The major characters` conflicts and their inability to deal with the conflicts as seen in Williams` The Glass Menagerie - USD Repository

  THE MAJOR CHARACTERS’ CONFLICTS AND THEIR

  INABILITY TO DEAL WITH THE CONFLICTS AS SEEN IN WILLIAMS’ THE GLASS MENAGERIE AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS

  Presented as partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra in English Letters

  By

  Irene Sulistyo Utami

  Student Number: 044214050

ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY YOGYAKARTA 2011

  THE MAJOR CHARACTERS’ CONFLICTS AND THEIR

  INABILITY TO DEAL WITH THE CONFLICTS AS SEEN IN WILLIAMS’ THE GLASS MENAGERIE AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS

  Presented as partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra in English Letters

  By

  Irene Sulistyo Utami

  Student Number: 044214050

ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY YOGYAKARTA 2011

  

Even a happy life, cannot be without a measure

of “darkness”,

and the word happiness would lose its meaning if

it were not balanced by ”sadness” (Carl Jung)

  For my parents, My loyal Sister My loving husband And my dear son,

  Who give me their hope and faith

  

LEMBAR PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN

PUBLIKASI KARYA ILMIAH UNTUK KEPENTINGAN AKADEMIS

  Yang bertanda tangan di bawah ini, saya mahasiswa Universitas Sanata Dharma: Nama : Irene Sulistyo Utami Nomor mahasiswa : 044214050 Demi pengembangan ilmu pengetahuan, saya memberikan kepada Perpustakaan Universitas Sanata Dharma karya ilmiah saya yang berjudul:

  

THE MAJOR CHARACTERS’ CONFLICTS AND THEIR

  

INABILITY TO DEAL WITH THE CONFLICTS AS SEEN IN

WILLIAMS’ THE GLASS MENAGERIE

  Bersama perangkat yang diperlukan (bila ada). Dengan demikian saya memberikan kepada Perpustakaan Universitas Sanata Dharma hak untuk menyimpan, mengalihkan dalam bentuk media lain, mengelolanya dalam bentuk pangkalan data, mendistribusikan secara terbatas, dan mempublikasikannya di internet atau media lain untuk kepentingan akademis tanpa perlu meminta ijin dari saya maupun memberikan royalti kepada saya selama tetap mencantumkan nama saya sebagai penulis. Demikian pernyataan yang saya buat dengan sebenarnya. Dibuat di Yogyakarta Pada tanggal: 20 Oktober 2011 Yang menyatakan,

  

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  First of all, I would thank God for his blessed in my life and his chance to make this work accomplish. He works a lot in my life, my savior.

  I send my gratitude to my beloved parents, my husband, Robertus Troy, and my son, Nicolaas Vincenc, for all their support, faith and their hope. For my sister, Gabriela Niken Pratiwi, who always helps me whenever I need her. Their love really gives me strength.

  My gratitude is also directed to Dewi Widyastuti S.Pd.,M.Hum as my advisor for her time, advice, guidance, and patience. She really encourages me during the writing, and it means a lot. I would also like to say thank you to Adventina Putranti S.S., M.Hum. as my co- advisor. Your advice, time and encouragement are very valuable for me.

  I thank all my friends in English Letters Department 2004 class for all the experience they gave into my life. For Troy, Eka Shanti, Bendot, Minto, Deva, Danny, Wawan, Adit, I’d like to say, finally we won the battle! It is really an honor to know you all sincerely. For Bayu King, I would say thank you for his time and help through the writing in the difficult times. I really appreciate your kindness.

  Irene Sulistyo Utami

  

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE PAGE ………………………………………………………………… i

APPROVAL PAGE …………………………………………………………. ii

ACCEPTANCE PAGE ……………………………………………………… iii

MOTTO PAGE ……………………………………………………………… iv

DEDICATION PAGE ………………………………………………………. v

APPROVAL PRONOUNCEMENT PAGE OF THESIS PUBLICATION

  

FOR ACADEMIC CONCERN…………………………………..………… vi

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ………………………………………………… vii

TABLE OF CONTENTS …………………………………………….……… viii

ABSTRACT …………………………………………………………………. x

ABSTRAK …………………………………………………………………… xi

CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION ………………………………………….. 1 A. Background of the Study …………………………………………. 1 B. Problem Formulation ……………………………………………… 3 C. Objectives of the Study …………………………………………… 3 D. Definition of Terms ………………………………………………. 4 CHAPTER II: THEORETICAL REVIEW ………………………………. 5 A. Review of Related Studies ………………………………………… 5 B. Review of Related Theories ………………………………………. 6

  1. Theories of Character and Characterization ………………. 6

  2. Theory of Conflict………………………………………… 11

  C. Theoretical Framework …………………………………………… 17

  

CHAPTER III: METHODOLOGY ……………………………………….. 18

A. Object of the Study ………………………………………………... 18 B. Approach of the Study …………………………………………… 18 C. Method of the Study ………………………………………………. 20

CHAPTER IV: ANALYSIS ………………………………………..……… 21

A. The Analysis of Major’s Character

  1. The Characterization of Amanda Wingfield……………… 21

  2. The Characterization of Laura Wingfield………………… 24

  3. The Characterization of Tom Wingfield…………………… 27

  4. The Characterization of Jim O’Connor …………………… 29

  B. The Conflicts That Experienced by the Characters’ in the Play………………………………………………………………… 30 C.

  

The Characters Analysis of Their Inability to Deals with the

  Conflicts…………………………………………………………… 38

  

CHAPTER V: CONCLUSION …………………………………………….. 51

BIBLIOGRAPHY ……………………………………………………………. 53

APPENDIX …………………………………………………………………... 55

  

ABSTRACT

  IRENE SULISTYO UTAMI (2011). The Major Character’s Conflicts and

  

Their Inability To Deal With The Conflicts As Seen In William’s The Glass

Menagerie Yogyakarta: Department of English Letters, Faculty of Letters, Sanata

Dharma University.

  The Glass Menagerie that was written by Tennessee Williams is one

  among famous works of literature. Reading a literary work does not only give the reader amusement and enjoyment, but it also gives reader information and knowledge. After reading the play, the writer is interested in analyzing the major character’s conflicts and their inability to deal with the conflicts in their life.

  To do the analysis, the writer formulates three problems. The first problem formulation deals with the characterization of each character, on their behavior in daily life. The second problem formulation deals with the conflict that experienced by the character in the play. The last problem formulation deals with each character’s inability to deal with the conflicts in their life. The objective of the study is to find out how the conflict that the characters experience in the play works on their inability to deal with the conflicts in their life.

  In analyzing the play, the writer uses the library research method. In order to find the answers of the problem formulated the writer uses new criticisms approach because the focus of the writer’s analysis is the text without involving other extrinsic elements.

  The result of the analysis is that all the characters are having their own characteristics that are shown in their attitude and behavior. The different characteristics of each person resulted in conflicts among them. Their poor living condition also becomes an important key, the financial problems make their life so miserable and live in desperation. The conflicts that they experiences in the play will give a clearer image about the difficulties they face in their life, because of the stress and tension in life, the characters are having their own way to deal with the conflicts, Laura with her glass menagerie, Tom with his movie routine, Amanda with his Blue Mountain stories, and Jim with his illusion of future.

   

  

ABSTRAK

  IRENE SULISTYO UTAMI (2011). The Major Character’s Conflicts and

  

Their Inability To Deal With The Conflicts As Seen In William’s The Glass

Menagerie Yogyakarta: Department of English Letters, Faculty of Letters, Sanata

Dharma University.

  The Glass Menagerie yang ditulis oleh Tennessee Williams adalah salah

  satu karya sastra yang terkenal. Menbaca sebuah karya sastra tidak hanya memberikan kesenangan dan kenikmatan, tetapi juga informasi dan pengetahuan. Setelah membaca The Glass Menagerie, penulis merasa tertarik untuk menganalisa konflik yang dialami oleh karakter tokoh utama dan juga ketidakmampuan mereka untuk mengatasi berbagai konflik dalam hidup mereka.

  Untuk melakukan analisis, penulis mempunyai tiga permasalahan. Permasalahan pertama berhubungan dengan menganalisa karakteristik dari masing- masing karakter, pada perilaku mereka sehari-hari. Permasalahan kedua berhubungan dengan konflik yang dialami oleh masing- masing karakter dalam drama ini. Permasalahan terakhir berhubungan dengan ketidakmampuan para karakter dalam mengatasi berbagai konflik dalam hidup. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk menemukan bahwa konflik-konflik yang dialami oleh para karakter dalam drama ini berhubungan dengan ketidakmampuan mereka dalam mengatasi berbagai konflik.

  Dalam menganalisis drama ini, penulis menggunakan metode penelitian pustaka untuk menjawab semua permasalahan dan menggunakan pendekatan New Criticsm karena fokus dari penelitian penulis adalah hanya dari teks, tanpa melibatkan unsuk ekstrinsik lainnya.

  Hasil dari analisis adalah semua karater mampunyai karakteristik masing- masing, yang terlihat dari perilaku dan tindakan mereka. Perbedaan karakteristik tersebut menghasilkan konflik diantara mereka. Kehidupan mereka yang miskin juga menjadi kunci, permasalahan keuangan yang membuat hidup mereka menderita dan hidup dalam keputus asaan. Berbagai konflik yang ditemukan di dalam drama ini akan memberikan penggambaran yang lebih jelas akan kesulitan yang mereka alami, akibat tekanan dan stress, tiap karakter mempunyai cara mereka sendiri untuk mengatasi konflik dalam hidup mereka, Laura dengan ornamen kacanya, Tom dengan kegiatan menontonnya, Amanda dengan cerita Blue Mountain, dan Jim dengan ilusi masa depan.

CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION A. Background of the Study The word drama is derived from the Greek word dran. It means to do or to

  

act . Drama should be understood as a special way of imitating human’s behavior and

human’s events. Drama is like narrative in that it tells a story but on the other side

drama is unlike narrative in that it requires a performance (Barranger, 1994:5). In his

book The Book of the Play, Harold R. Walley explains that drama is a combination of

a form of literature and the art of theatre (Walley, 1950:3). Most literature is designed

for the printed page and private reading while drama is designed for the stage and

public exhibition. Furthermore, in his book Theory and Analysis of Drama, Manfred

Pfister explains that drama is an imitation of an action in speech, which involves

closed structures of time and space and a particular set of characters (Pfister, 1988:1).

  

The writer then concludes that drama is different from other works of literature, such

as prose, or poetry because that drama is written in dialogues. Reading drama is not

the same as reading other works of literature, in reading drama, the reader should be

able to create the mental picture of the dialogues and the setting in order to get the

complete meaning of the story.

  Drama in America was widespread after prose and poetry. In the middle of

nineteenth century, a lot of prose and poetry were produced but not drama. After this

era the American writers started to write drama, especially after the World War I. The

  

second flowering of American drama was after the World War II. Tennessee William

and Arthur Miller primarily achieved it, they were the heirs of the 1930.

  The American, Tennessee Williams, is admired for the theatricality of his

plays and for introducing literary, specifically poetic, devices into the theater. The

writer found in the Glass Menagerie particularly, he relies on the craft of modern

theater on such devices as lighting and sound techniques to enhance the effectiveness

of his themes, themes which are not difficult to recognize. Furthermore, in this play

Williams suggests that the family is the primary motivation for fantasy. Freedom

equals freedom from familial responsibilities; yet since each character either attempts

to achieve conventional family relations or obsessively to deny them, Williams

indicates that such freedom is at best a vain hope.

  Conflict happens in our daily life, according to Georg Simmel, a sociologist,

popularized a latin proverb Sivis Vacem Para Belum which means in order to achieve

peace, they have to prepare themselves for a battle. People or society has to face

conflict in their process of development (Simmel, 2009:277). Reading the play, the

writer found that there are many aspects that very interesting in the play The Glass

Menagerie . There are the unique characters and the conflicts that happen every day in

their daily life. In the play, their inability to deal with the conflicts becomes main

focus. The characters in the play are Tom Wingfield, Amanda Wingfield, Laura

Wingfield and Jim O’Connor. Each character has their own problem, mainly their

problem is about their plans, and their dreams. Some of the characters, Amanda and

Jim O’Connor were trapped in their glorious youth, while the other characters, Tom

  

is having problem with his life in present time and want to escape from his boring

routine. Laura Wingfield is having another problem, she is too scared with the life

outside her home, so she prefer to live in her world of imaginary.

B. Problem Formulation

  The focus of this study is on the characters and the conflict which are caused by their inability to accept reality. The problems are formulated as follows:

  1. How are the major characters described in the play?

  2. What are conflicts experienced by the characters in the play?

  3. How do the characters’ inability to deal with the conflicts analyzed in the play?

C. Objectives of the study

  This research deals with the characters and also conflicts among characters in

the play. Each character is facing conflicts in their life, and they are unable to deal

with the conflicts. This research is intended firstly to find out the description of each

character in the play. Second, the objective of the study is to find out the conflict that

experienced by each character in the play. Third, the objective of the study is to find

the description about the characters inability to deal with the conflicts.

D. Definition of Terms

  Before discussing the thesis, the writer will clarify some important terms,

which need to be studied. The definitions below are very important for helping the

writer and the readers to understand the meaning of the title. The definition of conflict

according to Webster’s Third New International Dictionary is an emotional state

characterized by indecision, restlessness, uncertainty, and tension resulting from

incompatible inner needs or drives of comparable intensity (Babcock, 1981: 477).

  The second term is character which is defined in Webster’s Third New

International Dictionary as personality as represented or realized in fiction or drama

(Gove Babcock, 1981: 376).

  The third term is reality. Reality means what actually exist, what has objective

existence, what is not a mere idea, what is not imaginary, fictitious, or pretended.

  (Babcock, 1981: 1890)

CHAPTER II THEORETICAL REVIEW A. Review of Related Studies In his book Irony and Distance in The Glass Menagerie, Thomas L. King

  makes an important statement about Tom Wingfield. King examines that Tom is the only character in this play; the other characters can posses no consciousness because they are real. Indeed, Amanda, Laura, and the gentleman caller do not appear in the play at all as separate characters. King states, adding that he does not see the characters but Tom’s memory of them, Amanda and the rest are merely aspects of Tom’s consciousness (King, 1987: 86).

  In Tennessee Williams: A Portrait in Laughter and Lamentation, Harry Rasky uses extensive interviews with Williams to explore the author’s attention, through these interviews, Rasky presents a glimpse of the life-world of the author and the driving force behind the author’s creations. Rasky reports William as saying:

  I have always been more interested in creating a character that contains something crippled. I think nearly all of us have some kind defect, anyway, and I suppose I have found it easier to identify with the characters who verge on hysteria, who were frightened of life, who were desperate to reach out to another person (Rasky, 1986: 134).

  This statement supports the idea that Williams incorporates something crippled into all major characters-another law positively attached to the play. In

  

Synthetic Mith , Esther Merle Jackson puts forward the idea that the Glass

Menagerie is a schematic explication of modern life (Jackson, 1987: 26).

  Wiliams’ uses memory as a reference point around which are clustered the psychological, sociological, religious, and philosophical symbols he wishes to present (Jackson, 1987: 27). Jackson states that in this play, the playwright stops the movement of his progression of suffering and announces that the play, as yet without a philosophical resolution is over (Jackson, 1987: 35).

  In his play The Glass Menagerie, the writer found that Williams created each characters differently, altough they were family. The mother character, Amanda, has totally different character contrasted with her daughter Laura. The diference clearly seen from the habits, the attitude, also the the clothes. While the character of Tom, is very pesimist, contrasted with the optimist character, Jim O’Connor. Here,Williams want to show the reader about the family life, all the problems that happens in the family that leads them into conflicting each other.

  And the basic of the problem is because they can not accept the reality that makes their life different from their dream and imagination.

B. Review of Related Theories 1. Theory of Character

  When we read a play it means we read every dialogue spoken by each character. From the dialogue we can identify the characters in a play. The first few speeches made by the character or made about him give us important clues to his nature. The dialogue also reveals the relationship of the characters to one another.

  Abrams stated that characters are categorized into major character and minor character. Major character is a character that can be the centre of the story. He or she is the focus of the play from the beginning to the ending parts. The core of the story is highlighted to this character experiences. Minor character is a character that appears in a certain setting, just necessarily to become the background for the major characters because they are not fully developed characters and their roles in a story are just to support the development of the major character (1981: 20).

  Characters also can be divided into two, based on the internal complexities they are described as flat character and round character. A flat character is presented without much individualizing detail, and therefore can be adequately described in a single phrase or sentence. It also can be a single idea or quality. A round character is complex in temperament and motivation and is presented with subtle particularity. He is as different to describe with any adequacy as a person in real life is and like most people, he is capable or surprising us (Abrams, 1981: 20). It makes flat character not fully developed. Round characters are complex and many sided in their temperament so that the characters have much proportion for their development.

  In a story, a character either may remain stable or undergo changes in his outlook and disposition through a gradual development. Perrine (1974: 71) classifies fictional characters into static character and developing characters. Static character are characters who do not undergo any changes in their outlooks or personalities during the course of the story. They remain stable and are the same person at the end of the story as at the beginning. They are described without much detail and they are not changed by circumstances. In contrast with static character, developing or dynamic character undergo changes in some aspect of their characters, personalities or outlooks from the beginning to the end of the story. The change could be for better or for worse, may be a large or a small one.

2. Theory of Characterization.

  Holman and Harmon explain that characterization is the creation of the imaginary personages who exist for the readers as lifelike (1986: 81). It can be assume here that both character and characterization are related to each other. They also explain the method of characterization:

  a. the explicit presentation by the author about the character through direct exposition. The characters can be placed in introductory.

  b. The presentation of the character in action can provide a possibility for the readers to deduce the attributes of the actor from the actions.

  c. The presentation from within a character can drive the reader to a clear understanding of the significance of the character.

  Murphy (1972: 161-173), states that there are nine ways in which author attemps to make his characters understandable and alive for the readers. Those are:

  a. Personal description The author can describe a characters appearance like the face, body, and clothes of the character. The personal description is very important because it give clues to the character.

  b. Character as seen by another

  Instead of describing a character directly,the author can depict him through the eyes and opinion of another.

  c. Speech The author can give some clues or insights to the character through what a person says. Whenever he is in a conversation with another and whenever he speaks and put forward an opinion, he is giving us some clues to his character.

  d. Past life By permiting the readers learn something about people past life, the author can gives us some clues to the events that have helped to shape a person character.

  e. Conversation of others The author can also give the reader some clues to the character of a person through the conversation of other people and the thing they say about him.

  f. Reaction The author can also give the reader some clues to a character by permitting us to know how that person reacts to various situations and events.

  g. Direct comment The author can gives the reader direct knowledge of what a person is thinking about. What is in the person mind and what he feels reflect on his character. h. Thought The author gives the readers direct knowledge of what a person is thinking about. i. Mannerism.

  The author can depict a person mannerism or habits, which may tell us as the reader, something about his character.

  Character deals with charcterization since characterization is the act , the process, or the result of characterizing. As stated by Holman and Harmon, in fiction including drama, short stories, novel, and narrative poem, the author reveals the characters of imagery persons and creation of this imagery person so they exist for the reader as lifelike is called characterization (1986: 81).

  In Writing With a Purpose, Trimmer says that the method by which an author creates, reveals and develops changes is called characterization. An author may describe characters directly, telling the reader what people look like , how they behave and what they think, or an author may reveal character indirectly , suggesting their appearance, personality and values through their words and deeds of other (1992: 335).

  The theories above state that there are two ways in characterizing. Barnet, Berman and Burton also write that author has two ways in characterizing his imagery person in a work of literature. The first way is direct. It means that the author directly tells the reader about the characteristics of the character it could be the face, physical appearence, gesture, or clothing. The author states or describes the characteristics of the character within a sentence. The second way is the dramatic. It means that the reader should conclude the character’s characteristics from what other characters says about the character and what they do (1988: 712).

3. Theory of Conflict

  Rohrberger and Woods in Reading and Writing about Literature, state that conflict is the struggle that occurs between the protagonist and antagonist, fate or environment, or within the protagonist or with the conflicting value system. It is also called complication (1971: 180).

  In the plot of a story, conflict has become an important element (Stanton, 1965: 16). The conflicts come from two sides, inside and outside the characters.

  The internal conflict happens when there are conflicting ideas within the characters, while the external conflict appears when there is a different action or idea between the character themselves or between the characters and their environment such as society, culture, and the physical appearance of place, or even between the environment themselves.

  Robert and Jacobs describe conflict as the opposition between two characters. It may also exist between larger groups of people, although in fiction conflicts between individuals are easier to identify and more interesting. Conflict may also exist between an individual and larger forces such as natural objects, ideas and modes of behaviour, or public opinion. The existence of difficult choices within an individual’s mind may also be presented as conflict (1987: 88).

  According to Perrine (1974: 44) conflict in a literary work may consist of one conflict that is stated clearly and the reader can easily identify the conflict. It may also consist of multi conflicts or more than one conflict that are difficult to be understood by the reader. To understand multi conflicts the reader should analize the conflict one by one.

  As people in the real world, characters in the imaginary world may also face conflict. The conflict, that is the clash of two opposing forces, may occur within the characters themselves or with the characters surrounding such as the other characters and their society. Alike the living person they should solve the conflict that will give the reader interesting circumstances. The conflict will give suspense toward the reader which makes the story more interesting to be read.

a. Causes of Conflict

  Conflict situations are rarely clear-cut, or single source events. Usually, they are a combination of the factors. Here are lists of the factors:

  1. Every individual has their own faith and trust.

  When someone is put faith and trust to other, and then those things are broken, it can create an emotional response that leads into conflict.

  2. There is unresolved disagreement Disagreement are normally happens in life. When they are left unresolved, the feelings and emotions will remain in force. When another situation brings the disagreement back, these supressed emotions can errupt with force, usually far in excess of those associated with the original disagreement. Therefore, it is really important to resolve the disagreements as soon as possible and not let them not fester.

  3. There is miscommunication that leads to unclear expectations.

  The ability to communicate is one of most commonly used skills. Many times people give instructions to someone who have those instruction misinterpreted. It happens because the words we use to communicate do not always clearly state the picture in our minds. When this is happen, the result often leads to frustation and the error will leads to conflict if there are no one willing to take the responsibility.

  4. Personality clashes Everybody were all born different to each other. The personalities that one has are genetically determined resulting in different sets of preffered behaviors.

  This natural differences can be the strenghts as individual or team, but also can be the source of conflict.

  5. There are differences in determining values.

  From the moment human are born, man begin determining our value system. the values are the beliefs human hold that help them to make decisions about what is right or wrong, good or bad, and normal or not normal. the values come from parents, siblings, friends, mentors, teachers, books, movies, television, and from other source of life in general. No two people ever have the same life experience, so there should be different sets of values and beliefs that guide one decisions and behavior. People struggle over religion, politics, race, humanitarian issues, ethics and morals, and more. In extreme cases, some people will, literally, die for their beliefs. So this value system is a strong driver of behavior and a frequent source of conflict in human lives.

  6. There is stress and tension

  Life spends lots of people time and energy. But so often, the needs exceed people capacity to deal with them. So, people have to understand that a person angered response to someone may have nothing to do with those person at all. They may simply be reflecting other stresses in their lives. Knowing this makes it easier to respond in a more tempered, appropriate, and responsible manner. If people don't understand this important principle, they may react to their anger with similar anger, elevating the situation to one of conflict.

  7. Ego problems Ego is a strong driver of one behavior and decisions. Ego wants people to be right and moves into defending the position, sometimes unreasonably.

b. Types of conflict

  In literature, conflict is divided into two types. The inner or internal conflict and external conflict.

1. Internal Conflict.

  Internal conflict refers to a struggle that happens inside the heart and mind of the protagonist (Redman, 1962: 363). This conflict usually does not show any physical struggle. Inner conflict always confronted the characters’ thought with his feeling, as stated by Holman and Harmon, inner conflict always puts “tow elements within the person” (1986: 107). Internal conflict also defines as a struggle that takes place in a character's mind. For example, a character may have to decide between right and wrong or between two solutions to a problem. Sometimes, a character must deal with his or her mixed feelings or emotions.

2. External Conflict

  External conflict refers to a struggle between the protagonist and a outside force (Redman, 1964: 363). This conflict usually shows physical struggles between the protagonist and his opponents. According to the book A Handbook to

  

Literature , external conflict can be divided into four types according to the

  protagonist’s struggle. The first is a struggle against nature. This conflict presents the protagonist in dealing with forces, for examples are hurricane, flood, earthquake, wild beast, etc. The second is a struggle against another person, usually the antagonist. This conflict involves a struggle between the protagonist and another character as an antagonist. Usually it occurs when the same motivation or goal does not exist. They cannot reach the agreement to solve the problems because each person keeps on their own way. Third is the struggle against society. In this case, the protagonist may be in conflict with a society value system. He or she has a personal belief against the group agreement, therefore, he or she will provide a suspense or tension with the group or society.

  When someone does something against the social value where he lives, he will also lead to conflict with his society. The last is a struggle against fate or destiny.

  This conflict presents the protagonist effort in dealing with the greatest force or his creator. It is often conflicting moral value desire that people can build or change his own destiny or fate. In a plot sometimes we can find more than one conflict. For example is the conflict in Hamlet, “Hamlet does not only have a conflict within his heart and mind, but also has a conflict with his uncle as the antagonist” (Holman and Harmon, 1986: 108).

c. The Meaning of Conflict

  Conflict does not only show the struggle of protagonist against someone or something, but also shows some motivations and aim that wants to be achieved (Holman and Harmon, 1986: 108). Moreover, this conflict also implies a theme that the author wants to convey. Based on the book An Introduction to Fiction , Stanton says that conflict may help the readers to know the central idea or the theme of the story (1965: 17)

  To analyze the conflict, certain basic human relationship which is important in the playwright is also needed to explore as stated in the book How to

  

Analyzed Drama, some of the common themes are the man and nature, man and

society, universal theme of an abstract nature, and family relationship.

  The relationship between man and nature are the most commonly explored in the playwrights. Often the playwrights are considered the nature a hostile or destructive force and man is seen unable to cope with an oppressive environment. For example, in the Riders to the Sea, there is a strong accusation of the sea where there are many people have been killed by drowning. And Synge implies that by living on an island off the coast, man will place himself a position where he can be ruined by the sea. Many plays address themselves to the nature of the relationship between man and society. For example man always has, presently does and always will hate society because it restricts his freedom of personal action. In the eighteenth century play She Stoops to Conquer, Goldsmith’s central attitudes are that his society is presently too absorbed in vanity and affectation.

  Goldsmith’s supplements the plot by continuous direct statement against the social foibles of “the age” making it explicitly a play about man and contemporary society.

  There are many plays that focused at the common human relationship, particularly those between members of a particular family. However, there are also some themes which only concern themselves with very special relationships between the members of the special family, which is not easily discoverable as in the relationships between the ordinary families. For example in Ibsen’s Ghosts which is concerned with a very private kind of family relationship, that the sins of the father are almost literally inherited by the son.

C. Theoretical Framework

  This thesis is focused on the characters and conflicts analysis and their inability to deal with the conflicts in their life. In order to do the analyzing, some theories, data and information will be needed. Since this thesis deals with character analysis, the theory of characters is needed to answer the first question about the major characters description in the Glass Menagerie. Then, the second theory that needed is the theory of conflict, to answer the second question about the conflict that happen among the character. Then, the last question will be answered by using the theory of characters, and theory of conflict.

CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY A. Object of the Study The object of the study in this thesis is the Glass Menagerie, an American

  play written by Tennessee Williams. It was published by Penguin Books Ltd. in 1959 with 86 pages in Harmondswooth, Middlesex, England. This play is divided into two parts. The first part is The Preparation for a Gentleman Callers and the second part is The Gentleman Calls. There are four character in the play. Amanda Wingfield, as the mother. Laura Wingfield, as the crippled sister. Tom Wingfield, as the son, and the Gentleman Caller, Jim O Connor. The Glass Menagerie is the William’s first successful play. It won the New York Critics Circle at the best play of the 1944-1945 Broadway Season.

B. Approach of the Study

  To analyze the play, New Criticism is used. This approach is considered to be appropriate to apply in analyzing the characters and conflict. Every characters has their own personalities and their own conflict. To find out the characters and the conflict that come from their inability to accept reality, New Criticism approach is applied to reach a deep research upon the play.

  Wilfred E. Guerin defines New Criticsm approach in his book A

  

Handbook of Critical Approaches to Literature as a systematic and

  methodologycal formalistic approach to literary criticsm (1971: 80). He also states that New Criticism thought that the aesthetic values of the piece is lost in focusing attention on peripheral matters, they sought to put an emphasis where they believe it belonged, on the literary object itself and its aesthetic meanings (1971: 70).

  Abrams also states that in analyzing and evaluating a particular work, New Criticism avoids reference to the biography of the author, to the social conditions at that time of its production, or its physicological and moral effects on the reader, it also tends to minimize recourse to the place of the work in the history of literary forms and subject matter. He also says that the emphasis of this critism is on the organic unity of overall structure and verbal meanings (1971: 247).

  The New Criticism is the most appropriate to use in this thesis because New Criticism only focused on the literary object itself and its aesthetic meanings.

  The writer can emphasize and explore the words and verbal meanings of the play without considering the external world such as the historical background, the setting or the author’s idea. This approach will only examine the literary work without reference to the author’s life, to the literary genre, and without reference to the social environment. By using this approach, the major characters can be analyzed by viewing their behaviour, life situation, past experience, thoughts, and words . New Criticism also suitable to use for analyzing the conflicts they face in their life and their inability in deal with the conflicts.

C. Method of the Study

  In the methodology of doing the research of the characters and their conflict in the Glass Menagerie, the data were collected from a primary source and some references. The primary source was the play itself, a play written by Tennessee William the Glass Menagerie which was published in 1959. For the references, the writer used literary reference books such as Rohrberger’s Reading

  

and Writing about Literature, Abrams’ A Glossary of Literary Terms,

  Perrine’s Literature: Structure, Sound and Sense and also some information taken from the internet, or studies about the play. To analyze the data, new criticsm approach was applied. Therefore some studies on the intrinsic elements mainly the characters and conflict were also conducted. The writer took certain steps in analyzing the topic. First, the writer read Williams’ the Glass Menagerie and found to explore the characters and their conflict in this play will be interesting.