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CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION
This chapter consists of five parts. Those are background of the study, problem formulation, objectives of the study, benefits of the study, and definition
of terms. The first discussion is background of the study. It presents a description of the topic and the reasons for its selection. The second part is problem
formulation, which formulates the problems to be discussed or analyzed in the form of question-word questions. The third part states the objectives of the study.
Here, the purposes of the study undertaken in relation with the problem formulation are stated. In benefits of the study, it will be identified which parties
will gain from the conducted study and what kinds of benefit they will get from this study. Lastly, in definition of terms, the keywords used in the study will be
elaborated so as to avoid misunderstanding and misinterpretation. As a note, the definitions presented must then be related to the study.
A. Background of the Study
For some people, it seems easy to lose their common sense when they are put in the worse or uncontrollable condition. Bearing in mind, they tend to lose
their endurance and their fighting spirits since they keep stressed for some time.
Peale states “one thing that they usually do is having someone or something to
blame whereas the rest choose not to do something as they put in their mind that they cannot fix the situation” 63.
2 Related to the uncontrollable condition, there is an interesting example of
Major H.P.S Ahluwalia from India. When he was young, he ever climbed the highest mountain, Mount Everest. At that time, he felt pleased with the result of
his own achievement. Suddenly, a Pakistan Army shot him in Kashmir. Further, it happened when both India and Pakistan dealt to have a cease-fire. This brought
about a serious injury to him. After being paralyzed he ran his life on the wheel chair. Nonetheless, Mr. Ahluwalia could get through this tough situation. He
always put his faith in God and believes in his ability to survive. In my perception, although it is not easy for him at the very first time, along the way he
can prove that he can stay strong as always. Regarding what Major H.P.S Ahluwalia has experienced, faith plays an
important role in someone’s life. Dealing with such a hard situation, people should keep their faith in God as the supreme power and earn the positive value
like love as the motivation of life. Inevitably, in the real life there are so many people dealing with failures and lost, still they remain strong and survive. By
earning the growing faith and love of God, people will choose to keep struggling with positive thinking and find the way out of the commotion.
The issues that are mentioned above lead me to analyze a novel related to the noble aspects of human life. Koesnosoebroto states “enjoyment alone is not
sufficient” 2. Furthermore, he states that unless literature gives the readers something more than pleasure, it hardly justifies itself as something important in
our life. Also, he believes that literary works will expand or refine the readers’ minds or quicken their sense of life. Connolly proposes, “men read to discover
3 themselves and their world, to assess their special roles in the universe, to learn
the meaning of the personal struggles in which they are engaged” 1. In other words, they want to share experience. The work of literature becomes the means
for men to learn about others’ experience of life. I am mostly interested in novel among any other literary works because of
its special characteristic. Stanton says “novel can and usually does present in detail the development of a character, or a relationship involving many characters,
or a complicated event covering many years, or a complex relationship among a few characters” 44
I choose to dive and search the positive values in the novel of Paulo Coelho’s The Fifth Mountain, since the values in this story are apparently
advantageous for everyone who reads it. Although the situations are not familiar, as they happened many centuries ago in the far country, those give comparatively
challenging and meaningful insights that it takes me to take careful reading and re-reading. Based on those brief explanations, it is worthwhile to give this
fascinating novel a full analysis. In my opinion, this novel is relatively inspiring and profound. It can be
proved by some good points throughout the story. First, as the major character, Elijah must struggle to find his course in life amidst the confusion of war and
political turmoil. The way he leads his ability and associates to the glory may remain for a long time in the readers’ mind. In fact, he earns some beneficial
values like love and faith which are good for the readers of this novel to have.
4 Related to values, Elijah affirms some values that he tries to put in his own
action and words. Although the circumstances do not always treat him well and he often faces failures, Elijah wrests from the unavoidable a new beginning, an
opportunity to give meaning tragedy and direction to a shattered life. Compared to his life that has been written in the Old Testament, here in the novel, Elijah is
presented a little bit dissimilar. Elijah is sometimes torn between the desire to serve God and the needs of those he has come to love. In details, Paulo Coelho
depicts Elijah’s thought and doubts beautifully. Experienced something unavoidable like Elijah, Paulo Coelho tries to
share a rationale point of view in growing faith of God and love in his personal life. The readers are inquired to have what so-called questioning attitudes. It is
expected that they possess the critical thinking in facing every problem and growing their faith in the light of knowledge. Paulo Coelho invites all of his
readers to have a new way of thinking in dealing with “something unavoidable” such as failure, sickness, death, and loss. What should be lasting in one’s life are
the lessons of the unavoidable instead of the unavoidable itself. In other words, people should always have a positive way of thinking and earn positive values
within. Also, there are many interesting quotes to take notes. Those who have read
this novel will have the same opinion that the author of this book is able to merge the beautiful language, deep philosophical contemplation, and strong religious
values. Among some important points that have been stated above, the positive values that grow within the story are worthwhile to be analyzed. There are some
5 important lessons about fate and life that will be interesting to find out. Along
with my curiosity, I will analyze the elements of this story to reveal the moral values of this spiritual fiction.
In Christian teaching, values such as faith and hope are regarded as the supreme values among any other values Corinthians 13:13. Therefore, the
essence of The Fifth Mountain would be relevant to the Christian value. Taken from the life story of Elijah in the Bible, the author successfully composed
another style of enjoying God’s words.
B. Problem Formulation
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