i
THE MEANING OF
PAULO AND CHRIS’
FORTY-DAY
JOURNEY IN THE MOJAVE DESERT AS SEEN IN PAULO
COELHO’S
THE VALKYRIES
A SARJANA PENDIDIKAN THESIS
Presented as Partial Fullfillment of the Requirements to Obtain the Sarjana Pendidikan Degree
in English Language Education
By
F.X. Hening Pamungkas Jagaddhita Student Number: 071214146
ENGLISH LANGUAGE EDUCATION STUDY PROGRAM DEPARTMENT OF LANGUAGE AND ARTS EDUCATION FACULTY OF TEACHERS TRAINING AND EDUCATION
SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY YOGYAKARTA
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A Sarjana Pendidikan Thesis
THE MEANING OF PAULO AND CHRIS
’
FORTY-DAY
JOURNEY IN THE MOJAVE DESERT AS SEEN IN PAULO
COELHO’S
THE VALKYRIES
By
F.X. Hening Pamungkas Jagaddhita Student Number: 071214146
Approved by
Sponsor
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A Sarjana Pendidikan Thesis on
THE MEANING OF PAULO AND CHRIS
’
FORTY-DAY
JOURNEY IN THE MOJAVE DESERT AS SEEN IN PAULO
COELHO’S
THE VALKYRIES
By:
F.X. Hening Pamungkas Jagaddhita Student Number: 071214146
Defended before the Board of Examiners on 10 June 2014
and Declared Acceptable
Board of Examiners
Chairperson P. Kuswandono, Ph.D. _________________
Secretary Drs. Barli Bram, M.Ed., Ph.D. _________________ Member Drs. Ant. Herujiyanto, M.A., Ph.D. _________________ Member Ag. Hardi Prasetyo, S.Pd., M.A. _________________ Member Drs. Barli Bram, M.Ed., Ph.D. _________________
Yogyakarta, 10 June 2014
Faculty of Teachers Training and Education Sanata Dharma Unversity
Dean,
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STATEMENT OF WORK’S ORIGINALITY
I honestly declare that this thesis, which I have written, does not contain the work or parts of the work of other people, except those cited in the quotations and the references, as a scientific paper should.
Yogyakarta, 10 June 2014 The writer
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LEMBAR PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN
PUBLIKASI KARYA ILMIAH UNTUK KEPENTINGAN AKADEMIS
Yang bertanda tangan di bawah ini, saya mahasiswa Sanata Dharma:
Nama : F.X. Hening Pamungkas Jagaddhita Nomor Mahasiswa : 071214146
Demi pengembangan ilmu pengetahuan, saya memberikan kepada Perpustakaan Universitas Sanata Dharma karya ilmiah saya yang berjudul:
THE MEANING OF PAULO AND CHRIS’ FORTY-DAY JOURNEY IN
THE MOJAVE DESERT SAS SEEN IN PAULO COELHO’S THE VALKYRIES
beserta perangkat yang diperlukan (bila ada). Dengan demikian saya memberikan kepada Perpustakaan Sanata Dharma hak untuk menyimpan, mengalihkan dalam bentuk media lain, mengelolanya dalam bentuk pangkalan data, mendistribusikan secara terbatas, dan mempublikasikannya di Internet atau media lain untuk kepentingan akademis tanpa perlu meminta ijin dari saya maupun memberikan royalti kepada saya selama tetap mencantumkan nama saya sebagai penulis.
Demikian pernyataan ini saya buat dengan sebenarnya.
Dibuat di Yogyakarta Pada tanggal: 10 Juni 2014 Yang menyatakan
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ABSTRACT
Jagaddhita, F.X. Hening Pamungkas. 2014. The Meaning of Paulo and Chris’ Forty-Day Journey in the Mojave Desert as Seen in Paulo Coelho’s the Valkyries. Yogyakarta: English Education Study Program, Department of Language and Arts Education, Faculty of Teachers Training and Education, Sanata Dharma University.
This study discusses The Valkyries, a literary work written by a Brazilian novelist, Paulo Coelho. The Valkyries tells the forty-day journey in the Mojave Desert conducted by Paulo and Chris in order to see Paulo‘s angel; a fictional character in a form of nature that guide a person‘s life.
The objective of the study is to see the true meaning of the forty-day journey in the Mojave Desert conducted by the main characters, Paulo and Chris. There are two problems to be discussed in this study (1) ―How are Paulo and Chris portrayed in the novel?‖ and (2) ―What is the true meaning of Paulo and Chris‘s journey in desert as seen in the novel?‖.
The primary datum of this study is the novel itself while the secondary data are taken from related books, articles, and the internet. This study uses five theories such as theories of character and methods of characterization, theory of psychology and psychological approach, theory of motivation, theory of symbol, and theory of love.
There are two things that can be concluded after analysing the novel. They are the portrayal of Paulo and Chris and the true meaning of Paulo and Chris‘ journey in Mojave Dessert. In the portrayal of the main characters, Paulo is depicted as a magus who goes to Mojave Desert to see his angel. He is portrayed as a careless and loving person. Moreover, he is also portrayed as a strong-willed man. Paulo has a faithful-loving wife named Chris. Chris is a brave and strong woman who has a good instinct and a strong will.
The literal meaning of Paulo and Chris‘s journey in Mojave Desert is to complete Paulo task‘s given by J., his master and to converse with his angel. As for the deeper meaning of their journey is not just to converse with the angel. In the process of learning how to converse with his angel, Paulo also learns to accept forgiveness and love and to achieve self-actualization.
Finally, future researchers may explore more about feminism aspects for this novel also deals with women‘s struggle. In addition, religion aspects can also be another interesting topic to discuss. As for English teaching-learning activity, this novel can be used as a material to teach Prose.
vii ABSTRAK
Jagaddhita, F.X. Hening Pamungkas. 2014. The Meaning of Paulo and Chris’ Forty-Day Journey in the Mojave Desert as Seen in Paulo Coelho’s the Valkyries. Yogyakarta: Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris, Jurusan Bahasa dan Seni, Fakultas Keguruan dan Ilmu Pendidikan, Universitas Sanata Dharma.
Studi ini membahas novel The Valkyries, sebuah karya sastra yg ditulis oleh novelis Brasil, Paulo Coelho. The Valkyries mengisahkan tentang perjalanan Paulo dan Chris selama empat puluh hari di Gurun Mojave untuk mencari malaikat Paulo: sebuah karakter fiktif dalam bentuk alam yang membimbing hidup seseorang.
Tujuan dari studi ini adalah untuk menemukan makna yang sebernarnya dari perjalanan empat puluh hari tersebut yang dilakukan oleh karakter utama, Paulo dan Chris. Ada dua rumusan masalah yang dibahas dalam studi ini (1) “Bagaimanakah penggambaran Paulo dan Chris dalam novel?” dan (2) “Apakah makna yang sebenarnya dari perjalanan Paulo dan Chris selama empat puluh hari di Gurun Mojave?”
Sumber utama dalam penelitian ini adalah novel itu sendiri sedangkan sumber tambahan yang digunakan diambil dari buku, artikel, dan internet. Studi ini menggunakan lime teori; teori karakter dan metode perwatakan, teori psikologi dan pendekatan psikologis, teori motivasi, teori cinta, dan teori simbol.
Setelah menganalisis novel ini, ada dua hal yang dapat disimpulkan, Hal tersebut adalah penggambaran Paulo dan Chris dan makna sebenarnya dari perjalanan empat puluh hari Paulo dan Chris di Gurun Mojave. Paulo digambarkan sebagai seorang magus yang pergi ke Gurun Mojave untuk mencari malaikatnya. Dia adalah orang yang ceroboh dan penyayang. Selain itu, dia juga memiliki kemauan yang kuat. Paulo memiliki istri yang setia dan penyayang, Chris. Chris adalah seorang wanita yang kuat, pemberani, instingtif, dan berkemauan kuat.
Makna harafiah dari perjalanan tokoh utama adalah untuk menyelesaikan tugas yang diberikan oleh J., guru Paulo, dan untuk bertemu dengan malaikatnya. Sedangkan makna sebenarnya dari perjalanan mereka bukan hanya untuk bertemu dengan malaikatnya. Dalam prosesnya, Paulo belajar untuk sungguh menerima pengampunan dan cinta dan juga untuk mencapai aktualisasi diri.
Akhirnya, penulis dimasa yang akan datang dapat menganalisis lebih lanjut mengenai aspek feminisme pada novel. Aspek agama juga merupakan aspek yang menarik untuk dianalisis. Untuk kegiatan belajar-mengajar bahasa Inggris, novel ini dapat digunakan sebagai materi pengajaran Prose.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Thesis writing is a series of hard work. It consumed both time and energy. A lot of difficulties that I faced during the writing process but by the blessings from the Lord Jesus Christ I could finally finish this thesis. Therefore, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the Almighty God, Lord Jesus Christ for the wonderful blessings, love and guidance along the process.
I would like to express my gratitude to my family, my lovely parents, my mother MB Herwantari Prihatiningsih and my father in heaven FX Bambang Rudi Santosa for the love and everything they have given. I also thank my brothers and sister, Henricus Budi Satria Wonoardi, Theresia Ratri Tetuko Avianti, Vincentius Titih Gita Arupadhatu, and Petrus Respati Haryo Sadewa for the love, conflict, and support during the writing process.
My deepest gratitude also goes to my advisor, Drs. Antonius Herujiyanto, M.A., Ph.D., for the guidance, patience, and for providing time and a supporting atmosphere along the writing process. I thank him for the valuable advice and corrections on my thesis. I would also like to thank all lecturers and staff of English Education Study Program, Sanata Dharma University.
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My special thanks go to Catharina Brameswari for her great love, patience, caring and support. She is my place to share joys and sorrows. I thank her for her help in the writing process and for accompanying me doing my thesis and helping me to solve my problems. Last but not least, I would like to thank those whom I cannot mention individually, but surely this thesis could not be done without their support and help. May God always be with us.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
TITLE PAGE ... i
PAGES OF APPROVAL ... ii
STATEMENT OF WORK’S ORIGINALITY ... iv
PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN PUBLIKASI ... v
A. Review of Related Studies. ... 6
B. Review of Related Theories ... 7
1. Theories of Character ... 7
2. Methods of Characterization ... 8
a. Personal Description ... 8
b. Character as Seen by the Other Character ... 8
c. Speech ... 9
d. Past Life ... 9
e. Conversation of Other Characters ... 9
f. The Character‘s Reaction to Various Situations and Events ... 9
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h. Thoughts ... 10
i. Mannerism ... 10
3. Theory of Psychology and Psychological Approach ... 10
a. The Id ... 11
b. The Ego ... 12
c. The Superego ... 13
d. The Interaction of the Id, Ego, and Superego ... 14
4. Theory of Motivation ... 14
A. Characterization of Paulo and Chris ... 29
1. Paulo ... 30
a. Paulo is a Magus ... 30
b. Careless ... 31
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B. The Meaning of Paulo and Chris‘s Journey in the Mojave Desert ... 39
1. The Literal Meaning of Paulo and Chris‘s Journey in the Mojave Desert ... 39
V. CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS ... 56
A. Conclusions ... 56
1. Suggestion for Future Researchers ... 61
2. Suggestion for English Teaching Learning ... 61
3. The Implementation of Teaching Prose ... 62
REFERENCES ... 64
APPENDICES ... 67
Appendix 1: Summary of The Valkyries ... 68
Appendix 2: Biography of Paulo Coelho ... 70
Appendix 3: Syllabus of Prose ... 74
Appendix 4: Lesson Plan ... 77
1
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
This chapter consists of four sections; they are background of the study, problem formulation, objectives of the study, and definition of the terms. The purpose of the study is to find the true meaning of the main characters, Paulo and Chris‘s journey, as seen in Paulo Coelho‘s The Valkyries. In order achieve the goal of this study, the writer uses theories of character and methods of characterization, theory of motivation, theory of love, theory of psychology and psychological approach, and theory of symbol.
A. Background of the Study
The writer chooses this novel, The Valkyries by Paulo Coelho, as the subject of the analysis because the writer is interested in the story of the novel, which mostly deals with faith. Due to the fact that literary works are like reflections of human life, the writer is interested in studying the main characters‘ lives as seen in the novel.
According to Lombardi (2010), ―literature represents a language or a people: culture and tradition. However, literature is more important than just a historical or cultural artefact. It introduces us to new worlds of experience.‖ On the other hand, literature can be a media to express feelings, ideas, thoughts, and even personal experience in life. By reading literary work, people can get the author‘s ideas and thoughts. Therefore, analysing the intrinsic aspects of the
The story begins with the meeting between J. and Paulo. J. is Paulo‘s master. He told Paulo to go on a journey in the Mojave Desert in order to search for the Valkyries. Paulo needs to meet the Valkyries in order to learn how to converse with his angels. Chris, Paulo‘s wife went to the journey with Paulo. In the Mojave Desert, they made it to meet the Valkyries. They experienced so many things during the journey. This journey is the most important point in the novel. By the end of their journey, Paulo and Chris learned a lot of things and they could finally converse with their angels.
The writer has a specific reason for choosing The Valkyries as the novel that the writer wants to analyse. It is because of the story of the novel itself. The writer thinks that the purpose of the main character‘s forty-day journey in the Mojave Desert in a search of the Valkyries, in a real life, is like someone who is looking for the answers to one‘s questions of life, such as, what do we live for? Why do we kill the things we love? These are questions which the writer also has in life.
B. Objective of the Study
C. Problem Formulation
The problems of the study can be formulated as follows: 1. How are Paulo and Chris portrayed in the novel?
2. What is the true meaning of Paulo and Chris‘s journey in the desert as seen in the novel?
D. Definition of Term
The following part is the meaning of certain words used in the study. The purpose was to avoid misunderstanding in perceiving some important terms in this research.
1. Valkyrie
According to The Penguin Dictionary of Symbols by Jean Chevalier, Alain Gheerbant, and John Buchanan Brown (1996), Valkyries are the nymphs from Wotan‘s palace who have often been compared with the Amazons. As messengers
2. Journey
Literary, journey means the act of travelling from one place to another. Here, the journey refers to Paulo, the main character‘s forty-day journey in the
Mojave Desert in searching for the Valkyries.
3. True Meaning
The true meaning here is the extrinsic aspects of the literary works. The definition of meaning in this study refers the definition of meaning explained by Audi. According to Audi (1999),
―Meaning is the conventional, common, or standard sense of an expression, or of a non-linguistic signal or symbol. Literal meaning is the non-figurative. Synonymy is the sameness of literal meaning. In another sense, meaning is what a person intends to communicate by a particular utterance. Meaning means the extrinsic aspects in the literary works. It is not the literal meaning. It is has two aspect, literal meaning or surface meaning and non-literal meaning or deeper meaning‖. (p. 545)
In this study, the true meaning refers to the deeper meaning of the journey conducted by Paulo and Chris in the Mojave Desert.
4. Careless
According to The New Oxford American Dictionary, careless can be defined as not giving sufficient attention or thought to avoiding harm or errors. In this study, careless refers to Paulo‘s act which is not concerned or worried about
his own safety.
5. Strong-willed
6. Instinctive
According to The New Oxford American Dictionary, instinctive can be defined as doing or being a specified thing apparently naturally or automatically. In this study, instinctive refers to Chris‘ action when learns how to control her
second mind.
7. Strong
According to The New Oxford American Dictionary, strong can be defined as showing determination, self-control, and good judgement. Moreover, it can be defined as powerfully affecting the mind, senses, or emotions. In this study, strong refers to Chris‘ character and her action when she is confronting Valhalla.
8. Symbol
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CHAPTER II
LITERATURE REVIEW
This chapter deals with the theories and approach as well as context of primary datum. This chapter is divided into four sections. The first section provides a review on related study, in which contains some criticisms and studies by other writers on Paulo Coelho‘s The Valkyries. The second section constitutes a review on related theories, in which those concepts fundamental to further discussion on the object of this study are explored concisely. This section comprises the important concepts on theories of character and methods of characterization, theory of motivation, theories of symbol, theory of love, theory of psychology and psychological approach.
The third section of this chapter provides the theoretical framework, of which the previously mentioned concepts are described as contributing to the analysis of the novel.
A. Review of Related Studies
Paulo Coelho‘s third novel,The Valkyries is one of Paulo‘s best seller
novels which was sold more than 25 million copies and had been translated into 43 different languages. El Espectador, Columbia, states that,
Excelsior, Mexico, states that, ―Coelho reveals, through his powerful poetry, a unique and incomparable message of life as well as developing a path to teach the Eternity‖ (Coelho, 1996, p. i).
B. Review of Related Theories
This section deals with the theories, which comprise the fundamentals of the analysis of this study. They are theories of character and methods of characterization, theory of love, theory of psychology and psychological approach, theory of motivation, and theories of symbol.
1. Theories of Character
Stanton (1965), argues that character is one of the most important elements in the literary works. Character is a person who does the action in a story (p. 17). According to Abrams (1971), a character is ―an individual who exists in a dramatic or narrative work and he/she has moral dispositional qualities that can be seen from his/her dialogue and action. Dialogue and action have important roles in understanding the characters‖ (p. 21). There are two kinds of character in the fictional story according to Milligan (1983), they called main character and minor character (p. 155).
probably see what the author wants to convey from the story. The minor characters are characters who plays less important role than the main characters. Their appearance supports the main character to develop the story so that they appear only in a certain setting. They do not endure the problem of the story.
2. Methods of Characterization
Murphy (1972, pp. 160-173) in Understanding Unseen: Introduction in English Poetry and the English Novel for Overseas Students states that there are some ways of the author to make his or her characters understandable are:
a. Personal Description
The author can describe the person‘s appearance and clothes in the story.
The author describes what the characters are like and tells the reader the details of the characters‘ appearance such as the face, skin colours, eyes, hair, and the
clothing.
b. Character as Seen by the Other Characters
c. Speech
The author can give the reader an insight into the character of one of the characters in the story through what the person says. Whenever a person speaks, whenever he is in conversation with another, whenever he put forward an opinion, he is giving his readers clue to his character.
d. Past life
By letting the reader learn something about a person‘s past life, the author
can give the readers a clue to events that have helped to shape the person‘s character. This can be done by direct comment by the author, through the person‘s
thought, trough the conversation or through the medium of another person.
e. Conversation of Other Characters
The author can give the readers‘ clue to a person‘s characters through the
conversation of other people and the things they say about the character. The clues which the readers have, comes from the character who talk about the things they say to the character of the person who spoken about.
f. The Character’s Reaction to Various Situations and Events
The author can give the readers a clue to a person‘s characters by letting
g. Direct Comment of the Author
The author can describe or comment on a person‘s character in the story
directly. In this way, the reader will understand what kind of people in the work easily.
h. Thoughts
The author can give the readers direct knowledge of what a person in the story is thinking about. Here, the author is able to do what the author himself or herself cannot do in the real life. The author also can tell the readers what different people are thinking.
i. Mannerism
The author can describe a person‘s mannerisms, habits, or idiosyncrasies,
which may also tell us something about his character.
3. Theory of Psychology and Psychological Approach
Hurlock (1974), in Personality Development, states that the individual aspect of human life concerns with the physical changes and individual‘s
personality development. Individual‘s personality development is usually
influenced by two factors, which are individual‘s early experience within his
family and the important events happened outside the home or the social aspect (pp. 19-20). In 2000, Huffman, M. Vernoy and J. Vernoy define ―personality as an individual‘s unique and relatively stable pattern of thoughts, feelings, and actions
Moreover, Worchel and Shebilske (1989) in their book Psychology: Principles and applications explain:
Personality as the unique set of behaviours (including thoughts and emotions) and enduring qualities that influence the way a person adjusts to his or her environment. Personality is seen as influencing, guiding, and motivating behaviour.‖ Personality is what someone really is toward his or her own life want to be. Personality is what makes people unique and causes them to act or see situations different from anyone else. (p. 461)
Furthermore, Worchel and Shebilske (1989) describe Sigmund Freud‘s
Psychological theory. They explain that in the structure of personality,
Freud believes that the individual‘s personality is the scene of a never-ending battle. On one hand, there are primitive and unacceptable drives striving for expression, while on the other hand there are forces trying to deny or disguise these impulses. Freud not only viewed the personality as a battlefield, but he also identified the participants in this battle: the id, the ego, and the superego. (p. 471)
Sigmund Freud defines these three elements of personality. The first element of personality is known as the id. The second element is known as the ego and for the third element is called the superego. These three elements of personality are working together to create complex human behaviours.
a. The Id
Eros is the drive for survival. Included in this drive are the needs to eat and drink, to be warm, and above all to engage in sexual activity. The energy force that propels the person to satisfy these drives is called libido.
Thanatos, is a destructive drive. The aim is to destroy others, but there is also a self-destructive aspect to it. In fact, Freud took the grim position that ―the aim of all life is death.‖ This self-destructive impulse is seen not only in suicide, but also in the harmful excesses in which so many people engage, such as drinking alcohol, smoking, and overacting. It is the unconscious desire for self-destruction. The id, like savage, wants to satisfy these primitive drives in the most direct and immediate way. It is not concerned with logic, reality, or manners. It functions on pleasure principle, which dictates the immediate satisfaction of drives.
b. The Ego
The ego is a person‘s view of physical and social reality. It tries to satisfy
would calculate the possible result of this action; the worst thing may happen. Thus, the Ego would direct you to order and pay for your own beer.
c. The Superego
We can view the Id as operating on the signal ―I want it now.‖ The Ego answers this demand by saying ―Let‘s be realistic and get it in a way that won‘t cause trouble.‖ These two forces, however, must also controlled by the Superego, which says, ‗Think. Is it right to want it?‖ The Superego represents our
d. The Interaction of the Id, Ego and Superego
With so many competing forces, it is easy to see how conflict might arise between the id, ego and superego. Freud used the term ego strength to refer to the ego's ability to function despite these duelling forces. A person with good ego strength is able to effectively manage these pressures, while those with too much or too little ego strength can become too unyielding or too disrupting. According to Freud, the key to a healthy personality is a balance between the id, the ego, and the superego.
4. Theory of Motivation
The basis of Maslow's motivation theory is that human beings are motivated by unsatisfied needs, and that certain lower factors need to be satisfied before higher needs can be satisfied. According to Maslow, there are general types of needs (physiological, survival, safety, love, and esteem) which must be satisfied before a person can act unselfishly. He called these needs ―deficiency needs.‖ As long as we are motivated to satisfy these cravings, we are moving towards growth and self-actualization. Satisfying needs is healthy, while preventing gratification makes us sick or act evilly (pp. 80-122).
higher-level motivators along the lines of self-fullfillment. As depicted in the hierarchical diagram, sometimes called ―Maslow‘s Needs Pyramid‖ or ―Maslow‘s Needs Triangle‖, after a need is satisfied it stops acting as a motivator
and the next need one rank higher starts to motivate. (pp. 123-154)
a. Self-actualization
Self-actualization is the summit of Maslow‘s motivation theory. It is about the quest of reaching one's full potential as a person. Unlike lower level needs, this need is never fully satisfied; as one grows psychologically there are always new opportunities to continue to grow. Self-actualized people tend to have motivators such as truth, justice, wisdom, and meaning. Self-actualized persons have frequent occurrences of peak experiences, which are energized moments of profound happiness and harmony. According to Maslow, only a small percentage of the population reaches the level of self-actualization.
Physiological Needs Safety Needs
b. Esteem Needs
After a person feels that they ―belong‖, the urge to attain a degree of importance emerges. Esteem needs can be categorized as external motivators and internal motivators. Internally motivating esteem needs are those such as self-esteem, accomplishment, and self-respect. External esteem needs are those such as reputation and recognition. Some examples of esteem needs are recognition (external motivator), attention (external motivator), social status (external motivator), accomplishment (internal motivator), self-respect (internal motivator), and success. Maslow later improved his model to add a layer in between self-actualization and esteem needs: the need for aesthetics and knowledge.
c. Social Needs
Once a person has met the lower level physiological and safety needs, higher level motivators awaken. The first level of higher level needs is social needs. Social needs are those related to interaction with others and may include friendship, acceptance, affection, belonging to a group, and giving and receiving love.
d. Safety Needs
According to the Maslow hierarchy, if a person feels threatened needs further up the pyramid will not receive attention until that need has been resolved.
e. Physiological Needs
Physiological needs are those required to sustain life, such as air, water, food, sex, and sleep. According to this theory, if these fundamental needs are not satisfied then one will surely be motivated to satisfy them. Higher needs such as social needs and esteem are not recognized until one satisfies the needs basic to existence.
5. Theory of Symbol
According to Yelland, Jones, and Easton (1953, p. 201), symbolism is the use of expressions which represent or recall certain ideas in literature. Such symbols are in daily use, and writers find that they not only simplify a thought but also express it more picturesquely. Besides being used directly in this way, symbolism is the basis of much figurative language. Symbols are used not only to our understanding but also to our imagination and sense of literary works. An interesting recent use of the symbol is in connection with aliterary movement called expressionism.
is a symbol...‖ Emerson‘s fundamental assumptions in defining the symbol are grounded in Neo-Platonism. ―All form is an effect of character, all condition, of the quality of the life, all harmony, of health...‖
From the notion that all form is grounded or conditioned by an essential nature of the universe as good, Emerson concludes that ―everything in nature answers to a moral power.‖ Since nature is a symbol, ―in the whole, and in every part,‖ it is not surprising to find that the coachman values riding, and that the hunter values his dogs. All such people, says Emerson, are participating in ―beauty not explicable.‖ It is because we so enjoy participating in the supernatural
that we are driven to the use of emblems and symbols to communicate the ineffable:
―...See the power of national emblems. Some stars, lilies, leopards, a
crescent, a lion, an eagle, or other figure which came into credit God knows how, on an old rag of bunting, blowing in the wind on a fort at the ends of the earth, shall make the blood tingle under the rudest or the most conventional exterior.‖ In Sartor Resartus: The life and Opinions of Herr Tuefelsdroch, Carlyle has his amiable Professor maintain that ―the Universe is one vast symbol of God...(that) man himself is a symbol of God.‖ Carlyle makes a distinction between what he calls extrinsic and intrinsic symbols. Extrinsic symbols are accidental. They grow out of a kind of herd instinct that people have to gather together.
military banner everywhere. The symbol of necessity to band together reflects only a glimmer of the Divine idea of duty.‖ Carlyle also argued that intrinsic symbol, on the other hand, is presented in the great works of art. This symbol reflects the Divinity; ―it is the Godlike rendered visible.‖
Because the intrinsic symbol is a true representation of the Godlike, it is fit that men should gather about it and value it in itself. It does not have the arbitrary nature of the herd symbol. In Emerson‘s case the reality is God, Divinity, absolute
reality, or what you will. In Carlyle‘s case the absolute symbol, the highest conceivable symbol, is Christ.
In order to define the symbol, Lawrence first makes a distinction between allegory and myth. ―Allegory,‖ he says, ―is a narrative description using, as a rule, images to express certain definite qualities.‖ Then Lawrence defines the myth: ―Myth is descriptive narrative using images. The purpose of myth is too deep,
going to deep in the blood and soul, for mental explanation or description. So, the meaning of symbol is that the symbol is an image of a myth. ―Symbol don‘t mean. They stand for units of human feeling.‖
6. Theory of Love
Love is the most powerful of incitements to ambition. A lover will do anything and endure anything to win the admiration of his ―beloved‖ and avoid disgracing himself in his eyes. Since man is only half a complete creature, and each half goes about with a passionate longing to find union with the lost half of one‘s original self is what we call ―love‖ and until it is satisfied, none of us can
attain happiness. The goal of love, as Socrates conceives it, is not incorporation with a mate of flesh and blood, nor even lifelong ―marriage‖ with a ―kindred mind,‖ but the soul with the ―eternal wisdom‖ in a region ―all breathing human passion far above.‖
Sternberg (1986, pp. 119-135) came up with a Triangular Theory of Love. The underlying idea of this theory is that love can be dissected into three main parts: intimacy, passion and decision/commitment.
a. Intimacy
This encompasses feelings of closeness, connectedness, and boundedness. With passion, there is the initial infatuation, the strong emotions, and the attraction. It involves a high level of trust between two individuals
b. Passion
This encompasses drives that lead to romance, physical attraction, and sexual consummation. With intimacy, the lovers become closer, inter-dependant, and psychologically their self-concepts begin to overlap.
c. Commitment
This encompasses, in the short term, the decision to remain with another, and in the long term, the shared achievements and plans made with that other. Commitment is the most volitional of the three, the decision to take steps to maintain the love and the relationship.
i. Liking/Friendship: is characterizes true friendships, in which a person feels a bond, warmth, and a closeness with another but not passion or long-term commitment.
ii. Infatuated Love: It is pure passion.
iii. Empty Love: It is characterized by commitment without intimacy or passion.
iv. Romantic Love: It bonds individuals emotionally through intimacy and physically through passionate arousal, but neither is sustained without commitment.
v. Companionate Love: It is an intimate, non-passionate type of love that is stronger than friendship because of the element of long-term commitment. The love ideally shared between family members is a form of companionate love, as is the love between close friends who have a platonic but strong friendship.
vi. Fatuous Love: Its commitment is motivated largely by passion without the stabilizing influence of intimacy.
vii. Consummate Love: It is the complete form of love. Consummate love is theorized to be that love associated with the ―perfect couple‖ (Sternberg, 1987, p. 341).
C. Theoretical Framework
uses five theories. They are theory of character, method of characterization, theory of psychology and psychological approach, theory of motivation, theory symbol, and theory of love.
Theory of character, method of characterization, and theory of psychology and psychological approach can be used to analyse the main characters, Paulo and Chris in order to answer the first research question, which is how they are portrayed in the novel.
In order to answer the second research question, the writer uses theory of motivation, theory of symbol, and theory of love. These theories are used to find out the meaning of Paulo‘s forty-day journey in the Mojave Desert. Moreover, theory of symbol is used to see things that represent the forms of Paulo‘s angel. This theory is important to see whether or not the angel appear because the appearance of Paulo‘s angel is critical to the study. These theories can be applied
to help the writer to analyse the true meaning of Paulo‘s forty-day journey in the Mojave Desert related to Paulo‘s will in achieving his self-actualization through
the fullfillment of his safety needs, social needs, and esteem needs.
D.Context of the Novel
the United States of America by Harper Collins Publisher Inc. The story is narrated from the third person point of view.
Paulo Coelho is a Brazilian novelist who likes to use his personal experience as the inspiration in writing a literary works. The Valkyries, is one of Paulo Coelho‘s novels which was written based on his personal experience
such as, his marriage and his social life, which can be seen from the Author‘s Note in Paulo Coelho‘s The Valkyries (1995),
―In order to relate the events that took place, I had to reveal details from my personal life-my marriage, my relationships with others, and the fragile distance that separates the magical Tradition to which I belong from the person I am. As is true for any human being, exposing my weaknesses and my private life is not easy‖. (p. 211)
The events narrated in the novel occurred on September 5 and October 17, 1988. Besides The Valkyries, Paulo Coelho also wrote some other famous novels such as The Alchemist, The Pilgrimage, Eleven Minutes, Veronika Decides to Die, By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept, The Fifth Mountain, and
Warrior of the Light: A Manual. As stated by the jury of Bambi Award 2001 which took place in Germany, the jury gave the Germany‘s most prestigious prize to
Paulo Coelho. They also announced that Coelho is not only one of the most widely read, but also one of the most influential authors writing today (www.paulocoelho.com).
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CHAPTER III
METHODOLOGY
This chapter presents the methods of the study to solve the problems formulated in chapter I. This study is intended to answer: How Paulo and Chris are portrayed in the novel? And what is the true meaning of Paulo‘s journey as seen in the novel as seen in Paulo Coelho‘s The Valkyries?
A. Object of the Study
The object of the study is The Valkyries, one of the most popular novels of Paulo Coelho. It was published in 1996 by Harper Collins Publisher and later became the bestseller. The novel was first printed and bound in Brazil by Editora Rocca Ltd. The novel consists of 212 pages. The story is narrated through the third person point of view. The events narrated in the novel occurred on September 5 and October 17, 1988.
B. Approach of the Study
C. Method of the Study
The method used in the study was library research. Two kinds of data were used; they were the primary and the secondary data. The primary datum was the novel itself, Paulo Coelho‘s The Valkyries. The secondary data were books and
articles on theories and reviews used in the analysis. There are steps in conducting the research. The first step was to select a literary work that was going to be analysed. The second step was the technical reading of the novel as fundamental step before continuing to the further analysis. As the object of this study, the authoritative text of the novelette as obtained from the 1996‘s of Paulo Coelho‘s
The Valkyries, by Harper Collins Publisher (London) is used. The reading is conducted to recognize the data; especially, those dealing with the main characters, Paulo and Chris‘ journey.
The third step was deciding the topic to be analysed. The writer concluded the analysis into two problem formulation. After formulating the research questions related to the topic and finding the appropriate approach for the analysis, the next step was to find the secondary data related to the topic or problems, which would be analysed. In this step, the writer found the secondary data from books and online references as stated above. The next step was analysing and answering the research questions. In this step, the writer tried to answer the research question using the primary and secondary data.
Then, the writer gave some explanations on the characters. Afterwards, the theories and the psychological approach were used to answer the research question. The theory of character, method of characterization, and theory of psychology and psychological approach were used to answer the first research question. While the theory of motivation, theory of symbol, and theory of love were used to answer the second research question.
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CHAPTER IV
DISCUSSION
This chapter contains the discussion and analysis in order to answer the research questions formulated in the problem formulation. This chapter is divided into two parts. The first part deals with how Paulo and Chris, the main characters of Coelho‘s The Valkyries, are portrayed. In this part, the writer describes Paulo
and Chris‘s characters. In the second part, the writer analyses the literal and true meaning of Paulo‘s forty-day journey in the Mojave Desert as seen in Coelho‘s
The Valkyries.
A.Characterization of Paulo and Chris
Characters are one of the most important aspects in a novel. Each character plays a different role in the novel to create a story. Paulo and Chris are the main characters in Paulo Coelho‘s The Valkyries. They are the ones who become the focus of the story and the analysis of this study.
1. Paulo
Paulo is one of the main characters in Coelho‘s The Valkyries. In the
novel, Paulo is described as a magus. He is J.‘s disciple and Chris‘s husband. The story begins when Paulo was sent by J. to go to Mojave Desert to search for Gene. Paulo goes to Mojave Desert with his wife. During their journey, there are major changes or developments in their characters. Paulo‘s character can be described as follows:
a. Paulo is a Magus
In the novel, Paulo is described as a magus. Magic, for Paulo, is something of great importance (p. 1) and he also conducts many rituals, exercises, and practices on it (p. 13). Paulo and Chris‘s friends said that Paulo was a sorcerer (p. 12). There are some descriptions, which showed that Paulo is a magus.
―Only then he did reveal what she already knew: that for seven years he had dedicated himself to learning magic.‖
Chris remembered that day. Paulo had wept. He said that he was being called but didn‘t know how to respond.
―Should I go back to magic?‖ he has asked.
―Yes, you should,‖she had answered, but she wasn‘t sure. (p. 13)
More supporting argument can be seen from Paulo‘s thoughts that he is a magus
during his conversation with Gene.
―Why is he saying all this? Paulo thought.
Has he forgotten that I’m a master of magic, too?” (p. 51)
From the opinion of the main characters‘ friends towards Paulo, Paulo‘s magic activities and practices, and Paulo‘s thought, speech and conversation with
b. Careless
Paulo is a careless person. This can be seen when he and Chris are walking around the desert. When the feeling of freedom begins to emerge in his soul, he takes his clothes off and so does Chris.
―Let‘s take off our clothes,‖ Paulo said.
―But someone might be watching,‖ Chris said automatically. ―Only our angles are watching,‖ he answered.
He took off his shorts and his shirt and the canteen, placing them all in the bag.
Chris struggled to keep from laughing. She took her clothes off too, and in a few moments they were two people crossing the Mojave in their sneakers, their hats, and their sunglasses. (p. 39)
They are walking on the Mojave Desert wearing only their sneakers, hats, and sunglasses. After only half an hour, they suddenly feel tremendously tired. They do not realize that their lives are in danger.
―When you took off your clothes, the water in your bodies began to evaporate immediately. You can‘t even perspire, because the climate is so dry. In fifteen minutes, you were both already dehydrated. No thirst or anything—just a slight feeling of disorientation.‖
―And the exhaustion?‖
―That exhaustion is death arriving.‖ (p. 48)
From Paolo‘s action and reaction towards various situations and events in
the novel, it can be concluded that Paulo is a careless person.
c. Loving
recently has disturbed their relationship. Paulo needs some strong emotions and this journey is not only about a spiritual search.
He knew that if he continued the way he was, nothing in his life would last for long. He loved his wife, but he was getting fed up with marriage. He needed some strong passion in his love, in his work, in almost everything he did in his life. And that were against one of nature‘s most important laws: Every movement needs to pause at times. (pp. 72-73)
Even though Paulo is getting tired of his marriage, it does not mean that Paulo does not love his wife. He just needs time to have a self-introspection in order to fix his marriage life. In addition, the ritual holds by Valhalla in the abandoned gold mine emphasizes that Paulo loves his wife. It can be seen when Paulo says that now he has a wife that he loves (p.112).
From Paulo‘s action and speech it can be concluded that he is a loving
person. Paulo loves his wife very much even though he rarely shows his love to Chris.
d. Strong-willed
From Paulo‘s action, it can be seen that he is a strong-willed man. Paulo
his angel. Paulo does everything that is necessary to be able to converse with his angel. He even pushes himself to do things that he does not think he could do, it is on the Ritual that Demolishes Rituals. Paulo does not giving up when he still not able to converse with his angel during his last days of journey even though he knows that only a miracle could help him. He bets all of his faith in God, in life, in his work, and in J., he bets everything that he has just to see his angel (p. 196).
2. Christina
Christina is also one of the main characters in Coelho‘s The Valkyries. She is Paulo‘s wife. She goes to Mojave Desert with Paulo to accompany Paulo on his
spiritual journey. She is actually not interested in what Paulo‘s doing related to magic, but she goes there anyway because she wants to be with the one she loves, Paulo, her husband. Chris is an interesting character in the novel. Her character grows and developes. Chris‘ journey with her husband has changed her into a strong woman. Chris‘s character can be described as follows:
a. Faithful
husband‘s activity as a magus and respects her husband‘s world even though it has
nothing to do with her.
Only then he did reveal what she already knew: that for seven years he had dedicated himself to learning magic.
Chris remembered that day. Paulo had wept. He said that he was being called but didn‘t know how to respond.
―Should I go back to magic?‖ he had asked.
―Yes, you should,‖she had answered, but she wasn‘t sure. (p.13)
Chris goes along with Paulo in their forty-day journey to find Paulo‘s guardian angel. They drop everything, jump to a plane, fly for twelve hours from Brazil to Los Angeles International Airport, drive for almost six hours in the Mojave Desert to the gas station, and remain in the desert for forty days (p. 15).
Furthermore, in a meeting with the Valkyries in the dessert, Chris insists to go with Paulo because her angel tells her to accompany her husband and says that Paulo would need her.
She had come because her angel had required that she do so; her angel had said that Paulo was going to need her that afternoon.
No, no, it wasn’t a mistake. My angel insisted that I be here, she thought. (p. 91)
b. Loving
Chris loves her husband very much. She will do anything to protect and preserve her marriage no matter how hard it would be. She decides to accompany Paulo to the Mojave Desert to see his angel and to save their marriage, which is going to fall apart.
―That‘s just I wanted to talk to you about,‖ Chris insisted. ―I didn‘t come here to do work. I came because I thought our marriage was beginning to fall apart.
She feels the same way I do, he thought. (p. 75)
Moreover, Chris would also fight for her love and her husband. She challenges Valhalla in one of the rituals to defend her love.
They don’t know that I have been speaking to my angel, and that my soul has grown. They’re used to me, and they know how I think. I love him. She is only enamored. (p. 162)
Furthermore, Chris said that Paulo is her man. She will not allow Valhalla to covet Paulo merely out of capriciousness because Valhalla does not love Paulo (p. 165). According to Christina‘s speech and her responds to Paulo, and also from her action to fight for her love, it can be seen that Chris is a loving woman. She loves her husband very much and she proves it by challenging Valhalla on a ritual to defend her love toward her husband.
c. Strong-willed
husband on the journey. She says that she does not come to Mojave Desert to learn about magic, she comes only to be with Paulo.
―If you meet the Valkyries, there‘s something that will make it easier for you to get along with them,‖ Gene said.
―What‘s that?‖
The young man laughed.
―You‘ll find out. But it would have been a lot better if you hadn‘t brought your wife along.‖ (p. 24)
Chris also said that she did not come along with Paulo to the desert to learn about magic or converse with angels. She came only to be with Paulo (p. 25).
Moreover, Chris does not only want to accompany her husband in this journey but she also wants to save her marriage and her relationship with Paulo. She insists to accompany her husband wherever he goes in his journey to converse with his angel.
―I‘m going with you. No matter what.‖
―But this is my quest. I brought you with me because I wanted you at my side. But there are certain things I have to do alone.‖
―I want to go with you,‖ she said.
―Magic has never been important to you before. Why now?‖
―Because I began the journey. And I‘ve asked that I not be abandoned in the middle of the road,‖ she answered, putting the matter to rest. (p. 89) From Christina‘s speech and her responds to Gene‘s suggestion to Paulo
d. Instinctive
According to The New Oxford American Dictionary, instinctive can be defined as doing or being a specified thing apparently naturally or automatically. It can be seen when Chris tries to learn how to use her second mind for the first time.
―What should I do?‖ she asked Paulo. ―Whatever you think,‖ he answered.
She felt his hands touching both sides of her head.
―Relax. Relax.‖ His voice was gentle. ―What are you thinking?‖
―A melody,‖ she answered. ―I‘ve been singing this melody to myself ever since I heard it yesterday on the radio on our way here.‖
―That‘s the second mind,‖ he said. ―It‘s your second mind that‘s humming the song.
Chris was astonished. She had never thought of such a thing as a second mind. ... She has two minds. Functioning at the same time. (pp. 26-27) Valhalla sees something different from Chris. On the Ritual That Demolishes Rituals, Valhalla remembers the first time she met Chris at the luncheonette. A shiver has coursed through her body, and strange intuitions— intuitions she was unable to understand—has taken hold of her (p. 163).
e. Brave and Strong
Chris is a brave woman. Chris‘ journey with her husband in the Mojave Dessert has changed her into a strong woman who would fight for her love. She is able to speak with her angel and her soul has grown. She has died so many times here in the dessert and been reborn so many times, as well (p. 162). This can be seen when Chris comes face-to-face with Valhalla. She looks directly into Valhalla‘s eyes. Even though she feels dizzy because of the blinding sun and is
certain that she will faint but this is about a woman‘s pride. Valhalla‘s position as the leader of the Valkyries does not make her hesitate, too (pp. 90-91). Additionally, Chris also challenges Valhalla, the leader of the Valkyries. Chris screams at Valhalla, challenging Valhalla to face her on the ritual. On page 162, it reads, ―Now, it‘s you and me, Valkyrie! The Ritual That Demolishes Rituals!‖
On the ritual, Chris walks to the very edge of a precipice and challenging Valhalla to do so. Chris challenges Valhalla because she knows that Valhalla tries to take Paulo away from her. Chris does not hesitate to fight for her love and her man even if she has to face Valhalla, a strong and courageous woman, the leader of the Valkyries. She even dresses like Valhalla, a strong character and a woman she admires and would like to be, and she has enough power to defeat her (p. 164).
Furthermore, on the edge of the cliff Chris says that she is going to take one more step. She says that she is going to survive because she is a courageous woman (p. 165). Chris‘s conviction to defeat Valhalla in the ritual shows that her Id, which called eros controls her personality. Chris‘s eros has driven her to defend her love and her marriage in this forty-day journey. As it is stated by Sigmund Freud that eros is the drive for survival, which operates at the unconscious level of our personality.
To sum up, Chris‘s challenge to Valhalla and her personal statement above show that Chris is a brave and strong woman. Even though Chris looks weak, she is actually strong and brave. She will do anything to defend her love even doing dangerous things.
B. The Meaning of Paulo and Chris’s Journey in the Mojave Desert
This part discusses the meaning of Paulo and Chris‘s journey in the desert as seen in the novel. The discussion is divided into two parts. The first part discusses the surface meaning of their journey. The second part focuses on discussing the deeper meaning of Paulo and Chris‘s journey.
1. The Literal Meaning of Paulo and Chris’s Journey in the Mojave Desert
with his angel and this has something to do to accomplish the task given by his master. Gene is also a magus, a part of the tradition. He is still a young man but he is already a master like J. Gene taught Paulo about channelling and controlling the second mind through Chris because a master may not teach another master‘s disciple and Paulo is already J.‘s disciple.
―Everything Gene told you is important,‖ Paulo said. ―He has already seen and talked with his angel, and he is using you as a means of instructing me.
―Well, why doesn‘t he show these things directly to you?‖
―Because there is an unwritten rule in the Tradition: A master never teaches another master‘s disciple. And he knows that I am J.‘s disciple. But since he wants to be of help to me, he is using you for that purpose.‖ (p. 33)
In addition, Gene is also an important person in the tradition. His father, a powerful magus, wants him to maintain the family tradition (p. 30). He is a powerful magus in the paranormal processes and he has been prepared by the tradition to take action whenever the gates to paradise opened.
He didn‘t want to tell his wife that ... there was another reason that Gene was here: He was powerful in the paranormal processes, and had been prepared by the Tradition to be ready to act when the gates to paradise opened. (p. 31)
―Tell me about the Valkyries you mentioned,‖ Paulo said.
―They can help you to find your angel,‖ replied Gene. They‘re the ones who instructed me. But the Valkyries are jealous and tough. They try to follow the same rules as the angels—and, you know, in the kingdom of the angels, there is no good and no evil.‖ (p. 23)
Paulo searches for the Valkyries around the desert. He finally meets them in a small dinner place early in the morning. Then, one of the Valkyries, the oldest of them, stares at Paulo and Chris and approaches them. Her name is Valhalla, she asks about Paulo‘s ring. That is a ring given by J., a ring from the tradition with the shape of a serpent, a symbol of wisdom.
The red-haired woman walked to the couple‘s table and ... she spoke. ―Where did you get that ring?‖ she asked Paulo.
―At the same shop where you brought you brooch,‖ he answered.
Chris has already seen many rings in the Tradition of the Moon—of every colour, metal, and carved—which always in the form of serpent, the symbol of wisdom.
―What do you want?‖ the redhead asked.
―To speak with my angel. And something else.‖ (p. 81)
After they speak their minds, the Valkyries decide to teach Paulo how to converse with his angel. However, in order to see an angel, Paulo needs to pass three steps. These steps are break a pact, accept forgiveness, and make a bet (p. 85).
―I told you that there was something else I wanted.‖
―Gene saw his angel. I want to see mine. I want to speak to my angel, face-to-face.‖
―What for?‖ The Valkyrie appeared to be intimidated.
In the first step, Paulo has to break his pact with the darkness, a pact which is a promise to abandon his dreams (p. 111). In order to accept forgiveness, Paulo has to do a ritual called The Ritual That Demolishes Rituals, and make a bet, as the last process.
a. Break a Pact
The first step is conducted in the abandoned gold mine (p. 95). Paulo and Chris come to meet the Valkyries and they go deeper into the gold mine. After ten minutes walk, they stop and Valhalla starts the procession. She asks Paulo to break his pact with defeat, which is about destroying what he loved most (p. 96). On the beginning, Paulo does not confess that he has a pact, a pact which makes him raised his hands on himself, a kind of self-betrayal (p. 114). But, Valhalla insists that he has to mention and remember his pact with the darkness. Paulo finally tells the story about his pact. Then, Valhalla continues with the ritual, she helps Paulo to break the pact with forgiveness. Paulo has tell the truth and the truth gives him freedom (p. 114).
b. Accepting Forgiveness
In the second step, Valhalla asks Paulo to come in the Golden Canyon to make him accept the forgiveness through The Ritual That Demolishes Rituals, which would be conducted using hatred (p. 138).
―…what is the Ritual That Demolishes Rituals?‖
This is a sacred moment in the life of a magus (p. 148). Paulo and Rotha, the youngest Valkyries, make a trade in the second ritual. Paulo asks her to teach him how to see his angel while Rotha insists that Paulo should tell her the rules of victory. There are five rules of victory, first is the morality rule, second is the weather rule, third is the space rule, fourth is the choice rule, and the strategy rule is the last rule of victory (p. 149). The secret of this ritual is hatred and in this process, Paulo feels his hatred emerges. Paulo, then, recalls that he has always been wrong and he has always forgiven—not because he is a good person, but because he is a coward (p. 152). He realises that he, too, should learn how to forgive others in return, just as he is always forgiven (p. 154).
c. Make a Bet
Paulo has made a bet. That night, up on the mountain, he bet all of his faith in God, in life, in his work, in J. He bet everything he has and he also bet that his angel would show his self before him (p. 196).
Paulo and Chris‘s forty-day journey in the Mojave Desert are literally
condition causes a state of anxiety and tension for Paulo. However, Paulo is finally able to see his angel on his last days.
2. The Deeper Meaning of Paulo and Chris’s Forty-Day Journey in the
Mojave Desert
a. Accepting Forgiveness
Valhalla brings back Paulo‘s memory and scenes from his life begin to emerge before him. She asks Paulo to remember his darkness, the time he made a pact with the demon. It is fourteen years ago, when he makes a pact with the demon to earn money, fame, everything he desired. He is twenty-six years old and he is a musician. His music spreads the words of the demon or what so-called as the Beast of the Apocalypse in the novel. The pact is made with the cost of his soul.
―All right,‖ the Valkyries said. With a rapid movement, she blew out the lantern. The darkness was total.
Valhalla began to pray in a strange language.
The darkness was changing. Various scenes from his life began to pass before him—suddenly, he was once again in darkness.
I don‘t want to remember that...‖ he pleaded with the Valkyrie. ―Remember! Whatever it is, try to remember every minute of it.‖
The darkness brought terror to him, the terror he had experienced fourteen years earlier. (pp. 99-100)
year, when he could finally have a job and a friend. It is the director of the recording studio who gives him the job and becomes his only friend (p. 112). In the following years, Paulo quits his job and goes to work in another place and it happens every year where he quits his job and does another job.
During their third year together, he quit his job again (a mania for leaving everything behind!). ...He changed jobs every year.
Then, at the end of their third year together, he decided—once again—to quit his job. He gave no explanation, saying only that he was fed up with what he was doing, that it didn‘t make sense to keep quitting his jobs, changing one for another. He needed to discover what it was that he wanted. (p. 12)
Paulo‘s motivation in changing his jobs can be included on stage two,
which is Safety Needs. They are security, shelter, freedom from fear and anxiety. Once physiological needs are met one‘s attention turns to safety and security in
order to be free from the threat of physical and emotional harm. According to the hierarchy of needs, if a person feels threatened needs further up the pyramid will not receive attention until that need has been resolved.
In order to achieve safety needs, Paulo has to break the pact he makes with the demon. Paulo has paid the price of the pact. He is imprisoned by the Brazilian authorities. He lost his friends and he has been living in insecurity, fear, and anxiety ever since. However, Social Needs are those related to interaction with others and may include friendship, acceptance, affection, belonging to a group, and giving and receiving love.
the other hand, the director of the recording studio considered Paulo as a friend. He offered Paulo a friendship and an acceptance. He gave him a job, an opportunity to rebuild his life (p. 112). Here, Paulo has fulfilled his Social needs. He has a friendship, an acceptance, and a sense of belonging to a group.
The higher stage of Maslow‘s needs pyramid after Social Needs is Esteem
needs. After a person feels that they ―belong‖, the urge attain a degree of importance emerges. Esteem needs can be categorized as external motivators and internal motivators. Internally motivating esteem needs are those such as self-esteem, accomplishment, and self-respect. External esteem needs are those such as reputation and recognition. Some examples of esteem needs are recognition (external motivator), attention (external motivator), social status (external motivator), accomplishment (internal motivator), self-respect (internal motivator), and success
In order to achieve Esteem needs, Paulo needs to have either internal motivation or external motivation or even both. During his work on the recording studio, Paulo manages to accomplish something; he had others‘ recognition for his work. Paulo gets married to Chris and lives a good life. The problem is that Paulo has lost his self-esteem and self-respect.
He feels that his life goes too well, like everything is too good to be, especially, after what happened earlier; Paulo‘s encounter with the demon (p.
achieved whereas he actually deserves it. However, Paulo has lost his self-respect whereas in order to achieve Esteem needs, a person must have self-respect. Paulo seems to be underestimating himself, like he is punishing himself for making a pact with the demon without considering the consequences. He sells his soul but he has it back even though he thinks that his soul is no longer worthy.
For seven years, he paid the price for the trade. But God was generous, and allowed him to rebuild his life. The director of the recording studio, the same person he had dreamed about that May morning, gave him a job and became his only friend. He went back to composing, but every time his work brought some success, something wound up happening, and everything went down the drain.
He remembered J‘s words: People destroy what they love. ―I always figured it was part of the bargain,‖ he said.
―No,‖ Valhalla said. ―God was severe, but you were more severe than he was.‖
―I promised that I would never grow again. I thought that I could no longer trust myself.‖ (p. 111-112)
As implied in the paragraphs above, Paulo has lost his self-respect. Paulo has to regain his self-respect to achieve Esteem needs. During his journey in the Mojave Desert with the Valkyries, he learns to accept himself, to accept the fact that he has survived and managed to live a better life. Valhalla, the leader of the Valkyries, helps Paulo to regain his self-respect. Valhalla teaches him that he is worthy of the love of God. Paulo has to learn to accept it.
