ii
iii
iv
The difference between a successful
person and others is not a lack of strength,
a lack of knowledge, but rather than a
lack of will
(Vince Lombardi)
Everything you need to see
can be seen by your heart.
Nothing worth seeing is just
v
A Dedication for
vi
Yang bertanda tangan di bawah ini, saya mahasiswa Universitas Sanata Dharma Nama : Mustika Sari
NomorMahasiswa : 07 4214 059
Demi pengembangan ilmu pengetahuan, saya memberikan kepada perpustakaan Universitas Sanata Dharma karya ilmiah saya yang berjudul
The Change of Perceptions on Some Aspects of Life Resulted from the Conflicts Seen in
Tamara Goodwin in Aherns’ The Book of Tomorrow: A Study of Personality
Development.
Beserta perangkat yang diperlukan (bilaada). Dengan demikian saya memberikan kepada perpustakaan Universitas Sanata Dharma hak untuk menyimpan, mengalihkan dalam bentuk media lain, mengelolanya dalam bentuk pangkalan data mendistribusikan secara terbatas dan mempublikasikannya di internet atau media lain untuk kepentingan akademis tanpa perlu meminta ijin dari saya maupun memberikan royalty kepada saya selama tetap mencantumkan nama saya sebagai penulis.
Demikian pernyataan ini yang saya buat dengan sebenarnya
Dibuat di Yogyakarta Padatanggal : 22 Juli 2011 Yang menyatakan.
vii
First of all, I would like to thank my dearest God, Jesus Christ. I realize without His mercy and wisdom, it is impossible for me to finish this thesis. My special gratitude is addressed to my beloved family, especially my father Sindhu Prasetyo, my mother Ruth Kusnandar, my sister Ratna Sari, my brother Budi Prasetyo and Santos Sugiarto: my inspirational motivators. I thank them for their great sacrifice and their patience in support me.
My great gratefulness is addressed to Drs. Hirmawan Wijarnaka, M.Hum. as my advisor. I thank for his patience, guidance, correction, and suggestions in helping me to complete this thesis. I would like to thank my co-advisor, Tatang Iskarna,S.S.,M.Hum., for his corrections, checking and discussion.
My deepest thank is also addressed to Grace, Maria, Tata, Yenni, Tina, Cicil and Karin for the support, tips, prays, friendship and everything.
I would like to thank all lecturers of English Letters Sanata Dharma University and to the secretariat staff of English Letters. I do appreciate their hard works in order to educate and guide me for these four years.
Last but not least, I would like to thank ICS, Ladies of Lords, and Warrior Prayers for becoming friends of mine while I settle in Yogyakarta. I also thank everyone who is not mentioned here for everything they have given me.
viii
LEMBAR PERNYATAAN PENGESAHAN... vi
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ……… vii
TABLE OF CONTENTS ………... viii
ABSTRACT ………. x
ABSTRAK ……….... xi
CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION………... 1
A. Background of the Study ………. 1
B. Problem Formulations ………... 3
C. Objectives of the Study ……… 3
D. Definition of Terms ……….. 3
CHAPTER II: THEORETICAL REVIEW………. 5
A. Review of Related Studies ……….. 5
B. Review of Related Theories ………. 7
C. Theoretical Framework ……… 12
CHAPTER III: METHODOLOGY ………. 13
1.Conflict between Tamara’s Wish to Dedicate and Tamara’s Regret towardHer Father Death ………. 18
2. Conflict between Tamara’s Expectation and Tamara’s Reality ……… 20
3. Conflict between Tamara’s Perception about Future and Her Lack of Capability to Make Decision about Her Future……… 23
4. Conflict between Tamara and Her Friends………... 24
B. Tamara Goodwin’s Perceptions before the Conflicts……….. 25
1. Tamara’s Perception about Her Father ……… 26
2. Tamara’s Perception about Richness ………... 28
3. Tamara’s Perception about the Future ………. 29
4. Tamara’s Perception about Friends ………. 30
C. The Influence of Conflicts on the Development of Tamara Goodwin’s Perceptions ………. 31
1. Tamara’s New Perceptions about Her Father ………. 32
2. Tamara’s New Perceptions about Richness ……… 34
3. Tamara’s New Perception about Her Own Future ………. 36
4. Tamara’s New Perceptions about Friends………... 37
ix
x
Mustika Sari. The Change of Perceptions on Some Aspects of Life Resulted from the Conflicts Seen in Tamara Goodwin in Aherns’ The Book of Tomorrow: A Study of Personality Development. Yogyakarta: Department of English Letters, Faculty of Letters, Sanata Dharma University, 2011.
This thesis studies one of Cecelia Ahern’s novels entitled The Book of Tomorrow. The story tells about Tamara Goodwin who experiences personality development through her change in perceptions resulted from the conflicts. This study discusses Tamara’s conflicts and Tamara’s perceptions before and after the conflicts.
There are three objectives in this study. The first is to describe Tamara Goodwin’s conflicts. The second is to examine Tamara Goodwin’s perceptions in the beginning of the story. The third is to discuss how the conflicts influence the change of Tamara Goodwin’s perceptions.
To answer the questions the writer uses the novel as the primary source, while the secondary sources are books on literature and books of psychology. The writer uses library research method. The writer uses psychological approach as the approach to the thesis because the study focuses in the personality development.
xi
Mustika Sari. The Change of Perceptions on Some Aspects of Life Resulted from the Conflicts Seen in Tamara Goodwin in Aherns’ The Book of Tomorrow: A Study of Personality Development. Yogyakarta: Jurusan Sastra Inggris, Fakultas Sastra, Universitas Sanata Dharma, 2011.
Skripsi ini mempelajari salah satu novel Cecelia Ahern yang berjudul, The Book of Tomorrow. Novel ini menceritakan tentang Tamara Goodwin yang mengalami perubahan kepribadian melalui perubahan persepsi sebagai akibat dari konflik yang dialaminya. Skripsi ini membahas konflik Tamara dan persepsinya sebelum dan sesudah konflik terjadi.
Ada tiga tujuan dari skripsi ini. Yang pertama untuk menggambarkan tentang konflik Tamara. Yang kedua untuk meneliti persepsi Tamara Goodwin di awal cerita. Yang ketiga untuk membahas bagaimana konflik tersebut dapat mempengaruhi perubahan persepsi pada Tamara.
Untuk menjawab pertanyaan-pertanyaan tersebut, penulis menggunakan novel sebagai sumber utama, sedangkan sumber penunjang adalah buku-buku sastra dan buku-buku psikologi. Penulis menggunakan metode studi pustaka. Penulis menggunakan pendekatan psikologi karena penelitian ini berfokus pada perkembangan kepribadian.
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
A. Background of the Study
There are many kinds of literary works such as play, poem, and prose. However, novel as one kinds of prose is recognized as the major literary form of the modern world. It is because everybody can enjoy and learn something from it easily. M.H. Abrams says the definition of novel in A Glossary of Literary Terms as quoted in the following:
Its magnitude permits a greater variety of characters, greater complication of plot, ampler development of milieu, and more sustained exploration of character and motives than do the shorter, more concentrated modes (1993: 130).
These average qualities make the novel become observable reading to study deeper. This study tries to find the influence of the conflicts to someone’s personality development seen through the change of his or her perceptions towards something. It is an interesting topic to analyze since people often see conflicts as problems to avoid. Conflicts are related with stress and oppression. Many people do not realize the importance of conflict roles to their personality development. When they are able to solve conflicts well, their personality develops. Richard A. Kasschau in Understanding Psychology states that:
Conflict is an inevitable and unavoidable part of life. Conflict can be a source of much stress. Stress is a normal even essential part of life that goes hand in hand with working toward any goal or facing any challenge (1993: 318).
Everybody surely confronts with conflicts in his or her life. Conflicts can also raise the possibility of stress. However, somebody should be ready for the coming of stress when has a goal to achieve.
The Book of Tomorrow is a story about a spoiled Tamara Goodwin. She is just sixteen years old and only child of her father. Tamara lives in luxury, as her father is a successful property developer. She lives in a six-bedroom house by the sea. She spends her summers in her villa in Marbella, Christmas in her Verbier chalet and Easter in the New York Ritz.
In the beginning of the story, Tamara is a spoiled and rebellious girl towards her parents. She even says that she is the worst possible daughter. When one day her father kills himself, leaving large debts, Tamara and her mother are bankrupt. Since Tamara and her mother do not have a house anymore, they move to her strange aunt and uncle’s house in the countryside. Tamara’s future suddenly seems bleak and grey. She is far away from home, friends, and her normal life.
B. Problem Formulation
In order to guide the writer in the analysis, there are three questions to answer:
1. What are Tamara Goodwin’s conflicts?
2. What are Tamara Goodwin’s perceptions before the conflict?
3. How do the conflicts influence the change of Tamara Goodwin’s perceptions?
C. Objectives of the Study
The purpose of the study is to answer all of the problem formulations as detailed as possible. This thesis discusses, first is to find what Tamara Goodwin’s conflicts are. The second objective is the perceptions of Tamara Goodwin before the conflicts happened. The last objective is to explain how the conflicts influence the development of Tamara Goodwin’s perceptions.
D. Definition of Terms
The writer needs to give the definitions of some terms in order to avoid misinterpretation in the study. They are conflicts, personality development and perceptions.
The second term is personality development. Hjelle in Personality Theories. Basic Assumptions, Research and Application states that:
Most definitions emphasize the importance of viewing personality in terms of a life history, or developmental, perspective. Personality represents an evolving process subject to a variety of internal and external influences, including genetic and biological propensities, social experiences and changing environmental circumstances (1981: 7).
The third term is perception. Kasschau in Understanding Psychology states that perception is the process of the brain in receiving information from the senses and organizes and interprets it into meaningful experiences, unconsciously (1993: 120).
CHAPTER II
THEORETICAL REVIEW
This chapter discusses three main parts. The first part is review of the related studies. This part is to review other related studies previously done by other writers. The second part is review of the related theories. Here, the writer reviews theories of conflicts, theories of personality development, and theories of perceptions. The third part is theoretical framework. This is the part to explain the contribution of the theories in solving problems of the study.
A. Review of Related Studies.
The Book of Tomorrow by Cecelia Ahern is a new book that was published in 2009. Although this book is still new, it will not decrease the values that Ahern wants to share with readers. Stephanie (2011) in www.poetrytoprose.com said that “The Book of Tomorrow was a very enchanting to read with the right amount of humor, mystery, magic, and a little bit of romance thrown in. It was a nice change of pace from my usual reads!”
Since this study discusses personality development, the writer considers discussing other studies on personality development. Marcellina Galuh Kristiyani (2004) in her undergraduate thesis entitled The Influence of Bad Treatment on Edmund’s Personality Development as Seen in C.S Lewis’ the Chronicles of Narnia, the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe studied a character named Edmund who was treated badly by White Witch.
Edmund was described as unpleasant and greedy. He was jealous of his own brother, Peter. He betrayed his siblings. Edmund turned over White Witch. However, everything did not happen as he expected. He got bad treatment from White Witch. He finally realized his mistake and decided to back to his siblings. By receiving bad treatment, he could develop his personality. He became more mature than before. Kristiyani’s undergraduate thesis emphasized the influence of bad treatment to someone could influence the development of someone’s personality.
Another study on personality development was conducted by Antonius Agung Prinhantara (1999) in his undergraduate thesis entitled The Influences of Family and Environment toward Richard Wright’s Personality Development as Seen in Richard Wright’s Black Boy. Prihantara studied the role of family and environment in Richard’s personality development. Prinhantara studied the influence of family in the early childhood until youth. Richard changed from an obedient one to rebellious one, from dependent one to independent one. He concluded that family and environment could change someone’s personality development to be better or even worse.
B. Review of Related Theories
1. Theories of Conflicts
Conflict refers to a situation in which a person is motivated to engage in two or more mutually exclusive activities. Stanton in his book, An Introduction to Fiction states that every work of fiction contains obvious internal conflicts between two desires within a character, or external conflicts between characters or between a character and his environment (1965: 16).
Furthermore, Understanding Social Psychology states that conflict is a contradiction as result of incompatibility within individual or between two or more individuals (Worchel and Cooper, 1976: 460-463).
Regarding internal conflicts, Sills in International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences Volume 3 states that:
Inner conflict or quandary that emerges when incompatible or mutually exclusive values present themselves in the form of an actual or potential choice or decision. Thus, an individual finds himself unable to make a decision because he is being pushed or pulled in the opposite direction. The former involves a confrontation between incompatible values, whereas the latter is concerned with an incompatibility between that individual and another individual or group. Yet the inner conflict can be viewed also as a conflict between internal components of the individual: Her heart said Yes, but her common sense said No (Sills, 1972: 226).
Based on the understanding about conflicts, the writer can conclude that conflict emerges when people have to choose or decide two things confronting them. Inner conflict also happens in a person’s mind between yes or no. It happens when her heart says yes, her common sense says no.
happens when one party denies that there is a conflict, changes topic and avoids discussion. There is no chance of achieving the goals or the complexity of the situation prevents solutions. The second way is accommodation. It happens when one party sacrifices its interests and goals and lets the other party achieve their interests and goals.
The third way is compromising. It happens when an agreement for all parties to sacrifice their interests in order to gain the best solution for both parties. The fourth way is competitive. It happens when strive one party’s interests at the expense of the interests of others. The fifth way is collaborative. It happens when emphatic communicative that seeks to satisfy the interests and concern of all parties (2000: 26).
2. Theories of Personality Development
Hjelle in Personality Theories. Basic Assumptions, Research and Application states that:
Most definitions emphasize the importance of viewing personality in terms of a life history, or developmental, perspective. Personality represents an evolving process subject to a variety of internal and external influences, including genetic and biological propensities, social experiences and changing environmental circumstances (1981: 7).
Hurlock also says that “it is a rare person who is so completely satisfied with his personality that he has no desire to change it. The desire to change the personality for the better and improve it” (1974: 119).
Furthermore, the characteristic of change in personality can be divided into three categories. The first category is the change of better versus worse. It reflects the kind of life adjustments the individual is making at the time. The second is the change on quantitative versus qualitative. Qualitative means complete replacement of a desirable trait by an undesirable one or vice versa. While quantitative means characteristics that already present are reinforced, strengthened, or weakened. The third is slow versus rapid changes. Changes are regarded as slow if they are barely perceptible while rapid changes are readily apparent to all (1974: 120-122).
Personality change is influenced by several conditions. The most important conditions that influence personality change are:
a. Physical changes
Physical changes may come from maturation, illness, glandular disturbances, injuries or some other condition resulting from the person’s life pattern. The person changes his concept of self so that it agrees with the social concept of a person of his age and the social expectations associated with his age (Hurlock, 1974: 124).
b. Changes in environment
improvement of the personality pattern will be depend on the personality moves toward equilibrium with its environment (Hurlock, 1974: 125).
c. Changes in significant people
When the significant people in an individual’s life change, and when he tries to adapt his pattern of behavior and his attitudes, belief, values, and aspirations to theirs, changes in his personality pattern are inevitable (Hurlock, 1974: 126).
d. Changes in social pressures.
Strong social pressures to conform to a socially approved personality pattern thus encourage changes in certain aspects of the personality (Hurlock, 1974: 126).
e. Changes in role
Role changes effect the status changes within the group. Whether the changed role will have a favorable or unfavorable effect not always depend on what the new role and how well it fits the person’s need (Hurlock, 1974: 127). f. Strong motivation
When the motivation to improve the personality pattern is strong enough, changes can be effected (Hurlock, 1974: 127-128).
g. Changes in self-concept
A change in the self concept will bring about a change in the entire personality pattern (Hurlock, 1974: 128).
also adds the definition of character development in order to give other explanation about personality development based on literary theory.
Foster in Aspect of the Novel states that
Character development is the changing of the character from the beginning until the end of the story. A character is developed if she or he experiences a change in some aspects of disposition, personality or outlook. He is not the same person as he was at the beginning of the story. He changes into a new character. The changing depends on the condition and experiences as it is in the story (Foster, 1974: 54).
Therefore, character development happens when a character is developed by experience and condition in his or her life. It can make the character has new character that is different from him in the beginning of the story.
4. Theories of Perception
Kasschau in Understanding Psychology states that perception is the process of the brain in receiving information from the senses and organizes and interprets it into meaningful experiences, unconsciously (1993: 120).
Furthermore, Kasschau in Understanding Psychology states that people saw something based on what they experienced in the past and their current expectation. Then, they invariably organize them into figure and ground (1995: 121). Perception can develop, as perceiving is something that they learn to do (1995: 123).
motivation. Second is organic condition which is organic needs of someone influence his or her perception about something.
Third is personal needs and values which have relationship and his perception of the people and objects in his environment. Fourth is social factor which is many of our perceptions are directly or indirectly shaped by our social environment.
C. Theoretical Framework
Some theories are involved to be the ground in analyzing the novel. Theories of conflicts are used to help analyzing the conflicts that happen in the novel. The theories are taken both from psychological theory and literature theory. These theories contributed a lot in answering the first problem formulation.
The theories of perceptions are needed to give better comprehension about the way of the character thinks about everything. These theories help the writer examine the main character, Tamara Goodwin.
CHAPTER III
METHODOLOGY
This chapter consists of three main parts. The first part is Object of the Study. It describes the novel being studied: The Book of Tomorrow. The second part is Approach of the Study. This part explains the approach used in analyzing the novel and the reasons why such approach is applied. The third part is Method of Study. This part explains the method, the approach, and the sources.
A. Object of the Study
The object of this study is Cecelia Ahern’s The Book of Tomorrow which was published by Harper in 2009. This novel consists of 320 pages and is divided into 26 chapters.
The Book of Tomorrow is a story about sixteen years, Tamara Goodwin who lived in luxury at the beginning of the story. Because her father was a successful furniture developer, Tamara lived in a seven thousand square foot, six-bedroom contemporary mansion with a swimming pool and tennis court and a private beach in Killiney, County Dublin, Ireland. She was described as a spoiled and rebellious girl who had everything in her life. However, this condition did not stay longer. Her father, Mr. George Goodwin committed suicide and left her family with debts to be paid back by Tamara and her mother.
Tamara and her mother had to sell everything and move to their strange relatives in countryside. Afterwards, Tamara’s world totally changed. She was not
a rich girl who had a luxurious house, cool friends and complete parents anymore. She just fell in the middle of nowhere with her grieving mother and her freak aunt and uncle.
She became very fragile at that time, she was confused and sad. In addition, she felt guilty for her father’s death, since she thought that she was not an obedient and nice daughter for him. Tamara hated herself for everything she did in the past. Moreover, she got some troubles with her aunt who did not support Tamara’s mother to recover from grieving. Tamara just wanted to go out from her tragic condition. However, she did not know how to get out from that situation. This created internal conflicts with herself. She felt that everything was going to be fine. In other hand she felt depressed and incapable to solve her conflicts alone.
One day, by chance, Tamara got a magic diary. The magic diary could tell her about tomorrow. At the beginning, Tamara relied on it, and then Tamara realized that she could change her tomorrow. It was the time not to do what the diary told her to do.
The diary could not be a good supporter for her forever. She began to find something to do and tried to rise from her chaos. Tamara made new friends in her new environment. It brought much enlightenment to her in understanding life. She dared herself to struggle to overcome her problems and to face any risk.
her grief. Finally, Tamara could get back her happy life, the understanding about what actually life is about.
B. Approach of the Study
The writer uses psychological approach in this thesis. It is because the writer studies about the change of perceptions resulted from conflicts towards one’s personality development. Psychological approach will tell the writer about why people think, act, and feel in order not to take false conclusion about the study. According to David Daiches in Critical Approaches to Literature (1981: 329),
Psychological approach is the investigation of the act of creation and the psychological study of particular authors to show the relation between their attitudes and states of mind and the special qualities of their work. In this study, the writer tries to explore how conflicts can be a good stimulant to influence a person’s perceptions. The changes of perceptions would influence someone’s personality development too. Therefore, this study could be done by the help of psychological point of view.
C. Method of the Study
E.M. Foster, Collaborative Approaches to Resolving Conflict by Isenhart, Personality Development by Elisabeth Hurlock, Personality Theories. Basic Assumptions, Research and Applications by Hjelle. Psychology and Life Seventh Edition by Ruch, Understanding Social Psychology from S. Worchel and Cooper, Understanding Psychology by Richard A. Kasschau , PH.D, International Encyclopedia of the Social Science by David I. Sills, and Critical Approaches in Literature from David Daiches.
CHAPTER IV
ANALYSIS
This chapter answers the questions in the problem formulation and is divided into three parts. The first part describes Tamara Goodwin’s conflicts. The second part examines Tamara Goodwin’s perceptions in the beginning of the story. The third part discusses the conflicts that influence the development of Tamara Goodwin’s characteristic.
A. Tamara Goodwin’s Conflicts
In this story Tamara Goodwin had four conflicts. The first conflict was conflict between Tamara’s regret. The second conflict was conflict between Tamara’s expectation and Tamara’s reality. The third was conflict between Tamara’s perception about future and her lack of capability to make decision. The fourth conflict was conflict between Tamara and her friends. These conflicts began when her father committed suicide and left debts to be paid by Tamara and her mother.
He was bankrupt; the bank had already put in the place the repossession of our home and all the other properties he owned, which left Mum to sell everything – everything – that we owned to pay back the debts. He didn’t come back to help us then either. So I knew then that he was gone. He was really gone. I figured if he was going to let us go through all of that on our own – let me blow air into his dead body, let Mum scratch at his coffin in front of everybody, and then watch us be stripped of everything we’d ever owned, I was pretty sure he was gone for good (p. 4).
Worchel and Cooper in Understanding Social Psychology states that conflict is a contradiction as the result of incompatibility within individual or
between two or more individuals (1976: 460-463). Tamara had to face reality that had happened and her wishes that it had never happened. It started her regret feeling toward her father’s death, her adaptation in the new world, her future up to her feeling toward her old friends. The conflicts are discussed below.
1. Conflict between Tamara’s Wish to Dedicate and Tamara’s Regret toward
Her Father Death
Since her father’s death, Tamara was shocked. She thought that there was no way to go out from this chaos. Tamara was not ready for her father’s sudden death. Tamara was between two choices, whether she would accept the reality of her father’s death or she would live in her regretful feeling.
Moreover, Tamara felt regret about her father’s death. She thought that her father’s death was because of her naughtiness. When her father lived, Tamara behaved very badly. She often argued and rebelled against him. Tamara felt that she had not dedicated herself to her father. That was why Tamara’s regretful feeling come on her mind.
It had been my fault. It had all been my fault. I’d tried to save him but I didn’t even know how to do that properly. If I’d learned how, If I’d paid attention at school, If I’d tried to be an interested, better person than the selfish one I’d been, then maybe I could have helped. They’d said I got to him too late, that there was nothing I could possibly have done, but still you never know. I’m his daughter – maybe that would have helped (p. 226-227).
was her wish to save her father in order to make him alive again. The second choice was accepting her father’s death as reality and going on with her life.
Because of her father’s death, she realized how important he was for her. She started to regret the bad things she did to her father, George. She wished that she could make up all the things again if she was given a second chance. She needed a second chance to talk and understand her father’s problem.
I was protesting too much. I could have imagined Dad trying to tell me he was selling off everything. Of course I would cared- I would moaned and whinged. I wouldn’t have understood, I would just have been embarrassed about what everyone thought of us. Greedy little pig that I was. But I wish he’d have given me the opportunity to understand. I wish he’d have sat me down and talked about it, and we could all have worked it out together (p. 265).
Before her father’s death, Tamara got presentiment about what her father was going to do. Then, Tamara imagined that she could return the time. She wanted to prevent her father to commit suicide. Tamara wished she could say something to stop him. Since Tamara’s parents were very busy and rarely at home. Tamara felt lonely and needed much attention from them. Although Tamara often begged them to stay, they would go out anyway. That is why she behaved worse than usual. It made her have deeper regret.
I felt something was coming and I did what I always did: I started to push him away. I was bitchier than usual, worse behaved than usual; smoked in the house, come home drunk, that kind of thing. I should have say something. Better yet, I should have done something to stop him. I’m sorry, Dad. What if, what if, what if (p. 101-102).
not want to see him anymore. She did when she did not want her father to go. Tamara did not think about her words possibly could hurt her father’s heart.
I told Dad I never wanted to see him again, and I never did. They would be my final words to him and that would be my final moment with him. That’s a lot to have to deal with. I have a lot to forgive myself for (p. 7-8).
If she were given a second chance, she would not say something that hurt him. She would not have fight with him. Otherwise, she would show her love to him. Tamara wanted to tell him that she loved him. She even wanted to say sorry and hugged him.
The fight. The horrible fight we’d had. I’d slammed that door in his face and run upstairs. I should have told him I loved him. I should have said sorry and hugged him (p. 226).
However, no matter how regret a person is, nobody who has died could live again. Although Tamara cried over night and dream about her father, he would never come back.
I’m sad so I’ll cry. Sometimes I start and then stop as I convince myself that everything will be fine. Sometimes I don’t believe myself and I start again. I have lots of dreams about Dad. I’ve heard people say that when they dream about a loved one that has died, they feel that it’s real (p. 114).
2. Conflict between Tamara’s Expectation and Tamara’s Reality
with her new environment. She wondered about her new room in her aunt and uncle’s house.
I stared at the room that was now my room. It didn’t seem very my; I wondered if it would ever feel my. It was simple room, surprisingly warm (p. 38).
In the process of adaptation, Tamara felt that she was in the middle of nowhere. It was totally in contrast to her expectation. Becoming far away from her house, friends and her activities in Dublin made Tamara depressed.
I’d been ripped away from my home, my place; I felt like my identity had been taken away with it. I don’t think some people know what it’s like to be taken away from their home. Sure, you can be homesick, or you can move away and miss an area. But we were forced to move. And while we were cast out, forced to live with family members we barely knew, it just sat here, huge and empty, with a For Sale sign nailed to the boundary wall like two fingers being held up to us, while we had to sit outside and watch it like strangers, without being able to return (p. 220- 221).
I don’t like it here, Mum. I finally said, and realized my voice shook and I was close to tears. Can’t we stay in Dublin? With friends? (p. 41).
Tamara’s question to her mother ended up in uncertainty. Tamara felt that no one could communicate with her well. No one could understand her true feeling. She had her own expectations about her life. She wanted to go with her previous social environment. On the contrary, she had to live in her strange uncle and aunt. She felt confused about her recent life.
I don’t know how long we’re going to live here. Nobody will answer that question for me. My life is not going as I planned. I should be in our villa at Marbella swimming everyday, eating barbequed dinner, clubbing every night at Angel & Demons. Instead, I’m living in Hicksville, in a gatehouse with three crazy people. I have absolutely nothing to do with my life (p. 21).
In addition, Tamara felt unfamiliar with her new environment. She felt uncomfortable to sleep in a room that was not hers. She felt strange to live in house that was not hers. It made her want to hold on to one thing that was familiar.
Stanton also states that every work of fiction contains obvious internal conflicts between two desires within a character, or external conflicts between characters or between a character and his environment (1965: 16). Tamara clearly had conflicts between herself and her new environment. This external conflict brought her to experience internal conflict.
expected to get back at the past when she lived with her father and mother. She truly expected that her movement to the countryside never happened.
I wanted to forget Kilsaney and all the people in it. I wanted to forget we’d ever left this house and Dad had ever done what he’d done. I wanted to go the night I’d crept out and then had the fight with him. I wanted everything to change. And then everything changed. Everything. And if I‘d managed at any stage to upstand the dominoes, they all started to fall again (p. 227- 228).
3. Conflict between Tamara’s Perception about Future and Her Lack of
Capability to Make Decision about Her Future
Tamara’s father was a successful furniture developer that could support Tamara’s future easily. He had a promising business and many friends to make Tamara as he wanted her to be. Moreover, her father was an authoritarian who preferred controlling Tamara’s life rather than letting Tamara decide things she wanted to do. These factors made Tamara become a person who had lack of consciousness to think about her own future. Even worse, she could not take decision about her future because she used to be controlled by her father.
Tamara never thought about tomorrow since she had one hundred percent guarantee from her father’s richness. She was not worried about future. Having fun and fooling around were the only things running through her mind at that time. That was why although she was still sixteen years old, she felt free to hang out with her friends. She also did other useless things in the middle of the night.
After she moved to her aunt and uncle’s house, Tamara was far away from her hang-out friends and her school. She had much times to think about her life and her future. However, she did not have a school to study at. Willy-nilly, it bothered her mind. She realized that school was very important to her continuous life later. Tamara started to worry about her future. She felt that she needed to ask her mother about her future.
But how long are we going to stay here? What’s our plan? Where am I going to school in September? Can I still go to St Mary’s? (p. 41).
4. Conflict between Tamara and Her Friends
While Tamara was living in her luxurious world, she had many friends to hang out with. They were friends who just thought about appearance and latest fashions. It made Tamara have the same idea, that the most important criterion to make friends was the appearance and the fashion they wore.
After Tamara lived in countryside, she felt that she was different from her old friend. Tamara felt that she was not the same Tamara when she was in a big house and luxurious life anymore. Tamara started to think that appearance and the latest fashion were not the most important things in life. She met new best friends with new points of view towards life in country. Therefore she felt hurt when her two friends, Zoey and Laura, mocked her new friends in countryside as nerds.
Tamara’s friends, Zoey and Laura just felt the same feeling as Tamara felt about them. They thought that Tamara was not their old friend that had the similar point of view. Therefore Zoey and Laura treated her differently.
like a sleeping suit, and everything I said was being picked at, analysed, misconstrued (p. 71).
Tamara’s new environment made her feel different with her old friends. Tamara’s new experiences at countryside and her friends’ experiences in modern world could not be mixed and matched anymore. Tamara and her friends were separated by an invisible thick wall.
I think that’s when I started building a wall up between us. They knew it too. Zoey was looking at me with those squinted dissecting eyes that she gives to anybody that’s in any way different, different being the worst possible offence in the world to her. They didn’t know why, they never thought that the emotional impact of what I’d just gone through was going to change not just me for weeks, but the very core of me for ever. They just thought living in the country was having a bad effect on me (p. 72). Because of these odd feelings, Tamara did not feel comfortable to join her friends anymore. That was why she chose not to keep in touch with them. Moreover, Tamara did not want to pick up her best friends’ call in her birthday. ‘Zoey and Laura both phoned the house. I told Rosaleen to tell them I was out’ (p. 248).
B. Tamara Goodwin’s Perceptions before the Conflicts
influenced by his or her place where he or she lives in. It is like a saying: what you see is what you get.
In this section the writer will see Tamara Goodwin’s perceptions when she was living in her high class environment. It was the time when her father was still alive and able to provide everything she needed. This was the moment when she got everything she wanted.
1. Tamara’s Perception about Her Father
Kasschau said that people saw something based on what they experienced in the past and their current expectation (1995: 121). This statement happened to Tamara’s perception about her father. Tamara did not have a good relationship with her father. It was because Tamara had bad perception about him. This perception was influenced by Tamara’s experiences in the past and by her current expectation about him.
Tamara and her father rarely spoke to each other. When they did, it was to argue about something. Because Tamara deemed her father as prickly as a person who snapped often and who had a temper that flared easily. Moreover he forced his opinion on others and he was rather arrogant. He enjoyed making people feel uncomfortable and inferior. From those experiences Tamara thought that her father was not a good man (p. 5).
them the warmest hugs. Tamara was the opposite, she would give an easy way for people to leave her by making bitchy remarks to them. So, when he was afraid of someone leaving, he complimented the person on everything. Her father was more into last impression than first ones while Tamara was the opposite. Tamara made it easier for people to leave by making them momentarily hate her (p. 98-99). These differences made Tamara think that they were impossibly matched.
According to Kasschau, perception is also influenced by current expectation (1995: 121). Tamara Goodwin’s perception was also influenced by her current expectation about her parents, in this case, her Dad.
We never got to spend time with all of us together. I’ve learned now that what I desired more than somethings was for us to spend time together, natural and easy time around the house not pushed together in forced moments (p. 99).
However, Tamara’s parents were very busy and rarely at home. Tamara felt lonely and needed much attention from them. Although Tamara often begged them to stay, they would go out anyway.
Since Tamara’s father was a business man, he always turned everything into a business. Tamara hated this about him. Tamara deemed her father as a materialist. She thought that her father’s death was because he could not live without his money.
It was all for more money. And I so suppose it was fitting that it was the loss of all his money that killed him in the end (p. 53).
He was always complimenting her on the most ridiculous things which annoyed me a lot. He never complimented me on any of those things. You can’t lose a daughter can you? A child of yours will always be your child, whether you see them or not. A wife, now that can more easily be lost (p. 97).
Therefore Tamara did not have much time to share with her Dad. They often fought and argued. Tamara’s retorts to him became more personal than before, and it made Tamara’s perceptions about her Dad get worse and worse.
Like I said, he was always nice to Mum, usually nice to me if I nice back, but this kind of nice was like a long and drawn-out wave goodbye from the door (p. 101).
2. Tamara’s Perception about Richness
Tamara’s father was a successful furniture developer. He was ambitious and when he decided to achieve something, he had to. That was why Tamara could live in prosperity. She lived in a big house by the sea and spent her summer in Marbella, Christmas in her Verbier chalet and Easter in the New York Ritz, on shopping trip. In short, she had everything.
In addition, when Tamara felt depressed about the condition of the town, her new friend advised her. Her new friend, Marcus, said that the town was not that bad, but Tamara was still depressed. Then he could conclude that Tamara always get what she wanted.
Do you always get what you want? Marcus looked at me. I couldn’t answer. And so I just nodded (p. 64).
Although her Mum and Dad continually told her about starving babies in Africa, that would not make her appreciate everything either. She thought everything that she had at that time was something that she deserved to get it.
I expected everything and, even worse, I thought I deserved everything just because everybody else I knew had them. It didn’t occur to me for one moment that they didn’t particularly deserve them either (p. 6).
3. Tamara’s Perception about the Future
According to Ruch, other factor that is influenced people’s perception is social factor which is many of our perceptions are directly or indirectly shaped by our social environment (1963: 313). Here, in Tamara’s social factor, Tamara used to be controlled by her father. Tamara was not given the opportunity to think about what she actually wanted to be. That made Tamara have the perceptions to live now and want everything now. She did not have interest and motivation to think about her future.
As a child if I brought home paintings from school, he would think I could suddenly be an artist, but only an artist who could demand millions for my work. If I argued a point strongly, I was suddenly a lawyer, but only a lawyer who demanded hundreds per hour. I had a good singing voice and suddenly I was going to record in his friend’s studio and be the next big thing (p. 53).
Would you prefer to be given a life already lived too, Tamara? That way you can sit back and observe it. Or would you rather live it yourself? (p. 92).
4. Tamara’s Perception about Friends
The theory says that social factor influence people’s perception. That is what happened to Tamara’s perception toward her friends. Tamara lived in high class life style. She could look cool with the money she had. Therefore, she would only make friends with cool gangs and wasted time together by drinking and gossiping.
Drinking, escaping from house in middle of the night, and stealing her best friend’s boyfriend were usual things to do for Tamara. Her hedonism lifestyle and superficial friendship were her choices
There was an area on the beach where my friends and I went drinking. The girls mostly drank Dolly Mixtures. The guys drank whatever cider they could get their hands on. There was a boy, Fiachra, who I stole from my best friend Zoey, whose dad was a famous actor (p. 6).
Tamara and her friends did not keep diaries. They kept in touch through Twitter or Facebook. They posted up photos of theirs whilst on holiday, their nights out. They liked to dress up in department-store changing rooms and looking for second opinion. They texted one another continuously, they emailed and gossiped and forwarded generic funny emails but they were all just surface stuff. “Tamara and her friends talked about things you can see, things you can touch, nothing deeper and emotional.” (p. 104-105).
Beneath a tree in the school grounds at lunch time and bury her nose deep in a book or furiously scribble something in a notebook. I used to laugh at her (p. 105).
C. The Influence of Conflicts on the Development of Tamara Goodwin’s
Perceptions
Kasschau in Understanding Psychology stated that perception can develop, as perceiving is something that they learn to do (1995: 123). It means that a person’s perception can change depending on what he or she sees, notices, and hears. Then, the person will take it as lessons to learn further.
In the novel, after the death of Tamara’s father, complicated conflicts came up to Tamara’s life. Then they forced Tamara change her environment. In the new environment, what Tamara saw, noticed and heard was different. Because of these differences, Tamara experienced changes in her perceptions toward everything in her life. When Tamara’s perceptions changed, so did Tamara’s personality.
In the novel, the changes of perceptions happened when the conflicts happened. Then when the perceptions changed, the personality also developed.
1. Tamara’s New Perceptions about Her Father
Based on what the writer explained in the answer to the first problem formulation about Tamara’s perceptions before the conflicts happened in her life, the writer finds out that Tamara did not appreciate her father. She often argued and fought with him. Tamara also deemed that her father was not a good man. But after her father died and left her for good, she realized that whatever happened she needed her father.
I don’t care about losing anything now. I’d rather have him any day. We’ve lost everything now, including him. I mean, what was the point? When they repossessed the house, I think that was it for him. I studied him golfing with Mum, his face serious as he looked into the distance for his ball. They could take everything but not that (p. 265).
One of four factors that influence people’s perception according to Ruch is organic condition which is organic needs of someone that influence his or her perception about something (1963: 309). The presence of a father is an organic need for a daughter’s life. That was what happened to Tamara who needed her father in order to make her life complete again.
Dad had been patient, he hadn’t yelled, he hadn’t said anything. He’d even gone searching ball when it wasn’t his fault. He even purposely fluffed a few shots, and that had angered me even more (p. 223).
Finally, Tamara could understand about the burden that her father possibly felt. She tried to understand the reason of her father’s decision to commit suicide.
Maybe that’s what Dad had thought in his final moment: I’d rather be caught dead here in my study than go through the humiliation of having everything taken from me (p. 11).
Indeed, Tamara needed time to deal with her regretful and guilty feeling toward her father’s death. She learned to forgive herself. Now, after her father’s death, Tamara’s perception developed. She started to think about the future and all the people around her. Tamara lost her father, he lost his tomorrows and she lost all the tomorrows with him. But she could appreciate them when they came. Now, Tamara wanted to make them the best they can possibly be (p. 8). Tamara’s perceptions about her father did develop, she had much better perceptions toward her father, George.
Furthermore, when she found out her real father, Laurie, Tamara could still appreciate her both fathers. Tamara knew that her fathers were given to her best.
Although she lost her father, Tamara learned that there was always a hope. A hope made her stronger, because it brought a sense of reason It was a reason for Tamara to continue her life.
2. Tamara’s New Perceptions about Richness
People’s perceptions in Psychology and Life Seventh Edition states that social factor which is many of people’s perceptions are directly and indirectly shaped by people’s social environment (1963: 312-313). As a person who grew up in luxury, of course, Tamara relied on them directly or indirectly. It also influenced her in perceiving that luxury was the most important thing. She loved branded things, latest fashion, cool friends. She hated fake branded things, old fashion and dork friends. ‘A fake Louis Vuitton- are you joking? I felt pain just look at it’ (p. 166).
After her father was bankrupt, she was struck by many conflicts. She had to sell everything she had. Then moving to her unfamiliar uncle and aunt’s house was not the best choice for her. Her life totally changed from luxurious one to simple one. At the first time, she was in difficulty to adapt with her new environment that was far away from everywhere. But after some time, she started to realize that life could still be happy although in simplicity. Tamara learned simplicity from her aunt and uncle’s way of life.
yours and give the rest back. I’ll take Rosaleen and Arthur’s simplicity any day (p. 107).
The writer concludes that by changing the social environment, a person’s perceptions can change too, because what the person sees, notices and hears are different.
One of four factors that influence people’s perception according to Ruch is organic condition which is organic needs of someone influence his or her perception about something (1963: 309). It happened to Tamara who loved branded things, latest fashion, and hated fake things. Moreover, Mini Cooper would be her seventeen birthday gift. After Tamara’s father was bankrupt, there are no Mini Cooper, no Louis Vuitton bag anymore. Later, she had to live in her uncle and aunt’s house. Tamara should rely on them in everything even for the basic needs. She had nothing but her mother and herself.
Because of this condition, Tamara started to think about her own needs that she had never thought before. In her previous condition, she did not need to ask for something. Instead, something had been delivered for her already. One day, Tamara ran out of her shampoo. Actually it was a simple thing for normal people. Now in her condition, she was not able to buy the same branded shampoo she used to have. That was why she was very grateful when she got a shampoo from her aunt in her seventeenth birthday. This time was not a Mini Cooper but ordinary shampoo set to wash her hair. It was more than enough for Tamara to say thank you.
weirdly I was more grateful for this because I actually needed it. I was running out of shampoo and the red squirrels weren’t easily impressed by the Louis Vuitton bags (p. 248).
Tamara learned many things in her new environment. She changed much. When she arrived in her aunt and uncle’s house, she felt that she and her Mum were all washed up. They had nothing, and belonged to nothing; felt aimless as though they were trapped in a waiting room with no doors. However, she started to realize that when things were washed up, they had not just been torn apart. They were actually the survivors. Even when all things were messed up, she could really grow. “Sometimes a lot can come of being all washed up. You can really grow” (p. 258).
3. Tamara’s New Perception about Her Own Future
As the only child of a rich man, Tamara’s life used to be controlled by her father. Her father always wanted to give the best for Tamara. Nevertheless, he did it by deciding Tamara’s future job without asking what Tamara desired.
I had a good singing voice and suddenly I was going to record in his friend’s studio and be the next big thing. He didn’t even care about my singing voice. It was all for more money (p. 53).
It made Tamara unable to be a decision maker. She used to rely on her father’s decision about everything in her life. Her father’s death was the turning point for her. She should decide everything by her own self.
money, she had no car. Her new hopeless condition made her worried. She asked her mother for further information, but she had no an answer from her. Then, she tried to talk about it with her aunt. She was struggling for her future. Tamara changed from Tamara who lived now to be Tamara who talked about future.
Anyway, I’d rather talk about my future than about my birthday. If we’re still here in September, which is looking like what’s going to happen, how am I going to get to St Mary’s from here? There aren’t any buses, or at least none that pass by here. I doubt Arthur would want to drive me to and from school everyday (p. 201).
In the middle of her life, Tamara found a magic diary. This diary could tell her about the day after today, tomorrow. At the first time, Tamara could not believe it. However, day after day, she started to believe it even she depended on it. This diary reflected how Tamara was unable to make her own decision. She needed to depend on something or someone as she used to depend on her father.
Nevertheless, one day, she found out that the diary could be changed. If she did differently from what the diary stated, her future became different too. Therefore Tamara realized that her future had not been written yet. Everything depended on how she lived and it did not depend on what people decided for her. Her life could not be controlled by others again.
However, exactly in what way was still unclear, as it obviously depended on how I lived the day I awoke. The future hadn’t written yet. It was still in my hands (p. 199).
4. Tamara’s New Perceptions about Friends
they invariably organize them into figure and ground (1995: 121). Tamara used to have a surface-stuff friendship with her old friends, Zoey and Laura. She thought that Fiona, her other friend was a nerd. It was because she was a bookworm and a shy girl. After she experienced things with her new friends at the country, Sister Ignatius, she knew the true meaning of friendship. Sister Ignatius taught her how a true friendship could possibly be so wonderful. “I think Sister Ignatius’s been the best friend I’ve ever had (p. 248).
Since she moved to the new environment, she rarely hanged out with her old friends. She felt uncomfortable with her old friends’ way of life. Being outside from them, she could see them objectively. She realized what kind of friendship they had so far. She realized that Zoey and Laura were not good friends for Tamara. She disagreed with her old friends’ way of thinking. Tamara disagreed with her old way of thinking. It was supported by her disagreement to her friends’ way to follow the latest fashion by imitating an artist. She deemed it as a silly action.
When they were so busy telling me about their new source of entertainment, going out without underwear on. Honestly I had to laugh. Zoey and Laura seemed to think this was a great new leap forward for women. I think that when the women’s lib took off their bras and burned them, this wasn’t exactly what they were hoping for. I said this to Zoey and she studied me thoughtfully (p. 75).
I didn’t feel like me. I didn’t really care who I was any more. I had given up pretending to be the person I’d kept trying to be, the same as Zoey and Laura, the same as everybody else around us, as though by being that way we’d get along in life so much better. Well, it wasn’t working. It wasn’t working for Laura, it hadn’t worked for Zoey and it most certainly hadn’t worked for me (p. 221-222).
Realizing those things, Tamara finally decided to say goodbye to her old friends, Zoey and Laura completely. Then Tamara planned on inviting Fiona, the dork girl, to her new house soon. She thought that maybe a person like Fiona could be a true friend for her. Tamara changed her perceptions in choosing friends. She did not see a person only from the appearance.
After she overcome the conflicts, Tamara could say that she learned many things. She grew so much and it did not end yet. She would still learn many things in the future.
What I learned today. I feel in this circumstance it would take far less to say. What I haven’t learned, for what haven’t I learned? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. I’ve learned so much, I’ve grown so much and it’s never ending (p. 318).
CHAPTER V
CONCLUSION
This chapter sums up the result of the research. By describing Tamara’s conflicts, the writer can draw a conclusion on Tamara’s perceptions in the beginning of the story and the influence of her conflicts towards her change of perceptions in the end.
At the beginning of the story, Tamara Goodwin lived in luxury because her father was a successful furniture developer, Tamara lived in a seven thousand square foot, six-bedroom contemporary mansion with a swimming pool and tennis court and a private beach in Killiney, County Dublin, in Ireland. She had everything in her life. Therefore, she became so spoiled and rebellious girl. She often argued and fought with her father. She was never thankful for everything she had. Tamara only hang out with up to date friends and underestimated shy friends.
It happened until her father passed away. When her father was bankrupt and she had to move to the countryside. Conflicts in her life appeared one by one. The first conflict was conflict between Tamara’s guilt and regret. These conflicts appeared because Tamara thought that she was not a good daughter for her father. The second conflict was conflict between Tamara’s expectation and Tamara’s reality. Tamara expected to have her previous life back: a life where there was her family, friends and luxury.
The third conflict was the conflict between Tamara’s perception about future and her lack of capability to make decision. Tamara’s life used to be controlled by her father. It made her lack of capability to make decision. The fourth conflict was the conflict between Tamara and her friends. Since she moved to countryside, she rarely hung out with her old friends, Zoey and Laura. Tamara made a new friend in countryside who taught her about true friendship. She started to disagree with her old friends’ way of thinking.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Abrams, M.H. A Glossary of Literary Terms, Sixth Edition. Forth Worth: Harcourt Brace College Publisher, 1993.
Ahern, Cecelia. The Book of Tomorrow. New York: Harper, 2009.
David, Daiches. Critical Approaches to Literature. Second Edition. New York: Longman Inc., 1981.
Foster, E.M. Aspect of the Novel. London: William Clowes and Son. Ltd., 1974. Hurlock, Elisabeth. Personality Development. New York: Mc. Graw- Hill Book
Company, 1974.
Isenhart, M.W., and Michael, S. Collaborative Approaches to Resolving Conflict. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publication, 2000.
Kasschau, Richard. PH.D. Understanding Psychology. Ohio: Glencoe, 1995. Kristiyanti, Marcellina Galuh.“The Influence of Bad Treatment on Edmund’s
Personality Development as Seen in C.S Lewis’ the Chronicles of Narnia, the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.” Undergraduate Thesis. Jogjakarta: Sanata Dharma University, 2008.
Larry, Hjelle., and Daniel J. Ziegler. Personality Theories. Basic Assumptions, Research and Applications. Tokyo: Mc. Graw-Hill, Inc., 1981.
Prinhantara, Antonius Agung.“The Influences of Family and Environment toward Richard Wright’s Personality Development as Seen in Richard Wright’s Black Boy. Undergraduate Thesis.” Jogjakarta: Sanata Dharma University, 2004.
Ruch, Flyod. L. Psychology and Life. Seventh Edition. Glenview: Scott, Foresman and Company, 1963.
Sills. David. I. International Encyclopedia of the Social Science Volume 3. New York: Mac Millan Company and the Free Press, 1972.
Stanton, R. An Introduction to Fiction. New York: Holt, Ronehart and Winston, 1965.
Stephanie. Book Review: The Book of Tomorrow by Cecelia Ahern. (2011). <http://www.poetrytoprose.com/2011/03/24/book-review-the-book-of-tomorrow-by-cecelia-ahern/> (7 April 2011).
APPENDIX
The Summary of The Book of Tomorrow
The Book of Tomorrow is a story about sixteen years, Tamara Goodwin who lived in luxury at the beginning of the story. Because her father was a successful furniture developer, Tamara lived in a seven thousand square foot, six-bedroom contemporary mansion with a swimming pool and tennis court and a private beach in Killiney, County Dublin, Ireland. She was described as a spoiled and rebellious girl who had everything in her life. However, this condition did not stay longer. Her father, Mr. George Goodwin committed suicide and left her family with debts to be paid back by Tamara and her mother.
Tamara and her mother had to sell everything and move to their strange relatives in countryside. Afterwards, Tamara’s world totally changed. She was not a rich girl who had a luxurious house, cool friends and complete parents anymore. She just fell in the middle of nowhere with her grieving mother and her freak aunt and uncle.
She became very fragile at that time, she was confused and sad. In addition, she felt guilty for her father’s death, since she thought that she was not an obedient and nice daughter for him. Tamara hated herself for everything she did in the past. Moreover, she got some troubles with her aunt who did not support Tamara’s mother to recover from grieving. Tamara just wanted to go out from her tragic condition. However, she did not know how to get out from that situation. This created internal conflicts with herself. She felt that everything was
going to be fine. In other hand she felt depressed and incapable to solve her conflicts alone.
Tamara hated life in the quiet little village. She started to be bored. It was because she used to live in metropolis. She used to hang out and had fun easily with her friends. Her only happiness was the arrival of the good looking guy driving the travelling library. While Tamara was looking around the library, Tamara came across a large leather bound book locked with a gold clasp and padlock.
When Tamara finally opened the book, what she discovered in there was unbelievable and shook her world. The book was a magic diary. It could tell her about tomorrow. At the beginning, Tamara relied on it, and then Tamara realized that she could change her tomorrow. It was the time not to do what the diary told her to do.
The diary could not be a good supporter for her forever. She began to find something to do and tried to rise from her chaos. Tamara made new friends in her new environment. It brought much enlightenment to her in understanding life. She dared herself to struggle to overcome her problems and to face any risk.
