Subverting MaleFemale Image The Ways of Deconstruction are Used in Wilson‟s The Illustrated

136 I trudged on towards Holybrook Primary. Nearly everyone got taken by their mothers, even the kids in Year Six. Marigold hardly ever took me to school. Mostly she stayed in bed in the morning. I didn‟t mind. It was easier that way Wilson, 1999: 31. The above datum indicates that Dolphin often goes to school by her own. She does not even mind about it and she believes that it is better that way. Children are usually got taken by their parents as they are afraid something bad happen to them in the way to their schools. Society also believes that parents need to guide them to school as they need protection. Yet, Wilson shows that children are not afraid to go to school without parents. Star also present an independent child character by showing that she can shop school stuff such as uniform by herself. “She got money off Marigold the minute she got it out the post office and went to the school‟s special uniform sale and go herself a hideous grey skirt and blazer and white blouses and even a tie Wilson, 1999: 28.” Society often perceives that children cannot go shopping for uniform as adults are responsible for buying it or accompanying them to buy it. On the other hand, Star does not need to be accompanied by adult figure and she goes by herself. Wilson does not only subvert malefemale image by creating independent children characters, but also creating smart or knowledgeable children characters. The children female characters in this story know what to do when they are faced with a problem. It is shown by Dolphin‟s action when Marigold is covered by paints. She knows that it will be worse if she only 137 waits someone to knock her flat‟s door or wait for Star to come and if she only stays doing nothing. Instead, she calls an emergency to order an ambulance. I knew what to do. I knew it was the only thing to do . But I felt I was betraying Marigold as I stood in the phone box and dialed the three numbers. „Emergency?‟ „Yes. Yes, it is an emergency,‟ I said. „I think I need an ambulance.‟ I was so confused to someone else who started asking me questions. „This person‟s covered in paint,‟ I said. „I won‟t come off. No, it‟s not my little brother or sister. It‟s my mum. No, she can‟t come herself. She…she can‟t move. She‟s sort of stuck. And she won‟t speak to me any more. I‟m scared she maybe can‟t hear because the paint‟s in her ears and every where. We live at Flat B, 35 Beacon Road . Please. Will you come?‟ Wilson, 1999: 161 From the datum above, it can be clearly seen that Dolphin is has an initiative to call an emergency. She does not only asks an ambulance to come, but also explains in details her mother‟s condition, what damage that can be happen to her mother, and where she lives. Another datum showing that Dolphin is smart and knowledgeable is that she knows what to do when Marigold tries to hurt herself. She gets her antiseptic to make her wounded skin get better. She knows exactly what kind of medicine she needs and quickly gives the aid to her mother. She rolled up her sleeve and started fingering her new cross tattoo, scraping along its lines with her nails. „Don‟t you‟ll get infected, picking at it like that.‟ I got her antiseptic cream and she rubbed it in slowly. It seemed to soothe her. She got washed and properly dressed. I did her hair for her. I combed it up into a chic pleat and anchored it with my green clasp. „Close your eyes,‟ I said, and I sprayed her hair thoroughly to keep every single tendril in place Wilson, 1999: 107-8. 138 Star is as smart and knowledgeable as Dolphin is. She knows that she cannot reach her sister and mother because the phone has broken. Immediately she calls her neighbor, Mrs. Luft, and asks her to call her sister. „Oh, Dol. Oh, Dol. Oh, Dol.‟ Star was crying. „What‟s happened? What‟s the matter with the mobile phone? I was so worried when I couldn‟t get through . And then I suddenly thought of Mrs. Luft. What‟s Marigold done? Has she smashed the phone? She hasn‟t done anything to you, has she? Wilson, 1999: 53 It is proven as well by Marigold‟s comment towards Star‟s brilliant action. She says that, “„Star? Oh, sweetie, how brilliant of you to phone Mrs. Luft, ‟ said Marigold, without so much as a slur to her voice Wilson, 1999: 53.” The data above show how smart and knowledgeable a child can be when they have to face some problems and when they are given a chance to think to solve their problems by themselves.

g. Denying Logocentrism

Conventional children‟s literature has spread logocentrism both about children‟s images and children‟s literature images. The logocentrism, as stated previously, has won the society‟s value and it influences children in the real life. They are perceived as weak, dependent, innocent, irresponsible, selfish, and ignorant. These negative images are shaped when people think about children. 139 In most of the conventional children stories, such as The Frog Prince, the princess is very ignorant. She makes a promise to the frog, but she herself breaks her own promise. She leaves the frog without considering its feeling. In The Little Red Riding Hood, Little Red Riding Hood is irresponsible. She forgets the aim to go to her grandmother‟s house, so her grandmother is eaten by the wicked wolf. In Clever Gretel, Gretel is an irresponsible child female character. She eat s the food that should be served for her master‟s guests. Not only that, she, instead of telling the truth, she lies to her masters that the ones who has eaten the food are his master‟s guests. Wilson, however, deconstructs The Illustrated Mum by rewriting story that denies that logocentrism. She presents good images of children characters such as unselfish, independent, and responsible. Logocentrism about children spreads as well the belief that children are selfish. Nevertheless, in The Illustrated Mum, Wilson denies that logocentrism. Instead, she creates unselfish children characters. Star says, “„You can have the rest of my Mars if you like,‟ said Star, thrusting the last piece of hers in my hand Wilson, 1999: 31 .” It is proven that Star is not selfish. Logocentrism about children often sees them as the ones who do not want to share, especially food. Yet, from the above datum, it is clearly seen Star willingly shares the rest of the chocolate bar she has as she knows her sister wants it. 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