Denying Logocentrism The Ways of Deconstruction are Used in Wilson‟s The Illustrated

140 Dependency is one of the logocentrism about children as well. Especially in the most of the conventional children stories, the children characters are made to be dependent. For example, Rapunzel can only depend on the prince‟s attempt to save her from the wicked enchantress. Wilson, on the contrary, denies that logocentrism by not following that pattern by presenting independent Star and Dolphin. They look after each other, their mother, and do household responsibility. They do it all on their own without adult‟s help. One example is that Star often goes by her own to buy school uniform, while logocentrism about children says that children cannot manage their own school stuff. Star has proven that she is independent enough to buy it all her own. Star also becomes the one who do shopping for household needs. It surprises her father saying that shopping is not a child‟s stuff. Moreover, he believes that Star cannot go alone for shopping. It indicates that Star, representing children at her age, is not supposed to do household activities like shopping. Star and Dolphin, instead, do all the things that children at their age are not supposed to do. It is proven by the data below. „I can go round to the corner shop,‟ said Star. „I think it opens early on Saturdays.‟ „You can‟t go out and do the shopping,‟ said Micky fondly. He looked as if he thought she was too little to shop. I wanted to tell him that Star had done the shopping ever since I could remember. She was much better at it than Marigold Wilson, 1999: 93. „I‟m often out without an adult.‟ „I‟m not. In fact, don‟t laugh, but this is the very first time.‟ „Now that is weird.Well. Don‟t worry. I‟ll look after you.‟ Wilson, 1999: 181 141 The second datum emphasizes that Dolphin often goes without adults ‟ supervision and she is still in a good condition so far. On the contrary, Oliver who is at Dolphin‟s age, never goes anywhere without being accompanied by the adults and Dolphin sees that condition as a weird condition. Her condition going anywhere without an adult shapes her independence and she promises to look after Oliver when they are traveling to another part of city. This condition breaks logocentrism that children are very dependent to adult when they want to go to somewhere. They need to wait for an adult figure to travel to another part of a city. The other logocentrism about children images is irresponsibility. Children are perceived as irresponsible human beings while adults are the responsible ones. Society believes that the ones who are responsible and can be responsible for household activities, protection, and parenting are the adults. People are under influence of that logocentrism so that they perceive children and adults in that way. The impact is on children since they are seen as irresponsible. On the contrary, Wilson denies that logocentrism by creating responsible children characters. Dolphin and Star are responsible of doing household activity, anything they are in charge of, and protecting one another. Star You‟ve been such a long time, sweetie‟ „Sorry. There were heaps of people. And I had to walk back carefully because I didn‟t want the cake to get bashed. I do hope you like it. I didn‟t know whether to pick the fruit or the sponge. I got the sponge 142 because it was cheaper —but maybe you like fruit more?‟ Wilson, 1999: 12 The above datum shows a small thing that is done by Star but it shows how responsible she is. She can run or walk carelessly when carrying the cake. But she chooses to walk carefully to make the cake keep in a good shape. She says that she does not want to make the cake get bashed as if it does, her mother must be very upset. Star‟s responsibility to protect her sister is also seen from the way she gets taken and picks her sister up from school. „Me too,‟ says Star. „Good idea, eh? Right, you come and wait for me outside school this afternoon, OK?‟ „OK,‟ I said. I did my best to smile Wilson, 1999: 31. The conversation between Star and Dolphin shows how responsible Star for the safety of her sister. She knows that they go to school without an adult and there is possibility of crime to children anywhere. Thus, as an older daughter, she feels that she is responsible to wait for her sister after school and they can go home together. If Star is irresponsible, she can just go home alone and leaves her sister, but she chooses to make sure her sister is safe when going home from school.

B. Discussion

After considering the research questions presented in the chapter one, the findings can be summarized into two things. The first is that Wilson‟s The Illustrated Mum has presented two unconventional images of children shown 143 by unconventional traits and unconventional roles. There are five unconventional traits of children and three unconventional roles of children in Wilson‟s The Illustrated Mum. The second is that there are seven methods that Wilson uses to deconstruct the images of children and children‟s stories. They are: creating complicated plot, using different point of view, employing sensitive issues, subverting adultchild image, subverting goodbad image, subverting malefemale image, and denying logocentrism. In this research, it is revealed that the logocentrism or image about children has been deconstructed by Wilson. Furthermore, she deconstructs as well the image of children stories that are perceived easy, childlike, and always didactic. The images of children which are stereotyped as innocent, ignorant, dependent, selfish, and irresponsible are replaced by new positive images such as positive traits and roles. The Illustrated Mum proves that Wilson does not follow the pattern of conventional children stories such as fairy tales. She breaks down the logocentrism both about children and children stories‟ images in society by creating unconventional images of children and children stories. The methods she employs are an attempt to create a new way of reading children‟s stories. It happens as she presents unusual traits and roles of children characters in the story. Also, she tries to give lessons to children in smooth and entertaining way. 144 Children are usually perceived as human beings who are ignorant, innocent, dependent, selfish, and irresponsible. Nevertheless, children characters in Wilson‟s The Illustrated Mum are far from those negative images. They are caring, sensitive, independent, unselfish, and responsible. Besides those negative traits that have adhered to children, they are also perceived as passive. In most of the conventional children stories, they have minor roles. Yet, children characters in Wilson‟s The Illustrated Mum are active. It is proven by the unconventional roles of children that become the parents, the protector, and the household activity holder even though they have some childish traits and naughtiness. The ways of deconstructing those negative images both about children and children stories are striking but interesting. She creates complicated plot in which the conflict is not merely between person against person like commonly appearing in conventional children stories. The conflict is between person against self, and person against society. This way is useful since it makes readers, especially child readers can see, that they can even have an internal battle with themselves such as feeling jealous, worry, guilty, angry, empty, etc. Besides, society can be the antagonist of their action because of different views. Another way is using different point of view. Wilson uses this way to give the readers understanding that children have their own perspective about something. They have their own perception about tattoo, divorce, parents,