18
In this chapter, the writer will divide 5 stages plot of novel Not A Day Goes By, which consists of series of actions done by Basil. After dividing it, the writer will analyze the id, ego, or superego of Basil seen from the actions analyzed in the stages of plot. The analysis is followed by finding the anxiety as a result of clashes between id and superego. Then, the writer will find the defense mechanism that Basil used in order to survive from the anxiety. Finally, from the analysis, the writer will sum up and see the patterns appear to conclude Basil’s personality.
4.1Plot
4.1.1 Exposition
4.1.1.1 Basil tried to leave his old life but was still attracted to man
The first time Basil met Yancey at Rockefeller Center while he was skating with his nephew, suddenly he felt like love at first sight with
Yancey. Basil loved her confidence and her beauty.
I love her confidence. Yancey is, as the dudes would say, a
perfect ten! There’s have been times in my life that were so
When Basil mey Yancey at the first time, suddenly he compared her with his guy, Raymond Tyler. In this section, Basil also told that he is gay, but sometimes he felt attracted with woman like he did with Yancey.
I was actually attracted to both men and women. Raymond Tyler,
who didn’t even know how strongly I felt about him. For me,
there were so many things I loved about him, but I also hated
feeling that way I love man. It just wasn’t right. (p.7)
Basil’s desire to be with a man is bigger, but Basil tried to close to
a woman. Basil knew that is was not right.
4.1.1.2Basil was tempted by other guy named Nico
After Basil finished with playing basketball, he took a bath and dried his hair while chatting with Brison, his senior. Suddenly he attracted with a guy named Nico at bathroom. In this situation, his desire worked.
I was pulling my slacks out of my locker when suddenly Nico’s
dark brown eyes swept sideways. “Dude,” Brison whispered, “Do you know that guy? He’s piercing you big time.” (p.18)
4.1.1.3Basil met his ex named Bradford and tempted by him
When Basil built his love relationship with Yancey, he met Bradford who once had relationship with him. Basil met Bradford at London, when he had a work. Little conversation almost changed Basil mind about his marriage plan with Yancey. Basil almost back to his past.
had a feeling with Bradford, even its little. Basil almost involved with Bradford’s words until he imagined about Bradford.
“You don’t even have to look at me. Just close your eyes and
imagine my sweet lips. Before you open your eyes I will gone
and you can go to sleep with a smile on your face.” Bradford
promised.For a moment I started thinking about Bradford’s perfect bow lips. (p.42)
Half of Basil’s mind absolutely kept thinking about Bradford, but there was a rational mind that Basil had. He already had a girlfriend. And he said that Bradford can’t compete with Yancey. Basil chose to leave
Bradford, before Bradford changed his mind with other memories.
So I was a little bit surprised at my self and said, “You can’t even compete with my lady, so I think I’m gonna to leave.” (p.42)
4.1.2 Rising Action
4.1.2.1 Basil met his ex named Zurich at the gym
When Basil went to gym, he met with his other ex named Zurich. He loved Zurich very much in the past. Basil’s infatuation was in Zurich.
Basil saw Zurich and tried to open the conversation with him. Basil wanted to call Zurich so bad after gym, to find a “happiness” with man. He remembered the memories with Zurich until he cannot sleep. He was feeling anxiety if he could not call Zurich. His desire was very strong, because he decided to walked to Zurich’s hotel, and he felt very nervous.
Before I could stop to think about I was getting myself into, I was standing at a light on Fifty-sixth Street and Seventh Avenue,
two blocks away from Zurich’s hotel. I was more than little
nervous. (p.126)
Basil knew that is impossible if he chose Zurich and repeated his past, because he already had a girfriend. There was something on his mind, he thought about his life now, that would marrying woman. He knew it was not right. This situation would ruin his relationship even his marriage plan. It would hurt his sister, if she knew that he loved man, also Yancey doesn’t know about Basil’s life in the past.
Wait, what I do now? Is that right? I already had a girlfriend. I
can’t back to my bad habit again. What’s wrong with myself
again? (p.126)
But in the end of his struggle, he still called Zurich and got involved in a long conversation.
4.1.2.2 Basil met Zurich and felt nervous
After Basil’s called Zurich, everyday he thought about Zurich.
Basil decided to met Zurich and there was a conversation that Zurich tried to make Basil remembered who he was. Basil’s ego is he knew that he was
always attracted to man, but in other side he tried to be attracted to woman. He was pretending like a dumb when Zurich tried to disturb his mind. Moreover, he still adored Zurich when Zurich talked to him.
“What do you mean?” I asked, trying to act dumb. I knew from
his tone, and the way he was looking at me, exactly what he meant.
“Are you seeing a man or a woman? Are you happy?” “I’m real happy. I finally met the right lady,” I said proudly. “You know, marrying won’t change things.” (p.131)
But, he convinced that he never be attracted to man again. He already found the right one, so no one can ruin his mind again. Yancey is everything for him, so he always told Zurich that Yancey is the right love. His consciousness told him that marrying woman is a right thing.
“Zurich, look, dude, I’m marrying Yancey because I’m in love.. mad, crazy love. I ain’t running from nothing.”
“Then, why do I make you so nervous?”
I walked closer to Zurich, slapped him playfully on the shoulder,
and said, “Dude, you don’t make me nervous.” (p.132)
4.1.2.3 Basil visited Zurich to give wedding invitation but he slapped
by Zurich’s words
Basil visited Zurich to give his wedding invitation, and Zurich told something and it can hit Basil deeper. Before Basil gave Zurich the wedding invitation, Basil often met Zurich.
Basil was thinking that his self still same with his past. He realized that marrying woman won’t change who he is. He still a man who loves a
“That’s soon. Are you ready?”
“What do you mean? Damn skippy I’m ready.” There was a brief
silence and then Zurich hit me with a low blow. “You know,
marrying woman doesn’t change who you are.” (p.165)
In this situation, Basil was very confused. Beside he realized that he is still the same person in his past, he realized too that he already arrange the marriage. He said to Zurich that he still marrying woman. But, Basil’s deep thought said that everything could not change who he is. He
still loved a man.
What in the fuck did he mean by that? But, I was thinking it was
true. Instead I said, “No, marrying a woman didn’t change you.” “Are you going to still invite me to the wedding?”
“Let me give you this invitation, dude.” (p.165)
4.1.3 Climax
4.1.3.1Basil called his ex before he met Yancey, Raymond, to be a part
of his
Wedding
There was a long conversation on the phone between Basil and Raymond. he understood the reality about himself and tried to forget it. For this, he was hiding his secret from Yancey. But, half of his mind, he said that Raymond’s words is true, even Yancey did not know who
Raymond is.
“Does she know about me or the other guys you’ve shared, how
shall I say this, the men you shared special moments with? Basil,
as long as you have secrets, you’ll never be free.” (p.180)
His mind said that he is still said that loving woman is the right thing and Yancey did not need to know about his past. It means that Basil was afraid if Yancey got angry with him because he did not tell her from the beginning, even she would cancelled the wedding because of Basil’s
life in the past.
“That was the past. I love Yancey, i love her. And she doesn’t
need to know everything.” (p.180)
4.1.3.2Basil decided to cancel his marriage with Yancey and called
Raymond to fixed himself
Around Basil’s wedding with Yancey, he is confused about his
life. Beside he was still attracted to man, Basil felt that Yancey kept something from himself. So, he put the tape recorder on the table at Yancey’s apartment. He was convinced that there was something wrong
with his bride-to-be. The fact is Yancey already had a daughter with her ex-boyfriend and kept it from Basil. Also there was a conversation with her mother that Yancey already knew about Basil’s past life.
his life. He decided to cancel his marriage plan with Yancey before everything’s happen. He knew his desire to be with man. He knew that
marriage will not change everything, and Yancey broke his heart too.
“I can’t marry you,” he said calmly. His voice was cool and
controlled.
“What!” she screamed. Have you lost your mind? Well, of course you have. What other kind of fool would do this to somebody?”
Yancey said without taking a breath.
“Yancey, I’m going to say this for the last time and then I’m going to hang up. I can’t marry you.”
“But why?”
“Yancey, you know why,” Basil said firmly. (p.215)
Basil called Raymond and said that his marriage with Yancey was over. This situation could bring Basil to be with a man again. He told Raymond that females are not right and he did not want a wedding in his life. His desire is to be with man. Basil thought he had a chance to back to his real life again because Raymond would by Basil’s side if Basil need
him.
“Don’t worry. I don’t need you in my wedding ‘cause there ain’t gonna be one,” I said.
“Females are shit.” I said loudly.
“I don’t know whassup, but I’m here if you need me.” Raymond
said.
4.1.4 Falling Action
4.1.4.1Basil had a quality time with Raymond
Basil had a quality time with Raymond and he had conversation with Raymond about his future life. Basil wanted to move on from Yancey and built a new life because Raymond was successfully gave a spirit for Basil and seems opened a chance to Basil found his way back to his past life. He knew his desire is to be with a man.
“You want to know what I think you should really do?
“What?”
“Move on. I know it might not be easy, especially if you sill
love this lady, who sounds like she has a lot of problems of her own. But remember what you said earlier about us hurting each
other?”
“Yeah. It was my fault.”
“Well, you have a chance to stop the hurt in your own life right now.” (p.217)
Beside it, Basil still wanted to have children and married a woman. But, he knew that his past still became a shadow of his life when he tried to love a woman and he had some dream that would not become real if he still loved a woman. Also he knew that he was still attracted to a man.
“I was thinking about the questions Raymond was asking, trying to came up with a plan where I could still hold on to some of my dreams. I still wanted children of my own, a family, a wife. I want a normal life, but what if my past getting in the way? (p.220)
4.1.4.2Basil’s return to being gay again
dating with Zurich, one of his ex in the past. He often had dinner with Zurich. In this situation, suddenly Basil remembered Yancey and his relationship with her but suddenly he erased that, because he only saw Zurich for now, he did not want to remember about Yancey again.
His direct question caught me off-guard. “How’s your love
life?”
“That’s what you want to talk to me about?” “Are you still happy you did it?” Zurich asked.
“I don’t want to talk about that,” I said bluntly. A memory of
Yancey came into my thoughts, but I quickly pushed it away.
I’m with Zurich now, I shouldn’t have to thinking about
Yancey. (p.234)
Basil decided to chose Zurich as a first move in his life as a gay. He was back into his past life again. He felt so in love with Zurich, like first time he melted because Zurich’s smile.
Suddenly I really didn’t know why I had invited Zurich to my room. Or did I? Was this my attempt to get his tight nody next to mine? I guess there was only one way to find out. I knew Zurich
could be my first move from Yancey. I shouldn’t compared
Zurich and Yancey. I noticed how easily he smiled and felt myself melting like butter on hot toast. (p.236)
4.1.4.3Basil wanted to built a relationship with Zurich but Zurich had
already left his life being a gay
Basil tried to seduce Zurich because Basil’s desire was stronger than ever. He did not want a marriage with a woman and he decided to want a relationship with Zurich again.
“What if I did want together with you? Are you game?”
attracted to men? Why cause this woman such pain and grief? (p.237)
Basil knew that his desire with Zurich was wrong, but he still wanted a relationship with a man. Although then Basil let Zurich go, but he decided to find another man to complete his desire. Basil also rejected a conversation about Yancey when Zurich asked him.
“Does she know that you’re bisexual?”
“I don’t want to talk about that part of my life. This is between you and me. If you want to be with me, that’s cool. There are
plenty of men that would love some part of me.” (p.237)
4.1.5 Resolution or Denoument
4.1.5.1Basil told his sister, Campbell, about the marriage plan that
already failed
Basil confused about which part he was going to tell to Campbell, all of event in his life, or just blamed Yancey.
I didn’t know where to start. Was I going to place the blame on Yancey and her mother or would I tell her about my dual life? (p.266)
Basil told to Campbell about Yancey’s lie, but he did not told about
his dual life as a gay. Basil started from he found a recorder about conversation between Yancey and Ava, her mother. So, from the recorder, all of Yancey’s lies bared.
4.1.5.2 Basil had a holiday alone to Jamaica
Basil still thinking about Yancey beside he found a Jamaican man already at Jamaica.
I met an equally beautiful Jamaican man with shoulder-length dreads on the terrace of the villa I rented. A good time was had by all. I only thought about Yancey, what was she doing? Who would be her next victim? (p.275)
Lastly, Basil still chose a man for his life, not a woman again. He guessed Yancey was one of choices, but he knew that he still in love with a man, because a marriage with a woman could not change himself into a common man who loves a woman.
I guess Yancey was an elective for me. Being in love with her
was like taking a course in nuclear physics. And I’m out there. I’m back, in full form. (p.276)
4.2 Basil’s id, ego, superego, his anxiety, and defense mechanism seen
from Freud’s Three Psychic Zones
4.2.1 Id
From the actions analyzed from exposition until resolution, Basil always attracted to a man. It was his id. Basil’s id always drove him into his desire, wanted to love a man. Example, Basil’s action at
exposition when he met Yancey for the first time, but he compared Yancey with his guy, Raymond, Basil’s desire was still attracted to a
thinking about Bradford’s perfect bow lips. Its showed that the truly
desire of Basil is love a man. Also when Basil met Zurich and he was always thinking about Zurich and tried to called Zurich. If he could not called Zurich, its appear an anxiety.
In the climax, there was situation that Basil wanted Raymond, his ex guy, to be a one of part of his important day, the wedding. But Raymond successfully hit Basil with the words that Basil should not hiding about his dual life from Yancey. In the other side, Basil know the reality that he could not leaving his past. Close to the wedding, Basil is confused. He found something secret from Yancey. She already had a daughter with her ex-boyfriend and by way of this situation, Basil felt broken and called his ex, Raymond to find a happiness. And Basil decided to return became a gay again because he was not believe in woman.
In the falling action, Basil’s desire to be with a man is stronger than before because he broken because Yancey’s secret. Then, Basil
tried to start his new life as a gay again with Zurich, his ex. But, Zurich already left his dual life and became a normal person.
In the resolution of this novel, Basil’s desire to be with a man
4.2.2 Ego
The ego of Basil from the action is Basil knew the reality that he could not leave his past life as a gay, but, he knew that he already arrange the marriage with a woman. In the exposition, Basil’s ego is a conciousness about the reality that he already had a marriage plan. Almost same, in the rising action and climax, the ego of Basil according to his action is he knew that he was always attracted to man, but in the other side he tried to be attracted to woman. The writer found that his ego always made him confused, so he used a defense mechanism.
4.2.3 Superego
4.2.4 Basil’s Anxiety
From the clashing between id and superego, its appeared an anxiety. But, not all of Basil’s action there was a clashing. For instance: Basil followed his id to became a gay. Basil’s anxiety happened when the id and superego is clashed. When it happened a clashing, Basil felt anxiety. Basil’s anxiety is neurotic anxiety and
moral anxiety.
Basil felt a neurotic anxiety when his id to attracted to a man pressed. His desire or id that willing to attracted to a man pressed because in reality he already had a relationship and arranged a marriage with a woman.
Meanwhile, Basil felt morality anxiety when his id attacked his mind to be following his id, but he knew that it was wrong. A man should loves a woman. A homosexual issus cannot be accepted in society. In order to survive from the anxiety, his ego used defense mechanism. It will be discussed in the following sub topic.
4.2.5 Basil’s Defense Mechanism
himself. In the resolution of novel, Basil followed his id to be a gay again.
The second defense mechanism that he used is reaction formation. Basil used reaction formation to stay away from saying that he is gay, and make sure that he already a normal person.
The third defense mechanism is rationalization. He used rationalization to survive from some memories about Bradford, his ex. Because he already arrange the marriage, it was impossible if he always remembered about Bradford.
The fourth is displacement. Basil used displacement when he broken by Yancey’s secret. He called Raymond to told about
Yancey’s secret and felt happy because met Raymond.
The last of defense mechanism that he used is intellectualization. Basil used intellectualization when he kept thinking about other guys, meanwhile he already built a relationship with a woman. Basil was avoid his wrong feeling about the other guys and kept thinking that loved woman is a right thing.
4.3Basil’s Personality
personality. Therefore, Basil is inconsistent person because in the beginning of the story, he decided to start a new life by loving a woman and used denial to defense himself from his desire to man. But, in his way to loving woman, his id always won, because the defense mechanisms that he used just worked for temporary, for example the reaction formation reflected in rising action. Therefore, in the middle of the story, Basil was still tempted by man, reflected in climax he used retionalization and displacement. And in the end of the story, he returned again as a gay.
Basil is a unpredictable person because seen from every stages of plot, he always showed unpredictable action. For example, he tempted by other guy in bathroom after he played basketball, besides he already had a relationship with a woman. Also in falling action, when Basil and Raymond talked about Basil’s new life, Basil wanted
