B. The Bad Treatments Experienced by Percy
In this section, the writer analyzes the reaction of the society through Percy Jackson as a dyslexic. There are three parts of social circumstances that
are analyzed because Percy becomes the part of them, they are; school, family and camp. The writer tries to reveal the bad treatment that happen to Percy in
these three different social conditions.
1. At the school
In the school, Percy gets a bad treatment from his friends and his teachers because he has been dropped out from many schools every year for
six years. Until one day, Percy wants to enter a new school, he has to struggle to be accepted in that school. It can be seen throu
gh this quotation, “She’d send me right back to Yancy, remind me that I had to try harder, even if this
was my sixth school in six years and I was probably going to be kicked out again” Riordan, 2005: 9.
Based on the quotation above, that is how the educational institution society reacts towards Percy. In the novel, Percy has been moved to many
schools for six times. It means that Percy’s old school could not accept him because the teachers and his friends judged Percy as a troublemaker and not a
clever person. Percy is also known as a student who cannot be controlled. Therefore, Percy must move to another school. Based on the situation, it
shows that school can only accept the students who do not act like Percy. From that explanation above, Percy suffers bad treatment at the school.
After Percy moves to another school, he still cannot enjoy in his new school. Percy always gets bullied in his new school.
Anyway, Nancy Bobofit was throwing wads of sandwich that stuck in his curly brown hair, and she knew I couldnt do anything back to her
because I was already on probation. The headmaster had threatened me with death by in-school suspension if anything bad, embarrassing,
or even mildly entertaining happened on this trip Riordan, 2005: 3
Based on the quotation above, the treatment that Percy gets from his new school is also a form of social bad treatment
. In the story, Percy’s teacher and Nancy Bobofit as a headmaster try to provoke his anger. Nancy knows
that Percy is on probation. It means that if Percy makes a mistake then he will get a punishment by the school. Otherwise, Nancy still does not care for what
will happen to Percy if he becomes uncontrolled again. Nancy Bobofit’s
action shows that, as a teacher, she does not try to teach the good thing to Percy and does not want to care and protect Percy as her student. She acts
unfairly towards Percy. Even she tries to mislead Percy so that he gets into trouble.
Not only his teachers who treat Percy unfairly, his friends also like to bully him. The bullying
from Percy’s friends is a kind of bad treatment. It could be seen through this quotation,
I was about to unwrap my sandwich when Nancy Bobofit [headmaster and teacher] appeared in front of me with her ugly friends I guess
shed gotten tired of stealing from the tourists-and dumped her half- eaten lunch in Grovers lap. Oops. She grinned at me with her
crooked teeth Riordan, 2005: 9.
Based on the quotation above, Nancy tries to provoke Percy. From Nancy
’s reaction, she is very happy when she tries to provoke Percy’s anger. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
From this part, this is seen as a form social bad treatment . Nancy as Percy’s
teacher does not feel sympathy or care to help Percy avoid the punishment from school.
Percy is also ignored by his friends. No one wants to be friends with Percy at school. It can be seen through this quotation,
They asked me what Id be doing this summer and I told them I was going back to the city . . . Oh, one of the guys said. Thats cool. . .
.
They went back to their conversation as if Id never existed.
Riordan, 2005: 22-23.
Based on the quotation above, this was the reaction of society through Percy. Percy’s friends do not ask more to Percy about his vacation. They only
answer, “Oh” because they think the story of Percy’s vacation is not attractive for them. Then, the reaction of Percy’s friends is that they leave Percy alone.
In his new school, there is only one teacher who seems close to Percy. We would only make matters worse by rushing him, Mr. Brunner said
Riordan, 2005: 19. From that quotation, it means that Percy always gets pressure from his new school and his old school. However, Mr. Brunner,
Percy’s teacher, wants his friends to give a freedom and fair treatment towards Percy.
Mr. Brunner is Percy’s favorite teacher. Afterward, Mr. Brunner gives a suggestion to Percy to be a better student. Mr. Brunner seems to be the only
teacher who gives trust and motivates Percy to study more in school. It can be seen through this quotation,
Here was my favorite teacher, in front of the class, telling me I couldnt handle it. After saying he believed in me all year, now he was
telling me I was destined to get kicked out Riordan, 2005: 22. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
Based on the quotation above, Mr. Brunner gives an explanation and motivation that Percy must move to another school because of the problem
that he has caused. At first, Mr. Brunner seems to motivate Percy. However, at the end of his sentence, Mr. Brunner seems precisely degrading Percy,
Oh, confound it all. What I’m trying to say ... you’re not normal, Percy” Riordan,
2005: 22. Based on the quotation, it shows that Mr. Brunner actually assume that Percy is unlike other students in his school and discriminate Percy by
saying that Percy cannot handle his study in the school. This is a form of the social bad treatment
. Percy’s teacher knows that Percy could not study in his school now and he with other teachers always compare Percy with his other
“normal” friends.
2. Family
In Percy’s family, Percy also gets bad treatment from Gabe, Percy’s step-father.
Hardly looking up, he said around his cigar, So, youre home. Wheres my mom?
Working, he said. You got any cash? That was it. No Welcome back. Good to see you. How has your life
been the last six months? Riordan, 2005: 31.
The quotation above shows the bad treatment of Percy’s step-father.
Gabe does not treat Percy not like his own child. Gabe treats Percy like a stranger. Then, Gabe also does not care
about Percy’s life at school. Gabe’s ignorance towards his child’s development is a form of bad treatment. Percy
does not get a proper and fair treatment from his father. It means that if every father or step-father does not like his son or daughter until ignore them, then
it can be a bad impact on the development of the children. Moreover, Gabe always asks money from Percy. He considers Percy like a bank for him. If
Percy does not give Gabe money, he will threaten Percy. Whenever I was home, he expected me to provide his gambling funds.
He called that our guy secret. Meaning, if I told my mom, he would punch my lights out Riordan, 2005: 31.
Based on the quotation above, Gabe’s threat towards his step-son is a part of bad treatment that Percy experienced. It is not a common and
acceptable manner that parents do towards their own child. The bad
treatments that Percy has experienced are Percy must obey the orders from his step-father and has to always provide his step-father the money to play
poker every day. If Percy does not obey the orders, his step-father will beat him.
Then, one day, Gabe’s friends came to Percy’s house and saw Gabe’s treatments towards his child. The rea
ction from Gabe’s friend was they only gave an advice to Gabe not to do such thing. It can be seen through Eddie,
one of Gabe’s friend’s speeches, “Eddie the super of the apartment building, looked at me with a twinge of
sympathy.” Come on, Gabe, he said. The kid just got here. Riordan, 2005: 32,
Based on the quotation above, even Gabe’s friends put sympathy on Percy. Eddie seems cannot bear to see Percy always gets scolded by Gabe, his
step- father. From Eddie’s reaction, the writer can conclude what Gabe does
towards his son is actually unaccepted based on social norm. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
Kategori