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CHAPTER 2

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

There are many theories in analyzing literature. In this research, theories that are chosen to apply are Psychoanalytic Criticism and Sociopathy Theory. To understand the literature content, it is better to explain the detail about intrinsic element of literature itself in the beginning.

2.1. Elements of Fiction

There are two forms of literature. First is fiction and the other is non-fiction. However, this research is going to analyze literary fiction work. When analyzing movie, the Elements of Fiction is important to understand in the beginning of the analysis. According to Robert DiYanni, one useful way to approach the techniques of fiction is to describe its basic elements or characteristics: plot and structure, character, setting, point of view, style and language, symbol, irony and theme. (DiYanni, 2000, p. 44). To analyze a movie, it is unnecessary to explicate the whole elements of fiction. It will work when understanding some elements only. To analyze There Will Be Blood movie with the Psychoanalytic Criticism and Alienation Theory of Marxist Criticism, it will focus on the plot, character, and setting. Moreover, cinematic elements are also important to apply in order to understand the movie.

According to Soles, fiction can be described as prose text in the form of a story that is primarily a product of human imagination. (Soles, 2009, p. 5). Fiction includes novel, short story, prose, musical, and movie or cinema. Movie can be categorized as literature as well because it comes from the written text or script. Movie is like drama or plays which also produced from the text. Movie is the way to express fiction. Soles (2009) explains that movie is included in literature. (Soles, 2009, p. 41)

Movie is the least print-based of the dramatic art. Certainly, it is a form of drama, a genre of literature. A movie is a series of ‘moving talking pictures’, which people should see and hear to understand and appreciate. Fortunately, DVD and CD players, iPods, and even mobile phones make movies as easy to watch as books are to read-which is one reason why the analysis and interpretation of film is so often an important component of introduction to literature classes. (Soles, 2009, p. 41). Movie There Will Be Blood can be categorized as historical fiction since the moviemaker interlaces a fictional story around actual events and people of the past.

Historical Fiction is realistic stories that are set in the past. There are three types of historical fiction. In one type, the author weaves a fictional story around actual events and people of the past. In another type, the story has little or no reference to recorded historical events or real persons, but how the characters live and make their living and the conflicts they must resolve are true to the period. In the third type, the story tells of the past through another genre, such as fantasy. (Albemarle County Public School, 1996)

2.1.1. Plot

Robert DiYanni put forward an opinion that plot is the arrangement of events that make up a story. (DiYanni, 2000, p. 44). From this statement above, plot can be defines as the sequences of events in order to create a story. Plot makes the reader want to know the next event in the sequence of a story. This statement is supported by DiYanni. He states that plot is something that makes the readers curious to read the next page of a book or the next scene in a movie but to do that a plot must have a sequence of incidents that bear a significant causal relationship to each other which means that one thing happens because of-as a result of-something else. (DiYanni, 2000, p. 44). DiYanni believes that many fictional plots turn on a conflict which is a struggle between opposing forces that is usually resolved in the end of the story. (DiYanni, 2000, p. 44). Aristotle also stated that plot means ‘the structuring of events’, and ‘tragedy’ is made up of six constituent elements: plot, characters, verbal expression, thought, visual adornment in dramatic performance, and song-composition. The greatest of these elements is the structuring of the incidents. For tragedy are an imitation not of men but of life, an action, and they have moral quality in accordance with their characters but are happy or unhappy in accordance with their actions. Hence, they are not active in order to imitate their characters, but they include the characters along with the actions for the sake of the latter. Thus the structure of events, the plot, is the goal of tragedy, and the goal is the greatest thing of all. Moreover, there is a state from the web, a tragedy cannot exist without a plot, but it can without characters. (Literary Tourist, 2008).

A fiction usually starts with an exposition that provides background information of a problems, it also describes the setting, and introduces the major character.

2.1.2. Character and Characterization

Without conflict, there is no plot. Without character, there is no plot. Without plot, there is no story. Character is very significant in a story. According to Robert DiYanni, “character is one of creation of people’s imagery by writing.” (DiYanni, 2000, p. 55) Character is a fictional in a story, and it can be divided into major or minor and static or dynamic characters. DiYanni states “characters in fiction can be conveniently classified as major and minor, static and dynamic. (DiYanni, 2000, p. 55). Character can be defined as a person or a creature in narrative work such as novel, play, and movie. Character could be as a male or a female in fiction work. (National Council of Teachers of English, 2004). Major character is a main character that has important role of the story, while minor character generally not developed. Major character has positive and negative qualities. Their values and any rather attribute change as a result of what happens to them. Thus, they are also referred as dynamic or round character. Static character is the same sort of the person at the end of the story as at the beginning, in the other hand, dynamic character is more fully developed and experiences changes in some aspects of the character, such as the personality and behavior. A dynamic character develops to a higher level of understanding in the course of the story.

When the author of fiction reveals the personality of a character in a story, the process itself called characterization. According to DiYanni, “characterization is the means by which the writer presents and reveal the character.” (DiYanni, 2000, p. 56). Characterization is revealed through direct characterization and indirect characterization. Direct characterization tells the audience what the personality of the character is. Meanwhile, there is an article from the website. It explains that indirect characterization shows things that reveal the personality of a character. (International Reading Association, National Council of Teachers of English , 2014)

2.1.3. Setting

According to DiYanni, “Setting is a place or location of a story’s action along with the time in which occur.” (DiYanni, 2000, p. 61). Setting is when and where the story takes place. Soles (2009, p. 79) reports, “Setting simply establish the time when and the place where the action of a story, play, or poem occurs.” Kennedy and Gioia also explained that setting includes the physical environment of a story: a house, a street, a city, a landscape, a region. Setting may crucial involve the time of the story: hour, year, or century. It might also the story take places at night, day, or dawn. In addition to time and place, setting may also include the weather, which in some stories may be important. (Kennedy & Gioia, 2009, pp. 124-125). A particular event or period may be important to the story and it can improve the reader’s information about the story. Soles explains, setting can be as important to plot as character and influence human events and behavior. The event is such as social, cultural, historical, political and economic environment. (Soles, 2009, p. 79). According to Gill (2006, p. 148), settings can be used to cover:

a. The places in which characters appear

b. The social context of characters, such as their families, friends, and class

c. The customs, beliefs, and rules of behavior that give identity to a society

d. The particular location of events

e. The atmosphere, mood, and feel that all the above elements create.

2.2. Psychoanalytic Criticism

According to Barry (2009, p. 92) Psychoanalytic criticism is a form of literary criticism which uses some of the techniques of psychoanalysis in the interpretation of literature. Barry explains that psychoanalysis itself is a form of therapy which aims to cure mental disorders by investigating the interaction of conscious and unconscious elements in the mind. Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) was the Austrian who developed the theories of psychoanalysis. Sigmund Freud divided three levels of personality. They are id (unconscious), ego (conscious) and superego (conscience). (Barry, 2009, p. 93).

The only aim of id is to fulfill a person’s pleasure, without considering the reality and conscience. Therefore, id can be defined as something dark, inaccessible area, see thing with instinctive urges and its only reality is its own selfish needs.. Ego shows what is real and it helps human to combine ideas and makes sense of things. Afterwards, superego is closely related to the morality. There is one aspect of the superego that explain about what is right and what is wrong and judges human behavior accordingly. Superego can be called conscience. Superego gives human sense of right and wrong, pride and guilt. Furthermore, it makes human to act in ways that are acceptable to the society, rather than to the individual. (Snowden, 2006, pp. 104-106).

Actually, there are many psychoanalytic critics; one of them is Erich Fromm (1900-1980). The objects that are going to be analyzed in this study will also applying the Psychoanalytic Criticism Theory by Erich Fromm. According to Fromm (1973), Psychoanalysis is essentially a theory of unconscious strivings, of resistance, of falsification, of reality according to one's subjective needs and expectations (transference), of character, and of conflicts between passionate strivings embodied in character traits and the demands for self-preservation. (Fromm, 1973, p. 84).

2.2.1. Human Nature

According to Fromm (1961, p. 24), humans at birth are like a blank sheet of paper, on which the culture writes its text. Human can be defined as human not only biologically, anatomically and physiologically, but also psychologically. Fromm explained that the emergence of human can be defined as occurring at the point in the process of evolution where instinctive adaptation has reached its minimum. But humans emerges with new qualities which differentiate them from the animal: Humans awareness of themselves as a separate entity, humans ability to remember the past, to visualize the future, and to denote objects and act by symbols; humans reasons to conceive and understand the world; and humans imagination through which reach far beyond the range of their senses. (Fromm, 1947, p. 39).

2 Human Character

According to Fromm, character can be defined as the (relatively permanent) form in which human energy is canalized in the process of assimilation and socialization. (Fromm, 1947, p. 59). In the process of living, humans relate themselves to the world by acquiring and assimilating things, and relating themselves to people. humans can acquire things by receiving or taking them from an outside source or by producing them through their own effort. But they must acquire and assimilate them in some fashion in order to satisfy their needs. Human cannot live alone and unrelated to others. Human has to associate with others for defense, for work, for sexual satisfaction, for play, for the upbringing of the young, for the transmission of knowledge and material possession. Complete isolation is unbearable and incompatible with sanity. (Fromm, 1947, p. 54).

3 Human Needs

According to Havva KÖK (2007), human needs theorists argue that one of the primary causes of protracted or intractable conflict is people’s unyielding drive to meet their unmet needs on the individual, group, and societal level. According to this theory, in order to live and attain well-being, humans need certain essentials. These are called human needs or basic human needs. Human needs theorists argue that conflicts and violent conflicts are caused by unmet human needs. Violence occurs when certain individuals or groups do not see any other way to meet their need, or when they need understanding, respect and consideration for their needs. (KÖK, 2007). Rosenberg (2003) states that violence is a tragic expression of unmet human needs, implying that all actions undertaken by human beings are attempts to satisfy their needs. If we are able to connect with our needs and those of others, we will therefore be able to look at other ways of meeting such needs, avoiding violence and destruction. (Rosenberg, 2003, pp. 3-7).

Human needs or basic human needs are confused with subsistence needs. However, such a view of human needs may limit our understanding of the human being to simply exist as a biological creature. Although there are conflicts over subsistence, most conflicts have to do with other unmet human needs, such as protection, identity, recognition, participation and understanding. Only by giving more importance to these latter needs, truly recognizing them as human needs essential to the wellbeing of all human being, will we be able to address current and intractable conflicts. Our confused view of human needs as subsistence needs only is also in part due to the alienation of “needs” we have created in our society. Needs are often associated with weakness, and someone who needs is considered weak and fragile. This also further impedes the inclusion of needs approaches in conflict transformation and peace processes. (KÖK, 2007).

4 Human Aggression and Destructiveness

According to Fromm (1973), aggression is all acts that cause, and are intended to cause, damage to another person, animal, or inanimate object. (Fromm, 1973, p. 187). Fromm stated there are two entirely different kinds of human aggression. The first is Benign Aggression and the second is Malignant Aggression. Benign Aggression connects human to share with all animals, is a phylogenetically programmed impulse to attack (or to flee) when vital interests are threatened. This defensive, "benign" aggression is in the service of the survival of the individual and the species, is biologically adaptive, and ceases when the threat has ceased to exist. While "malignant" aggression, for instance, destructiveness and cruelty, is specific to the human species and virtually absent in most mammals; it is not phylogenetically programmed and not biologically adaptive; it has no purpose, and its satisfaction is lustful. In this analysis, it will be focus only to Malignant Aggression.

1 Malignant Aggression

Fromm argued that malignant aggression is specifically human and not derived from animal instinct. It does not serve the physiological survival of human, yet it is an important part of human mental functioning. It is one of the passions that are dominant and powerful in some individuals and cultures although not in others. (Fromm, 1973, p. 218). Destructiveness is divided into two forms. Fromm stated destructiveness appears in two forms: spontaneous, and bound in the character structure. (Fromm, 1973, p. 270).

3 Sociopathy

Sociopathy is a part of Anti-Social Personality Disorder (ASPD). (Stout, 2005, p. 5). According to the current bible of psychiatric labels, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV of the American Psychiatric Association, the clinical diagnosis of "antisocial personality disorder" should be considered when an individual possesses at least three (3) of the following seven characteristics:

a. Failure to conform to social norms;

b. Deceitfulness, manipulativeness;

c. Impulsivity, failure to plan ahead;

d. Irritability, aggressiveness;

e. Reckless disregard for the safety of self or others;

f. Consistent irresponsibility;

g. Lack of remorse after has hurt, mistreated, or stolen from another person.

The presence in an individual of any three of these "symptoms," taken together, is enough to make many psychiatrists suspect the disorder. (Stout, 2005, p. 6). The statement above is supported by M.E Thomas. Thomas (2013) explains that she is a sociopath. The statement is below:

“I am a sociopath. Through dual quirks of genetics and environment, I suffer from what psychologists now refer to as antisocial personality disorder, characterized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) as “a pervasive pattern of disregard for and violation of the rights of others.” Key among the characteristics of the diagnosis are a lack of remorse, a penchant for deceit, and a failure to conform to social norms. I prefer to define my sociopathy as a set of traits that inform my personality but don’t define me: I am generally free of entangling and irrational emotions, I am strategic and canny, I am intelligent and confident and charming, but I also struggle to react appropriately to other people’s confusing and emotion-driven social cues.” (Thomas, 2013, p. 2)

Stout explained many mental health professionals refer to the condition of little or no conscience as "antisocial personality disorder," a noncorrectable disfigurement of character. Sociopath person usually has charm and charisma to persuade other people. As Stout stated below:

One of the more frequently observed of these traits is a glib and superficial charm that allows the true sociopath to seduce other people, figuratively or literally-a kind of glow or charisma that, initially, can make the sociopath seem more charming or more interesting than most of the normal people around him. He or she is more spontaneous, or more intense, or somehow more "complex," or sexier, or more entertaining than everyone else. Sometimes this "sociopathic charisma" is accompanied by a grandiose sense of self-worth that may be compelling at first, but upon closer inspection may seem odd or perhaps laughable.

("Someday the world will realize how special I am," or "You know that after me, 'no other lover will do,") (Stout, 2005, p. 7)

The Statement above is supported by Stanley C. Loewen (2014). He explains the detail about the characteristics of sociopathy which he elaborated below:

“Someone who is described as a sociopath will have several traits that set them apart from those with no personality disorders. These traits include the following:

a. Lack of empathy – Inability to feel sympathy for others or to understand the emotional consequences of their actions.

b. Cold, calculating nature – The ability and willingness to use others around them to personal gain

c. Shallow emotions – Lack of real emotion in response to events, limited capacity to feel love

d. Narcissism – A personality disorder in itself in which the individual feels strong love and admiration toward themselves (often a defense mechanism against deep seated low esteem)

e. Grandiose self- image – They might see themselves as someone who is superior to others and sometimes even experiences delusions. A sociopath might see themselves as a fitting ruler of a country or even the world, but might also have delusional beliefs such as seeing themselves as a God or having super powers

f. Charming – While the sociopath is unable to fully understand the emotions of others, they are capable but rather highly adept at mimicking them and might appear to be charming and normal at first

g. High IQ – Often sociopaths will exhibit a high IQ which they can use to manipulate and plan

h. Manipulative – Sociopaths use their superficial charm and high IQ to manipulate others to get their ends, and their lack of empathy allows them to do this with no sense of guilt or remorse

i. Secretive – Has little need for others and is highly secretive in their actions meaning

j. Sexually deviant – The lack of remorse, guilt or emotional attachments means that the sociopath is happy to have affairs and to engage in questionable sexual activity without questioning their desires

k. Sensitive to criticism – That said, like all narcissists, the sociopath will desire the approval of others and will be highly sensitive to criticisms. They often feel they deserve adulation and admiration of the world and might feel victimized

l. Paranoid – Often their lack of understanding of emotion along with their incongruous self view means that they feel a lack of trust and paranoia

m. Despotic/Authoritarian – Often the sociopath will see themselves as a necessary authority and will be in favor or totalitarian rule

n. Lawfulness – Despite popular belief, a sociopath is not likely to be a problem to the law in later life, but rather will seek to find loopholes, to rise to a position of power, or to move to another area so that their behavior is tolerated

o. Low tolerance for boredom – Sociopaths require constant stimulation and get quickly bored

p. Impulsive behavior – A lack of regret and empathy means makes sociopaths more likely to make sudden rash decisions based on the current facts

q. Compulsive lying – As part of their facade, and as a means to an end, sociopaths are compulsive liars and will rarely speak truthfully making them hard to pin down

r. The MacDonald Triad – In childhood sociopaths will likely have demonstrated the 'MacDonald Triad' also known as the 'Triad of Sociopathy', traits that often are demonstrated in sociopaths from a young age. These include animal cruelty (pulling the wings off of flies etc, bed wetting, and pyromania (an obsession with fire setting)).” (Loewen, 2014)

Tirado (2013) also reports the characteristics of sociopath at work is devided into four types. The following are:

a. Great Charmer

Sociopaths are great communicators and rarely are lost for words. They disguise themselves behind their charm to get what they want. They are great con artists and because of their gift of gab, they get what they want.

b. Sociopaths Have A Sense of Entitlement

At work, a sense of entitlement means that nothing will stop sociopaths to get what they want.

c. Sociopaths Do Not Know How to Empathize

Sociopaths find it difficult to understand other people’s emotions because they are incapable of experiencing guilt, shame, or even love.

d. Sociopaths Are Manipulative and Compulsive Liars

Sociopaths are excellent liars and lie because they know they can get away with it. They like manipulating people and typically target individuals they believe they can control.

Tirado (2013) adds, “For the most part sociopaths don’t have many friends and find it difficult to hold down relationships particularly romantic ones.” (Tirado, 2013).

1 The Cause of Sociopath

To understand the cause of sociopath, Stout (2005, p. 123) explains that estimate of 30 – 50 percent of the cause of sociopathy can be attributed to heritability, while the remaining percentage is a confusing and not-yet-understood mixture of environmental factors. Dr. Bonn (2014) specifically explains that the cause of psychopathy is different than the cause of sociopathy. It is believed that psychopathy is the result of “nature” (genetics) while sociopathy is the result of “nurture” (environment). Psychopathy is related to a physiological defect that results in the underdevelopment of the part of the brain responsible for impulse control and emotions. Sociopathy, on the other hand, is more likely the product of childhood trauma and physical/emotional abuse. Because sociopathy appears to be learned rather than innate, sociopaths are capable of empathy in certain limited circumstances but not in others, and with a few individuals but not others. Loewen (2014) also reports that the cause of sociopathy is more likely from a problem child. As the statement below:

“A sociopath is likely to have been a 'problem child' and exhibited difficult behavior when younger. As they grow older they are likely to be highly successful which is a result of their willingness to get one over on their competition and colleagues, a desire and belief in success, and lack of risk aversion. Thus they are likely to be found in positions as stock brokers, as CEOs or even as politicians.” (Loewen, 2014).

The cause of sociopathy also explained by Pemment (2013, p. 3) that brain differences affect human to be sociopathic.

2 The Difference between Psychopath and Sociopath

To find the difference between psychopath and sociopath, (Pemment, 2013, p. 459) explained that psychopath has no empathy or sense of morality, while sociopath is indicative of having a sense of morality and a well-developed conscience. As this statement below:

Psychopathy, which is the condition Hare successfully captured with the PCL-R, means the individual will have no empathy or sense of morality among a number of other traits (Hare, 1991). Sociopathy, on the other hand, is indicative of having a sense of morality and a well-developed conscience, but the sense of right and wrong is not that of the parent culture. As this difference is reflected in the brain, the distinction again shows its use. (Pemment, 2013, p. 459).

Loewen (2014) states that there is little agreed difference between sociopathy and psychopathy, but some psychologists agree that psychopaths are more calculating and measured in their actions. The psychopath will be more likely to construct a complex scheme or plan and to carry it out, whereas the sociopath is more driven by impulsivity. This makes the psychopath more likely to commit crimes and generally the term psychopath is used more generally to describe the criminally insane rather than just the lack of empathy. (Loewen, 2014)

According to Bonn (2014), “Any crimes committed by a sociopath, including murder, will tend to be haphazard and spontaneous rather than planned.” (Bonn S. A., 2014).

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