ABSTRACT
Wiedaninggar, Chatarina Setyastuti. 2008.An Analysis of Maria’s Struggle for a Better Life as seen in Paulo Coelho’s Eleven Minutes. Yogyakarta: English Language Education Study Program, Department of Language and Arts Education, Faculty of Teachers Training and Education, Sanata Dharma University.
This thesis discusses Paulo Coelho’s novel entitled Eleven Minutes. The analysis focuses on Maria, the major character in the novel. She is considered as a woman who struggles for a better life. The aim of this study is to analyse Maria’s struggles for a better life as seen in Paulo Coelho’s Eleven Minutes. Therefore, here are two problems that should be answered in this thesis, namely: (1) How is Maria characterized in Paulo Coelho’s Eleven Minutes? (2) How does Maria struggle for a better life?
To answer those problems, this thesis employed library research. There are two data used in this thesis, namely primary data and secondary data. The primary data is taken from the novel itself, Eleven Minutes. The secondary data is gained from books on psychology and literary theories and internet sources which provide the information related to this analysis. They are theory of character, theory of characterization, theory of critical approach, theory of motivation, struggle for life and theory of human needs. The approach used in this thesis is the psychological approach since it deals with a psychological issue on one’s struggle for a better life.
Based on the analysis, it can be concluded that Maria is a beautiful woman who makes use of her beauty to attract men. However, she always has difficulties in having relationship with men. Maria is also portrayed as a smart, brave, honest and lonely woman. There are some reasons why Maria wants to struggle for her better life. She comes from a low class family. Therefore, she wants to improve her social condition. Moreover, she also has a dream of travelling. She is keen on having adventure by leaving her hometown and having new experiences. Maria’s success in her life struggle can be seen from the way she deals with every job she has. First, she becomes a shop-assistant in her town, Brazil. Then, she has to work as a salsa dancer in Switzerland. Moreover, she wants to try to be a model since she has no other skills but her beauty. Finally, she changes her life by becoming a prostitute. During her experiences, she can fulfil some of her needs.
At the end, some suggestions for the readers are presented. Firstly, this thesis can be a reference for the future researchers if they want to analyse the same novel. Second, this thesis proposes suggestion for the implementation of literature in teaching English especially intensive reading for the second semester students of English Education Study Program.
ABSTRAK
Wiedaninggar, Chatarina Setyastuti. 2008.An Analysis of Maria’s Struggle for a Better Life as seen in Paulo Coelho’s Eleven Minutes. Yogyakarta: program Studi Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris, Jurusan Pendidikan Bahasa dan Seni, Fakultas Keguruan dan Ilmu Pendidikan, Universitas Sanata Dharma.
Skripsi ini membahas tentang sebuah novel yang berjudul Eleven Minutes karya Paulo Coelho. Analisis terfokus kepada Maria, tokoh utama yang ada di dalam novel tersebut. Dia adalah seorang perempuan yang berjuang untuk sebuah kehidupan yang lebih baik. Tujuan skripsi ini adalah untuk mengetahui perjuangan Maria untuk hidup yang lebih baik seperti yang terlihat dalam novel Eleven Minutes karya Paulo Coelho. Ada dua permasalahan yang menjadi pembahasan utama di dalam skripsi ini (1) Bagaimana Maria, tokoh utama dalam novel ini digambarkan? (2) Bagaimana Maria berjuang untuk mendapat hidup yang lebih baik.
Untuk menjawab permasalahan tersebut, skripsi ini menggunakan penelitian perpustakaan untuk mengumpulkan data. Ada dua data yang digunakan yaitu data utama dan data kedua. Data utama adalah novel itu sendiri, Eleven Minutes. Data kedua diambil dari buku-buku tentang teori psikologi dan literature serta sumber dari internet yang menyediakan informasi yang berkaitan dengan analisis ini. Teori-teori tersebut adalah teori tentang karakter, penokohan, teori pendekatan, teori motivasi, perjuangan hidup dan teori kebutuhan manusia. Pendekatan yang digunakan adalah pendekatan psikologi karena skripsi ini berhubungan dengan masalah psikologi dalam perjuangan seseorang untuk hidup yang lebih baik.
Berdasarkan hasil analisis, dapat disimpulkan bahwa Maria adalah seorang perempuan cantik yang menggunakan kecantikannya untuk menarik perhatian laki-laki. Tetapi dia selalu mendapatkan hambatan-hambatan dalam menjalin hubungan dengan laki-laki. Maria juga digambarkan sebagai seorang yang pintar, berani, jujur dan kesepian. Ada beberapa alasan mengapa Maria ingin berjuang untuk hidup yang lebih baik. Dia berasal dari keluarga kelas bawah. Oleh karena itu dia ingin meningkatkan kondisi sosialnya. Dia juga memiliki mimpi untuk traveling. Dia ingin berpetualang dengan meninggalkan kampung halamannya dan mendapatkan pengalaman-pengalaman baru. Kesuksesan Maria dalam perjuangannya dapat dilihat dari cara dia menghadapi setiap pekerjaan. Pertama, dia menjadi asisten toko di kampung di Brazil. Lalu dia bekerja sebagai penari salsa di Swiss. Setelah itu, dia mencoba untuk menjadi model karena dia tahu kecantikannya. Dia tidak mempunyai ketrampilan khusus untuk bekerja. Kemudian, dia mengubah hidupnya dengan menjadi seorang Pekerja Seks Komersil (PSK). Dalam pengalamannya tersebut, Maria bisa memenuhi hampir semua kebutuhannya.
Skripsi ini memberikan beberapa saran untuk pembaca. Pertama, skripsi ini bisa menjadi sebuah referensi bagi peneliti-peneliti lain apabila mereka ingin menganalisa novel yang sama. Kedua, skripsi ini memberikan saran untuk implementasi mengajar bahasa Inggris terutama membaca intensif untuk mahasiswa PBI semester dua.
AN ANALYSIS OF MARIA’S STRUGGLE FOR A BETTER LIFE AS SEEN IN PAULO COELHO’S ELEVEN MINUTES
A THESIS
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements to Obtain theSarjana PendidikanDegree
in English Language Education
By:
Chatarina Setyastuti Wiedaninggar Student Number: 02 1214 127
ENGLISH EDUCATION STUDY PROGRAM
DEPARTMENT OF LANGUAGE AND ARTS EDUCATION FACULTY OF TEACHERS TRAINING AND EDUCATION
SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY YOGYAKARTA
AN ANALYSIS OF MARIA’S STRUGGLE FOR A BETTER LIFE AS SEEN IN PAULO COELHO’S ELEVEN MINUTES
A THESIS
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements to Obtain theSarjana PendidikanDegree
in English Language Education
By:
Chatarina Setyastuti Wiedaninggar Student Number: 02 1214 127
ENGLISH EDUCATION STUDY PROGRAM
DEPARTMENT OF LANGUAGE AND ARTS EDUCATION FACULTY OF TEACHERS TRAINING AND EDUCATION
SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY YOGYAKARTA
2008
ASarjana PendidikanThesis on
AN ANALYSIS OF MARIA’S STRUGGLE FOR A BETTER LIFE AS SEEN IN PAULO COELHO’S ELEVEN MINUTES
by
Chatarina Setyastuti Wiedaninggar
Student Number: 021214127
Approved by:
A.
Drs. L. Bambang Hendarto Y., M.Hum. June 12, 2008 Major Sponsor
ASarjana PendidikanThesis On
AN ANALYSIS OF MARIA’S STRUGGLE FOR A BETTER LIFE AS SEEN IN PAULO COELHO’S ELEVEN MINUTES
By
B. Chatarina Setyastuti Wiedaninggar Student Number: 021214127
Defended before the Board of Examiners
On ………
and Declared Acceptable
Board of Examiners
Name Signature
Chairperson : __________________________ ___________
Secretary : __________________________ ___________
Member : __________________________ ___________
Member : __________________________ ___________
Member : __________________________ ___________
Yogyakarta, June 12, 2008
Faculty of Teachers Training and Education Sanata Dharma University
BE THE BEST OF WHATEVER YOU ARE
IF YOU CAN’T BE A PINE IN THE TOP OF THE HILL, BE A SCRUB IN THE VALLEY
BUT BE THE BEST LITTLE SCRUB BY THE SIDE OF THE RILL BE A BUSH IF YOU CAN’T BE A TREE
IF YOU CAN’T BE A BUSH BE A BIT OF THE GRASS AND SOME HIGHWAY HAPPIER MAKE
IF YOU CAN’T BE A MUSKIE THEN JUST BE A BASS BUT THE LIVELIEST BASS IN THE LAKE
WE CAN’T ALL CAPTAINS; WE HAVE GOT TO BE CREW THERE’S SOMETHING FOR ALL OF US HERE
THERE’S A BIG WORK TO DO AND THERE’S LESSER TO DO AND THE TASK YOU MUST DO IS NEAR
IF YOU CAN’T BE A HIGHWAY THEN JUST BE A TRAIL IF YOU CAN’T BE THE SUN BE THE STAR
IT ISN’T BY THE SIZE THAT YOU WIN OR YOU FAIL BE THE BEST OF WHATEVER YOU ARE
DOUGLAS MALLOCH
I dedicate this thesis for my family
and for my boyfriend
ABSTRACT
Wiedaninggar, Chatarina Setyastuti. 2008.An Analysis of Maria’s Struggle for a Better Life as seen in Paulo Coelho’s Eleven Minutes. Yogyakarta: English Language Education Study Program, Department of Language and Arts Education, Faculty of Teachers Training and Education, Sanata Dharma University.
This thesis discusses Paulo Coelho’s novel entitled Eleven Minutes. The analysis focuses on Maria, the major character in the novel. She is considered as a woman who struggles for a better life. The aim of this study is to analyse Maria’s struggles for a better life as seen in Paulo Coelho’s Eleven Minutes. Therefore, here are two problems that should be answered in this thesis, namely: (1) How is Maria characterized in Paulo Coelho’s Eleven Minutes? (2) How does Maria struggle for a better life?
To answer those problems, this thesis employed library research. There are two data used in this thesis, namely primary data and secondary data. The primary data is taken from the novel itself, Eleven Minutes. The secondary data is gained from books on psychology and literary theories and internet sources which provide the information related to this analysis. They are theory of character, theory of characterization, theory of critical approach, theory of motivation, struggle for life and theory of human needs. The approach used in this thesis is the psychological approach since it deals with a psychological issue on one’s struggle for a better life.
Based on the analysis, it can be concluded that Maria is a beautiful woman who makes use of her beauty to attract men. However, she always has difficulties in having relationship with men. Maria is also portrayed as a smart, brave, honest and lonely woman. There are some reasons why Maria wants to struggle for her better life. She comes from a low class family. Therefore, she wants to improve her social condition. Moreover, she also has a dream of travelling. She is keen on having adventure by leaving her hometown and having new experiences. Maria’s success in her life struggle can be seen from the way she deals with every job she has. First, she becomes a shop-assistant in her town, Brazil. Then, she has to work as a salsa dancer in Switzerland. Moreover, she wants to try to be a model since she has no other skills but her beauty. Finally, she changes her life by becoming a prostitute. During her experiences, she can fulfil some of her needs.
At the end, some suggestions for the readers are presented. Firstly, this thesis can be a reference for the future researchers if they want to analyse the same novel. Second, this thesis proposes suggestion for the implementation of literature in teaching English especially intensive reading for the second semester students of English Education Study Program.
ABSTRAK
Wiedaninggar, Chatarina Setyastuti. 2008.An Analysis of Maria’s Struggle for a Better Life as seen in Paulo Coelho’s Eleven Minutes. Yogyakarta: program Studi Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris, Jurusan Pendidikan Bahasa dan Seni, Fakultas Keguruan dan Ilmu Pendidikan, Universitas Sanata Dharma.
Skripsi ini membahas tentang sebuah novel yang berjudul Eleven Minutes karya Paulo Coelho. Analisis terfokus kepada Maria, tokoh utama yang ada di dalam novel tersebut. Dia adalah seorang perempuan yang berjuang untuk sebuah kehidupan yang lebih baik. Tujuan skripsi ini adalah untuk mengetahui perjuangan Maria untuk hidup yang lebih baik seperti yang terlihat dalam novel Eleven Minutes karya Paulo Coelho. Ada dua permasalahan yang menjadi pembahasan utama di dalam skripsi ini (1) Bagaimana Maria, tokoh utama dalam novel ini digambarkan? (2) Bagaimana Maria berjuang untuk mendapat hidup yang lebih baik.
Untuk menjawab permasalahan tersebut, skripsi ini menggunakan penelitian perpustakaan untuk mengumpulkan data. Ada dua data yang digunakan yaitu data utama dan data kedua. Data utama adalah novel itu sendiri, Eleven Minutes. Data kedua diambil dari buku-buku tentang teori psikologi dan literature serta sumber dari internet yang menyediakan informasi yang berkaitan dengan analisis ini. Teori-teori tersebut adalah teori tentang karakter, penokohan, teori pendekatan, teori motivasi, perjuangan hidup dan teori kebutuhan manusia. Pendekatan yang digunakan adalah pendekatan psikologi karena skripsi ini berhubungan dengan masalah psikologi dalam perjuangan seseorang untuk hidup yang lebih baik.
Berdasarkan hasil analisis, dapat disimpulkan bahwa Maria adalah seorang perempuan cantik yang menggunakan kecantikannya untuk menarik perhatian laki-laki. Tetapi dia selalu mendapatkan hambatan-hambatan dalam menjalin hubungan dengan laki-laki. Maria juga digambarkan sebagai seorang yang pintar, berani, jujur dan kesepian. Ada beberapa alasan mengapa Maria ingin berjuang untuk hidup yang lebih baik. Dia berasal dari keluarga kelas bawah. Oleh karena itu dia ingin meningkatkan kondisi sosialnya. Dia juga memiliki mimpi untuk traveling. Dia ingin berpetualang dengan meninggalkan kampung halamannya dan mendapatkan pengalaman-pengalaman baru. Kesuksesan Maria dalam perjuangannya dapat dilihat dari cara dia menghadapi setiap pekerjaan. Pertama, dia menjadi asisten toko di kampung di Brazil. Lalu dia bekerja sebagai penari salsa di Swiss. Setelah itu, dia mencoba untuk menjadi model karena dia tahu kecantikannya. Dia tidak mempunyai ketrampilan khusus untuk bekerja. Kemudian, dia mengubah hidupnya dengan menjadi seorang Pekerja Seks Komersil (PSK). Dalam pengalamannya tersebut, Maria bisa memenuhi hampir semua kebutuhannya.
Skripsi ini memberikan beberapa saran untuk pembaca. Pertama, skripsi ini bisa menjadi sebuah referensi bagi peneliti-peneliti lain apabila mereka ingin menganalisa novel yang sama. Kedua, skripsi ini memberikan saran untuk implementasi mengajar bahasa Inggris terutama membaca intensif untuk mahasiswa PBI semester dua.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
First of all, I would like to devote my gratitude to my Almighty Godfor His blessing and His mercy. He gives me faith and hope to write this thesis. I
thank Him for the love, blessing and guidance along the hard path of my life. I
realized that because of His blessing through people around me in mysterious
ways, I am able to finish this thesis.
I would also like to give my deepest gratitude towards my major sponsor
Drs. L. Bambang Hendarto Y., M.Hum.for his help, advice and his patience in helping me finish this thesis. I am very happy that I can share about life with him
and he gave me many things about the meaning of real life. My great thanks is
also given to my special co-sponsor Ch. Lhaksmita Anandari, S.Pd., M.Ed.for her suggestion, correction and her assistance for every page of my thesis writing
process.
I am sincerely grateful to my parents. I thank them for their prayers. I beg
a big forgiveness for making them worried about my thesis. I thank my father,
Ign. Bambang Mulyadi for giving me advice and his financial support and my mother, D.M. Kurniati who has given her attention, her accompanying and her prayer for me every night. I thank my brother, Danny who has helped me to correct my thesis and gave me a lot of support. I also thank my little sister,Irma for cheering up my day.
My deepest love goes to my lovely partner in life, Hendrik Buesing. I thank him for his support during my writing process and his patience toward me.
Those whom I could not forget are my best friends, Dewi, Lissa, Nath, Rury, and Cicil who always asking me about my improvement. They are really my very wonderful friends.
My special thanks go to the members of Carpathia “Lissa, Nath, Cicil, Rury and Ook”. We have spent our time together to find the bloody difficult
clients. Luckily, we made it! I also thank my partners in EXSA English Camp “Galih, Bunga, Cecil, Dedi, Gede, Gaby and the supervisor Mr Bismoko”. Thanks
for helping me face the working world. Now, I know how to work in a
professional way.
My gratitude goes to all my lecturers of the English Education Study
Program in Sanata Dharma University who have been willing to share their
valuable knowledge, lessons and experiences during my study in Sanata Dharma
University, to all staffs in the secretariat of English Language Education Study
Program and all of the librarians who deserve to get special appreciation in
arranging the book needs.
The last but not least I would like to thank my PBI ’01, PBI ’02, PBI 03 friends, Dusun Jogja Village Inn, Progo Adventour Tours Magelang, Colorado School, SD Kanisius Gowongan Jogjakarta, SMU 7 Jogjakartaand all people who have not mentioned above. I thank them for their help, ideas,
energy, times, support and prayers to my life.
Wieda
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
TITLE PAGE ... i
APPROVAL PAGE ... ii
DEDICATION PAGE ... iv
STATEMENT OF WORK ORIGINALITY ... v
ABSTRAK ... vi
A. Background of the Study ... 1
B. Objectives of the Study ... 4
C. Problem Formulation ... 5
D. Benefits of the Study ... 5
E. Definition of Terms ... 6
CHAPTER II: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE... 8
A. Review of Related Theories ... 8
1. Theory of Character ... 8
a. Definition of Character ... 9
b. Kinds of Character ... 9
2. Theory of Characterization ... 11
a. Definition of Characterization ... 11
b. Methods of Characterization ... 12
3. Critical Approach ... 14
4. Motivation ... 15
5. Struggle for Life ... 16
6. Hierarchy of Needs ... 18
a. Physiological Needs ... 18
b. Safety Needs ... 18
c. Belongingness and Love Needs ... 18
d. Self-Esteem Needs ... 19
B. Maria’s Struggle for a Better Life ... 36
1. Causes of Maria’s Struggle for a Better life ... 36
a. Social Condition ... 37
b. Traveling Desire ... 39
2. Maria’s Struggle for a Better Life ... 40
a. Becoming a Shop-Assistant in Brazil ... 41
b. Becoming a Salsa Dancer in Switzerland ... 42
c. Becoming a Model ... 44
d. Becoming A Prostitute ... 45
CHAPTER V: CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS ... 55
A. Conclusions ... 55
B. Suggestions ... 57
1. Suggestion for Future Researcher ... 58
2. Suggestion for Teaching-Learning Activities ... 58
BIBLIOGRAPHY ... 60
APPENDICES ... 62
Appendix A: Cover of Eleven Minutes ... 63
Appendix B: Summary of Eleven Minutes ... 64
Appendix C: Biography of Paulo Coelho ... 66
Appendix D: Lesson Plan to Teach Intensive Reading ... 71
Appendix E : Questions to Teach Intensive Reading ... 72
CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION
This chapter consists of five elements. Those are background of the study,
problem formulation, objectives, benefits and definition of terms. The background
of the study highlights the reasons for choosing the topic and the need for
analyzing it. The problem formulation presents the general description of
questions dealing with the major character that would be analyzed in this study.
The objectives explain the struggle of the major character in detail. The benefits
of the study give theoretical benefits for the development of applicable theories.
The last element is definition of terms. In this part, some key words which are
related to the study would be defined based on valid references.
A. Background of the Study
Life is beautiful. This sentence is usually said by young people as they
hardly find problems in their life. However, we know that life is not only full of
beautiful things and happy moments but also difficulties. People, as human beings
cannot avoid them. There are so many problems that exist in our life and we need
to struggle to overcome our problems so that we can find our happiness and
targets of life.
People face problems in their life. Sometimes, it is not easy for them to
accept the problems. Sometimes problems affect people’s mind. Problems can
influence their way of thinking. At this starting point, they have to choose how to
overcome their problems. For example, since the economic crisis in 1998, people
cannot maintain their incomes and expenses. Many people, especially women
have worked as labors in factories to support financial problems. However, their
salary as labors is still less than the standard money for living. Nowadays, the
condition is getting worse. Because of the increasing price of fuel, many factories
are closed and most of the workers are laid off. Lia, one of the labors who has
been laid off decided to be a prostitute. She said that she has dilemma in her
choice. However, she realizes that being a prostitute is the best solution she can
find to cope with the financial burdens.
(http://www.hartford-hwp.com/54/212.html)
We cannot avoid our destiny. However, once we have problems in our life,
we still must continue our path. We cannot stay in the same place. People need to
struggle and survive their own life. Sometimes, people can survive in their life
because they have dreams. They want to make their dream come true. Therefore,
dream can help them to survive. In Lia’s case, one of the causes for her choice
was because she wants to feed her children at home and be able to send them to
school.
Such a condition can also be found in a work of literature such as a novel.
According to Hudson, literature is the expression of life through the medium of
language. It can be regarded as something essential since it portrays real life,
experiences, people, thoughts and people’s feeling about life (10). A novel can
arouse our feelings and emotions since what exists in a novel are portrayal of
novel is “realistic” (Rohrberger and Woods Jr. 29). Therefore, it is clear that
characters and struggle of life in a novel are realistic and can exist in our daily
life.
One of the authors who has tried to portray human’s life experiences in a
novel as described above is Paulo Coelho. His novel entitled Eleven Minutes tells
us a taboo, shocking and difficult subject, namely sex. The story tells about Maria,
a young girl from the interior Brazil whose dream is to find a charming prince in
her life to help her overcome all her problems. In the beginning of the story, it is
described that Maria comes from a low class family whose father is only a
traveling salesman and her mother is a seamstress. Then, she falls in love with
several men. However, her adolescence gives her bad experiences towards love
relationship and sex relationship. Therefore, she tends to see love as the most
painful thing in the world which only brings sadness.
Then, her struggle of life begins. She works in a draper’s shop to help her
parents’ financial condition. Then she goes to Switzerland to search for her
fortune by chance. She tries all she can do to prove that she can have a better life.
During her journey of life, she works as a prostitute. Furthermore, she finds some
crucial things that should be achieved in order to get a better life. Therefore, in her
journey she struggles to find her better life in dealing with her needs.
The story is interesting to me because I can see Maria’s problems in life.
From the excerpt of her diary, I can understand Maria’s struggle for her survival.
The way she reacts to each problem makes me interested in analyzing Maria’s
Secondly, the way Paulo Coelho, the author, creates some problems which
are usually faced by people is interesting to discuss. He describes the story in such
a way that Maria, the major character, should deal with her social condition,
herself and surroundings. He puts forward some essences of each problem in
Maria’s life.
In general, by reading and analyzing this novel, one can learn and
understand how to view the world and behave to oneself. Moreover, Maria, the
major character says whether she wants to be the victim of life or become an
adventurer who is searching for treasure. Her choice proves that she wants to
struggle for a better life.
B. The Objectives of the Study
There objectives of the study is to find out Maria’s struggles for a better
life as seen in Paulo Coelho’s Eleven Minutes. Therefore, there are two problems
need to answer in this study. The first question is to reveal Maria’s characteristics
as the major character in the novel. The second is to find out how Maria struggles
for a better life in Paulo Coelho’s Eleven Minutes. There are many values that we
can get from her action.
From the portrayal of Maria in the story, we can assume that we cannot
avoid problems we are facing. What we can do is to face them bravely. We are
problems and difficulties in our life. Thus, we can still survive and continue our
journey of life.
C. Problem Formulation
In analyzing the novel, there are two problems related to the topic of the
study. They can be formulated as follows:
1. How is Maria, the major character, described in the novel?
2. How does Maria’s struggle to have a better life?
D. The Benefits of the Study
This study deals with Maria’s struggle for a better life as seen in Paulo
Coelho’s Eleven Minutes. The first benefit goes to the readers, especially the
students of English Education study program of Sanata Dharma University.
Hopefully, this study will deepen their understanding of life through literary work
especially in Paulo Coelho’s novels. Moreover, it can be a good way to introduce
them Paulo Coelho’s literary works. The readers can implement the important
values in the novel into their real life.
Secondly, it is hoped that this study will help the teachers of English
because it gives them a good source in teaching literature especially “Eleven
Minutes” to the students. The third benefit is for other researchers who want to
analyze this novel. Hopefully this study will be useful for them. This study will
provide them with a helpful source and a relevant reference for conducting their
Finally, for me as the writer, it is interesting to know one’s struggle in
dealing with one’s own life, especially in the work of literature because it reflects
the real life. I can see other’s experience in dealing with life. This convinces me
that I have to struggle to achieve my targets of life.
E. Definition of Terms
Clarifying the important terms related to the study is obviously needed in
order to avoid misunderstanding. For that purpose, some related terms are defined
and presented as follows:
1. Struggle
According to McKechnie (367), struggle is a task or goal requiring much
effort to accomplish or achieve. Moreover, Webster states that struggle means to
try very hard to deal with a challenge, problem or difficulty (1430). In this study,
struggle refers to human’s effort in dealing with any difficult condition to gain a
better life.
2. Character
The word character has two meanings. The first meaning of character refers
to the person who appears in the story (Stanton 17). The second meaning of
character refers to the person who is presented in dramatic or narrative works who
are interpreted by readers as being endowed with moral dispositions qualities that
they are expressed in what they say through their dialogues and what they do
(Abrams 20). In this study, a character is a person who is created by an author to
3. Better Life
According to Hornby, life is described as a way in which somebody lives or
condition of an individual’s existence (1120). While Webster states that better
means in a more acceptable, appropriate or effective way (133). In this study, a
better life can be defined as a situation in which a person has achieved his or her
targets of life after dealing with all his or her problems so that he or she feels more
CHAPTER II
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
This chapter consists of three parts. The first part presents a review of
related theories that contains of theory of character, characterization, theory of
critical approach, struggle for life, theory of motivation and hierarchy of needs.
The second part presents the criticism and resources. It provides some criticisms
about Paulo Coelho and his works. The third part is the theoretical framework.
C. Review of Related Theories
This section presents relevant theories that are used as the basis in
analyzing the novel. They are theory of character and theory of characterization,
which help me to find out the description of the main character. Theory of critical
approach is an important element in this section to make a better understanding on
the work of literature. Struggle for life, motivation and hierarchy of needs help me
to find out the struggle dealing with the main character.
1. Character
The existence of characters in a literary work especially a novel is
considered significant. Forster states that a novelist can reveal problems in the
novel if he or she can describe characters gently and naturally (30-31). Therefore,
characters play an important role in the story.
a. Definition of Character
Character is one of the most important things that appear in the novel.
Here, the author creates the character and uses it as an instrument to voice what he
or she wants to convey in the story. Barnet (71) says that there are two definitions
of character. Firstly, character is a figure in a literary work and secondly,
character is the personality, that is, the mental and moral qualities of a figure as
when we say that a character is strong or weak, moral or immoral.
Abrams states that character is a representation of a person in narrative and
dramatic works as a result of the readers’ interpretation (20). His or her words and
acts express their moral and dispositional qualities that are expressed in what they
say – the dialogues and what they do – the action. Traits and the relationships
among them are vital in our understanding of the character. It is not easy to
examine the character in term of their traits. However, the difficulty we may
experience in such an effort contributes to a deeper understanding of the fictional
character as well to a greater understanding of what it is to be a real person.
b. Kinds of Character
According to Henkle (92-93), character is divided into two namely, major
and secondary characters. A major character is the most important and complex in
a literary work or novel. He or she can be identified by looking into the
complexity of his or her characterization. Thus, the readers’ fullest attention is
completely given to the major character for the sake of the understanding the story
upon his or her, the readers build expectations and desires. To some extent, as he
or she undergoes changes, the reader’s values can be changed or set up.
The secondary characters are those who appear in certain scenes.
Generally they are used to become the background of the major character.
Basically, secondary characters are to live in the world in the novel. Secondary
characters can function as a ‘point of reference’ if they act as if they were to see
the major character’s great intensity (Henkle 94-95). Their role is less important
than the major character because the story of the novel usually deals with the
major character.
Forster (46-51) in Aspect of the Novel divides the character of the novel
into two kinds, namely flat characters and round characters. A flat character is
created around “a single idea or quality”. It is snatched under one aspects and a
particular angle. Usually, a flat character is characterized only by one or two
traits. One great advantage of a flat character is that he or she is recognized easily
whenever he or she comes. They usually stay the same. They are static. In other
words, it will be easier for the reader to obtain the description of the characters
entirely only by seeing one side of a person’s character. The other advantage is
that the reader can easily remember a flat character. It is because the character will
remain the same despite his or her moving through circumstances. On the other
hand, the circumstances are not likely to change the character so that he or she
stays in the reader’s mind as unalterable.
A round character cannot be categorized in a single phrase or sentence.
temperament and motivation. The readers can only remember his or her in
connection with the great scenes by which he or she is modified since he or she
passes through them. It means that it is difficult for the readers to remember him
or her so easily because he or she may have many individual and unpredictable
human traits. Moreover, he or she is also capable of surprising the reader in a
convincing way since he or she has the incalculability of life about it.
2. Characterization
Understanding theory of characterization is important to know the novel
deeper. There are some different definitions about characterization by some
authors. Each has his or her own statement in delivering the theory of
characterization.
a. Definition of Characterization
According to Rohrberger and Woods Jr., the process in which an author
creates a character is called characterization. Basically, character and
characterization are connected and they cannot be separated. A character is
recognized by what is appearing in the story (20).
Moreover, Holman and Harmon state that characterization is the creation
of an imaginary person in the story so that she exists for the reader as a living
character (81). The author usually reveals the character as an imagery person in
b. Methods of characterization
According to Murphy in his book Understanding Unseens (161-173), there
are nine ways of characterization to make the characters understandable to and
come alive for the readers.
1) Personal Description
Here, the author attempts to describe a person’s appearance and clothes.
Therefore, the reader knows one’s character directly by the way she dresses and
the appearance. For example, a long and blonde hair young woman is considered
as a spoil woman and beauty-oriented.
2) Character as Seen by Another
Instead of describing a character directly, the author describes her through
the eyes and opinion of another character. Therefore, based on the other
characters’ judgment, the reader gets a reflected image.
3) Speech
Here, the author gives the details of the character in the novel through
what the person says. It means that whenever the person says, whenever she is in
the conversation with another, whenever she puts forward an opinion, she is
giving a clue to her character. Briefly, through her daily speech in the novel, the
reader knows about her character.
4) Past life
The author gives the reader a clue to events that have helped to create a
reader can find them by direct comment from the author, the person’s thought, the
person’s conversation or through the medium of another person.
5) Conversation of Others
The author gives a clue to the reader about a person’s character through
the conversation of other people and the things they say about her. People do talk
about other people and the things they say often give the reader a clue to the
character of the person spoken about.
6) Reactions
The author can give the reader a clue to a person’s character by letting the
reader knows how that person reacts to various situation and events.
7) Direct Comment
It is quite different from personal description. Here, the author can
describe or comment on a person’s character directly.
8) Thoughts
The author gives the reader direct knowledge of what a person is thinking
about. In this case, the person is able to do what we cannot do in real life.
Therefore, the reader will know the character of the person simply by knowing
what is in her mind.
9) Mannerism
Here, the author describes a person’s mannerism, habits or idiosyncrasies,
which may also tell the reader something about the character. Therefore, the
reader can get a clue of a person’s character from the way she behaves and acts in
3. Critical Approach
Literary work has an aesthetic value. It is very common for the readers to
response after reading a literary work. Knowing and understanding critical
approaches are very important to give aesthetic response to the literary work.
According to Rohrberger and Woods Jr. (6-15), critical approach involves five
approaches. They are:
a. The Formalist Approach
The proponents of this approach concentrate on the aesthetic value of
literary work. This approach concerns on the total integrity of literary piece. In
determining the structure and meaning of literary work, demonstrating the
harmonious involvement of parts and pointing out the technique are used.
b. The Biographical Approach
The proponents of this approach tend to apply the author’s background of
life and his or her idea to dig out the understanding of literary work. Therefore,
biographical approach uses the biography of the author as the basic of analysis. As
a consequence, the readers attempt to learn about the life and the development of
the author as much as they can in order to understand his or her writings.
c. The Sociocultural-historical Approach
The proponents of sociocultural-historical approach attempt to find the
idea by emphasizing to learn the culture which exists in the civilization. The
proponents believe that social and historical condition of the author can influence
locate the real world into literary work refers to the civilization that creates the
culture.
d. The Mythopoeic Approach
The proponents of this mythopoeic approach understand the literary work
by finding particular recurrent patterns of human though which are considered
sharing the same universal belief to certain community mind. They are found
expressed in ancient myths and folk terms. Therefore, the mystical relationship
found in a story can be explained by the use of this approach.
e. The Psychological Approach
The proponents of this approach use the theory of human psychology as
the references to analyze the character’s behavior, motivation and personality
pattern that can be interrelated into the psychology of human beings. Through this
approach, the character’s thought, idea and behavior can be analyzed deeper.
Each approach has its own strength, weaknesses, values and limitations. It
also has its proper insight and this will be the duty of the readers to figure out the
approach that would guide to the better understanding and comprehension to the
works of literature, as we know that not all of the approaches would be suitable to
be applied in every study.
4. Motivation
In the novel, motivation is an internal process that controls Maria’s
behavior in order to gain the goals. Maria’s motivation to change her life makes
behavior cannot be separated from her emotions because her emotion influences
her to have certain goals to be achieved. Therefore, I will review the theory of
motivation to know Maria’s motivation to struggle for better life.
Usually, people think that emotion is another term for motivation. In fact,
they are quite different. According to Buck as quoted by Worcher and Shebilske
(417), actually motivation and emotion may be related but they are not the same
thing. They define motivation as arousal or energy that directs behavior.
According to Murray (7), motivation is desire. It is related to behavior because it
is involved in all kinds of behavior; learning, performing, perceiving, attending,
remembering, forgetting, thinking, creating and feeling.
In addition, Smith (282) states that motivation is categorized as an internal
process that influences the direction, persistence and vigor of goal directed
behavior. Motivation comes from Latin word, “moveo” which means as an
internal factor that moves human beings and animal toward the goal that is to be
achieved. Motivation makes human beings keep their effort and keep them on
their goal to prevent from loosing their way to attain the goal. Motivation also
makes human beings behave in a specific behavior that support them in the
process of attaining the goal. Therefore, motivation usually influences someone’s
behavior.
5. Struggle for Life
People face problems in life. Braun, Linder and Asimov (478-480) state
difficult. Sometimes, they affect their way of thinking in facing life. Therefore,
they need to struggle to overcome their problems. Struggle can be one of the
reasons why people want to protect their life. According to Bernard (64),
“Individuals also may consciously and rationally implement strategies that enable
them to cope with stresses and problems in life”.
According to Braun, Linder and Asimov (478-480) how people will react
to all the stresses and problems is one aspect of the process called adjustment.
Adjustment is the process for people to cope with the difficult situations in their
struggle. There are three aspects of adjustment. The first is problem solving. We
must deal with the problems and try to find the solution whether it is a bad or
good solution. If we have to deal with many situations, our problem solving skills
will be developed. The second is acceptance of situation. We do not need to
response too much toward our problems. It is better for us to accept the problem
and its consequences. However, we still must be careful about unconsidered
acceptance. The third is the use of defense mechanism to cope with stress and
anxiety.
Bernard (64) states that human uses some strategies to protect his ego. He
can fight by his repression, perceptual, denial and intellectualization. He can learn
the positive things from his struggle. Each person realizes that he needs to
struggle because he will be satisfied by his effort. Therefore, struggle for life is
6. Hierarchy of Needs
There are some reasons which cause people to conduct an action. Schultz
(62) quoting Maslow says that people conduct action to fulfill their needs. The
needs are interrelated. It means if a person thinks he is hungry, he may actually
feel lack of love or secure of some other needs.
According to Maslow as quoted in Schultz (62-64), there are five basic
needs. They are the physiological needs, the safety needs, the belongingness and
love needs, the esteem needs and self-actualization needs. The description of the
needs is as follows:
a. Physiological Needs
The most important of all basic needs are the needs for physical survival.
These needs are the needs for food, liquid, shelter, sex, sleep and oxygen (qtd in
Schultz 62). When a person is extremely hungry she thinks only about food. He
dreams of food, he remembers food, he thinks about food and he wants only food.
These needs must be fulfilled first before fulfilling the other needs.
b. Safety Needs
This fits in with our general notion of human development from childhood
into adulthood. It is the needs to be secured and out of danger. People always try
to avoid the dangerous thing especially related to physical violence.
c. Belongingness and Love Needs
When the physiological and safety needs are satisfied, the other needs such
as needs for love, affection and belongingness also emerge. According to Maslow,
mutual trust. Everybody needs love; therefore, the lack of love can stop the
individual growth and his developmental of potential (63).
d. Self-Esteem Needs
According to Maslow in Schultz (63), there are two esteem needs. They
are self-esteem and self-respect from other people. Self-esteem includes desire for
confidence, competence mastery, adequacy, achievement, independence and
freedom. Self-respect from others includes prestige, recognition, acceptance,
attention, status, reputation and appreciation. A person who has self-esteem is
more confident and capable in doing his work. Without self-esteem, one will have
the feeling of inferiority and helplessness which can cause discouragement and
possible neurotic behavior.
e. Self-actualization Needs
Maslow in Schultz (64) states these needs as the desire to become more
and more what one is, to become everything that one is capable of becoming.
“What a man can be, he must be”. In short, it deals with the identification of the
psychological need for growth, development and utilization of potential. This
needs emerge after satisfaction of the love and esteem needs.
D. Criticism
In analyzing the novel, I gather some criticism on Paulo Coelho’s Eleven
Minutes. Through the criticism, I am able to understand the novel better and know
what the world’s opinion about Paulo Coelho’s work.
The novel gives the readers insight to deal with feeling than act. It reflects
on our daily life when we face trouble and do not know what to do. Usually,
"Eleven Minutes deals more with feelings than with acts, and strays from the
marginal docudrama cliché. It is a hard novel, with moments that capture the
reader’s attention with perfect expertise. Deeply personal and tender”.
(http://santjordi-asociados.com).
Swan says that Eleven Minutes is an important and brave book about
sexuality and love, the crucial and unsolved problem of contemporary culture,
everyone’s problem (http://mouthshout.com/review/swan.html). As we know that
sexuality and love are very important for most people in dealing with their life.
Therefore, this novel could be a good book to learn about those two things
without thinking and imitating the negatives aspects.
Notre Temps Magazine in France agrees that the novel also convinces all
the readers to listen to what our heart is saying and to follow our dreams
(http://santjordi-asociados.com). In this story, Paulo Coelho emphasizes on
Maria’s belief of following her heart and do what she thinks is right.
E. Theoretical Framework
There are two problems to answer in this study. The first one is to find out
the description of Maria and second is to dig out how Maria struggles for a better
life. In order to answer the problems, there are some theories applied in this study.
The theories are useful to analyze the novel. Firstly, I use the theories of character
and characterization applied to answer the first problem. The theories of character
from Henkle and Foster are used to find out what types of character the major
Murphy to find out the complexity of the character in this case Maria.. This can
help me to analyze the description of Maria’s character.
Moreover, I apply the theory of struggle for life, motivation and hierarchy
of needs from Maslow. The theories are used to analyze the human motivation
and needs in life. Therefore, the theories would help me understand more about
CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY
This chapter presents the methodology of the study, which can be divided
into three parts. The first part is subject matter. Subject matter describes the novel
Eleven Minutes and the focus of my analysis in the study. The second part is the
approach. I highlight the approach that is applied in conducting the study. The
third part is the procedure. It explains the steps taken in analyzing the novel.
A. Subject Matter
The subject matter of this study is a novel entitled Eleven Minutes written
by a Brazilian author, Paulo Coelho. This book is an English version translated
from Onze Minutos, the Portuguese original edition, published in Brazil by
Editora Rocco Ltd. It was published in 2003 by Paulo Coelho. This novel consists
of 269 pages and is divided into 32 chapters. After achieving success, the novel
has been reprinted in 39 languages by Harper Collins Publishers.
The story tells about Maria, a young girl from the interior Brazil whose
dream is to find a charming prince in her life to help her overcome all her
problems. Maria comes from a low class family whose father is only a traveling
salesman and her mother is a seamstress. Her struggle of life begins when she has
an offer from a Swiss man to work abroad. Realizing about her social condition at
that time, she accepts the offer. She tries all she can do to prove that she can have
a better life. During her journey, she finds some essences in dealing with her love
and sexual relationships. She finds some crucial things that should be achieved in
order to get her better life. Therefore, in her journey she struggles to find her
better life in dealing with her needs.
The author of the novel, Paulo Coelho wrote this novel because actually he
wanted to write such a different ordinary novel. Eleven Minutes is very different
from his other novel. The idea behind the novel is about his trajectory. He thought
that writing a book about sexuality came to be a priority to him because he has
experienced sex in many different and contradictory ways. He has been living in a
half-conservative era when sex has a different meaning to different people
However, the novel does not only talk about sex. It also concerns about
sacred sex and love, where actually sex is only as an encounter when two persons
meet and fall in love. Deeper, the reader can see the problems that are faced by the
major character along the story. Here, the author created in such a way so that the
novel does not only talk about sex.
B. Approach
According to Rohberger and Wood Jr. there are five approaches that can
be applied to deal with the literary work. They are the formalist approach,
biographical approach, sociocultural-historical approach, mythopoeic approach
and psychological approach. In conducting the study, I use the psychological
approach to analyze the novel since this study is related to psychological aspects.
The psychological approach involves effort to locate and demonstrate a certain
recurrent pattern. I use the psychological approach in order to find out how Maria,
the major character in Paulo Coelho’s Eleven Minutes survives for her life.
Rohberger and Woods Jr state that psychological approach will obviously give
C. Method of the Study
This part explains about the steps taken in this study. Here, I analyzed the
novel by using library study. It means that the main procedure that I used to gain
data was reading and taking important notes, which helped me in analyzing the
novel. Using this method, I collected some valid resources and used them to
analyze the questions presented in the problem formulation.
The primary data in this study were taken from Paulo Coelho’s famous
novel, Eleven Minutes. While the secondary data were books and some articles
about his works, especially Eleven Minutes. In this study, I used some books to
find the theories that could support my analysis in the novel, such as theory of
character and theory of motivation.
There were some steps used in analyzing the novel. First was choosing the
novel that would be the object of the study. The title of the novel in this study was
Eleven Minutes. After reading the novel, I found some important points that were
interesting to discuss deeply. For example how Maria, the major character in the
novel struggles for her own life. How an innocent girl can turn out into a
high-class prostitute.
This interesting novel, then, brought me to search further for the author of
the novel. I found that there were some reasons why Paulo Coelho created that
kind of theme and character. Paulo Coelho’s works were also influenced by his
Those important findings, then, were compiled to build the topic of the
study and after that, I formulated them into some problem formulation. In the next
step, I looked for and read many books that were related to the literary research.
After collecting the data, I began to analyze the topic. At the first time, I
analyzed Paulo Coelho’s description of Maria’s character. After that, I analyzed
Maria’s struggle for better life in relation with her needs. Then, I searched for the
power of attraction in this novel that made it so interesting. Finally, I could
discover Maria’s struggle for better life and find out what Paulo Coelho wanted to
CHAPTER IV ANALYSIS
This chapter describes the answers of two problems formulated in chapter
one. The first analysis deals with the characterization of Maria. The second
analysis is the struggle of Maria for a better life. In answering the question, I will
use the theories presented in chapter two.
A. The Description of Maria
Character is one of the important things that should exist in the novel. It is
a character that makes the novel interesting from the beginning until the end.
There are various types of character. According to Henkle (92-93), there are two
kinds of characters namely major and secondary character. A major character is a
character that becomes the focus of the novel. He or she plays an important role in
the novel. A secondary character is a character that less appears in the novel and
helps to support the major character. According to Henkle’s theory, Maria is
categorized as a major character because she plays an important role in the novel.
She is the focus of the novel.
Forster proposes another theory. He divides character into two, namely flat
characters and round characters (46-51). Referring to the theory, Maria is
considered as a character who has round character. She has complex and
dominating traits. She also undergoes some changes after she experiences many
things during her journey of life.
In order to find out how to characterize a character, Murphy proposes nine
ways to characterize (161-173). There are personal description, character as seen
by another, speech, past life, conversation of others, reaction, direct comment,
thought and mannerism. However, in analyzing the character of Maria, I only use
some of them. They are personal description, character as seen by another, speech,
reaction and thought.
1. Beautiful
In the novel, Maria is considered as a beautiful girl in her adolescent age.
She has a good physical appearance. Her beauty attracts people and obtains other
girls’ envy. It can be seen from the personal description given by the author.
And so Maria’s adolescent years passed. She grew prettier and prettier, and her sad, mysterious air brought her many suitors (Coelho 15).
Maria’s beauty is also seen by the minor characters. One of them is Roger.
He is a Swiss man whom Maria meets during her vacation in Rio de Janeiro. He
describes Maria as a beautiful woman.
For some time, they kept up this comfortable, meaningless conversation-a smile here, a smile there-until the man took a small red dictionary out of his pocket and said, in a strange accent: “Bonita” – “pretty” (Coelho 20).
Roger also comments on Maria’s physical appearance. He describes Maria
as a potential Brazilian girl who will create a great income for his club in Swiss.
The interpreter, Malson, also comments on Maria. He says that Maria is a
lucky woman. Maria is born as a beautiful Brazilian girl. This luck continuously
happens in her life.
Of course, he hasn’t seen you sing or dance, but you could learn all that, whereas beauty is something you’re born with. These Europeans are all the same; they come over here and imagine that all Brazilian women are really sensual and know how to samba (Coelho 23).
Another minor character who comments on Maria’s beauty is an Arabian
who works as an agent for a fashion show in Swiss. However, he tends to consider
Maria’s beauty as a symbol of sex. He uses Maria as an object to fulfill his need in
sex. “You’re very pretty, said the man. If you come up and have a drink with me
in my hotel room, I’ll give you a thousand francs” (Coelho 52).
Then, there is Ralf Hart, a painter who sees Maria’s beauty from different
point of view. He realizes Maria's inner beauty. He shows that Maria has
something strong inside her. He catches something good from the inside not only
Maria’s physical appearance.
“You have a glow about you. The light that comes from sheer willpower, the light of someone who has made important sacrifices in the name of thinks she thinks are important. It’s in your eyes-the light is in your eyes.” (Coelho 105)
Through her personal description and character as seen by another, it is
obvious that she is a beautiful and lucky woman. She also has an inner beauty,
2. Smart
Outside from Maria’s physical appearance, she has complex and
dominating traits, motivation and conflicts. Readers can see her character through
the way she thinks and her interaction with people. The most obvious character
that can be seen is her smartness.
Maria never makes mistakes like she did before. She always learns from
her previous experience and tries not to make the same mistake. It can be seen
from her experience in dealing with love and relationship. At the first time, she
never dares to start a conversation with the boy she loves. Until she finds out that
she will not have the second chance because the boy has gone. Then, she realizes
her mistake and tries different way in reacting with men.
When she had just turned fifteen, she fell in love with a boy she had met in a Holy Week procession. She did not repeat her childhood mistake: they talked, became friends and started going to the cinema and to parties together (Coelho 7).
From the description given by the author, it is clear that Maria wants to
know everything. Her curiosity also challenges her to learn anything new. She
learns that there are some activities that cannot be done in front of a lot of people.
She used to do this when she was a child and she liked the feeling, until, one day, her father saw her and slapped her hard, without explaining why. She never forgot being hit like that, and she learned that she shouldn’t touch herself in front of other people … (Coelho 11)
Maria is smart in knowing how attractive she is. Therefore, she tries to put
her beauty as her strength to attract men. She knows how to maintain the
surroundings with her beauty and her strength.
“Beauty, my dear, doesn’t last.” With this in mind, she continued to keep her boss at arm’s length, though without putting him off completely, and this brought her a considerable increase in salary … (Coelho 17)
In her job as a salsa dancer, for example, she realizes that she works as a
slave because she only gets a small amount of money. Therefore, she tries to find
justice by going to Roger’s office and talking about the law which leads her
freedom not to work in that club again.
Maria might be young but she was not fool, especially once her Arab lover had told her that Swiss employment laws were very strict and, since the night club kept back a large part of her salary, she could easily allege that she was being used for slave labor. She went back to Roger’s office, this time speaking reasonable French, which now include the word ‘lawyer’. She left with few insult and five thousand dollar in compensation-a sum money beyond her wildest dreams-and all because of that magic word ’lawyer’. Now she was free to spend time with her Arab lover, buy some presents, take some photos of the snow and go back home in triumph (Coelho 44-45).
On the first day working as a prostitute, she reviews everything related to
what she has done the whole night with the clients. She is glad that she can pass
through it. She knows what she faces and how to handle it. Therefore she tries to
do the best she can do in serving the clients, as life was teaching her-very
fast-that only the strong survive. To be strong, she must be the best, there’s no
alternative (73).
As a prostitute, Maria does not always count on her body to satisfy her
clients. She realizes that she must serve her clients better than the other.
Therefore, she has to learn more that her clients do not merely need sexual
satisfaction but also accompany.
unusual prostitute, and after six months, she had acquired a large, faithful, very select cliente, thus arousing the envy and jealousy, but also the admiration of her colleagues (Coelho 82).
Also, people, especially in the club where she works, consider her as an
intellectual person among all because she always read books about different
subjects.
Before it got busy, Maria could always be seen with a book in her hand and she soon became known as the intellectual of the group. At first, they wanted to know if she was reading a love story, but when they saw that the books were about dry-as-dust subjects like economics, psychology and recently-farm management, they left her alone to continue her researches and her note-taking in peace (Coelho 170).
From her thought, mannerism and character as seen by another, it can be
seen that Maria is smart, she wants to learn everything which leads her into
smartness.
3. Brave
In her life, Maria falls in love many times. She is brave to start a new
relationship even though she always had bad experiences in her love relationship.
She does not have a traumatic side even her relationship always goes wrong and
ends with disappointment because she went out with one boy and with another,
and she dreamed and suffered-despite her promise to herself never to fall in love
again (Coelho 15).
Maria’s bravery can be seen from the way she makes decisions in her life.
She does not mind to take risk in every step that she does. She believes that life is
she will not get the second chance to make the right decision. Therefore, she
knows that she should take its risk. It can be seen from her diary when she has a
chance to work abroad and she should leave her hometown. “I’ve realized that
sometimes you get no second chance and that it’s best to accept the gift the world
offers you” (Coelho 25-26).
Four weeks after she arrives in Switzerland, she realizes that things are not
as simple as she thinks. She has a dilemma in choosing which way to do, when
she has some choices. She can be a victim of the world or an adventurer who
searches for treasure. She chooses the second one, as an adventurer who search for
treasure.
Maria chose to be an adventurer in search of pleasure-she put aside her feelings, she stopped crying every night, and she forgot all about the person she used to be; she discovered that she had enough willpower to pretend that she had just been born and so had no reason to miss someone. Feelings could wait, now that she needed to do was to earn some money, get to know the country and return home victorious (Coelho 39).
In Switzerland, after knowing about her real condition, she does not want
to give up. She is brave enough to face life to survive there and back home in
triumph. She dares to adapt with the new environment, as she says, I will die here.
But before I die, I want to fight for life if I can walk on my own, I can go
wherever I like (41).
Through personal description, it can be seen that Maria is a brave woman
who dares to take risk in every step she takes no matter what. She does not give
4. Honest
Maria is an honest woman. She tries to tell what she is supposed to tell.
She says what she thinks that it is right. She never hides her feeling when she does
not feel comfortable. She is not ashamed of asking of something that she does not
know or she needs to know. Maria’s honesty can be seen when she is invited to go
to the restaurant to have a meeting with the Swiss man, Roger. She does not know
what to wear. Therefore, she directly says that she does not have proper clothes to
go there. “I’ve just arrived from the northeast and I haven’t got the right clothes to
wear to a restaurant” (Coelho 22).
Another Maria’s honesty can also bee seen when she meets a person from
the agency model. An Arab tries to impress her by showing some famous arts
from the restaurant. Maria directly says that she knows nothing about arts. “I’m
not going to spend the evening pretending to you. I can just about tell the
difference between coca cola and Pepsi, but that’s all about it. I thought we came
here to discuss a fashion show” (Coelho 51).
When Maria wants to start working in Rue De Berne, she is asked by
Milan, the owner of the club to talk to some girls in the club about the job and the
situation. However, she just sits in the bar without knowing what to do. Then,
there is a Brazilian woman comes over to her and asks why she decides to work in
the club. Maria answers the question directly without thinking and her honest
answer shocks the Brazilian woman. “To be honest, I don’t know where to start or
As a prostitute, accidentally she meets a painter who asks her to stay
because he is interested to paint her face. After the painting time, they discuss
everything until the painter knows about her profession. Thinking that Raft speaks
negatively about her profession, she begins to feel uncomfortable with it.
Listen, Mr. Hart, I may be a Brazilian, but I’ve lived in Switzerland for nine months now. I’ve learned that the reason the Swiss are so discreet is because they live in a very small country where almost everyone knows everyone else, as we have just discovered, which is why no one ever asks what other people do. Your remark was both inappropriate and very rude, but if your aim was to humiliate me in order to make yourself feel better, you’re wasting your time. Thanks for the anisette, which is disgusting, by the way, but which I will drink to the last drop. I will then smoke a cigarette, and finally, I’ll get up and leave. But you can leave right now, if you want; we can have famous painters sitting at the same table as a prostitute. Because that’s what I am, you see prostitute. I’m a prostitute through and through, from head to toe and I don’t care who knows. That’s my one great virtue: I refuse to deceive myself or you. Because it’s not worth it, because you don’t merit a lie (Coelho 103 – 104).
From the text above, it is obvious that Maria is an honest person. It can be
seen from her speech and her reaction in responding to everybody. She is not
afraid of giving any direct answer of anything whether it is good or bad.
5. Lonely
Maria is a lonely woman. In her life, Maria always thinks that she is a
lonely person. She feels nobody around her. She does not feel comfortable talking
with her mom because her mom cannot give her reasonable explanation in the
conversation. Therefore, Maria always feels lonely at home because she has
nobody to talk to in the house.
