his current state of inadequate

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employment and money. The burden of his mind affects his now-changing physiological condition,

While he was cleaning his apartment, Peter felt that he was now alone in the difficult situation he was facing. As in the following quote in:

...as he felt tears sting his eyes. He was exhausted and discouraged,...(34)

Peter cried out all the burdens that had accumulated in him out of

desperation and depression of the circumstances he had overtaken at this time and had to go through alone.

Peter felt mixed feelings when he decided to leave his apartment to be sold to raise money for his temporary income. As in the quote:

It was a depressing day for Peter when he left the apartment for the last time. (36)

Peter's mixed feelings will leave the apartment. This is because he is not ready to submit his own apartment to the new owner because in it (apartment) has many happy memories with his family, but on the one hand he also needs money

Peter experienced mixed feelings when he had to part with his children due to his divorce with Alana. As in the following quotation:

"I want to live with my kids." Not a continent away. And staying in L.A. was not the answer for him either, if he and Alana were not together anymore. (64)

Peter experiences mixed feelings when on his side he wants to stay with his children without any dividing between them. But, on the other hand Peter also

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Peter thought of his wife's wishes for divorce allowances and the flowers when Peter got the job again. As in the following quote:

Peter did not like that as much, ...since her father was

supporting her lavishly, but they had been married for fifteen years, and she deserved something for that. (73)

Peter experienced inner conflicts where on the one hand he was angry with Alana at his request because in Peter's view Alana's father was still able to meet his needs. But on the other hand he's also thinking of the years they've passed together so it's natural that Alana gets something from him.

After the divorce between Peter and Alana, Peter's feelings for his wife were inexplicable. As in this quote:

...He was angry at her for bailing on him, but he still loved her. (74)

Peter's mixed feelings to Alana between feeling angry at leaving him when he fell poor but on the other hand he also felt can not be angry at Alana because he still loves her.

Peter meets Maggie who is a girl in his past who is now the wife of his twin brother Michael when he is shopping for his needs at the supermarket. Now, when they meet again they ask for news of each other's .But Peter had an inner conflict when he would answer Maggie's question about her latest news. As in the following quote:

“Yes to both. Well, sort of.” He hesitated... (76)

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everything. But despite hesitation, Peter still answered Maggie's question with a simple answer to appreciate it.

Peter, reunited with Maggie, became sad at the sight of her condition now. He thought of something he could do for her, but he was not sure of what he was doing. As in the following quote:

Peter would have gotten her out more, and tried to give her a normal life, but maybe then she wouldn’t have lived as long. It was hard to know. (77)

Peter had an internal conflict when he thought of what he could do to make Maggie happy, but on the other hand he was not sure of what he was going to do as he had in mind.

Peter contacted his sons to take them to his lake-side home, but they could not come to visit for his grandfather's vacation. Peter was so sad and depressed because of this. As in the following quote:

Peter was beginning to feel that there was no room in their life for him. ...Peter felt like a loser all over again, and he was depressed when he hung up the phone. (79)

Peter's sad and depressed feelings arise when he feels that his children are now away from him and he is also depressed because they can not now happy them with the luxurious holidays they once did.

When Peter gets home after visiting Maggie, he meets Michael who just got back from his practice. It was then, Peter glimpsed a faint twitch in the corner of Michael's mouth. But he was not sure what the faint twitch in the corner of his lips was. As in the following quote:

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...when he suddenly remembered what the twitch at the corner of Michael’s mouth meants. It struck him like lightning, and then he shook his head. When they were kids, Michael’s mouth had twitched like that when he was caught in a lie or had done something really bad that no one knew about. It gave him away to Peter every time. But Michael had done nothing bad this time, and if he had lied about Maggie being sick, it was only to protect him...But he got an eerie feeling as he remembered the twitch. (96)

The internal opposition experienced by Peter when he saw a faint twist in the lips of Michael's lips. On the one hand he was convinced that if the faint twitch that Michael did had no intentions. But on the other hand, Peter was not sure if the faint twitch he'd seen had no intention of remembering the bad memories he had in the past related to the faint twitch in the corner of his mouth like Michael had done.

Peter could not sleep after reading the contents of his mother's diary he had accidentally found. As in the following quote:

..., and he lay awake for hours that night when he went to bed. He hated knowing how much his mother had sufferd and that he hadn’t been there for her. He had only visited her onece that summer. It was the last time he saw her befre she died (97) Peter could not sleep because he was filled with feelings of regret for his mother when he remembered what he had done that had never been there when he

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was sick and only once visited him. Peter's deep feelings of regret deepened now that his mother had died.

Peter's feelings got mixed up after he found his mother's diary and read the content inside. As in the following quote:

Peter was haunted by his mother’s diaries for the rest of the weekend and for several daus after. Raeding them was troubling but deeply touching. (98)

After reading the contents of his mother's diary, Peter's heart became uneasy for days because his feelings were now jumbled between deeply touched and also disturbed if remembered in them.

Peter finds it hard to believe his nephew Bill's story about his father (twin brother Peter) trying to kill his mother. As in the following quote:

He couldn’t imagine anything worse than believing that your father was trying to kill your mother, but he could see that Bill was sincere. (116)

Peter could not believe his story about his father who wanted to kill his mother, but on the other hand he could also see the honesty of Bill. Peter also had a dilemma between trusting Bill and not.

While Peter had not fully believed Bill's story before, his nephew had just added his story to the other side of his father. What Bill did was actually make Peter more confused about the actual figure of Michael. As in the following quote:

...He had been certain his brother was the devil incarnate then, but now he seemed like a gentle, loving man. Michael had been

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Bill now, Peter was confused. Which vision of Michael was true? Was what he had experienced with his brother recently just pure manipulation or sincere? Was Michael devil or saint? (117) Peter felt confused about the true figure of Michael he could trust. Peter had to believe in Michael as good an angel as he had recently, or to believe in the evil, godlike figure of Michael as he once believed.

Peter did not believe in Bill's opinion if his mother had been poisoned with an insecticide poison. Because of his conviction, Peter refused Bill's request to take his mother's hair sample for examination. However, Bill's next words were able to make Peter a dilemma. As in the following quote:

Bill was right, at worst he’d look like a fool taking three hairs to a lab in Boston to find out what kind of hair spray she used. And if what Bill said was true?... But it couldn’t be. (130)

Peter felt the mixed feeling of thinking that he would do a crazy thing to take a sample of Maggie's hair for examination because he did not believe if Maggie was poisoned, but on the other hand she was also wondering what if there was a chance that Bill might be right.

Peter feels anxious that he should leave Maggie alone with only Michael. As in the following quote:

Peter knew it seemed insane, but even though he didn’t believe a word of Bill’s theory about the weed killer, he was nervous now about leaving Maggie alone with Michael. (133)

Peter’s worry when on the one hand he was still trying to deny the words of Bill about his father who tried to kill his mother, but on the other hand, he was

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not sure to leave Maggie alone with only Michael because he also began to believe a little bit of Bill.

Peter was confused to believe him or not about his father poisoned his mother.

He was beginning to believe it. His trip to the laboratory in Boston had given serious weight to the theory. He knew it couldn’t be true, but his mind was in a whirl now. (134)

Peter mind the mess between trust him or not. In another side, he began to trust the words of Bill, especially after his departure to the laboratory in Boston add to the seriousness of the theory of the Bill. But in other side, he knew it could not be true.

Peter has set up his home to greet his childrens. However, after the arrest of his brother, he became confused will welcome his childrens in where.

...and he had gotten the house ready for the boys, who were due in a week, but he still had mixed feelings about having them come here, since Michael’s arrest. A pall had been cast it now for Peter, but he couldn’t think of where else to take them. (182)

He has set up his home to greet his two sons who will be up for another week, but now he felt mixed feelings about their arrival there, since the arrest of Michael. Peter felt the atmosphere there has been damaged, but he did not know where to take them anywhere.

Peter hesitated to accept or reject a job offer from a company in London. He just didn’t know if he wanted to live in London. He really wanted to go back to New York. He was ready for Wall Street

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again. But no one had offere him a job there so far. And this was an excellent offer, worthy of him, with a partnership in the firm within two years, profit sharing, benefit stock, and they were willing to pay for an apartment for him, big enough for his boys when they came to visit. It was everything he wanted, just not in the right town. He didn’t know whether to accept it or not. (188 -189)

Peter hesitated to accept or reject the offer of the company in London. Peter hesitated to accept since he did not want to stay in London. He still wants to go back to New York and worked again on Wall Street. However, until now no one has a job offer from there. While company in London are willing to provide all the chill Peter. Therefore, this offer is interesting and worthy of consideration even though the city that did not suit.

3.2 Themes in Prodigal Son Novel

Referring to another question in the statement of the problem, the writer will discuss theme of the story. From the related theory that theme can be found through the conflicts experienced by the main characters. Based on the conflicts of the main characters as described above, the writer finds that there are two types theme, major theme and minor theme.

3.2.1 Major Theme

Based on the conflict depicted through the main character, the writer can conclude that the major theme of Prodigal Son is about sibling rivalry. Sibling rivalry can be caused by the attitude of parents who like to compare their children, such as the competition that occurred between Peter and Michael.

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Peter and Michael's parents always compare Peter with his brother who is considered as a smart kid. Peter and Michael's parental attitudes like this caused competition among them. As in the following quote:

More than anything, Peter had wanted to impress his parents and win all the approval that had belonged only to his brother for so many years. ...and Michael had been threatened by Peter’s new-found skills and quick to point out that all his success in college did was confirm how lazy Peter had been for all the years before. (11)

The quote above shows that the rivalry between Peter and Michael is caused by each other wanting not to lose in getting recognition from their parents as a smart kid. Peter wanted to show his ability that is now able to read to be recognized also by his parents who had only acknowledged the ability of Michael. But, Michael feels threatened by Peter's ability to read now, because he does not want his parents who only acknowledged his ability also recognize the ability of the new Peter can be overcome. To counteract Peter's recognition of his ability from their parents, Michael tells his parents to influence them by saying that his new twin sister's ability to read shows his laziness all along.

In competing there are always winners and losers. Likewise with the competition that occurred between Peter and Michael in the fight for the attention of their parents. As in the following quote:

Peter had never been able to win them back after the failures in his youth. His mother had been upset by him, and his father had never tried to understand him. Sharing a career in medicine with Michael, they had so much in common, and Peter had never succeeded in

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forming a bond with his father. All Peter had ever been was a disappointment to him, and a problem. (14)

Sibling rivalry in getting attention from their parents was won by Michael, while Peter was the loser. Michael easily gets the attention of his father because they have so much in common when practicing together. Therefore, Michael is so easy to establish good relationships with his parents, especially his father. In contrast to Peter who had not been able to win the hearts of his parents and always considered his father as the source of the problem.

The rivalry between Peter and Michael on parental concerns is also expressed in the following quotation:

...You were always the handsome one, and charming, even if you were hot-headed then. I think I was afraid they loved you more, so I tired to be perfect all the time. No one is. There was room for both of us. I just didn’t know it then. Maybe it’s not so easy being twins. You start competing in the womb.” (98)

Michael acknowledged that he and Peter had been competing in the womb ever since. As they grew, Michael and Peter competed for the attention of their parents. Michael is trying to be the perfect child, because he is afraid that his parents will be more caring and loving Peter who is more handsome than him but also irritable.

The existence of sibling rivalry between Peter and Michael in the fight for the attention of parents is further emphasized in the following quotation:

...And Michael always set me up at home, but I think all he ver wanted was all of my parents’ approval. He wanted them to love him more. Maybe he needed that. That makes him needy,...

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The quotation above explains that in competing for the attention of their parents, Michael always uses the dirty way is to make Peter as the accused in every mistake he did. Michael did that because he did not want to share their parents 'interest with Peter, he wanted their parents' attention just for him.

Sibling competition can also be caused by the jealousy of one party. As in the following quote:

“You, with your high and mighty Wall Street life, while I stayed in this backwater to take care of our parents. I had as much right to that life as you did. I wanted to get out of here too, and be someone, but I stuck around and took care of them. You didn’t!” (223)

The envy that Michael had for Peter who had the money and the life he had dreamed of. This envy finally led to a sibling rivalry between Michael and Peter.

3.2.2 Minor Theme

Based on the conflicts between Peter and Alana, Peter and his father-in-law, Peter and the realtor are all caused by money, the authors draw the

conclusion that the minor theme of the story is about money. By having a lot of money a person can take advantage of those who are making money. As Peter experienced in the following quote:

Those who still had money were preying on those who no longer did, and Peter was now one of the latter, a victim of the crisis. (33) Having a lot of money for apartment buyers Peter can do whatever he wants to be like, taking advantage of Peter's situation as a victim of a crisis that is in dire need

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Alana says that having a lot of money means someone has a successful life and a high social status. As in the following quote:

And it the end, it came down to money for Alana. It was a sad thing to learn about her. Success meant everything to her and her father, and Peter had failed. He had lost his grip on the brass ring and fallen off the merry-go-round. Alana was still on it, but Peter wasn’t. For now, he was living in a whole other world, one that Alana wanted no part of. (74-75)

Money is used as a benchmark of success and high-low social status of a person by Alana and his father. So when Peter loses all his money they (his father and daughter) find him not a successful person anymore and do not have the high social status Alana always wants. Therefore, Alana assumes that her world and Peter's world are no longer the same, and she does not want to live in the same world as Peter who now has no money.

For Alana and her father in life it's all about money. As in this quote: Peter had never really fit into their plans. All he had had was money, and now he no longer did. (101)

Peter tells me that if he is with his wife and father-in-law it never fits, though they can still get along well because Peter has the money. But now Peter has no money and the relationship between them is getting worse.

Because money is also a person can be desperate to do evil, as said by Bill about the crimes committed his father in the effort to get the money. As in the following quote:

...For all you know, he killed your parents, for their money.” ...

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“My garandfather left her ten million dollars. Believe me, he would do it for that. If she leaves him half of it, that’s enogh. I swear he only married her for what he knew my garndfather would leave her. (129)

Bill tells his uncle Peter to convince him that in order to earn a lot of money his father (Michael) kills his grandparents (Peter and Michael's parents). Bill also added that his father also wanted to kill his mother for wanting money left by his grandfather for his mother worth ten million dollars.

Bill also tried to convince her sister Lisa about her father trying to kill their mother for money. As in the following quote:

He wants to kill her, Lisa, for Grampa’s money” (150)

Bill explains to Lisa if their father wants to kill their mother to get the money their mother earned from their grandfather.

Michael desperately wanted the money that Maggie had, which was really big and he was trying to get it. As in the following quote:

Ten million dollars was a lot of money, and Michael must have wanted it very badly, no matter how modest he appeared. Maybe he wanted it enough to kill her for it. (167)

Not matter what Michael was, but when he found out that his wife had a sum of ten million dollars, he was anxious to own it. Therefore, he really wanted to kill his wife in order to have the money.

Peter's children do not like his stepfather who thinks only about money. As in the following quote:

“All he cares about is money.” Peter didn’t say it, but he had that in common with their mother. It was her priority too. She had proven

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that to him amply in the last year. She had learned it from a master, her father. All that matter to either of them was

money,...(192)

In the quote above shows that people like Alana, Gary, and Bruce (Alana's husband's husband) assume if in life it's all about money. Because for them money is everything and very important.

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Chapter 4

Conclusion

After analysing the whole novel, the writer finds that there are two conflicts developed in the story that is, external conflict and internal conflict. Peter as main character faces seven of the external conflicts. The first conflict between Peter and his classmate, the second conflicts between Peter and Michael (his twin), the third conflicts Peter and Alana (his wife), the fourth conflict

between Peter and realtor, the fifth conflicts between Peter and his parents, the six conflict between Peter and father-in-law, and the last conflict between Peter and uknown man. Most of the external conflicts faced by Peter is verbal conflict.

The first conflict that is Peter’s conflict with his classmate happened when he fight with his classmate because they are called him stupid caused he can’t red until twelve years old. The second conflict is Peter’s conflict with Michael (his twin) that happened because Michael’s habit to make Peter a scapegoat, his habit of manipulating their parents to hate Peter, and his habit of treating Peter as his little brother causing their relationship to be bad because Peter really hates his twin brother and considers him an enemy. Besides, Peter also fights with Michael, he beats his twin brother because he resents his habit of showing off his

performance in front of Peter. Conflict between them is not only that, but also the conflict about the inheritance received from each other is not the same until there is a clash between them.

T r i s n a n d a r i | 44

between Peter and his wife was in the form of a verbal conflict due to Peter and Alana no one willing to give up on their wishes. Alana who does not want to live without having anything wants them to move home to L.A. And Peter can work on his father. But Peter refused her wishes, he wanted to stay and work in New York.

The fourth conflict is Peter’s conflict with realtor begin when Peter was annoyed and angry with the sales agent who offered the price for his apartment at a low price. Though Peter asks the reseller agent to offer his apartment to

prospective buyers in the hope of getting a high price. The fifth conflict is Peter’s conflict with his parents happened because their of the attitude of those who always preferred to Peter with Michael and always compare them both. Besides, his parents were more confident of Michael's lies than he was. Such parental attitudes made Peter hate his parents.

The six conflict is Peter’s conflict with father-in-law which caused a difference of thought about the best path to Peter's marriage to Alana. For his father-in-law the best way to marry his daughter with Peter is by divorce because he does not want his daughter to live hard. But by Peter, his father-in-law's thoughts are challenged because he thinks married life should always be together in joy or sorrow like the wedding vows they once said.

The seventh conflict is Peter’s conflict with uknown man begin when uknown man came to Peter's house to ask for his help to accompany the man to the police station to report Peter's twin brother on murder charges against the man's father. However, Peter rejected the man's request because he did not believe

T r i s n a n d a r i | 45

the words of the man, he was more confident in the words of his brother Michael. This makes the man screamed angrily at Peter, Peter who did not receive shouted turned to shout at the man.

Internal conflicts experienced by Peter after he lost all his wealth and when he reunited with the people of his past namely Michael and Maggie. Peter was confused about the best choice for his marriage, how to support his family, whether to grant Alana's request regarding their divorce benefits and interest or not, Peter also felt confused about his current feelings for his wife, and confused to take or not a job in London. Internal conflict also experienced Peter when he was confused to keep believing if Michael had changed or believed the story of Bill. Also, after reuniting with Michael, Peter begins to confuse to believe in his true twin figure.

Through the analysis of main character conflicts in Prodigal Son, the writer finds that there are two theme, major theme and minor theme. Major theme of the novel is about sibling rivalry, sibling rivalry arises from the jealousy of each other. Minor theme of the novel is about the money, for some people money is very important as a benchmark of the success and social status of a person.

T r i s n a n d a r i | 46

Work Cited

Ade, Isaac Olaofe & Okunoye, Oyeniyi. Eng 111 An Introduction to Literature and Literary Criticism. National Open University of Nigeria, 2008.Pdf

Baldick, Chris. The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Literary Terms. Oxford University Press, 2001.Pdf

Bardis, Panos. D. “Social Interaction and Social Processes.”

Social Science. Vol. 54. No. 3 (SUMMER 1979). pp. 147-167Published: Pi Gamma Mu, International Honor Society in Social Sciences.Pdf

Brook, Cleanth and Warren, Robert Penn. The Scope of Fiction. Appleton Century Crafts. New York. 1943.

Diez, Thomas and Pia,Emily. Conflict and Human Rights: A Theoretical Framework. SHUR: Human Rights in Conflicts: The Role of Civil Society, a STREP project funded by the EU 6th Framework Programme. 2007. pdf Doubtfire, Dianne. Novel Writing. Writing School Guides. London. 1981.Pdf Holman, C.Hugh. A Handbook to Literature. Fourth Edition. ITT Bobbs-Merrill Educational Publishing Company, Inc. Indianapolis, USA. 1985.Pdf

Kennedy. X. J., and Gioia, Dana. An Introduction to Fiction. Tenth Edition. Pearson Longman. USA, 2007.Pdf

Minderop, Albertine. Psikologi Sastra. Yayasan Pustaka Obor Indonesia. Jakarta, 2013.

T r i s n a n d a r i | 47

Nurgiyantoro, Burhan. Teori Pengkajian Fiksi. Gadjah Mada Unieversity Press, 2002.pdf

OnyekaIwuchukwu. Eng 181 Introduction to Fiction. National Open University of Nigeria

Perrine, Laurence. Story and Structure. Second Edition. Harcourt, Brace & World, Inc, 1959.Pdf

Sharma, Jayanta Kar. “The New Criticism.” International Journal of English Language, Literature, and Humanities. Volume III. Issue V. (July 2015): 2321-7065

Spurgin, Timothy. The English Novel Part I. The Teaching Company Limited Partnership, 2006.Pdf

Susanto, Dwi. 2016. Pengantar Kajian Sastra. Yogyakarta. CAPS (Center for Academic Publishing Service).

Tyson, Lois. Critical Theory Today. Taylor Francis Group. New York. Second Edition.Pdf

Wellek, Rene and Austin Warren. Theory of Literature. Harcourt Brace and Company, Inc. New York, 1949.Pdf

Website

http://adeku-bahasaku.blogspot.co.id/2011/10/cerpen-cerita-pendek-atau-sering.html

https://agusria.wordpress.com/2011/03/07/konflik/

https://infodanpengertian.blogspot.co.id/2015/04/pengertian-dan-jenis-tema.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danielle_Steel

T r i s n a n d a r i | 42

that to him amply in the last year. She had learned it from a master, her father. All that matter to either of them was

money,...(192)

In the quote above shows that people like Alana, Gary, and Bruce (Alana's

husband's husband) assume if in life it's all about money. Because for them money

T r i s n a n d a r i | 43

Chapter 4

Conclusion

After analysing the whole novel, the writer finds that there are two

conflicts developed in the story that is, external conflict and internal conflict.

Peter as main character faces seven of the external conflicts. The first conflict

between Peter and his classmate, the second conflicts between Peter and Michael

(his twin), the third conflicts Peter and Alana (his wife), the fourth conflict

between Peter and realtor, the fifth conflicts between Peter and his parents, the six

conflict between Peter and father-in-law, and the last conflict between Peter and

uknown man. Most of the external conflicts faced by Peter is verbal conflict.

The first conflict that is Peter’s conflict with his classmate happened when

he fight with his classmate because they are called him stupid caused he can’t red

until twelve years old. The second conflict is Peter’s conflict with Michael (his twin) that happened because Michael’s habit to make Peter a scapegoat, his habit

of manipulating their parents to hate Peter, and his habit of treating Peter as his

little brother causing their relationship to be bad because Peter really hates his

twin brother and considers him an enemy. Besides, Peter also fights with Michael,

he beats his twin brother because he resents his habit of showing off his

performance in front of Peter. Conflict between them is not only that, but also the

conflict about the inheritance received from each other is not the same until there

is a clash between them.

T r i s n a n d a r i | 44

between Peter and his wife was in the form of a verbal conflict due to Peter and

Alana no one willing to give up on their wishes. Alana who does not want to live

without having anything wants them to move home to L.A. And Peter can work

on his father. But Peter refused her wishes, he wanted to stay and work in New

York.

The fourth conflict is Peter’s conflict with realtor begin when Peter was annoyed and angry with the sales agent who offered the price for his apartment at

a low price. Though Peter asks the reseller agent to offer his apartment to

prospective buyers in the hope of getting a high price. The fifth conflict is Peter’s conflict with his parents happened because their of the attitude of those who

always preferred to Peter with Michael and always compare them both. Besides,

his parents were more confident of Michael's lies than he was. Such parental

attitudes made Peter hate his parents.

The six conflict is Peter’s conflict with father-in-law which caused a difference of thought about the best path to Peter's marriage to Alana. For his

father-in-law the best way to marry his daughter with Peter is by divorce because

he does not want his daughter to live hard. But by Peter, his father-in-law's

thoughts are challenged because he thinks married life should always be together

in joy or sorrow like the wedding vows they once said.

The seventh conflict is Peter’s conflict with uknown man begin when uknown man came to Peter's house to ask for his help to accompany the man to

the police station to report Peter's twin brother on murder charges against the

T r i s n a n d a r i | 45

the words of the man, he was more confident in the words of his brother Michael.

This makes the man screamed angrily at Peter, Peter who did not receive shouted

turned to shout at the man.

Internal conflicts experienced by Peter after he lost all his wealth and

when he reunited with the people of his past namely Michael and Maggie. Peter

was confused about the best choice for his marriage, how to support his family,

whether to grant Alana's request regarding their divorce benefits and interest or

not, Peter also felt confused about his current feelings for his wife, and confused

to take or not a job in London. Internal conflict also experienced Peter when he

was confused to keep believing if Michael had changed or believed the story of

Bill. Also, after reuniting with Michael, Peter begins to confuse to believe in his

true twin figure.

Through the analysis of main character conflicts in Prodigal Son, the writer finds that there are two theme, major theme and minor theme. Major theme

of the novel is about sibling rivalry, sibling rivalry arises from the jealousy of

each other. Minor theme of the novel is about the money, for some people money

T r i s n a n d a r i | 46

Work Cited

Ade, Isaac Olaofe & Okunoye, Oyeniyi. Eng 111 An Introduction to Literature and Literary Criticism. National Open University of Nigeria, 2008.Pdf

Baldick, Chris. The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Literary Terms. Oxford University Press, 2001.Pdf

Bardis, Panos. D. “Social Interaction and Social Processes.”

Social Science. Vol. 54. No. 3 (SUMMER 1979). pp. 147-167Published: Pi

Gamma Mu, International Honor Society in Social Sciences.Pdf

Brook, Cleanth and Warren, Robert Penn. The Scope of Fiction. Appleton Century Crafts. New York. 1943.

Diez, Thomas and Pia,Emily. Conflict and Human Rights: A Theoretical Framework. SHUR: Human Rights in Conflicts: The Role of Civil Society, a STREP project funded by the EU 6th Framework Programme. 2007. pdf

Doubtfire, Dianne. Novel Writing. Writing School Guides. London. 1981.Pdf Holman, C.Hugh. A Handbook to Literature. Fourth Edition. ITT Bobbs-Merrill Educational Publishing Company, Inc. Indianapolis, USA. 1985.Pdf

Kennedy. X. J., and Gioia, Dana. An Introduction to Fiction. Tenth Edition. Pearson Longman. USA, 2007.Pdf

Minderop, Albertine. Psikologi Sastra. Yayasan Pustaka Obor Indonesia. Jakarta, 2013.

T r i s n a n d a r i | 47

Nurgiyantoro, Burhan. Teori Pengkajian Fiksi. Gadjah Mada Unieversity Press, 2002.pdf

OnyekaIwuchukwu. Eng 181 Introduction to Fiction. National Open University of Nigeria

Perrine, Laurence. Story and Structure. Second Edition. Harcourt, Brace & World, Inc, 1959.Pdf

Sharma, Jayanta Kar. “The New Criticism.” International Journal of English Language, Literature, and Humanities. Volume III. Issue V. (July 2015):

2321-7065

Spurgin, Timothy. The English Novel Part I. The Teaching Company Limited Partnership, 2006.Pdf

Susanto, Dwi. 2016. Pengantar Kajian Sastra. Yogyakarta. CAPS (Center for Academic Publishing Service).

Tyson, Lois. Critical Theory Today. Taylor Francis Group. New York. Second Edition.Pdf

Wellek, Rene and Austin Warren. Theory of Literature. Harcourt Brace and Company, Inc. New York, 1949.Pdf

Website

http://adeku-bahasaku.blogspot.co.id/2011/10/cerpen-cerita-pendek-atau-sering.html

https://agusria.wordpress.com/2011/03/07/konflik/

https://infodanpengertian.blogspot.co.id/2015/04/pengertian-dan-jenis-tema.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danielle_Steel