21
by David Henry. After arriving to the institution, she is not sure that the place is worth living in. Because of the bad condition of the building and how people are
treated there, Caroline refuses to leave Phoebe there and choose to keep her for sometimes. Carolines responsibility is shown by her own thought and action
when she gets a chance to leave her everywhere but she does not do it. She prefers to take Phoebe with her while she thinks about what she is going to do with the
infant. She picked her way though the slush, afraid of falling and hurting the
baby, thinking at the same time, fleetingly, how easy it would be to simply leave her, in a garbage Dumpster or on the steps of a church or anywhere.
Her power over this tiny life was total. A deep sense of responsibility flooded through her, making her light-headed. 42
After raising Phoebe and moving to Pittsburgh, she is married to a good man and has a new life with this family. She decides to write letters to David Henry
continuously to tell Phoebe’s growth. When David Henry passed away, she took the risk by coming to Norah Henry’s house and telling her that Phoebe is still
alive. This decision portrays Caroline’s responsibility not separating the daughter and her mother. She wants Norah to know that her daughter is healthy. From
Caroline’s words, the showing method is used to judge Caroline’s character which is responsible as seen in her action. “Look, I’m sorry,” Caroline said. “I don’t
know how to say this. There isn’t an easy way, I suppose, so I’ll just come out with it. Norah, that night when your twins were born, Phoebe and Paul, there was
a problem” 469. For some people, telling the truth is hard to do. Moreover, this is a very
big secret from a long time ago. Caroline is different. She thinks that she really
22
need to tell Phoebe’s mother that Phoebe is still alive and healthy. This also shows that Caroline is responsible. She understands that Norah has her right to know the
existence of Phoebe in this life.
b. Loving
Because Caroline passed her childhood with care and love, she had grown up to be a woman who is kindhearted and cares for other people around her. In
this showing method, Caroline’s action shows that she is a nurse who treats her patients with love. It happens also to the infant named Phoebe, when she is asked
to take her to an institution. “Instinctively, protectively, she curved herself around the box and wedged it into the backseat, where the pink blanket fell softly against
the white vinyl upholstery” 26. After moving to Pittsburgh, she starts her new life with Phoebe. She
chooses to take Phoebe and live together. For Caroline, it is a great thing to have a chance sharing her love to someone special. It has been a long time since she has
no one to share with. Phoebe is someone who brings new hopes and purposes of her life. She misses to love and to be loved, and Phoebe can fill her heart with joy
and love. She expresses her love feeling in her words using showing method. “Be well, my baby, Caroline murmured, stroking her soft dark hair. Be better sweet
girl, be well“ 114. It is not easy for Caroline having a down syndrome girl who is slow to
learn. She has to deal with some people who underestimate Phoebe. For Caroline herself, she needs to be the one who will never leave Phoebe and gives her a lot of
love, even though she often hears what people judge about a down syndrome girl.
23
The method employed to describe Caroline’s love is by showing as seen in her thought.
What a terrible shame Oh, youre living my worst nightmare. And once, At least she wont live very long—thats a blessing. Thoughtless or ignorant
or cruel, it didnt matter; over the years these comments had rubbed a raw spot in Carolines heart. 203
Caroline’s love is also directed to Al, the truck driver. He is the person who saved her when she ran out of the gas and needed a ride. After Caroline moved from
Kentucky, he tries to find her. He roams every place to look for her. Pittsburgh is the city, which he could find her and not let her go again. Continuously, he comes
to Doro’s house and visits Caroline and Phoebe. With employing the telling method, Al’s patience is described by how hard Al is to make Caroline believe
that he is honest. The way he treats Phoebe gives Caroline trust that Al is the right man for her. Then, Caroline starts to love him as seen in her action.
Her heart lifted. He had courted her with a slow, persistent patience, showing up, solid and steady, week after week, offering a fistful of flowers
or something other cheerful gift, the pleasure on his face so real that she could not bear to turn him away. Yet shed held herself back from him, not
trusting this love that had come so unexpectedly, from such an expected source. Now she stood, feeling a rush of pleasure. How afraid shed been
that this time he would stay away 211
Carolines love is shown by her own thought, which is called dramatic characterization showing. She is asked by her husband to leave Phoebe for
holiday. There is a doubt and worry to release her with other person to take care of. Along Phoebes life, she has never gone far from Caroline. Caroline really
loves her and does not have a heart to leave Phoebe even for a second. Caroline hesitates to do it. “I don’t know,” Caroline said, weariness around her, dense at
