Adventure Formula In Ernest Cline's Ready Player Two

Abstract

This research analyzes the adventure formula in Ernest Cline's novel titled Ready Player Two (2020). By using John G. Cawelti's formulaic theory of literature, the researchers examine how the novel formulaic structure is constructed, and its relation to the cultural issue of the loss of human agency in digital era of twenty first century the United States. Employing qualitative research methodology, this research uses the novel Ready Player Two as the primary data, and other sources about the loss of human agency in the United States as the secondary data. The findings revealed that Ready Player Two uses adventure formula as its dominant archetype, the heroic adventure is portrayed by Wade Watts challenges of searching the seven shards to save everyone and defeat Anorak. The research also found that the formula in the novel reflects the United States concerns about technological advancement, AI, virtual reality, surveillance, and dependence, which contribute to the loss of human agency. The analysis also shows that the novel fulfill Cawelti's four hypotheses about formula relation and culture by affirming its cultural interest and attitudes, resolving the conflicting ideological tension, allowing exploration of forbidden boundaries, and assimilating new cultural changes into familiar narrative structure. The novel Ready Player Two, therefore, functions as popular entertainment and cultural device that reflect the current issues in the United States.