CRITICS TOWARDS AMERICAN DREAM IN ARTHUR MILLER'S ALL MY SONS DRAMA A PAPER Submitted to the Faculty of Adab and Humanities In Partial Accomplishment of the Requirements For the Degree of Strata I By: NUNI ANITA RIA 102026024499 ENGLISH LETTERS DEPARTElV!fENT FACULTY OF ADAB AND IIUMANITIES STATE ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY SYARIF HIDAYATULLAH JAKARTA 2006 APPROVAL SHEET OF ADVISOR CRITICS TOWARDS AMERICAN DREAM IN ARTHUR MILLER'S ALL MY SONS DRAMA A PAPER Submitted to the Faculty of Letters and Humanities In Partial Accomplishment of the Requirements for the Degree of Strata I By: NUNI ANITARIA NIM:102026024499 Approved By: Advisor Dini Masitah, M. Hum NIP. 150 317 724 THE ENGLISH LETTERS DEPARTEMENT FACULTY OF ADAB AND HUMANITIES STA TE ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY SY ARIF HIDAY ATULLAH JAKARTA LEGALIZATION OF EXAMINATION COMMITTEE A paper entitle "CRITICS TOWA ill)S AMERICAN DREAM IN ARTHUR MILLER'S ALL MY SONS DRAMA" was examined at examination session of the faculty of Adab and Humanities in pmtial accomplishment of the requirements for the degree of strata I (S-1) at the English Letters Department. Jakarta, November 24'', 2006 Examination Committee Chairman Secretar ~----- / M. d Nul'hasan, S. Ag., MA N1P. 15 NIP. 150 281 978 Advisor Dini Masitah, M. Hum NIP. 150 317 724 Examiner r/ Muh<Wf'~arkhan, Dr. M.pd Drs. Na an Tarihoran, M.Huf!! ABSRTACT Nuni Anilaria, A Deconstruction and characterizations in Critics Towards American Dream in Arthur Miller's All My Sons Drama; State Islamic University Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta 2006. In this research, the writer analysis an alternative reading of Joe Keller characterization in the drama text of All My Sons by Arthur Mi:ller's on 1974. At that time the individualism, materialism, and un responsibility was become one critics towards American Dream in All My Sons drama. And of course All My Sons drama regards as the drama which convey that critics. Joe Keller characterization that is always treated to gaining the successful life, and finally he trapped in his ambition that caused the death of Joe Keller himself In this drama Joe Keller as the main character is able to face various conflicts in his life. The situation in his circumstances where he lives has built his into brave and decisive man. And these characteristics are considered support critics movements. In this paper, the writer would like to analyze Joe Keller characterization by using deconstructive analysis. Deconstructive analysis is one of theory whieh focuses on the text. Deconstructionist analysis a literary work by finding something contradiction which is contained in the text in which meaning are expressed directly contrary to the surface meaning, such as time, tone, person and view point. The main character "Joe Keller" in All lvfy Sons drama represents characteristics which considered represent critics towards American Dream, Arthur Miller's portray Joe Keller characterization that always treated to gaining the successful life, and he trapped in his ambition that caused the death of Joe Keller himself Critic's point of view considered Joe Keller as an independent, courageous and decisive man. In other view, by using deconstructive theory the writer sees there are some different things or · contradiction with Joe Keller's characteristics. The different through Joe Keller's words, motivation and action. From her words, motivation and action, it reveals that actually Joe Keller only wants her family to live in enterprise, prosperity, respected a lot of money, well prudent in old time and life better than before. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT In the name of Allah SWT, the most gracious, the most Merciful. First of all, the writer would like to thank Allah SWT for His favor and guidance to her in completing this paper. She does believe there is nothing she could do without His help. All praise belongs to Him, the Creator of the living things from being nothing to exist, May solution and benediction is into the: nobles of the prophet and messenger, Muhammad SAW. On this occasion, the writer would like to thank her beloved parents who have given her full-financial and spiritual support during her studiy and the process of making the paper. Then, the writer would like to thanks Mrs. Dini Masitah, M. Hum, is advisor who always guides her during the process of the paper. The writer fully realizes without her help, this paper will mean nothing. The writer would like to thank some people who have contributed much while this paper is in process until it becomes a complete work, they are as follows: l. Dr. H. Abdul Chair, as the Dean of Faculty of Adab Humanities, Dr. Muhammad Farkhan, M.Pd, as the head of English Letters Department, Nurhasan, S.Ag., M.A., as the secretary of English Letters Depmtemen. And all the staff of Faculty of Adab and Humanities. 2. All the lectures who have given her their time and knowledge. 3. The staff of State Islamic University Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta Library, the staff of Indonesia University Library, the staff of American Corner Syahid State Islamic University Jakarta and the staff of American Cultural Center Library in University oflndonesia. 4. My parents Mr. H. Wawan Gunawan and Mrs. Hj. Ida Faridha, they are my spirit to get success in my life and always pray me gave love to me. 5. My twin Sister Nunung Khoirunissa, S. Sos, who always gave me suggestion to finishing this paper, my Brother Ahmad Rifai, S. Si, thanks for its all. 6. My loves honey; Mr. Dian Nopendi, who always gives me his support and listens to my problems during my hard time. And my loves friend, Mrs. Heny Martini, who always gave me help to finishing this paper. Thanks yon my love. 7. My entire Friend in UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, especially in Semester eight. Finally, the writer hopes this paper will be useful especially for the writer and those who are interested in it. May Allah bless us. Amien. The Writer; Nuni Anitaria TABLE OF CONTENT ABSTRACT ......•..•.•....•..••.••..•.•.•..•.•.•..•.•.•.....•............................................... i ACKNOWLEDGMENT ............................................................................... ii TABLE OF CONTENT ............................................................................... iv CHAPTl~R I INTRODUCTION .................................................... 1 A. Background of the Study ....................................... . B. Focus of the Study .................................................... 6 C. Research Questions . .. . .. . .. . . .. ... . .. . .. . . . .. . .. .. . . .. . . .. . .. . .. . . .. 6 D. Significance of the Study ......................................... 6 CHAPTER II THEOI<ETICAL FRAMEWORK ........................... 7 A. Character and Characterization ............................ 7 B. Deconstrnction Theory .......................................... I 0 CHAPTER III RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ................................ 15 A. The Method of the Research .. ... . .. .. ........ ... . .. . .. . .. . .. 15 B. The Technique of Data .......................................... 15 C. I nstrnment of the Research .. . .. . . .. . .. . .. .. . . . .. .. .. .. ... . .. . 16 D. The Unit Analysis ................................................ 16 E. Time and Place ... .... .... ..... ........ ... .... ... .. . . ... .. .. .. .. .. .. 17 F. Organization of the Paper........................................ 17 CHAPTER IV A. The Influeuce of American Dream Toward American People, Especially in Civil War II ........................... 18 I. Socio - Economic Condition in America ......... 19 2. American Dream Myth and Its Development (After Depression Era) ........................................... 26 B. Critics Toward American Dn~am Through the Characters in All My Sons Drama ........................... 30 I. Character Joe Keller ........................................ 32 2. Character Chris Keller ..................................... 44 3. Character Kate Keller ...................................... 50 CHAPTERV CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION ........................ 56 CONCLUSION ............................................................. 56 SUGGESTION ............................................................... 60 REFERENCES ............................................................................................... 61 APPENDIXES ............................................................................................... 63 A. All My Sons Synopsis ............................................... 64 B. Biography of Arthur Miller ...................................... 65 CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION A. Background of the Study American Dream - a dream of American style - the term floored by a historian, James Truslow Adams that influenced Ameriean very much, as the success story was different from any other's country. Every one can put their own dream in different ways, but banded in the same ideas; the same chance for every one, the same of level, the competition to achieve, and the important thing is the idea of success, individualism and hard work. Every one must succeed in their fields, succeed in performance, in social intercourse, or succeed in collecting money.1 America is the country - founded base on the dreams. It begun when the pioneers sailed on the Mayflower ship and stepped on America continent; they struggled to make the dreams come true. They dreamed a democracy. They didn't want aristocracy anymore, with the tight status different like in Europe.2 Democracy would allow them progress in politic, struggle in equal social status, self - freedom and independence. All over that, they dreamed of success achievement. Based on this will, the pioneers opened and the land and strived on the earth which is rich of nature 1• Henry S, Nevins, Commager, The American Mind, (Yale University, Press, New Haven, 1971), p. 156 2. R. W. B. Lewis, The American Adam-Innocence, Tragedy and Tradition in the Nineteenth Cemwy, (The University of Chicago Press, 1995), p. 220 2 resources, the roads and luxurious apartments were built in every place, but still need hard work to dig all of that. Beside that, there was challenge from the Indian. Finally, they succeed so Ive all of that with strong motivation. 3 The struggle in confidence and optimism that inheritance by the pioneers was not only grow the respect toward self, bnt also the conscious that other people also have the same ability and opportunity. For that they must be honored. This opinion, that every one has the same chance to develop, enable the opporttmity for every one and their family to increase social status from the lower class up to the higher one. Existence of social mobility in American society this represented the strong motivation for every people to work extra ossifying, more than required. During American nation realize to get time to go forward for every one who will try, America Dream always live and real in their life. But for the man who have the strong optimism but getting difficulty to get the opporttmity to go forward, that dream turn into the illusion and which remain only feeling frustration and hostility. Along with time movement, the epoch develops by technology development and mind change. Economic change influenced the way of people thinking. In the end of J century when the big scale business in the high development made the 9th attention focus changed into materialism and greedy values, As which has tells in drama All My Sons by Arthur Miller 'Arthur Miller is a dramatist, which has potential position in the theater world of America. His name was put in the row of many other 3• Milton and Jacobson Schwartz, Friedman, A Konetary History ofth e United States, 1907- 1960, Princeton, (NY: Princeton University Press), p. 10