TEENAGE SELF-HARM OF THE MAIN CHARACTER
IN THE NOVEL
QUIET DESPERATION
a final project
submitted in partial fulfillment
of the requirements for the degree of Sarjana Sastra in English
by
Nurul Rizki Avivah 2250407058
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF LANGUAGES AND ARTS
SEMARANG STATE UNIVERSITY
APPROVAL
The final project was approved by the Board of Examiners of the English Department of the Faculty of Languages and Arts of Semarang State University on August 24, 2011.
Board of Examiners:
1. Chairperson
Dra. Malarsih,M.Sn. NIP. 196106171988032001
2. Secretary
Drs. Alim Sukrisno, M.A. NIP.195206251981111001
3. First examiner
Galuh Kirana Dwi Areni, S.S., M.Pd. NIP. 195403261986011001
4. Second examiner as second advisor
Drs. Amir Sisbiyanto, M.Hum. NIP. 195407281983031002
5. Third examiner as first advisor
Bambang Purwanto, S.S., M.Hum. NIP. 197807282008121001
Approved by
Dean of Faculty of Languages and Arts
Prof. Dr. Agus Nuryatin, M.Hum NIP. 196008031989011001
PERNYATAAN
Dengan ini saya:
Nama
: Nurul Rizki Avivah
NIM
: 2250407058
Prodi/Jurusan : Sastra Inggris, Bahasa dan Sastra Inggris FBS UNNES
Menyatakan dengan sesungguhnya bahwa skripsi / tugas akhir /
final project
yang
berjudul:
TEENAGE SELF-HARM OF THE MAIN CHARACTER
IN THE NOVEL
QUIET DESPERATION
yang saya tulis dalam rangka memenuhi salah satu syarat untuk memperoleh gelar
sarjana satra ini benar-benar merupakan karya saya sendiri, yang saya hasilkan
setelah melalui penelitian, bimbingan, diskusi, dan pemaparan/ujian. Semua kutipan
baik yang langsung maupun tidak langsung, baik yang diperoleh dari sumber
kepustakaan, wahana elektronik, wawancara langsung maupun sumber lainnya, telah
disertai keterangan mengenai identitas sumbernya dengan cara sebagaimana yang
lazim dalam penelitian karya ilmiah. Dengan demikian walaupun tim penguji dan
pembimbing penulisan skripsi/tugas akhir/
final project
ini membubuhkan tanda
tangan keabsahannya, seluruh karya ilmiah ini tetap menjadi tanggung jawab saya
sendiri. Jika kemudian ditemukan pelanggaran terhadap konvensi tata tulis ilmiah
yang berlaku, saya bersedia menerima akibatnya. Demikian harap pernyataan ini
dapat digunakan seperlunya.
Semarang, 10 Agustus 2011
Yang membuat pernyataan,
Nurul Rizki Avivah
NIM. 2250407058
MOTTO AND DEDICATION
"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and
those who matter don't mind."
~ Dr. Seuss
Dear God Allah SWT and my beloved parents, Slamet Riyanto and Umi Hanik
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
First and foremost, the writer would like to express her deepest gratitude to Allah
SWT (God for all of us) that always blesses her, loves her, and gives her the bests.
Her deepest gratitude goes as well to Bambang Purwanto, SS, M.Hum., her first
advisor, Drs. Amir Sisbiyanto, M.Hum., her second advisor, for their continuous
guidance and valuable suggestion in finishing her final project.
The writer also expresses her gratitude to Drs. Ahmad Sofwan, Ph.D., as the
Head of English Department, all lecturers, and staffs for giving the writer lots of
valuable experiences during her study at the department.
Next, her deepest gratitude is conducted to her beloved parents, Umi Hanik and
Slamet Riyanto, and her siblings, Fafan and Arif. To Winda, Nia, Ayu, Dewi, Dita,
thanks for being her best friends. To everyone who supports her but their names could
not be mentioned.
Finally, the writer realizes that her final project lacks many things. Therefore,
she hopes for criticisms and suggestions for the betterment. She hopes ther final
project will be useful for the readers.
Semarang, 10 Agustus, 2011
Nurul Rizki Avivah
ABSTRACT
Avivah, Nurul R. 2011
.
Teenage self-harm of the main character in the novel Quiet
Desperation
. Final Project, English Department, Faculty of Languages and
Arts. Semarang State University. First advisor: Bambang Purwanto, S.S.,
M.Hum Second advisor: Drs. Amir Sisbiyanto, M. Hum
Keywords: Self-Harm, Teenage, Main Character
This final project is about teenage self-harm of the main character reflected in
the novel
Quiet Desperation
. The aim of this study is to find out the description of
self-harm which is described by the main character, to show self-harm which is
described in the novel.
The object of this study is a novel entitled
Quiet Desperation
. The method of
this study is divided into five categories they are reading the novel, selecting the
chapter to be analyzed, searching the related material of novel, finding out the
problem of the novel, analyzing the data using the descriptive qualitative method. The
data collections were appendices
.
Appendix 1 is the synopsis of the novel.
Appendix
2 is the data of the study.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
... v
ABSTRACT
... vi
TABLE OF CONTENTS
... vii
CHAPTER
I. INTRODUCTION
... 1
1.1 Background of the Study ... 1
1.2 Reason for Choosing the Topic ... 3
1.3 Statement of the Problem ... 4
1.4 Objectives of the Study ... 4
1.5 Significance of the Study ... 5
1.6 Outline of the Study ... 5
II. REVIEW TO RELATED LITERATURE
... 7
2.1 Review of Previous Study ... 7
2.2 Review of Theoretical Background ... 8
2.2.1 Psychology ... 8
2.2.1.1 Definition of Psychology ... 8
2.2.1.2 Psychology in Literature ... 10
2.2.1.3 Abnormal Psychology ... 12
2.2.1.4 Psychology in teenage ... 18
2.2.2 Self-Harm ... 20
2.2.2.1 Definition of Self-Harm... 20
2.2.2.2 Symptoms of Self-Harm ... 22
2.2.2.3 Causes of Self-harm ... 23
2.2.3 Character and Characterization ... 24
2.3 Framework of Analysis ... 26
III. METHOD OF RESEARCH
... 28
3.1 Object of The Study ... 28
3.2 Source of Data ... 28
...
3.3 Method of Collecting Data ... 28
3.4 Method of Analyzing Data ... 29
IV. RESULT ANALYSIS
... 31
4.1 Psychological Aspect in the Novel ... 31
4.1.1 Depression ... 32
4.3 The Analysis of Self-Harm ... 39
4.3.1 The symptoms of Self-Harm...41
4.3.2 The Causes of Self-harm...42
V. CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION
... 49
5.1 Conclusion ... 49
5.2 Suggestion ... 50
BIBLIOGRAPHY
... 51
APPENDICES
... 53
Appendix 1: Synopsis of Quiet Desperation ... 53
Appendix 2: Data of the Study ... 55
1
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
This Chapter discusses an introduction about the final project containing the background of the study, reason for choosing the topic, statements of the problem, objectives and significance of the study,and the outline of the study.
1.1
Background of the Study
We are familiar with the term of literature in our society. It is often related to our life. Francis Connoly says, as quoted by Koesnosubroto (1988:1), the following statement:
People read literature because of hunger of information, or amusement, or solace, or because of an appetite for truth that seems to grow by what if feeds on. They read to discover themselves and their world, to assess their special roles on the universe, to learn the meaning of the personal struggles in which they are engaged. In other words, they want to share experience.
and advocate ideas. Literature helps us grow, both personally and intellectually. It provides an objective base for knowledge and understanding. It links us with the cultural, philosophic, and religious world of which we are a part.
There are so many literary works which we can find. For instances novel, poetry, drama, film, song, etc. Such in novel Quiet Desperation, that novel tries to describe about a young girl as the main character who face a series of tragedies which sends her into a whirlpool of difficult emotions. She cannot control her emotions by hurting herself when the tragedy happened to her. She wreaks her emotion by cutting herself using a razor. As a teenage her behavior is very unusual.
harm is an expression of personal distress, not an illness. Self-harmers use it like a way to express emotions they cannot speak about. There are many varied reasons for a person to harm him or herself. Live in this world without getting problem is impossible. In the situation when people getting stuck while trying to solve problems, this can lead to frustration or even depression and feeling out of control.
There are so many forms of self-harm such as cutting any area of the body, burning the skin, planned drug overdoses, over eating or dieting, scratching, swallowing dangerous objects and the others forms which can take a high risk. Self-harm is common in younger people but it can be happened to older people too. But, the most typically age range is between 16 until 25.
1.3
Statement of the Problem
In order to be focused on this topic, the study will be focused on the following problems:
1.5
Significance of the Study
Related to the objective of the study above, this analysis is expected to give knowledge and advantage of the readers such as
1. This study will give a contribution to them particularly students of English department in UNNES who would like to understand more about how self-harm appears in human life.
2. Hopefully this analysis could be useful by other researcher as references in doing their works in the same topic.
1.6
Outline the Research
In arranging this final project, I divide it into some chapters. Every chapter discusses about the related problem that exist in this thesis.
Chapter I contains of background of study, reasons for choosing topic, statement of problem, objective of the study, significance of the study, and outline of study.
Chapter III presents methods of investigation covering the object of the study, source data, procedure of collecting data, and method of analyzing data.
CHAPTER II
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
This chapter deals with the explanation that supports to the topic of the final project. The first is review of previous studies. The second is review of theoretical background, containing the definition of psychology, psychology in literature, abnormal psychology, and psychology in teenage, self-harm, including the definition of harm, symptoms of harm, causes of self-harm, character and characterization. The last is framework of analysis.
2.1
Review of Previous Studies
There are many studies which related to psychology analysis from years to years and some of them are:
the causes of depression reflected in the novel, and to know the effects of depression.
Considering all of the studies above, there is still an area of study which has not been explored. There is about analysis of self-harm which still has correlation with all of studies above.
2.2
Review of Theoretical Background
This part will discuss about Psychology, definition of psychology, psychology in literature, abnormal psychology, psychology in teenage, self-harm, symtoms of self-self-harm, causes of self-self-harm, character and characterization.
2.2.1 Psychology
It contains definition of psychology, psychology in literature, abnormal psychology, and psychology in teenage.
2.2.1.1 Definition of Psychology
There are so many definitions of psychology which are different to another. Psychology as a branch of science, psychology has been defined in various way, according to the particular method of approach adopted or field of study proposed by the individual psychologist. (Drever,1960:227).
3. Psychologists study the mind, which refers to both conscious and unconscious mental states. The states cannot actually be seen, only inferred from observable behavior.
works as the pictures of what is going on around the people, and based on the deep consideration of human as Hardjana (1985:66) asserts in the following:
typical or culturally expected. Psychological dysfunction itself refers to a breakdown in cognitive, emotional, or behavioral functioning. For example, if you are out on a date, it should be fun. But if you experience severe fear all evening and just want to go home, even though there is nothing to be afraid of, and the severe fear happens on every date, your emotions are not functioning properly.
processes involving various neutrotransmitters) and genetic predispositions (risk for psychopathology carried via our genetic material.
There are six disorders of abnormal psychology according to http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/intropsych/pdf/chapter15.pdf :
(http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/158349/depressio n)
Another source taken from the web, depression appears from some factors as follows:
a.) A history of depression in the family: it is believed that depression is genetically passed and inherited from generation to generation, although the exact way this occurs is not known. b.) Grief from the death or loss of loved one.
c.) Personal disputes, like conflict with family member. d.) Physical, sexual, or emotional abuse.
4. Eating disorders – bulimia and anorexia : eating disorders have attracted a great deal of attention in recent years, particularly in university where they tend to be prominent. Eating disorders are complex and difficult to overcome. Both bulimia and anorexia typically begin in adolescence and become chronic.
5. Substance use disorders – abuse and dependence: substance disorders can begin at any age and are becoming more prevalent, particularly among adolescents. Some people with substance use disorders show remission, especially late in life, but relapse is frequent, particularly in response to high-risk situations, such as negative emotional states, social pressure and interpersonal conflict.
2.2.1.4 Psychology in teenage
very wrong. Those people around a person who self-harms often affected by it can feel distressed and angry.
2.2.2.2 Symptoms of self-harm
According to Dr. Osama Bar, Arab Board Psychiatry, as quoted from http://www.gndmoh.com/vb/archive/index.php/t-9714.html there are seven symptoms of self-harm.
a. Self poisoning b. Cutting behaviours c. Self burning d. Scalding
e. Banging head against walls f. Hair pulling
g. Swallowing or inserting objects
While Scott Porter states that the symptoms of self-harm such as cutting, overdosing, scratching, pulling out hair, pulling out eyelashes, burning, blunt force trauma (banging/punching), swallowing dangerous objects, inserting objects into themselves, biting themselves, starving themselves, inducing vomiting, drinking or using drugs. All of these are violent acts and can result in death, disability (mental and/or physical), and
can have damaging social consequences.
2.2.2.3 Causes of self harm
Steven levenkron (1999:135) in his book “Cutting: Understanding and Overcoming Self-Mutilation” states that people who have a good level of confidence, sense of value and good esteem do not participate in self-harm behaviors. Many people who initiate self self-harm actions do so at a time when they feel overwhelmed by their emotions. Some of factors that have occurred in the lives of people who self-harm include:
a. Recent loss
b. Conflict with peers and/or bullying at school c. Intimacy and self-esteem problems.
d. Previous abuse or assault that has not been resolved.
e. Having lived in a violent environment or been exposed to threats of harm and/or death, where the impact of this has not been resolved.
f. Emotion neglect in early life and/or ongoing personal denigration.
g. Being impulsive and difficulty coping with stress. h. Self-blame
i. Alcohol and/or illicit drug use.
they feel (in which case the injuries may be done purposely to be seen) and to draw attention to the fact that they need and deserve notice.
3. The characters must be plausible or lifelike, credible, realistic, probable.
2.3
Framework of Analysis
This study is concern on analyzing self-harm in the Quiet Desperation novel by Lana Thiel. This analysis also will deal with symptoms and causes of self-harm.
Firstly, I read the novel for several times to understand the purpose of this novel and then read the theories of psychology. Secondly, is selecting the chapters in the novel and find out the problems to be analyzed.
The Diagram of Framework Analysis
Reading the novel
Reading Theory of Ruch
Selecting Chapters
Analysis
CHAPTER III
METHODS OF INVESTIGATION
In this chapter, I will present the method of investigation that is used to analyze the novel. They are object of the study, source of data, method of collecting data, and method of analyzing data.
3.1
Object of The Study
The object of this study is a novel entitled “Quiet Desperation” by Lana Thiel, published in 2010.
3.2
Source of Data
There are two kinds of source data; they are primary and secondary sources. The primary source is the main source that is used as reference to this analysis. It is taken from the subtitle of the novel. Meanwhile, the secondary source is a source that is used to support the analysis. It is a script novel which is taken from the internet.
3.3
Method of Collecting Data
In this study, I take some steps to collect data of this analysis. These steps are taken to get valid data. They are:
a. Reading the novel for several times to understand further the purpose of this novel.
b. Selecting the chapter of the novel to be analyzed.
c. Searching related material to the novel from the book and the internet. d. Finding out the problem of the novel.
e. Analyzing the data that has been done using the certain method which is described below.
3.4
Method of Analyzing Data
Literature research method is a way chosen by researcher to estimate the shape, content, and characteristics of literary works as the study. Endraswara (2008:8) states that method should involve an operational way in a research. It needs actions that have to be followed relate to the process of taking and analyzing data.
In analyzing the data, I use descriptive qualitative method. Ratna (2007:46) states that qualitative method takes benefit from interpreting ways and presents it in the descriptive form. He adds that in social research, the source of data is a society and the data analysis is their actions. Meanwhile, in literature research, the source of data comes from works, and script; while the data analysis comes from the words and sentences.
the data is a words or picture not numeral. c) Give priority in process than the result. d) The meaning is the main purpose. e) Research tends to be inductive.
Therefore, in analyzing the data I only will give description, analysis, and interpretation that exist in the novel in qualitative way. The data would be dialogues, sentences, words, or pictures from the novel.
The steps that I take in analyzing the data are as follows:
a. Exposing the data
First step in analyzing the data is exposing the selecting data that has been got from, books and from internet.
b. Categorizing the data
After exposing the data, the next step is categorizing the data in order easy to analyze.
c. Interpreting the data
The next step is interpreting the data. It is an activity to analyze the data by using the theory of psychology that is related to the problem.
d. Drawing the conclusion
CHAPTER IV
RESULT OF ANALYSIS
I limited my discussions to the main character of this novel named Adrienne Zynish who does self-harm, including its symptoms, and causes. This limitation is focused on the discussions which could be described and presented in detail. The author, Lana Thiel, makes Adrienne especially her way of thinking toward herself that everybody in her life does not care about what she does. Thiel did not use any complexity in describing the story, instead she wrote simple and grounded way in describing the story.
4.1.1 Depression
right. This way will influence our psychology. Our psychology can deviate if we still keep hiding from others.
herself. It is supported by:
I sit on my floor in front of the mirror with my razor blade. The music is blaring in my ears. I slice the razor into my leg. I feel the tension in my head release with each stroke of the blade. I’m satisfied with the amount of blood running down. I let it dry. It looks like I spackled rust-colored paint on the bottom half of my leg (Thiel, 2010:43).
She is a close-minded person since her best friend betrayed her and her father remarried with Lisa. She means mischief with everyone, including her father, her step mother, her friend, her teacher, etc. It can be seen in:
4.3 The Analysis of Self-harm
Self-harm usually starts during puberty or adolescence. Adolescent learn to cope with emotions in different ways. Tears, anger, depression and withdrawal are some of the ways of responding overwhelming feelings. Some teens are troubled by frequent intense and painful emotions. While some are able to deal with these feelings, others react differently to their problems because they have not been taught ways to handle their emotions effectively. They are unable to find the words and the buildup of feelings makes it difficult for them to think clearly.
Some teens cut to stop their emotional pain. This is the most honest and direct way to say it. The emotionally abusive homes and environments influence teens. These homes and environments, including their schools, cause them to suffer emotional pain and cutting is a form of temporary relief. For teens who cut themselves, their emotional pain is much more intense than for the average person. It is an intensity of pain that many of us have never felt, just as we have never felt the pain of intension starvation. But these people are starving emotionally.
swallowed an invisible evil that shows up on the insides of my arms. I’m not sure how the razor dropped into my hand. Something told me to do it. Someone. I wonder if she knows that I think about her and scratch, and cut, and bleed. I wonder if it would even make a difference (Thiel, 2010:7).
out eyelashes, burning, blunt force trauma, swallowing dangerous objects, inserting objects into themselves, biting themselves, starving themselves, inducing vomiting, drinking or using drugs.
Self-harm is in this study particularly in self-cutting is a form of intentional self-injury and self-mutilation, without the intent of suicide. Cutting is done with sharp objects such as razors, knives, pins/needles, sharp stones and broken glass. Common body sites cut include arms, wrist, ankles and lower legs. Cutting and the marks it leaves are usually kept well hidden so the behavior can continue without interference. Cutting is the most common method of self-injury and is often done repetitively, that is, not just as a one-time occurrence.
In this novel can be found that the main character, Adrienne does self-harm. She cut herself, and starving herself. It can be seen in:
It shows that she feels like that because of her best friend betrayed her and her father cheated with, Cheryl, her friend who she trusted lately.
CHAPTER V
CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS
In the last chapter of this study will present about conclusion and suggestion. The conclusion presents as the summary of the chapters that have been discussed before and the conclusion presents some suggestions that may be useful for the readers of this study.
5.1. Conclusions
Based on the analysis of the previous chapters, here I present some points as the conclusion of this study.
In the novel Quiet Desperation there are three psychological aspects, depression, eating disorder, and personality disorder. There is also a clear description about the existence of self-harm and the main character that is reflected in this novel, Adrienne Zynish. She faces a series of tragedies which sends her into difficult emotions. Self harm is a serious public health problem. Self-harm is a wide range of things that people do to themselves in deliberate and usual hidden way, which are damaging. Self-harm is often a way of coping with painful and difficult feelings and distress.
The symptoms of self-harm found in this novel are cutting and eating disorder. The causes of self-harm identified in this novel are depression, conflict with peers, and previous assault that has not been resolved.
5.2. Suggestions
Based on the conclusion above, the study is expected to be useful for the readers generally and English literature students particularly. The followings are some suggestions that the writer wants to give to the readers.
Firstly, the most important way in which others can help self-harmers is by listening and not judging them.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Alsaker, F. D. (1995). Timing of puberty and reactions to pubertal changes. In M. Rutter (Ed.)
Drever, J.1960. A dictionary of Psychology. Pinguin Books Inc:Baltimore.
Endraswara, S.(2003).Metodologi Penelitian Sastra.Yogyakarta: Penerbit Pustaka Widyatama
Encyclopedia Britannica.2009.Encyclopedia Britannica 2009 Student and Home Edition.Chicago:Encyclopedia Britannica.
Frederik, Juliana Tirajoh. 1988. English Poetry An Introduction to Indonesia Students.Jakarta:Depdikbud.
Hardjana, Andre. 1985. Kritik Sastra: Sebuah Pengantar. Jakarta: Gramedia. Keating, D. (2004). Cognitive and brain development. In R.M. Lerner & L.
Walgito, Prof. Dr. Bimo. 1980. Pengantar Psikologi Umum. Yogyakarta:Andi. Woodworth, R.S., and Marquis, D. 1951. Psychology. Henry Holt and Company:
New York
http://www.peachnet.edu
http://www.psychology.about.com/od/abnormalpsychology http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/intropsych/pdf/chapter15.pdf
Appendix 1
SYNOPSIS OF QUIET DESPERATION
Appendix 2
DATA OF THE STUDY
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