26
worried every time Phoebe wants to be independent. It also happened when Phoebe starts falling in love with Robert who also suffers from down syndrome.
There is doubt and little incredulity appeared in Caroline’s mind whether she will be fine living without her or not. Although Caroline does not agree with Phoebe
and Robert’s relationship, she still tries not to be angry and treats them as adult because Caroline realizes that Phoebe has grown up to be a big girl. it is seen by
Caroline’s words and action. The process of human growth could change the personality. Mary Rohrberger and Samuel H. Woods Jr. 1971 also stated that
the human personality develops from infancy through childhood until adolescence and the telling method is employed in this characterization. “Caroline, trembling,
tried to stay calm. Phoebe was, after all, a grown woman. “Robert,” she said, “I need to talk to Phoebe for a minute. Alone, please” 439.
Caroline, as a mother, is little bit angry with Phoebe about her decision having relationship with Robert. She thinks Phoebe is not ready yet to have that
kind of relationship, but she does not want to show her anger in front of Robert. This is when Caroline looks calm.
d. Competent
Caroline is a competent person. It is seen from her action when she does her job as a nurse. Without complaining too much, she works with all of her heart.
This statement is supported by David Henry’s point of view. In David Henry’s point of view, he uses telling method to express his amazement. In this method, he
clearly mentions Caroline’s character in his thought.
27
He’d had tears in his eyes when he opened them, raising his head from the desk. The nurse was standing in the doorway, her face gentled by emotion.
She was beautiful at the moment, half smiling, not at all the efficient woman who worked beside him so quietly and competently each day. 15
The other telling method is also shown in David Henry’s thought when he admits Caroline’s capability by giving her compliment in front of people. He never
doubts that Caroline is the best nurse who ever works with him. As a doctor who has many experiences, this confession is very important to prove that Caroline is
competent. After that, when people teased him about her, he made them stop. She’s a
very fine nurse, he would say, holding up hand against the jokes, honoring that moment of communion they had shared. She’s the best I’ve ever
worked with. This was true, and now he was very glad to have her with him. 16
Caroline, herself, knows exactly herself. People praise her to what she has done for her job. She realizes that being a good nurse must be equaled to the ability she
has. Therefore, she never quits. She keeps trying to be a better person with more abilities day by day. Her trait can be seen from her thought and action with using
showing method. She had faith in herself and her own capabilities. She was not a person
who ever got halfway to a destination and paused, wondering if shed left an iron on and if the house was burning down. She kept on working. She
waited. 32
e. Sensitive
Caroline is a sensitive person. When she comes to the institution to leave the baby, she sees a condition, which she cannot bear it. The surroundings of this
institution give her a bleeding heart. It is shown from her thought. Using showing method, she was touched by this situation.
28
Later, when she remembered this moment, one woman with a pair of scissors and the other sitting in a cotton slip amid the ruins of her hair, she
would think of it in black and white and the image would fill her with a wild emptiness and yearning. For what, she was not certain. The hair was
scattered, irretrievable, and the cold light fell through the window. She felt tears in her eyes. 37
To continue her and Phoebe’s life, Caroline works with Dorothy March to take care of her old father, Leo March. He is a person who often makes difficulties to
Caroline because he wants to get attention by doing some stupidity. Caroline is the only one who understands him and his situation of being an old man.
Caroline did not like Leo March—he was not likeable—but whatever animosity she held for him was complicated by compassion. For in
moments like these she saw how the world looked at him and saw an old man, senile and forgetful, rather than the universe that had been, that was
still, Leo March. 128
In this part, showing method is used to present Caroline’s trait by her thought. The way Caroline understands what Leo March had did to get some attentions because
he thinks the world does not notice him, an old man. Caroline’s sensitivity is shown when she could accept all of his behaviors.
f. Brave
In a new place, Caroline applied for some jobs. It must have been easy for her who had many experiences as a competent nurse, but the situation is not that
simple. Phoebe’s presence becomes the strong reason why she is rejected. In her interview with Dorothy March, she lies to her that Phoebe’s father has left her and
she needed money. She can bear out to Dorothy that she is an excellent nurse and Dorothy has her word. Dorothy is surprised by her confidence. According to
Klarer, Dorothy March’s words employ the showing method. The reader is expected to guess what lies behind the character’s actions and dialog. “At this
29
Dorothy March gave a sharp, startled laugh. ”What a bold statement My dear, it’s a live position. Why in the world would I take such a chance on a perfect
stranger?” 117. To struggle a justice for Phoebe, a down syndrome girl, is not easy. It is
about down syndrome children’s right to get education as good as what the normal children can get. Caroline joins the organization to fight for down
syndrome children. This case is brought into the court. She usually could control her emotion every time she gets angry, but this time she needs to speak. She feels
there should be defenses against some people who think they were right. She never felt like this before. There was a big push from her heart to be brave telling
what she has in mind. The showing method is chosen to express her bravery in her thought.
Her dead mothers hand flew to her mouth in shock. Caroline herself could not quite believe it, how her life had changed her, what she had become.
But there was no going back. A flood of the mentally retarded, indeed She pressed her hands to the table and waited. One by one the men stopped
speaking, and the room grew quiet. 208
What she has passed with Phoebe gives her strength to be brave. In the court, she explains what she has experienced since she lived with Phoebe. People who
always talk about data and numbers should understand the subject is a human. The down syndrome children also have the abilities to do anything the normal children
do. In this case, Caroline’s words express her bravery with showing method. “Its not about numbers,” Caroline said. “It’s about children. I have a
daughter who is six years old. It takes her more times, its true, to master new things. But she had learned to do everything that any other children
learn to do: to crawl and walk and talk and use the bathroom, to dress herself, which she did this morning. What I see is little girl who wants to
learn, and who loves everyone she sees. And I see a roomful of men who
