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CHAPTER IV ANALYSIS
This chapter consists of two main parts which answer the problems formulation of this study. The first part analyses the character and characterisation
of Suwen in the novel by using the theories of character andcharacterisation. The purpose is to answer the first problem of this study. The second part analyses
Suwen’s motivation in keeping her virginity by using the theories of motivation. It will answer the second problem of this study.
A. Characterisation of Suwen
The character is a person which appears in a dramatic or narrative work and delivers some moral values and messages which are expressed in the dialogue
and action in the dramatic or narrative work Abram, 1985.In Suchen Christine Lim’s Fistful of Colours, there are some characters which influence the plot of the
story and also help each other to build the characters and personality. Suwen is the main character of the novel and she becomes the focus of the story. There are
some supporting characters that underline the characters of Suwen in the novel; they are Mark, Nica, Jan, Zul, Suwen’s mother, and Suwen’s stepfather.
In this novel, Suwen is described as a daughter, a woman, an art teacher of a college, and also a painter. Furthermore, Suwen has some characteristics which
are revealed in the novel; they are insecure, introvert, well-educated, and obedient. Those Suwen’s characteristics are found after the researcher analysed how she
23 acts, how she thinks about herself and others, direct description to her, and also
others’ comments about her.
1. Insecure
Actually, Suwen is a good painter and art teacher even though she often compares herself to Nica. She often thinks that Nica is better than her so that she
feels insecure with her skill and ability. In addition, she also consults her project and painting to Nica before she starts to paint hers. The reason is that she regards
Nica as a well-known and brilliant artist whose skills are better than her. Suwen also feels insecure with her physical appearance whereas she
compares herself to Nica. Due to the fact that she feels insecure with her fashion style, she regards herself as a person with lack of confidence and it is reflected by
her thought in some parts of the novel. Nica had the confidence which she, Suwen, lacked. She had often seen
Nica walked down Orchard Road, ever so confident that her little dancer’s
body was a natural construct built for admiration. She, Suwen, on the other hand, had never felt that way about her body before. Not ever. She more
like a raindrop, falling like millions of other raindrops to join the common pool of humanity flowing into the wide open sea p. 66.
Suwen sometimes feels insecure with her style. Furthermore, Suwen often
asks Nica about her fashion style because Suwen admires Nica’s fashion style.
She will ask where Nica buys her clothes, scarf, and skirt even though Nica tries to make Suwen confident that her fashion style is also good. By
using Murphy’s theories of characterisation, one of the conversations between Suwen and Nica
shows how suwen is not confident with her style. “Where you did get that scarf, Nic?”
24 “Tekkah market.Very cheap.”
“But nice. I wish I know how to put together things like this” “That’s what you always say, Su. Just be yourself. You dress okay.”
p. 81 It often makes her difficult to talk to others, especially strangers and men.
It also happens when Suwen is in the university. She cannot join her friends drinking beers, dancing, and talking about many things because she is not able to
let herself enter into their world. Although she ever tries to join them, she fails to be confident to interact with them. Suchen Christine Lim writes about her
insecure character by a direct comment in the novel, “She seemed to shrink like a
morning glory flower in the evening, having little or no confidence in her own ability to attract others an
d hold her own in conversation” p. 176.
2. Introvert
In the novel, Suwen never shares her problems with others. She always keeps her problems by herself even though her friends try to make her share her
problems. As one of her best friends, Nica often tries to make Suwen share her problems, especially about her feeling towards Mark.
In several conversations between Suwen and Nica, Nica tries to interrogate her feeling towards Mark and her relationship with Mark. However, Suwen does
not tell the truth of her feeling to Mark. She keeps it and she does not share it to anyone, including Nica. Furthermore, Suwen always says that Mark is a good
friend to her and there is not any special relationship between her and Mark when Nica starts to interrogate her. One of the conversations between Nica and Suwen
s hows Suwen’s introvert character and it is found by using Murphy’s theories of
character and characterisation.
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