Escapism in Ernest Cline's Novel Ready Player One A

ESCAPISM IN ERNEST CLINE’S NOVEL READY PLAYER ONE

A THESIS

MAUZA PERDANA LUBIS

REG. NO. 140705104

DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH

FACULTY OF CULTURAL SCIENCES

UNIVERSITY OF SUMATERA UTARA

MEDAN 2021

Universitas Sumatera Utara ESCAPISM IN ERNEST CLINE’S NOVEL READY PLAYER ONE

A THESIS

MAUZA PERDANA LUBIS

REG. NO. 140705104

SUPERVISOR CO-SUPERVISOR

Drs. Parlindungan Purba, M.Hum Riko A. R. Pohan, S.S, M.Hum

NIP. 196302161989031003 NIP. 198406092015041001

Submitted to Faculty of Cultural Sciences University of Sumatera Utara Medan in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Sarjana Sastra from Department of English

DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH FACULTY OF CULTURAL SCIENCES UNIVERSITY OF SUMATERA UTARA MEDAN 2021

Universitas Sumatera Utara Approved by the Department of English, Faculty of Cultural Sciences University of Sumatera Utara (USU) Medan as thesis for The Sarjana Sastra Examination.

Head, Secretary,

Prof. T. Silvana Sinar, M.A., Ph.D. Rahmadsyah Rangkuti, M.A., Ph.D. NIP. 19540916 198003 2 003 NIP. 19750209 200812 1 002

Universitas Sumatera Utara Accepted by the Board of Examiners in partial fulfillment of requirements for the degree of Sarjana Sastra from the Department of English, Faculty of Cultural Sciences University of Sumatera Utara, Medan.

The examination is held in Department of English Faculty of Cultural Sciences University of Sumatera Utara on March 31th, 2021

Dean of Faculty of Cultural Sciences

University of Sumatera Utara

Dr. Budi Agustono, M.S. NIP. 19600805 198703 1 001

Board of Examiners

Rahmadsyah Rangkuti, M.A., Ph.D.

NIP. 19750209 200812 1 002

Drs. Parlindungan Purba, M.Hum.

NIP. 196302161989031003

Dr. Siti Norma Nasution, M.Hum.

NIP. 195707201983032001

Universitas Sumatera Utara AUTHOR’S DECLARATION

I, MAUZA PERDANA LUBIS DECLARE THAT I AM THE SOLE

AUTHOR OF THIS THESIS EXCEPT WHERE REFERENCE IS MADE

IN THE TEXT OF THIS THESIS. THIS THESIS CONTAINS NO

MATERIAL PUBLISHED ELSEWHERE OR EXTRACTED IN WHOLE

OR IN PART FROM A THESIS BY WHICH I HAVE QUALIFIED FOR

OR AWARDED ANOTHER DEGREE. NO OTHER PERSON’S WORK

HAS BEEN USED WITHOUT DUE ACKNOWLEDGMENTS IN THE

MAIN TEXT OF THIS THESIS. THIS THESIS HAS NOT BEEN

SUBMITTED FOR THE AWARD OF ANOTHER DEGREE IN ANY

TERTIARY EDUCATION.

Signed :

Date : April 20th, 2021

Universitas Sumatera Utara COPYRIGHT DECLARATION

NAME : MAUZA PERDANA LUBIS

TITLE OF THESIS : ESCAPISM IN ERNEST CLINE’S NOVEL

READY PLAYER ONE

QUALIFICATION : S1/SARJANA SASTRA

DEPARTMENT : ENGLISH

I AM WILLING THAT MY THESIS SHOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR

REPRODUCTION AT THE DISCRETION OF THE LIBRARIAN OF

DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH, FACULTY OF CULTURAL STUDIES,

UNIVERSITY OF SUMATERA UTARA ON THE UNDERSTANDING

THAT USERS ARE MADE AWARE OF THEIR OBLIGATION UNDER

THE LAW OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA.

Signed :

Date : April 20th, 2021

Universitas Sumatera Utara LIST OF TERMS Avatar : a picture on a computer screen that represents a particular

computer user, especially one of several users who are having a conversation with each other on the internet

Buzzard : any of several birds of prey of the genus Buteo and, in

North America, various New World vultures (family Cathartidae), especially the turkey vulture (Cathartes aura). Similarly, in Australia a large hawk of the genus Hamirostra is called a black-breasted buzzard. In North America, Buteo species are called buteos, buzzard hawks, or simply hawks.

MTFBWYA : May The Force Be With You All

OASIS : Ontologically Anthropocentric Sensory Immersive

Simulation) is a MMOSG (massively multiplayer online simulation game) created by James Halliday and Ogden Morrow of Gregarious Simulation Systems

OPS :OASIS Public School

Virtual Reality : a computer-generated simulation in which a person can

interact within an artificial three-dimensional environment using electronic devices, such as special goggles with a screen or gloves fitted with sensors.

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Universitas Sumatera Utara ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim, first and foremost, I thank Allah SWT for giving me endless blessings through everything in my life. I also thank to Prophet

Muhammad SAW who has already brought this world far away from the darkness into the better world—one of them, through education, that helping me to finish my bachelor degree in English Department, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, in

University of Sumatera Utara.

I would like to express my gratitude to Dr. Budi Agustono, M.S. as the

Dean of Faculty of Cultural Studies in University of Sumatera Utara, Prof. T.

Silvana Sinar, M.A., Ph.D as the head of English Department, Rahmadsyah

Rangkuti, M.A., Ph.D as the secretary of English Department, also all academics and administrative staffs for their helps during my study. Not to be forgotten as well for all lecturers that have taught me in this department.

My sincere and special gratitude I would really like to deliver to my supervisor, Drs. Parlindungan Purba, M.Hum., and also my co-supervisor Riko

Andika Rahmat Pohan, S.S., M.Hum.Both my supervisor and co-supervisor have helped me by giving great advice, suggestions, kindness, and everything they have taught me in finishing this thesis. I have been so thankful to Allah SWT to have great supervisors who really help and support me in finishing this thesis.

My greatest love and gratitude I would really like to express to my parents; Darwizal Parlaungan Lubis, S.H. and Dr. Nadra Ideyani Vita , M.Si. . for their unconditional love toward me. Thank you for the support and understanding

Universitas Sumatera Utara regarding my thesis, always asking about my thesis development, really understand when I have to be in the zone while working on my thesis and cannot be asked to do your favor for the sake of my thesis. I really thank you for all your advice, love, suggestions, and supports to your one and only son. For my one and only younger sister; Agiza Putri Lubis—thank you for understanding how to handle your brother at the time where he need you the most and lending him your spot in the house for finishing his thesis, thank you for sending me all your good prayers. Thank you for being my greatest support system so I can stand as Oja now, much better from before.

To all my beloved colleagues in Sasing B 2014, especially Ananda R

Jutawan, Hammad Zikri Nasution, Ibnu Annafi, Rizka Maulina, Prianto Zola S.,

Syarbain Mirza S., Yohanna Augustina Anne You guys have been the closest one to witness the process of me finishing this thesis, you guys have kept me sane at the time where things have been rough and I am close to giving up. , and every single student in the class, thank you for our precious time and moments that we have shared together, See you on top, pals. I do hope we could still get in touch

.I would also like to express my gratitude to my faraway friend, Claudia

Farisa Adni for her support. Thank you for being a friend that I always can rely on. Your helps really means a lot for me. Hope our friendship can be everlasting despite the distance that separate us.

To my closest circle to share all my thoughts, ideas and joyness, Pencari

Jati Diri – Jacky, Ryan,and Sani, I would really thank you for all your supports, advice, laugh that we have shared together. You guys have helped keeping me

Universitas Sumatera Utara staying on the track of finishing my thesis no matter what I complain about having difficulties in finishing my study. You guys being there where I have finished my thesis defence at the time where I thought nobody would celebrate the event especially in this pandemic time – you guys are so amazing I cannot thank more, I am glad to be part of this train of life with you guys.

To my senior, Bang Daniel Morris—thank you for keeping your promise to help me from the very first step of doing draft proposal, an. All your helps mean a lot for me. To all my XLFL Batch 4 Medan Class, especially Deedee,

Engel, Putra, Robert, Dinda, and others—thank you for all your supports and motivation, may we meet someday when we’ve become what we wanted and share all our journey as a fun and intimate talk. All moments and time we have shared together really impacted me positively in making this thesis, especially

SMARTER Goal. And other friends that I cannot put all your names here—thank you for all your supports. It really means a lot in this time for working on this thesis.

In completing this thesis, I realize this thesis is far from perfection as such a saying ‘There’s nothing is perfect’. Therefore, suggestions and critics are needed. Hopefully this thesis may be beneficial for the targetted readers or researchers in the future ahead. May God always bless us. Aaamiin ya rabbal alaamiin. Alhamdulillahirabbilalaamiin.

Medan, 20th April 2021

Mauza Perdana Lubis Reg. No. 140705104

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ABSTRACT

This thesis entitled Escapism in Ernest Cline’s Novel Ready Player One. This thesis contains an analysis of escapism in literary work which is a novel. The novel setting in Columbus, Ohio. United State of America on 2045 where the earth is a bleak place: people are overcrowded and unemployed, and all places everywhere seems to suffering from an energy shortage.. The aim of this thesis are (i) to explain the characteristics that influenced escapism in Ready Player One and (ii) to analyze the impact of escapism in Ready Player One. The writer uses psychology of literature as the main theory, and some references that related to escapism in analyzing the problems. In completing the analysis, the writer used qualitative descriptive method. The writer collects the data from some sources included Ready Player One novel, journals, articles, websites, and books which related to escapism. The writer found that the main character Wade Watts experienced escapism during his lifetime. It arise because of the bad condition and quality of life he have that made him choose to spend most of his life in the OASIS, A virtual reality game.

Keywords: Escapism, Characteristics, Impact, Psychology of Literature, OASIS

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ABSTRAK

Skripsi ini berjudul “Escapism in Ernest Cline’s Novel Ready Player One”. Skripsi ini berisi tentang analisis terhadap karya sastra yang berbentuk novel. Novel ini bersetting di Colombus, Ohio, Amerika Serikat pada tahun 2045 dimana bumi adalah tempat yang suram: dimana penduduk sangat padat dan tidak bekerja dan semua tempat terlihat menderita krisis energy. Tujuan dari skripsi ini adalah (i) menjelaskan karakteristik yang mempengaruhi eskapisme dalam Ready Player One dan (ii) untuk menganalisa dampak dari Ready Player One. Penulis menggunakan pendekatan Psikologi Sastra dan beberapa referensi terkait eskapsime untuk menganalisis masalah. Dalam mengerjakan analisis, Penulis menggunakan metode deskriptif qualitative. Penulis mengumpulkan data dari beberapa sumber termasuk Novel Ready Player One, Artikel dan buku seputar eskapisme. Penulis menemukan bahwa karakter utama Wade Watts mengalami eskapisme dalam masa hidupnya. Yang disebabkan oleh keadaan dan kualitas hidup yang buruk yang membuatnya memilih untuk menghabiskan kebanyakan hidupnya di OASIS, sebuah game realitas virtual. Kata Kunci: Eskapisme, Karakteristik, Dampak, Psikologi Sastra, OASIS

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TABLE OF CONTENTS AUTHOR’S DECLARATION ...... i COPYRIGHT DECLARATION ...... ii LIST OF TERMS ...... iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ...... iv ABSTRACT ...... vii ABSTRAK ...... viii TABLE OF CONTENTS ...... ix CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION ...... 1 1.1 Background of The Study ...... 1 1.2 Problem of The Study ...... 3 1.3 Objective of The Study ...... 3 1.4 Scope of The Study ...... 4 1.5 Significance of The Study ...... 4 CHAPTER II REVIEW OF LITERATURE ...... 5 2.1 Brief Description of Novel ...... 5 2.2 The Psychology of Literature ...... 8 2.3 Characteristics of Escapism ...... 10 2.3.1 Thematic Approach ...... 11 2.3.2 Impact of Escapism ...... 12 2.4 Previous Studies ...... 12 CHAPTER III METHOD OF RESEARCH...... 16 3.1 Research Design ...... 16 3.2 Data and Source of Data ...... 18 3.3 Technique of Data Collection ...... 19 3.4 Technique of Data Analysis ...... 20 CHAPTER IV ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS ...... 21 4.1 Adventure ...... 21

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4.2 Romance ...... 30 4.3 Mystery ...... 34 CHAPTER V CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION ...... 43 5.1 Conclusion...... 43 5.2 Suggestion ...... 45 REFERENCES ...... 46 APPENDICES i. Biography of Ernest Cline ii. Summary of The Novel Ready Player One

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CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of The Study

Literature is an extension of an author thought process expressed in a form of writing. The expression itself could vary from lessons, experiences, or imagination of the author toward multiple aspects such as social, cultural, or spiritual aspect.

Literature in itself is mostly a byproduct of the interaction that the author experience toward their environment, it could be what the author have felt, thought or experience about environment around the author. The work itself could reflect something from their past, current or even their thought about what the future might be. Literary work divided into several type such as novel, play, song, poetry.

Novel is a literary work that give most of its charm through the interpretation process of the readers. Novel brought readers to experience a specific condition and experience the world through the character perspective as they are digging into how the character live their life. And hopefully readers would later on be inspired through message or inspirational value that the author have put in the novel.

Escapism is an action of avoiding reality. Escapism itself often done by an individual for their dissatisfaction of the life (Reality) they are living.

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Ready Player One is a debut novel by Ernest Cline published in August 2011 which become a New York Times bestseller. His background as an IT in the mid-

1990’s and a game nerd become the foundation for giving him a way to picture the way he chooses to spend his time with outside of his daily occupation.

Escapism is a way to look away when an individual or group is facing dissatisfaction of reality, As a human being we are inseparable from those dissatisfaction, Because most of the content in the novel contains imagination of the author experience and vision of what the reality of the future would be faced by the society based on how the way society life their life, It would relate with most of the generation living around those time.

This novel hover around the main character Wade Watts a.k.a Parzival, since he lived through several bad tragedy and being a poor kid living in a slum called the “The Stack” with other poor people, OASIS, A game that someone named

James Donovan Halliday created become a place where most people especially the poor escape their reality spending time to be what they want, despite of what they are actually in the real world.

The writer choses this novel because the writer want to analyze the escapism that happened across this novel. Where most of the generation living today (X to

Z generation) lived by and subconsciously shape the way this generations view the future of living life in the future.

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The writer chose this title because the writer sees this topic really interesting regarding what the future of life and technology might be and wants to make a deeper analysis from the novel Ready Player One by Ernest Cline.

1.2 Problem of The Study

Escapism is a problem that causes people having difficulties in facing social life. Ready Player One represents escapism in a way that haven’t been thought before that people spend most of their time in a virtual space. In accordance with the title of the thesis, several questions are arranged which act as the center of problems.

Problems that the writer would like to analyze are:

1. What are the characteristics that causes Escapism in Ready Player One?

2. What are the impacts of escapism in Ready Player One?

1.3 Objective of The Study

In accordance to the problem above, there are two objectives this thesis intended to:

1. To explain the factors characteristics that caused escapism in Ready Commented [U1]: Note content Sir Parlin Formatted: Font: (Default) Times New Roman, 12 pt Player One

2. To analyze the impact of escapism in Ready Player One

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1.4 Scope of The Study

Scope of the study is essential in preparing thesis so that this study is narrowed on the topic that will be discussed. In doing the analysis, we have to limit the fields that are going to be analyzed to make sure that the context is put in place. This study will focus on the characteristics and impact of escapism of the main character Wade Watts a.k.a Parzival in the novel Ready Player One by

Ernest Cline.

1.5 Significance of The Study

Escapism is essential to be studied. This study is expected to give benefits in academic field, which can increase knowledge about escapism in literary works and in the society. And also, can be used for further study material around literary works on the theme of escapism. This study can be used as reference for the readers who are interested in learning the relationship of literature and psychological problems. More importantly for generation living today and generation to come that we are living in a world that spins on reality no matter how great the technology has brought us that real world still matter.

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CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF LITERATURE

2.1 Brief Description of Novel

Sumardjo (1998: 29) said that, novel is a story with the prose form in long shape, this long shape means the story including the complex plot, many character and various setting.

A literary works such as novels, supported by two elements which is the intrinsic and extrinsic. This element directly constructs the story so novel form.

Intrinsic elements as follows:

A. Intrinsic Elements

1. Theme

Theme is the basis of the story, the idea of a common base of a masterpiece.

The basic idea is commonly used to develop the story. Stanton and Kenney

(Nurgiyantoro, 1965: 70) have stated that theme is a meaning of story which especially explains a big part of its elements in the simple way. It is more or less synonymous the central idea and central purpose.

2. Plot

Plot is the story development pattern formed by causality. In general, the plot is divided into the following sections:

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a) Introduction to the story situation

b) Disclosure of events

c) Towards a conflict

d) Height of the conflict

e) Completion

Conflict is the essence of the groove. Conflict is a disagreement. Kind of conflict include:

a) Human contradiction with theirself (inner conflict)

b) Conflicts with other human

c) Conflicts of humans with the environment, whether the economic, political,

social, or cultural

d) Conflicts of man with God or faith

Stanton (1965: 14), suggested, the plot is a story that contains the sequence of events, but each incident is only connected in cause and effect, an event which caused or led to the occurrence of other events. Kenny (1966: 14), stated that, promoted to the plot as the events shown in the story is not simple, because the author set the events based on the relation of cause and effect.

3. Setting

Setting elements can be divided into three main elements, which are place, time, and social. Setting on the location of the place suggest the occurrence of the events recounted in a work of fiction. Elements may be used where the places

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with a certain name, initials, and there may be certain locations without exact name. Setting of time associated with the problem of "when" of events recounted in a work of fiction problem, "when" is normally associated with the factual, the time to do or be associated with historical events. Social setting suggested on matters relating to the conduct of social life of the community in a place that is told.

4. Characters

Characters are the leaders of the stories. Characters may be flat and minor, or round and major. The main character in a story is generally known as protagonist, the character who opposes the main caracter is the antagonist. Character is revealed by how a character responds to conflict. Abram (1981: 76) says that, Character is people who are appeared in a narrative prose or novel and it is interpreted by the readers as a person who has moral quality and certain tendency such as being expressed in what they say and what they do.

5. Point of View

Point of view is a technique, or strategy that the author used to express ideas and stories. Understanding about point of view, Point of view suggests the way a story is told. It is a way and or views of the author used as a means for presenting the characters, action, background and events that make up the story in a work of fiction to the reader.

6. Mandate

Mandate, is the message that the author tries to convey to the reader.

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B. Extrinsic Elements

Extrinsic Elements are elements outside the literary works, but it does not directly affect the structure or organism system literature. Extrinsic elements consist of individual subjectivity authors state that have attitudes, beliefs, and worldviews that all of it affects the literary work done.

2.2 The Psychology of Literature

In analyzing this thesis the writer use psychological approach and theories.

Because it is the most suitable approach to understand about psychological aspect in the novel.

Psychology of Literature is a specialized area of study which focused on the psychology point of the of literature both the elements of the author, the characters, and reader, by focus on the inner conflict that is contained in literature to be analyzed. According to American Psychological Association (APA) in the

APA Dictionary of Psychology Escapism is “tendency to escape from the real world to the delight or security of a fantasy world. Escapism may reflect a periodic, normal, and common impulse, as might be seen in harmless daydreams, Formatted: Default Paragraph Font, Font: (Default) +Body (Calibri), 11 pt, Pattern: Clear or it may be evidence of or accompany symptoms of neurosis or more serious mental pathology” (2015:383). According to Endraswara : “Psychology of

Literature is the study that examined the literature as a mental activity in a broad sense that literature can not be separated from life depicting various series of human personality” (2003: 97). Literature : An Introduction To Reading And

Writing written by Roberts and Jacob (1993) gives the explanation of literature.

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According to Robert and Jacob (1993:1): literature refers to composition that tell the stories, dramatize situations,express emotion, and analyze and advocates ideas.

In some stories, the oral tradition of literature still exist, with many poems and stories designed exclusively for spoken delivery. Literature helps us grow, both personally and intellectually. It provides an objective base for knowledge and understanding. It links us with the broader culture, philosophic, and religious world of which we are a part. One of which is included in a literary work is novel.

Literature is a part of human life. As people know, since human functions as a social individual, human uses literature as a media to socialize with others.

Novel is one kind of literature. Novel can portray characters and actions which represent of real life dealing with human life, passion or ambition, desire, happiness, sadness, love and many else related to human life. Wellek (1977:94) state that : literature ‘represents’ ‘life’; and ‘life’ is, in large measure, a social reality, even though the natural world and the inner or subjective world of the individual have also been objects of literary ‘imitation’. Literature is the expression of life in the world of truth and beauty; it is the writer record of man’s spirit of the thought, emotion, and expression. Literature is traditionally described as the body of writing that exist because of inherent imaginative artistic qualities

(Lukens, 2003:3).

Besides using the theory of psychology of literature in general, in the process of completing this thesis the writer also use theories that related to charateristics and impacts of escapism as can be seen below:

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Cawelti (1976) in his book Adventure, Mystery, and Romance: Formula

Stories as Art and Popular Culture stated that there are 3 major characteristics in a story which are Adventure, Mystery, and Romance. Not so far different from

Cawelti, Apter (1982:6) also stated the same idea, Apter in his book’s Fantasy

Literature, stated that fantasy offers escape from reality, but the purpose and effect of the escape ranges from wish-fulfilment, excitement or sheer entertainment, to release from habitual assumptions, thus providing a vantage point from which new possibilities can be realized. As a by-product of disappointing reality

Escapism can be characterized as a “break” from daily activities (Warmelink H, et al. , 2009). According to Warmelink in “Press enter or escape to play: deconstructing escapism in multiplayer gaming. Breaking new ground: innovation in games, play practice and theory”, Escapism has been argued to be harmful to a person mental health, given the impact resulting from it includes Procrastination,

Psychosis, Denial and Addiction.

2.3 Characteristics of Escapism

Escapism is a form of escape that might involve an individual doing something outside of their routine even by doing nothing. Escape is the act of breaking free from confinement or control. Escape is the action of an individual based on their dissatisfaction of the thing that confine or control them that might be an institution or even reality. The act of escape could cover all aspect of life, because everybody could experience dissatisfaction no matter wherever or whoever you are. In Tuan’s book Escapism (1998), Tuan describe escapism as an Commented [w2]: State more clearly whose theory this is. action that have been done by our instinct started by migration, we migrate when Formatted: Font: (Default) Times New Roman, 12 pt

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our home starts to deteriorate, The act of escape is always pictured as the act of survival

According to Online Etymology Dictionary, The word escapism is a word Commented [w3]: I think we don’t use foot note,check your guide book derived from American English in 1933 from the word escape + ism.Escapism is Formatted: Font: (Default) Times New Roman, 12 pt derived from the word escape which means free oneself from confinement; extricate oneself from trouble; get away safely by flight (from battle, an enemy, etc.) and -ism which is a word-forming element making nouns implying a practice, system, doctrine, etc.

Escapism done in various forms, from the time human starting to face the disappointing reality of living in certain places being hunted by predator, Human Commented [w4]: perbaiki Formatted: Font: (Default) Times New Roman, 12 pt have try to escape and find a better reality to live in, when the era of mass media Commented [w5]: perbaiki appear we try to escape from reality by reading or watching news that make us Formatted: Font: (Default) Times New Roman, 12 pt Commented [w6]: perbaiki feel better, then the era of digital come, we we listen to music, movie, and the last Formatted: Font: (Default) Times New Roman, 12 pt to come video game to escape from our reality to be able to feel what we want to Commented [w7]: perbaiki Formatted: Font: (Default) Times New Roman, 12 pt feel. Commented [w8]: perbaiki Formatted: Font: (Default) Times New Roman, 12 pt Some people even take their escapism too far that they lost track of reality. Formatted: Font: English (United States)

These conditions make them hard to live their life normally and get the Commented [w9]: perbaiki Formatted: Font: (Default) Times New Roman, 12 pt opportunities in the society which will be the main topic of this thesis.

2.3.1 Thematic Approach Formatted: Font: 12 pt, No underline, Font color: Auto, English (United States) In a thematic literature review, the writer organizes and discusses existing Formatted: Heading 2,Sub Bab, Justified literature based on themes or theoretical concepts that the writer feels are

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important to understanding the topic. For instance, the writer writing a literature review on escapism using this approach would possibly include separate sections on studies about the characteristics that influences escapism such as Mundane

Breaking, Stress-relieving, Pleasure Seeking, Uncomfortable Truth, Media

Influences.; and also its impact such as Procastination, Psychosis, Denial and

Addiction.

2.3.2 Impact Of Escapism Formatted: Heading 3,Sub Bab II, Outline numbered + Level: 3 + Numbering Style: 1, 2, 3, … + Start at: 1 . According to Warmelink (2009), The impact of escapism are Procastination, + Alignment: Left + Aligned at: 0 cm + Indent at: 1.27 cm, Tab stops: Not at 1 cm Psychosis, Denial, and Addiction. Procastination is the act of slacking from chores Formatted: English (United States) Formatted: Tab stops: 0.95 cm, Left + Not at 1 cm that needed to take care of, Psychosis is the inability to separate what is real and not, and having difficulties of reaching reality. Denial is the act of isolating oneself and hold on to certain beliefs. Addiction is the condition when people are doing habits that they can’t control.

2.4 Previous Studies

This research studies about escapism found in Ernest Cline’s novel Ready

Player One. It will talk about the factors that influence escapism and the impacts of it on the main character Wade Watts. Based on the writer’s search, there are other research found related to this research and the writer wants to give a brief description of these previous study. Here are some previous study which have done by some researcher that related to the novel Ready Player One and related to the term “escapism”.

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The first is Megan Amber Condis’s article on 2016 entitled “Playing the

Game of Literature: Ready Player One, the Ludic Novel, and the Geeky “Canon” of White Masculinity”. The article is about criticizing Ready Player One novel as being spontaneous and undirected, it also highlight about how gamer are taken too seriously in this day world, and every single aspect of activites are being gamified by the people in the industry, starting from marketing , productivity booster in workplace, even educators are trying to engage with their student with digital games, so does politician and activist to raise awareness about important causes.

Moreover games are being used to crowdsource complex scientific problem. And how Cline in Ready Player One take the pop culture canon and try to create a hierarchial structures like gender and races, and trying to push white masculinity toward the reader subconsciously. She also pointed toward some fact that Cline’s work is not the only work that contain puzzle-solving and also that Ready Player

One have inspired Oculus VR an actual Virtual Reality equipment company to have created a Beta Version of his OASIS in Steam (A video game digital distribution service), She also criticize Cline’s ignoring what if there are people who live in industrialized countries or do not have access to the OASIS, And how could Wade a poor kid able to afford the high-end equipment and have such exceptional knowledge that exceeds multi-billion corporation staff that are to flourish in fannish.

The second is Justin Nordstorm’s article entitled “A Pleasant Place for the

World to Hide”: Exploring Themes of Utopian Play in Ready Player One. This article is talking about how Cline’s are able to picture an imaginary world that are

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both utopian and dystopian, where the character make peace with their sad reality through OASIS, Nordstorm tried to use Suits’ philosophical approach to define games and utopia, He tried to examine Suits’ philosophy toward why gaming is essential to utopian fiction.

The third is an article by Susan Aronstein and Jason Thompson entitled

“Coding the Grail: "Ready Player One's" Arthurian Mash-Up”. This article dig deeper about how Cline’s is recreating the Holy Grail of Arthurian time with a mash-up of pop culture reference and the relation that this novel has to the

Twitter-PS4-Wii Generation and how Cline is using this novel as his bildungsroman.

And another study is an article by Bernd Henning and Peter Vorderer entitled “Psychological Escapism: Predicting the Amount of Television Viewing by Need for Cognition” this article talk about how Germans spent their time in front of their TV, And how their attitude toward thinking and their need for cognition might explain the differences of their time spent with TV. The majority of people in Ready Player One choose to stay in the OASIS because of their inability to do other than thinking and solving the stack of problem in front of them instead they choose to stay in the stack and work with the OASIS. This paper show that the concept of escapism proves to be useful in explaining TV use when it takes over a psychological perspective as well as a sociological one.

What makes this research different from previous research is, this research digs deeper into escapism contain in this novel, It also try to understand what

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causes the escapism to occur in the age where technology are portrayed to be more sophisticated then the current time. This research also explain the characteristics of escapism such as Adventure, Romance, and Mystery.

Moreover, this research explain about the impacts of escapism towards the main character Wade Watts such as Procastination, Psychosis, Denial and

Addiction.

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CHAPTER III METHOD OF RESEARCH

3.1 Research Design

Method of the study is very important in presenting the analysis of data as well as drawing conclusion. Method used in this thesis research is descriptive qualitative method. The purpose of this study is to reveal the events or facts, circumstances, phenomena, variables and circumstances that occur in literary work and presenting what really happened. This method is being used in order to understand how and why something is happened, not only what, when, or where something is occurred.This study interprets and describes the data concerned with the current situation, attitudes and views that occur in a society, also the contradiction between two or more circumstances, the relationship towards a condition.

The method that used in this writing was applied in determining data source, data collection, and data analysis. How to analyze this research is by analyzing the object which is Ernest Cline's Ready Player One that contains elements of escapism. Besides, there is also a library study that can facilitate the research especially in the discussion chapter. Internet research are also being applied to support and to widen the ideas of the researcher as well as to get materials and insights that are needed. Those ideas and concepts, which are then

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going to be selected and interpreted before being analyzed so as to get the conclusion of the study.

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3.2 Data and Source of Data

A. Data

Data can be interpreted as the fact which are functioning as a material to construct an opinion, statement and information or material that is used for research. Data is an important element for research study. It can be the evidences and clues for the writer to solve the research problem.

Type of data required are divided into two, which are the primary data and the secondary data. The primary data for the analysis was taken from the novel

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline, while the secondary data was derived from other sources, such as books, thesis, internet, and other which could be fully supported the study, and were related to the problem and topic.

Data obtained from every supporting words, phrases, sentences, or paragraphs that related to this research. All of the data (texts) will then be saved, copied, read, or noted and will be used when it’s needed.

Through this study, the writer tries to see the literary work as a product which influenced by the psychological condition and the cognitive of the author when the work is produced.

B. Souce of Data

The source of data is the source where the data was obtained. The source of data can be divided into two kinds, primary and secondary data. The primary data for the analysis was taken from the novel Ready Player One by Ernest Cline,

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while the secondary data was derived from other sources, such as books, thesis, articles, internet, and other which could be fully supported the study, and were related to the problem and topic.

The main source of this analysis especially the data, is taken from the novel

Ready Player One written by Ernest Cline. The data are in quotations form which are selected from the novel. This novel were chosen because it is fit to become the writer’s data source in analyzing the escapism issue.

3.3 Technique of Data Collection

The data collecting of this research was done by using library research. In this study, descriptive method is used to analyze the qualitative data. The writer used the library research in gathering the data of the research which aims to collect data from written source books that would be useful for the analysis. The writer also read the novel and then the data were collected by marking the important quotations in this novel which are related to the writer’s topic. Ary et al

(2002:430) in Introduction to research in Education states, The most common data collection methods used in qualitative research are: (1) observation

(participant and non participant) (2) interviewing, and (3) document analysis.

In collecting data, the following steps are done:

1) Reading the novel over and over again to gain deeper

understanding about the story and problems of the novel.

2) Making notes to gain a clear description about the main character

Wade Watts, as the object of the analysis.

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3) Identifying the analysis by using some references .

4) Selecting and picking the data which related to the problems.

5) Finally conducting and analyzing the collected data.

3.4 Technique of Data Analysis

In this study, descriptive method is used to analyze the qualitative data through the following procedures below:

1. Identifying the character of Wade Watts and his problems related to

Escapism which is conducted by himself toward the real world he face.

2. Mark and note the data which having the relation to the problem of this

study.

3. Make a data display to make the writer more easier in analyzing process.

4. Analyze the data about escapism with descriptive qualitative method.

5. The last procedures is making conclusion based on the data that have been

analyzed.

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CHAPTER IV ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS

4.1 Adventure

Adventure often become characteristics of escapism, it often caused by dissatisfaction toward reality, An individual would look to another place or even universe to find something different. The central fantasy of the adventure story is that of the her – individual or group – overcoming obstacles and dangers and accomplishing some important and moral mission (Cawelti, 1976:39). It means that, adeventure story is the story that contains of the heroes must do the resistance to the power dominant that the heroes of the story must pass some dangerous obstacles in order to reach the certain goal. There are many dangerous obstacles that must be finished by hero to reach the certain mission.

In Ready Player One, There are many part that shows adventure happening.

Starting by this statement.

“Growing up as a human being on the planet Earth in the twenty-first century was a real kick in the teeth. Existentially speaking.” (Cline, 2017:22)

This quotation is about how Wade verbally tell about how terrible the Earth at that time, It could be simplified to live is living a very unpleasant waiting for death to come. With that condition, it would be understood that he would try his best to escape from earth into another place.

“Things used to be awesome, but now they’re kinda terrifying”(Cline, 2017:25)

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This quotation is about Wade talking to himself and imagining that he could talk to his younger self that right before he was born the earth was rising toward invention of many equipment such as Computer,etc. Yet it was also the reason that they come to the Global Energy Crisis that they are facing right now.

“The OASIS is the of all my happiest childhood memories, When my mom didn’t have to work, we would login at the same time and play games or go on interactive storybook adventure together. (Cline, 2017:26)

This quotation is about Wade remembering what his childhood memories look like, What kind adventure that he would have with his mom, Which is whenever his mom is free from working, They would be having a great time together by logging in into the OASIS playing game or being in an interactive storybook together.

She used to have to force me to log out every night, because I never wanted to return to the real world. Because the real world sucked”(Cline, 2017:26)

This quotation is about Wade having the impact of escapism where he ended up having a psychosis which mean that he have difficulty to return to reality because of the enjoyment that he felt inside the OASIS and how the real world condition at that time is, He felt that it would be better to stay in the OASIS.

“Then the Hunt for Halliday’s Easter egg began. That was what saved me, I think. Suddenly I’d found something worth doing. A dream worth chasing” (Cline, 2017:27)

This quotation is about Wade finally find his reason to move forward with his life, The struggle for a bigger purpose which is the hunt of Halliday’s Easter egg,

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The Egg that would become the most wanted item in this novel by every person in

OASIS.

“That evening, our football team was playing an away game against OPS #0571, which was located roughly an hour’s run form the forest where the tomb was hidden.” (Cline, 2017:113)

This quotation is about Wade starting his journey to find the Copper Key to unveil the OASIS easter egg, Since he had no money he utilizes a free ticket from his school to a football game in the OASIS that are located near the location to reach the Tomb Of Horrors.

“You shall prove your worth by facing me in a Joust” (Cline, 2017:126)

This quotation is what Acerak, The keeper of the Copper Key told Wade.

Acerak ask Wade to face him in a Joust which is a video game where Wade take control as a knight riding a flying ostrich facing a group of enemy knight riding buzzards where later on Wade defeat Acerak and earns the Cooper Key.

“But I have three minor conditions, First I want a fifty-million-dollar bonus when I find the egg for you guys (…) I don’t want to be second-in-command, I want your job Sorrento. I want to be in charge of the whole shebang. Chief of operations. El Numero Uno, and I want everyone to call me El Numero Uno,too.” (Cline,2017:219)

This quotation is the conversation Wade have while meeting Nolan Sorrento, the head of the IOI, the company that wanted to take over OASIS for the fortune it held. This conversation happened after a long negotiation from Sorrento trying to persuade Wade to become part of his team in search for the easter egg by offering many things that probably others would take. Yet what Wade did is after telling

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Sorrento is implicating that he didn’t want to join the team with a manner that really pisses Sorrento.

“Your first instinct right now might be to log out and make a run for it, I urge you not to make that mistake. Your trailer is currently wired with a large quantity of high explosives.” (Cline, 2017:223)

This quotation is a statement from Sorrento after the long conversation he have with Wade and after telling Wade that he know what is Wade real identity and where he live trying to push Wade to his limit. Even though it ended up by

Wade thinking that it’s a bluff and logged out from the conversation.

“The stack containing my aunt’s trailer had collapsed into a fiery,smoking ruin, along with all tof the stacks adjacent to it. There was nothing there now bu a massive pile of twisted, flaming metal.” (Cline, 2017:228)

This quotation is showing what happened to Wade’s home that ended up in fire and where Wade started to realize that thing is just getting real, that Sorrento is not just bluffing but actually trying to kill Wade just to get to the Egg by turning the stacks into a pile of twisted flaming metal.

“Less than a half hour after Artemis’s score increase, the entire Sixer fleet was spotted converging on Sector Seven.” (Cline, 2017:328)

This quotation is about the moment that Art3mis’s score caught the attention of the Sixer, The army of IOI that are tasked to find Halliday’s easter egg. And how it finally gave clue to other gunters that the key must be lying somewhere around Sector Seven.

“Trophies. Somewhere in Sector Seven. I needed to find a collection of trophies in Sector Seven. I did a quick search of my files on Halliday. Among the

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many honors he’d received were the five Game Designer of the Year awards he’d won back around the turn of the century. These trophies were still on display in the GGS Museum in Colombus, but there were replicas of them on display inside the OASIS, on a planet called Archaide, And Archaide was located in Sector Seven” (Cline, 2017:331)

This quotation is about Wade remembering and connecting his knowledge toward the clue about the Jade Key, which says “But you can only blow the whistle once the trophies are all collected” where he have an assumption toward there might be a whistle somewhere in Archaide where the display of trophies that are replica to the actual GGS Museum in the real world which gave him a slight connection to Archaide in Sector Seven where the Sixer is gathering and the reference to trophies that are in the Archaide.

“Then I fired the Vonnegut’s engines and set a course for another planet in Sector Seven, not far from Archaide. It was a small world called Frobozz that was home to a detailed re-creation of the game Zork” (Cline, 2017:351)

This quotation is about Wade continuing his adventures to Frobozz after recieiving clue from Aech, He went to a place called Frobozz, where he found that the place is filled with Sixers and he have to use a special item called The Ring of

Teleportation, which is one of the most valuable magical item to him so that he could teleport without the Sixers finding out about him.

“ I began to formulate a plan. A bold, outrageus plan that would require epic amounts of luck to pull off. I set this plan in motion by e-mailing Art3mis, Aech, and Shoto. My message told them exactly where to find the Second gate and how to obtain the Crystal Key. Once I was sure all three of them had received my message, I initiated the next phase of my plan. This was the part that terrified me, because I

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knew there was a good chance it was going to end up getting me killed. But at this point I no longer care. I was going to reach the Third Gate, or die trying.” (Cline,2017:415)

This quotation is about Wade reaching his friends Art3mis, Aech, and

Shoto and understanding that earning the key would not be possible if he try to reach it alone, So he helped his friends to reach the Second gate by giving them the clues which is in a place called Tyrell Building and help them acquire the

Crystal Key. And he ended up allowing himself to be arrested by the IOI so that he could acquire some insider information.

“First, I e-mailed all of the major newsfeeds a detailed account of how IOI had tried to kill me, how they had killed Daito, and how they were planning to kill Art3mis and Shoto. I attached one of the video clips I'd retrieved from the Sixer database to the message-the video camera footage of Daito's execution. I also attached a copy of the memo Sorrento had sent to the IOI board, suggesting that they abduct Art3mis and Shoto. Finally, I attached the simcap of my chatlink session with Sorrento, but I bleeped the part where he said my real name and blurred the image of my school photo. I wasn't yet ready to reveal my true identity to the world. I planned to release the unedited video later, once the rest of my plan had played out. Then it wouldn't matter.I spent about fifteen minutes composing one last e-mail, which I addressed to every single OASIS user. Once I was happy with the wording, I stored it in my Drafts folder.” (Cline, 2017:473)

This quotation contain the action that Wade thought as a bold outrageous plan, He plan to show what the IOI actually want and eager to do to get what they want such as trying to kill Wade and how they had killed Daito and planned to kill the other including all the proof about the plan, to all the major media, and he also

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prepared a letter that he wanted to send to all OASIS user that he have carefully crafted.

“Fellow gunters, It is a dark day. After years of deception, exploitation, and knavery, the Sixers have finally managed to buy and cheat their way to the entrance of the Third Gate. As you know, IOI has barricaded Castle Anorak in an attempt to prevent anyone else from reaching the egg. We’ve also learned that they’ve used illegal methods to uncover the identities of gunters they consider a threat, with the intention of abducting and murdering them. If gunters around the world don’t join forces to stop the Sixers, they will reach the egg and win the contest. And then the OASIS will fall under IOI’s imperialist rule. The time is now. Our assault on the Sixer army will begin tomorrow at noon, OST. Join us!. Sincerely, Aech, Art3mis, Parzival, and Shoto.” (Cline, 2017:485)

This quotation contain the content of the letter that Wade deliver to all users of the OASIS, reminding them about what IOI have been doing to OASIS fair game, how the IOI have disturb the balance of the game by not letting anyone beside them to reach the egg, Wade tries to inspire and imploring them to join forces toward IOI for the integrity of the Hunt.

“We all jumped and turned around just in time to see a tall, male, gray-haired avatar appear directly behind us. It was the Great and Powerful Og.” (Cline, 2017:487)

This quotation is about their first meeting with Og, The co-creator of

OASIS that have special access rights such as the ability to go anywhere, anytime in the OASIS. Where later on he invite Wade and his friends to his Sancutary in

Oregon and also gave access to Aech, Art3mis, Wade, and Shoto to his state of the art equipment to face the Sixer and reach the egg.

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“Art3mis counted to three, and we turned our keys in unison. There was a brief flash of blue light, during which all of our keys and the crystal door itself vanished. And then the Third Gate stood open in front of us, A crystal doorway leading into a spinning whirlpool of stars.” (Cline, 2017:534)

This quotation is the moment that happened after the fight between the user of OASIS versus the Sixers ensues and Wade ables to enter Castle Anorak with the help of Art3mis after being able to skip through the fight with Sorrento even it ended up costing his avatar to go away and the luck from the coin that he’ve been holding to from a game from the past which ended up as an extra life to him allowing him to stay alive despite what have happened.

“Greetings, This is Wade Watts, also known as Parzival. I want to let the whole world know that if and when I find Halliday’s Easter egg, I hereby vow to split my winnings equally with Art3mis, Aech, and Shoto” (Cline, 2017:545)

This quotation is when Wade have been through many fight with Sorrento and the Sixers even costing his life in OASIS yet he ended up come back to life because of the coin that he acquired from a game he played back then that he thought have no use, but ended up being the most useful item at time. In this moment, The realization of Wade from an egoistic kids who only live for himself and thought that the universe have to spin upon him, ended up being someone who appreciate friendship and the help of his friend, realizing and also telling the entire OASIS that he might not made it to that point if it’s not caused by his friend help.

“The game is over, It’s time for you to receive your prize. I’m entrusting the care of the OASIS to you now, Parzival, Your avatar is immortal and all-

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powerful. This is your castle now. I’ve coded this room so that only your avatar can enter it.” (Cline, 2017:565)

This quotation is what Anorak tells Wade after finally completing all the challenge where afterwards Anorak turned into a virtual form of Halliday himself,

And Wade check out his credit twelve digits long. He was a multibillionaire. He have the access to all the OASIS and Halliday’s entire wealth. He even get the chance to delete the OASIS by having access to the Big Red Button that could eliminate the entire OASIS, Wade finally reach the highest position in OASIS.

“I need to tell you one last thing before I go. Something I didn’t figure out for my self until it was already too late. I created the OASIS because I never felt at home in the real world. I didn’t know how to connect with the people there. I was afraid, for all of my life. Right up until I knew it was ending. That was when I realized as terrifying and painful as reality can be, it’s also the only place where you can find true happiness. Because reality is real. Do you understand? Don’t make the same mistake I did. Don’t hide in here forever.” (Cline, 2017:572)

This quotation is what Halliday’s last message to Wade. Which is to not make the same mistake he did which he only found out when it is too late to do anything. Halliday realizes that the virtual world might offer a beautiful escape but it is impacting his life that because of his addiction he had no chance to actually utter her feelings for the only person that actually care about him, which then made Halliday realize nothing is as beauty as reality. Because in the end the best escape this life could offer is the chance to survive through all the terryfing and painful things, The happiness that came after finally success to struggle

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through all the rough time. Right after that, Wade log out from OASIS and receive congratulations from Aech and Og, and also learn that Sorrento has been arrested.

4.2 Romance

Romance is also another characteristic of escapism. According to Cawelti, the general plot in romance contains the development of love story itself(1976: 5-6).

1). Their first meeting: It tells the beginning of a love story itself, the meeting of the hero and heroine characters. 2). Boy wins the girl: After going through the first stage, they can make a decision whether they take it more seriously or merely stop at the stage. The woman usually allows the man to have sex with her if the man really loves her. 3).Conflict or obstacle: Usually in romance genre the conflict is about love affair or misunderstanding. These obstacles unintentionally lead them to keep their commitment. 4).The ending of the story: Every story has its ending. In every fiction there are two possibilities, happy or sad ending. In romance, it is crucial to have a happy ending.

“It probably goes without saying that I had a massive cyber-crush on Art3mis. She occasionally posted screenshots of her raven-haired avatar, and I sometimes (Always) saved them to a folder in my hard drive” (Cline, 2017:53)

This quotation is about what Wade felt after 3 years following Art3mis a,k.a

Samantha, A woman avatar that really suit his taste of a a woman, Her writing in the gunter forum and also looking at her pictures in her post, He felt her writing had a very unique personality and look, In OASIS everyone could be anything perfect yet sometimes too perfect Wade felt like he wanted something different,

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he wanted a person that have slight flaw in their look and a very specific sense of humor.

“Dear Parzival, Congrats! See? You're famous now, just like I said. Although it looks like we've both been thrust into the limelight. Kinda scary. eh? Thanks for the tip about playing on the left side. You were right. Somehow, that did the trick. But don't go thinking I owe you any favors, mister. :) The First Gate was pretty wild, wasn't it? Not at all what I expected. It would have been cool if Halliday had given me the option to play Ally Sheedy instead, but what can you do? This new riddle is a real head-scratcher, isn't it? I hope it doesn't take us another five years to decipher it. Anyhow, I just wanted to say that it was an honor to meet you. I hope our paths cross again soon. Sincerely, Art3mis ps-Enjoy being #1 while you can, pal. It won't last for long.

Dear Art3mis, Congratulations to you, too. You weren't kidding. Competition clearly brings out the best in you. You're welcome for the tip about playing on the left. You totally owe me a favor now. :-) The new riddle is a cinch. I think I've already got it figured out, actually. What's the hold-up on your end? It was an honor to meet you, too. If you ever feel like hanging out in a chat room, let me know. MTFBWYA, Parzival ps-Are you challenging me? Bring the pain, woman.” (Cline,2017:196-197)

This quotation is their first message after knowing each other. It starts by

Art3mis congratulating Wade for passing the gate, she’s trying to be flirty with

Wade and teasing him by saying that she hope it doesn’t take him another five year to decode the next clue. Then Wade replied in a way that he could be seen as cool by Art3mis by saying that he’s already figured out the next clue and opening the chance to hang out next time , This also shows that they’re sharing the same

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vibe through the messages they send each other. It also shows Wade is looking to talk to her more.

“That night was easily the most fun I’d ever had in my life up to that point. I told Art3mis so afterward, and that was when she leaned over and kissed me for the first time. I couldn’t feel it, of course. But it still set my heart racing. I’d heard all the clichéd warnings about the perils of falling for someone you only knew online, but I ignored them. I decided that whoever Art3mis really was, I was in love with her. I could feel it, deep in the soft, chewy caramel center of my being. And then one night, like a complete idiot, I told her how I felt” (Cline,2017:278)

This quotation is when Wade finally had his first memorable virtual date after several occasion going out with Art3mis, After they finished their date game which is reenacting the movie Rocky Horror Picture Show Wade finally had his first virtual kiss with Art3mis, and realized that the activity that they did might be virtual but the feelings Wade had for Art3mis is real even though he never met her in person.

“Wade: I’m in love with you, Arty. Art3mis: You aren’t in love with me, Z. You only know what I want you to know, only see what I want you to see, This isn’t my real body Wade. Or my real face. Wade: I don’t care! I’m in love with your mind- with the person you are. I couldn’t care less about the packaging. Art3mis: You’re just saying that. Trust me If I ever let you see me in person you would be repulsed. Because I’m hideously deformed. Or I’m a paraplegic. Or I’m actually sixty-three years old. Take your pick. Wade: I don’t care if you’re all of those things. Tell me where to meet you and I’ll prove it. I’ll get on a plane right now and fly to wherever you are. You know I will.

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Art3mis: You don’t live in the real world, Z. From what you’ve told me. I don’t think you ever have. You’re like me, You live inside this illusion. You can’t possibly know what real love is. I’m sorry, Z. This is all my fault. I let this get way out of hand. It has to stop.” (Cline, 2017:290)

This quotation is the conversation that Wade have with Art3mis after he confess his love to her, The conversation shows that Art3mis tried to reject Wade and that she believe that Wade view is too clouded by what he saw in the virtual world. She finally take the action to cut the relation that they had where after this conversation she ended up vanishing and Wade being left out alone in shock.

“You wasted almost half a year screwing around and pining over some girl you’ve never ever met in person. The girl who dumped you. The same girl who is going to end up beating you. Now… get you head back in the game, moron. Find that key.” (Cline, 2017:329)

This quotation is about the realization that Wade had after for half a year he’ve been distracted from his goal which is to find the easter egg and win

Halliday’s fortune. That his heart break from Art3mis caused him to become unproductive, And he wanted more than before to win the contest more than ever to prove himself to Art3mis, made the hunt for the egg over and able to finally meet her in person and try to make sense of how he felt about her.

“Despite my best efforts, my thoughts drifted to Art3mis. Regardless of what I’d been telling myself, I knew she was the real reason I’d gone through with this lunatic plan. What the hell was wrong with me? There was a good chance I might never escape from this place. I felt buried under an avalanche of self- doubt. Had my dual obsessions with the egg and Art3mis finally driven me completely insane? Why would I take such an idiotic risk to win over someone I’d never actually met? Someone who appeared to

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have no interest in ever talking to me again? Where was she right now? Did she miss me?” (Cline,2017:440) This quotation is about Wade having conflict with himself regarding why

Wade did go through such length, just to impress Art3mis, A woman that he never actually met, If it is worth the effort, and wondering if Art3mis missing him while he’s away.

“You don’t need to sell me on anything, Wade. You’re my best friend. My favorite person. I’ve really missed you, you know that?” (Cline, 2017:578)

This quotation is the conversation that Art3mis said to Wade when they meet in person after a small talk, Art3mis finally confessed her feeling to Wade and

Wade felt that all his struggle have been coming to a result. Some time later,

Art3mis leaned over and kissed Wade.

“It occurred to me then that for the first time in as long as I could remember, I had no desire to log back into the OASIS.” (Cline, 2017:579)

This quotation is about Wade that finally find what he believe as happiness is something that happened in real life which is the love of his life, Art3mis, is finally with him and suddenly he had no urge to go back to OASIS anymore.

4.3 Mysteries

Mysteries is the last part of Cawelti formula to dig deeper into escapism in the

Ready Player One novel.

“Before I died, I created my own Easter Egg, and hid it somewhere inside my most popular video

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game- The OASIS. The first person to find my Easter egg will inherit my entire fortune.” (Cline, 2017:8)

This quotation is about Anorak, The nickname for the creator of the OASIS

James Donovan Hallidays later on would be called as Halliday, Where he left access to his entire fortune which is half-trillion dollar and also the ownership of the OASIS itself. That would later on become the drive of most people playing the

OASIS.

“Three hidden keys open three secret gates Wherein the errant will be tested for worthy traits And those with the skill to survive there straits Will reach The End where the prize awaits” (Cline,2017:9)

This quotation is about Anorak leaving clues to all the player in OASIS regarding how to get the easter egg that he have been talking about where there are three hidden key, The copper, crystal and jade keys to unveil the easter egg.

“Just below the Scoreboard was an icon that looked like a small leather-bound book, which linked to a free downloadable copy of Anorak’s Almanac, a collection of hundreds of Halliday’s undated journal entries” (Cline, 2017:11) This quotation is about Anorak putting a hint near the scoreboard in OASIS that contain his observation regarding what he likes such as videogames, science- fiction and fantasy novels, movies, comic books, dan pop culture and also few details of Halliday’s personal life. This would later on become a hint to finding the easter egg.

“Scattered throughout the text of the Almanac were a series of marked letters. Each of there letters had a tiny, nearly invisible “notch” cut into its outline. I’d first noticed these notches the year after Halliday died. I was reading my hard copy of the Almanac at the time, and so at first I thought the notches were nothing but tiny printing imperfections, perhaps due

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to the paper or the ancient printer I’d used to print out the Almanac. But when I checked the electronic version of the book available on Halliday’s website, I found the same notches on the exact same letters. And if you zoomed in on one of those letter, the notches stood out as plain as day. Halliday had put them there. He’d marked these letters for a reason. There turned out to be one hundred and twelve of these notched letters scattered throughout the book. By writing them down in the order they appeared, I discovered that they spelled something. I nearly died of excitement as I wrote it down in my grail diary : The Copper Key awaits explorer. In a tomb filled with horrors. But you have much to learn. If you hope to earn. A place among the high scorers.” (Cline, 2017:100-101)

This quotation is about Wade reading back through Anorak’s Almanac, Which is the prophecy of Halliday containing notes about his life,Where Wade finally figured out some sort of clue in the form of a notch which later on wrote in order becoming the clue toward the clue toward the Copper Key where the line in a tomb filled with horrors refer specifically to a role-playing game named

Dungeons and Dragons which become the inspiration of Halliday in creating the

OASIS, Where inside of the game there is a location named Tomb Of Horrors which Wade believe that there might be a recreation of it in the OASIS.

“What you seek lies hidden in the trash on the deepest level of Daggorath.” (Cline, 2017:133)

This quotation is written in the Cooper Key which would become the clue to the location of the Cooper Gate. Dungeons of Daggorath is a location in the

OASIS where the Cooper Gates lies.

“Congratulations! You have opened the first gate!” (Cline, 2017:167)

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This quotation is shown to Wade after he finally faced of the Evil Wizard of

Daggorath, Where after it’s done a notification pops in his screen mentioning the text above.

“ The captain conceals the Jade Key in a dwelling long neglected but you can only blow the whistle once the trophies are collected” (Cline,2017:177)

This quotation is what pops up in Wade screen after Wade re-enacting the movie Wargames. This would become the clue to the next key, The Jade Key,

That would made Wade become closer to the Easter Egg he have been looking for.

“Below his signature was an image file he’d attached to the message. It was a high-resolution scan of the instruction manual cover for the text adventure game Zork” (Cline,2017:350)

This quotation is the event that happened between Aech a friend of Wade that in that moment just pass a moment of silent between the two and finally talking after a while giving Wade the clue to where the Jade Key is.

“Our entire cupboard was crammed with boxes of vintage breakfast cereals, most of which had been discontinued before I’d been born. Froot Loops, Honeycombs, Lucky Charms, Count Chocula, Quisp, Frosted Flakes. And hidden way at the back was a lone box of Cap’n Crunch. Printed clearly on the front of it were the words Free toy whistle inside”(Cline, 2017:357)

This quotation is about Wade after arriving in Frobozz playing Zork and finally arriving at a house that contain a cupboard filled with cereals and finally get the answer to the clue But you can only blow the whistle,The captain conceals

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the Jade Key, since inside the cupboard there is a lone box with a picture of a captain with the word Free toy whistle inside create a correlation.

“You can only blow the whistle and once the trophies are collected” (Cline, 2017:358)

This quotation is showing what the whistle tells Wade to do before finally able to blow the whistle, Where Wade is asked to collect some item by playing along with the Zork game which Wade ended up doing and successfully collect all the item.

“Continue your quest by taking the test” (Cline, 2017:360)

This quotation is what revealed to Wade by the silver foil that wrapped the

Jade Key. This sentence made no sense at all to Wade and before he’s able to decipher the clue, an army of sixers come and try and successfully find the Jade

Key.

“The moment I said the word “Unicorn” aloud, the wrapper began to fold on its own, there in the palm of my hand. The square piece of foil bent it self in half diagonally, creating a silver triangle. It continued to bend and fold itself into smaller triangles and even smaller diamond shapes until at last it formed a four-legged figure that then sprouted a tail, a head, and finally a horn.” (Cline, 2017:388)

This quotation is about when Wade hold on to the foil from the Jade Key he is reminded to the movie Blade Runner final scenes, said the word Unicorn that turn the foil into that shape, that is the moment that Wade realizes the clue to the gate involve reference from the movie Blade Runned which is one of Halliday top ten all-time favorite films.

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“I took out the Jade Key. The instant I did, a panel slid open in the surface of the Voight-Kampff machine, revealing a keyhole, I quickly inserted the Jade Key and turned it. The machine and the key both vanished, and in their place the second gate appear.” (Cline, 2017:393-394)

This quotation is what Wade did after following the clue from the Blade

Runner where he finally went to the Tyrell building which is the place in the movie that keep the Voight-Kampff machine, The maching to test whether a person is real or just replicants.

“When the credits ended, the monitor went dark for a moment. Then a symbol slowly appeared in the center of the screen : a glowing red circle with a five-pointed star inside it. The points of the star extended just beyond the outer edge of the circle. A second later, an image of the Crystal Key appeared, spinning slowly in the center of the glowing red star.” (Cline, 2017:401)

This quotation is from the moment after Wade finally tumbles inside the second gate and then have fun with the Black Tiger game and claim the reward for playing the game and inside of his inventory he figure out the clue for the next key, The Crystal Key, which is a glowing red circle with star inside.

“ We are the Priests of the Temples of Syrinx. Our great computers fill the hallowed halls. We are the Priests of the Temples of Syrinx. All the gifts of life are held within our walls.” (Cline, 2017:405)

This quotation is about the lyrics that are given by the clue from the Black

Tiger game, which rever to Halliday’s favorite band, a Canadian rock band, Rush.

Where Wade searches the bands discography, and find out the album that suits the symbols in the clue, which is a red star, which named 2112, Rush’s classic sci-fi- themed concept album. And inside of that album contain a title track titled the

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Temple of Syrinx, Wade then remembered that there is a location in Sector

Twenty-one named Syrinx.

“The first was ringed in red metal. The second, in green stone, The third is the clearest crystal and cannot be unlocked alone.” (Cline,2017:410)

This quotation is the clue that Wade get from the guitar he pulled inside the temple that he play with, This clue tells the overall condition of the key that

Wade already earned and also about the last key that cannot be unlocked alone, after putting the guitar back to its place, the guitar turned into a Crystal Key.

“I quickly examined the Crystal Key, titling it up to study its glittering, faceted surface. I didn’t see any words etched there but I did find a small monogram etched in the center of the key’s crystal handle, A single calligraphic letter “A” that I recognized immediately” (Cline, 2017:411-412)

This quotation is about Wade finding out that the clue for the next gate is only the letter A which reminded him to a symbol in front of the gates of Castle

Anorak- Halliday’s castle inside of the OASIS. Where he finds out that the Sixers already surrounded the location and protect it with a magical shield that cannot be broken.

“Sorrento stepped forward, holding out his copy of the Crystal Key. He slid the key into the keyhole and turned it. Nothing happened. Sorrento glance up at the three words printed on the gate.Charity. Hope. Faith.” (Cline, 2017: 478)

This quotation is about Wade and friends looking at the recording that

Wade acquired from the IOI containing what the Third Gate look like and what

Sorrento have been trying to do to gain access to the gate.

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“Art3mis grinned, then sang, “It takes three”. “No more, no less,” continued Shoto. “You don’t have to guess” added Aech. “Three” I finished, “ Is the magic number”(Cline, 2017:480)

This quotation contain the moment that they altogether remembered something from the clue given by the gate, which is a reference to the song from

Schoolhouse Rock! titled “Three is the magic number” which give them the assumption and also a reason for why Sorrento fail to open the door. They believe that the door should be opened by three person simultaneously

“There, in front of me, at the base of this long pillar of light, stood an old coin-operated arcade game. I recognized its distinctive angular cabinet immediately. Tempest. Atari. 1980” (Cline, 2017:546)

This quotation is about the challenge inside the third game which should be the last challenge, It’s an arcade game called Tempest. An Wade only have one credit it’s all or nothing, If he loses mean that he would not get the egg.

“The version shipped with a bug in the game code. When Tempest first hit the arcades, kids discovered if you died with a certain score, the machine would give you a bunch of free credits.” (Cline, 2017:548)

This is the statement from Art3mis who’ve been studying arcade game and glanced at the machine remembering that the specific year of the game release, there is some kind of bug in the system that would give Wade 40 more chances to achieve high score.

“Then I knew where I was. Inside the first scene of Monthy Phyton and the Holy Grail. Another of Halliday’s favorite films, and perhaps the most- beloved geek film of all time. It appeared to be another Flicksync.” (Cline, 2017, 554)

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This quotation is about the next stage of the Third Gate, it is a Flicksync,

A challenge to perfectly imitate a movie, which is the scene of Monthy Phyton and the Holy Grail, A comedic movie send-up of the grim circumstances of the

Middle Ages as told through the story of King Arthur and framed by a modern- day murder investigation.

“Congratulations! You have reached the end! Ready Player 1” (Cline, 2017:559)

This quotation is the text that appeared after finishing the second stage,

And Wade gets transported into a recreation of Halliday’s Office. Where Wade believe to be the place that the Easter Egg lies.

“The opposite sex made Jim extremely nervous, and Kira was the only girl that I ever saw speak to him in a relaxed manner. But even then, it was only in- character, as Anorak, during the course of our gaming sessions, he would address her as Leucosia, the name of her D&D character. I rebooted the computer again. When the login prompt reappeared, I typed in leucosia. Then I hit the enter key” (Cline, 2017:563)

This quotation is about the clue to the passwords to the only computer turned on in the room from several that exist in Halliday’s Office, and after trying several time, Wade remember a the quote above from Og’s Biography and he tried the word Leucosia that refer to the woman that Halliday was in love with, try to type it in and it works to open up the very first video game that have an easter egg, The Atari 2600 game entitled Adventure.

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CHAPTER V CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION

5.1 Conclusion

Based on the result of analysis and finding of Escapism which have been conducted on the novel of Ready Player One, it can be concluded that :

1. Escapism is the act of escape that might involve an individual doing

something outside of their routine even by doing nothing. Escape is the act

of breaking free from confinement or control. Escape is the action of an

individual based on their dissatisfaction of the thing that confine or control

them that might be an institution or even reality , The characteristics in

Ready Player One are Adventure, Romance, and Mystery. Those

characteristics arise as a part of when the main character Wade Watts that

narrated the whole story are having his escape from reality. Ranging from

the adventure in the OASIS which is offered to him where he tries to

escape the reality of living in a stack in the dystospia he is in. The romance

in which Wade and Art3mis are in despite their up and down in the

relation, Where Wade try to escape through his bad luck with girl in the

real world by trying to have a virtual relationship with Art3mis.In the end

Wade realizes that what could surpass his love to Art3mis the avatar in the

OASIS is his love toward Art3mis the Samantha Cook in real world which

is a real human being that successfully grab his heart. And last the mystery

contained in the novel about the egg, which become the drive to every

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single person in the OASIS despite all the fortune it offers leave a very

meaningful message where it made Wade realize that the best escape there

is, no matter how bad, is the reality it self, because it’s the only things

that’s real

2. The impacts of Escapism are Procastination, Psychosis, Denial, and Formatted: List Paragraph, Numbered + Level: 1 + Numbering Style: 1, 2, 3, … + Start at: 1 + Alignment: Addiction,Procastination is the act of slacking from chores that needed to Left + Aligned at: 0.63 cm + Indent at: 1.27 cm, Tab stops: 1.27 cm, Left + Not at 1 cm take care of, Psychosis is the inability to separate what is real and not, and

having difficulties of reaching reality. Denial is the act of isolating oneself

and hold on to certain beliefs. Addiction is the condition when people are

doing habits that they can’t control. Escapism done by and individual

might ended up hurting one’s mental health. People who did escapism

might feel less or in worst case even no desire at all to live in the real life,

they would prefer being in their own bubble to felt in an environment that

they feel comfortable with, and after they come to a point that the

escapism no longer fulfill themselves, those who are lucky enough to have

a family or partners to be with would get themselves the never ending

escape, the escape that no one can escape, the only escape living in reality

which is the love from the person they love, and for those who aren’t

lucky enough to have those supporting person, they might ended up in

trying to find the worst escape from this reality is to wait for the day they

die or even worst search for the way for them to die by doing things that

are bad for them, starting from excessively doing nothing, eating badly,

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using or doing anything that cause addiction to let time pass by such as

playing game excessively, doing drugs, smoking anything to harm

themself.

5.2 Suggestion

The suggestion that the writer wants to give to the readers, No matter how

difficult or easy life is, We would still need an escape, It is not wrong to do

things outside of our routine, even in some degree it might help us to

continue living through this tough life full of uncertainty, All people do

escape in a certain degree but as soon as we felt that we might be escaping

more than living that is the exact clue that we need to calibrate our escape..

Based on the experience and lesson which is happened to Wade, it could be

seen that escapism could become something to keep someone living or to

keep someone from their life just as what Anorak a.k.a Halliday felt, losing

the chance to utter her love just because he’ve been to busy escaping the

reality. Ready Player One gives the clear example about escapism and the

characteristics and impacts of it so the readers and the learners can

understand and get more knowledge about escapism in literary work

through this thesis.

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REFERENCES

Abrams, M. H. (1981). Teori Pengantar Fiksi. Yogyakarta: Hanindita. Anggraini, A. P. (2020, 6 24). SURVEI: INDONESIA NEGARA DENGAN TINGKAT STRES RENDAH. Retrieved from Cigna: https://www.cigna.co.id/node/331 Berns, G. S. (2010). Satisfaction: The Science of Finding True Fulfillment. New York: Henry Holt and Company. Cawelti, J. G. (1976). Adventure, Mystery and Romance: Formula Stories as Art and Popular Culture. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press. Endraswara, S. (2003). Metodologi Penelitian Sastra Epistemologi Model Teori Dan Aplikasi. Yogyakarta: Pustaka Widyatama. Fassin , D. (2007). When Bodies Remember: Experiences and Politics of AIDS in South Africa. California: University of California Press. Harper, D. (2020, 6 24). Escapism. Retrieved from Online Etymology Dictionary: https://www.etymonline.com/word/escapism Kenney, W. (1966). How to Analyze Fiction. New York: Monarch Press. Lukens, R. J. (2003). A Critical Handbook of Children’s Literature. Boston: New York: Person Education, Inc. Luskin, B. J. (2020, 6 24). Brain, Behavior, and Media. Retrieved from Psychology Today: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-media- psychology-effect/201203/brain-behavior-and-media Nurgiyantoro, B. (1995). Teori Pengkajian Fiksi. Yogyakarta: Gajah Mada University Press. Roberts, E. V., & Jacobs, H. E. (1993). Literature: An Introduction to Reading and Writing. New York : Pretince Hall, Inc. Shahsavarani, A. M., Abadi, E. A., & Kalkhoran, M. H. (2015). Stress: Facts and Theories through Literature Review. International Journal of Medical Reviews, 230-241. Stanton, R. (1965). An Introduction To Fiction. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston. Sumardjo, Y. (1998). Apresiasi Kesusastraan. Jakarta: Gramedia. Tuan, Y. F. (1998). Escapism. London: The Hopkins Press Ltd.

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VandenBos, G. R. (2015). APA Dictionary of Psychology Second Edition. Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association. Warmelink, H., Harteveld, C., & Mayer, I. (2009). Press Enter or Escape to Play Deconstructing Escapism in Multiplayer Gaming. DiGRA International Conference: Breaking New Ground: Innovation in Games, Play, Practice and Theory (pp. 1-9). London: DiGRA. Wellek , R., & Warren, A. (1982). Theory of Literature. London: Penguin Books.

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APPENDICES

Appendix 1 : Biography of Ernest Cline Appendix 2 : Summary of the novel Ready Player One

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APPENDICES:

Appendix 1: Biography of Ernest Cline

Novelist Ernest Cline was born in Ashland, Ohio, on March 29, 1972. As a child Cline was captivated by video games as well as science fiction books, comic books, and films. He watched cartoons such as Star Blazers and Robotech on Saturday mornings, played the video gaming system Atari for hours, and immersed himself in the newly burgeoning world of computers. These passions continued into adulthood. He jokingly characterizes himself as a geek: "From my perspective, it definitely seems that the geeks have inherited the Earth."

Over the years Cline held many jobs, from restaurant cook to radio personality to website designer. During the summer of 2001, Cline was employed as technical support, assisting computer users with the Internet. This job led him to speculate about the future of technology: "I believed ... [the Internet] might evolve into a sprawling virtual universe." The story for Ready Player One grew when Cline began to imagine the "sort of person [who] would create such a virtual world."

However, he first began his literary career as a spoken-word performer, competing in slam poetry competitions, where poets perform live before judges. He was the Austin Poetry Slam champion in 1998 and 2001. One of his spoken-word pieces, called "Dance Monkeys Dance," is about a little blue planet run by monkeys "who don't think of themselves as monkeys. They don't even think of themselves as animals." Cline turned the piece into a short film, which became a viral video and was translated into at least 29 languages.

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Cline's lifelong obsession with Star Wars led him to write a screenplay about obsessed Star Wars fans, which was made into the 2009 film Fanboys. Cline felt frustrated with the experience because he had little creative control over the film. This experience led him to begin writing novels, where he had total creative control over the product. His first novel, Ready Player One, was published in 2011. Readers immediately related to the novel's scrappy underdog hero, Wade Watts. The book was met with critical praise and made the New York Times bestseller list. It has been published in at least 40 countries, and Warner Bros. bought the movie rights for a 2018 film directed by Steven Spielberg.

Cline published a second novel, Armada, about a gamer who has to save the world from an alien invasion. Cline lives in Austin, Texas, with his wife and daughter. His favorite video game is Black Tiger, where a hero fights enemies while finding hidden bonuses. The game serves an important role in Ready Player One, as the protagonist plays a version of the game as part of his quest.

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Appendix 2: Summary of The Novel Ready Player One

Wade recalls the moment when he heard about James Halliday’s death. He was watching TV, but a special announcement interrupted his viewing. It was a video of Halliday speaking as his avatar Anorak and announcing that he had hidden an Easter egg somewhere in OASIS, which is the virtual reality world where Wade lives most of his life. The first person to find it would inherit all of Halliday’s fortune and estate. He said there were three clues for finding this Easter egg, and then ended the video by saying that the hunt had begun. After a while, an underground culture develops around the hunt. People who participate in it are called “gunters.” Although some gunters claim to be close to a breakthrough, many years pass without success. Most people lose interest and stop participating in the hunt. Then, suddenly, Wade appears on the scoreboard at 18-years old and tells us what happens next. Wade lives in a trailer park with his aunt. He wakes up to gunshots and stays there when it gets cold, although he has a hideout that he uses for schoolwork and playing the OASIS. Wade’s parents were refugees who had moved to America from overseas because of an energy crisis. His father was killed during a blackout while trying to loot a grocery store, and his mother died after shooting drugs that turned out to be bad. The character named Wade is not looking forward to graduating high school because he doesn’t have enough money to attend college. His only option is to become a full-time gunter, or egg hunter, and try to win the contest so that he can afford college. In sixth grade he transferred from his home planet onto an OASIS school on the planet Ludus where all OASIS schools are located. A corporation called Innovative Online Industries has hired professional egg hunters to find the Easter egg. They plan to take control of the OASIS and charge users a monthly fee. Wade reads about this on Art3mis’ blog, who admits she has a crush on him. He talks to his friend Aech and they meet in Aech’s basement for trivia night. The OASIS is shaped like a Rubik’s Cube, with 27 cubed sectors. It takes 10 hours to travel between two adjacent sectors at the speed of light. Avatars can level up by completing quests and defeating enemies in the game. Wade has managed to reach level 3 by hitchhiking around other planets and earning experience points there; however, no serious gamer will consider him until he reaches level 10 Wade’s favorite class is Advanced OASIS Studies. He finds it easy because he knows everything there is to know about Halliday, as well as the 1980s and 1990s.

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It turns out that Halliday was a highly eccentric genius who was obsessed with video games, sci-fi and fantasy. The company he cofounded rebranded itself in 2012 and released its only product—the Ontologically Anthropocentric Sensory Immersive Simulation (OASIS). By then, Earth had become so poor that people spent most of their time in the OASIS rather than on Earth. One day in Latin class, Wade had an epiphany about the meaning of a limerick clue. He realized that it might be hidden on Ludus. When he went there to investigate, he discovered that the Tomb of Horrors was only 70km from his school and decided to go for it. Everything went well until he encountered Acererak (the demi-lich), who challenged him to a jousting match. After winning, Acererak transformed into Anorak (Halliday’s avatar) and gave Wade the Copper Key as his reward. Wade has a new mission. He must go to Halliday’s recreation of his childhood home in Middletown, Ohio. Wade goes into the Tomb of Horrors and pretends that he is too weak to defeat Acererak. Art3mis realizes that he’s lying and gets mad at first; however, they part ways on good terms. In Halliday’s childhood bedroom, Wade finds the First Gate: a portal which opens into deep space. He jumps through it and lands inside an arcade where he becomes Matthew Broderick’s character from WarGames. He must play out the game correctly based on memory so that he can complete the First Gate successfully. However, Wade is exhausted after 12 hours of playing video games. So, he takes off his visor and sleeps for 12 hours before continuing with his journey. Wade is now the second person to pass the First Gate. The news interviews James Morrow, who hasn’t been seen in years. Wade receives sponsorships from companies and an email from Nolan Sorrento, who offers him a job as a Sixer. Wade goes to the IOI headquarters in hologram form by using chatlink, a communication tool. He meets Sorrento and learns that all of the Sixers are after an egg inside the OASIS. Sorrento offers Wade $5 million if he explains how to get through the First Gate, but Wade refuses. Finally, Sorrento reveals that he knows who Wade really is and threatens to kill him with explosives placed at Aunt Alice’s trailer. However, Wade still refuses and logs out of his hideout before hearing a nearby explosion from Aunt Alice’s trailer. Wade attends a chat room meeting with Art3mis, Aech, Daito and Shoto. The four of them discuss forming an alliance. However, Daito and Shoto leave abruptly without saying anything else. Wade uses his endorsement check to buy himself a bus ticket to Columbus where he’ll be staying in an apartment until he finds the egg. In an email, Wade reveals his crush on Art3mis. She agrees to tell him a few things about herself and then says they can’t talk again until one of them finds the egg. However, when he emails her she responds and they begin hanging out.

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Wade is invited to a party that will be held at the Distracted Globe, a zero-gravity dance club. He and Art3mis danced together at the party, and he confessed his love for her. However, she dismissed him and emphasized that they didn’t really know each other in reality; instead of spending time with each other on OASIS, they should focus on finding Halliday’s Easter Egg. Suddenly, Sixers started shooting up the club; Morrow vaporized them immediately before they could do any harm. The party resumed afterward but Art3mis left Wade without saying goodbye or giving him an explanation as to why she was leaving him behind. Wade has been living on an asteroid for five months and hasn’t spoken to Art3mis in eight weeks. He’s made friends with Daito and Shoto, though Aech is no longer his friend. Wade also got a job at OASIS technical support using his fake identity, although it doesn’t pay well. One day, he found out that Art3mis had obtained the Jade Key. The Sixers have a tablet that can help them in their hunt. Wade flies his starship to another planet, where he finds an arcade game of Happytime Pizza, which was frequented by Halliday as a child. Inside the arcade is Pac-Man and Wade realizes this game has another Easter egg within it. He’s playing when Aech passes him on the scoreboard for high scores. He manages to beat her score and at the same time receives a message from Aech with a clue about Jade Key (located on Frobozz). Wade locates the key but narrowly avoids being killed by Sixers during this process (Battle of Frobozz). During all of this action Shoto finds the key first, but almost simultaneously Daito is killed. Sorrento is in first place, and Wade watches as many other Sixers find the Crystal Key. Shoto visits Wade and explains that Daito’s avatar has been killed off. The Sixers have framed it as a suicide, but really they’ve just killed off his avatar. After Shoto leaves, Wade realizes that the next gate must be related to Blade Runner. He flies to Axrenox where he enters one of the countless copies of the Tyrell Building on this planet. He uses Jade Key to enter Black Tiger (an old video game). Then he hears about Rush lyrics from Halliday’s favorite band. Finally, he travels to Syrinx where he plays guitar and transforms it into the Crystal Key. Wade realizes that the Third Gate is hidden inside Castle Anorak on Chthonia, which is known as a Mecca for gunters. Everyone else thinks the hunt is almost over. Wade emails his friends telling them how to find it and vows to find the third gate or die trying. IOI police arrest Wade for not paying his bills. He runs into the OASIS and destroys it, but IOI catches him again and puts him in prison. He gets a job as a technical support representative at IOI, but he secretly plans to destroy Anorak’s castle by hacking into their database from home and downloading information about when they plan to kill Art3mis and Shoto.

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Wade buys new clothing and a gun. He then goes to the Plug, where he can privately log into the OASIS that is not owned by IOI. Once logged in, Wade emails all the major news networks with evidence of how IOI had killed Daito and planned to kill Art3mis and Aech. He logs into the Basement, where Aech, Art3mis, and Shoto are waiting. Together they realize Halliday designed The Hunt so that three avatars would have to face each other at The Third Gate. Wade shows them an email he plans to send out asking every single gunter (someone who hunts for easter eggs) for help against IOI’s Sixers (the bad guys). Suddenly Og appears offering his help because he promised Halliday he’d protect The Hunt from being corrupted by greedy corporations like IOI. He offers shelter at his home in Oregon for everyone involved with protecting The Hunt from now on because there will be a final battle coming soon between those who want it protected vs those trying to take over/corrupt it (IOI). On the way to Oregon, Wade meets his friends in real life for the first time and discovers that they are not who he thought they were. First, he finds out that Aech is actually a black lesbian named Helen. Then, when Morrow’s mansion explodes, Wade’s avatar dies but comes back to life with an extra life. He realizes that Art3mis and Aech died too because their avatars disappeared after being killed by Sorrento’s army. In order to get the next clue, Wade must play another video game called Tempest. He eventually achieves a high score and is transported into Monty Python and the Holy Grail where he reenacts it with ease. Afterward, he appears in Halliday’s office as an avatar (which will be immortal) and realizes that the egg is hidden there. In order to find it, he logs onto Halliday’s computer and retrieves the egg after several tries. The creator of OASIS reveals himself and tells Wade that his avatar can do whatever he wants now because he has become its ruler at last. After Wade logs out of the OASIS, he goes to find Samantha. She tells him that her name is really Samantha and they kiss.

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