REBELLION AGAINST TRADITONAL VALUES IN JOHN STEINBECK’S THE GRAPES OF WRATH

Titis Setyabudi , SS., Prof. Bakdi Soemanto,

2013 | Tesis | S2 Pengkajian Amerika

Tesis ini membahas tentang pemberontakan terhadap nilai-nilai tradisional dalam novel The Grapes of Wrath karya John Steinbeck. Penelitian ini menggali tentang nilai-nilai tradisional di Amerika pada awal abad dua puluh di mana nilai-nilai tersebut berasal dari nilai-nilai yang dianut dalam keluarga. Mereka mulai mempertanyakan nilai-nilai yang selama ini mereka pegang ketika mereka harus menghadi keadaan yang sulit. Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan interdisipliner atau lintas ilmu. Penelitian ini mencoba memotret keadaan masyarakat Amerika yang berpengaruh pada perubahan nilai yang dianut. Hal ini tercermin dalam novel The Grapes of Wrath karya John Steinbeck. Penelitian ini dimulai paparan tentang nilai-nilai tradisional Amerika pada awal abad dua puluh dan sebelumnya. Dijelaskan pula kondisi masyarakat setelah kejadian Great Depression, sebuah pengalaman pahit yang mendorong perubahan dalam kehidupan masyarakat. Penelitian ini ditutup dengan penjabaran tentang pemberontakan nilai tradisional yang terjadi di Amerika. Nilai-nilai tersebut antara lain: kesalehan, kepatuhan, dan hubungan antara laki-laki dan perempuan. Nilai-nilai tersebut berubah karena ada faktor luar yang mendorong masyarakat pendukung nilai tersebut mengubah nilai-nilai yang selam ini mereka pegang.

This thesis discusses rebellion against traditional values in John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath. This study elaborates traditional values in America in early twenty century coming from family values that begin to be questioned when the supporter of the values facing turmoil situation. This research is conducted under discipline of American studies employing interdisciplinary approach. This thesis attempts to portrait the condition of America in early twenty century that influences social changing in the society, one of the changing is values. It is reflected by John Steinbeck in his The Grapes of Wrath. This study begins with an introductory note presenting American traditional values in early twenty century and the previous period. It is also depicted the condition of the people in Great Depression era, the experience that changes many aspects of people life. They have to adapt with the great changing that forces them to change they life. This study then discloses that there is rebellion toward American values. Those values have a tremendous shift in its journey. In past, the traditional values; being pious, obedience, and traditional man-woman relationship are dominant in fulfilling a family need. After the great depression and the dust bowl, these values become less in use. The character react the external factor based on their new meanings toward values. The old tradition does not conform to the hardship. This rejection is caused not only by disturbance of privacy but also social conformity. The social conformity is a life surrounding of the character which changes from tenant farmers to fruit pickers. They live with the very high individualism in California. People are busy to reach their business and disobey to build the brotherhood among them. In other word, the government does not give much influence and they fail to protect their people.

Kata Kunci : pendekatan interdisiplin, pemberontakan, nilai tradisional, Great Depression