Specifically, in the family, a father plays a very crucial role in educating children. Dagun 1990 presents an understanding about father’s role in the family.
The understanding is very helpful to assist the analysis of why Tom behaves uncontrollably in the matriarchal family. Specifically, the understanding will be the
reference in interpreting the need of a figure of a man for Tom. Dagun 1990: 17 states that a father has very important direct roles in his
child development—he can fondle, organize language contacts, and talk as well as act playfully with. He adds that a father can direct and manage his child activities so that
she or he will be able to determine how she or he can act properly in their social intercourse.
2.3 . 3 The Function of the Family
Referring to the points below, I will be able identify the lack of the family in Williams’ The Glass Menagerie 1945 and to compare it. Soekanto 1990: 85
mentions four fundamental functions of nuclear family: 1. As the place of primary socialization. The children are taught to understand and
follow principles in society. 2. As a unity to control proper sex relationship.
3. As a unit of social-economic that form the basic children’s social-economic. 4. As a shelter so that family’s life is in order and peaceful. They can also live in
peace. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
Similarly, Parsons 1987: 122 confirms three function of a family: 1. A direct source of interpersonal involvement.
2. A context for the acquisition of interpersonal skills and facilitative attitudes. 3. A secure base from which to establish peer relationships.
2.3 . 4 The Influences of Divorce toward Children
Separatio n in the family will influence something. Since the situation of the matriarchal family in Williams’ The Glass Menagerie 1945 is similar to the
situation of divorce family, I believe that the influences of matriarchal family toward Tom can be identified through referring to the thoughts below.
I believe that divorce will influence the children. In relation to the divorce toward children, Pohan 1972: 177 states
Primus inter pares or father and mother as duumvirate in the family are taking
really important responsibility and role in the family life. They determine every step and attitude that is going to be taken for the family’s benefit, solve
every problem and be the pillar of all the family’s members, especially the children. They also determine to what direction and how the children are
carried to the adultness.
On the contrary and in relation with the study, children absolutely need the presence of their parents to be their guidance in all cases. If children lose one of them, it will
degrade the children’s contentment in learning new things for their life. The next theory is about the direction of the children. Pohan 1972: 177
states that children who are left by one of their parents will lose the direction to go because they do not have direction itself. “Lose one of their parents is a shock or lose
balance”. Children are not administered properly if they loose their direction makers. “If children are allegorized as chicks, they loose their mother”. Furthermore, Pohan
1972: 176 confirms that children personalities are determined by both of parents, mother and father, as inseparable duumvirate.
Pohan 1972: 195 verifies the impact of children being separated from their parents. The separation can cause the disturbance of behavior and the emerging of
psyche disturbance. The disturbance especially tends to about anti-social behavior, depression, and naughtiness that lead to criminal action. Pohan 1972: 195 argues
that the naughtiness happens because basic education, the intimacy tied in the relation between parents and children in the family, is cut. In addition, the psyche
development and personality formation of children are truthfully depending on how the relation between parents and children: how the relationship between them is
perceived by children. I also refer to Dagun 1990 as my reference. Hetherington et al as cited by
Dagun, 1990: 149-151 say more specifically about the influence of children being raised by a mother. They state that the divorce cause psyche disorganization for
children. The family uncertain condition makes parents are not holding an effective role—they do not have full responsibility in raising children. This situation make
parents loose their wise strictness in training their children to be responsible. Hetherington et al as cited by Dagun, 1990: 152 state that “for a mother,
divorce is painful, do not understand each other between mother and child …”. He PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
adds that a boy is more influenced by the divorce. The family conflict and divorce cause children, especially a boy, disturbed in his social intercourse.
2.3 . 5 Family Members Relationship: Character Development
