Plot and theme in memoirs of a Geisha: Script analysis

ABSTRACT

This is a literary analysis in the form of drama viewed from the theory of plot and theme. Drama basically was an unique phenomena. Because drama can be viewed as a dramatic literature and mixed art. As literary work, drama has fictional aspect such as plot, theme, character, setting, dialogue. Long time ago, drama always performed on the stage. But with the advent of television, people try to perform it on the motion picture known as a film. Then drama becomes more popular and widespread than ever before.

One of that film is Memoirs of a Geisha which was adapted by Rob Marshal from Arthur Golden’s novel, upon publication in 1997, Memoirs of a Geisha quickly became a bestseller, an impressive showing for a first-time author. Memoirs of a Geisha has been translated into more than twenty languages and has sold more than four million copies in English. In last December 2005, Rob Marshall released it in the form of motion picture.

In this study, the researcher analyses the film script viewed from the theory of plot and theme.

Plot is the author’s arrangement of events based on causal relationship. Plot is divided into three elements; beginning, middle and end. The plot draws the reader into the character’s lives and helps the reader understand the choices that the characters make. If we understand these elements, it will helps us to understand the story better.

Theme is the basic idea of story. There is a relationship between plot and theme. Because the story is arranged and developed based on the theme. It gives unity to the events described. ’

In applying her analysis, the researcher uses a descriptive qualitative research. She analyses the data using logical thinking to get the right conclusion. The data are taken from the script of the film. Besides, she uses book, reference and internet to help her understand the story. After the data have been selected they were presented, analyzed and concluded.

After completing this study, the researcher obtained that the plot of Memoirs of a Geisha can be divided into beginning, middle and end. In the beginning, the narrator describes the main character’s life, setting, society and the situation of the city where the story begun. In the middle, all of the conflicts are showed till it reaches climax when the main character get the top of trouble. In the end, the story is closed in happy ending. The general theme of this story is that success needs struggle, courage and sacrifice.