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CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION
This chapter is divided into five main parts. They are background of the study, objective of the study, problem formulation, research benefits and the
definition of terms. The background of the study tells about why the writer chose literature, novel’s author and the novel as the topic of the study. Objective of the
study determines the purpose of the study. The problem formulation presents the two problems of the study. Research benefits convey the usage of this study for
readers and researchers. Last part of this chapter is definition of terms which presents some specific terms which are needed to be clarified.
A. Background of the Study
Nowadays, people always want to shift their dream into reality and achieve their happiness. Happiness makes people’s life worth living. A matter of
fact, most people couldn’t get it done and result in failure. This failure often makes people lead a dog’s life. It means that people would find their life dull and
full of weariness which finally brings them to unhappy days. Basically, people may require alternatives and reinforcement from others while altering their
dreams into reality. Those alternatives and reinforcements are usually brought by others such as parents, friends and environments. Therefore, people need to
experience socialization process with parents, friends and environment in order to get more alternatives. By socializing, people are provided with various
alternatives which help them to choose and decide about something in their life.
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
2 That socialization will enable people to know what to do in their life. This life
issue is called social learning processes. “Social learning identifies learning as a dynamic interplay between the person, the environment, and behavior. Social
learning is also a theory of human development that says humans learn through observation of model behaviors and reinforcement for imitated behaviors”
Bandura, 1977:237. This phenomenon of social learning is interesting to discuss. Therefore, this study chooses social learning as one of recent life issue as
the topic of this study. We can find many human phenomenons related to life issue in many
forms. One of them is through literary works. According to Wellek and Waren’s Theory of Literature, “literature is a source of knowledge that is very important
for everyone who wants to enrich his comprehension of the world and its society” 36. This evidence reinforces the writer to choose study on literature. It is also
selected because literature serves as a mirror of self and social examination. People can see, learn, and even comprehend life phenomenon which is illustrated
in literature. As one of literary works, Veronika Decide to Die, a novel that contains
psychological and life issue of human being is interesting to elaborate and analyze. The story of Veronika Decides to Die is a novel written by Paulo Coelho.
This novel is written based on the Paulo Coelho’s experience when his parent had him to a lunatic asylum. Paulo Coelho is also recognized for his powerful story
telling technique and the profound spiritual insights he blends seamlessly into his parables. It was also done when he presents Veronika Decide to Die. He has won
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
3 a winner of numerous literary prizes. Paulo Coelho is also a prominent speaker for
humanitarian causes and an international bestselling author. This evidence ensures this study to use Paulo Coelho’s novel as the object of this study. In Paulo
Coelho’s Veronika Decides to Die, he presents Veronika as the main character who has willing to commit suicide due to boredom and emptiness of life. To be
failed of suicide attempt, she is sent to a mental hospital. Doctor told her that she had heart attack and there only a week remain. By living in mental hospital, which
is a new environment for her, she begins to socialize and learn new things. Afterwards, she realizes the meaning of her life and knows what to do with her
life. By understanding Paulo Coelho’s Veronika Decides to Die, this study relates social learning as a life issue with Veronika’s life as seen in the novel. Therefore,
this study focuses on researching and analyzing the ways to know the meaning of Veronika’s life as reflected in Paulo Coelho’s Veronika Decides to Die. The ways
to know the meaning of Veronika’s life leads Veronika knows what to do in her life.
B. Objective of the Study
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