AN ANALYSIS OF MORAL VALUES FOUND IN MAJOR
CHARACTER OF A MAN NAMED DAVE NOVEL
A THESIS
By
Ripayandi David AJP
Reg. No.090721009
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF LETTERS
UNIVERSITY OF SUMATERA UTARA
MEDAN
TABLE OF CONTENT
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
ABSTRACT
TABLE OF CONTENT
CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION
1.1Background of The Analysis……….... 1
1.2Scope of The Analysis………... 2
1.3Problem of The Analysis………. 2
1.4Objective of The Analysis……… 3
1.5Significance of The Analysis………... 3
1.6Review of Related Literature……….. 3
CHAPTER II: METHOD OF THE ANALYSIS 2.1 Research Method………. 5
2.2 Technique of Collecting Data……….. 5
2.3 Technique of Analyzing Data……….. 6
CHAPTER III: A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF MORAL VALUE, NOVEL AND CHARACTER 3.1 Concept of Moral……… 7
3.2 Novel……….. 14
CHAPTER IV: FINDING AND ANALYSIS
4.1 Moral Values in Dave Pelzer Character……….. 26 4.2 Moral Values in Father Character……… 48 4.3 Moral Values in Patsy Character………. 49
CHAPTER V: CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION
5.1 Conclusion………... 54 5.2 Suggestion ……….. 56
BIBLIOGRAPHY
AN ANALYSIS OF MORAL VALUES FOUND IN MAJOR CHARACTER
OF A MAN NAMED DAVE NOVEL
A THESIS
BY:
RIPAYANDI DAVID AJP
Reg. No. 09072109
UNIVERSITY OF SUMATERA UTARA
FACULTY OF LETTERS
ENGLISH LITERATURE DEPARTMENT
MEDAN
AN ANALYSIS OF MORAL VALUES FOUND IN MAJOR CHARACTER
OF A MAN NAMED DAVE NOVEL
A THESIS
BY:
RIPAYANDI DAVID AJP
Reg. No. 09072109
Supervisor, Co-Supervisor,
Dra. Swesana Mardia Lubis, M. Hum Drs. Siamir Marulafau, M.Hum
NIP. 1957 1002 198601 2003 NIP. 1958 0517 198503 1003
Submitted to the Faculty of Letters University of Sumatera Utara in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Sarjana in English Literature.
UNIVERSITY OF SUMATERA UTARA
FACULTY OF LETTERS
ENGLISH LITERATURE DEPARTMENT
MEDAN
Approved by the English Literature Department of Faculty of Letters of University of Sumatera Utara (USU) Medan as thesis for the Sarjana Sastra Examination.
Head, Secretary,
Dra. Swesana Mardia Lubis, M. Hum Rahmadsyah Rangkuti, M.A, Ph.D
NIP. 19571002 198601 2003 NIP. 1963 0216 198903 1003
The examination is held at Faculty of Letters, University of Sumatera Utara on 20 December 2010.
Dean of Faculty of Letters University of Sumatera Utara,
Dr. Syahron Lubis, M.A. Ph.D NIP. 1951 1013 197603 1001
Board of Examiners
Dra. Swesana Mardia Lubis, M.Hum
NIP. 19571002 198601 2003 ……….
Rahmadsyah Rangkuti, M.A, Ph.D
NIP. 1963 0216 198903 1003 ……….
Dra. Siamir Marulafau, M.Hum
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
First of all, I would like to thank to Almighty God, Allah SWT who has given me health, opportunity and ability that I can finish this study and to the last Prophet Muhammad S.A.W. especially when I began to study in English Literature Department Faculty of Letters, University of Sumatera Utara.
A great many thanks are dedicated to the Dean of faculty of letters Dr. Syahron Lubis
MA, Phd for giving me care and attention during my study and the Head of English Department
Dra. Swesana Mardia Lubis, M.Hum who has shared her time in guiding me while I was
studying in this program and has given me help and comments. I also thank to all the lecturers who have taught and guided me at the faculty. My special thanks go to my supervisor, Dra.
Swesana Mardia Lubis, M.Hum and Drs. Siamir Marulafau, M.HUM who has given me
advice, constructive, criticsm, attention, and time in correcting and completing this thesis.
My most special thanks is dedicated to my beloved parents, my father Pardomuan Nauli
Pasaribu, my mother Ruan Pery Sinaga, my brothers and sister, Padriyanda, Ripaldi and
Pasriyanti and all my family in Medan.
Then my best friends in English Literarture Nana, Sinta, Menti, Reni, Dina, Yosy,
Okto, Adli and all my classmates.
In writing this paper, I realized that this thesis is far from being perfect though I have done my best, so I hope suggestion for this thesis. Without any helps and support from all parties, this thesis would not be completed. Finally, I expect this paper would be useful for the readers in future.
Medan, , 2010
The Writer
AUTHOR’S DECLARATION
I, RIPAYANDI DAVID AJP, declare that I am the sole author of this thesis. Except where reference is made in the text of this thesis contains no material published elsewhere or extracted in whole or in part form this thesis by which I have qualified for or awarded another degree.
No other person’s work has been used without due acknowledgment in the main text of this thesis. This thesis has not been submitted for the award of another degree in any tertiary education.
Signed :
COPYRIGHT DECLARATION
Name : RIPAYANDI DAVID AJP
Title of Paper : AN ANALYSIS OF MORAL VALUES FOUND IN MAJOR CHARACTER OF A MAN NAMED DAVE NOVEL
Qualification : S1/Sarjana Sastra Study Program : English Department
I am willing that my thesis should be available for reproduction at discretion of the librarian of the S1 English Department Faculty of Letters University of Sumatera Utara on the understanding that users are made aware of their obligation under law of the Republic of Indonesia.
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ABSTRACT
Skripsi ini berjudul “An Analysis Of Moral Values Found In Major Character Of A Man
Named Dave Novel”. Nilai moral merupakan yang di pakai oleh masyarakat dalam bentuk norma
atau aturan. Interaksi yang terjadi di masyarakat menggambarkan keanekaragaman perilaku. Baik buruknya tingkah laku seseorang disebut sebagai nilai moral. Tanpa adanya penilaian terhadap tatanan tingkah laku tersebut, manusia akan hidup liar dan tidak terarah. Aturan-aturan yang ada di masyarakat sebagai moral standard yang diterima dan diyakini bersama oleh
masyarakat tersebut akan menjadi pedoman hidup manusia dalam bertingkah laku.
ABSTRACT
Skripsi ini berjudul “An Analysis Of Moral Values Found In Major Character Of A Man
Named Dave Novel”. Nilai moral merupakan yang di pakai oleh masyarakat dalam bentuk norma
atau aturan. Interaksi yang terjadi di masyarakat menggambarkan keanekaragaman perilaku. Baik buruknya tingkah laku seseorang disebut sebagai nilai moral. Tanpa adanya penilaian terhadap tatanan tingkah laku tersebut, manusia akan hidup liar dan tidak terarah. Aturan-aturan yang ada di masyarakat sebagai moral standard yang diterima dan diyakini bersama oleh
masyarakat tersebut akan menjadi pedoman hidup manusia dalam bertingkah laku.
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
1.1Background of the Analysis
Literature is a permanent expression in words of some thoughts or feeling or idea about life and the world ( Rees, 1973:9). Literature also the writing or the study of books, valued as works of art (drama, fiction, essay, poetry, biography, contrasted with technical books and journalism). The main generic of literature today is poetry, drama and the novel.
The novel as a genre of fiction can be defined as : “a work of prose finction, usually an extended narrative that tells a story or uses incidents to dramatize human experience and individual characters”(Grambs, 1925: 93). A novel can be analyzed in several points of view. It can be analyzed from the moral, social and religious point of view. Moral has a close relationship with character, because moral is reflected by character.
Character is the element of prose and moral actually is one of four levels of characterization. These levels help us to see the very basic description of character. Moral derives from the latin ‘mos’ which means attitude and habbits. This attitude based on the determination of right and wrong. Values means standard that used to define something and regarded as conventional. In other word, moral values is standard of attitude that based on the determination of right and wrong which regarded by those who make the standart of moral.
Named Dave Novel by Dave Pelzer. This novel is a real story of Dave Pelzer’s life. David James
(Dave) Pelzer is an
In this thesis, the writer analyzes the moral value that found in major character in A Man
Named Dave novel. A Man Named Dave novel is one of the best seller book. This novel
illustrats good motivation to its reader. That is the main reason why the writer interested in analyzing this novel. The writer wants to know what is the moral value in this novel and hope it can be make my life or every reader be better in the future.
1.2Scope of the Analysis
There are many characters in A Man Named Dave Novel. To limit the analysis, the writer selected moral of three major characters : Dave pelzer, Patsy and The Father.
1.3Problem of the Analysis
Problems that the writer would like to analyze are:
1. What are the moral values that found in A Man Named Dave Novel? 2. How do the mayor characters life based on the moral.
1.4Objectives of the Analysis
The object of this thesis are
1.5Significance of the Analysis
Significance of this analysis is to give more understanding about moral values found in literary works especially novel. In literary works, like Novel, Poetry and Drama, there are moral values that the author wants to send and emphasize to the reader. The Author send a message directly (explicit) and the reader get the moral value easily and sometimes, it’s send indirectly (implicit).
1.6Review ot Related Literature
In supporting the data of analysis, the writer gets several books that containing some information related to the subject. Some of them can be mentioned as follows:
1. Literature : English Literature by Thomas E Rankin and Wilford Maikin
In this book, Thomas E Rankin and Wilford Maikin writes about Literature as whole. This book is very useful to learners who want to study more about literature and novel. The novel is a record of action due to emotion, the story in prose of a human life touched by emotion or by passionate thought.
2. Literature : English Literature by R.J. Rees (1973).
In this book, R.J. Rees writes about Literature as whole. This book is very useful to learners who want to study more about literature.
Rees status, literature is permanent expression in words of some thoughts of feeling or idea about life and the world.
This book is about literature. It guides us to understand more about literature especially in fiction, poetry and drama. This book is complete enough and good to read in other to enrich our knowledge about literature.
4. Philosophy : Treasure of World Philosophy by Dagobert D Runes.
This book is about philosophy. This book tells about what is moral and how is moral very important in human life, because moral is the main source of human in behavioring. 5. Teori Pengkajian Fiksi by Burhan Nurgiyantoro (1995)
In this book, Nurgiyantoro explains about literature, the Intrinsic and extrinsic elements in literature. This book also explains about the Moral Value in literature.
6. Thesis : The Analysis Of Moral Values Found in Harper Lee’s Novel to Kill A Mocking
CHAPTER II
METHOD OF THE ANALYSIS
2.1 Research Method
Method of analysis in this thesis is a library researh. The writer collects some data to support the analysis and find the related to the research. First of all the writer reads A Man Named Dave Novel for several times and then the books that related to literature and moral values In analyzing this novel, I would have picked out many books to be looked into other references and as guidance. The data is not fully copied, although there are some quotations.
2.2 Technique of Collecting Data
2.3 Data Analysis
CHAPTER III
A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF MORAL VALUE, NOVEL AND
CHARACTER
3.1.Concept of Moral
The word moral derives from Latin word, mores, the plural of mos. It means that are “manners, custom, conduct, and the way of life”.
According to Runes (1977:202) moral is sometimes used as equivalent to “ethics” more frequently it is used to designate the codes, conduct, and custom of individuals, or of groups, as when one speaks of the morals, of a person or of a people. Here it is equivalent to the Greek word ethos and the Latin mores. Ethics (also referred to as moral philosophy) is that study or discipline which concerns itself with judgments as to the rightness, or wrongness, goodness, or badness, virtue or vice desirability or wisdom of actions, dispositions, end, objects or states of affairs.
Angeles (1981:179) defined moral into some; they are :
1. Having to do with human activities that are looked upon as good or bad, right and wrong, correct and incorrect
2. Conforming to the accepted rules of what is considered right (virtuous, just, proper conduct).
3. Having a capacity to be directed by (influenced by) an awareness of right and wrong, and the capacity to direct (influence) others according to rules of conduct judged right or wrong.
According to Oxford Dictionary, (1982:657) moral is concerned with goodness or badness of characters or disposition, or with the distinction between right and wrong, dealing with regulation of conduct; concerned with rules of morality; virtuous in general conduct. Based on that definition, moral is a basic of human to distinguish among right and wrong intensions, thoughts or actions and to arrange of human conducts.
Based on Burhanuddin Salam (2000: 2-3) defined moral as:
“Moral mempunyai pengertian yang sama dengan kesusilaan,memuat ajaran tentang baik buruknya perbuatan. Jadi, perbuatan itu dinilai sebagai perbuatan yang baik atau perbuatan yang buruk. Penilaian itu menyangkut perbuatan yang dilakukan dengan sengaja. Etika ialah suatu ilmu yang membicarakan masalah perbuatan atau tingkah laku manusia, mana yang dapat dinilai baik dan mana yang jahat”,
“Moral has the same meaning with ethics, which contains the lesson about the good and bad of our conduct. So, conduct is evaluated as the good conduct or the bad conduct. The evaluation concerns the action, which is done expressly. Ethics is science, which talks about of human action or behavior, which can be evaluated as good and bad conduct”.
A moral is the right to do. A person said moral if he/she is good in character or conduct, virtuous according to civilized standards of right and wrong. A person gets a moral from what they do, think, and say. Moral employs terms such as good and bad, right and wrong to express preferences, decisions and choices or to criticizes, grade, persuade, praise, blame, and encourage.
In other word, moral norms are standards to decide whether human conduct is right or wrong and bad or good.
1. Virtuous according to civilized standards of right and wrong; right; just: a moral act, a moral man.
2. Capable of understanding right and wrong
3. Having to do with character or with the difference between right and wrong 4. Based on the principles of right conduct rather than on law custom.
5. Teaching a good lesson; having a good influenced. Moral has three principal meanings:
In its "descriptive" sense, moral refers to personal or cultural values, codes of conduct or social mores that distinguish between right and wrong in the human society. Describing morality in this way is not making a claim about what is objectively right or wrong, but only referring to what is considered right or wrong by people. For the most part right and wrong acts are classified as such because they are thought to cause benefit or harm, but it is possible that many moral beliefs are based on prejudice, ignorance or even hatred.
In its "normative" sense, moral refers directly to what is right and wrong, regardless of what people think. It could be defined as the conduct of the ideal "moral" person in a certain situation. This usage of the term is characterized by "definitive" statements such as "That act is immoral" rather than descriptive ones such as "Many believe that act is immoral."
situation, how moral values should be determined, what morals people actually abide by, what the fundamental nature of ethics or morality is, including whether it has any objective justification, and how moral capacity or moral agency develops and what its nature is.
Like moral, ethics also described goodness and badness of humans conduct. However, a distinction is sometimes made between morals and ethics.
According to Dictionary of Philosophy (1981), ethics derives from Greek, ethikos, from word ethos, that has some meanings: “usage,” “character, “custom,” “disposition,” and “manners”) which explain further as:
1. the analysis of concepts such as “ought,” “should,” “duty,” “moral rules,” “right,” “wrong,” “obligation,” “ responsibility,” etc.
2. the inquire into the nature of morality or moral acts. 3. the search for morally good life.
Based on Wikipedia, free encyclopedia; ethics (also known as moral philosophy) is a branch of philosophy, which seeks to address questions about moral; that is, about concepts such as good and bad, right and wrong, justice, and virtue.
Both of the terms refer to standards of right conduct and the judgments of particular
actions as right or wrong by those standards. Moral define personal character, while ethics stress a social system in which those moral are applied. In other words, ethics point to standards or codes of behavior expected by the group to which the individual belongs. This could be national ethics, social ethics, company ethics, professional ethics, or even family ethics.
A moral theory can be conveniently divided into three parts.
First, there is a moral standard, a criterion or test of what is right or wrong. It has the general form:
"Those actions are right that possess characteristic X."
Thus, those and only those actions are right that possess some characteristic X. We could fill in X by a phrase such as, "producing the greatest total amount of human well-being" or "equally respect the humanity of each person." Obviously these expressions need further definition. What do we mean by human well-being? What do we mean by respect for the humanity of each person? These questions would have to be answered in an adequate moral theory.
Second, moral principles serve to categorize different types of actions as right or wrong. Moral principles have the following form:
"Those actions of type Y are right (or wrong)."
Third, moral judgments are statements about the rightness or wrongness of particular actions. Moral judg ments have the following form:
"Action Z is right (or wrong)."
Examples of moral judgments would be "someone should not have bribed the foreign official to buy his product" or "someone should not have agreed to work on the defense contract". Moral judgments apply moral standards or moral principles to specific situations.
They are thus the ultimate goal of moral reasoning. From distinguish between moral and ethic can be concluded that moral is a conduct, which has been determined by ethic. Conduct that has been determined by ethics concerned with good and bad and said as moral. Said good if the conduct, which is absolutely known by ethics as goodness, and said bad if the conduct, which is absolutely known by ethics as badness.
Moral is divided into two parts; they are personal moral and social moral. There is a fundamental difference between personal moral and social moral. Personal moral defines how we personally respond to life from or within our own integrity, and within our own personal values. Social moral defines how we respond to our environment, our immediate community and the world community. We are all personally guided by our own sense of what is right and wrong. Socially, we must be guided as well.
Morality can source from tradition and custom, religion or ideology. Moral standard is a standard, which interrelated to a case that having serious consequence, based on good reasoning not power authority, more than own interest, impartial and its breaches is associated with feelings of guilt, shame, regret, etc.
In literature moral is a message conveyed or a lesson to be learned from a story or event. The moral may be left to the hearer, reader or viewer to determine for themselves, or may be explicitly encapsulated in a maxim. However, other morals can often be taken from the story itself; for instance, that "arrogance or overconfidence in one's abilities may lead to failure or the loss of an event, race, or contest". The use of stock characters is a means of conveying the moral of the story by eliminating complexity of personality and so spelling out the issues arising in the interplay between the characters, enables the writer to generate a clear message. With more rounded characters, such as those typically found in Shakespeare's plays, the moral may be more nuanced but no less present, and the writer may point it up in other ways (for example: the Prologue to Romeo and Juliet).
3.2 Novel
realistic and more complicated than the Italian novella as written by Boccario and other writers of his time. The novel is now the most widely read all of kinds of literature, and the new form of such kind of prose was then called ‘novel’ (novel means ‘new’).
Taylor (1981:460 says Novel is a form of literary work. Novel is normally a prose work of quite some length and complexity, which attempts to reflect and express something of the quality or value of human experience or conduct. Therefore, novel creates by authors to represent their life experience that they put in written form.
The novel deals with a human character in a social situation, man as a social being. The novel places more emphasis on character, especially one well-rounded character, than on plot. Another initial major characteristic of the novel is realism--a full and authentic report of human life.
The novel can be considered a work of imagination that is grounded in reality. On the other hand, during the middle Ages a popular literary form was the romance, a type of tale that describes the adventures, both natural and supernatural, of such figures of legend as the Trojan heroes, Alexander the Great, and King Arthur and his knights. Thus, the modern novel is rooted in two traditions, the mimetic and the fantastic, or the realistic and the romantic.
There are certain elements, which every novel has, and these are:
Plot
apparently unrelated scenes, which are not shown to be connected until the end of the novel - there should be a beginning, middle and an end.
Setting
The setting of a novel encompasses a number of different, but linked, elements: • Time: day or night; summer or winter; the historical period (an actual date)
• Place: inside or outside; country or city; specific town and country; real or fictional
• Social: the minor characters who take little part in advancing the plot, but whose presence contributes to the realism of the novel .
Characterization
Characters in a novel are the vehicles by which the author conveys to us his / her view of the world.
We learn about individual characters from their own words and actions; from what other characters say about them and the way others act towards them. Characters help to advance the plot and characters must grow and change in response to their experiences in the novel.
Theme
resolving conflict in pursuit of their goal. It can be considered the foundation and purpose of your novel. Without purpose, the story becomes trivial.
The theme gives the story focus, unity, impact and a 'point'. The theme becomes clear by looking at what happens to the major characters. If the main character survives while others do not, it shows us that the author is rewarding his (or her) behavior.
Point of view
Point of view is who is telling the story. This can be done several ways. In first person, one character is speaking in the "I" voice. Second person, which uses "you," is the least common point of view. Third person, which can be handled in a variety of ways, is the most often used method. In third person limited, the narrator can only go inside the head of the character telling the story. This requires the character to be in every scene, which must be told through their eyes. Third person omniscient gives the author the most freedom. Using this, the author can have different point of view characters for different scenes.
Style and presentation.
This is the way the story is written.
There are four main ways a story can be presented (and countless combinations of these): 1. The central character tells the story in his / her own words
2. A non-central character tells the story
4. The author refers to each character in the third person and describes what most or all of the characters see, hear and think; the author can also describe events which do not concern any of the characters
The author can adopt:
1. A subjective point of view, which means he / she judges and interpretes the characters for the reader
2. Or an objective view, in which the author presents events and allows the reader to make judgments
3. An author can use 'flash-backs' to fill in background.
3.3 Character
Before discussing characterization, we have to know something about the characters. Character is an important element in novel because without them story will not exist. Character is a person who acts in the story. Generally, characters are divided into two classes, namely the major character and minor character.
Dictionary of Literary Terms (1972:70) defines that: Character is the aggregate of traits and features that form the nature of some person or animal. A person represented in a story, novel, play, etc.
17th century England, a character was a formal; sketch or descriptive analysis of a particular virtue or vice as represented in a person, what is now more often called a character sketch. E.M. Foster (1990:221) distinguishes two kinds of characters, those are:
1. Flat: a flat character is constructed round a single idea or quality; he is unchanging, static; at the end of the novel he I essentially what he has been throughout. His every response is predictable, the readers can anticipate exactly the character will react.
2. Round: quite the opposite is a character portrayed in the round. He is profoundly altered by his experiences. His responses take us by surprise. He does not embody a single idea or qua lity, but is much more complex.
Literary work usually portrays some different types of characters; the dimensions the characters assume and the roles they are given. Some types of characters are,
1. Stereotypes
A stereotype is a conventional character representing a particular group or class or occupation. Because the character is conventional, he acts according to set patterns. His appearance is familiar, his speech is predictable, and his actions are standardized. Stereotyping is a simplified way of looking at people representative of a group rather than as individuals.
for comedy or satire. Stereotypes may also be related to races and ethics group. As an example, it is often said that the Irish are people who easily get angry.
2. Stocks characters
Closely related to stereotypes are stock characters. Even though the word ‘stock’ has close association with drama, stock figures appear in other genres as well. They are figures who because of their customary associations with dramatic situations have become conventions. Today we tend to identify the stock villain with the snarling, mousthached character of 19th century melodrama, but that figure is only an exaggerated portrayal of a long tradition. Among other stock figures, one could talk of traditional scapegoats and fallen women.
3. Allegorical and symbolical characters
Allegorical characters are usually not given human names; they represent human attitudes and emotions. Allegorical characters are not symbolical ones. Any character may be interpreted as symbolical when it appears that his actions and words seem to represent some thought, view, or quality. A symbolical figure is one whose accumulated actions lead the readers to see him as something more than his own person, to see him as the embodiment of redemptive power or hope.
4. Full-dimensional characters
character development that fiction and drama do, it is still possible to describe the full dimensionality of its characters.
The very length of fiction and drama permit the possibility of presenting characters that grow and change over a period. A novelist like Charles dickens often accounted for the full lifespan of his characters, from birth to death.
Now let us see what the meaning of characterization is. Characterization is the author’s way of describing his characters in a literary work; or it is the author’s means of differentiating one character to another. Characters are closely related to the plot because character means actions, while actions from the plot of literary work.
Dictionary of Literary Terms (1972:71) defines that: The creation of images of imaginary persons in drama, narrative poetry, the novel and the short story is called characterization. In effective narrative literature, fictional persons, through characterization, become so credible that they exist for the reader as real people.
Every reader is interested in people, or should be, because people are the most important single factor in individual lives. In fiction, a reader, primarily interested in individual concerned, has a natural tendency to identify with the ‘hero’ and to hate the ‘villain’ or to feel “for” “with” one individual or group and “against” another.
Writers uses any or all several basic means of characterization: a characters is revealed by (1) his actions, (2) his speech, (3) his thought, (4) his physical appearance, (5) what other characters say or think of him. Without characterization no thesis, no plot, and no setting can developed genuine interest for a reader or cause him to care what happen, to whom, and why.
or oppose a character, that character must come alive. The reader wants to be able to visualize him-to see him act and hear him talk. Characterization, no mere by –product, is an essential part of plot. Character generates (causes) plot and plot result from, and is dependent upon, character. An author may present his characters in two general ways, those are,
1. Directly, telling his readers the characters’ qualities.
2. Through actions, showing the characters’ deeds by which his characters may be revealed.
It has often been assumed that characters in a literary work can be judged from four levels characterization by D.D.Runes (1963:87). These four levels of characterization are helpful for us to see the very basic description of characters. The four levels of characterization are:
1. Physical: physical level supplies such basic facts, as sex, age, and size. It is the simplest level of characterization because it reveals external traits only.
2. Social: A social level of characterization includes economic status, profession, religion, family and social relationships –all those factors that place a character in his environment. 3. Psychological: this level reveals habitual responses, attitudes, desires, motivation, likes and
dislikes –the inner workings of the mind, both emotional and intellectual which lead to action. Since feeling, thought, and behavior define a character more fully than physical and social traits and since a literary work usually arises from desires in conflict, the psychological level is the most essential parts of characterization.
to his belief. A moral decision usually causes a character to examine his own motives and values, and in the process, his true nature is revealed both to himself and to the readers.
Reading a literary work, we often feel sympathy for a character; on the other hand, we may feel unsympathetic for another. A character’s honesty, boldness, or suffering may create a moving story that stirs our emotion and feeling. On the contrary, a character who is wicked, cruel, dishonest, etc, may give rise to our dislike. The ability of an author to describe his characters makes a reader feel that he is watching the reality of human life, and, consequently, the literary work becomes more interesting.
Millie and Yates (1982:228) say, “There are at least six methods by which an author can show characters”. They give an example of some ways that we may follow. The character describes in the example below has a strong will and won’t give up.
1. By what the person says: “Give up? Don’t be silly. I haven’t even started yet!” 2. By what someone else says: “Jenkins? A bulldog is a quieter compared to him”.
3. By his or action: Wearily Marlene straightened her shoulders, took a deep breath, and tried again, as she had trying for hours, to make the figure balance.
4. By indicating his or her thoughts: So they thought she would give up. What a laugh! She’d show them’
5. By the way that other people treat him or her: Here was a mission on which only a person who would never quit could succeed. The colonel’s glance went swiftly down the eager line standing before him. Then, “banter you’re the one,” he barked.
1. Action. What characters do is our best way to understand what they are. For example, walking in the woods is creation for most people, and it shows little about their characters. 2. Description, both personal and environmental. Appearance and environment reveal much
about a character’s social and economic status, of course, but they also tell us more about character traits.
3. Dramatic statements and thought. 4. Statements by the other character
CHAPTER IV
FINDING AND ANALYSIS
4.1Moral Values in Dave Pelzer Character
Dave is a boy who are the victim’s abuse that which his mother done. If his mother has a problem with his father or her son, so Dave always becomes the victim’s abuse. He give a big morality to every people. We can see the moral message from how he face many trouble and suffers in his life.
Patience in Physical Suffering
When David was five years old, during one of The Mother’s drunken attacks, she accidentally pulled my arm out of its socket. The moment it happened, Mother’s eyes became as big as silver dollars. Mother knew she had crossed the line. She knew she was out of control.
“One Sunday afternoon before I was five years old, during one of The Mother’s drunken attacks, she accidentally pulled my arm out of its socket. The moment it happened, mother eyes became as big as silver dollars. Mother knew she had crossed the line. She knew she was out of control.” (Pelzer, 1999: 2-3)
Dave function was to perform slave-like chores. If he did not meet one of Mother’s time requirements for his task, not only was he beaten but he was not allowed to receive any food.
“Because I was no longer member of “The Family,” I was banished to live and sleep and garage. When not sitting on top of my hands at the bottom of the staircase, my function was to perform slave-like chores. If did not meet one of Mother’s time requirements for my task, not only was I beaten, but I was not allowed to receive any food. More than once mother refused to
feed me for over a week. Of all of Mother’s “games” of control, she enjoyed using food as her ultimate weapon.” (Pelzer, 1999: 3-4)
“I’m scared. My feet are cold and my stomach cries for food. From the darkness of the garage I strain my ears to pick up the slightest sound of Mother’s bed creaking as she rolls over in the bedroom upstairs. I can also tell by the range of Mother’s hacking cough if she’s still asleep or about to get up. I pray Mother doesn’t cough herself awake. I pray I still have more time. Just a few more minutes before another day in hell begins. I close my eyes as tightly as I can and mumble a quick prayer, even though I know God hates me.” (Pelzer, 1999: 1)
The Dave’s mother ever burnt Dave’s arm over a gas stove and if his teacher asked about his injury, his mother told to the teacher that Dave had played with a match and burned myself.
“The more bizarre things The Mother did to me, the more she seemed to know she could get away with any of her games. When she held my arm over a gas stove, she told horrified teachers that I had played with a match and burned myself.” (Pelzer, 1999: 4)
His mother ever stab Dave’s breast with a knife when his brothers feel afraid, his mother told to them that Dave attacked her.
“I could never understand what you could have done that was so bad, “Russell said. “All I could remember, since I was a kid, was…you were always in trouble. As if that was why she had to beat you, “Russell softly stated. “And that one summer…I remember when she…she threw the knife at you, right in front of me…” I flashed back to a memory of Russell as small child, clamped onto Mother’s leg, gently rocking as she swayed drunkenly. Mother had snatched up a knife, screaming that she would kill me if I did not finish washing the dinner dishes within the specified time. At the time, I knew she didn’t mean it. Afterward, as I regained consciousness in the bathroom, while blood poured from my chest, Mother announced to my dismay that she could never take me to hospital for fear of exposing the secret. Yet I knew what she meant. “It was an accident,” I boomed, startling the group of men around the bar.” (Pelzer, 1999: 152)
When his mother filled Dave’s mouth with pink dish washing soap, he hold the liquid in his mouth, and when Dave had challenge he spit it in
“For years I did all that I could do to think ahead, to somehow outwit her. Before Mother hit me, I would tighten up parts of my body. If Mother didn’t feed me, I would steal scraps of food anywhere I could. When she filled my mouth with pink dish washing soap, I’d hold the liquid in my mouth until I could spit it in the garage garbage can when she wasn’t looking. Defeating The Mother in any way meant the world to me. Small victories kept me alive.” (Pelzer, 1999: 4).
Mother poked ammoniac solution so the result his throat was so hot, stiff and almost died, then she hit his back.
“I had almost died from being locked in the bathroom after Mother’s lethal concoction of ammonia and Clorox. I started at the far left side of the bathroom floor at the ventwhere I had prayed that fresh air would come through before I gagged to death. Turning toward the mirror above the sink, I remembered looking at the fresh pink scars on my chin and my tongue that had skin peeled away from swallowing teaspoons of ammonia. As a child I’d usually steal time to look into the mirror and yell at myself for whatever I did wrong-that had made Mother despite me so much. I had hated everything about myself-how looked, how I stuttered, everything. Back then I so desperately wanted to somehow transfer myself to the other side of the mirror. But as I grew and became aware of my situation as Mother’s prioner, I knew I could never rid myself of that person in the mirror. For that reason, I still refused to look at myself in a mirror,” (Pelzer, 1999: 90-91)
His mother beats Dave brush of palm leafs.
“Oh, no!” Mother beams. “Bring your friend with you.” I’m not sure what she means. I spin around, then look back up at mother. “The broom, you moron. Bring it with you.” With every step I take, my mind begins to plot a defense for whatever Game Mother has in store for the crime of not completing my chore on time. I warn myself to stay focused. I know she plans on using the broom as a weapon, either against my chest or face. Sometimes when we’re alone, mother likes to smash the end f the broom directly behind my knees. If she has me follow her into the kitchen, I’m dead. I won’t be able to walk to school, let alone run. But if mother keeps me on the stairs, I know she’ll only hit me in my upper body.” (Pelzer, 1999: 8)
“From the back of my mind I hear a chuckle. For a moment I think it’s me laughing at mother. I lower my eyes and see mother’s crocodile smile. Her putrid breath breaks my concentration. The more mother smiles, the more my body becomes tense. She tilts her head toward the light. Now, I tell myself, now I can see it coming. Go ahead, give it to me! Come on, do it! Show me what you got! I see the blur a split second before I feel her hand collide against my face. A moment later, warm blood seeps from my nose. I let it drip on the black-matted stairs. I refuse to give mother the pleasure of watching me cry or reacting in any way what soever. I defy her by remaining numb inside and out. “Showing a little guts, are you? Well, you’re few years too late!” Mother sneers. “You don’t have what it takes. You never have and you never will. You’re such a pathetic little worm. I can kill you anytime I please. Just like that,” Mother says with a snap of her fingers. “You are only alive because it please me. You are nothing more than….” I block out mother’s words as a cold fear creeps back inside my soul. I bow my head, resuming the position of address. Dark red blood spatters the toes of my shoes. For a fleeting moment I felt so live. She’s in control now. The more that mother’s babbles, the more I nod my head, acknowledging mother is indeed almighty and God-like for allowing me to live another day in her household.” (Pelzer, 1999: 11)
His mother also strangles Dave
“Mother’s voice changes in pitch. Suddenly my throat feels as if is on fire as mother tightens her grip around my neck. My eyes want to pop out my head. I did not focus on mother’s attack before it came. By reflex I wrap my hands around mother’s fingers. As much as I try, I cannot pry her hands off. The more I struggle, the more mother tightens her death grip. I try to scream, but only a gurgling sound leaks out. My head slumps forwards. As my eyes roll backward, I concentrate on mother’s face. Do it! I shout to my self. Come on, do it! You’re so bad, you’re so tough, come on! Show me, show me what you got! Kill me. You bitch! Mother’s cheeks twitch from her intense hatred. Her nostrils flare from her rapid breathing. I want mother to kill me. I begin to feel myself drift away. My hearing seems as if I am in the middle of a long tunnel. My arms fall to my side. For the first time in years, my body relaxes. I’m no longer cold inside. I’m no longer frightened. I’m ready to…..” (Pelzer, 1999: 12)
“She slaps my hands away. As my feet slip, my head jerks backward. I can feel my throat collapse the same way it did when mother had me swallow teaspoons full of ammonia. I fight to swallow a breath of air, but my brain is too slow to respond. My eyes lock on to mother’s “So, do you still think you can fly?” I glance down and see mother’s hand in motion. A moment later I can feel myself floating my arms flung above my face. Suddenly, a rush of air fills my chest as the back of my head smashes against the staircase. I reach out, but I can’t stop my body from bouncing backward down the stairs. At the bottom of the staircase, my chest heaves, I want to find a bucket and throw up. At the door above me, mother bends over with laughter. “Look at you! You’re a hoot!” (Pelzer, 1999: 13-14)
Dave’s mother also throw up the body’s Dove until down the garage stairs.
“As a child surviving in the garage of mother’s house. I had never dreamed of making it out alive. Somehow, I had known mother was close to killing me, and yet I did not care. I had given up all hope. Yet on March 5, 1973, the day after mother had thrown me down the garage stairs, my teachers called the police, who immediately place me into protective custody.” (Pelzer, 1999: 29)
His mother often beats Dave.
“Russel nervously rubbed his hands, “I asked her,” he said, “About when you were in her bedroom….she was beating you bad. I peeked through the door and…when she marched out, I remember her wiping her hands….like she just finished washing the dishes. I asked Mom why she beat you up, and without blinking she says, ‘Mommy loves it and wants it to be good.” (Pelzer, 1999: 135)
Patience in Mental Suffering
When Dave was 8 years old, his name might not called again, his mother changed “David” with “The Boy”. But she changed “The Boy” with “it”.
simply: it does exactly as it’s told. If it doesn’t want to be punished, then it stays out of trouble. It knows the rules. I don’t treat you any different from anybody else. It simply refuses to obey.” Mother stops to take a deep breath. Her chest begins to wheeze. It’s time for her fix. I know what’s coming next. I wish she’d go ahead and hit me. “And What about me?” Her voice rises. “I should be sleep, but no, I have to be here with It.” (Pelzer, 1999: 9-10)
His mother always speaks rude to Dave
“You pathetic piece of filth! You little bastard! You know your function. You’re not a person, but….a thing to do with as I please. Do you understand? Am I making myself clear, or perhaps It needs another lesson?” Mother thunders.” (Pelzer, 1999: 10)
When Dave was unconsciousness, his mother did not help him but angry with him.
“With every blow I can feel my strength drain away. The whitish-yellow garage light begins to fade as I lose consciousness. Without thinking of mother catching me, I lie on my side, pull my shirt over my face, bury my hands between my legs, and close my ayes. Before I pass out, I clasp my hands together and mutter, “Take me.” Wake up! Wake up, I tell you!” My eyes flicker open. I’m trapped in a mental haze as I stand in front of Mother in the kitchen. I have no idea how got here. And somehow I know it’s almost time for me to run to school. My mind struggles to recall why I keep losing track of time. I said wake up! Mother barks. She leans over and slaps my face.” (Pelzer, 1999: 14-15)
The Mother always calls David with another name.
“Oh, what’s the matter? Does the little insect have a sore throat? Oh well, that’s just too bad!” mother smiles. I can see her lips moving, but I can barely make out what she’s saying. After another quick squeeze, Mother lets go of her hold.” (Pelzer, 1999: 12-13)
After his mother hurt Dave when he was young. It influenced to Dave’s character when he grow up, as below:
“Yet, I had to admit to myself, it was also because of my lack of social skills,
taking a chance at making a jerk of myself in front of people. Even as a young man in my early twenties, I’d continue to say the wrong things at the wrong time, and whenever I became nervous, I dug deeper hole by stuttering uncontrollably.” (Pelzer, 1999: 118)
• Even after he was rescued, his life remained haunted by\ memories of his years
as the bruised, cowering “it.”
“At least now when I slept, I no longer had nightmares of mother trying to kill me. She used to always appear in my dreams standing at the end of a hallway surrounded by gray mist. But now as mother moved forward to attack me, instead of fleeing, I’d march toward her, step for step. When mother would raise the knife above her head, I would rip open my shirt and hiss, “Do it…! C’mon, do it!” The gleaming knife would remain frozen beside mother’s red face. Stepping within inches of her, I’d whisper, “Kill me now or let me be!” Even though I was still intimidated by mother in real life, she no longer had control of my dreams. I have been terrified for so long, yet with Father’s passing, day by day I believe I was finally releasing myself from her grasp.” (Pelzer, 1999: 119)
• To be so cold to woman because his background when he was child. And then
he always afraid to make relation to woman.
In Dave Pelzer’s Adulthood
Thick, sticky sweat coated every pore of his skin. His stomach seized with fear. His fingers seemed fused together as they clawed the armrest. He wanted to shut his eyes, but the combination of exhilaration, fascination, and terror inside him kept them glued to the small Plexiglas window. He studied every feature of the Bay Area, his home for the last eighteen years.
His bodies slip from his seat, and he thought for sure I’d fall out of the plane as the Boeing 727 made a sudden sharp roll to the right. To help contain his fear. He forced, his eyes shut. He could feel his self drifting off. Because of the excitement of finally enlisting in the U.S. Air Force, saying good bye to his foster parents, and struggling with his past, he had not slept in days. As the roar of the jet’s engines began to fade, he started to unwind. The more his tension disappeared, the more he began to think of how far he had come.
As a child surviving in the garage of mother’s house. He had never dreamed of making it out alive. Somehow, he had known mother was close to killing him, and yet he did not care. He had given up all hope. Yet on March 5, 1973, the day after mother had thrown him down the garage stairs, his teachers called the police, who immediately placed me into protective custody. He was free. As elated as he was, he sensed that his freedom was a hollow victory. At the country’s court proceedings, He felt that mother had given his away. He felt as if he was not good enough for her. When his angel of mercy-my social worker, Ms. Gold informed him that he was never to have any contact with mother or her children ever again, he was crushed.
As a foster child, he soon learned that he knew absolutely nothing about living in the real
world. His former life as mother’s prisoner had been dominated by elemental needs of survival.
But after his rescue he felt like a toddler learning and growing by leaps and bounds. As a foster child, he had to learn to focus and walk upright. Whenever he became nervous, he stuttered or slurred every word. It would take him forever to complete one simple sentence. His foster mother, Mrs. Turnbough, spent hours with him every day after school, teaching him phonics and helping him to imagine his words flowing from his mouth, like water cascading over a fall. Because he was so skinny and awkward, he became easy prey for others, and he only form of defense was his mouth. Whenever he felt backed in a corner, words of intense anger and hatred seemed to erupt before he could analyze what he was saying or why.
The only way he felt he could make friends was stealing for acceptance or doing whatever else he could to gain recognition. He knew that what he was doingwas completely wrong, but after years of being an outcast and totally isolated, the need to fit in was too powerful to resist. His foster parents struggled to keep him on the straight and narrow, and teach him the seriousness of his decisions. He thought that in order to survive, he had to work. Early on as a foster child, it was drummed into me that foster kids labeled as “F-kids” never amounted to anything, never graduated high school, let alone go on to college. He also
abandoned his Lego and Erector sets and Hot Wheels toy cars and focused on earning a living. By the age of fifteen he was shining shoes. He lied about his age to get work as a busboy. He did whatever he could to put in a least forty hours a week. As a freshman in high school, he slaved six days a week to put in over sixty hours. He did anything he could to squeeze in an extra hour a week to earn an additional $ 2.65. Only after I’d show up to school and collapse on top of his desk and get sick from total exhaustion did he begin to slack off. On one level, thinking that he was ahead of the game, he was proud, almost to the point of being cocky. But on the inside he felt hollow and lonely. As other boys his age were dating beautiful girls with short dresses and fancy makeup, driving their parents’ cars and whining about their ten hour work weeks, he became increasingly jealous of their good fortune.
Whenever he felt a little depressed, he would bury himself even more in his work. The harder he applied his self, the more the cravings of wanting to be a normal teenager disappeared. And more important, the inner voice bubbling inside him, fighting for the answer to his past, remained quiet.
In the summer of 1978, at age eighteen, in order to further his career as top rated car salesman, he decided to drop out of high school. But months later, after a statewide recession, he found himself as a legal adult, with no diploma no job, and my life savings quickly draining away. His worst nightmare had come true. All of his well thought out plans of getting ahead and sacrificing while others played vanished into thin air. Because of his lack of education, the only jobs available were at fast food restaurants. He knew he could not make it by working those jobs for the rest of his life.
own blood, the more Dave would fight back and smile inside, telling himself over and over again, You’ll see. One of these days I’ll make you proud.
In six years as a foster child, he had seen his father less than a dozen times. At the end of his last visit, he proudly showed him one of the only possessions he had left: His badge, representing his retirement from the San Francisco Fire Department. Before loading him onto a Greyhound bus, Father mumbled in a dejected voice, “Get out of here David, Get as far away from here as you can. You’re almost at the age. Get out,” As he looked at David with darkness circles under his eyes. Father’s final words were: “Do what you have to. Don’t end up….don’t and up like me…David!
In his heart he sensed that father was a homeless alcoholic. After spending lifetime saving others from burning buildings, father had been helpless to save himself. That day as the bus pulled away, he cried from the depths of his soul. Every time the bus passed someone sleeping besides a building, He would imagine father shivering in the night. As much as he felt sorry for him, though, he knew he did not want to he could not end up like him. He felt selfish thinking of himself rather than his stricken father, but his advice to David, “Don’t end up like, became his personal commandment.
He immediately knew he had to do, but a wave of shame washed over him. For months he had lied to his foster parents, telling them that he was taking specialized tests and interviewing for a job, which in a way he felt he was. The Turnboughs had no idea what he was really up to. He felt a sudden urge to run off and enlist and then simply phone them from boot camp. Besides his foster parents and a handful of close friends, he had no one in his life. No girl friends, no work buddies, no friends who picked him up to go cruising or see movie, no relatives to speak of, no one. He felt that if he fell off the face of the earth, less than half a knew that he owed his real family, his foster parents and whatever friends he had more than a long distance phone call. Above all, it was a matter of honor.
And he always struggles to make his desire becomes true. After he follows testing in Air Force, finally he passes examination and he goes next week.
Later that afternoon, before he chickened out and changed his mind, he informed his foster parents that he enlisted in the air force and he leave next week. He thought he could find the answer to his past, to mother trying to numb himself about his dad. And now, now it’s his time. His time make something of himself. He have already missed so much, but if he stay focused and work hard, maybe someday he can turn this around. My foster parents teach David to become self reliant.
But, Dave felt sad because he just as a food service, he hoped become a fireman like his father. Although he accepted as food service, he always worked responsible. Because his work hard, his leader liked him and gave air crew boom operator to him. After he was success, he invites his father. After he met his father, he wonder because his father was in hospital because cancer. Finally, his father pass away. Dave felt sad because what he want did not come true. Dave always want to make his father was happy. After his father pass away, he continue his life and forget his sorrow when he was child.
“While I’m in the force, I’m gonna save every dollar I can. I want a home…my home. I want to buy a home in Guerneville, on the Russian River. Ever since kindergarten, I knew that’s what I wanted. That’s my lifelong dream. When I lived in mother’s house, when things were really bad, I’d go inside and dream of a long home by the river with a warm fireplace and the smell of redwood trees. It made me feel safe. Of all the things she did to me, mother could never get me when I thought about the river. As a kid, that dream gave me something to live for. I want my home.” I hesitated as my throat tightened. Tears began to trickle down the side of my face. I tried to hold back my emotions, but the years of extreme pressure were just too much.
“David, what is it? What wrong?” Mrs. Turnbough whispered.
I close my eyes before bursting with a flood of tears. “All his life, all he wanted was to have something…and now he’s alone, living on the streets, and has nothing. It’s not right.” “Who’s alone? Who are you talking about?” Alice probed. “My father!” I cried. “I’m gonna buy a house and have Dad live with me. It’s the right thing to do. And,” I said, renewing my vow, “I’m going to find my answer, and when I’m ready, I’m going to do what I can to make a difference.” I wiped my tears away, feeling foolish.” (Pelzer, 1999: 41-42)
Dave Pelzer’s Family Life Conception after Marriage
Dave Pelzer married to twice. Firstly, he married with a woman who name Patsy. They married because Dave felt Patsy was a woman who had same background life. Because of it is similarity, they decide to be good parent for their children.
the same time as adults saw the world in different ways-were to become parents.” (Pelzer, 1999: 193-194)
But, what he wants from Patsy just a dream. Because at the first time he met with Patsy, his lives become change. Dave liked party and lost discipline from himself.
“When I next saw Alice, I kept replaying everything Patsy and I had been through in my head. Since I had become an air crew member, I had lost my focus. I began to live a little too much. I went out to bars, and I spent, for the first time in my life, rather than saved for my future. I began to throw away years of self-discipline. But I thought that whatever my problems, I should have known better; I had brought them upon myself.” (Pelzer, 1999: 185)
Even when he stayed with Patsy, his expend was bigger than his salary.
“But within days of returning home, another problem between Patsy and me surfaced. After living together for nearly a year, the money that had taken me years to save was nearly depleted. Ever since Patsy had moved in, I was spending more than the air force paid me, and I had to draw from savings to get by. Patsy always claimed she’d help out. I knew she meant it at the time, but the funds never materialized. After wresting in my mind whether to bring up the subject or not, finally I did, and hell followed. I was not trying to seem like a miser, for I wanted to make Patsy happy, and would have gladly given her anything I could, but even with only rent, groceries, the very basics of utilities, and a car payment, I couldn’t hold out much longer. Once we even squabbled because I could not afford to buy Patsy a television set, let alone cable to keep her company while I was either flying for the day or out of the country for weeks at a time.” (Pelzer, 1999:186)
Dave and Patsy always fight because of money.
After of self discipline and going great lengths to build a good life, he had thrown caution to the wind. He never had the guts to confront Patsy and sever our ties once and for all. And yet part of him began to feel maybe he had led her on. As unnerving and irresponsible as Patsy was, it was he who had held on.
“By then the frustration was too much for me. “Don’t you think I know? I gotta do this….you don’t know, I mean, it’s my responsibility.” “You’re wrapped pretty tight, Pelz-man. You don’t have to get married. You can still be the father, see the kid and all that. You better think about that baby and what happens if things don’t work out,” she warned. Agitated, I grabbed my fellow crew member-an air force officer-by the lapels and flung her against the wall. “Don’t you get it?That’s all I do is think about the baby? What do you and the others want me to do? I see you, all of you, looking at me, talking about me behind my back, saying what an idiot I am for doing this. You think it’s like I’m trapped into this. You’re wrong, you’re all wrong! You don’t know, you really don’t. You think I can just pack my bags, hit the bricks, and flee? Ride off into the sunset or fly off into the wild blue yonder? Well, I can’t do that! I know the odds are against me. But you don’t know me. I’ve beaten the odds before. I’ll make it work, you’ll see. Besides,” I smile, “Patsy love me, she does. She really does.” (Pelzer, 1999: 197)
After he married with Patsy, Dave hoped that Patsy’s attitude changed but the reality is not change. Patsy never support him, in writing his book about his past when his child. Because Patsy felt when he wrote a book and was busy about his activities. Their life was not change but it become difficult, Because Dave gets anything.
true, I know the air force sure as hell wouldn’t let you enlist, let alone be involved with those jet planes. If you didn’t lie about that, too. No Way!” Patsy shook her head. “No Way! You’re too clean, everything’s too perfect. What’d you do, pay off those teachers so they could say you were abused? Oh yeah, you tried to hide it, but I found out. The only reason why you wanted to hide your past from me is because it ain’t true. That’s why you can get paid bookings. That’s why that piece of shit book of yours ain’t in any, I repeat, any bookstore. So why you doing this? You wanna talk about trust? Come on, come clean, tell me, tell me the truth! After all the shit you put me through, I deserve to know!” (Pelzer, 1999: 267-268)
But, Dave’s reason becomes speaker to many people just to help people who have same suffering like him, so they can turn it around.
“I had reached my boiling point. “you want to know what I do? Do you? Do you really want to know? I work with kids, begging them that no matter what happened to them, they can turn it around. At the ‘hall’ I restrain teen age girls who have so much meth in them, they want to kill themselves, ‘cause they’re tired of their fat, sick pimp stepdad hooking them out. Oh, it gets better! I have to stand in front of police officers and social workers, whose jobs are to find kids, babies, locked in cages, beaten to death, chained to toilets, and convince them to put on their jacket and tie, blouse and blazer, every single fuckin’ day, and go out, eat shit, and see things that no one in our society wants to acknowledge. And these, these people are treated like the enemy!” (Pelzer, 1999: 268)
After 8 years married with Patsy, finally Dave decides to separate with her. That was done because he felt nobody can make her to be happy.
me.” “Patsy.” I swallowed as I gazed into her eyes, “I’m not good enough to be your husband and I think we should…should divorce.” (Pelzer, 1999: 281-182)
After that, Dave felt fail to be a father and keeping his family together.
“After eight years of marriage, Patsy and I separate late July 1994. We sat down with Stephen to tell him the news. Even though he seemed to take it in stride, my heart went out to him. Above everything, I never wanted Stephen to experience the loss and suffering that I had felt when my parents split up. Since the day I was married, I had fought so hard to protect my son from every conceivable source of harm, and now I had failed at the most basic element of my role as a father-keeping my family together. After several private conversations with Stephen, I realized he seemed more comfortable about the separation than I was. I promised him that no matter what happened between his mother and me, our devotion for him would never change.” (Pelzer, 1999: 271)
After divorce with Patsy, Dave recognizes Marsha by phone. She was editor assistant, often discuss with Marsha about his book.
“Within a few weeks I received a call from an assistant editor who introduced herself as Marsha Donohoe. We spoke about the changes she wished to make and the schedule of publishing my first book. After hanging up the phone, I clould not help but think what an incredible voice she had. Before my mind began to wonder, I pushed Marsha out of my mind by burying myself in my work. Months passed. The more Marsha and I discussed every page, every paragraph, analyzing every word of the book, the more I found myself becoming enthralled by her.” (Pelzer, 1999: 285-286)
After read Dave’s book, Marsha was very interesting Dave’s book because Marsha felt this book can change the life of someone to be a good person.
They often speak by phone and Dave fascinated with her.
“I never intended to cross the relationship between editor and author, but I lost myself as I savored every word of every minute Marsha and I spent on the phone. It was easy for me to become fascinated with her. At the end of editing each page, we would reward ourselves by telling stories and exchanging jokes. I soon became caught up not only in Marsha’s sense of humor, but in her work ethic and her honor. Over time, as she began to tell me about her struggles and disappointments in life, I realized the incredible willpower she had. Marsha never quit. Whenever she applied herself, she gave it her all. We made a pact that we could talk to each other about anything at any time. Marsha became my one true friend.” (Pelzer, 1999: 287)
After several days, Marsha and Dave speak by phone. Finally they make appointment to meet. When they met, they felt in love one each other.
“The next several days Marsha and I were inseparable. We spent every waking moment together. While clutching our mugs of coffee, we’d chat outside for hours at a time. As I grew fascinated with her, Marsha seemed to absorb every detail of my life, to the point of insisting to see the summer cabin where I had stayed as child. Trying to recapture the magic that had captivated me so many years ago as a child, we stood holding each other, watching the sun set beneath the redwood trees as the sky turned from blue to orange. With every passing hour, I found myself stripping away layers of armor that I had worn as my defense from years of internal battle. Marsha became the only person to whom I could bare my soul.” (Pelzer, 1999: 290-291)
Dave felt comfortable with Marsha because together with her, he can share his problem and trust to her.
