Approach of the Study

she undergoes changes in the way she thinks from the beginning of the story until the end. According to Murphy, a character can be understood from nine methods which are personal description, character as seen by another, speech, conversation of other characters, past life, reactions toward various events or situations, direct comment, thoughts and mannerism 1972: 162-173. Some of those methods are used to observe the description of the main character which are the personal description, character seen by another, speech, conversation of other characters, reactions toward various events or situations, and thoughts. In the novel, Josephine Alibrandi is clearly described by the author as a seventeen-year-old girl of Italian descent who lives and grows up in Glebe, a suburb outside the city center of Sydney, Australia. The first description of Josephine Alibrandi as the main character in the novel is as a person who believes that her life is full of problems. It can be seen from Josephine’s thought. Personally, I feel that the HSC is the least of my problems. Believe me, I could write a book about problems 2006: 6. The first problem that she complains about is HSC the High School Certificate which is recognized qualification for students who successfully complete senior high school level studies. Since Josephine is in the final year of high school at St. Martha’s, she must pass HSC in order to secure her future as she plans to study law after graduates from high school. It can be seen from her thought. For the last five years we have been geared for this year. The year of HSC, where one’s whole future can skyrocket or go down the toilet, or so they tell us 2006: 6. Unfortunately, HSC is not the only problem that Josephine complains. Josephine thinks that she has many problems than her other friends and one of them is John Barton whom she believes does not have anything to worry about since John comes from wealthy family whom are of Anglo Saxons Australian. Moreover, John’s family is a well-known family in Australia since they are involved in politics. Josephine and John have close relationship since early years of high school as they are used to see each other through debating events. Since their early meeting, Josephine has a huge admiration toward John and it can be seen from Josephine’s thought. Have I ever told you about John “love of my life” Barton? School captain of St.Anthony’s. Son of a Member of Parliament. Greatest debater who ever lived. Good-looking. Popular 2006: 49. At the beginning, it is apparent that Josephine is attracted to John Barton but then Josephine meets Jacob Coote. As Jacob Coote comes into Josephine’s life, Josephine’s feeling towards John alters. When Josephine and Jacob first meet, she does not like him but then they start to like each other. Jacob Coote is a school captain of Cook High, a public school in the city area. Jacob is a boy with a working class background that is much the same with Josephine’s background. Jacob also states it to Josephine and it can be seen from the following quotation. “We’re the same, you know. You’re middle class and I’m middle class, except you’re a middle class snob who goes to an upper-class school” 2006: 74.