Weak Personality Boundary The Characteristics of Kemal Basmaci
Relationship
2005: 41. The following quotation is Kemal’ s fantasy.
That night my mind was fixed on one fantasy: the film premiere, and Fusun holding the microphone, speaking to the admiring audience at the
Palace Cinema
—
or was the New Angle Cinema a better choice?
—
thanking me first and foremost. When I came on stage, those attuned to the latest gossip would whisper that during the filming the young star had
fallen in love with the producer and left her husband. The photograph of Fusun kissing me on the cheek would appear in all the newspapers. p.
253
The above quotation shows that Kemal fantasizes about a film premiere where he acts as the producer and Fusun being the actress. At this time, their
relationship is ruined because Fusun is already married. However, that circumstance does not stop Kemal from fantasizing about their love story. In his
fantasy, he imagines the public gossiping about a love affair emerged between
Kemal and Fusun during filming. Using Susan Peabody’ s theory, it is likely that Kemal’ s fantasy about being reunited with Fusun is just his way to entertain
himself that there is a possibility Fusun might leave her husband if he helps her to become an actress.
In her book, Susan Peabody stated that obsessors try to create excitement by continuing to fantasize about their object of obsession. Even after the
relationship ends, they still fantasize a lot about being reunited. As I sat there pressed against Fusun, I would imagine the day we married,
I would gaze at the moon and lose myself in dreams, for I felt as if I
—
we
—
had become like our ancestors in heaven, souls cleansed of guilt and sin, and I would abandon myself to my dreams, my delights, and the bliss
of sitting next to Fusun.” p. 339
In the above quotation, Kemal heads out for a night stroll with Fusun and her husband. When sitting next to Fusun, their skin brushes against each other.
Although Fusun acts as ordinary, Kemal starts to fantasize about a reunion as he PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
is very happy to brush against her skin, which reminds him of the past when they
are lovers. Peabody stated that obsessors’ fantasy is often filled with romance and
drama that can be very far from the truth 2005: 43. In the quotation, Kemal creates a fantasy about getting married to Fusun, which can not be farer from the
truth as Fusun is happily married with her husband. As explained by Susan Peabody, obsessors are thrilled with romance,
especially the “high” and euphoric part
of feeling in love. It is common for them to want an interesting romance pictured in romantic movies or novels. It is as if
obsessors need a relationship packed with drama to satisfy their hunger for excitement that might give them adrenaline rush. Below is a quotation shows
Kemal’ s tendency to dramatize things.
Being secure in the knowledge that I would never see her again, I could smile at Fusun and say one last indifferent good-bye. As I walked
through the door, Fusun would understand that this was to be her last glimpse of me, and perhaps she would panic, but I would elude her in a
deep silence, as she had done to me for the past year. I would not even say that we would never see each other again, but I would wish her well
in such a way that she could not conclude otherwise. p. 248
The quotation depicts an occurrence that happens after Kemal finally relocates Fusun, approximately ten months after she disappears following the
engagement party. However, upon going to her new house for the first time, Kemal discovers that Fusun is already married. To restore his dignity, Kemal
plans to end his obsession and bid farewell to Fusun. The above quotation is
Kemal’ s fantasy about how he will say goodbye to Fusun. In his imagination,
Kemal plans to say it dramatically. Instead of saying it with heavy heart as expected, Kemal plans to smile mysteriously and say goodbye as if it means
nothing. He imagines that Fusun will get panicked as she senses Kemal’ s secret
intention to leave her forever. However, he will keep Fusun guessing so that she will be heart-broken by his silent treatment. The quotation shows that Kemal is
indeed an obsessor looking for a drama. Thus, he creates one in his mind because in reality he does not have the strength to leave Fusun.
Obsessor
s’ tendency to create drama out of trivial thing can actually do
harm to themselves. It is because they place themselves in the danger of being
hurt by the slightest thing. Below is an example of how Kemal’ s longing for a
drama leaves him with heartache. If no one was paying attention to us as we ate supper, and having given
ourselves over to television, we had been moved to tears by the spectacle of lovers in some sentimental series saying their last farewells, a chance
meeting of our eyes would bring me great joy, and I would have gladly acknowledged having gone there that evening just to look into her eyes.
But Fusun would pretend not to notice the happiness of that moment; she would avert her gaze, and this would break my heart. p. 347
The above quota
tion describes how Kemal’ s sense of drama is not met by
Fusun. One night they have supper while watching romantic television series.
When in the movie the lovers say their last goodbye, Kemal tries to catch Fusun’ s
eyes, which is met with Fusun turning her head away. Kemal wants to share a
glance with Fusun in the hope of evoking Fusun’ s sentimental feeling. He wants
Fusun to remember the happy time they share when they were lovers, albeit in secret. However, when Kemal notices that Fusun does not have the same
excitement, even manage to act as if nothing happens, Kemal feels deeply hurt. Aside from dramatizing ordinary events, obsessors also like to interpret
the gestures of their object of obsession. They will usually employ their object’ s
gestures to make an assumption or prediction about what is going to happen in the future. The interpretation is surely not based on fact, but simply their personal
conjecture. Below is an example of Kemal’ s dramatic interpretation toward Fusun’ s gesture.
Now Fusun will come to sit at your side, said an optimistic voice inside me. And if she came, it would be a sign that one day she would give up
on this misalliance, divorce her husband, and be mine. p. 240
The above occurrence happens when Kemal pays his usual visit to
Fusun’ s family house. Peabody stated that aside from dramatizing ordinary thing, obsessors create drama by reading their object of obsession’ s action and making
interpretation out of it 2005: 41. As shown in the quotation, Kemal tries to create drama b
y interpreting Fusun’ s act. He tells himself that their future will be decided by Fusun’ s choice of chair in the dining room. He believes that if Fusun
chooses to sit beside him, it is a good omen for their future. It proves that Kemal needs an excitement, although it means that he deludes himself in the process.
Excitement is one thing obsessors crave on daily basis. It is rooted from their constant need to feel thrilled and stimulated. Below quotations are proofs
that Kemal likes to create excitement related to Fusun. And I was so convinced I would read these horoscopes very carefully, but
having no systematic belief in the stars, I did not spend hours playing with them. My need was urgent. I made my own system of signification: I
would say to myself, “I
f the next person who walks through that door is a female, then I shall be reunited with Fusun, and if it is a man, all will be
lost. p. 181
If the first red car moving down the avenue has come from the left, I am going to have news from Fusun, and if from the right, my wait will
continue. p.181
If I am the first person to jump off the ferry when it lands, I’ ll see Fusun