The datum above shows Elizabeth’s independent problem solving by changing her character from a bad girl to a good one. This information is implied
from author’s information about her. The last is in Naughty Amelia Jane. The author also gives comment about how far Amelia Jane becomes independent. Elizabeth is
independent in the form of making herself so much happy by doing tricks on her friends Blyton, 1989:95.
B. Discussion
Children’s literature is one of genres in literature. It becomes the best and proper kind of reading for children and adult
s as well. Children’s literature provides many features that other genres do not. One of them is to provide more understanding
about children’s world and mind. It is because to understand a child needs a different approach that is usually conducted on adults. For example, extra patience is required
to deal with children during their growth and development. As the only genre in literature intentionally designed for children, children’s
literature should represent them. Therefore, it should represent not only the innocence of children but also another side of them which adults might not always realize. This
side is the hidden nonchildlikeness which allows children to make decisions and solve problems by their own ways and ideas.
Unfortunately, some children’s stories do not represent the hidden nonchildlikeness side well. One of the examples is Little Red Riding Hood. The main
character is portrayed as an obedient child. She is doing what she is told, even when
she is told by the wolf to follow his direction. The obedience of child characters is one of ideal children’s images. The images might purpose on making child characters
as good samples of what good children should be. Thus, the characters are created so childlike.
This study shows three findings that could be new materials to be understood by many people in the world. The first point is about the images of child characters
found in all three Enid Blyton’s novels being studied: The Six Bad Boys, The Naughtiest Girl Again, and Naughty Amelia Jane. There are proofs of how child
characters in the stories perform independence through their own ways. The second point is upon the presence of adult characters that could perform differently than
other children’s stories. Unlike other stories, adult characters’ presence is not dominant in these stories. The last, Blyton uses four ways instead of five to reflect
children’s independence through characterization in the novels. First, the portrayal of child characters’ weaknesses, such as weak,
dependent, and less-creative, cannot be found in the novels being studied. Child characters in these novels are independent to initiate in doing many actions. Some of
the characters love to play tricks which is a natural side of children and is so childlike. However, the child characters are able to show the nonchildlikeness part.
This part makes them go beyond adults’ expectation. The novels are not denial upon children’s dependence on the need of adult characters’ presence. Nonetheless, the
novels also insert children’s independence in solving problems. This independence is
the nonchildlike side of child characters. They are more creative and able to explore more experiences.
In The Six Bad Boys, Bob as the main character tries to find solutions toward his problems. Although once he becomes a naughty character, he tries to understand
what happens to him and finds his own decision to learn from his mistakes. In The Naughtiest Girl Again, Elizabeth deals with bad temper that leads her into many
problems. At the same time, she is also a caring character thus she is independent to perform help for her friends. In the last novel, Naughty Amelia Jane, Amelia Jane is a
main character that is very naughty and tricky. In another chance, she is able to show her ability to help her friends with her own initiative. These characters show that
children could be very naughty yet they are able to tame this attitude by their own decision.
Cognitive independence results more dominant than social and psychological one. The ability of the child characters to think and understand
phenomena they find shows that they take into account what they have found. They use their considerations when they are about to act or speak. This results shows that
they are not always dependent to adult characters. In a certain condition, such as being in a hard time and they feel like adults do not present at that time, they tend to
count on themselves so they can endure it. It shows that human thinking process has been started since the early age.
Second, adult characters might appear both in visible and invisible presence. Visible presence means that it is clearly stated, identified, and examined. Thus, the
readers will easily find which part is coming from adult characters. Besides, the presence can also be more invisible. From the findings of the research, adult
characters do not always have to appear in visible form. In Naughty Amelia Jane, the adult character is the Nurse only who takes care of the nursery. She only appears few
times in the story but she does not give any instructions to the dolls or toys. Her roles in educating the toys are invisible and cannot be found explicitly in the novel. Her
roles are stated through the toys’ explanation when they tell Amelia Jane about the nature of the toys in the nursery. The toys tell her that they all know about ethics
because they live in the nursery taken care by the Nurse. The Nurse’s invisible presence shows that by being less dominant, adult
characters still play important and significant roles. In the story, there is no information clearly stated that she is giving instructions, advices or reminders. It is
implied in the toys’ statement. The result is the toys in the nursery know how to behave well because they are taught by her. Besides, the invisible presence enables
child characters to explore more of their world. In the findings, the role as supporters appears more dominant than as
reminders and partners in discussions. It shows that adults’ support is needed more than their reminders and their presence as discussion partners. Their support is able to
boost child characters’ enthusiasm or energy in doing certain actions. This role is less dictating because adult characters allow child characters in making decisions.
Third, Blyton uses four ways instead of five to r eflect children’s
independence through characterization in the novels: by actions, speeches, other’s
comment, and author’s comment. There are no data found on appearance. It shows that the characters’ appearance does not always determine their traits, which in this
study is the independent quality. Based on four ways used by the author to reflect children’s independence through characterization, actions appear more dominant than
the other three because actions show children’s natural behavior. Naturally they like to act when they have ideas whether they are wrong or right. It shows that child
characters are really able to use their initiative to act and less-dictated by adult characters.
Based on what happens commonly in children’s stories and what is found in the novels being studied, the image of children’s literature should be evaluated by
understanding its nature which represents how children naturally behave. This understanding helps people see children’s literature as “what it is written for” than
empha sizing only on “what it is written about”. The image of dictating found in
children’s literature should be decreased. It is because children’s literature exists not to bribe children upon mere moral values yet to educate them the joy of stirring the
emotion through the game of words and various experiences of the characters.
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CHAPTER V CONCLUSIONS
After analyzing Enid Blyton’s The Six Bad Boys, The Naughtiest Girl Again, and Naughty Amelia Jane
using children’s literature and psychological points of view focusing on the kinds of children’s independence, adults’ roles, and the author’s ways
to reflect children’s independence in characterization, there are three points concluded as follows:
1. Children’s independence in the three Blyton’s novels mentioned above is
analyzed through all child characters in the stories. These novels can be classified into three kinds of independence: cognitive, social, and psychological. First, cognitive
independence has three sub-classifications found from the data: the independence to initiate actions, give suggestions, and defend opinions. Next, the kinds of social
independence include the independence to show gratitude, ask for apology, and provide help. The last, psychological independence has three divisions formulated
based on the data: the independence to define self-happiness, to be courageous, and to control the emotion. Among these classifications, cognitive independence is more
dominant than social and psychological. This finding shows that the thinking process has been started since young age. This process is important to consider what actions
need to be done in certain occasions. 2.
In the three Blyton’s novels being studied, adult characters do not dictate what child characters have to do. Even if there are few dialogues that slightly indicate the
