CLASS STRUGGLE IN THE KNIGHT S TALE MOVIE DIRECTED BY BRIAN HELGELAND: A MARXIST APPROACH RESEARCH PAPER Submitted as a Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for Getting Bachelor Degree in English Department by: DESI EVAWATI A. 320 050 370 ENGLISH DEPARTMENTT SCHOOL OF TEACHER TRAINING AND EDUCATION MUHAMMADIYAH UNIVERSITY OF SURAKARTA 2010 i
APPROVAL CLASS STRUGGLE IN THE KNIGHT S TALE MOVIE DIRECTED BY BRIAN HELGELAND: A MARXIST APPROACH by DESI EVAWATI A. 320 050 370 Approved to be Examined The Consultant Team Consultant I Consultant II (Drs. M. Thoyibi, M. S.) (Titis Setyabudi, S.Si) ii
ACCEPTANCE CLASS STRUGGLE IN SPARTACUS MOVIE DIRECTED BY ROBERT DORNHELM: A MARXIST APPROACH by DESI EVAWATI A. 320 050 370 Accepted and Approved by the Board of Examiners School of Teacher Training and Education Muhammadiyah University of Surakarta on..2010 Team of Examiners: 1. Drs. M. Thoyibi, M. S. (..) (Chair Person) 2. Titis Setyabudi, S.Si (..) (Member I) 3. Drs. Abdillah Nugroho, M. Hum. (..) (Member II) Dean, Drs. H. Sofyan Anif, M.Si. NIK. 547 iii
MOTTO The man who says he never has time is the lazy man. (Litchenberg) The worst in the business world is the situation of no decision. (Napoleon) Segala sesuatu dalam kehidupan sifatnya sementara. Bila berjalan dengan baik nikmatilah, karena hal itu tidak akan berlangsung selamanya. Bila tidak berjalan baik, jangan khawatir, karena hal itu tidak akan berlangsung selamanya. (Ecy) iv
DEDICATION Affectionately and wholeheartedly, dedicated to: Allah SWT Muhammad SAW Thanks for always giving me the right way My Parents Thanks for praying, supporting, guiding, and loving me My Brother and Sister Thanks for protecting and loving me My Beloved Admirer Unforgettable Thanks for accompanying and inspiring me v
SUMMARY DESI EVAWATI. A. 320 050 370. CLASS STRUGGLE IN THE KNIGHT S TALE MOVIE DIRECTED BY BRIAN HELGELAND: A MARXIST APPROACH. RESEARCH PAPER, MUHAMMADIYAH UNIVERSITY OF SURAKARTA. 2010. The major problem of this study is to elucidate the struggle of William Thatcher reflected in Brian Helgeland s The Knight s Tale movie. The objectives of the study are; to analyse the structural elements of the movie and to analyse the character of William Thatcher based on Marxist perspective. In conducting this study, the researcher uses qualitative research in which the data are based on primary data from Brian Helgeland s The Knight s Tale movie. While secondary data are taken from references and materials related to study, whether by picking up from books and internet. In analysing the data, she applies two approaches. Firstly, structural approach is used to analyse the elements of the movie. It consists of characterization, setting, point of view, plot, style, theme, intent/ message, and cast. Meanwhile, technical elements involve mise-en-scene, cinematography, editing, and sound is analyzed to bring the readers understand totally. Secondly, the Marxist approach is used for analysing the class struggle and optimism of William Thatcher that influences his daily activity and behaviour toward life. These approaches are applied in order to get the appropriate analysis and answer the problems. The writer finds that William Thatcher s struggle leads him to an autonomous personality that has a great self confident in life. vi
ACKNOWLEDGMENT Assalamu alaikum Wr.Wb. Praise to Allah SWT, the Lord of the universe, with blessing, the researcher can finish this research paper. She believes that it is impossible to finish the research paper without help, guidance and support from others. Therefore, the researcher would like to express her gratitude to all people who support and guide her in doing this research paper. She expresses her gratitude to: 1. Drs. H. Sofyan Anif, M.Si., as the Dean of School of Teacher Training and Education, Muhammadiyah University of Surakarta. 2. Koesoemo Ratih., S.Pd., M.Hum., as the Head of English Department, Muhammadiyah University of Surakarta. 3. Drs. Abdillah Nugroho, M.Hum., as the first consultant who has given encouragement, guidance in doing and finishing the paper. And the consultant academic. 4. Drs. Mauly Halwat, as the second consultant who had given correction, suggestion and advice patiently and wisely. 5. Her beloved father and mother for love and affection, prayer, motivation, and support. 6. All her beloved sister and brother for the trust, support affection, prayer and spirit of life. vii
7. All librarians, for giving permission and privilege to obtain the required references. 8. All her dearest family, for uncles and aunt, for the supports, all cousins, and sisters who always accompany her to go every where. 9. All her friends, for giving her the best moment and supports to finish this study. 10. All of best friends and all of in class G 03 for helps and kindness, advice and support. 11. Her sweetheart AR 3f Te 7 for support, inspiration, love, spirit, and happiness. 12. Radio Rapma FM 94,2 UMS for knowledge of broadcaster, experience, skill, togetherness, organization, and friendship. 13. Her best friend, Bodro, Candra Jamela, Pongki, Boy, a joke, care, fun, etc. Finally, she realizes that this research paper is still for from being perfect. Therefore she hopes and needs the constructive criticism and suggestion to make this research paper better. She also hopes this research will be useful for those who want to study Robert Dornhelm s Spartacus and enrich the reader s knowledge dealing with this study. Wassalamu alaikum Wr.Wb. Surakarta, September, 2010 viii
TABLE OF CONTENT TITLE... APPROVAL... ACCEPTANCE... MOTTO... DEDICATION... SUMMARY... ACKNOWLEDGMENT... TABLE OF CONTENT... i ii iii iv v vi vii ix CHAPTER I : INTRODUCTION... 1 A. Background of the Study... 1 B. Previous Study... 6 C. Limitation of the Study... 7 D. Problem Statements... 7 E Objective of Study... 7 F. Benefit of the Study... 8 G. Research Method... 8 H. Paper Organization... 10 CHAPTER II : UNDERLYING THEORY... 11 A. Notion of Marxist Theory... 11 B. Marxist Literary Criticism... 12 C. Marxist View on Literature... 13 D. Major Prinsiples.... 18 ix
1. Dialectical Materialism 18 2. Historical Materialism.. 20 3. Alienation.. 21 4. Class Struggle... 23 5. Revolution. 24 E. Structural Elements of the Movie... 25 F. Theoretical Application... 39 CHAPTER III: SOCIAL BACKGROUND OF THE ENGLISH SOCIETY IN THE LATE TWENTIETH CENTURY... 41 A. Social Aspect... 41 B. Economic Aspect 45 C. Political Aspect. 47 D. Science and Technology 48 E. Cultural Aspect.. 55 F. Religious Aspect. 58 CHAPTER IV : STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS.. 61 A. Narrative Elements. 61 1. Character and Characterization.. 61 2. Setting. 68 3. Plot.. 72 4. Point of View. 75 x
5. Theme... 76 B. Technical Elements 77 1. Cast 77 2. Mese-en-Scene 79 3. Cinematography. 83 4. Editing 87 5. Sound 90 C. Discussion... 94 CHAPTER V : THE MARXIST ANALYSIS.96 A. Marxist Principles.. 96 1. Dialectical Materialism 96 2. Historical materialism.. 100 3. Alienation.. 102 4. Class Struggle... 104 5. Revolution 106 B. Discussion 108 CHAPTER VI: CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION 111 A. Conclusion 111 B. Suggestion. 111 BIBLIOGRAPHY APPENDIX xi