The Displeasing Character Development of the Weak Patriarchal Figure in “The Apple Tree” by Daphne du Maurier
Article Info
Submitted: 2023-12-11
Published: 2023-12-11
Section: Articles
The aim of this paper is to analyze the patriarchal figure in the long short story entitled “The Apple Tree” written by Daphne du Maurier. The focus of analysis is on the development of the patriarchal
figure before and after the death of his wife. The analysis is supported by several concepts; namely, the concepts of character and conflicts, as well as the concepts of patriarchy and patriarchal characteristics. The methods used are qualitative research, library
research, and contextual research. The results show that the patriarchal figure develops from the ignorant patriarchal husband into an awkward patriarchal figure after the death of his wife. As an ignorant husband, he always finds fault with his wife’s actions in handling the household. As an awkward patriarchal figure, his
craving for control results in the bad relationship with the house helpers. He gets attention and admiration in the local pub after giving the lady owner the logs of apple tree that he chop down by himself as firewood in the dead of the winter. However, his desire to prolong
the exciting feeling of being a hero result in a disaster in which he has to face a slow and lonely death
figure before and after the death of his wife. The analysis is supported by several concepts; namely, the concepts of character and conflicts, as well as the concepts of patriarchy and patriarchal characteristics. The methods used are qualitative research, library
research, and contextual research. The results show that the patriarchal figure develops from the ignorant patriarchal husband into an awkward patriarchal figure after the death of his wife. As an ignorant husband, he always finds fault with his wife’s actions in handling the household. As an awkward patriarchal figure, his
craving for control results in the bad relationship with the house helpers. He gets attention and admiration in the local pub after giving the lady owner the logs of apple tree that he chop down by himself as firewood in the dead of the winter. However, his desire to prolong
the exciting feeling of being a hero result in a disaster in which he has to face a slow and lonely death