CLASSIFICATION OF EMOTION CONCEPTS REPRESENTED BY BENJI AND DAVID IN A REAL PAIN (2024) SCREENPLAY
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15575/call.v8i2.56618Keywords:
: emotion classification David Krech; A Real Pain; literary psychology; basic and complex emotions.Abstract
This study examines the emotions depicted by the two main characters, Benji and David, in Jesse Eisenberg's screenplay A Real Pain (2024) using David Krech's classification of emotions within the framework of literary psychology. The study aims to identify the basic and complex emotions experienced by the characters and to explain how these emotions contribute to their psychological development throughout the narrative. A descriptive qualitative design was employed, with the screenplay serving as the primary source of data. The data consisted of dialogues, narrative descriptions, character actions, and stage directions that represented the emotional experiences of the two protagonists. The data were collected through documentation and analyzed by classifying emotional expressions into basic emotions (happiness, sadness, fear, and anger) and complex emotions (love, guilt, shame, and repressed guilt) based on David Krech's theory. The findings reveal that both characters experience all categories of emotions, although they express them in different ways. Benji predominantly displays sadness through open and impulsive emotional expressions, whereas David's emotional experiences are largely characterized by fear, emotional restraint, and psychological conflict. The study demonstrates that the screenplay portrays emotions not only as individual psychological responses but also as significant elements that shape characterization, interpersonal relationships, and narrative development. The findings demonstrate that Krech and Crutchfield's classification provides an effective framework for understanding emotional representation in contemporary film screenplays.
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