THE STUDY OF CONFLICT IN RELATION TO THE SETTING IN SHORT

STORY WHOS IRISH

RESEARCH QUESTION :
1. How does the setting reflect the conflict ?
2. how does the others intrinsic elements connected and cause the conflict?
THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
In analyzing the conflict in relation to the setting, the writer applies the Structuralism
theory as the approach of the analysis.
The former of structuralism idea Ferdinand de Saussure assert that language is a
system in which all the elements fit together and in which the value of any one element
depend on the simultaneous coexistence of all others ( de Saussure, 1983, p. 113 ).
Structuralism is study about how the intrinsic elements of a literary work connected and
cannot be disparate to interpret the meaning of the work its self. ( Bressler, Charles E, 1999 ).
Indeed, Saussure writes that connection between language and structure is something
that cannot be disparate because of the need each other to interpret the language itself.
However, for the structuralist, involve an iquiry into the condition surrounding the act of
interpretation itself ( how literature conveys meaning ) , not an in depth investigation of an
individual work. Because an individual work can express only the values and the belief
system of which is a part , structuralist emphasize the system ( language ) whereby text text
relate to each other , not an examinationof an isolated text ( parole). ( Bressler, Charles. E,
1999,p.94)
The other structuralist, Mokarovsky and Felik Vodica elaborate Saussure idea more
wide and connect it directly into literary work. They assert that:
Literary work is the process of communication, semiotic consists of
sign structure and value. Definitively structuralism gives attention to the
analysis of element in literary work. The element are theme, conflict, setting,
character, point of view and style of language.
From the idea that the writer assume from the expert of structuralism approach that
show this theory basically can be applied by connected the intrinsic element of the literary
work which means the writer should analyze not only one element but all the element that
connected and needed for getting the idea from using this theory approach
In addition, the writer wants to put those ideas of structuralism as further discussion in
analyzing the Short Story Whos Irish by Gish Jen by using the structuralism theory approach
by analyzing the character, Setting, plot and conflict that connected each other.
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CHAPTER II
ANALYSIS I
2.1.

CHARACTER
a. Character I
-

In the Whos Irish short story character I is a Fierce person

I work hard my whole life and fierce besides. My husband used to say
hes afraid of me, and in our restaurants busboy, cooks all afraid of me too,
even the gang members come for protection money, they try talk to my
husband. When I am there, they stay away. If they come by mistake, they
pretend they are come to eat ( p. 1, line 1 ).

From the quotation above we can see that the character I is a fierce person which
means unfriendly that makes all the people who close to her are afraid of her even her
husband and many of them just want to stay away from her because it makes they feel scare
and uncomfortable.
-

In the Whos Irish short story, the character I is hard working woman I work
hard my whole life. When I come to this country , I have no money and do not
speak English , but my husband and I own our own restaurant before he die. Free,
clear and no mortgage. ( p. 1, line 1,3 )

From the quotation above we can know that as a woman who come as immigrant and have no
money for living, she always ready to help and work hard together with her husband in
building their own restaurant to continue their life even until her husband die she is still ready
to manage the restaurant which means she work very hard alone to continue the living.
2

In the Whos Irish short story, the character I is a Cocky person I say, You
people too picky about what you sell. Selling egg roll not good enough for you,

but at least my husband and I can say, we made it. What you can say ?? tell me.
What you can say. ( p. 2, line 1 ).
From the quotation above we can see that the character I is a people who not only fierce but
also cocky person that we can see she is really proud of what she has done with her husband
in managing a business in front of the people who wants to start a new business and from her
acts and word it doesnt motivate people but it humiliate them.
-

In the Whos Irish short story the character I is a impatient woman which part of
her fierce side You never take off your cloth when you were little, I say. you
spank her, she stop, I say another day. Still Sophie take off her clothes, until one
day I spank her. ( p. 3-4, line 2,6 ).

From the quotation above we can see that as a woman and also mother and also grandmother,
the character I is impatient woman in facing and caring her granddaughter Sophie, because
we know that not all children have know the good attitude from kids age and as the
grandmother her job is for caring of her granddaughter with love and right way ( give her an
example of bad effect from doing something or give any easy definition ) not by using any
hardness way. It can make her granddaughter hate her and fee that she doesnt love her
granddaughter .

b. Natalie / the daughter of character I

-

In the Whos Irish short story , the character Natalie is a hard working woman
she is a vice president in the Bank now, her new house is big enough for
everybody have their own room including me. (p.1, line 2 ).

From the quotation above we can see that Natalie is a hard working woman that we can see
from her spirit, now she can has a good position in her office and also she got new big house
that can accommodate her family including her mother who is a shadow which means now
the family life is better than before because of the daughter.

In the Whos Irish short story, Natalie is a wise woman

You spank her I say, in America parents not supposed to spank the
child. It gives them low self-esteem. my daughter say. use your words
my daughter say. Thats what we tell Sophie. how about to set a good
example. ( p. 4-5, line 7,3).

From the quotation above we can see that Natalie is a wise mother who choose to give a good
way in caring of her kids. She doesnt wants to show the hardness to Sophie because Sophie
is a girl that become a woman in the future and also give a spank is not a good way because it
can give a bad example that Sophie can imitate it also because of one the nature of children
is imitating.
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c. The character Sophie / Granddaughter of character I

-

In the Whos Irish short story Sophie is a wild and brave kids But Sophie is
wild.we go to the park , this is what she do. She stand up in the stroller , she
take off all of her clothes thrown them into the fontain. ( p. 3, line 3 )

From the quotation above we can see that Sophie is a wild girl who doesnt ashamed to take
off all of her clothes in the central park where the people gathering around there. She doesnt
ashamed to show her body to the people that this is not a good attitude for a girl . as a girl she
supposed to polite and wear her clothes because the is not a consumption of the public. This
attitude should be taught from the beginning.
-

In the Whos Irish short story Sophie is a stubborn granddaughter Sophie, I

say. How did you become stubborn like this? I am go home without you. I try use
a stick, chase out of there, and once or twice I hit her, But she still do not come
out. (

As we seen in the quotation above that Sophie is a kind of stubborn person which she doesnt
want to listen to anybody including her grandmother even the grandmother use many ways
but she still on her stubbornness and listen to only herself.

2.2. SETTING
a. PLACE
-

In the Whos Irish short story, the place where the story happen is in America
when I come to this country, I have no money and do not speak Englishin
America parent not supposed to spank the child

From the quotation above we can see that the place where the story taken in America and we
also know that the character I is not originally American.
-

In the Whos Irish short story, the place where the story happen is in a Park
.we go to the park , this is what she do. After a while, getting cold out.
Getting dark out. No one left in the playground, only us

From the quotation above we can see that the place where the story happen also taken in a
park which kids used to play in every day from morning until evening, and Sophie love to go
to the park for playing with her grandmother.
b. CULTURE
-

In the Whos Irish short story show different culture, that one of them is Chinese
culture
In China, people say mixed children are supposed to be smart.in
China, daughter take care of the mother. I say, Chinese people dont think

daughter so great. In China, we talk whether we have difficulty or no

difficulty. We talk about whether life is bitter or no bitter.
From the quotation above we can see that the character I assume her chinese culture
always and always compare it into another culture that exist around. It also show how proud
the character I with her country and it also show up that the character I cannot adapt
the culture where she live now.

In the Whos Irish short story the other culture that shown is American culture
here is other way around. Mother help daughter, mother ask anything else I can do
? other ways daughter complain mother is not supportive. In America, all day
long people talk about creative

From the quotation above we can see that beside Chinese culture there is also American
culture that influent the story where the American culture adapted by the daughter and her
granddaughter of character I .

CHAPTER III
ANALYSIS II
( THE CONFLICT OF MAIN CHARACTER )
3.1.
-

PLOT
EXPOSITION
The exposition begin with the introduce of the character I, Sophie,daughter of
character I and a little of Chinese culture. And also introducing the husband of
the daughter and his family that come up from Irish
In China, people say mixed children are supposed to be smart
and definitely my granddaughter is smart . but Sophie is wild not like
my daughter Natalie. I work hard my whole life and fierce beside.
My husband used to say hes afraid of me .But Sophie take after
Natalies husband family, their name Shea. Irish.

RAISING ACTION
The raising action begin when the family of both side. The wife family that is
from china and husband family that is from Irish on Christmas day are meet up
together. While they are do have a good conversation suddenly the mother
( character I ) said that the granddaughter ( Sophie ) is not the kid from the
father ( john ) because she got brown skin and also the raising action there are so
many conflict that become the inception of the conflict such as the attitude of the
granddaughter.
maybe John is not her father, I say one day to stop the rain and sure enough,
train wreck. None of the brothers ever say word brown to me again. You
spank her I say, in America parents not supposed to spank the child. It
gives them low self-esteem. my daughter say. use your words my
daughter say. Thats what we tell Sophie. how about to set a good example.

CLIMAX
The climax begin when on one day the character I found out by her daughter
hit her granddaughter with using a stick which make Natalie is really upset of her
mother
what are you doing ? whats going on ? say my daughter. Put down
that stick ! say my daughter. you are crazy say my daughter . you are
crazy say my daughter. look at what you did! You are crazy how could you
use a stick ? I told you use your words! she is hard to handle I say. she is
three years old! You cannot use a stick! she not like any Chinese girl I ever
saw I say

FALLING ACTION
Falling action begin when finally the character I doesnt stay anymore at her
daughter house
but now my daughter take me around to look at apartment. After all, I
can cook, I can clean, there is no reason I cannot live by myself. All I need is
telephone. Of course she is sorry, sometimes she is crying. I am the one to say
everything will be okay.

RESOLUTION
The ending or resolution begin with finally the character I come to live with
Bess ( Johns mother ) together.
I come to live with Bess. Imagine that. Bess make an offer and
sure enough, where she come from people mean for you to move in
when they say thing like that, a crazy idea, go to live with someone
elses family, but she like to have some female company, not like my
daughter who do not believe in company.

3.2.

CONFLICT
a. External Conflict

The character I have conflict with her daughter when she found out hit the kid
what are you doing ? whats going on ? say my daughter.
Put down that stick ! say my daughter. you are crazy say my
daughter . you are crazy say my daughter. look at what you did!
You are crazy how could you use a stick ? I told you use your
words! she is hard to handle I say. she is three years old! You
cannot use a stick! she not like any Chinese girl I ever saw I say

The character I also have a conflict with her granddaughter when she on the
job babysitting her ( Sophie)
This is how one day bigger trouble come. The bigger trouble
start when Sophie hide in the foxhole with that Shovel full of sand.
Sophie! I say. Come out of there ,, say youre sorry. But she
know she is in big trouble. She know if she come out. What will
happen next. I hate you! I hate you Meanie Meannie is my new
name.
b. Internal Conflict
The internal conflict of the character I when she cannot accept the
American culture that adapted by her granddaughter . she always compare it to
the Chinese culture itself.

In China, people say mixed children are supposed to be smart and definitely my
granddaughter is smart . but Sophie is wild not like my daughter Natalie. we go
to the park , this is what she do. She stand up in the stroller , she take off all of her
clothes thrown them into the fontain

CHAPTER IV
CONCLUSION
The story that written by Gish Jen is a story that full of conflicts that involve different
culture. The main character of this story is show to us how hard living in a different culture
when you are the new comers. There is always something new even weird to see but we cant
deny it. In this story also show to us how the relation between the mother and daughter are
not close enough. There is still a different mindset between the two woman that cause the
conflict . as the mother who no longer young, actually she need to be guided to sail the new
life in the world. In this story also show how the old woman feel alone when her husband die,
so she will love to live with her daughter even to be a baby sitter where on the country they
live this is a common things to do. But for the main character this is a new jouney that need
to be faced.

SYNOPSIS OF THE SHORT STORY WHOS IRISH BY GISH JEN

The whos Irishs short story is a story written by Gish Jen describes about the mixing culture
living family. The main character an old woman and her family come from Chinese to
America for a living. Because of differences of the culture between the two country cause
many conflicts. It begins when the old woman cannot accept the culture adapted by the little
family of her daughter. She feels that the American culture adapted by her daughter and her
granddaughter and also the Irish culture adapted by the family of her daughters husband are
the culture that is contras with Chinese culture which is respect the manner of life. Because in
America and Irish manner does not matter as along as the people can make something
precious for the living. But in Chinese, manner and good attitude is important such as
respecting mother, take care of parents till passed away such how the east culture should be.
Because of that, it make conflicts inside the family, mother and daughter, grandmother and
granddaughter.

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CHAPTER V
BIBLIOGRAPHY
www.smooph.com/literarycriticism/structuralism
Radford,Gary P. Journal : Structuralism,post-structuralism,and the library: de Saussure and
Foucalt.New Jersey, USA : September,2004
www.google.com/Whos IrishDownloadPDF.com

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