19 does not. For example: a student does the homework because he is afraid of the
punishment that the teacher will give if he does not. The fourth is religious feeling. Occasionally, but not frequently, we
discover a character who is motivated by religious faith. The character acts with deep feelings and convictions that he acts as God’s commandments. The example
is taken from the bible: Moses was willing to guide his nation into the Promised Land because he wanted to obey God’ commandment.
The last is revenge. Both minor and major characters are motivated by the desire to avenge the death of the loved ones. The characters usually are willing to
lose their own life if necessary, as long as they are able to murder or hurt someone
who has hurt them or the one they love.
2.3 Criticism
As one of the famous novel written by William Goldman, Father’s Day has been analyzed and criticized by those who are interested in this amazing story.
Their criticisms provide useful input for this study. The aim if presenting them is to obtain further understanding of William Goldman’s Father’s Day. Some of the
criticisms are taken from the novel Father’s day. Chicago Sun Times Father’s Day, 1971 states that the author has written
an exceptionally good novel, confident and funny, true to the American idiom and even, miraculously, peopled by real life characters.
The Times Father’s Day, 1971 states that it is a real terrific novel; extremely funny, cracking with Broadway wit, yet touching depths and reaching
an exceptionally moving climax.
20 Sunday Telegraph Father’s Day, 1971 states that it is a highly
accomplished novel by William Goldman. Simon Bach, a reader from New York says that the author of the best
selling novel Boys and Girls Together , the controversial critique of Broadway The Season, tells in this novel of a day of joy and terror for a father and his little
girl is really great in portraying people’s actual daily life. http:bancroft.berkeley.edugoldmanwilliamosbobasi.html,
accessed on
November 24, 2007
2.4 Context of the Novel
This section presents the actual condition in which the setting of the novel happens in order to obtain deeper understanding of the novel. The setting of
Father’s Day happens in New York during 1970’s; therefore it is important to know the New York condition during that time.
In the early 1970 until 1979, New York has been through great changes in almost all aspects. In 1970, Nelson A. Rockefeller became the Governor of New
York. Through his leadership, New York slowly began to rise from its economical and social crisis www.ency.encarta.comnewyork1970s, accessed on December
4, 2007. He allows people to show their creativity through legalize a lot of show business.
As show business rapidly grows in New York, many screen play writers, song writers, and novelists are involved in a tight competition to win contracts
with major show business companies. They help New York to get out from economical crisis through their great amount of salary taxes.
21 This condition is quite in line with the story of the novel which tells the
life of song writer in New York. This condition motivates William Goldman in writing a novel entitled Father’s Day. The story of the novel describes the daily
life experience of a song writer behind his popularity and prosperity. Therefore,
the novel draws a song writer attitude toward the problems of his life.
2.5 Theoretical Framework
