B. Findings of the Study
This section presents the findings and the analysis of the study. This section is divided into two parts. The first discusses the description of Bu
Mus‟ characters. The second part discusses Bu
Mus‟ motivations in teaching in Muhamadiyah Gantong primary school in Belitong.
1. Descr iption of Bu Mus’ Characters
This section discusses Bu Mus‟ characters in the novel. According to the
theory of characterMilligan:1983, Bu Mus can be described as a major character of the novel. As stated by Milligan, major character is those who appear more
often in the story. Bu Mus appears very often in the novel that makes her become a major character of the novel.
In a physical trait the author describes Bu Mus as a young woman. It is stated directly in the novel by the author in the very first part of the novel.
There was an old man with a patient face, Bapak K.A. Harfan Efendy Noor, or Pak Harfan, the school principal, and a young woman wearing a
jilbab, or headscarf, Ibu N.A. Muslimah Hafsari, or Bu Mus for short. Like my father they also were smiling p. 1.
In the other part the author also describes Bu Mus as a young teacher with some addition of her background.
Today was Bu Mus‟ first day as a teacher, a moment she had been
dreaming of for a very long time. She had just graduated a week before from Sekolah Kepandaian Putri
Vocational Girls‟ School, a junior high school in the capital of the regency, Tanjong Pandan. She was only fifteen
years old p. 5. According to Perrine‟s 1974 theory that is stated before in this chapter,
Bu Mus has a static character. Her character does not undergo a change. She is a
good and loving person, especially to her students. Her love to her students never lasts and even in a very difficult situation she never becomes a bad person.
According to Murphy 1972, there are nine ways that enable the author to present a character in a story understandably and lively for the readers pp.161-
173. They are through personal description, as seen by another, speech, past life, conversation of others, reaction, direct comment, thought and mannerism.
a. Religious
Bu Mus is a very religious person. It can be easily seen from their appearance. She always wears jilbab or headscarf for Moslem women. She also
often praises her God in many situations. Bu Mus was awestruck, she just stared at Lintang as if he were a stunning
pearl in a clam. A moment later, a soft voice escaped her mouth, “Subhanallah, my goodness, Lintang, praise Allah‟s holliness, praise
Allah‟s holliness...” p. 55. The text above shows that Bu Mus is a religious woman. It is analyzed by
Murphy‟s method of characterization. It is derived from the speech of the character.
Bu Mus also often asks her students to pray to God no matter what situation they face. There is no reason for her to leave her God.
Mujis news was horrifying, since whatever stood in the way of the dredges would surely be destroyed. But as usual, Bu Mus lifted our spirits. She
asked us to pray so that nothing bad would happen to us. We soon forgot the threat of the dredges p. 211.
The text above once again shows that Bu Mus is a religious person. Because even in bad situation she still believes in her god and also asks her
students to pray with her. It is analyzed by using Murphy‟s methods of characterization. It is derived from the reactions.
b. Loving
Bu Mus is a loving person, especially to her students. She really loves her students like her own children.
Bu Mus may have been a village, but she had progressive views. Maybe she was also impressed with my sincere apology. After fulfilling the terms
of my inspirational apology, I was allowed to hang the poster p. 273.
From the text above it can be concluded that Bu Mus really loves her students. When Ikal makes a mistake, she is not angry with him. She even allows
Ikal to hang the poster of John Lennon after he delivers his apology to her. It is analyzed by using Murphy‟s method of characterization. It is derived from the
reaction of Bu Mus. Bu Mus teaches her students like she teaches her own children. She
teaches everything to them. Bu Mus even teaches them how to make toy houses from bamboo.
For us, Bu Mus and Pak Harfan were true patriots without medal of honor. They were our teachers, friends and spiritual guides. They taught us to
make toy houses from bamboo, showed us the way to cleanse before prayer, taught us to pray before bed, pumped air back into our flattened
bicycle tires, sucked poison from our legs if we were bitten by a snake, and from time to time made us orange juice with their bare hands. They were
our unsung heroes, a prince and princess of kindness, and pure wells of knowledge in a forsaken, dry field p. 49.
If Bu Mus does not really love them, she will not do all of those things. Actually she is only a primary school teacher but she does more than she needs to
do. It is analyzed by using Murphy‟s methods of characterization. It is derived from the opinion of another.
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