Object of the Study

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CHAPTER IV ANALYSIS

In this analysis, the writer tries to answer the questions in the problem formulation. This chapter is divided into three parts. The first is the characteristic of Rebecca Bloomwood as the main character in the Confession of a Shopaholic. The second is the social surrounding of the novel. The third is the influence of the social surrounding toward the main character’s compulsive buying disorder. According to the Klarer’s theory about the kinds of character, the writer concludes that Rebecca is classified as a round character. Klarer’s theory 1999: 17 states that the round character usually denotes a person with more complex and different features. Since the beginning of the story, Rebecca Bloomwood is described as a shopaholic with a lot of financial problems. She has a lot of debts because she cannot control her desire to do shopping. Rebecca is very motivated in doing something. Moreover, she is a self-seeking woman. She usually uses some ways in order to get something. After reading further, the writer can conclude that Rebecca has personality disorder. Because of the society, Rebecca becomes one of Compulsive Buying Disorder sufferers. The role of the society unconsciously enhances her hobby that is a shopaholic becomes a personality disorder.

A. The Characteristics of Rebecca Bloomwood

According to the theory of character and characterization by Murphy 1972: 161-173, there are nine ways that can be applied to analyze the characteristic of the character. In this study, only five ways that will be applied. Those are personality description, character seen by another, speech, past life, and reaction.

1. Shopaholic

Generally, a person becomes a shopaholic when she or he truly enjoys to do shopping, she or he usually buys everything that he or she wants. However, in this novel Rebecca is described as a shopaholic when she enjoys shopping on a certain brand with high quality. According to her thesis, Lestari also said that Rebecca is a person who always tries hard to get all the stuff she wants whatever the way 2011: 48. Rebecca’s desire to shop cannot be controlled when she looks at something in good quality. It becomes the reason why Rebecca is known as a woman who has high-standard of style. By looking at the personality description, Rebecca is described as a 25 year-old woman who is addicted to shopping. It is also stated in the novel about Rebecca’s appearance. I casually close my eyes and start to tot up. There was that suit in Jigsaw. And there was dinner with Suze at Qualinos. And there that gorgeous red and yellow rug. The rug was £200, come to think of it. But it was definitely worth every penny—everyone’s admired it. Or, at least, Suze has. And the Jigsaw suit was on sale—30 percent off. So that was actually saving money. I open my eyes and reach for the bill. As my finger hit the paper I remember new contact lenses. Ninety-five pounds. Quite a lot. But, I mean, I had to get those, didn’t I? What am I supposed to do, walk around in a blur? Kinsella, 2005: 1.