IN SOPHIE KINSELLA’S CONFESSION OF A SHOPAHOLIC
AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS
Presented as Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra
in English Letters
By
FRISCHA KUSUMASARI Student Number: 134214006
ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAM DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS
FACULTY OF LETTERS SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
ii
THE IMPACT OF THE SOCIAL SURROUNDINGS TOWARDS THE COMPULSIVE BUYING DISORDER OF THE MAIN CHARACTER
IN SOPHIE KINSELLA’S CONFESSION OF A SHOPAHOLIC
AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS
Presented as Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra
in English Letters
By
FRISCHA KUSUMASARI Student Number: 134214006
ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAM DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS
FACULTY OF LETTERS SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
vii
“I can’t change the direction of the wind,
but I can adjust my sail to always reach
my destination
.”
viii
This thesis is dedicated to
MY BELOVED PARENTS,
MY LITTLE ANGEL, PANDAN And
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to express my gratitude to God and my savior, Jesus Christ, for His blessing so that I was able to finish my thesis. He gave me strength and good health so that I could endure the whole process of making this thesis. Thesis writing is an amazing process for me and in this process I am blessed with the following amazing advisor who always help me to get through this process. My deepest gratitude goes to my humble advisor, DewiWidyastuti, S.Pd.,M.Hum., and my co-advisor, Dra. Theresia Enny Anggraini, M.A., Ph.D., for imparting their knowledge and guidance in completing this thesis.
I believe that I would never accomplish my thesis without the help from others. My gratitude also goes to my parents for their endless love and support that keep me motivated to complete this undergraduate. I would like also to thank my sister for her second academic title, M.A., so that I can be more enthusiastic to finish this thesis. To my little family, I am thankful toPandanmy little angel who always be my mood-booster, and also for Vito Babtista who always gives support.
I would like to thank my dearest friends, Yohana, Imas, Deasy, Istu, Eunike and Karina. I would like also to thank for helping me through this process, especially to Yohana and Imas who always be my lovely reader. I would like to thank the A class for being part of my learning process in Sanata Dharma University.
Last but not least, I give thanks to all the people who give me thoughts, advice, and awareness of this life.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
TITLE PAGE ... ii
APPROVAL PAGE ... iii
ACCEPTANCE PAGE ... iv
LEMBAR PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN PUBLIKASI KARYA ILMIAH ... v
STATEMENT OF ORIGINALITY ... vi
1. Theory of Character and Characterization ... 10
2. Theory of Setting... 11
3. Theory of Compulsive Buying Disorder (CBD) ... 12
C. Theoretical Framework ... 15
A. The Characteristics of Rebecca Bloomwood ... 22
1. Shopaholic ... 22
2. Self-Justification ... 24
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B. Society in the Novel ... 28
1. Places... 29
2. Relationship ... 31
3. Family ... 33
C. The Influence of Society toward CBD ... 34
1. Places... 36
2. Rebecca’s Friends ... 39
3. Family ... 43
CHAPTER V: CONCLUSION ... 45
xii
ABSTRACT
KUSUMASARI, FRISCHA. The Impact of the Social Surroundings towards the Compulsive Buying Disorder of the Main Character in Sophie Kinsella’s
Confession of a Shopaholic. Yogyakarta: Department of English Letters, Sanata Dharma University, 2017.
The literary work that is analyzed in this study is a novel entitled Confession of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella. Kinsella in her Shopaholic stories tells about a woman, who is addicted to go shopping. There are usually some reasons why someone becomes shopaholic. According to Rosenberg and Feder in the book of Behavioral Addictions, a shopaholic can be identified as Compulsive Buying Disorder (CBD) by several components. Those are, Salience, Tolerance, Withdrawal Symptoms, Conflict and Relapse. To analyze the CBD as an impact of social surroundings, the theory of setting will be applied.
There are three objectives of this study. The first objective is to depict what the characteristics of the main character that reflect the CBD. The second objective is to analyze how social surroundings are described. The third objective is to find out how the social surroundings influence the CBD.
The research method applied in this study is library research. The primary source is Sophie Kinsella’s novel entitled Confession of a Shopaholic. The secondary sources are taken from books and thesis that are related to the theory applied in this study. Theories which are applied in this study are theory of character and characterization, theory of setting, and theory of Compulsive Buying Disorder. Psychological approach is used to analyze the impact of the social surroundings toward the main character’s personality.
xiii ABSTRAK
KUSUMASARI, FRISCHA. The Impact of the Social Surroundings towards
the Compulsive Buying Disorder of the Main Character in Sophie Kinsella’s Confession of a Shopaholic. Yogyakarta: Program Studi Sastra Inggris, Fakultas Sastra. Universitas Sanata Dharma, 2017.
Karya sastra yang dianalisis dalam skripsi ini adalah novel berjudul Confession of a Shopaholic karya Sophie Kinsella. Kinsella dalam seri novel Shopaholicnya bercerita tentang seorang wanita yang ketagihan belanja sehingga menjadi seseorang yang gila belanja. Ada beberapa alasan mengapa seseorang menjadi gila belanja. Berdasarkan Rosenberg dan Feder dalam bukunya berjudul Behavioral Addictions, seorang gila belanja dapat disebut dengan sebutan Compulsive Buying Disorder melalui beberapa ciri. Ciri-ciri tersebut adalah Sailance, Tolerance, Withdrawal Symptoms, Conflict and Relapse. Untuk menganalisis CBD sebagai dampak dari lingkungan sosial, teori latar dan tempat akan digunakan.
Ada tiga masalah yang dirumuskan dalam karya ilmiah ini. Pertama, merumuskan tentang bagaimana karakteristik tokoh utama yangmencerminkan Compulsive Buying Disorder. Rumusan masalah yang kedua untuk menganalisa tentang bagaimana deskripsi lingkungan sosial tokoh utama. Rumusan masalah yang ketiga adalah untuk menemukan bagaimana lingkungan sosial mempengaruhi CBD.
Dalam menyusun skripsi ini, penulis menggunakan metode penelitian
pustaka dengan sumber utama novel karya Sophie Kinsella berjudul Confession of
a Shopaholic. Materi penunjang adalah buku dan karya ilmiah yang berhubungan dengan teori yang digunakan di dalam penelitian ini. Teori-teori yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah sebagai berikut, teori tentang tokoh dan penokohan,
teori latar, dan teori CBD. Pendekatan psikologis digunakan untuk menganalisa
perubahan kepribadian tokoh sebagai dampak dari lingkungan sosial.
1 CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
A. Background of the Study
Literature can be seen as the activity of human creation that lives in the
social life with all the matters. Those matters of social life will make literature
have their own world on describing something.
Another way of defining literature is to limit it to ‘great books’, book which, whatever their subject, are ‘notable for literary form of expression’ (Wellek and Warren, 1962: 21).
There are so many expressions in the literature. In the literary works, the
value of the story can be the strongest point. The importance of the content can be
the points to learn for human life. Literature is also good to be understood as
human life’s reflection. Every literary work has its own specialty to be discussed.
In the other words, every literary works has their own aesthetic value that can be
seen from certain point of view.
Intrinsic and extrinsic elements are the way to analyze a literary work. The
theme, characters, setting, plot, symbol, and point of view are the intrinsic
elements. The extrinsic elements are everything outside the literary works that
inspire the reader, such as the background of the writer, economics, politics,
historical problem or the psychological problems of the character. The writer
chooses to discuss a novel for this study. The writer discuss the novel through the
intrinsic and extrinsic elements.
Psychological life and the characteristic of the main characters become the
novel will be the thing to discuss. Rebecca as the main character has a problem
with her shopping addiction.
In the era of credit card and shopping online are very helpful for everyone to
buy something. People do not have to go somewhere, bring cash money and go
around the store to get something. The facilities of online shop also changes
everything. A lot of promotion and discount from the card facilities have
increased while people choose to use their credit cards. These situations do not
have ends. In the matter of time, people will be addicted to shopping. People’s
personality could be change because of these things.
People have to know about this addictive disorder (compulsive buying
disorder) and spend their money wisely. Because of the credit card and shopping
online, shopaholic become one of addictive disorder that mostly happen in the
society. The writer chooses this novel to be discussed because the problem of the
main character can be the life – learning. Psychological analysis is one of many
terms that can be the instrument to criticize literary works. Sometimes the reader
get the story’s value from the psychological point of view.
By ‘psychology’ of literature, we may mean the psychological study of the writer, as type and as individual, or the study of the creative process, or the study of psychology types and laws present within works of literature (Wellek and Warren, 1962: 81).
The writer finds out that the main character has special disorder to be
discussed by psychological analysis. The social surroundings can be the main
point about the reason behind the main character’s disorder. The influence of the
3
In general, personality can be defined as the human characteristic. It can
make them different to each other because human’s personality has their own
specialty. In this novel Rebecca has unusual characteristic in her character as a
woman who loves to shop. Coombs (2004: 411) stated that “buying impulses are
normal and frequent and can help people feel better about themselves, at least
temporarily.” Rebecca as the main character usually feels better with something
new in her life. It makes her become addicted because she always wants to buy
something that actually is not necessary. Shopaholic is kind of addictive disorder.
Carson (2000: 374) states that “addictive behavior is one of the most pervasive
and intransigent mental health problem facing our society today”. As stated
before, the shopping addiction is also called as the compulsive buying disorder. It
is the disorder which is not realized by the people in general.
The writer chooses one of Sophie Kinsella’s novels entitled Confession of a
Shopaholic to be analyzed. The writer is interested in analyzing this novel because
of the characterization of the main character that often happens in the society.
There are several shopaholic’s series by Kinsella, but the writer chooses this novel
because the main character’s life as the shopaholic begins here. This novel tells
about a woman named Rebecca who becomes shopaholic in her life. There are
many problems that she has to face because of her addiction to certain brands.
This behavior shows the reader that the main character has a compulsive buying
disorder. As it is mentioned before, the main character named Rebecca has a
The writer chooses the novel in this study because the writer finds some
problems in the story that are similar to the society. The social surroundings is the
important thing to be discussed about why someone personality can change into
disorder. In a word, the novel can teach the reader about managing the money.
Furthermore, it also shows us about how close the social surroundings can give
impact to the personality.
B. Problem Formulation
Through this novel, this study has some problems that need to be identified.
The problems that the writer identifies are related to:
1. What do the characteristics of the main character that reflect the compulsive
buying disorder?
2. How are the social surroundings described?
3. How do the social surroundings influence the compulsive buying disorder of
the main character?
C. Objectives of the Study
This study has three objectives. The first objective is to find the personality
disorder in the main character, Rebecca Bloomwood. The writer identifies how
Rebecca as the main character is described in her personality, her daily life, and
her behavior in the social life which can be reflected as the personality disorder.
The second objective is to find out about the settings of the novel. The writer finds
out more information about the settings that influence the story. The third
5
personality disorder. The writer analyzes about Rebecca’s social life in two
points. They are her life style and the social cultures where she lives.
D. Definition Terms
In order to avoid misunderstanding, the terms that are related to the topic are
going to be explained. There are two terms that are used in this study.
The first term is the social surroundings. According to Klarer, “the term
‘setting’ denotes the location, historical period, and social surroundings in which
action of a text develops.” (1999: 25). In a word, the social surroundings in this
study is related to the location and the social life in the novel. It is followed by
some factors such as the family, society, and relationship.
The second term is the compulsive buying disorder. “The compulsive
buying disorder is characterized by excessive shopping cognition and buying
behavior that leads to distress or impairment.” (Black: 2007:1). The compulsive
buying disorder is one of the disorder that happen because of some reasons. This
study focuses on the social surroundings as the reason of the disorder.
The third term is the definition of social surroundings based psychology. In
order to see the bridge between literature and pschology, the definition of social
surrounding based on psychology is needed.
The Social and Environmental Psychology theme comprises two collaborative groupings conducting basic and applied research addressing issues such as behaviour change, collective action, attitudes, values, motives, lifestyles, judgments of risk, conflict and prejudice. (www. psych.cf.ac.uk).
Based on pyschology, the term of “social surrounding” is known as social
6
CHAPTER II
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
A. Review of Related Studies
The novel of Confession of a Shopaholic is written by an English novelist in 2009, Sophie Kinsella. According to the New York Times Version Kinsella becomes the bestselling author. She has written many interesting chick-lit novels. Most of her novels become the bestseller. In the shopaholic’s series, Kinsella has written about seven books. The earliest, Confession of a Shopaholic has a good story that makes the reader wants to read the next book of the shopaholic series. In the shopaholic series, Rebecca Bloomwood is the main character. In this novel Rebecca successfully attracts the readers with her story because of her behavior as a shopaholic. Having behavior as a shopping addict makes Rebecca have Compulsive Buying Disorder (CBD).
7
release her desire. This journal also states that oniomania is called compulsive buying disorder.
With this analysis, the researchers explains in depth about the oniomania sufferer inside the novel The Confession of a Shopaholic. It explained that Rebecca as oniomania sufferer is indicated by her senseless and Rebecca euphoria in shopping. Rebecca always spends money to buy things which are not being her need, she was also getting pleasure after doing the shopping. Those become the main focus of the writer in this analysis (Hetti and Kardiansyah, 2014: 14).
The journal analyses Rebecca’s oniomania in term of shopaholic. Some indications are made to understand further about the oniomania inside Rebecca’s personality. Hetti and Kardiansyah said that Rebecca as an oniomania sufferer has senseless of shopping.
Wididianingrum Nandini (2006) in her Undergraduate Thesis “Criticism to Consumeristic Society in Don Delilo’s Cosmopolis and Sophie Kinsella’s
Confession of a Shopaholic” proves that Rebecca Bloomwood is one of the representations of over-consumptive character. In the other words, Rebecca is the representation of cosmopolitan London woman. As the cosmopolitan London woman, Nandini finds out that one of Rebecca’s characteristics is consumptives. Nandini uses comparative study for analyzing consumptive behavior. She compares the consumptive behavior in two novels as an effect of Second World War.
culture. According to Nandini’s thesis, consumeristic society becomes the main point to analyze the characters of both novel. Nandini also studies that the consumeristic society that is described in the novel must be similar to the writer’s society. This thesis states that (2006: 25) “Rebecca Blomwood, the major character, is mostly depicted to show consumerism has affect her.” Consumeristic problem is an impact from the society. It becomes the reason why Nandini’s thesis concerns to analyze about how such phenomenal issue as consumerism has influenced the society as seen in both novel.
The similar study is done by Agustina Herni Lestari (2011). In her thesis, “The Influence of Motivation toward Rebecca’s Shopping Disorder as seen in Sophie Kinsella’s Confession of a Shopaholic”, Rebecca is described as a shopping addict. It is more or less similar to Nandini’s thesis. The term of consumerism is also used in her study because of the Rebecca’s behavior as a shopaholic. Lestari tends to discuss to the emotion and motivation of the neighborhood toward Rebecca’s shopping disorder. Motivation in this study is described as the surrounding environment that influences the Rebecca’s shopping disorder.
Rebecca is a shopaholic who always tries hard to get all the stuff she wants whatever the way. She uses her instinct as a shopaholic. It is like mother who understand the crying of her baby. The mother uses her instinct to know wat her baby needs, whether the baby needs some milk, feel hunger, or needs a friend. Rebecca always uses her instinct when she shop (Lestari, 2011: 48).
9
like a person who has instinct to do everything in order to buy something. It is also stated that her instinct as a shopaholic becomes one of her motivation.
The two theses mostly discuss on the consumerism of the main character and about the influence of the disorder. The first thesis is about the consumeristic behavior while the second is more about the motivation of shopping. Both of the study also discuss about the Rebecca’s behavior towards the society.
B. Review of Related Theories
In order to make this study become scientific, the writer needs some theories as the references. There are three theories that will be used in this study. They are theory of character and characterization, theory of setting, and theory of Compulsive Buying Disorder (CBD).
1. Theory of Character and Characterization
Characters in the story seem to be the most important point. Characters are important because they are the elements who establish the plot of the story. There are several kinds of characters in every story. According to Klarer (1999: 17) the kinds of character are divided into two. First, typified character or called as flat character. Second, individualized character or called as round character. Flat character is usually dominated by one specific trait and the round character usually denotes a person with more complex and different feature.
According to Abrams (1985: 24) characterization can be analyzed by using
showing method. The author will let the reader to conclude about the character’s motives and disposition behind it by understanding about what the characters talks and act. In order to expand the inferences about the characterization, the reader can make form of what the characters have talk about when they talk to each other.
11
the characters have. Murphy (1972: 161-173) states that to understand further about the characters, there are nine important points that are needed. They are:
a. Personal Description: The author can describe about the appearance and
clothes of the person.
b. Character seen by another: A person can be described through the eyes
and opinions of another by the author.
c. Speech: By looking at what the person say, the author can gives us an
insight into the character of one of the person in the book.
d. Past life: The author makes the reader learn about the person’s life in the
past that can be the clue to shape a person character.
e. Conversation of Others: It is the way how the author figure out the character by learning something in the person’s past life.
f. Reactions: The person’s character can be understood by knowing the
reaction of the person towards the various situation and event.
g. Direct Comment: The author describe or comments on a person’s character
directly.
h. Thought: It is the way the author gives the reader direct knowledge of what
person thinking.
i. Mannerism: The person’s character can be understood in person’s mannerisms, habits or idiosyncrasies which is described by the author.
elements that will be used are Personal Description, Character seen by another, Speech, Past life, and Reaction.
2. Theory of Setting
According to Klarer (1999: 25), the term ‘setting’ denotes the location, historical period, and social surroundings in which action of a text develops. It means that setting is the aspect that supports the action to take place, such as place, time, and the environment. Setting can be defined as the location where something happens. Klarer also states that setting can be the crucial point or elements (1999: 26). By using the theory of setting, the writer finds out some important points about setting in the novel such as the social environment that influences the main character’s behavior.
Dealing with the social surroundings means that the study also deal with the society of the story. Society is related to the human relationship with around them. In the book of Society in the Novel (1984: 6) by Elizabeth Langland, society in the novel is described in some points such as custom, beliefs, physical environment, human relationship, background, places and institution. According to Murphy (1972: 143), there are three points to consider in setting. The points are time, place, and atmosphere. By looking to the theory of setting from Elizabeth Langland and Murphy, setting can be concluded into three things. Those things are places, relationship, and family.
3. Theory of Compulsive Buying Disorder (CBD)
13
fiction, drama, vice versa. Then in the psychology, it is scientific that deal with human’s behavior, mental human personality. In a word, psychology is called as the study of human minds work. In order to analyze the psychological thing in literary works, both terms can be used to analyze.
Characters in plays and novels are judged by us to be ‘psychologically’ true. Situations are praised and plots accepted because of this same quality. Sometimes a psychological theory, held either consciously or dimply by an author, seems to fit a figure or a situation (Wellek and Warren, 1956: 91). In the book Theory of Literature by Wellek and Warren, psychological term can be applied in some ways in literature, such as the characters, the author, and the background of the story. Psychological theory can help the reader to analyze the characters behavior and personality. Klarer (1999: 17) states in his book that
A psychological approach is, however, merely one way of evaluating characters; it is also possible to analyze character representation in the context of narratological structures.
Thus, the theory of psychology can be applied to analyze the characteristic of the character in psychological point of view. In a word, theory of psychology can be applied in literature to analyze the character inside the story because the characteristic of human and the characters inside the story are similar.
the Behavioral Addiction by Rosenberg and Feder (2014: 65), to define the behavioral addiction, there are six components inside. In this study only five components that is applied. One of the components, Mood-Modification, is not used because it cannot be applied to the character’s personality. The components that is applied are, Salience, Tolerance, Withdrawal Symptoms, Conflict and
Relapse.
a. Salience: The behavior in a person’s life becomes the most important activity
and also tends to dominate the thinking, feelings and behavior.
b. Tolerance: The process whereby increasing amounts of the behavior are
required to achieve the former mood=modifying effects, often meaning greater periods of time are spent engaging in the behavior, and/or there is a desire escalation in the intensity, recklessness, destructiveness, and ego-dystonic nature of behavior.
c. Withdrawal Symptoms: The unpleasant feeling and physical effects such as
the moodiness, and irritability that occur when a person cannot engage in the behavior.
d. Conflict: it referenced discord between the person and the surroundings such
15
e. Relapse: The tendency for repeated behavior to earlier pattern of excessive
behavior to recur and for a common return to the most extreme pattern of excessive behavior soon after period of control.
Thus, it is already explained by Rosenberg and Feder that the behavioral addiction has some elements about the personality and the social surroundings that have to be studied. The main character of the story is the object of the study in CBD. Those elements can be applied in the main character in order to determine the behavioral addiction.
C. Theoretical Framework
In order to support this study in answering the problems, some theories is used. The theories are theory of character and characterization, theory of setting, and theory of compulsive buying disorder.
of the story because some of them cannot be applied. Those elements are personal description, character seen by another, speech, past life and reaction.
Theory of setting is used to analyze where the story take place. The term of setting in this study is the social surroundings of the main character. It includes the place, time, and the social environment. Theory of setting by Murphy (1972: 143) is used to analyze the time, place and atmosphere inside the story that influence the main character’s behavior.
17 CHAPTER III
METHODOLOGY
A. Object of the Study
The object of this study is one of the shopaholic series by Kinsella,
Confession of a Shopaholic. This is the very first book of the shopaholic series
and was published in New York 2001. The novel that is used in this study is the
fifth edition. It was published in New York 2007 and consists of 269 pages.
Moreover, it is divided into 24 chapters. Kinsella is a bestselling author based on
New York Times. This novel has a genre as chick lit novel that mostly attracts the
young female’s readers.
Briefly, this novel tells about a shopaholic woman with all her financial
problems and falls in love with a guy in the middle of her complicated problems.
There is something that is interesting in the beginning of this novel. It is the event
when the form of letter from Endwich Bank is sent to the main character. The
main character, Rebecca, has some financial problems. Rebecca Bloomwood is a
25 year-old woman who lives in London where fashion is something priceless.
She works as a writer in Successful Saving (financial magazine). Working at the
financial magazine does not give any impact on her life. It is proven by the
financial problem that she has to face. Some financial problems come one by one
in her life. Being the writer in Successful Saving does not mean that she is able to
Shopping is the most favorite activity that Becca likes. The only reason why
she cannot get out of her problems is because she cannot control her hobby. Becca
is called as a shopaholic because she always feels better when she can hear any
ring of the cashier machine. The mannequin in every shop looks very beautiful in
her eyes. The talking mannequin is always in her mind. She feels that the
mannequin gets her attention to any kind of thing that she bought. Even it makes
her purchase something which is not necessary.
In order to fix her financial problem, Becca consults this problem with Suze
who is her best friend. Actually, Suze is also a shopaholic. However, in this
situation she tries to help Becca. She does some advices from Suze. As her mind
is complicated by her financial problem, there is a guy who successfully distracts
her love life. In Rebecca’s thought, to make her life happy is not about having
relation with a guy. She feels that she does not need any guy in her life.
Meanwhile, for Becca, shopping is the only thing that can create happiness.
B. Approach of the Study
Discussing the psychological problem, the writer uses psychological
approach. According to Wellek and Waren (1956: 91) psychological term can be
applied to the literature, such as characters, the author, and background of the
story. In this study, psychological approach is used to analyze the character of the
story. In relationship between literature and psychology, theory of psychology can
be applied in literature to analyze the character inside the story. It is because the
19
In the book of A Handbook of Critical Approaches to Literature (Guerin,
2011: 222), psychological approach is defined as the psychological interpretation
and used to analyze human personality through human’s mind. It is also used to
reinforce the understanding and the appreciation of a literary works by analyzing
one of the characters in the story through psychological approach. Since literary
works mostly discuss on human relationship, human behavior, and the conflict,
psychological approach can be used to describe the development of personality
disorder that is experienced by the character.
In a more specific conclusion, psychological approach is used to determine
the reason behind the development of personality disorder. The writer uses
psychological approach because it deals with human’s psychological aspect. The
psychological aspect of human is usually influenced by the society. In a word, this
aspect can be influenced by the society or the social surroundings. This approach
focuses on human activities. It deals with the way the society influences
someone’s behavior. Therefore, the writer uses psychological approach to analyze
the psychological aspect of the main character.
C. Method of the Study
This study is a library research. There were two kinds of sources used in this
study. They are primary source and secondary sources. The first is the primary
source that becomes the main source for this study. It is the novel entitled
Confession of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella. The second one is the secondary
are the reviews, the theories, the approach, and some data that are taken from the
internet.
In order to analyze the novel, the writer took some steps. The first step was
reading the novel many times. By reading many times, the writer wanted to have
more understanding about the novel. The second step was stating some problems
that are mentioned in the problem formulation. The third step was collecting the
data that supported the novel. The data were taken from the library research and
internet. Some theories would be used to analyze the novel. The writer found the
theory of Compulsive Buying Disorder from Behavioral Addictions. This theory is
used to analyze the addictive disorder in the main character. Then, the last step
21 CHAPTER IV
ANALYSIS
In this analysis, the writer tries to answer the questions in the problem
formulation. This chapter is divided into three parts. The first is the characteristic
of Rebecca Bloomwood as the main character in the Confession of a Shopaholic.
The second is the social surrounding of the novel. The third is the influence of the
social surrounding toward the main character’s compulsive buying disorder.
According to the Klarer’s theory about the kinds of character, the writer
concludes that Rebecca is classified as a round character. Klarer’s theory (1999:
17) states that the round character usually denotes a person with more complex
and different features. Since the beginning of the story, Rebecca Bloomwood is
described as a shopaholic with a lot of financial problems. She has a lot of debts
because she cannot control her desire to do shopping. Rebecca is very motivated
in doing something. Moreover, she is a self-seeking woman. She usually uses
some ways in order to get something. After reading further, the writer can
conclude that Rebecca has personality disorder. Because of the society, Rebecca
becomes one of Compulsive Buying Disorder sufferers. The role of the society
unconsciously enhances her hobby that is a shopaholic becomes a personality
disorder.
A. The Characteristics of Rebecca Bloomwood
According to the theory of character and characterization by Murphy (1972:
161-173), there are nine ways that can be applied to analyze the characteristic of
the character. In this study, only five ways that will be applied. Those are
personality description, character seen by another, speech, past life, and reaction.
1. Shopaholic
Generally, a person becomes a shopaholic when she or he truly enjoys to do
shopping, she or he usually buys everything that he or she wants. However, in this
novel Rebecca is described as a shopaholic when she enjoys shopping on a certain
brand with high quality. According to her thesis, Lestari also said that Rebecca is
a person who always tries hard to get all the stuff she wants whatever the way
(2011: 48). Rebecca’s desire to shop cannot be controlled when she looks at
something in good quality. It becomes the reason why Rebecca is known as a
woman who has high-standard of style. By looking at the personality description,
Rebecca is described as a 25 year-old woman who is addicted to shopping. It is
also stated in the novel about Rebecca’s appearance.
I casually close my eyes and start to tot up. There was that suit in Jigsaw. And there was dinner with Suze at Qualinos. And there that gorgeous red and yellow rug. The rug was £200, come to think of it. But it was definitely worth every penny—everyone’s admired it. Or, at least, Suze has.
And the Jigsaw suit was on sale—30 percent off. So that was actually saving money.
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Being known as a shopaholic, Rebecca usually wants to buy something that
she thinks as a good thing with good quality. The brand becomes the most
important consideration for Rebecca to decide whether the things that she wants to
buy is worth or not. She will not take any further consideration if she thinks that
the brand that is in sale is worth buying.
In the window of Denny and George is a discreet sign. Its dark green with ice cream lettering, and it says: SALE. I stare at it, and my skin’s all prickly. I can’t be true. Denny and George can’t be having a sale. They never have a sale. Their scarves and pashminas are so coveted, they could probably sell them at twice the price. Everyone I know in the entire world aspires to owning a Deny and George scarf (Kinsella, 2005: 7).
At that moment, Rebecca will go to the press conference in Financial Times.
On her way to go to the conference, she looks at the Denny and George’s window.
Rebecca feels that she wants to buy the scarves and the pashmina that are
displayed as a sale in the window. As a shopaholic, she needs to buy the thing that
she wants in order to release her desire. Rebecca will insist on any consideration
that will make the thing become important to buy. By seeing at her reaction, the
writer can conclude that it can be one of the characteristics of Rebecca’s
shopaholic.
Rebecca lives in the flat with her friend named Suze. Also, Suze really
loves fashion. Hearing the ring of cashier machine, hearing some words from the
shopkeeper about her appearance, and holding some paper bags from branded
shops always makes her feel better. Having friend who also loves to shop makes
Rebecca feel happy. She will buy everything that she wants without any
characterization of character can also be seen in the way the character talks and
acts.
I count out the money in tens and twenties and wait, almost shivering as the ducks behind the counter and produces the green box. She slides it into a thick glossy bag with dark green cord handless and hands it to me, and I almost want to cry out loud, the moment is so wonderful (Kinsella, 2005: 17).
Rebecca always takes a pleasure of it. The happiness is in her eyes when she
can buy something that she wants. At the moment she is interested in something,
she will buy that thing. The characteristic as a shopaholic is also shown in this
part that can be found by character as seen by another.
“Oh God, there’s something wrong, isn’t there?” wails Suze. I knew it. Maybe you’re really ill.” She hurries into the room and reaches for my head. “Have you got temperature? Does anything hurt?”
“Have you had a bump on the head?” she wiggles her hand in front of my face. “How many fingers?” (Kinsella, 2005: 223).
Being a shopaholic, Rebecca never ignores any invitation to do shopping.
She really loves shopping. When Suze asks her to do shopping, usually Rebecca
will say yes. However, in this situation, Rebecca refuses that invitation. It make
Suze thinks that there is something wrong with her. It is because in Suze’s point
of view, as another character in the novel, Rebecca is seen as a shopaholic. Thus,
it is really weird when Rebecca does not want to do shopping.
2. Self-Justification
Rebecca always justifies herself when she wants to buy something. Self-talk
will happen when she tries to take consideration whether something is necessary
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mind. This situation makes herself become someone who does shopping just
because of her desire, not the necessity.
Christmas shopping! I can do all my Christmas shopping here! I know March is bit early, but why not to be organized? And then when Christmas arrives I won’t have to go near the horrible Christmas crowds. I can’t believe I haven’t thought of doing this before. And it’s not breaking the
rules because I’d have to by Christmas present sometime, wouldn’t I?
(Kinsella, 2005: 68).
Looking at her speech, the characteristic of self-justification can be seen in
the quotation. The situation when Rebecca wants to buy something unnecessary
happens in self-talk. It happens when she wants to buy the Christmas present in
March. Normally, the reason to buy Christmas present in March to avoid the
crowd is too much.
The financial problem is not the thing that is accepted as her fault. She will
blame another thing as the cause of her fault. Rebecca always thinks that there
will be a certain reason behind something that happens. Everything that is done by
her, becomes the thing which must happen naturally.
Frugality. Simplicity. There are my new watchwords. A new, uncluttered, Zen-like life, in which I spending nothing. Spend nothing. I mean, when you think about it, how much money do we all waste every day? No wonder I’m in a little bit of debt. And really, it’s not my fault. I’ve merely been succumbing to the western drag of materialism—which you have strength to have strength of elephants to resist. At least that’s what it says in my new book (Kinsella, 2005: 41).
Blaming as the impact of western-materialism, Rebecca thinks that she needs
the strength of elephant to resist. Actually, what the writer gets is the Rebecca’s
justification in order to make herself feel better with her problems. Looking at the
reaction, Rebecca’s reaction to her problem shows that she cannot manage herself
The other reaction of self-justification mostly comes up when she gets her
self-talk. In her self-talk, she will push her desire to buy something. In other
words, she will think that it is better to buy something. This situation happens
when she has to avoid her desire to do shopping. All of her efforts to save money
are broken when she finds a sale.
I mean, I know I’m not really supposed to be spending money—but this is complete one-off. They are coolest jeans you’ve ever seen. And 90 euro is nothing for a pair of really good jeans. If you were in Gucci, you’d be paying at least 500 euro. Oh God, I want them. I want them (Kinsella, 2005: 92).
The writer can conclude that Rebecca Bloomwood always makes her
self-justification when she wants to get a thing. She tries to forget her financial
problems in debt. In order to fill her desire, she will have some imagination in her
self-talk which looks like supporting her in doing something.
3. Self-Seeking
Self-seeking is a condition when a person who has a strong desire or
determination to get something for his or her need. In the self-seeking, a person
will tend not to care about what happens to other people when they want to get the
thing. In the novel Confession of a Shopaholic, Rebecca Bloomwood can be
categorized as a self-seeking. Rebecca is a person who has strong desire to get
something that she wants.
Rebecca loves fashion since her childhood. She always tries to match the
style of a person in a magazine. That activity is her favorite one. She usually reads
27
It’s habit of mine, itemizing all clothes I’m wearing, as though for a fashion page. I’ve been doing it for years—ever since I used to read just seventeen. Every issue, they’d stop a girl on the street, take a picture of her and list all her clothes (Kinsella, 2005: 6).
Her dream to be a successful person is motivated by her love in fashion and
style. By looking at her past, Rebecca can be characterized as a self-seeking
because of her effort to get what her wants in life. In the beginning of the story, it
is described when she wants to buy the scarf. She gets some problems with her
money to buy the scarf. Then, she asks the shopkeeper to keep it for her until she
gets her credit card.
I tear a piece of paper out of my notebook, write on it “Can you lend me twenty quid?” and pass it to Elly, who’s still surreptitiously listening to her mobile phone. I wonder what she’s listening to. It can’t still be her horoscope, surely? She looks down, shakes her head and writes, “No can do. Bloody machine swallowed my card (Kinsella, 2005: 13).
At that moment, Rebecca tries to lend some money from her friends in order
to buy the scarf. Finally, she lies to everyone that she needs the money for her
aunt who is hospitalized. On her way to go back to the store, she meets a man who
is also in a hurry because his wife is in labor. Rebecca tries to forget about the fact
that her business is nothing than the man’s. Looking at Rebecca’s reaction to this
situation, the writer concludes that Rebecca makes her business become the most
important among all things. She also does not really care to others’ problem. She
just wants to take the scarf which is actually pointless. She also states that what
she wants is also important.
Although she already thinks about the matter of her business in buying the
scarf, she still sticks on her side that her business is more important than the
miracle of a new life. By seeing the reaction, Rebecca can be characterized as a
self-seeking. She sticks on her plan, no matter what, in order to get what she
wants.
B. Society in the Novel
According to Klarer, setting, location and social surrounding are the
important point that supports the action to take place. In this novel, Confession of
a Shopaholic, location and social surrounding where Rebecca lives have
influences to Rebecca’s characteristics. The term society in the novel is usually
related to the relationship of the characters inside the story. Meanwhile, Elizabeth
Langland has described society as the social surrounding in the novel in some
points, such as the relationship, background, and places.
In this discussion, the writer reveals the influence of the society toward
Rebecca’s disorder. By observing the social surrounding in the novel, the society
will be the main point to be discussed. Society in the novel is the aspect that
supports the story to take place. It also determines the characteristic of the
character in the story. In this study, the writer focus on the society that influences
the main character’s personality. Places, human relationship, and family
background are the points that support the writer on analyzing the main
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1. Places
Someone’s lifestyle is usually determined by the place where he/she lives.
Place will lead someone to be a certain kind of person that is similar toward
his/her surroundings. Social surroundings in the certain place are usually
described as the lifestyle’s background of a person. In the novel, London is a
place where all of Rebecca’s story takes place. Trend-fashion in London is very
famous. It is seen in the brand of the thing that London has. Almost every brand is
known by other countries. In London, Rebecca lives in the flat with her flat-mate,
Suze. It is located in Fulham. The flat in Fulham is well-known as the luxury flat
in London.
Suze suggested I move in with her. I’m sure the rent she charges is too low, but I’ve never insisted I pay full the market rate, because I couldn’t afford it. As market rates go, I’m nearer Elephant and Castle than Fulham on my salary. How can normal people afford to live in such hideous expensive places? (Kinsella, 2005: 21)
Rebecca and Suze live in the flat where rich people live in. Based on what
Rebecca said above, the hideous expensive place itself is really expensive for
people who have good salary. Thus, the flat where Rebecca lives is surrounded by
rich people who can afford to buy or rent the flat. People around them look like
as if they do not have any financial problem. They also have high-standard of life.
It is also stated in the novel that certain magazine has a review about the girls who
live in the flat has a glamorous life. The glamorous life can be identified by seeing
the neighborhood of the flat. However, this situation makes Rebecca feel that
glamorous is also her style. It changes her mind-set in terms of lifestyle. She tends
This situation is very different from Rebecca’s financial condition. She
said that the flat is such a hideous expensive place. Financially, Rebecca does not
have enough salary to pay the rent. Then, she has to afford some money to rent the
flat with Suze. Another fact about Rebecca’s flat is that the Flat in Fulham is also
known as a trendy-flat. It is described in the novel that there is something special
with the people who live in the Flat. It can be the reason why those people have
high standard of lifestyle. An article said that the flat is surrounded by girls who
live on trust funds. Thus, many people who live around Rebecca also have a high
quality of life.
“Good weekend, Rebecca?” says Philip.
“Fine, thanks,” I say, glancing up from the brochures as though surprised to be interrupted while I’m at work.
“I was round your neck of the woods on Saturday,” he says. “The Fulham Road. Trendy Fulham.”
“Right,” I say absently.
“It’s the place to be, these days, isn’t it? My wife was reading an articles about it. Full of It-girls, all living on trust funds.”
“I suppose so,” I say vaguely.
“That’s what we’ll have to call you,” he says, and gives a little guffaw. “The office It-girl.” (Kinsella, 2005: 104)
Philip as her boss in the office sees that Rebecca is also part of the It-girl in
the Fulham road. Known as a trendy Fulham makes Rebecca become known as
the pop-girl with a hilarious life. This is called as the place that someone lives will
be described as someone lifestyle’s background. The fact that Rebecca loves
shopping and buying something branded sometimes becomes the reason why she
has high standard of lifestyle while financial problems follow her life. In this case,
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In the conversation above, Rebecca does not look interested in Philip’s
question. She realizes that Philip’s statement is not really true for her. She just
answers vaguely when Philip mentions about the trust fund because in fact,
Rebecca has no that thing from her parents. However, in order to pay the rent, she
usually pays it together with Suze. In this situation, the problem is that Rebecca
wants to look the same when she meets her neighbor.
2. Human Relationship
Humans are social beings. As a social beings, they need some relations to
live in a certain society because they cannot live alone. It is the reason why
relation is always related to the society. Having a good relationship with the
society will help someone to have a good life. It also has a big influence to
someone’s life. In the society, there are some components that people have to deal
with, such as friendship, social interaction, job environment, and the peer group.
In the story, Rebecca has a good friendship with her flat mate, Suze. She
feels that Suze always has the same idea as her in terms of shopping. They never
have any serious problem about friendship. Actually, Suze is also described as a
shopaholic. The same as Rebecca, she also has a glamorous life. It is seen in the
way Suze appreciates anything that Rebecca buys. Suze usually knows the
essential points inside the thing, such as the standard of the brand, the quality, etc.
The difference is that Suze still gets money from her parents every month. Suze’s
parents have a good financial condition. It is the reason why she never gets
As a best friend, Suze usually helps Rebecca. She never asks Rebecca for
the rent payment when she seems having no money. Suze also becomes the one
who will be asked by Rebecca when she wants to buy something. Having the
same idea for making some considerations in shopping makes both of them
become very close to each other.
This is why I love sharing a flat with Suze. Julia, my old flat mate, would have wrinkle her brow and said, “Denny and who?” or, “That’s a lot of money for a scarf.” But Suze completely and utterly understand. If anything, she worse than me (Kinsella, 2005: 20).
“Oh no,” says Suze assuredly. “What happens is, the money’s lent, it’s returned with a thank-you letter, and that’s the end of the matter. This card”—she waves it at me—“this is something extra.”
This is the way I love sharing a flat with Suze. She knows stuff like this, because she mixes in the right social circles (Kinsella, 2005: 70).
Rebecca feels very grateful that she has a friend like Suze. It is because
Suze is very different from Rebecca’s flat mate in the past. Besides, Suze also has
high-standard of lifestyle just the same as Rebecca. That is why Rebecca feels so
happy when there is someone who can give her any comment in choosing
something, such as the style, and the brand.
Rebecca works as a financial journalist in Successful Saving. Having a job
as a journalist makes her have to attend some conferences in order to write the
article. In her work’s environment, she has special attention to the PR girl. The
outfits that are worn by them are the things that she has to focus on. She usually
compares her outfit with PR girls.
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Staring straight down at me, I should say. He must be well over six feet tall with dark hair and dark eyes and ... wow. Isn’t that suit nice? An expensive suit that almost makes you want to be a man. It’s inky blue with a faint purple stripe, single breasted, with proper horn buttons. As I run my eyes over it I find myself wondering if it’s by Oswald Boateng, and whether the jacket’s got a silk lining in some stunning color (Kinsella, 2005: 9).
Rebecca’s working environment also influences her as a shopaholic. She
always compares her outfit with the PR girl. She looks at the appearance of PR
girls from their outfit’s brand. Unfortunately, the PR girls wear branded outfits
like what Rebecca usually wears. She tries to mention every detail of it. Rebecca’s
working environment is also surrounded by the people who have high standard of
lifestyle. Actually, Rebecca feels comfortable with some relationships with other
women who has high standard of lifestyle. However, this situation also makes
Rebecca’s desire to have this lifestyle is growing bigger.
3. Family
The role of family in life is very important. It is because family is the very
first place for children to learn something. The role of parents in a family is the
most important. A child will try to copy what his/her parents do. Some children
usually have the same character with the mother or the father. In the term of
setting, Murphy has said that past time has some influences to the characteristic of
the character.
Someone’s personality will develop by the family. Family is the important
point that influences someone’s personality. It is because family is the very basic
really love her. Rebecca’s mother is described as a woman who likes to shop. It is
similar to Rebecca. However, in this case, her mother is not as shopaholic as
Rebecca.
Mom’s terrible. She’s always buying new stuff for the kitchen—and she just gives the old stuff to charity shops. New kettles, new toaster ... We’ve already had three new rubbish bins this year—dark green, then chrome, and now yellow translucent plastic (Kinsella, 2005: 29).
Mum’s really happy, too, as she’s found a pair of candle sticks for her collection. She got collections of candle sticks, toast racks, pottery jugs, glass animal, embroidered samplers, and thimbles. (Personally, I don’t think the thimbles count as a proper collection, because she got the whole lot.
Including the cabinet, from an ad at the back of the Mail on Sunday
magazine. But she never tells anybody that. In fact, I shouldn’t have mentioned it.) (Kinsella, 2005: 30)
It shows that Rebecca’s mother also likes to buy something which is not
necessary, for example the kitchen stuff. She buys a new toaster even though she
still has the good one. She usually buys something just because the color, the
shape, or the motive. Also, her mom buys some unnecessary stuffs. The writer
concludes that Rebeca’s mom is also a woman who loves to shop. Similar with
Rebecca, her mom tends to buy something which is not necessary but not in high
quality. She usually buys something because she wants it, just like Rebecca. It is
the reason why Rebecca’s mother can be seen as a person who influences
Rebecca’s shopaholic.
C. The Influence of Society toward CBD
After knowing the characteristics of Rebecca as the main character and
identifying the society around her, the writer complete this analysis by showing
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Compulsive Buying Disorder (CBD) sufferer. In other words, this part provides
the answer to the third question.
Rebecca Bloomwood is the main character who is characterized as a CBD
sufferer. Having a hobby to do shopping makes her addicted to that hobby.
According to Rosenberg and Feeder, behavioral addiction is a condition that
people have when they cannot control to engage with their wants. It is one of the
psychological problems in the mental illness. The writer said that Rebecca has
psychological problem according to her addiction to do shopping. Also her hobby
causes her to get financial problems.
CBD is characterized by someone who is addicted to buy something in
order to release his or her desire. However, this kind of habit makes a distress in
someone’s mind. Rebecca’s hobby is also known as the reason that causes her into
a distress. According to the book of Behavioral Addiction, CBD has some
characteristics, such as Salience, Tolerance, Withdrawal Symptoms, and Conflict.
Rebecca has those characteristic as a CBD. Her characterization as a shopaholic
also shows her characteristic as CBD sufferer.
Based on the analysis about the characteristics of Rebecca Bloomwood,
Rebecca is considered as a shopaholic, self-justification, and self-seeking. In this
part of the analysis, the writer provides Rebecca’s behavioral addiction that is
affected by the social surroundings. Rebecca is surrounded by society that
unconsciously enhances her shopping hobby. The enhancement of the society
CBD. In addition, considering the focus of this analysis, the writer decides to
apply Rosenberg and Feder’s theory about behavioral addiction in order to find
out which part of Rebecca’s life that involves the most in Rebecca’s personality.
The writer provides the society in Rebecca’s life that enhances one of her
characteristics as a CBD sufferer.
1. Places
Through the explanation of Rebecca as the main character in this novel, the
author clearly describes that Rebecca’s flat is the trendiest place in Fullham. In
this case, the writer refers to the effect of the social surrounding around the flat
towards the main character’s personality. As stated before, Rebecca lives in a flat
that is well-known as the trendiest flat in Fulham. Living in the society where
people force her to get a better life is not easy. In other words, when people are
surrounded by high-class people, they tend to follow the surrounding in order to
get the recognition from them, they want to be accepted in that society.
Rebecca really loves to bring some shopping bags from several expensive
brands and likes to call herself as a woman who wears something branded. She
thought that people who look at her will pay attention to what she wears. Also she
thought that by wearing some branded stuff, she will be recognized as a high-class
person. When she gets a new scarf, she calls herself as a girl in the Denny-George
scarf. Then, she calls herself the girl in the white coat when she gets a new
branded coat. This situation drives her shopaholic to become more addictive
37
The recognition as a high-class person by wearing expensive stuff is very
important for her life. She thinks that others will see her as a woman who has high
standard of lifestyle. Thus, she never thinks about her future’s need such as a
house, saving, and so on. Rebecca experiences it when her childhood friends ask
her to get a better flat though she has lived in a good flat with her flat-mate.
“Are you moving?” I say in surprise. Elly lives in the coolest flat in Camden, with two guys who are in a band and get her into loads of free gigs and stuff. I can’t think why she’d want to move.
“Actually, I’m buying,” she says. “I’m looking around Streatham, Tooting … I just want to get on the first rung of that property ladder.”
“Right,” I say feebly. “Good idea.”
“You should do it yourself, you know, Becky,” she says. “You can’t hang around in a student flat forever. Real life has to begin sometime!”
She glances at one of her men in suits, and he gives a little laugh. It’s not a student flat, I think indignantly. And anyway, who defines “real life”? Who says “real life” is property ladders and hideous pearl earrings? “Shit-boring tedious life,” (Kinsella, 2005: 130).
Rebecca thinks that she has already had a good life, but it is different from
what other see about her. After she met her old friend, she begins to think about
her life. By answering feebly, she looks so jealous of her friend. Then, her
characteristic as a self-justification person influences her to justify her life in
reality which is much more different to her old friends who do not know about
fashion at all. The moment of self-talk happens. She begins to blame others and
thinks that she is right. Rebecca’s characteristic as a self-seeking person also
makes her not think about others. She feels that her business is her own. No one
can change or even touch it.
The writer sees that Rebecca’s reaction to her old friends also reveals her
important activity. It also dominates her way of thinking that her own choice is
the best for her. In terms of a CBD sufferer, it is called as Salience. The behavior
that Rebecca’s has tends to dominate her feelings and behavior. Rebecca feels that
her activity is important for her life rather than others’ who look like having more
perfect live. She will not care about others. In the characteristics of CBD, this
situation is called as Salience when the behavior in a person’s life becomes the
most important and tends to dominate the way of thinking, feelings and behavior.
The effect of society towards Rebecca is quite influential to support her
characteristics as a CBD sufferer. She is very proud of herself as a woman who
has high-standard of lifestyle. She never thinks that she has to talk about property
or the other similar stuff. In her mind, everything that she has done is the best for
her though she has to make some distance in order to keep away from Derek
Smeath and Ericca who come from Endwich Bank. Having some problems with
Bank never changes her mind to feel sorry about her problems. Since she knows
about her debt from the Bank, she still thinks about an impossible possibility that
can fix all the problems. Thus, the characteristic of Salience can also be seen here.
Almost everything that she thinks as the “right” thing becomes important. It also
can also be seen as a shopaholic who has a debt problem, it dominates her
thought, feelings and behavior that she is still in the right path.
39
pence each. Which, naturally, I’ll pay without question. Fair’s fair, after all (Kinsella, 2005: 2).
The characteristics as a self-justification and self-seeking can be seen in the
paragraph above. Rebecca never forgets to make some statements that can make
her feel free from the problems. Also she makes some imaginations of possibility
that may be happened in order to make her become the lucky one. It makes
Rebecca never feel wrong with her behavior. Moreover, it will always dominate
her way of thinking that shopping until the limit nominal Visa is not considered as
a serious problem.
2. Rebecca’s Friends
The very close friend or sometimes called as best friend will determine
someone’s behavior in the society. Rebecca’s best friend, Suze, has a glamorous
life. Suze comes from the upper-class family. It is quite different from Rebecca.
Suze has parents who still control her life. Her parents usually gives her pocket
money. Moreover, Suze gets a flat in Fulham as her birthday present. In this
situation, living together with Suze makes Rebecca feel that she must become like
Suze. In the matter of shopping, Suze is also a person who loves to shop.
However, Suze is not as shopaholic as Rebecca. Having family from the
upper-class makes Suze feel that shopping is a common thing. Another reason is that
Suze does not have any intention to be recognized as a person with high standard
