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Wilhelm never thinks more deeply that he has trusted his last saving to a person that he does not know well. He is too fast to believe Dr. Tamki
n’s prediction that he will be rich through investing his last saving. As usual, he tries to comfort himself by
blaming Dr. Tamkin as a man who should take the responsibility of his failure.
4.2.2.2 The Defense Against Punishment
Birney 220 states that a failed person avoids the punishment. If there is no issue about evaluating the underlying skill, the most direct way of avoiding the
punishment is through increasing the chances of attainment through practice and effort. This characteristic can be seen in Wilhelm. In the novel, Wilhelm is
characterized as a stubborn man who keeps on trying to realize a thing he wants to achieve.
Early in the nineteen thirties, because of his striking looks, Wilhelm had been very briefly considered star material, and he had gone to Hollywood. There
for seven years, stubbornly, he had tried to become a screen artist. Long before that time his ambition or delusion had ended, but through pride and
perhaps also through laziness he had remained in California. Bellow 11.
He believes that there is a big chance for him to make career as an actor. Therefore, he moves to California to realize his dream. He never thinks that he has
no talent in acting. Even though he fails in the acting test, he does not want to come back to his college. Wilhelm is afraid that people will see him as a failed person
because he has left his college and family to realize his dream of becoming an actor in California. It takes seven years for Wilhelm to keep on trying of becoming an
actor in California. For seven years, stubbornly, he joins casting tests, but he never gets a role as a main actor in the films. He only becomes a figurant.
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4.2.2.3 The Defense Against a Loss in a Social Value
Birney 222 states that a fearful person cannot afford to point out his nonattainment because of the ever-present possibility of social-value loss. In the
novel, Wilhelm is characterized as a dishonest person who often lies to cover his weaknesses. This character can be seen from his speech about his former job at
Rojax Corporation. He tells people that he works at Rojax Corporation for almost ten years and has a good career there. He has a satisfying income and also he keeps a
small apartment. Concerning about the reason why he leaves Rojax, Wilhelm tells that he leaves Rojax because he does not want to share his position with the son-in-
law of the owner of Rojax Corporation. He says that he leaves Rojax bases on his own will.
―I was with Rojax Corporation for almost ten years,‖ he said. ―We parted ways because they wanted me to share my territory. They took a son-in-law
into the business —a new fellow. It was his idea‖ He continued, ―But the
rationalization was that it was too big a territory for one man. I had a monopoly. That wasn’t so. The real reason was that they had gotten to te
place where they would have to make me an officer of the corporation. Vice presidency. I was in line for it, but instead this son-in-law got it, and
— ―Bellow 40-41.
Wilhelm never tells that actually he is kicked out from Rojax because he has an
affair with his workmate. He is too ashamed to tell this due to the fact that he still has a wife named Margaret. Wilhelm is afraid that people will look down on him.
He wants to be valued by others. It can be concluded that Wilhelm tries to keep his self-esteem. Maslow qtd in Landy 370 states that esteem need presents human
desire to be respected and valued by others. Someone cannot achieve the higher needs if the lower needs have not been fulfilled. Such case is found on Wilhelms
search for his esteem needs. He cannot achieve his esteem needs because he has not
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fulfilled his love needs. He has lost the love from his family. As a result, Wilhelm always lies to get respect and acceptance from other people.
In conclusion, what we can get from the discussion above is a lesson which teaches us about the importance of being grateful in living our life. We do not have
to wait until we are reach or famous to be happy. Being grateful of what we have in present life can make us happy. In summary, Wilhelm does wrong ways to bring
happiness in his life. As a result, he finds himself of being a failed person, instead of being a happy person.
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CHAPTER 5 CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS
This chapter consists of two main parts. The first part is conclusion of the analysis. The second parts are the suggestions for further researchers and the use of
literary works in English teaching learning. The suggestions provide the implementation of literary work in teaching vocabulary.
5.1 Conclusions
There are two points that can be concluded from the analysis. The first is how Tommy Wilhelm is described in the novel and the second is the description of
Tommy Wilhelm ’s failures in his careers. Based on the analysis, it can be said that
Wilhelm is the main character in the story. Wilhelm appears from the beginning until the end of the story. He becomes the focus of the story.
Wilhelm is described as an attractive, stubborn, dishonest, lonely and cowardly man. Those characteristics can be seen from Wilhelm
’s speech, thought, reaction toward his problems, direct comment, opinions of others and conversations
of others. Wilhelm is a handsome man. People tell him that he is as handsome as his father, Dr. Adler. Wilhelm
’s good appearance attracts Maurice Venice, a person who works as a talent seeker for Kaskaskia films. Someday, Wilhelm
’s picture in the college paper is seen by Maurice. He writes Wilhelm a letter. The letter from
Maurice is an offer for Wilhelm to join casting. Maurice thinks that Wilhelm is good looking and there is a big chance for Wilhelm to be an actor.
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