mother, Chick, as he enters the young adulthood stage, prefers to share himself intimately with others. He starts to explore the relationships leading toward longer
terms of commitment with others. He gets the understanding about divorce, too. For him, all of the divorce
do is just separating the family and leaves the discussion or disagreement about their mother. He thinks it is better that his mother does not get married again. We
can understand this view because Chick loves his father very much and he still hopes that his father will go back to the family and continues their life with a
happy ending family. All divorce does is divert you, taking you away from everything you
thought you knew and everything you thought you wanted and steering you into all kinds of other stuff, like discussions about your mother’s
girdle and whether she should marry someone else Albom 128.
4.3.2.2 Middle Adulthood
During his adulthood, after Chick establishes career, settles down relationship, begins his own families and develops a sense of being a part of a
bigger picture, his mother’s influence seems to disappear. However, it becomes the major influence seen in the later stage.
There are only some occasions written in the novel that shows his relationship with his mother in this stage. He just meets her in some occasions
bringing his wife and daughter. The one that is important is when he meets his mother when he wants to open a sport bar. At that time, he argues with his wife
about it. His wife, Catherine, does not want him to make that kind of business
because she concerns that Chick has the experience to handle it. She does not want that the business will be broken. Moreover, he does not have time for the
family if he runs the business. Then she asks Chick’s mother’s advice although Chick stands firmly on his will. He thinks that he is able to handle the business
because there will be his friend to help him handle the business Albom 162-163. Here, Chick Benetto wants to improve his career after he finishes the
baseball career. He wants to be more productive. He feels stagnant and unproductive if he does not improve his finance by developing his career.
In this stage, Chick finally loses his mother with his grieves, embarrassment and painful feeling of not being a good son for her. Started from
his loss of his mother, Chick becomes a drunken man, lousy father and husband, lonely and gets divorced from his wife.
I hope you never hear those words. Your mom. She died. They are different than other words. They are too big to fit in your ears. They belong to some
strange, heavy, powerful language that pounds away at the side of your head, a wrecking ball coming at you again and again, until finally, the
words crack a hole, large enough to fit inside your brain. And in so doing, they split you apart Albom 173.
The news of his mother death is really shocking for Chick. The death comes after he lies to his mother about some job that he should attend. Actually,
he just follows his father will, to play a baseball games, The Old Timers. It is too big for his ears although he often treats his mother badly. He feels his life is apart
as well.
Furthermore, in this stage Chick meets his mother again after his attempts of suicide. It happens ten years after his mother’s death. Later, the meeting guides
him into a personality change from every bad deeds and feelings.
4.3.2.3 Old Age
As I mention above, this stage becomes the most powerful influence made by his mother to shape his personality. The name of this stage is ego integrity
versus despair. In this stage Chick finds his awareness of his past deeds into a new life again. In this stage the older adult reviews and evaluates his or her life and
accepts its worth, even if he or she does not reach all goals, to achieve a sense of wisdom Bukatko 26.
In this stage, Chick as he grows older, he already slows down productivity. At first, he contemplates his accomplishments and his ability to develop integrity.
He reflects whether he has successful life or not. He thinks about the despair, guilt about the past, hopeless and depression which lead him into the decision to end
his life. Then he moves from those feelings into a sense of wisdom. He really changes his “bad” life into a “good” new life.
Chick Benetto’s final years seemed to bring him some contentment. He sold his mother’s home in Pepperville Beach and directed the proceeds to
his daughter. He later moved to an apartment to be near her, and they reestablished a relationship, including Saturday morning “donut runs” in
which they caught up on events of the week over coffee and crullers. Although he never fully reconciled with Catherine Benetto, they made
peace and spoke regularly Albom 196.
4.4 Chick Benetto’s Personality Development
According to Hurlock in Personality Development, the changes of personality can be divided into three major categories. The first category is the
changes for the better or the worse. It reflects the kinds of life adjustments that the individual is conducting at that time. The second category is the changes based on
quantitative or qualitative. Quantitative changes mean that the present characteristics are reinforced, strengthened or even weakened. While qualitative
changes mean a complete replacement of a desirable trait by undesirable one or vice versa. The third category is the slow or rapid of the characteristics’ change. It
is slow if it is barely perceptible and it is rapid if it is apparent to all. Normally, personality changes are slow and gradual Hurlock, 120-122.
The significance of Chick Benetto’s personality development is started after the event of his mother’s death. He feels his life is a shame and painful. This
personality development finally occurs after his “magic” meeting with his mother’s “ghost”. This personal meeting has significant influence to this major
character’s personality development. Furthermore, this event makes Chick Benetto becomes a different person that changes his view about life, other people
and his mother. Here are the changes on Chick Benetto’s personality developments:
4.4.1 Being Aware and Regret His Mistake
The first Chick’s personality change after the meeting with his mother is being aware of his entire mistake. He feels ashamed of following his father will.
