Object of the Study Approach of the Study

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CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY

This chapter will explain more about the primary data, approach and procedures I conduct to make this thesis. The contents of this chapter are subject matter, approach, and procedures. The first part is subject matter, which explains about the novel that I explore in this thesis. The second part is approach, which contains the approach I use to analyze the novel. The last part is procedures, consists of steps I conduct in order to do this thesis.

3.1 Object of the Study

The novel I analyze is entitled Tuesdays with Morrie, written by Mitch Albom and first published in 1997. It is a 192 pages non-fiction novel, and it is an autobiographical documentary about Mitch Albom and a biographical documentary of his lecturer name Morrie. The title, Tuesdays with Morrie, refers to Mitch and Morries weekly Tuesday meetings, in Morries home, in which they discussed the meaning of life. Morrie, to whom the title of the novel refers, spent most of his life as a sociology professor at Brandeis University. He continues to teach as long as he can even after being diagnosed with ALS. He realizes that he is dying and learned to accept his death. I am interested in his philosophies, on the meaning of life that he borrowed freely from many religions and share them with the world. The book was written in Detroit, Michigan, mid-1990. Doubleday published this novel in 1997. Mitch Albom has written many other books, Live Albom I, Live Albom II, Live Albom III, Live Albom IV, including the bestseller, The Five People You Meet in Heaven, BO, which is the autobiography of Bo Schemechler, and Fab Five, which is a story about the University of Michigans mens basketball recruits who became starters as freshman, during the 1990s.

3.2 Approach of the Study

To analyze the work I use the approach suitable to the topic I want to reveal. In this thesis I want to find out Morrie’s character personality and the influence of Buddhist philosophy in his view of life. I use History of idea approach to analyze the influence of Buddhist philosophy in Morrie’s view of life. History of Idea approach is used to give a bright light to the understanding of the novel. It sees philosophical side of a work of art. In using this approach Morrie’s view of life must be analyzed from the philosophical point of view. The character’s behavior, thinking, and thoughts must be noticed. History of idea approach uses philosophical idea, in this case, I use Buddhist philosophy to analyze Morrie’s view of life and therefore this approach is a suitable approach to comprehend the influence of philosophy in the character view of life.

3.3 Method of the Study