REVEALING THE CHARACTERS' CONFLICTS THROUGH THE SPEECH ACT THEORY AND THE THEORY OF CONFLICT IN MEG CABOT'S "PRINCESS DIARIES: TAKE TWO"

Abstract

This study was qualitative research on revealing the characters' conflicts through Speech Act Theory and the Theory of Conflict in Meg Cabot's "Princess Diaries: Take Two". This novel was chosen as the data resource because the novel represents the data in the form of utterances that relevant and needed in this research. The data were collected by document analysis. The total sample was 10 utterances. They were taken random sampling by lottery. The data were analyzed inductively based on the theory of Austin's Speech Act Theory and the Theory of Conflict to reveal the character's conflicts. The result of the data analysis indicated that among 14 utterances, Austin's Speech Act Theory could reveal some conflicts. Those are: 9 psychological conflicts (utterance number 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, and 14), 3 physical conflicts (utterance number 5, 6, 7) and 2 social conflicts (utterance number 1, 10). In conclusion, the Speech Act Theory, the illocutionary act, and the Theory of Conflict can be used to reveal the conflicts, in this case the character's conflicts, to make light on the understanding of the literary works content especially novel. Then, this writing suggest that it is necessary for the English students to comprehend the Speech Act Theory and the Theory of Conflict deeply as the way to understand the content of novel.