JAMES’ MOTIVATION FOR SURVIVAL AS SEEN IN HIS
STRUGGLE AGAINST POVERTY IN MARC CERASINI’S
CINDERELLA MAN
AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree ofSarjana Sastra
in English Letters
By
ESTHER YULIA KURNIAWATY Student Number: 064214029
ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS
FACULTY OF LETTERS SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
i
JAMES’ MOTIVATION FOR SURVIVAL AS SEEN IN HIS
STRUGGLE AGAINST POVERTY IN MARC CERASINI’S
CINDERELLA MAN
AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree ofSarjana Sastra
in English Letters
By
ESTHER YULIA KURNIAWATY Student Number: 064214029
ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS
FACULTY OF LETTERS SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
vi
Without God, you can do
nothing. With God there
is nothing you cannot do.
–Unknown-“Faith is the confidence that what
we hope for will actually happen;
it gives us assurance about things
we cannot see” (Hebrews 11:1,
NLT)
Never think that God's delays are God's
denials. Hold on! Hold fast! Hold out!
vii
I dedicated this undergraduate thesis to
My Lord JESUS CHRIST
My beloved father and mother
viii
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
First of all, I would like to thank my Lord, Jesus Christ for His blessing
that I could accomplish my undergraduate thesis, for His help and guidance
throughout my life and for never leaving me alone in my hard time.
I would like to give my greatest gratitude to my advisor Adventina
Putranti, S.S., M. Hum., for her time, advice, patient guidance, and also revision
to my thesis from the beginning of my thesis writing until now. Without her help I
would not be able to finish this thesis. I also would like to thank Drs. Hirmawan
Wijanarka, M.Hum for the suggestions and inputs as the co-advisor of my
undergraduate thesis. My acknowledgement also goes to all the lecturers and staff
of Department of English Letters. I thank them for supporting, teaching, and
helping me during my study in this university.
I dedicate this thesis to my beloved father, papi Markus Bambang, who
has been patiently waiting for my thesis and my beloved mother, mami Yohana
Mei Ly, who has prayed and supported for me. I thank my brothers and sisters
who live in Solo and Tangerang for the love, happiness and support to finish my
study. I thank my Joshua, who stands beside me and gives me his love, optimism,
and patience. Without them I cannot be what I am now. I love them so much.
I would like to thank my friends in 2006 that I cannot mention all of them.
I thank them for the togetherness and happiness during my study in Sanata
Dharma University. I thank them for being my friends and I learn so many things
ix
I thank my brothers and sisters in Christian Student Fellowship (PMK)
Efata Sanata Dharma University Mrican. I thank them for giving me such a warm
family when I lived in Jogja and for the friendship. I also thank the members of
Sadhar Bermazmur (SB) 2006, 2007, and 2008; also the members of Rally Doa
2007 and 2008. Thank you for giving me great experience and opportunity in
service God.
I would also thank Teens Testifier Station. I thank TTS for being my
brothers and sisters, for the love, support and inspiration during this work. I learn
patience from all of you, and I learn how to understand people patiently. I thank
all mentors and tutors Domby Kids Hope II Terban for giving me chance to teach
as an English tutor. Our togetherness during my stay there was really amazing.
That was my great experience, and all of you gave me the confidence to teach, the
ability to increase creativity, and the love to love others. God bless them all.
x
2. The Relation between Literature and Psychology ...12
3. Theory of Motivation ...13
A. The Characterization of James J. Braddock ...22
1. Responsible ...23
xi
xii ABSTRACT
ESTHER YULIA KURNIAWATY. James’ Motivation for Survival as Seen in His Struggle against Poverty in Marc Cerasini’s Cinderella Man. Yogyakarta:
Department of English Letters, Faculty of Letters, Sanata Dharma University, 2013.
This research discusses a novel entitled Cinderella Man, a novel by Marc Cerasini. The writer is interested in this novel because it reflects the motivation of the major character, James Jimmy Braddock. The topic is about human’s motivation, and it is always interesting topic. Moreover, this novel is based on a true story.
To see James’ motivation for survival as seen in his struggle against poverty, this research has two problems. The objectives of this thesis are to identify the characterization of James J. Braddock as seen in the novel and to find out James’ motivation for survival as seen in his struggle against poverty in Marc Cerasini’sCinderella Man.
In this research, the method is library research. The writer used a novel entitled Cinderella Manas the main source. The writer also searched for the data related to this study from the internet. In analyzing the novel, the writer used the psychological approach. The writer also used some theories, such as theory of character, the theory of characterization, the theory of human motivation, and theory of struggle.
xiii
ABSTRAK
ESTHER YULIA KURNIAWATY. James’ Motivation for Survival as Seen in His Struggle against Poverty in Marc Cerasini’s Cinderella Man. Yogyakarta:
Department of English Letters, Faculty of Letters, Sanata Dharma University, 2013.
Penelitian ini mendiskusikan sebuah novel dengan judul Cinderella Man, sebuah novel karya dari Marc Cerasini. Penulis tertarik dengan novel ini karena novel ini menggambarkan motivasi dari karakter utama, James J. Braddock. Temanya tentang motivasi manusia dan itu selalu menjadi topik yang menarik. Terlebih, novel ini berdasarkan pada kisah nyata.
Untuk melihat motivasi James untuk bertahan hidup yang tersirat didalam setiap perjuangannya melawan kemiskinan, diformulasikanlah dua pertanyaan guna memandu proses analisa. Objek dari karya ilmiah ini adalah untuk mengidentifikasi karakter James J. Braddock seperti terlihat dalam novel dan untuk mengetahui motivasi James bertahan hidup seperti yang telihat dalam perjuangannya melawan kemiskinan pada novel Marc Cerasini, Cinderella Man. Karya ilmiah ini memiliki dua rumusan masalah.
Pada penelitian ini, metode yang digunakan adalah penelitian pustaka. Penulis menggunakan sebuah novel yang berjudul Cinderella Man sebagai data utama. Penulis juga mencari data yang terkait dengan penielitian ini dari internet. Dalam menganalisis novel, penulis menggunakan pendekatan psikologi. Penulis juga menggunakan beberapa teori, seperti teori karakter, teori karakterisasi, teori motivasi manusia, dan teori perjuangan.
1
CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION
A. Background of the Study
All people in the world have their own problems. Some of them face
their problems, but most of them run from the problems. The people who
choose to run from their problems thought that the problems will be solved
automatically. In fact, it does not solve the problems but it becomes more and
more complicated. That is the wrong way to solve problems. The way to be
free is facing those problems bravely. Some people worry whether they can
find the way out or not. That’s one reason why people decide to run from the
problems. Unfortunately, people who run from their own problems are usually
called as loser. Besides that, people who can stand and face the problems are
called winner.
James Jimmy Braddock is a person who can prove to people that he
became a winner from his problems. Firstly, James J. Braddock is a poor
person, who lives in New Jersey, and he has a wife named Mae and he also
has three children. He is a boxer and he often wins the boxing matches; and
then he has much money. Suddenly, “the Great Depression” attacks America
and he lose everything he has.
but not before he’d sunk even more money into it. By 1932, the Braddocks had lost every cent of the $30,000 Jim had earned during his rise in the ring.jim had borrowed from friends and relatives, but nobody was in any better shape. The Braddocks were only one drop in a desolate ocean of families who’d lost their homes, their life savings, and in some cases even more.” (Cerasini, 2005: 37-38)
He becomes poorer than he ever feels. As a poor person, it is very easy
to give up and run away from his difficulties. It does not make James J.
Braddock decide to give up with his condition. He chooses to struggle and
face the Great Depression as his big problem. In the book Literature for
Composition: Essay, Fiction, Poetry, and Drama 7th Edition. 2005, Barnet said that if somebody knows something is not right and he dislikes it, he does
not question about it and he does not let that thing get him down. It means that
he chooses to continue moving forward. That is happening to James J.
Braddock at that time.
In the book Personality Theories believes that “much of human behavior can be explained by the individual’s tenders to seek personal goal
states that make life rewarding and meaningful” (Ziegler and Hjelle, 1981:
368). That is why James J. Braddock wants to show to people around the
world, that having love and desire can inspire people to struggle from his big
problem. Those are seen when the Great Depression happened. He and his
family can survive.
This novel is suitable to study because the theme of the novel itself
tells about the struggle of a man to defend his family, his life, and his dream.
His struggles makes him becomes an extraordinary man who called a
which is seen clearly in the novel. In Great Depression, many men are
desperate. It impacts for their family, for example he leaves the house because
he cannot feed his family. But something interesting happens to James J.
Braddock among the society where he lives, instead of the Great Depression
makes him work harder than others, he decides to defend his family. Actually
it is love for his family which can give him the motivation not to give up but
has to against poverty. He teaches the value of truth to his family even they
are very poor at that time. This is proven when his family does not have any
food to eat; his old son steal meat from the butcher. James J. Braddock asks
his son to bring it back and apologize to the butcher’s owner.
TheCinderella Man by Marc Cerasini is adapted from the movie with
the same title. This novel tells about the boxer named James Jimmy Braddock
who has defeated by the Great Depression time. He lose everything, including
his famous and wealth. The only thing that Great Depression cannot take is the
unity of his family. James J. Braddock loves his family very much, and his
entire struggle from these difficulties is only for his family. This novel does
not only talk about the winning and pride of James J. Braddock, but also tells
about the people who are struggling to keep alive in Great Depression; they
are men who desperate, and children who cannot get food to eat every day.
Most of writers usually write a novel by using chapter. The use of
chapter is to break up a story and to emphasize problems. Another word we
can say a chapter as a mini-novel in the novel. In one chapter we find that the
American writer who writes unusual novel, that is Cinderella Man. What
makesCinderella Manlooks unusual? It is because Marc Cerasini did not use chapter in the novelCinderella Man, but instead he used round as the chapter.
Round is used in the boxing. It is related, because the main character was a
boxer. Round in this novel has the same function as chapter, and what makes
it different with another novel is this novel contains with really authentic story
and background information about America’s boxing world for people who do
not like this sport, because the reader will get caught by the dramatic story of
James J. Braddock. It’s like being delivered by Guido Fritschi in his article,
titled Cinderella Man Criticism by Guido Fritschi (www.
gymmuenchenstein.ch/stalder/happy_reading/guido.htm). Round also
influence the readers to feel like they are watching the real boxing match by
reading the novel. This is another reason why this novel is suitable to study.
James J. Braddock is one example of the real story which happens in
the Great Depression at that time, especially people who have the same
condition with him. They become poor until they cannot provide for their
family anymore. They are desperate, under pressure, and distressed because
they cannot get job and they cannot feed their family. Meanwhile James J.
Braddock and his family have the same experience. What makes it different
with others is James J. Braddock never give up and see the opportunity even
being in the difficult situation.
This novel is interesting to discuss. It is because the topic is about
on a true story. In this story tells that someone can get what he wants because
of there is motivation behind it and it is followed by struggles to make it real.
Being more specific, someone who has love for his wife and his three children
can change him into a hard worker who never give up to get work to fulfill his
family. It is amazing that love can give power and energy for someone to
survive. This is very interesting because analyzing someone’s struggles and
motivation for survival against poverty can be very touching. The reader is
inspired by the great story life from this novel.
B. Problem Formulation
There are two main problems formulated in this literature study:
1. How is James J. Braddock characterized in Marc Cerasini’s Cinderella Man?
2. What are James’ motivations for survival as seen in his struggles against
poverty?
C. Objectives of the Study
Related to the problem formulations above, this study has two
objectives. The first objective is to identify the characterizations of James J.
Braddock in Marc Cerasini’s Cinderella Man. The second objective is to explain James’ motivations for survival as seen in his struggles against
D. Definition of Term
The term that is used for analyzing this study is motivation. In order to
avoid the misunderstanding, here is the meaning of term below:
1. Motivation
According to Gerring and Zimbardo in Psychology and life (2002: 364), they define motivation as a process of starting, directing and maintaining
physical and psychological activities toward a certain goal. Furthermore,
Smith, Irwin, and Barbara (1997: 282) stated that motivation is an internal
process that gives an influence the direction, persistence, and vigor of goal
7 CHAPTER II
THEORETICAL REVIEW
This chapter consists of three parts; they are review of related studies, review of related theories, and theoretical framework. The review of related studies concerns with the information, comments, or criticisms related to Marc Cerasini’s Cinderella Man. The review of related theories presents the theories that are related to the study. And the theoretical framework explains the contribution of the theories that are used in this literature study.
A. Review of Related Studies
Marc Cerasini’s Cinderella Man is adapted from the movie with the same title. The story ofCinderella Man is based on the true story of James J. Braddock as the main character, so it is a non-fiction novel. This story is about a boxer named James J. Braddock, he has Joe Gould as his manager. They try to pass the Great Depression time and unbelievably Braddock becomes the heavyweight champion. Braddock won the heavyweight champion from Max Baer. Max Baer is a famous boxer and a champion from 1934 to 1935. As written in Guido Fritschi’s criticism entitledCinderella Man, he stated,
According to Fritschi’s, the narrator puts two story lines together in one novel gives it a deeper sense. Both Braddock and Baer started their careers in similar way. James J. Braddock came from a poor family; he began his fighting for a small salary to become a famous heavyweight boxer, he fell in the Great Depression time and lost not only his money but also his reputation as a boxer. In the same time, Great Depression did not affect Max Baer in his financial condition or his career. Here Fritschi finds two different points of views. For him, the change of the story line from one chapter to another gives an impression of the contrast between the two different world of James J. Braddock and Max Baer. And what he wants to say is that this novel is not just about sport, more than that it has a deeper meaning and that is exactly why it kept the readers interested page by page.
Another statement comes from Steve Frecke who lived at Greensboro, North Carolina United States. Frecke posted his statement in James J. Braddock’s personal website, entitled Guestbook of James J. Braddock. He wrote that he truly agreed with the action of James J. Braddock toward the Great Depression and what he supposed to do. He said,
What an amazing display of courage, tenacity and determination. There are a lot of people struggling because of the economic downturn and it just goes to show that with integrity and belief in yourself ANYTHING can happen. The strength of character HE had was an inspiration! (www.jamesjbraddock.com/guestbook/)
strength to struggle from the problem. For those who are inspired by James J. Braddock and do it in their own life, actually they have their integrity just like him more or less. The life of James J. Braddock was the right example in order to increase our conscious thought to face all difficulties in our life.
Here is another statement in James J. Braddock’s personal’s website, entitled Guestbook of James J. Braddock, from Robert Gamble at Venice, Florida, United States. He said,
To whom it may concern,
I have watched Cinderella Man three or four times. What a great movie. I feel as if I know Mr. Braddock’s life, what a man, what a man. That is what this country missing REAL MEN!!!! Not because he was a great boxer but, a great family man. After all that is what makes GREAT MEN!! Love of God, Family and Country. Mr. Braddock all I can say and it is a little late “JOB WELL DONE, WELL DONE” (www.jamesjbraddock.com/guestbook/)
It showed that James J. Braddock was a great man had ever lived in this world. He did love his family and country. He just an ordinary man, but he changed his own fate and became an extraordinary man. His life could inspire people by his behavior and action. This can be shown from the book
B. Review of Related Theories
Some theories will be used in the study as the guidance in answering the problems formulation that becomes the focus of the analysis.
1. Theory of Character and Characterization
The important thing in this story is character. Generally, character divides into major character and minor character. Major character is the important person who is dominant in the story; whereas the minor character is giving support to the major one. In the story, characters will perform flat characters or round characters. Barnet said “Flat character is relatively simple and usually has only one trait. And round character is embodies several or many traits that cohere to form a complex personality” (Barnet, 2005: 228). His statement implies that flat characters sometimes not develop, because they are simple and have only one trait. Since the round characters have more than one trait, so they can be developed. The definition of character by Abrams is stated below
And characterization also called as personality. Personality attempts to explain the development of personal aspects and adjustment (Crow and Crow, 1956: 228). Crow and Crow have said that personality reflects the development of the personal aspects; it means that the function of a person’s behavior influences to their environment and it determines the kind of person he eventually will become. In this case, the personality is used in the story or drama, so the readers can imagine how does the character alive.
According to Barnet (2005: 338)
Characterization is the presentation of a character, whether by direct description, by showing the character in action, or by the presentation of other characters who help to define each other.
On the definition above explains that the characterization is showing the character in action or to help other characters to define each other. The readers know the characterization of each character from the actions that was performed by the character in the story or play.
Robert W. Boynton and Maynard Mack in Introduction to the Short Story explained the way a writer revealed the characters in the novel. The characters can be revealed based on:
a. The action
Stories show characters in action. Therefore, the most obvious method for revealing the character is through what a person does. (Boynton and Mack, 1965, 27)
Another way of revealing what people are like is to show what they say. (Boynton and Mack, 1965, 28)
c. The thinking
A writer may also reveal the character of people by showing what they think. For example, we learn about the characters’ passion, precision, caution, and self-control primarily through their own reflections on what is going on. (Boynton and Mack, 1965, 28)
d. The comment of others to the characters
Much can be shown about a character by the way others react to him, or by what they say about him. (Boynton and Mack, 1965, 29)
e. The reaction of characters to their surroundings
One of the commonest ways to reveal the character is to show how a person reacts to his surroundings-to things and places. (Boynton and Mack, 1965, 29)
f. The direct description or explanation
A final method of character revelation is through direct description or explanation by the author. It is a separate way of portraying character, since an author is, after all, in complete control of everything that goes into his story (Boynton and Mack, 1965: 29-30).
2. The Relation between Literature and Psychology
literary works take the issue of psychology as the basic idea as Wellek and Werren purposed. In their book Theory of Literature (Wellek and Werren, 1956: 81) the term psychology of literature has four possible meanings. The first is the psychological study of the author as a type or as an individual. The second is the study of creative process. The third is the study of psychological types and laws presented within works literature, and the last ism the effect of literature upon readers. They stated that people learn theory of psychology that is revealed in the works of literature by analyzing the works itself.
Another comes from Cohen in his book Humanistic Psychology, he stated that literature and psychology has relation in exploring human’s life, in a variety of ways, a psychological approach has opened new avenues to the study of literature (1958: 189). Actually those two theories have shown and it became the proof of the relation between literature and psychology. Analyzing literary works can be reflected certain psychological subjects. And one example of it is the struggle James J. Braddock of survival toward them poverty.
3. Theory of Motivation
According to Baron in his book entitled Annotated Instructor’s Edition, Psychology Third Edition,stated that
Motivation is internal processes that can’t be directly observed, but which activate, guide, and maintain their overt behaviors (Baron, 1995: 375).
We can also say that such actions occur because the persons involved are motivated to perform them.
4. Theory of Struggle
According to Braun, Linder and Asimov in the book Psychology Today (1979) are stated that in people’s life there are many life events happening. For every life events will make people to force themselves to make some struggles in their life. For example of life events such as divorce, death of spouse, gaining a new family member, personal injury or illness, family members leaving home, and many other. While people try to deal with all these problems and challenges of life, they will need to adjust their selves. For that reason, how people react from all these events is one aspect of the process called adjustment (Braun, L.A, 1979: 479-480). In their book, Braun, Linder and Asimov says that adjustment is just a process of copying the events, problems, challenges, and other difficult situations which occur in people’s life.
They stated that adjustment is divided into three categories.
will automatically develop their problem solving skill.
2. The acceptance toward the situation. Sometimes it is better for people to accept the problems and its consequences, as if there is no solution for it. However people need to be careful with the unconsidered acceptance. Sometimes in some case, people accept the consequences that are avoided. 3. The defense mechanisms as repression and denial. These defense
mechanisms are very helpful in decreasing people’s stress and anxiety while trying to deal with the difficult situations. But in some cases, it has a danger too. The overuse of these defenses can make severe disturbances in people’s life (Braun, L.A, 1979: 478).
Struggle can be interpreted as a person’s strategy to protect him from problems in life. According to Bernard, in some condition people have rationally and consciously implement strategies which enable them to survive toward stresses or problems of life. When they try to face problems, they usually will seek for some strategies or ideas to survive toward their problems. Although sometimes it is difficult and feel painful, people will keep trying to find ways to resolve problems in life by struggling (Weiner, Bernard, 1980: 481).
way to reach their goal, but they will keep struggling from the unpleasant experience. They will learn the positive things from what it done by struggling. Every people believe that they need to struggle, because they realize all of their efforts will be satisfied (McKechnie, 1989: 367).
Since people live, problems will always happen in their life and it is various. Some might be easy or some other might be difficult. When people face problems, they will have various ways to struggle to overcome their problems. Struggle according to Abate means that people make some determine efforts under their difficulties and make some efforts to keep struggling in dealing toward problems which emerging in life (Abate, 1996: 1514).
C. Theoretical Framework
There are two problems which are discussed in this study, they concern about the characterization of James J. Braddock and to explain James’ motivations for survival as seen in his struggles against poverty in Marc Cerasini’sCinderella Man.
18
CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY
A. Object of the Study
The object of this study is a novel written by Marc Cerasini, named
Cinderella Man published by HarperCollinsPublishers, on 2005. This
novel consists of fifteen chapters, an epilogue, and 274 pages. Cinderella
Manis based on the extraordinary true story. The author is inspired by the
life of legendary athlete, named James Jimmy Braddock. He is Marc
Cerasini, who resided in Queens, New York, just a few blocks from the
site of the old Madison Square Garden Bowl, where James J. Braddock
won the world heavyweight title.
This novel is proper to be observed because in ordinary life we
seldom find out the person like James J. Braddock. The person who ever
felt wealth for a moment but unfortunately it changed into poverty. But the
end of the story he got prosperity and popularity more than he ever got
before. Because of that reason, this novel is worth studying. That’s why
the work of Marc Cerasini’s Cinderella Manadapted from the movie with
the same title by the Motion Picture from Universal Pictures Miramax
Films and Imagine Entertainment.
This novel told about James Jimmy Braddock, who was the
beginner in boxing. He came from Bergen, New Jersey. Someday a boxing
His prosperity did not last forever because at that time America is attacked
by Great Depression. It brought many effects to the society of America.
James J. Braddock and his family became poor; they could not pay the
bills of milk, heating, and electricity. But it did not make James J.
Braddock gave up; he got up and struggle in order to earn some money
and then buy food for his family.
Afterwards he won the competition, no worry that he fought with.
Because he won many times, then he got an opportunity to fight with Max
Baer, the World Heavyweight Championship. Unreliable people of New
Jersey prayed for him. They thought that he was the only one who makes
them proud. He showed to his country that there was hope when we did
not give up facing the Great Depression. With the hard struggles, the
fighting amazingly was won by James J. Braddock. After that won the
condition of James J. Braddock was normal again, even better than before.
He was not only won the game upon the ring, but he also won from the big
problem in his life, that is poverty.
B. Approach of the Study
The focus of this study is on the character’s motivation for survival
as seen in his struggles against poverty. Because of the writer wants to
discuss human’s motivation, and the right approach for this study is
psychological approach. As stated in Reading and Writing about
emphasizes on the human psychological and believes that human’s
thought, creativity, behavior and another psychological aspect give
influence to literary work. This approach is relevant for this study because
it helps the writer to analyze human motivation from the behavior and
struggle of the main character. All of them are related to psychology field.
In this study James’ struggles and his motivation for becoming a
hard worker affects his psychological states. By using psychological
approach, the writer can see deeper understanding of James’ motivations
for survival as seen in his struggles against poverty. Human motivation
and struggle are parts of human psychology.
C. Method of the Study
This study is a library research since it relies to the book, as the
sources, where took place in the library. The data is the novel itself,
Cinderella Man (2005) by Marc Cerasini that is used to analyze the
problem. Because of this novel is adopted from the movie of Cinderella
Man so the writer chose to watch the movie. There were several books
related to the theory of the literary term, the theory of character and
characterization, the relation between Literature and Psychology, theory of
motivation, and theory of struggle.
There were at least tenth steps of conducting the study: first was
reading the novel, second was examining the characters, the setting of
determining the topic which can be used to observe in this study; fourth
was formulated the problem, fifth was searching the sources from the
library and studying it, and then choosing only the necessary sources; sixth
was choosing the proper approach to study this novel in order to make
easy while observing the study; eighth was identifying the major character
and minor characters using the appropriate sources and approach; ninth
was answering the problem which formulated by using the appropriate
sources and approach; the last step was writing conclusion from the result
22 CHAPTER IV
ANALYSIS
In this chapter, the writer analyzes the novelCinderella Manby answering
two questions which stated in problem formulation. The first part focuses on the
characterization of the main character, James Jimmy Braddock. It presents how
the author characterizes the main character of the novel.
In the second part, the writer tries to find out James’ motivation for
survival as seen in his struggles against poverty. This analysis uses theories which
are explained above. The first problem formulation uses theory of character and
characterization. For the second problem formulation uses theory of motivation
and theory of struggle.
A. The Characterization of James J. Braddock
According to Abrams (1981: 50-56), the terms of characters are
categorized into two namely major and minor characters based on their
importance. Major characters are the ones that mostly appear in the novel. While
minor characters appear in a certain setting or just become the background of the
major one. In Marc Cerasini’s Cinderella Man, the major character is James
Jimmy Braddock. He does not only emerge from the beginning to the end but also
becomes the focus of the story. Then for the minor characters are Mae Theresa
Fox as his wife, Jay as his first son, Howard as his second son, Rose Marie as his
Baer as a heavyweight championship. Those six minor characters are considered
important because they influence James J. Braddock’s character.
In this novel James J. Braddock is described as a husband and a father; and
as a boxer. Here, by using Robert W. Boynton and Maynard Mack’s theory, the
writer found that the author of Cinderella Man uses some ways to help writer
reveal the characters description based on the action, the word, the thinking, the
comment of others to the characters, the reaction of characters to their
surroundings, and the direct description. However, some of those ways will be
implemented to understand James J. Braddock’s character. Here are the
descriptions of James J. Braddock as a husband and a father; and also as a boxer.
James J. Braddock has some characteristics; responsible, loyal, honest,
steady, confident, proud, and courageous. Those characteristics are found after
writer analyzed how he acts, his words to other characters, his thinking and his
reaction to his surroundings, the comment of others to him, and the direct
description to him.
1. Responsible
James Jimmy Braddock was born on June 7, 1906 in New Jersey. He is a
husband of Mae Theresa Fox and a father of Jay, Howard, and Rose Marie. At
first, he is poor but he still can feed his family normally. Then he works as a
boxer, and get lots money. He and his family live in prosperous. But it does not
take too long because American economy is crashed, it makes many people in
that hard situation, many heads of family are hopeless and choose to leave their
family or suicide. But it is different with James Jimmy Braddock; he chooses not
to give up like others. He loves his family that’s why he struggle to get work to
feed his family.
It is not easy to be James Jimmy Braddock, because he has to be a husband
and father at the same time with no regular work. When the Great Depression is
attacked, Jimmy loses his job as a boxer and he has to work as a freelancer in the
port. Working as a freelancer is not the effective one to earn money, but he has no
other choice besides borrowing money from the bank. But he knows his
responsibility as a husband and father that is whatever will be he is willing to earn
money in order to feed his wife and his three children. Because of the situation is
getting harder, he find some problems in his family such as there is no more
electricity for heater in the winter, no more milk for kids, and the worst is no more
food to eat. But he has a principal that whatever happen, his family must be unite,
that is why he is a very good husband and father for his wife and children.
“Mae, I promised him, see? I got on my knees, looked him in his eyes and I promised him I would never send him away.” Without another word, Jim turned and stored across the freezing room. (Cerasini, 2005: 95)
He is stated it when his wife, Mae, sends children away to her family in
another town. Jimmy is mad because he finds his wife give up facing the hard
condition. As a father, he cannot accept when his wife decide a matter without his
consideration, moreover the matter is about their children.
As a husband and a father who loves his family so much, James has good
characters. The reason is all he is done exclusively for his wife and his three
children. Showing he is a lovely husband for Mae and father for Jay, Howard, and
Rose. He knows the bad condition is just happened to his family since the Great
Depression attacked America. After he cannot work as a boxer again, he has to
find work in order to continue his family life and his own. It is not easy to be a
father who has three children in that situation. What other parents do for their
children are send away their children to another family who still can feed their
children.
James J. Braddock, he loves his wife just the same as he loves his three
children. That is why he does not want to send his three children to his family in
other town to feed his children. What he should do as a father who loves and has
responsible to his family is looking for a job, even more than one job in a day to
get more income.
“I’ll get doubles, triples shifts where I can find them,” Jim told her. “I’ll get work wherever I can.” (Cerasini, 2005: 66)
But still, it is not enough to pay the electricity, to buy milk and meat for
kids. He still has to borrow the money from the bank to fulfill his family needs.
James J. Braddock is a responsible father; he always keeps his promises to
his family. He is also responsible for the life of his family even he knows that the
condition is not getting better but he never runs away from his duty as a father.
James J. Braddock always wakes up in every morning before dawn to
queue in this port only for his family, to feed his family so they cannot separate by
this poverty condition. He knows that it is hard for him to wake up at the morning
before dawn, but this is his responsibility as a father to feed his family. His love to
the family gives him strength to work in a cold weather in the morning.
So every morning before dawn, Jim rose and hiked down to the water, hoping to beat the odds among a horde of others just as desperate for work. (Cerasini, 2005: 39-40)
In one condition, he wants to go out for work, and then he finds his
daughter still hungry and asks for some more. As a responsible father, it is not a
big deal to sacrifice his own breakfast to make his daughter happy and full. He
dares to go without having any breakfast at all. It is his responsibility to feed his
family not only his own body. Thus, he puts the family as his top priority.
When Rosy continued to hesitate, Jim picked up her fork again, this time to stab his own slice ad deposit it on her plate. Eyes wide, stomach still hungry, the child immediately began to eat. (Cerasini, 2005: 35)
He knows his wife rejected her daughter’s demand. His wife protests but
he disregarded it. He wants to say to his wife was to see his daughter eats and
does not starve is his pleasure.
When the kiss ended, Mae’s gaze found his. You can’t work on an empty stomach, her eyes protest.What are you thinking?(Cerasini, 2005: 35)
As a children, Rose Marie does not know that his father also needs that breakfast,
but she knows she has a good father who gives his food for her because she still
hungry.
He wants to show to his wife that he can be a father who has responsibility
and he does not want to be called as an irresponsible father. Outside he finds lots
of losers and irresponsible fathers, because they cannot feed their wife and
children. But one thing for sure, ‘family is everything’ for James J. Braddock and
that is one of the reasons he pushes himself to be a responsible father and uses all
his ability, even only one hand left for earning money. Another reason is his wife
and children put their hope in him. He knows it. Therefore he promises himself to
never disappoint his wife and children; otherwise he keeps struggling to feed them
no matter how.
2. Loyal
Since Great Depression attacks America, people’s life is going terrible.
That is the hardest situation for family who does not have regular work like James
Jimmy Braddock. At that time many families are broken, they do things that
beyond their common sense such as some fathers decide to leave his wife and
children, some others decide to suicide, or wives decide to leave her children;
other choose to send their children to another city which save from Great
Depression. But this case does not break the unity of James Jimmy Braddock’s
family. Only a smaller amount family chooses to struggle for their life. They go to
work every early morning and went home when the sky is dark or looks for loan
to buy food and fulfill their needs.
This happens to James Jimmy Braddock. Even though the process is quite
difficult, he chooses to stay with his wife and his three children no matter the
a husband and a father who is loyal for his wife and children. He does not have
regular job, but it is not become his reason to leave his family. Otherwise he faces
the Great Depression with all the member of his family.
First thing that he does is thank God for his wife, Mae Theresa Fox. She is
a telephone operator. Since the first time he meets Mae, he knows that she will
become his wife and friend to live with.
From the moment he’d met Mae Theresa Fox, she’d knocked Jim out. It was the only time in his career it had happened—and that was just fine with him. (Cerasini, 2005: 19)
Jimmy is a nickname for James J. Braddock. At the moment Jimmy meets Mae;
his feeling says that she will be the right person to be his partner of life. But
unfortunately the young Jimmy is untalkative person. When Jimmy realizes that
he loves Mae, he does not directly say it to Mae. He keeps it and looks for the
right time to tell it to Mae. He is a man with consideration.
He thinks that she is the person who can accept his job as a boxer, a person
who fights on the ring to earn money. But still, she just an ordinary woman.
Because of her love for Jimmy, then she can accept his job as a boxer. Indeed,
Mae has fear toward Jim’s profession, but it has grown as well. After he proposes
Mae, Jimmy chooses to wait for her answer calmly; otherwise other men will push
the woman to answer their proposal. The characterization of Jimmy who is
untalkative makes him can be waiting for Mae’s answer.
matter the figures on his balance sheet. But he hadn’t been certain of her feelings, and as he waited for her answer, she noticed he was shedding nearly as much perspiration as he did during one of his fights. (Cerasini, 2005: 21 – 22)
And Mae is not a woman who loves Jimmy’s wealth or popularity, even
though Jimmy has everything at that time. Mae just knows from the first time she
meets him, that he is a gentle man, can be trusted, and has loyalty. That is the
reason why she accepts Jimmy’s proposal and get marry with him.
Although Jim had loved Mae from the moment he’d met her, he didn’t get around to actually telling her so for quite some time. As a suitor, he’d been timid and reserved. Yet Mae had come to understand that although James was the a person of few words, he was a considerate and generous man, and when he did have something to say, his wry sense of humor was usually evident, as well as his decency and quiet strength. (Cerasini, 2005: 21)
And Jimmy is the person like what Mae’s thought in the first met, he is loyal and
lovable husband. ‘Let people judge you by knowing your personality’ is the right
quotation for Jimmy. It is because Joe Gould as Jimmy’s manager who is close to
him knows the characters and characterizations of Jimmy. And one of them is
loyal to his wife. Ordinarily, man who is famous and rich will have affair with
another woman, but that is not James Jimmy Braddock. That is one of positive
values for Jimmy, because he can show to the people around him that he is
faithful even though he has wealth and fame.
Gould paused a moment. “You still married to the same girl?”
Braddock gave a little smile. “I was this morning.” (Cerasini, 2005: 18)
Finally, it is 9:30 A.M on Saturday morning in January. They are in Mass
in West New York’s St. Joseph’s of the Palisades Roman Catholic Church. Both
health, to stay together in good times and in bad. After the wedding, Jimmy keeps
his promise to buy her a house and family quickly followed.
As a good wife, Mae Theresa Fox always gives support to her husband.
She knows that sometimes his husband felt down because of the burden and
pressure that borne by him. But her hugs and kisses as always can give relief to
her husband.
… Jim smoothed her hair and kissed her head. To him, she was as pretty as her mother, with big, curious eyes and silky, chestnut-colored hair. Yet her face appeared gaunt, and her fingers and toes felt far too cold. Jim hugged her close. (Cerasini, 2005: 31)
And James J. Braddock realizes that only his wife, Mae Theresa Fox, the one who
makes him as a luckiest man there ever, even in the hardest situation she is still
the best wife he ever has.
Jim winked at his spying daughter, then touched his wife’s cheek, deciding, not for the first time, that having Mae Theresa Fox as his wife made him about the luckiest man there ever was. (Cerasini, 2005: 67)
Indeed, James is not only the luckiest man for Mae, but also the luckiest father for
his children. He does play with his children no matter the condition is getting
worst. In his mind, he wants to say to his children is no need to worry because
father will do everything to feed them and to keep their family still together. So he
makes his children felt safety by playing with them.
Rosy put up her tiny hands, which were balled into little fists. “Teach me how.”
Jim shook his head. “I can’t, honey.” “Why not?”
Jim’s eyes drifted to the door. “Because the cops might come back.” Rosy lowered her arms. “You mean Mommy?”
He tried to stare down his daughter, but Rosy was too much like her mother. When she threw him the knockout punch of all looks, he relented. “Look,” he began. “It’s about the balance. Put your right here, twist your hips and throw that one—” As he gave instructions, he positioned the girl until she was posed like a tiny Gene Tunney. She squinted in concentration, then threw. Jim caught her fist in his big mitt. “Wow, look at that!” he cried. “You got a better jab than I did.” As he and Rosy laughed . . .” (Cerasini, 2005: 109 – 110)
Jimmy is doing right thing by refuse politely what Rosy’s want. It shows
that Jimmy still has respect to his wife after they have words unconditionally. But
he cannot bear to see his daughter who keeps whining to ask to play with him.
3. Honest
James J. Braddock is also an honest father. It is proven when he teaches
his first son, Jay, not to steal although they are poor. They must be honest. His
first son starts to understand how the situation is getting harder when they cannot
eat. It makes him decide to steel meat in the butchery. The main reason why he
steals is he scares that his parents will send him away to his family in another
town. He thinks that what has happened to his neighbor will also happen to him
and his brother and sister. Because of his fear, he thinks to help his parents to feed
his brother and sister by stealing meat in the butchery. But he does not think about
the risk of his action. It makes his mother mad of him but different with Jimmy.
As a good father, James J. Braddock does not mad at all, instead of explaining
about honesty to Jay briefly and also he tells him that as a father he promise never
send his children away for any reason.
in that young face . . . the same thing Jim felt earlier today, and almost every day since the Crash.
“You got scared,” Jim told his boy. “I can understand it. But we don’t steal. No matter what happens. Not ever. Got me?”
Jay swallowed, managed a nod.
“Are you giving me your word?” asked Jim. “Yes.”
“Go on.” “I promise.”
“Things aren’t so good right now, Jay, you’re right. But Daddy’s doing his best.” Jim touched his son’s cheek. Soon enough, the boy’s skin wouldn’t be peach smooth anymore, thought Jim, he’d be shaving—he’d be a young man. Now was the time to make the boy understand what kind of man his father wanted him to be.
“There’s a lot of other people a lot less fortunate than us. And if you take somthing, somebody else goes without.” Jim crouched down so he could look at his ten-year-old eye to eye. “Here;s my word, good as wheat in the bin. We’re never going to send you away, son.” (Cerasini, 2005: 45)
With his love, he tries to give brief explanation not only about honesty but
also integrity. Even for the first time Jay scares of his parents will do the same
thing like other parents do to their children, but his father’s explanation can help
him to understand the meaning of honesty and integrity. Jay, as the first son, has
promised to his father not to repeat it again. He is able to do it because he is the
first son, so he becomes a model to his brother and little sister. For another reason
is because his father does the same thing, never steal no matter what happens, and
then he imitates his father.
The value of honesty is the most important for James J. Braddock and he
wants to teach his all children to be an honest person. James ever feel wealth and
famous, but it does not for long time because of Great Depression inverts it into
poverty. And poverty itself teaches James to be an honest person even in the worst
situation. He gets through it. Of course, as a father, James wants his children
even at that moment they do not have wealth and fame. But the value for James’
family is they do have honesty.
4. Persistent
Another characteristic of James J. Braddock is a persistent person. That is
because the circumstances require him to do that. The main reason is poverty. In
some cases to proof that he is a good husband and father, he does not care about
himself instead of his wife and three children. For example, he keeps working
even his gets injury in his hand.
Hands are very important for a person to work or do something. Almost all
thing people do by using hands. The work will mess up if hands cannot do its
function because of injuries. That is happened to James J. Braddock when he
works at port for the first time; he gets injury at his left hand because of his last
match.
Jim had never before employed his left hand to do much of anything. Trying to operate the hook with it was a struggle, especially while attempting to keep the blackened cast on his broken right hidden behind his back. Sweat broke out on his forehead as he willed his muscles into achieving some kind of workable balance. (Cerasini, 2005: 70)
He keeps working day by day in the port; even he has to hide his injury
hand from the port leader. The injury body is not allowed to port workers, but he
tries to hide it in order to get some money and feed his family in a day.
Working in the port is such a lucky thing to people at that time. Because of
the Great Depression makes many people in America are jobless, and job
vacancies do not as many as the jobless people. In port, people who work this day
does not mean will work for the next day. That is why people who work there are
very lucky. The system that is used by the port leader is pointing to people who
have been waiting in front of the gate since the very early morning. The port
leader is going to pick people who look healthy and strong based on his eyes.
James is very lucky, because he has been chose to work in the port several days in
a row.
He does work hard and spend all day long in the port, indeed it makes
James looks very tired and take a rest for a while before continue to work.
Alone on the staircase, Jim stopped for a minute to lean on the banister and compose himself. He was tired and frozen, and his back was sore as hell from the torturous dock work and the long soup line. (Cerasini, 2005: 76)
After James works hard in the port, his earn is always not enough to pay the bill of
heat electricity, to buy milk for children, and food. Although he spends much time
in the port, the money is never enough.
—about how long he would have to work at the docks or the yards to earn so much ready cash, and the fact that it was only one fight, not a comeback.” (Cerasini, 2005: 112)
Because of that circumstance, then he does such a brave thing. It embarrasses for
some people, but James J. Braddock has no choice. He just does that to get money
so that he can pay the bill of heat electricity, to buy milk and food for his family.
He comes to his previous office and meets his managers. He comes not for the
reason of gathering, instead of tells them about his family condition and asks
“Went to the relief office. Gave me twelve eighty. I need thirteen sixty more. To pay the bill. Get them back.” Girding himself, he slowly looked up. “It pains me to ask . . . so much . . . but I sure would be grateful . . .” Jim took off his hat and stretched it out, like the pan-handlers on the street below. (Cerasini, 2005: 102)
He does not care about this embarrassing action, what he has on his mind only he
can feed his family. He does not care about of the judgements from the managers;
he also does not care of what people think or say about him. He just does it as his
function as husband and father who loves family so much, then he will do
anything for them. Not because his wife and children ask him to do so, but more
than that, he realizes his job as a husband to Mae and as a father to Jay, Howard
and Rose Mary. That is why steady and never gives up are the only choice that he
had toward his own and family’s life.
5. Confident
From around the year 1919 to 1923, James J. Braddock does many jobs,
such as a messenger boy for Western Union, a printer's devil, a teamster and an
errand boy in a silk mill.
At fourteen, he started working a series of unskilled jobs. Along the way, his older brother Joe had started to box and made it all the way from an amateur welter-weight championship to a professional rating. One day, he and Jimmy got into a brotherly argument. The fists started flying, and to everyone’s astonishment, including Jim himself, the skinny younger brother held his own against the older, more experienced fists. (Cerasini, 2005: 16)
It is during this time that Jimmy discovered his passion for boxing. Then James
spends a few years honing his boxing skill as a confident successful amateur
Finally, on the night of November 27, 1923, at the age of seventeen, he’d climbed through the ropes in Grantwood, New jersey, using the alias Jimmy Ryan. The alias was necessary for two reasons. His brother Joe had already put a Braddock on the card that night, and Jimmy had beenpaidto enter the bout—a grand total of three dollars. Jim Braddock wanted the chance to prove himself, but he knew a professional match on his record would derail his ability to fight as an amateur. Thus, to prevent the New Jersey state amateur boxingauthoities from finding out, he’d used the “Ryan” moniker. (Cerasini, 2005: 17)
In 1926, James enters the professional boxing circuit in the light
heavyweight division. During the first year, James does many competitions; by
giving knock out to his opponents in the early rounds of most his fights. No need
long time for him to be a top light heavyweight. And it makes him to think of
moving into the heavyweight class. But he finds a problem, it is he rarely
weighted over 180 pounds even he stands over six feet and two inches. But with
his trim physique, the powerful right hand is not match for his opponents who has
weighted close to 220 pounds. This is only the beginning of James J. Braddock’s
journey in boxing.
November 30, 1928 becomes one of his big match, and it is held on
Madison Square Garden. His enemy is Gerald “Tuffy” Griffiths, the “Terror from
out West”. At this match, many people are underestimated him. It is because
Tuffy had winning record more than fifty consecutive wins. His last is a stunning
first-round knockout. Everybody in the Madison Square Garden thinks James will
become another Tuffy’s KO. They say James was a sacrificial lamb. But
surprisingly James wins the match. All promoters, all sportwriters, and everyone
are shocked at the moment then give an explosion of insane screaming.
From that winning, James J. Braddock becomes famous and nobody thinks the
New Jersey boxer will last a second round. The sportwriters start to write news
about him, and named James J. Braddock as the headline of some newspaper.
New Jersey celebrates his victory.
Newspaper wrote about it, calling it the best fight they’d seen that night, which was as good as the church blessing to a younger boxer who’d just fought the first professional match of his life.” (Cerasini, 2005: 17)
The person who really grateful for this victory is his wife, Mae Theresa Fox. She
realizes the impacts of her husband’s job and that is the reason why in every
match she does not want to see her husband directly instead of waits with fearful
in home. For every win or lose she thanks God that her husband go home healthy
and still alives.
“You get punched. Every time, it feels like I’m getting punched too. And I ain’t half as tough as you . . . and anyway . . .” she added, forcing her smile to come back, her fears to recede, “who wants those articles about me running out on a fight again?” (Cerasini, 2005: 24)
In every match the player should has target and effort to win it. The same
thing happens to boxing match. The boxers should have some tricks to outwit
their enemies so that they can win the match. It happens to James J. Braddock. As
a boxer he gives his effort to train himself to have some trick to win the match.
Since Joe Gould is become James’ manager, Joe helps James to have discipline
training and creates James to be strong and full of confident when he is in the ring.
Braddock’s sharp, solid jab surprised the charging Griffiths, sending the confident hulk back on his heels. (Cerasini, 2005: 2)
Joe succeeds to increase James’ confident, not only when James’ wants to give
Joe Gould is not only became James’ professional manager, but also a
close friend to James J. Braddock. Joe builds up the kind of brotherhood with his
boxer. It will help the boxer to trustful the manager by the ‘brotherhood’ which
has built since the training until the match. The job of boxing manager is looking
for the match to his boxer. But different with Joe Gould, he also builds trustful to
make the boxer believe all the motivation words he gives during the match.
Motivation words are needed to the boxer because he will feel not alone fighting
inside the ring. And motivation words also needs to increase confident and spirit
to the boxer.
That’s right, thought Jim, he was a winner in the market and in the ring. More than that, he was going straight to the top of the highest skyscraper in the fight game. With Gould talking up the right promoters setting up the right opponents, Jim was going to get his shot at knocking them all down, and becoming the Heavyweight Champion of the World— (Cerasini, 2005: 14)
That statement means that Joe succeeded increase James’ confident to win every
match, not only the ordinary match but also Heavyweight Champion. And James
makes it as his motivation in every match.
Jim Braddock wanted the chance to prove himself, but he knew a professional match on his record would derail his ability to fight as an amateur. (Cerasini, 2005: 17)
That is the reason why confidence is needed for James J. Braddock because he has
little body while his opponents are bigger than him. Every people who watch him
will not give support to him but they will mock him. The reason people do that
because James starts the boxing match as an amateur and has little body for a
an important role in James’ life. He does increase James’ confident by giving him
motivation words to accept his shortcoming.
6. Proud
James J. Braddock starts famous since he can win the match with Gerald
“Tuffy” Griffiths, the “Terror from out West”. That match is really unpredictable
by the promoters, the sportswriters, the oddsmakers, the opponent team managers,
the reporter, and everyone who watch the first big match in the Madison Square
Garden. Everybody thinks James J. Braddock as the amateur boxer can lose easily
because his opponent is not comparable with him. James physically loses if he
against Tuffy, moreover lost in experiences. But in fact James wins the match, and
it makes him proud of himself. “I won on a knockout, Joe.” (Cerasini, 2005: 10).
By saying that of course James feel very happy. Joe Gould as his manager can see
his expression of happiness and proud of himself. But for James, this victory
belongs to his manager; because his manager gives him chance to fight with
Tuffy. And it brings him much closer to his dream that is Heavyweight Champion.
That’s what the ring was for Jim Braddock: the right to give as good as he got. Tonight, the underdog had showed them. “Plain Jim,” the nice guy, the humble man … thewinner.” (Cerasini, 2005: 6)
Since that match many people recognizes his name, moreover people in
James birthplace, New Jersey. The happiness can be felt by the entire population
of New Jersey. They are so proud of the victory of James J. Braddock. It makes
the small city of New Jersey is increasingly recognized by the world.
as the future champion of the world … James J. Braddock!” (Cerasini, 2005: 26)
For the first time people do not know who is James Jimmy Braddock. But
trough his victory people start to know him by reading newspaper and sport
magazine, or listening radio, etc. Indirectly he proudly presents his small city to
the world. That is why people of New Jersey are proud of James J. Braddock’s
victory. People of New Jersey start to adore Jim Braddock. As the “Bulldog of
Bergen”, it is how people called him. It is not only people who love James J.
Braddock but also James starts to love New Jersey, because they always support
him when he is on the ring. “He likes these people, the fact that they loved him
so.” (Cerasini, 2005: 7)
Moreover Mae Theresa Fox as his wife, she always waits for James in
home. She is never wants to come to watch James’ match directly. She only
braves to hear the report of James’ match from radio. She is afraid of the punches
on her husband. But after the match is over and she knows who the winner is, then
she changes her afraid into grateful and happy to know her husband wins the
game and still alive.
This match is one of James’ great matches. This match gives James
another opportunity to have some other matches. It is because his victory against
Tuffy brings him closer to the Heavyweight Championship. After this match,
James fights against John "Corn" Griffin. If he wins the match, he is getting closer
to Max Baer, who is the Heavyweight Champion of the world. James performance
does not disappoint, he won the match with a third round knockout. Of course it
is another match which makes James proud. James’ victory from match by match
brings him to fight against Max Baer, the world Heavyweight Champion. Max
Baer is known to kill two boxers in the ring. It makes everybody had critics to him
that he will not win the match. Moreover his wife is so afraid to hear the news
about Max Baer. But through James and his manager Joe Gould, finally they can
convince her about facing Max Baer.
Before the match, the promoter usually calls journalists and newsmakers to
come up in press conference of Max Baer and James J. Braddock heavyweight
championship fight. There are many journalists and newsmakers who do not
believe to this match. It is because James is new comer and some people say
James wins the match because of his lucky not because of his ability in fighting.
People doubt James’ ability in fighting because James’ has ever had injury after
fighting, and also he has ever not played for some time. Of course lots people
underestimate him, but it does not break his spirit to fight Max Baer. For James J.
Braddock, he can survive until this day and compete against the world champion
is an honor for him. However, to win the Heavyweight Championship will be an
unforgettable honor for him and his country, New Jersey.
“Max Baer is the champion,” Braddock said in a loud, firm voice. “I’m looking forward to the fight.” (Cerasini, 2005: 192)
7. Courageous
James J. Braddock is one of boxer who is courageous, because he is an
