WOMEN’S RIVALRY IN ELENA FERRANTE’S NOVEL MY BRILLIANT FRIEND

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study discusses the women’s rivalry in the novel My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante. The objectives of this research are to show the contents of women's rivalry and to explain the factors affecting women's rivalry. This research is qualitative research that produces descriptive data. The data were obtained from the novel My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante, and are in the form of words, sentences, or phrases. The results of the study reveal that the factors affecting the rivalry between Lenu and Lila are divided into two parts; a) competing for the hearts of men can be seen when Lenu is afraid that all men, including Nino, like Lila more than her, b) lack of confidence is shown when Lenu is not confident when Lila is not around while studying, but on the one hand she does not want Lila to outperform her. Meanwhile, the rivalry between Lenu and Lila is divided into three contents: a) attractiveness, where Lila has an attractive personality and intellectual abilities, b) the gap in beauty is one of the contents of their rivalry, where Lila is a beautiful girl and Lenu feel bad about herself, and c) they have similarities in interests, namely intelligence, and enthusiasm for learning. Keywords: woman’s rivalry, attractiveness, youth and beauty, physical appearance interest and value