ABSTRACT
Praditya, Rantika. 2008. The Influence of Minor Characters on Jessie’s
Personality Development in Sue Monk Kidd’s The Mermaid Chair Yogyakarta: English Language Education Study Program, Department of Language and Arts Education, Faculty of Teachers Training and Education, Sanata Dharma University.
This thesis discussed Sue Monk Kidd’s novel entitled The Mermaid Chair. The novel was interesting because it tells about a wife who tries to deal with her idle marriage life, her relationship with her husband and her existence as a woman and how others influence her personality to deal with her life. This thesis discussed the main character’s personality and how the minor characters influence her personality development. There were two main problems which were discussed: (1) What are the minor characters’ personalities described in the novel? (2) How is Jessie’s personality development described?
This study applied a library research method as the methodology. There were two kinds of data resources used in this study: primary and secondary sources. The primary source was the novel The Mermaid Chair by Sue Monk Kidd. The secondary sources were books of literature, psychology and some sources from the internet. This study employed three main theories. The theories were theory of character, theory of characterization, and theory of psychology. Furthermore, this study used the psychological approach in analyzing the main character’s personality development. This approach was used to analyze the psychology of the main character who was influenced by the minor characters.
There were three minor characters who influenced her personality. Those persons were her mother, her husband and the monk. These persons played their role to influence Jessie’s personality. First, her mother, the silent, sensitive and reclusive person, changes her to be a mature person. Second, her husband who was very responsible, care, patient and, merciful, changed her to be a patient person and a person who can thank everything that she had got. At last, the monk who was very tough, decisive and persistent. He changed her personality from an unconfident person to a confident one. Because of the influence of those people, she finally understood her existence and starts a new life with her husband.
It can be concluded from the analysis that Jessie Sullivan was an egoistic, worried, spoiled, unconfident person. Because of the minor characters’ influence she became a confident, patient and caring person. It showed that minor characters give a strong influence to the main character’s personality development. This thesis provided suggestions for the future researchers who would conduct studies on other topics in The Mermaid Chair. This study also gave suggestions for the English teaching learning activities. Furthermore, this thesis provided lesson plan in teaching English especially on reading class. The lesson plan was focused on the extensive reading class and it used some chapters from The Mermaid Chair as the reading materials.
ABSTRAK
Praditya, Rantika. 2008. The Influence of Minor Characters on Jessie’s
Personality Development in Sue Monk Kidd’s The Mermaid Chair. Yogyakarta: Program Studi Bahasa Inggris, Jurusan Pendidikan Bahasa dan Seni, Fakultas Keguruan dan Ilmu Pendidikan, Universitas Sanata Dharma.
Skripsi ini membahas novel Sue Monk Kidd yang berjudul The Mermaid Chair. Novel tersebut menarik karena bercerita tentang kehidupan seorang istri yang berusaha mengatasi persoalan rumah tangganya yang membosankan, hubunganya dengan suaminya dan keberadaanya sebagai seorang wanita. Serta bagaimana karakter lain mempengaruhi watak dalam menjalani hidupnya. Skripsi ini membahas karakter tokoh utama dan bagaimana keberadaaan tokoh pendukung mempengaruhi kepribadiannya. Ada dua pokok masalah pada tokoh utama: (1) Bagaimana karakteristik tokoh pendukung digambarkan di dalam novel. (2) Bagaimana perubahan kepribadian Jessie digambarkan?.
Studi ini menerapkan metode studi pustaka. Ada dua macam sumber data yang digunakan: sumber utama dan sumber kedua. Sumber utama adalah novel The Mermaid Chair. Sumber kedua adalah buku-buku kesusastraan, psikologi dan beberapa sumber dari internet. Studi ini mengunakan tiga teori pokok. Teori tersebut adalah teori tokoh, teori penokohan, dan teori psikologi. Selanjutnya, studi ini menggunakan pendekatan psikologi sebagai pendekatan dalam menganalisa karakteristik tokoh utama dalam perubahan watak. Pendekatan ini digunakan untuk menganalisa keadaan psikologi tokoh utama yang mengalami perubahan dikarenakan pengaruh karakter pendukung.
Terdapat tiga tokoh yang mempengaruhi perubahan karakter Jessie. Tokoh tersebut adalah, suaminya, ibunya, dan seorang pendeta. Ketiga tokoh tersebut berpengaruh terhadap perubahan watak Jessie. Yang pertama adalah ibunya, seorang yang pendiam, perasa dan tertutup, ia mengubah Jessie menjadi seorang wanita yang dewasa. Yang kedua adalah suaminya, seorang yang bertanggung jawab, peduli, sabar dan pemaaf. Ia yang mengubah Jessie menjadi wanita yang sabar dan mensyukuri apa yang telah dia dapat. Yang terakhir adalah pendeta, seorang yang kuat, tegas dan berprinsip. Ia yang mengubah Jessie menjadi wanita yang percaya diri. Karena pengaruh ketiga tokoh tersebut akhirnya Jessie menyadari keberadaannya dan memulai kehidupan barunya bersama suaminya.
Berdasarkan analisis, dapat disimpulkan bahwa Jessie Sullivian adalah seorang yang egois, pencemas, manja, dan tidak percaya diri. Karena pengaruh dari karakter pendukung, Jessie menjadi seorang yang percaya diri, sabar,tidak egois dan penyayang. Berdasarkan pembahasan tersebut, menunjukan bahwa tokoh pendukung mempunyai peran yang kuat terhadap perubahan watak tokoh utama. Skripsi ini memberikan beberapa saran untuk peneliti-peneliti dimasa mendatang yang akan mengadakan studi pada topik-topik lain dalam The Mermaid Chair. Skripsi ini juga memberikan saran untuk kegiatan belajar mengajar Bahasa Inggris. Sebagai tambahan, skripsi ini memberikan rencana pembelajaran kelas Extensive Reading mengunakan beberapa bab dari novel The Mermaid Chair.
THE INFLUENCE OF MINOR CHARACTERS
ON JESSIE’S PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT IN SUE MONK KIDD’S THE MERMAID CHAIR
A Thesis
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements to Obtain the Sarjana Pendidikan Degree
in English Language Education
By:
Rantika Praditya Student Number: 021214117
ENGLISH LANGUAGE EDUCATION STUDY PROGRAM DEPARTMENT OF LANGUAGE AND ARTS EDUCATION FACULTY OF TEACHERS TRAINING AND EDUCATION
SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY YOGYAKARTA
THE INFLUENCE OF MINOR CHARACTERS
ON JESSIE’S PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT IN SUE MONK KIDD’S THE MERMAID CHAIR
A Thesis
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements to Obtain the Sarjana Pendidikan Degree
in English Language Education
By:
Rantika Praditya Student Number: 021214117
ENGLISH LANGUAGE EDUCATION STUDY PROGRAM DEPARTMENT OF LANGUAGE AND ARTS EDUCATION FACULTY OF TEACHERS TRAINING AND EDUCATION
SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY YOGYAKARTA
2008
Go confidently in the direction of your dream! Live the
life you’ve imagined.
As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe
will be simpler.
(Henry David Thoreau (1817 – 1862)
This thesis is dedicated to:
My beloved parents, my grandparents, my three sisters, and
my best friends
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
First, I would like to express my greatest gratitude to ALLAH SWT for the
great blessing to finish this thesis. Thank him for this wonderful life, friends and
opportunities.
I would also like to express profound gratitude to my sponsor, Dr.Wigati Y.
Modouw., M.Hum., for her invaluable support, encouragement, supervision and
useful suggestions throughout this thesis. Her moral support and continuous guidance
enabled me to complete my work successfully. I am also highly thankful to Mrs.
Laurentina Sumarni, S.Pd., my second sponsor, for her valuable suggestions and
corrections to my grammar throughout this thesis. I thank her so much for the time
and for helping me and my friend in every debate activity. It was an unforgettable
moment that we spent with her. I would also extend my sincere thank to lecturers
who have guided me during my study, especially Pak Prast, Pak Purba, Pak Gun,
Pak Budi, Bu Lanny, Bu Mita, Bu Henny, Bu Frida, Bu Dwina. Also I would thank to Bu Yuseva, who help me to improve my English although it is only through e-mail.
I would also like to thank PBI’s administration staff (Mbak Tari and Mbak Dani) for
their kindness.
I am as ever, especially indebted to my parents, my father and my mother for
their love, prayer and support throughout my life. I also wish to thank my sister, Ian
for her support, prayer and understanding during my study. I am also thankful to my
two sisters, Audy and Dida, for their cute smiles and love. Furthermore, I would
always thank my Grandmothers and fathers for their pray and love. I also thank
Nicko who helps me adjusting the page set up.
Moreover, my sincere thanks go to my friends, who shared their love and
experiences with me. I thank my beloved college best friend Esta, Ike, Bekti for the
wonderful friendship. I thank Ike for being there every time I need, for listening my
happy stories and sad stories. I thank My SPD teammates (Hastri, Wawan, Bekti, Ike
and Esta) for the ultimate coorporation. My deepest thank is also addressed to Mas
Joko who teaches me a lot about accepting things the way they are. I thank him for
making me to learn to “thank”. I thank him for the life lesson.
I thank Wawan for always supporting me through phone calls and sms. I
would also grateful to my Play Performance teammates for their coorporation, time
and friendship. I would also thank Nana, Chrisrian, Amri, Miko, Mbak Adis, Ardi,
Gugun, Siro for always keeping in touch with me.
Meanwhile, this work would not have been possible without the support and
encouragement of my colleagues and friends, therefore; I would like thank to
Angela, Dian, Nizar, Ifa, Saras, Adit, Isti, Lia, Dee for their support. I would like to
thank to Odjo and Nizar for songs. Thank you for my students for their prayer and
surprises. A great thank is addressed to Lala for lending me the USB.
I thank my debate teammates and my seniors (Mbak Wiwik, Mbak Deta, Mas
Guntur) without their willingness to share with me, I would never have been brave
enough to speak in front of people.
My special appreciation also goes to all my classmates in PBI especially,
Reni, Galih, Wida, Adesti, Ruri, Niken, Ila, Emen, Metty, Udjo, Miko, Dedi, Sasha,
Ita, Echi, Mawar, O’ok, Bunga, Cecil and, Vivi.
I thank Inna Garuda’s HRD (Pak Edi and Bu Eko) for the opportunity to
work as an English trainer in Inna. Also, I would like to thank my students who will
go to the State for their prayer and wonderful moments (Rizal, Ismail, Rahmat Pak
Nur, Bu Nur Pak Bekti, Pak Hanung). I would also thank to Bu Ani for her kindness.
For my lovely computer, without it I would not have been able to work this
out. I thank Jamie Cullum, Maliq & de essentials, Damien Rice, Radiohead and
Sufjan Steven who inspire me.
Last but not least, I thank Fery Pramudya Novada for the love and for
reminding me to finish my study. I thank him for the tender loving and care as well
as for the calls and the support.
Finally, yet importantly, I would like to thank to those who have helped me
and prayed for me during the process of writing this thesis whose names I cannot
mention one by one. I thank them so much for the support.
Yogyakarta, January 10, 2008
Rantika Praditya
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
TITLE PAGE……… i
APPROVAL PAGE………... ii
PAGE OF ACCEPTANCE………. iii
STATEMENT OF WORK’S ORIGINALITY………. iv
PAGE OF DEDICATION………. v
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS………. vi
TABLE OF CONTENTS……….. ix
ABSTRACT………. xii
ABSTRAK.……… xiii
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background of the Study……… 1
1.2 Objective of the Study……… 4
1.3 Problem Formulation………. 5
1.4 Benefit of the Study……… 5
1.5 Definition of Terms……… 6
CHAPTER 2 : REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE 2.1 Theoretical Review……… 8
2.1.1 Theory of Literature ……….. 8
2.1.1.1 Theories of Character ………. 8
2.1.1.2 Theories of Characterization……… 10
2.11.3 Critical Approach………. 11
2.1.2 Theories of Psychology……… 13
2.1.2.1 Personality Development……… 13
2.1.2.2 Theory of Mid-life Transition………. 15
2.1.2.3 Factors Influencing Middle Age Woman’s Personality Development……… 16
2.2 Criticism……… 17
2.3 Theoretical Framework………. 19
CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY 3.1 Subject Matter……… 20
3.2 Approaches……… 21
3.3 Procedures………. 21
CHAPTER 4: ANALYSIS 4.1 The Minor Characters’ Personalities……… 23
4.1.1 Nelle (Jessie’s Mother)………. 25
4.1.1.1 Sensitive……….. 25
4.1.1.2 Reclusive ……… 27
4.1.1.3 Silent……… 28
4.1.2 Hugh (Jessie’s Husband)……… 29
4.1.2.1 Responsible………. 29
4.1.2.2 Caring………. . 30
4.1.2.3 Merciful……… 32
4.1.2.4 Patient……… 33
4.1.3 Whit (The Monk)………. 34
4.1.3.1 Tough………. 34
4.1.3.2 Persistent ……… 35
4.1.3.3 Decisive ………. 36
4.2 How Jessie’s Personality Develops………...………. 36
CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTIONS
5.1 Conclusions……… 50
5.2 Suggestions ……… 52
5.2.1 Suggestion for Future Researcher……….. 53
5.2.2 Suggestion for English Teacher……….. 54
5.2.3 The Teaching Extensive Reading by Using The Mermaid Chair……… 55
BIBLIOGRAPHY……… 56
APPENDICES 1. Appendix 1 The Summary of The Mermaid Chair……… 58
2. Appendix 2 The Biography of Sue Monk Kidd………. 63
3. Appendix 3 Syllabus for Extensive Reading…………..……… 66
4. Appendix 4 Implementation of Teaching Extensive Reading.……….. 67
ABSTRACT
Praditya, Rantika. 2008. The Influence of Minor Characters on Jessie’s
Personality Development in Sue Monk Kidd’s The Mermaid Chair Yogyakarta: English Language Education Study Program, Department of Language and Arts Education, Faculty of Teachers Training and Education, Sanata Dharma University.
This thesis discussed Sue Monk Kidd’s novel entitled The Mermaid Chair. The novel was interesting because it tells about a wife who tries to deal with her idle marriage life, her relationship with her husband and her existence as a woman and how others influence her personality to deal with her life. This thesis discussed the main character’s personality and how the minor characters influence her personality development. There were two main problems which were discussed: (1) What are the minor characters’ personalities described in the novel? (2) How is Jessie’s personality development described?
This study applied a library research method as the methodology. There were two kinds of data resources used in this study: primary and secondary sources. The primary source was the novel The Mermaid Chair by Sue Monk Kidd. The secondary sources were books of literature, psychology and some sources from the internet. This study employed three main theories. The theories were theory of character, theory of characterization, and theory of psychology. Furthermore, this study used the psychological approach in analyzing the main character’s personality development. This approach was used to analyze the psychology of the main character who was influenced by the minor characters.
There were three minor characters who influenced her personality. Those persons were her mother, her husband and the monk. These persons played their role to influence Jessie’s personality. First, her mother, the silent, sensitive and reclusive person, changes her to be a mature person. Second, her husband who was very responsible, care, patient and, merciful, changed her to be a patient person and a person who can thank everything that she had got. At last, the monk who was very tough, decisive and persistent. He changed her personality from an unconfident person to a confident one. Because of the influence of those people, she finally understood her existence and starts a new life with her husband.
It can be concluded from the analysis that Jessie Sullivan was an egoistic, worried, spoiled, unconfident person. Because of the minor characters’ influence she became a confident, patient and caring person. It showed that minor characters give a strong influence to the main character’s personality development. This thesis provided suggestions for the future researchers who would conduct studies on other topics in The Mermaid Chair. This study also gave suggestions for the English teaching learning activities. Furthermore, this thesis provided lesson plan in teaching English especially on reading class. The lesson plan was focused on the extensive reading class and it used some chapters from The Mermaid Chair as the reading materials.
ABSTRAK
Praditya, Rantika. 2008. The Influence of Minor Characters on Jessie’s
Personality Development in Sue Monk Kidd’s The Mermaid Chair. Yogyakarta: Program Studi Bahasa Inggris, Jurusan Pendidikan Bahasa dan Seni, Fakultas Keguruan dan Ilmu Pendidikan, Universitas Sanata Dharma.
Skripsi ini membahas novel Sue Monk Kidd yang berjudul The Mermaid Chair. Novel tersebut menarik karena bercerita tentang kehidupan seorang istri yang berusaha mengatasi persoalan rumah tangganya yang membosankan, hubunganya dengan suaminya dan keberadaanya sebagai seorang wanita. Serta bagaimana karakter lain mempengaruhi watak dalam menjalani hidupnya. Skripsi ini membahas karakter tokoh utama dan bagaimana keberadaaan tokoh pendukung mempengaruhi kepribadiannya. Ada dua pokok masalah pada tokoh utama: (1) Bagaimana karakteristik tokoh pendukung digambarkan di dalam novel. (2) Bagaimana perubahan kepribadian Jessie digambarkan?.
Studi ini menerapkan metode studi pustaka. Ada dua macam sumber data yang digunakan: sumber utama dan sumber kedua. Sumber utama adalah novel The Mermaid Chair. Sumber kedua adalah buku-buku kesusastraan, psikologi dan beberapa sumber dari internet. Studi ini mengunakan tiga teori pokok. Teori tersebut adalah teori tokoh, teori penokohan, dan teori psikologi. Selanjutnya, studi ini menggunakan pendekatan psikologi sebagai pendekatan dalam menganalisa karakteristik tokoh utama dalam perubahan watak. Pendekatan ini digunakan untuk menganalisa keadaan psikologi tokoh utama yang mengalami perubahan dikarenakan pengaruh karakter pendukung.
Terdapat tiga tokoh yang mempengaruhi perubahan karakter Jessie. Tokoh tersebut adalah, suaminya, ibunya, dan seorang pendeta. Ketiga tokoh tersebut berpengaruh terhadap perubahan watak Jessie. Yang pertama adalah ibunya, seorang yang pendiam, perasa dan tertutup, ia mengubah Jessie menjadi seorang wanita yang dewasa. Yang kedua adalah suaminya, seorang yang bertanggung jawab, peduli, sabar dan pemaaf. Ia yang mengubah Jessie menjadi wanita yang sabar dan mensyukuri apa yang telah dia dapat. Yang terakhir adalah pendeta, seorang yang kuat, tegas dan berprinsip. Ia yang mengubah Jessie menjadi wanita yang percaya diri. Karena pengaruh ketiga tokoh tersebut akhirnya Jessie menyadari keberadaannya dan memulai kehidupan barunya bersama suaminya.
Berdasarkan analisis, dapat disimpulkan bahwa Jessie Sullivian adalah seorang yang egois, pencemas, manja, dan tidak percaya diri. Karena pengaruh dari karakter pendukung, Jessie menjadi seorang yang percaya diri, sabar,tidak egois dan penyayang. Berdasarkan pembahasan tersebut, menunjukan bahwa tokoh pendukung mempunyai peran yang kuat terhadap perubahan watak tokoh utama. Skripsi ini memberikan beberapa saran untuk peneliti-peneliti dimasa mendatang yang akan mengadakan studi pada topik-topik lain dalam The Mermaid Chair. Skripsi ini juga memberikan saran untuk kegiatan belajar mengajar Bahasa Inggris. Sebagai tambahan, skripsi ini memberikan rencana pembelajaran kelas Extensive Reading mengunakan beberapa bab dari novel The Mermaid Chair.
CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION
There are five parts that are discussed in this chapter. The first part is
Background of the Study, the second part is Objective of the Study, the third part is
Problem Formulation, the fourth part is Benefit of the Study, and the fifth part is
Definition of Terms.
1.1 Background of the Study
Reading literary work means gaining knowledge and experiences from the
characters. Furthermore, it might also open our mind to a new life lesson that is
experienced by the characters. The most important thing is how the experience
influences the readers and contributes new knowledge to the reader. In reading a
novel, there is always a new topic with a new value that we can learn from it. We can
put those values into our life. Furthermore, Reading a novel always brings a new
portrait of life and characters that can be discussed.
Sue Monk Kidd’s work The Mermaid Chair (2005) is such an incredible
novel. I choose this novel because it is an interesting novel. It is about a middle age
woman who has a problem in her happy marriage. Mostly, a woman feels satisfied
when she is in a happy marriage but this novel gives different idea about middle age
women in her perfect marriage. It shows the readers the portrait of an unhappy
woman in her perfect marriage. In the real life, it is a common matter when a wife
feels satisfied if her needs are fulfilled by her husband. However, the need to be
tries to make the readers aware that sometimes a portrait of a perfect marriage does
not always guarantee happiness. The most interesting thing to discuss is the main
character is influence by some characters when she faces her marriage problem.
Furthermore, this novel also tells the readers about the main character’s effort to face
her problems.
In the story, Jessie, the main character interacts with Nelle, Hugh and Whit
who give influence on her personality development. In a real life, we also interact
with other people who live around us in our environment. Usually, these people give
influence to our life. Actually, the strongest influence toward someone personality
development is people close to us, for example, the influence of a parents’ attitude on
their child’s attitude. When parents always curse and shout when angry to their child,
their child will do the same thing when he is angry to other people. Unconsciously,
the parents are forming a bad habit in their child’s personality. Another example is,
when a husband always trusts her wife to handle the family, her wife will feel exist in
the family. From the example it is clear that people around us give a great influence
on one’s personality.
Jessie is a middle age married woman who faces problems in her happy
marriage. She realizes that the problems come from inside her. In facing the
problems, Jessie is influenced by Nelle, Hugh and Whit. These people are considered
as the minor characters that influence her personality. Since the influence of minor
character on one’s personality is an interesting subject to discuss, this study is going
to analyze Jessie’s personality development and its relation with other characters
who close to her. According to Milligan (1983: 195), the second characters or minor
Personality development according to Hurlock (1974: 19) is the product of
learning during the course of social relationship with people both within and outside
his home. In the story, Jessie develops her personality along with her relation with
people who close to her. Furthermore, it shows to the readers the process of Jessie’s
personality development.
This novel establishes some interesting situations that bring Jessie closer to
some people around her. Those situations are her coming to her hometown to take
care of her mother, her forbidden relationship with a monk and her marriage
relationship with her husband. Through these situations, Jessie establishes a
relationship with three people who influence her personality. These people are her
mother, her husband and the monk. From these people also she changes into
someone better.
Jessie lives with her family. Her husband, Hugh, is a person who gives big
influence in her personality. Basically, her husband is a portrait of a perfect husband
who gives a perfect marriage. However, Jessie still feels inconvenience with her
marriage. For Jessie, being a wife in a perfect family is not enough. She thinks that
her life is just a chain of monotonous activities. For that reason she needs to step out
from that situation and to be away from her husband for a while.
In the real life, a condition in which a wife is getting bored with her activities
is a common thing. For Jessie, it becomes a serious problem. Furthermore, her visit
to her hometown will not solve her problem. Jessie is asked to take care of her
mother who suffers from strange illness. However, her coming to visit her mother is
another problem, she never has a good relationship with her mother since her father’s
She falls in love with him.
Many unpredictable things happen in this life beyond our control, which we
call it mistakes. Making mistakes is part of life. However, there is always
responsibility after making mistakes. Jessie realizes that she makes big mistakes by
betraying her husband. However, Jessie takes her responsibility on her mistakes. She
also learns something from those people and develops herself become well.
This novel is interesting to discuss since it teaches the reader about value in
a relationship. Furthermore, this novel would like to show how people close to us can
give a great influence toward one’s personality. This novel also leads the reader to
believe that the existence of people near us may have a power to change a person
becomes better or worse.
1.2 Objective of the Study
The objective of this study is to show how a woman faces a problem in her
middle age marriage and how the minor characters give strong influences to develop
one’s personality. In the story, Jessie’s personality is strongly influenced by the
minor characters. There are three minor characters that change Jessie’s personality.
Those are Nelle, Hugh and Whit. Nelle is her mother, Hugh is her husband and Whit
is the monk. Each character has its own characteristic. Jessie learns many things from
the minor characters. Furthermore, there are problems she faces that influence her
personality development. The minor characters play an important role to help Jessie
to solve her problem. In a real life, parents, friends and the family member have a
strong role to change’s one’s personality. Therefore, this study also figures out how
1.3 Problem Formulation
This study is focused on two problems.
1. What are the minor characters’ personalities described in the novel?
2. How is Jessie’s personality development described?
1.4 Benefit of the Study
This study offers benefit for myself, the readers and the researchers. For me,
by analyzing this novel, I get more knowledge about the personality development of
the main character. This study also strengthens my thought that the existence of
people who close to us can give a great influence to our personality.
Moreover, I learn to appreciate what we have got, to be able to get along with
what God gives us and to love it. I also obtain some beneficial values by knowing
one’s personality. Furthermore, it gives me a new thought about how one’s
personality is developed.
This study will be beneficial for the readers to implement new value to their
life and to get the beneficial messages from the main character’s experience.
Moreover, this study can be used as pre –reading before reading the novel. I hope the
reader can get more knowledge about what minor character is and its influence
toward one’s personality.
Moreover, I expect this study to be beneficial for the future researchers. The
future researchers can analyze the reason why this novel is written or why minor
character can give big influence toward one’s life. They can explore more about the
author’s life by using biographical approach. They can use the theory of minor
1.5 Definition of Terms
1.5.1 Personality Development
The word personality, according to Personality Theories, second edition
( 1981: 7) , personality represent an evolving process subject to a variety of internal
and external influences, including genetic and biological propensities, social
experiences and changing environmental circumstances. According to George Kelly
(Chapter 9), personality is individual’s unique way of “making sense” out of life
experience.
Furthermore, the word development according to Schiambang and Smith,
development means the changes happening to human being during their lifetimes
(1982: 5).
According to Allyn & Bacon, 2002 on www.healthofchildren.com,
personality development is the development of the organized pattern of behaviors
and attitudes that makes a person distinctive. Personality development occurs by the
ongoing interaction of temperament, character, and environment.
1.5.2 Minor Character
Milligan describes Minor Character as Characters who appear as the
complement of the story (1983: 195). According to www.Humanitiesweb.org by
Gilfford, Katya (9 November 2004), Minor Character is those figures who fill out the
story but who do not figure prominently in it. 8:05 pm, 06,07,07
1.5.3 Influence
especially by providing an example for them to follow, winning their admiration, or
CHAPTER 2
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
This chapter is divided into three parts. The first part is Theoretical Review,
second part is Criticism, and the last part is Theoretical Framework. The Theoretical
Review includes the theory of Literature and the Review of Related Theory.
Furthermore, Theory of Literature includes Character, Characterization and Critical
Approach. The review of Related Theory includes the Theory of Psychology and the
Theory of personality. Meanwhile the Criticism presents some critics about the novel
and the author. The last part is Theoretical Framework, it talks about how theories
are used to analyze the novel.
2.1 Theoretical Review 2.1.1 Theory of Literature
A novel is a form of literature; therefore, I support the analysis by using the
theory of literature. This part presents the theories of literature, which are divided
into two, the theory of character and theory of characterization.
2.1.1.1 Theories of Character
Character is one of the most important elements in a novel. A novel may
contain many characters that are presented by the author. A character can be
recognized by describing his physical and psychological appearance. According to
Abrams (1993: 23), “Characters are persons presented in a dramatic or narrative
and emotional qualities that are expressed in what they say- the dialogue and what
they do- the action”. Therefore, a character is usually easily analyzed from his dialog
or action.
Abrams (1993: 24) classifies a character into two types: flat character and
round character. A flat character is a single idea and is presented in outline and
without much individualizing detail. It means flat character has dominant traits and
has no desires motivation, or conflict. Therefore, flat character is easy to remember
because it does not undergo a change and will have the same character from the
beginning until the end of the story. Furthermore, it can be described in a single
phrase or sentence.
On the other hand, round character has many dominant traits and complex
desire, motivation and conflicts. Therefore, a round character tends to change from
the beginning of the story until the end of the story and tends to be complex. Thus,
round character is difficult to describe. Round characters can also called as
developing characters.
Furthermore, Foster (1947: 47) describes the advantages of flat character and
round character. Flat characters are easily known by the readers’ emotionally eye,
not by the visual eye. Emotionally eye means, it can be described by using feeling.
The reader can also easily remember the characters because they do not change.
On the other hand, round characters cannot be identified directly and quickly
because there are some life aspects that influence them to develop. Because of those
aspects the readers cannot easily memorize the characters as in the flat characters.
In addition, Perrine (1947: 48) divides characters into two parts. The main
the beginning to the end of the story. Furthermore, the content of the story is focused
on the main character. The minor character appears in certain circumstances and
times. His role is less important than the main character because the total roles and
focus are on the main character.
2.1.1.2 Theories of Characterization
According to (Holman and Harmon, 1968: 81) characterization is the way to
create of imaginary persons, so they exist for the reader as life like. Therefore, the
author always points out what the character is, how he lives, what he like and dislike.
Those traits are called character while the technique to make the traits known is
characterization.
According to M.J Murphy (1972: 161-173) there are nine ways to make the
characters understandable to and alive for the readers. The first one is personal
description, it deals with the physical appearance. The readers will recognize the
character from the clothes they wear and the facial expression from the character in
the novel. The second is character as seen by another. The character can also be
recognized from another character’s opinion in the novel. The third is speech, the
author describes the character through what the character says and what style the
character uses. It is an important way to describe the character, because through the
way he speaks and responds and gives opinion will make the reader more easily to
describe the character in the novel. The forth way is past life. The reader will
understand more easily about the character from his past story or experience. It will
help the reader to know how the character is shaped. It can be figured out by a direct
one is conversation of others. The readers can have clues about the character from
other character in the novel. Reader can get clue from other characters’ conversation
about the character. The sixth characterization is reaction. The readers will be able to
have clues about the characters by analyzing the character’s reaction when he is
facing a problem.
The seventh is direct comment. In the direct comment, the author directly gives
his personal reception and comment to the character he creates. The eighth way is
thought. The author gives a clue to the reader from the character’s thought. By
knowing what the character is thinking, the reader will simply describe the character
through the thought. The last way is mannerism. Describing the mannerisms or habit
gives the reader clues about the character.
This study will focus on the influence of the Minor Character on the main
character’s personality. The Minor Character here is including the main characters’
the family’s influence and her peer.
According to Milligan, the second character or the minor characters are those
who appear as the complement of the story. While major character appears more
often in the story. (1983: 195)
According to www.Humanitiesweb.org that is contributed by Gilfford, Katya
(9 November 2004), Minor Character is those figures who fill out the story but who
do not figure prominently in it.
2.11.3 Critical Approach
In order to understand a literary work the need of using an approach is
literary work. Therefore, a researcher should choose an appropriate approach in order
to help him to have better understanding in analyzing a literary work.
Rohrberger and Woods (1971: 613) present five approaches to analyze a novel.
Those approaches are the Formalist approach, the Biographical approach, the
Sociocultural-Historical approach, the Mythopoeic approach and the Psychological
approach. Each approach has its own characteristic. Each approach will be defined
and explained according to its usage.
The Formalist approach is an approach that judges the esthetic values of a
novel from the harmonious involvement of all parts of the novel to the whole and
how meaning is derived from structure and how matters of technique determine
structure. The Biographical approach leads the readers to try to learn as much as they
can about the author’s life and the development of the author. The proponent of this
approach demands that a work of art is a reflection of a personality. The third
approach is Sociocultural-historical approach. This approach leads us to analyze the
novel based on the civilization that produces the novel. It will help us to analyze the
people’s life in society at the time the novel was written. The fourth is Mythopoeic
approach. It emphasizes on the universally patterns of human thought such as myths
and folk rites. The myth or folk rites of certain societies may affect the author’s
behavior and his motivation in writing the literary work. The last approach is
Psychological approach. It takes us to the psychological point of view of the
character to analyze the novel. It may include human thought, behavior and other
psychological aspects that give the influence to the literary work. Each approach has
its own value and limitation. Therefore, the researcher should be able to choose the
In this study, I would like to choose the Psychological approach to analyze
Jessie’s personality development. Furthermore, this study will focus on the influence
of the minor characters on the main character’s personality development.
2.1.2 Theories of Psychology
The theory of personality development is part of the theory of psychology.
Therefore, it is important to apply the psychology theory to analyze one’s personality
development.
According to Floyd L. Ruch (1963: 8), literarily the word “psychology” means
“the science of mind”. Unfortunately, psychologists have never been satisfied with
that definition. Therefore, most psychologists would agree on a definition of
psychology as the science of the behavior of organism.
Behavior is including internal processes –thinking, emotional reactions and the
like-which one person cannot observe directly in another but which can be inferred
from observation of external behavior.
Theories of psychology are used to help analyze Jessie’s personality
development. I use the theory of psychology, since personality has a close
relationship with human psychology.
2.1.2.1 Theory of Personality Development
According to Allport in Hjelle and Ziegle, the word personality is originally
derives from the Latin word “persona”, which means a mask (1981: 6). Furthermore,
personality is “The dynamic organization within individual of those psychophysical
According to Hurlock (1976: 108), people change throughout their lifetime. It
is so because they are not completely satisfied with their personality. Therefore, they
always have a desire to change their personality. Change here means that they alter
or vary their personality. The changing of personality can be better or worse. If the
environment gives a good influence, he will improve his personality. If it gives bad
influence he may be influenced by the bad influence
Therefore, the change in one’s personality is not always synonymous with
improvement.
Hurlock (1974: 19), an individual’s personality pattern is in the product of
learning during the course of social relationship with people both within and outside
his home. Moreover, socialization and every value during one’s life will influence
the personality.
According to Murray (1981: 165), person’s personality develops against the
background of both their history and their future goals. On the other hand, an
individual must understand where he has been and where he intends to go as a
person. Murray also employed four sets of determinants to describe how personality
develops (1981: 168). The first is Constitutional determinants. It includes, individual
body, age, sex, physical strength, disability etc. it play an important role in the
environment. For example, how an individual’s precise effects upon his interaction
with the environment. The second is Group membership determinants. These
determinants are such groupings as familial, ethnic, religious, racial, political, etc. the
grouping will determine the social environment and the value system. It determines
in which group an individual Belongs to. The third determinant is Role determinants.
their role. For example: sex and occupation. The last determinant is Situational
determinants. Situational determinants may include things that have happened a
thousand times as well as those that happen only once. It plays important part in
helping shape the kind of person one become.
On the other hand, Pikunas (1961: 22) states that development is a series of
sequential changes in an organism leading to its maturity. Development occurs as
new kinds and levels of differentiation and integration, learning and maturation,
emerge.
2.1.2.2 Theory of Mid-life Transition
According to Daniel J. Levinson (1978: 191-192), the mid-life transition
ordinary has its onset at age 40 or 41 and last about 5 years. The average age at
termination was 45.5, the range 44 to 47. The Mid-life Transition is a bridge between
early adulthood and middle adulthood. There are three major tasks that must be
worked on.
The first is to terminate the early adulthood. He has to review his life in this
era and reappraise what he has done with it. The initial focus in the Mid-life
transition is on the past. The major task is to reappraise the life structure of the
settling down period.
The second is to take his first steps toward the initiation of middle adulthood.
He can modify the negative elements of the present structure and to test new choices.
A man must make choices that will modify the existing life structure and provide the
central elements for a new one. The Mid-life Transition also brings significant
in social outlook, in personal value, in what he wants to give the world, in what he
wants to be for himself. The inner changes may be highly out in dramatic external
changes. (1978: 191)
The last one is to deal with the polarities that are sources of deep division in
his life. In this period a man must modify the early adult self. Greater individuation is
needed if he is to form a life structure more appropriate for middle adulthood.
When a man begins his Mid-Life Transition, it is the time of moderate or
severe crisis. Every aspect of his lives comes into question, and he is horrified by
much that is revealed. Moreover, he is full of recrimination against himself and
others. He cannot go on as before, but need time to choose a new path or modify the
old one. However, to modify the old one he needs to pass a period that is known as
Mid-Life Transition.
2.1.2.3 Factors Influencing Middle Age Women’s Personality Development According to Hurlock (1974: 352), there are two kinds of factor that
influence one’s personality in the family. Those are the direct and indirect influence.
In direct influence, the role of parents is to transmit attitude and values by
telling their children how they should feel and behave in different situation.
Furthermore, communication is a direct method of personality transmission by which
family member try to influence the personality development of other members.
While in indirect influence, the more significant a family member is to an
individual, the greater will be his influence on the person’s mirror image.
constantly criticizes the way he behaves and talks will develop an unfavorable self-
concept from his association with her.
Furthermore, the climate of the home directly influences the person’s
characteristic behavior and his characteristic adjustment to life. If the home climate is
favorable, the individual, the individual will react to personal problems and
frustrations and in a calm, philosophical manner.
Those theories present that family has a strong influence to ones personality
development. Family is a strong factor that can alter or form a child personality.
An individual is part of the society, his ability to interact and to contribute
something in his social life can influence his existence in the society. The way an
individual behaves also influence the society approval to him. Therefore, social life
determines one’s existence in his social life.
According to Hurlock (1974: 232), a person whose behavior comes up to
social expectations and who tries to play the social role prescribe for him by the
group can be assured of reasonable approval and acceptance.
2.2 Criticism
In analyzing Sue monk Kidd’s The Mermaid Chair, this study needs supports
from some critics to reveal Sue Monk Kidd’s work. Many readers say that this novel
is a novel that is a woman’s coming-of-middle-age novel. Therefore, this novel is
very suitable for middle-age woman.
Fortunately, Sue Monk Kidd gives a space in her website to place some
critics about her works (www.suemonkkidd.com). Therefore, it will be easier for the
Time magazine stated, “Her writing is so smart and sharp, she gives new life
to old midlife crises, and she draws connections from the feminine to the divine to
the erotic that a lesser writer wouldn’t see, and might the guts to follow”
The critic comes from Fort Worth Star-Telegram., it says that the novel is a
well- told tale about marriage, mystery and mermaid. It also says that Kidd at a
deeper emotional level fabulously popular Bees. In this novel the character are more
tormented, more complex, in their process of coming unwound and then healing.
Furthermore, it also states that in the novel there is a quite powerful feminist
statement on the basis of Kidd’s beautiful use of language.
While according to Philadelphia Inquirer, The Mermaid Chair is a woman’s
coming –of-middle-age novel. It says that Kidd can really turn a phrase and her
descriptions of nature’s archetypal element are magnificent.
Booklist is also adding that Kidd’s second offering is just as gracefully written as her first and possesses an equally compelling story. It should appeal to the
many readers who mad her first novel a hit with book clubs. Publisher Weekly
starred review states that “rewarding second novel by the author of the bestselling
Secret Life of Bees. Writing from the perspective of conflicted discontented Jessie, Kidd achieves a bold intensity and complexity that was not possible in The Secret
Life of Bees, narrated by teenage Lily. Jessie’s efforts to cope with marital
stagnation, Whit’s crisis of faith and Nellie’s tormented reckoning with the past will
resonate with many readers. This emotionally rich novel, full of sultry, magical
descriptions of life in the South, is sure to be another hit for Kidd.”
From the statements and also the critics that come from many source, it can
works. Her first famous novel The Secret Life of Bees attracts many people to read
her another novel. It shows that her works is stunning and enjoyable to read.
2.3 Theoretical Framework
There are some theories that are reviewed for references to help to analyze
the novel. The theory of character by Abrams (1993: 24) helps to analyze Jessie’s
character and people around her. The theory of characterization by (Holman and
Harmon, 1968: 81) and M.J Murphy, Understanding Unseen (1972: 161-173) are
used to get better understanding about the personalities and characters in the novel.
By applying this theory, the reader will be more easily to understand how the
characters are analyzed.
Furthermore, in understanding Jessie’s personality development this study
applied some theory about personality and psychology. Hurlock’s theory is used to
analyze Jessie’s personality development Hurlock (1976: 108). The theory of human
development is by Murray (1981: 165). Furthermore, the theory of minor character
that influences Jessie’s personality development is based on the theory of Milligan
(1983: 195). By understanding the definition of minor character, it gives the reader a
picture of the main character itself and its role in the novel
The theories of Pikunas (1976: 68) and Floyd L.Ruch (1963: 111-112) are
used to get better understanding in analyzing Jessie’s personality. The theory of
Mid-Life Transition will help the study to figure out Jessie’s personality development.
The aim of these theories is to strengthen the Hurlock theory about personality
development. These theories will help to analyze how the transition can effect one’s
CHAPTER 3 METHODOLOGY
This chapter includes three sections. The first section is Subject matter, the
second is Approaches and the third is Procedures. The object of the study states that
the work to be discussed with its physical description. The approach deals with the
approach that is used to analyze the novel. The procedures are concerned with the
research steps taken, starting from reading up to report writing. It also deals with
where to gather data and what aspects of the topic include.
3.1 Subject Matter
The subject the matter of the study is a novel written by Sue Monk Kidd,
published in 2005 by Viking Penguin, a member of penguin group (USA) Inc. It
consists of 403 pages. This novel is about Jessie’s, a middle age women, experience
in her married. It tells from the time she lived happily with her husband and daughter
than she got an affair with a monk until she realized her mistake and came back to
her husband, Hugh. In this novel, there are characters that influence Jessie’s
personality. They are Jessie’s husband (Hugh), Jessie’s mother (Nelle), The Monk
(Whit). The story will also deal with Jessie’s effort to figure out the mystery behind
her mother’s severe sickness. The conflicts in Jessie’s character are dealing with
these characters.
Jessie is the main character in the novel, therefore; the study focuses on
Jessie’s personality development. The study will also focus on the Jessie’s
Jessie’s personality development is mostly influenced by family and people around
her.
3.2 Approaches
This study uses psychological approach to get an easy understanding about
the novel. The description of the approach can be read through this part.
The psychological approach helps us to analyze from the point of view of
human being. The approach relates with the human being’s behavior patterns and
unconscious thought. Jessie’s personality development in this novel is effected by
her psychological factor. In order to understand the development of Jessie’s
personality, this study analyzes it from the psychological point of view.
Automatically, this study analyzes Jessie’s personality from psychological field. In
this case the psychological field will not only help this study to understand Jessie’s
personality but also how her personality is influenced by other characters.
3.3 Procedures.
This study was done through reading and analyzing a novel. Therefore, we
call this study as a library research. In order to be easier in analyzing this novel, this
study uses some books concerning with psychology and literature as references.
This study uses primary and secondary sources. The primary source was the
novel The Mermaid Chair by Sue Monk Kidd. The secondary sources are books of
literature, psychology and some sources from the internet. The literature book is
about character and characterization, while the psychology books are on personality
In order to conduct this study, this study used some procedures. Some steps
are taken to answer the problem.
The first step was reading the novel for several times. It was done in order to
get more understanding on the novel. Some necessary notes were made while reading
the novel, the notes were focusing on the personality development. Some dialogues
which illustrated the development of Jessie’s personality and the influence of other
characters were also taken into account.
The second step was reading some references related to the theory of
literature relate to personality development. Furthermore, finding the criticisms about
Sue Monk Kidd on the internet was also taken.
The third step was making notes of character detailed explanation. This part
was also related to definition of Jessie’s appearance, attitude and personality.
The fourth step was observing the main character’s personality development
by applying psychological approach. The study focused on Jessie’s personality
development. It used the theory of psychology.
The last step was investigating the values that people can get from Jessie’s
journey in finding the true longing. In this step, some phenomena and lessons about
middle age married women were revealed. Hopefully, this study will give good input
CHAPTER 4 ANALYSIS
This chapter analyzes the minor characters’ personality and Jessie’s
personality development which are described in the novel. The first analysis will be
the minor characters that influence Jessie’s personality development. Furthermore, it
will also analyze Jessie’s personality development.
4.1 The Minor Characters’ Personalities
There is a factor that influences Jessie’s personality development which is
minor characters. Minor characters are characters which appear as the complement of
the story. Therefore, in this study I would use Murphy’s theory of characterization.
This theory is used to analyze each minor character’s character.
Jessie lives with her beloved husband and her only daughter. Jessie’s friends
describe Jessie’s family as a perfect family. She has a handsome, kind and
dependable husband and an amazing daughter.
Jessie’s family is described as a family that can give Jessie happiness and
composure.
When I came down stairs, Hugh was making breakfast. I heard the hiss of Jimmy Dean Sausage before I got to the kitchen. ‘I’m not hungry,’ I told him. ‘But you need to eat,’ he said. ‘You’re not going to throw up again, Trust me.’ (p. 24)
Before coming downstairs, he’d booked me a one-way ticket to Charleston and arranges to cancel his early- afternoon patients so he could drive me to the airport. (p. 24)
Jessie’s husband really cares about her and really loves her. She feels that
Hugh’s aging seemed more benign, his handsomeness turning ripe, but it wasn’t that so much as the combination of intelligence and kindnesses in his face that drew people. I had captured me back in the beginning. (p. 25)
He said, ‘I hardly know anything about you, but I love you’. And from that moment his commitment had been unyielding. Even now he rarely went a day without telling me. (p. 28)
Not only her husband but also her daughter loves her. The way her daughter
makes fun of her mother shows how she loves her. Jessie usually responds to her
daughter’s joke with another ridiculous joke.
The ‘Rapuzel tower’. She’s always teasing me about it. ‘Hey, Mom, When are you gonna let your hair down?’ that’s Dee being playful, being Dee, but we both knew what she meant- that I’d become to stuffy and self- protected. (p.8)
This past Christmas, while she was home, I’d posted a Gary Larson cartoon on the refrigerator with a magnet that proclaimed me WORLD’S GREATEST MOM. In it, two cows stood in their idyllic posture. One announced to the other, ‘I don’t care what they say, I’m not content.’ I’d meant as a little joke, for Dee (p. 8)
Those conditions describe that Jessie is very lucky to have such a family, a
lovely husband and a great daughter. However, Jessie still feels that she needs to do
something to excite her routine.
On the other hand, she has a brother and a mother who live in the Egret Island.
Jessie was raised in a quite religious family. She has a brother named Mike;
furthermore, Mike and she have a strong family relation. When she was a child, it
was only Mike who always accompanied her to play around. Shealso has a very nice
father, who always spoiled her. He named his boat after Jessie and he always had
stories to tell to Jessie. He usually told the story and sat Jessie on his lap.
It is described in the novel after her father died everything turns to be unstable.
silence and her action of cutting her hand are the example. Moreover; Jessie keeps
blaming her self for her father’s death. She speculated that the boat explosion was
caused by the pipe that she gave to her father in the father’s day. Jessie’s and her
mother’s condition show that losing a father’s figure in the family affects much in
one’s personality.
4.1.1 Nelle (Jessie’s Mother)
Nelle is Jessie’s mother. This character is also considered as a character who
influences Jessie’s personality. Nelle’s sickness makes Jessie aware of life and the
relation between mother and daughter.
4.1.1.1 Sensitive
According to Murphy’s theory of characterization, a character can be analyzed
through reaction. This character is considered as a sensitive character. It can be seen
from her attitude toward other people. Once, Nelle’s relationship with Jessie is fine
but after Jessie’s father died, their relationship turns bad. The condition is getting
worse after Jessie’s marriage. Nelle seems to lose everything, she lost her daughter as
well as her husband. She becomes a very sensitive person. One day, Jessie is visiting
her mother. She buys her a silk pajama with a Chinese dragon embodied on its top.
Her mother does not like it, so she throws it away. Jessie is angry and she packs her
clothes. Since that moment, she has never come back to home to visit her mother.
Since Nelle is very sensitive, she feels that she is abandoned, but she never tells
about her feeling and condition to Jessie that she is lonely. After her husband’s death,
her mother’s attitude becomes strange. Jessie as her child feels that the cause of her
mother’s strange attitude is her. Her relationship with Jessie has never been fine
since the boat’s explosion. The worst thing is that Jessie has never come to visit her
mother for five years more. ‘I do believe our little island could sink into the sea, and
it wouldn’t faze you’. Kat said. ‘What’s it been? Five years, six months, and one
week since you set foot here. (p.16)
Because of Nelle’s attitude to her daughter, Jessie feels that she is not expected
by her mother. Nelle’s five years of silence influences Jessie’s thought that she does
not have a mother. Nelle’s attitude makes Jessie do not want to visit her mother.
Furthermore, Jessie thinks that her mother does not want her. ‘My excuse,’ I said, ‘is
that she does not want me there, She’s_’. (p.18)
Unconsciously, Nelle makes Jessie have a sense that she killed her own
father. Nelle’s silence and her strange behavior left thousand accusations to Jessie’s
thought that she is guilty.
‘I almost laughed. I could no more pretend I didn’t have a mother than the sea could pretend it had no salt. My mother existed for me with a vengeance. Sometime her voice would come piping through my bones and practically lift me off my feet.’ (p.18)
Knowing her mother’s illness, Jessie tries to throw away her negative feeling
about her mother. She tries to understand her mother’s position. She might do the
same thing if she were her mother. However, her mother’s attitude affects Jessie’s
feeling and thought as a woman. Sometimes she feels afraid if she becomes just like
her mother. She is frightened by her past and her marriage. Those are two things that
make her weak. She keeps trying to maintain her emotion although sometimes she
4.1.1.2 Reclusive
In chapter two, there is a part that describing that Nelle is a reclusive woman.
It is analyzed by using character as seen by others. This character is described as a
character who always does everything alone. Although she looks strange, the monks
in the monastery really miss her existence in the monastery. It is proven from other
monks who really miss her when she gets sick. Moreover, she is also considered as a
mother who does not have any sense of humors. She is very different from Jessie in
this case. She can be considered as a very serious religious woman. She sees things
in a very serious way. Moreover, after her husband’s death, she becomes someone
who really cares of the benediction monastery.
Mother had always been what you’d call fervent, making me and Mike drop pennies into empty milk jars for pagan babies’ and every Friday lighting the Sacred Heart of Jesus candles in the tall glasses and going to her knees on the floor in her bedroom. Where she said all five decades of the rosary, kissing the crucifix on which Jesus had been rubbed down to a stick man from all the devotion. (p.20)
Nelle becomes very religious and silent after the ship explosion. Her
husband’s death affects her to devote herself to the monastery. Her attitude makes
Jessie think that her mother is crazy. Jessie thinks that her mother is abnormal.
Moreover, after her mother severely cuts her own finger without reason.
Even then, though, I’d thought of her as normal-crazy, just a couple of degrees beyond fervent. When she wore so many saints’ medal pinned to her bra that she clinked, when she started cooking at the monastery, behaving as if she owned the place, I’d told myself she was just an overextended Catholic obsessed with her salvation. (p.21)
From other characters’ opinions, she is too serious in devoting herself to the
monastery. And her seriousness somehow leads other characters to think that she is
4.1.1.3 Silent
Nelle is considered as a very silent character and it is analyzed by using
character as seen by others. Her silence makes her daughter hard to understand her.
Nelle’s strange attitude is simply a form of self blaming of her husbands’ death. She
cuts her fingers twice and put those two fingers into the mayonnaise jar. This strange
attitude really spends Jessie’s thought and feeling. Moreover, this character keeps
Jessie in her guilty feeling toward her father’s death. She keeps thinking that her
father is killed because of the pipe that she gave. Nelle never tells her the cause of
Jessie’s father’s death. I had an overwhelming impulse to shake Mother awake and
ask why she’d let me grow up believing that my pipe had been the cause of
everything. (p. 98)
However, Nelle finally tells the truth about her husband’s death to Jessie.
Although it is hard for Jessie, Nelle is trying to convince Jessie that the unwanted
condition is not Jessie’s fault. She just wants to keep it all for herself, she does not
want Jessie to feel sad to hear the true story about her father’s death.
‘I slid forward and reached out of her touch. I wanted her. I wanted my mother. I wanted to bend over and kiss her injured child. My love for her was such rubble.’ The rosary fell onto the floor. She began talking to my father as if he were sitting in the room with us. ‘Don’t ask me to do this, Joe. Please don’t ask me. I’ll walk on my knees across the island if I have to. I won’t eat. I’ll sleep on the floor, on the dirty ground. I’ll make God hear me. Jesus and Mary. Don’t ask me to do this.’ (p. 337)
From the statement above, it is proven that this character is analyzed by a
theory about character’s reaction toward something. This part shows Jessie’s reaction
toward her mother’s confession. She is surprised that she never sees her mother both
awkwardly and openly like that before. On the other hand, Nelle’s confession about
how she really loves and wants her mother much. She realizes how much her mother
loves her father. She finds that her accusation to her mother about her mother’s affair
with Father Dominic is totally wrong.
The novel proves that Nelle’s silence is for the sake of her daughter’s
goodness. Unfortunately, she does not realize that her silence keeps Jessie in her
guilty feeling.
4.1.2 Hugh (Jessie’s Husband)
4.1.2.1 Responsible
This character is analyzed by using the theory of character as seen by others.
Jessie, who plays as other characters, leads the reader to have a picture about
Hugh. For Jessie, Hugh is a very good man. She feels so lucky to have Hugh as
her husband, a very dependable husband. He works for the family, he gives Jessie
a very nice daughter, he knows how to cook and above all he is handsome. It
would take million pages to describe how perfect Hugh is. People would be
gladly saying that Jessie is the luckiest wife in the world, Hugh really loves
Jessie. However, those perfections make Jessie live in a very ordinary life. She
feels that everything is set and she cannot do anything that makes her different
from others.
Hugh is definitely a handsome husband, the older he is the more handsome
he becomes. Even Jessie feels jealous at him.
As a husband, Hugh has already given a good role for the family. He earns
money for his family. Moreover, he loves her daughter very much. They are as close
as friend, even Dee wove a bracelet for him and he wears it. Furthermore, He likes
keeping things that have memory about people he loves. He keeps all those things in
his drawer. It shows that Hugh is a loveable person. He would give his deep attention
to people he loves. Moreover, it is kind a rare for a man to keep memorable thing in
his drawer. He is considered as man who shows his affection to his family.
‘….., while putting away the laundry. I came upon Hugh’s jewelry case in the back of his underwear drawer. Maybe I shouldn’t have, but I at on the bed and went through it. It held all Dee’s baby teeth, tiny and yellowed like popcorn kernels, and several drawings she’d done on his prescription pad. There was his father’s Pearl Harbor pin, his grandfather’s pocket watch, four pairs of cuff links I’d bought him for various anniversaries….(p.28)
4.1.2.2 Caring
A character can be analyzed from reaction to other people. This character is
analyzed from Hugh’s reaction toward his wife and his family. Hugh is a very caring
character. He cares not only his family but also his wife’s family. Even, he would not
be sorry to cancel all his appointment in order to put attention to her wife. Hugh
would prepare all the things that Jessie needs. He also knows what he should do
when Jessie’s emotion is uncontrolled.
When I came downstairs, Hugh was making breakfast. I heard the hiss of Jimmy Dean sausage before I got to the kitchen. ‘I’m not hungry.’ I told him. ‘but you need to eat,’ he said. ‘You are not going to throw up again. Trust me.’ Whenever a crisis of any kind appeared, Hugh made these great big breakfasts. He seemed to believe in their power to revive us. (p.24)
Hugh very concerns to his wife because everything seems to have already
