THE IMPACTS OF GRAYER’S ATTITUDES
ON HIS INHARMONIOUS RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS MOTHER
AS PORTRAYED IN KRAUS & MCLAUGHLIN’S
THE NANNY DIARIES
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements to Obtain the Sarjana Pendidikan Degree
in English Language Education
By Lukas Banu Aji
06 1214 166
ENGLISH LANGUAGE EDUCATION STUDY PROGRAM
DEPARTMENT OF LANGUAGE AND ARTS EDUCATION
FACULTY OF TEACHERS TRAINING AND EDUCATION
SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
YOGYAKARTA
“Keep on smiling no matter what, because
yesterday is the past. You will never know
what you will get. Enjoy your life.”
(CARPE DIEM, ANONYMOUS)
This thesis is dedicated to my beloved:
LEMBAR PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN
PUBLIKASI KARYA ILMIAH UNTUK KEPENTINGAN AKADEMIS
Yang bertanda tangan di bawah ini, saya mahasiswa Universitas Sanata Dharma:
Nama : Lukas Banu Aji
Nomor mahasiswa : 06 1214 166
Demi pengembangan ilmu pengetahuan, saya memberikan kepada Perpustakaan Universitas Sanata Dharma karya ilmiah saya yang berjudul:
The Impacts of Grayer’s Attitudes on His Inharmonious Relationship with His Mother as Portrayed in Kraus & McLaughlin’s The Nanny Diaries
beserta perangkat yang diperlukan (bila ada). Dengan demikian saya memberikan kepada Perpustakaan Universitas Sanata Dharma hak untuk menyimpan, mengalihkan dalam bentuk media lain, mengelolanya dalam bentuk pangkalan data, mendistribusikan secara terbatas, dan mempublikasikannya di Internet atau media lain untuk kepentingan akademis tanpa perlu meminta ijin dari saya maupun memberikan royalti kepada saya selama tetap mencantumkan nama saya sebagai penulis.
Demikian pernyataan ini saya buat dengan sebenarnya. Dibuat di Yogyakarta
Pada tanggal: 18 Maret 2011 Yang menyatakan
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I praise my Lord Jesus Christ for all of His Love and Blessing. I thank Him for being a true friend for me, staying by my side, protecting me in any situation I have encountered in my life and guiding me in my study so that I was finally able to finish this thesis.
I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Drs. L. Bambang Hendarto Y., M.Hum., who has guided me patiently in the process of writing this thesis. I thank him for his patience, advices, and time for consultation on this thesis until it is done. I also send my gratitude to Sanata Dharma University that has given me place and facilities to study, and to all my lecturers, the administrative staff of PBI study program who have devoted themselves to help me during my study in Sanata Dharma University.
With greatest gratitude, I thank my beloved family. It is for my wonderful father and mother, Antonius Asmuri and Theresia Annie. I thank them for their love, prayers, supports, and efforts to make me educated. It is also for my beloved brother Matheus Banu Leksono, Thomas Banu Yudhanto, Fx. Banu Resiyawan and my beloved sister Elisabeth Milaningrum for their helps in my study.
My special thankfulness goes to my uncle Paulus Sarwoto, S.S., M.A. who has been so kind to me and provided me with supports and prayers. Last but not least, I would to thank all my “2006” friends of the English Language Education Study Program and people that I cannot mention one by one, for giving supports and helps in finishing my thesis. May God bless them all.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TITLE PAGE ... PAGES OF APPROVAL ...
STATEMENT OF WORK’S ORIGINALITY ...
PAGE OF DEDICATION ... ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ... TABLE OF CONTENTS ... ABSTRACT ... ABSTRAK ... CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION ... 1.1.Background of the Study ... 1.2.Problem Formulation ... 1.3.Objectives of the Study ... 1.4.Benefits of the Study ... 1.5.Definition of Terms ... 1.5.1. Relationship ... 1.5.2. Character ... 1.5.3. Conflict ... 1.5.4. Social Status ... 1.5.5. Society ...
CHAPTER 2 REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE ...
2.1.3.5. Conversation of Others ... 2.1.3.6. Reaction ... 2.1.3.7. Direct Comment ... 2.1.3.8. Thoughts ... 2.1.3.9 Mannerism ... 2.1.4 The Mother-Child Relation ... 2.1.5 Family Influences on a Growing Child ... 2.1.5.1 The Nature of Parent-Child Relations ... 2.1.5.2 Three Principal Parent Variables ... 2.1.5.3 Three Factors in Parent-Child Relationships ... 2.1.6. Power and Parent-Child Relationships ... 2.1.6.1 The Authoritarian Parent ... 2.1.6.2 The Authoritative Parent ... 2.1.6.3 The Permissive Parent ... 2.1.7 Child Emotional Development and Physical Well-Being ... 2.2 Theoretical Framework ...
CHAPTER 3 METHODOLOGY ...
3.1. Object of the Study ... 3.2. Approaches of the Study ... 3.3. Method of the Study ... CHAPTER 4 ANALYSIS ... 4.1 Relationship between Mrs. X and Her Son ... 4.1.1 The Description of the Characters of Annie Braddock ...
(the Nanny), Mrs. X, and Grayer Addison X
4.1.1.1 Annie Braddock (the Nanny) ... 4.1.1.2 Mrs. X ... 4.1.1.3 Grayer Addison X ... 4.1.2 The Relationship between Mrs. X and Grayer ... 4.1.2.1 Lack of Communication ... 4.1.2.2 Too Much Control from the Mother ...
4.1.2.3 Considering a Child as a Marital Status Only ... 4.2 The Impacts of Inharmonious Relationship on Grayer’s Attitudes ...
4.2.1 Rude ... 4.2.2 Selfish and Arbitrary ... 4.2.3 Rebellious ...
CHAPTER 5 CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS ...
5.1. Conclusions ... 5.2. Suggestions ... 5.2.1. Suggestions for the Implementation of Teaching Learning ...
Process
5.2.2. The Implementation of Teaching Public Speaking I ... Using Literary Work
REFERENCES ... APPENDICES ... APPENDIX 1 Summary of the Novel ... APPENDIX 2 Biography of Nicola Kraus and Emma McLaughlin ... APPENDIX 3 Lesson Plan to Teach Public Speaking I ... APPENDIX 4 Teaching Materials of Public Speaking I ... APPENDIX 5 Pictures of Nicola Kraus & Emma McLaughlin ...
ABSTRACT
Banu Aji, Lukas. 2011. The Impacts of His Inharmonious Relationship with His Mother on Grayer’s Attitudes as Portrayed in Kraus & McLaughlin’s The Nanny Diaries. Yogyakarta: English Language Education Study Program, Department of Language and Arts Education, Faculty of Teachers Training and Education, Sanata Dharma University.
This thesis discusses the impacts of his inharmonious relationship with his mother on Grayer’s attitudes as portrayed in Kraus & McLaughlin’s The Nanny Diaries. This novel tells about the inharmonious relationship between a mother, Mrs. X and her son, Grayer Addison X. Mrs. X is a mother who often spends her time on shopping and having treatments at a beauty salon. She also hands over all her responsibilities as a mother to the Nanny. Therefore Grayer has to spend most of his time with the Nanny and he does not get enough love and care from his mother.
There are two problems related to the topic of this thesis: (1) how is the relationship between Mrs. X and Grayer described in Kraus & McLaughlin’s The Nanny Diaries? (2) and what are the impacts of inharmonious relationship with his mother on Grayer’s attitudes?
In solving the two problems above, the writer applied the psychological approach, theories of character and characterization, theories of mother-child relation and family influences on a growing child, theory of power and parent-child relationships, and theory of parent-child emotional development and physical well-being. The method of this thesis was a library study. The primary source was the novel itself. Other sources were obtained from books of Introduction to English Literature, Character and Characterization, The Psychology of Women, The Psychology of Women Volume II, Communication in Family Relationships, Child and Adolescent Psychology, and other written sources.
Based on the analysis, there are three major characters that are found in the novel. The first character is the Nanny, who is described as a loving and hard working person. She is also polite and honest. She works diligently under Mrs. X’s suspicions. The second character is Mrs. X, who is described as a terrible mother. It is already her habits to go shopping all day long and back home until late night. That selfishness makes her careless about her own son’s development. The third character is Grayer, who is described as a rude and arbitrary boy. He becomes a rude boy because he does not get enough affection and care from his mother. Therefore, it can be concluded that Mrs. X has inharmonious relationship with her son, because she cannot do the first task of a mother that is to shape her unity with the child in a harmonious manner and to dissolve the unity harmoniously. As a result, there are three impacts happening on Grayer’s attitudes. The first impact is that Grayer becomes a rude boy. The second impact is that Grayer becomes selfish and arbitrary. The third impact is that Grayer becomes rebellious toward his own parents.
ABSTRAK
Banu Aji, Lukas. 2011. The Impacts of His Inharmonious Relationship with His Mother on Grayer’s Attitudes as Portrayed in Kraus & McLaughlin’s The Nanny Diaries. Yogyakarta: Program Studi Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris, Jurusan Pendidikan Bahasa dan Seni, Fakultas Keguruan dan Ilmu Pendidikan, Universitas Sanata Dharma.
Skripsi ini membahas dampak hubungannya yang tidak harmonis dengan ibunya pada sikap Grayer seperti yang digambarkan dalam Kraus & McLaughlin's The Nanny Diaries. Novel ini bercerita tentang hubungan yang tidak harmonis antara seorang ibu, Mrs. X dan anak laki-lakinya, Grayer Addison X. Mrs. X adalah seorang ibu yang sering menghabiskan waktunya untuk berbelanja dan perawatan di salon kecantikan. Dia juga menyerahkan semua tanggung jawabnya sebagai ibu kepada Nanny. Oleh karena itu Grayer harus menghabiskan sebagian besar waktunya dengan Nanny dan dia tidak mendapatkan kasih sayang dan perawatan yang cukup dari ibunya.
Ada dua pertanyaan yang berkaitan dengan topik skripsi ini: (1) bagaimana hubungan antara Mrs. X dan Grayer yang tercermin dalam Kraus & McLaughlin's The Nanny Diaries? (2) dan apa dampak hubungan yang tidak harmonis dengan ibunya pada sikap Grayer?
Dalam menjawab dua pertanyaan di atas, penulis menggunakan pendekatan psikologis, teori karakter dan karakterisasi, teori hubungan ibu-anak dan pengaruh keluarga pada perkembangan anak, teori kekuasaan dan hubungan orang tua-anak, dan teori perkembangan emosi anak dan kesehatan fisik. Metode penelitian ini adalah studi pustaka. Sumber utama adalah novel itu sendiri. Sumber-sumber yang lain diperoleh dari buku-buku Introduction to English Literature, Character and Characterization, The Psychology of Women, The Psychology of Women Volume II, Communication in Family Relationships, Child and Adolescent Psychology, dan sumber-sumber tertulis lainnya.
sewenang-wenang. Dampak yang ketiga adalah Grayer menjadi memberontak kepada orang tuanya sendiri.
1 CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
This chapter consists of background of the study, problem formulation, and definition of terms. The background of the study provides information of the topic of the study and the reason for choosing the topic. Then, the objectives of the study state the focus of the study. Next, the problem formulation describes the problems formulated in order to make the study more directed. Last but not least, the definitions of terms define some crucial terms in order to avoid misunderstanding.
1.1. Background of the Study
mother also is not allowed to forbid too much, for excessive inhibition exposes the child to the danger of neurotic illness.
Medinnus and Johnson (343) further strengthen the explanation above in their book entitled Child and Adolescent Psychology: Behavior and Development. According to them, the existing relationship between parents and children possess certain characteristics that explain the tremendous and permanent impact of one upon another. There is an intimate and intense relationship between the parents and the child. The child is the mirror for his or her parents, who reflect the parent’s own childhood. The emotional needs of one to another create a system where the breakdown of one member will affect the entire system. Some clinical reports reveal that the family member who seeks for psychological treatment actually is not the one who needs it. This statement indicates that the psychological disturbance of the concerned individual reflects a greater disturbance within the family system. Furthermore, family-therapy case studies show that when one family member is relieved from the psychological symptoms, the symptoms frequently reappear in another member.
they put their being frustrated and disturbed onto their child or children. The impact of this action is that the child becomes the victim of the child abuse. This child abuse, then, will hinder the child to play their role well within the family system (Medinnus and Johnson 343-344).
Deutsche (313-315) gives a clear example. There is a case that a very respectable woman destroys her own life by marrying a wrong person. It leads to her mental condition getting worse, causing her to turn her emotion to her children. The mother becomes very protective in order to prevent her children from making the same mistake as her. Her treatments towards her children make mother-children relationship become inharmonious as the children feel that the mother limits them in every aspect.
Literary works, like novels, can portray the relationship as described above. Some of literary works are created based on the real life. According to Hudson (10), literature is an important record of what people have seen, what they have experienced, what they have thought and felt in life. This aspect of literature may have permanent interests for readers. A novel entitled The Nanny Diaries clearly portrays such life experience. In this novel, readers can find more insights about the inharmonious relationship between a mother and a child. Eventually, after reading the novels, readers can conclude the solution for this problem, especially for the working or busy mothers.
prestigious life style. This makes her think about her life and herself only and she apparently forgets her role as a mother. Therefore, she hires Annie Braddock, a recent graduate from New Jersey as a nanny to take care of Grayer. After sometimes, Nanny feels that Mrs. X does not care and does not know about Grayer’s developments, needs, and achievements. The situation grows harder when Grayer becomes very naughty just to gain her mother’s attention. This is the time when the inharmonious relationship between Grayer and her mother start.
This novel is very intriguing to be discussed. Because I can see the connection between a mother, a nanny, and a child in the prestigious life style. Being more specific, I can see the inharmonious relationship between a mother and a child as portrayed within the novel. The character of Grayer was chosen to be the focus of the theme of this study, because Grayer is a victim of an inharmonious relationship in the X’s family based on the Nanny’s perception. Therefore, I analyzed the relationship between Mrs. X and Grayer although the title of the novel is The Nanny Diaries. I can also gain insights about the impacts of the inharmonious relationship between a mother and her child toward the child’s development. This is very important, because this study will enable me to see some factors contributing to family healthy relationship and to prevent the same tragedy from taking place in a family who hires a nanny to take care of their children.
1.2. Problem Formulation
1.2.1. How is the relationship between Mrs. X and Grayer described in Kraus & McLaughlin’s The Nanny Diaries?
1.2.2. What are the impacts of inharmonious relationship with his mother on Grayer’s attitudes?
1.3. Objectives of the Study
The study has two objectives. The first objective is to investigate how the authors describe the relationship between Mrs. X and Grayer Addison X. This objective also covers the analysis how the authors characterize Nanny, Mrs. X, and Grayer. The second objective is to analyze the impacts of the bad parental role on Grayer’s attitudes.
1.4. Benefits of the Study
This thesis gives the benefits to the writer as well as to the readers. For the writer, this paper gives deeper understanding in the aspect of how important a good relationship between the mother and the son is. For the readers, who are mostly students of a college and who are going to be married and build a family in the upcoming years, hopefully this paper can give some contributions to the knowledge about how to take care of the child well.
1.5. Definition of Terms
There are some important terms related to this study. The terms will be defined briefly and understandably as follows.
1.5.1 Relationship
feeling, and attitude are the factors that have important rule in relationship. 1.5.2 Character
According to Abrams (20), character is the person, in a dramatic or narrative work, endowed with moral and dispositional qualities that are expressed in what they say-the dialogue-and what they do-the action. Throughout one’s actions and speeches in the novel, it can be discovered how profound his personal quality is. The process of knowing the personal quality will become so much help of finding personal description of a character.
1.5.3 Conflict
According to Verderber (97), a conflict is “the clash of opposing attitudes, ideas, behaviors, goals, and needs”. In this study conflict in relationship as a mother and a son is focused. Therefore, a conflict here means the clash of different views, attitudes, and ideas between a mother and her son.
1.5.4 Social Status
Richard T. Schaefer (122)states that social status refers to any position of the full range of socially defined positions within a large group or society – from the lowest to the highest position. Status often conveys connotations of influence, wealth, and fame.
1.5.5 Society
7 CHAPTER 2
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
This chapter is divided into two parts namely the review of related theories and theoretical framework. Review of the related theories gives brief explanation of the theories of critical approaches and the theories of literature such as theory of character, theory of characterization, theory of mother-child relation, theory of family influences on the growing child, and theory of child emotional development and physical well-being. Theoretical framework provides an explanation of how those theories are applied in analysis.
2.1 Review of Related Theories
This part presents the theoretical review which contains critical approach, theories of character, theories of characterization, theory of mother-child relation, theory of family influences on the growing child, and theory of child emotional development and physical well-being.
2.1.1 Critical Approaches
background. The sociocultural-historical approach explores a work of literature by emphasizing on historical background that shapes the setting of place in a story. Fourth is the mythopoetic approach that uses myth beyond the work of art as the reference. Fifth is the psychological approach which is based on the psychological theories. The psychological approach explores a work of art by using some psychological theories as the framework.
The psychological approach considers that each character’s behaviour could be interpreted to the psychology of human being, resulting in the deeper explanation of each character’s actions and behaviours (Rohrberger and Woods, Jr. 16). In this study, the psychological approach was employed to investigate how the authors describe the relationship between Mrs. X and Grayer and to analyze the impacts of inharmonius relationship with his mother on Grayer’s attitudes. The psychological approach is also chosen as tools to process in The Nanny Diaries, particularly in the impacts of his inharmonious relationship with his mother on Grayer’s attitudes.
2.1.2 Character
In order to understand how a character in literary work is described, we need to understand the theories of character. Through these theories we will get the understanding about the character which is portrayed in a work of literature.
that characters have some characteristics which are similar with human being. Sometime it comes to them to get angry, and to show some moral and social values that ultimately become their motivation in saying and doing something.
According to Henkle (88 – 97), characters can mainly be categorized as major and minor characters. He states that major character is created to carry out ideas or messages in a story to readers through the character’s feelings, thoughts, actions, and reactions. In the other side, minor or secondary characters are those who only appear in a certain setting to support the major characters. Henkle says that it is necessary for us to pay a heed to the major characters in order to understand the novel profoundly. As an addition, he says that we build expectations and desires upon them to establish our values and to present convincing dramatizations of the human issues of the book.
2.1.3 Characterization
Rhorberger and Wood, Jr. in Reading and Writing about Novel define characterization as the process by which an author creates character, it is the devices that he makes the readers to believe a character in the particular type of person he is. An author does this way to make a stereotype of someone existing in a real world situation comes real during the reading (20).
According to Murphy, there are nine methods in which the readers can understand the character (161 -173). They are:
2.1.3.1 Personal Description
2.1.3.2 Character as seen by others
The author describes the character of the person through the other’s eyes and opinion. There the opinion may come from people around the person about his personality which can also determine his characteristics.
2.1.3.3 Speech
The author gives the readers some clue about the character through what the character says.
2.1.3.4 Past Life
In certain events of the characters past life, the readers will know the characteristic of him/her. Here we learn that a character’s past experiences, particularly those which are really meaningful can cause several effects to the person’s future life even may change his character.
2.1.3.5 Conversation of others
Through the conversations done by other people, the readers will know what they say about the character.
2.1.3.6 Reactions
The readers will know what kind of person the character is by seeing how he/she reacts to various situations in the story. The readers here can conclude if a person is temperamental or patient and etc.
2.1.3.7 Direct Comment
2.1.3.8 Thoughts
The author directly gives what a person is thinking about. By knowing what in the character’s mind, the readers will know his characteristic.
2.1.3.9 Mannerism
The author creates the character’s behaviors where each and every one of the behaviors will show the characteristic of the character. A person’s habits of idiosyncrasies may also tell us something about someone’s characteristic.
Murphy also adds that characterization is the presentation of the characters’ personalities including their attitudes, appearances, motives, and actions, which are created to be life like. This is in order that the ideas of what kind of people they are in the story are conveyed to the readers (161).
2.1.4 The Mother-Child Relation
According to Deutsch (308), the main problems of motherhood are the reproductive function, and, as we have seen, continue, with the birth of the child, the mother’s relation to the child. From this statement, it can be inferred that the mother’s relation to the child is very important because the relation will be an ongoing process; regarding the fact that the child grows bigger each day.
From this explanation, it can be inferred that the first task of a mother in her early child’s life is to make a unity with him. After having the unity with the child, then the next task of a woman will be educating the child. This matter will be explained in the following paragraph.
The mother’s next task is educating. Beside her attention to bodily care, she is now concerned with the child’s psychology and his adjustment to reality. Above all, the mother must now teach her children to control his instincts, and the better her own instinctual life is controlled, the better does she succeed in this task. She must not be too mild in her methods of training, for excessive indulgence involves the danger of the child’s remaining undisciplined and dominated by his instincts. She also is not allowed to forbid a lot, for excessive inhibition exposes the child to the danger of neurotic illness (Deutsch 309). From the previous explanation, it can be concluded that the second task is the important one. The reason is that the mother must educate her child well. If the mother is too mild, then her child will remain undisciplined and dominated by the instincts. If the mother forbids too much, then the child will have a danger of experiencing a neurotic illness. Therefore, the mother must take a right step in taking care of her child.
2.1.5 Family Influences on a Growing Child
This theory is proposed by Medinus and Johnson and divided into several sub-topics namely: the nature of parent-child relations, three principal parent variables, and three factors in parent child relationships. Each of the sub-topics will be explained briefly.
2.1.5.1 The Nature of Parent-Child Relations
Although all human relationships are unique, those existing between parents and child posses certain characteristics that explain the tremendous and permanent impact of one upon the other. The intimacy and intensity of contact and the everyday interaction an interchange exist in an emotionally charged atmosphere. A child serves as a mirror to the parent, who sees reflected there his own childhood, his own unresolved and frequently long-term conflicts, and his own needs and aspirations (Medinnus and Johnson 343).
The emotional needs of one to another create a system where the breakdown of one member will affect the entire system. Some clinical reports reveal that the family member who seeks for psychological treatment actually is not the one who needs it. This statement indicates that the psychological disorder of the concerned individual reflects a greater trouble within the family system. Furthermore, family-therapy case studies show that when one family member is relieved from the psychological symptoms, the symptoms frequently reappear in another member (Medinnus and Johnson 343).
case, they may enhance parents’ status because parenthood is thought to establish parents as truly mature, stable, and acceptable members of adult community. Parents who have children will be considered as having higher social status in their community because being parents is regarded as prestigious and needs great responsibility.
2.1.5.2 Three Principal Parent Variables
Medinnus and Johnson (347) state that there are three principal parent variables, which are parent is personality, attitudes, and behavior. The first variable is parent’s personality that influences personality development of their child. It is because parents unconsciously teach character’s trait, values, and attitudes to their children. The result of the influence can be good or bad to the children, depending on how they receive it.
The second variable concerns parent’s attitudes. How the adult understanding of the parental role in relation to the child influences his attitudes as a parent. The conception of these responsibilities, functions, and obligations of a role create the individual’s attitudes. Further, the interest of the child psychologist in parental attitude stems, therefore, from the notion that a basic, underlying attitude influences many behaviors of parenthood that are assumed to affect the personality development of the child. (Medinnus and Johnson 349).
of which represents one of four general combinations: acceptance-autonomy, acceptance-control, rejection-autonomy, and rejection-control (Medinnus and Johnson 356).
2.1.5.3 Three Factors in Parent-Child Relationships
There are three factors in parent-child relationships. Those factors are perception of parents, discipline, and parent attitudes. Each part will be explained briefly below.
The first factor is perception of parents. Commonly, children’s tendency in perceiving their parents is negative. As a result, there is not so much to say about the child’s perception and interpretation of their parents. It causes children to view all of his interpersonal relations negatively, including their relationships with their parents. Their negative perceptions of their parents also produce their poor adjustments. Second, the young child is not a very reliable informant, not through any desire to deceive, but through inability to express himself adequately in his early years (Medinnus and Johnson 375).
and attitudes toward others, leisure-time pursuits, are the results of children’s identification with the parents in early years (383).
The third factor is discipline. The measurement of the effects of discipline (the independent variables) on the child’s behavior and attitudes (the dependent variables) would be full of uncertainty. Moreover, it is clear that the effects of discipline depend upon the emotional context in which it is directed (Medinnus and Johnson 383).
2.1.6 Power and Parent-Child Relationships
Noller in her book Communication in Family Relationships (135-136) states that in parent-child relationship, parents are supposed to be in control of families and responsible for their children’s behavior. Parents vary in the extent to which they exercise power over their children. There are three basic styles of parenting. They are:
2.1.6.1 The Authoritarian Parent
The authoritarian parents emphasize that children should obey them and punish children if they do something wrong. This kind of parents do not encourage their children, believing that the children should accept the parents’ word for what is right.
2.1.6.2 The Authoritative parent
2.1.6.3 The Permissive Parent
The permissive parents do not give any strict control over their children and allows the children to regulate their own activities as much as possible. Basically, such parents are warm but very low in control. They rely on the family rules to control their children and to be responsible in the mildest ways.
2.1.6 Child Emotional Development and Physical Well-Being
According to Martin and Stendler, one’s health can be affected by one’s emotional state. Sickness may be caused not only by disease but also from one’s psychological conditions. Further, physical well-being may influence emotional development (46-47). From these statements, it can be concluded that children’s illness affect the emotional well-being of the child. Additionally, Mohr (47) states that illness restricts children’s activities, which may bring out depressions and inferiority towards their peers.
Further, Hurlock (184-185) proposes that emotions have significance over children’s life. The importance of emotions is serving as a form of communication, interfering with mental activities, coloring the child’s outlook on life, affecting social interaction, developing habits, and affecting the psychological climate.
mental activities are affected by unpleasant emotions. Therefore, children perform below their intellectual capacities when they are emotionally disturbed.
How children view their roles in life and their positions in the social group is also influenced by their emotions, whether they are happy, frightened, or curious. The success of their social adjustments depends on it. Further, emotions affect social interaction in a way that children are encouraged to experience various emotions, from pleasure to unpleasant emotions. It results in the children development in relation to their social interaction.
Emotional expressions that satisfy children will be repeated and developed into a habit. When children become adults, the habits will be established firmly that it will be difficult to change them. Children’s emotions also affect the psychological climate of the environments and it affects them. The environment shows its influence towards children’s emotions that they will act based on what the environment teach them to do.
2.2 Theoretical Framework
In order to analyze the relationship between Mrs. X and Grayer, the psychological approach is used. Then, theories of character and characterization are used to determine the characters of Annie, Mrs. X, and Grayer. Next, theories of mother-child relation and family influences on a growing child are also used to determine how the relationship between Mrs. X and Grayer is.
20 CHAPTER 3
METHODOLOGY
The writer divides this chapter into two parts, namely the object of the study and the method of the study. The first sub-title explains about the novel in brief, and the second sub-title explains the steps taken within working on the research.
3.1 Object of the Study
The Nanny Diaries was published for the first time in 2002 by Kraus & Emma McLaughlin. This edition was arranged by St. Martin’s Press, LLC through Big Apple Tuttle-Mori Agency. The Nanny Diaries tells about inharmonious relationship between a mother, Mrs. X and her son, Grayer Addison X. The story starts with telling about Annie Braddock, a fresh college graduate from New Jersey whose mother is a nurse. She makes an unsuccessful bid to press her into a white-collared business career. Because of failing in the interview test selection, Annie accepts a job as a nanny and a domestic servant in a very rich family who lives in Upper East Side of Manhattan, known as the X’s family.
leads her into seriously reevaluating her career goals and priorities after Annie is fired during a family vacation to Nantucket.
3.2 Approach of the Study
The approach applied in this study was the psychological approach. According to Rohrberger and Woods, Jr. (16), the psychological approach considers that each character’s behaviour could be referred to the psychology of human being, resulting in the deeper interpretation of each character’s actions and behaviours (16). Therefore, the psychological approach was appropriate to investigate how the authors describe the relationship between Mrs. X and Grayer and to analyze the impacts of inharmonius relationship with his mother on Grayer’s attitudes.
3.3 Methods of the Study
22 CHAPTER 4
ANALYSIS
This chapter consists of two sections. The first section discusses the relationship between Mrs. X and her son. This section includes the description of the characters of Annie Braddock (the Nanny), Mrs. X, and Grayer Addison X. The second section discusses about the impacts of inharmonious relationship with his mother on Grayer’s Attitudes are.
4.1 Relationship between Mrs. X and Her Son
In this part, the analysis concerns the descriptions of the relationship between Mrs. X and her son in the novel The Nanny Diaries. The analysis will cover the description of the characters of Annie Braddock (the Nanny), Mrs. X, and Grayer Addison X.
4.1.1 The Description of the Characters of Annie Braddock (the Nanny), Mrs.
X, and Grayer Addison X
4.1.1.1 Annie Braddock (the Nanny)
Annie’s speeches and reactions indicate that she is a loving person. When taking care of Grayer, she finds that she cannot leave him alone. She feels that she loves Grayer because she understands Grayer’s attitudes that he needs love and attention from his parents. We can see from the way Annie sacrifices her holidays and free times to take care of Grayer although it means that she has to cancel her date with her boy friend, Harvard Hottie.
Wouldn’t you like to join us for a few weeks on the ocean this summer, Nanny? It will be so relaxing.”
My ears perk up at the sound of my name and I find myself responding with unmitigated enthusiasm.
“Totally. Relaxing and fun. F-U-N. Bring it on!” I say, trying to give a purple thumbs-up, as I imagine me, the ocean, my Harvard Hottie. “Naaantucket-swim, sand, and surf. I mean, what’s not to love? Sign... me... up.” Beneath my half-closed eyes I see her look at me quizzically before turnoing to the snoring Mr. X.
(Kraus & McLaughlin83)
Annie shows that she prefers to spend her holidays with Grayer than to have a date with her lovely Harvard Hottie. Annie thinks that there is no body who cares about Grayer, even Grayer’s parents themself, so that Annie is the only person who really loves Grayer.
Grayer love each other and do not want to be separated, Mrs. X really does not care about this and just lets it go (Kraus & McLaughlin 296).
Annie is also a hard-working person. She is willing to work hard even when she knows that her employer is not a good person and sometimes acts unfriendly towards Annie. She rarely complains about her conditions and situations around her. It can be seen when Annie is ordered to cook for Grayer’s dinner and she is expected to work until late night, she shows her seriousness and willingness to comfort Grayer (Kraus & McLaughlin62-63).
The other example is that when Mrs. X asks Annie to join Hallowen party by wearing Telletubis costumes. Actually Annie really does not want to wear that kind of bizarre costumes, but she does not have any choice.
Dear God. She must be kidding.
“Nanny, we’re gonna match!” If I wanted to get dressed up in bizarre costumes I could be making way more money than this.
With a long sigh I begin to wrestle Grayer into his yellow costume, trying to convince him it’s just like putting on feet pajamas, only rounder.
(Kraus & McLaughlin69)
Annie shows that she really works well for whatever Mrs. X’s orders to her, so that Mrs. X does not need to ask first whether Annie wants to join Hallowen party with Mrs. X family or not. Even though there are so many multitasks that are not Annie’s job, she still does whatever Mrs. X asks her to do.
the same time. Grayer cannot seem to breathe and Annie does not know if she should take him to the hospital or not. When Grayer’s fever is getting worse, Annie is unable to call to Mrs. X, because Mrs. X does not want to be disturbed while in the spa treatment. Therefore Annie really wants to express her anger to Mrs. X, soon as Mrs. X comes back home late at night. Instead Mrs. X blames Annie because of messy house. She does not thank Annie that has cured Grayer’s very bad fever. This time Annie becomes speechless and she also does not blame Mrs. X at all (Kraus & McLaughlin142-143).
One day the X’s family has vacation on the Nantucket and Annie is expected to stay with no holiday. When the vacation is going on, Mrs. X reject Annie’s request for asking holiday for herself, even she fires Annie. Fortunately Annie can calm down and she can accept the final decission of Mrs. X wisely.
“Well, it’s just that I have to find a new apartment this weekend, so if there’s any way that you could drop me off at the ferry Friday night on the way to your party... It’s just that there’ll be so much traffic on Saturday and I haven’t even started packing and I need to have everything boxed by Monday and I was just thinking, you know, if it’s not any trouble... Of course, if you need me I’m happy to stay-I just thought...”
Mrs. X fixes me with a steely gaze. “Well, I have a better idea, Nanny, why don’t you just leave tonight? Mr. X can drive you to the ferry.
(Kraus & McLaughlin295)
It can be seen that Annie still behaves politely when Mrs. X fires her. Annie does not protest at all although Mrs. X does not give any chance to Annie for saying good bye to Grayer. It is the hardest situation of Annie for leaving the X’s family without saying anything to Grayer.
house, she just leaves it without any anxiety. She even asks Annie’s helps to choose the best and most suitable jewelry for her to wear. It shows that Mrs. X somehow trusts Annie despite of her suspicions and hostility towards Annie (Kraus & McLaughlin295).
4.1.1.2 Mrs. X
The first characteristic of Mrs. X is selfish. She always thinks of her own needs without any considerations towards others, especially Annie. She even does not care about her own son’s developments. She believes that she has something important to do more than any other businesses which need her attentions, such as giving attentions to her son and managing her house more carefully. She usually relies on her servants and Annie to do almost everything in home while she goes having fun with her friends or satisfying herself. The example is when Mrs. X accompanies Annie to pick Grayer up in his school for the first time. Mrs. X only introduces Annie to Grayer’s teacher, Mrs. Butters and Grayer himself.
“Okay, Mommy’s gotta go,” she says, snapping her Startac closed. Her departure is like the suicide drills from gym class. Every time she gets just a few feet farther away, Grayer cries and she scurries back, admonishing, “Now Mommy’s going to be late” is gone (Kraus & McLaughlin 31). It shows that Mrs. X does not feel any pity to Grayer, who is crying because his mother leaves him. Even Mrs. X shows that she does not want to give her little time to make Grayer stop crying.
not feel that Grayer really misses her and wants to have a hug once a day (Kraus & McLaughlin119).
The second characteristic is hateful. As a rich woman, she considers herself more powerful and superior than other people. So she always acts as if she is perfect. If she finds that other people do something that she does not approve, she will hate them forcefully. She can do it because she feels that she is the only one who always does everything correctly. She cannot accept failure and mistake even when it is unintentionally done. The example is when Mrs. X fires the seventh Grayer’s nanny, named Caitlin, after she has six nannies in four months before Caitlin.
“So what happened to Caitlin? Your new girl didn’t seem to know.”
“Sally, it was a nightmare. I’m lucky I found Nanny when I did! Caitlin, whose work I never found to be exemplary, by the way, but I put up with it, because, well, one does. Anyway, she had the nerve to ask for the last week of August off after I already gave her the first two weeks of January when we went to Aspen.” “You’re kidding.” “Well, I just felt she was trying to take complete advantage of me-”
(Kraus & McLaughlin 78)
It shows that Mrs. X gets hateful easily when somebody tries to go against her. In this case Caitlin is fired because she asks for a holiday. She hates Caitlin for what she has done and she even looks for another nanny in order to substitute Caitlin.
The third is that Mrs. X is an ungrateful person. We can see this characteristic from her attitude towards Annie. Despite Annie’s hard work and sacrifices to take care of Grayer, Mrs. X does not respect Annie. She considers Annie to be lazy, selfish, and unmotivated to work and she never thinks that Annie is a great value in her home. Even Mrs. X gives multitasks to Annie without any extra reward (Kraus & McLaughlin 50).
The example is when Mrs. X will give a fete for the Chicago branch of Mr. X’s company. She entangles Annie to prepare the fete that all top executives will present, asking her to call the caterers and double-check what kind of utensils and linens they will be bringing for Mr. X’s party and to start assembling so many items for the gift bags. In the meantime, Annie also has to wait Grayer who is interviewing in the St. David. Therefore Annie has to work hard for doing all Mrs. X’s instructions above (Kraus & McLaughlin 50-51).
The other example is that Mrs. X does not give a hefty Christmas bonus to Annie. Although Annie has put so much extra time in order to get extra bonus, she gets earmuffs only as the bonus.
“Ugh, that woman!”
I slump forward. “I worked, like, eighty hours a week for the past month and for what? I’ll tell you for what. Earmuffs!”
Everyone knows you get a hefty Christmas bonus; it’s just how it’s done. Why else would I have put in so much extra time? The bonus is for the extra, it’s the recognition! Every stupid person that works for them got money and a hand bag! And I got—”
(Kraus & McLaughlin 123-124)
She wants to do that because she thinks that the bonus will be worth it. Therefore what Mrs. X has already done breaks Annie’s heart.
4.1.1.3 Grayer Addison X
Grayer is described as a selfish boy. As a son of a rich family, he lacks of nothing. This behaviour can be seen when he makes fun of Annie by asking her to get something he wants, but when Annie brings the thing, he wants another again and again. Grayer is also described as a rude boy. When he meets Annie at the courtyard for the first time, Mrs. X asks Grayer to have lunch at the playground with Annie, but Grayer refuses roughly by driving Annie away from her. Further, Grayer really enjoys disturbing Annie for the first week. He shouts and throws things to Annie. Therefore, it is very difficult for Annie to take care Grayer for the first week (Kraus & McLaughlin 38).
Despite all of his bad attitudes and behaviours, Grayer is a lonely boy. Actually, everything he does is an effort to get attention from other people because he feels lonely and lack of affections from his mother. He tries to pretend his sadness of being ignored by his parents by doing mischief. When he does that, he feels that he can forget his loneliness and sadness. Actually, he is a good boy. But because of his mother’s little care and attention towards him, Grayer becomes a rude boy. The proof is when the housemaid of the X’s apartment, named Connie tells Annie about what was happened to a baby nurse of Grayer, Jackie.
You ever hear about Jackie? I shake my head. “Jackie was his baby nurse, but she stayed till Grayer was two.” “What happened to her?”
traveling and Jackie dating no one special-you know, man troubles. But then Jackie met someone-he looked like Bob Marley-and now she can’t work on Friday nights and she don’t like to work the weekend if the Xes don’t be in Connecticut. So Mrs. X starts in with how inconvenienced she is. But really, she jealous. Jackie had that glow, you know. She had that look about her and Mrs. X couldn’t stand it. So she fired her. Nearly broke Grayer’s heart. After that-he was like a little devil child.”
(Kraus & McLaughlin200)
It can be seen that Grayer’s heart has already broken for the first time, because he has been left by Grayer’s baby nurse, named Jackie. She is the first Grayer’s baby nurse who is able to make him happy and comfortable. After two years working, Mrs X fires Jackie, because Jackie asks for holiday on Friday nights and she also does not like to work in the weekend after she has a boyfriend. It is very difficult for Grayer to deal with broken-heartedness since he is still four years old. Therefore Grayer becomes a very rude boy after that.
4.1.2 The Relationship between Mrs. X and Grayer
In The Nanny Diaries, Mrs. X is one of the major characters in the novel. She is portrayed as a woman who comes from a prosperous family and is married to a rich man. As a result, her life is very glamourous and she never lacks of anything. She spends her daily life on shopping and having treatments at spa. Despite all her flawless appearances, she has some unusual characteristics that make her get frustrated about her life and feels unhappy (Kraus & McLaughlin 199).
According to Deutsch (322) in her book entitled The Psychology of Women, Although a mother has a significant role in her son’s development, the relationship between them is not always good. In The Nanny Diaries, Mrs. X does not want to spend her little time to take care of Grayer, even though she has one child only. In the novel, Grayer is described as a selfish and rude boy. As a son of a rich family, he lacks of nothing. Everything that he needs is provided well by his mother. That is what makes him selfish and rude, because all people never say no to him (Kraus & McLaughlin 38).
The inharmonious relationship between Mrs. X and Grayer can be seen from her habit that she does not give any attention to her own son. Even Mrs. X does not let Grayer touch her after her absence all day long. It is already her habit to go outside along the day and go back home until late night. She absolutely does not care about the development of her son. Even she also does not feel that Grayer really misses her and wants to have a hug once a day (Kraus & McLaughlin119).
The other proof is that Mrs. X wants to keep her glamorous lifestyle while avoiding her responsibilities in taking care and educating her son. It can be seen from Annie’s attitudes after Mrs. X fires her. Annie is the only person who takes care of Grayer from he wakes up in the early morning until he falls asleep in the night. Furthermore Mrs. X never takes care of her son, so that Annie hands over all Mrs. X’s responsibility as a mother for Grayer.
“I really want to know-just where do you get the balls to ask a perfect stranger to be a surrogate mother to your kid?”
“And you don’t have a job!” “What do you do all day?”
“Well, you keep right on plugging away there, lady-the world can hardly wait to hear how your innovations are going to launch us right into the twenty-first century with a discovery so fantastic that you can’t spare a moment to give your son a hug.”
(Kraus & McLaughlin303)
The inharmonious relationship between Mrs. X and Grayer Addison X have three characteristics. First, their relationship is lack of communication. The second is too much control from the mother. The third is considering a child as a marital status only.
4.1.2.1 Lack of communication
Mother-child relationship has long been considered as a very important matter in a family life. The relationship greatly influences the developments of both parents and children. Noller (197) states that the quality of the marriage impacts the interaction with the children. Further, Noller (205) also states that mother-child interactions tend to be dominated by caretaking. Mothers communicate with their children, stimulate them, express positive affection to them, and perform the basic childcare tasks more than do fathers.
In the novel, we can see that Mrs. X is not able to build communication with her son well, stimulate him, and express positive affection to him (Kraus & McLaughlin45). Therefore it can be concluded that the relationship between Mrs. X and Grayer is lack of communication and interaction. We can see the proof from the daily activities of Mrs. X that she is always busy with her own activities. It can be seen from so many shopping bags on the car that Mrs. X has just bought when she visits Annie at the Grayer’s courtyard.
“This way.” The door of a Lincoln town car pops open and Mrs. X’s manicured hand flags me over. “Im so glad you’re here,” I say, leaning down to where she’s seated amid her shopping bags in the plush darkness. “Because I need to ask you-”
(Kraus & McLaughlin44-45)
Chicago branch of Mr. X’s company. In the meantime, Annie also wants to ask whether Alexander, a friend of Grayer, can accompany Grayer for the afternoon. Annie is very confused about this situation, because there are four boys named Alexander in Grayer’s school and Annie does not know which Alexander is supposed to escort Grayer. Unfortunately Annie does not get the answer, because Mrs. X just goes away in a hurry when she hears the heavy clank of the double doors of Grayer’s play group opening. It seems that it is much more important preparing the fete of Mr. X than caring her own son for Mrs. X. She also does not want to give her little precious time to meet her son and to have a little conversation to him (Kraus & McLaughlin44-46).
The other proof is that Mrs. X does not let Grayer touch her after her absence all day long. It is already her habit to go outside along the day and go back home until late night. She absolutely does not care about the development of her son. Therefore it can be seen that Mrs. X does not have any spare time for Grayer to have well communication, like mother-child’s communication in general (Kraus & McLaughlin119).
4.1.2.2 Too Much Control from the Mother
children. Further, low levels of support and high levels of coercion tend to result in children who lack social competence and are low in self-esteem and creativity and high in behavior problems (Noller 135).
In the novel, Mrs. X shows the style of an authoritarian mother. She forces Grayer to do what she wants. It can be seen when Mrs. X gives Annie a copy of Grayer’s schedule of after-school activities.
Dear Nanny,
Welcome! The attached is a copy of Grayer’s schedule of after-school activities. Let me know if you have any questions.
P.S. I’ve also included a list of some possible fun activities. P.S. I really prefer it if Grayer doesn’t nap in the afternoons. (Kraus & McLaughlin32)
Mrs. X shows that she has already made Grayer’s schedule of after-school from Monday until Friday. It shows what Grayer must do every hour. Even she makes Grayer’s schedule if there is a class cancellation for Annie. Grayer’s schedule of after-school is the proof that there are too much control from Mrs. X to Grayer (Kraus & McLaughlin33-34).
The other example is that when Mrs. X will give a fete for the Chicago branch of Mr. X’s company. Mrs. X not only entangles Annie to prepare the fete that all top executives will present, but also she leaves Annie a message containing what and where Grayer should eat for his dinner.
“Nanny, As a rule I don’t like Grayer to have too many carbohydrates before bed. Tonight I’ve left all his food already measured out on the counter. If you could just put the beets, the kale, and the kahlrabi in the steamer for twelve minutes that should be perfect, but please try to stay out of the caterer’s way.
It shows that Mrs. X really gives too much control on Grayer’s diet. It means that she forces Grayer to eat whatever kind of food that she has prepared for him. It seems that Mrs. X really does not care whether Grayer likes the food or not. Unfortunately, Grayer does not have any choice, so he eats his dinner in the bathroom, otherwise he will not get his dinner. Therefore, it is also the proof that there are too much control from Mrs. X to Grayer.
4.1.2.3 Considering a Child as a Marital Status Only
Children sometimes are seen as providing a value that they can fulfill certain needs of their parents. Their values can be varied, depending on their parents’ satisfactory needs. One of the values of children for their parents is to enhance parents’ status because parenthood is thought to establish parents as truly mature, stable, and acceptable members of adult community (Nye 153).
In the novel, Grayer receives such treatments from his parents. It means that having a child is just a symbol in a marriage of a very rich couple, without considering that a child needs protections, affections, and careful treatments. The example is when Grayer gets very bad cough and ear infection, Annie cannot make a call to Mrs. X, because the receptionist of a spa says that Mrs. X has been in her spa treatment and cannot be disturbed.
"Yes, well, he has two more days to go, but his cough got really bad. I tried to call you." She bristles. "Well, Nanny, I think we've discussed where we prefer for Grayer to eat. You can go now, I've got it covered." I focus on smiling. "Okay, I'll just go and get changed."
(Kraus & McLaughlin142)
fever in the same time.
Noller (205) states that mother-child interactions tend to be dominated by caretaking. Mothers communicate with their children, stimulate them, express positive affection to them, and perform the basic childcare tasks more than do fathers. Noller (136) also states that children with authoritarian parents, who are high in control but low in affection, tend to be less happy, less trusting, and more withdrawn than other children. In the novel, Grayer shows those attitudes, because his mother always choose certain friends for Grayer, who are considered approriate by her. Therefore Grayer does not have any right to choose his own friends. It can be seen when Grayer wants to have Cristabelle to play with him, Annie does not let Grayer to do that, because Mrs. X has already chosen Alexander to accompany Grayer at that time.
“Grayer, Mommy said you have a play date with Alex,” I say.
He shrughs. “How about Cristabelle? Cristabelle, want to have a play date?” Apparently, one play date’s as good as another.”
“Grover, it’s not Cristabelle, sweetie. But we can have a play date with Cristabelle another day. Would you like that?”
Grayer huffs off. At the age of four he seems already to know that if the date has to be postponed it probably isn’t going to happen.
(Kraus & McLaughlin46)
It shows that Grayer feels less happy, less trusting, and more withdrawn than other children when he is not able to choose a play date’s friend for himself. It happens, because Mrs. X has already chosen play date’s friends who is suitable for Grayer. Therefore Grayer always feels upset when he have to play with a play date’s friend who is already chosen for him by Mrs. X
mature, stable, and acceptable members of adult community (153). Lacking of communication, too much controlling from the mother, and considering a child as a marital status only in the relationship between Mrs. X and Grayer are the characteristics of an inharmonious relationship between Mrs. X and her son. As a result, this inharmonious relationship has several impacts on Grayer’s attitudes.
4.2 The Impacts of Inharmonious Relationship on Grayer’s Attitudes
The Nanny Diaries tells that the inharmonious relationship between Mrs. X and Grayer makes several impacts on Grayer’s attitudes. The first impact is that Grayer becomes a rude boy. The second impact is that Grayer becomes selfish and arbitrary. The third impact is that Grayer becomes rebellious toward his own parents. For further explanation of those impacts on Grayer’s attitudes, here each impact will be analyzed.
4.2.1 Rude
The first impact of the inharmonious relationship between Mrs. X and Grayer is Grayer’s rudeness. Post (288) states that one of the negative characteristics, which may come in children’s development is rudeness. Basically, it is caused by two factors, namely parents’ low control and children’s loneliness. The first factor comes from parents’ lack of control and attention that they never tell the appropriate manners and behaviors to their children. As a result, children become rude because they do not know what good manners are.
In the novel, Grayer becomes a rude boy because he lacks of control and attention, so he is never told the appropriate manners and behaviors as a child by his mother. We can see the example from Grayer’s attitudes through Annie.
“Grayer, you remember Nanny? You two are going to have lunch at the playground!” his mother prompts him.
He slumps against her leg and glares at me. “Go away.”
“Honey, we can have snack together, but Mommy has an appoinment. You two are going to have such a good time! Now hop in your stroller and Nanny will give you snack.”
(Kraus & McLaughlin 31)
The other example is that Grayer is always saying rude words to Annie when she picks him up at Grayer’s courtyard for a week.
We head toward the park as they chatter away. She propels him forward with ease, though he can’t be a light load with his toys, school stuff, and backup supplies of snack.
“Grayer, who’s your best friend at school?” I ask. “Shut up, stupidhead!
I told you to get out of here, you bad woman!” Grayer hurls his stroller at me, screaming at the top of his lungs.
Blood rushes to my face as I retort with false confidence, “You . . . silly!”
(Kraus & McLaughlin 37)
Those examples show that as a four year old boy, Grayer’s attitudes toward Annie is very rude. It happens because Mrs. X does not warn her son at all when he says rude word to Annie. Therefore Grayer becomes a rude boy, because Mrs. X does never tell her son the appropriate manners and behaviors as a child. Grayer can easily say rude words, even though Mrs. X has seven nannies, before she gets Annie as the eighth and the last nanny for Grayer. It means that Mrs. X never teaches Grayer how to behave well to others, especially to his nannies (Kraus & McLaughlin 200).
bad habits of Mrs. X breaks Grayer’s heart and she does not care about it at all. Actually Grayer’s heart has already broken three times, because he has been left by three nannies who are able to make him happy and comfortable. The first is Grayer’s baby nurse, named Jackie. She has been worked for two years to take care Grayer when he is still baby and Jackie was the first nanny who breaks Grayer’s heart (Kraus & McLaughlin200).
After that Mrs. X has Caitlin as the seventh Grayer’s nanny and Mrs. X also fires her because of a simple thing that Caitlin asks for a holiday. It breaks Grayer’s heart again and makes him much more rude than before (Kraus & McLaughlin 78). The last is the worst that Grayer has to lose his eighth lovely nanny, who is Annie Braddock (Kraus & McLaughlin 295). It is very difficult situation for Grayer to feel broken-heart since he is still four years old. Therefore it is the main cause why Grayer becomes a rude boy.
4.2.2 Selfish and Arbitrary
home (Kraus & McLaughlin182).
Mrs. X wants to schedule a family meeting about . . .” I glance over her shoulder at the pasta pusher-“the little one. When could he be here?” “Let’s se. . . I could push a meeting up . . .” Yeah, I can get him back to New York by Wednesday at four. I’ll have him there.”
(Kraus & McLaughlin182)
It is not only very difficult to get the precious time of Mr. X for having a family meeting, but also to get Mr. X’s attention for Grayer when he is at home. Therefore Grayer absolutely lacks of love and care from his own father. On the other side, Mrs. X seldom has a little time to take care her own son and hands over all her responsibilities as a mother to Annie. Automatically it also makes Grayer lack of attention from his mother. We can see the examples from the daily activities of Mrs. X. She is always busy with her own activities, like shopping and going to spa (Kraus & McLaughlin 139-140).
Being a lonely child causes Grayer to be selfish and arbitrary. It can be seen from Grayer’s attitudes when he knows that Caitlin’s position is going to be replaced by Annie as the only Grayer’s nanny.
“I told you to get out of here, you bad woman!” Grayer hurls his stroller at me, screaming at the top of his lungs.
I consider taking a playground poll as to whether I should “get out” and, if I choose not to, does this, in fact, make me a “bad woman?”
Caitlin rights the stroller as if his throwing it were part of a fabulous game we’re playing. “Well, looks to me like somebody has a bit of energy and wants me to catch him!” She chases him all over the playground, laughing deeply. He slides down the slide and catches him. He hides behind the monkey bars and she catches him. There is a lot of catching overall. I start to chase her as she chases him, but give up when he looks pleadingly into my eyes, moaning “STOaaaooop.”
(Kraus & McLaughlin37)
always says that he wants Caitlin, not Annie. It means that he must get whatever he wants. Even though Mrs. X has already decided to replace Caitlin with Annie, Grayer does not want to accept her. He wants Caitlin only as his nanny. It is already his habit that whatever he wants. It must be satisfied by his nanny and parents. If they are not able to make Grayer satisfied, he will get furious. Therefore it is the proof that Grayer is a selfish child and arbitrary boy.
The other proof is that Grayer always wants his card pinned to his clothes all the time. Grayer’s card is a card that is written his father’s name, Mr. X.
“So, what’s with the card?”
“Oh, that grotty old thing.” She swallows.
“He carries it everywhere. He’ll be wanting it pinned to his trousers and in his pajamas. It drives the Mrs. X crazy, but he refuses to so much as put on his underpants without it.” She blinks a few times and then turns away. (Kraus & McLaughlin36)
It also shows that whatever Grayer wants must be satisfied. Otherwise he will get furious. Even his own mother is not able to forbid him not to pin his card in his pajamas. It means that he must get whatever he wants and no body is able to forbid Grayer to do what he wants. So it is also the proof that Grayer is a selfish and arbitrary child.
4.2.3 Rebellious
still busy with their own bussiness. Annie is the only person who shows that she cares Grayer. Her treatments makes Grayer feel comfortable and accepted. The result is that Annie receives different treatments from Grayer. He considers her to be the only person who loves him. Grayer even tries to be nice to Annie. The example is that Grayer gives a very special gift that is crooked paper heart to Nanny in the Valentine’s Day.
“Whatcha got there, buddy?”
“It’s a Valentine. I made it. You can hold it.” I look down at the heart, assuming it’s for Mrs. X.
“Mrs. Butters spelled for me. I told her what to say and she spelled for me. Read it, Nanny, read it.”
I almost can’t speak, “I LOVE YOU NANNY FROM GRAYER ADDISON X.”
“Yup. That’s what I said.” (Kraus & McLaughlin150)
On that moment, Grayer does not give any gift to Mrs. X, but he only says “Happy Valentine’s Day” to her. Even Grayer does not give any gift and he also does not say anything to his own father, Mr. X on this Valentine’s Day. It seems that Grayer loves Nanny much more than he loves his own parents. Therefore it is the proof that Grayer is rebellious towards his own parents.
Once Grayer shouts that he needs Annie only when she leaves the X’s family. It happens because Mrs. X fires Annie on the day when the X’s family has vacation on the Nantucket.
“Here.” She hands me the check.
I turn and walk past her onto the gravel driveway, as Grayer’s increasingly hydterical cries echo out into the darkness.
“NAAAANNNNYYYY! I NEEEEEED YOOOOUUUUU! NOT MY MOTHER!!”
(Kraus & McLaughlin297)
Annie Braddock, because he already feels that Annie is the only person who shows that she loves and cares Grayer very much. Therefore Grayer does not have any feeling to his own mother. He thinks that Annie is the only person he needs, not his mother. It is also the proof that Grayer is rebellious towards his own mother.
Based on the analysis above, it can be concluded that a child performs below his intellectual capacities when they are emotionally disturbed. The emotions of a child also influences how a child view his role in life and his position in the social group, whether they are happy, frightened, or curious. So the success of his adjustments depends on it. Even emotions also affect social interaction from pleasure to unpleasant emotions. It results in the child development in relation to their social interaction (Hurlock 184-185).
46 CHAPTER 5
CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS
This chapter presents the conclusions and suggestions. The first section covers the conclusions of the analysis in the previous chapter and contains the answers to the problems formulated. The second section presents the suggestions for further research and the implementation of teaching through this novel in Public Speaking II.
5.1. Conclusions
A family has a significant role on the child’s development. It greatly influences and shapes his characteristics and behaviors. Supports from his family also help him to overcome challenges and difficulties in life. If relationships between a child and his family are not established well, that child will be affected in negative ways. Because of bad relationships with his own family, he often searches for other people to love, such as his friends or nanny. Such inharmonious relationship and its influence on a child’s development are reflected by the characters of Mrs. X and Grayer Addison X in Kraus & McLaughlin’s The Nanny Diaries.
