THE CONTRIBUTION OF CONFLICTS
TOWARD JAMAL HICKS’ PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT
IN WALTER DEAN MYERS’ SCORPIONS
AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra
in English Letters
By
HERIBERTUS VENDYKURNIAWAN PUTRA Student Number: 034214074
ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS
FACULTY OF LETTERS SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
IN WALTER DEAN MYERS’ SCORPIONS
AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra
in English Letters
By
HERIBERTUS VENDYKURNIAWAN PUTRA Student Number: 034214074
ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS
FACULTY OF LETTERS SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
YOGYAKARTA 2011
Yesterday is a history…
Tomorrow is a mystery…
And today…?
Today is a gift…
That's why they call it present.
(ANONYMOUS)
For my beloved mother
…the greatest woman in the universe…
ABSTRACT
HERIBERTUS VENDYKURNIAWAN PUTRA. The Contribution of Conflicts toward Jamal Hicks’ Personality Development in Walter Dean Myers’s
Scorpions. Yogyakarta: Department of English Letters, Faculty of Letters, Sanata Dharma University, 2011.
Scorpions is a novel written by Walter Dean Myers, an African-American author, in 1988. The first edition was published in 1990 by Harper Trophy. The writer intends to discuss Scorpions because it describes the example of reality in our common life in easy language that makes the story easy to understand and this novel tells how a character may change his attitude toward something. Later, this change leads him to his personality development. Besides, the writer believes that one's personality development can be gained through the conflicts as the reaction of adjustment process of someone toward new facts or realities in his life.
The analysis in this thesis is based on three problems formulation. First is to know how the main character, Jamal Hicks, is characterized, second is to know the internal and the external conflicts of the main character and how these conflicts relate to each other, and the third is to know the influence of the conflicts to develop the personality of the main character in the story.
In answering the problems and collecting the information, the primary sources were the novel itself and some supporting books. Therefore, the method used was the library research. The writer also used internet research to gain some additional information about the novel.
The writer has found three answers to the problems. In the beginning, the writer finds that Jamal Hicks is faithful, lack of confident, courageous, and sympathetic. Then, the writer studies the internal and the external conflicts of Jamal. Basically, the conflicts occur after Jamal joins the gang and he is given a gun by one of the gang member. He faces many conflicts since then, whether it is internal or external. The writer afterward indicates that Jamal's personality develops after he experiences many conflicts. In the beginning, Jamal has loyal, lack of confidence, courageous, and sympathetic characteristics; but after he experiences many conflicts, his characteristics develop into responsible loyal, confident, considerate and responsible courageous, and responsible sympathetic. In the last part of the thesis, the writer concludes that Jamal’s personality development happens with the influences of conflicts as the reaction of adjustment process of Jamal toward new facts or realities in his life.
toward Jamal Hicks’ Personality Development in Walter Dean Myers’s
Scorpions. Yogyakarta: Jurusan Sastra Inggris, Fakultas Sastra, Universitas Sanata Dharma, 2011.
Scorpions adalah sebuah novel yang ditulis oleh Walter Dean Myers, seorang pengarang berdarah Afrika-Amerika, di tahun 1988. Edisi pertama novel ini diterbitkan di tahun 1990 oleh Harper Trophy. Penulis ingin membahas Scorpions karena novel ini mencontohkan realita seperti dalam kehidupan kita sehari-hari dengan menggunakan bahasa yang sederhana sehingga ceritanya mudah dimengerti, dan novel ini bercerita tentang bagaimana seseorang merubah sikapnya terhadap sesuatu yang kemudian membawanya ke dalam perkembangan kepribadian. Di samping itu, penulis yakin bahwa perkembangan kepribadian seseorang dapat diperoleh melalui konflik-konflik yang dialaminya sebagai suatu reaksi dari proses penyesuaian dirinya terhadap fakta atau kenyataan yang baru yang ada di dalam kehidupannya sehari-hari.
Analisa dalam tesis ini didasari oleh tiga rumusan masalah. Pertama adalah untuk mengetahui bagaimana tokoh utama, Jamal Hicks, digambarkan; kedua adalah untuk mengetahui konflik internal dan eksternal apa sajakah yang dialami oleh tokoh utama dan bagaimana konflik-konflik ini saling berkaitan satu sama lain; dan ketiga adalah untuk mengetahui pengaruh dari konflik-konflik tersebut terhadap perkembangan kepribadian tokoh utama di dalam cerita.
Sumber data primer yang digunakan oleh penulis dalam menjawab rumusan-rumusan masalah di atas dan dalam pengumpulan informasi-informasi terkait adalah novel itu sendiri dan beberapa buku acuan yang mendukung. Oleh karena itu, metode yang digunakan penulis dalam penyusunan tesis ini adalah metode kepustakaan. Penulis juga menggunakan beberapa sumber dari internet dalam mencari informasi-informasi tambahan mengenai novel tersebut.
Penulis telah menemukan tiga jawaban yang berhubungan dengan rumusan-rumusan masalah tersebut. Penulis mengetahui bahwa pada awalnya Jamal Hicks mempunyai sifat setia, kurang percaya diri, pemberani, dan bersimpati terhadap orang lain. Setelah itu, penulis mempelajari konflik internal dan eksternal yang terjadi pada Jamal. Pada dasarnya konflik-konflik ini terjadi setelah Jamal bergabung dalam sebuah geng dan setelah dia diberi pistol oleh salah satu anggota geng tersebut. Sejak saat itulah dia mulai mengalami banyak konflik, baik itu internal maupun eksternal. Penulis kemudian melihat bahwa kepribadian Jamal berubah setelah dia mengalami banyak konflik. Pada awalnya, Jamal mempunyai kepribadian setia, kurang percaya diri, pemberani, dan bersimpati terhadap orang lain; tetapi setelah dia mengalami banyak konflik, kepribadiannya itu berkembang menjadi setia yang disertai dengan rasa tanggung jawab, percaya diri, pemberani disertai dengan penuh pertimbangan dan rasa tanggung jawab, serta bersimpati disertai dengan rasa tanggung jawab. Pada bagian akhir dari tesis ini, penulis menarik kesimpulan bahwa perkembangan kepribadian Jamal dipengaruhi oleh konflik-konflik yang dialaminya sebagai suatu reaksi dari proses penyesuaian dirinya terhadap fakta atau kenyataan yang baru yang ada di dalam kehidupannya sehari-hari.
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
A. Background of the Study
Before the writer step further into the analysis of the object of this study that
will describe one main thing considered necessary in modern environment of human
being, which is conflict, we should realize first the existence of art as the main point
of human emotion. Art shall be an imitation of life. It means that even if we try to
create for instance a poem without considering the rules of poem writing, still it is
an art as far as it depicts certain emotion in human life that the writer wants to lift
up. Therefore, art is an imitation of life while life itself, as Aristotle had explained
that the making of epics and of tragedies, and also comedy, and the art of dithyramb,
and most flute and lyre art, all have common, that they are imitations (Alssid, 1964:
94).
Art is not a pure and simple self-expression; it is not a reflection of personal
feelings and experiences. The work of art is not merely a copy of life, although there
is a close relationship between the work of art and the author’s life. A work of art
may contain the author’s dreams or imaginations rather than his real life, or it may
be the mask that the real person is hiding, or it may be the image of life that the
author wants to escape. The author may experience life differently in terms of his
art. Although the author’s work may be a mask, a dramatized conventionalization, it
is frequently a conventionalization of his own experiences, his own daily life
(Wellek and Warren, 1956: 78-79).
We know that literature is the part of art. In literary works, life itself is
imitated in the written form of drama, poems, novels, ballads, and so on. The deeper
the writer understands his life and all moments that happen, the more the writer can
bring our emotions and thoughts toward what actually lies behind his words.
Literature itself is divided into two types. Francis Zavier Connoly says in his
book, as being quoted by Koesnosoebroto in The Anatomy of Prose Fiction, that
there are two sorts of literature (1988: 3). The first one is literature of knowledge
that presents or interprets facts, ideas, or happenings. It could be a description of a
place, an explanation of scientific process, an account of war, or a discussion of
political issues. Autobiography and personal narrative, biography, and history,
various forms of essays are included to this type of literature for its appeals to the
sense of intelligence. The second one is literature of imagination. It interprets
experience by fictitious presentation of persons, ideas, and events. Furthermore, he
says that a creative writer is not primarily concerned with the actual truth of
particular events, as is a historian, or with the abstract reality and ideas, as is a
philosopher. Therefore, Walter Dean Myers’ Scorpions can be included to the
literature of imagination for events a lifelike image or stories that embodies truth of
human nature.
Scorpions, which is discussed in this thesis, is a novel written by Walter
3
Walter Dean Myers was born in West Virginia in 1937 but spent most of his
childhood and young adult life in Harlem. He was raised by foster parents. Suffering
from a speech impediment, he cultivated a habit of writing poetry and short stories
and acquired an early love of reading
(http://www.scils.rutgers.edu/professional-development/ childlit/myers.html).
Myers has consistently focused most of his energy on young adult novels.
This genre has garnered him awards such as the Margaret A. Edwards Award, two
Newberry Honor Medals, four Coretta Scott King Awards, the Caldecott Medal
Honor, the Parents' Choice Award, and awards by the American Library
Association. Myers deals very specifically with issues of importance to
contemporary youth, especially urban African-American youths who are often seen
as at-risk by society (http://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=
3280). Since then, he has continued to write children's and young adult novels,
poems, and non-fictions. Monster, published in 1999, gave Myers the first Michael
L. Printz Award, for the best young adult book, as well as being a National Book
Award finalist and the Coretto Scott King Award. Myers, like so many other
authors, has been asked where he gets his ideas for books. He gets his idea from his
life and his interests (http://www.teenspoint.org/reading_matters/columns2.asp?
column_id=1140&column_type=tpauthprofile).
The main idea of this novel is about the conflict of a young boy. Myers has
observed that conflict is a crucial matter in society. He picks up realities that he
teen, often depicting gang life, drug use, violence, and dealing with peers and peer
pressure when one has found a way out. Myers generally writes about what he
knows and has experienced (http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Walter_
Dean_Myers). The problem presented by Myers is domestic and social problem
that he takes from the society. Myers elevates the personal to the universal,
speaking plainly and honestly. Therefore, this story is useful for the readers because
this kind of problem is also faced in our daily life.
The writer intends to discuss Scorpions because the novel describes the
example of reality in our common life in easy language that makes the story easy to
understand, and the novel tells how a character may change his attitude toward
something. Later, this change leads him to his character development. Besides, the
writer believes that one's personality development can be gained through conflicts
as the result of interaction and learning process in the family and in the
environment. There are some findings that relate to conflicts and its implications.
By analyzing this novel, the writer hopes that it can be realized that every conflict
someone faces will always give contribution in his or her personality development.
B. Problem Formulation
Based on the explanations above, three questions are discussed in this thesis.
1. How is Jamal Hicks characterized in Walter Dean Myers’ Scorpions?
2. What are the internal and the external conflicts of the main character, Jamal
5
3. How do these conflicts develop the personality of the main character, Jamal
Hicks?
C. Objectives of the Study
Based on the problem formulation, this thesis has three aims. First is to know
how the main character, Jamal Hicks, is characterized in Walter Dean Myers’
Scorpions; and later, it will help the writer to identify the personality development.
Second is to know the internal and the external conflicts of the main character,
Jamal; and there are some explanations on how these conflicts relate to each other.
Third is to know the contribution of the conflicts to the personality development of
the main character, Jamal Hicks, in the story.
D. Definition of Terms 1. Character
According to A Handbook to Literature, character is a complicated term that
applied in literary form. It includes the idea of the moral constitution of the human
personality, the presence of moral uprightness, and the simpler notion of the
presence of creatures in art that seem to be human beings of one short or another.
Character is a brief descriptive sketch of a personage who typifies some definite
quality. The person is described not as an individualized personality but as an
2. Personality
Personality Theories explains that personality has many meanings. It is
reasonably distinct subfield of psychology that comprises theory, research, and
assessment. Personality has also been viewed as the individual’s most dominant
characteristics. A person may be said to have an “aggressive personality” or “shy
personality,” meaning that his or her most distinctive attribute appears to be
aggressiveness or shyness. From this sense, it means that personality refers to the
overall impression that an individual makes on others, that is, a sum total or
constellation of characteristics that are typical of the individual and thus observable
in various social settings. Unfortunately, such usage of the term neglects the
possibility that the individual may be either aggressive or shy, depending on
situational circumstances (Hjelle, 1981: 6).
3. Development
According to Human Development, An Emergent Science, the word
“development” is a term that refers to all processes of change by which an
individual's potentialities unfold and appear as new qualities, abilities, traits, and
related characteristics. It may include the long-term and relatively irreversible gains
CHAPTER II
THEORETICAL REVIEW
A. Review of Related Studies
As mentioned in the previous chapter; that is Walter Dean Myers is direct
and to the point, not overly complicated; encourages the writer to analyze Scorpions
in this thesis. The books of Walter Dean Myers have shown the lasting ability to
speak to the young adult experience and to help readers become more aware of
themselves and the world around them (http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/yalsa/
booklistsawards/margaretaedwards/maeprevious/1994awardwinner.cfm). From the
previous statement, we can say that Myers’ books are not only interesting but also
teach the readers some valuable lessons.
In this thesis, the writer tries to analyze Walter Dean Myers’ Scorpions.
This novel deals with the problems that are faced by some African-American
adolescents living in urban areas. Scorpions is set in Harlem; and in this novel, the
setting is integral to the plot. Myers, who grew up in Harlem during the 40s and
early 50s, has set many of his books in this community, and in some of his books,
he has portrayed Harlem in a positive side. In Scorpions, he provides a miserable
depiction of this place. Harlem is depicted, in Scorpions, as a decaying community
where gang violence and drug selling are so common, and where the hopes and
dreams of many young people are dashed by the forces of poverty, prejudice, and
lawlessness (http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/ALAN/winter99/ west.html).
The plot of the novel is about the imprisonment of a family member that
causes a chain of events that ultimately leads to many conflicts for the central
character. In Scorpions, the central character is Jamal Hicks, a 12-year-old
African-American boy. His father has abandoned his family and only shows up when he
needs money. His older brother, Randy, is jailed for killing a man during a robbery
attempt. Randy wants Jamal to be the new leader of the gang. On the other hand, the
mother tries to make Jamal away from gang life, but for some reasons Jamal feels he
must take his brother's place, at least for a moment. As part of the deal, Jamal is
given a gun by Mack, who is Randy’s friend. The gun functions as a symbol of
power and self-destruction. Many conflicts happen after Jamal has the gun. He
eventually tries to give back the gun and withdraw himself from the gang but not
before tragedy happens (http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/ALAN/winter99/
west.html).
From the statement above, the writer feels the need to discuss the relation
between conflict and personality development of the major character, Jamal Hicks,
in the novel. The writer tries to analyze the personality development which is
influenced by the conflicts happened in the story. In analyzing this novel, the writer
uses the theory of character and characterization, theory of conflict, theory of
personality development; and for the approach, the writer uses psychological
9
B. Review of Related Theories
In this part will be described some related theories that are considered
important in the analysis.
1. Theory of Character and Characterization
Characters are the person presented in a dramatic and narrative work that are
interpreted by the readers as being endowed with moral and dispositional qualities
that are expressed in what they say and by what they do. The grounds in characters’
temperament and moral nature for his speech and actions constitute his motivations
(Abrams, 1981: 20). The previous statement means that characters in literary works
are understood by the readers as persons whose attitude and personality can be
observed through their speeches and actions. Later, these speeches and actions can
motivate them to commit some particular events.
According to Robert Stanton in An Introduction to Fiction, characters can be
the actors in the story and the characteristics of the characters. The characters also
have the relationship with the characteristics that they have. It can be assumed that
persons appearing in a story with their behavior and thoughts are the characters.
They relate to each other and they have the main characteristics to be the focus
(1965: 17).
Based on the characteristics, E.M. Forster divides character into two. They
are flat or simple character and round or complex character. The flat character has a
single idea or quality and can be easily understood by the readers because he seems
characteristics or motivations and difficult to understand because of his complexity.
This complexity sometimes can give surprise effects to the readers (Forster, 1974:
75).
In Character and the Novel, W.J. Harvey says that the protagonists, who are
the most important character in the novel, most of the time change as the story goes.
They experience the change through many things, including conflicts that they deal
in the story (1965: 56).
There are nine ways, according to M.J. Murphy, that author can apply to
characterize the characters in a literary work. They are:
a. Personal Description
The author can describe a character appearance and clothes directly so that the
readers can easily imagine the characters.
b. Character as Seen by Another
Sometimes the author describes a character through the other characters’ point of
view and opinions. This thing will make the readers get a reflection image of a
character.
c. Speech
The author describes a character through their dialogues. Here, the readers can
11
d. Past Life
The author lets the readers shape the image of a character by giving the past life of
the character. The past life can be given through the direct comment of the author,
the character’s thoughts, the character’s speeches, or through the other characters.
e. Conversation of Other Characters
The author can also provide the characteristics of a character through the
conversation of other characters.
f. Reactions
The author can describe the image of a character by showing how the character
responds toward various situations and events.
g. Direct Comment
The author may describe the characteristics of a character by giving direct comment
to the character. This is the best way for the readers to find out the characteristics of
a character because they know what the author actually wants to reveal.
h. Thoughts
The author gives the readers direct information of what a character is thinking about
so that the readers can understand the characteristics of a character by knowing his
way of thinking.
i. Mannerism
The author can also describe a character’s mannerism, habits, or peculiarity; and it
2. Theory of Conflict
Conflict can also be seen through a psychological point of view. In
psychology, conflict means the arousal of two or more strong motives, in
someone’s mind, that cannot be solved together. This kind of conflict is called
internal conflict. There are three major types of internal conflict described by
psychologist Kurt Lewin, in A Dynamic Theory Of Personality, namely:
approach-approach conflict, avoidance-avoidance conflict, and approach-approach-avoidance conflict.
a. Approach-approach conflict
It happens when a person has to choose between two desirable outcomes.
For example, a person has to choose between finishing college or a full-time job
offer, but only one option that can be chosen. This conflict is often the easier to
resolve than the two other conflicts.
b. Avoidance-avoidance conflict
This conflict involves choosing between undesirable or unattractive
alternatives in which a person tends to avoid. For instance, a person does not like
his job, but he fears on quitting and unemployment.
c. Approach-avoidance conflict
It happens when an individual is indecisive in pursuing a desirable goal that
has an undesirable outcome; there is an attractive and unattractive part to both
sides. For example, a person wants to do something, but he fears the consequence
that entails. This conflict is often the more difficult to resolve
13
youngster may want to go to a dance to feel that he belongs to a group and does
what his friends do. However, the youth may be a very bad dancer and his fellows
consider him as a naive person. Therefore, he also has a motive to avoid the dance
to escape humiliation. He is in a dilemma; whether he goes or stays, he will
experience distress. This type of situation is called an approach-avoidance conflict.
Psychologically, a conflict exists when the reduction of one motivating stimulus
involves an increase in another, so that a new adjustment is demanded
(http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/132060/ conflict).
Besides, there is also social conflict, or it also called as external conflict.
External conflict is a state of opposition, disagreement, or incompatibility between
two or more people or groups of people, which is sometimes characterized by
physical violence (http://epatamsyte.blogspot.com/2007/04/conflict-of-psychology.
html). There are many types of external conflict, namely: interpersonal conflict,
intergroup conflict, individual vs. group conflict, and intragroup conflict.
a. Interpersonal conflict
It happens when a person faces a problem with other person. For example,
me against you.
b. Intergoup conflict
This kind of conflict involves two or more particular groups. For instance,
c. Individual vs. group conflict
It happens when an individual faces a problem with one or more particular
group; and so the opposite. For example, me against them or them against me.
d. Intragroup conflict
This conflict happens when there is a dispute between each member of one
particular group. For instance, members of a group all against each other
(http://webhome.idirect.com/~kehamilt/ipsyconf.html).
According to Peter Barry, in Beginning Theory: An Introduction to Literary
and Cultural Theory, conflicts can cause problems in someone’s mind. This thing
happens because conflicts affect the relation between conscious and unconscious
mind of someone (2002: 96). The conflicts cause problems in the unconscious mind
and these problems, then, affect the conscious mind. In other words, the conflicts
affect someone’s ways of thinking; and it will lead someone to change his or her
ways of behaving. It means that conflict can directly influence someone’s
personality or attitude.
3. Theory of Personality Development
Justin Pikunas explains that someone’s personality development is
influenced by hereditary influence and environmental influence. The hereditary
influence is concerned with DNA and RNA molecules, and influences personality
biologically. Environmental influences include physical environment, family,
15
a. Physical Environment
Physical environment is concerned with environmental ecology, food, and
chemicals. The bad physical environment is not the potential place to result the
good personality. The worse and unhealthy physical environment will cause the
more complicated problems that will be resulted in bad personality (Pikunas, 1969:
56).
b. Family
Family is the starting point of one’s personality. Therefore, it cannot be
denied that a family is main factor of one's personality development. The family
introduces a child into society and locates the child to be in social map.
The emotional condition and social development of the children are also
influenced by the mother's attitude. The psychosocial development and emotional
security of the child are based on the mother's reasonably consistent, patient, and
tender care (Pikunas, 1969: 61). It is believed that the child who gets much more
times with his mother will grow up as a loving and caring person, also patient
although he will be more emotional. This will lead to a good personality as well.
Meanwhile, the role of the father tends to give the protection and the discipline for
the children (Pikunas, 1969: 62). The father teaches the children to view everything
as a reality. The father usually shoulders a major part of discipline and arbitration
as children grow. By his authority and discipline, he stimulates their reality
c. Education for Life
The conditions of the family influence children's education (Pikunas, 1969:
63). Children from a rich family will have a better education than children from a
poor family because children from rich family are financially more supported to get
the best in lives including high quality education. This kind of situation will lead
these children to have different personality.
d. Peers as Model
Most of people enjoy associating with those who are similar in age,
maturity, and status. They have the same needs because they are at the same age
and maturity (Pikunas, 1969: 65). It cannot be denied that people feel more
comfortable when associating with peers. For instance, a teenager will be more
comfortable to associate with other teenage boys or girls and go to parties with
them than to associate with people of his parent's age and attend the adult party.
e. Community
The community also influences someone’s development. The community
has its own cultures. The culture conveys a set of values to each of its members.
The values or ethics in the community can influence a person to cultivate the traits
he desires by considering the appropriate norms or values in the community. In
adolescence, the young person will develop his own personal values. They can
change to fit in new conditions (Pikunas, 1969: 66).
Duane Schultz and Sydney Ellen Schultz, in Theories on Personality, also
17
spontaneous or under control, and the other behaviors can be determined by past
events. They also say that someone’s personality is not only shaped by the genetic
inheritances of his parents but also by the environments surround him. The early
experiences of a person in his childhood also shape the personality but not firmly. It
will be modified by the later experiences (Schultz, 2004: 32-33).
Donn Byrne and Katherine Kelly describe someone’s personality as a
dynamic process that can change throughout life. They also say that personality can
change when there is a condition that leads to the new emotional or informational
responses. The earliest years of life are important to form the basic of an adult
personality. However, there is no final personality. It is because later experiences
can modify the effects of the early experiences. In the process of development, a
person will frequently face new conditions. As the result, he will find new facts or
realities in his life. This thing will cause changes in his into-belief system, new
expectancies, and perhaps new emotional responses and attitudes as well (1981: 87).
4. The Relation between Literature and Psychology
Literary works certainly can be analyzed by using psychological theories.
Rene Wellek and Austin Warren explain that there is relation between literature and
psychology. They state that characters in plays and novels are judged to be
psychologically true (1956: 91). This thing implies that sometimes an author uses
psychological theory to set a figure or a situation.
In Psychology and Its Allied Disciplines: Humanities, March H. Bornstein
while psychology has the strength to investigate human's character or behavior in
systematic ways (Bornstein, 1984: 144). It means that literature depicts the
condition of human in a dramatic way and psychology will continue to study the
characteristics systematically.
Richard A. Kalish also elaborates another explanation about literature and
psychology. He said that literature holds the mirror up to the man (1973: 8). It
means that an author make the characters seem more life-like than the real people.
The authors can use the understanding provided by psychologist to enrich the
characteristics of the characters while psychologist can gain in their understanding
of human behavior by drawing from the deep sensitivity of good authors.
C. Theoretical Framework
First, the writer uses the theory of character and characterization in this
thesis because it is considered important to answer the first question of problem
formulation. By applying this theory, the writer can understand how the main
character of the story is characterized. This theory also helps the writer in describing
the characteristics of the main character of the novel, Jamal Hicks. Later, these
answers are used as information to find out the personality development.
Second is the theory of conflict. This theory is used in answering the second
question of problem formulation. This theory helps the writer in order to find out the
19
the writer can understand the relation between each conflict, which later will lead to
the personality development of the main character.
Last is the theory of personality development. This theory is applied to
answer the last question in problem formulation. By using this theory, the writer
tries to search the significant relation between the first two questions with the last
METHODOLOGY
A. Object of the Study
In this thesis, the writer will try to analyze a young adult novel entitled
Scorpions. This novel is written by Walter Dean Myers, an African-American
author, in 1988. In analyzing the novel, the writer uses the first edition of the novel
itself. This edition was published in 1990 by Harper Trophy. This novel consists of
216 pages and it is divided into 20 chapters.
In 1994, Scorpions has won Margaret A. Edwards Award. This award honors
an author whose work for young adults over a period of years has provided an
authentic voice that illuminates their experiences and emotions and gives insight
into their lives. The Young Adult Library Services Association recognizes that this
book authentically reflects African-American youth, but its appeal is not limited to
any particular ethnic group. The writing of Walter Dean Myers illustrates the
universality of the teenage experience in urban area, especially in America
(http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/yalsa/booklistsawards/margaretaedwards/maepre
vious/1994awardwinner.cfm).
The novel Scorpions tells a story about Jamal Hicks, a 12-year-old
African-American boy. He is the main character of the novel and he comes from a poor
family. In the story, he lives with his mother and his little sister, Sassy. His father
21
has abandoned his family and only shows up when he needs money. Jamal has a
best friend named Tito. He seems to find trouble wherever he goes. He is harassed
and bullied by an older, bigger boy at school and labeled as a troublemaker by his
school principal. Someday, he is forced by his older brother, Randy, to become the
leader of the Scorpion gang because Randy, who is the leader of the Scorpions, is
in prison for murder. On the other hand, this decision is not supported by other
members of the gang. After all, Jamal becomes the leader of the gang and he is
given a gun. A lot of tragedies and conflicts happen after Jamal has the gun and his
life changes forever.
B. Approach of the Study
In this thesis, the writer uses psychological approach in finding the answers
to the problems. Wilfred Guerin, in A Handbook of Critical Approaches to
Literature, states that psychological interpretations and criticisms give some ideas
that may lead the readers to a deep understanding of a character and sometimes
themes or symbols in a literary work. Guerin also says that psychological approach
is the approach that has important limitation in its aesthetics inadequacy (1999:
126). From this statement, we can say that the psychological approach gives more
attention to the psychological side of a literary work rather than to the aesthetic
side.
The focus of this thesis is on the protagonist character. The psychological
aspects of the protagonist character, Jamal Hicks, in the novel. Besides, this
approach helps the writer in showing the personality development of the main
character in the novel. By applying the psychological approach, some theories of
psychology are considered useful in answering the three problems in this thesis.
C. Method of the Study
The method of the study that the writer applied in analyzing this novel was
the library research. The collected source consisted of the primary source and the
secondary source. The primary source was the novel itself, Scorpions, written by
Walter Dean Myers. The secondary sources were from some books on theory and
from some supporting books. Besides, some of the secondary sources also taken
from some sources in the internet. Some of the most important sources that were
used in analyzing the novel namely: M.H. Abrams’ A Glossary of Literary Terms
(1981), Robert Stanton’s An Introduction to Fiction (1965), E.M. Forster’s Aspects
of the Novel and Related Writings (1974), W.J. Harvey’s Character and the Novel
(1965), M.J. Murphy’s Understanding Unseen: An Introduction to English Poetry
and English Novel for Overseas Students (1972), Peter Barry’s Beginning Theory:
An Introduction to Literary and Cultural Theory (2002), Justin Pikunas’ Human
Development, An Emergent Science (1969), Duane Schultz and Sydney Ellen
Schultz’s Theories on Personality (2004), Donn Byrne and Katherine Kelly’s An
Introduction to Personality (1981), March H. Bornstein’s Psychology and Its Allied
23
(1973), Rene Wellek and Austin Warren’s Theory of Literature (1956); and some
sources taken from the internet namely: http://
www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/yalsa/booklistsawards/margaretaedwards/maeprevious
/1994awardwinner.cfm, http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/ALAN/winter99/west.
html, http://www.biology-online.org/dictionary/approach-avoidance_conflict,
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/132060/conflict, http://epatamsyte.
blogspot.com/2007/04/conflict-of-psychology.html, and http://webhome.idirect.
com/~kehamilt/ipsyconf.html.
There were four main steps used in analyzing this novel. The first step was
reading the novel for several times in order to get deeper understanding about the
story, the characters and the characteristics, and about the subject that was going to
analyze. In this first step, the writer also made some notes of points and quotations
that considered helpful in answering the problems of this thesis.
The second step was finding the problems of this thesis, which were how
Jamal Hicks was characterized in Walter Dean Myers’ Scorpions, what were the
internal and the external conflicts that happen in the main character, Jamal Hicks;
and how did these conflicts develop the personality of the main character, Jamal
Hicks.
The third step was choosing the appropriate theories and approach, which
later would help the writer in answering the problems of this thesis. The writer used
theory of character and characterization, theory of conflict, and theory of
approach. Besides, the writer also found some additional information in the internet
about the author and the novel.
The last step of this thesis was answering the formulated problems
supported by the appropriate theories and approach. Later, the writer would draw a
CHAPTER IV
ANALYSIS
In this chapter, the writer tries to analyze the novel Scorpions by answering
three main questions stated in problem formulation part. In the first part, the
analysis focuses on the characterization of the main character, Jamal Hicks. It will
be found how the author characterizes the main character in the novel.
Next, in the second part, the analysis focuses on the internal and the
external conflicts of the main character, Jamal Hicks. Later, the writer will know
the relation between each conflict. Last, in the third part, the analysis focuses on the
influences of conflicts toward the personality development of the main character,
Jamal Hicks.
A. The Characteristics of Jamal Hicks
This part will elaborate the characteristics of Jamal Hicks before he
experiences the personality development, which later it will be helpful to identify
the development. Here, by using M.J. Murphy’s theory of character and
characterization, the writer found that the author of Scorpions only uses some of the
characterization ways, namely: characterization by using character’s thoughts,
characterization by giving direct comment toward the character, and
characterization by showing the character’s reactions.
1. Loyal
Jamal Hicks is a 12-year-old African-American boy; and although he is still
a child, he has loyalty to his family, especially to his mother. Everything he does is
dedicated to his mother. Jamal does not want to disappoint or make his mother sad.
He thinks that his mother has suffered enough because of his brother’s, Randy,
behavior. Besides, after Jamal’s father left them, his mother has to raise the
children by herself. She has to work hard to earn some money for the family,
especially for Randy’s appeal. He feels like his mother is everything for him. He
always wants to make his mother happy.
The television was okay, even if the programs were stupid. When he got a job, he was going to buy one of those recording machines. Then he and Mama could go and get movies and watch them instead of all the stupid stuff they had on regular television.
He thought about how he would tell Mama he had the money for the recording machine. Maybe he wouldn’t even tell her—just go out and buy it for her and bring it out to the house (p.4).
The previous quotation implies that Jamal really loves his mother, no one
else but his mother. He does not want to make his mother more suffer; and from
Jamal’s thought, we can see that he will do everything to pleasant and satisfy his
mother. Another quotation below also indicates that Jamal really cares to his
mother.
27
Although he is hungry, he still thinks about his mother. He saves some food
for his mother instead of eating all the food. This quotation strengthens the previous
explanation that everything Jamal does is to pleasant his mother. He just wants to
make his mother happy. All the quotations above are the examples of what Murphy
meant by characterization using character’s thoughts. Here, the writer can
understand the characteristics of Jamal Hicks by knowing his way of thinking.
2. Lack of Confidence
Jamal Hicks comes from a poor family. He seems to find trouble wherever
he goes and he often receives some unpleasant treatments from people around him.
Sometimes a bigger boy at school bullies him and sometimes his teachers give him
punishment for mistakes he made.
Lots of things made him feel the same way, small inside, and weak. The guy at the furniture store who had yelled at Mama had made him feel that way. Teachers who made him stand up in class when he made a mistake or didn’t have his homework. Big kids who laughed at him were the worst because there wasn’t anything he could do to stop them. Not by himself, not while he was small and not as tough as they were (p.22).
Some bigger and older people around Jamal underestimate him sometimes.
Those things make Jamal feel inferior. He feels inferior just because he is a small
12-year-old boy, and this inferiority makes him lack of confidence. He thinks that
he cannot do anything because he is just a small child. At school, Jamal is always
bothered by Dwayne.
You look like a frog,” Dwayne said. “Anytime you feel like a frog, just leap on over here, ‘cause I got something for you.”
Dwayne looked around to see who was looking at him, saw Billy Ware
Dwayne made Jamal feel small inside. Even when the older boy turned away from him, Jamal could still feel his grin (p.22).
Dwayne is Jamal’s school friend. He is bigger than Jamal. Dwayne always
mocks and insults Jamal in everything he does. It makes Jamal uncomfortable.
Jamal ignored Dwayne for the rest of the period. It wasn’t easy, especially when some of the girls started giggling (p.23).
Jamal becomes the laughingstock among his friends because of what
Dwayne has said about him. It humiliates Jamal. He feels ashamed in front of his
friends, especially with the girl friends. Jamal’s lack of confidence can also be seen
when he sees his friends at school draw some pictures for school play.
Afterward he watched as the other kids drew the park benches and painted the trees in he wasn’t sure if he could have done it better, but he would like
tried (p.24). to have
From the quotation above, it is clear that Jamal is lack of confidence among
his friends. Actually, he likes to draw and to paint. He wants to draw the park
benches and paints the trees like the other students, but he is not sure whether he
can do better or not. Those kinds of quotations can be the example of what Murphy
meant by characterization by giving direct comment toward the character.
3. Courageous
In fact, Jamal has a brave heart. He dares to fight back whenever somebody
threatens him. One day, Jamal and his best friend, Tito, lean on somebody’s car.
The owner of the car does not like when they lean on his car, so he treats Jamal and
Tito harshly. Jamal does not like it and then he tries to hit the owner of the car. This
29
Jamal let his eyes move away from the man for a moment, then saw a big hand coming toward him, and felt it smack across his face.
“Catch you on my ‘chine again, I’m gonna mess you up bad! You hear
that?”
Jamal looked for something to hit the man with. One of the teenagers who had been in the store, the one without the beeper, came out and stood next to the man. man. He looked over toward Tito and Jamal with anger in his eyes.
The teenager followed the man into the store, and Jamal looked for something to throw on the Mercedes (p.39-40).
The statement above obviously shows that Jamal has a great courage to
defend himself, especially when he is threatened. He does not care whom he is
facing. This quotation is an example of what M.J. Murphy meant by
characterization by showing how the character reacts or responds toward various
situations and events.
The similar thing also happens at school. Jamal has a problem with
Dwayne, his classmate. He does not like Dwayne a lot. Dwayne always acts so
tough in front of everybody because he has a big body. He also thinks that Jamal is
scared of him, but Jamal is not. Jamal is not scared of anybody.
The only way to deal with somebody stupid like Dwayne, Jamal thought, was to punch him out. Dwayne always act so tough, and he thought Jamal was scared of him, but he wasn’t. He wasn’t scared of anybody (p.60).
Although Dwayne is much bigger than Jamal, Jamal still dares to fight him. It
strengthens the previous evidence that Jamal is a brave boy.
Jamal had got Dwayne two times in the face, and it was Dwayne, even though he was a lot bigger than Jamal, who had stopped fighting first (p.68).
The quotation above explains that Jamal has a big courage. He will fight
back when somebody physically challenges him. No matter how bad his injury is,
he will still fight as long as he can. He cannot accept if somebody is being rude to
him.
These two quotations show the examples of what Murphy meant by
characterization by giving direct comment. The author describes the characteristics
of a character by giving some comments to the character.
4. Sympathetic
Although Jamal is only a little child, he has sympathy for others. It seems
that he has the ability to share the feeling; a feeling of pity and sorrow for
somebody. For example, he shows his sympathy when he knows that Mama
becomes sad after Randy is found guilty by the court because of homicide case.
Mama cries aloud at the court and it affects Jamal.
When the lady from the jury said that Randy was guilty, Mama started crying right out loud.
Jamal had looked at Randy. He was looking cool. Jamal hated that. You weren’t supposed to be looking cool when you made your mother cry (p.39).
It implies that Jamal can understand Mama’s feeling. He is angry to Randy because
he thinks that Randy cannot understand Mama’s feeling.
One day, Jamal remembers about the problem his brother has made. Randy
once had to deal with the police. He was put into the youth house because he was
31
Randy’s behavior always makes Mama sad and it makes Jamal hate him.
Everything his brother does seems to be wrong.
Mama was crying all night long when they had Randy out in New Jersey in the youth house, and she had to borrow money and everything just to get
him out.
Jamal took some toilet tissue and wiped the tears away from his face (p.56).
It seems like Jamal can feel what Mama feels. This thing shows that Jamal has
sympathy for his mother.
Jamal has sympathy not only for his mother but also for his best friend,
Tito. Tito has asthma and it occasionally occurs. What worries Jamal is when the
asthma strikes. He is afraid if something bad happens to his only best friend.
Tito started coughing. Jamal hated it when Tito coughed. It seemed as if there was something in Tito’s chest that made him swell and that he was trying to get out. When he coughed really hard, Tito’s eyes would roll around and glisten with his efforts. Jamal put his arm around Tito’s shoulders (p.61).
Jamal’s reaction toward Tito’s condition clearly shows that he has sympathy for
others. The quotations above are also the examples of what M.J. Murphy meant by
characterization by showing how the character reacts or respond toward various
situations.
B. The Internal and the External Conflicts of Jamal Hicks
In this second part of analysis, the writer tries to analyze the conflicts that
happen in the main character, Jamal Hicks. These conflicts must have huge
1. The Internal Conflicts of Jamal Hicks
In this part, the writer will try to analyze the internal conflicts that happen in
Jamal Hicks. Conflict, in psychology, means the arousal of two or more strong
motives, in someone’s mind, that cannot be solved together. This kind of conflict is
called internal conflict
(http://www.biology-online.org/dictionary/approach-avoidance_conflict). As a human, Jamal surely experiences conflicts not only with
his neighborhood, but also with himself. One day, Jamal meets Mack. Mack is
Randy’s friend, he is a senior member of the Scorpion gang and he asks Jamal to
take over the Scorpions.
“I ain’t got nothing to do with the Scorpions,” Jamal said. “I don’t run with no gang.”
“You take over the Scorpions, then you can get the money for Randy’s appeal,” Mack said. “Randy told me that if he go down, you got to take his place.”
“Take over the Scorpions?”
“Yeah, Randy say they can carry for the Spanish guys over near Ninety-sixth Street. They can make that money easy.”
…
“I got to think about it,” Jamal said. “Randy said you got the heart.”
“Yeah, he got the heart too. Look where he is.”
“I got your back, so they ain’t nothin to worry about. You and me is tight, just the way me and Randy was.”
33
Mack asks Jamal to be the leader of the Scorpions to replace his brother, Randy;
and if Jamal wants to be the leader of the gang, Mack will give him a gun. Mack
also says that by joining the Scorpion gang, Jamal will get money easily. Mack
knows that Jamal needs a lot of money for Randy. This thing causes internal
conflict arouse inside Jamal. It is seen when Jamal says “I got to think about it” and
“No, not yet”. He does not know what he has to do. On one side, he does not want
to join the Scorpion gang because Mama told him not to and if he breaks it, he will
make Mama sadder, especially if Mama knows that he has a gun; but on the other
side, he wants to join the gang so that he can get money easily to help Mama to
take care of Randy in prison. He is in a dilemma; whether he chooses to join the
gang or not, he will experience distress. This kind of situation is an example of
approach-avoidance conflict (http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/132060/
conflict). Jamal wants to do something but fears the consequence that entails. He
thinks that if he joins the Scorpions, he will feel guilty to Mama because he
disobeys her order; but if he does not join the Scorpions, he will still feel guilty to
Mama because he cannot help Mama to get some money for Randy’s appeal.
Finally, Jamal agrees and Mack gives him a gun.
This approach-avoidance conflict, in fact, has significance toward Jamal’s
change in the story. This conflict leads Jamal to make a wrong decision. Actually, it
is a wrong decision if Jamal joins the gang. However, as it has been explained in
the theory of conflict part, the approach-avoidance conflict is often the more
(http://www.biology-online.org/dictionary/approach-avoidance_conflict). Therefore, it is a normal thing for a young boy like Jamal if he
does wrong in taking decision because he has to deal with such a difficult situation;
but unfortunately, this thing will affect Jamal’s personality in the future.
An internal conflict also happens inside Jamal is when Abuela, Tito’s
grandmother, found the gun. It starts with Jamal entrusts the gun to Tito. Tito keeps
the gun in his house and then Abuela found the gun. The next day, Tito tells
everything to Jamal. He says that Abuela has found the gun. Both of them are
panic. Then, Jamal and Tito try to take the gun back. The internal conflict arouses
inside Jamal after he gets the gun back. Jamal hesitates whether he will throw the
gun away or not. On one side, he wants to throw the gun away; but on the other
side, he wants to keep the gun and give it back to Mack. This conflict is an example
of avoidance-avoidance conflict. Here, actually, Jamal does not want to throw the
gun away, but if he does not throw the gun, he is afraid the gun will cause another
trouble for him.
Long before he got to St. Nicholas Avenue, he told himself that the only thing to do was to throw the gun away. But already part of him knew that he wasn’t going to do it (p.134).
From the quotation, it is clear that the situation causes dilemma in Jamal’s
mind. He tells himself that he must throw the gun away, but the part of him knows
that he will not do it. This conflict happens inside the Jamal’s mind or conscience.
Another internal conflict also happens inside Jamal; but after he and his best
friend, Tito, have a fight with Indian and Angel at the park. In the fight, Indian and
35
rescues Jamal by shooting at Indian and Angel. Then, Jamal and Tito run away
leaving Indian and Angel at the park. After the incident, both Jamal and Tito feel so
guilty. This time Jamal throws the gun away. Jamal realizes that the gun has caused
all of these things. He keeps thinking about the gun and all the troubles that caused
by the gun; but actually, Jamal still wants the gun.
For a while he hadn’t been scared. When he had had the gun in the storeroom, he hadn’t been scared. Even when they gone to the crack house looking for Mack, he hadn’t been scared. Maybe, he thought, you got messed up easily when you had a gun, but at least you weren’t scared (p.204).
The quotation above also implies that actually Jamal still wants to keep the gun,
although the gun has caused the trouble. He becomes frightened just because he has
thrown the gun away. He thinks that if he throws the gun away, he will not have
any protection in case if Indian and Angel take revenge to him.
Every thought he had about the gun was bad. It had made so much trouble, had hurt them so much. But there was something else, too. Something deep in him that he thought Tito knew about, had maybe known about even before he did. That was the part of him, a part that was small and afraid, that still wanted the gun (p.213-214).
This quotation strengthens the previous quotation. One side of Jamal considers that
it is true if Jamal throws the gun away, but another side of Jamal thinks that it is
wrong to throw the gun away. An internal conflict also happens in this time; this
conflict is also an example of approach-avoidance conflict. He is afraid of what will
happen after he throws the gun away; or what will happen if he does not throw the
knows that he still wants the gun. This kind of situation confuses Jamal. In this
case, he also experiences a dilemma.
2. The External Conflicts of Jamal Hicks
It is a usual thing, Jamal, as a child, has conflicts with his environment. He
gets many conflicts not only in his family but also in his school and in his
neighborhood. This conflict is called as social conflict, or it is also known as
external conflict. External conflict is a state of opposition, disagreement, or
incompatibility between two or more people or groups of people, which is
sometimes characterized by physical violence (http://epatamsyte.blogspot.com/
2007/04/conflict-of-psychology.html).
In his family, for example, Jamal often experiences conflicts with his
8-year-old sister, Sassy. They quarrel almost every day, and the quarrels are always
caused by small problems. The quarrels between Jamal and Sassy are the examples
of interpersonal conflict. It happens when a person faces a problem with other
person. In Scorpions, for instance, Jamal and Sassy have a quarrel while they are
waiting for his mother back from prison. Jamal is worried because it is almost
midnight and Mama has not been back yet from visiting Randy at prison.
“I just asked,” Sassy said. “You worried?” “Ain’t nothing to be worried about.”
“Then how come you sitting at the window ever since six o’clock?” “How come you ask so many questions?”
“I’m gonna tell Mama you being nasty to me.” “Tell her.”
37
Jamal is bothered just because Sassy talks too much. Actually, Sassy knows
that Jamal is worried about Mama, but Sassy teases him and it makes Jamal angry.
He is disturbed by his sister’s fussiness.
Besides teasing, Sassy also likes to squeal. She always tells Mama about
everything that Jamal does. This thing makes Jamal uncomfortable; and such a
thing results in a conflict between Jamal and Sassy. One day, Sassy squeals on
Mama about what Jamal has said about his older brother, Randy. Sassy hopes that
Randy will soon be released out from prison, but Jamal has a different thinking. He
hopes just the opposite. He hopes Randy will never be released out from prison
because if Randy is released then he will make another trouble; and that thing will
make Mama sad for sure. bedsprings again as Mama got up.
“Can’t you children get along for two minutes?” (p.54-55).
After Sassy squeals on Mama about what Jamal has said, Mama becomes very
angry; and then she cries. Mama is disappointed by what Jamal has said. As a
family, they should support and pray for each other so that they can get the best for
“Jamal said he hope Randy don’t never get out of jail.”
“Jamal! How you fix your mouth to say something like that, boy?” Mama’s voice cracked, and her face tensed so that Jamal could see her teeth. “How you fix your mouth to say that, boy?”
The tears were coming down Mama’s face, and Jamal turned away from her. “I’m sorry,” he said.
“Lord Jesus!” Mama said. “Lord Jesus, what is this family coming to?” (p.55).
Jamal regrets what he has said. He feels sorry because his words make
Mama sad and cry; but it is true, Jamal does not want to see Randy again because
his behavior always makes Mama sad.
Jamal, as a student, also has his own problems at school for sure. The most
obvious one is his enmity towards his classmate, Dwayne. It seems like they never
get along. They quarrel almost everyday at school. It is always started with
mockery and ended by fighting. Jamal actually does not like fighting, but Dwayne
makes Jamal does the fight. They often fight; they are just like archenemy. Dwayne
always insults Jamal almost in everything. This thing makes Jamal feel lack of
confident.
Dwayne pushed Jamal and Jamal pushed him back. Then Dwayne kicked Jamal just below the knee.
The pain was sudden, and Jamal bent over to grab his knee. Dwayne hit him on the back of his head, and Jamal grabbed Dwayne around the waist. Dwayne was almost fourteen, big, and he could hit hard. He kept punching Jamal in the back, but Jamal wouldn’t let go of his waist. He tried to hold Dwayne and kick his legs, but he couldn’t reach them. Then he started forward, forcing Dwayne back faster and faster until they stopped. Jamal could see they had fallen against the car (p.69-70).
Jamal dares to fight with Dwayne although he is smaller than Dwayne is. It is not
the first time they fight; they have done it before. The previous quotation is also an
39
One day at school, Dwayne challenges Jamal to have a fight with him again.
At that time, Jamal already has the gun. Jamal accepts the challenge; and
afterwards they fight in the school storeroom.
Dwayne was in front of the window, and Jamal couldn’t see his face too clearly. He lifted the gun and pointed at him.
“That ain’t real,” Dwayne said.
“Come on,” Jamal said. There was the taste of blood in his mouth. “You gonna see it’s real.”
Dwayne didn’t move.
Jamal held the gun pointed at Dwayne. He could hear the sound of his own breathing and Dwayne’s even heavier breathing. Dwayne was getting out of breath. Jamal thought he still had a chance to win the fight (p.105-106).
After Jamal intimidates Dwayne by using the gun, he feels like a champion. He
keeps kicking Dwayne continuously. Then, after the incident, Jamal is panic. He is
afraid if Dwayne will tell everybody that he has a gun. Jamal is confused and he
cannot think clearly. He does not know what he has to do next. He just thinks about
something bad will happen to him. Afterwards, he runs away to nowhere leaving
his school, until he reaches the boat basin. He stops there. Jamal becomes panic and
afraid because of the incident. He does not dare to go back to school or to his house
because he thinks that police will be there. After a few moments, his best friend,
Tito, comes and he tells Jamal what has happened at school after the fight. They
also talk about the gun. Tito asks Jamal to throw it away, but Jamal insists that he
wants to give it back to Mack. Tito agrees and then Jamal entrusts the gun to Tito
for a while.
In his neighborhood, Jamal also has some conflicts. The conflicts are the
between each member of one particular group. In this case, Jamal, as a Scorpion
member, has a dispute with the other Scorpion members, Indian and Angel. They
dispute about control of the gang.
One day, Indian and Angel want Jamal to meet them at the park, at night.
Actually, these two members of the gang want to kill Jamal so that Indian can take
over the gang and be the leader of the Scorpions. As usual, Jamal asks Tito to
accompany him. Then both of them go to the park when the night has come. Like
what they have planned before, Tito hides in the bushes around the park and Jamal
comes to Indian and Angel by himself. Indian sits on the swing and Angel stands
next to him. Then Jamal talks to them. They talk about Randy wants the Scorpions
to get some money for his appeal, and Indian should be the leader of the gang.
Indian and Angel still do not believe what Jamal has said. They quarrel. Then the
bad thing that Jamal is afraid of eventually happens. He has to fight Indian and
Angel; but this time he has to fight with both of them at once.
Jamal stepped back from the fence, and Angel got behind him and pushed him hard into it. Indian punched at his face and missed, and Jamal tried to turn away. Angel kicked him on the side of his leg. Jamal tried to spin away, but Indian caught him by the neck, pulling him backward and part of the way over the fence. Jamal twisted away from Indian, but Angel punched him in the stomach. He doubled over, and Angel straightened him up so that Indian could grab him again (p.191-192).
Jamal throws up because Angel punches his stomach. He feels dizzy and he falls
down in a sitting position. Angel tries to use this situation to stab Jamal with a
knife. At the same time, Tito comes out from the hide and he shoots Indian and
41 Angel lying on the ground. On the other side of the fence, Indian was
crawling away (p.193).
After the incident, both Jamal and Tito run away out of the park. They leave Indian
and Angel at the park. Apparently, Tito still holds the gun. At first, Tito does not
realize it because he is too scared. He is surprised after he realizes that the gun is
still in his hand. Afterwards, Jamal takes the gun from Tito immediately and he
throws it away into a trashcan. At that time, they are so scared and panic. Jamal is
scared if Indian and Angel will come to him and take revenge; but different from
Tito, he is scared because he has shot somebody and he keeps blaming himself.
Jamal thinks to take the gun back from the trashcan, but he is too afraid. Later, all
of these conflicts, the internal and the external, will give some significant effects to
the personality of Jamal Hicks in the story.
C. The Personality Development of Jamal Hicks
This third part will discuss the process and the result of the personality
development that is experienced by Jamal Hicks. In the discussion, the main factor
that influences the personality development is the conflict. W.J. Harvey, in
character in the novel, most of the time change as the story goes. They experience
the change through many things, including conflicts that they deal in the story
(Harvey, 1965: 56). It means that the protagonist is worthy to be discussed instead
of the other characters. In Scorpions, Jamal Hicks is the protagonist. He
experiences many conflicts in the story, whether it is internal or external. This part
will discuss the influences of the conflicts to develop Jamal Hicks' personality.
In the story, Jamal faces two situations. The first is he wants to help his
mother to get some money for his brother’s appeal; and at that time, he thinks that
the only chance is by joining the Scorpion gang. The second is Jamal does not want
to feel weak or powerless anymore when he has to deal with bigger opponents; so,
he decides to join the Scorpions. From the previous section, we know that actually
Jamal’s decision is wrong. By joining the gang, he is given a gun by Mack, the
senior member of the gang. At first, the gun scares Jamal; but finally, he is
accustomed to the gun. Later, this gun will cause the change in Jamal. By having
the gun, he feels more confident than before. He believes that the gun will give him
more power and make him stronger. This belief makes Jamal feel more confident.
They were afraid of the gun, too. He remembered how Indian had stopped cold when he had seen the gun in Jamal’s belt. Still, Jamal wasn’t sure if he wanted to be a Scorpion or not. He didn’t want to have to fight Indian. Indian was wild-looking, and Randy had told him once that when the Scorpions had had a fight in the Bronx it was Indian who had knocked a guy out with one punch. But maybe he wouldn’t have to fight Indian. Not as long as he had the gun, anyway (p.89).
The quotation above indicates that Jamal gets his confidence by having the gun. At
