CONFLICT ANALYSIS OF THE MAIN CHARACTER IN NICHOLAS SPARKS S NOVEL THE LAST SONG

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1 CONFLICT ANALYSIS OF THE MAIN CHARACTER IN NICHOLAS SPARKS S NOVEL THE LAST SONG Nangsi Tobuto Jurusan Bahasa Inggris Fakultas Sastra dan Budaya Pembimbing I : Adriyansyah A. Katili, S.S., M.Pd Pembimbing II : Rosma Kadir, S.Pd., MA ABSTRACT This research is aimed at getting the description of conflict analysis of the main character in Nicholas Sparks s novel The Last Song. The problem statement of this research formulated as follows how is the conflict of main character in The Last Song novel and what are the value reflected through the conflict that exist in The Last Song novel. The method which is used descriptive method and also two approaches structural approach and psychological approach. The technique of collecting the data is will be done from some steps such reading the novel and to find out the intrinsic and extrinsic conflict of the main character. The technique of analyzing the data is used qualitative method. And the finally, this research found two kinds conflict that is external and internal conflict in The Last Song Novel. Keywords : Novel, The Last Song Basic Consideration Literature is a part of arts that an author creates based on the author s imagination in a real world. According to Kelley (1989 : 35) a literature work creates an imaginary world and this world embodies a theory about how the real world works. Literature has some important roles that influence the readers insight about their life. In this case, the readers or audiences can get some valuable things that can impulse and make them know more and to be wiser to solve their social problems which are found in their society. In the literature itself, there are some genres of literary work such as, poetry, drama, and prose. Prose are still limited into three, namely short story, novelette and novel. In this research, the writer chooses novel as the object of this research. The novel to be analyzed is The Last Song, a novel written by Nicholas Spark s. Based on the consideration above, the writer have some problem which need to be analysis. The problem are as follow : 1. How is the conflict of main characters in The Last Song novel? 2. What are the value reflected through of the conflict that exist in The Last Song novel.

2 The objective of research is to find out kinds of conflict in The Last Song novel and to find out the values reflected through of conflict in The Last Song novel. This research is limited to find out the kinds and value of conflict in novel, that is internal conflict between character vs. Self and external conflict between character vs. Characters. THEORETICAL BASES Novel Novel is a part of literary work tries to reveals features of human life. Novel usually tells about human life either in existence as individual or relating with another in the story. Novel is represent the expression form directly, without metre or rhythm and without regular rhythm, that its language we can meet in article of nonfiction and language in novel doesn t difficult to read in comparing with the poem language and this novel also depicts a real life or character of a writer. Reader (1987 : 6) Fictitious prose narrative of volume length portraying characters and actions representative of real life in continuous plot. It means novel is a kind of fiction, where is the represent in fiction masterpiecein the form of story or story defining figure and event action. Elements of Novel Writing is much more than simply telling a story. It is a mixture of talent and hard work to write a publishable novel, it certain techniques. While there are many things to consider when writing a novel, space limitations prohibit discussing all of them. Now, we will start with the basics from the elements of novel they are theme, character, main character, plot, point of view, and setting. Let's take a closer look at each of these. Theme Stanton and Kenny in Nurgiyantoro (1994:67) theme is the meaning that exist in the story. Theme is simply the moral of story. It is the message wish to convey or the lesson, writer want the reader to learn. Theme is revealed through the values of characters when confronting obstacles and resolving conflict in pursuit of their goal. It can be considered the foundation and purpose of your novel. Character According to Jones in Nurgiyantoro (1994:165), character is the describing a real person that showing in the story. Perhaps the single most important aspect of a good novel is character. The reader must care about your characters in order to care about what happens to them.

3 Plot According to Forster in Nurgiyantoro (1994:113) plot is the event of the story which has stressing for the quality relationship. Plot is the movement in a story toward the resolution. Nothing happens at random. Every scene should further the plot. Plot is shown through the actions and agendas the characters. Point Of View According to Booth in Nurgiyantoro 2009 : 249) point of view represent the technique which in utilizing author to find and submit the his masterpiece meaning artistic, to earn until and relate to the reader. Point of view is who is telling the story. Setting Setting refers to the place and time in which the set of story. According to Kenney (1996: 38) Setting refers to the point in the time and space at which the events of the plot occur. Based on these statement setting is the event that happened in one place and time as according to its plot. Settings in novels must be realistic to life. External and Internal Conflict Conflict is a struggle between opposing forces. There are two kinds of conflict in the stories. The external conflict is a struggle that takes place in character and an outside force. Character may face several types of outside forces. The outside forces may bethe another character. It may be the community. The outside force may also be be forces of nature. For example, a story might be the main character strunggling againts the arctic cold. The internal conflict is a strunggle that takes place in a characters mind. Conflict In order to explore strategies of managing and possibly resolving conflicts, our goal needs to be an in depth analysis of human behavior and its surrounding to society. METHODOLOGY OF RESEARCH Method of research The method used in this research is qualitative method. Approach

4 This research have to use the theory of literature. Theory of literature is use analyze to approach the problem and then the writer use the structural and psychological approaches. Structural approach In analysis a novel we have to use the theory of literature. The structural approach is an approach the assuming literary work as that is made of several elements such as character, characterization, setting, plot, point of view and theme. Psychological Approach The psychological approach is used to describe humans attitude or behavior. In analyzing conflict in The Last Song novel the writer focused on conflict between the character and act. Technique of Collecting the Data The technique of collecting the data is will be done in some steps such, reading the novel and find out the intrinsic and extrinsic conflict of the main character in the novel The Last Song that comes from psychological problem. Technique Analyzing the Data The data of this research is be analyzed qualitatively. The process of analysis of the data through some step as follows: Firstly, identified the conflict in the novel based on the dialogue and the elements of the novel itself. Secondly, classified the conflict by using analysis data card to classify the external and internal conflict. The last step writer makes the interpretation in this case the estimates or give a critic on the consequence of the conflict itself toward the character and society where they live. RESEARCH FINDING AND DISCUSSION Research Finding After finishing the analyzing the data, in this part is presenting the research finding. As the source of the data is The Last Song novel by Nicholas Sparks. The major character in this novel is Ronnie and the other minor character such as Will, Steve, Blaze, Jonah, etc. The main of the data that found in this research is the conflict. External Conflict In this part, the writer present the result of research by presenting the conflict character versus character, they are as follows: D1. Scott : You know, I m getting sick and tired of your crap. Marcus : Whatcha gonna do? Shoot a bottle rocket at me?

5 (Chapter 5: Will,29) Scott ask to Marcus to he getting sick and tired of he crap but Marcus said to Scott that what he shoot a bottle rocket at Marcus. The dialogue explain that Scott hate and tired with crap from Marcus and Marcus suppose his will shoot a bottle. The expression explain that there is conflict character versus character namely conflict between Scott and Marcus. D2. Will : We ve been looking for you. You ready to go? Ronnie : No (Chapter: 5 :Will; 30) Will ask to Ronnie We ve been looking for you but Ronnie say simply to him because she was obviously unhappy to see him. The expression explain that there is conflict character versus character namely conflict between Will and Ronnie. Internal Conflict In this part, the writer present the result of research by presenting the conflict between character and self CD : Internal Conflict D1. Steve : Hi, sweetie. It s good to see you. Ronnie : All right. How about this? I m not going to play the piano for you. (Chapter 2 : Steve, 13) Steve explain to Ronnie about it s good to see you. Ronnie answered Steve about she not going to play the piano for you. Ronnie statement explain that, she not going to play piano for her father. It means that there is conflict Internal Conflict, namely conflict between Ronnie and herself that she not going to play piano for her father. D2. Ronnie : That s not my fault. He s the one who left. (Chapter 1: Ronnie, 9) Ronnie explain to her mother about that s not my fault. He s the one who left. It means that there is conflict Internal Conflict, namely conflict between Ronnie and herself that she not feel wrong about the divorced of her parents. D3. Blaze : I know you don t want to be here, but what did your dad do to make you so mad? Does he live with his girlfriend?

6 Ronnie : I don t think he has a girlfriend. Why? (Chapter 2 :Ronnie,22) Blaze explain to Ronnie about she know that Ronnie don t want to be here. Ronnie said to Blaze that she doesn t think her father has a girlfriend. From the expression it means, there is conflict Internal Conflict, namely conflict between Ronnie and herself that she doesn t think about her father has a girlfriend. Discussion The Main Character in The Last Song Novel For more explanation of each character and its internal and external conflict can be explained below. The discussion would be divided based on four characters as follows: a. Ronnie In this novel, Ronnie is characterized as a protagonist character who has no enemy but she has a strong attitude. As the protagonist character, Ronnie s has a good behavior, she never has enemy. b. Steve Steve is Ronnie s father who described as a protagonist character. Although he has conflict with Ronnie and his wife, it can not be said as the antagonist because the Steve only a protective and lovely father to his daughter. c. Will In this novel, Will is characterized as the protagonist character because he has no enemy and he was not hate someone. Even though for several scene show that he has conflict with Marcus. d. Marcus Marcus characterized as antagonist character in this novel. It was supported by the fact that he hate to Will who fall in love to Ronnie, he try to break it but it never success. Plot in The Last Song novel Plot is talking about how the story carried out, it is how to make the stories way interested to be joined, to be followed and watch. Plotting a story is the most important part in writing a novel in order to make the story more interested. Conflict of The Last Song Novel s occurred between Ronnie with his boy friend namely Will, it is beginning when they meet at the beach. In another case Ronnie has conflict with his father, and also with Marcus. The Last Song novel, is talking story about Ronnie s family summer holiday. In this story,

7 Ronnie, Steve, Will and Marcus were the main character. It has their own conflict namely conflict to other and their self. The conflict can be seen in the dialogue or monologue. For more explanation of each internal and external conflict is explained as follow : a) External Conflict External conflict is the conflict occurred between two character or more, and character with the environment. In this last song novel, it can be found that there were many external conflicts happen. b) Internal Conflict Internal conflict is a conflict occurred in a character with her/his self. This conflict occurred to Ronnie with her self, Steve with his self. Internal conflict means that there is something in the character s mind. It is about her/his bad feeling or something. The Value of Conflict in The Last Song novel Value of Internal Conflict The value that can be found in the novel that a good relationship in family life is the most important thing that should be take care. A Conflict in family can only make the family life become worst. So, try to understand what the family members want to be, a father don t have to be arrogant. The relationship of father, with the children, wife and the other part of family. Value of External Conflict The value can be found that in the novel is characters versus society also known as man vs. Society is basicly how the main character is seen to everyone else. For example conflict external in novel is conflict between Will and Marcus. CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION Conclusion Based on the research finding, it can be concluded as follows: Conflict of the main character The main character of this Last Song novel is Ronnie and it has conflict with her namely internal conflict character versus self and conflict character versus character. In this Last Song Novel, it can be conclude that the kind of conflict that is conflict character versus character. Values that reflected from the conflict The value in internal conflict that is make a good relationship in family life because is the most important thing that should be take care.

8 The value in external conflict is the value can be found that in the novel is characters versus society also known as man vs. Society is basicly how the main character is seen to everyone else. Suggestion The writer suggests that to teach a literary work especially the novel, it should not longer, so the students will not bored. In addition, it should pose the actual problem so that the students attention will be on track constantly. BIBLIOGRAPHY Griffith, K. (1986). Writing Essay About Literature Guide & Style Sheet. New York; Harcourt Brave Javanovich Azar, E. (1986). Protracted international conflicts: ten propositions, in E. Azar and J. Burton (eds), International Conflict Resolution: Theory and Practice. Boulder, CO:Lynne Rienner, pp Nurgiyantoro, B. (1994). Teori Pengkajian Fiksi. Yogyakarta; GadjahMada University Press Nurgiyantoro, B. (2009). Teori Pengkajian Fiksi. Yogyakarta; GadjahMada University Press