Caring Darby Shaw’s Characterization
She tried to speak, but could not hold the tears. She buried her face in the handkerchief. p. 126
From the above quotation, it can be seen that the accident really hurts her and she can do nothing about it and as the release or the resolution for that, she
just cries out. It can be concluded that she is using avoidance method in solving her intra-personal conflict, that is, by leaving the situation totally.
From the several quotations above, I can conclude that Callahan’s death brings intrapersonal conflict to Darby Shaw. According to Worchel and Cooper’s
theory on conflict, Darby Shaw’s conflict is categorized into approach- avoidance conflict which brings her attractive and unattractive aspects. Darby
Shaw resolves her conflict by using avoidance method.
4.2.1.2 In Solving the Mystery of the Car Explosion The second intra-personal conflict experiences by Darby Shaw is
whenever she wants to ask for some helps in solving the mystery around the car explosion. After the car explosion, Darby feels that someone tries to kill her too.
She feels that she should have been killed in the car too along with Callahan. She realizes that this thing happens because of her Brief on the murder case of two
Supreme Court justices. It is a sensitive case and she gives it to the wrong hand. Now, a killer that has an order to kill her is chasing her. Some parties
that are unhappy with the Brief have ordered some killers to hunt her. She experiences some killing attempts. She decides to ask Gavin to help her, to catch
the chaser and also protect her. Gavin is willing to help her in solving the problems.
Her decision of asking helps from Gavin brings a conflict to Darby Shaw. On one side, she cannot trust Gavin Verheek because he is an employee of a law
enforcement agency. This kind of man usually takes an order from a man with a history of paranoia and dirty tricks. His boss has reported to a president in charge
of an administration run by fools. However, on the other hand, Darby Shaw needs his help badly and she cannot just pick someone to be her helper. She has
to make sure that her helper is a clean man. She could not trust Gavin Verheek. He was employed by a law
enforcement agency that at times operated by its own rules. He took orders from a man with a history of paranoia and dirty tricks. His boss
reported to a President in charge of an Administration run by fools. The President had rich, sleazy friends who gave him lots of money.
This becomes a conflict inside Darby Shaw’s heart. This conflict, according to Worchel and Cooper’s theory 1970, can be categorized as
approach-avoidance conflict because it has good and bad effect. In one side Verheek can be a valuable source for the information about the bomb explosion.
On the other side, he can be a dangerous enemy because he works for the government.
To resolve this conflict, she uses negotiation method. Darby Shaw is willing to meet with Verheek. She negotiates the terms and condition of the
meeting with Verheek and asks him to follow her order precisely. Darby Shaw insists that Verheek must follow her instructions or they will never meet. The
conflict and its resolution can be seen from the following quotation: She thought for a moment, and her voice was suddenly stronger. ‘Behind
your hotel is a place called Riverwalk. It’s a shopping area with restaurants and--‘
‘I spent two hours there this afternoon.’
‘Good. On the second level is a clothing store called Frenchmen’s Bend.’ ‘I
saw it.’
‘At precisely noon tomorrow, I want you to stand by the entrance and wait for five minutes.’
‘Come on, Darby. You won’t be alive at noon tomorrow. Enough of this cat and mouse.’
‘Just do as I say, Gavin. We’ve never met, so I have no idea what you look like. Wear a black shirt of some type and a red baseball cap.’ p.208
It can be seen from the quotation that Darby Shaw is very careful in arranging her meeting with Verheek because she never meets this guy. She
realizes that Gavin can be a help but also can be a threat to her life. I can conclude that she experiences approach-avoidance conflict because
she has to choose something that has good and bad effect to her. She resolves the conflict by using negotiation method.