Introverted Sister Regina’s Personality .1

Sister Dora, who taught first and second grades, the most animated and happy of them all. She was the perfect choice for introducing children to their first year of school, for she respected them and was a gifted teacher. Although Holy Rule forbade special friendship within a community, Sister Dora was Sister Regina’s favorite. p. 41 In contrast with Sister Dora who is attractive, Sister Regina is calm and quiet. However, Sister Dora’s personality grasps Sister Regina’s interest and their friendship becomes enrichment for both of them. Pearson 1992: 35 says that an introverted person usually develops his or her relationships slowly. It also happens to Sister Regina. She cannot feel close to all nuns in the community. But, when she finds Sister Dora can prove to be a true friend, Sister Regina is open up to her. Sister Regina enjoys her friendship with Sister Dora. They often share their experience whether it is a sad or happy story. Just like now, Sister Regina is having a problem about her feeling towards her favorite students. She does not understand why God takes their beloved mother so early. Since she is an introvert, she cannot tell her problem to other person just like that, even the person is her best friend. Instead, she tries to find the right time to share. Finally, after Krystyna’s funeral, Sister Regina has a chance to share her feeling to Sister Dora. The way Sister Regina asks to Sister Dora in the conversation reveals her trust to Sister Dora Murphy, 1972: 167. She finally asked Sister Dora, “Does Krystyna’s death affect you more deeply than others have, Sister?” “I think it does, yes.” Sister Regina sighed and looked at the clear blue sky. “I’ve been struggling to understand the way of all this.” p. 65 It can be seen that Sister Regina and Sister Dora are close friends. However, when she faces a big thing, she does not think that it is good to tell Sister Dora. Instead, she feels that it is best to go to the Confession. She admits everything to PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI God through Father Kuzdek. This is a hard thing for Sister Regina since she rarely tells anyone such a big problem, even it is Sister Dora. The racing of her heart got worse and she realized tears had sprung into her eyes. It was a terrible, emotional moment, that one in which she admitted for the first time to someone else that her faith in her vocation was shaken. p. 144 Sister Regina feels a little bit relieved after when she knows Father Kuzdek understands her problem. After a long consideration, Sister Regina decides to tell her family because they deserve to know everything about her. Here, Sister Regina feels angry to her family because they are misunderstood what she intends. Her reaction is supported by Pearson 1992: 35 that introverts are often misunderstood because they do not share as readily with most people. Sister Regina who always keeps her anger cannot any longer do that. Her reaction to her family’s misunderstanding shows that this is the worst thing she ever feels Murphy, 1972: 168. Sister Regina Marie, O.S.B., who usually maintained a mien of composure that the saints themselves would envy, stood up and shouted at the top of her lungs, “Stop it, Everyone of you Stop it right this minute” p. 217 Her family is surprised of what Sister Regina, the soft-spoken nun with the gentle manner, has done p. 217. Sister Regina never grows angry like this before. Now, she only can wish that her family can understand her. From her thought, the readers can know what Sister Regina actually wants from her family Murphy, 1972: 172. But she wanted her family to be different. She wanted them to say quietly, Sit down, Jean, and tell us why you’re disappointed, and when your feelings started changing, and what happened to change them, and what you want to do you’re your future, and if you’re sure this is the right thing for you. Let us commiserate with you and talk about your plans . p. 218 PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI From what is said above, Sister Regina is not comfortable with the noise of her family and she wants her family to conform to her habits that are calm and quiet. Moreover, just like any other introverted people, Sister Regina generally thinks things through internally, finding it hard to convey to others. At the beginning of the story, she wonders about clock in the school. She’d tried not to wish the school building has a clock in every room her vow of poverty that she be content with what she had bur after her fifth trip into the hall to check the clock out there, she’d begun accusing the parish board of miserliness rather than expedience in deciding the building needed only one clock in the gymnasium. p. 87

4.1.8 Lack of Courage

The novel shows that Sister Regina is afraid to act in some conditions. She is not brave to break Holy Rule although in her opinion it is much needed. Her students, Anne and Lucy, are still very young when they lose their mother. When Sister Regina meets them and sees their condition, she really wants to comfort them by giving them a hug. However, because Holy Rule forbids it, Sister Regina only says that she will pray for them. From her thought, we can see that Sister Regina is not brave enough to break Holy Rule Murphy, 1972: 172. Again she wanted to put her arms around her ─around both children─and comfort them, and thereby comfort herself as well. But Holy Rule forbade it. Instead, she could only say, “I shall pray for you both.” p. 30 Sister Regina is the youngest nun in the community. Sister Agnes is her Superior Mother who is very strict with Holy Rule. When she has a big problem, she prefers to tell Father Kuzdek rather than tell Sister Agnes. She is afraid of what PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI her Superior Mother may react. It can be seen from her speech with Father Kuzdek Murphy1972: 164. “Have you spoken to Mother Superior about this?” “N…” Her voice failed and she began again. “No, Father.” “Do you feel that you should?” “I’m … I’m afraid to.” “But Sister Agnes is your spiritual advisor. You must place your trust in her.” “I don’t think she’ll believe that this all started a long time ago, way before I ever spoke to this man about anything personal.” p. 145 The problem that Sister Regina faces really disturbs her life. Because of that, she wants to tell her family by letter. Again, she does not do that for every letter will be read by Sister Agnes before being sent. But the letter went unposted, because once again their Constitution dictated that all outgoing mail be placed, unsealed on the superior’s desk. Sister Regina put the letter away in her drawer, resenting the fact that she could never send it, adding yet another notch on her tally of repressions. p. 148 Considering that matter, Sister Regina postpones to tell her family. Meanwhile, she continues her life and does not forget to pray, asking any solution to God. When she goes to school as usual, she sees Sister Mary Charles punishing a student with her strip of rubber. Sister Regina feels angry to Sister Mary Charles. She hates Sister Mary Charles but she never shows it up because Sister Mary Charles is her senior. Sister Regina does not do anything to save the students from Sister Mary Charles. From her manner, it can be seen that Sister Regina is not brave to oppose her senior, Sister Mary Charles Murphy, 1972: 173. She pictured what was happening and hated it. Her anger flared and she questioned who was sinning, herself for blaming Sister Mary Charles, or Mary Charles for venting her wrath on that boy. Sister Regina had a theory that Mary Charles was a frustrated old maid who’d never had a proposal of marriage and had grown more and more bitter over it as the years advanced. p. 174