The Main Character Conflic Analysis Toward The Novel of Diary Of Wimpy Kid: The Third Wheel by Jeff Kinney

 The Main Character Conflic Analysis Toward The  Novel of Diary Of

Wimpy Kid: The Third Wheel by Jeff Kinney

By Lavilette Pine

A Diary of Wimpy Kid: The Third Wheel (2012) written by American author, Jeff Kinney. Jeff Kiney’s  Diary of Wimpy Kid: The Third Wheel (2012) novel is one of the most famous series of children’s novel in the market. In 1998, Jeff Kinney have idea on for Diary of a Wimpy Kid, a story about a middle-school weakling named Greg Heffley. The author, has been written this novel in 13 series. This novel series published in UK since 2007 and became the best selling children’s novel in that years. In 2015, there were more over 150 million of Diary of Wimpy Kid novels in print worldwide.

A Diary of Wimpy Kid: The Third Wheel (2012) is the seventh book in Jeff Kinney’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. This novel released on November 13, 2012. The genre of this  novel are categorized as fictive comedy novel. The comedy or nature humor in this novels reflected familiar context through recognisable childhood issues both of at home or at school. The words in this novel isnt difficult and understandable. Then, the Greg fictional experiences, as the protagonist of this novel  and the hilarious story amusing the reader. So, this book is suitable are enjoyed by children, parents and teachers alike.

Jeff kinney’s picture, which reinforce the text that provide several visual reference, perhaps helping the children to understanding the plot of the story. The children enjoy to read it because they can imagine what Greg, his family and his friend are up to. The Diary of Wimpy Kid series are first adapted to screen on March 19, 2010 by 20th century fox. Jeff contributes to this movie as an executive producer.

“Writing The Third Wheel has been a lot of fun because there so much humor to be mined in the world middle school romance” said  author Jeff Kinney in a statement.  “when the dust settles at the end of the seventh book, the Wimpy universe will be changed in a away that will suprise fans of the series”. A Diary of Wimpy Kid: The Third Wheel (2012) is a young adult  novel by Jeff Kinney which is tell the misadventures  of the middle-schooler Greg Heffley. He attempts to adjust to uncle Garry moving in, and finding a date for the Valentine’s Day Dance.

            The story of this novel divided into three parts and Greg is  the main character. The first part more tell about the Greg childhood’s life and how he spend the day in the school and the things that its quite difficult for him to do it. Greg is reminiscing his earliest memories before he was born. Its talks about Greg baby days like swimming around in the dark, doing blackflips and taking nap whenever he wants inside Susan(Greg’s Mom). She reads to him, play  classical music to him and speak to him through headphone until Greg born three weeks earlier. As a baby he was convinced he was only a child since he meet elder brother Rodrick and receive a bit of a shocks. Greg think that everything he got was a hand down from Rodrick.

In the preschool, Greg is still quite behind in classmate. His classmate could do things like use ziper or button quickly and Greg unable to do it. To slowdown his classmate, Greg giving them the wrong information. The teacher  told Susan that Greg isn’t learning well. Then, she moved him to Kindergarden. Whatever she did to Greg would not work for Manny (Greg’s little brother). As a result Susan realize to do not follow the same way with Manny and giving Manny greater freedoms.

The second part tells about how Garry (Greg’s Uncle) who have no money and stay at his home for a month. Uncle Gary had bought some Boston counter t-shirts after loaning some of Frank's money. However, All the t-shirts misspelled “Boston” as “Botson”. Uncle Garry need a place to stay in.  He intended to stay in Heffley family for a while.  In a fact, isn't unpleasant to live with him. He have some bad habbit such as his nightmare make Manny shift his bed away from the wall. Its because  He has nightmares about monkeys in the walls, and sleeps on the couch through the day. Frank wants uncle Garry to seek a job so he can left out his house soon. However, uncle Garry always give Greg a good advice about how to impresed woman. Greg suppose uncle Garry was expert in relationship since he has married four times.

The third part tell about Greg in the Valentine's Day. Greg got hard time when he should to get a partner for dance. Greg tried hard to find the date partner for dance. He worried that he will be left out in the Valentine day night.  Its embarrasing if he couldn’t get a partner. Greg do a various tehnique to impress the girl based on Uncle Garry’s advices. Finally, Greg have a partner, Abigail. Unfortunately, his date with Abigail is not running well. Instead, Abigail like to his friend, Rowley than himself. 

From the summary of A Diary of Wimpy Kid: The Third Wheel (2012)  above, the writer focus on the conflict of the novel. Its related to the how Greg Heffley struggle   to get a partner in the Valentine’s day dance. After that, to end up this paper by giving conclusion, the writer also will give some quotes that might inspiring the reader.

According to Ashford University (2014) In literature, a conflict is a common literary elements that involves struggles between two opposing forces. Conflixt can calssifiess into two part, internal or external conflict. Internal conflict is show how the character struggles within thier minds. The character can be face such as psychologycal strugle, emotional feeling or an ethical dilemma problem. Meawhile, external conflict is the character strugles involves forces gnerate by the environtment or random events that work to impede the protagonisr. The force come from outside the character.

From the brief theory, the writer will analyse conflict in A Diary of Wimpy Kid: The Third Wheel (2012) based on external conflict. Greg Heffley creates external conflict when the Valentine’s day dance event, each of student have on pair for night dances party. The Valentine’s day dance is the main event of the plot point in this novel.

The student council ideas for a funraiser, which Rowley elected as social chairperson. They decided to held a mixed motorcross/ wrestling is the bigger event.  After Hillary form the fundraising community, finally, the Valentine’s day dance as a school fundraiser. The dance is not organized by the teachers but by a group called the Dance Comittee.

A week before the dance, the girls seem really excited, and they’re treating it like some sort of middle school prom. In other side, the boy think its will be boring and seem not anthusiastic to the dance. But, its change earlier when the first Candy Grams got handed out in homeroom. Candy Grams here means an envelope to invite someone become his/her partner. The Dance Comitte selling Candy Gram at lunch about twenty-five cents. Everybody can send Candy Grams to anyone they want.

Most of Greg’s friend have partner through Candy Grams. The first wave  Candy Grams delivered, there are several boys who got jealous of the boys who received. After that, all of a sudden everyone exited  to go to the dance because no one wants to be left out includes Greg Heffley. Thus, most of the boys are acting really different whenever a girl is around.

Greg tries so hard to find a dance partner  in the Valentine’s day. He worries that he will left out this event because he got partner nothing. One of the reason why Greg struggle to look for the dance partner because there are more boys tha girl in his this year. Greg decides to buy some Candy Gram for a girl and see how that went. First, Greg  sending Candy Gram to Andrianne Simpson. The girl who sit three rows away from him in English. Greg write:

Dear Andrianne,

It would be ‘sweet’ if you’d go with me to the Valentine’s Day Dance!

Signed, Greg Heffley

P.S. if the answer is no, please hand this to Julia Barros, who is two seats to

your left. (p. 112)

Greg has sent Candy Gram  to several girls to ask her to a dance. Greg feel pretty nerveous because he  not found the girl yet and there aren’t really alot of girls left to choose from that point. Morever, many boys in his classmate has been  received Candy Gram and find out their partner.

Uncle Garry tell Greg second tips. After Greg fail to find a date partner by Candy Gram and blow through some dollars just to buy a bunch of it. Uncle Garry give a good advise to Greg. In order to, Greg have to ask the girl directly and  face to face. He ask Greg to be gentlement

Greg realize to start make an interaction with the girl who get some kind of connection with. The girl is Bethany Breen, Greg lab partner in sciences. Greg was happy he get pair up with her. But, Greg think he has such a good impression on Bethany. When they in anatomy unit and for few days they have been dissesting frogs. Greg feel digusting toward frog, So he let Bethany to do it alone. Greg Says

I’m really squeamish when it comes to that sort of thing, so I just let Bethany

 do the dissecting while I stand on the otherside of the room trying

not to throw up (p.119).

Greg haven’t impressed her with his dissesting frog. Then, Uncle Garry advising to Greg another tips. Uncle Garry tells Greg should wear new shirt or new shoes that always  makes him more confodent. The problem is, most of Greg clothes come from hand-down Rodrick. He didn’t have alot of new clothes.

 

  Actually, Greg never really care much about his appereance. But now, Uncle Garry has Greg wondering that his  wardrobe is importance to impress the girl. Greg find black leather jacket’s dad. Then, he put it on and went downstair to prepare going to school. Unfortunately, mom wasn’t on board the idea and didnt allow to wear it in the school. Mom told Greg to put it back in the upstair closet. Mom says

The jacket sent the wrong message and beside that, it wasn’t a winter coat!

 (p. 133).

Greg think how awesome it would be to wear that thing to school. So, he grabbed the jacket and put it back to the bag. Then, slip out of the front door without Mom even noticing. When Greg arrives  in the school, every head turned in his direction as he walked down the hallway. He get so much attention. Suddenly, Mom open the door and walk straight to his desk. Mom force him hand over Dad’s leather jacket in front of anyone and give him winter coat to wear. Its such embarasing experiences.

Its only three days away, and by now everyone who’s going is already pair up with someone else. Greg give up on finding someone to take the dance. He figured he would be spending Saturday night at home playing video games by himself. Greg feel Suddenly, Rowley give him a good news. Rowley tells Greg that Abigail’s date to dance with Michael Sampson was cancelled on her. Greg tells him that it was his big chance to be wingman and hook up Greg with Abigail.

Greg makes Rowley as his wingman, a campaign manager for the dance. Unfortunately, Abigail doesn’t really know Greg. He feel uncomfortable and strange to go to dance with someone you dont know. So, Greg tell Rowley that three of us could go the dance together as ‘a group of friends’.

Uncle Garry tell Greg to impres the Abigail in his dinner date before go to dance, Greg should wear a suit. Greg goes with Rowley and Abigail to Spriggo’s restaurant. The host tell them thta the gentlement require to wear sport jacket. Greg wear jacket that little big and notice a terrible smell come from his jacket. Greg guess it had been used by a hundred different  people without being washed. Greg decided to left out and move to Corny’s restaurant which is popular wuth the dessert menu. Greg really starting to regret having Rowley along on this date.  

 

To make Greg awesome, He tell Abigail and Rowley that He will treat them so they could get whatever they wanted. Greg trying to show off a litle for Abigail by throwing his money around on the table. But, Abigail and Rowley order the most expensive item on the menu. Greg try to signal for him to order something cheap. Greg lost his apetite after the  waitress do something disgusting in his hamburger like just wipe the mayonise with the napkin without replace it to the new one. So Greg eat nothing. Greg says:

I just sat there and waited while Abigail and Rowley ate their steaks,

and when they finished I signaled for the waitress to come over so

 I could pay the bill  (p. 189).

Rowley and Abigail order the special dessert which cost extra. This is makes Greg lie it is Rowley’s Birthday to make him get a free cake. Finally, Greg is bankrupted  after he is forces to pay the bill. Greg had to use all the money in his wallet. Greg even had to pull out the five dollars that he keeping in his sock in case of an emergency.    

The theme for the dance is the ‘Midnight in Paris’. Greg wants take a picture in front of a backdrop of Paris with Abigail only. But Rowley come to us  when the photographer snaped our photo. Every couple can take a picture in front of the backdop freely. The gym decked out to  look like a street in France. There also a long table set up with punch, snacks and stawberries to dip into a chocolate fountain.

 Uncle Garry volunteered as the DJ. He also selling the ‘botson’ shirt to the kids. Luckily, the light were off so its rather dark in the room. Thats why the kids didn’t know they were getting ripped off shirt. Greg see Abigail talking with her group of friends and they all went to the women’s bathroom. Greg curios about what they are talking, so hepress his ear to the wall in the men’s bathroom. But, Greg gets distracted by the noises. Then he go back into the gym and Abigail and her friends were over by the punch.

At 7:50 pm, some Grandma from Senior Citizen Centre come in gym.  Mrs. Sheer (the teacher ) ask them what are they doing here. The senior  said that they receives the gym for a meeting. Sheer tell them she reserved the gym for dance first two weeks ago. But, the seniors had reserved it two month ago and  they had the paperwork to prove it. Its seem a fight gonna break out if Mrs. Sheer did not suggest a compromise.

Mrs. Sheer said  we could put up the partition in the middle of the gym. So, the senior can have a meeting the other side while the kids can  have the dance on the other side also. Everybody seem  agrees with  that idea. However, the partition idea is  pretty much ruined  up the ‘Midnight in Paris’.

The senior want to switch on the lamp. The bright lights were bad for Uncle Garry because now all kid who buy the shirt can see they’d gotten ripped off. They started demanding their money back. Uncle Gary distracted them by turning up the music high and everyone hit the dance floor.

When the people were dancing, Greg finds out that a boy would try to break the Girls big group. The boy try to make a  move to break into the circle and got totally block. Then, one of the senior came over to the dance side and complain thar the music was too loud and it needed to be turned way down. Thus, Uncle Gary lowered the volume by abiut 80%. Now, everyone could hear every word of the senior meeting.

Let the record show that Mrs. Fishburn has seconded the motion

to have coffeemaker in the kitchenette. (The  Senior speeches, p. 203)

The Valentine Day Dance was totally messed up. A lot of girl just kept dancing with their persinal music players. The boys, however had nough show  the best behavior around the girl for that long, they begin getting crazy and ruining up the dance. The teacher try tocalm the boys don, but it hopeles. The writer think perhaps it was a really wild scene and getting little dangerous.

Later the night, Michael Sampson come holdings hands with Charie Bellanger. Meanwhile, the reason Abigail willing to be Greg partner because his boyfriend, Michael couldn’t come due to family obligation. The writer guess this story was a lie since Abigail crying alot after seeing that Michael was cheating on him. Its means Abigail was Brokenheart and Greg has nothing to do to cheer her up.

The dance ends with a final song announced by Garry. When the music playing, a few kids paired walk in the dance floor as couple include Greg and Abigail. Then, Greg notice on ger chin. Its a little red bump that look like chicken pox that has been contagious in school. The writer opinions, Greg may have overreacted to this. Greg scream aloud while he on the dance and catch everyone’s attentions. Its ashamed moments. This is makes Abigail doesnt chatty with him on the way home.

 

After the dance, Rowley and Abigail become a couple. Greg realisze that makes Rowley as wingman is the worst thing in his history. Few days after the dance, Greg got full=blown case of the chicken pox. Greg suppose to stay at home for at least a week. He enjoyed his hoby to take along a baths without anyone bothering him because uncle Garry moved out of the house.

In coclusions, the conflict A Diary of Wimpy Kid: The Third Wheel (2012)  begin when Greg struggle yo find a dance partner for the Valentine’s Day event. Greg decides to buy some Candy Gram for several girl, but no one girls willing to be Greg partner dance. Uncle Garry advise to have to ask the girl directly and  face to face. He ask Greg to be gentlement. Greg think he’s probably right. The result, Greg haven’t good impression on Bethany.

Uncle Garry tells Greg should wear new shirt or new shoes to impres girl. But, its never worked out. Then, Rowley tells Greg that Abigail canceled his dance, so Greg ask her and Rowley to go to dance as a group of friends.  After the dance, Greg has chiken pox. Rowley abigail are couple noew. Its happy ending novel.

 

REFERENCES

 

Kinney, Jeff. (2012). A Diary of Wimpy Kid: The Third Wheel. New York: Amulet Books

Ashford University. (2014). ENG 25: Introduction to literature. Ashford University. Retrieved April 26,2020, from https://writingcenter.ashford.edu/

Fandom Books Comunity. A Diary of Wimpy Kid: The Third Wheel. Retrieved from http://diary-of-a-wimpy-kid.fandom.com/wiki/Diary_of_a_wimpy_kid:_the_third_wheel

Fandom Books Comunity.Valentine’s Day Dance. Retrieved from http://diary-of-a-wimpy-kid.fandom.com/wiki/valentine%27s_day_dance