POSTMODERN FEMINIST DEPICTED IN BERLIE
DOHERTY’S
DEAR NOBODY
AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements
for the Degree of
Sarjana Sastra
in English Letters
By:
Francisca Carolina Budy Hartanti
Student Number: 014214022
ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS
FACULTY OF LETTERS
SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
POSTMODERN FEMINIST DEPICTED IN BERLIE
DOHERTY’S
DEAR NOBODY
AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements
for the Degree of
Sarjana Sastra
in English Letters
By:
Francisca Carolina Budy Hartanti
Student Number: 014214022
ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS
FACULTY OF LETTERS
SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
YOGYAKARTA
2008
ASarjana SastraUndergraduate Thesis
POSTMODERN FEMINIST DEPICTED IN BERLIE
DOHERTY’S
DEAR NOBODY
By
FRANCISCA CAROLINA BUDY HARTANTI
Student Number: 014214022
Approved by
Gabriel Fajar Sasmita Aji, S.S., M. Hum July 26, 2008 Advisor
J. Harris Hermansyah S., S.S., M.Hum July 26, 2008 Co-Advisor
POSTMODERN FEMINIST DEPICTED IN BERLIE
DOHERTY’S
DEAR NOBODY
By
FRANCISCA CAROLINA BUDY HARTANTI
Student Number: 014214022
Defended before the Board of Examiners on July 26 , 2008
and Declared Acceptable
BOARD EXAMINERS
Name Signature
Chairman : Dr. Fr. B. Alip, M.Pd., M.A
Secretary : Drs. Hirmawan Wijanarka, M.Hum
Member : P. Sarwoto, S.S., M.A.
Member : Gabriel Fajar Sasmita Aji, S.S., M. Hum
Member : J. Harris Hermansyah S., S.S., M.Hum
Yogyakarta, Faculty of Letters Sanata Dharma University
Dean
Dr. I. Praptomo Bariyadi, M.Hum.
My Definition of an educated man is
the fellow who knows the right thing to do
at the time it has to be done ….
You can be sincere and still be stupid.
Charles F. Kettering
Burdens Can Be Blessings…
Our father knows what is the best for us
So why should we complain,
We always want the sunshine
but He knows there must be rain,
We love the sound of laughter
and the merriment of cheer,
But our hearts would lose their tenderness
if we never shed a tear.
So whenever we are troubled
and life has lost its song
It is God testing us with burdens
just to make our spirit strong.
This undergraduate Thesis is Dedicated to
The Lord for His blessings
My Parents: Papa and Mama
for their love and caring
My Brother: Alex
for his support
My love: Lukas
for his loyalty in sadness and happiness
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
There are so many problems that the writer faced in finishing this thesis,
internally and externally. However, the writer can finally accomplish this study
with so many helps and guidance from many people.
Above all, the writer would like to thank the Lord. This knowledge, this
strength, and this perseverance… I may have all of these because of Your grace.
A sincere gratitude is directed to Mr. Fajar Sasmita and Mr. Harris who
have supported the writer since this thesis was begun to happen. They never let
the writer stop even for a day to keep going and finishing this thesis.
The writer is very grateful to my academic advisor Ms. Tata and Ms.
Dewi, who guided me during these years. To all the teachers of English Letters,
Sanata Dharma University Yogyakarta, the writer would like to thank for those
splendid times of learning English.
The greatest thanks are also extended to my father, Y. E. Budiyana; to my
mother, M. M.Sri Hartini; and to my brother Alexander Budhi Dharmawan for
letting me do what I want and be what I want to be. “Thank you for always
watching and praying for me, I love you”.
The writer would like to thank all my friends in English Letters Sanata
Dharma University: Dita, Risa, Endra, Sinda, Bima, Imbi’, Aryo, Erna, Prima,
Dina, Fanky, Monda, Rivina, Sandi, Bagus, Wawan, Mila, Ayu, Ririn, and all of
2001 folks. Thanks for everything guys!
I would like to thank all my friends in Cempaka Putih: Kak Tari, Kak
Iyank, Mbak Yenlina, Ambar, Mbak Putu, Yanti, Bang Iwan, Bang Budi and all
of my friends. Finally, I can make it guys!
In addition, the writer especially thanks my beloved Lukas Budi Purwanto
and my dearest friend Miky for the amazing encouragement, support,
understanding, and love.
Last, but not least, the writer thanks all friends, relatives, and people that I
cannot mention one by one for their support and help in the process of this
undergraduate thesis writing.
Francisca Carolina Budy Hartanti
TABLE OF CONTENT
A. Background of the Study... 1
B. Problem Formulation ... 5
C. Objectives of the study... 5
D. Definition of Term ... 6
CHAPTER II: THEORETICAL REVIEW... 7
A. Review of Related Studies ... 7
B. Review of Related Theories ... 9
C. Theoretical Framework ... 19
CHAPTER III: METHODOLOGY ... 20
A. Object of the Study... 20
B. Approach of the Study ... 21
C. Method of the Study... 22
CHAPTER IV: ANALYSIS A. The Characteristic of Helen ... 24
B. The Characterization of Helen ... 27
C. Helen as a Feminist ... 39
D. Helen as a Postmodern Feminist ... 46
CHAPTER V: CONCLUSION... 52
BIBLIOGRAPHY ... 55
APPENDICE... 57
ABSTRACT
Francisca Carolina Budy Hartanti. Postmodern Feminist Depicted in Berlie Doherty’s Dear Nobody.Yogyakarta: Department of English Letters, Faculty of Letters, Sanata Dharma University, 2008.
Dear Nobody is one of Berlie Doherty’s novels. This novel tells about a young girl who is pregnant before she finishes her study. She is pushed to do abortion by her mother so she can continue her study. However, she wants to give birth.
This thesis presents a representation of postmodern feminist in Dear Nobody. First, the objective is to know the characteristics of Helen characterized in the novel, second, the objective is to find out the characteristic of Helen as a feminist depicted in the novel, and third, the objective is to find out the characteristics of Helen as a representation of postmodern feminist depicted in the novel.
There were three steps the writer did in making this study. The first step was to read and reread the novel for the better understanding about the story. Secondly, the writer tried to collect some books related to Postmodern Feminism. The approach that was used in this thesis is feminist approach. Thirdly, the writer tried to analyze characteristics of Helen as a feminist and as a postmodern feminist. Finally, the writer drew the conclusion of the analysis.
In this literary work, Helen’s characteristics are explained using four methods namely character as seen by another, speech, conversation of others and reaction. Shortly, people know Helen as a pretty and fashionable girl. She is also a friendly, calm, and nice girl that people love her. She is smart especially in music and dancing. She is really independent and mature. The second problem formulation has been answered through portraying Helen as a feminist character. First of all is Helen’s decision not to get married. The second feminist character is when Helen struggles against her mother’s wish that is to abort the baby. The third character is Helen’s fights against Chris’ oppression. In addition, the third question of problem formulation is about Helen’s postmodern feminist characteristics. The characteristics of Helen as a postmodern feminist are Helen’s act not to get married while she is pregnant and her desires to give birth. She succeeds in challenging herself while some other women are afraid of. She is proved that what her mother is afraid of is not right. She uses the positive side of otherness as a weapon to get a better life.
ABSTRAK
Francisca Carolina Budy Hartanti. Postmodern Feminist Depicted in Berlie Doherty’s Dear Nobody. Yogyakarta: Jurusan Sastra Inggris, Fakultas Sastra, Universitas Sanata Dharma, 2008.
Dear Nobody adalah salah satu novel karangan Berlie Doherty. Novel ini menceritakan tentang seorang remaja putri yang hamil sebelum lulus dari sekolah. Dia dipaksa oleh ibunya untuk melakukan aborsi agar dapat melanjutkan sekolahnya. Padahal gadis ini ingin melahirkan anaknya.
Penelitian ini menyajikan representasi tentang Feminis Posmodernis di dalam novel Dear Nobody. Pertama, penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui bagaimana penggambaran tokoh Helen di dalam novel. Yang kedua adalah untuk mencari tahu penggambaran tokoh Helen sebagai seorang Feminis. Dan yang ketiga adalah untuk mengetahui pernggambaran tokoh Helen sebagai representasi dari Feminis Posmodernis..
Ada tiga tahap langkah yang peneliti lakukan dalam membuat penelitian ini. Langkah pertama adalah dengan membaca dan membaca ulang novel tersebut sampai dapat memahami cerita tersebut. Pada langkah kedua, penulis berusaha untuk mengumpulkan beberapa buku yang berhubungan dengan Feminisme dan Postmodernisme. Pendekatan yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah pendekatan Feminis. Langkah ketiga adalah menganalisa tokoh Helen sebagai seorang Feminis dan Feminis Posmodernis. Langkah yang terakhir adalah menarik kesimpulan dari penelitan ini.
Dalam karya sastra ini, tokoh Helen dijelaskan dengan menggunakan empat metode yaitu tokoh dipandang dari sudut pandang orang lain, pembicaraan tokoh itu sendiri, percakapan tokoh lain, dan reaksi sang tokoh. Singkatnya, Helen dikenal sebagai gadis yang cantik and modis. Dia juga seorang gadis yang ramah, tenang, dan menyenangkan sehingga orang-orang menyukainya. Dia juga pintar terutama dalam bermusik dan menari. Dia seorang gadis yang mandiri. Permasalahan yang kedua dijawab dengan menggambarkan Helen sebagai tokoh feminis. Penggambaran karakter feminis yang pertama adalah ketika Helen memutuskan untuk tidak menikah. Karakter feminis yang kedua adalah ketika Helen melawan kehendak ibunya yang menginginkannya untuk melakukan aborsi. Karakter yang ketiga adalah ketika Helen melawan penindasan yang dilakukan oleh Chris. Sedangkan jawaban perumusan masalah yang ketiga adalah penggambaran tokoh Helen sebagai feminis postmodern. Penggambaran Helen sebagai feminis postmodern adalah ketika Helen memutuskan untuk tidak menikah dan ketika dia memutuskan untuk melahirkan. Dia sukses menantang dirinya sendiri ketika wanita lain tidak mampu melakukannya. Dia membuktikan bahwa ketakutan ibunya adalah salah. Dia menggunakan kelemahannya sebagai senjata untuk memperoleh hidup yang lebih baik.
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
A. Background of the Study
Literature is a representation of all history. Humm explains more in
feminist term that literature does not only contain of a collection of a great text but
it is more structured by social or sexual ideologies, and that certain preoccupations
and techniques predominate in women’s writing in relation to those social
structures (1994, 15). Thus, we can say that literature is a reflection of how
women are treated, how their condition is and how they deal with their problems
under certain socio-economic system in society.
Margaret L. Andersen in her book Thinking about Women: Sociological Perspectives on Sex and Gender describes women’s roles that are determined by some expectations of the society.
…All of these expectation-communicated through parents, peers, the media, the schools, religious organization, and numerous other facets of society-create a concept of what it means to be a “woman”…
(Andersen, 1997:20).
It is clearly seen from the quotation above that expectation of the society towards
an ideal woman is socially and historically constructed. The value of a woman is
measured by society’s expectations which use male ideology or it is called
patriarchal society. A woman, from the time she was born until she died, is
expected to fulfill the society expectation whether she likes it or not. This
condition unconsciously causes oppression toward women. The oppression is hard
to realize because it happens and unites in their daily life.
Furthermore, realizing their society life is gendered and oppressed; women
start to move by criticizing the power of symbolic misrepresentation women.
Patriarchal society pictures women as dependent, substitute, and weak that always
need men to survive. Humm in Reader’s Guide to Contemporary Feminist Literary Criticismmentions that
Major achievement of feminist criticism are to highlight gender stereotyping, to give reasons for the persistent reproduction of such stereotype. (1992: 8)
Since the very ancient time, women and all things related to them have
always been such a controversial topic. In literature, we can see that many authors
use this topic as a subject of their work, for example in poetry, prose, and drama.
One of the authors who use it as a topic in novel is Berlie Doherty.Dear Nobody
was first published in 2003. The setting of the novel is in the twentieth century in
which the heroine of the novel, Helen, faces some problems with the society. This
condition influences her to fight for a better life like what she is wanted to be.
But, the traditional feminist criticism still cannot accommodate what
Helen wants as a modern woman who lives in the modern age. According to
Vandlers in A Handbook of Critical Approach, early feminism has some weaknesses. She criticizes that early feminist critics presented women as a naïve
figure and does not portray them correctly, so that feminism should de-idealize
women (Guerin, 1999:213-214). Traditional feminist critic is no longer suitable to
be used in the new era, therefore new feminist critic is needed as the continuation
In this study, the real condition of the 20th century can be a source to help
analyze this novel. Susan E Klep in her articleUnited States Peoplereveals some information about women’s role in the 20thcentury forMicrosoft Encarta 2006as follows,
The strict gender roles that once confined men and women to certain activities are disappearing. Many women work and control their own wages, sources of credit, savings, and investments. Women read novels, newspapers, magazines, and religious tracts. Women learned about individuality and self-control and about planning for the future, and they applied these concepts to fertility. They established reform groups and literary and religious societies, indicating their interest in the world outside of marriage and childbearing.
It is clearly seen from the note above that women in 20thcentury are more
independent and confident to control their own lives. They have more
opportunities and freedom to express themselves. Though the equality between
men and women has been echoed and campaigned all over the world, most of the
countries in the world are ruled by the patriarchy. As a result, some oppression
toward women still happens.
The oppressions that happened to women in 20th century are described by
Brigid O’Farrell in the article Employment of Womenfor Microsot Encarta 2006
as follows,
In 20th century, women are still treated differently in some aspects even though
there are some rights and public service that are available for women such as in
education and economy.
Madsen in Feminist Theory and Literary Practice notices that temporary people are appropriate with the development of human life for example in way of
thinking, becomes more concerned with women in many aspects of life such as
health, human rights, and technology as follows,
Feminism at the present time is, then, characterized by a diversity of practice, though that very diversity makes feminism vulnerable to the conservative backlash mounted by the New Right, the anti abortion and pro-life campaign, and the whole notion that we have entered “post-feminist” era. (2000: 23)
Thus many new rights have been found to express people attention
especially women. The novel which raises gender issues in postmodern life, in
equality, tries to show Helen’s feminine identity as a woman. Helen’s obsessions
as a contemporary woman who chooses to keep her identity of woman. Helen’s
emotions lead her to make some important decisions for her life. She decides not
to get married and raise the baby alone. Even though traditional feminist and
patriarchal society does not agree that a woman with a child is not married.
Based on all the facts above and the goal of postmodernist feminist, it is
obvious that the feminist struggle which has new way to adapt in this new era is
B. Problem Formulation
In order to make the discussion clear and focused, the writer has formulated three
questions:
1. How is Helen characterized in Doherty’sDear Nobody? 2. How is Helen as a feminist depicted?
3. How does Helen represent postmodern feminist?
C. Objectives of the Study
The thesis is intended to present deep discussions on the post feminist
points of view in modern society in Berlie Doherty through Dear Nobody. The discussion is mainly to answer the three problems stated in the problem
formulation above. The objectives of the study are represented as follows.
Firstly, to know the characteristics of Helen as depicted in Doherty’s
Dear Nobody. In this discussion the writer will analyze Helen’s personality including her behavior and motivation in her life.
Secondly, to explore Helen’s characteristics, not only as a woman, but
also as a feminist. The writer will analyze Helen on her acts and emotions more as
a feminist.
Thirdly, to find out Helen’s characteristics as a postmodern feminist.
The writer will analyze Helen’s acts, emotions, and behaviors more as a
D. Definition of Terms
There are some terms the writer needs to define in order to avoid
confusion and differences in understanding about certain terms used in this thesis.
The core offeminismis the belief that women are subordinated to men in western culture. Feminism seeks to free women from this subordination and to
rebuild society in such a way that patriarchy is erased and culture created that is
fully inclusive of women’s desires and goals. (Edgar, 2002: 143)
Punch cites Denzin and Lincoln (1994: 15) that postmodern can be described as an intellectual perspective, movement of ‘mood’ – a contemporary
sensibility which has developed since World War II. Punch cites Waugh (1992),
here the focus is more on postmodernism as a development in thought which
disagree the assumption of the Enlightenment, modifying the discourse of
modernity and challenging previous conception of reality and knowledge.
(1998:143-144)
In Encyclopedia of Postmodernism, postmodern feminism was referred to as French feminism. Pontoriero states that postmodern feminism is defined as a
movement based on Simone de Beauvoir’sLa Deuxieme Sexe ( The Second Sex). Asserting, “woman is made not born,” de Beauvoir studied how woman has
historically functioned as the culturally constructed and conditioned as Other of
CHAPTER II
THEORETICAL REVIEW
A. Review of Related Studies
Dear Nobody is one of Berlie Doherty’s best novels. It has been transformed into play script, radio for play and transformed into school and
theaters around the world. However, the popularity of this novel has arisen many
comments.
Many comments and criticisms come from many people but mostly come
from the object of her novel, teenager. Trier in German states that:
This book to me gives a great perspective of a teenage girl, going through very confusing issue and how she deals with the changes her body is going through. The author does a very tremendous job of starting realistic facts.
By seeing the explanation stated by Trier, It shows that the author of this novel
pays attention to the girl and woman issues. The novel is really accepted by
teenage girls because it raises issues that happened but less to talk about. This
novel has fulfilled the questions especially about teenage girl’s problems.
Another comment comes from one of Amazone customers:
I would recommend the novel because it shows very well the problems girls and women have with an unwanted pregnancy. And the novel shows the helplessness of the girls and the members of the family and necessity of a friend.
In his or her opinion, the Amazone’s customer wants to say that the author cares
about a female teenager who will grow up to be a woman. The novel captures the
changes of a girl into a woman in real life with all problems. The author shows her
caring through some problems that she has been raised in the novel such as
unwanted pregnancy and the relation with family and society.
However, Jenni posted a critic toward the novel:
I am reminded of Berlie Doherty responding to criticism that Dear Nobody failed to explore the alternatives to teenage motherhood and made having and bringing up a child seem too easy.
Jenni states that Berlie Doherty does not give a better solution for teenage
motherhood instead. Nowadays, there are so many alternatives to solve the
problem. Moreover the author does not go deep through the reality of motherhood
and makes the problem in the story too simple and easy to be solved.
From the quotation above, it is clear that Dear Nobody has strong influence toward teenagers. The messages in the novel are really close to their
daily lives. Furthermore, there is another analysis on this novel about the effect of
love as moral teaching, how love is showed and its influences toward the
characters.
Even though some of them state that Dear Nobody contains some moral messages, there is no deep analysis on it. Therefore, the writer wants to analyze more about the moral messages reflected in the novel and how love can affect people in doing something because the writer thinks that it is never done before. (Susanti, 2005: 8)
Nevertheless, by looking at the critical opinions and comments above, it
is clear that mostly, the readers have great enthusiasm to the novel. They are
hooked by the theme that Berlie Doherty has raised and the way she tells the
story. It is also interesting to study deeper about woman’s problem that Berlie
Furthermore, my thesis examines Helen’s struggle against oppression by the
patriarchal society. Helen as a woman has the qualities of feminist. Moreover this
thesis tries to study if Helen is more than a feminist. This study will examines
Helen qualities as a postmodern feminist.
B. Review of Related Theories
1. Theory on Characters and Characterization
One of the important elements in the literary work is character. Bernet
stated in his bookLiterature for Compositionthat there are some important points that must be considered when learning about characters in fiction.
Those are: (1) What the character say, (2) What the character does, (3) What other characters (including the narrator of the story) say about the character, and (4) What other characters do. (1988: 72)
In conclusion, the role of character in literary work is very important.
Thus, to understand the character we need concerns with what the characters say,
do, and other characters or the author describes he or she.
In Understanding Unseen, Murphy (1988:30-38) mentions more about how a character is presented to the readers so that the character will be
understandable:
a. Personal description
The author explains to the reader about the physical appearance of the
character directly for example tall or small, young or old, rich or poor, fat or thin.
This description is often related to psychological condition of the personality that
can be reflected from the external appearance. Personal description almost helps
b. Character as seen by another
A character can be described through the ways and opinions of others.
The others will give explanation about their impression of the character. Someone
tries to tell characteristics of a character from his or her own point of view. What
they think about a certain character can build up our understanding on the
character.
c. Speech
Speech is a reflection of a character. Through what the character says, the
author can give us deep understanding about the character. Whenever a person
speaks, whenever he or she is in conversation with another, whenever he or she
puts forward an opinion, he or she is giving us some clues to his character. From
the character’s speech we know his or her motivation and attitude towards life.
d. Past Life
Past life can give a clue to events that have helped to shape the present
characteristics of a character. This can be done by direct comment by the author,
though the person’s thoughts, through the character’s conversation, or through
another person. Whenever the author provides picture of the character’s past life,
it can be traced and learnt to help us figure out his behavior or the character’s
action toward certain condition at the present time.
e. Conversation of Others
The conversation of other people and the things they say about the
character can help to characterize a character. In order to get more information
conversation of other characters. It is useful to go through speech by speech, to
determine exactly what is said by each other.
f. Reaction
A character can be observed by knowing how the character reacts to
various situations and events that are the author presented. A reaction of a
character toward a situation shows his or her motive, attitude, and thought.
g. Direct Comments
A character can be analyzed by giving a straight forward description or
comment on the character. Direct comments from the author can explain the
nature of a character.
h. Thoughts
The readers are able to find out someone’s character through the direct
knowledge of what a person has in mind presented by the author. Here, the
readers have a privileged position to come to the most thoughts of a person in a
story.
i. Mannerism
Finally, the author can explain the characteristics of a character through a
character’s mannerism and habits. Nine methods above will help the readers in
understanding characters in the story.
We cannot use only one of these methods but blends them skillfully
together so that the reader can be aware of personality and characteristics of a
character that will lead the reader to imagine a character made by the author as a
Another method in describing the character deeper is made through the
terms “flatness” and “roundness”. (Eastmen, 1965: 17-18)
A flat character has only one outstanding consistent feature. It is more a
type rather than an individual It stays the same throughout of the story. A flat
character may picture a certain social or economic class, a virtue or folly, a basic
temperament or outlook. The flat character does not engage in inner conflicts. Flat
character is not changeable, static, and predictable.
A round character considers as a person. A Round character is portrayed
more deeply with generous details. A round character is dynamic, it always
changes and grows. The reader can see a round character more than one side.
Round character has many purposes that make this character interesting. It aims to
gain the readers sympathy because the round character illustrates the uncertainty,
the sufferings, and the needs they face.
2. Theory on Femininity and Feminism
It is stated by Toril Moi in The Beginning Theory, an Introduction to Literary and Cultural Theory(Barry, 2002: 122) that there are some terms that are significant in feminist literary criticism. First term is feminist. This term shows a
political position of a woman. Second term is female. This term explains a
woman’s biological position. And third term is feminine. This term shows a set of
cultural defined characteristics.
Glover states in Genders (2000: 2-4) that femininity can be defined as a set of attributes ascribed to biologically sexed females that have been debated by
passivity and activity with men. It makes women do not want to be thought
feminine. But society is often divided and moralized femininity and also sets up as
binary such as mother and prostitute, straight and lesbian, etc. So, it is important
to see femininity as a term for all different ways in which women are defined by
other and by themselves, and not identical with biological sexed body.
In 1790-1850, emotion is a significant term related to femininity.
Showing emotion is something that is not accepted in society at that time because
it is not masculine qualities. If women want to be accepted in society they must
not show their emotion so they can be accepted as equal as men. Women from this
period seek more rights and more freedoms, have little choice but cannot show the
emotional and they cannot do public work. Women at this time feel like what men
feel but they cannot show their emotion in front of public.
During the world war, women at this time do not want to show women’s
sexuality and rejects feminine. Shortly, they do not seem to want to be women
anymore. They dress up like men, and act like men. It is a realization of women’s
rebellion at that time. Feminist criticism is showed through some characters of a
novel such as Orlando, a woman who imagines life as a man in Woolf’s Orlando
and Anna who is lesbian in Halls’ The Well of Loneliness.This novel represents female rebellion and independence in conventional marriage and motherhood.
After the emergence of French Feminist, femininity is changing trough
the time. At this time, women considers equal to men. Women become ‘like men,
In the twenty-first century femininity persists as a contradictory meaning
that can refer at once to normative, flawed, and even ‘preserve’ categories of the
human. Feminist tries to get social sympathy and nurturance, seeing in femininity
an enlarge capacity for supportive human relations with caring motherhood at its
centre. At this time, female difference should be understood as both natural and
desirable attraction that will be the new common sense of popular feminism. As a
feminist Jaggar states in The Foundation of Social Research (Crotty, 2003: 175-176) that it is not right to relate emotion to women. There is no reason that
women’s thoughts and actions are more influenced by emotions than the thoughts
and actions of men. According to Jaggar, this statement is racist, classist, and
masculinist. Here feminist struggles to change the way one looks at the world.
The different condition in twenty first century makes previous feminist out of
date. The change of the characteristic of feminist in that time needs another idea.
Feminism is the belief that women are subordinated to men in western
culture (Edgar, 2002:143). Feminism fight to liberate women from this
subordination and to reconstruct society in such a way that patriarchy is
eliminated and a culture created fully supports for women desires and purposes.
Here, Edgar explains that men culture (patriarchal) which is supported by
men society that is put women as subordinates, so that, to get better world for
women, all the old things including culture, way of thinking, society must be
changed into culture, way of thinking, and society that support women existence.
In addition, there are so many kinds of feminist theory but actually they have this
According to Tong, there are some feminism varieties of thinking.
Marxist feminist believes that women cannot get equal opportunity in class
society. Fredrich Engles cited in Tong, states that women oppression originated in
the introduction of private property, an institution that obliterated whatever
equality the human community had previously enjoyed.(1989: 2) Women is
oppressed by capitalism. If women want to be liberated, capitalism must be
changed into socialist system in which the means of production belong to one and
all. Thus, no one can be economically independent.
Radical feminist states that patriarchal system that oppresses women can
be changed by changing patriarchal legal and political structures and by changing
its social and cultural institutional. Their aim is to question the concept of a
natural order and to overcome whatever negative effects biology has had on
women and perhaps also on men. (Tong, 1989: 3) They believe that women’s
biology and the nurturant psychology are the potential source to liberate women
from man power.
Psychoanalytic Feminist finds that women oppression embedded in her
psyche. This kind of feminist is based on sexuality emergence according to
Freudian Theory such as the pre-Oedipal stage and Oedipus. But he Oedipus
complex is the root of male rule, some psychoanalytic feminists suggest that it is
invention of men’s imagination especially women should escape. (Tong, 1989: 6)
While, Tong links postmodern feminism very closely to deconstruction,
characterizing this as a process that is universally and radically critical, anti
as reason/ emotion, beautiful/ ugly, self/ other, and the conventional boundaries
between established disciplines.” (Crotty, 2003:167-168)
3. Theory on Postmodern Feminist
Tong in Feminist Thought explains more about Postmodern Feminism (1989: 215-233). Postmodern Feminism refers to French feminism. Many women
who declared this thought were either French nationals or women living in France
(especially Paris), thus Anglo-Saxon. America labeled of them “French”. An
organization called Psychoanalyze et politique (Psych et po) served for many
years as a gatekeeper for what Anglo-American audiences regard as “postmodern
feminist” texts.
Postmodern feminists such as Helene Cixous, Luce Irigay, and Julia
Kristeva develop their ideas based on the work of the existentialist Simone de
Beauvoir, deconstructionist Jacques Derrida, and psychoanalyst Jacques Lacan.
What Postmdern Feminism offer to each woman who reads them is an opportunity
to become herself.
Simone de Beauvoir as an existentialist phrases the essential question of
feminist theory as, “Why is womanthe second sex? or Why is womanthe other?
Why woman remain immanent and determine while man remains transcendence?
Postmodern feminist uses Beauvoir’s understanding about the other and
turn it back. Woman is stillthe otherbut rather than interpreting this condition as a transcended, postmodern feminism admits its benefits. The condition of
and practices that patriarchy as a dominant culture wants to impose on everyone,
including women. Thus, Otherness with all inferiority and oppression actually is
much more than that. It is a way to show an existentialism, way of thinking, and
speaking that open for plurality, diversity, openness, and difference.
The ability to see the positive side of Otherness- being excluded, stunned,
frozen out, disadvantaged, unprivileged, rejected, unwanted, abandoned,
dislocated, marginalized- is a major theme in deconstruction. Deconstruction takes
critical attitude toward traditional boundaries, all things that the society consider
as good, beautiful, reason and all things that give any possibility to be bad, ugly,
emotion. Deconstructionist believes that neither self-identity nor truth-order
within our lives and our language is an idea that is imposed.
Based on Claude Levi-Strauss’s, every society is ruled by a series of
interrelated signs, roles, and rituals, Lacan terms this series ‘the symbolic order’.
Symbolic order ruled society through the regulation of individuals, as long as the
individual speak within symbolic order, society will reproduce in constant form.
Lacan states that women cannot fully accept and internalize the symbolic
order because women are biologically and psychologically different than men. .
As a result women are excluded from the symbolic order and confined to its
margin. Because women cannot internalize ‘father law’, so this law must be
imposed by outside. Women receive masculine language that is used by men too.
This language cannot express women’s desire. Women must be silent or
that to find out about women, we must find the words to express herselves. Then
women will release herselves and destroy the symbolic order.
While Derrida wants to free thinking from assumption of singularity- the
only one single truth or essence- as a giver of meaning. Derrida uses difference -the inevitable meaning-creative gap between -the object of perception and our
perception of it. Shortly, Derrida wants women to think altogether differently.
This theory inspires postmodern feminist to break the oppression.
Cixous, Irigaray, and Cristeva who are admitted as postmodern feminists
by the public, offer women freedom from oppressive thought. Helene Cixous is a
writer. However, Cixous disagree with Lacan who states that men always
dominate and put women at the margin of social order. Cixous believes that
woman can break free this circumscribing order. In applying the theory of
difference, she compares feminine writing (le’ecriture feminine) with masculine
writing (literature). Cixous criticize masculine writing because they are cast in
binary opposition. Man has segmented reality by coupling concept and terms in
pair of polar opposite. Cixous finds out that the dichotomies comes from the
fundamental dichotomous couple, man/ woman, which man considers strong
active, high, and have positive meaning, while woman is passive, low, and have
negative meaning. Cixous challenge women to write out of the world of men by
putting into the words of unthinkable. By developing the way of writing, woman
will change the way of Western world thinks and write, with women’s place in it.
Irigaray states that nowadays, our knowledges about women were based
according to her, there is another feminine that is ‘feminine feminine’, a feminine
based on women’s point of view. But we cannot get this ‘feminine feminine’ as
long as we live in patriarchal society. Thus, it is important to create feminine
language by speaking in active voice, one not articulated by men and for away to
selfhood and language that is not mediated by men.
Kristeva explains that nowadays feminism should use the term ‘ women’
wisely or the liberation politic will change into determination politic toward other
women who have different needs and purpose such as women with multicultural
and different color skin.
Cixous, Irigaray, and Kristeva share the same idea of desire to think the
non binary, non oppositional thought. And they have the same tendencies such as
appreciate the possibilities latent in nothingness, the marginal, and the repressed.
C. Theoretical Framework
The theories and reviews are needed in order to analyze the literary work.
Review of related studies is needed to give some information about criticism on
Berlie Doherty’s Dear Nobody to give more input in analyzing the work. From this review, the writer tries to develop the studies. However, this thesis is different
from other studies because the writer tries to analyze about feminism and
postmodern feminism.
Review of related theories stated above is used to support her study on
feminist and postmodern feminist. To analyze the personality of the character, the
CHAPTER III
METHODOLOGY
A. Object of the Study
The object of this study in this analysis is a novel entitled Dear Nobody, which was written by Berlie Doherty. This novel was published by Hamish
Hamilton London in 1991. This novel consists of 200 pages which are grouped
into 11 chapters and has been published all around the world and translated into
many languages. This novel also has been turned into a radio play, a theater play,
and a television play. Most of Berlie Doherty’s novels are the novels for children
and teenagers. She was born in Knotty Ash, Liverpool. She has been a social
worker, a teacher, and a broadcaster and writer for both schools and national
radio, as well as a playwright, poet, and novelist. Her achievement as young-adult
writer are the Carnegie Medal in 1987 for Granny and a Buffer Girl, in 1992 for
Dear Nobody, and the Winner of Sankei Japan at the same year for Dear Nobody.
The novel talks about Helen who gets pregnant in school age. She feels
lonely because she does not have someone to talk to. Then, she expresses her
emotion in a letter that she dedicates for her unborn baby, Dear Nobody. Helen’s
condition is getting worse when her family cannot accept her pregnancy and her
friends leave her. Meanwhile, Chris, her boyfriend, cannot understand her
difficulty with the pregnancy.
b. Approach of the Study
In order to give an exploration of representation and the postmodern
feminism in Berlie Doherty’sDear Nobody,the author will use feminist approach. This approach is used because feminist literary theory tends to focus on the
marginalization of women. Most feminist believes that human culture is run under
men interest. Feminist literary theory tries to explain that unequal power due to
gender in culture is showed and challenged through literature. Guerin in A Handbook of Critical Approach to Literature explains that “feminist critics generally agree that their goals are to expose patriarchal premises and resulting
prejudices, to promote discovery and reevaluation of literature by women, and to
examine social, cultural, and psychosexual contexts of literature and literary
criticism (1992: 197)”. However, Millet cited in Madsen, adds that the goal of
feminist literary theory are to promote positive image of woman in art and to raise
the consciousness of women about their oppression by looking at the women’s
character portrayed and in what position they are placed in literary works (2000:
15)
It is clearly seen from Guerin and Millet’s explanation that literary theory
is the right way to show women oppression and to re-evaluate it. But, it is also the
right way to wake women up about their condition. Thus, feminist literary
c. Method of the Study
The study was conducted by library research. The writer used written
sources from many books and articles in addition to some information from the
Internet. The main source of this study was a novel titledDear Nobodywhich was written by Berlie Doherty. Other sources that the writer used, were some books
and articles that reviewed on Berlie Doherty’s work and biography. The writer
also used some books of the related theories and studies.
The writer took some steps in order to help in analyzing the novel. The
first step was reading the novel while writing some notes of the important
information to help in understanding how the main character is characterized in
the novel.
The second step was applying the theory on characterization to reveal
Helen’s character. The writer observed closely in her action, impression, relation
with other character and dialogue so that the character of Helen would be
analyzed thoroughly. Here, the writer gave more attention to character of Helen in
general.
In the third step, the writer gathered some books and papers about
feminism in order to find out the concept of feminism and femininity. It was used
to observe the idea of feminism in Helen’s character.
The fourth step was gathering all the information about postmodern
feminist theory. This theory was used to analyze the idea of postmodernism
The fifth step was observed the postmodern feminism theory. It would be
used to analyze Helen’s character as a postmodernist feminist.
The last step was that the writer drew the conclusion of the analysis. This
step was done by relating all the data in the analysis based on the approach that
the writer used and made into general statement. Therefore, this study was
CHAPTER IV
ANALYSIS
A. The Characteristics of Helen
In this study, the writer will analyze the character of Helen. She is just a
young girl who lives like another modern young girl. She is the focus of this
study. Even though she is not a major character, she appears from the first page
until the last. At the first time Helen is just an innocent kid.
“You’re probably mistaken about it. It might be just worry. It’s too soon to know, isn’t it?”
“I don’t know. I just don’t know.”
“I wish I’d been more careful,,,”
“Not just you. It was my fault, too.”
“We were so stupid! It’s not as if we’re a pair of kids.”
(Doherty, 1991: 38)
She finally realizes that they are just kid. They are supposed to play, study,
depend on their parents, and enjoy their life. She never thinks that what she did
will need big consequences. But after she makes love with Chris, her boyfriend,
and notices that she is pregnant, everything suddenly changes. She is confused of
what to do. She is just a young girl in school age but she is pregnant
“I bought a home pregnancy test today. I was sick again this morning. You are an alien growth in me. You are diseases. I want you not to exist.”
(Doherty, 1991: 51)
Helen is confused and does not have a friend or a family to share her
feelings. Then, she writes a letter for her unborn child, Dear Nobody. This letter is
a place for Helen to share her feelings and help her going trough everything.
In Doherty’s Dear Nobody we find other characters, instead of Helen. The author will explain the other character which is significant in order to understand
the story and Helen’s character.
1. Chris
Chris is Helen’s boyfriend. He is an eighteen year old student. He
studies in different high school in the same town with Helen. In October, he will
go to Newcastle to continue his study. He is a really romantic person and loves
Helen so much.
2. Joan, Chris’s mother
She has left the family for eight years and run away with her new bloke.
She is a professional photographer. She has been working on a commission to
illustrate a mountaineering book. She likes climbing.
3. Aunt Jill, Chris’s aunt, and Chris’s mother’s sister
She is a widow with three kids. She sometimes comes to Chris’ house to
see his father. She runs a stable. She tells Helen and Chris that she had aborted her
4. Mrs. Alice Garton, Helen’s mother
She is not really close to Helen. When Helen is pregnant, she wants her
either abort her baby to let the baby adopted. Helen also hates her mother because
she was born without her father. Mrs. Alice Garton has a sad childhood.
5. Grand mother, Helen’s Grandmother
Helen does not really understand her grandmother because she looks like
always in her day dreaming. She does not know her father even though she was
born under marriage parents. When she was young, she worked in a night club
and had pregnant with a dancer in that club. But he did not marry her.
B. The Characterization of Helen
According to Murphy, there are nine ways to understand a character
which is presented in the novel.
In Understanding Unseen, Murphy (1988:30-38) mentions nine ways of how the character are presented to the readers so that the character will be
understandable. In this study, the writer will use character as seen by another,
speech, conversation of others and reaction.
a. Helen’s Characteristics as Seen by Another
First of all, the author will analyze Helen’s character seen by another.
The surrounding character tries to give comments on the character. The writer
The writer will analyze her physical appearance at the beginning. It will
help the readers to imagine Helen’s appearance. Chris gives his opinion about
Helen when they go to the sixth-form farewell party.
She looked fantastic. She was wearing something loose and blue and floating, and her hair was soft and gleaming, always catching the light, wherever she moved. When the band started playing, they all got up dance but I just watched Helen. You should see her dancing. Everyone watches her. (Doherty, 1991: 58)
Helen is a pretty girl who is fashionable. She takes care of her body and of what
she wears. Besides, she can dance beautifully. Her appearance always attracts
people’s attention.
Chris shows his interest toward Helen at the first time he sees her.
I liked her because she looks friendly and calm; there is a kind of steadiness about her that tells you she won’t go off into sulks or anything. (Doherty, 1991: 98)
Helen’s friendly and calm attitude attracts people to know her better. Her friendly
attitude makes her attractive. She can make friends with both young and older
people. Everybody loves her. Jill loves Helen too.
“She is a nice girl, Helen, Jill said. You’ll miss her when you go away.” (Doherty, 1991: 58)
Helen is a high school student. She studies in different schools with
Chris. She is really popular and smart.
Helen loves music and she is good at it. She gets full over from the Royal
Northern College. Her dream is to continue her study in music. Helen’s family
supports her dream. Her dream to continue her study on music has been her
parent’s obsession too. In October, Helen will continue her study in Manchester
and Chris in Newcastle.
After Helen realizes that she is pregnant, she decides to give birth. She
does not want to get married. She will take care of her baby by herself because her
mother does not want the baby. Joan, Chris’s mother, supports whatever Helen
decision is.
” I know you are an independent young woman who will make up her own mind about things. I admire you for it. Whatever plans you make for your future, I wish you well with them. You are a survivor, whatever happens. You have that quality in you.” (Doherty, 1991: 184)
Joan has felt terrible experience when she must leave her children. She
knows that Helen’s decision has big consequences. She adores Helen because in
her age, she is brave for taking that kind of responsibility. Joan supports Helen
and tries to help her.
Helen and Chris love each other. Their relation does not always go well.
Sometimes they have tiff in their romantic relationship.
[Helen] “You don’t have rights over me at all.”
[Chris] And it was that quiet. It had been like the touch of icy hands on me. She was so much older than me and knew so much than me.
Helen is mature even though she is young. She knows more and she is
wiser than Chris. Sometimes, Chris feels that he does not have self-confidence
when he faces Helen.
Helen at the beginning believes that Chris love her. But, during the
pregnancy Chris is never showed up.
It’s my baby too. It’ a little egg. It’s life it self. …
It’s me in you, Helen, and you in me. Please don’t destroy it. I love you. (Doherty, 1991: 85)
Shortly, people know Helen as a pretty and fashionable girl. She is such
a friendly, calm, and nice girl that she makes people love her. She is smart
especially in music and dancing. She is really independent, no matter what the
problem she faces is. She is mature.
b. Helen’s Characteristics as Revealed through her Speech
The writer can give us an insight into the character of one person in the
book through what the person says. Whenever a person speaks, whenever he or
she on the conversation with another, whenever he or she puts forward an opinion,
he gives us some clues to his or her character. Frequently, from his or her speech
we know his motivation and attitude toward life.
Helen explains what she is doing in high school, what her interest and,
what she wants to do next to Joan.
I told her, general. Because everyone has a go at that Music, Math, Latin, and Dance, and she raise her eyebrows again and I went quiet. It isn’t your fault, little Nobody. I don’t think about Dance anymore.
Helene likes everything in arrangement. She likes everything which has pattern
such as Math, Latin, Music, and dance.
Helen loves music so much. Her ideal is to be a composer and she wants to
continue her study at Royal Northern College of Music.
“I love all kinds of way-out music and I suppose Bach is way-out for people of my age to like too. … How can I ever hope to be a composer with the name like Garton?” (Doherty, 1991: 53)
Helen loves music, dancing, math, and Latin. Her ideal is to be a famous
composer. Music for her is not only a hobby and an ideal but music can also help
her face difficult situations.
Helen feels lonely during her pregnancy. Her mother does not want to
talk to her while Chris never comes to see her. The only one friend that she has is
Ruthlin. Ruthlin is Helen’s classmate. She comes from a black Jamaican family
with an adorable mother. Ruthlin and Helen support each other.
Ruthlin came to the relaxation class with me today. I hate going. I feel really out of it, without a partner, years younger that anyone. (Doherty, 1991: 166)
Helen is the first child of Garton’s family and she is not really close to
her parents. That makes her really independent. Thus, she usually decides
everything by her own. Even if she is in trouble, she tries to solve it by herself.
Even though, she is an independent young girl, she still needs love from her
parents. Unfortunately, her mother is not close to her and does not support her
especially after she is grown up. She feels lonely in the family because she does
not have anyone to talk to.
Having bad relation with her mother makes Helen really critical to
Chris’s relation with her mother. Especially when Chris receives a letter from
Joan, his mother who has left him for eight years.
“I don’t like the way she calls you Christopher for a start. What’s wrong with Chris? Christopher’s so formal, as if she never met you in her life. And then she goes and calls herself ‘Joan’ at the end.”
(Doherty, 1991: 19)
Helen is really concerned with motherhood relation between Chris and her
mother, Joan. Helen thinks that Joan is not a really good mother because she has
left for eight years.
Helen is not a romantic girl even though she is falling in love with Chris
It is seen from her letter to Dear Nobody.
Nobody, I used to feel years older than him. Sometimes, I used to feel really impatient with him for being so romantic, so impractical. (Doherty, 1991: 152)
Chris and Helen are in love. Sometimes, Chris is romantic and not realistic. For
Chris, when they are together and loving each other every problem can be solved.
But, Helen does not think that simple because problems cannot be easily solved.
After deciding that she will give birth, Helen decides to break up with
Chris. She makes the decision by her own. She is not compromising with Chris.
I told her that I didn’t want to get married or live with him and I didn’t think Chris and I should tight each ot her down. Most of all, I told her, I did it because I thought that Chris would be crazy to give up his university place. I didn’t want to be responsible for that. (Doherty, 1991: 153)
Helen has her own thought. She has decided that she will not get married with
Chris and tie to Chris. Helen does not think that getting married will solve the
problem and make a better future. She also thinks that they are not ready for
getting married. She makes this decision without talking to Chris. She breaks up
with Chris because he is not ready facing this problem. Here, Helen shows that
she has such high self- confidence that she can face the problem.
Helen is not only placed as subordinate but also being oppressed. Even,
Helen cannot talk to her best friend freely. Helen tells her best friend that Chris
and her has made love. And Chris is really angry about it.
“You don’t own me, you know, just because of what we did together,” Helen had said then quietly that I could hardly hear her. “You don’t have rights over me at all. “(Doherty, 1991: 22)
Chris tries to restrict Helen’s relationship with others. Chris thinks that
after they made love, he has the right to control Helen’s life including her
relationship with others and her liberty to express her feeling.
Helen’s mother limited Helen’s right to give birth. All she wants just no
baby in the house. She wants Helen to do abortion or let the baby be born and
“Then I said that I knew she wouldn’t want me to live at home once you were born, and that Grandad had said I could have a room at his house if I wanted it. …” That’s no place for baby.” She said. (Doherty, 1991: 154)
Helen tries to be independent. When her mother does not want her to
stay, she prefers to move to her grandfather’s house.
Helen is very upset when she knows that she is pregnant. .
“What were you doing then, Chris, while my test tube was concocting its brew? Were you thinking about me?” (Doherty, 1991: 154)
It is shown that after she knows that she is pregnant, Helen carries all the
burdens by herself, while Chris is free outside and has no idea about Helen’s
suffering. Chris just worries about Helen and himself but he does not realize what
they actually face. He does not know the big problem that Helen will face. It
shows that from the very beginning, women condition is not equal to men.
Helen has been told by her mother about her mother sad story.
I understood her commitment to that word “decency” which was a word she cradled as if it was a gem, a precious legacy from another age. … Because what she was telling me was something that she had had no choice about, and that she wished had never happened. We have no choice about being born, little Nobody. I’ve made up your mind for you. It’s not a stigma anymore, not like it was when Mum was a child. No one will be calling you names. But I hope you’ll forgive me, all the same. (Doherty, 1991: 158)
What Helen says above shows that Helen is a wise girl. She wants to understand
what her mother is afraid of. Mrs. Garton does not want Helen to give birth
because she is afraid that she does not want her education to stop. Moreover, Mrs.
But, Helen has anticipated by stating that anybody cannot choose about
being born. It’s all about in the mind. As long as she believes that she does not do
anything wrong, she is not supposed to be ashamed.
From the analysis above, the writer can conclude that Helen loves music
very much. Music plays important part not only for Helen but also for her family.
Even though, she is oppressed by her mother and her boyfriend Helen has high
self-confidence that helps her in facing all the problems. Her relation with her
family is not close. It makes her independent and a little bit egoistic. But actually,
as a girl she feels lonely. She wants have a close relation with her mother.
c. Helen’s Characteristics as Revealed from Conversation by Other
The conversation of other people and the things they say about the
character can help to characterize a person. In order to get more information that
will support the judgment on the character, we need to pay attention to the
conversation of other characters. This method can be used to show whether the
character is good or bad.
Furthermore, after Helen and Chris are engaged, Helen is under
subordination of Chris. Helen’s time is shared for the relationship. Unconsciously
Helen does not really concern with her study. Chris pushes her too much until she
gets sick. Helen’s mother is disturbed by this condition.
[Helen’s mother] “You take up too much of her time, Chris. She is got enough on with her school work.” (Doherty, 1991: 22)
Chris is really falling in love with Helen and he wants to be with her all
influence on Helen’s life especially towards her health and her school. Helen’s
mother reminds Chris not to be pushy to Helen because as teenagers, they have a
lot of things to do. Helen’s family always reminds them to arrange their time so
that Helen will not forget her dream to be a composer.
“What she is forgotten now?” Mrs. Garton demanded.
“Only the most important thing in her life,”
Mr. Garton told her. “Her acceptance. How on earth could you have forgotten, Helen?”
Helen looked at me quickly, a tiny glance of accusation, and away again. (Doherty, 1991: 3)
All of Helen’s time is with Chris so that she almost forgets the important
thing in her life. Nowadays, the important thing for teenagers is education. Humm
mentions that academy is the place where the sexist and racist structures of the
society are critically examined and new ways of thinking and new forms of social
action can be explored. (1992: 389) Thus, Helen’s family is concerned with her
education. They know that good education will help Helen in facing her life. They
want Helen to reach and make her ideal come true.
Helen is sloppy. When Helen is pregnant, she thinks that all the things
related to that are her responsibility. She wants to make the condition back to
normal by doing abortion. She does not realize that it will kill her.
[Aunt Jill] “I have to tell you this. She could have killed her self.”
Being pregnant in the young age makes her confused. She does not have any
experience about pregnancy. She rides the horse just to get rid of the pregnancy
but she does not consider the consequence of her action. It is just the same like her
action to make love with Chris without any decency.
From the conversation by others, we can conclude that Helen’s relation
with Chris disturbs her education. Helen’s forgets to do her duties and it makes
her family worried. Helen’s often takes decision without thinking more about it,
so that she almost hurts herself.
d. Reaction
Helen’s character can be observed by knowing how the character reacts
to various situations and events that the author presented. The action concerns
with her motive and thought.
Knowing that she is pregnant, Helen cannot face it. She is confused and
she does not know what to do because she does not have someone to talk to. In
her position, she is not ready to have a baby. She is too young and she wants to do
a lot of things. Finally she decides to abort it by riding a horse. She hopes after
riding the horse, the fetus will be aborted without taking any attention from
others.
The thought in my head were as sharp as ice.
I had never felt so sure of anything before.
Helen’s motivation to do this is for Chris. Helen does not think that her action can
put herself in a danger. She thinks that after doing abortion, everything can be
back into normal, as if nothing happens.
Helen agrees with her mother’s decision to abort the baby in a hospital.
But, when she prepares for the operation, suddenly she changes her mind.
You didn’t think about anything and you did not know anything and you clung on.
And when I was lying there, in all that silence, I felt as if it was me who was clinging on, as if you were my tiny self. I felt as if you knew something that I would never understand. And I felt as if I had become two people. (Doherty, 1991: 90)
Helen suddenly changes her mind because she realizes that there is a
human being is living inside her. She feels that now, the unborn as part of herself,
and part of her life. She feels unfair to take someone’s life. Otherwise, this
condition is not the unborn baby’s fault.
Helen and Chris visits Joan. Helen and Chris explain to Joan that they
will have a baby. After hearing that, Joan drills Helen with questions.
Chris’s mother leant forward and began to drill me with questions, how old was I and was I sure and what arrangements had I made, and in the end I felt like crying and blurted out, “It’s Chris baby too!”
(Doherty, 1991: 108)
Helen’s reaction is a statement that she feels unfair. Her pregnancy is not only her
responsibility. Drill by so many questions is only for her to show that Joan judges
Helen is suffering because of her pregnancy. But when she struggles to
keep the baby alive, Chris is in France for holiday and he flirts with other girls.
[Aunt Jill] “I had a postcard from France this morning. He’s having a great time, isn’t he?
[Helen] So that’s where he is. Does he care, then? Can he just go on holiday and forget about us? (Doherty, 1991: 161)
Helen feels disappointed and sad. She never thinks that while she suffers
because of the pregnancy, Chris is in Paris to spend his holiday. Honestly, she
hopes that Chris will think of her and the unborn baby.
Helen is confused how to react toward her pregnancy. At the beginning
she wants to abort it so that everything can be normal. But, at the end she makes
the right decision to deliver the baby. Helen cannot receive others judging her
pregnancy. She realizes that her pregnancy is both, her and Chris’s responsibility.
While, according to Foster (Eastmen, 1965: 17-18), Helen’s character is
noticed as a round character. Foster states that a round character is dynamic, it
always changes and grows. Helen is dynamic and her character is developed from
only innocent girl into mature woman. She faces many problems that changes her
into a woman.
C. Helen as a Feminist
From all the characteristics that have been mentioned above, some of
them have the qualities of feminist character. In this novel, Helen is oppressed by
her mother who does not want Helen to have a baby and forget her education. But
thinks that the society will mock their family. Moreover, Mrs. Garton thinks that
Helen’s pregnancy is a sin and it will be the secret among women.
Mum said, “No one will know. Daddy won’t know.”
“You want to get it al over with quickly, don’t you?” she said. “Think of your future. It’s your future. You musn’t throw it away.”
“And I have told Chris,” she said. “You’re not to get in touch with him. He agrees with me. It’s for the best.” (Doherty, 1991: 82)
While, Mr. Garton also cannot face the reality. After he knows that Helen
is pregnant, he wants Helen not to keep the baby so she can continue her study.
Mr. Garton thinks that the music school is more important than the baby and the
happiness of his daughter. He is more care to his obsession of music and he
imposes it to Helen.
“You’re not really going to keep it, love?” his voice is pleading. “I’d have given anything in the world to go to music school. Do you know that?” “You are throwing your life away.” ((Doherty, 1991: 96)
In modern society, education is important and Helen’s parents use this
reason to push Helen to get the baby out of their life because they agree that
having a baby is a burden that will avoid her to continue her study. Both Mr. and
Mrs. Garton states that having a baby in her age rather than continue her study is
that she is throwing her life away. Helen is being oppressed by her own parents.
She should follow what her mother wants. She does not have freedom to
