the author. Second, it can provide some references to the author‘s life. Biography of the author, his letters and other documents can show the
author‘s personality. Third, it can help to interpret the true meaning of a given text. Forth, it creates a sensual impression on the reader Motlagh,
2010: 9.
In the preceding quotation, Mothlag explained about the usefulness of psychology in literature area. There are four points that psychology has role in
literature. Psychology helps literature in building a creative work; work of art needs creativity from the creator, psychology has role in developing the creator’s
idea. In understanding the meaning of work of art, the creator’s psychology has a role to analyze the art. Psychology develops imagination in the readers’ mind.
C. Theoretical Framework
There are some theories used in this study. The usage of these theories is to answer the problem formulation. There are three theories that are used to
analyze this undergraduate thesis. They are the theory of character, the theory of failure, and the relation between literature and psychology.
The first theory is the theory of character, since in this study it is used to analyze the characteristics of Count Olaf. The theory of character is used to
analyze, to identify, and to understand what behavior that Count Olaf has. The writer uses the theory character by M. H. Abrams because it helps the writer in
defining the character’s characteristics by looking at his dialogues and acts. The writer also used the theory of character by M. J. Murphy to analyze the
characteristics of Count Olaf. There are nine points which M. J. Murphy stated in his book Understanding Unseen: An Introduction to English Poetry and the
English Novel for Overseas Students, but the writer may be used some of the important points which has correlation with the characteristic of Count Olaf.
After knowing his characteristics, the writer tries to point out his failures in the novel. In this part, the theory of failure is needed to explain the failure of
Count Olaf. The writer used the theory of failure by Kasarjian, beside that; the writer also uses the theory of failure by Napoleon Hill and Clement Stone. In their
book, there are the characteristics of failure which will be used to analyze the failure in the novel.
Finally, the writer tries to know the failures of Count Olaf in stealing Baudelaire’s fortune. The writer assumes that Count Olaf’s characteristics lead
him to his failure. The writer also gives some proof that there is a relation between literature and psychology. This theory is needed to know that psychology
has a role in literature in building the character’s characteristics.
18
CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY
A. Object of the Study
The object of the study is the novel by Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning which is published by Harper Collins
Publisher in the year of 1999. It consists of 162 pages. It is his first c hildren’s
book that he wrote. This book is the first book of planned thirteen series. In addition to its strong reviews, A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad
Beginning won multiple literary awards, there are the Colorado Childrens Book Award, the Nevada Young Readers Award, 3 IRA or CBC Children Choice
Award, Nickelodeon Kid’s Choice, Quill Book Award and Nene Award http:www.kidsbookseries.com 10 October 2012. This novel has sold more
than 60 million copies and translated into 41 languages. This book was filmed and played on the theater on 2004 by Nickelodeon Movies as the producer, starring
Jim Carey as the villain actor, Count Olaf http:movies.nytimes.com 6 November 2012. This book is different from other children books, because the
common children book usually has happy ending, but not for this book which is the reverse.
This book told about the three young Baudelaire children who lost their parents in terrible fire in their house. Then, their parents’ executor, Mr. Poe, sent
Baudelaire children to stay with a family member name Count Olaf who treated them poorly and made them do many difficult chores. Count Olaf knew that the
