Abuse Personality Development Character A Child Called “It”

7 personality development, character, A Child Called “It”, The Lost Boy, and A Man Named Dave.

1. Abuse

Wilson 1996 states “abuse is maltreatment, injury or neglect that can take many forms. It can be physical, emotional or sexual in nature ” p. 544. In this study, the researcher discussed child abuse that was experienced by Dave Pelzer as the main character in the novels. Wilson 1996 describes child abuse as “physical abuse, emotional abuse and neglect directed against a child” p. 551. Thus, in this study, child abuse means abusive treatments, both physically and mentally experienced by Dave during his childhood.

2. Personality Development

Kalish 1973 states “personality is the dynamic organization of characteristics attributes leading to behavior and distinguishing one individual from other individual” p. 52. In this study, personality development refers to the development or change in humans personality such as their thought and behavior that they get from their experiences. Dave‟s mother abused Dave when he was a child. The effect of the abuse affected his personality development.

3. Character

Abrams 1981 states “characters are the persons in a dramatic or narrative work that is expressed in what they say e.g. the dialogue and what they do e.g. the action” p. 20. Thus, in this study, characters are individuals in a narrative work who have characteristics or traits which contribute to the development of the story. Those characteristics can be seen from what they say and what they do. 8

4. A Child Called “It”

A Child Called “It” is the first part of Dave Pelzer‟s trilogy. This novel was written by Dave Pelzer based on his life at the ages of 4 to 12. The language used is from a child‟s point of view. The vocabularies also reflect a child‟s wisdom and dreams in Dave‟s early age. The beginning of the story tells about Dave Pelzer, a boy who is rescued from his house by the people in his school. The nurse and the teachers report his condition to the authorities. The whole story depicts the flashback except the first chapter. The second chapter tells about Dave‟s best moments with his family, particularly with his loving mother. Then, Dave‟s mother changes and abuses him. His mother considers him as an It, as the title of the first novel in the trilogy.

5. The Lost Boy