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CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY
This chapter consists of three parts, namely object of the study, approach of the study, and research procedures. The object of the study explains the novel
that was analyzed. The approach of the study discusses the Psychological approach, which was applied in this study. The research procedures include the
steps of the method in conducting and analyzing the novel.
3.1 Object of the Study
The object of this study was a novel titled Falling Leaves: a memoir of an unwanted Chinese daughter,
written by Adeline Yen Mah, a Chinese- American author and physician. She grew up in Tianjin, in Shanghai and in Hong
Kong. A novel, Falling Leaves was written by Adeline Yen Mah, and was first published in 1997 in Broadway, New York. This novel consists of 32 chapters,
274 pages, telling the story chronologically. It also contains some pictures of Adeline’s family, which may bring the readers to imagine each of its character’s
appearance. There is a prologue in the beginning of the story to bring the reader to the general situation.
This novel had been performed as theatre in New York at the Pan Asian Repertory Theatre in 2008 and at Samueli
– Theater Talk in 2009. Besides, it also performed as a play performance at South Coast Repertory and the Philharmonic
Society of Orange County “Falling Leaves”, n.d..
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Adeline had written some books, which were based on her own experience. She wrote some children’s books: Chinese Cinderella and the Secret
Dragon Society 2003, Chinese Cinderella: The Mystery of the Song Dynasty Painting 2009, China: Land of Dragons and Emperors 2008. She also wrote
some adult books: Falling Leaves 1997, Watching the Tree 2000, A Thousand Pieces of Gold 2002
“Falling Leaves”, n.d.. Adeline had a good command of English. Her stories were her getaway
from hell at home. She was sent to UK to study and she became a physician, went back to Hong Kong to work, after a while she decided to go to US. She became
successful after much hardship there. Even when she was successful, she still yearns for her fathers love and step moms acceptance. Sadly it never happened.
Her father may have loved her but would not dare show it because of the step mom. Adeline Yen Mah is an author who came from China. She was born in 1937
to an affluent family, after one eldest sister and three brothers. She was number five in the family. Adelines mother died not long after giving birth to her. The
father loved her mother very much, but when the mother died, he did not transfer that love to his children. Adeline’s childhood is full of emotional abuse from her
Eurasian stepmother. The older siblings bullied Adeline because they rather blame her for the mother’s death and at that time, she was the youngest. When the
stepmother has her own children, one boy and a girl, their stepbrother bullies the other siblings.
Falling Leaves is like a short auto-biography of Adeline. This is a
compelling, painful, and ultimately triumphant story of a girl’s journey into
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adulthood. Adeline’s story is a testament to the most basic of human needs: acceptance, love, and understanding. Strong character motivation allows readers
to understand why characters make the choices they do. What happened in the past has made his or her way. Since young Adeline tried to please the father and
Niang, she studied hard and was great in her school results, which makes the other siblings jealous of her. The step mom would divide and conquer the siblings she
did not want them to be united against her. By writing this story she wants to tell people that no matter how tough life is, there is always a silver lining out there
and urge people not to give up on their dreams.
3.2 Approach of the Study
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