36 dependency. Someone
wiping your bottom” Albom 49. This limitation makes Morrie feels that he cannot rely on himself anymore and Morrie feels bothered of it.
Morrie‟s behavior is related to Stewart 70-71 who states that the value of self- reliance is emotionally perceived by American people.
The self-reliance motivates people to look for autonomy, self-actualization and personal growth. Affected by this value, Morrie feels that he does not have
autonomy and cannot actualize himself anymore. Also, he feels ashamed of his dependency,
“I‟m an independent person, so my inclination was to fight all of this – being helped from the car, having someone else dress me. I felt a little ashamed,
because our culture tells us we should be ashamed if we can‟t wipe our own behind”
Albom 115-116. From the evidences presented above, it can be inferred that American people
share the individualism value. This value leads American people to have emotional effect namely self-reliance. The self-reliance represents the independence that a man
has. When someone cannot do anything for himself and has to depend on other people to help him, he becomes a dependent person and he will be ashamed of it.
7. Value of Measurable Achievement
American people like to make achievements in form of visible things or material things Stewart 41. Usually, a success is measured by the amount of money
or the size of a house that someone has. When Mitch still is a student in his college, he has been warned by Morrie that money is not the most important thing. This view
is against the popular view on campus . Morrie adds that he needs to be „fully human‟
and connected with the society around him Albom 46-47. However, as the time
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37 passes, this advice has been forgotten by Mitch and he buries himself in his works
and accomplishments Albom 16-17. Since graduation, Mitch is sunk in pursuit of material achievements such as
pursuing bigger toys and nicer house, something that is contrary with Morrie ‟s view
of achievement which can bring about a meaningful life Albom 127. Mitch behavior constitutes a consequence of the value of measurable
achievement because according to Stewart 41-42, this value leads American people to seek for a sensation in achieving something, for personal triumph, or for visible
achievement. Having measurable achievement as a value, American people do not get used
to reflect or evaluate their lives in order to know what they really want in their lives. Here, Morrie conveys his idea that the culture they have focusing on the pursuit of
measurable achievements does not make the people evaluate their lives. The business they create to achieve visible things make them not have time to think about what
they really want in lives Albom 64-65. Furthermore, Morrie says that they are involved in achieving materialistic
things which can not satisfy them. It comes to a conclusion that their society lack of what Morrie calls as “spiritual development”.
“Mitch,” he said laughing along, “even I don‟t know what „spiritual
development‟ really means. But I do know we‟re deficient in some way. We are too involved in materialistic things, and they don‟t satisfy us. The loving
relationships we have, the universe around us, we take these things for granted,” Albom 84
In conclusion, American people are driven by value of measurable achievement. This value does not make people evaluate their lives so that they do not
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38 know what they really want in lives. Furthermore, this value may lead people to lack
of spiritual development.
B. Morrie’s Personal Views on American Values
