meets her, he simply cannot define his own future because he is born as a Cole, a family who lives in Oriental. Coles’ professions are robbers, thieves, and those
kinds of jobs that are related to crimes. After Amanda enters Dawson’s life, he is able to think about his future and about what he wants to be. In other words,
Amanda is the reason for Dawson to create a future to his life. In addition, Amanda’s presence in Dawson’s past and current life also causes some influences
on Dawson’s personality. Therefore, the writer wants to see how the influences of
Dawson’s first love change Dawson’s past and current life.
B. Research Questions
The problems that will be discussed are systematically formulated as follows:
1. How is Dawson portrayed in Nicholas Sparks’ The Best of Me?
2. How is the development of Dawson’s love in Nicholas Sparks’ The Best of Me?
3. What are the influences of Dawson’s first love on his life in Nicholas Sparks’
The Best of Me?
C. The Significance of The Study
The significance of the study is about to provide and present the information that are needed by the readers who are interested to literary works,
especially novel. Besides, this study also has benefits to students of English Language Education Study Program. The students may use this study as a reference
for their related topic the study. Besides, it may also give students better understanding to a literary work, which is a novel. Another benefit of this study is
that the writer is able to learn more about Dawson’s character on how he endlessly PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
shows his loyalty to love Amanda, his first love, even though it means that Dawson cannot be together with her. Through this study, the writer also learns that a feeling
love or affection is able to give influences to one’s personality.
D. Definition of Term
In this part, the writer elaborates the terms used in this study. There are two terms, namely love and life. The first term is love, which is described as a strong
feeling of affection that has a purpose to show a feeling to someone because he or she is sexually attracted. According to Hauck 1983, love is that powerful feeling
one has for persons, animals, or things that has satisfied, is satisfying, or will satisfy our deepest desires and needs p. 16. Therefore, love means a powerful feeling
possessed by one person and it is showed to others in order to get satisfaction or to satisfy others’ needs and desires.
Furthermore, the definition of love related to this novel refers to a feeling shown by actions of loving. The actions cover some expressions such as care,
sacrifice, and being selfless to someone. In the novel, Dawson shows his feeling of love through those actions to his first love. Moreover, according to Firestone
2006, love is described as follows. Actions that fit the description of loving relationship are expression of
affection, both physical and emotional; a wish to offer pleasure and satisfaction to one’s mate; tenderness, compassion, and sensitivity to the
needs of the other; a desire for shared activities and pursuits; an ongoing, honest exchange of personal feelings the process of offering concern,
comfort, and outward assistance for the love object’s aspirations p. 31. From the definition described by Firestone 2006, love can be defined as
an expression that shows an affection in visual form and emotional form. Love also refers to an expression that has two directions, which means there should be two
persons who express and or receive the feeling of love. Moreover, following that love is also defined as a sensitive expression; an act of loving is related to a need
shared from one person to another. Therefore, love means a feeling that is possessed by persons and it is
expressed through some acts of loving such as giving pleasure, desire, satisfaction, care, and affection. Love is considered as a powerful feeling because once the needs
or desires to love are fulfilled, it will give a satisfaction. In this study, this term is related to some particular feelings such as affection, desire, and care.
The second term is life. The term li fe is referred to Dawson’s love life in
the story of The Best of Me. Dawson’s life begins to change when Amanda,
Dawson’s first love, enters his world. It is stated that “…and Dawson couldn’t imagine anything that would change that. Until the day Amanda Collier entered his
world p. 16”. In addition, Amanda is the person who gives some influences on Dawson’s life, which means that Dawson is involved with romantic relationships
with Amanda. Therefore, the term of life is defined as the Dawson’s experiences
and activities during the time he spends with Amanda. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
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CHAPTER II REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
