Background of the Study

problem in daily life. It is in line with the argument from Bertens that said “apart from its aesthetic and pleasing qualities, literature also had important things to teach us, was already familiar in antiquity and we see it repeated time and again over the ages ” Bertens, 2008: 1. The story tells about the struggle of two sisters who support each other and solve their problem. The main characters in this story have unique and different characteristics. The two of main characters also have many conflicts but they can struggle to solve their problem. The main conflict they face is about the loss of father figure, their father left them since they were children. The bad effect from the loss of their father is that they search their own identity in their puberty by themselves, without any guidance from their parents. On the one hand, Darcy grows to be a perfectionist girl. She is perfectionist in her academic study to actualize herself as very smart person. She only wants to be friends with people whom she thinks are in the same level of her intelligence. Meanwhile Jamee tends to socialize with her punk friends who like to do crime. As the result of her social circle influence, she grows to be a rebellious girl who disobeys her family rules. She always comes home late at night and she even steals stuff in the shop. Their different characteristics lead them to conflicts but the condition forces them to support each other. These different characteristics and conflicts in this story becomes the starting point for the writer to conduct the study. The writer discusses about message in this study, because message is very special and it makes the reader understand. It is interesting to discuss about message which appears in conflicts itself, so we can conclude the messages after look at the conflicts which experienced by the characters. Thus, the reading activity that should be done to find the messages demands both attention and insight – lending participation Kennedy and Gioia, 2007: 4. One of the strength of messages is that messages can make the reader think before they take the decision to solve their problems. Messages can make the readers predict how they can face their future. Messages can also motivate us to do the best choices in our life. In this study, the writer limits the study of the messages which are revealed through the way the characters solve the conflicts. It is interesting to see the way the characters solve the conflicts which happen to them, and how they solve the conflicts until the finish line. They are always strong and keep their spirit. The writer tries to observe the characters, conflicts and moral messages in the novel. The writer focuses on the messages, characters and conflicts which are closely related to new criticism theory.

B. Problem Formulation

1. What are the characteristics of the main characters? 2. What are the conflicts faced by the main characters? 3. What are the messages revealed through the way the characters solve the conflicts?

C. Objectives of the Study

In this study, the writer reveals the moral message which is experienced by the main characters in the novel. Then, the writer answers three questions in the problem formulation. First, the writer finds out the main characters’ characteristics in the story. Second, the writer tries to find the conflicts faced by the main characters’ experience from the beginning until the end of the novel. Finally, the writer tries to reveal the messages through the way the main characters solve the conflicts.

D. Definition of Terms

In this part the writer defines the terms that are used in this study in order to give clear concept and to avoid misunderstanding. 1. Message Message is a part of literary work which has big meaning. According to Beaty and Hunter, message is the real meaning or some easy conclusion that can be simply stated or summarized inside a work of art 1989:899.

2. Character

Characters are the person presented in a dramatic or narrative work, who are interpreted by the reader as being endowed with moral, dispositional, and emotional qualities that are expressed in what they say- the dialogue- and what they do- the action. Abrams, 1993: 23 Abrams said that character is a person who exists in drama and literary work, person who has emotional, moral and expression. They express their feeling and emotion in dialogue and action.

3. Conflicts

Holman and Harmon define conflict as “The struggle that grows out of the interplay of the two opposing forces in the plot. Conflict may be an argument between opposing forces, like man against man, nature, fate, society or perhaps the internal one between the two opposing parts of man’s personality” 1986: 107. Conflicts are the struggle that develop people who involved in plot. For example man against man, nature, fate, society or the two opposing part of man’s personality or in other word, a split personality.