of other motivations. Some people who adopt a child may have not married yet. The reason may be that they want to help the child financially or they need
someone as their family. In this novel, Taylor Greer tries hard to legally adopt an Indian child who is left by a woman in Taylor’s car. Taylor has not married yet,
but she has some reasons beyond her decision in adopting Turtle, the Indian child.
1. Taylor’s Approach Motivation in Adopting the Indian Child
According to Higgins in Franken’s Human Motivation 3, in approach motivation, people do things because of something they want, desire, or need.
This is often conceptualized in terms of a specific goal object. Adopting Turtle is one of Taylor’s goals in life. She really wants to adopt Turtle. Taylor is very
optimistic that she can achieve her goal. She cannot give up in finding a way to adopt Turtle.
But it also occurred to me to wonder why I had come this far. Generally speaking, I am not a fool. I must have wanted something, and wanted it
badly, to believe that hard in snipes. “I can’t give up,” I said as I turned the car around. I smacked my palms on
the steering wheel again and again. “I just can’t. I want to go to Lake o’ the Cherokees. Don’t even ask me why.” 203
Her mother has also ever said about how Taylor is. When Taylor takes her time getting started, but once she did there was nothing can stop her 110. Once she
wants something, she will try to get it. In approach motivation, Zuckerman in Franken’s Human Motivation 5
states “extraverts and sensation seekers spend more time in approach behaviors”. They see the world as a source of opportunities and excitement. They might go to
new restaurants to savor different food, they might talk to strangers in case to see
how other people think, or they might take. In this study, Taylor can be classified as an extravert and sensation seeker. She leaves her hometown and travels alone
10. She takes risks in both raising and adopting Turtle. When a woman put Turtle in her car, Turtle has no legal document. It is risky because people might
think she steals Turtle from her parents. “Look,” I said, “even if you wanted to, you can’t just give somebody a
kid. You got to have the papers and stuff. Even a car has papers, to prove you didn’t steal it.”
“This baby’s got no papers. There isn’t nobody knows it’s alive, or cares. Nobody that matters, like the police or nothing like that. This baby was
born in Plymouth.” 18
Moreover, when Taylor decides to find Turtle’s relatives to get the sign and also pick up Esperanza and Estevan, she takes a risk being caught by the
officer because she brings two illegal immigrants in her car. Over the next few days Mattie asked me about fifty times if I was sure I
knew what I was doing. She told me that if I got caught I could get five years in prison and a 2,000 fine each illegal person I was assisting, which
in this case would be two. To tell the truth, I couldn’t even let these things enter my head. 183-184
After they come to the border line, there is a patrol check. However, they can pass it.
Every eastbound car on the highway was being stopped by the Border Patrol. The traffic was bottled up, which gave us time to get good and
nervous. This kind of check was routine; it had not been set up for the purpose of catching us, but it still felt that way. To all of us, I believe. I
was frantic. I rattled my teeth, as Mama would say. 190
The last thing Taylor takes a risk is in creating a story to ensure Mr. Armistead, the document maker. Esperanza and Estevan pretend as Turtle’s parents and they
will travel a lot because of Estevan’s job so they entrust their daughter to Taylor 213-214. Creating story might be risky if they cannot ensure Mr. Armistead.
They can be caught in prison for telling untrue story. However, Esperanza can act well since she has ever lost her daughter. Therefore, Mr. Armistead believes their
story. It can be concluded that Taylor has approach motivation in adopting the
Indian child. She adopts Turtle, the Indian child, because she really wants. Taylor also classified as an extravert and sensation seeker which is one of characteristics
of one who has approach motivation. She is so brave and optimistic that she can achieve her goal which is adopting Turtle legally.
2. Taylor’s Avoidant Motivation in Adopting the Indian Child
