AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirementsfor the Degree ofSarjana Sastra in English Letters
By
ERVINA STEVANY Student number: 064214028
ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS
SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY YOGYAKARTA
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My Beloved God,
Jesus Christ. . .
My late Dear Dad,
Mr. Rusmawi. . .
My Superb Mom,
Mrs. Veronica Suherni. . .
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that I could pass all the hard times in my life including the time when I struggle to
complete this thesis. I am also so grateful for Saint Mary for her sincere prayer.
I would like to express my gratitude for my advisor, Dewi Widyastuti,
S.Pd., M.Hum and my co-advisor Fransiskus Xaverius Siswadi, Dr.,M.A. for
being so patient in guiding me to finish my thesis. I also want to thank all the
lecturers and staff of the English Letters Department of Sanata Dharma University
for their love and support during my study.
To my late dear father, I could only express my love and gratitude here, I
believe he prays for me wherever you are now. To my mother, who struggles for
all her children, I could say nothing but thank her so much. Although she is not a
perfect mother, her love is unlimited. To my big sister, Tacie, from whom I learn
to be a good daughter, I really appreciate all her love and care. And to my little
brother, Riko, who always encourages me with his mockery and who accompanies
me during my thesis writing process, hardly I say that I thank for that.
I also would thank my dear best friends, Vinny, Susin, and Irene for their
support, prayer, and love. And also for all my friends in Jogja who always support
me in bad and good time this past 4 years, Dhika and his family, “BFI” and “After
Twenty”. This single paged acknowledgement is not enough to express my
gratitude but sincerely I thank all of people who help me with my thesis.
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ACCEPTANCE PAGE... iii
MOTTO PAGE ... iv
DEDICATION PAGE... v
LEMBAR PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN PUBLIKASI KARYA ILMIAH UNTUK KEPENTINGAN AKADEMIS ... vi
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS... vii
TABLE OF CONTENTS... viii
ABSTRACT ... x
ABSTRAK ... xi
CHAPTER I : INTRODUCTION ... 1
A. Background of the Study ... 1
B. Problem formulation ... 4
C. Objectives of the Study... 4
D. Definition of Terms ... 4
CHAPTER II : THEORETICAL REVIEW ... 6
A. Review on Related Studies... 6
B. Review of Related Theories ... 9
1. Theory of Character and Characterization... 9
2. Theory of Setting... 11
C. Review of Socio-Cultural Historical background ... 12
1. The Theory of History and Christmas Tradition in the US... 12
2. Theory of Christmas Consumerism in the late 1990s in the US... 19 D. Theoretical Framework ... 26
CHAPTER III : METHODOLOGY ... 28
A. Object of the Study... 28
B. Approach of the Study ... 29
C. Method of the Study... 30
CHAPTER IV : ANALYSIS ... 31
A. The Main Characters’ Characterization ... 31
1. Luther’s Characterizations... 32 a. Realistic ... 32
b. Thrifty ... 37
c. Impatient... 39
2. Nora’s Characterization... 44 a. Sensitive ... 44
b. Shifty Minded ... 52
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C. The Reflection of Christmas Consumerism in the Late 1990s in the US .. 69
1. The Reflection of Christmas Consumerism in the 1990s in the US from Luther’s and Nora’s characterization...70
2. The Reflection of Christmas Consumerism in the late 1990s US from the Setting inSkipping Christmas... 79 a. Setting of Time... 80
i. Christmas ... 80
ii. The Late 1990s... 82
b. Setting of Place ... 86
c. Society... 87
CHAPTER V : CONCLUSION... 89
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Luther and Nora Krank are the main characters in Skipping Christmas. With some consideration they decide to skip Christmas. It is not something common for the society and it makes the Kranks have a clash with their society. From the main characters’ characterization and setting, the researcher finds that Skipping Christmas shows a reflection of Christmas consumerism that happened largely now a days. Although the setting in this book is in the US, but Christmas consumerism happens almost all over the world, it becomes multi-issues because Christmas consumerism becomes not only an religious issue, but also an economic, social cultural and environmental issue.
There are some objectives that the researcher wants to achieve through this thesis. The first is to describe the characterization of the main characters in Skipping Christmas in order to understand the character, the story line and the idea of Christmas consumerism. The second is to describe the setting, including setting of time, place, and society. The last objective is to see how the combination of main characters’ characterization and the setting reflect the consumerism in the US in the late 1990s.
This thesis is a library research. The main data were taken from John Grisham’s novel, Skipping Christmas. The secondary data were taken from some supporting books and articles from the internet. To analyze the topic of this thesis, the researcher applied socio-cultural historical approach. Socio-cultural historical approach is considered appropriate to be applied to this topic because the discussion in this work tries to see the relation between the novel and the society where the novel was written.
Luther is characterized as realistic, impatient and thrifty. While Nora is characterized as sensitive person with two senses, understand others’ feeling and easily offended, and Nora is also a shifty-minded person. With their characteristics, Luther and Nora who plan to skip Christmas had to face people around them who celebrate Christmas a lot. Finally, the researcher presents the tendency of Christmas consumerism from what the main characters and the society to during Christmas, which are reflected from their custom to spent money a lot during Christmas. The reflection is also shown by their custom to exchange gifts and give Christmas cards as they also use real tree for their Christmas tree.
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Tokoh utama dalam Skipping Christmas adalah Luther dan Nora Krank. Dengan beberapa pertimbangan, mereka memutuskan untuk melewatkan natal. Keputusan ini bukan hal yang biasa di masyarakat mereka sehingga keluarga Krank terlibat perselisihan dengan masyarakat sekitar. Melalui perwatakan tokoh utama dan setting, penulis menemukan bahwa Skipping Christmas menampilkan refleksi konsumerisme natal yang marak terjadi dewasa ini. Walaupun setting novel ini di Amerika Serikat, konsumerisme natal terjadi hampir diseluruh dunia. Hal ini bukan hanya masalah keagamaan tetapi juga masalah ekonomi, sosial dan budaya serta lingkungan.
Ada beberapa tujuan yang ingin dicapai penulis dalam menyusun skripsi ini. Yang pertama untuk mendeskripsikan perwatakan tokoh utama pada novel Skipping christmas dengan tujuan untuk memahami watak tokoh utama, jalan cerita dan konsep konsumerisme natal. Tujuan kedua adalah untuk mendeskripsikan setting, termasuk didalamnya seting tempat, waktu dan sosial. Tujuan terakhir adalah untuk melihat bagaimana kombinasi perwatakan tokoh utama dan setting merefleksikan konsumerisme di Amerika Serikat sekitar tahun 1990-an.
Skripsi ini merupakan studi pustaka. Data utama diambil dari novel John Grisham, Skipping Christmas. Data-data sekunder lain diambil dari buku – buku pendukung dan beberapa artikel yang diambil dari internet. Untuk menganalisis topik dari skripsi ini, penulis menggunakan pendekatan sosial-kebudayaan dan sejarah. Pendekatan ini dirasa tepat karena pembahasan dalam skripsi ini mencoba melihat hubungan antara novel dan masyarakat di mana novel ini dibuat.
1 A. Background of the Study
“Literature is a lively image of human nature, representing passions and
humors, and the changes of fortune to which it is subject, for the delight and
instruction of mankind” (Dryden, 1970: 36). From this quotation the researcher
can see how literature is a kind of portrait of the real life. Literature is so much
influenced by the author because a literature is a product of its author, which
comes from author’s mind. An author’s mind is influenced by many things like
his/her educational, religious, and social background. With this knowledge, the
author can understand the logic of the above quotation.
In this paper the researcher will discuss one of the messages which can be
concluded from Grisham’s novel entitled Skipping Christmas. The focus of this undergraduated thesis is on the reflection of consumerism tendency especially
during Christmas in the United States in the late 1990s. The researcher will try to
see how a work of literature, specifically, a novel can give a reflection of an issue
in the real life.
With this study, the researcher wants to focus only on the consumerism
tendency which is practiced by most American people in the late 1990s. Although
the degree of their consumerism practices are varies depend on many factors, such
as the State where they live or their economic conditions, but Americans activities
commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ. The US is a big country. American society
is a very influential and rich society. There are some studies or surveys which
claim that Americans are the most consumptive people in the world. It is proven
by some economic survey as the researcher quote in the paragraph below.
Americans constitute 5% of the world’s population but consume 24% of the world’s energy. On average, one American consumes as much energy as 2 Japanese, 6 Mexicans, 13 Chinese, 31 Indians, 128 Bangladeshis, 307 Tanzanians, or 370 Ethiopians.
<http://www.mindfully.org/Sustainability/Americans-Consume-24percent.htm> (20 March 2010)
From the data, Americans was in the top position. It is ironical, an
American can consume energy which can be used by 370 people from other
country. With pretty small percentage of world’s population, Americans can
consume around a quarter of the world’s energy while there are so many people
from other countries that live in an awful condition. Moreover, we also realize that
there is a tendency that people become more consumptive during festivals or
holidays period like in Thanksgiving, Halloween, New Year, and Christmas Day.
As stated in the title of this paper, we will focus on consumerism during
Christmas time. Although Christmas is a religious holiday, people celebrate it
more for greeting, gathering, feasting, and exchanging gift rather than for praying,
attending the mass, retreating or anything which are parts of religious practices.
This fact quite annoys some people who concerned about it. This is a statement of
Pope John Paul II about today’s Christmas celebration as quoted from
www.indiatimes.com:
friends, is under shock from a certain consumerist mentality and risks losing its authentic sense of Christmas, above all, interior silence and prayer." He said "Secondly, the willingness to welcome the will of God, however it is manifested," he added.
(http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/32083545.cms) <22 July 2010>
Pope’s statement shows his concern and anxiety with the condition of
Christians’ mentality and Christianity. Pope sees that Christmas consumerism
fade the real meaning of Christmas out. The spirit of Christmas gradually
becomes the spirit of greeting, feasting or partying.
The researcher also takes the late 1990’s because we all are part of this
new modern and we can see it closely as a current issue that happened until today
and most of us are the actors of it. People are accustomed to consumptive lifestyle
without considering the effects of their lifestyle. Although the effects are
becoming true, like recession, social gap and global warming which are really
harmful for our life, we, as parts of the actors still, do not really give our care with
this issue.
Reducing consumption without reducing use is a costly delusion. If undeveloped consumed at the same rate as The US, four complete planet size of the Earth would be required. People who think that they have a right to such a life are quite mistaken.
<http://www.mindfully.org/Sustainability/Americans-Consume-24percent.htm> (20 March 2010)
The researcher’s reason for usingSkipping Christmas novel is that in this novel consumerism especially during Christmas time is clearly described. The
actions of the main characters in this novel show their disagreement with
consumptive side in celebrating Christmas. This book shows many dark sides of
the opposite, this book also shares with the reader the warmth of Christmas at the
end of the story.
B. Problem formulation
1. How are the main characters characterized?
2. How is the setting described?
3. How does the combination of main characters with their characterization and
setting reflect consumerism tendency in the US in the late 1990s?
C. Objectives of the Study
Three problems will be discussed in this paper. The first problem is related
to characters and characterization. The researcher will try to find out the
characteristics of characters in this novel and the researcher will review theory on
character and characterization. The second problem is related to setting. The
researcher will try to find out the setting of the plot in this book and therefore the
researcher will review a theory on setting in literary point of view. In the last
problem, the researcher will try to review and analyze how characters with their
characterizations and the setting of this novel reflect consumerism tendency in
The US.
D. Definition of Terms
According to the Webster's New Explorer Encyclopedia Dictionary, the word 'consumerism' has two definitions. The first definition is about a movement
which was popularized in the 1600s to protect consumer interests. Lately,
interest in consumption which actually is the effect of the movement that is
described in the first definiton.
Consumerism: 1. the promotion of the consumer's interests 2. the theory that an increasing consumption of goods is economically desirable; also: a preoccupation with and an inclination toward the buying of customer goods.(Merriam-Webster, Inc, 2006: 389)
Another definition is about what Christmas is. The researcher took a
definition Webster’s Encyclopedia Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language. Here are also two definitions; the first one is more religious nuance. To highlight on commemorate Jesus’ birthday, when Christian people believe as
the son of God and the founder of Christianity teaching birthday. And in the
second definition, we can see modern and happy nuance of Christmas where
people have fun, gather, and so on. In this case, the researcher will dig more about
the second definition of christmas.
6 A. Review on Related Studies
John Grisham is an American author who was born on February 8, 1955 in
Jonesboro, Arkansas. His father is a construction worker and his mother is a
housewife. In 1981, He finished his university education in law school at Ole
Miss. Soon after he graduated, he worked as a lawyer, especially in criminal
defense and personal injury litigation. In 1983, Grisham was elected to be a
member of Representatives Mississippi and worked there until 1990. From his
experience of working in law court and corporation, he got some inspiration to
write a story related to the cases he ever handled. That is possible the reason why
almost all of Grisham books were about thriller law.
Long before his name became synonymous with the modern legal thriller, he was working 60-70 hours a week at a small Southaven, Mississippi law practice, squeezing in time before going to the office and during courtroom recesses to work on his hobby—writing his first novel <http://www.jgrisham.com/bio/> (20 March 2010).
Almost all Grisham’s works are all about law in thriller and serious
atmosphere. But hisSkipping Christmashas totally different atmosphere from his other works. Skipping Christmas is a Christmas story that presents the main characters, Luther and Nora, as a successful couple. They have the only one
daughter who just graduated from a university and wanted to be a volunteer in
Peru to teach poor children there. After their daughter’s leaving they feel very
Luther is the first who has that idea. As an accountant, Luther realizes that
he, his family and all people in his society do something crazy during Christmas.
That is about its ritual which costs a lot of money. Besides, his daughter leaving,
this is a strong reason why Luther persuades his wife to skip Christmas and all its
following rituals which usually start one month before Christmas. But their
decision to skip Christmas is not easy to realize. Their plan seems so simple but
the result of their decision is not that simple, although the setting in this book is at
somewhere in US, a free country, people commonly said, they are not really free
to skip Christmas. They must face their neighbor and friends who mock them,
people think they are crazy or maybe just have financial problems.
It wasn’t such a bad idea. All the money spent on intangible things or things that are forgotten weeks later. Christmas has gotten way out of hand when we spend so much money on food that goes to “waist”, gifts that probably aren’t what people want most, cloths we won’t wear again because we’ll have to have new next year, even Christmas cards that we only sign our name so it’s not like we’re keeping up on the news
<http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5357.skipping_christmas> (20 March 2010).
At the end of the story Luther and Nora fail to skip Christmas. It is not
because they are defeated with the full pressure from their surrounding but
because of the unexpected return of their daughter with her new fiancé.
Many readers love this book but there are some Grisham lovers who think
that Skipping Christmas is not a good one. The quotation below is the sample of the sound of disappointment of Grisham’sSkipping Christmas.
disappointing book <http://www.mostlyfiction.com/humor/grisham.htm> (20 March 2010).
Different from the statement from the quotation above, the researcher finds
that Grisham clearly shows his critique on the way people celebrate Christmas
through out the novel. The problem is not simply about whether they complete
their mission to skip Christmas or not. In spite of Luther and Nora’s decision to
take a Caribbean cruise, maybe it is not the best way to escape from Christmas
ritual which is identical with shopping, glamour and grand feast, Christmas
consumerism is a hot issue in American society.
Although at the end of the story, a surprise of her daughter coming home
makes Luther’s and Nora’s plan to skip Christmas failed, it does not show
whether skipping Christmas is a good thing or a bad thing. It instead shows other
messages that we can get from reading this book, that we can prepare everything
well but we can not avoid unpredictable hindrance or every people have his/ her
good side. We can see the last point when the Kranks’ neighbor at the end of the
story help the Kranks prepare for the sudden Christmas party.
With this research the researcher will go deeper in analyzing the
phenomena of Christmas consumerism presented in this novel by using
socio-cultural historical approach, so see the relation between the novel and the
civilization where the novel was produced. So the focus in this research is not on
whether or not the main characters success to skip Christmas or whether or not the
B. Review of Related Theories
1. Theory of Character and Characterization
Character is one of the important elements to interpret or point out the
message of this book. Character brings many significances such as bring with
themselves the line story. To make the story is accepted by the readers, the author
must present character vividly; kind of characters, which represent or alike with
people in the real world.
Character is life-like. The first requirement for such a character is to have a plausible name and to say and do things that seem convincingly like the kinds of things people say and do in so called ‘real-life’ (Bennett and Royle, 2009: 62).
It does not mean that a person in a work of literature is always exactly
someone that exists in the real life. It is because if we talk about fiction, character
is made to life in the work of literature and they are made like a real person, with
its multiple human identities. So to read a character is to imagine. Reading
character involves learning to acknowledge that a person can never finally be
singular (Bennett and Royle, 2009: 67).
“Character, as quoted fromAn Introduction to Fiction, Poetry and Drama, is an imagined person who inhabits a story”. Character can be divided as flat or
round character.
Flat character has only one outstanding trait or feature, or at most a few distinguishing marks. In the other words, Flat character tends to stay the same throughout a story (Kennedy and Gioia, 1998: 60-61).
Flat character is also known as static character. Flat character is usually a
minor character, as quoted from the same book, there is a reason why the flat
would cost time and space; and so enlarged, they might only distract us from the
main characters”.
If a minor character is made as round character, that means the minor
character is given more than one identity, and the author need more space in
his/her work of literature to explain about this minor character that does not really
bring the line story with him/herself. Moreover, reader’s focus on the main
character will be driven away and it will confuse the reader with the point of view
of the story.
A round character is presented by its author with more trait or feature.
Some critics call this kind of character as dynamic character because this
character is multiple-dimensions character that has number of different qualities, it
is why round character is more complex than flat character.
Round character, however, present us with more facets—that is, its author portray them in greater depth and in more generous detail. Round character often changes—learns or become enlightened, grows or deteriorates (Kennedy and Gioia, 1998: 60-61).
Round character usually gets more attention for the reader, for round
character usually is a main character in a story. An author gives more details on
his/ her round character. There are many ways for an author to present his/ her
character.
Characterization is also important to be discussed in order to get a good
understanding of a character, furthermore, readers can reveal the motif of
character and the message of the work of literature by analyzing character and its
characterization. Because there are some ways to present a character in a work of
ways which used in characterizing a character which is described in
Understanding Unseen: an Introduction to English Poetry and English Novel for Overseas Students
a. Personal description. For example the author can describe a person’s appearance and clothes.
b. Character as seen by another. Instead of describing a character directly the author can describe him/her through the eyes and opinion of another. The reader gets, as it were, a reflected image.
c. Speech. The author can give us an insight into the character of one of the persons in the book through what that people says. Whenever a person speaks, whenever he/she is in a conversation with another, whenever he puts forward an opinion. He is giving us some clue to his character.
d. Past life. By letting the reader learn something about a person’s past life the author can give us a clue to events that have helped to shape a person’s character. This can be done in direct comment by the author, through the person’s thoughts, through his conversation or through the medium of another person.
e. Conversation of others. The author can also give us clues to a person’s character of the other person spoken about
f. Reactions. The author can also give us a clue to a person’s character by letting us know how the person reacts to various situations and events.
g. Direct comment. The author can describe or comment on a person’s character directly.
h. Thoughts. The author can give us direct knowledge what a person is thinking about. In this respect he is able to do what we cannot do in real life. He can tell us what different people are thinking.
i. Mannerism. The authors can describe a person’s mannerisms, habits or idiosyncrasies which may also tell us something about his character (Murphy, 1972:161-173).
2. Theory of Setting
This review will discuss the theory of setting in a literary work. All stories
or works of Literature have its particular setting. Setting that the researcher means
here is both setting of time and place. Setting is the intrinsic element of work of
literature which needs to be considered in revealing the purpose or the idea of a
work. An author set the setting with purpose behind it. Setting of a work of
significances. The author often imitates or conveys the real place in the real world
to his/ her story’s world, in order to make it more natural, believable, or to critic
and conveys some values.
In Richard Gill’s Mastering English Literature, it is stated that a word “setting” can be used to cover several ideas:
1. The place in which the characters appear
2. The social context of characters, such as their families, friends, and class
3. The customs, beliefs, and rules of behavior that give identity to a society
4. The particular locations of events
5. The atmosphere, mood, and feel that all the above elements create (Gill, 1995: 148).
Setting as an element of literary work can not be separated from other
elements. It is intentionally presented by an author. It often works together with a
or some other(s) element to present an idea in a work. Setting is not only present
place but also the time and society where characters in a work appear. “These
have a great effect upon the personalities, actions, and the way of thinking of the
characters.” (Murphy, 1972: 141).
C. Review of Socio-Cultural Historical background
1. The History of Christmas and Christmas Tradition in the US
Christmas is from Christ mass or in Old English called Cristes Maesses.
This is the day when Christian celebrating Jesus Christ’ birthday, although people
is celebrated on 6 January by small number of church in the world. The church is
called Armenian Church.
Armenians follow the old eastern custom of honoring Epiphany, commemorating in the west chiefly visit of the Magi to the infant Jesus, and in the east, Christ’s Baptism. In some parts of the United States this date has been celebrated as “old Christmas” or “Little Christmas”
(Lorimer, 1995: 666).
Most of the churches in the world celebrate Christmas in 25 December by
the influence of Pagan culture that celebrated the “the birth of the Unconquered
Sun” which brings warmth and light.
In Rome, pagans celebrated three important mid-winter festivals: Saturnalia (December 17-23), the Calends (January 1st-5th, and precursor to the Twelve Nights of Christmas), and the Deus Sol Invictus or the Birthday of the Unconquered Sun (December 25)
<http://www.randomhistory.com/2008/11/21_christmas.html> (20 March 2010).
The custom from Pagan culture was also brought to Christmas culture that
is celebrated this day by dancing, singing, decorating and feasting. This Pagan
custom was also done during old Christmas celebration in Rome and Roman
brought to England the medieval Christmas culture and influenced some countries
such as The New world. Now Christmas becomes a holiday in over 160 countries
and it is a big holiday in Britain and United States. Many cultures were enriched
today Christmas festival. Now, we know Christmas carol, Christmas card, Santa
Claus, exchanging gifts which were had its own history and became parts of
Christmas customs.
In this part the researcher will provide some facts which are related to the
topic which will be discussed in this paper. We will see about social-cultural
described in the literary work. Both socio-culture where the work was made and
which represented in the work are the same, that is in the United States.
However, in the late 1990s in countries such as Britain and the United
States, there were industrial revolutions which replaced the agricultural era.
People produce stuffs and sold those stuffs and they worked harder and longer in
duration. Old gifts hand-made were replaced by toys from factories, and this was
recognized as the beginning of commercialization of Christmas which becomes
worsen today.
as societies changed from an agricultural based economy to an industrial economy, many people lost both the leisure time and the necessary raw materials to make homemade gifts, and by the 1920s, store bought gifts overshadowed homemade gifts. It would be easy to trace statistics to show how commercialized Christmas has become since then <http://www.randomhistory.com/2008/11/21_christmas.html> (20 March 2010).
At the first part, we already see slightly about Christmas history in general.
In this part, the researcher will try to give some information about Christmas ritual
especially in the United States. Let us first see a little bit about history of
Christmas in the United States.
Christmas tradition is not a tradition from native people of the US. It is a
culture from the immigrants who came to the New World with various reasons. It
is interesting to know that later the immigrants are the one who dominate this
country. It is important to know that the US native people are Americans Indian,
who nowadays become minority in size of the population.
People believe that Columbus, an Italian navigator, was the first person
After this period, larger amount of people from Europe and next other contingent
come to the New World. European colonies come first and become powerful until
today.
They come with various reason and background. Some come as exiles,
some come as political hostages, some are forcedly come as slaves most of them
come from Africa, some come as missionaries and some other are the conqueror
act as the government of the colonies there. By knowing this fact, we can
understand that the US is formed by various kinds of people from different social,
educational, and regional background. That is why, if we aware, there are many
cultures in the US were imported by the immigrant and mixed well by them
although still western or European culture is dominant.
Most of people who helped make our history came from Europe. They brought with them the ideas, the customs, and the blood of western Europe. The Indians, who here when Columbus discovered the New World, have had small effect on our history (Harlow and Miller, 1953: 20).
Back to the focus, Christmas, the history told us that Christmas first was
introduced to the US by European colonies. By the influence of European
colonies, Christmas in the US is celebrated on 25 December. The first
introduction of Christmas and its tradition in the US happened in the 17th century.
From that time on, Christmas became more and more familiar for Americans with
changes here and there because of the influence of people who celebrate it.
At this time separatist puritans, “who define as a group of people who
grew discontent in the Church of England and worked towards religious, moral
and societal reforms”<http://www.nd.edu/~rbarger/www7/puritans.html> (5 May
2010). They came from Britain, and brought with them their customs, including
their custom on Christmas. Puritans were not happy with the Christmas
celebration which was held as tradition in their home. So they do not celebrate
Christmas in their new home.
The pilgrims, English separatists that came to America in 1620, were even more orthodox in their Puritan beliefs than Cromwell. As a result,
Christmas was not a holiday in early America
<http://www.history.com/topics/christmas/page2> (3 April 2010).
But changes happened, after silent Christmas day in the beginning of
Christmas in the US, numbers of states begin to have Christmas celebration and
finally, after quite long period counted from the first introduction of Christmas in
the US, Christmas became federal holiday in 1870. From that year on, Christmas
was and is celebrated, workers is given a holiday.
After the American Revolution, English customs fell out of favor, including Christmas. In fact, Congress was in session on December 25, 1789, the first Christmas under America’s new constitution. Christmas wasn’t declared a federal holiday until June 26, 1870 <http://www.thehistoryofchristmas.com/ch/in_america.htm> (3 April 2010).
People use Christmas season to gather with their relatives and friends; they
prepare foods, gifts and decorations. Americans have tradition to have dinner
party on Christmas Eve, the night before Christmas Day. In this dinner party, the
host usually invites some of their relatives and close friends to eat dinner together.
the same from one host to another host. The differences are caused by the
multi-cultural background of people in the US. But there are foods that were served by
the majority of Americans.
Turkey and ham are the two most popular meat entrees served in a traditional American Christmas dinner, though beef roasts and pork tenderloin are also the centerpiece of many Christmas dinners. Common side dishes including mashed or roast potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, squash, yeast rolls and salads. Christmas dinner is often served with
alcohol, mainly wine or champagne.
Dessert items for an American Christmas dinner include Christmas cookies like decorated sugar cookies and gingerbread men, pumpkin, pecan and apple pies, fruitcake and eggnog or hot chocolate to drink <http://www.ehow.com/about_4603941_christmas-dinner.html> (24 July 2010).
Christmas is Christian festival to commemorate Jesus Christ birthday, as
rooted from its name Christ mass, but it is interesting to know that Christmas in
the US is also celebrated by people with other different faith, it seems that
Christmas in the US is festival for Americans not only for Christians.
Besides the strictly religious traditions, however, other common Christmas practices are observed by people who are not religious or who are not Christian. In this way, some Christmas traditions have become American traditions <http://usa.usembassy.de/holidays-xmas.htm> (3 April 2010).
Today, Christmas becomes even the more and more popular event in the
US even more in the world wide. There are many traditions which are attached to
Christmas and Christmas in the US is influenced so much by other countries.
Although some of these things are not really originated from the US but these
Christmas instruments become popular instruments in the US, even some of
popular Christmas instruments in the world was originated in the US.
There are Christmas tree with colorful decoration and electric lights,
mistletoe, Santa Claus with a red suit, big stomach, white hair and beard, Frosty,
Christmas foods like roasted turkey, candy, nut, pudding, pie, marshmallow,
fruitcakes, eggnog, and gift greeting cards. Some of the above examples were
brought by Englishmen in the early time they arrived in the New World. Some
others were brought by immigrants such as from, Germany and France. There are
also some popular Christmas instruments that were originated in the US like Santa
Claus.
Decoration with holly, hawthorn, and mistletoe and the sing of carols (especially by Waits) are all typically English. Santa Claus first was popular un New York. Other American Invention are firecrackers and eggnog in the south. The Christmas tree was already a tradition in The German Middle Ages, the light in the window, found widespread, probably came o America with the Irish (Bridgwater and Sherwood, 1950: 388).
Christmas decorations are something that attached to Christmas
celebration. Christmas decorations make Christmas become bright and merry.
People who celebrate Christmas usually decorate their house before Christmas
day. “…and the more enthusiastic member of society start decking out their
houses and front gardens with a barrage of lights, glowing reindeer and giant
plastic Santas” <http://www.guardian.com.uk/uk/2001/des/18/christmas> (24 July
2010).
Santa Claus is not only part of Christmas decoration. Moreover, Santa
Claus is an imaginative figure from time to time becomes connected with
Christmas celebration.
Santa Claus’s generosity characteristic makes children love him. Children
fact the presents are bought by their parents. For some people who do not have
sympathy for this imaginative figure see that “Santa Claus is a symbol of the
commercialization and consumerism that has seized the Christmas holiday in the
west”
<http://www.cbn.com/spirituallife/chruchandministry/nonBuseck_Saint_Nicholas
_Santa.aspx> (24 July 2010).
Christmas season is a very special event for American. There are opinions
that said “Christmas is as American as mom’s apple pie and the Fourth of July”
<www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,177322,00.htm> (24 July 2010). The tradition
of celebrating Christmas is can be said as part of American life, as Americans are
very common with apple pie and Independence Day.
2. Christmas Consumerism in the late 1990s in the US
Consumerism is one of hot topics to be discussed when we want to talk
about the aspects of Americans life. Consumerism in fact is not a new issue, we
can see it begun at the 19th century before and became more rapid after the
industrial revolution. People started to produce commodity in a large amount with
the lower price, producers focus in taking profit as many as possible. Workers
work hard, they also tried to get more wage by working overtime.
During this time the interest of consumers right arisen. This is the time
when consumerism, as the first definition which stated in Chapter I, arisen. At that
time, consumerism was a term of the promotion of customer interest, right, and
protection even until today this definition is still used as business and economic
As stated before, the term consumerism had arisen through long time ago,
it is hard to see the very start point when the exact time this social phenomenon
was appeared. Since the term consumerism is used for more than one definition.
The definition of consumerism can be refer to, as the researcher quote from
Encyclopedia Americana, “the increased consumer protection which means to safeguarding the buying public from dangerous and inferior goods and services
and from fraudulent and other unfair selling practices” (Lorimer, 1995, 683). It
begun around the American industrial revolution in 1920’s happened .
It was stated in the same book that, before this movement, the assumption
is consumers know what they want. They must aware by themselves. But after
this movement, consumers are very protected and fondled. Government and non
government movement at that time begin to make an effort which concern about
consumer’s problems. These institutions manage the standard of goods quality
and safety. They also try to protect consumers from fraudulent advertising. They
manage to create an obligation for producers to give the list of ingredients of their
goods (foods and drugs).
The result of consumerism movement can be enjoyed by people until
today. That is why now we get guarantee and warranty when buying goods; we
also find the list of ingredient in the package of foods, cosmetics, and drugs we
buy. We also know about organization which concern about consumers such as,
Food and Drug Administration (FDA), The General Services Administration
(GSA), Federal Trade Commission (FTC) (Lorimer, 1995: 683). These
goods in the market. The consumers can also ask some helps from these kinds of
organizations to complain about the product they buy. These organizations had
emerged as the result of consumerism.
But the focus of this paper is not consumerism at the above sense.
Consumerism in the previous explanation creates a new pace of its meaning.
While the focus of economist at that time was to protect consumers, consumers
drown into enjoyable consumption activities which later urge the study of
Consumer Behavior and then the new concern of consumerism.
Consumerism will be defined as a social phenomenon. It was related to
excessive consumers’ consumption behavior, which was affected by their
increased affluence, prosperity and security position.
Their increased purchasing power has given them the opportunity to embroider upon basic needs with a sense of individual taste and creativity, as they search for a style of life rather than for security (Sills, 1972:349).
In this pace consumers became powerful, not like in the previous pace
when producers seem the one who hold the control. Today consumer in the pace
when they are very free to choose what they want to buy, to even can choose what
brand which can create their self image, they have many choices of goods. Now
consumers buy goods not only for their basic daily needs but consumers also
spend their money to fulfill their self-satisfaction in their lifestyle. They even
spend their money for their lifestyle than for their basic daily needs.
This consumer behavior can be seen as a good sign, there is an increasing
But the tendency of over consuming also make expert, like expert in social
science become worry about it.
Consumerism becomes a part of Americans life. It is practiced by almost
all the citizens in the US. When we look back to the late 1990s, The US at that
time enjoys its top position in multi aspects in the world. Some people call the
twentieth century as American Century to describe how powerful and wealthy the
people of America during this period are
<http://www.historycentral.com/20thCent.html> (22 July 2010).
During the late 1990s until today consumerism increase largely, even
some people says that consumerism is American sports because it is so common
in the US it become one of Americans identity. American children are trained to
consume much. As they become adult, they worked hard to get what they want,
people are defined solely by what they buy and what they own
<http://www.truth-it.net/consumerism_effects.html> (22 July 2010).
Consumerism even becomes un-separated part in Christmas. Consumerism
disgraces the religious value of Christmas. It is seen by many Christmas
ornaments that are sold in market. From www.huppi.com, facts of Christmas
consumerism are clearly described. Americans spent more then $2 billion on
Christmas ornaments, artificial Christmas tree, toys, lights, and lamps that is
imported from China. It is not included Christmas stuff which is produced in the
US itself <http://www.huppi.com/kangaroo/NoChristmas.html> (24 July 2010).
For the purchasing present, a single American will spent hundred of billion
$ 200 billion presents” <http://www.huppi.com/kangaroo/NoChristmas.html> (24
July 2010). If the quotation above shows American expenses as the whole
population, there are other data collected by Gallup Poll show how much the
average American spent for Christmas gift. “Gallup in 1999 reports that average
of American will spent $ 857 on Christmas gift only”
<http://www.allbusiness.com/retail-trade/4297781-1.html> (24 July 2010).
Americans’ expenses during Christmas season do not stop only for gifts
and ornaments. There is still a long list of expenses that Americans spend during
Christmas season. It is really beneficial for the producers and the sellers of
Christmas stuff. Let us take a look at greeting cards publisher. This is one of
industries that related closely to Christmas and get soar benefit during Christmas
season. According to the Greeting Card Association (GSA), approximately 3,000
greeting card publishers exist in The US
<www.integrainformation.com/forbes/overview01.htm> (23 July 2010).
These publishers get their highest profit during Christmas season. For just
one Christmas, these publishers turnover will reach 2.28 billion dollars.
About half of all greeting card sales were seasonal in nature, while everyday cards accounted for the other half. Within the seasonal category, Christmas cards accounted for 2.28 billion (61 percent) of sales
<www.referenceforbussiness.com/industries/Printing-Publishing-Allied/Greetiing-Cards.html> (22 July 2010).
The industries which get high profit during Christmas like greeting cards
industries, toys industries, foods industries, and textile industries develop well in
the US especially in the modern US because of the culture of Americans. Like
“We live in a souvenir society, a world in which everything we do, everywhere
we go, has to be commemorated
<http://www.sbdcnet.org/Snapshot/GreetingcardgiftshopSnapshot.pdf> (24 July
2010).
Christmas in the US is full of consumerism activities. Almost all
Americans do during Christmas are related with spent money which is proved by
the data of Americans expenses during Christmas above. Moreover, Americans
have what they called as Black Friday. Black Friday is acknowledged by
Americans as a sign to begin their shopping activities.
With Christmas shopping vitally important to some retailers, Christmas has extended into a “season” of its own. The day after Thanksgiving (the fourth Thursday in November) is now known as “Black Friday.” An important shopping day, it pushes some businesses into profitability, or “in the black,” and can account for a substantial proportion of annual profits
<http://www.america.gov/st/poepleplace-english/2008/Desember/20061226154528abretnuh0.7518579.html> (25 July 2010).
Not only do Americans waste so many dollars in Christmas, but
Americans also exploit natural resources so much because they use real tree as
their Christmas tree. As it was quoted from huppi.com:
In 1997, Americans cut down 33 millons real trees to put up in their homes, enough to cover the state of Rhode Island. In doing so, they spent somewhere between $600 million to $1.1 billion. Each acre of growing Christmas trees provides the daily oxygen requirements of 18 people <http://www.huppi.com/kangaroo/NoChristmas.html> (22 July 2010).
Another environmental issue on Christmas consumerism is about the waste
that is produced during Christmas season. Around million ton of wastes from
The quotation below describes the waste of foods and Christmas cards which are
produced during Christmas season.
At least 28 million pounds of edible food are wasted each year—or over 100 pounds per person. The 2.65 billion Christmas cards sold each year in the US could fill a football field 10 stories high. If we each sent one card
less we’ve save 50,000 cubic yards of paper
<http://www.recycleworks.org/resident/holiday_facts.html> (23 July 2010).
Americans specifically Christians have been contaminated with the spirit
of consumerism, it is more ironic because they practice consumerism activities
largely on the day which is dedicated to commemorate Christ’s birthday, the day
which should be celebrated in religious way. Christmas day activities seem more
far away from the Christianity and full of secular activities.
The consumer culture exercises a formative influence on a wide range of American holidays and celebrations, but peculiar ironies of this commercial puissance are never more poignant that during the season of Jesus’ Advent <http://www.crosscurrents.org/schmidt.htm> (23July 2010).
After a long period of big consumerism, there are reactions from some
Americans, they start to think critically about what they do and the impact of what
they do. People are moved to be consumerism activist and establish
anti-consumerism organization and campaign.
There are also individuals who prefer not to celebrate Christmas. These
individuals do not join with a particular anti-consumerism organization. They do
not celebrate Christmas for their personal critically reason, like what Charles
Halff, the Director of Christian Jew Foundation, says about his reason to do not
celebrate Christmas:
nothing to do with Christ’s birthday <http://www.eaec.org/bibleanswers/christmas/christians_and_Christmas.ht m> (24 July 2010).
An anti-consumerism movement tries to compete the current of the
consumerism activity. But unfortunately, the anti-consumerism movement is not
strong enough to defeat the consumerism activity which becomes part of
American life for decades. Producers are just too tricky to be defeated by anti
consumerism activist. People start to buy home made and cheaper product but
they are still trapped in consuming activity.
In the late 90’s consumerism effects led a lot of people to choose to live a simpler lifestyle and choose to buy fewer products and spend their money more carefully. Ironically this led to an entirely new type of consumerism that focused on the purchasing of products that identified the purchasers as members of the group that rejected the excesses of earlier decades. This consumer movement focused on buying handmade products from small businesses for cheaper prices instead of purchasing mass produced products from large corporations <http://www.truth-it.net/consumerism_effects.html> (22 July 2010).
D. Theoretical Framework
The aim of this thesis is to find the reflection of Christmas consumerism
from the main characters’ characterization and the setting. To analyze the
characterization of the main characters and the setting in the novel the researcher
uses the theory of character and characterization and theory of setting.
The researcher also collects some reviews on Christmas Consumerism in
the late 1990s in the US to find out what really happen in reality during that
period. After getting the characterization of the main characters and the setting of
character’s characterization and the setting with the reviews about Christmas
Consumerism in the 1990s in the US.
With this comparison the researcher will find out whether the issue in the
novel reflects the issue in the reality. Since the researcher tries to find the
reflection of reality in the novel, so the researcher uses socio-cultural historical
28 A. Object of the Study
The object of this undergraduate thesis is a book from, a well-known
American author, John Grisham entitled Skipping Christmas. This book contains 177 pages which are divided into 20 chapters. It is published by Doubleday, a
division of Random House, Inc. in New York. The first edition was published in
November 2001, with three kind of print, the hardcover (ISBN 0-385-50841-7),
the large print (0-375-43162-4), and the limited edition (0-385-50624-4).Skipping Christmas is a fictional comedy novel that was already translated into 27 languages and become one of Grisham’s bestseller books. This book was also
adapted into a film entitled Christmas with Krank.
Skipping Christmas as represented from the title is a novel about Christmas. The story is about two main characters Luther and Nora Krank who
was just leave by their daughter to work as a volunteer in Peru. Then they decided
to skip the Christmas celebration with some reasons. They prepare Christmas this
year, like no one they know do it. They plan to have a cruise to Caribbean. Just to
enjoy the Christmas together.
But this plan is not as easy and fun as they think. They must face many
problems and the last big and unpredicted problems when their daughter give a
They must prepare a one-month Christmas preparation just in less than 24 hours.
It’s a funny and a bit chaos but Grisham still gives a happy ending for this novel.
B. Approach of the Study
In this study, the researcher use socio-cultural historical approach to show
that this book is a representation of the real world. As stated in the title of this
study, the researcher want to see the Christmas consumerism tendency which is
especially happened in the United States, so here the researcher will see the
relation between socio-cultural historical background and the work, especially the
intrinsic elements of the work.
Socio-cultural historical approach is a kind of approach which is used not
only to examine literary work but it is also used in other field like in psychology
study. Basically this approach examine a work, event or people by relate it with
the social and cultural history when the work, event, or people when and where
those exist. “Socio-cultural historical approach is an approach that places a work
in relation with the civilization that produce it” (Rohrberger and Woods, 1971:
9)
In this paper the researcher uses socio-cultural historical approach to
analyze John Grisham’s Skipping Christmas because the researcher wants to figure out the relation between the story with the real event, era, place and the
habits of people at the time this book was made. We will see the place, situation,
society where and the time when the work was made, gave influence the content
C. Method of the Study
In analyzing the work, the researcher do a library research by collecting
data from source like book, dissertation, thesis, journal, etc whether in written or
online version. The primary source which is used by the researcher is a novel by
John Grisham entitledSkipping Christmas.
The researcher also uses some other sources in making the analysis. The
researcher use Reading and Writing about Literature from Mary Rohrberger, International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciencesfrom David L. Sills and Samuel H. woods,Mastering English Literaturefrom Richard Gill, and some other online sources like www.jgrisham.com, www.usa.usembassy.de, www.america.gov,
www.mindfully.org, www.nd.edu, and www.guardian.com to get the fact related
to the socio-cultural historical background of the work.
The researcher did some steps to come up with the thesis. For the first
step, the researcher did a deep reading towards the main source to get good
understanding of the work, especially the intrinsic elements, then the researcher
decided the topic for the analysis and then for the next step the researcher tried to
find source related with the work of literature and also with the topic of the
undergraduate thesis. It was also needed to make the undergraduate thesis reliable
by put quotations from other experts and believable source. The last step was the
researcher started with writing the analysis and drawn the conclusion from the
data which were got from library research and the researcher understanding and
31
In this chapter, the researcher will answer the question formulated in
problem formulation in the Chapter I. There are 3 questions in the problem
formulation, so there will be 3 parts in this chapter. The first part will answer the
first question about the main characters’ characterization, the second part will
answer the second question about the setting of Skipping Christmas, and the last part will answer the last question about the reflection of Christmas consumerism
from the characterization and the setting.
A. The Main Characters’ Characterization
A character functioned as one of the important tools for an author to
present a story. A character is the agent which is created to help an author present
a story which was just in his/her mind to be written as a novel that made sense for
the readers. A character had to be believable for the reader, so an author attached
the characters with one or more characteristics, just like real people, as their
necessity to bring the story out. “Character is an imagined person who inhabits a
story” (Kennedy and Gioia, 1998: 60). As also stated by Kennedy and Gioia, the
main character was usually round character that had more than single facet, often
changes, grows or deteriorates at the end of the story.
To discuss characterizations, the researcher used the characterization
would be presented by the author by using 9 ways, those were personal
description, characters as seen by another, speech, past life, conversation of
others, reaction, direct comment, thought, and mannerism (Murphy, 1972:
161-173).
1. Luther’s Characterization
The researcher came to the conclusion after reading the Skipping Christmas that Luther and Nora were the main characters by considering them as round characters. As stated before round character usually were given more detail
traits and often changed, learns or become enlightened, grows or deteriorates
(Kennedy and Gioia, 1998: 60-61).
Round character was usually the main character. As the main characters,
Luther and Nora had more that one traits and Grisham give more attention or
focus on these two characters in this novel. As the round character with more
complexity then flat one, the researcher will present some of Luther and Nora
characteristics in the explanation bellow.
Luther was one of the main characters ofSkipping Christmas, with whom Grisham told the line of story to the readers. Luther and also another main
character in Skipping Christmas were the center in this novel. From the appearance, Luther was characterized as middle aged married man. He was quite
fat man. He worked in an accountant consultant firm and he was quite successful
and respected.
Luther was one of the main characters in this work. One of his
characteristics was he was a realistic person. Luther was said to be realistic by the
researcher because he acted and thought in sensible and also practical way. As we
saw at the very beginning of this book the proof that Luther was a realistic person.
Luther was characterized as a father of one single daughter, Blair who was
freshly graduated from collage and decided to be a volunteer for teaching children
in a remote area at eastern Peru. As a father he also felt uneasy with his daughter
leaving but he was not really disturbed with it, if we compared it to his wife, Nora
who was very afraid to let her daughter went. ““I guess we’d better go,” Luther
said to his daughter, his only child” (Grisham, 2001: 3).
This statement was made by Luther the last minute before his daughter’s
plane departed, this statement showed how Luther was very realistic. He could do
nothing other than letting his daughter do what she wanted to do. He thought
practically and at the same time sensitively that it was just waste time if he tried to
dramatize his daughter leaving. It would make the daughter missed the plane and
it would screw her daughter plan. He understood her daughter was mature enough
and it was time for her to do what Blair wanted to do. In fact what Blair did was
really a good job.
When they were moving toward the city, Nora finally spoke. “Will she be okay?” she asked. He had heard that question so often that his response was an automatic grunt.
“Sure.” Whether he did or he didn’t, what did it matter at this point? She was gone; they could not stop her.
(Grisham, 2001: 4)
Again, the above quotation showed that Luther was realistic. While Nora
least, he believed, The Peace Corps, social organization, where Blair went to work
would not put the volunteer in danger. The Peace Corps had sent numbers of
volunteers for many years and he never heard anything bad happened to The
Peace Corps volunteers. He did not think, or at least did not want to think too
much about it. It seemed Luther thought one year was not very long time.
Another scene showed Luther’s realistic characteristic was when he had to
buy foods, which actually was Nora’s request. He did not like to do it, but he also
could not let Nora buy herself in that rainy day. He forced himself to go in an
expensive store where people were jostled at. He was not someone who loved
spending money, and in fact he was the one who worked for his family. “What a
waste, Luther thought to himself. Why do we eat so much and drink so much in
the celebration of the birth of Christ?” (Grisham, 2001: 7). Luther’s statement
again showed that he was a realistic person. Since Christmas Day was a religious
day to commemorate Jesus Christ birthday, Luther finds no connection between
people’s custom to eat so many foods on Christmas day and Jesus Christ’s
teaching.
In another scene, Luther, again, showed his realistic characterization. It
was when two police officers, Treen and Salino, came to his house every year few
days before Christmas day. They came to offer next year calendar, and the income
of the selling would be used for Christmas celebration with crippled children.
Luther with no hesitation rejected to buy the calendar that surprised the
two police officers. The researcher called it as Luther realistic. Here was the
“I have two calendars in my office and two on my desk,” Luther said. “We have one by the phone in the kitchen. My watch tells me precisely what day it is, as does my computer. Haven’t missed a day in years”
“We are raising money for crippled children, Mr. Krank,” Salino said, his voice suddenly soft and scratchy.
We give to crippled children, Officer,” Luther shot back. “Through the United Way and our church and our taxes we give to needy group you can possibly name.” (Grisham, 2001: 61-62)
Luther did it because he thought that there are many other ways he and his
family to donate for crippled children, and he actually did not really believe the
officers. As he was a realistic person, he was not really sure that the donation he
gave would be used properly, as implied from his thought: “Oddly, there was no
price attached to the calendars, at least not to the ones delivered personally by the
likes of Salino and Treen.” (Grisham, 2001: 61). He said very realistically that he
did not need a calendar. He had a phone to see what day was that day, and he
would not miss even one day although he did not have any calendar.
In the other scene, Luther with no hesitation rejected the fruitcakes which
were offered by firemen, Kistler and Kendall as they always do before Christmas
day. Luther listened to Kistler and Kendall who tried to sell the fruitcakes, but
unexpectedly, Luther just said that he would not buy any this year. In fact, last
year he bought five, three of which were given to his partner in the office and the
rest were given by Nora to her hairdressers.
It showed that last year he bought it just to respect the firemen and this
year he did not want to do it, there was different attitude from last years. He
shocked the firemen with strict rejection. His short “no” answer indicated
courteous answer, but it was because he really did not need any fruitcakes.
fruitcakes they bought so it just wasted their money. There was no reason to do
the same false purchasing this Christmas.
“No,” Luther finally said. I’ll pass this year” “Say what?”
“I don’t want any fruitcakes this year.” “Is five too many?”Kistler asked.
“One is too many,” Luther replied, then slowly folded his arms across his chest.
“None?” Kendall asked in disbelief. “Zero,” Luther said.
(Grisham, 2001: 77)
Luther got the same gaze like what he got when he just had to reject to buy
calendar and fruitcakes from police officers and firemen. It happened again when
Luther rejected to buy Christmas tree in order to keep his plan to skip Christmas
remained on the track. Luther and Nora planned to do not celebrate Christmas and
it meant that the Krank did not need any Christmas tree. Luther was shown as a
realistic person. He thought and acted practically by rejecting to buy what he and
his wife did not need. Although people saw him and his wife as weird couple, he
kept with his plan and reminded himself that:
More encounters were coming, no doubt, and that was one of the very reasons Luther disliked Christmas. Everybody selling something, raising money, looking for a tip, a bonus, something, something, something. He grew indignant again and felt fine (Grisham, 2001: 29).
In another scene, Luther was being questioned by his boss but rather
suitable to be called as his partner, Stanley Wiley about his Skipping Christmas
plan. The rumor of Luther and Nora’s plan to skip Christmas was spread
everywhere and in one occasion Stanley asked Luther what the reason was, he
explained it briefly and gave a question back to Stanley “It does come every year,
(Grisham, 2001: 80). In this scene Luther stated something logical and realistic
but at the same time he also showed his nonchalant reaction about Christmas,
because it was clearly described that he did not like the ritual and the whole messy
things he had to deal with in every Christmas season.
b. Thrifty
One of the reasons why Luther planned to skip Christmas was because he
was a thrifty person. As an economist, specifically as an accountant, he was aware
and careful in spending his money. It was reasonable that he was an economical
person. He noticed how ‘crazy’ he and his family spent money for the previous
Christmas Day. For every single little things that they bought to celebrate the birth
of Christ, that was quite in glamorous way.
It was not because he did not believe on his religion or about Christmas as
the commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ, but in his opinion it, was not wise
to spend money for something which was not really important and would be
forgotten only in days or week after Christmas. He was very detail in thinking
about financial stuff and he even took note about their expenses, in very detail and
well-managed long list as quoted bellow:
$6,100 for an overcoat, gloves and boots, and a Walkman for her jogging, and, of course the latest, slimmest cell phone on market-- $6,100 on lesser gifts for a select handful of distant relatives, most on Nora’s side -- $6,100 on Christmas cards from a stationer three doors down from Chip’s, in the District, where all prices were double; $6,100for the party, an annual Christmas Eve bash at the Krank home (Grisham, 2001: 13-14).
With this long list we could have clear description about what the Kranks
family did and spent for the previous Christmas celebration. With this very detail
list we found that Luther was a thrifty person who was just very careless last year
and he did not want to use money unwisely again this year. That was the reason
why he wanted to skip Christmas. It indicated that he aware that they was over
consumptive and he was disturbed by it. So for only this year, he wanted to save
his money, skip the whole mess situation during Christmas season and used his
money for more exciting activities for him and his wife, like having a Caribbean
Cruise just for both of them.
This characteristic was also found in several other scenes, like when
Luther grumbled in his head when he might buy Nora’s list of food in a notorious
expensive store and still very crowded especially during Christmas season.
“Chip’s, a place he despised not only for its outrageous prices and snooty staff but
also for its impossible location” (Grisham, 2001: 5). Even he automatically
thought about phone call bill when Blair who just reached her plane, gave a call to
Nora. “Exactly how much does it cost to phone home from thirty thousand feet?
Luther wondered” (Grisham, 2001: 9). It was shown his thrifty characteristic
because he could think about the telephone cost while her daughter would go far
