26 introduces
Bhisma to Amba. “This new doctor”, the young woman says with a sudden blush, “is a graduate from a German University. He is, how shall I say it,
very un-Indonesian. His mannerism, even his face, seem half-European ” p. 172.
It makes Amba curious about him. In addition, Bhisma becomes a trending topic among nurses and female staff when they gather to have lunch. They say
, “So handsome and aristocratic” p. 195. They talk about him because they are
attracted to Bhisma. One day in the afternoon, Amba meets Bhisma behind a tree. Without any
doubt, she directly states Bhisma is the most handsome man that she has ever seen.
“He was unusually tall. Easily more than six feet, a height that seemed to cause him to stoop a l
ittle, and made Amba feel tiny” p. 181. Bhisma’s appearance is definitely perfect for every woman. Since then, Amba has not been
able to look at him because of his attractiveness.
2. Attentive
a. Attentive to His Family
Bhisma’s own life forms him grows as a caring person. He experiences many things, especially since he
knows their parents’ fall into poverty. Prior to that, Bhisma lives in a noble, rich, and happy family. His father works as
respectable publisher of high quality books . Nevertheless, his family’s life
drastically changes in early 1940s, when Japan took off Indonesia from Netherlands, all people lived in an apprehensive situation.
One day, when Bhisma is playing with his friend, Tony Muis, he hears their parents discussing to plan to sell any good to survive during the war.
27 Bhisma
’s parents have already sold all goods that they have, including his mother’s lovely clothes and beds. They do so for their children, particularly for
Bhisma, their youngest child. His father says, “Yes, our youngest must be well
educated ” p. 240. Bhisma realizing his name is mentioned, he feels sad when he
sees sorrow in his parents’ faces. Bhisma is crying for his parents, “He was crying for his parents, for
himself, and for his shared bed because, God forbid, what if they should want to s
ell it too?” p. 240. Despite his young age, he has already known that life has plenty of choices to struggle.
He follows his parents’ suggestions to live with Lipalasy’s family. In Leiden and Leipzig, he still loves his family. Therefore, he
remains to contact his family, especially his sister, Mita.
b. Attentive to Other People
