Submissive The Characteristics of Dave Pelzer

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2. Submissive

Based on Murphy‟s theory of characterization, particularly about reactions , Dave is identified as a submissive person. Dave‟s characteristic can be seen by his reactions towards different situations. When Dave is 10 years old, his mother always has new plans to make Dave to obey her command. Dave ‟s fear of his mother makes him become a submissive person. Dave also lets himself to be controlled by his mother. He is also afraid of his mother. He is afraid to move or even to speak without his mother ‟s permission at home. If he does not obey his mother‟s command, his mother beats him and punishes him. It is stated in the novel: “If I looked at her or one of her sons without her permissions, I received a slap in the face ” A Child Called „It‟, p. 83. Dave‟s reaction to the situation in the novel shows that he is a submissive person. The other proof that identifies Dave as a submissive person based on his reactions is when his mother ordered him to lay down in the bathtub full of cold water. Dave feels like he is in the refrigerator at that time . Dave‟s mother also orders him to put his head under the water. He can see the bubbles escape from his mouth and float to the surface as he tries to shout. Although his mother does not see him, Dave still obeys his mother command. It can be proven from the statement: “I was too frightened of Mother to move, so I kept my head under the surface as ordered” A Child Called „It‟, p. 113. Dave obeys his mother‟s command because of fear. Dave‟s mother also likes to make him suffer. On the Christmas Day, Dave receives a pair of roller skates. In the weekend, his mother orders him to skate 36 outside while others are inside because of the cold weather. He is the only child who plays the roller skates outside the house without wearing a jacket. He is not allowed to go inside his house unless his mother calls him to do some chores. As stated in the novel: The skates proved to be just another tool for Mother to get me out of the house and make me suffer. On weekends Mother made me skate outside when the other children were inside because of the chilly weather. I skated up and down the block, without even a jacket to keep me warm. I was the only child outside in the neighborhood…In an effort to keep warm, I skated as fast as I could. I could see smoke rising from the chimneys of houses that had fireplaces. I wished that I could be inside, sitting by a fire. Mother had me skate for hours at a time. She called me in, only when she wanted me to complete some chores for her A Child C alled „It‟, pp .120- 121. Dave obeys all of his mother‟s command without complaining. It shows that Dave is a child who has a feeling of fear to his mother. He must obey his mother‟s command although he does not want to do that. He knows that if he does not obey his mother‟s command, he will receive the consequences. The characteristics of Dave as a submissive person can be seen through his reactions in different situations faced by him. According to Erikson‟s psychosocial theory, children in the fourth stage need support from their environment. Through social interaction, children begin to develop a sense of pride in their social and academic accomplishments and abilities. If they do not get support from their parents, teachers or friends, they will develop a sense of inferiority. In this novel, his mother‟s tortures make Dave develop a sense of inferiority. He does not get support from his mother. Dave ‟s inferiority makes him become a submissive person. He lives under pressure 37 because his life is controlled by his mother. He does not have a chance to develop his social and academic ability.

3. Low Self-Esteem