AN ANALYSIS OF THE PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT OF SEXUAL ABUSE IN DANIELLE STEEL’S MALICE
A THESIS
BY
MENTARI
REG. NO. 100705075
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH
AN ANALYSIS OF THE PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT OF SEXUAL ABUSE IN DANIELLE STEEL’S MALICE
A THESIS
BY
MENTARI
REG. NO. 100705105
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH
Approved by the Department of English, Faculty of Cultural Studies University of Sumatra Utara (USU) Medan as thesis for The Sarjana Sastra Examination.
Head, Secretary,
Accepted by the Board of Examiners in partial fulfillment of requirements for the degree of Sarjana Sastra from the Department of English, Faculty of Cultural Studies University of Sumatra Utara, Medan.
The examination is held in Department of English Faculty of Cultural Studies University of Sumatra Utara on Saturday 23 May, 2015
Dean of Faculty of Cultural Studies University of Sumatra Utara
Dr.H.Syahron Lubis, MA NIP.19511013 197603 1 001
Board of Examiners
Dr. H. Muhizar Muchtar, MS. ………..
Rahmadsyah Rangkuti, M.A., Ph.D. ………..
Dr. Martha Pardede, M.S. ………..
AUTHOR’S DECLARATION
I, MENTARI DECLARE THAT I AM THE SOLE AUTHOR OF THIS THESIS EXCEPT WHERE REFERENCE IS MADE IN THE TEXT OF THIS THESIS. THIS THESIS CONTAINS NO MATERIAL PUBLISHED ELSEWHERE OR EXTRACTED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FROM A THESIS BY WHICH I HAVE QUALIFIED FOR OR AWARDED ANOTHER DEGREE. NO OTHER PERSON’S WORK HAS BEEN USED WITHOUT DUE ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 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 : MENTARI
TITLE OF THESIS : AN ANALYSIS OF THE PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT OF SEXUAL ABUSE IN DANIELLE STEEL’S MALICE
QUALIFICATION : S-1/SARJANA SASTRA
DEPARTMENT : ENGLISH
I AM WILLING THAT MY THESIS SHOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR REPRODUCTION AT THE DISRECTION OF THE LIBRARIAN OF DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH, FACULTY OF CULTURAL STUDIES, UNIVERSITY OF SUMATRA UTARA ON THE UNDERSTANDING THAT USERS ARE MADE AWARE OF THEIR OBLIGATION UNDER THE LAW OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA.
Signed :
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Bissmillahirrahmanirrahim.
First of all, I would like to thank and praise to the Almighty God, Allah SWT
who gives strength, health, and patience for me as finishing this thesis, entitled An
Analysis of The Psychological Impact of Sexual Abuse In Danielle Steel’s Malice. Thanks for blessing me in order to get a S1 Degree in English from Faculty of Cultural Studies, University of Sumatera Utara.
I place on record, my sincere thank you to Dr. H. Syahron Lubis, M.A. Dean of
Faculty of Cultural Studies, University of Sumatera Utara for the continuos
encouragement. I wish to express my sicere thanks to Dr. H. Muhizar Muchtar,M.S,
as the Head of English Department, and Rahmadsyah Rangkuti, M.A., Ph.D, as the
Secretary of English Department for providing me with all the necessary facilities for
the research.
Though only my name appears on the cover of this dissertation, a great many
people have contributed to its production. I owe my gratitude to all those people who
have made this dissertation possible and because of whom my graduate experience
has been one that I will cherish forever. I would like to give thanks to all lectures in
English Department for giving me valuable knowledge, advices, times, and facilities
during my academic years. I would also like to express my special thanks to my
supervisor Dr. Martha Pardede, M.S. for her guidance during my research. Her
thesis content and Mahmud Arief Albar, SS. M.A as co-supervisor for his valuable
corrections and advices in finishing this thesis.
Many friends have helped me stay sane through these difficult years. Their
support and care helped me overcome setbacks and stay focused on my graduate
study. I greatly value their friendship and I deeply appreciate their belief in me. To
Fatih Amalia Nst (Meme), you’re my partner in crime, Kak! To Siti Nurhafizah
Landau (Oja), I will miss your attitude that sometimes unpredictable. Still fat and
sweet darlings! To Depika Shaela Damanik (Cila), I will greatly miss your confused
reaction in capturing conversations that we do. They always welcomed me and
encouraged me to take part in their activities and made me feel part of their big
family. They incessantly giving support, encouragement to me immediately resolve
this thesis. Thank you because you have spent a lot of time for me. I will forever
remember in my heart the stories and the moments you girls shared with me during
these years together! I would never forget all the chats and beautiful moments I
shared with some of my friends and classmates. They were fundamental in
supporting me during these stressful and difficult moments. Other close friends I
would like to mention here in Medan: Yuni, Annis, Uswatun, Nadia, Ninis, Ryan,
Saut, Eri, Pilja, and Eby. They always help me in exchanging any ideas and give the
enjoyable studying environment. They made my life at USU a truly memorable
experience and their friendships are invaluable to me. I wish to thank my best friend
in high school, Cut Maulida Niaty, for all the emotional support, camaraderie,
entertainment, and caring her provided.
Finally, my deepest gratitude goes to my family. My Bapak and Mamak for
My sister Novi Fenita and her husband Rusfika, my fabulous nephews: M.Ediz Mika
Rahil and M.Fatir Billah who have bought great joy to my life. My craziest brothers
Sannova, M.Wali Al-Khalidy, M.Noer Khalis, M.Tamlikha. I know many times you
didn’t quite understand my life or my choices, but you have always supported me.
And you have always been proud of me. I love you all and I hope I can live up to the
dreams you have for me. You made me live the most unique, magic and carefree
childhood that had made me who I am now!
I am ready to start the journey!
Medan, May 2015
ABSTRAK
Dalam membahas sebuah karya sastra, terdapat banyak unsur yang dapat dijadikan objek permasalahan, salah satunya adalah dampak psikologi. Malice merupakan sebuah karya sastra yang membahas tentang pelecehan seksual. Novel karya Danielle Steel ini menunjukkan bahwa kekerasan seksual terhadap anak merupakan hubungan antara seorang anak dengan orang yang lebih tua atau orang dewasa dimana anak tersebut dipergunakan sebagai objek pemuas kebutuhan seksual pelaku. Dampak dari perilaku kekerasan seksual terhadap anak-anak tersebut cenderung mengganggu perkembangan psikologis si anak. Tujuan dari penulisan skripsi ini untuk menganalisis kekerasan seksual terhadap anak dan bagaimana dampaknya serta bagaimana cara mengatasi dampak tersebut. Metode penulisan menggunakan deskripsi kualitatif. Persepsi korban terhadap tindak kekerasan yang dialaminya yakni semua korban menilai bahwa mereka kotor, bersalah, dan merasa malu dengan orang lain. Disamping itu, mereka juga masih mempunyai tujuan hidup yang ingin dicapainya. Dengan dukungan dari teman-teman dan lingkungannya, korban akan mampu untuk mencapai apa yang diharapkannya.
ABSTRACT
In discussing a literary work, there are many elements that can be made as the object of problems, one of them is psychological impact. Malice is a literary work that discusses about sexual abuse. A novel by Danielle Steel show that sexual abuse on children is relationship between a child and older man like brother or parents which the children is applied as an object of sexual need. The impacts of sexual abuse on children intend to interfere with the child's psychological development. The purpose of this thesis to analyze the sexual abuse on children, how its impact and how to overcome these impacts. Method of writing using a qualitative descriptive. The perception of victim’s to sexual abuse that they got is all of the victims assumed that they had been full of dirt, guilt and shame. Besides that, they still had dreams of their life. With the support of friends and the environment, the victim will be able to achieve what she expected.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
AUTHOR’S DECLARATION ... v
COPYRIGHT DECLARATION ... vi
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ... vii
ABSTRAK ... x
ABSTRACT ... xi
TABLE OF CONTENTS ... xii
CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION ... 1
1.1 Background of the Study... 1
1.2 Problems of the Study ... 5
1.3 Objective of the Study... 5
1.4 Scope of the Study ... 6
1.5 Significance of the Study ... 6
CHAPTER II REVIEW OF LITERATURE ... 7
2.1 Literary Psychology ... 7
2.2 Character ... 9
2.3 Child Abuse... 13
2.3.1 Verbal Abuse... 14
2.3.2 Physical Abuse ... 14
2.3.3 Emotional Abuse ... 16
2.4 The Psychological Impact of Sexual Abuse on Children 20
2.5 How The Victim Overcome The Psychological Impact of
Sexual Abuse ... 21
CHAPTER III RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ... 23
3.1 Research Method... 23
3.2 Technique of Collecting Data ... 23
3.3 Data Analysis ... 24
CHAPTER IV ANALYSIS AND FINDING ... 27
4.1 Sexual Abuse on Children ... 27
4.2 Psychological Impact of Sexual Abuse ... 34
4.2.1 Anxiety ... 34
35 36 37 38 4.3 How The Leading Character Overcome the Psychological Impact of Sexual Abuse ... 40
CHAPTER V CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION ... 47
5.1 Conclusion ... 47
REFERENCES ... 49 APPENDICES
APPENDIX A Biography of DANIELLE STEEL APPENDIX B Literary Works
ABSTRAK
Dalam membahas sebuah karya sastra, terdapat banyak unsur yang dapat dijadikan objek permasalahan, salah satunya adalah dampak psikologi. Malice merupakan sebuah karya sastra yang membahas tentang pelecehan seksual. Novel karya Danielle Steel ini menunjukkan bahwa kekerasan seksual terhadap anak merupakan hubungan antara seorang anak dengan orang yang lebih tua atau orang dewasa dimana anak tersebut dipergunakan sebagai objek pemuas kebutuhan seksual pelaku. Dampak dari perilaku kekerasan seksual terhadap anak-anak tersebut cenderung mengganggu perkembangan psikologis si anak. Tujuan dari penulisan skripsi ini untuk menganalisis kekerasan seksual terhadap anak dan bagaimana dampaknya serta bagaimana cara mengatasi dampak tersebut. Metode penulisan menggunakan deskripsi kualitatif. Persepsi korban terhadap tindak kekerasan yang dialaminya yakni semua korban menilai bahwa mereka kotor, bersalah, dan merasa malu dengan orang lain. Disamping itu, mereka juga masih mempunyai tujuan hidup yang ingin dicapainya. Dengan dukungan dari teman-teman dan lingkungannya, korban akan mampu untuk mencapai apa yang diharapkannya.
ABSTRACT
In discussing a literary work, there are many elements that can be made as the object of problems, one of them is psychological impact. Malice is a literary work that discusses about sexual abuse. A novel by Danielle Steel show that sexual abuse on children is relationship between a child and older man like brother or parents which the children is applied as an object of sexual need. The impacts of sexual abuse on children intend to interfere with the child's psychological development. The purpose of this thesis to analyze the sexual abuse on children, how its impact and how to overcome these impacts. Method of writing using a qualitative descriptive. The perception of victim’s to sexual abuse that they got is all of the victims assumed that they had been full of dirt, guilt and shame. Besides that, they still had dreams of their life. With the support of friends and the environment, the victim will be able to achieve what she expected.
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
1.1Background of The Study
Nowadays, many crime that victimizes children. One of the most common
cases is sexual abuse. Child abuse occurs in a range of situations, for a range of
reasons. For example are, the disharmony in the household, the low income of the
family, or other supporting factors that can be trigger violence. Child sexual abuse
has been part of history for centuries but it has not always been an acceptable subject
of public conversation. For years, it was taboo in society to discuss any disturbing
intimate details of family life and public knowledge about sexual abuse was minimal.
Whittier in her book The Politics of Child Sexual Abuse: Emotion, Social
Movements, and the State (2009) said that most people, if they knew anything about
child sexual abuse, thought that it only happened among the poor and ethnic
minorities. Awareness and public discourse about child sexual abuse did not occur
until the late 20th century. People started to speak openly about child sexual abuse
and take concerted action against it. Child sexual abuse was first widely exposed in
the public eye in the early 1970s when feminists led an anti-rape movement and used
child sexual abuse as one example of a repressive patriarchal society.
Child abuse as the sole form of emotional/psychological maltreatment is often
the most difficult to identify and prevent. Child sexual abuse is a rather deviant
behavior of adult to their children or child, this tendency is commonly related to
‘doing’ forces upon the child or children as victim of anger or disappointment of
and authority upon the powerless children or child. They think they own their kids
and they may do the way as they like.
In terms of statistics, according to NSPCC official statistics, published
annually, show the amount of child sexual abuse recorded by authorities in the year.
The problem is much bigger than shown in official statistics, as most crimes are not
disclosed and/or reported. Most sexual abuse isn’t reported, detected or was
prosecuted. Usually the victims don’t tell anyone that they’re being sexually abused.
It’s a crime that is usually only witnessed by the abuser and the victim. 1 of 20
children in the UK, have been sexually abused. Sexual abuse includes any unwanted
sexual activity, as well as criminal sexual activity with an adult, where physical
contact took place. It does not include non-contact sexual abuse (such as flashing or
saying sexual things) or "consensual" sexual activity between adolescents. 4.8% of
17 year olds reported contact sexual abuse at some point in childhood. 34% of
11-17 year olds sexually abused by an adult said nobody else knew about it. Over 90%
of sexually abused children was abused by someone they knew.
In Indonesia, one example of the case occurred at the Jakarta International
School. In The Sydney Morning Herald World news article published that there is a
parent who reports to police for children sexual abuse case at the Jakarta
International School. Dewi, who is mother of AL, a victim of children sexual abuse
is reported JIS to the police because of the attitude to JIS which seems wash hands as
the sexual abuse occurred to JIS. AL has contracted herpes and a bacterial infection
allegedly as a result of two anal rapes by members of the schools outsourcing
cleaning staff in February and March in 2014. They are alleged to have attacked the
child sex assault is rarely aired in Indonesia, but coverage since the attack has
prompted suggestions that it's a growing problem.
The symptoms of the psychological impact of sexual abuse including guilt,
anxiety, depression, interpersonal isolation, somatization, shame, low self-esteem,
self-destructive behavior, post-traumatic stress reactions, poor body imagery, sleep
disturbance, suicide, nightmares, anorexia or bulimia, criminality in adulthood,
relational and/or sexual dysfunction, compulsive behavior like alcoholism, drug
addiction, gambling, over eating, over spending, and sexual obsession or compulsion.
Since children sexual abuse are a kind of mental/emotional abuse, and because that
can induce post-traumatic stress reaction, or even post-traumatic stress disorder.
Adults with abuse histories also present with physical problems more frequently than
those who have not experienced abuse. (Retrieved from
Children who have been sexually, psychologically, or
experience emotional problems that can affect their academic performance and social
skills. As adults, victims of abuse may experience difficulty maintaining healthy
relationships and productivity at work. According to Freud (Walgito in Pengantar
Psikologi Umum, 2004: 78) instinct distinguished from two categories, namely the
instinct for life and instinct to die. Instinct for life cover hunger, thirst, and sex. This
is a strength instinct creative and manifests called libido. Instead, the instinct to die is
strength destructive, which can be addressed to himself, such as self-harm, suicide,
or directed to the outside as forms of aggression. Regarding anxiety, Freud (Walgito,
2004: 78) argues that there are three kinds of anxiety, namely objective anxiety,
fear neuretik punishment for the expression of desire impulsive. Moral anxiety arises
when a person violated moral norms that exist.
Psychology is a scientific discipline that fully struggling with the problems of
man and humanity. Psychology is also the science that tries to explain, predict, and
control the behavior of human mental. The particular combination of emotional,
attitudinal, and behavioral response patterns of an individual is called personality.
In Malice, sexual abuse on children is being the main topic. Furthermore, the
sexual abuse on children is interested to discuss in this thesis. Malice is the novel that
portrayed the psychological impacts of sexual abuse on children through in leading
character, Grace Adams. She is a woman who got sexual abuse from her closest
family. The events which are befallen Grace Adams shown that each problem usually
affected trauma to a person's personality. Grace Adams is the victim of several
different kinds of abuse. She is a woman with a past full of deep, dark, hurtful
secrets. She is described in the novel as "a stunning beauty", daughter of an
influential lawyer. She has spent the last years nursing dying mother through her
finals battle with cancer. On the night of her mother's funeral, she is brutally raped by
her father and, after years of such repeated abuse, she snaps and kills him. At the age
of 17 years old, she faced up her prison sentence because she murdered her father.
After her release two years later, she rebuilds her life.
Novel and other literary works are not just discussing about social life and
romance. It is not for entertainment only. Now, novels discuss more serious conflict,
such as psychology. Through the novel, the reader can learn and understand the cases
of psychology in the easiest way. Nurgiyanto in his book Teori Pengkajian Fiksi
(2000:14) says that novel is basically a form of storytelling about life fragmentary
structure. Novels tell the extraordinary events of the lives of the characters. Good
story will describe specific details considered necessary in order not to bore and
reduce the tension levels.
1.2Problems of The Study
In accordance with the title of this proposal some questions are arranged
which act as the center of problems. Problems that the writer would like to analyze
are:
1. How are sexual abuse on children and its impact portrayed in Danielle
Steel’s Malice?
2. How does the leading character overcome the psychological impact of sexual
abuse?
1.3Objectives of The Study
Based on the formulation of a problem that has been established above, this
proposal aims:
1. To describe sexual abuse on children and the impact portrayed in Danielle
Steel’s Malice.
2. To describe how the leading character overcome the psychological impact of
1.4Scope of The Study
In this thesis I restricted my analysis in sexual abuse on children described in
the novel “MALICE”. The problem will be limited to describing how the leading
character, Grace Adams was sexually abused by her father, its impacts which could
have a negative impact on psychological such as , and how she overcomes of that
action on her psychology.
1.5 Significance of The Study
The significance of this study is to give more understanding about the
relationship between literature and psychology. Malice adapts the psychological
impact to the victim of sexual abuse as the theme of its novel and this study is
expected to enrich readers knowledge about psychological problems found in a
novel.
This thesis offers an understanding the knowledge of what literature is and
the intention of the works content. The research would be useful for other people
CHAPTER II
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
2.1 Literary Psychology
There is a close relationship between psychology and literature. Terry
Eagleton in Literary Theory An Introduction (2008: 4) says, “literature is a ‘special’
kind of language, in contrast to the ‘ordinary’ language we commonly use. But to
spot a deviation implies being able to identify the norm from which it swerves.”
Thus, literature is a language that uses special way to delivering something, and it
has meaning, and the meaning of its own. John Peck and Martin Coyle in Literary
Terms and Criticism (1984: 1, 102) said that literature has genre. Genre means a type
or class of literature. Today, it is known as poetry, drama and the novel, different
from earlier times the major genre recognized as epic, tragedy, lyric, comedy and
satire. Novels are all about human condition or people in society. Writers have
always been interested in term of human life, the development of the novel reflects a
view of life towards a new interest in the complexities of everyday experience. Most
novels are concerned with ordinary people and the problems in societies in which
they find themselves.
Psychology deals with the study of observable patterns of human’s behavior.
Literature exhibits how human beings behave in dealing with their problems and
environment. It is obvious enough that psychology, the study of psychic processes,
can be brought to bear upon the study of literature, for the human psyche is the
womb of all the sciences and arts.
Psychology entered literary works because the writer uses his emotions in
soul in which the author described the psychological atmosphere, good atmosphere
of thought and emotion. Roekan (in Aminudin 1990: 91) said that literary
psychology considers that the literary work is the result of the creativity of authors
that use language media and perpetuated for the sake of aesthatics.
Budi Utama (2004: 138) gives three reason for the literary psychology
included in the study of literature is as follows: (1) determine the behavior and
motivation of the characters of literature. Directly or indirectly, the behavior and
motivation of the characters also appear in everyday life. Thus in our daily lives we
may also meet with people that behavior and motivations are similar to the behavior
and motivation of the characters in literature, (2) determine the behavior and
motivation of the author, and (3) know the psychological reaction to the reader.
Literature is a place for expressing our thoughts, and shed in a letter.
Literature also has an attractive language style, so the reader does not feel bored to
keep reading. Human usually become the object of a literary work, because of many
things that can be discussed in human life, one of which is a person’s psychology.
John Peck and Martin Coyle (1984: 110) said that a novel usually begins with
a description of a place or a character. A characters introduced at the beginning of a
novel will usually come into collision with society. Along the story, the characters
will be faced with conflict, confrontation, and problematic situation, which usually
come from their own family or society.
Character has emotion, feeling, and behavior which support the idea of the
story. Novel presents the psychology and psychology itself presents as a knowledge
that discusses about human mind in human personality as a character because
character is build by using psychological principles. Characters in novels is judged
of this same quality. Characters would be “matter” or “content” like any other type of
information to be found in literature, e.g., facts from navigation, astronomy, or
history.
So, literary psychology is a study that reviewing behavior, attitude, mental,
and mind of human through literature. It can be psychology of the writer, reader, or
the character on a literary work.
2.2 Character
A character in a novel is a representative of human being in real life. The
more we love a character or the more we hate them it shows that the characters are
drawn from life. In every story, there is always good and bad character. Each one of
them has specific role and certain aim. Even there is bad character, s/he is not born
evil, and the conditions change them. Indeed, in certain condition, bad character can
be a savior. When we can feel the character’s feeling; look in the same perception of
their vision; and think the way they think, while reading the novel, so the author’s
purpose is achieved.
It is very important to make character in literary works could represent the
real character in real life. The nature of character presentation brings a positive
impact for readers to find out what is going on and what is it for. Since, the character
mirrors quality of person. It can be traced to generalize opinion for man in general.
Literature: An Introduction to Fiction by Kennedy (1983: 47) said that character is
an imagined person who exists in the story. Characters in novels are not just like real
life people. Characters in novels have been especially created by authors. When
some of those aspects. The result is not ordinary people but fictional characters that
only exist in the words of novel.
There are some definitions of character according to the writer. Barnet (1983:
71) says, “Character, of course, has two meanings: (1) a figure in literary work, such
as; Hamlet and (2) personality, that is, the mental and moral qualities of a figure, as
when we say what X’s character is strong, or weak, or immoral, etc”. Edgar V.
Roberts (1995:45) says, “A character, then, is presumably an imagined person who
inhabits a story.” Whether Kennedy (1983:131) says, “In novel, a character may be
defined as a verbal representation of a human being.”
Basically, character has its traits. Traits can be the quality of mind or habitual
mode of behavior, such as never repaying borrowed money, or avoiding eye contact,
or always thinking oneself the center of intention. Sometimes, of course, the traits we
encounter are minor and therefore negligible. But often a trait may be a person’s
primary characteristic.
Just like real human beings, characters are deal with a certain hand in life.
Some hands are good ones, others aren’t. How characters play out their hands
determines their fate. It is the experience of that fate, as strongly as we can feel it,
that we follow as we read. Every main character is challenged in some way. One way
of looking at this challenge is to see it as a situation in which a character’s abilities
and experience are in sufficient to solve the problem at hand. It is by engaging in
these challenges, overcoming some, succumbing to others that characters develop.
They are changed as a result of what happened to them as they try to solve their
problems and reach their goals.
Roberts and Jacobs (1993: 136) in his book entitled Literature: An
fiction, character may be defined as a verbal presentation of human being. Trough
action, speech, description, and commentary, authors portray characters that are
worth caring about rooting for, analyzed even loving, although these are also
characters to be laughed, dislike or even hated.
Robert Diyanni in Literature (2nd edition) (1990:36) explores how the literary
writers presents and reveals the character. He generalizes and lists methods of
revealing character in fiction. Firstly, it is narrative summary without judgment.
Secondly, all it is narrative description with implied or explicit judgment. Thirdly, it
is about surface details of dress physical appearance. Fourthly, it is about characters
actions of what they do and the characters speech of what the say and how they say
it; and finally, it is about the characters consciousness of what they think and feel.
From the statement above we can simplify that character in fiction is
description and representation of a person qualities. The creation or delegation of
character or characters in touch with the actions, gesture, or speech existing in the
work by so doing, character is a fictitious living person that has personal qualities of
a real person has.
A character in a work of fiction may realize in a character in a work of in a
number of ways. Character, after all, has been constructed to make out reported
actions, the words they are give to say and the commentary made of on them by their
creator. Something must depend on how they are presented.
It has often been assumed that characters in a literary work can be judged
from four levels characterization by D.D.Runes in
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11916699-despotism---a-pictoral-history-of-tyranny (1963). These four levels of characterization are helpful for us to see the very
1. Physical: physical level of character supplies such basic facts, as sex, age,
and size. It is the simplest level of characterization because it reveals external
traits only.
2. Social: 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: psychological level of character 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.
4. Moral: moral level of character decisions more clearly differentiate
characters than any other level of characterization. The choices by a character
when he is faced with a moral crisis show whether he is selfish, a hypocrite,
greedy, miserly, or he is the one who always acts accordingto 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.
John Peck and Martin Coyle in Literary Terms and Criticism (1984: 109)
explained that the realistic novelist offers a subtle analysis of his character, but the
fiction novelist takes a simpler view that man’s lusts and desires disrupt life, it might
be a less subtle view, but it is disturbing one, as it emphasizes the irrational impulses
Characters can be divided into three subdivisions such as main character,
minor character, and also leading character. Main character is the character whose
appearance is the most frequently appear in the story and dominant of the story.
Minor character can be defined as the supporting character of the main character and
the appearance of minor character is usually infrequently while leading character is
the centered individual who is very dominant. Leading character is focused
personally and it is different with main character which can involve more than one
character.
We often feel sympathy for a character when reading a literary work; 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.
Grace Adams is a leading character because she is the center of the whole
story. Her appearances construct every event of the novel ‘Malice’. She has round
character. It is reflected by her action, behavior, and also thought.
2.3 Child Abuse
Abuse—physical, verbal, or emotional maltreatment—can leave psychological wounds that are harder to heal than bodily injuries. Intense, often
negative feelings may plague the victim, and he or she may struggle to cope and lead
a happy, peaceful life. Distressing memories, anxiety, blocks to intimacy, and trust
challenges like these. It is never a child’s fault when it comes to the issue of child
abuse. Many people may confuse abuse with discipline but there is a very fine line
between the two. Mentally unstable parents, more likely than not, abuse their
children. Child abuse manifests in various forms, including physical abuse, sexual
abuse neglect, and emotional abuse or psychological abuse (Widom, 1989: 160-166).
There are the four primary types of child abuse and it can be seen below:
2.2.1 Verbal Abuse
Verbal abuse is the only
any type of communication ability or understanding. Verbal abuse is the most
common way to attempt to control the behavior, thoughts, and feelings of another
human being. Controlling behaviors are designed to manipulate people into doing
what the abuser wants them to do under the guise of love or respect or abject fear.
On children, verbal abuse happened when a child asks for attention and
comments from his parents or nurse maid, however they ignore the child and
answered him or her with immoral statements and quieted the child from crying.
Verbal abuse is begun through shocking words that shouted at the children ear.
That’s why, a child started speaking or giving some comments about everything still
his mother was piqued, less control and began to spell abusive language. For
examples of verbal abuse are spelling curses and obscenities, saying with the vile
language or the doer command children authoritatively.
2.3.2 Physical Abuse
The definition of physical abuse is any physical force or action that results in
striking the child a single time or it may involve a pattern of occurrences. Physical
abuse is usually connected to physical punishment or is confused with child
discipline. Such acts of aggression include striking a child with the hand, fist, or foot
or with an object; burning the child with a hot object; shaking, pushing, or throwing a
child; pinching or biting the child; pulling a child by the hair; cutting off a child’s air.
The parent or caretaker may not have intended to hurt the child, the injury is not an
accident. It may, however, been the result of over discipline or physical punishment
that is inappropriate to the child’s age.
According to Aronson in Health and Safety in Child Care (1991: 84) said that
physical abuse is application of force that produces pain or injury. Spanking, beating,
holding hard enough to bruise, cutting, scraping, burning, and typing up a child are
forms of physical abuse. Age of the child when physical abuse began: The younger
the child was at the onset of physical abuse, the greater the imprint, and thus, the
greater the impact. This is particularly evident when the abuse continues throughout
the child's life.
Child's relationship to the abuser: When a child has a very close relationship
with his/her abuser, the feelings of betrayal are that much greater; the very person
who is supposed to protect is instead hurting that child.
Signs of physical child abuse include visible marks of maltreatment, such as
cuts, bruises, welts, or well-defined burns, and reluctance to go home. If you ask a
child about how he or she got hurt and the child talks vaguely or evasively about
falling off a fence or spilling a hot dish, think hard before you accept the child’s story
2.2.3 Emotional Abuse
Emotional abuse or psychological abuse refers to the humiliation or
intimidation of another person, but is also used to refer to the long-term effects of
emotional shock. Emotional abuse is the cornerstone of all the abuses because
emotional abuse is always present during physical child abuse, child neglect, and
sexual child abuse, and it is the only abuse that can stand on its own. It does not have
to accompany any of the other abuses.
Many people including parents, members of the law enforcement community
and journalists, think that infants and young children who witness violence are too
young to know what happened. They don't take it in. "They won't remember." In fact,
infants and young children can be overwhelmed by their exposure to violence,
especially--as it is likely to be the case with very young children--when both victims
and perpetrators are well known and emotionally important to the child and the
violence occurs in or near the child's own home (Osofsky, 1996).
Aronson in Health and Safety in Child Care (1991: 185) states that:
Emotional abuse occurs when adults treat children in developmentally
inappropriate ways, damaging their spirit and self-esteem through
belittling, verbal abuse, excessive demands.
There are six types of emotional abuse. It can be seen below:
1. Rejecting
Putting down a child or youth's worth or putting down their needs such as
constant criticism, name calling, telling child he/she is ugly, yelling or
swearing at the child, expressing regret the child wasn't born the opposite
2. Isolating
Keeping a child away from family and friends such as leaving child in room
unattended for long periods, not allowing child to have friends, rewarding
child for withdrawing from social contact, isolating child in closet, punishing
youth for engaging in normal social experiences, etc.
3. Ignoring
Failing to give any response to or interact with a child or youth at all such as
no response to infant's spontaneous social behaviors, not accepting the child
as an offspring, denying required health care, denying required dental care,
failure to engage child in day to day activities, etc.
4. Corrupting
Encouraging a child or youth to do things that are illegal or harmful to
themselves such as rewarding child for bullying and harassing behavior,
teaching racism and ethnic biases, encouraging violence in sporting activities,
inappropriate reinforcement of sexual activity, rewarding child for lying and
stealing, etc.
5. Exploiting
Giving a child or youth responsibilities that are far greater than a child/youth
that age can handle. It is also using a child for profit such as infants expected
not to cry, anger when infant fails to meet a developmental stage, child
expected to be 'caregiver' to the parent, young child expected to take care of
younger siblings, blaming child or youth for misbehavior of siblings.
6. Terrorizing
Causing a child or youth to be terrified by the constant use of threats and/or
youth observes violence, hears violence, or knows that violence is taking
place in the home such as with infants and children, excessive teasing, yelling
and scaring, unpredictable and extreme responses to child's behavior, extreme
verbal threats, raging, alternating with periods of artificial warmth,
threatening abandonment, etc.
Emotional child abuse is defined as the constant attack of a child or youth by
an adult that negatively affects the child or youth's 6+. It is important to note here the
word 'constant'. With emotional abuse, the child/youth receives only negative. Refers
to the humiliation or intimidation of another person, but is also used to refer to the
long-term effects of emotional shock. Emotional child abuse involves behavior that
interferes with a child’s mental health or social development: one website calls it the
systematic tearing down of another human being.
2.3.4 Sexual Abuse
The sexual abuse is an umbrella term describing criminal and civil offenses in
which an adult engages in sexual activity with a minor or exploits a minor for the
purpose of sexual gratification such as touching of private parts or incest. According
to Aronson in Health and Safety in Child Care (1991: 185) in the national study, the
most common form of sexual abuse was fondling of a child’s genital, including a
high incidence of penetration with a finger, object, or genital organ.
Sexual abuse, which accounts for about 10 percent of child abuse
(http://www.redbubble.com/people/pagly2/journal/969659-abuse-part-2), is any
sexual act between an adult and a child. Such acts include as follows:
• Behavior involving penetration and for examples: Vaginal or anal
• Fondling and for examples: Touching or kissing a child's genitals, making a
child fondle an adult's genitals
• Violations of privacy and for examples: Forcing a child to undress, spying
on a child in the bathroom or bedroom
• Exposing children to adult sexuality and for examples: Performing sexual
acts in front of a child, exposing genitals, telling "dirty" stories, showing
pornography to a child
• Exploitation and for examples: Selling a child’s services as a prostitute or a
performer in pornography
The adult who sexually abuses a child or adolescent is usually someone the
child knows and is supposed to trust: a relative, childcare provider, family friend,
neighbor, teacher, coach, or clergy member. More than 80 percent of sex offenders
are people the child or adolescent victims know
(http://www.redbubble.com/people/pagly2/journal/969659-abuse-part-2). It’s
important to understand that no matter what the adult says in defense of his or her
actions, the child does not invite the sexual activity and the adult’s behavior is
wrong. Sexual abuse is never the child's fault.
Children are psychologically unable to handle sexual stimulation. Even
toddlers, who haven’t formulated the idea that the sexual abuse is wrong, will
develop problems resulting from the overstimulation. Older children who know and
care for their abusers know that the sexual behavior is wrong, but they may feel
trapped by feelings of loyalty and affection. Abusers warn their victims not to tell,
threatening children with violence or ostracism, and the shame associated with the
sexual activity makes the child especially reluctant to tell. When sexual abuse occurs
and will be angry with them if they tell — as is often the case. The layer of shame
that accompanies sexual abuse makes the behavior doubly traumatizing.
2.4 The Psychological Impact of Sexual Abuse on Children
While abuse in any form can have a negative impact on an individual’s life,
significant emotional or psychological problems do not necessarily result from every
case of abuse. The severity of psychological repercussions can vary depending on
many factors, such as how well the victim was associated with the abuser and
whether the abuse was recognized or dismissed by the friends and family of the
abused.
Browne & Finkelhor (1986: 74) said that psychological impacts such as
depression, anxiety, fear, distress, guilt and shame have been associated with women
who have been sexually abused. Some behaviors that have been identified by
researchers as possibly stemming from abuse are aggression, over sexualized
behavior, eating disorders, substance abuse, self injurious behaviors, somatic
complaints, dissociation, sexual perpetration, academic difficulties, interpersonal
difficulties, and suicidal.
In Child Sexual Abuse (Family Life) by Jean La Fontain (1990) explain that
although people have classified intercourse as a “more serious” sexual abuse and
other acts (touching genitals or showing pornography) as “mild” abuse, any act of
sexual abuse is traumatizing to a child and should be evaluated as a serious crime.
Each different type of abuse causes its own distress because there are boundaries that
are invaded and distortions created. Some clinicians suggest that sexual abuse that
Children who experience any form of sexual abuse may experience the full
spectrum of different forms of sexual activities, which can increase the negative
impact of the abuse. In relationships that take place with a family member, it is
common for sexual abuse to start at “mild” acts and progress to other, more “serious”
sexual acts.
When a child is accessible to the abuser, there is more opportunity for the
child to suffer from traumatic events. Also, some researchers have found that
experiences with close relatives are more traumatizing than experiences outside the
family (Finkelhor & Browne in Impact of child sexual abuse: A review of the
research (1986)). Specifically, Jones and Morris (2007) claim child sexual abuse
involving fathers or step-fathers, which is the most common experience, is the most
traumatic.
2.5 How The Victim Overcome The Psychological Impact of Sexual Abuse Victims of sexual abuse on children are three times more likely to suffer from
depression, as well as a host of other mental conditions. Though the fear of reliving
the feelings of shame, guilt, self-blame and feeling unclean, contaminated or dirty
may inhibit victims of sexual abuse from undergoing cervical cancer screenings, it is
imperative they do. Women who have been sexually abused are more likely to
develop cervical lesions in addition to participating in risky behavior such as drug or
alcohol abuse
Therapy can help in a number of ways, including increasing insight into the
nature of feelings that are arising
However,
survivors support association, was able to compose a list of steps successfully taken
by sexually abused victims to improve their experience.
a. The survivor having time and space to talk about their fears and anxieties of
having the test.
b. A friend or supporter being present during the test.
c. The smear taker having an understanding and insight into the issues of
childhood abuse and the legacy of issues that adult survivors can face.
d. A discussion of words/responses which would trigger anxiety or flashbacks
for a survivor and finding alternative 'safe' words to replace these. For
example, many smear takers would tell the woman to try to relax during the
test. The word 'relax' is often used by abusers and can be very frightening for
survivors; an alternative is to agree a word in advance to use in discussions
with the patient.
e. A private and comfortable environment for undressing and for the smear test
to be taken.
f. A clear signal agreed beforehand for the woman to be able to halt the test if
CHAPTER III
METHODOLOGY
3.1 Research Method
There are three kinds of research methods, library research, field research, and
laboratory research. By analyzing Malice I use library research by using some books
which are related to the topic of this thesis. Library research is research you do from
books. Library research plays an important role in giving the information or
reference which is needed.
3.2 Technique of Collecting Data
In collecting the data, I need some instrument for this thesis. The technique
used by gathering all the data from the library or from internet and other supporting
material relevant to the topic of the thesis as much as possible. There are two kinds
of data; primary data and secondary data. Primary data is a data which directly took
by the researcher. Then the secondary data is taken by some written sources.
Danielle Steel’s Malice used as the main source of data. I use some steps in
doing this analysis. First, I read whole novel to get deep understanding about the
novel. Second, I select the important information about the sexual abuse on children
indication in the novel. Third, I quote the text and make the quotation as the data to
support the analysis. Fourth, I would make interpretation based on the data that found
3.3 Data Analysis
Theory of Literature by Wellek (1955) explain that there are two methods in
analyzing a literary work: intrinsic and extrinsic. Intrinsic method approaches the
literary works from internal factor, the text. Such as rhythm, rhyme, scheme, form,
mood, etc. In the other hand, extrinsic method approaches the literary works from
external factors such as biography, autobiography, psychology, philosophy, history,
society, religion, etc. Therefore, it is clear enough that the writer used the extrinsic
method in analyzing this thesis.
In analyzing Danielle Steel's Malice, the writer followed the procedure, there
are; data collecting, data selecting, and data analyzing. First steps, the writer collects
and underline the important things from the novel and do the same thing with the
related books and references. Second steps are to select all the information that has
been collected and only the significant data are used in the process of doing this
proposal thesis. The last step, all the selected data is being analyzed to achieve what
has been planned in the objective of this thesis and finally a conclusion can be drawn
from this thesis.
Reliability and Validity in Qualitative Research (Qualitative Research
Methods) by Kirk and Miller (1986), there are two kinds of method of analyzing;
they are quantitative and qualitative method. Quantitative method includes every
kind research that based on calculation, number or quantity. In other hand, qualitative
method includes every kind research that not based on calculation. In analyzing, the
writer used qualitative descriptive method. Whereas qualitative research method is
explain that qualitative method designates any research that is results are captured in
a words, images, or nonnumeric symbols; for instance, researches on dreams.
The qualitative analysis, in general, can be named as the method of
understanding the phenomena about what happened with the analysis subject, for
example, attitude, behavior, perception, motivation, habit, etc, holistically, and by the
descriptive method that applied as the words and language, in specific context
naturally, and using the scientific method. Through this method, I analyzing the
sentences which are related to the topic of this study about psychological impacts of
sexual abuse found in leading character of Malice.
The whole process, from collecting data until analyzing data, will be clearly
Primary Data:
Novel Malice by Danielle Steel
Secondary Data:
Books and articles which concerned with Psychology and Literature, sexual abuse on
children, its impact and how the victims overcome
Reading the
novel Searching and reading the books and the articles
Classifying the data based on Psychology and Literature, sexual abuse on children, its impact and how the victims overcome from the psychological impact
Interpreting the data based on theme:
Sexual abuse on children, by taking the quotations
f th t t d t d l
Analyzing the data
Concluding and summarizing the data
CHAPTER IV
ANALYSIS AND FINDING
All types of abuse are painful and can cause psychological distress, and it is
not uncommon for a victim of abuse to experience more than one type of abuse. For
example, someone who was
familial, professional, or social, and it can also occur between strangers. Previously
the writer had already mentioned the types of child abuse. But in this chapter, the
writer will only discuss about sexual abuse on children, how it’s impacts and how the
leading character overcome from the psychological impact of sexual abuse.
4.1 Sexual Abuse on Children
Child abuse is a major problem in the society because the physical and mental
harm endured by children are extremely destructive. Child Abuse is action involving
physical or emotional injury to a child as well as neglect of the child’s basic needs.
According to Hary (1996: 234) “Child abuse is the physical or emotional abuse of a
child by a parent, guardian or other person.”
Sexual abuse is an unwanted sexual activity, with perpetrators using force,
making threats or taking advantage of victims not able to give consent. Most victims
and perpetrators know each other. Richard in his book Childhood Antecedents of
Multiple Personality (1985: 24) said that most sexual abuse, however, occurs within
the family or the neighborhood. Both male and female infant and youngsters may be
sexually abused by both parents and other relatives of both sexes. Female children
brothers, male neighbors, or the paramours of their mothers, sisters, or other
caretakers. Immediate reactions to sexual abuse include shock, fear or disbelief.
Long-term symptoms include anxiety, fear or post-traumatic stress disorder. While
efforts to treat sex offenders remain unpromising, psychological interventions for
survivors — especially group therapy — appears effective.
Sexual abuse also referred to as molestation, is forcing undesired sexual
behavior by one person upon another. When that force is immediate, of short
duration, or infrequent, it called sexual abuse. When the victim is younger than the
age of consent, it is called as child sexual abuse. Sexual abuse on children is a form
of child abuse in which an adult or older adolescent uses a child for sexual
stimulation. Forms of child sexual abuse include asking or pressuring a child to
engage in sexual activities (regardless of the outcome), indecent exposure (of the
genitals, female nipples, etc.) to child with intent to gratify their own sexual desires
or to intimidate or groom the child, physical sexual contact with a child, or using a
child to produce child pornography.
It is never a child’s fault when it comes to the issue of child abuse. Many
people may confuse about with discipline but there is a very fine line between the
two. Mentally unstable parents, more likely than not, abuse their. Child abuse
manifest in various forms, including physical abuse, sexual abuse neglect, and
emotional abuse or psychological abuse (Widum: 1989). Grace is a thirteen-year-old
girl who has a harmonious family. At least it can be seen by the environment in
which she lives. The environment knows Grace parents and her parents have a very
good reputation in the community. No one knows exactly how the attitude of John,
Grace father while he was at home. As a teenager, Grace Adams was brutally raped
When Grace Adams was just 14 years old, her mother prepared her to be violently
sexually assaulted by her father. As evidence, the conversation below took place
between Grace and David Glass, her lawyer. That was the first time Grace told her
story to others.
"A long time." She looked drained as she glanced back at him. She looked so tired and frail, he almost wondered if she would survive it.
"Four years ... she made me do it the first time." (Steel, 1998: 96)
It is not true that sexual abuse happens because ‘a man cannot control his
sexual urges’, just like what Grace father, John said to his wife, Ellen. John
threatened to leave him if she did not want to do what John wanted. John sure Ellen
did not want that. And true, Ellen did what her husband wants, John did allow sexual
intercourse with their daughter. The abuser knew what they were doing and they
made a choice to abuse because they had a power. It could be seen on the sentence
below:
He made her do anything he wanted just so he wouldn't leave her. And as Grace grew up and grew more beautiful each day, it was easy to see what he wanted, what would be required of her, if she really wanted to keep him. And once Ellen got sick, and the radiation and chemotherapy changed her so dramatically, deep penetration was no longer possible. He told her bluntly then that if she expected to stay married to him something would have to be worked out to keep him happy. It was obvious that she couldn't keep him happy anymore, couldn't give him what he wanted. But Grace could. She was thirteen, and so very lovely.
(Steel, 1998: 26)
When the first time her mother asked Grace to have a sexual intercourse with
her father, she told grace about the problem they had and put the responsibility on
grace. At first, Grace did not understand what her mother meant, but she finally
She painted a terrifying picture, and put the leaden mantle of responsibility on Grace's shoulders. The girl sagged at the weight of it, and the horror of what was expected of her.
(Steel, 1998: 27)
The quotation below shows that Grace's father enjoyed intercourse with her.
He came to Grace’s room almost every night to do the things he wants and if Grace
refused, then her father would beat her.
He didn't come to her every night, but almost. Sometimes she thought she would die of shame, and sometimes he really hurt her. She never told anyone, and eventually her mother stopped coming into the room with him. Grace knew what was expected of her, and that she had no choice except to do it. And when she argued with him, he'd hit her hard, and eventually she knew there was no way out, no choice.
(Steel, 1998: 27-28)
The victim who received treatment of sexual abuse was usually willing to do
it for a reason that was considered very important. For example in Grace’s case, she
did it because she wanted to protect her mother. So her father did not beat her or left
them. And the only thing she could do was willing to be a love slave of her father. It
can be seen in the following quotation:
She did it for her, not for him. She submitted so he wouldn't beat her mother anymore, or leave them. But anytime Grace didn't cooperate with him, or do everything he asked, he went back to his own room and beat up her mother, no matter how sick she was, or how much pain she was in. It was a message that Grace always understood, and she would run shrieking into their room, and swear that she'd do anything he wanted. And over and over and over again, he made her prove it. For over four years now, he had done everything he could dream of with her, she was his very own love slave, his daughter.
(Steel, 1998: 28)
Love for her husband made Grace’s mother was willing to do anything to
make him happy. Including allowing her daughter to get laid by her own husband. It
was unreasonable that parents should protect children from sexual abuse not advise
But they didn't wait to hear her answer. That night, they came into her room, and her mother helped him. She held her down, and crooned to her, and told her what a good girl she was, and how much they loved her.
(Steel, 1998: 27)
And the only thing her mother had done to protect Grace from him was get birth control pills for her so she wouldn't get pregnant.
(Steel, 1998: 28)
During her 17, on the night of her mother's funeral, he began an especially
brutal rape and Grace could no longer stand it. Her father created a situation where
nobody would say anything about the abuse, until the situation changed. When her
mother died, he mistakenly thought that she would continue to be his victim. It can
be seen on the quote below:
"I can't!" she shouted at him, and this time he looked angry. He wasn't going to play these games with her anymore. Not now. And not tonight. There was no point, and no need. She knew what her mother had said to her. His eyes burned into hers as he looked down at her, and grabbed her harder.
(Steel, 1998: 23)
Grace refused her father's deeds suddenly and its made him looked more
eager to sleep with her. Grace used to begging never resist the wishes of her father.
When Grace mentioned the existence of her mother who had passed away, it made
her father looked more excited to sleep with her.
He advanced toward her with eyes that glittered at her, as she took a step backwards, and he grabbed both her arms, and then an instant later, with a single gesture, he tore the pink nylon nightgown in half, right off her shoulders.
"There ... that's better ... isn't it .... we don't need this anymore ... we don't need anything ... all I need is you, little Gracie ... all I need is my baby who loves me so much, and whom I love ..." With a single hand, he dropped his trousers and stepped out of them, along with his shorts, and he stood naked and erect before her.
That night, he brought Grace to his room. He had never dared take her in his
own room. But now it was as though he expected her to step right into her mother's
shoes, and fill them in ways that even her mother never could. It was as though he
expected her to be his bride now. Even the way he talked to her was different. It was
all out in the open. He expected her to be his woman. With all his power, he raped
his daughter. Just seen the quotation below:
And as he looked at her body shimmering enticingly at him, her frantic pleas and arguments only served to arouse him further. He looked hard and ominous as he stood holding her in his powerful grip, and with a single gesture he threw her onto his bed, precisely where his invalid wife had lain until only two days before, and for all the empty years of their marriage.
(Steel, 1998: 29)
With such treatment, Grace increasingly felt compelled to end the suffering. She
believed that she did not deserve to be treated as such by his father. Although her
mother ever told her that she should be kind to her father, but Grace felt it was
enough. Her mother was dead there was no reason for him to get laid by his father. .
It can be seen in the following quotation:
… he pinned her down with his powerful arms, and the weight of his body. Her legs were swiftly parted by his own, and the familiarity of him forced his way through her with more pain than she had ever known or imagined. For a moment, she almost thought he might kill her. It had never been this way before, he had never hurt her as much as he did now.
It was as though he were beating her with a fist from inside this time, and wanted to prove to her that he owned her and could do anything he wanted.
(Steel, 1998: 30)
… as he continued to pound at her, shouting and grunting. He had slapped her hard several times across the face, but now he was only interested in punishing her with his sexual force and not his hands.
Victims must dare to against perpetrators of sexual abuse. And Grace knew
that with her mother gone, she didn't has to do this and she had to stop. It’s been too
long she succumbed to the will of his father and now she didn’t want it anymore. It
can be seen on the quote below:
But even as he ravished her, she knew she couldn't do this again. He couldn't do it to her, she couldn't survive it, for him, or anyone. She knew that she was within an inch of falling off the edge of a dangerous ledge, and suddenly as she fought and clawed at him, she knew through the blur that she was fighting for her survival.
(Steel, 1998:30)
Grace struggled with him, she had already decided that she wasn't going to
submit again, and as she fought with him, she realized that she had been crazy to
think she could stay under the same roof with him, and not have the same nightmare
continue. She would has to run away, but first she had to resist, and survive what he
was doing to her. She knew she couldn't let him did it to her again.
Even if her mother had wanted her to be good to him, she had been good
enough. She couldn't do it anymore, never again. They fought, she was able to grab
his gun, and while attempting to defend herself she accidentally killed her father.
… and in panic she squeezed the trigger as he tried to take it. He looked stunned for just an instant as the gun went off with a sound that terrified her, his eyes bulged, and then he fell down on her with a crushing weight. She had shot him through the throat, and he was bleeding profusely, but he wasn't moving. (Steel, 1998: 32)
She looked around her in disbelief. It had come to this. But there had been no other way out. She couldn't take it anymore. She'd had to do it... she hadn't meant to ... hadn't planned it ... but now that she had, she wasn't even sorry. It was her life or his. She would have just as soon died, but it hadn't happened that way. It had just happened, without intent or plan. She had had no choice. She had killed him.
The 17 years old Grace was sentenced for two years in prison on the
charge of self-defense which causes death. She felt her life was free from
the problem by having killed her father, the man who had raped her for four
years. She only had finished dealing with someone who had raped her. But
she had to deal with the effects that have been caused by the sexual abused.
4.2 Psychological Impact of Sexual Abuse
People who had experienced the profound trauma of childhood sexual abuse
are at much greater risk of experiencing various developmental challenges, mental
and physical health problems, and familial or social problems-in-living. Given that
such abuse is most typically repeatedly perpetrated by a father on a daughter between
the ages of 5 and 15, it is difficult to imagine how such horrific childhood
experiences could result in anything but the direst consequences over the course of a
victim’s life. In fact, it is a resounding testament to their strength and resilience that
many such women survive and some even thrive (K.M. Gorey et al. / Child Abuse &
Neglect 25 (2001: 348). Victims of abuse, who are at heightened risk for developing
mental health issues like depression, are likely to encounter one or more of the
following psychological issues, among others:
4.2.1 Anxiety
People who have experienced abuse may be afraid of people or situations that
remind them of their abuse experiences. They may be scared to be alone, frightened
of strangers, or fearful of sexual intimacy, depending on the nature of the abuse they
indications of anxiety are somewhat common in victims of abuse. In the novel, it can
be seen on the following sentence:
She had locked the door. She always did. At school the other girls made fun of her for being so modest. She locked the doors everywhere. Then she could be sure of being alone, and not being bothered.
(Steel, 1998: 22)
The first time David Glass met Grace, he knows what Molly, a psychiatrist
who handles Grace, has seen in teenagers. Grace looked frightened and was clearly
illustrated in the face and behavior. It can be seen on the following sentence:
She looked like a nice girl, and she looked as though someone had beaten the life out of her. She was so remote, one almost wondered if one could touch her. She was more like an apparition than a real person. There was nothing ordinary about her. Nothing to suggest that she was a seventeen-year-old girl, a teenager, none of the life or ebullience one would have expected.
(Steel, 1998: 93)
Victims of abuse may feel intense anger at their abusers, at those who knew
of the abuse and failed to intervene, and even at themselves for being abused,
particularly when they believe they could or should have stopped it. Anger is a
natural and normal response to being abuse
