Mapping Emotion and Discourse Staging in Crazy Rich Asians

Authors

  • Sri Handayani

    Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Surakarta 57126, Indonesia
  • Mangatur Nababan

    Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Surakarta 57126, Indonesia
  • Riyadi Santosa

    Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Surakarta 57126, Indonesia
  • Djatmika Djatmika

    Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Surakarta 57126, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30564/fls.v7i12.12264
Received: 27 September 2025 | Revised: 27 October 2025 | Accepted: 28 October 2025 | Published Online: 12 December 2025

Abstract

This study examines the construction and distribution of emotions in Kevin Kwan’s Crazy Rich Asians using the Appraisal framework of Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL), focusing specifically on the Affect subsystem and its relation to narrative staging. Narratives are typically structured into orientation, complication, evaluation, and resolution, each fulfilling distinct communicative and emotional roles. By analyzing these stages and their affective elements, the research explores the emotional flow throughout the narrative. Understanding emotional progression is essential for revealing how meanings of affect are constructed and distributed within the text. Employing a qualitative research design, data were derived from the novel and validated through expert discussions. Data collection involved document analysis and focus group discussions.  The data were obtained from sources selected based on specific criteria. Meanwhile, data analysis followed four systematic steps: domain, taxonomy, componential, and cultural theme analyses. The findings show that emotions are patterned systematically across the narrative. The orientation is dominated by happiness, accompanied by insecurity and satisfaction, reflecting optimism while hinting at tension. The complication sustains positive affects but introduces fear and desire, intensifying emotional conflict. In the evaluation stage, negative affects such as unhappiness and dissatisfaction emerge, balanced by affection and confidence. The resolution blends admiration and affection with traces of insecurity, suggesting partial closure amid unresolved tensions. Overall, the novel constructs an emotional arc that evolves from positivity to complexity, mirroring the protagonist’s negotiation of romance, class, and identity. Emotions function as semiotic resources that shape relationships, narrative progression, and intercultural meaning within the text.

Keywords:

Systemic Functional Linguistics; Appraisal Theory; Affect; Staging; Crazy Rich Asians

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How to Cite

Handayani, S., Nababan, M., Santosa, R., & Djatmika, D. (2025). Mapping Emotion and Discourse Staging in Crazy Rich Asians. Forum for Linguistic Studies, 7(12), 1875–1886. https://doi.org/10.30564/fls.v7i12.12264

Issue

Vol. 7 , Iss. 12 (December 2025): In progress

Article Type

Article

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Copyright © 2025 Sri Handayani, Mangatur Nababan, Riyadi Santosa, Djatmika Djatmika

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This is an open access article under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) License.