ABSTRACT
HADIARTO KURNIAWAN. The Influence of Environmental Determinant on Bill’s Personality Development in Seward’s the Macneils of Tokyo. Yogyakarta: Department of English Letters, Faculty of Letters, Sanata Dharma University, 2008.
In human personality, there is nobody in this world who shares the same personality. The diversity of the personalities can be influenced by heredity and environment. Environment determinants give the biggest contribution in shaping someone’s personality. The environmental determinants can be culture, social class, family and peer environment. Related with the statements above, the analysis will be focused on the influence of environmental determinants on Bill’s personality development. Bill’s traumatic incident in the past which is related to war is revealed after he faces the World War II and those conditions become the trigger of his personality development.
The objectives of the study are to answer three main problems. First, it is meant to identify Bill Macneil’s characteristics described in the novel. Second, it is meant to analyze what aspects of environmental determinant which influence Bill Macneil’s personality development presented in the novel. Third, it is meant to identify the most significant aspect of environmental determinant which influences his personality development.
This study applies library research to collect data relating to the topic of the study. This study also applies some theories to answer the questions stated in the problem formulation. They are the theory on character and characterization and the theory on personality and personality development. The writer also uses psychological approach because the focus of the study is analyzing the character’s personality development.
The analysis result shows Bill’s characteristics before and after the World War II. His characteristics before World War II can be described as a smart, humorous, and stubborn person. His characteristics during and after World War II can be described as a high tempered person, full of hatred and vengeance. He is also described as person who is able to read the situation well, a loyal and brave person. Bill Macneil’s personality development is influenced by the environmental determinant. Two aspects which give significant influences on Bill Macneil’s personality development are the family and peer environment, but the most significant aspect is the peer environment.
ABSTRAK
HADIARTO KURNIAWAN. The Influence of Environmental Determinant on Bill’s Personality Development in Seward’s the Macneils of Tokyo. Yogyakarta: Jurusan Sastra Inggris, Fakultas Sastra, Universitas Sanata Dharma, 2008.
Kepribadian manusia tidak ada yang sama didunia ini. Berbagai macam kepribadian dipengaruhi oleh faktor keturunan dan pengaruh dari lingkungan sekitarnya. Pengaruh-pengaruh lingkungan memberikan kontribusi terbesar dalam pembentukan kepribadian seseorang. Pengaruh-pengaruh lingkungan tersebut dapat berupa kebudayaan, strata sosial, keluarga dan teman. Berkaitan dengan pernyataan diatas, analisis ini akan dititikberatkan pada pengaruh lingkungan terhadap perkembangan kepribadian dari tokoh Bill Macneil. Pengalaman traumatis di masa lalu dari tokoh Bill Macneil yang berhubungan dengan perang akhirnya terkuak setelah Bill mengalami Perang Dunia ke 2. Kedua hal tersebut menjadi penyebab dari perkembangan kepribadiannya.
Tujuan dari studi ini adalah untuk menjawab tiga permasalahan utama. Pertama, studi ini dimaksudkan untuk menggambarkan tokoh Bill Macneil di novel. Kedua, studi ini dimaksudkan untuk menganalisa aspek-aspek dari pengaruh lingkungan yang mempengaruhi perkembangan kepribadian dari tokoh Bill Macneil seperti yang muncul di novel. Ketiga, studi ini dimaksudkan untuk mengidentifikasi aspek dari pengaruh lingkungan yang paling berpengaruh terhadap perkembangan kepribadian dari tokoh Bill Macneil.
Studi ini menggunakan metode studi pustaka untuk menggumpukan data yang berhubungan dengan topik dari studi ini. Studi ini juga menggunakan beberapa teori yang digunakan untuk menjawab pertanyaan-pertanyaan yang ada di rumusan masalah. Teori-teori yang digunakan adalah teori tentang tokoh dan penokohan dan teori tentang kepribadaian dan perkembangan kepribadian. Penulis juga menggunakan pendekatan psikologis karena fokus dari studi ini adalah untuk menganalisa perkembangan kepribadian dari seorang tokoh.
Hasil analisa menunjukan karakteristik dari tokoh Bill sebelum dan sesudah Perang Dunia ke 2. Karakter Bill sebelum Perang Dunia ke 2 dapat didiskripsikan sebagai orang yang cerdik, humoris, dan keras kepala. Karakter tokoh Bill selama dan sesudah Perang Dunia ke 2 dapat didiskripsikan sebagai pemarah, penuh kebencian dan dendam. Dia juga digambarkan sebagai seseorang yang pandai membaca keadaan, setia, dan pemberani. Perkembangan kepribadian dari tokoh Bill Macneil dipengaruhi oleh pengaruh lingkungan. Dua aspek yang memberikan pengaruh yang cukup signifikan terhadap perkembangan kepribadian dari tokoh Bill Macneil yaitu aspek keluarga dan teman, tapi yang paling sigifikan adalah aspek teman.
THE INFLUENCE OF ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINANT
ON BILL’S PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT
IN SEWARD’S
THE MACNEILS OF TOKYO
AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra
in English Letters
By
HADIARTO KURNIAWAN Student Number: 034214055
ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS
FACULTY OF LETTERS SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
THE INFLUENCE OF ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINANT
ON BILL’S PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT
IN SEWARD’S
THE MACNEILS OF TOKYO
AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra
in English Letters
By
HADIARTO KURNIAWAN Student Number: 034214055
ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS
FACULTY OF LETTERS SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
2008
‘ Be t he best of anyt hing t hat you get int o. If you want t o be a
whore, it ’ s your l if e. Be a damn good one’
(Maya Angelou)
How can one be wise man, if he does not know any better how to live than other man. (Henry David Thoreau)Ne ve r think tha t yo u a lre a d y kno w a ll. Ho we ve r hig hly yo u a re a p p ra ise d ,
Alwa ys ha ve the c o ura g e to sa y to yo urse lf – I a m ig no ra nt (Iva n Pa vlo v)
This undergraduate thesis is dedicated to:
My Lord, Jesus Christ My beloved parents My dearest sister My ‘Kakure Tenshi’
ACKNOLEDGEMENTS
Praise to God that finally I finished my thesis. I would like to thank Jesus
Christ for his blessing throughout my life and for guiding me in writing and completing my undergraduate thesis.
My deepest gratitude goes to G. Fajar Sasmita Aji, S.S., M. Hum. for his
help, guidance, patience, suggestions and time during the writing of my thesis. I
also thank Ni Luh Putu Rosiandani, S.S., M. Hum., my co-advisor, for reading
my undergraduate thesis and giving me suggestions in order to make it better.
Moreover, I thank all my lecturers for their guidance and their time to share their
knowledge during years of my study and thanks to all staff of English Letters
department, Sanata Dharma University library’s staff for all the help.
My deepest gratitude also goes for my beloved parents, Bapak Sumanto
W.H. and Ibu Muryati W.H. Thank you for your love, prayer and patience. Thanks to my beloved sister, Christmastuti Nur who always supports me to
finish this thesis. Thanks a lot sis!.
My special thanks goes to Winning Eleven Community and Sastra FC
especially Yeri, Cosmas, Lala, Ryan, Hemong, Yabes, Bayu, Thanks for all
tricks and joy during the football game. Thank you so much for We Won’t Pay
crew, Prita, Susiet, Chubby, Wayan, Boim, Mbendhol, Dodi, Bayang, Tio, Novi, Rensi, Ella, Widhy, and Vallone. Thanks also to Nyot, Danik, Stella and English Letters students of 2003.
Hadiarto Kurniawan.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER II: THEORETICAL REVIEW……… 6
A. Review of Related Studies………. 6
B. Review of Related Theories………. 8
1. Theory on Character and Characterization………. 8
2. Theory on Relation between Psychology and Literature…….. 12
3. Theory on Personality and Personality Development…………. 13
C. Theoretical Framework……… 19
CHAPTER III: METHODOLOGY ……… 20
A. Object of the Study……….. 20
B. Approach of the Study……… 21
C. Method of the Study……… 22
CHAPTER IV: ANALYSIS……….. 24
A. Characterization of Bill Macneil………. 24
1. Before Bill Experienced World War II………..……… 24
2. During and After Bill Experienced World War II .………… …. 29
B. Aspects of Environmental Determinants in Bill Macneil’s Personality Development………. 37
1. Culture……….. 37
2. Social class……… 40
3. Family……… 41
4. Peer………. 45
C. The Most Significant Aspect which Influences Bill Macneil’s Personality Development……….. 49
CHAPTER V: CONCLUSION………. 54
BIBLIOGRAPHY………. 57 APPENDIX………. 59
ABSTRACT
HADIARTO KURNIAWAN. The Influence of Environmental Determinant on Bill’s Personality Development in Seward’s the Macneils of Tokyo. Yogyakarta: Department of English Letters, Faculty of Letters, Sanata Dharma University, 2008.
In human personality, there is nobody in this world who shares the same personality. The diversity of the personalities can be influenced by heredity and environment. Environment determinants give the biggest contribution in shaping someone’s personality. The environmental determinants can be culture, social class, family and peer environment. Related with the statements above, the analysis will be focused on the influence of environmental determinants on Bill’s personality development. Bill’s traumatic incident in the past which is related to war is revealed after he faces the World War II and those conditions become the trigger of his personality development.
The objectives of the study are to answer three main problems. First, it is meant to identify Bill Macneil’s characteristics described in the novel. Second, it is meant to analyze what aspects of environmental determinant which influence Bill Macneil’s personality development presented in the novel. Third, it is meant to identify the most significant aspect of environmental determinant which influences his personality development.
This study applies library research to collect data relating to the topic of the study. This study also applies some theories to answer the questions stated in the problem formulation. They are the theory on character and characterization and the theory on personality and personality development. The writer also uses psychological approach because the focus of the study is analyzing the character’s personality development.
The analysis result shows Bill’s characteristics before and after the World War II. His characteristics before World War II can be described as a smart, humorous, and stubborn person. His characteristics during and after World War II can be described as a high tempered person, full of hatred and vengeance. He is also described as person who is able to read the situation well, a loyal and brave person. Bill Macneil’s personality development is influenced by the environmental determinant. Two aspects which give significant influences on Bill Macneil’s personality development are the family and peer environment, but the most significant aspect is the peer environment.
ABSTRAK
HADIARTO KURNIAWAN. The Influence of Environmental Determinant on Bill’s Personality Development in Seward’s the Macneils of Tokyo. Yogyakarta: Jurusan Sastra Inggris, Fakultas Sastra, Universitas Sanata Dharma, 2008.
Kepribadian manusia tidak ada yang sama didunia ini. Berbagai macam kepribadian dipengaruhi oleh faktor keturunan dan pengaruh dari lingkungan sekitarnya. Pengaruh-pengaruh lingkungan memberikan kontribusi terbesar dalam pembentukan kepribadian seseorang. Pengaruh-pengaruh lingkungan tersebut dapat berupa kebudayaan, strata sosial, keluarga dan teman. Berkaitan dengan pernyataan diatas, analisis ini akan dititikberatkan pada pengaruh lingkungan terhadap perkembangan kepribadian dari tokoh Bill Macneil. Pengalaman traumatis di masa lalu dari tokoh Bill Macneil yang berhubungan dengan perang akhirnya terkuak setelah Bill mengalami Perang Dunia ke 2. Kedua hal tersebut menjadi penyebab dari perkembangan kepribadiannya.
Tujuan dari studi ini adalah untuk menjawab tiga permasalahan utama. Pertama, studi ini dimaksudkan untuk menggambarkan tokoh Bill Macneil di novel. Kedua, studi ini dimaksudkan untuk menganalisa aspek-aspek dari pengaruh lingkungan yang mempengaruhi perkembangan kepribadian dari tokoh Bill Macneil seperti yang muncul di novel. Ketiga, studi ini dimaksudkan untuk mengidentifikasi aspek dari pengaruh lingkungan yang paling berpengaruh terhadap perkembangan kepribadian dari tokoh Bill Macneil.
Studi ini menggunakan metode studi pustaka untuk menggumpukan data yang berhubungan dengan topik dari studi ini. Studi ini juga menggunakan beberapa teori yang digunakan untuk menjawab pertanyaan-pertanyaan yang ada di rumusan masalah. Teori-teori yang digunakan adalah teori tentang tokoh dan penokohan dan teori tentang kepribadaian dan perkembangan kepribadian. Penulis juga menggunakan pendekatan psikologis karena fokus dari studi ini adalah untuk menganalisa perkembangan kepribadian dari seorang tokoh.
Hasil analisa menunjukan karakteristik dari tokoh Bill sebelum dan sesudah Perang Dunia ke 2. Karakter Bill sebelum Perang Dunia ke 2 dapat didiskripsikan sebagai orang yang cerdik, humoris, dan keras kepala. Karakter tokoh Bill selama dan sesudah Perang Dunia ke 2 dapat didiskripsikan sebagai pemarah, penuh kebencian dan dendam. Dia juga digambarkan sebagai seseorang yang pandai membaca keadaan, setia, dan pemberani. Perkembangan kepribadian dari tokoh Bill Macneil dipengaruhi oleh pengaruh lingkungan. Dua aspek yang memberikan pengaruh yang cukup signifikan terhadap perkembangan kepribadian dari tokoh Bill Macneil yaitu aspek keluarga dan teman, tapi yang paling sigifikan adalah aspek teman.
CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION
A. Background of the Study
Literature is affecting us in many things such as to entertain us, to please
us and to enrich our experiences of life. Literature also reflects the society of
certain place and time and it has also the implication of human lives. Novel as a
branch of literature also reflects life. Murphy in his book Understanding Unseen:
An Introduction to English Poetry and Novel for Overseas Students states that just
as life is a mixture of joy, disappointment, hope, sorrow, humor, suffering,
success, so the greatest novels reflect life (1972: 133). By reading novels, we can
learn new things in order to enrich our experiences in life. Moreover, there are
many aspects that we can learn, one of them is about the variety of human
personalities through the characters in novel.
In human personality, there is nobody in this world who shares the same
personality. Each person has his or her own personality, and it will be different
from one another. Consequently, an author of a literary work will not create
characters with the same personalities. Every character has his or her own
personality, and this kind of idea makes each character has his or her uniqueness.
The diversity of the personalities may be shaped by several psychological aspects
such as heredity and environment. According to Pervin and John in their book
Personality Theory and Research 7th edition state that there are two determinants;
they are genetic and environmental determinant. Environmental determinant gives
2
the biggest contribution towards someone’s personality. Environmental
determinant consists of culture, social class, family and peers (1997: 9).
The Macneils of Tokyo written by Jack Seward, depicts how the
environmental determinant plays an important role in the character’s personality.
The setting of the novel is in 1941 until 1945 or during World War II era
especially in Tokyo, Japan and the novel tells the story of some Macneil
descendants, especially Bill Macneil, the oldest son of Neil Macneil. Bill Macneil
is an American who lives in Japan since he was a child and until his adolescence.
He has a family which is a mixture of American and Japanese. He has a Japanese
step mother, a Japanese American sister and brother. Bill speaks Japanese as
fluent as he speaks English. The combination of these two cultures gives
significant effects in shaping his personality.
Bill Macneil as one of the dynamic characters in the novel is described as
a person with unique personality. Bill is the son and the heir of a successful
Family Corporation in Japan. In general, he can be considered as a person who
has high social class. Another environmental determinant which influences Bill
Macneil’s personality is the family. Each member of the Macneil family gives
their contribution in shaping Bill’s personality.
The last environmental determinant that plays an important role in shaping
Bill’s personality is peer environment. Peer environment can be an experience
outside home. The experience itself can be in the past or in the present. In his past
life, Bill has a traumatic experience, his childhood’s lover; Ellen Wood is raped
Japanese, Bill’s hatred towards the Japanese starts to grow. In other words, Bill
Macneil’s traumatic experience and his experience during World War II have
changed his belief and attitude especially towards the Japanese. In the war, Bill
sees the cruelty of the Japanese soldier and it only increases his hatred on the
Japanese.
By reading Jack Seward’s The Macneils of Tokyo, the reader can learn that
the environmental determinant is the main role in shaping someone’s personality.
In this thesis, the writer wants to analyze the influence of the environmental
determinant towards Bill Macneil’s personality development.
B. Problem Formulation
There are three problems raised in this analysis. They are:
1. How is Bill Macneil characterized in the novel?
2. What are the aspects of environmental determinant which influence Bill
Macneil’s personality development?
3. What is the most significant aspect of environmental determinant that greatly
shapes Bill Macneil’s personality?
C. Objectives of the Study
This thesis furthermore, aims to give and provide the answer of the
questions that is stated in the problem formulation above. First, it is meant to
identify Bill Macneil’s characteristic described in the novel. Second, it is meant to
4
Macneil’s personality development presented in the novel. Third, it is meant to
identify the most significant aspect of environmental determinant which
influences his personality development.
D. Definition of Terms
1. Personality and Personality Development
Personality is somebody’s set of characteristics, the totality of somebody’s
attitudes, interests, behavioral patterns, emotional responses, social roles, and
other individual traits that endure over long period of time (Webster, 2005:1083).
According to International Encyclopedia of Psychology, personality is
defined as the unique combination of thought, feelings, and behavior that make
the individual distinct from others (1996: 1228).
In Hurlock’s Personality Development, Allport defines that personality
development is a stage in growth of constantly changing and evoking processes
within an individual. Furthermore, it determines his or her uniqueness in speech,
in relations to people and things, in mannerism, in fantasy, and in other ways
directed towards the specific goal to adjust to his or her environment (1974:7).
2. Environmental Determinant
Environmental is something related to the environment (Webster, 2005:
479). While determinant is the factor that causes or influences something
According to Pervin and John in their book Personality Theory and
Research 7th edition state that there are two determinants, they are genetic and
environmental determinant. Environmental determinant gives the biggest
contribution towards someone’s personality. Environmental determinant consists
CHAPTER II
THEORETICAL REVIEW
A. Review of Related Studies
In the absorbing, epic tradition of The Winds of War, the Macneils of
Tokyo is novel of war, passion, and divided family loyalties. The Macneil family
is torn apart by the horrors of war, which is consuming Asia as strife, intrigue, and
romance inevitably follow. The Macneils of Tokyo is a storytelling gem from a
prolific author, a perfect beach read for all lovers of family sagas, historical
fiction, and gripping adventure novels.
<http://www.powells.com/biblio?show=TRADE%20PAPER:NEW:97808048323 66:14.95# reviews> (13 March 2008)
The Macneils of Tokyo is a compelling story of the victims caught in the
maelstrom, and a sad testimony of the survivors who have managed to endure and
it is about the Macneil family who is torn by war. The Macneils of Tokyo is mostly
about the Japanese tradition, culture and society. Furthermore, Seward combines
intrigue, romance, and adventure in World War II especially in Japan. (Editor’s
Note on The Macneils of Tokyo).
A review about the author can be seen from Raymond G. Wilson. He says
that living more than 25 years in Japan, Seward knows it all well and has a lively
gift with words. The Macneils of Tokyo sets the stage for this later period and is
equally delightful, maybe better. The Macneils of Tokyo will be appreciated
especially by those who have walked the streets and alleys of Tokyo; but watch
out for the myth of Japan's atomic bomb. It's an inspiring book and it will be
wonderful if young people read it.
<http://www.amazon.ca/gp/cdp/member-reviews/AJ8UX2AWXM45Q/Raymond G. Wilson> (28 January 2008)
Asima Yuliana Hutajulu (2005), in her undergraduate thesis, analyzes
about the influence of family towards Button Franzon’s personality development
in Thyra Ferre Bjorn’s Papa’s Daughter. Her thesis has similar topic with the
writer, but it is on the different novel. She says that personality development
especially Button Franzon’s is influenced by her family’s background. Button is
described as an introvert and melancholic person, but after she experiences
personality development because of her family background, Button becomes an
extrovert and sanguine person.
This study will try to find out that there are many aspects that can
influence someone’s personality. In other word, this study is meant to reveal Bill
Macneil’s personality development and the factors which influence his personality
development. Since the novel is about the story of some Macneil descendants
especially Bill Macneil, his participation in World War II, and how he sees
Japanese after his past experiences that happened to him in Nanking. Bill Macneil
is a unique character; his personality develops after facing several events in his
life. There are many factors which can influence someone’s personality; one of
them is through environmental determinant. In this study, the writer wants to
show the aspects of environmental determinant which influence Bill Macneil’s
8
B. Review on Related Theories
1. Theory on Character and Characterization
In his book, A Glossary of Literary Terms, M.H. Abrams defines that as
the person presented in a dramatic or narrative work who is interpreted by the
readers as being endowed with a moral and disposition quality that are expressed
in what they say (through dialogue), and by what they do (through actions)
(1981:20). From the definition, the writer’s intention is to see the character’s
quality through his speech and actions towards the other characters in the novel.
The author sometimes do not simply tell the readers what the characters in the
work of art really are, but they give the reader chances to observe it by
themselves.
According to Little is his book Approach of Literature, states that there are
three steps to study character. First is from a person’s basic characteristics. These
can be seen from physical condition of the character including a person age, social
relationship that means the personal relationship with other characters, and the
mental qualities, which is the typical ways of thinking, feeling, and acting (1981:
93).
Second is from a person’s appearance from various points of view. These
include how a character sees himself, how various other characters see him, and
how a person develops or fails to develop during the course of the story.
Third is from a person’s place in the works. It means the treatment of the
treated sympathetically or unsympathetically), a person’s place in the story (a
leading character or minor one), and a person’s relationship to theme.
Perrine in his book Sound and Sense: An Introduction to Poetry divides
character based on their development or changes. There are some characters that
are capable to grow or develop they are called dynamic characters. The
developments of these characters include personalities or outlooks from the
beginning to the end of the story. The change maybe for better or worse, large or
small, but it is something important or basic. There are also some stories in which
the characters remain stable and have the same role at the end of the story as the
beginning. They are described without any details and they are not changed by
circumstances. They are called static characters (1974:71).
While characterization, according to Mary Rohrberger and Samuel H.
Woods in Reading and Writing about Literature is a character which has
particular personalities and physical attributes that differs them from other
characters, that is shaped by the process of an author creates a characters
themselves (1971:20)
M.J. Murphy, in his book Understanding Unseen: An Introduction to
English Poetry and Novel for Overseas Students describes some examples of a
few of the ways in which the author attempts to make his characters more
understandable, and come alive, for readers, so that the readers know and
10
a. Personal description.
The author can describe a person’s physical appearance and clothes. Here the
readers are given the telling details, for example about the face, skin, eyes, and
the clothing, a description of a certain character springs immediately into
focus in reader’s mind and eyes.
b. Character as seen by another.
Instead of describing a character directly the author can describe him trough
the eyes and opinions of another. The reader gets, as it were, a reflected
image.
c. Speech.
The author can give the reader an insight into the character of one of the
person in the book through what that person says. Whenever a 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.
d. Past life.
By letting the reader learn about a person’s past life, the author can give the
reader 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 by the medium of another person.
e. Conversation of others.
The author can give the reader clues to a person’s character through the
f. Reactions.
The reader also can get the person’s character by knowing how that person
reacts to various situations and events.
g. Direct comment.
The author can describe or comment on a person’s character directly.
h. Thoughts.
The author can give the reader the direct knowledge of what person is thinking
of. In this aspect he is able to do what the reader can not do in real life which
is he can tell the reader what different people are thinking. In the novel, we
accept this. The reader then is in privileged position; he has, as it were, a
secret listening device plugged in to the inmost thoughts of a person in the
novel.
i. Mannerism
The author can describe a person’s mannerisms or habits which may also tell
us something about his character.
According to Richard M. Eastman in his book entitled A guide to the
Novel, characterization is divided into three elements, which are the selective
development, the moral stature and the psychology.
Selective development refers to the way the author describes the
characters. It is done through the term “flatness” and “roundness”. The flatness of
character intends for portraying a character when he is more a type than an
individual (1965: 17). The flat character is not likely to engage in inner conflicts,
12
character acquires his own traits that define him as a person. He is in tension, he is
also dynamic (1965: 18). The roundness of the character aims to gain the readers’
sympathy because they illustrate the uncertainly, the sufferings, and the needs
they face.
Moral stature is the element within the characters that involve the readers’
attentions. The goodness and the badness of the characters are measured by the
readers through popular morality as a reference. It depends on the tendency
towards such virtues and vices and the powers or the properties that the characters
can bring to bear in doing good or evil (1965: 20).
Psychology is the element of the character in which a character must be
described to have a mental life from which his choices are generated in some
connected way. The traits of the character‘s mental life have much to do with his
vitally and authenticity, and it affects the reader’s engagement with him. In
analyzing the character’s mental life, the precise questions to rise refer to the main
desires or traits that move him and the opposing traits that put him under strain
(1965: 23).
2. Theory on the Relation between Psychology and Literature
According to Rene Wellek and Austin Warren in their book Theory of
Literature define the psychology of literature as “the psychological study of the
writer as a type of individual, or the study of the psychological types and laws
presented within the works of literature, or finally, the effects of literature upon its
process of a work of literature. Characters in novels and plays are judged to be
‘physiologically’ true. In other words that the characters need to be depicted as
real creatures that have real personalities.
Kalish states in The Psychology of Human Behavior that literature holds
the mirror up to the man. This sentence means that an author make the characters
seem more life-like than the real people whose behavior the psychologist attempt
to describe. The authors can use the understanding provided by psychologist to
enrich the characteristics of the characters and psychologist can gain their
understanding of human behavior by drawing from the deep sensitivity from good
author (1974: 8).
From the statements above, the relationship between literature and
psychology is closely related, because the characters in the literature have
psychological side. In other words, it can be said that the analysis of literary
works may reflect certain psychological aspects. There are many psychological
aspects which we can learn from characters in the literature especially in novel,
but in this study, the writer only focuses on one psychological aspect which is
personality development caused by the environmental determinant.
3. Theory on Personality and Personality Development
According Hurlock in his book Personality Development, she stated that
personality is derived from Latin word, persona, which means ‘mask’. Among the
14
was later adopted by the Romans to whom persona denoted ‘as one appears to
others,’ not as one actually is (1974: 6).
As Hall and Lindzey state in Theories of Personality, an adequate
understanding of human behaviors will develop from the study of the whole
person. An individual personality can be assessed by the effectiveness with which
he is able to conduct positive reaction from variety of person under different
circumstances. These statements assure us that personality may be comprehended
by examining an individual’s behavior (1957: 6).
Medinnus and Johnson state in their book Child and Adolescent
Psychology: Behavior and Development, Personality development is ‘the
changing of basic attitudes and beliefs’. When an individual lives in the family
and environment, he or she happens to deal with the morals or values in the
society. He or she considers the ethics of his community and larger society, the
wishes of the family, and the attitudes of his friends to be applied to him or
herself. Sometimes the casual opinions of family and society or others greatly
disturb this person, and after considering the views of others and trying out roles,
this person may change his attitudes or views. This happens to be the development
of someone’s personality (1969:550).
According to Allport in Hurlock’s Personality Development, personality
development is a stage in growth of constantly changing and evoking processes
within an individual. Furthermore, it determines his or her uniqueness in speech,
in relations to people and things, in mannerism, in fantasy, and in other ways
Hurlock in Personality Development states that human life consists of two
aspects, which are individual and social aspects. For the individual aspects, it is
concerned with physical changes and human’s personality development. Human’s
personality development itself is influenced by two factors. First is human’s early
experience within family. Second is important events happening outside the home
(1974: 19-20).
Cole in his book entitled Psychology of Adolescence states that personality
is not merely fixed by heredity. Sometimes, it is influenced and supported by the
environmental pressures. It is also quickly affected by illness, decease or unusual
emotional strain (1956: 156). His opinion about the personality is not merely fixed
by the heredity is supported by Pervin and John. They state in their book
Personality Theory and Research 7th edition state that there are two determinants;
they are genetic or heredity and environmental determinant. There are difficulties
in fundamental scientific study on human heredity since the experiments are
barred by our moral code. Environmental determinant gives the biggest
contribution towards someone’s personality. Environmental determinant consists
of culture, social class, family and peers (1997: 9)
First is culture. Someone’s experiences in a particular culture are
significant environmental determinant. By having these experiences, someone will
have a certain personality characteristic. It is because of cultural diversity
influences every aspects of our existence. For examples, it influences the way we
define our needs, our experiences of different emotions, the way we express what
16
that a person does is culturally determined. This powerful influence of culture has
attained maximum effect. Frustrations and negative feelings often occur as they
face cultural rules and expectations. The significance of a culture in determining
behavior is seen in the concept of ‘social clocks’. Not only culturally determined
behavior become a part of the individual in certain time (Corsini, 1994: 369).
Second is social class. Social classes, whether lower class or upper class,
working class or professional, also has an important role in shaping our
personality. Social class factors help people to determine their own status, the
roles they perform, the duties they are bound to, and the privileges they enjoy.
These factors influence how individuals see themselves and how they recognize
members of other social classes. The same as cultural factors, social factors also
influence the way people define situations and the way they respond to them
(1997: 11). All known societies have some type of stratification system that
represents the hierarchical arrangement of status, prestige, resources, privileges,
and power within society. Social classes are the relatively homogenous groupings
that share similar levels of status and resources in the stratification system. Each
class tends to develop its own ideology and social norms. As a result, social
classes may differ on characteristics ranging from parenting style to political
ideas.
Third is family. Parents may be warm and loving or hostile and rejecting,
overprotective or possessive or aware of their children’s need for freedom and
autonomy. Parents may also influence their children’s behavior through three
they selectively reward behavior. Home or family is a person primary
environment from the day he was born until the day he dies. While it may change
over the years, marriage, divorce, death, and birth of new members, the family
unit and pattern of living that meets the needs of its members remain relatively
constant. Directly, the family influences come from identification, from
unconscious imitation of attitudes, behavior patterns, and from the mirror image
of self one develops by viewing oneself through the eyes of family members
(1997: 12). According to Kalish in his book The Psychology of Human Behavior
states that family’s influence could be observed in these both direct and indirect
influences.
(i) Direct influence
The direct influence came from the child training methods which were
used by the parents to shape the personality patterns or form communication of
interesting attitudes and values between family members. Parents might direct
their children to adapt to their new situations and told them to behave well
towards people or other living thing around him (1974: 352).
(ii)Indirect influence
The indirect influence came from the identification with the family
members whom the children admire, respect, and love. It also came from people
whom the children either consciously or unconsciously imitate. It happened
commonly during early years of life when the children were still in young ages.
Children might easily imitate their parents whom they were constantly associated
18
The last environmental determinant is peer environment. Sometimes we
find that people from the same family have different personality. It is because they
have different experiences outside home (1997: 13). Someone’s experience can be
in the past or in the present and the experience itself can be good or bad. The past
time experience which can influence someone’s personality can be the traumatic
one, such as being a victim of sexual abuse or facing a horrible event like world
war. Variety of traumatic experiences may leave their impressions on a child’s
future development. Freud in Pervin and John’s Personality Theory and Research
7th edition states that one’s early events in life are important for his personality
development (1997: 104). People might find that the effects of traumatic
experiences are different from one to another. It is because those effects depend
on personal characteristic.
However, the role of early experiences might also depend on the intensity
of particular experiences, their duration, and the level to which contradictory
experiences occurred earlier and later. Besides influencing someone’s personality,
past experiences are also influencing someone’s behavior. Someone’s present
behavior can be influenced by experiences in the remote past or the recent past,
and those experiences might have long lasting effects in shaping someone’s
personality (1997: 107).
In this study, the writer will use those theories of personality and
personality development to analyze Bill Macneil’s personality development and
what aspects of environmental determinant which influences his personality
C. Theoretical Framework
In the previous chapter, there are three problems to analyze in order to
discuss the personality development of the character Bill Macneil in Jack
Seward’s The Macneils of Tokyo. The first problem formulation is about the
characteristics of Bill Macneil. In order to answer this question, the theories of
character and characterization are used to describe Bill Macneil’s character.
The theories of personality and personality development will be used to
analyze Bill Macneil’s personality development and to identify the aspects of
CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY
A. Object of Study
The novel is written by Jack Seward entitled The Macneils of Tokyo. It
consists of 34 chapters and one chapter of prologue and epilogue. In the novel the
author presents the story in 247 pages. It was published in 2000 by Tuttle
Publishing Boston. The Macneils of Tokyo is a novel of intrigue, romance, and
adventure in World War II Japan and China, is a lively continuation of Jack
Seward’s acclaimed novel The Macneils of Nagasaki. Treading the fine line
between historical fiction and historical interpretation, Seward follows the
Macneil family, long established in Japan, through the World War II fires of
conflicting loyalties and allegiances, duties and desires, violence and destruction.
In Seward’s biography, the author of the Macneils of Tokyo, Jack Seward
an American who lives in Japan for 55 years, has written 44 books, including
textbooks, novels, travel guides, and cultural commentaries on Japan. In 1986, the
Emperor of Japan awarded him the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Third Class, for
a lifetime of contribution to Japanese-American friendship.
The story is started when Bill Macneil, an American who is born and
spends most his time in Japan, has a terrible incident. The Japanese soldier rapes
his childhood’s lover, Ellen Wood. After the incident, Bill thinks only about
revenge towards the Japanese. He hates the Japanese although he has born and
spends most of his time in Japan. After the United States declares war against
Japan in World War II, Bill joins the US army. He thinks that World War II is the
right moment to pay his revenge towards the Japanese who has raped his
childhood lover.
B. Approach of the Study
In order to have a profound analysis on personality development of Bill
Macneil and what environmental determinant that is influenced, the psychological
approach is used by the writer. In Guerin’s A Hand Book of Critical Approaches
to Literature, he states that the psychological approach is the most controversial,
the most absurd and the least appreciated. How ever the psychological approach
can be fascinating and rewarding since it is a proper application to interpret a
literary works can create deeper understanding on the researcher. It is also an
excellent tool for reading beneath the lives, which has limitation in psychological
interpretation. It can provide many profound clues towards soling a work’s
thematic and symbolic mystery (1999:126).
Mary Rohrberger and Samuel H. Woods in Reading and Writing about
Literature psychological approach is the effort to locate and demonstrate certain
recurrent patterns, but a different body of knowledge that is psychology. This
approach uses the psychological theories to explain human motivation,
personality, and behavior patterns in literary objects (1971: 65)
The reason why the writer chooses this approach in analyzing the topic is
because the writer studies the psychological aspects especially on the personality
22
interpret the psychological aspects that the main character has. Therefore, the
psychological approach will be very helpful to answer the questions that appear in
this study.
C. Method of Study
To achieve the objective of the analysis, the valid data is needed.
Therefore, the writer employed library research to collect data relating to the topic
of the study. The writer used two sources to support the study. They were the
primary data and secondary data.
The primary data that the writer used was Jack Seward’s The Macneils of
Tokyo, meanwhile the writer also used the secondary data from various books.
Those books are Abrams’ A Glossary of Literary Terms, Cole’s Psychology of
Adolescence, Eastman’s A guide to the Novel, Hurlock’s Personality
Development, Hall and Lindzey’s Theories of Personality, M.J. Murphy’s
Understanding Unseen: An Introduction to English Poetry and Novel for
Overseas Students, Little’s Approach of Literature, Pervin and John’s Personality
Theory and Research 7th edition, Wellek and Austin Warren’s Theory of
Literature. The writer was also browsing some information in the internet in
relation with the novel Seward’s The Macneils of Tokyo.
First of all, it was reading and rereading the novel written by Jack Seward
entitled The Macneils of Tokyo until the writer got full comprehension of it, the
writer also formulate problems into questions. After that the writer was focusing
Secondly, this study obtained theories on character-characterization,
personality and personality development. The theories were used in order to make
deeper analysis on how the personality development and what environmental
determinant that influenced the character of Bill Macneil.
Thirdly, the writer answered the questions in the problem formulation. In
answering the first problem formulation the theories of character and
characterization by Murphy in Understanding Unseen: An Introduction to English
Poetry and Novel for Overseas Students, and Abrams’ A Glossary of Literary
Terms are used. After finding the character and characterization of Bill Macneil,
the writer tried to answer the second and third problem formulations using the
theories of personality and personality development as it stated in the previous
CHAPTER IV ANALYSIS
The focus of the study is the influence of the environmental determinant
towards Bill Macneil’s personality development. In the first part, the writer wants
to analyze the characteristics of Bill Macneil. The second part is to analyze what
aspects of environmental determinant that influences Bill Macneil’s personality
development. The third part is to analyze what is the most significant aspect of
environmental development that plays the important role towards Bill Macneil’s
personality development.
A. Characterization of Bill Macneil
In order to understand Bill Macneil’s personality development, the writer
wants to give brief description of Bill Macneil’s characterization in order to reveal
his personality. Bill can be categorized into dynamic or round character, since his
character develops from beginning of the story until the end of the story. His
characteristics before and after he experienced World War II are quite different. In
this part, the writer firstly wants to analyze Bill Macneil’s characteristics before
he experienced World War II, and then his characteristics after he experienced
World War II.
1. Characterization of Bill Macneil before He Experienced World War II. From his personal description, Bill Macneil is described as a smart person.
This description can be seen from his conversation with his father.
Bill Macneil squared his shoulders. “You want to talk about the coming war, don’t you, Dad?”
The father smiled at his son. He could always rely on Bill to know what was on his father’s mind. (Seward, 2000:2).
The quotation above shows that Bill is a smart person; he knows his father well,
Bill recognizes that his father is in difficult situation, Neil wants to say something
important to the other members of the family but Neil feels very hard to express it.
Bill knows it and then he guesses that his father wants to talk about the coming
war. The quotation above also shows that Bill is a person who is aware of his
surrounding by reading someone’s gesture.
Bill’s smartness can be seen from the conversation between him and his
college’s friend when they are talking about the war.
“Hey, Macneil. You signed up yet?” “Not yet.”
“Better hurry. War will be over.’
Bill didn’t argue. He walked on, knowing the war would be hard and long. He would like to have seen Japan beaten and ground into earth immediately, but he knew the Japanese too well. They would put up a stubborn resistance. (Seward, 2000: 42).
Bill knows the Japanese well, and they will not go easy on this war. So, Bill does
not need to hurry in joining the army. He takes his time to study at college and
then, when he thinks that the time is right, he will join the army. Instead of
debating with his friend, he walks away from his friend because he knows that the
war is still far away from over.
Another Bill’s smartness can be seen from the way David Spencer sees
Bill Macneil.
26
The quotation shows that Bill is very fluent in speaking Japanese, because of his
fluency, he can be regarded as a native if his face looks like Japanese. This special
ability is very rare, that an American speaks Japanese as fluent as the native.
Because of his ability in speaking Japanese, Bill is chosen by Spencer to be the
leader of the ATIS.
From Bill Macneil’s conversation with his sister, Sarah, it can be seen that
Bill can be characterized as a humorous person.
“Alright, I admit it,” Sarah said, laughing. “I’m in love. Madly, widely in love. Nathan Blum is the most marvelous man. Gentle, intelligent, so dark and….”
“Why do women prefer dark men? Bill asked with mock petulance. He and his father were blond, as was Bill’s long-dead mother, Valerie.”
“Well, let me set you straight, dear brother of mine. His father owns most of the movie theaters in Darien.”
“As well as most of the opium dens, gambling halls, and good-time houses.”
Sarah’s cheeks flushed. (Seward, 2000:5).
From the quotation above, it shows that Bill likes to make joke with his sister. He
mocks his sister’s lover as the son of person who owns the gambling halls, good
time houses. He also makes joke about Nathan’s skin which is dark.
Bill Macneil is a caring person. It can be seen from the conversation
between him and Sarah Macneil.
Bill shifted his attention to his sister. “Speaking of disappearing trading posts, Sarah, Dad’s right. If the war starts, Manchuria is the last place you want to be.” (Seward, 2000: 4).
Bill cares about his sister’s safety when the war starts. He wants Sarah out of
Manchuria, because it will be dangerous for her safety. Bill agrees with his father
that every member of the Macniels has to go to America, because in Manchuria is
Bill Macneil’s caring attitude is shown to his lover, Helma Graff. He does
not want Helma feels hot during the summer. In Japan, especially in Tokyo the
sun in summer season can be as hot as hell.
Bill nodded. “And if a Miss Helma Graf comes looking for me, ask her to wait in my cabin, will you? And turn the fans on in there, please.”
The captain saluted. “I’ll tell the steward to place a block of ice in front of one of the fans, sir.” (Seward, 2000: 16).
Based on the quotation above, it can be seen that Bill cares about Helma. He
wants Helma feels comfortable during her visit in his cabin since the weather in
summer seems not too friendly for every one in Japan at that time.
Another Bill’s caring attitude is shown towards others although he does
not know who they are. When Bill realizes that there is a woman who needs his
help, he feels glad to help her.
The problem, Bill Macneil quickly realized, was that her audience did not comprehend what she was trying to get across to them. Helma had the vocabulary, but her grammatical structures were shaky and her pronunciation execrable. (Seward, 2000: 20).
The quotation shows that Bill helps a woman who is having difficulties in
communicating with the Japanese. Bill helps that woman by translating her
English into good Japanese. Later on, Bill knows her name is Helma Graf and she
will be his lover. Helma has Swiss citizenship and she is on a missionary act in
Japan.
Bill Macneil can be described as a stubborn person. He insists to join the
army although he has a bad ankle injury when Bill is practicing parachuting.
Helma’s expression sobered, alarm in her eyes.
28
“No, no! Thee must not go to war! Oh, no.” (Seward, 2000: 27).
From the conversation between Bill Macneil and his lover Helma Graff above, it
shows that Bill is a stubborn person. Bill insists to join the army although he has a
bad ankle. When Helma begs him to cancel his plan to join the army, but Bill
insists on joining the army as soon as the war starts.
In general, Bill Macneil’s characteristics before he experienced World
War II can be described as a smart person, has a good sense of humor and caring
towards other. Bill is also described as a stubborn person.
2. Characterization of Bill Macneil During and After He Experienced World War II.
Bill Macneil’s characteristics during and after he experienced World War
II is quite different with his characteristic before the World War II. Bill Macneil’s
characteristics during and after he experienced World War II can be seen as below.
Bill is described as a high tempered man. He can easily lose his temper
without any hesitation. It can be seen from his conversation with Captain David
Spencer.
He said, “Have you read your mail yet? The letters are from your father and Helma Graf.”
“What the devil! Did you read my mail? You have no Damned right to” Bill was furious. (Seward, 2000: 43)
The quotation above explains that Bill easily loses his temper towards David; he
just burst out his words without gives David a chance for further explanation. He
explains that at the war time like this that kind of action is excusable, to censoring
mails from abroad. David also says that he does not read any of that mail.
Another conversation which leads into Bill’s anger is when he is asked a
simple question by Major Hutton, a psychologist, during Bill’s psychological test
before he enters the army.
“You were born in a foreign country-which whom we are now at war. We have to be careful in deciding where to use you in our war effort.” Major Hutton said.
“Why?”
“I’ll ask the questions, Macneil, You just sit there and answer them.” “Screw that”
“Pardon my language, Major, but fuck that. If I have questions to ask, I’ll damned well ask them.” (Seward, 2000: 71).
Based on quotation above, it can be clearly seen that Bill has a problem dealing
with his temper. He often uses dirty words to show his emotions. The Major is
just curious about Bill’s position, whether Bill will choose America or Japan.
When the Major tries to ask it, suddenly Bill loses his temper.
Another quotation that shows Bill can easily lose his temper can be seen in
his conversation between him and an infantry captain.
“Hey, Macneil, I hear you got a little Nip girlfriend on Radio Tokyo.” Stung, Macneil turned on the infantry captain. “Listen, you son of a bitch. The woman you’re talking about is a Caucasian. She’s a Swiss neutral. And she’s not my girlfriend. I had a couple dates with her in the summer of 1941, that’s all. And I’m not even sure this so-called Little Orphan Annie is the same person.” (Seward, 2000: 128).
From the quotation above, it is clearly seen that Bill loses his temper when his
friend making fun of him. His friend is just asking about the rumor about the
relationship between Bill and the announcer on Radio Tokyo, Little Orphan Annie.
30
pretends not to know her. He feels uncertain about his relationship with Helma
and he does not want anyone know about it. The only way to hide it is by denying
the rumor and he always loses his temper when anyone talks about it.
Bill Macneil is also described as a person with full of hatred and
vengeance. It can be seen through the conversation between him and Captain
David Spencer.
“You’ll lead a team of translators and interpreters in the Pacific.”
Macneil brided. “Why go to paratroop school to sit at a desk and translate documents? That’s not how I want to fight the goddamned Japanese.” (Seward, 2000: 48).
Macneil was silent for a moment. I hate them all right-for something that they did in Nanking-“ (Seward, 2000: 49).
The quotation above shows that Bill has a certain amount of dislike towards the
Japanese. He decides to join the army in order to kill as many Japanese as he
could. Bill starts to hate the Japanese after the Nanking tragedy. Bill has a
Christmas vacation with Mark Wood’s sister named Ellen Wood. At that time the
Chinese are having a war against Japanese and the Chinese are in the losing side.
Chinese soldiers who surrender are being massacred. The Chinese are being lined
up by the Japanese on the Yangtze River which is located near the Woods’ house
and then the Japanese machine guns open up against the Chinese soldiers. The
other Japanese soldiers search for women and rape them. Ellen feels terrified and
she thinks that she must get out of Nanking. Ellen leaves the Woods’ house and a
few days later she is found bruised and nearly naked. She never speaks again and
she has to live in mental institution in New Hampshire (Seward, 2000: 74-75).
Bill Macneil’s hatred towards the Japanese can be seen from Helma’s
Another cause of concern about Ship was that he was becoming more outspoken in his support of the United States in the present conflict. He held an American passport and his brother (Bill) was extremely anti-Japanese, so that was expected, but after all, they were living in Japan, and Ship-unlike his brother Bill-was half-Japanese. (Seward, 2000: 62)
From Helma’s point of view, it is clearly seen that Bill is extremely anti-Japanese.
At first, Helma does not know the reason between Bill’s hatred towards the
Japanese, but after she finds out about the Nanking tragedy, she finally
understands the reason why Bill hates the Japanese so much. Helma can not
justify that reason, because according to her, every human should love each other
and there is not such a thing named hatred.
Another example that shows Bill Macneil’s hatred towards Japanese can
be seen from David Spencer’s conversation.
“Honda looks like a good man, Bill,” Spencer told him later.
“He’s tough and he has a good grip of the language and he hates the Japanese as much as you do. I’m going to try to get him appointed to your team. (Seward, 2000: 77).
The quotation illustrates how Bill Macneil hates the Japanese and he is not alone.
There is a Japanese American named Slats Honda who hates the Japanese as
much as Bill does.
Four months is combat had only increased Macneil’s dislike of the Japanese. Slats Honda seemed to hold even more hatred for the gooks, as he called them, than his superior. They had both witnessed many Japanese atrocities. (Seward, 2000: 113).
From quotation above shows that Bill’s hatred towards the Japanese is increasing
after four months in the war. During his several months in war, Bill hears the
news that Sarah becomes the protégée of a high rank Japanese officer. Bill also
32
bayonet practice by the Japanese. Then, he sees his compatriot’s head is separated
from the body; his head is placed on the man’s lap with his genitalia is stuffed in
his compatriot’s mouth. This kind of cruelty is intolerable and makes Bill’s blood
rushes in anger (Seward, 2000: 129).
Bill’s hatred and vengeance towards the Japanese is enormous so that
when he is trying to sleep, he thinks about what he just did, killed many Japanese
until he can not count it anymore. He does not regret it but he feels satisfied of
what he just did.
When Bill Macneil lay down, he fully expected to sleep the slumber of the dead. He had never gone through a day like this one. Here he had been in the line since mid-morning. He had killed men beyond counting. His emotions had run the gamut from battle lust through fear to grim satisfaction. (Seward, 2000: 125).
Bill Macneil’s hatred towards Japanese can also be seen through his
thought. He is dreaming about the Japanese during his sleep.
His sleep would be, he thought, no more then blank unconsciousness. But that was not to be. Instead, he dreamed of Helma Graf in disconnected segments. He held open his arms to her, but Helma rejected him, turning away to wrap herself in a Rising Sun flag. Ten he dreamed he had just married her, but when she lifted her wedding veil for nuptial kiss, he found himself face to face with the poster of caricature of a Jap soldier’s features, buck teeth, slanted eyes and all. Next, they were on a dance floor, and he wanted to dance the tango with her, but she kept slipping out his arms to dance with Japanese men. (Seward, 2000: 129).
From the quotation above, it also shows Bill’s enormous hatred towards the
Japanese. In the real life, Bill hates the Japanese and because of the enormous
hatred, it is coming also in his dream. Everything that he sees in his dream seems
that the Japanese is teasing and playing him, everything that he sees has the
Bill Macneil’s extreme dislike towards the Japanese can also be seen
through his thought.
Macneil stood at the window of his second-floor bedroom and cheered the oncoming waves. Come on, you bastards! he thought. Bomb the shit out of them. Never mind of me. One more good pounding and maybe the whole damn country will call quits. But even as he had the thought, Macneil knew in his heart the Japanese would not quit. He hated them and at the same time admired them for that. (Seward, 2000: 129).
Based on the quotation above, it can be seen that Bill’s hatred towards Japanese is
enormous so that it is not a problem for him that he will lose his life during the
bombing by the US as long as the Japanese will quit from the war.
Bill Macneil is a loyal and brave man. It can be seen from the conversation
between him and Helma Graf. Although he has a bad ankle, he insists to join with
the army.
“If the wars starts,” Bill went on, “it’s certain I’ll join the army.” “But they won’t take thee with that bad ankle,” she protested. “I won’t tell them.”
“No, no! Thee must not go to war! Oh, no.”
“If my country goes to war, I’ll do my duty. You know that, Helma. We’ve been over this often enough. (Seward, 2000: 27).
The quotation explains that even though Bill is born and spends most of his time
in Japan, he still considers United States as his country. He is willing to fight for
the United States with his bad ankle. He wants to show that an American who
lives in Japan for most of his life is also loyal to his country. Bill’s loyalty
towards the United States can not be questioned.
His loyalty is also shown when Bill is in Washington to see the president
of the United States. He wants to tell about the information that he got.
34
hundred thousand Japanese should be incinerated, Macneil’s decision would not confront him with any ethical dilemma. After all, he was a loyal American. (Seward, 2000: 266).
The quotation shows that Bill is in a doubt whether he has to choose which side
who is going to be sacrificed, the Japanese or the Americans. But Bill is a loyal
American so he chooses to give the report of his job about the development of the
Japanese nuclear bomb.
Bill is also described as a brave man. This description can be seen through
the conversation between him and his commander.
“ATIS? What the fuck is that?
“Allied Translator and Interpreter Service, sir. As you requested.” “Yeah, right. You came in yesterday with the bunch of Nips.”
Here we go again, Macneil thought, taking a deep breath. “Colonel, my men are Americans and I’ll ask you to not to call them Nips-or Japs.” “They look like Japs to me, and I’ll call them whatever I fucking well please.”
“You do that, Colonel, and I’ll send a radio today getting me and my team assigned elsewhere.’ (Seward, 2000: 107).
From the quotation, it can be seen that Bill is a brave person. Bill is threatening
his commander to get his team out of Pacific if the commander keeps calling
Bill’s teammates with the term Japs. Macneil’s thinks that his team consists of
American although may of them are half Japanese and half American but still they
consider America as their country.
Another Bill’s bravery can be seen from his conversation with his friend
Slats Honda before both of them are parachuting.
Bill Macneil and Slats Honda stood up to buckle the two groin straps of their chute harnesses, then secured the third strap across their chest.
“Jesus, Bill,” Honda complained, addressing him without a title for the first time. “I’m scared shitless. Do I really have to do this?”
The quotation shows that Bill remains calm before he jumps from the plane while
his friend is scared. As a leader Bill shows his bravery by saying to his compatriot
that parachuting is very easy and nothing to worry about.
Bill Macneil’s bravery can be seen also in his conversation with his
compatriot after they are landed in the middle of jungle in the midnight.
“Decaying vegetation, Slats. Mount up. We want to be a couple of miles away from here by first light.”
“Walk through this shit at night, Captain? Have you lost your mind?” “Stay here if you like,” Macneil said, starting to push through the vegetation toward the center of the island. He heard the sounds of the sergeant coming along, as he knew he would. (Seward, 2000: 137).
The quotation shows that although his compatriot is scared to walk in the jungle in
the middle of the night, Bill remains calm and starts walking through the jungle.
Bill Macneil is described as a person who is smart or quick to read the
situation. It can be seen on his action when he knows that the interpreter
misinterprets the peace treaty.
He hurried to find Colonel Mashbir. “They’ve got a problem out there, Colonel.”
Mashbir jumped in his feet. “What’s wrong?”
“One of our translators must have used watakushi for chin in the phase, “I, Hirohito, Emperor of Japan…”
“Jesus H. Christ!” Mashbir exploded. (Seward, 2000: 290).
Bill realizes that someone misinterpret the peace treaty between the Japanese with
the American by looking on the expression of Japanese’s delegations which are
pale after they read on certain statement. The interpreter uses the term watakushi
rather than chin in order to adore the Emperor. In Japan, the Japanese knows that
the Emperor has a certain term in order to adore him. The term watakushi is used
