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CHAPTER 4 ANALYSIS
Chapter four deals with the analysis to answer the problem formulation as stated in chapter one. This chapter consists of three parts. In the first part, I
present the analysis of Nicolette’s and Montgomery’s personalities. The next part is the description of Montgomery’s sexual deviation that appears in the
surrounding where he lives. In the last part, I discuss the influence of Montgomery’s sexual deviation on Nicolette’s personality development.
4.1 The Personality of Nicolette and Montgomery
It is interesting to analyze individual’s personality since personality is unique and it is a personal signature that makes the individuals different from
another. Therefore, in this study, I analyze Nicolette’s and Montgomery’s personalities. In understanding Nicolette’s and Montgomery’s personalities as
revealed by Gwen Hunter, the theory of characterization is needed. As stated in the theories of characterization in chapter two, there are nine ways of
characterization mentioned by Murphy 161-173. In the novel Betrayal, Gwen Hunter describes the character through conversation of other people, speech or
what the character says, past life, reaction, thought, and mannerism. The theory of characterization by Murphy is aimed to give a better understanding about the
personality of Nicolette and Montgomery in the novel Betrayal. Moreover, it is also aimed to help me in analyzing the characters in this study.
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4.1.1 The Personality of Nicolette 4.1.1.1 Stubborn
Nicolette is stubborn. This can be seen from her thoughts. It is stated by Murphy that an author can give the reader direct knowledge through the thought
of the character 161-173.
Being stubborn is a Dazincourt trait. Dazincourt is Nicolette’s maiden name. She inherits her stubbornness from her father who is a Dazincourt. Her
father has taught her how to be independent, how to use her competences to fulfil the life demands, and how to live with courage and dignity since she was a child.
During her childhood and her youth, she is accustomed to have self-confidence and to trust herself in order to handle everything by herself. It makes her stubborn.
In the beginning of her marriage with Montgomery, Nicolette tends to remain stubborn. In general, new couples tend to discuss new things together in
order to get closer each other. It is common to show their weaknesses in front of their couples. A husband is a partner of life whom one can share opinions,
problems, pride, satisfaction and many other things. Nicolette’s stubbornness makes her limit herself to her husband, even just for a simple subject.
I almost asked Montgomery what species his family bird was, then shut my mouth. When I got back to my set of encyclopedias, I could look up
the bird and identify it. I didn’t have to ask him anything. I pressed my lips together, feeling stubborn, and liking the sense of
strength that came from defiance. Being stubborn was a Dazincourt trait. Half of what I had learned from my daddy was swamp lore and veterinary
medicine. The other half was pure bullheadedness. 29 According to her thought, we can see that Nicolette is stubborn. She
prefers to find out what species Montgomery’s family bird is by looking at the
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encyclopedias by herself than asking him. It is not because she is afraid towards Montgomery, but it is because of her stubbornness. She thinks she can find out it
by herself and she does not want anybody, even her husband, to help her just for that simple subject.
We can also see that Nicolette is stubborn based on her speech. Murphy states that an author describes the character through the speech or what the
character says 161-173. Sonja sighed and pulled out into traffic. “There are other men out there.
Good men.” I smiled tightly. “One man in a lifetime is enough, thank you. Besides, I
want nothing to do with some sex-starved male out to prove himself on the horizontal battleground.” 53-54
Nicolette stays to her conviction to be loyal to her husband though she
knows that Sonja’s suggestion is good for her. She, herself, knows that there is something wrong with her husband. Her husband often punishes her physically
and mentally for unreasonable reasons. She also knows that Sonja, her best friend, always wants the best thing for her. Because she is stubborn, she does not want to
accept Sonja’s good suggestion to leave her mysterious possessive husband. Even when Sonja hired a detective for her to get some information about
Montgomery’s betrayal, she gets rather mad. “Well, isn’t my busybody friend just oh so generous. You’ll have to refund
her money, honey, because I’ll pay my own way, thank you very much.” Suddenly Sonja relaxed back against the sofa and laughed softly. “You
aren’t even a little bit mad, are you?” 125 According to her reaction, we can also know that she is stubborn. Murphy
also states that an author can also give the reader a clue to the character through
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hisher reaction in a certain situation andor events 161-173. Nicolette thinks that Sonja has interrupted her too much and Sonja has made decision for her without
asking her opinion first. Therefore, she thinks she can hire a detective by herself.
4.1.1.2 Tough
Nicolette is a tough woman. She has been accustomed to live as a country girl during her childhood. She is accustomed to handle everything by herself.
After she gets married with Montgomery, she tries to be strong in facing problems of her marriage with him.
I batted back my tears with swollen lids and bit my lips to keep from crying or begging Montgomery to talk to me. I wanted comfort, and I
knew I could find it in my childhood home. And then I thought about the new roof, and Paris, and the Montgomery I had known before we went to
the DeLande Estates. And again I fought back tears. 30-31 When Montgomery punishes her by not talking to her during the journey
to their new house, not even care during the journey, she tends to cry. However, she tries to be tough before her husband. She does not want to drop her tears
though she wants to. She is disappointed to find that Montgomery has changed into the new one. She finds the differences of Montgomery’s attitude after visiting
her mother-in law, The Grand Dame. He becomes a distant and volatile husband. She realizes that her marriage with him is her own decision. Therefore, Nicolette
does not want to show her disappointment to him. Her toughness can be seen through her manner 161-173.
Her toughness can also be proved by analyzing her thought as Murphy stated that an author can give the reader direct knowledge through the thought of
the character 161-173.
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It wasn’t that I stopped being me. It wasn’t that I stopped fighting to make life better, to make a safe haven for the girls and my son and myself. And
it wasn’t that it was all bad. 47 Nicolette tries to bear the hard things she experiences with her husband
just for her children’s and her sake. She thinks that everything she has done is for her children. Nicolette starts to understand Montgomery’s bad attitudes. She
learns that Montgomery is a loving and good husband if she is submissive to him. Moreover, she tries to please Montgomery by doing what he asks to do or doing
what he wants. Also there was the fact that I had never told anyone about my marriage.
About Montgomery’s punishments and Montgomery’s subtle violence. I had learned to live with it for the children’s sake. 115
She actually has something secret she could not share with anyone. It is
about her suffering from her husband’s cruel behavior. She realizes that her marriage is not what she has ever thought before. She does not even know her
husband at all, whom she loves, adores, and respects much. Then, she has to face the truth of her husband’s punishments and subtle violence by herself.
4.1.1.3 Religious
Nicolette is a religious person. Firstly, it is proven by seeing her past life as stated by Murphy 161-173. Murphy states that an author can give a clue about
the character through his her past life. Nicolette has a good basic of religion. We can see it through the lesson given by her father when she was a teenager. She
learnt what is good and what is bad. I was surprised that Daddy let me learn to dance. A stern-eyed closet
Pentecostal in Catholic camouflage, he preached the danger of dancing,
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dating, sex, and sin most evenings at family Bible study. But that was before I understood about marriage market and Daddy’s designs of my
future. 5 Nicolette has been taught about what is good and what is bad by her father
based on their religion. It is because her father wants to avoid bad things happen to her. His father tries to raise her to be a good girl so that she can reach his dream
that is he wants the best for her life. When Nicolette has to face the hardest thing in her life, she still believes in
God that He will always bless her and her children. She still keeps her faith in God whenever she finds difficult situations. She has to face the hardest truth in
her life when her lovely husband has molested their daughter. She is forced to make a decision in her life. She has to protect her children no matter how terrible
the risk will be. She knows that Montgomery can do everything to take their children and her back to him. Her faith in God makes her strong to face the hard
moments in her life. And I stopped praying. I’m not sure exactly when I stopped expecting God
to protect my girls. My prayers had changed on the day we moved to Moison. They had changed from “God, please protect my babies”, to
“God, please help me protect my babies, “to silence. But I think God was with me. Waiting in the stillness. 186
We can also conclude that Nicolette is religious according to her thought,
whereas Murphy states that an author can give the reader direct knowledge through the thought of the character.
I wondered if lying to a priest was worse than lying to someone else, and determined that the next time I want to confession, it would be at another
church. I was willing to perform whatever penance was necessary for the deception, but not willing to risk facing the same man under the seal of
confession. 189
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Nicolette is religious when she realizes that lying to a priest is a bad thing, even if lying for her children’s sake, lying for her children and her safety against
the DeLandes family who have made her and her children suffered and unsafe. According to her thought, we can see that Nicolette is a religious person. It is
proven when Nicolette plans to have a confession after she lies to a priest.
4.1.1.4 Loving and being submissive to her husband
Nicolette loves Montgomery since she is a teenager. She is attracted to him for the most perfect look he has. Nicolette really falls in love with
Montgomery since the first time they meet. Montgomery means the world for her. Montgomery was an older man. Twenty-two if he was a day. He was one
of the DeLande boys from Vacherie, a town halfway to New Orleans. And God knows I would have given my soul to have him just look at me once.
I almost did. I may have. 2
Nicolette falls in love with him since the first time they meet. Her dreams and her daydreaming are about Montgomery.
From the first moment I saw him, he enveloped my life, taking over the secret, intimate places where dreams nest in the heart of every young girl.
Romance and passion bloom in these dark, moist havens, fantasies of rescue and stolen kisses, declarations of love and fidelity ever after,
fantasies nourhised by writers like Devereax and Lindsey and countless others who fuel the romantic expectations of this generation of women. 7
Nicolette really adores and respects Montgomery. Her marriage with him is her own choice; therefore she realizes that she has to take whatever
consequences to ever marry him. Montgomery’s punishments are one of the consequences she has to face. Nicolette still survives because of the consideration
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that she loves him much and she does not want to lose him. She then accepts whatever he does to her.
Over the years, the punishments began to appear at other moments, other times. When I displeased Montgomery in some way, or disagreed with
him, or failed him. I learned never to say no. Not ever, over anything. 47
4.1.2 The Personality of Montgomery 4.1.2.1 Possessive
Montgomery is possessive. In the beginning of his marriage with Nicolette, when he introduces her to his family, he is too scared that his brothers
are interested in her and like her; therefore, he locks her in their room while he goes somewhere. It can be seen from his speech to Nicolette that he does not want
to sexually share her to his brother because she is his wife. There is a weird tradition in Montgomery’s family. Sexual intercourse between the family
members is regarded as a responsibility, a punishment, a gift, and a religion. Therefore, when Nicolette visits Montgomery’s family, Montgomery is afraid to
find that his brothers will be attracted to his wife. He does not want to give Nicolette to them for having sexual activity. However, Nicolette never knows the
secret of The DeLande tradition. I ate, afraid to refuse although I wanted nothing now. And then, still
without explaining, Montgomery dressed and left, humming a little tune. The locked clicked.
I spent the entire weekend locked in my room. For my protection, Montgomery said later. Because I was too innocent, too lovely, and too
much of temptation for his brothers, and he would not share that which he chose as his own. Share with his own brothers? Share me? 24
Montgomery even hires thugs and detectives to keep an eye on Nicolette
when she is on vacation in Sonja’s place, her best friend’s place. It is proven by
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the conversation between Nicolette and Sonja. According to their conversation about Montgomery, we know that Montgomery is a possessive husband.
“Your watchdog. Feel the leash?” I sighed. “Poor analogy; I not on a leash. And you know it’s for my
protection. Montgomery hires them to keep..... us safe on the streets. He doesn’t like the crime and the car- jacking and-“
“Montgomery hires them to keep an eye on you, and you know it. But don’t get your panties in a wad. I’ve gotten used to being tailed around the
city by some two-bit detective in an old Falcon.” 52 As Murphy says that based on the conversation of others, an author gives
clues about the character though other people and things they say about him 161- 173.
“I learned to live without a car because he took away the keys so many times. Half the time groceries are ordered over the phone and delivered, or
Rosalita picks them up. I shop for clothes through catalogs and have them shipped to the door. “109
Montgomery is over-protective of his wife. He provides all Nicolette’s
needs. He will not ever let his wife to ever leave him or being attracted to another man.We can also see that Montgomery is possessive through his mannerism told
by Nicolette. He is possessive to his wife in order to make her know that she is his wife, his mine. No one can touch or possess her.
When I would return home from Sonja’s, he would hold me close, too tight, cutting off my breath, reminding me I was his. Only his. And he
would not share what was his. God. I had learned to hate the sound of those words. His loving at such times was harsh and punishing as he used
my body to seal his ownership. To remind me of the vows I had spoken, vows he would not let me break. 53
After Nicoltte knows about sexual abusements of the daughter done by
Montgomery, Nicolettte tries to protect her children by escaping from the house and from Montgomery.
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“In south Lousiana, a woman don’t leave her husband easy,” Montgomery whispered into the blackness, his raspy voice seeming louder then the
wind. “Except in a coffin.” 223 According to Montgomery’s speech, we can conclude that he is
possessive. He states that he does not really like Nicolette’s escaping from him. He does not like the way his wife will leave him. His conviction is that Nicolette
can only leave her in a coffin. It means that Montgomery wants her to be his wife until the end of her life. Therefore, as long as Nicolette is still alive, she has to live
with him. Montgomery will not let her go.
4.1.2.2 Mysterious
Montgomery is a mysterious person, a mysterious husband. There are things he hides from his wife. It can be seen from his mannerism.
“How could you? How could you not warn me?” He carefully squeezed out toothpaste, loading his brush, the water shooting so hard into the
porcelain sink, it splattered onto the mirror above. “You never even invited them to the wedding, did you? Montgomery? Are you listening to
me? 19
Murphy states that the character’s mannerism is one of the nine ways to analyze his her personality 161-173. From Montgomery’s mannerism above,
we can conclude that he is a mysterious person. He ignores Nicolette’s questions to him and prefers to keep silent, whereas, Nicolette has something important to
be explained by him about his weird family. For Nicolette, their wedding is something sacred and important. Therefore, it means too much for her that
Montgomery’s family knows about their marriage and approves her to be a part of their family. But, on the other hand, Montgomery’s family never knows about it
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because he has hidden it until he and Nicolette visit his family after their honeymoon. Montgomery seems to make it secret to his wife because he knows
that his mother will not really like her because of Nicolette’s family name and reputation.
Montgomery never answered my questions. When I brought up the subject of his family the next morning, he walked out the door, locking it behind
him. 20
4.1.2.3 Having Two Personalities
Montgomery has two personalities. His two personalities can be seen through his marriage with Nicolette. The first one is the loving, romantic, and
giving husband. The second one is the distant, volatile, quick-tempered, and cruel husband.
Montgomery is a giving husband. He often gives her surprises. When he makes a mistake to her, he knows how to apologize his mistake to her. Then, his
wife will forgive him and their life becomes so bright again. A tentative Montgomery was a surprise. He was always the sure one,
sanguine, almost arrogant. I knew immediately he was apologizing in the only way he knew. And then I heard the words. He had bought me a
house. 37 We know that Montgomery is a giving and loving husband based on what
Nicolette thinks about him. My life seemed fixed and secure, Montgomery usually a giving, loving
husband, if a distant and uncomfortable father. 45 An author can give clues about the character through the conversation of
other people and things they say about him Murphy 161-173. According to the
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conversation between Nicolette and her attorney, Adrian Paul, we can see that Montgomery usually is a good, loving, and giving husband. According to the
quotation above, we can see that Montgomery loves Nicolette. Nicolette is precious for him.
“Why did you stay with him?” There was still no emotion in Adrian Paul’s voice. I smiled and knew it was an ugly smile. All teeth. Savage.
“Most of the time he was good to me. He pampered me like a woman desires to be pampered. As though I was of great value and fragile as the
finest spun crystal,” I said slowly, the mockery thick on the words like sap running down bark. “He was generous and giving and a good man in the
community. 111 Montgomery’s mannerism is the proof to analyze his personality that he is
a giving husband. He gives Nicolette presents many times during their marriage. Therefore, we can also see that Montgomery is a romantic husband from his
mannerism. He expresses his love to Nicolette by giving her poems. By Montgomery’s poems, Nicolette knows that he loves her and he does not want to
let her go. He wants her to be at his side in his life time. I knew my husband loved me. I accepted that he didn’t want to let me
leave. And when I read all the poems he had marked, I understood that there would be no convincing him to let me go. No quiet divorce. No
amicable separation. Not from Montgomery. 184 Montgomery’s second personality which is a distant, volatile, quick-
tempered, and cruel husband can be seen through his mannerism to her wife, Nicolette. Montgomery changes to be the different man, the distant and quick-
tempered husband when he deals with his family. The anger I had initially felt at the incarceration had been snuffed out
during the solitary hours of our stay, choked out by the erratic behavior of the man I had married. Romantic Paris was a tainted vision, falsehood
belied by this new Montgomery, this distant, volatile man. He even moved
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differently during our stay at the DeLande Estate, his fluid, effortless movements translating into jerky motions of a caged, restless animal. The
passion of the earlier part was gone, replaced with a different emotion, a different passion, a cold, hurtful intensity I could not share. 27
Montgomery is also a cruel husband. He becomes cruel when he has to
confront with his weird and mysterious family. His cruelty often appears when his family, especially his brothers are on his surrounding. Nicolette is the victim of
his jealousy. It needs time for him to return into the previous Montgomery, the sweet one.
He was more complicated than I had known. Perhaps even a little...... cruel. I was always honest with myself. Even when it would be safer to lie.
But the cruelty had surfaced only when he had to confront his family, that bizarre, erratic, somehow unbalanced group of people. And vanished when
enough time and space separated him from their influence. 40
Montgomery’s cruelty can be seen from the punishments he gives to Nicolette. It can be physical or mental punishments. He is a volatile man and
changes every time. He punishes his wife for whatever she does that displeases him and for unreasonable reason that Nicolette does not understand.
Montgomery’s cruelty appears many times during his marriage. His punishments make his wife never tries to disobey him, to disagree with him, and
to make him unpleased. It is because she knows that she can not rebel against him. Montgomery has the power to control everything, including to control his wife.
Over the years, the punishments began to appear at other moments, other times. When I displeased Montgomery in some way, or disagreed with
him, or failed him. I learned never to say no. Not over, over anything. 47
4.2 Montgomery’s Sexual Deviation
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