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CHAPTER IV
ANALYSIS AND FINDING
4.1 Multiple Personality Pictured in the Novel The Minds of Billy Milligan
4.1.1 Characteristics of Multiple Personality Disorders
Multiple personality disorder or dissociative identity disorder has some characteristics which shown on leading character, and the characteristics are; 1 The
person has at least two or more distinct personalities, 2 Each personality has its own name, gender, history, behavior and social relationship, and 3 The person experience
a form of amnesia or gaps of time.
4.1.2 Leading Character Has Two or More Distinct Personalities
David H. Barlow and V. Mark Durand in Abnormal Psychology; An Integrative Approach, Seventh Edition
2012: 200 said people with dissociative identity disorder DID adopts as many as 100 new identities, and the average
number is closer to 15. Billy as the leading character shows the characteristic of multiple personality
disorder, which is he has two or more distinct personalities. The story begins when 22 year-old Billy is arrested and charged with rape and robbery case in October,
1977. The defenders who are handle the case, feel the difference of the attitude and behavior on the client. First, they just assume that it is only a normal changing
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attitude that commonly happens in other people. However, Billy’s behavior changeable with a very accentuate difference.
Garry saw Milligan’s smile, the excitement in his eyes he had no seen before. He was relaxed, easygoing, trading jokes in an
almost light-hearted way. A very different person from that bundle of nerves he’d met the first day. It might be a lot easier to
defend him than he’d thought. Keyes, 1981: 20
From the quotation above, shows that Billy has two distinct personalities. He shown different attitude and behavior away from the first time the defenders saw
him. A similar case is also recognized by Dorothy Turner, a psychologist from Southwest Community Mental Health Center who interviews Billy in January, 1978.
Turner sees something different on Billy. When Billy, whom has height of 180 cm, thick mustache, and long beard, come along with Sergeant Willis into the interview
room, but Billy’s eyes show like a frightened child. Turner asks something about social security number, but Billy answers that he doesn’t know anything about it. He
says that it is not his social number, but it is Billy’s social number. There, he shows that he has two distinct personalities, he doesn’t admit something which is not his,
but someone else, where actually he lives in one body with the host personality. “Well, aren’t you Billy?”
“No,” he said. “Not me.” She frowned. “Wait a minute. If you’re not Billy, who are you?”
“I’m David.” “Well, where’s Billy?”
“Billy’s asleep.” “Asleep where?”
He pointed to his chest. “In here. He’s asleep.” Keyes, 1981: 24-25
Billy looks like instead of himself. Speak fluently like a professional figure and manipulative. David is Billy another personality, who is the first revealed the
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existence of the people that lived in Billy Milligan. David knows, he should not say that he is not Billy. David must keep a secret that actually there are other
personalities live in Billy. On the other times also shown significantly the differences in Billy is, at the
time he was in the cell. Billy as Christine was drawing, but a guard mocked him, because of his drawing was like made by kindergarten children. For no reason, the
guard threw a glass of water to Christine’s drawing. The guard was surprised by the change in behavior that is far different from Billy that he just mocked earlier.
But the guard who had thrown the water drew away from the bars when he saw the expression on Milligan’s face. The rage
was unmistakable. He seemed to be looking around for something to throw. Suddenly, the prisoner grabbed the toilet
bowl, ripped it out of the wall and threw it against the bars, shattering the porcelain. The guard stumbled back and ran to hit
the alarm button. “Jesus, Milligan” Hill said.
“He threw vater on Christine’s drawing. Is not right to destroy the vork of children.”
Keyes: 1981: 56
The change is very spontaneous, with anger and mentioning other name which is not his self is the characteristic of multiple personality. They have their own way
to survive, despite living in the same body. Other personalities have begun to manifest themselves. Now there are other
names that appear besides David, that’s Arthur. He is most often set up the situation, and knows a lot of things. Arthur also who gives the name ‘the spot for those who
are on the outside world, or the holder of consciousness. In turn, or take over the spot, it called switching.
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“What’s ‘the spot’, David?” “That’s what Arthur calls it. He explained to us how it works
when one of the people has to come out. It’s a big white spotlight. Everybody stands around it, watching or sleeping in
their beds. And whoever steps on the spot is out in the world. Arthur says, ‘Whoever is on the spot holds the consciousness.’”
Keyes, 1981: 26
Barlow and Durand in Abnormal Psychology: An Integrative Approach, Seventh Edition
2012: 201 explains that the transformation from one personality to another is called a switch. Usually, the switch is instantaneous. Physical
transformations may occur during switches. Posture, facial expressions, patterns of facial wrinkling, and even physical disabilities may emerge.
Billy’s other personality Arthur, tells Ragen that there is another woman, besides Christine who lives in Billy. Ragen and Christine are also the other
personalities of Billy. Arthur introduces Adalana, and also tells Ragen that she who stole the time at the time Ragen robbed last October. The conversation goes in with
rapid-fire switching, sometimes aloud, sometimes in the mind as speech without sound. Here’s the quotation below, shows the conversation:
“Adalana, I want you to meet Ragen. Since Ragen is our protector, he has a right to know what happened. You will have
to explain yourself and justify you actions to him.” A soft, delicate voice echoed in his mind, as if from the darkness
beyond. It was like a hallucination or a dream voice. “Ragen, I’m sorry for the trouble—“
“Sorry” Ragen snarled, pacing. “You filty slut. Vy for you go around raping vomans? Do you realize vat you put us all
trhough?” Keyes, 1981: 76-77
The characteristic of has at least two distinct personalities, is they often speak for themselves. Whether an openly situation or by heart to heart. Kluft 1987:175
explain that often there, alters had talked inwardly to other personalities, but had not
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asserted behavioral dominance. The conversation can be seen clearly from the quotation above that the personalities talked each other, even arguing. Talking to our
self is unusual thing in a normal person. Usually, things like these considered as a crazy person. However, this symptom has been a characteristic of multiple
personality. At the hospital Arthur is in charge. He allows Billy the core personality take
the spot more frequently, especially for his treatment. He lets Billy speak to Dr. George about him, and other personalities. Billy finally found out about the others.
Arthur explains to him, who he is, and why all this time Billy doesn’t know his existences.
Kluft 1987: 40 explains that an alter personality will be aware of the original or “host” personality. However, the “host” personality usually claims to be unaware
of the existence of other personalities. In addition, information acquired while the other personalities had executive control of the body may not be accessible to the
“host” personality. Billy Milligan has at least two distinct or more personalities as the
characteristic of multiple personality disorder or dissociative identity disorder which Billy, as the host personality who at first did not know the existences of other
personality figures, must accept the consequences of the crime that he actually never did. Multiple personality disorder tends to be more on changing behavior, and
attitudes, than normal person. Multiple personality disorder has at least two or more personalities, is a complicated situation which happens to Billy during his lifetime.
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4.1.3 Leading Character’s Personalities: Own Name, Gender, History, Behavior and Social Relationship
As has been explained previously in chapter two that, one of the characteristic of multiple personality disorder is each personality has its own name, gender, history,
behavior and social relationship which shows on Billy as the leading character. Richard P. Halgin and Susan Krauss Whitbourne in Abnormal Psychology;
Clinical Perspectives on Psychology Disorders 2009: 193-194 said that the
characteristics of multiple personality disorder, on each personality has its own pattern of perceiving, thinking, and relating, as well as its own style of behavior,
personal history, and self-image. Billy the host personality, was born in Miami, United States. He dropouts from
high school, has blue eyes and brown hair. His height is 180cm, and 86kg weight. Billy has one older brother and one younger sister. Since he was a child, his character
was such a boy who filled with the spirit of exploring, finding out a lot of things, and has a high enthusiasm of something.
Jimbo never forgot that although he was a year and four months older than his brother, it was Billy who, at the age of seven,
instigated running away from home that summer. They would pack some food, Billy told him, and take a knife and some
clothes, and they would go off and have adventures. They would come back rich and famous.
Keyes, 1981: 152
His courage has seen when he was a boy. However, when he becomes adult his character shown depressed, because of he unable to remember the events that
happened to him, and it’s all because of the other personality who alternately “use” Billy’s body, where Billy himself did not know that he has another personality.
Here’s the quotation that shows Billy feeling depressed:
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His gaze seemed to turn inward. His lips twitched as if he were talking in his sleep.
Suddenly his eyes opened wide. “Oh my God” he cried. “I thought I was dead”
He jerked around in his seat. Seeing people looking at him, he jumped out of the chair onto the floor on all fours and scuttled
crablike to opposite wall, as far from them as he could get, squeezing between the writing arm rests of two chairs, cowering
and sobbing. “What’d I do now?”
Keyes, 1981: 54
From the expression, attitudes, behaviors, and the words that come out from Billy, shows that he is depressed, timid, and very careful. He had left ‘the spot’ for a
long time. Kluft 1987: 32 said that decompensated multiple personality disorder patients may lose access to their skills or training, become unable to use talents and
intelligence, and experience frightening episodes of time loss; that is, amnesia. The patients’ loss of health, opportunities, and access to their natural ability to learn and
profit from education, seriously compromise their abilities to live, love, and work. Arthur as Billy’s another personality is a figure of helper personality. He is the
first figure who by reason aware of any other personality figures. He also who creates the rules of what and who is controlling the situation when one of them is on
‘the spot’. Arthur is a smart, intelligent, rational, emotionless man, and he reads a lot. He comes from London, England, he has British accent and wears glasses.
Arthur knew very well there were others around, because as he checked the dates on the calendar, he knew something was
wrong. According to everything he read and observed, other people didn’t sleep as long as he seemed to be sleeping.
Keyes, 1981: 170
Arthur realized that because of his knowledge, he had become responsible for a large, diverse family. They were all involved
with the same body, and something had to be done to create order out of what was proving to be a chaotic situation. Since he
was the only one capable of handling the task unemotionally, he
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would put his mind to it and come up with something that would be fair, workable and – above all – logical.
Keyes, 1981: 171-172
Nolen in her book Abnormal Psychology: Forth edition 2007 said that there are some types of dissociative symptoms, and the third type is the protector, or helper
personality. The function of this personality is to offer advise to other personalities or to perform functions the host personality is unable to perform, such as engaging in
sexual relations or hiding from abusive parents. Helpers sometimes control the switching from on personality to another or act as passive observes who can report
on the thoughts and intentions of all the personalities. There are so many differences between Arthur and Billy. The differences can
be seen from their ability, skill, and behavior between them. Not only that, even the way of speaking, accent, and their background of life is also different.
During Milligan lives in prison, but of course it’s not the real Billy, Ragen figure who dominated situation, the consciousness in dangerous places. His
disposition is the strongest of all the people who lives in Billy. That’s why he controls the situation at the time in prison. This is overly different with Arthur’s
characteristic. Where Arthur is who has perceptivity and such a clever person to see the situation.
“Let me put it this way. In different circumstances, spot is ruled by me or Arthur, depending on situation. In prison I control spot
– decide who goes on, who stays off—because is dangerous place. As protector, I have full power and command. In situation
where is no danger and where intelligence and logic are more important, then Arthur dominates spot.”
Keyes, 1981: 41
Ragen is a figure of protector, it is he who keep all the family members from harm or danger. He is the strongest man who lives in Billy. He is Yugoslavian, he
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speaks English with a noticeable Slavic accent, and reads, writes and speaks Serbo- Croatian. Weighs 95kg, has enormous arms, black hair and long, drooping mustache.
He sketches in black and white because he is color-blind. Ragen knew his last name was Vadascovinich, that his
homeland was Yugoslavia and that his reason for existence was to survive and to use any means to protect the others –
especially the children. He was aware of his great strength and his ability to sense danger as a spider feels the tingling presence
of an intruder on his web. He was able to absorb all the others’ fear and transform it into action. He vowed to train himself,
perfect his body, study the material arts. But that was not enough in this hostile world.
Keyes, 1981: 173-174
Kluft 1987: 71 said that the personalities described by clinicians working with multiple personality disorder patients usually include a number of frequently
encountered types of alternate personalities, which perform specific functions or roles in the individual’s life. These alternates commonly include: child personalities,
who may serve to hold or buffer traumatic experiences; persecutor personalities, who inflict pain and punishment on the individual often through suicide attempts or self-
mutilation; helper personalities, who provide advice or perform functions that the host or central personality is unable to accomplish; and recorder or memory
personalities, who maintain continuous awareness in spite of the amnesias experienced by other personalities. In addition, there may be personalities who
perceive themselves as being of the opposite sex, or having opinions and life-styles that are in dramatic opposition to that of the host or main personality.
Ragen is so much away from Billy characteristic, the core or ‘host’ personality. Billy is a figure who afraid of men. It is because of his past trauma with his
stepfather who really had made bad impression on his mind. For example is abuse.
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Kluft 1987: 51 said that whenever the host personality is unable to express its anger, the alternate personality takes over and may express this affect in an extreme
or inappropriate manner. Billy as The Teacher, remember the chaotic time suffered by Billy. The teacher
is Billy personality that has merged or fused. He is very intelligent, sensitive, and has a sense of humor, he himself Billy completely if the twenty-three other personalities
merge into one. The teacher remembers every single events that happen on the twenty-three other figures, and he knows all the figures very well.
Mark, who had a short attention span for anything but manual labor, would have wandered away. Tommy would have rebelled.
David would have suffered. “Jason,” the pressure valve, would have screamed. “Bobby” would have gotten lost in a fantasy.
“Samuel,” who was Jewish, like Johnny Morrison, would have prayed. Any one of them or the others might have done
something wrong and gotten Billy into a worse mess. Only Christine, who never got older than three, could stand there
patiently and say nothing. Keyes, 1981: 160
Allen and Tommy are the two most similar figures. Tommy is often mistaken for Allen. Nonetheless Allen is a person skilled in speaking, he’s also good at getting
along with others. Whereas Tommy, he is anti-social, do not like to associate with others, especially with those who do not know him. Allen is the most frequently
appear in front of people, because of his shrewdness in communication. Here’s the quotation which shows Allen’s expertise in communicating:
Wilbur once again introduced herself and the people in room who hadn’t met Allen before, and Yavitch marveled at how
changed Milligan seemed, how relaxed and outgoing. He smiled and spoke earnestly and fluently, very different from the shy,
boyish Danny. Allen answered her questions about his interests. He played the piano and the drums, he said, and painted—
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mostly portraits. He was eighteen and loved baseball, though Tommy hated the game.
Keyes, 1981: 51
From the quotations above, we can conclude that, in every “person” who lives in Milligan, have their own character, and their own view. Moreover they have limits
or authority in the form of rules that they must obey to. In each personality has its own behavior patterns, history, and social relationships. From the explanation of
www.psychologytoday.com that on each personality has a name, a fundamental nature, history, self-image and different identity. Having different gender, age,
knowledge, vocabulary, mood, which contrast with the core personality or the host. Christine describes as a child alter, Nolen 2007 said that a child alter may be
created during a traumatic experience to become the victim of the trauma, while the “host” personality escapes into the protection of psychological oblivion. Christine is
a bright little English girl, she can read and print, but has dyslexia. Likes to draw and color pictures of flowers and butterflies. Blond shoulder-length hair, and has blue
eyes. She has an older brother name Christopher. Christine is the first personality who appears in Billy.
Christine didn’t know who Billy was or why she was being called that, but she was happy she could play with Kathy. She
took a red crayon and went to the wall beside the crib to draw Kathy a picture of a doll.
Keyes, 1981: 148
From all of the quotations above, it can be concluded that, Billy, Arthur, Ragen, and Christine are fourth different figure which through behavior, attitudes,
name, history, even gender are different. However, there are still many Billy’s
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personality which are not described, but all personality has its own life background also vary.
4.1.4 Leading Character Experience a Form of Amnesia or Gaps of Time
Kategori