formulating the problems of the study. The next step was searching for theories for answering the problems of the study, especially the theory of character and
characterization and the theory of obsessive love. After the writer finding the appropriate theory books on character and characterization, in the next step, the
theory was applied to determine the characteristics of Kemal Basmaci. The sixth step was applying the theory of obsessive love in order to show that Kemal
Basmaci’ s attitude and behavior b
eing in line with the symptoms of obsessive
love. The next step was revealing the causes of Kemal Basmaci’ s obsessive love
based on the theory of the cause of obsessive love. Finally, the last step was making a conclusion based on the whole study.
26
CHAPTER IV ANALYSIS
In this chapter, the writer answers the three problem formulation presented in chapter I. Those three problem formulations are the characteristics of Kemal
Basmaci, Kemal Basmaci’ s att
itude and behavior that reflect his obsessive love, and
the causes of Kemal Basmaci’ s obsessive love.
A. The Characteristics of Kemal Basmaci
Kemal Basmaci is the main character of The Museum of Innocence who suffers from obsessive love. Before elaborating his attitude and behavior that
displays the symptoms of obsessive love, the writer analyzes his characteristics to get a better understanding of his personality. In order to analyze his
characteristics, the writer uses M.J Murphy’ s theory taken from his book titled
Understanding Unseen as the tool
1. Weak-willed
In his book, M.J. Murphy states that a cha
racter’ s characteristics can be shown through the character’ s
mannerism 1972: 173. The quotation below shows
Kemal’ s weak
-willed characteristic through the way he carries himself.
“Good. Stand up straight when you walk, all right? Everyone’ s watching you. . . Come on now, it’ s time for us to get going.” p. 104
“You’ re very handsome, but you must learn to stand up straight,” Sibel
said, unknowingly parroting my mother. p. 106 The quotation is about Kemal
’ s mother and fiancée reminding him to
stand up straight when walking and meeting the guests in his engagement party.
Kemal’ s tendency to slouch implicitly suggests that he is a weak
-willed person PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
who is not vibrant and spirited, even in his big day. Meanwhile, a person who is strong-willed will stand tall and upright.
Another proof of Kemal’ s weak
-willed characteristic can be seen in the
way he responses to certain event, as M.J Murphy states that a character’ s reaction
might serve as a tool to analyze a c
haracter’ s characteristics 1972: 168. “
I felt that I should get out of bed, distract myself, look for a way out of this
predicament, or at the very least this room, but
I just couldn’ t summon the will
p. 155
”.
The day after Kemal and Sibel get engaged, Fusun suddenly disappears. She does not come to Merhamet apartment as she has promised Kemal before.
Waiting in vain for weeks, Kemal must have known with each passing day that Fusun will never come again. However, it does not stop Kemal to come to the
apartment each day, wait for nothing, and feel the growing pain. The quotation suggests that Kemal knows that what he does is not good for his emotional well
being, but he is unable to even drag himself out of the room. The quotation shows
that Kemal’ s reaction to Fusun’ s absence is him sta ying idle in the room. It is as
though he does not have the energy to try to change and improve the situation.
Another moment that depicts Kemal’ s weak
-willed nature occurs in
Fusun’ s family home in a poor neighborhood i
n Istanbul. Fusun lives there with her father, mother, and her husband.
So at that moment, the television having been turned off, I would sit for a casual while longer, before telling myself, more forcefully now, that I
needed to stand up and get going, but my legs would not obey me. In this motionless state I would remain like a figure in a painting, and as I felt the
perspiration beading on my brow, the ticking of the clock punctuating my
discomfort, as I exhorted myself, saying ”I’ m standing up now” fo
rty times over, but still to no avail. p.311
