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character as seen by another, speech, and past life 1972: 161-173. Although Wanderer is not human, she has logics and feelings as well as human which
reflect some human‘s characterization that can be analyzed.
1. Brave
Wanderer is an alien or a ―soul‖ that travels to Earth by hibernation tank. She is chosen to be inserted into ―wild-young human‖ named Melanie
Stryder. Wanderer originally have a tiny spider-look body, but with thin, silver, feathery antennae. Her body is about three-inches long with a shiny
body and three brains. To describe characterization, Murphy stated that ―the author can
describe the characters in a story through opinion of another character ‖ 1972:
162. Wanderer is described as a brave soul by other characters such as a soul named Darren and the university students, who are seeing her insertion
process as stated in a quotation below. She is inserted into a girl named Melanie Stryder in the hope that she will suppres Melanie‘s conciousness to
give information about other humans. ―This soul was specially picked for the assignment,‖ Darren said
soothingly. ―She is exceptional among our kind—braver than most. Her lives speak for themselves. I think she would volunteer, if it were
possible to ask her.‖ ―She‘s lived on six planets.‖
―I heard seven.‖ ―I heard she‘s never lived two terms as the same host species.‖
―Is that possible?‖ ―She‘s been almost everything. A Flower, a Bear, a Spider—―
―A Sea Weed, a Bat—― ―Even a Dragon‖
―I don‘t believe it—not seven planets.‖ ―At least seven. She started on the Origin.‖ 2013: 5
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From the quotation above, it can be said that Wanderer has outstanding track record because she lives as various organisms in eight different planets.
Darren and the students describe that she has no fear wandering in other planets. She has many experiences because she knows how to live as other
species such as Flower, a Bear, a Spider, a Sea Weed, and a Bat. Their conversation also shows that she has already faces various difficulties in
various situations with various organisms. She travels and does her life journey as individual that make her bravery flourish among her kind. She is
chosen because she has bravery that enables her to handle challenging human such as Melanie.
Murphy stated th at ―the author present some hints to character
whenever he or she is in conversation with another‖ 1972: 164 and ―how the character reacts to particular situations and events‖ 1972: 168. Wanderer is a
brave soul. It can be seen through her conversation with Jared and her action to cut her arm when Jamie is sick. Wanderer quickly asks Jared to drive her to
the nearest hospital to steal ‗the soul medicines‘ which are very effective and sophisticated to safe Jamie‘s life.
―Quick, give me the knife.‖ ―Wanda…I know you love Jamie, but I really don‘t think you could
use it. You‘re not a fighter.‖ ―Not for them, Jared. I need a wound.‖
He gasped. ―You have wound. That‘s enough‖ ―I need one like Jamie‘s. I don‘t know enough about Healing. I have
to see exact ly what to do. I would have done it before, but I wasn‘t
sure I‘d be able to drive.‖ ―No. Not again.‖
―Give it to me now. Someone will notice if I don‘t go inside soon.‖
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Jared thought it through quickly. He was the best, as Jeb had said, because he could see what had to be done and do it fast. I heard the
steely sound of the knife coming out of the sheath. ―Be very careful. Not too deep.‖
―You want to do it?‖ He inhaled sharply. ―No.‖
―Okay.‖ I took the ugly knife. It had heavy handle and was very sharp; it came
to a tapered point at the tip.
I didn‘t let myself think about. I didn‘t want to give myself a chance to be a coward. 2013: 601-602
From the conversation above, it can be said that Wanderer is very brave to be able to cut herself in order to safe Jamie. Her reaction shows her bravery
because she pushes herself to make similar wound as Jamie‘s in order to know the way to heal it. She does not fear the pain and blood from wound she
create. She has brave heart to react and does right action in order to save other people, even though it can endanger her. Thus, she bravely stabbed her arm to
show Melanie and Jamie that she has no fear to save the people she loved. She has no fear and also has great endurance to face obstacles that steer her from
her goal.
2. Strong
Wanderer is a strong soul and her strength can be seen through several conversation and opinions from other characters in the story. As
Murphy stated that ―the author gives some hints to person‘s character seen in the conversation of other character and the
ir opinion about it‖ 1974: 167
.Wanderer is chosen to be inserted into Melanie‘s body because the authorities consider she is strong enough to handle her host body. Her past life
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in many planets makes her ready to face difficulties such as painful memories of her host body to search for other human.
―I‘m afraid it‘s too much for her,‖ one said. The voice was soft but deep, male. ―Too much for anyone.Such violence‖ The tone spoke of
revulsion. ―She screamed only once,‖ said a higher, reedy female vice, pointing
this out with a hint of glee, as if she were winning an argument. ―I know,‖ the man admitted. ―She is very strong. Others have had
much trauma, with much less cause.‖ ……………………―She is strong.‖ The woman‘s tone was reassuring
now. ―See how well she did with the first memory, the worst memory. Whatever she expected, she handled this.‖ 2013: 15, 17
From the quotation above, Wanderer‘s strength can be seen through the conversation of the two souls. In the quotation, the male voice belongs to
Fords, the Healer, who does her insertion process. The female voice belongs to the Seeker, who assigned to gain information from Wanderer to hunt
human. According to Fords, Wanderer is able to bear painful and violent memories of Melanie‘s suicide attempt. He sees that other soul may be
traumatized because souls basically never experience such violence before come to Earth. Seeker also seen her only scream once which proves that she
has strong mind and capable to solve more difficult memories or problems. She has strength that makes her endure pain, either physically or mentally
when she lives in a human body. Wanderer is a strong soul. She has the full faith when she decided to
run away from the Seeker in order to find humans. As Murphy stated, the author give the reader ―straight information of what a character is thinking
about‖ 1972: 171. She thinks that running away from the Seeker to find
