38 “If you can’t cross a ditch ten feet wide, how are you going to cross
a ditch that’s twenty or thirty feet wide?” “And in English…?”
“Are you seriously going to let a little embarrassment stand between you and ultimate fulfillment?” 58
Ed feels ashamed to see Dora again because he leaves her when she is trying to explain about Buddhism to him but Geoff asks him to forget about it and
see Dora to find another new job. Geoff realizes that it is hard to find a new job and he knows that Ed needs a job badly. So, when Ed gets a new job, he really
supports Ed and asks him to do the job seriously.
h. Caring
As Ed’s best friend, Geoff really cares about him. It is inferred from his mannerism and character as seen by others. After some time they do not meet
each other, Geoff feels a need to phone him. When he hears Ed’s voice, he knows that Ed is not in a good condition so that he decides to visit Ed the next day. Geoff
understands that Ed is depressed since he loses his job and his girlfriend. Geoff knows how hard it is so that he thinks that Ed really needs a new job to recover
his condition. Geoff is also worried when Ed does not appear at a meeting in which Ed has promised to come. He phones Ed because he wonders about him.
“Hi, Ed. Just ringing to make sure you’re OK. It’s 9.20 and some of us have gone on to The Chequers on Kentish Town Road, by the
station. We’ll probably be there till closing-time so come along if you get this in time. Great meeting, by the way. Anyway, maybe
see you later. Cheers, bye.” For a moment I felt a pang of guilt at standing him up, but then I
thought that I’d never have worked things out about Angie if I
39 hadn’t gone to meet her. I played the second message-Geoff again.
He sounded more anxious this time. “Hi, Ed. Geoff here. Look, I know I’m probably being a bit of an
old woman but you were so definite about coming tonight and then you weren’t at the pub either… It’s probably totally innocent but-
well, just give us a call when you can, OK? Cheers.” He was worried about me 240
Geoff is not angry with Ed because he does not show up at the meeting. He phones Ed twice because he is really worried about him. He wants to make
sure that Ed is fine.
B. The Influence of Geoff on Ed’s Personality Development
The second part of this chapter will discuss how Ed’s personality develops and what the factors that influence his personality development are. The writer
applies the theory of personality development presented in chapter two in analyzing Ed’s personality development.
As mentioned in the theory of personality development proposed by Hurlock, there are some conditions that can change someone’s personality. Those
are physical changes, changes in environment, changes in significant people, changes in social pressure, changes in role, strong motivation, changes in self-
concept, and the use of psychotherapy. In the The Buddha, Geoff and Me novel, Ed’s personality is influenced by a significant person that is Geoff, his best friend.
Hurlock mentions that a person may have significant people who may influence his personality. When the significant people endure changes in their individual’s
life, and when he tries to adapt their pattern of behavior and attitude, beliefs, values and aspiration, changes in his personality pattern are inevitable 126. Ed
