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CHAPTER IV ANALYSIS
This chapter aims to answer the two the research questions of this study. It consists of two sections. The first section discusses the description of Kai Ting’s
characteristics as a response to culture shock experiences. Besides, the second section discusses about Kai Ting’s intrapersonal and interpersonal conflicts in
dealing with culture shock experiences.
A. The Description of Kai Ting
’s Characteristics as a Response to Culture Shock Experiences
A novel, which is a type of literary works, can represent a real life situation. It can be adapted from a real story of human life. It includes several
elements in which one of them is a character. As stated in Abrams 1993, characters are the persons presented in a dramatic, or native work who have
moral, natural tendencies, and emotional qualities presented through their speeches and actions p. 23. There are several characters which are included in
the novel entitled China Boy. The main character of this novel is Kai Ting, who is specially called as
‘China Boy’. The main character is regarded as a round character because he makes significant changes. In the very beginning of the
story, Kai inherits Chinese beliefs and denies all about America. However, he can make changes by accepting American beliefs without erasing all the vestige of his
Chinese beliefs. Therefore, the methods of characterization that are purposed by
29 Murphy 1972 and Card 1988 are needed in analyzing and finding
Kai’s characteristics. The characteristics will be revealed through his reaction, speech,
mannerism, thought, body and talent and habit as seen in the novel. According to Eder, Jannidis, and Schneider
2010, indirect characterization ascribes traits directly in words and it reports an action which can hint in at invisible states and
properties p. 32. Thus, the description of Kai’s characteristics using indirect
characterization are as follows.
1. Kai Ting’s Characteristics Possessed before Learning in Y.M.C.A
Before learning in Y.M.C.A, Kai Ting possesses some characteristics. The characteristics becomes the possible causes of his culture shock experiences.
Thus, the description of Kai Ting characteristics before learning in Y.M.C.A are described as follows.
a. Untalented
Most kids in Panhandle play ball and fight. Kids who can play a ball but are chicken fighters do not belong to the block. Kai cannot play ball and fight.
I was ignorant of the culture, clumsy in the language, and blessed with body that made Tinker Bell ruthless. I was guileless and awkward in sports
p. 4.
It shows that Kai is not really talented and he has a low ability in playing a ball, a sport which must be mastered by Panhandle kids. He describes himself when
playing a ball as a goat. Kai’s talent and ability on these matters indicate his
untalented characteristic. Based on Webster’s Encyclopedic Unabridged
Dictionary, untalented is defined as “having no talent or special ability”. As
mentioned in Card 1988, a part of who you are is what you do. Therefore, it can
30 be concluded that he is a type of children who do not want to take a risk in trying
things, which makes him untalented.
b. Obedient
Kai is an obedient child. It can be seen from his reaction when his mother asks him not to gather with the society. Based on
Webster’s Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary, obedient is
defined as “obeying or willing to obey; complying with or submissive to authority
”. His mother does not give him permission to go outside and fight, but wants him to become a musician. Most of
American children play outside and fight. In China, there is a belief that children who fight hurt their karmas.
“Bad river spirits there; I can feel them, in command of the street and all those children that fight out there hurt their karmas.” p. 31.
When his mother said “There are fine musicians in America, you are to be one of them.” he smiled back to his mother p. 32. He is also good in prediction. Kai
t hinks that his mother’s face tells that if he goes outside, he will lose the music
and become a ruffian and the sun will bake his skin and make him the same as the urchins on the street. He obeys what his mothe
r’s prohibition by smiling back at her and does not say anything to disobey his mother.
c. Antisocial
Based on Webster’s Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary, antisocial is
defined as “unwilling or unable to associate in a normal or friendly way with other people
”. Kai’s mother used to teach him all about being a Chinese boy. She brings Chinese faith along her life which
shapes Kai’s characteristics. Because of the faith that believes fighting and playing with other kids outside to be unacceptable,
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