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as Reflected in Llewellyn’s If I Were You. Psychoanalytical criticism treats the two main characters as real people who have complex psyches. From it, the characters of
a novel can be perceived as mirrors for their psychological fears, motivation, and desires Cirese, 1985: 53. This study also employs some supporting theories, such as
theory of character and characterization, psychoanalytic theory, psychodynamic theory, phenomenological theory, theory of relationship, theory of friendship, and the
relationship between Psychology and Literature. The depth explanation is clarified more in chapter two.
B. Objective of the Study
The objective of this study is to look into ones’ significant attitudes on searching for their identities through their beliefs, thoughts, motivations, feelings,
friendship and relationship with environment or society, and the problems they face as seen in Sophie and Natasha, the two main characters of Julia Llewellyn’s If I were
You.
C. Problem Formulation
Considering the explanation above, there are two problems that are going to be discussed deeply in this study. Those two problems are:
1. How are Sophie and Natasha, the two main characters of the novel described? 2. What can influence Sophie and Natasha’s decision to find their self-identity?
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D. Benefits of the Study
From the conducted study on one of Julia Llewellyn’s master pieces, it indirectly introduces her novel; If I Were You and her other works to the readers. It
also provides some information for those who may obtain the benefits of this study. First, the benefits may be obtained by the readers who read this study in which they
can get some knowledge they do not know yet and as well as being entertained also. Second, for the students who concern on the same study that they can use this study
as the references. Third, for other researchers, this study can be used as the comparison. And for English teachers, they can use the conclusion and teaching
implementation of this study in the appendixes as the reflection and references in teaching.
E. Definition of Terms
In this part, some key words used in this study are going to be elaborated to avoid misunderstanding. In doing so, some sources from the Encyclopedias,
Hornsby’s Learner’s Dictionary, Cirese’s Quest : A Search for Self, Davidoff’s Introduction to Psychology, and some websites on the internet are needed. Those
terms are:
1. Character
Character is defined as the personality that is presented or realized in fiction or drama and also defined as one of the person of drama or novel as said in Merriam
Webster’s Encyclopedia of Literature 1995. In www.wikipedia.org, it is said
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that characters are widely considered as an essential element of fictional works, especially novels, and plays accessed on March 15
th
, 2007. It means that the persons on the novel’s story play big roles to make the story seem real. Characters
are described through their actions, dialects, thoughts, and desires.
2. Characterization
According to Merriam Webster’s Encyclopedia 1995, characterization is defined as “The representation in fictional or drama of human character or personality”.
From www.wikipedia.org it is said that “Characterization is process conveying information about characters in fictional literary work” accessed on March 15
th
, 2007. In characterizing people, it involves the psychological make up of the
characters such as fears, emotion, beliefs, motivation, and desires.
3. Identity
Identity can be defines as “A person’s sense of who she or he is as a unique individual, whole and separate from others” Cirese, 1985: 14. A person has to
know and has a feeling about who he or she is, to be who a person believes he or she is. And one’s identity is more than his or her name or social roles. It
establishes and results from one’s “uniqueness” and “togetherness” in the society. One’s identity also depends on how society perceives him or her.
4. Personality
According to Davidoff, personality is “Distinct identity formed of relatively consistent and enduring patterns of perceiving, thinking, feeling, and behaving”
1987: 6-11. As a unique individual, each person has different personality
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affected by the environment around him or her.
5. Self-identity
“It is the concept of oneself as a person, unique and distinct from all others and as a whole being, existing as a unity through his or her life time” Cirese, 1985:
176. It reflects a person’s idea of himself or herself, including the image or picture of himself or herself. Here, one thinks not only of himself, but also of the
ways he evaluates himself and the ways he presents himself to the society. And it is a life-long process.
6. Social Role
Social role can be defined as the characteristic and expected behavior pattern associated with a particular social status Cirese, 1985: 177. It is an essential part
on one’s searching for identity process that he or she has to struggle to be accepted in the society.
7. Self-actualization
Maslow said that “Self-actualization is the process of becoming more competent, of developing capacities that serve to maintain or enhance on self “ Cirese, 1985:
62. It is the highest of human needs. It includes the development of ones’ interests, skills, and behaviors in harmony with ones sense of self.
8. Self-presentation
It is how one reveals or represents oneself to others; the impression of self ones endeavor to give to others Cirese, 1985: 182. It includes the ways ones dress,
talk, and act; convey an image of themselves to others, such as want to appear
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charming, intelligent, cool, and other impressions.
9. Influence
As said in Hornby’s Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, “Influence means the power to affect somebody’s actions, characters, or beliefs, especially by
providing example for them to follow, winning their admiration or making them afraid to disagree” 437. Related to this study, influence is defined as something
that brings effect on ones’ life. It is related to Sophie and Natasha’s friendship, families, beliefs, views, motivation, desires, thoughts, and problems.
11. Internal Factors
From Hornby’s dictionary, Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, internal is defined as thing derived from within the thing itself. Here, the internal factors of
self-searching come up from the inside of an individual itself, such as feelings, desires, and thoughts.
12. External Factors
From Hornby’s dictionary, Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, external is defined as thing situated on the outside. For self-searching, external factors come
up from the outside of an individual such as the society, family, friends, and the environment that will influence the main characters’ searching for identity.
