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fails because their mother chooses another man. Thirdly, by reading and analyzing the novel, one can learn that nobody is perfect.
Therefore, by understanding the characteristics and the behaviors of the three children before and after their parents’ divorce, one may learn that each
individual is unique, and that everybody changes and progresses. Besides, it may help the adult to consider every decision that they take.
B. Problem Formulation
There are three problems to discuss in this study. They can be formulated as follows:
1. How are Lydia, Christopher, and Natalie characterized in Anne Fine’s Alias
Madame Doubtfire? 2.
Why do Lydia’s, Christopher’s, and Natalie’s parents divorce? 3.
How does the divorce influence Lydia’s, Christopher’s, and Natalie’s behavior?
C. Objectives of the Study
The study is conducted to meet the three objectives stated in problem formulation. First, it is to find out Lydia’s, Christopher’s, and Natalie’s
characteristics. Second, is to find out the cause of Lydia’s, Christopher’s, and Natalie’s parents divorce. The last objective of the study is to find out the
influences of divorce on Lydia, Christopher, and Natalie behavior as seen in Anne Fine’s Alias Madame Doubtfire.
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D. Benefits of the Study
There are three objectives to gain in this study. Firstly, for I myself, studying and examining this novel specifically in analyzing the main characters
can give me broader knowledge about literature, a family life with its conflicts, and psychological lessons. Secondly, it is to introduce Anne Fine’s novel to the
readers and help the readers to understand and recognize the characteristics of this novel. Hopefully the readers could grasp the message stated by the author. At last,
this study can be used by the English Language Education Study Program student who has the same study on literature and who is interested in studying Anne
Fine’s novel as their supporting sources.
E. Definition of Terms
It is necessary to clarify some important terms in order to provide an accurate analysis and a clearer explanation to answer formulated problems. These
terms are:
1. Influence
Hornby says influence is a power to affect somebody’s character, beliefs or actions through example, fear, admiration, etc. 437. This means that
influence is an ability to make some thoughts, actions and expressions appear on someone, so that they enrich and become the parts of the
person’s character. In another words, the “influence” can change and form someone’s attitude and character.
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2. Divorce According to Kuper 193 divorce is the legal procedure by which
marriage can be formally ended. Since divorce is the legal ending of marriage, there
are some rules that control the process of divorce. 3. Behavior
Schwartz says behavior is human attitude which can be readily observed and measured. The source of the actions lies in the environment 4. In this
novel, children’s behavior changing is clearly described after their parents divorced.
4. Character Character according to Kennedy 45 is presumably an imagined person
who inhabits a story. Character is the most important factor to build a story. The characters in Alias Madame Doubtfire portray the real life today.
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CHAPTER II REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
