Method of the Study

Being known as a shopaholic, Rebecca usually wants to buy something that she thinks as a good thing with good quality. The brand becomes the most important consideration for Rebecca to decide whether the things that she wants to buy is worth or not. She will not take any further consideration if she thinks that the brand that is in sale is worth buying. In the window of Denny and George is a discreet sign. Its dark green with ice cream lettering, and it says: SALE. I stare at it, and my skin’s all prickly. I can’t be true. Denny and George can’t be having a sale. They never have a sale. Their scarves and pashminas are so coveted, they could probably sell them at twice the price. Everyone I know in the entire world aspires to owning a Deny and George scarf Kinsella, 2005: 7. At that moment, Rebecca will go to the press conference in Financial Times. On her way to go to the conference, she looks at the Denny and George’s window. Rebecca feels that she wants to buy the scarves and the pashmina that are displayed as a sale in the window. As a shopaholic, she needs to buy the thing that she wants in order to release her desire. Rebecca will insist on any consideration that will make the thing become important to buy. By seeing at her reaction, the writer can conclude that it can be one of the characteristics of Rebecca’s shopaholic. Rebecca lives in the flat with her friend named Suze. Also, Suze really loves fashion. Hearing the ring of cashier machine, hearing some words from the shopkeeper about her appearance, and holding some paper bags from branded shops always makes her feel better. Having friend who also loves to shop makes Rebecca feel happy. She will buy everything that she wants without any consideration. If there is any consideration, she will ask Suze. The characterization of character can also be seen in the way the character talks and acts. I count out the money in tens and twenties and wait, almost shivering as the ducks behind the counter and produces the green box. She slides it into a thick glossy bag with dark green cord handless and hands it to me, and I almost want to cry out loud, the moment is so wonderful Kinsella, 2005: 17. Rebecca always takes a pleasure of it. The happiness is in her eyes when she can buy something that she wants. At the moment she is interested in something, she will buy that thing. The characteristic as a shopaholic is also shown in this part that can be found by character as seen by another. “Oh God, there’s something wrong, isn’t there?” wails Suze. I knew it. Maybe you’re really ill.” She hurries into the room and reaches for my head. “Have you got temperature? Does anything hurt?” “Have you had a bump on the head?” she wiggles her hand in front of my face. “How many fingers?” Kinsella, 2005: 223. Being a shopaholic, Rebecca never ignores any invitation to do shopping. She really loves shopping. When Suze asks her to do shopping, usually Rebecca will say yes. However, in this situation, Rebecca refuses that invitation. It make Suze thinks that there is something wrong with her. It is because in Suze’s point of view, as another character in the novel, Rebecca is seen as a shopaholic. Thus, it is really weird when Rebecca does not want to do shopping.

2. Self-Justification

Rebecca always justifies herself when she wants to buy something. Self-talk will happen when she tries to take consideration whether something is necessary to buy or not. Some words that help her to feel better to buy will come into her mind. This situation makes herself become someone who does shopping just because of her desire, not the necessity. Christmas shopping I can do all my Christmas shopping here I know March is bit early, but why not to be organized? And then when Christmas arrives I won’t have to go near the horrible Christmas crowds. I can’t believe I haven’t thought of doing this before. And it’s not breaking the rules because I’d have to by Christmas present sometime, wouldn’t I? Kinsella, 2005: 68. Looking at her speech, the characteristic of self-justification can be seen in the quotation. The situation when Rebecca wants to buy something unnecessary happens in self-talk. It happens when she wants to buy the Christmas present in March. Normally, the reason to buy Christmas present in March to avoid the crowd is too much. The financial problem is not the thing that is accepted as her fault. She will blame another thing as the cause of her fault. Rebecca always thinks that there will be a certain reason behind something that happens. Everything that is done by her, becomes the thing which must happen naturally. Frugality. Simplicity. There are my new watchwords. A new, uncluttered, Zen-like life, in which I spending nothing. Spend nothing. I mean, when you think about it, how much money do we all waste every day? No wonder I’m in a little bit of debt. And really, it’s not my fault. I’ve merely been succumbing to the western drag of materialism—which you have strength to have strength of elephants to resist. At least that’s what it says in my new book Kinsella, 2005: 41. Blaming as the impact of western-materialism, Rebecca thinks that she needs the strength of elephant to resist. Actually, what the writer gets is the Rebecca’s justification in order to make herself feel better with her problems. Looking at the reaction, Rebecca’s reaction to her problem shows that she cannot manage herself to face her problem.