JOHN BRISTOW’S MOTIVATION IN SUPPORTING
LULA LANDRY’S DEATH INVESTIGATION AS SEEN IN
ROBERT GALBRAITH’S
THE CUCKOO’S CALLING
A SARJANA PENDIDIKANFINAL PAPER
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements to Obtain the Sarjana PendidikanDegree
in English Language Education
By
Jumva Citra Indahsari Girsang Student Number: 111214159
ENGLISH LANGUAGE EDUCATION STUDY PROGRAM DEPARTMENT OF LANGUAGE AND ARTS EDUCATION FACULTY OF TEACHERS TRAINING AND EDUCATION
SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY YOGYAKARTA
i
JOHN BRISTOW’S MOTIVATION IN SUPPORTING
LULA LANDRY’S DEATH INVESTIGATION AS SEEN IN
ROBERT GALBRAITH’S
THE CUCKOO’S CALLING
A SARJANA PENDIDIKANFINAL PAPER
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements to Obtain the Sarjana PendidikanDegree
in English Language Education
By
Jumva Citra Indahsari Girsang Student Number: 111214159
ENGLISH LANGUAGE EDUCATION STUDY PROGRAM DEPARTMENT OF LANGUAGE AND ARTS EDUCATION FACULTY OF TEACHERS TRAINING AND EDUCATION
SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY YOGYAKARTA
vi ABSTRACT
Girsang, J, C, I. (2017). John Bristow’s Motivation in Supporting Lula Landry’s Death Investigation as Seen in Robert Galbraith’s The Cuckoo’s Calling. Yogyakarta: English Language Education Study Program, Department of Language and Arts Education, Faculty of Teachers Training and Education, Sanata Dharma University.
This study aims to find out how John Bristow’s character is described in The Cuckoo’s Calling and John Bristow’s motivation in supporting Lula Landry’s death investigation. The Cuckoo’s Calling is a novel which is written by Robert Galbraith. It is about the death of Lula Landry. Lula Landry is a famous supermodel that falls to her death from her balcony and her death is assumed as a suicide. However, based on the investigation done by a detective, named Mr. Strike, it shows that instead of suicide, Lula Landry’s death is a murder case which is committed by her adopted brother, John Bristow.
In analyzing the novel and collecting the data, the writer uses literary study. In order to elaborate the findings, the writer uses the theories of characterization, personality, and motivation. There are two sources in the study; they are primary and secondary sources. The primary source of the study is a novel entitled The Cuckoo’s Calling, while the secondary source is several printed books. Moreover, the study uses psychologycal approach to help the writer answer the research questions.
Based on the analysis, the result shows that John Bristow is a good-looking, dishonest, cruel, and greedy person. The second result was about John Bristow’s motivation in supporting Lula Landry’s death investigation. Based on Maslow’s theory, John Bristow’s action was motivated by three needs which are safety, love and belongingness, and self-esteem. Safety need motivates John Bristow in order to save him from red ink. Love and belongingness need motivate John Bristow to stay in his comfort zone. The last, self-esteem need motivates him to get respect from people. According to Lahey (2009), there are intrinsic and extrinsic motivations which lead John Bristow to support Lula Landry’s death investigation. The intrinsic motivation is John Bristow’s lust to get Lula Landry’s money. The extrinsic motivation is the money itself which has power to blind people and John Bristow wants to look as an innocent who cares about his family. John Bristow wants Mr. Strike to help him to frame Jonah Agyeman as Lula Landry’s murderer and John Bristow will get Lula Landry’s money and known as a good brother.
vii ABSTRAK
Girsang, J, C, I. (2017). John Bristow’s Motivation in Supporting Lula Landry’s Death Investigation as Seen in Robert Galbraith’s The Cuckoo’s Calling. Yogyakarta: English Language Education Study Program, Department of Language and Arts Education, Faculty of Teachers Training and Education, Sanata Dharma University.
Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menemukan karakter John Bristow yang digambarkan dalam novel The Cuckoo’s Calling dan mencari tahu motivasi John Bristow dalam mendukung penyelidikan kematian Lula Landry. The Cuckoo’s Calling adalah sebuah novel karya Robert Galbraith yang menceritakan tentang kematian seorang supermodel bernama Lula Landry yang diasumsikan sebagai kasus bunuh diri. Akan tetapi, berdasarkan penyelidikan yang dilakukan oleh seorang detektif bernama Mr. Strike terungkap sebuah fakta yang menyatakan bahwa kasus tersebut bukanlah kasus bunuh diri melainkan kasus pembunuhan yang dilakukan oleh saudaranya, John Bristow.
Penulis menggunakan metode studi pustaka dalam menganalisis dan mengumpulkan data. Untuk menguraikan kesimpulan dari penelitian ini, penulis menggunakan teori karakter, kepribadian dan motivasi. Ada dua sumber dalam penelitian ini; yakni sumber utama dan sumber kedua. Sumber utama adalah novel yang berjudul The Cuckoo’s Calling dan sumber kedua adalah buku-buku yang berkaitan dengan novel tersebut dan teori yang digunakan. Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan psikologi untuk membantu penulis menjawab rumusan masalah.
Berdasarkan analisis, kesimpulan pertama menunjukkan bahwa John Bristow adalah seorang yang menarik, pembohong, kejam, dan serakah. Kesimpulan kedua adalah tentang motivasi John Bristow dalam penyelidikan kematian Lula Landry. Berdasarkan teori Maslow, ada tiga kebutuhan yang memotivasi tindakan John Bristow, yaitu kebutuhan rasa aman, kebutuhan sosial dan kebutuhan pengakuan. Kebuthan rasa aman memotivasi John Bristow untuk menyelamatkannya dari semua hutangnya. Kebuthan social memotivasi John Bristow agar dia tetap berada di zona nyamanya. Terakhir, kebutuhan penagkuan memotivasinya untuk mendapatkan rasa hormat dari semua orang. Menurut Lahey (2009), ada motivasi intrinsik dan motivasi ekstrinsik yang memicu John Bristow mendukung inevestigasi kematian Lula Landry. Motivasi intrinsiknya adalah nafsu dari John Bristow untuk mendapatkan uang Lula Landry. Motivasi ekstrinsiknya adalah uang Lula Landry. John Bristow ingin terlihat sebagai seseorang yang baik dan peduli pada keluarganya. John Bristow ingin bahwa Mr. Strike menangkap Jonah Agyeman sebagai pembunuh Lula Landry dan John Bristow akan mendapatkan uang Lula Landry dan dikenal sebagai saudara yang baik.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
First of all, I would like to praise Jesus Christ for his blessings. He strengthens and guides me to give the best, so I could accomplish my final paper. I would like to convey my deepest gratitude to my supervisors Ibu Carla Sih Prabandari, S.Pd., M.Hum., and Ibu Made Frida Yulia, S.Pd., M.Pd., for sparing their time and knowledge to guide me in finishing my final paper. I would also like to express my special gratitude to all PBI lecturers of Sanata Dharma University,who have enriched me with considerable value of knowledge. I would also like to thankthe staff in Sanata Dharma University,who have provided the friendly service. I would also like to thank the librarians of Sanata Dharma Universityin helping me to find some references.
My sincere love and special gratitude are also expressed to my beloved parents, Papa Jonner Purba Girsang dan Mama Hotmauli Sidauruk, for all their unconditional and uncountable prayers, love, support, patience and everything that I need. I would also like to appreciate my special friends Wilhelmina Kurnia Wandut, Dita Novenesa, Septriany Gloria, Astiyani S,
Kost Uno,mbak Helen, mbak Siwi, mbak MemeiandPBI 2011for the greatest experience that I will never forget during my study in PBI of Sanata Dharma University. I sincerely thank all the people who have supported me in finishing my final paper. I am happy because I met them in my life and I am blessed because I am surrounded by great people. I hope God will always bless them all.
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I dedicate this final paper to the ones who never
give up on me :
Papa Jonner Purba Girsang
&
Mama Hotmauli Sidauruk
x A. Review of Related Theories ... 7
1. Theory of Characterization ... 7
2. Theory of Personality... 9
3. Theory of Motivation ... 11
B. Analysis... 15
1. John Bristow’s Characteristics as seen in Robert Galbraith’s The Cuckoo’s Calling ... 15
a. Good - Looking ... 15
b. Cruel ... 16
c. Liar ... 22
xi
Page 2. John Brsitow’s Motivation in Supporting
Lula Landry’s Death Investigation as seen in
Robert Galbraith’s The Cuckoo’s Calling... 27
CHAPTER III. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS A. Conclusions ... 30
B. Recommendations ... 32
REFERENCES... 34
xii
LIST OF APPENDICES
1. The Summary of The Cuckoo’s Calling by Robert Galbraith ... 35
2. The Biography of J. K.. Rowling ... 38
3. Lesson Plan ... 44
1 CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
This chapter presents the introduction of the study. It is divided into two parts, the background of the study and the approach of the study. The first part is background of the study. This part explains the description of the study, the reasons why the writer chooses the topic, the problem formulation, the objectives of the study, and the benefits of the study. The second part is the approach of the study. This part elaborates the review of the literature, which explains about the theories used in this study and its framework. This part also elaborates the methodology, which explains about the methodology conducted in this study.
A. Background of the Study
Literature represents the portrait of human being’s life. Literature has a close relationship with reality. According to Abrams (1981), literature is an imitation, or reflection, or representation of the world and human life (p. 36). It means that literature is one of kinds that reflect a life of human being. Furthermore, people have the opportunities to learn about moral values and new things, and by reading and learning through the literature, the readers can get a lot of experiences and knowledge. The readers can also get the benefits to grow, both personally and intellectually.
bring the readers into an imaginary world. The ways of describing the characters, emotions, and stories by an author are unique and interesting. Sometimes, beside the readers can improve their imagination, reading novel can also give the readers the messages of life.
The Cuckoo’s Calling by Robert Galbraith is a crime fiction novel. This novel tells about a man named John Bristow, who is Lula Landry’s brother. He hired a private investigator Cormoran Strike to investigate his sister’s death. Lula Landry fell from her balcony in Mayfair Snowy. The police suspected that Lula Landry’s death was a case of suicide. However, after three months, John Bristow went to meet Mr. Strike to reinvestigate the mystery of Lula Landry’s death. John Bristow believed that his sister’s death was a murder. Therefore, John Bristow asked Mr. Strike to reveal the fact behind Luna Landry’s death.
In investigating Lula Landry’s death, Mr. Strike interviewed some people who had close relationship with Lula Landry. Mr. Strike was surprised by the truth that John Bristow was included in Luna Landry’s death. Finally, Mr. Strike figured out that the real murderer of Lula Landry was John Bristow, her adoptive older brother. Mr. Strike was pretty sure that John Bristow wanted to get all Lula Landry’s money. Mr. Strike also revealed that John Bristow was using Mr. Strike in order to frame Lula Landry’s sibling brother, Jonah Agyeman as Lula Landary’s murderer. John Bristow wanted Jonah Agyeman to be prisoned, then he would be able to inherit Lula Landry’s money.
Moreover, the way John Bristow hid his wickedness and acted like a caring person is very interesting. Those reasons make the writer be interested in figuring out John Bristow’s motivation in supporting Lula Landry’s death investigation in The Cuckoo’s Calling by Robert Galbraith.
The objective of this study is to find out John Bristow’s motivation in supporting Lula Landry’s death investigation as seen in Robert Galbraith’s The Cuckoo’s Calling. In order to achieve the objective and specify the study, the writer organizes two research questions. The questions are formulated below. 1. How is John Bristow’s character described in The Cuckoo’s Calling?
2. What is John Bristow’s motivation in supporting Lula Landry’s death investigation?
B. Approach of the Study
According to Rohrberger and Woods (1971), there are five approaches that can be used to analyze a work literature. Those are formalist approach, biographical approach, socio-historical approach, mythopoeic approach, and psychological approach. This approach pays attention to the certain repeated structure but the attention is from the different knowledge’s point of views, namely psychological theories. This approach leads to the exploration of the unconscious area of the human mind, which led to the conclusion that it is an area complexity of his thought, behavior, and that the contents of this region of the mind found expression in symbolic words, thought and action (pp. 6-13).
It is also supported by Benedetti (1996), “Literature tries to depict human conditions into drama while psychology studies human characteristic systematically and scientifically” (p. 130). Since the psychology studies about human psyche systematically and scientifically, the approach that used in this study is a psychological approach. Psychological approach is more appropriate to describe the character’s characteristic and personality and to analyze the factor that motivating the character to do something.
The primary source is The Cuckoo’s Calling’s novel which is written by Robert Galbraith. Robert Galbraith is a pseudonym for J. K. Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter Fantasy Series and The Casual Vacancy. She is one of the best known writers in the world, whose books have gained worldwide attention. The Cuckoo’s Calling novel gets the number 1 best-selling novel on Amazon and the winner of the 2013 LA Times Book Prize for Mystery and Thriller. This novel makes a super surge after JK Rowling was unmasked as the author of The Cuckoo’s Calling, this novel has been sold more than 5,000 copies of printed books. This novel consists of 576 pages.
The secondary sources are the supporting sources used to help analyze this study. As stated before, this study will analyze the John Bristow’s characterization and motivation in supporting Lula Landry’s death investigation. In analyzing John Bristow’s characteristics and motivation, the theory of characterization, personality, and motivation will be used in this study. The main theory which is used to analyze John Bristow’s characteristics is M. J. Murphy’s theory entitled Understanding unseen: An introduction to English poetry and the English novel for overseas students (1972) and the theory of Benjamin B. Lahey’s entitled Psychology an introduction 10th edition (2009) is used to analyze John Bristow’s motivation. Other theories and websites which are used to give more information in this study can be found in the reference pages.
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CHAPTER II
DISCUSSION
Through this chapter, there are two major parts, namely review of related theories and the analysis. In this chapter, the characteristics of John Bristow will be discussed. Then, John Bristow’s motivation in supporting Lula Landry’s death investigation will be analyzed.
A. Review of Related Theories
This part presents the related theories used to reveal and analyze the novel in order to answer the research questions of this study. Those theories are theory of characterization, theory of personality and the theory of motivation.
1. Theory of Characterization
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Characterization is a method by which an author to create, reveal and develop change through the major character so that the reader can interpret what kind of she/he is (Henkle, 1977, pp. 92-97). In addition, characterization according to Rohrberger & Woods is the process by which an author creates a character (Rohrberger & Woods, 1971, p. 20).
Murphy (1972, pp. 161-173) divides nine ways in which an author attempts to make his character understandable and come alive for the readers. The first is Personal description. The author can describe a person’s appearance and clothes. It means that the author describes the details of the character through physical appearance, such as face, skin, eyes, and clothes. The second is character as seen as by another. Instead of describing a character directly the author can describe the character through the eyes and opinions of another. The reader gets, as it were, a reflected image. The third is speech. The author can give the reader insight into the character of one of the persons in the book through what the person says. Whenever the person speaks, whenever he is in conversation with another, whenever he puts forward an opinion, he is giving the reader some clue to his character. The fourth is past life. By letting the reader learn something about a person’s past life the author can give a clue to events that have helped to shape a person’s character. This can be done by direct comment by the author, through the person’s thoughts, through his conversation or through the medium of another person.
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conversations of other people and the things they say about him. The sixth is reactions. The author can also give a clue to a person’s character by letting the reader know how the person reacts to various situations and events. The seventh is direct comment. The author can describe or comment on a person’s character directly. The eighth is thoughts. The author can give direct knowledge of what a person is thinking about. The ninth is mannerisms. The author can describe a person’s mannerisms, habits or idiosyncrasies which may also tell us something about his character. These then are some of the ways in which an author makes his reader aware of the personalities and the characters of the people that he writes about in his books.
2. Theory of Personality
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Kasschau adds that there are three purposes of any personality theories. The first purpose is to determine whether certain traits go together, why a person has some traits and others, and why a person exhibit different traits in different situations. The second purpose of any personality theory is to explain the differences between individuals. The third goal of personality is to explore how people conduct their lives (Kasschau, 1995, p. 268).
In the theory of personality, this study also figures out that Freud’s theory about mind is important to be discussed. Freud’s theory of personality views the mind as being composed of three working parts, each with a different function, namely: id, ego, and superego (as cited in Lahey, 2009, pp. 412-414). Id according to Freud is the unborn part of the unconscious mind that uses the primary process to satisfy its needs and that acts according to the pleasure principle. The pleasure principle itself is the attempt of the id to seek immediate pleasure and avoid pain, regardless of how harmful it might be to others (p. 413).
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Superego itself according to Freud is the part of the mind that opposes the desire of the id by enforcing moral restrictions and by striving to attain perfection. The id and the ego have no morals. They seek to satisfy the id’s selfish motives without regard for the good of others. The ego is realistic about how those motives are satisfied. But as long as the needs are safely and effectively met, it does not care if rules are broken, lies are told, or other people are wronged (p. 414).
Different from Freud’s theory of personality, according to Alderian theory explains that one’s personality might be influenced by social perspective and his striving for superiority of success. Alderian also believes that a personality is self-consistent means that a person has large responsibility for his personality. People should be aware about what they are doing and the reason of doing it as well. Different from Freud’s perspective that present behavior is caused by the past experience, Alderian believes that present behavior is shaped by the view of the future which is to strive the superiority or success (Feist J. & Feist G. J., 2009, pp. 65-66)
3. Theory of Motivation
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feel, and do. Motivation has bigger scope because motivation can be used to describe motive. While motive is not general to cover motivation.
Lahey divides motivation into intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. The intrinsic motivation is human motives stimulated by the inherent nature of the activity or its natural consequences. It means that the motivation comes from the person himself. He or she has a willingness to do something based on their intuition and they do it because they want it even though they know the consequences. For example, people who read nonfiction books that unrelated to their work just because it is fun to learn new things are intrinsically motivated. In contrast, extrinsic motivation is human motives activated by external rewards. It means that there is someone or something that influences and encourages the person to do something. They become the reasons behind the actions. Though, at the end it is the person himself who decides the choices. For example, if a child who hates arithmetic homework is encouraged to do so by payment of a nickel for every correct answer, he is extrinsically motivated. That is, he works for the external payment rather than because of an intrinsic interest in math (pp. 360-372).
Another opinion tells about motivation that can be defined as something that forces someone to act directly in order to achieve their personal objectives. According to Petri (1981), he says:
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Additionally we often use the concept of motivation to indicate the direction of behavior (pp. 3-4)
Abraham Maslow (1970) puts forward an interesting theory about hierarchy of needs. It is the concept that more basic needs must be met before higher-level needs become active. If lower needs in the hierarchy are not met for the most part, then the higher needs will not operate. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs consists of biological or psychological needs, safety needs, love and belongingness needs, self-esteem needs, and self-actualization needs. The first two needs are considered primary or lower needs. The remaining three are secondary or higher needs (Lahey, 2009, pp. 373-374 & Petri 1981, pp. 302-305).
The biological or psychological needs are the fundamental needs for food, water, air, sex, sleep, clothing, shelter, comfort, and self-preservation. The Psychological needs are the basic needs of physical requirements for human to survive. Psychological needs are the most important needs that must be met first. On the other hand, if psychological needs are met, the next needs of the hierarchy emerge as a dominant force in controlling and directing behavior.
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The next needs are the love and belongingness needs. Love needs are about loving and being loved, and social relationship. Love needs require both the receiving and giving of love — love from another and someone to love. Love needs are needs to feel part of group, or feeling of belongs to others. The absence of love will stifle growth and development of potential. The thwarting of love needs is considered as a prime because of maladjustment. The hunger of love is a deficiency disease.
The self-esteem needs are needs for a positive and high evaluation of oneself. This evaluation can be divided into the two subcategories, needs for self-esteem and needs for esteem from others. Needs for self-esteem motivates the individual to strive for achievement, strength, confidence, independence, and freedom. It seems to have at its core the desire to feel worthwhile. While the related needs of esteem from others involves a desire for reputation, status, recognition, appreciation by others of one’s abilities, and a feeling of importance.
The final level of hierarchy of motives is actualization. The self-actualization is described as the desire to become more and more, to become that one is capable or becoming. This needs are the identification of morality, creativity, spontaneity, problem solving, lack of prejudice, and acceptance of facts. This needs appear after reasonable satisfaction of love and self-esteem needs.
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personality provides a way of organizing the characteristics of people. Both theories of characterization and personality may help in answering the first problem. Then, the theory of motivation is used to know the things that motivate someone in doing something. It is used to find out John Bristow’s motivation in supporting Lula Landry’s death investigation as seen in Robert Galbraith’s The Cuckoo’s Calling.
This theory is used to answer the second problem.
B. Analysis
In this part, the characteristics of John Bristow will be discussed. After that, the motivation of John Bristow in supporting Lula Landry’s death investigation will be analyzed.
1. John Bristow’s Characteristics as seen in Robert Galbraith’s The Cuckoo’s
Calling
According to the theories of characterization and personality, the writer can understand the characterization of John Bristow in Robert Galbraith’s The Cuckoo’s Callingespecially the Murphy’s theory of characterization (Murphy, 1972, pp. 161-173).
a) Good-Looking
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Strike spotted his client immediately among the clattering, jabbering dinners, sitting at the table set for four and talking, to Strike’s surprise, to two women instead of one, both with long, glossy brown hair. Bristow’s rabbity face was full of the desire to please, or perhaps placate (p. 182)
John Bristow is also a good-looking man from his appearance. John Bristow is a kind of man that pays attention to his appearance. John Bristow looks very professional and wise in his suit. He also looks very well-educated. It can be seen in statements below.
The prospective client followed Robin into the room. The immediate impression was favorable. The stranger might be distinctly rabbit in appearance, with a short upper lip that failed to conceal large front teeth; his coloring was sandy, and his eyes, judging by thickness of glasses, myopic; but his dark gray suit was beautifully tailored, and the shining ice-blue tie, the watch and the shoes all looked expensive.
The snowy smoothness of the stranger’s shirt made Strike doubly conscious of the thousand or so creases in his own clothes. He stood up to give Bristow the full benefit of his six feet three inches, held out a hairy-backed hand and attempted to counter his visitor’s sartorial superiority by projecting the air of a man too busy to worry about laundry (pp. 25-26)
Referring to Murphy’s theories John Bristow is a good-looking man can be known from character as seen as by another. John Bristow can be said as a good-looking man from his appearance and style. It is proved by Mr. Strike that John Bristow has a style when Mr. Strike compares his clothes to John Bristow which is neat and cool. The prospective client seemed nervous in the guilty way that Strike had come to associate with suspicious husbands, yet a faint air of authority clung to him, conveyed mainly by the obvious expense of his suit (pp. 26-27).
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known from Mr. Strike’s opinion about the price of John Bristow’s suit by his look. Mr. Strike easily judges John Bristow suit by the way John Bristow stands in front of him. It is obvious that John Bristow tries to make his appearance become ideal and professional. It makes him look nice with his rabbity face.
b) Cruel
In the beginning of the novel it is showed that John Bristow is a kind person. John Bristow loves his mother and he will do anything to keep his mother safe and sound. It is proved when John Bristow cancels the meeting with Mr. Strike because his mother’s condition. It can be seen in statements below.
I got your message yesterday, but Mum’s in a bad way and we haven’t got a nurse for this afternoon. Alison’s going to come over and keep me company. I could meet you tomorrow, in my lunch hour, if you’re free? Have there been any developments?” he added hopefully (p. 228)
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John Bristow loves his mother and also loves his sister. Actually John Bristow and Lula Landry are not sibling but they grow up together as brother and sister. John Bristow feels very sad when he knows that Lula Landry falls from her balcony into her death. John Bristow is also sad because his sister’s death assumes as a suicide. John Bristow does not believe that his sister can do suicide. After three months, John Bristow looks for a private detective to reinvestigate his sister’s death. He believes that Lula Landry was killed by someone. It is proved in John Bristow’s statement. They say my sister killed herself. I don’t believe it (p. 32). Referring to Murphy’s theory, John Bristow is a kind person from his speech and his reactions.
John Bristow is a kind person is described very clear in the beginning However, John Bristow actually is a cruel person and John Bristow is someone that will do anything to get everything even he has to kill his own family. It is uncovered in the end of the novel that Mr. Strike states that John Bristow is the murderer of Lula Landry.
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John Bristow is a cruel person because John Bristow dares to kill people. John Bristow kills his brother, sister and also his sister’s friend in order to satisfy his desire. When John Bristow was 11 years old, John Bristow kills his little brother Charlie Bristow. John Bristow kills Charlie Bristow by pushing him into a quarry. John Bristow kills Charlie Bristow because he wants to be the only son in Bristow’s family and gets all the attention and love from his parents. It can be seen in statements below.
Tony knows you did it, doesn’t he? All that bullshit about the hard, cruel things he said after Charlie died. Tony was there; he saw you cycling away from the place where you’d pushed Charlie over. Did you dare him to ride close to the edge? I knew Charlie; he couldn’t resist a dare. Tony saw Charlie dead at the bottom of that quarry (p. 555)
John Bristow feels happy because he can be the only son in Bristow’s family. However, John Bristow’s happiness changes into his sadness. After Charlie Bristow’s death, Bristow’s family adopts a new child named Lula Landry. Sir Alec Bristow adopts Lula Landry because Lady Yvette is deeply sad after losing her son and he knows that his wife wants to have a daughter. Lula Landry’s appearance in Bristow’s family makes a new life for Sir Alec Bristow and Lady Yvette. However, the happiness in Bristow’s family is the sadness for John Bristow. John Bristow hates Lula Landry, but he keeps his disappointment and grows up together with Lula Landry.
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anger makes him become mad. Then, John Bristow plans to ask Lula Landry again to give her money. In the cold night John Bristow asks Lula Landry the same thing and she refuses again and yells at John Bristow that John Bristow would not get anything even a penny. John Bristow becomes mad and pushes Lula Landry from her balcony into her death. It is showed in statements below.
And you killed her, just the same way you killed Charlie, just the same way you later killed Rochelle: you pushed her, hard and fast – maybe you lifted her - but she was caught by surprise, wasn’t she, just like other?
You were yelling at her for not giving you money, for depriving you, just as you’ve always been deprived, haven’t you, John, of your portion of parental love.
She yelled at you that you wouldn’t get a penny, even if you killed her. As you fought, and you forced her across her sitting room towards that balcony and the drop, she told you she had another brother, a real brother, and that he was on his way, and that she’d made a will in his favor.
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do such a crime. John Bristow hates Lula Landry when she refuses to give her money and when she yells at him. John Bristow then becomes mad and kills Lula Landry in the same way he kills his brother.
Referring to Murphy’s theory, John Bristow is a cruel person can also be seen from his reactions when John Bristow faces the problem. In reinvestigation, Mr. Strike finds someone named Rochelle Onifade, she is Lula Landry’s friend. Mr. Strike asks John Bristow about Rochelle Onifade but he says that he does not know her. When Mr. Strike asks about Rochelle Onifade, John Btistow becomes worry. It is because Rochelle Onifade is the only one who knows about Lula Landry’s will. It can be seen in the statements below.
Rochelle told you. She was there in Vashti when Lula called Jonah and arranged to meet him that night, and she witnessed a will leaving him everything. She came to you, told you everything and started blackmailing you. She wanted money for a flat and some expensive clothes, and in return she promised to keep her mouth shut about the fact that you weren’t Lula’s heir (p. 547)
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John Bristow is a cruel person can also be seen through Freud’s theory about the structural concepts of mind: id, ego, and superego. Id is the selfish beast, ego is the executive of personality, and superego is the conscience and ego ideal. According to Freud’s theory, John Bristow’s ego cannot control his id and superego. John Bristow’s id wants him to be the only one who gets Lula Landry’s money without regard for the good of others. His id controls him to get all his desire without thinking the morality. Then his ego helps him to act how to get Lula Landry’s money in any way. That is why John Bristow can be said as a cruel person because he has no morality in his action. John Bristow’s superego cannot control him to avoid the bad actions, because the id and ego has no morals and they control John Bristow’s to do anything to satisfy his desire without thinking the consequences of his action to others.
c) Dishonest
23
John Bristow being a liar can also be seen from his speech when he tells Mr. Strike that he does not know a woman named Rochelle Onifade. John Bristow says that he does not know about Rochelle Onifade, it can be seen from the statements below.
“God knows what Lula was doing with her,” said Tansy.
“Oh, you must remember, John. She was fat. Scruffy. Looked a bit subnormal.”
“I don’t …” mumbled Bristow.
“Are you talking about Rochelle?” asked Strike. (pp. 198-199)
Mr. Strike also finds out that John Bristow is a liar because John Bristow puts every obstacle in finding Rochelle Onifade. Mr. Strike tries to meet Rochelle Onifade and Mr. Strike get an opportunity to meet her in a café. Mr. Strike asks Rochelle Onifade everything but Rochelle Onifade gives simple answers. From Rochelle Onifadde, Mr. Strike makes a conclusion that Rochelle Onifade and John Bristow has a secret about Lula Landry’s death. It can be seen in the statement below.
You put every obstacle you could in the way of me finding Rochelle,” Strike went on, as though he had not heard Bristow. “You pretended you didn’t know her name, or where she lived; you acted incredulous that I thought she might be useful to the inquiry and you took photos off Lula’s laptop so that I couldn’t see what she looked like. True, she could have pointed me directly to the man you were trying to frame for murder, but on the other hand, she knew that there was a will that would deprive you of your inheritance, and your number one objective was to keep that will quite while you tried to find and destroy it. Bit a joke, really, it being in your mother’s wardrobe all along. (p. 547)
24
Bristow never tells the truth when Mr. Strike asks him about Rochelle Onifade. He also gives a fake story about Lula Landry’s death.
Based on Freud’s theory, we can conclude that John Bristow is a liar. John Bristow’s desire about Lula Landry’s money makes him to tell a lie about the Lula Landry’s death. John Bristow knows that he cannot get Lula Landry’s money if Lula Landry dies because of suicide. He goes to meet Mr. Strike and pretends about his feeling and tells Mr. Strike how much love he has for Lula Landry. John Bristow does not think about the consequences about telling a lie. John Bristow just wants to satisfy his desire about Lula Landry’s money, no matter even he has to tell a lie about Lula Landry’s death fact.
d) Greedy
Referring to Murphy’s theory, John Bristow is a materialistic person, it can be seen from his past life and character as seen as by another. John Bristow grows up in a rich family and lives in a luxurious life. He has rich parents and family with a good reputation. His childhood that lives in a luxury makes him become a materialistic and greedy person. When he was young, he wants to be the only son in Bristow’s family. That is why he killed his brother, Charlie Bristow, in order to be the number one in his family. He kills Charlie by pushing him into the quarry. It is stated below.
25
John Bristow’s materialistic and greed makes him to do bad thing. He becomes a murderer because he wants to get everything. After he kills his brother, he kills his sister. He kills Lula Landry in order to get Lula Landry’s money. He pushes Lula Landry from her balcony in her flat because Lula Landry refuses John Bristow’s wishes. Then, John Bristow becomes mad and angry then he kills Lula Landry like he kills Charlie Bristow. It is confirmed below.
You were yelling at her for not giving you money, for depriving you, just as you’ve always been deprived, haven’t you, John, of your portion of parental love.
She yelled at you that you wouldn’t get a penny, even if you killed her. As you fought, and you forced her across her sitting room towards that balcony and the drop, she told you she had another brother, a real brother, and that he was on his way, and that she’d made a will in his favor.
26
One of the detectives in charge of the case told me that Ciara had said that. A Detective Inspector Carver. He was convinced from the first that it was suicide and he appeared to think that this supposed talk with Ciara demonstrated Lula’s intent to take her own life. It seemed a strange line of reasoning to me. Do suicides bother with wills? (p. 268)
From the analysis of John Bristow, it can be seen that John Bristow is a materialistic and greedy person. Referring to Murphy’s theory, John Bristow is a greedy person from character as seen as by another. Mr. Strike finds out John Bristow greediness that John Bristow wants to take the advantages from him because Mr. Strike is Charlie Bristow’s friend. John Bristow thinks that he can use Mr. Strike because Mr. Strike will help him to get Lula Landry’s money. However, Mr. Strike knows and reveals the truth that John Bristow wants to make a trap for Jonah Agyeman as Lula Landry’s murderer and John Bristow will become Lula Landry’s heir.
27
2. John Bristow’s Motivation in Supporting Lula Landry’s Death Investigation
as seen in Robert Galbraith’s The Cuckoo’s Calling
Every action has a reason, a reason that motivates someone for doing something. According to Lahey (2009), motivation refers to the internal state or condition that activates and gives direction to our thought, feelings, and action. Motives are at the center of our lives-they arouse and direct what we think, feel, and do (p. 360).
In analyzing John Bristow’s motivation, the writer cannot use the theory of motivation only. However, knowing John Bristow’s characteristics can be helpful in analyzing John Bristow motivation. That is why in analyzing John Bristow, it is important to combine John Bristow’s characteristic and the theories of motivation. It can be helpful in analyzing John Bristow’s motivation in supporting Lula Landry’s death investigation as seen in Robert Galbraith’s The Cuckoo’s Calling.
Needs also can influence someone’s motivation. Referring to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, this study found out that there are three needs in John Bristow for asking Mr. Strike to reinvestigate Lula Landry’s death. Those four needs can be seen in this study are safety, belongingness, and self-esteem.
28
But I think that row was really about Lula’s refusal to give you money. All her sharper friends have told me you had a quite the reputation for coveting her fortune, but you must have been particularly desperate for a handout that day, to force your way in and start shouting like that. Had Tony noticed a lack of fund in Conway Oates’s account? Did you need to replace it urgently? (p. 550)
Love and belongingness needs also motivate John Bristow to get Lula Landry’s money. John Bristow who has lived in a luxury life with a good reputation family and friends make him become a greedy person. John Bristow wants to stay in a comfortable environment with luxury social relationship and he becomes scared to be poor.
Self-esteem needs also take part to motivate John Bristow to reinvestigate Lula Landry with Mr. Strike’s help. John Bristow wants Lula Landry’s money as a power. John Bristow will be more confident and get strength from Lula Landry’s money. It also can give a good reputation and status. John Bristow thinks that Mr. Strike will help him to get Lula Landry’s money and he will get double awards. First, he will get power to control and become more confidence to stand in his own feet. Second, he will get a good reputation as a good brother and son. John Bristow also wants to be respected by people.
29
control him to reinvestigate Lula Landry’s money. The second, John Bristow’s extrinsic motivation is Lula Landry’s money as a present. John Bristow will earn Lula Landry’s money if the investigation can reveal the truth that someone kills Lula Landry.
30
CHAPTER III
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
This chapter consists of two parts. They are conclusions and recommendations. The first part is conclusion which is found in the discussion in chapter two. The second part provides recommendations for the future researchers and the English teachers.
A. Conclusions
This part will discuss the conclusion about the analysis in the chapter two. From the analysis, two conclusions can be drawn. The first conclusion is about John Bristow’s characteristics and the second is about John Bristow’s motivation in supporting Lula Landry’s death investigation as seen in Robert Galbraith’s The Cuckoo’s Calling novel.
The first conclusion is about the analysis of John Bristow’s characteristics in
31
to get all of her money. John Bristow also kills Charlie Bristow and Rochelle Onifade. He kills his brother to get all the attention from his parents. He kills Rochelle Onifade to hide his crime about killing Lula Landry and the blue letter. Third, John Bristow is dishonest. He lies to Mr. Strike about the facts behind Lula Landry’s death. John Bristow gives incomplete and fake information to Mr. Strike in order to hide his crime and desire. Fourth, John Bristow is a greedy person. John Bristow loves money very much. Since he was a child, John Bristow lived with rich parents and had a lot of branded goods. John Bristow kills his brother because of his greediness about his parents’ love and attention. John Bristow also kills Lula Landry because he wants to get Lula Landry’s money. John Bristow’s greediness about money dares him to kill his own family. John Bristow only thinks about how to get all Lula Landry’s money.
32
According to Lahey’s theory about motivation, there are two types of motivation that influence John Bristow’s motivation in supporting Lula Landry’s death investigation. The first is intrinsic motivation. John Bristow’s intrinsic motivation is John Bristow’s desire to earn Lula Landry’s money. John Bristow wants to be the only one that can earn Lula Landry’s fortune and became her heir. The second is extrinsic motivation. John Bristow’s extrinsic motivation is Lula Landry’s money. It is all that motivates John Bristow in supporting Lula Landry’s death investigation.
B. Recommendations
This part will provide the suggestion for the future researchers who are interested to analyze Robert Galbraith’s The Cuckoo’s Callingnovel and the English teachers who want to use Robert Galbraith’s The Cuckoo’s Calling novel as their teaching material.
This study is expected to give benefits to the readers of Robert Galbraith’s
The Cuckoo’s Calling novel. This study can be beneficial for those who are willing to analyze this novel. It can help and contribute them to conduct further research about this novel. This study also will give them some additional information in understanding this novel for the most part in analyzing the characteristics of John Bristow, and the psychological approach that used in this study.
33
34
REFERENCES
Abrams, M. H. & Harpham, G. G. (2009). A glossary of literary terms (9th ed.). Boston: Wadsworth Cengage Learning.
Benedetti, R. (1996). The actor at work. Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
Feist, J. & Feist, G. J. (2009). Theories of personality (7th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.
Galbraith, R. (2013). The cuckoo’s calling. New York: Hachette Book Group. Gill, R. (1995). Mastering English literature (2nd ed.). London: Macmillan Press
Ltd.
Henkle, R. B. (1977). Reading the novel: An introduction to the techniques of interpreting fiction. New York: Harper and Row, Publishers.
Kasschau, R. A. (1995). Understanding psychology. New York: Macmillan, McFraw-Hill Publishing Company.
Lahey, B. B. (2009). Psychology: An introduction(10th ed.). New York: McGraw Hill.
Murphy, M. J. (1972). Understanding unseens: An introduction to English poetry and the English novel overseas students. London: George Allen & Unwin. Petri, H. L. (1981). Motivation: Theory and research. Belmont: Wadsworth
Publishing Company.
35 Appendix 1
Summary of The Cuckoo’s Callingby Robert Galbraith
In 2010, Cormoran Strike, a private investigator who is an ex-SIB investigator who lost part of a leg in a bombing in Afghanistan, and also is the illegitimate son of a famous rock star (by an affair with a notorious groupie), is broke, and his birth father's business agent is calling in the loan that he gave to Strike to open his office. At that point, Strike is hired by John Bristow, the adoptive brother of supermodel Lula Landry who had fallen from her balcony three months previously. Bristow wants Strike to investigate his sister's supposed suicide. Bristow's other sibling, a brother named Charlie, had been a schoolmate of Strike before his death, which came when he fell into a quarry while riding on his bicycle. Strike also meets Robin Ellacott, who has been sent to be his temporary secretary despite the fact he can barely afford her. Robin has just become engaged to her longtime boyfriend Matthew, with a wedding set for December. Although Strike only hires her for one week, she turns out to be much more competent than he expected, and they end up extending her stay.
Strike comes to realize that the circumstances of her death are more ambiguous than he had imagined.
Strike is especially intrigued by the statement of Tansy Bestigui, Lula's downstairs neighbour, who says she heard Lula fighting with a man and then falling from her balcony. It is clear she could not have heard it from two floors below through the triple glazed windows, so her statement had initially been dismissed. However, in reality, her husband had found her with cocaine and then pushed her out onto the balcony and locked her there, where she overheard the attack on Lula Landry. Tansy did not reveal her true location to the investigating officers, because it was -10 °C outside when her husband had pushed her onto the balcony, and her husband had demanded she remain silent, as he was fearful of being arrested for abusing Tansy and attempting to pervert the course of justice. Later, Rochelle Onifade is found dead, killed hours after leaving a meeting with Strike. Strike realises that she must have been in contact with Lula's murderer, though he doubts that she knew the person to be the killer.
which he had been unable to locate, eventually surfaced, Jonah would be unable to inherit if he had been convicted of Lula's murder. He had hoped that Strike's friendship with Charlie would endear Mr. Strike to John Bristow. When Strike presents the truth to John, John attempts to stab him, resulting in a physical altercation. Strike is saved when Robin returns to the office during the struggle.
Near the book's end, before Robin leaves for her next job, Strike gives Robin a green silk dress she had tried on and loved when they had gone searching for information at a dress shop that Lula had frequented. Finally, the two decide that Robin will stay on; both are happy about the decision, though Strike reflects that Matthew, Robin's fiancé, would not be happy about the fact that he had purchased the gown for her. The novel closes with Strike at a doctor's appointment for his injured leg.
38 APPENDIX 2
Biography of J. K. Rowling
Robert Galbraith is a pseudonym for J.K.Rowling, author of the ‘HARRY POTTER’ series and THE CASUAL VACANCY.
Joanne "Jo" Rowling, (born 31 July 1965, age 50), pen names J. K. Rowling and Robert Galbraith, is a British novelist, screenwriter and film producer best known as the author of the Harry Potter fantasy
series. The books have gained worldwide attention, won multiple awards, and sold more than 400 million copies. They have become the best-selling book series in history and been the basis for a series of films which is the second highest-grossing film series in history. Rowling had overall approval on the scripts and maintained creative control by serving as a producer on the final installment.
finished the first novel in the series, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, in 1997. There were six sequels, the last, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, in 2007. Since then, Rowling has written four books for adult readers, The Casual Vacancy (2012) and—under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith—the crime fiction novels The Cuckoo's Calling (2013), The Silkworm (2014) and Career of Evil (2015).
Rowling has lived a "rags to riches" life story, in which she progressed from living on state benefits to multi-millionaire status within five years. She is the United Kingdom's best-selling living author, with sales in excess of £238m. The 2008 Sunday Times Rich List estimated Rowling's fortune at £560 million, ranking her as the twelfth richest woman in the United Kingdom. Forbes ranked Rowling as the 48th most powerful celebrity of 2007, and Time magazine named her as a runner-up for its 2007 Person of the Year, noting the social, moral, and political inspiration she has given her fans. In October 2010, Rowling was named the "Most Influential Woman in Britain" by leading magazine editors. She has supported charities including Comic Relief, One Parent Families, Multiple Sclerosis Society of Great Britain and Lumos (formerly the Children's High Level Group).
1. 1997: Nestlé Smarties Book Prize, Gold Award for Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
2. 1998: Nestlé Smarties Book Prize, Gold Award for Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
3. 1998: British Children's Book of the Year, winner Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
4. 1999: Nestlé Smarties Book Prize, Gold Award for Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
5. 1999: National Book Awards Children's Book of the Year, winner Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
6. 1999: Whitbread Children's Book of the Year, winner Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
7. 2000: British Book Awards, Author of the Year
8. 2000: Order of the British Empire, Officer (for services to Children's literature)
9. 2000: Locus Award, winner Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
10. 2001: Hugo Award for Best Novel, winner Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire 11. 2003: Premio Príncipe de Asturias, Concord
12. 2003: Bram Stoker Award for Best Work for Young Readers, winner Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
13. 2006: British Book of the Year, winner for Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
15. 2007: Named Barbara Walters' Most Fascinating Person of the year 16. 2008: British Book Awards, Outstanding Achievement
17. 2010: Hans Christian Andersen Literature Award, inaugural award winner 18. 2011: British Academy Film Awards, Outstanding British Contribution to
Cinema for the Harry Potter film series, shared with David Heyman, cast and crew
19. 2012: Freedom of the City of London
Rowling has published:
A. Children
1. Harry Potter series
a. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (26 June 1997) b. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2 July 1998) c. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (8 July 1999) d. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (8 July 2000)
e. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (21 June 2003) f. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (16 July 2005) g. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (21 July 2007) 2. Related works
a. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (supplement to the Harry Potter series) (1 March 2001)
c. The Tales of Beedle the Bard (supplement to the Harry Potter series) (4 December 2008)
d. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (story concept) (play written by Jack Thorne) (31 July 2016)
e. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (film script) (19 November 2016)
3. Short stories
a. Harry Potter prequel (July 2008) B. Adults
1. The Casual Vacancy (27 September 2012) 2. Cormoran Strike series
a. The Cuckoo's Calling (as Robert Galbraith) (18 April 2013) b. The Silkworm (as Robert Galbraith) (19 June 2014)
c. Career of Evil (as Robert Galbraith) (20 October 2015) C. Non-fiction
1. McNeil, Gil and Brown, Sarah, editors (2002). Foreword to the anthology Magic. Bloomsbury.
2. Brown, Gordon (2006). Introduction to "Ending Child Poverty" in Moving Britain Forward. Selected Speeches 1997–2006. Bloomsbury.
5. Rowling, J. K. (5 June 2008). "The Fringe Benefits of Failure, and the Importance of Imagination". Harvard Magazine.
6. J. K. Rowling, Very Good Lives: The Fringe Benefits of Failure and Importance of Imagination, illustrated by Joel Holland, Sphere, 14 April 2015, 80 pages (ISBN 978-1-4087-0678-7).
7. Rowling, J. K. (30 April 2009). "Gordon Brown – The 2009 Time 100". Time magazine.
8. Rowling, J. K. (14 April 2010). "The Single Mother's Manifesto". The Times.
9. Rowling, J. K. (30 November 2012). "I feel duped and angry at David Cameron's reaction to Leveson". The Guardian.
10. Rowling, J. K. (17 December 2014). Isn’t it time we left orphanages to fairytales? The Guardian.
11. Rowling, J. K. (guest editor) (28 April 2014). "Woman's Hour Takeover". Woman's Hour, BBC Radio 4]
44 skimming for main ideas, scanning for details, guessing word meaning from context), summarizing skill, and literal/inferential comprehension skills.
2. The students are able to encourage to use appropriate reading strategies when reading various kinds of texts and to give simple critical responses to ideas presented in the texts.
B. Indicators
1. The students are able to find the detail information from the story. 2. The students are able to find the meaning of some vocabularies in the
story
3. The students are able to draw a mind map based on the story.
4. The students are able to retell the story by their own words based on their mind map.
5. The students are able to draw the moral value from the story.
C. Learning Objectives
2. The students are able to use appropriate reading strategies to improve reading comprehension.
3. The students are able to develop English vocabulary.
4. The students are able to write summaries and simple responses to the ideas or issues presented in the texts.
The lecturer opens the class with pray.
Lecturer asks the students about their favorite novel.
Lecturer gives a review of story of the novel.
Lecturer gives the students reading passage.
Lecturer asks the students to read the reading passage. Main Activities
The students read the reading passage carefully and try to understand it.
The students do the first task about finding the meaning of the new vocabularies.
The students do the second taks about finding the detail information from the story.
The students find the moral value from the story. Post Activities
The lecturer and the students discuss about the answers.
The lecturer asks the students about their difficulties. G. Learning Sources
Novel The Cuckoo’s Callingby Robert Galbraith.
H. Media
Whiteboard
Board marker
Exercise 1
Answer the questions below based on the reading passage.
1. What is the issue in the story? Answer:
... ...
2. How people react to the situation? Answer:
... ...
3. What does the meaning of morality tale stiff with Schadenfreude in the story - based on your opinion?
Answer:
... ...
4. What Does Mayfair Street look like? Answer:
... ...
5. What does Lula Landry look like? Answer:
Exercise 2
Look for some uncommon vocabularies from the reading passage and find the meaning to those words. !
WORDS MEANING
1. 1.
2. 2.
3. 3.
4. 4.
5. 5.
6. 6.
7. 7.
8. 8.
Exercise 3
Exercise 4
Retell the story use your own words!
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Exercise 5
What is/are the moral value(s) do you get?
50 Appendix 4
The Cuckoo’s Calling
The buzz in the street was like the humming of flies. Photographers stood massed behind barriers patrolled by police, their long-snouted cameras poised, their breath rising like steam. Snow fell steadily on to hats and shoulders; gloved fingers wiped lenses clear. From time to time there came outbreaks of desultory clicking, as the watchers filled the waiting time by snapping the white canvas tent in the middle of the road, the entrance to the tall red-brick apartment block behind it, and the balcony on the top floor from which the body had fallen.
The television stations had already had the news for several hours. Members of the public were crowding at either end of the road, held at bay by more police; some had come, on purpose, to look, others had paused on their way to work. Many held mobile telephones aloft to take pictures before moving on. One young man, not knowing which was the crucial balcony, photographed each of them in turn, even though the middle one was packed with a row of shrubs, three neat, leafy orbs, which barely left room for a human being.
A group of young girls had brought flowers, and were filmed handing them to the police, who as yet had not decided on a place for them, but laid them self-consciously in the back of the police van, aware of camera lenses following their every move.
The correspondents sent by twenty-four-hour news channels kept up a steady stream of comment and speculation around the few sensational facts they knew.
“. . . from her penthouse apartment at around two o’clock this morning. Police were alerted by the building’s security guard . . . ”
“. . . no sign yet that they are moving the body, which has led some to speculate . . . ”
“. . . no word on whether she was alone when she fell . . . ”
A chilly light filled the interior of the tent. Two men were crouching beside the body, ready to move it, at last, into a body bag. Her head had bled a little into the snow. The face was crushed and swollen, one eye reduced to a pucker, the other showing as a sliver of dull white between distended lids. When the sequinned top she wore glittered in slight changes of light, it gave a disquieting impression of movement, as though she breathed again, or was tensing muscles, ready to rise. The snow fell with soft fingertip plunks on the canvas overhead.
“Where’s the bloody ambulance?”
Detective Inspector Roy Carver’s temper was mounting. A paunchy man with a face the colour of corned beef, whose shirts were usually ringed with sweat around the armpits, his short supply of patience had been exhausted hours ago. He had been here nearly as long as the corpse; his feet were so cold that he could no longer feel them, and he was light-headed with hunger.
“Ambulance is two minutes away,” said Detective Sergeant Eric Wardle, unintentionally answering his superior’s question as he entered the tent with his mobile pressed to his ear. “Just been organising a space for it.”
“At least that lot’ll shift once the body’s gone,” said Wardle, still looking out at the photographers.
“They won’t go while we’re still treating the place like a fucking murder scene,” snapped Carver.
Wardle did not answer the unspoken challenge. Carver exploded anyway.
“The poor cow jumped. There was no one else there. Your so-called witness was coked out of her—”
“It’s coming,” said Wardle, and to Carver’s disgust, he slipped back out of the tent, to wait for the ambulance in full sight of the cameras.
The story forced news of politics, wars and disasters aside, and every version of it sparkled with pictures of the dead woman’s flawless face, her lithe and sculpted body. Within hours, the few known facts had spread like a virus to millions: the public row with the famous boyfriend, the journey home alone, the overheard screaming and the final, fatal fall . .
But then, to an almost audible groan of disappointment, the witness was proven to have lied, and she retreated into rehab, and the famous prime suspect emerged, as the man and the lady in a weather-house who can never be outside at the same time.
So it was suicide after all, and after a moment’s stunned hiatus, the story gained a weak second wind. They wrote that she was unbalanced, unstable, unsuited to the superstardom her wildness and her beauty had snared; that she had moved among an immoral moneyed class that had corrupted her; that the decadence of her new life had unhinged an already fragile personality. She became a morality tale stiff with Schadenfreude, and so many columnists made allusion to Icarus that Private Eye ran a special column.
And then, at last, the frenzy wore itself into staleness, and even the journalists had nothing left to say, but that too much had been said already.
