of self-actualization. This study uses this method to help the writer in analyzing the novel Some Other Summer.
There is a false impression that emerges in reader minds when reading the theory of human needs. A reader might assume that when one need is satisfied,
then another emerges. By having such assumption, we might think that the upmost level in human needs will never be able to be achieved when someone cannot
achieve the lower level in theory of human needs. Maslow 1987 states that such statement gives the false impression that a need must be satisfied 100 percent
before the next need emerges p. 27. In fact there are some exceptions that enable someone to skip a particular level of human needs or even to omit it. The
explanation and the analysis on the lack of needs and Lynette’s motivation to
fulfill her needs are written below.
1. Physiological Needs
This is the lowest level in the theory of human needs for motivation theory developed by Abraham Maslow. In simple way, physiological needs include need
for food, water, and sex as cited in McClelland, 1985, p. 41. In Some Other Summer, Lynette did not seem to have much problem on
this level. Sometimes, Lynette felt afraid that Josh would get rid of her because of family financial and her behavior. It can be seen from the following quotation.
Lynette wondered where Josh would send her if he couldn’t afford to keep her. She didn’t have any other family. Her father had disappeared when she
was five. Her mother had drowned when she was seven. She couldn’t go to
Jeremy not until she was old enough to marry him. p. 32 When Lynette did something bad, she was very afraid that Josh would get rid of
her.
“I did it,” she said. “I started the fire.” “It was me,” she said, and shaky as she was, she began to explain. “I went
up to the fort after they left it this morning, and I broke it down with your little steel ax. I banged the walls down and left the broken pieces all over.
Some must have fallen in the fireplace.” p. 121 Then, after her confession, Josh’s answer surprised her.
“Ah, nobody started it,” Josh decided. “It was just a gosh-darned accident. Right Marie?”
“Come on over here, Lynette,” Josh said. “You got nothing to look so scared about. The fire wasn’t much. Didn’t do hardly no damage at all.” He
held his hand out to her. She didn’t understand. She’d given him all the excuse to get rid of her that
he needed. “Aren’t you going to send me away?” she asked. p. 122 Lynette who was an orphan had no family except Josh. She was afraid that
Uncle Josh would get rid of her. She was also afraid that she was not welcomed in Josh’s family. However, based on the conversations, it can be inferred that the
physiological need in Lynette’s life had been fulfilled. The motivation of Lynette was the lack of trust that she was welcomed at Josh’s family.
2. Safety Needs
