The Description of Bill Russell’ Character

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CHAPTER IV ANALYSIS

This chapter deals with the analysis of the two problems in the problem formulation mentioned in the Chapter One. This chapter is divided into two parts. The first part aims at describing Bill Russell’s character. The second part intends to find out Bill Russell’s motivation to be a basketball star.

A. The Description of Bill Russell’ Character

This sub-chapter discusses the description of Bill Russell as the main character in the Go Up for the Glory. At this point, the writer uses the theory of characters and characterizations in order to describe Bill Russell’s characterizations. As stated by Stanton, character is commonly used in two ways: it designates the individuals who appear in the story and it refers to the mixture of interests, desires, emotions and moral principles that makes up each of these individuals Stanton 17. There are many ways to distinguish character. According to Milligan, in a novel there are two kinds of characters based on their importance, namely main or major characters and minor characters. Major characters are the center of as well as the most important characters in the story. They become the center of the story because the narrative mostly talks about the conflicts among them. On the other hand, minor characters appear only once or twice in the story and their role are less important than the major characters Milligan 155. In Go PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI Up for Glory, Bill Russell is considered as the major character. It is because the story focuses on him. This novel is a true story of Bill Russell which tells about his life experience in searching for the glory of being a basketball star. Bill Russell himself becomes the center of the story. He appears from the beginning to the end of the story. Perrine classifies the sorts of the character into two: static and dynamic character. Static character is a character that does not undergo the process of change development as a result of the things that happen to him. Meanwhile, dynamic character undergoes an important, basic, and permanent change in his character, personality, or perspective Perrine 71. Dynamic character is understood as a character which changes when the things happen to him Holman and Harmon 83. After reading Go Up for Glory several times, the writer finally realizes that the main character in that novel can be categorized as static character. The reason why Bill Russell is considered to be a static character is because of his characters, personality and perspective do not change from the beginning to the end of the narrative. Many things happen during his lifetime; however it does not change anything in his characters and perspective. In the opening of the novel, Russell is described as a child who has ambition to achieve something better in his life. As an African-American, he wants to prove that he can do great thing as well as the white people do. He never changes from the beginning until the end of the story. When Russell is a child, he dreams to be a basketball star. He imagines being a great famous basketball star and tries to find the way to reach it. He PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI struggles to reach his dream; no matter how many the difficulties faced. Until getting older, he never changes his way of thinking. According to Forster, the term “character” is divided into two. They are a flat character and a round character. The author describes him as the same sort of person at the end of the story as he was at the beginning. Otherwise, contrast to flat character, round character is many sided. He has complexity in temperament and motivation. This complexity is shaped by the character’s environment Forster 48. Based on the explanations above, the writer summarizes that the character of Bill Russell is a flat character. Russell is a person who is proud of being an African-American. Being an African-American in America is not easy. People treat him differently to the white. Most people say bad thing about an African- American. Russell is proud of himself. He is proud to have his skin. From the beginning to the end of the story, Russell is always proud to be an African- American. He never feels sorry to be it. That is why the writer considers him a flat character. Rohrberger and Wood present the terms protagonist and antagonist to group characters in novels. The protagonist is the chief character of the story. He or she is usually the hero in the traditional fiction. The character is described as a good person and mostly becomes the center of the story. The opponent character is called the antagonist. As readers, we often recognize this sort of character, mostly as an evil character Rohrberger and Wood 17. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI Bill Russell is the protagonist. He is a good person and becomes the center of the story. Bill Russell becomes the essential figure of the story, and additionally it is an autobiography of him. The novel focuses on Bill Russell and his life experiences in struggling to be a basketball star. According to Murphy, there are nine ways used to find out the description of certain character in a story. Those are personal description, character as seen by another, speech, past life, conversation of others, reactions toward the various situations and events, direct comments, thought, and mannerism Murphy 161- 173. In this discussion, those ways are supporting each other to analyze the character of Bill Russell. Here is the characterization of Bill Russell:

a. Loving and Caring

Bill Russell is considered to be a loving and caring person. He loves his family. He also likes his friends. There is a direct comment that shows Russell as a loving person. “I was just a kid who liked his friends and loves his mother and father and brother and scuffed along the dirt road, laughing, on my way to a barn that was converted into a school”10. Bill Russell loves to be with his family. His parents are working but having different working time. He is happy because he still has one of them at home while the other is working. Living with his parents makes him happy. “And we lived. Mother and father were both working in the shipyards and one worked days and one work nights, so there was always someone home. It was 1943, a PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI good year, and a happy one” 14. The way he is thinking about his past life shows that Russell greatly loves his parents. Bill Russell has lost his mother since he was young. He never knows why his mother dies. Now, there are just three of them: his father, his eldest brother, and he himself. While his father says that they will all have to stick together, he feels warm and cozy. The direct comment shows that Russell cares about his family. Being together with the family makes him warm and cozy 16. From the day his mother dies, his father raises him and his eldest brother alone. He never sees their report cards again. Russell signs his brother’s card and his brother signs his card. Nevertheless, Russell never makes any judgment on his father since he is, simply, his father. He knows that his father has to work to fulfill their needs raise both of them. Therefore, when he gets paid as a basketball player, he does not want his father to work again. He gets 100,001 which is a big amount at that time. His father is laughing. It is one of the great laughing moments of Russell’s life 17. It is clearly stated that Russell’s care of his family can be seen from his reaction to fulfill his family needs. In Celtics, there is the atmosphere of helping out. This team believes that it is the key of the success. The senior who is getting older will help the junior who is going to take his place. When his time comes, Russell has a willingness to help the guy who is going to take his place 121. It can be analyzed that he thinks to do it because he cares of his team. Russell also loves his grandfather. It is described directly. He loves him very much. He takes his children to visit his grandfather. For him, his grandfather PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI is a wonderful man, whose triumphs and frustrations and wisdom have touched the heartbeat of his life and thought. He loves him, perhaps more than any man in the world, with a kinship which is more than blood and with a laughter that is more than joy. His grandfather is a man for all seasons, a great man, and he will always be 136.

b. Being Proud of Himself

The pride as an African-American emerges initially when Russell was sixteen years old. It appears suddenly, not clear what trigger such feeling. He never feels that strong and influential feeling before. It firstly happened when he wakes up in the morning and finds out that he is so proud to be an African- American. The pride gives him the impetus to fight, to struggle in order to reach his dream. This becomes the foundation to go forward 16. This thought shows that Russell is proud of himself. He is proud to be an African-American. The pride comes firstly when he is sixteen and it finally brings him to the peak of his career. The pride to be an African-American brings acceptance and respect to him. The highest achievement of his hard work is being a national champion. It is great to be it. As a result, he can meet the President of the United States in the White House. It makes impression because he can do it as an African-American who has no rights. Moreover, it brings affect to the rest of his days 37. There is segregation between the white people and the African-American. In St. Louis the white people treat the African-American badly. They call the PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI African-American as “black gorilla”. It is because the African-American is tall and has black skin. Russell is six feet, ten inches tall. Being that tall is a privilege, not a disadvantage. There is a statement about his being proud to have the height and the skin color. If there is the lowest, most downtrodden African-American shown to him, he will say to everyone that the man is his brother. He is proud of being an African American 130-131. Bill is proud of himself, even though some people underestimate his society, African-American. He is happy born as an African-American. Though he finds so many problems as an African-American who lives in America, but he is happy to share in the problems with his society. He truly understands the proud feeling is also felt by others, such as Jewish, Italians and Irish towards their homeland. He considers himself not different with others. The pride of his ancestral home is regarded as normal and common 153.

c. Talented

Russell is described as a well talented person. In his senior year, Oakland offers the Keyes Memorial Trophy to the team and student body that demonstrates the best sportsmanship. His team plays the game. They win it three years in a row. They are very proud of it. It is a big thing. It is a big tribute to those players and those students. Russell and his team have proved that they are talented 21-22. Coming up to Russell’s graduation, there is Oakland High, the biggest game. He is paired against All Star team. He scores high, fourteen points and beat them badly. His team wins the city championship and he goes off on a trip PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI through British Columbia and the northwest with a schoolboy All Star team. Because of his talent, he gets a college scholarship 22-23. Russell knows that he is a good basketball player. He plays with the team and often wins the game. He must be talented. Some people say that he is great 32. The acknowledgement as a good basketball player comes when Russell receives a call from the school saying that he has a letter from the White House. He is invited to a physical fitness meeting at the White House in July. That is because he was a national champion 36-37. This reaction proves that Bill Russell is considered to be a good basketball player. Russell has talent as a great basketball player. He has one big edge going- the blocked shot. He has tips how to play good and defeat opponent. You must learn just when a player is going to shoot; what type of shot he has, and where you have to be to block it. You have to know exactly where you are on the floor at all times. And you have to develop by repetition until it becomes almost second nature. I call it “canned thinking. A sixth sense is developed for it and a quick move at the same time knowing just what the habits of the opponent are…… ;Make them switch from their accustomed habit into something new where they are instinctively uncomfortable. To categorize it, look at defense on this basis: 1 Learn the other man’s habits. Then make him go exactly opposite to what he likes to do. 2 When he gets to a position where he is away from his best shot, even if it’s only a foot, make him commit himself and shoot and count on the law of averages being on your side. 3 If you are successful, just smile at him as though you can do it every time 124. Russell has basic system in playing basketball. He has strategy to win a game. It shows that he is a well-talented person. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI

d. Tough

Russell’s being tough can be seen in his past life. His parents have different working time, so there is always someone home to accompany and take care of the children. One day, when Russell comes home from school, he cannot find his mother at home. His mother is sick. She is in the hospital for two weeks. She never comes home anymore. She passes away then. Russell still has his father and his brother with him. There are only three of them now. They live their life together 14-16. Living in America as an African-American is not easy and now as a teenager, he has to lose his mother. He survives and grows up without his mother. It shows how tough he is. There is different situation after Russell’s mother died. His father works very hard. He does not have much time to take care of the children. He never again sees their report cards. Russell signs his brother’s and his brother signs his. He is busy to make money for them. There is a separation. There is loneliness 17. Russell is not angry to be in such situation. It proves that he is tough enough to handle any problem comes to his life. Woolpert, the coach, never says anything. He never once in all the years says that his player does a good job, a bad job, or a mediocre job. It hurts Russell plenty. Sometimes he wants him to tell that he is doing a good job. He wants the support of his coach. Woolpert does not do it. Russell’s thought shows how tough he is. Even if the coach never says anything about the way he is playing, and it seems that he is not to give his support to the player, Russell is tough enough to play basketball greatly for the team 32. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI There is another evidence to show Russell’s being tough that can be analyzed through his thought. Some players and fans are certain to judge him on race. It is because he is the only African-American player in his team. Being the tallest make him seem to be a giant. The combination provides them with plenty of material for sly jokes. Most news writers are also saying that Russell will not make it. They expect that Russell will never be a legitimate sports hero in Boston or anywhere else. Russell is not worried about what they are saying and laughing at. They can do that anytime they want. It does not make him feel bad. He will just be him 55. In St. Louis, the people often call the African-American as “baboon, nigger, or black gorilla”. The fans do that while Russell is playing in a game. He does not say anything. He just plays and ignores it. In a conversation, he tells his wife not to let a town like St. Louis beat her. It is him against the world. He is an African-American and he might as well face it 122. Being a joke by fans does not make him upset or angry easily. He does not let such thing make him down. He just keeps playing as a man, as a tough man.

e. Brave

Russell’s bravery can be seen through his reaction. When Harry Gallatin, a New York coach, throws a punch at Red Auerbach in a game at Boston Garden, Russell is getting mad to him. He challenges Gallatin and says “Gallatin, you’ve always been a loudmouth fink. Now if you’re so tough, why don’t you punch me? I’m your size” 101. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI When a straightened out guy comes downcourt and gives him an elbow, Russell is getting mad. He threatens that he can defeat and make the guy lying on the hospital. The man leaves but then comes back again and calls him a “black gorilla”. He makes big mistakes by doing that. Russell punches him and breaks two ribs. It is the only time in his life he intentionally tries to hurt someone 102. His behavior shows that Russell is brave enough to have a fight with someone. Russell does not like to be cheated on a game. He is not afraid of anyone. One night, Russell’s team plays with Felix’s team on the neutral court of Syracuse. Felix is a player who can be easily upset. That night, when the game is running, he becomes upset. He starts throwing elbows and Russell gives him a little shove. The ref sees it and calls a foul on him. Russell turns and says “That’s a good call Ref, but watches his elbows, will you?” but what happen next is Felix winding up to throw a right hand. But Russell is ready to fight against him. He flips his left hand into Felix’s mouth 102-103.

f. Ambitious

There are Russell’s thoughts that prove his being ambitious. Charlie, Russell’s brother, is two years ahead of him. He is a good basketball athlete. He is transferred from junior high to Oakland Tech which is something of a status symbol in their neighborhood. It is the case of an African-American managing to break the bonds, break the barrier and fight from under the pile heaped on him. Oakland Tech is predominantly white. It is amazing that an African-American can be a part of it. Charlie has a strong effect on Russell. He admires him PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI tremendously. Russell ambitiously wants to follow his footsteps. He wants to be a basketball player like his brother 18. Russell is going to University of San Francisco and being the basketball team member. He tries hard to be a good player. He learns about the strategy in playing basketball. He has his own ambition. It is to learn everything about defense and blocking shot 26. Russell plays for Celtics. Auerbach, the coach, has a philosophy “Cry me no tears. Tell me no sad tales. This team is a totalitarian state and I am the dictator.” There is no one in the team can be close to him. They cannot be friends. They have to show their ability in playing basketball in order to be accepted by him. Auerbach cannot stand the thought of losing. Neither can Russell. He has been immediately instilled with the philosophy. He plays to win. He wants to be a winner; otherwise Auerbach has no place for him 78-79. It shows Russell’s ambition to be accepted by the coach. It is his ambition to play for Celtics, to be a part of it. His being ambitious is showed in 1965 at Boston Garden. He plays for the Eastern championships. It is the seventh and the final game. There are about 18.000 people scream. He feels like bum and the lost sheep of the NBA. But when Chamberlain, the opponent, square off with him, he knows that he gets ready to put his weight against him. He is ready to defeat him and be the winner. He promises himself for all the money and the years, good and bad, the MPV trophies and the All Star Games and all the rest of it. Even he promises himself for the whole career 114-116. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI Russell has an ambition to be respected. As the only African-American in the team, he wants to prove himself as a man over a long period of time. It has always been that way with him and it always will be. He does not work to be liked. All he does is to be respected by the other 121. Being born as an African-American in America, having no right is a common thing. Being poor is a common thing too. Russell thinks that the battle lines are basically economic. That is why, economically, he has ambition to do something for the African-American. He employs them, not a giving, but an achieving. He gives them a chance to achieve something better in their life 132. Russell lives his life differently with all white neighborhoods. It is not because he wants to, but he has to. Being an African-American means you are different from the white people. You are treated differently by others. You are going to different places from the White people. Russell does not want to live that kind of life any longer. He wants the best kind of life, the best kind of school, and the best kind of police protection for his family. That is his ambition to have such things. It is his ambition to show the White that the African-American are also human beings and can be lived with, side by side. He wants better things in life 134.

B. Russell’s Motivation to be a Basketball Star