THE INFLUENCE OF JAMIE SULLIVAN ON LANDON
CARTER’S PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT SEEN IN
NICHOLAS SPARKS’S
A WALK TO REMEMBER
AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra in English Letters
By
PUPUT TRISANTI ARINI
Student Number: 064214107
ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME
DEPARTEMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS
FACULTY OF LETTERS
SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
YOGYAKARTA
2011
i
THE INFLUENCE OF JAMIE SULLIVAN ON LANDON
CARTER’S PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT SEEN IN
NICHOLAS SPARKS’S
A WALK TO REMEMBER
AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra in English Letters
By
PUPUT TRISANTI ARINI
Student Number: 064214107
ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME
DEPARTEMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS
FACULTY OF LETTERS
SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
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iv
Success doesn’t come to you… you go to it (Marva Collins)
Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did.
So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails.
Explore. Dream. Discover. (Mark Twain)
God gives you pain to make you learn how to be strong. Stay positive, never give up, and always be grateful!
(Ihatequotes)
Tiada sesuatu yang indah dari sebuah perjalanan kecuali sampai tujuan
Tiada sesuatu yang indah dari hasil berusaha kecuali kesuksesan
Tiada sesuatu yang indah dari hasil perjuangan kecuali kemenangan
(My father)
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This undergraduate thesis is dedicated
to:
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LEMBAR PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN
PUBLIKASI KARYA ILMIAH UNTUK KEPENTINGAN AKADEMIK
Yang bertanda tangan di bawah ini, saya mahasiswa Universitas Sanata Dharma: Nama : Puput Trisanti Arini
Nomor Mahasiswa : 064214107
Demi pengembangan ilmu pengetahuan, saya memberikan kepada Perpustakaan Universitas Sanata Dharma karya ilmiah saya yang berjudul:
THE INFLUENCE OF JAMIE SULLIVAN ON LANDON CARTER’S
PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT SEEN IN
NICHOLAS SPARKS’S
A WALK TO REMEMBER
Beserta perangkat yang diperlukan (bila ada). Dengan demikian, saya memberikan kepada Perpustakaan Universitas Sanata Dharma hak untuk menyimpan, mengalihkan dalam bentuk media lain, mengelolanya dalam bentuk pangkalan data, mendistribusikannya di internet atau media lain untuk kepentingan akademis tanpa perlu meminta ijin ataupun memberikan royalti kepada saya selama tetap mencantumkan nama saya sebagai penulis.
Demikian pernyataan ini saya buat dengan sebenarnya. Dibuat di Yogyakarta
Pada tanggal: 30 September 2011 Yang menyatakan
Puput Trisanti Arini
vii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
My first gratitude goes to Allah S.W.T, who has given me a wonderful life, thank you for Your guiding and protection so that I can finish this undergraduate thesis.
My deepest gratitude goes to my beloved parents, Edi Sutanto and Diah Utami who always support me with their love, patience and prayer.
I would like to thank my grandparents for their prayers and to my lovely sister ‘Mbak Uli’ and my big brother ‘Mas Aang’, thank you for your love, support, and advice which make me grow up. To my dear lovely niece Zhezhe
and Zephy, thank you for the happiness and cheerfulness that you bring into my life.
I would like to thank my advisor, Ni Luh Putu Rosiandani, S.S., M.Hum, for helping me in writing this undergraduate thesis. I really thank for her patience, guidance, time, suggestions and ideas in improving my undergraduate thesis. I would also like to thank my co-advisor Maria Ananta Tri Suryandari, S.S., M.Ed for her checking this undergraduate thesis and giving me some suggestions.
My appreciation also goes to all the lecturers of English Letters Department, thank you for the wonderful experience, upbringing, knowledge and guidance. I could never forget all the kindness of your heart.
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Nina, Mbak Sukma, Vero, Wahyu, Hasan, Kiky, Dimas, Bayu, Thank you for the unforgettable moment that we have spent together and especially for Inkan,
thank for your suggestions.
To my boarding house mates Rima, Agnes, Ce Ve, Ce Artha, Vanilla, Sandra who accompany me in passing my life in Jogja, thank for the wonderful friendship, and especially for ‘Mbak Sesil’, thank for being my teacher.
To Lia, Aank, Sesil, Rosy, Shinta, Bram, Yoza,Agnes Endah, thank for the wonderful friendship that all of you has given to me, for love and support, and for the unforgettable moment that we have spent together.
I am terribly sorry for not mentioning the names of my friends one by one, but it is my honor to know all of you.
Puput Trisanti Arini
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LEMBAR PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN PUBLIKASI ... vi
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ... vii
1. Theory of Characters and Characterization ... 8
2. Theory of Personality Development ... 11
C. Theoretical Framework ... 14
CHAPTER III: METHODOLOGY A. Object of the study ... 15
B. Approach of the study ... 16
C. Method of the study ... 17
CHAPTER IV A. The Description of Landon Carter as Major Character ... 19
1. The Description of Landon Carter before he becomes friends with Jamie Sullivan ... 20
a. Mischievous ... 21
b. Disobedient ... 23
c. Impious ... 25
d. Pessimistic ... 26
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B. The Description of Jamie Sullivan as Major Character ... 35
a. Simple ... 36
b. Religious ... 38
c. Helpful ... 39
d. Kind ... 41
e. Obedient ... 42
f. Optimistic ... 43
C. The Influence of Jamie Sullivan on Landon Carter’s Personality Development ... 45
1. Sense of Politeness ... 47
2. Sense of Maturity ... 50
3. Sense of Religiosity ... 53
4. Sense of Optimism ... 54
5. Sense of Generosity ... 56
CHAPTER V: CONCLUSION ... 59
BIBLIOGRAPHY ... 63
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ABSTRACT
PUPUT TRISANTI ARINI (2011). The Influence of Jamie Sullivan on Landon Carter’s Personality Development seen in Nicholas Sparks’s A Walk to Remember. Yogyakarta: Department of English Letters, Faculty of Letters, Sanata Dharma University.
This study discusses Nicholas Sparks' novel A Walk to Remember. This novel shows the power of love between two major characters that are Landon Carter and Jamie Sullivan. The writer chooses to analyze the personality development of Landon Carter, one of the major characters, since there is an interesting description of Landon Carter's personality which changes from time to time because of significant person in Landon Carter's life. The significant person that influences Landon Carter’s personality development is Jamie Sullivan.
There are three problems analyzed in this study: (1) How is Landon Carter personality development described in the novel? (2) How is Jamie Sullivan described in the novel? (3) How does Jamie Sullivan influence Landon Carter's personality development?
This study uses Abrams, Forster, Murphy, Pervin and John, and Hurlock's theories. This study applies the library research method and uses psychological approach. It is the most appropriate approach because this study examines personality development.
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ABSTRAK
PUPUT TRISANTI ARINI (2011). The Influence of Jamie Sullivan on Landon Carter’s Personality Development seen in Nicholas Sparks’s A Walk to Remember. Yogyakarta: Jurusan Sastra Inggris, Fakultas Sastra, Universitas Sanata Dharma.
Skripsi ini membahas sebuah novel berjudul A Walk to Remember, karya Nicholas Sparks. Novel ini menunjukkan kekuatan cinta antara dua karakter utama yaitu Landon Carter dan Jamie Sullivan. Penulis memilih untuk menganalisa perkembangan kepribadian Landon Carter, salah satu tokoh utama, karena terdapat penggambaran menarik dari kepribadian Landon Carter yang berubah dari waktu ke waktu karena orang penting dalam kehidupan Landon Carter. Orang penting yang mempengaruhi perkembangan kepribadian Landon Carter adalah Jamie Sullivan.
Ada tiga masalah yang dianalisa dalam skripsi ini: (1) Bagaimanakah perkembangan kebribadian Landon Carter digambarkan dalam novel ini? (2) Bagaimana Jamie Sullivan digambarkan dalam novel ini? (3) Bagaimana Jamie Sullivan mempengaruhi perkembangan kepribadian Landon Carter?
Penelitian ini menggunakan teori-teori dari Abrams, Forster, Murphy, Pervin dan John, dan Hurlock. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode studi kepustakaan dan menggunakan pendekatan psikologis. Pendekatan psikologis merupakan pendekatan yang paling tepat karena penelitian ini meneliti perkembangan kepribadian.
Berdasarkan analisis, ada tiga hal utama yang dapat ditarik dalam skripsi ini. Hal pertama adalah bagaimana perkembangan kepribadian Landon Carter digambarkan dalam novel. Sebelum Landon Carter berteman dengan Jamie Sullivan, dia digambarkan sebagai orang yang nakal, tidak patuh, tidak beriman, dan pesimis. Setelah Landon Carter berteman dengan Jamie Sullivan, dia digambarkan sebagai seorang yang sopan, dewasa, beriman, optimis dan dermawan. Hal kedua adalah bagaimana Jamie Sullivan digambarkan dalam novel. Dia digambarkan sebagai orang yang sederhana, beriman, penolong, baik, patuh, dan optimis. Hal ketiga adalah pengaruh dari Jamie Sullivan terhadap perkembangan kepribadian Landon Carter. Jamie Sullivan mempunyai pengaruh besar dalam perkembangan kepribadian Landon Carter. Karena pengaruh dari Jamie Sullivan, Landon Carter menjadi seorang yang memiliki rasa kesopanan, rasa kedewasaan, rasa religius, rasa optimisme, dan rasa kedermawanan. Dari perubahan-perubahan tersebut, dapat ditarik kesimpulan bahwa perkembangan kepribadian Landon Carter adalah pengaruh dari orang penting di sekitarnya yaitu Jamie Sullivan. Jamie Sullivan membuat kepribadian Landon Carter berubah menjadi lebih baik dan mengalami perkembangan secara kualitatif dan lambat.
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CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
A.
Background of the StudyThere are many ways to express feelings, ideas, thoughts and experiences. Writing literature such as a novel is one of the ways. By reading literature carefully, one can broaden, deepen and sharpen his awareness of life and its problem (Perrine, 1974:3). Novel is one of the literary works that is extended works of fiction. The author pours his or her ideas about life through the novel. The ideas may come from a particular event that happens in author’s life or merely reflection of human life. Wellek and Warren in their book entitled Theory of Literature states that the work of literature portrays life as reality. It can be seen
in the quotation below:
Literature looks like a real life portrait. It’s an illustration of human lives because the literary works present the reality of human situation, problems, feeling, and relationship (1956:96).
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According to Hurlock in her book Personality development, the personality changes can be classified into three major categories. First, some changes are for better and some are for the worse. Second, some are qualitative. The last is some occur slowly and some occur rapidly (1974: 120-122).
A lesson of being changing and changed can be seen in the novel by Nicholas Sparks entitled A Walk to Remember. The major character named Landon Carter undergoes such changing in his personality and his life when he is 17 years old. His changes happen after he becomes friend with a girl named Jamie Sullivan. According to Landon Carter, she is a strange girl and he does not want to become friend with her. But some moments which they often spend together change Landon Carter’s point of view about Jamie Sullivan. Even he finds that he falls in love with her. He used to be such a bad person in the beginning of the story but then he changes into someone else better. This personality development is interesting to be analyzed.
The writer finds that A Walk to Remember is worth to be analyzed. First, it is because of the author and second, it is because of the content. Nicholas Sparks is a New York Times best selling author. He has written some romantic novels such as The Notebook, Message in the Bottle, Night in Rodanthe, Dear John, A Bend in the Road, The Guardian, The Rescue, The Last Song, The lucky
One, and many more. Some of them are New York Times best seller and have
adapted to be a movie including A Walk to Remember. Since Pandora Association with Warner Bros Pictured presented it to be a movie, this novel becomes more well-known.
A Walk to Remember is an interesting novel. The story is beautiful that
touches the writer’s heart. This is a story of true love, first love and everlasting love. This novel shows the power of love between the two characters that are Jamie Sullivan and Landon Carter. They have different backgrounds of family and life so that there is a big distance between them. Besides, Jamie Sullivan suffers from leukemia. This novel is rich with the challenges of the main characters to prove their love. It shows the power of love between two people that can change a person’s life. Based on the reason above, the writer is interested to analyze this novel and focuses on major character, Landon Carter, who experiences the personality development.
B. Problem Formulation
Based on the background of study presented above, the problems of the study are formulated as follows:
1. How is Landon Carter personality development described in the novel? 2. How is Jamie Sullivan described in the novel?
3. How does Jamie Sullivan influence Landon Carter’s personality development?
C. Objectives of the Study
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research is to observe how Jamie Sullivan’s character described in the novel. The third objective is to analyze the process on how Jamie Sullivan influences Landon Carter’s personality development.
D. Definition of Terms
The terms in this study need to be clarified in order to avoid unnecessary confusion. The terms are:
a. Personality Development
Allport in Hurlock’s Personality Development states that personality is the dynamic organization within the individual of those psychophysical systems that determine his characteristic behavior and thought (1974:7).
According to Hurlock, personality is the characteristics and qualities of a person as a whole. In literary work, personality is all the characteristics and qualities that make the imaginary person alive to the readers (1974:108).
Pikunas in his book Human Development an Emergent Science states that: “Development is a broad term that refers to all the process of change by which an individual’s potentialities unfold and appear as new qualities, abilities, traits, and related characteristic. It includes the long term and relatively irreversible gains from growth, maturation, learning, and achievement (1976:23).
Pikunas’s statement above suggests that people undergo some changing in their life, this kind of changing called development. It cannot quickly happen but takes long time and process to increase the potentialities.
Then, it can be concluded that personality development is a process of change in individual’s characteristics behavior and thought.
b. Influence
Influence according to Sukhanov in Encarta Webster’s College Dictionary is the power that somebody has to affect other people’s thinking or actions by means of argument, example or force of personality (2005:738). In Longman Dictionary of English Language and Culture, influence is an effect on someone or
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CHAPTER II
THEORETICAL REVIEW
A. Review of Related Studies
There are several studies discussing Nicholas Sparks’s A Walk to Remember. Merry Christina, one of alumni of Sanata Dharma University,
analyzed this novel in her thesis entitled The Values of Love as Reflected in Nicholas Sparks’s A Walk to Remember. This thesis analyzes the values of love
from the novel. She concludes that the values of love may cover lots of element in life. Those are about honesty, forgiveness, truth, to give with all the heart, to share, and most of all, an everlasting love will never die. Those elements can be seen from the major character named Jamie Sullivan. With the power of love, we believe that we are able to do everything (Christina, 2007: viii).
The other study also comes from one of alumni of Sanata Dharma University. She is Yulia Frida P. She analyzed this novel in her thesis entitled The Influence of Jamie Sullivan’s Emotion towards her Motivation to Struggle for Life
as seen in Nicholas Sparks’s A Walk to Remember. In this study, Frida finds a
fact that Jamie Sullivan’s suffering from leukemia, makes she feels afraid of death, but she does not show her fear explicitly. Jamie Sullivan’s emotion becomes the conviction of Jamie Sullivan to struggle for life. There are some reasons which motivate her to struggle
for life. One of them is her strong faith and her love toward Landon Carter (Frida, 2006:viii).
There is also a study that discusses about personality development of major character in the novel. It comes from Ratnaningsih who was the student of Sanata Sharma University. She applies the theory of personality development in analyzing a major character that is Mariam in A Thousand Splendid Suns. Her thesis which entitled The Influence of Jalil, Raheed, and Laila on Mariam’s Personality Changes emphasizes on the personality changes of Mariam.
Ratnaningsih shows how Jalil makes Mariam who is an affectionate person becomes unfriendly person. Raheed makes Mariam who is unreflective becomes reflective. This personality change is influenced by the people around Mariam. It can be seen in the following quotation:
They are Jalil, Rasheed, and Laila. Jalil is Mariam’s father. Although Jalil loves Mariam,he is ashamed to admit Mariam as his daughter since Mariam is his illegitimate daughter. Jalil also forces Mariam to marry Rasheed in order to maintain his good name. Because of Jalil’s personalities, Mariam experiences some personality changes. Then, Rasheed also makes Mariam have personality changes with his bad personalities. The character of Laila, the other major character, which in contrast to Mariam causes Mariam to have personality changes (Ratnaningsih, 2010:3).
Another comment comes from Kristine Cure. She states that A Walk to Remember is an extra-ordinary love story. Another attempt of one of the greatest
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B. Review of Related Theories
In order to answer the problem formulation that appears previously, the writer requires some theories to support the accuracy of this study.
1. Theory of Characters and Characterization
The simple meaning of character is someone in literary work that has some sort identity (it does not need to be a strong one), an identity which is made up by appearance, conversation, action, name and (possibly) thoughts going on head (Gill, 1995:127). It means the character is the person taking part in the story although she or he does not have any significant role.
According to Abrams, the characters are the person presented in dramatic or narrative work, who are interpreted by the reader as being endowed with moral, dispositional, and emotional qualities, that are expressed in what they say, the dialogue, and by what they do, the action (1982:21). The statement emphasizes that the character is not only about the name of character but the whole, includes his/her speech, action, behavior, etc.
According to Foster, character is divided into two kinds. They are flat and round characters. A flat character is created around a single idea or quality and characterized only by one or two traits (1974: 46-51). In other words, the character remains stable condition from the beginning to the end of the story. A round character is complex in temperament and motivation (1974: 46-51). This kind of character can change or develop according to certain action through the story.
The author characterizes characters in the novel in order to be understood. There are many ways in characterizing the character in the novel. In Understanding Unseen, M.J Murphy classified the way an author reveals the
character’s personalities and trait to the readers (1972:161-173), as follows: a. Personal description
The character can be seen from the person’s physical appearance in the story such as the clothes wore in the story.
b. Characters as seen by another
It means that the author describes the character through the opinion and perspective given by others characters in the story. Their opinion influences the reader’s impression so that the reader may get a reflected image.
c. Speech
The author describes the character through what other character says in his speech about certain character. Whenever a person speaks, whenever he is in conversation with another, whenever he puts forward an opinion. He is giving some clue to his character.
d. Past life
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The author describes the conversations between the character and the other character, therefore it can give the readers a clue of the personality that the character has.
f. Reactions
Meaning that, the readers are allowed to know the character’s personality by giving problems to the character. The reactions of the character toward the problems and events can show the character’s personality.
g. Direct comment
Meaning that, the author gives his own comment to the characters he creates directly. By giving comments explicitly, the readers will understand what kind of person he or she is.
h. Thought
Meaning that, the author takes the readers to the character’s thought and feeling, so the readers can subjectively understand the character’s personalities, and the position in the story. The readers can feel as if they were the character itself. i. Mannerism
The character’s mannerism, habit, idiosyncrasies are described by the author to the readers in order to be a way in knowing the character itself.
2. Theory of Personality Development
Hurlock (1974:120-122) divides characteristics of change in personality into three major categories. First, some changes are for the better and some are for the worse. Second, some are quantitative and some are qualitative. And third, some occur slowly and some rapidly. They can be explained as follows:
1) Better Versus Worse
Personality changes for the better or for the worse reflect the kind of life adjustment the individual is making at the time. Personality changes for the worse in normal people occur at the puberty and the middle age. When pronounced changes, especially for worse, occur at times when they normally do not occur, these changes should be recognized as danger signals.
2) Quantitative Versus Qualitative.
In qualitative changes, an already-present trait usually an undesirable one, is replaced by another trait, usually a desirable one. In the case of selfishness, for example, a qualitative change would mean that selfishness was eliminated and replaced with generosity. In quantitative changes, characteristics already present are reinforced, strengthened, or weakened. Undesirable traits usually become less undesirable.
3) Slow Versus Rapid Changes
Changes are regarded as slow if they are barely perceptible, while rapid changes are quickly able to be understood to all. Normally, personality changes are slow and gradual. They are slow, even in childhood before the personality pattern has become well set, because every change involves the breaking of a previously learned habit and the learning of a new habit to replace it.
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Firstly, physical changes in someone can change his/her personality. The physical changes are caused by some aspects, such as illness, blindness, and injuries in which those changes may make someone's personality change. The physical changes also happen when someone is at puberty in which those changes may make someone have personality change in self concept (Hurlock, 1974:124).
Secondly, changes in environment either physical or social environment are responsible for someone's personality changes. The changes depend on how well someone adjusts himself/herself to the new environment. The environment changes can make improvement in someone's personality changes in two conditions. The first is whether someone can meet equilibrium with the environment. The example is moving to a friendly environment can lead someone to be an accepted person. The second is the timing of the movement. The example is parents' divorce when their children are still young has a greater effect than when their children are adults (Hurlock, 1974:125).
Thirdly, the significant people in someone's life can be responsible for personality changes. Personality changes will depend on how much the attitudes, values, beliefs, and so on of the significant people differ from those of the individual. If there is a great disparity, he will be motivated to effect greater changes. The individual tries to adapt the pattern of behavior, attitudes, beliefs, values, and so on. The example of the significant people who are responsible for someone's personality changes in young adult are usually spouses, friends, neighbors, and employers (Hurlock, 1974:126).
Fourthly, Social pressure can make people change their personality in order to be accepted socially. Personalities which are rejected by social tend to change. As childhood progresses, the child become aware that some personality traits are admired while some are disliked. Since everyone normally has a strong desire to be accepted by those who are significant to him, he tries to change any personality trait that will militate against his being accepted. The strong social pressures such as shyness, bossiness, aggressiveness, and greediness have much possibility to encourage changes in certain aspects of personality rather than the traits of admiration, affection, cooperativeness, and generosity (Hurlock, 1974:126).
Fifthly, changes of one’s role may occur because of the changes age, economic conditions, and affiliation with a new group. When the result of the changes put the person into a favorable status, there will be a change for better in the person’s self-concept (Hurlock, 1974:127).
Sixthly, when the motivation to improve the personality pattern is strong enough, changes can be effected. People generally improve their pattern in order to get greater social acceptance and also to improve their social relationship (Hurlock, 1974:127).
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ways to solve those problems. The second is the emotional. People who usually think to be follower experience dissatisfaction when they think to be a leader. The third is environment. The people have difficulties to have good self-concepts if they are in the environment which tend to judge them based on race or religion (Hurlock, 1974:128).
The last, the use of psychotherapy helps a person to gain better insight into the reasons for his unrealistically favorable or unfavorable concept. It also helps to recognize how self-concept influence the quality of his behavior, to realize how irrational his self-concept and his behavior are, to get the motivation and knowledge how to change his self-concept, to protect the guidance essential to make this change with no upsetting the whole person personality pattern, and to alter the conditions in the environment which contribute to an unfavorable self-concept (Hurlock, 1974:129).
C. THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
This section explains about how the theories presented in this chapter are used to analyze Nicholas Sparks’s A Walk to Remember. The Theories will be used to answer the questions in the problem formulation. Abrams, Fosters, and Murphy’s theories on character and characterization will be used to answer the first and the second problem formulation. Hurlock’s theory on personality development that is experienced by Landon Carter is used to answer the third problem formulation.
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CHAPTER III
METHODOLOGY
A. Object of the Study
The object of this study is a novel entitled A Walk to Remember written by Nicholas Sparks. It was published in the fall of 1999 by Warner Books. This is an international best seller and the third novel of Nicholas Sparks. This novel has been translated into more than thirty languages and was adapted to be a movie by Pandora Association with Warner Bros in 2002 which make this novel more well-known. The novel is divided into thirteen chapters and contains of 240 pages.
A Walk to Remember is story of true love between two teens. The major
characters are Jamie Sullivan and Landon Carter. Landon Carter, a seventeen year old boy, lived in the small town of Beaufort, North Carolina in 1958. He is described as a bad boy. The other character is Jamie Sullivan. She is described as a nice girl. She is the daughter of the town’s Baptist minister. She is nice girl who always carries the bible all day at school and reads it at lunch break. She rescues bound animal and helps the children at a local orphanage.
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Carter has to get partner for the homecoming dance at school. He is forced by the situation to ask Jamie Sullivan to be his partner in the homecoming dance because he does not get a partner. From this moment, they become friend and spend more time together. Landon Carter learns that there is much more about Jamie Sullivan that he has never considered before.
Finally, Landon Carter finds that he falls in love with Jamie Sullivan. Luckily, Jamie Sullivan accepts Landon Carter’s love. This condition makes Landon change. He becomes mature and being a good man. But love is not easy for both of them. The fact that Jamie Sullivan’s age is no long anymore because of the leukemia that she got is a great obstacle for both. But it does not make them stop loving each other. Landon Carter loves Jamie Sullivan with all her heart and accepts Jamie Sullivan the way she is. Then, they are getting married.
B. Approach of the Study
There are many approaches that can be used to analyze the literary work. In analyzing this novel, the writer applies psychological approach. It is because this study concerns to the personality of the character in the novel A Walk to Remember.
Rohberger and Woods in Reading and Writing about Literature state that psychological approach tries to locate and to demonstrate certain recurrent patterns from the knowledge of psychology (1971: 12). In analyzing the work of literature, psychological theories are used to explain the human motivation, personality, development, and behavior pattern written in literary object. In short,
psychological approach aims to observe literature by using the theory of psychology.
C. Method of the Study
The writer employed the library research as the method of the study. There were some sources used in this novel. Due to the lack of books of the library, the writer could not find the original book in the library of Sanata Dharma University and in the bookstores in Yogyakarta. So, the writer took the novel A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks from the online bookstore in Jakarta.
The other sources were from some books which contain related information that needed in this study. As the additional source, the writer found the data as much as possible from the internet. Hopefully, the combination of these references would help the writer to analyze the novel deeply.
Some important books that have been used as references of library research are A Glossary of Literary Terms, Understanding Unseen: An Introduction to English Poetry and English Novel for Overseas Students, Reading
and Writing about Literature, Personality Development and many more. The
writer also used some references from the internet sources. All the references were used to help the writer in analyzing the novel.
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translated in Indonesian. The writer focused on two major characters that are Jamie Sullivan and Landon Carter.
The second steps, the writer tried to find the appropriate approach to analyze the novel and the theories. Related to the first and the second questions in the problem formulation, the writer analyzed the description of Jamie Sullivan and Landon Carter by applying theory of character and characterization. The character in the novel that is Landon Carter undergoes personality changes, so the writer chose psychological approach as the most appropriate approach. Theory of personality development was applied in order to reveal Landon Carter’s personality development throughout the story. The purpose was to reveal the influence of Jamie Sullivan on Landon Carter’s personality development.
The third steps, the writer collected the data which can be used to support the study. The data consisted of the data which related to the novel. The data was used in the related studies, the related theories and also the approach. The writer combined all the data. By using all data, the writer could analyze the novel and gave conclusion to the analysis. After all steps were finished, the writer presented a conclusion for the study.
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CHAPTER IV
ANALYSIS
This analysis is divided into three parts. The first is the analysis of Landon Carter’s personality development described in the novel. In this first analysis, the writer analyzes Landon Carter’s character before he becomes friend with Jamie Sullivan and after he becomes friend with Jamie Sullivan. In the second analysis, the writer elaborates Jamie Sullivan’s character. The last one is the influence of Jamie Sullivan on Landon Carter’s personality development.
A. The Description of Landon Carter as Major Character
The novel depicts Landon Carter in two phases of his life, namely before he becomes friend with Jamie Sullivan and after he becomes friend with Jamie Sullivan. In order to understand Landon Carter as major character in A Walk to Remember, some methods proposed by Murphy (1972:161-172) are applied. He
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Carter, the writer divides the analyses into two parts. They are the analysis of Landon Carter’s personality before he becomes friend with Jamie Sullivan and Landon Carter’s personality after he becomes friend with Jamie Sullivan.
1. The Description of Landon Carter before He becomes friends with Jamie
Sullivan
Landon Carter is one of the major characters in this story. This novel starts with a 57 year old man, Landon Carter, turning back the pages of his life to the time when he was 17 years old, in the late 1950s. Landon Carter, narrator of the novel, lives in a small town, Beaufort, North California. He is born in a rich family which makes him popular and has many friends. His grandfather is known as a cruel creditor who makes his family becomes rich. He lives with his mother and his father. His father is a United States congressman for almost thirty years. The relationship between Landon Carter and his father is bad. His father has no time for him because he is very busy with his work so that they almost never have a time to talk to each other.
“He wasn’t there for me growing up. I hate to say that, because nowadays people claim that sort of stuff even if their parent was around and use it to excuse their behavior. My dad… he didn’t love me… that’s why I became a stripper and performed on The Jerry Springer Show” (Sparks, 1999:12).
Landon Carter’s statement above proves that he has a bad relationship with his father. He is lack of love from his father when he is growing up. Therefore, he thinks that his father does not love him. His father leaves him for nine months of a year, living three hundred miles away in a Washington as a congressman. This thing can be one of the factors why Landon Carter becomes such a bad boy. From
his statement, it also can be concluded that many people judge that parents are the cause of children’s offensive behavior. The description of Landon Carter’s personality before he becomes friend with Jamie Sullivan is elaborated below:
a. Mischievous
In certain situation, when talking to other, Landon Carter seem to be offensive and also hurts their feeling. He also likes to make fun other people. This attitude leads Landon Carter to become a mischievous person in certain condition. Being mischievous means like to have fun, especially by playing tricks on people or doing things to annoy or embarrass them (Summers, 2001:1156). Based on Murphy’s theory, this characteristic is presented through Landon Carter’s mannerism. His mischievousness can be seen in the following quotation:
“My friends and I would hide behind the trees and shout, “Hegbert is a fornicator!” when we saw him walking down the street, and we’d giggle like idiots, like we were the wittiest creatures ever to inhabit the planet” (Sparks, 1999:4).
The quotation above shows that Landon Carter talks impolitely to Reverend Sullivan known as Hegbert. Landon Carter and his friends like to make fun of Hegbert who is Reverend in the church in Beaufort. They often call him a fornicator for instance. It is because Hegbert always gets on fire when he gives a speech in the church about the fornicators especially when he talks about “wrath of God coming down on the fornicators”. Then, this thing becomes their reason in treating Hegbert impolitely.
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also likes to make fun of his daughter, Jamie Sullivan. Jamie Sullivan is Landon Carter’s friend in school. There is a conversation between Reverend Sullivan and Landon Carter which shows that Reverend Sullivan has a negative point of view about Landon Carter’s behavior. It happens when Landon Carter picks Jamie Sullivan up to accompany him to go to the homecoming dance. Reverend Sullivan says:
“Why did you ask my daughter to the dance?” he finally said. I was surprised, and I know that my expression showed it. “I don’t know what you mean, sir.”
“You’re not planning to do anything to… embarrass her, are you?” “You don’t have any pranks planned?” (Sparks, 1999:50).
The statement above shows that in Reverend Sullivan’s mind, Landon Carter is seen as a bad boy who behaves based on what he wants to do and a person who often embarrasses others. Reverend Sullivan worries about Landon Carter will hurt his daughter. He is afraid that Landon Carter will do some jokes and makes fun his daughter at the homecoming dance. Based on Murphy’s theory, this characteristic is presented through character as seen by another.
Landon Carter was born in a rich family, even his family is the richest in the town. But, this condition cannot change Landon Carter become a person who likes to help poor people. He is different to Jamie Sullivan. Jamie Sullivan likes helping other people. She usually puts some cans in some places in order to give donation to the orphans, whereas Landon Carter likes to fill those cans with paper clips or slugs but not with money. Based on this condition, it can be seen that Landon Carter is different to Jamie Sullivan. it can be seen in the following quotation :
“I remembered seeing the containers in places like Cecil’s dinner and the Crown Theater. My friends and I used to toss some paper clips and slugs in there when the cashier weren’t looking, since they sounded sort of like a coin being dropped inside. Then we’d chuckle to ourselves about how we were putting something over Jamie. We used to joke about how she’d open one of her cans, expecting something good because of the weight, and she’d dump it out and found nothing but slugs and paper clips” (Sparks, 1999: 141).
The quotation above shows that Landon Carter makes fun with the cans which Jamie Sullivan puts at the Cecil’s Diner and the Crown Theatre. The cans should be filled with money that will be used for buying the Christmas gifts to the children in the Orphanage. Therefore, it is not appropriate for Landon Carter to do that kind of action. Based on Murphy’s theory, this characteristic is presented through Landon Carter’s mannerism.
b. Disobedient
Besides being a mischievous person, there is another negative attitude of Landon Carter. He is disobedient. His father almost never accompanies him when he grows up. His father leaves him for nine months in a year and lives in Washington as a congressman. Because of this situation, he gets a little affection from his father that makes him has no figure of a good father. He grows up under the care of his mother. According to Landon Carter, his mother is a nice lady.But Landon Carter thinks that she cannot be a person who influences his life.
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The statement above shows about Landon Carter’s disappointment to his father. Landon Carter’s father word becomes law in a family. As a father, he wants his son to follow his rules. But Landon Carter, as a son, breaks some of his father’s rules. One of the rules which are made by his father is that Landon Carter should be at home at bed time night, but he is against the rule. In the midnight, he often goes from home without asking permission from either his father or his mother. He should be home at that time, but he and his friends escape from the home to play in the graveyard and do stupid things such as soap up car windows or eat boiled peanuts. This kind of action indicates him as a disobedient person.
“Me and my friends might sneak put late and soap up car windows now and then or eat boiled peanuts in the graveyard behind the church, but in the 50’s that was the kind of thing that made other parents shake their heads and whisper to their children, “You don’t want to be like that Carter boy. He’s on the fast track to prison” (Sparks, 1999:13).
From the quotation above, it can be seen that according to other parents what Landon Carter does is a kind of thing that can bring him to prison. Based on Murphy’s theory, this characteristic is presented through Landon Carter’s mannerism. Honestly, this kind of action can only be done by Landon Carter when his father is in Washington. It can be seen in the quotation below:
“My father was back in Washington, DC, which made things a lot of more fun around my house, primarily because I could sneak out the window and head back to the graveyard for my late-night forays” (Sparks, 1999:63).
His father’s departure to Washington is a good thing for him, because he can sneak out the window and play in the graveyard in the midnight. Even though Landon Carter has bad relationship with his father even breaks some of his father’s rules, he is afraid of opposing his father when his father is around him.
c. Impious
Landon Carter’s mother is nice, sweet, and gentle. Besides, she also shows her faith to God by going to the church every Sunday. Unfortunately, Landon Carter shows different attitude compare to his mother. It is shown by his action that almost never goes to the church for Sunday school. Moreover, he prefers to do other thing than doing spiritual activities such as reading the Bible likes what his mother does. According to Landon Carter, flirting to the girls is more interesting than reading the Bible. Based on this description, Landon Carter is seen as an impious person. Impious means lacking respect for religion or God (Summers, 2001: 913). Based on Murphy’s theory, this characteristic is presented through Landon Carter’s mannerism.
“No matter how you sliced it, reading Paul’s letters to the Ephesians wasn’t nearly as much fun as flirting, if you know what I mean” (Sparks, 1999:22).
His attitude that is not showing respect to God is also seen when Jamie Sullivantries to relate his life with God. It can be seen in the following quotation:
“You never know, Landon,” she said, smiling, “What the Lord’s plan is.”
I hated when she said things like that. With her, you just knew she talked to the Lord every day, and you never knew what the “Big Guy upstairs” had told her (Sparks, 1999:116).
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d. Pessimistic
Landon Carter’s father wants Landon Carter to go to Harvard or Princeton like some of the sons of other Congressmen do, but Landon Carter thinks that it is impossible for him to study there with his grades. So, he plans to go to the University of North Carolina. Even though it is Landon Carter himself who wants to continue study there, he is pessimistic to be accepted in UNC. It is because he thinks that he is not qualified in anything, such as in music, sport, and school lesson. He refuses to try and do some efforts to explore his ability because he does not believe in himself that he can make it. Even he judges himself as a loser.
“I didn’t play football or basketball. I didn’t play an instrument. I didn’t excel in the classroom. Hell, I didn’t excel at much anything. Growing despondent, I started listing the things I actually could do, but to be honest, there really wasn’t that much” (Sparks, 1999:30).
Then, Landon Carter’s father suggests him to join a competition for being a student body president in his school. The reason is because his father wants him at least to be accepted at University of North Carolina after graduate from senior high school. Being a student body president will be good for his record. But Landon Carter is pessimistic to win the competition. He is not confident with his own ability. He thinks that his friend, Eric Hunter, is more suitable to be the winner because Eric is an excellent student. Pessimistic is expecting that bad things will happen in the future or that a situation will have a bad result (Summers, 2001:1342). Based on Murphy’s theory, this characteristic is presented through Landon Carter’s speech.
“I don’t have a chance at winning. Though I was probably the richest kid in school, I was by no means the most popular. That honour belonged to Eric Hunter, my best friend. He’d led the football team to back-to-back
state titles as the star quarterback. He was a stud. Even his name sounded cool” (Sparks,1999:28).
From the elaboration of Landon Carter’s characteristics above, it can be seen that he has some bad qualities such as mischievous, disobedient, impious, and pessimistic. These personalities are seen in the beginning of the story, but then he changes becomes someone else better in the ending. Landon undergoes his personality development after he meets Jamie Sullivan.
2. The Description of Landon Carter after he Becomes Friend with Jamie
Sullivan
Since Landon Carter becomes friend with Jamie Sullivan and then falls in love with her, he undergoes some changes in his personality and life. He changes to be a better person. According to Landon Carter, his relationship with his father gets better because of Jamie Sullivan. Jamie Sullivan teaches a lot of things to Landon Carter. She teaches him the value of forgiveness. He used to hate his father but then he knows that his father is someone that means a lot to him. His father helps him and Jamie Sullivan a lots. His father helps Jamie Sullivan in providing some medical equipment to support her condition when she is dying. This thing makes Landon Carter so thankful having his father.
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The description of Landon Carter after he becomes friend with Jamie then falls in love with her is elaborated below:
a. Polite
When talking to other people, Landon Carter does not want to hurt his or her feeling. He speaks nicely to him or her. He avoids offending someone with his words. When someone asks his opinion, he will answer with the words that will not make him or her down. According to Summers, polite is behaving or speaking in a way that is correct for the social situation you are in, and showing that you are careful to consider other people’s need and feeling (Sparks, 2001: 1385).
Landon Carter’s politeness can be seen when he talks to Jamie Sullivan. There is a moment they talk about the future. Jamie Sullivan asks Landon Carter firstly about his future’s plan after he graduates from school. Then he answers that he wants to continue his study at University of North Carolina. When Landon Carter asks the question back to Jamie Sullivan, she answers that she wants to get married. She wants her father to walk her down the aisle and every one attends her wedding. Landon Carter seems surprised with her answer. He thinks that Jamie Sullivan thought she will end up like Miss Gerber. Miss Gerber is their teacher in school who does not get married yet because there is no guy who is interested in her. Then, Landon Carter answers Jamie Sullivan with the words that make her feel better, even though it seems silly to him. He says that she will get married some day and the wedding will be true as what she hopes. He avoids mentioning about the people who will come to her wedding. It is because he thought that the
people will not be interested in attending her wedding. Based on Murphy’s theory, this characteristic is presented through Landon Carter’s mannerism and his speech.
“I want to get married,” she said quietly.
“And when I do, I want my father to walk me down the aisle, and I want everyone I know to be there. I want the church bursting with people.” “That’s all?” Though I wasn’t averse to the idea of marriage, it seemed kind of silly to hope for that as your life’s goal.
“Yes,” she said. “That’s all I want.”
The way she answered made me suspect that she thought she’d end up like Miss Garber. I tried to make her feel better, even though it still seemed silly to me
“Well, you’ll get married some day. You’ll meet some guy, and the two of you will hit off, and he’ll ask you to marry him. And I’m sure that your father will be happy to walk you down the aisle.”
I didn’t mention the part about having a big crowd in the church (Sparks,1999:99).
In other case when Landon Carter and Jamie Sullivan visit an orphanage. They want to tell their plan to hold the play there to celebrate the Christmas Eve. But, their plan is objected by Mr. Jenkins who is responsible for the orphanage. He thinks that their play is not appropriate for the children there. The story of the play will make them sad. This makes Landon Carter and Jamie Sullivan disappointed, but they realize that Mr. Jenkins’s opinion is true. When they walk home from the orphanage, Landon Carter offers Jamie Sullivan to see the kids because she usually visits them. Then Jamie Sullivan asks Landon Carter to accompany her to visit them. Actually, Landon Carter does not want to do it, but he does not want to hurt Jamie Sullivan’s feeling, so he says that he wants to accompany her. This can be seen in the following quotation:
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It was the only thing I could think to do that might her feel better.
“I could wait out here while you talk to them, or I could go to the car if you want”
“Would you visit them with me?” she asked suddenly.
To be honest, I wasn’t sure I could handle it, but I knew she really wanted me there. And she was feeling so down that the words came out automatically.
“Sure, I’ll go” (Sparks,1999:103-104).
The quotation above shows that Landon Carter wants Jamie Sullivan’s feeling better by offering her to visit the kids in the orphanage. Even though he actually does not want to accompany her, he decides to follow her to see the kids because he does not want to make her sad. Based on Murphy’s theory, this characteristic is presented through Landon Carter’s speech.
b. Mature
Landon Carter used to be a mischievous and disobedient boy. After he often spends time together with Jamie Sullivan, he becomes mature. Jamie Sullivan’s age is same with Landon Carter, but the way she thinks, speaks and behaves show that she is mature enough. Landon Carter more or less learns this from Jamie Sullivan. If he does a mistake to someone, he realizes it and says sorry to him or her. This behavior shows that he has changed. He is able to judge which is the right and the wrong. It can be seen in the following quotation:
“Jamie turned to me. “Hello Landon,” she said quietly. I could tell she’d been thinking about the night before too, because she didn’t smile at me like she always did when she saw me. I asked if I could talk to her alone, and the two of us excused ourselves. I glanced around the stage nervously. “I’m sorry about those things I said last night,” I began. “I know they probably hurt your feelings, and I was wrong to have said them” (Sparks, 1999:128).
The statement above shows that Landon Carter says sorry to Jamie Sullivan, he realizes that he has hurt Jamie Sullivan’s feeling. The night before he says sorry to her, he hurt her with his words. He said that he hated to walk her home and felt tired to become friend with her. Based on Murphy’s theory, this characteristic is presented through Landon Carter’s reaction toward the problem.
Landon Carter knows that during the time he spends together with Jamie Sullivan, she is always kind to him even though he has hurt her feeling. She always prays for him even though he does not care with her. It is stated in his words below:
“It had more to do with the fact that in all our time together with Jamie had never once been anything but kind, and I knew that I’d been wrong” (Sparks, 1999:129)
After meeting Jamie Sullivan, Landon Carter realizes that doing the right thing is good. Without Jamie Sullivan’s notice, he gives all his money from his saving account to the charity cans (jars) that Jamie Sullivan spreads in town to help the orphans. It is because Landon Carter does not want Jamie Sullivan feels sad knowing the money that she gets from the jars is not much. Landon Carter realizes that it is the right thing to do. When Landon Carter tells this case to his mother, he sees that a look of satisfaction crosses her mother’s face, as if her mother knows that he is finally growing up. Based on Murphy’s theory, this characteristic is presented through Landon Carter’s speech.
“If you hadn’t placed those jars out so early in the year, you might not have collected nearly as much.”
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Landon Carter also says sorry to Reverend Sullivan for the things that he has done to him. He realizes that he has mistake to him. He used to make fun toward him and Jamie Sullivan by saying bad words to them. Based on Murphy’s theory, this characteristic is presented through Landon Carter’s speech.
“I’m sorry for those things I used to do when I was younger, and I’m sorry that I didn’t always treat Jamie the way she should have been treated. But from now on, things will change. I promise you that.” (Sparks, 1999:128).
c. Optimistic
Landon Carter used to be a pessimistic person. He is hesitant with his ability and often thinks that bad things will happen to him. He is pessimistic to enter University of North Carolina (UNC) because his school grades are not good. He is also such a lazy boy at school. Since he becomes friend with Jamie who is optimistic person and smart, his mind changes, he thinks that he has a chance to enter UNC. When he works on the application for UNC, he feels glad because it emphasizes on writing. It is a thing that he can do easily.
“I was in my room working on my application to UNC. They required five essay of the usual type: if you could meet one person in history, who would that person be and why? Name most significant influence in your life and why you feel that way. Why do you look for in a role model and why? The questions were fairly predictable—our English teacher had told us what to expect—and I’d worked on a couple of variations in class. English was probably my best subject. I’ve never received anything lower than an A in it since I started school, and I was glad the emphasis for the application was on writing” (Sparks, 1999:67).
The statement above shows that Landon Carter does not underestimate himself anymore, he believes that he has a chance to enter UNC with his own ability. It indicates that he becomes an optimistic person. Based on Murphy’s theory, this characteristic is presented through Landon Carter’s speech. Another
day after the rehearsal, he finishes his application for UNC and plans to study hard in order to be accepted at UNC. It can be seen in the following quotation:
“The following Monday was our last week of school before Christmas break, and finals were scheduled in every class. In addition I had to finish my application for UNC, which I’d been putting off because of rehearsal. I planned on hitting the books pretty hard that week, then doing the application at night before I went to bed” (Sparks, 1999:138)
Based on Murphy’s theory, this characteristic is presented through Landon Carter’s reaction. Another moment which shows that Landon Carter is optimistic person can be seen below:
“The next day I spent fourteen hours memorizing my lines, curing my friends, and wondering how my life had spun so out of control. My senior year certainly wasn’t turning out the way I thought it would when it began, but if I had to perform for a bunch of orphans, I certainly didn’t want to look an idiot” (Sparks, 1999:89).
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d. Religious
Landon Carter used to be an impious person. He dislikes reading bible and going to Sunday school. After he becomes friend with Jamie Sullivan who is religious and falls in love with her, he becomes a religious person. He becomes a person who likes to go to Sunday school and goes to church. He also likes reading bible and praying to God for Jamie Sullivan’s health. When Jamie Sullivan’s health becomes worse, Landon Carter prays to God for miracle. He reads the bible that Jamie Sullivan has given to him. Based on Murphy’s theory, this characteristic is presented through Landon Carter’s mannerism.
“So that night I opened the Bible that Jamie had given me for Christmas and began to read. Now, I’d heard all about Bible in Sunday school or at church” (Sparks, 1999:201)
He reads the bible a whole night. He then comes into an underlined section that he assumes that Jamie Sullivan has noted because it means something to her. He closes the bible with tears in his eyes. He is unable to finish the psalm because he realizes that the underlined section aims at him. The next day, he reads the bible again in the hope that it would guide him. He tells to Jamie Sullivan that he likes to read the bible lately. Based on Murphy’s theory, this characteristic is presented through Landon Carter’s speech.
“I look around the room, and then back to her. “I’ve been reading the Bible,” I finally said.
“You have?” Her face lit up, reminding me of the angel in the play. I couldn’t believe that only six weeks had gone by.
“I wanted you to know.” “I’m glad you told me.”
“I read the Book of Job last night, “I said, “Where God stuck it to Job to test his faith.” (Sparks, 1999:206).
e. Generous
Landon Carter used to be a mischievous person. He used to fill the charity can in Cecile’s Dinner with paper clip. The money from the charity can is usually used to buy the gift for the kids in the orphanage at Christmas. But then when Jamie Sullivan asks him for help to collect the can that she spreads in the town, he helps Jamie Sullivan by filling the money into the can. After he collects all the cans, he counts the money without Jamie Sullivan’s notice. He feels so sad when he discovers that the money is so little whereas Jamie Sullivan hopes that she will get a lot of money from the cans. After knowing the amount of the money in the cans, he gives all the money from his saving accounts to the cans.
“I don’t have any money left.” I said to her dejectedly. Though my family was wealthy and gave me an allowance, they never gave me more if I ran through it too quickly. “It builds responsibility,” my father said, explaining it once.
“What happened to your money in the bank?”
I signed, and my mom sat in silence while I explained what I had done. When I finished, a look of quite satisfaction crossed her face, as if she knew I was finally growing up” (Sparks, 1999:177).
Landon Carter’s action that gives all his money in order to help Jamie Sullivan can be said as generous. According to Summers, generous is willing to give money, spend time etc, in order to help people or to give them pleasure (2001:756). Based on Murphy’s theory, this characteristic is presented through Landon Carter’s reaction.
B. The Description of Jamie Sullivan as Major Character
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experience significant changes in personalities from the beginning of the story until the end. Jamie Sullivan is a 17-year-old-girl who lives in small town, Beaufort, North Carolina. She is a high school student. Her school friends mostly consider her as a strange girl. It is because she is unique. Her behaviors do not represent the characteristics of common teenagers. In order to understand the characteristics of Jamie Sullivan, the writer is going to elaborate her character by applying some methods of Murphy.
Jamie Sullivan lives only with her father because her mother died during childbirth. Her father really cares of her so that she has a good relationship with her father. She does not come from rich family, since her father is a Reverend who does not get a lot of money.
“She wasn’t exactly well-off. Ministering wasn’t profession where people made a lot of money, but of course ministers weren’t in it for the monetary gain; they were in it for the long haul, if you know what I mean” (Sparks, 1999:46).
Furthermore about Jamie Sullivan will be elaborated below:
a. Simple
Jamie Sullivan is a kind of girl who does not really care about physical appearance. As seen by Landon Carter, she is a girl who looks for inner beauty. Even though she does not care about her outside appearance, from the eyes of Landon Carter, it does not mean that Jamie Sullivan is unattractive. She looks like her mother with honey-blonde hair and soft blue eyes. She is a girl who cares for inner beauty. Based on Murphy’s theory, this characteristic is presented through the speech of other character says that is Landon Carter about Jamie Sullivan.
“Jamie didn’t care much about outward appearance, because she was always looking for things like ”inner beauty,” and I suppose that’s part of the reason she looked the way she did” (Sparks, 1999:21)
Jamie Sullivan just looks very simple. She never does make up and always wears the same style everyday. She usually wears brown cardigan and plain skirt when she goes to school. That is why she is considered as a strange girl by her friends at school. It can be seen from Landon Carter’s statement below:
“For as long as I'd known her, she'd always worn her hair in a tight bun, almost like a spinster might, without a stitch of make up on her face. Coupled with her usual brown cardigan and plaid skirt, she always looked as though she were on her way to interview for a job at library. We used to think it was just a phase and that she'd eventually grow out of it, but she never had” (Sparks, 1999:21).
However, Jamie Sullivan is not influenced by them. She does not change her appearance even though her friends often tease her as an abnormal girl just because the dress that she wears. She feels fine with everything she wears. She just wants to be a simple girl. Based on Murphy’s theory, this characteristic is presented through personal description.
In 1950’s, fashion is a thing that is important in life. It sometimes can be used to see someone’s status. But Jamie Sullivan never follows the latest trend likes most of the girls do. It is shown by Landon Carter’s statement when he wants to invite Jamie Sullivan to the homecoming dance.
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From the quotation above, it can be seen that Landon Carter gives attention to what dress that Jamie Sullivan will wear in the homecoming dance. He thinks that it will be ashamed if Jamie Sullivan wears a dress that she usually wears for school.
b. Religious
Jamie Sullivan lives only with her father that is Hegbert Sullivan. Hegbert Sullivan is a well-known Reverend in the town. The writer finds out that being the daughter of a Reverend makes Jamie Sullivan becomes a very religious girl. She always brings her bible wherever she goes and reads it. For example when she is at school, she will always read the bible during the lunch break. But this action is considered weird by Landon :
“Jamie carried her Bible wherever she went, and if her looks and Hegbert didn't keep the boys away, the Bible sure as heck did. Not only did she go to vacation Bible every August, but she would read the Bible during lunch break at school. In my mind that just wasn't normal, even if she was the minister's daughter” (Sparks, 1999:22)
From the statement above, Landon Carter thinks that Jamie Sullivan is a freak girl rather than a religious person just because she always brings her bible wherever she goes. But the writer thinks that the intention of Jamie Sullivan to read the bible a lot indicates that she is very religious girl. Based on Murphy’s theory, this characteristic is presented through the speech of other character says about certain character.
Besides, according to Jamie Sullivan, everything that happens in life is the Lord’s plan. She believes in it that much. When she talks with others, she also
often uses the words from the bible. It indicates that she is religious because she believes about God’s existence. Based on Murphy’s theory, this characteristic is presented through the speech of other character about certain character. It can be seen from Landon Carter’s statement below:
“With Jamie everything was in the Lord's plan. That was another thing. She always mentioned the Lord's plan whenever you talked to her, no matter what the subject. The basketball game’s rained out? Must be the Lord’s plan to prevent something worse from happening.” (Sparks, 1999:24)
c. Helpful
Jamie is a helpful person. She really cares about others. It can be seen from her mannerism in the following quotation :
“She volunteered at the orphanage in Morehead City and was always in charge of one fund-raiser or another. She would pull weeds in someone's garden without being asked or stop traffic to help little kids cross the road. She'd even save her allowance to buy a new basketball for the orpans. She was, in other words, the kind of girl who made the rest of us look bad, and whenever she glanced my way, I couldn't help but feel guilty, even though I hadn't done anything wrong” (Sparks, 1999:23)
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She does not only help people who need a help but also the animals. No matter what animal that she finds, if it is need a help, she will take it to the vet in order to help it. She believes that it is God who brings her to meet such a wounded animal so that she has to save it. Based on Murphy’s theory, this characteristic is presented through character as seen by another.
The following quotation describes that she is a helpful person:
“If she ever came across a wounded animal, she'd try to help it too. Dogs, cats, squirrels, frogs—it didn't matter to her. Dr Rawlings, the vet, would shake his head whenever he saw her walking up to the door carrying cardboard box with yet another critter inside. He'd take his eyeglasses off and wipe them with his handkerchief while Jamie explained what had happened to the poor creature. “He was hit by a car, Dr.Rawlings, I think it was in the Lord's plan to have me find him and try to save him. You'll help me, won't you?” (Sparks, 1999:23)
There is also another situation that describes Jamie Sullivan as a helpful girl. When she goes to the homecoming dance with Landon Carter, one of their friends named Angela gets drunk. Jamie Sullivan knows that what Angela did is a violation to the law. The school will give her punishment. Besides, she is also breaking another one of Hegbert Sullivan’s rules for proper behavior. Looking at this situation, Jamie Sullivan’s instinct to help her emerges. Then she handles the messy situation that caused by Angela. Jamie Sullivan tells Landon Carter to help her cleaning the bathroom where there is Angela’s vomit. Then they help Angela from the eyes of the people in the homecoming dance to the safe place where people will not know what is already happened. Based on Murphy’s theory, this characteristic is presented through Jamie Sullivan’s reaction toward the problem.
“Jamie, bless her heart, didn’t want that to happen any more than I did, and she took immediate charge of the situation. The two of us eventually located Eric behind the bleachers, and he agreed to stand guard at the
