aristotle’s principles of good life in rachel …lagu-lagu. ada dua sumber yang digunakan dalam...

ARISTOTLE’S PRINCIPLES OF GOOD LIFE IN RACHEL

PLATTEN AND THE SCRIPT’S SELECTED SONGS

AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS

Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements

for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra

in English Letters

By

BONAVENTURA DWINDA SATYA

Student Number: 154214042

DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS

FACULTY OF LETTERS

UNIVERSITAS SANATA DHARMA

YOGYAKARTA

2019

PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI

ii

ARISTOTLE’S PRINCIPLES OF GOOD LIFE IN RACHEL

PLATTEN AND THE SCRIPT’S SELECTED SONGS

AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS

Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements

for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra

in English Letters

By

BONAVENTURA DWINDA SATYA

Student Number: 154214042

DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS

FACULTY OF LETTERS

UNIVERSITAS SANATA DHARMA

YOGYAKARTA

2019


STATEMENT OF ORIGINALITY

I certify that this undergraduate thesis contains no material which has been previously

submitted for the award of any other degree at any university, and that, to the best of

my knowledge, this undergraduate thesis contains no material which has been

previously written by any other person except where due the reference is made in the

text of the undergraduate thesis.

July, 24 2019

~Bonaventura Dwinda Satya

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LEMBAR PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN PUBLlKASI KARYA ILMIAHUNTUK KEPENTINGAN AKADEMIS

Yang bertanda tangan di bawah ini, saya mahasiswa Universitas Sanata Dharma

NamaNomor Mahasiswa

: Bonaventura Dwinda Satya: 154214042

Demi pertimbangan ilmu pengetahuan, saya memberikan kepada PerpustakaanUniversitas Sanata Dharma karya ilmiah saya yang beIjudul

ARISTOTLE'S PRINCIPLES OF GOOD LIFE IN RACHELPLATTEN AND THE SCRIPT'S SELECTED SONGS

beserta perangkat yang diperlukan (bila ada). Dengan demikian saya memberikankepada Perpustakaan Universitas Sanata Dharma hak untuk menyimpan, mengalihkandalam bentuk media lain, mengolahnya dalam bentuk pangkalan data,mendistribusikan secara terbatas, dan mempublikasikannya di internet atau media lainuntuk kepentingan akademis tanpa perlu meminta ijin kepada saya maupunmemberikan royalti kepada saya selama tetap mencantumkan nama saya sebagaipenulis. .

Demikian pernyataan ini saya buat dengan sebenarnya.

Dibuat di YogyakartaPada tanggal24 bulan July 2019

Yang menyatakan

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”We are what we repeatedly do.

Excellence is not an act, but a habit.”

- Aristotle


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For my beloved family


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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Firstly I would like to express my highest gratitude to Jesus Chirst because

without his blessing and love, it is impossible for me to finish this last assignment.

Secondly to my whole family, my parents, my brothers, Mbak Tanti, and Gyandra,

thank you for being such a good family and thank you because for always supporting

me in every situation. I would like to express my gratitude and thank for my thesis

advisor, Drs. Hirmawan Wijanarka, M.Hum., and my reader Dra. Theresia Enny

Anggraini Ph.D..for being very patience lecturers in helping and also for giving

suggestion and advice to the process to my thesis for all this time.

I want to say thank for my friends who I consider as my lecturers outside the

university, Danny Gunawan and Junus Rifandy because they are the ones who gave me

an inspiration to write this topic, the pursuit of good life which is pursuing happiness

without always feeling happy. I want to also express my appreciation to my beloved

friends that I have met for the first time I studied in Sanata Dharma, Rizky, Ardhia,

Lintang, and Zetly. Thank you for the great time that we all have been through, for

being my friends who always accompany me in attending every class and sharing

moments together. And all my friends that I made in Selfie, Elcomfest, Majelis Kelas,

HMPS, Seasons of Love, KKN Ngrunggo, and the fifteen batch specially the trah trump

family, that because of working together and knowing all of you, I can get so many

experience that taught me to be a good person. And lastly, for all my friends and my

lectures who I met in this lovely university that I cannot mention one by one. Thank

you for the experience, thank you for the knowledge, and the great moments. It is been

a pleasure to know all of you. This four years of living has been such a good life.

Bonaventura Dwinda Satya


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE PAGE ........................................................................................................ ii

APPROVAL PAGE ............................................................................................. iii

ACCEPTANCE PAGE ........................................................................................ iv

STATEMENT OF ORIGINALITY ..................................................................... v

LEMBAR PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN PUBLIKASI KARYA ILMIAH .. vi

MOTTO PAGE ................................................................................................... vii

DEDICATION PAGE ........................................................................................ viii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................................................ ix

TABLE OF CONTENTS ...................................................................................... x

ABSTRACT ........................................................................................................ xii

ABSTRAK ……………………………………………………………………………xiii

LIST OF TABLE ……………………………………………………………………xiv

CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION ........................................................................ 1

A. Background of the Study ................................................................................ 2

B. Problem Formulation ...................................................................................... 3

C. Objective of the Study .................................................................................... 3

D. Definition of Term .......................................................................................... 3

CHAPTER II: REVIEW OF LITERATURE .................................................... 4

A. Review of Related Studies ............................................................................. 4

B. Review of Related Theories ........................................................................... 7

1. Theory of Lyric ........................................................................................... 7

2. Theory of Figurative Language .................................................................. 9

a. Metaphor ............................................................................................... 9

b. Hyperbole ............................................................................................... 9

c. Personification ..................................................................................... 10

d. Simile ................................................................................................... 10

e. Synecdoche .......................................................................................... 10

f. Anaphora ............................................................................................. 10

g. Symbolism ........................................................................................... 11

h. Juxtaposition ....................................................................................... 11

3. Theory of Theme ....................................................................................... 12

4. Theory of Good Life (Eudaimonia) ......................................................... 13

C. Theoretical Framework ................................................................................. 20

CHAPTER III: METHODOLOGY ................................................................... 21

A. Object of the Study ....................................................................................... 22

B. Approach of the Study .................................................................................. 22

C. Method of the Study ..................................................................................... 23

CHAPTER IV: ANALYSIS RESULT AND DISCUSSION ............................ 24

A. The Theme of Rachel Platten and The Script’s selected songs .................... 24


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1. Rachel Platten’s Fight Song ..................................................................... 24

2. Rachel Platten’s Stand by You ................................................................. 30

3. The Script’s Hall of Fame......................................................................... 36

4. The Script’s Superheroes .......................................................................... 43

B. How The Four Songs Reflected The Principle of Good Life ....................... 48

1. Rachel Platten’s Fight Song ..................................................................... 49

2. Rachel Platten’s Stand by You ................................................................. 51

3. The Script’s Hall of Fame......................................................................... 52

4. The Script’s Superheroes ......................................................................... 54

CHAPTER V: CONSCLUSION ....................................................................... 57

REFERENCES ................................................................................................... 59

APPENDICIES ................................................................................................... 61


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LIST OF TABLE

No. Table Page

_________________________________________________________________

1. Table 1. Aristotle’s 12 Moral Virtues 16


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ABSTRACT

SATYA, BONAVENTURA DWINDA. (2019). Aristotle’s Principles of Good Life

in Rachel Platten and The Script’s Selected Songs. Yogyakarta: English Letters

Department, Faculty of English Department, Universitas Sanata Dharma.

This undergraduate thesis discusses songs by two different singers. The first is

Rachel Platten’s songs entitled “Fight Song” and “Stand by You”. The next is the songs

by The Script’s songs entitled “Hall of Fame” and “Superheroes”. The purpose of the

study is to find the philosophy of good life that are described in these songs. Good life

can have different meanings in many people’s mind. For most people, living a good

life is a matter of feeling good, pleasure, or happy. But it turns out that good life is not

just about feeling happy. These songs want to tell what good life is really about.

There are two objectives in this study. The first objective is to find the meaning

of the songs. And the second objective is to show the philosophy of good life that is

reflected in the song lyrics.

The study uses the moral philosophical approach in analyzing the song lyrics.

And the researcher uses the theory of figurative language and the theory of good life

as the guidance to show the meaning of good life that is conveyed by the songs. There

are two sources that are used in the study. The first sources are the primary sources

which are the song lyrics themselves and the secondary sources are obtained from

related books, journal, and internet articles.

From the analysis, the researcher discovers two points. The first point is that all

the four have the same meaning the writers want to convey which is keep chasing the

happiness that they want despite having unhappy situation. The second discovery is

that the four songs reflect the principle of good life. That good life is not just about

feeling happy or feeling pleasure. But it’s about an action of becoming a better person

in the world.

Keywords: Good life, Happiness, Eudaimonia


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ABSTRAK

SATYA, BONAVENTURA DWINDA. (2019). Aristotle’s Principles of Good

Life in Rachel Platten and The Script’s Selected Songs. Yogyakarta: Program

Studi Sastra Inggris, Fakultas Sastra, Universitas Sanata Dharma.

Skirpsi ini membahas lagu-lagu oleh dua penyanyi yang berbeda. Penyanyi

yang pertama adalah Rachel Platten dengan lagu-lagunya yang berjudul “Fight song”

dan “Stand by you”. Selanjutnya adalah lagu-lagu yang dinyayikan The Script yang

berjudul “Hall of Fame” dan “Superheroes”. Tujuan dari studi ini adalah untuk

menemukan filosofi tentang kehidupan yang baik. Kehidupan yang baik dapat

memiliki makna yang berbeda dalam pikiran banyak orang. Bagi kebanyakan orang,

menjalani kehidupan yang baik adalah masalah merasa senang atau bahagia. Tetapi

ternyata hidup yang baik bukan hanya tentang merasa bahagia. Lagu-lagu ini ingin

menceritakan apa arti dari kehidupan yang baik sebenarnya.

Ada dua tujuan dalam studi ini. Tujuan yang pertama adalah menemukan

makna lagu. Dan tujuan kedua adalah untuk menunjukan makna filosofi dari kehidupan

baik yang tercermin dalam lirik lagu-lagu tersebut.

Studi ini menggunakan pendekatan filosofis moral dalam menganalisis lirik

lagu. Dan peneliti menggunakan teori bahasa kiasan dan teori kehidupan baik sebagai

pedoman untuk menunjukkan makna kehidupan yang baik yang disampaikan oleh

lagu-lagu. Ada dua sumber yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini. Sumber pertama

adalah sumber utama yang merupakan lirik lagu-lagu itu sendiri dan sumber kedua

diperoleh dari buku-buku yang berkaitan, jurnal, dan artikel internet. Peneliti

menemukan bahwa semua lagu benar-benar ingin menceritakan tentang kehidupan

yang baik.

Dari analisis yang dilakukan, peneliti menemukan dua poin. Poin pertama

adalah bahwa keempat lagu tersebut memiliki makna yang sama yang ingin

disampaikan oleh para penulisnya, yaitu terus mengejar kebahagiaan yang mereka

inginkan meskipun mengalami situasi yang tidak menyenangkan. Poin kedua adalah

bahwa keempat lagu mencerminkan prinsip kehidupan yang baik. Kehidupan yang baik

itu bukan hanya tentang merasa bahagia atau merasakan kesenangan. Tetapi ini tentang

tindakan menjadi orang yang lebih baik di dunia.

Kata Kunci: Good life, Happiness, Eudaimonia


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CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

A. Background of the Study

The first reason why the researcher chose these song lyrics as the object of study

is because there is a valuable lesson about life that these four songs have. Many people

only consider a literary text as a long story that tells about something or someone. But

the truth is literary text is more than that.

Literature is a creation by someone at some time in history, and it is intended

to speak to other human beings about some idea or issue that has human

relevance. Its greatness comes from the fact that when the wisest, most

cultivated, most sensitive minds bring all their information, experience, and

feeling to contemplate it, they are moved and impressed by its beauty, by its

unique kind of knowledge, and even by its nonaesthetic values.(Guerin, 2005,

P. 17).

Guerin tries to say that a literature is a human creation consisting a story about

something and through the work, the author tries to explain about the ideas and

messages to the readers. Plato and Horace also support this idea. Plato said that

literature must exhibit moralism and utilitarianism and Horace said that literature

should be delightful and instructive (Skylar, 2018, para.5). Therefore, it means that

literature should teach us a valuable lesson that we can apply in our life.

The second reason is because these songs reflect a philosophy of the good life.

As we all know, people in this world have their own definition of good life. Some

people define a good life as living in a luxury lifestyle, having a lot of money, having

fame, or helping other people. Simply most people define a good life as a happy life.


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When they are happy, it means that they have a good life. But a good life is not

always about being happy. Because being happy is a matter of feeling or a mental state of

mind. So by feeling happy does not mean that we are living a good life. But it is about

something else we can all do: commit which is also same as the lyrics in these songs have.

These four songs in this study want to tell about one common thing which is when

we find the reason or the purpose why we were born and live in this world, we must

commit to do that no matter what happens, no matter what people say about life, no matter

what problems we have. Because by doing it, it means that we are living a good life.

Therefore, it is necessary to study philosophy of good life because philosophy of

a good life will teach us how to deal with all our life problems or the real world. Philosophy

of a good life is finding a good way for people to live. If people do not know what the

meaning of their existence, they will not know what to do when they face so many

problems in their life.

B. Problem Formulation

In order to make a clear and organized discussion, the researcher has formulated

the problems as follow:

1. What are the themes of the songs?

2. How is the principle of good life reflected in these songs?


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C. Objectives of the Study

In accordance with the problems above, this undergraduate thesis is aimed at

discovering some points. Firstly, what the four songs want to tell. Secondly, how the

principle of good life is reflected in the songs. The process of identifying how the

principle of good life is essential in this research.

D. Definition of the Terms

The main term that is used in this undergraduate thesis is good life. The definition

of good itself is taken from the Aristotle’s book entitled Nicomachean Ethics. He said

that good is what everything or what everyone in this world aims. And the good in

end is happiness. Therefore happiness is the highest level of good. Happiness itself is

called as eudaimonia in ancient Greek time. Aristotle stated that human can be happy

(Eudaimonia) or living a good life if they can be excellence or virtues. Therefore,

Aristotle does not talk about happiness is just about a sensation of just feeling pleasure.

He defines happiness as live well and do well.


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CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF LITERATURE

This chapter consist of some theories used in this study. There are three parts:

review of related studies, review of related theories and theoretical framework. The

review of related studies discusses articles and journal that cover a similar topic to this

study. The review of the related theories covers the theory of song lyric, figurative

language, and the theory of good life. The theoretical framework explains how each

theory contributes to its important point for the analysis to solve the problem formulated

in this study.

A. Review of Related Studies

In this part, the researcher uses some references of other related studies or

article that discuss about the same approach and related study which is the definition

of good life. The first study is an undergraduate thesis that is done by Verlin Maria K,

a student of Sanata Dharma University in 2005. Her thesis entitled A Study of

Philosophical of Good Life in Winston Groom’s Forrest Gump. The aims of her study

are to find the characteristic of Forrest Gump, and also to show his life experience. And

the last aim is to find the meaning of life through Forrest Gump’s characteristic and

life experience. The approach of the study that the researcher uses is moral

philosophical approach.


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Verlin tries to show that all people want to live a good life, but most of the time

they do not know what a good life is. In the story of the study, Gump was seen as a

useless person because his IQ was below the standard IQ. Because of this opinion,

during his life most of the time people treat him badly, but he never paid attention to

them, because he himself who understood his own life. In the end, he could find his

true happiness.

Gump showed that even though he had a lot of money, but he did not feel happy.

The truth was money made him lose his freedom and he could not do anything

he liked anymore. From Gump’s experience, we could see that money could

not buy our true happiness. The true happiness for Gump was when he could

do anything that he liked without having to listen to other people’s opinions

(Maria K, 2005, p. 43).

The meaning of good life for Gump is when he could find something that could

last forever. When he could understand himself, he could dig up all the potentials inside

himself without letting other people’s opinions form his personalities.

The other related article is done by Ruth Chang, an American professor

of philosophy at Rutgers University entitled The Good Life Isn’t About Being Happy. In

the article, she said that being happy is having a positive mental state, most broadly, a

positive feeling that all is well with the world and with our place in it. In short, happy life

is about the feeling. And today people can get happy feelings by taking pharmaceuticals

or pills. But by only feeling happy, does not mean that we are living a good life. We also

can have a good life without being happy all the time.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philosophyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rutgers_University

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People with good lives are often happy. If you’re feeling happy, chances are,

good things are happening in your life. But you can have a good life without

being happy. Mother Teresa, who wasn’t an especially happy individual, had a

perfectly good life. We all know grumpy people who are not very positive in

their feelings and outlook but who have good lives (Chang, 2016, para. 6).

Therefore, according to Ruth Chang, A good life is the committed life. The

meaning of commitment itself is a willingness to do something that we believe in no

matter what happens and whether we like it or not. It is the exercise of an under-

appreciated human capacity, the capacity to put ourselves behind an idea, cause, person,

or course of action. Commitments are more than intentions or promises to do things.

When we commit to someone, we put our very self behind our beloved’s needs and

interests.

The next related study is an article entitled Eudaemonia, The Good Life by

Martin Seligman. In the article, Martin explains what good life is about. This article

also supports the idea of the good life by Ruth Chang in the previous related study that

said good life is not about feeling happy. Some great philosophers define good life as

eudaemonia.

The second one is eudaemonia, the good life, which is what Thomas Jefferson

and Aristotle meant by the pursuit of happiness. They did not mean smiling a

lot and giggling. Aristotle talks about the pleasures of contemplation and the

pleasures of good conversation. Aristotle is not talking about raw feeling, about

thrills, about orgasms. Aristotle is talking about what Mike Csikszentmihalyi

works on, and that is, when one has a good conversation, when one

contemplates well. When one is in eudaemonia, time stops (Seligman, 2004,

para. 9).


https://www.firstthings.com/article/2003/05/the-dark-night-of-mother-teresahttps://www.ted.com/talks/ruth_chang_how_to_make_hard_choices

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Therefore according to Martin, a good life is not about having happy feeling or

activity that indicates happiness such as smiling and giggling. It is about pursuing the

happiness. It is about an activity to achieve the good.

This undergraduate thesis focuses on different aspects compared with other

studies that are discussed previously. Although the researcher also focuses on the

moral-philosophical value and uses the same approach. In this research, the objects of

the study are song lyrics that are released in modern era which song lyrics are also

considered literary work. And this study also uses the theory of good life by different

philosophy which is Aristotle. It is different with the previous study by Verlin Maria

K. who used the theory of good life by Socrates.

B. Review of Related Theories

1. Theory of Lyric

A lyric is also called a literature because the definition of the lyric itself is a short

poem. According to Oxford Dictionary, a lyric is a poetry or a lyric poem that expresses

the personal thoughts and feelings of the person who wrote it (Oxford Dictionary, 2006, p.

885). The function of a lyric is also to represent the idea that the writer wants to give to the

people. The definition of the lyric is also explained in Abram’s book entitled The Glossary

of Literary Terms.

In the most common use of the term, a lyric is any fairly short poem, consisting

of the utterance by a single speaker, who expresses a state of mind or a process

of perception, thought, and feeling. Many lyric speakers are represented as

musing in solitude. (Abrams, 1985, p.146).


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But even though the creator of the song lyrics are the writers, it does not always

mean that the expressions and feelings are from and for the writers themselves, such as

the subject “I” does not always refer to the writers but it could be the people who read

the lyrics.

Although the lyric is uttered in the first person, the "I" in the poem need not be

the poet who wrote it. In some lyrics, such as John Milton's sonnet. "When I

consider how my light is spent" and Samuel Taylor Coleridge's "Frost at

Midnight," the references to the known circumstances of the author's life make

it clear that we are to read the poem as a personal expression. (Abrams, 1985,

p.146).

According to Raymond in his book entitled The Introduction of Poetry, a lyric

also is simpler in term of style, briefer, and also more emotional than other groups

which means a lyric could make this kind of literary work is easier to be understood.

The first group, then, will be formed of the song lyrics, those which are fitted

by nature musical utterance. These are more purely emotional than those of

other groups, more spontaneous and rapid utterance, more simple in style, and

are likely to more brief. (Raymond, 1909, p.62)

In Lina Elmusa’s article entitled “Music Lyrics As Literature”, she said that a

song lyric could also be considered as a literary work because it also can have meanings

that it wants to convey just like in the poetry. Song lyrics have some sort of intention,

they are often filled with figurative language and more often than not, they have layers

of meaning (Elmusa, 2016, para. 2)


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2. Figurative Language

Figurative language is very important in a literary work like poetry. Because it

will give imagination that beyond the literal through imaginative process.

The most important and largest aspect of the imaginative concreteness of

poetical style is its use of what is called figured or figurative language, language

turned, by what are also called tropes or turnings, from its literal meaning to

something allied to that meaning through an imaginative process (Raymond,

1909, p.142).

In this study, the researcher will discuss some of the kinds of the figurative

language.

a. Metaphor

A metaphor asserts the identity, without a connective such as “like” or a verb as

appears, of terms that are literally incompatible. Christina Alm Arvius’s book entitled

Figures of Speech, said that to understand about metaphor is based on analogy.

This way of explaining the nature of metaphor is typically felt to agree with our

intuitive conception of such language uses. In fact, also Aristotle described

metaphor in a similar way. More specifically, Aristotle pointed out that

appropriate metaphors would be based on analogy (Arvius, 2003, p.20).

b. Hyperbole

Exaggeration is very common in language, and hyperbole is the term used for

this kind of figure of speech. Occasionally the synonym overstatement is used in

Hyperbole. For example, I’ve been working my fingers to the bone, and we are all

ears. The reason for constructing and using this kind of trope is of course rhetorical: to

make people really listen and remember the message (Arvius, 2003, p. 135).


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c. Personification

Personification is an attribution of human characteristics to something non-

human, or the representation of an abstract quality of human form.

Personification can be achieved by collocating words or expressions

representing the things personified with lexical units that can strictly speaking

be used only to describe human beings and their behaviour, experiences, and

other characteristics (Arvius, 2003, p. 129).

d. Simile

Simile is a trope which like metaphor describes one thing by comparing it with

another, suggesting similarities between them, although they are also clearly

different. However, we distinguish similes from metaphors, because the former

contain an explicit indication of the comparison, while it is merely implicit in a

metaphor. The word like in the next two sentences, which seems closest to being a

preposition, is one example of an overt indicator of comparison, and the correlatives

as like in the sentence Oh My Luve’s like a red, red rose (Robert Burns 1796, ‘A

Red, Red rose’), Gary dancing like a polar bear with its paw in a splint. (The Times,

17 Feb 1995:35), and she was as sweet as honey (Arvius, 2003, p. 124).

e. Synecdoche

Synecdoche is the type of figurative language that uses the part for the whole.

Leech noted that synecdoche is abstract property for possessor of abstract property.

Synecdoche is a meaning shift in the use of a lexeme or a longer expression

within a part-whole. More specifically, a synecdochical meaning change can

proceed from either of these meronymic perspectives: a more comprehensive

whole can be described by means of a language label that primarily denotes just

a part of it, or a designation for the whole thing can be used about one of its

parts (Arvius, 2003, p. 163).


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f. Anaphora

It is the repetition of a word or phrase, usually at the beginning of a line. An article

from Writingexplained entitled What is Anaphora? Definition and Examples of

Anaphoric Literature said that the repetition that anaphora creates is emphatic and

forceful. And a good writer knows this and uses this device in order to help him

communicate his argument. For example, toward the end of the speech, Dr. King

repeats “I have a dream” as the opening clause of eight successive statements

(Wiritingexplained, 2019, para. 6).

g. Symbolism

Symbolism is the serious and relatively sustained use of symbols to represent

or suggest other things or idea. A symbol may be roughly defined as something that

means more than what it is. Symbolism could be associated with connotations.

Symbolic associations can be either culturally established or the result of

personal experiences or fantasies. Especially the latter type of symbolic

associations can also be spoken of as connotations (Arvius, 2003, p. 139).

h. Juxtaposition

Alex Stephens in his article entitle “What Is the Definition of “Juxtaposition?”

, said that juxtaposition is a writing device in which two things (places, ideas, or

characters and their actions) are put side by side in the prose or poem in order to

compare or contrast them with each other (Alex, 2017, para.1).


http://www.dictionary.com/browse/juxtapositionhttp://www.dictionary.com/browse/juxtaposition

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3. Theory of Theme

According to Emily Chen in her article entitled “The Elements of Literature”

The theme is the main, underlying idea of a piece of literature. In order to find the

theme, we need to paraphrase each of the literary work. Ajanta Bhattacharyya in her

article entitled An Explanation of the Key Elements of Literature. Theme is a prime

element of literature, which contains the central idea of all literary forms. It reflects

innocence, experience, life, death, reality, fate, madness, sanity, love, society,

individual, etc. Thus, it reflects the society as a whole (Bhattacharyya, 2018, para. 5).

Literarydevices’ article entitled Theme said that there are two kinds of theme

in literary work. There are major and minor theme. A major theme is an idea that a

writer repeats in his literary work, making it the most significant idea in the work and

a minor theme is an idea that appears in a work briefly, giving way to another minor

theme. Examples of theme in Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice” are matrimony,

love, friendship, and affection. The whole narrative revolves around the major theme

of matrimony. Its minor themes are love, friendship, affectation (Literarydevice, 2019,

para. 2).

Also it is stated that we can understand the main idea of the theme through the

feeling, thoughts, and also the experience of the character in the literary work.

A writer presents themes in a literary work through several means. A writer

may express a theme through the feelings of his main character about the

subject he has chosen to write about. Similarly, themes are presented through

thoughts and conversations of different characters. Moreover, the experiences

of the main character in the course of a literary work give us an idea about its

theme. Finally, the actions and events taking place in a narrative are

consequential in determining its theme (Literarydevice, 2019, para. 4).


https://literarydevices.net/character/

13

4. Theory of Good Life (Eudaimonia)

Every action that is made in this world always aims some good or something

that brings desire or pleasure. It could be anything. And each thing or man has their

own purpose. In Aristotle’s book entitled Nicomachean ethics translated by F.H. Peters,

it is said that is the good that everything in this world aims.

Every art and every kind of inquiry, and like-wise every act and purpose, seems

to aim at some good and so it has been well said that the good is that at which

everything aims (Peters, 1893, p. 1).

He also adds that there many kinds of action in this world such as arts, sciences,

and war. Every action in this world is unique. Therefore they also have many kinds of

different results that come from the actions.

Now since there are many kinds of actions and many arts and sciences, it

follows that there are many ends also; e.g. health is the end of medicine, ships

of shipbuilding, victory of the art of war, and wealth of economy (Peters,

1893, p. 1).

But he also stated that after we reach certain goods, we always seek for more.

For example, when someone achieves certain level good in art. He does not just want

to stop in there, he wants to go beyond that and become the master of art (Peters, 1893,

p. 2). Therefore according to Aristotle, what we search in this world always has an end.

And the end is the good. But what is the highest good then? Because it seems that there

is no end in aiming the good. He said that the highest good is happiness.

What is the highest of all realizable goods? As to its name, I suppose nearly all

men are agreed for the masses and the men of culture alike declare that it is

happiness, and hold that to “Live well” or to‘ do well ” is the same as to be ‘‘

happy” (Peters, 1893, p. 5).


14

But it is not like the happiness that what most people think. Most people think

that happiness is only about a state of mind or feeling. Aristotle defines the good of

man is an exercise of his faculties in accordance with excellence or virtue (Peters, 1893,

p. 17). And he continues in the lines that said in order to be become virtuous persons,

we should practice for a long period of time. Because by only applying it once will not

bring a change to us.

But there must also be a full term of years for this exercise, for one swallow or

one fine day does not make spring, nor does one day or any small space of time

make a blessed or happy man (Peters, 1893, p. 17).

Veronika Huta, in her journal entitled “Eudaimonia” explained that in Ancient

Greek, happiness has its own term which is called eudaimonia. Eudaimonia is often

translated as happiness, and thus might be mistaken for enjoyment or pleasure;

however, it is better translated as flourishing or excellence (Veronika, 2013, p. 2).

Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy in its article entitled Virtue Ethics said that

there is no pointless action according to Aristotle. For him, some actions are done for

their own sake and some actions are for the sake of other things.

Aristotle recognizes that actions are not pointless because they have an aim.

Every action aims at some good. For example, the doctor's vaccination of the

baby aims at the baby's health, the English tennis player Tim Henman works on

his serve so that he can win Wimbledon, and so on. Furthermore, some things

are done for their own sake (ends in themselves) and some things are done for

the sake of other things (means to other ends) (Internet Encyclopedia of

Philosophy, 2019, para. 31).

But it is not just about being excellence, it is also about being excellence in

accordance with virtue. But being only good once in virtue is not enough. It needs to

be done in action just like he gave an example in the Olympic game.


15

For it must show itself in acts and in good acts. And as at the Olympic games it

is not the fairest and strongest who receive the crown, but those who contend,

so in life, too, the winners are those who not only have all the excellences, but

manifest these in deed (Peters, 1893, p.20).

This what Aristotle means with the definition of happiness in human being. It

is doing things accordance to the virtue for a long period of time or doing virtuous

things as out habit.. For Aristotle, a eudaimon life is pleasant, but it is not the pleasure

that makes the life eudaimon. Because to achieve happiness, it is not just about doing

a happy thing. In his book, Aristotle also describes being the best in our virtue is not

an easy task.

Again, to fight with pleasure is harder than to fight with wrath. And virtue, like

art, is always more concerned with what is harder; for the harder the task the

better is success. For this reason also, then, both virtue or excellence and the

science of the state must always be concerned with pleasures and pains; for he

that behaves rightly with regard to them will be good, and he that behaves badly

will be bad (Peters, 1893, p.40).

In James Fieser’s article entitled “VIRTUES” said that there are twelve moral

virtues that Aristotle describes in his book, he describes twelve virtues in particular that

follow this model. Each virtue and vice arises in reaction to some specific appetite or

desire we have (Fieser, 2017, para.12). His analysis is summarized in this table:


16

Aristotle’s 12 Moral Virtues

Aristotle said being a good person must reflect this kinds of virtuous characters.

He said that we as the ones who control ourselves need to understand that it must be

done neither too much or too little. It should be done in a proper way. He said that the

key point here is doing it at the right times, and on the right occasions, and towards the

right persons, and with the right object, and in the right fashion.

No Desire Vice of Deficiency Virtuous Mean Vice of Excess

1 Fear of danger Cowardice Courage Fearlessness

2 Pleasure Insensibility (Void of

sensibility)

Temperance Over-indulgence

(Profligacy)

3 Small giving Stinginess

(Illiberality)

Generosity

(Liberality)

Extravagance

(Prodigality)

4 Great giving Pettiness (Meanness) Magnanimity

(Magnificence)

Conceit (Vulgarity)

5 Honors Timidity(Little-

mindedness)

Self-confidence

(High-mindedness)

Conceit

(Vanity)

6 Achievement Under-ambition

(Unambitious)

Ambitious(Problem

ambition)

Too ambitious

(Over-ambition)

7 Anger Impassivity

(Wrathless)

Good temper

(Gentleness)

Temper (Wrathless)

8 Truth False Modesty (Iron) Truthfulness Boasting

(Boastfulness)

9 Amusement Boorish

(Humorlessness)

Witty

(Wittiness)

Buffoonery

(No proper name)

10 Social life Unfriendliness

(Quarrelsome)

Friendliness

Flattery

(Flatterer)

11 Fear of disgrace Shamelessness Modest Excessive shame

12 Resent injustice Malice Righteous

indignation

Envy


17

For instance, it is possible to feel fear, confidence, desire, anger, pity, and

generally to be affected pleasantly and painfully, either too much or too little,

in either case wrongly; but to be thus affected at the right times, and on the right

occasions, and towards the right persons, and with the right object, and in the

right fashion, is the mean course and the best course, and these are

characteristics of virtue (Peters, 1893, p.46).

But he said that not all actions or all passion must be done in moderation. There

are some that are some that have already been bad and should not be done that imply

badness such as stealing or killing people (Peters, 1893, p. 47).

And the virtues are not the same in each person. Each person is unique. And it

is up to us to decide which kind of persons we will become.

Therefore virtue depends upon ourselves: and vice likewise. For where it lies

with us to do, it lies with us not to do. Where we can say no, we can say yes. If

then the doing a deed, which is noble, lies with us, the not doing it, which is

disgraceful, also lies with us. But if the doing and likewise the not doing of

noble or base deeds lies with us, and if this is, as we found, identical with being

good or bad, then it follows that it lies with us to be worthy or worthless men

(Peters, 1893, p.74).

Also in order to be virtuous persons is not easy. Because not everyone is willing

or wants to do the actions in their life. Therefore it is reason why only the people who

are able to the actions and become excellence in the virtue are rare. And they are

considered noble, and praiseworthy (Peters, 1893, p. 55).

We can see that living a life of virtues does not mean living is not a pleasure

thing to do and certainly is not a life of avoiding pain. According to Oxford Dictionary,

pleasure is a state of feeling or being happy or satisfied (Oxford Dictionary, 2006,

p.1113). And pain is the feelings that we have in our bodies when we have been hurt

or we are ill. (Oxford Dictionary, 2006, p.1049). Although pain is an unpleasant thing,


18

pain is the part of living with virtues to make a good life. He gives an example of how

to apply one of the virtues in life which is courage.

Men are called courageous for enduring painful things. Courage, therefore,

brings pain, and is justly praised; for it is harder to endure what is painful than

to abstain from what is pleasant (Peters, 1893, p. 89).

Aristotle explains this thing in one example. He tells that living a good life

means living with the goal that brings pleasure to us, but it does not mean that in order

to achieve the happiness, we also feel happy or pleasure in the process.

Boxers, for instance, have a pleasant end in view, that for which they strive, the

crown and the honours; but the blows they receive are grievous to flesh and

blood, and painful, and so are all the labours they undergo; and as the latter are

many, while the end is small, the pleasantness of the end is hardly apparent

(Peters, 1893, p. 90).

But courageous does not mean that we always seek for the painful things or

something that can give us. We also need to make our decision according to our

intellectual virtue too. Because what it is like stated before every person has their own

level of how to be virtuous.

Still there is, perhaps, no reason why men of this character should not be less

efficient as soldiers than those who are not so courageous, but have nothing

good to lose; for such men are reckless of risk, and will sell their lives for a

small price (Peters, 1893, p. 90).

Aristotle concludes that living a good life as living the virtuous life. When we

become excellence or become the best version of ourselves in the virtues, we will in

the end achieve the highest level of good which is happiness or eudaimonia.

In the article of Kevin Binz entitled “An Introduction to Ethical Theories”, he

describes what life of eudaimonia is.


19

A life of eudaimonia is a life of striving. It’s a life of pushing yourself to your

limits, and finding success. A eudaimonistic life will be full of the happiness

that comes from achieving something really difficult, rather than just having it

handed to you (Kevinbinz, 2017, para. 17).

But in order for us to be a virtuous persons, we need other people. We cannot

just be good in our virtue just by being alone without having social interaction.

Friendship is really important for Aristotle, he even wrote two books about it. There

are three kinds of friendships that Aristotle explained in his work. Gregory Sadler

summarized them in his book entitled “Types of Friendships in Aristotle’s

Nicomachean Ethics books 8-9”. The first is the Friendship of usefulness which is

based solely on usefulness of people and there are benefits provided to each other. For

example, friendship that is built because the people are working in the same company

or the students who go in the same school. The second is friendship of pleasure which

is based on the pleasure which the people can and do provide to each other. For

example, people who have the same hobby such as go fishing or do a sport activity

together. This two kinds of friendship are the same because they focus on each other’s

sake. But the last kind of friendship is the one which is different with the other two

kinds of friendship that have been mentioned. Because it does talk about sake of each

other, or even for pleasure or utility purpose. This kind of friendship is based on

respect, appreciation for each other’s qualities, and a strong will to assist the other

person (Sadler, 2019, p.2).


20

3. Theoretical Framework

The title of this thesis is “Aristotle’s Principles of Good Life in Rachel Platten

and The Script’s Selected Songs”. There are two problems formulation that are

formulated in the study. The first question is what the songs mean. And the second

question is how the principle of good life reflected in the songs.

In order to answer these questions, there are four theories that are uses in this

undergraduate thesis. The first is the theory of lyric. This is a theory to define what

lyric is about. The theory that is used is by Abram.

The second theory is a theory of figurative language. This theory is used to help

the researcher finding the meaning of the songs since the songs have meanings that

beyond literally meanings.

The third theory is a theory of theme. This theory is used to help the researcher

to find main idea that is found of each songs.

And the last theory is a theory of good life by Aristotle. This is a theory that

defines what good life is. This theory is used to show how the principle of good life by

Aristotle described in these songs.

The theories of good life, lyric, theme, and figurative language are used to

analyze the philosophy of good life that occur in the song lyrics. Using the theories of

good life by the philosopher, Aristotle, and also the theories of lyric, figurative

language, and theme the researcher could give clear description about what good life

is from the songs.


21

CHAPTER III

METHODOLOGY

A. Object of the study

There are four songs in this research. The title of the first song is “Fight song”.

It is written by Rachel Platten herself and was released on February 19, 2015. This song

has got big nominations such as Teen Choice Award for Choice Summer Song and

Billboard Music Award for Top Selling Song. This song represents about her personal

story. The reason why the song written is because her parents and friends were worried

about Rachel and asked her to come home and find a new occupation. And this song

was her responds of it. The second song is also written by Rachel Platten entitled

“Stand by you”. “Stand by you” was released on September 11, 2015. This song

peaked at number 37 on the Billboard Hot 100, making this her second consecutive

top-40 song. “Stand by You” reached the top of the Adult Top 40 chart in February

2016. In this song, Rachel is telling someone that she will through a hard time that

they may be going through. She will not leave and that they will go through the mess

together.

The title of the third song is “Hall of Fame” by The Script. The Script is an Irish

pop band formed in 2001 In Dublin, Ireland. They first released music in 2008. The

band has won three Meteor Ireland Awards and two World Music Awards and two Brit


https://www.google.com/search?q=Teen+Choice+Award+for+Choice+Summer:+Song&stick=H4sIAAAAAAAAAOPgE-LVT9c3NEyqzMgwsIg3V-LSz9U3yDEpMMor1lLPTrbSzy0tzkzWL0pNzi9KycxLj0_OKS0uSS2yysvPzcxLLMnMzytexKoZkpqap-CckZ-ZnKrgWJ5YlKKQll8EEwguzc0F6lAIzs9LBwCLrF77cgAAAA&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjo_6O-rrTjAhWLaCsKHfG1DksQmxMoATAIegQIDxAihttps://www.google.com/search?q=Billboard+Music+Award+for+Top+Selling+Song&stick=H4sIAAAAAAAAAOPgE-LVT9c3NEyqzMgwsIg3V4Jwk_OSDArTCwq11LOTrfRzS4szk_WLUpPzi1Iy89Ljk3NKi0tSi6zy8nMz8xJLMvPzihexajll5uQk5ScWpSj4gtQrOJaD2Gn5RQoh-QUKwak5OUC9CsH5eekAXFnnO3YAAAA&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjo_6O-rrTjAhWLaCsKHfG1DksQmxMoAjAIegQIDxAj

22

Award Nominations. The song was released on August 20, 2012. It debuted

on the Irish Singles Chart at number one. The song stayed at number 1 in Ireland for

four weeks. This song was voted as one of the top 11 Irish songs. In Australia, the song

peaked at number 4. This songs wants to tell that we as human being can be anything

that are great as long as we dedicate ourselves in the things that we are doing. The title

of the fourth song is “Superheroes”. This song was released on July 22, 2014. This

song wants to show about the unsung heroes out in the world which these heroes are

the people are going through the hardest of times but can keep their heads high facing

tough situations. The songs were chosen based on the meanings. Even though the songs

were written by different writers, the songs want to talk about the same things which

are struggle, greatness and especially what good life is.

B. Approach of the study

In order get the philosophy of good life from these two songs, the researcher

uses the moral philosophical approach. Guerin stated that the larger function of literature

is to teach morality and to probe philosophical issues. Moral philosophical approach is

an approach that analyzes literary work from moral philosophical point of view. It is

focusing on moral messages or philosophical messages that the songs tell, or in other

words, moral philosophical approach’s aim to get the moral messages that are stated in

a literary work. Therefore, this approach will help to show the meaning of philosophy

in the songs.


23

The moral value in literary work is the most important things. Guerin stated that

moral philosophy is more important in work of literature than the form, figurative

language, and other aesthetic consideration applied in literary work, because the main

function of literature is to teach morality and investigate issues related to morality.

(Guerin, 2005, p. 78)

C. Method of the Study

This undergraduate thesis used the library research method. In order to support

the thesis, the researcher collected the data from the library. There were several steps

that the researcher used. The first was to find songs that reflected the same moral value.

The second step was to read the song lyrics. The next step was to figure out the problem

formulations and find the suitable approach in this thesis. There were two problems

formulation that the researcher used as the frame of this research. The first was what

view of life the songs presented. And the second was how the principle of good life

reflected in these songs. After reading the lyrics and figuring out the problem

formulations, the researcher would paraphrase each stanza of the song lyrics in order to

find the meaning of each songs. After paraphrasing the meaning of each song, the last

step was relating the meaning of the songs with the philosophy of good life.


24

CHAPTER IV

ANALYSIS

In this part of the study, the researcher will explain the answers to the problem

formulations. This chapter consists of two parts. The first part is finding the meaning

of the lyrics by paraphrasing each stanza of the songs. And the second part is showing

the principle of good life that is reflected in the four songs.

A. The Theme of Rachel Platten and The Script’s selected songs

The first analysis will be the analysis of the song lyrics by Rachel Platten entitled

“Fight song”, followed by “Stand by you” and “Hall of fame”. And the last one will be

analysis of the song lyric of “Superheroes”. In this song, the researcher will analyze the

meaning after quoting every stanza.

1. Rachel Platten’s “Fight Song”

Like a small boat

On the ocean

Sending big waves

Into motion

Like how a single word

Can make a heart open

I might only have one match

But I can make an explosion

(Platten, stanza 1, lines 1-8)

This stanza uses figurative language of simile. There are two similes found in

the stanza. It is seen by the use of word Like. The first simile is when she describes her


25

life as a small boat on the ocean in beginning of the song found in the first line

Like a small boat, On the ocean (Stanza 1, line 1-2). As we can imagine, a boat is a

small vehicle for traveling in the water. Its size is already smaller compared to a ship.

And even it is already small, she wants to emphasize as a very small thing by adding

the word small to describe the boat. And in the next lines Sending big waves, Into

Motion (Stanza 1, lines 3-4), we can see here that she also creates an antonym between

the word small from the first line (Stanza 1, line 1) to describe the boat and the word

big to describe the ocean. She says that even though it is a small boat, it can move a

big ocean. If we think literally, it is impossible for a boat to do that. Usually it comes

from the thing that is huge like a ship. But this wants to show a comparison that even

small things can have a chance to make big impacts.

The second simile is when she compares her life with a single word found in

the lines Like how a single word, Can make a heart open (Stanza 1, lines 5-6). But even

though it is just a word, it can make a heart open means it can change a person’s feeling.

Sometimes it is very hard for us to imagine how a word that is said can affect people’s

mood. Because for example, if a student just gets a news that there will be no class

tomorrow from his/her friend since the teacher cannot come, he/she will get excited.

But the news that is delivered is not expressed by only a word, it is usually expressed

by sentences. Even if the news that comes from a digital message, it will not change

the person’s feeling. At least it must be delivered a sentence. This is also a

personification because a word cannot actually open a heart which also literally cannot


26

be opened. This just wants to show that the word that is said has an influence to the

feeling. Once again she wants to show even though a word or a small thing can create

a big influence.

And in the next lines I might only have one match, But I can make an explosion

(Stanza 1, lines 7-8), we can find a symbolism. She said that she only has one match,

but she can make an explosion. As we all know, a match is a little thing which is a thin

piece of wood light a fire. People usually use this to light a cigarette. Its size is not big

compared to fire from the torch, but once again she just wants to symbolize that a single

and small thing that can create huge and big impact.

And all those things I didn't say

Wrecking balls inside my brain

I will scream them loud tonight

Can you hear my voice this time?


This stanza uses the figurative language of metaphor. It is seen from the first

and the second lines (Stanza 2, lines 1-2). A comparison is made between all of the

words she never said to wrecking balls in her head. Wrecking ball means a heavy metal

ball swung from a crane that is used when doing construction work. And the function

of it is to destroy and demolish buildings. It just means the things that have not been

said have become burdens and weighs on her mind. It becomes destructive to her. They

become regret and pain. But in the next two lines (Stanza 2, lines 3-4), she decided to

say or do the things that she should have done in the past and weighs her all this time.


27

This is my fight song

Take back my life song

Prove I'm alright song

My power's turned on

Starting right now I'll be strong

I'll play my fight song

And I don't really care if nobody else believes

Cause I've still got a lot of fight left in me


Here she clearly states that this song is about her fight. This stanza uses the

figurative language of personification that is found in the line My power’s turned on

(Stanza 3, lines 4). The word Turned on is usually referred to physical especially

electrical things like turning on the phone or television. And it means an action to start

operate them. According to Oxford Dictionary, power itself is the strength or energy

contained in something (Oxford Dictionary, 2006, p. 1136). This means she realize that

she has determined to perform to do her best with strength and energy. And because

she becomes so powerful, therefore from that she is determined to be commitment. She

does not care about what other people said. Other people perhaps do not believe in her,

but she keeps believing in herself.

After that in the end of the stanza, she said that she did not care if nobody

believes in her dream or in what she is doing. Because she still has a lot of fight in her

meaning that she is still struggle in her life and still chooses to keep doing the process

(Stanza 3, lines 7-8).


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Losing friends and I'm chasing sleep

Everybody's worried about me

In too deep

Say I'm in too deep (in too deep)

And it's been two years

I miss my home

But there's a fire burning in my bones

Still believe

Yeah, I still believe


This stanza uses the figurative language of personification and symbolism. The

personification can be found in the line Losing friend and I’m chasing sleep (Stanza 4,

line 1). Sleep is not a physical person that we can chase. It just means she lacks of sleep

and feeling tired because she is too focused doing her things. And since she is very

focused on doing her things, she starts to lose some of her friends, and everyone around

her starts to be worried about what she is doing (Stanza 4, line 2). In the next lines

(Stanza 4, lines 3-4), the word too deep means become too obsessed. According to

Oxford Dictionary, the word deep itself means having a large distance from the top pr

surface to the bottom (Oxford Dictionary, 2006, p. 382). Her friends, family, or her

surrounding saw her as a very obsessed person.

And the next one is a symbolism found in the line There's a fire burning in my

bones (Stanza 4, line 7). As we can imagine and think literally, bones are the part of

human beings. They are the part of our bodies. And if our bodies sense fire, it will be

not a good for us. We will painful and in a moment we will be dead because we got

burned by the fire. Therefore it does not mean that she literally feels hot and gets burned


29

because of the fire. The word fire here symbolizes feeling powerful and enthusiasm. It

does not talk about physical body but rather it represents the feeling or passion.

“Fight song” by Rachel Platten tells a story about a person’s journey in achieving

her goal in life. She always believes in things that she does even though no one believes

in her. The minor themes of this song are fighting, loneliness, struggle, regret and

greatness. The theme of fighting is shown in stanza 3 where she mentions the word fight

for three times. We can see the theme of the song is loneliness from the line Loosing

friends and I’m chasing sleep (Stanza 4, line 1). Here it shows that some of her friends

started to leave her because perhaps they did not believe in what she is doing. Also the

theme of struggle can be seen in the words too deep (Stanza 4, lines 3-4). It means that

she is in the process of achieving her dream. And also it shows the theme of regret from

her. We can see it from the line Wrecking balls inside my brain (Stanza 2, lines 2). It

is a comparison with the words that she should have said in past. Those things now

become a burden and become destructive for her. Also the last one is theme of

greatness. It shows greatness in the beginning of the song where she compares her life

with a small thing that can make a huge impact. It is shown in the lines Like a small

boat, On the ocean (Stanza 1, lines 1-2), Like how a single word, (Stanza 1, lines 5),

and I might only have one match (Stanza 1, lines 7).

The major theme of this song is commitment. We can see that she is being

commitment from the last five lines (Stanza 4, lines 5-9). It is stated there she has been

fighting for two years, and she missed her home already. She wants to go to her old


30

new life, but instead of going back to her hometown, she decided to not surrender and

keep believing to herself.

2. Rachel Platten’s “Stand by you”

Hands, put your empty hands in mine

And scars, show me all the scars you hide

And hey, if your wings are broken

Please take mine so yours can open too

Cause I'm gonna stand by you


This stanza uses the figurative language of symbolism (Stanza 1, lines 1-2). The

first two lines talk about body parts, Hands and Scars. Hands are the body parts what

we usually use to hold something. And empty hands mean there is not a thing that we

hold. But here empty hands having nothing at all. And the writer wants to offer a help

to the person. And the next symbol is the scars. As we imagine, a scar is a mark that is

left from a healed wound. But this song does not just tell about a single scar but scars

which mean there is more than just one. We usually got scared because of hitting

something sharp or perhaps we just got an accident. And it felt painful when we got the

wound at the first. Therefore scars here represent something painful. It could be the bad

experience that the person had in the past. And the writer wants the person to show the

scars instead of hiding or feeling ashamed of it.

The next is the figurative language of symbolism found in the line if your wings

are broken (Stanza 1, line 3). Humans do not have wings. But if we see the meaning of

wings that animals have like birds. Wings are very vital for them. If they do not have


31

wings, they cannot fly. So wings here something that is very important for the persons.

And Rachel offers to help the person.

Oh, tears make kaleidoscopes in your eyes

And hurt, I know you're hurting, but so am I

And love, if your wings are broken

Borrow mine so yours can open too



This stanza uses the figurative language of symbolism (Stanza 2, line 1). We can

see it from the first line Oh, tears make kaleidoscopes in your eyes. According to Oxford

Dictionary, kaleidoscope means a toy consisting of a tube that we look through with

loose pieces of coloured glass and mirrors at the end. When the tube is turned, the pieces

of glass move and form different patterns. Here kaleidoscope represents anything that

changes constantly (Oxford Dictionary, 2006, p.808). Instead of crying feeling sad, the

writer wants the person to change he/her mood. Therefore, this means to escape or make

bad things gone.

And in the next line And hurt, I know you're hurting, but so am I (Stanza 2, line

2), it shows the Rachel also feels pain whenever the person is also in feels pain. This

shows how sympathy Rachel is to her beloved one.

Even if we're breaking down, we can find a way to break through

Even if we can't find heaven, I'll walk through hell with you

Love, you're not alone, cause I'm gonna stand by you

Even if we can't find heaven, I'm gonna stand by you

Even if we can't find heaven, I'll walk through hell with you

Love, you're not alone, cause I'm gonna stand by you



32

This stanza uses the figurative language of hyperbole (Stanza 3, line 1) and

symbolism (Stanza 3, line 2). The first line Even if we're breaking down, we can find a

way to break through uses the figurative language of hyperbole. We usually use the

word breaking down when we describe our vehicle that is suddenly stop and will not

function anymore. The phrase breaking down here wants to emphasize that if the

relationship is in the peak level of bad situations, and if they go even further, it can be

the end. And after that, this line uses the words break through. Break through means

an important development that may lead to an agreement or achievement. It is like

saying enough is enough, and the persons will make enormous decisions and start doing

new patterns or habit in their life. What the writer wants to say is that even though she

has gone through bad times with her beloved ones that seems will be the end, she

believes that they will find a way out from it.

And the next is the symbolism found in the line Even if we can't find heaven, I'll

walk through hell with you (Stanza 3, line 2). Hell represents painful experience.

According to Oxford Dictionary, hell is a very unpleasant experience or situation in

which people suffer very much (Oxford Dictionary, 2006, p.696). It means that she cares

about the person so much that even if they are going through hard times like hell in their

life. She would still go through difficult time with the person. Therefore she still

accompanies the person in every situation including painful situation, not just in a good

situation, Heaven. According to Oxford Dictionary, heaven is a place or a situation n

which we are very happy. (Oxford Dictionary, 2006, p.693)


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Yeah, you're all I never knew I needed

And the heart, sometimes it's unclear why it's beating

And love, if your wings are broken

We can brave through those emotions too



This stanza uses the figurative language of hyperbole and symbolism. The

sentence You’re all I never knew I needed is just too long in use (Stanza 4, line 1).

Therefore it is called hyperbole. Basically it tells about that she really needs the person.

This wants to emphasize how important the person really is for her. And in the next line

And the heart, sometimes it's unclear why it's beating (Stanza 4, line 2). It is a symbol

of emotion. Sometimes the cause of our heart can beat suddenly is because anxiety,

stress, or feeling panic. Those feelings are the triggered of why the heart is beating.

Oh, truth, I guess truth is what you believe in

And faith, I think faith is helping to reason

No, no, no, love, if your wings are broken

Borrow mine so yours can open too



This stanza uses the figurative language of personification (Stanza 5, line 2). The

word helping means the act of doing a favor to someone else. And according to Oxford

Dictionary, faith is a strong religious belief (Oxford Dictionary, 2006, 527). Therefore

faith here represents the attributes of human characteristic.

The first two stanzas want to continue about what have been said in the

beginning of the songs which it talks about the person’s painfulness that are represented

by the words empty hands and scars (Stanza 1, lines 1-2).. Even though, it is real that


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the person has a painful experience, she wants to say he/she should not believe to the

truth and not let faith to disturb him/her. Because in the next line she says no for three

times to emphasize what she means meaning that Rachel did not want truth and faith to

define the person’s life.

I'll be your eyes when yours can't shine

I'll be your arms, I'll be your steady satellite

And when you can't rise, well, I'll cry with you on hands and knees

Cause I I'm gonna stand by you


This stanza uses the figurative language of hyperbole (Stanza 7, line 1) and

metaphor (Stanza 7, line 2). According to Oxford Dictionary, shine means to produce

or reflect light, especially brightly, for example the sun is shining. (Oxford Dictionary,

2006, p. 1349). If we translate literally, it does not make sense that our eyes can produce

light. Therefore for the writer, the eyes of the persons are described just like sunshine

or something that represents and reflect cheerful thing.

And the writer uses some metaphors to describe her feeling to her beloved ones

The first line means that she will be the guide for her beloved one even though the

person’s eyes cannot shine. It is also the same thing in the next lines which are being

the arms and satellite for the person (Stanza 7, line 2). Arms and eyes are vital body

parts for human and so is satellite for the earth. The earth’s natural satellite which is the

moon is important and so is the human-made satellite that is very important to

communicate and get information. This means she wants to be the important part in the

person’s life. This stanza tells that she is really empathy with the persons and want to


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accompany them in every experience. Cause I’m gonna stand by you (Stanza 7, line 4)

means that no matter what they go through in their relationship, she is always going to

be by his/her side and be there to support the person.

“Stand by you” by Rachel Platten tells about having commitment when facing

problem with our friends, family, or our lover. So despite having bad times with our

beloved ones, we can always figure the way out to solve the problem. The minor themes

of this song are love, pain, relationship, sympathy, and struggle. We can see theme of

love from the lines that show and mention it such as And love, if your wings are broken

(Stanza 2 line 3), Love, you're not alone, cause I'm gonna stand by you (Stanza 3, line

3). And the theme of pain is showed in line Even if we can’t heaven, I’ll walk through

hell with you (Stanza 3, line 2). We also can find the theme of relationship in the lyric.

Because this song shows the experience and feeling that is convey by Rachel to

someone that she really loves and cares. The theme of sympathy is showed in the lines

I’ll be your eyes when yours can’t shine, I’ll be your arms, I’ll be your steady satellite,

And when you can't rise, well, I'll cry with you on hands and knees. (Stanza 6, lines 1-

3). It shows that Rachel really cares about the person, and always wants to be in the

person’s side. And the last minor theme is struggle which is showed in the line Even if

we're breaking down, we can find a way to break through (Stanza 3, line 1). This wants

to show how struggle and hard relationship. Sometimes or in most cases the

relationship could make us to do some efforts to make it become right again.


36

And the major theme of this song is commitment. We can see it from the overall

experience and feeling that she shows in the lyrics and the title itself. She always

accompanies the person even though they have been through bad times. She even wants

to sacrifice herself, so that her beloved ones can be happy as well.

3. The Script’s “Hall of fame”

Yeah, you can be the greatest

You can be the best

You can be the King Kong banging on your chest

(Danny, Mark, and Bimbo, stanza 1, lines 1-3)

This stanza uses the figurative language of metaphor (Stanza 1, line 3). There is

a comparison that is made between the words you and King Kong. King Kong has an

image of a big and powerful creature. And here it describes the behavior the King Kong

that banging on its chest means it’s in the peak level of its level of enthusiasm and to

some great things.

You can beat the world

You can beat the war

You can talk to God, go banging on his door


This stanza uses the figurative language of hyperbole (Stanza 2, lines 1-3).

Because this cannot literally happen. It is impossible for us as human beings to talk

directly to God which in Christianity believe, it is the creator and ruler of the universe,

or the Supreme Being. Or even we cannot bang on his door, just like we imagine if we

go to the toilet in hurry, we will bang on the door for we have been waiting for the

person in a long time. And the word war here does not mean that we usually imagine a


37

war between two large groups of people such as a war between two countries or two

tribes. Or even the world that is full of people. It just represents we can do enormous

within ourselves.

You can throw your hands up

You can beat the clock

You can move a mountain

You can break rocks

You can be a master

Don't wait for luck

Dedicate yourself and you go find yourself


This stanza also uses the figurative language symbolism (Stanza 3, lines 1-2).

The symbol is found in the word clock. Clock is a thing that shows the time in our life.

Without it, it is very hard us to manage our activities in a day. According to Oxford

Dictionary, time means what is measured in minutes, hours, or days but it also could be

an amount of time work or rest. (Oxford Dictionary, 2006 p. 1549). And here it

represents that we can control our life. Because beating means that we can defeat

something. And the next one, throwing our hands up represents an action that we usually

do when we finally achieve something great.

The next figurative language is the hyperbole (Stanza 3, lines 3-4). Because once

again it is impossible for human to literally move a mountain. Perhaps humans can move

stone, but rocks are something that are very difficult to be moved. This just wants to tell

we can do anything great that seems impossible.

Also this stanza uses the figurative language of personification (Stanza 3, line

6). Luck cannot be waited. Because we cannot literally wait for luck, it is not something


38

that is alive. Luck means something that happens in our life without our expectation or

happens without the action that we do. This part wants to tell that we should not wait

until something good happens to us. Instead of waiting and just hoping, we should just

start doing and dedicate ourselves in order to create that good things to happen by

ourselves.

Standing in the hall of fame

And the world's gonna know your name

Cause you burn with the brightest flame

And the world's gonna know your name

And you'll be on the walls of the hall of fame


This stanza uses the figurative language of personification (Stanza 4, line 2) and

symbolism (Stanza 4, line 3). The world itself cannot literally know a name. This part

wants to tell that after we dedicated ourselves and become commitment to achieve the

goals. And people will start knowing us because of what we have done. Burn with the

brightest flame (Stanza 4, line 3) once again does not mean that we will burn ourselves

or our bodies with fire. But it means showing that we should stand out from the rest and

that we should always push ourselves to do better in life. And the next metaphor is the

sentence walls of the hall of fame (Stanza 4, line 5). We will not be put in the walls

literally. It just means that we will be very well known by the society because we have

done something that can create an impact to them. For example, if we go to the museum,

usually the picture of the persons who are very honorable in the society will be put in

the walls.

You can go the distance

You can run the mile


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You can walk straight through hell with a smile


This stanza uses the figurative language of symbolism (Stanza 5, line 3) which

is the use the setting hell. As we know and imagine, hell is a not a place where there

will be cheerful experience. But here hell is only a symbol because how could possibly

a person walking through the painful place and still smiling that indicates the sense of

joy of going through the experience. Hell represents painful experience. According to

Oxford Dictionary, hell is a very unpleasant experience or situation in which people

suffer very much (Oxford Dictionary, 2006, p.696). This is just a symbol of things that

give painful feeling. And the word smile here means the kind of expression that we make

when we feel pleasure or joy.

You can be the hero

You can get the gold

Breaking all the records they thought never could be broke


This stanza uses the figurative language of metaphor (Stanza 6, lines 1-2). Hero

and gold refer to greatness. According to Oxford Dictionary, hero means a person,

especially a man, who is admired by many people for doing something brave or good.

(Oxford Dictionary, 2006, p. 700). And gold can be translated as money, jewelry that is

made of gold, it could also be a medal.(Oxford Dictionary, 2006, p.640) Therefore, hero

himself/herself means someone who gives an impact in other people’s life and gold

means something which is valuable in the world. And the last line wants to persuade

that we can do great thing that perhaps it has not been done in the past.


40

Yeah, do it for your people

Do it for your pride

How are you ever gonna know if you never even try?


In this stanza, the word do is started to be used in the lines Yeah, do it for your

people, Do it for your pride (Stanza 7, lines 1-2). This wants to emphasize the reasons

why we should be doing the things and to be commitment. And the last line wants to

persuade us to be brave in taking actions because are too fear we will know about what

could happen.

Do it for your country

Do it for your name

Cause there's gonna be a day


This stanza uses the figurative language of synecdoche and anaphora. Name

(Stanza 8, line 2) here does not just mean a name literally. But it represents ourselves as

human beings, it could be also our integrity or the great that has been done by us.

And this stanza also uses the figurative language of anaphora because it uses

the word do in the beginning for second times. This is a repetition that want to emphasize

about the reasons why we should keep doing the things.

Be a champion,

Be a champion,

Be a champion,

Be a champion

On the walls of the hall of fame


Be students

Be teachers

Be politicians

Be preachers


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Be believers

Be leaders

Be astronauts

Be champions

Be truth seekers

(Danny, Mark, and

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