the writer chooses was also copying the important page from the books. Besides, the writer found the theories from webs and online books to collect important data
to support this work. Next, the writer applied the theories and reviews of studies to this work in
the analysis. It started by explaining this work completely. Then, it was answering the problem formulations. Then, the writer was able to conclude the analysis to be
the sort and clear conclusion.
19
CHAPTER IV ANALYSIS
This chapter is devided into three parts. The first part deals with the analysis on the Sheila Levine’s character. The second part discusses about New York’s
lifestyle through the setting. The third focuses on the impac t of New York’s lifestyle
on the character of Sheila Levine.
A. The Character of Sheila Levine Described in Sheila Levine is Dead and
Living in New York 1.
A Low Self-Confidence Girl
Sheila Levine is a Jewish girl who has a problem with her appearance. She has low self-confidence because of her appearence. She has a fat body and she
thinks it will make herself difficult to look for the right husband. In her age of thirty, it seems to be important to get married. Since Sheila was a kid, her mother has
always been talking about marriage to her. That is why marriage is very important
to her. The fact that she is not married makes her blame her physical appearance.
There are only about a hundred thousand other Jewish girls like me. Exacly like me, all with hair that has to be straightened, noses that have to be
straghtened and all looking for husbands Parent, 1972: 2.
She knows that she is not the only one who has an appearance like herself. There are so many gilrs in New York that have the same appearence. She has
already realized about that but she is doing nothing to get her dreaming body. The only thing she does is complaining and blaming herself.
The social condition of Sheila Levine is not good enough for her to rise her confidence. She actually can join groups of people that have a good self-confidence
then she can grow her social life. She can meet many kind of person and she also can meet the right guy for her to get married. Unfortunately, she chooses to close
herself and hangs out with group of hopeless person. Here is a statement shows that Sheila is not a confident person.
”I sat with the other dateless girls, some too tall, some too fat, pimples, bad breath, you name it
.” Parent, 1972: 7. From the statement, the reader can see that Sheila do not do any effort to make herself better.
However, it makes Sheila unable to join groups of popular people because her low self-confidence. It makes her stuck in one place and cannot grow to be
better. In New York city, almost all of the girls are looking for husbands including
Sheila Levine. At the same time, Sheila feels that she cannot compete with the girls in New York city which have good or bad appearance. She feels not confident with
her appearance even though there are so many girls which have the same appearence with her.
I couldn’t compete. I couldn’t sit in Loeb Student Center day after day pretending to read The Behavior Problems of the Young Child, eyes glued
to the door. ... “Excuse me, is that seat taken?”... moving over gracefully
“No, no, it’s not.”... “I see you reading The Behavior Problems of the Young Child.”... crossing legz throwing head back “Yes, yes, I am.”... “Could I
persuade you to put it down and come with me for a cup of coffee?”... “Love to” eyelashes batting so hard, they’re becoming unglued... It never
happened to me. The only man who ever spoke to me in Loeb Student Center was the guard informing me that they would be closing soon Parent, 1972:
14.
