Background of the Study

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CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION

This chapter consists of some parts of introduction of the thesis. Those are Background of the Study, Research Problems, Objectives of the Study, Benefits of the Study, and Definition of Terms. In the background, the writer describes the reason of selecting the topic and presents reasons why this study is worth studying. The writer formulates two research questions in the research problems. In the objectives of the study, the writer describes the objectives of the study, which are related to the research problems. The benefits of the study are presented in the next part. Here, the writer identifies the benefits of this study for the English Education students who read this study and English Education Study Program. In the last part, definition of terms, the writer clarifies some terms that are used in this study to avoid misunderstanding.

A. Background of the Study

There are many literary works written by many people. Those are short stories, novels, poems, plays, and so on. Many people enjoy reading those literary works because it is believed that reading literary works may influence their point of view of life. Hudson states, Literature is a vital record of what men have seen in life, what they have experienced of it, what they have thought and felt about those aspects of it which have the most immediate and enduring interest for all of us. It is thus fundamentally an expression of life through the medium of language 10. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 2 Abrams says that novel is a literary work that reflects the reality of human life 180. Thus, the readers could be influenced by the story when they have understood what the story is about. This study tries to know and study the importance of childhood abuse to life because it becomes an interesting issue nowadays. We can see that there are many cases related to child abuse. It is reported that on an average of every 10 seconds and three children die every day as a result of such abuse http:www.childabuse.orgabout20child20abuse.html. That amount is amazing because those children get abused from people who are close to them like parents, neighbor, and baby sitter. Furthermore, Unicef states, All children have the right to legal registration at birth, health care, good nutrition, education, and protection from harm, abuse and discrimination. It is the duty of parents and governments to ensure that these rights are respected, protected and fulfilled http:www.unicef.orgffl03. It is clear that children’s rights are protected, but we can still see many cases related to child abuse. Children who are abused will have effects of it. Hopper states that “All human beings suffer painful experiences, and some of these occur in childhood” http:www.jimhopper.comabstats. In their childhood, children should get happy experiences and affection from many people. Nevertheless, children will get into situations that frightened them; and fear hurts Jersild 27. Furthermore, children’s experiences are powerful influences as long as they live Jersild 177. The novel explored in this study talks about the influence of childhood abuse on one’s life. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 3 Ugly is a true story by Constance Briscoe. Briscoe is the first black female judge in the United Kingdom. Her story becomes an inspiration for many people. Some comments come to this novel. Daily Mail says that this novel is utterly extraordinary harrowing, often deeply disturbing, and ultimately inspiring. Lesley Pearse says, “….Constance’s story will inspire young people everywhere to not only hold on to their dreams and make them happen, but also to be better parents themselves” Briscoe. Those statements show how good this novel is. Briscoe has bad experiences in her childhood. In the novel, Briscoe is called as Clare. She is abused by her own mother, Carmen. She struggles to survive in her life without getting affection from her mother and family. Clare is always beaten by her mother when she wets the bed and even makes a little mistake. When Clare is growing up, she looks after herself by working at a shop and Social Services because her mother leaves her at home which there is no electricity and gas. Her mother also asks Clare to pay rent of the house. Clare has a hard life. On the other hand, she has a big dream in her future. She wants to be a barrister. Even though her life is so hard, she completes the requirements to enter the university. Finally, she can go to Newcastle University to be a barrister. A mother should not treat her child by abusing, but a mother should give a sincere expression of her affection towards the child Joseph and Bird 79. The writer thinks that Ugly is good to analyze because it shows the influence of childhood abuse on Clare’s achievement as the first black female judge in the United Kingdom. Thus, this study focuses on it. 4

B. Research Problems