34
hermother is the woman whom she admired for her toughness, but Francie is much more open to her father even though her father Johnny seemed to be relaxed
and does not care about their circumstances. But Francies father has compassion always able to warm Francie. In contrast to the more loving mother Neeley. As
shown in the following excerpt: Maybe, thought Francie. She doesnt love me as much as she loves
Neeley. But she needsme more than she needs him and I guess being needed is almost as good as being loved.Maybe better.
Smith, 1947:443
4.2 The Struggles Of Francie In Facing Her Social Problems
Four transcendence Beauvoirs theory that can be done to enforce the self existence of women leaders, among others:
a. Being an intelect woman
Being a woman who is educated is the hope of every person. Women who have a higher education will be recognized by its environment and will be
considered as a qualified woman. According Ollenburger and Moore 1996: 139, the structure of education determines the pattern of womens lives. With a highly
educated woman can raise vertical mobility to improve the socio-economic status. Not only that, women also have a role as an identity, as well as the science will
grow and flourish. Then the more perfect when science is imbued by the owner in life and able to immerse themselves in the community. It is clear that the role of
education is very big to maintain the existence of a woman. Without education, a woman will just be a woman who must live her life
as a housewife without being able to develop her potential. But it is different with Francie. Francie is a girl who has the soul of a high existence to the world of
Universitas Sumatera Utara
35
education. In fact, she loved education since she was small. Herpassion for reading made Francie grow differently with children her own age. This can be
seen in the following excerpt: “The library was a little old shabby place. Francie thought it
was as good as the feeling she had about the church. She pushed open the door and went in. She liked the combined smell of
worn leather bindings, library paste and freshly-inked stamping pads better than she liked the smell of burning incense at high
mass. But Francie was a reader. She read everything she could find: trash, classis, time tables and the grocer’s price list.”
Smith, 1947:39
Having an interest in the library, books and stationery make Francie has a big dream to fight for her existence as a woman through her education later. The
desire has become a passion and her hope since childhood. While the others children imagine about playing gomes, Francie have thought about her dreams for
having her own home with many books. As shown in the following except: “ Yes, when I get big and have my own home, no plush chairs
and lace curtains for me. And no rubber plants. I’ll have a desk like this in my parlor and white walls and a clean green blotter
every Saturday night and a row of shinning yellow pencils always sharpened for writing and a golden-brown bowl with a
flower or some leaves or berries always in it and books..books..books.” Smith, 1947:41
When Francie knows that her parents would send her to school, she is very happy eventhoughshe has to wait for her brother Neeley until the age of 6 years so
that they could go to school together. The situation is not made less enthusiasm to fight for education. She had imagined many things about the school. This can be
seen through the excerpt below: “ School days were eagerly anticipated by Francie. She wanted
all of the things that she thought came with school. She had heard mama and papa speak of the school room. She wanted to
Universitas Sumatera Utara
36
see the map that pulled down like a shade. Most of all, she wanted “school supplies” ; a notebook and tablet and a pencil
box with a sliding top filled with new pencils, an eraser, a little tin pencil sharpener made in the shape of a cannon, a pen wider,
and a six-inch, soft wood, yellow ruler.” Smith, 1947:195
b. Being a worker woman
