MARGO ROTH SPIEGELMAN’S SELF-DISCLOSURE IN JOHN GREEN’S PAPER TOWNS.

MARGO ROTH SPIEGELMAN’S
SELF-DISCLOSURE IN JOHN GREEN’S
PAPER TOWNS
THESIS
Submitted as Partial of the Requirements for Sarjana Degree of English
Department Faculty of Letters and Humanities UIN Sunan Ampel

By
Ratna Vivi Rahayu
NIM: A03212013

ENGLISH LETTERS DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF LETTERS AND HUMANITIES
STATES ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY SUNAN AMPEL SURABAYA
2016

ABSTRACT

Rahayu, Ratna Vivi. Margo Roth Spiegelman’s Self-Disclosure in
John Green’s Paper Towns.Thesis. English Department. Faculty of Letters
and Humanities. State Islamic University of Sunan Ampel Surabaya.

This thesis entitle Margo Roth Spiegelman’s Self-Disclosure in John
Green’s Paper Towns because Paper Towns is one of the new and popular novel,
and the researcher has difficulties to find previous studies which have analyzed
this novel. This novel interesting because the main woman character, Margo Roth
Spiegelman, shows self-disclosure with the clues and great affection. This study
which the researcher conducts is using descriptive method. Firstly, the researcher
chooses the topic of this study. Secondly, collecting the data on Margo Roth
Spiegelman which is related to this study. Thirdly, analyzing the data by using
New Criticism as main theory and Psychological Approach: Self-Disclosure as
supporting theory and the researcher is concluding and getting the result of the
study. After analyzing the data, it is clear that Margo Roth Spiegelman shows
self-disclosure. Therefore, the researcher finds some Margo’s self-disclosure
shows how the real she is. She has many characteristics that never know by other
people before. She is adorable, intelligent, independent, mysterious,
compassionate and ambitious.

Key Words:
Margo Roth Spiegelman, Self-Disclosure, Clues,

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R a h a y u | xiii

ABSTRACT

Rahayu, Ratna Vivi. Margo Roth Spiegelman’s Self-Disclosure in
John Green’s Paper Towns. Skripsi. Sastra Inggris. Fakultas Adab dan
Humaniora. Universitas Negeri Sunan Ampel Surabaya.
Skripsi yang berjudul Margo Roth Spiegelman’s Self-Disclosure in John
Green’s Paper Towns dibuat oleh peneliti karena Paper Towns adalah novel yang
baru dan terkenal, dan peneliti mengalami kesulitan untuk menemukan penelitian
sebelumnya yang membahas novel Paper Towns. Novel ini sangat menarik karena
karakter utama wanita yang menunjukan penyingkapan diri. Skripsi yang disusun
oleh peneliti menggunakan metode deskriptif. Langkah pertama, menentukan
topic penelitian. Langkah kedua adalah dengan mengumpulkan data Margo Roth
Spiegelman yang berhubungan dengan topic penelitian. Langkah ketiga adalah
menganalisis data menggunakan teori sebagai teori utama New Criticism dan
Pendekatan Psikologi: Self-Disclosure sebagai teori tambahan. Terakhir
menyimpulkan dan mendapatkan hasil dari penelitian ini. Setelah menganalisis

data, terbukti bahwa pengungkapan diri Margo menunjukan siapa dirinya
sebenarnya. Dia memiliki banyak sifat yang tidak diketahui oleh orang lain. Dia
dapat menjadi apapun yang dia mau. Dia menawan, cerdas, independen, misterius,
penyayang dan ambisius

Key Words:
Margo Roth Spiegelman, Penyingkapan Diri, Petunjuk,

 
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Table of Contents
Cover ........................................................................................................... i
Inside cover ................................................................................................ii
Declaration Page ...................................................................................... iii
Approval Sheet .......................................................................................... iv
Thesis Examiners’s Approval Sheet ........................................................... v
Motto ......................................................................................................... vi
Dedication ................................................................................................vii
Acknowledgment ................................................................................... viii

Table of Contents ....................................................................................... x
Abstract ....................................................................................................xii
Abstrak ................................................................................................... xiii
CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION ............................................................. 1
1.1

Backgroumd of the Study ............................................................... 1

1.2

Statement of the Problems .............................................................. 5

1.3

Objective of the Study ..................................................................... 5

1.4

Scope and Limitation ...................................................................... 5

1.5

Significance of the Study ................................................................ 6

1.6

Method of the Study ........................................................................ 6

1.7

Definition of the Key Terms ............................................................ 7

CHAPTER II LITERATURE REVIEW ............................................... 8
2.1

Theoretical Framework ................................................................... 8

2.1.1

New Criticism ................................................................................ 8

2.1.2

Psychological Approach

............................................................. 13

2.1.2.1 Self-disclosure .............................................................................. 13

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R a h a y u | xi

2.2

Review of Related Study ............................................................... 16

CHAPTER III ANALYSIS .................................................................... 18
3.1

Margo Roth Spiegelman ............................................................... 18

3.1.1

Margo Roth Spiegelman as adorable girl ....................................... 19

3.1.2

Margo Roth Spiegelman as intelligent girl .................................. 20

3.1.3

Margo Roth Spiegelman as independent girl ............................... 23

3.1.4

Margo Roth Spiegelman as Mysterious girl ................................. 26

3.1.5

Margo Roth Spiegelman as Ambitious Girl ................................. 38

3.1.6

Margo Roth Spiegelman’s Great Affection .................................. 45

CHAPTER IV CONCLUSION ............................................................. 50
4.1

Conclusion .................................................................................... 50

4.2

Suggestion ................................................................................... 51

BIBLIOGRAPHY .................................................................................. 52
APPENDIX ............................................................................................. 54

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CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of The Study
There are many definitions to describe what literature is, one of which is that
literature as a work of imaginative and creative writing (Breassler 7). The works
of imagination turn up from an experience of life. It can be a process of building
creative idea. Therefore, literature is closed with imagination and creative idea.
On one hand, The Hutchinson Encyclopaedia of Literature defines literature as
words set apart in some way from ordinary everyday communication. Literary
works came to be preserved in writing, and, eventually, printed, their role became
more private, serving as a vehicle for the exploration and expression of emotion
and the human situation (746). On the other hand, Boulton explains literature from
perspective function that literature is imaginative works which offer reaction,
recognition, revelation and redemption; reaction means literature as entertainment,

recognition means literature as knowledge, revelation means literature as act of
expressing, and redemption means literature as freedom (in Ade and Okunoye 2)
There are two kinds of literature according to Kurland: fiction and nonfiction. He states literature commonly classified as fiction and non-fiction. The
distinction addresses whether a text discusses the world of imagination (Fiction)
or the real world (non-fiction).” (Par.1)

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Rahayu|2

 

The statement distinguishes fiction and non-fiction. Fiction refers to
something not real, it can be imagination or fantasy. An example of fiction is a
novel and short story such as J.K Rowling’s Harry Potter. Nonfiction is literature
based on the real events and facts. It can be information about something or
response of event. Common non-fictions are biography, essay, scientific paper
and etc.
Imaginative literature usually refers to fictional written works such as a

novel, poetry, short stories and drama. Knapp defines imaginative literature as
poems, stories, plays-constructs of words which present virtual, or made up life
situation. The primary appeal of imaginative literature is the emotion (Par.2). In
the other words, imaginative literature creates from emotions of the author. The
author must make readers visualize moment to moment action with his words in
the novel. Right words can take the reader get the picture of the author’s fantasy.
The author writes in a way that makes reader unaware of the words on the novel, a
way that makes reader visualize the story as if it were taking place on a stage or a
screen in his mind.
This thesis is about a novel Paper Towns by John Green. This novel is an
idea of the author to describe an imaginative place in the world called Paper
Town. Paper Towns were not real places, but names of places on maps. It’s the
thought of creating something that other people want to make real. The author of
the novel gives an idea that someone must try to understand a person for who they
really are rather than who others believe they could be.

 

 

 

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Rahayu|3

 

Paper Towns is an intriguing mystery. When Margo Roth Spiegelman
disappears, she leaves behind a trail of clues that leads Quentin to her
whereabouts, and makes him ask a few questions: Where is Margo Roth
Spiegelman? Why did Margo Roth Spiegelman disappear? Is Margo Roth
Spiegelman still alive? Who is the real Margo Roth Spiegelman? And why do we
always use all three of her names?
Paper Towns is the third young adult novel written by John Green. It was
published on October 16, 2008 by Dutton Books. The novel explores the coming
of age and search of the protagonist, Quentin Jacobsen, for Margo Roth
Spiegelman, his neighbor and childhood love interest. Along his search, Quentin
and his friends, Ben, Radar, and Lacey, discover more about the "real" Margo.
Quentin Jacobsen is the main character in John Green’s Paper Towns. He
has had a crush on his neighbor, Margo since they were kids. Throughout their
childhood and adolescent years, his crush on Margo develops. Quentin realizes his
love for Margo, particularly after her disappearance. He tracks clues that he thinks
Margo has left behind for him to help him find her. Quentin becomes obsessed
with finding these clues and recruits his friends to help him find Margo.
Margo Roth Spiegelman is the main character who gets lost and wants
someone to find her. She leaves guideline for Quentin in order that he finds her.
The clue is unpredictable by Quentin. She tried to tell what kind she is to Quentin
with some hints. Those clues are part of her self-disclosure. DeVito states Selfdisclosure as one of the type’s communication where information about you the

 

 

 

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Rahayu|4

 

usual kept secret told to others. The information is new and never hears by other
people (447)
It means that self-disclosure is a type of secret communication about a
person and kept from the other people. The person tries to give information about
himself to other people. It can be new events or facts which are never known by
other people.
Paper Towns is about self-disclosure in the sense that the character wants
to be herself; she wants to do what she likes to do even though other people
disagree with her. The main character, Margo is not just an idea, she is a real
person and that is a much more complex person.
Finally, the research of this thesis focuses on the main character in John
Green’s Paper Towns, Margo Roth Spiegelman with her self-disclosure. The
researcher is interested in analyzing using Psychoanalysis and New Criticism
approach. The researcher would focus on the intrinsic elements of the novel
especially the main character in the novel.

 

 

 

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Rahayu|5

 

1.2 Statement of the Problems
It is the essence of the research because research finding depends on this
question:
1. How is Margo Roth Spiegelman’s characterize in John Green’s Paper Towns?
2. What is the effect of Margo Roth Spiegelman’s character to her life?

1.3 Objective of the Study
The objective of this research is to answer the question revealed in the
research question.
1. To find out Margo Roth Spiegelman’s characterize in John Green’s Paper
Towns.
2. To find and analyze the effect of Margo Roth Spiegelman’s character to her
life?

1.4 Scope and Limitation
The scope is focuses on main characters on analyzing the main character in
the novel Paper Towns and the researcher concern on the characteristic of the
characters in the novel. The limited of the analysis is only analysis the character
of Margo Roth Spiegelman and her self-disclosure in the novel.

 

 

 

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Rahayu|6

 

1.5 Significance of the Study
There are many benefits of research in Paper Towns novel. The research
useful for additional materials as resources for research on the literature in the
novel, which new criticism approach, especially for the students of English Letter
Department, Adab Faculty and Humanities of State Islamic University Sunan
Ampel.

1.6 Method of the Study
In this research the researcher uses the qualitative descriptive as method of
the study. The researcher discusses what the researcher wants to do in this part. It
is divided into four main sub chapters. They are research design, source of the
data, procedure of data collection, and procedure of data analysis.
1. Research design. The researcher uses a library research and uses New
Criticism Theory, Psychoanalysis, and Self-disclosure theory.
2. Source of data. The source of the data in this research is come, from the text of
the novel with the title Paper Towns written by John Green. The data will be
taken by quoting the important sentences in the novel and also related the
problem of the study.
3. Procedure of data collection. There will some steps to collect the data. First,
reading and understand the story of. Second, selecting the most interesting
topic which was taken from the short story that will be going to discusses.

 

 

 

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Rahayu|7

 

4. Procedure of data analysis. After collecting the data, the researcher will
produce the data and divide into some steps. First, the researcher chooses
some sentences which show to the problem in the short story. The researcher
chooses the theory which is agreed with the problem of the data. The last, the
researcher analyze the data based on the theory.

1.7 Definition of Key Terms
In order to avoid misunderstanding and misinterpretation about the basic
concepts used in this research, the research would like to give some definition of
the key terms as follow:
Self-disclosure

: The process of communication by which one person
reveals

information about himself or herself to another

(Devito 254).
Clues

: A sign or some information which helps you to find the
answer to a problem, question or mystery. (MerriamWebster, An Encyclopedia Britannica Company)

Affection

: Feeling, emotion, passion, or sentiment. (MerriamWebster, An Encyclopedia Britannica Company)

 

 

 

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CHAPTER II
REVIEW OF RELATED STUDY
2.1. Theoretical Framework
In this chapter the researcher tries to develop the theory that has relation to
the problem in the story. The researcher uses John Crowe Ransom's New criticism
as the main theory in analyzing a major character in the story. New criticism
emphasizes explanation or close reading of the work itself. The researcher uses
Psychological approach: Self-disclosure to analyze the actions and motivations of
characters in a work as supporting theory to analysis the novel. Besides, the
researcher discusses the previous study.
2.1.1. New Criticism
New criticism clearly focuses predominantly on work this term, set current
by the publication of John Crowe Ransom's The New Criticism in 1941, came to
be applied to a theory and practice that was prominent in American literary
criticism until late in the 1960s. New criticism believes that all information
essential to the interpretation of a work must be found within the work
itself (Abrams 180). There is no need to bring in outside information about
the history, politics, or society of the time, or about the author's life.
New criticism is a method that provides the reader with a formula for
arriving at the correct interpretation of a text using only in the text itself. Holman
states that New criticism concern with the image, the symbol, the meaning and

 

8

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Rahayu |9

only frequently with genre, with image or with character (295). This method gives
the reader an objective approach to discovering a text’s meaning regardless of his
level. It focuses on intrinsic (form and text) rather than extrinsic (history and
biography) criticism.


Character and Characterization
Some expert told about the meaning of character. There are some

definitions of character as follow:
1) Abrams said characters are the persons represented in a dramatic or narrative
work, who are interpreted by the reader as being endowed with particular
moral, intellectual, and emotional qualities by inferences from what the
persons say and their distinctive ways of saying it—the dialogue— and from
what they do—the action (32). Character is the person in the story and refers
to the people, which has authoritarian through the utterance and the action.
2) Wellek and Warren said character in a novel is a historical figure or a figure in
real life. He is made only of the sentences describing him or put into his
mouth by the author. He has no past, no future, and sometimes no continuity
of life (15). Character is a delineation of real life created by the author which
could potentially change overtime.
3) Childs and Fowler said The fictional representation of a person, which is
likely to change, both as a presence in literature and as an object of critical
attention, much as it changes in society (23). Character is object of literary
work who always changes in society.

 
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R a h a y u | 10

Based on the definitions above, the researcher concludes that the character
is a fictional human who represent in work supporting with morality and emotion
by their action and dialogues. Characters always change overtime. A character
makes the work rise-up with various delineations. With different portraying
characters, it makes the work interesting even some characters make it loving or
dislike of public.
Through the language and action of the character, readers will learn
whether the personages are multidimensional characters, which simply developed
character, or perhaps merely foil whose main purposes are to shed light on more
important characters. The readers will also learn about emotions, attitudes and
values of characters such as their hopes and fears, and their strengths and
weakness in the story (Laurie and Stephen 1146).


The Kinds of Characters:

a. Flat character and round character. Flat character has only one outstanding
trait of the feature or at most a few distinguishing marks, whilst, round
character presents with more facts and we can see the character from more
than one side. (Kennedy 74). Round character is anyone who has a complex
personality, he or she is often portrayed as a conflicted and contradictory
person. A flat character is the opposite of a round character.
b. Protagonist character and antagonist character. Protagonist character or hero
character is the central human character in the story. It is a chief character in a

 
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R a h a y u | 11

play, story or film (Holman. 355). The protagonist is the central person in a
story, and is often referred to as the story's main character. He or she (or they)
is faced with a conflict that must be resolved. The antagonist, the second most
important character. The antagonist or antihero is the character in fiction who
stands directly opposed to the protagonist. (Holman 25). The antagonist is the
character that represents the opposition against which the protagonist must
contend. In other words, the antagonist is an obstacle that the protagonist must
overcome.
Abrams (33-34) writes characterizing is the persons in narrative showing
and telling. Showing means the author simply presents the characters’ talking and
acting; they say and they do. Telling means the author intervenes authoritatively
in order to describe and often to evaluate the motives and dispositions qualities of
the characters. Characterization is the process by which an author creates vivid,
believable characters in a work of art (Telgen ed. 303). This may be done in a
variety of ways, including;
1. Indirect characterization
Indirect characterization is when the author shows things that reveal the
personality of the character. Indirect characterizations are like clues about the
characters. There are five different methods of indirect characterization: speech,
thoughts, effect on other characters, actions, and looks.
a. Speech; what the character says and what does the character speak.
This shows us the character is upbeat and happy.

 
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R a h a y u | 12

b. Thoughts; what is revealed through the character’s thought and
feelings. This shows us the character is not happy.
c. Effect on other character; what is revealed through the character’s
effect on other people. It is how the other characters feel or behave in
reaction to the character.
d. Actions; what the character does and the character behave.
e. Looks; what the character looks like. It is how the character is dressed.

2. Direct characterization
Direct characterization is when the author tells the audience what the
personality of the character is. There is no mystery with direct characterization
because the author tells us the information we need to know. This refers to what
the speaker or narrator directly says or thinks about a character.
According to Robert and Jacob (202) character is concealed through
actions, description, statements by other characters and statements by the author
speaking as storyteller or observer. The author tells the audience what the
personality of the character is. In other words, in a direct characterization, the
reader is told what the character is like.

 
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R a h a y u | 13

2.1.2. Psychological Approach:
2.1.2.1. Self-Disclosure
Self-disclosure is form of verbal and nonverbal communication that
reveals something about the self, and, hence any communicative act. Selfdisclosure is seen as a useful strategy for sharing information with others (Greene,
Derlega, and Mathews 411). By sharing information, we become more intimate
with other people and our interpersonal relationships are strengthened. According
to Devito Self-disclosure is not simply providing information to another person.
Instead, scholars define self-disclosure as sharing information with others that
they would not normally know or discover Self-disclosure involves risk and
vulnerability on the part of the person sharing the information (193).


Johari Window Theory
The Johari Window model is a simple and useful tool for illustrating and

improving self-awareness, and mutual understanding between individuals within a
group. The Johari Window model can also be used to assess and improve a
group's relationship with other groups. The Johari Window model was devised by
American psychologists Joseph Luft and Harry Ingham in 1955, while researching
group dynamics at the University of California Los Angeles. The model was first
published in the Proceedings of the Western Training Laboratory in Group
Development by UCLA Extension Office in 1955, and was later expanded by
Joseph Luft. Today the Johari Window model is especially relevant due to modern

 
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R a h a y u | 14

emphasis on, and influence of, 'soft' skills, behaviour, empathy, cooperation, intergroup development and interpersonal development (Chapman Par.1).
A useful way of viewing self-disclosure is the Johari window. The Johari
window’s theory is a way of showing how much information you know about
yourself and how much others know about you. The window contains four panes,
as shown below (Chapman Par.9);
1. Open Pane includes includes what everyone can see: your physical looks,
attitude, motivation, value, and way of live.
2. Blind Pane includes information that others can see in you, that you cannot
see: imagine to be true, shortcoming, talents, faults.
3. Hidden Pane contains information you wish to keep private; secrets,
hopes, fantasy.
4. Unknown Pane includes information that nobody yet knows: untapped
potential, undiscovered interests.
The four quadrants of panes represent the different ways information can
be seen and observed, both by oneself and by others. Through self-disclosure, we
open and close panes so that we may become more intimate with others.


Functions of Self-Disclosure
Self-disclosure performs several functions. It is a way of gaining

information about another person. We want to be able to predict the thoughts and
actions of people we know. Self-disclosure is one way to learn about how another

 
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R a h a y u | 15

person thinks and feels. Once one person engages in self-disclosure, it is implied
that the other person will also disclose personal information. You also come to
feel better about yourself and your relationship when the other person accepts
what you tell them (Greene, Derlega, and Mathews 413). This is known as the
norm of reciprocity. Mutual disclosure deepens trust in the relationships and helps
both people understand each other more.


Risks of Self-Disclosure
While there are several advantages to self-disclosure, there are also risks.

One risk is that the person will not respond favourably to the information. Selfdisclosure does not automatically lead to favourable impressions. Self-disclosure
is useful, it can also be damaging to a relationship (Greene, Derlega, and Mathews
418). Self-disclosure make the other person will gain power in the relationship
because of the information they possess. In other hands, too much self-disclosure
comes too early in a relationship can damage the relationship. Too much
information is shared too much things privately known to others. It could be just
the person utilizing the side.

 
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R a h a y u | 16

1.2. Review of Related Study
In reviews of literature, the research finds out a previous study about Paper
Towns novel and psychological approach that research intends to have a research.
The thesis belongs to Rendila Restu Utami, a student of Universitas Pendidikan
Indonesia entitled The Portrayals of “Journey” in John Green Paper Towns Two
Novels; Looking for Alaska and Paper Town. The research has similar novel and
main character, but the researcher focuses on the similarities and differences of
how do the similarities and differences in the portrayals of journey in John
Green's two books (Looking for Alaska and Paper Towns) construct the
main characters’ identity.
In the others review of literature, the research finds out a previous study
which use psychological approach. The thesis belongs to Alies Wimiarti a
stundent of Muhammadiyah University Surakarta entitled Struggle for Normal
Life in Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight Novel (2005): an Individual Psychological
Approach. This research focus on how the major character’s struggle for normal
life reflected in Twilligt author by stephenie meyer’s with use an individual
psychological approach.
The researcher also finds a thesis by Atik Sofiyanti entitled The Ambition
of Main Character of Sarah Steel’s Daddy. She is a student of Muhammadiyah
University Semarang. She examined how the main character ambition based on
intrinsic aspect, namely character and characterization. The researcher use
psychological approach as the theory of the research.

 
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R a h a y u | 17

Based on the previous study above, the researcher wants to analyze more
specific about character and characterization use psychological approach of
Margo Roth Spiegelman as the main character in John Green’s Paper Towns
according to her action, speech and a person’s opinion about her. The researcher
chooses Paper Towns entitle Margo Roth Spiegelman’s Self-Disclosure in John
Green’s Paper Towns.

 
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CHAPTER III
ANALYSIS

In this chapter the researcher wants to analyze Margo Roth Spiegelman’s
character as the main character in John Green’s Paper Town by using
Psychoanalysis and new criticism. There are two statements of the problem:
firstly, the author wants to describe about Margo Roth Spiegelman who becomes
the main character in Paper Towns. This analysis is done to describe the
characterization of Margo Roth Spiegelman through her action, talking and
Quentin Jacobsen’s thinking as the narrator of the story. Secondly, the researcher
analyses Margo Roth Spiegelman’s self-disclosure; Margo Roth Spiegelman tries
to show who is the real her. The steps in this phase describe how Margo Roth
Spiegelman’s self-disclosure with the clues and her great affection. Therefore, by
using New criticism and Psychological approach; self-disclosure the researcher
explains Margo’s characterization and form of her self-disclosure.
3.1 Margo Roth Spiegelman
In this case, the researcher would like to explain Margo Roth
Spiegelman’s as the main character. As the researcher knows based on data
collected, the main character in Paper Towns is Margo Roth Spiegelman. At the
beginning of the story in Paper Towns, it explains all about Margo’s character,
especially about her affection as a normal girl and as an adorable child, pretty
neighbour, and a good friend.

18
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R a h a y u | 19 

 

3.1.1

Margo Roth Spiegelman as adorable girl
Margo Roth Spiegalman is the main character in John Green’s Paper

Towns. She is a beautiful girl. At the beginning of the story, when Margo nine
years old. She is an attractive girl. She is the prettiest girl in her subdivision. It can
be seen in this quotation below.
You can’t divorce Margo the person from Margo the body. You
can’t see one without seeing the other. You looked at Margo’s eyes
and you saw both their blueness and their Margo-ness. In the end,
you could not say that Margo Roth Spiegelman was fat, or that she
was skinny, any more than you can say that the Eiffel Tower is or
is not lonely. Margo’s beauty was a kind of sealed vessel of
perfection….(35)
The statement above according to Margo’s friend Quentin, it shows that
Margo Roth Spiegelman is a girl that is a good looking, although she is beautiful
but there is something that makes her more beautiful. Her person’s feature makes
her different than the other girl. She has blue eyes and long chestnut hair. She is
like the tower of Eiffel that made us wonder. A huge number of people visited
Eiffel Tower, but when we just watch it from the distance it is just like lonely. It is
almost the same as Margo’s sweetness, if we see her in a distance we never know
how she looks.

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R a h a y u | 20 

 

Margo’s blue eyes are the most beautiful aspects. Her eyes are the middle
part of the point. Her eyes are the best feature. It can be seen from the quotation
bellow;
Margo’s blue blue eyes blinked and she looked impossibly
beautiful right then. (49)
Margo Roth Spiegelman is pretty cool. She is cool in various aspects. She
is a confident and awesome woman. Margo is the person with real beauty. It can
be seen from quotation bellow;
“Yeah,”I said to Ben, stil not listening, still trying to see as much
of her as I could without being too obvious. It wasn’t even that the
was so pretty. She was just so awesome, andin the literal sense.
(16)
According to the quotation above, Margo is a perfect girl based on
Quentin’s opinion. Margo was blessed with good look. She has the attitude that
makes other person feel good. She is very popular girl which has good manner.
3.1.2. Margo as intelligent girl
The main goal in life is to get pleasure. Margo strives to achieve her joy.
Her joy was to be living freely without rules and restrictions. She will do anything
to get his joy. In this novel, narrated that Margo sought her joy by trying to draw
up plans. Such a plan is a plan that is very interesting and wonderful, even some
of the plan does not make sense.

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R a h a y u | 21 

 

Margo has liked the plan since childhood. In the novel, when Margo was
nine years old, she and Quentin her neighbors cycling in Jefferson park, they
found a corpse. Margo a girl who enthusiastically eager to investigate who the
corpse killer and why the corpse killed.
As I took those two steps back, Margo took two equally small and
quiet steps forward.
“His eyes are open”, she said.
“We gotta go home,” I said.
“I thought you closed your eyes when you died,” she said.
“Margo we got ta go home and tell.”
She took another step. She was close enough now to reach out and
touch his foot.
“What do you think happened to him?” she asked. “Maybe it was
drugs or something.” (16)

Margo is very different from the other kids. Another child probably will
cry or scream because of the fear of seeing corpses lying under a tree. but instead,
she enthusiastically and approached the corpse. She was curious to what happened
to the corpse. It is where Margo became part of the mystery and clues.
As a girl, she has many specialties. She is a brilliant girl. All the plans that
she wants to do was made by her alone. When she runs away to Mississippi and

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R a h a y u | 22 

 

the other place, she did not need another person to help her make a good plan. She
has many brilliant ideas to fade out. It can be seen from the quotation bellow;
She‘s the mouthpiece for it all, the one crazy enough to do
everything. But who plans it? Who‘s sitting around with notebooks
full of diagrams figuring out how much toilet paper you need to
toilet paper a ton of houses?
It‘s all her, I assume. (119)
From the dialog above Margo makes some crazy plans when she goes
away from her house. She is good in everything she plans. All the big plans and
brilliant things were made by her. She has different with other people when keep
her secrets. In her books she has different way to writing with purpose keep her
secrets safe.
Margo is a good planner. She always laid her plans so neatly. She knows
what to do and to do the best. She always knows what needs to be prepared to
implement the strategy. She had a black journal and always wrote down all the
plans in the book. Some of her missions never fail it proves that Margo always has
the best plan.
“The pleasure isn't in doing the thing; the pleasure is in planning
it.”

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R a h a y u | 23 

 

Margo likes to make plans. She enjoys how to make a good plan and
makes it performing well. She must think of the possibilities that could happen.
According to Margo, making a plan is the best thing than doing something.
Margo Roth Spiegelman, whose stories of epic adventures would
blow through school like a summer storm: an old guy living in a
broken-down house in Hot Coffee, Mississippi, taught Margo how
to play the guitar. Margo Roth Spiegelman, who spent three days
traveling with the circus—they thought she had potential on the
trapeze. Margo Roth Spiegelman, who drank a cup of herbal tea
with the Mallionaires backstage after a concert in St. Louis while
they drank whiskey. Margo Roth Spiegelman, who got into that
concert by telling the bouncer she was the bassist‘s girlfriend, and
didn‘t they recognize her, and come on guys seriously, my name is
Margo Roth Spiegelman and if you go back there and ask the
bassist to take one look at me, he will tell you that I either am his
girlfriend or he wishes I was, and then the bouncer did so, and then
the bassist said “yeah that‘s my girlfriend let her in the show,” and
then later the bassist wanted to hook up with her and she rejected
the bassist from the Mallionaires.(27-26)
In the novel, Margo has been making some travel plans. All the plans have
been realised perfectly. Some travel Margo, among; go visit Misissipi. She lives
in an old house with an old man, then the old man taught Margo playing guitar.
He has also spent three days to wander along a group of circus tour. The circus

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R a h a y u | 24 

 

troupe considered talented in playing Margo trapeze. The trapeze is a circus
attraction with the rope and the suppleness of the body. Margo also made it into
the back of the stage and drink along with The Mallionare, and claimed to be the
bass player boyfriend. She even went to Disney world alone. The journey has
been arranged by Margo so all of it executed with good. Margo run all his plans
alone because she felt unable to do anything on its own. She never asks others to
help or follow it. She is just unsure what she did right and not bothering anyone.
The writing is in decipherable, not because Margo‘s handwriting is
bad, but because on top of the horizontal lines of text, writing also
goes vertically down the page. “I write crosshatch,” she says.
Very hard for non-Margo readers to decode. (162)
She wrote the story with crossed style. Margo writing style is a secret that
only she knows. Writing in the journal black are codes that are very difficult to
solve. Like a mystery, Margo’s writing of course only herself could read the text,
too difficult for others to read the handwriting in Margo’s book.
3.1.3. Margo Roth Spiegelman as Independent girl
Margo makes plans for almost everything. Margo is an intelligent girl. She
always plans everything she wants. In her nine years old, she tries to investigate
the corpse that she finds with Quentin in Jeffersen Park. She tries to investigate
the case alone without Quentin. She has got a lot of information from many
people and writes down in her journal. She can find the corpse’s name and where
he lives in and why he is dead. It shows that Margo Roth Spiegelman is an

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R a h a y u | 25 

 

Independent girl who never needs help from other people to find her curiosity. It
can be seen from the quotation bellow;
I did an investigation,‖ she said quite seriously. Even up close the
screen broke her face apart, but I could tell that she was holding a
little notebook and a pencil with teeth marks around the eraser. She
glanced down at her notes.(18)
In addition, she has a small black journal that she writes plans and stories
in. Everything that she wants to do has been written in the journal. It makes all her
plans well-structured. When she ran away, she had planned it all out in that
journal. She also wrote a story in it about her and Q when she was eight.
Margo is a strong and an independent girl. She believes that she doesn't
need anyone to tell her what to do and how to live. She wants to be able to live the
way she wants to. She did not want people to arrange her life, though when using
capital in her writing. The use of capital in random way of Margo indicates the
freedom. It can be seen from the quotation bellow;
“Interesting capitalization,” I said.
“Yeah. I‘m a big believer in random capitalization. The rules of
capitalization are so unfair to words in the middle.” (43)

Margo did not agree with the rules of the use of the capital letters. Letters
that are in the middle must be equal to the letter which is in front. It shows how
Margo did not want to set anyone even with official rules though. Margo has a

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R a h a y u | 26 

 

very free attitude. She is the sort of person who believes in ‘Yolo”. She wants to
live her life while she is young and able.
Margo leaves her town alone. There are five parts of the novel that tell that
Margo is out of her town. Margo’s parents have made fourth reports about Margo
leaves. She did five times on the way; when she first visits the mississipi. The
second is when she trips to go to Disney world. The Third is when she joins the
circus and becomes a part of the appearance of the circus. She spent three days
traveling with the circus. Then Fourth time is when she drinks a cup of herbal tea
with the Mallionaires backstage after a concert in St. Louis. The last time is when
she goes away to New York and never back again.
3.1.4. Margo Roth Spiegelman as Mysterious girl
Margo is adventurous. She doesn’t like to stay in one place for a very long
time. She goes on crazy adventures you wouldn’t expect to be real.
Margo Roth Spiegelman, whose stories of epic adventures would
blow through school like a summer storm: an old guy living in a
broken-down house in Hot Coffee, Mississippi, taught Margo how
to play the guitar. Margo Roth Spiegelman, who spent three days
traveling with the circus—they thought she had potential on the
trapeze. Margo Roth Spiegelman, who drank a cup of herbal tea
with the Mallionaires backstage after a concert in St. Louis while
they drank whiskey. Margo Roth Spiegelman, who got into that

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R a h a y u | 27 

 

concert by telling the bouncer she was the bassist‘s girlfriend, and
didn‘t they recognize her, and come on guys seriously,..(26)
Margo goes missing very often. Margo likes to go on adventures and
journeys to interesting places. She doesn’t like her hometown much. For example;
Margo drank herbal tea with The Millionaires while they drank whiskey. She
traveled three days with the circus. They thought that she had potential on the
trapeze. She learned how to play guitar from an old man living in a broken down
house, in Hot Coffee, Mississippi.
When margo is going somewhere, she leave little clues.
“Clues,”. Mr. Spiegelman said, standing up now. The detective had
placed the folder on the table, and Margo‘s dad leaned forward to
look at it with him. “Clues everywhere. The day she ran away to
Mississippi, she ate alphabet soup and left exactly four letters in
her soup bowl: An M, an I, an S, and a P. She was disappointed
when we didn‘t piece it together, although as I told her when she
finally returned: ‗How can we find you when all we know is
Mississippi? It‘s a big state, Margo!”
The detective cleared his throat. “And she left Minnie Mouse on
her bed when she spent a night inside Disney World.”
“Yes,” her mom said. “The clues. The stupid clues. But you can
never follow them anywhere, trust me.” (117)

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R a h a y u | 28 

As said by Margo’s mother, when Margo goes somewhere then she will
leave instructions unfortunately these instructions were not understood by her.
The instructions look simple but difficult to guess, because of that her family
completely did not want to know the hints of it. Margo presumably disappointed
with her family.
When margo went to Mississipi, she gives instructions to the family in the
form of letters of the alphabet arranged in the soup. The four letters are: M, I, S,
and P. maybe for others it is hint is too difficult to understand, but for her it is a
guide that is easy to understand. The clue is a meaning of a notification where she
will go. In addition, when he to Disney world he left stuffed Minnie mouse in his
bed. Margo thought that Disney world famous with cartoon Mickey mouse and
Minnie mouse, but who knew that Margo went to the place where the doll icon. It
could be someone else will guess she went to the place where the doll was
purchased. This is the characteristic of Margo, when she goes she will be leaving
the form of clues, but the clues are too difficult to understand.
Margo is a mysterious person. She is not open to the people around her,
though with her best friend. She doesn't want people to care about what she does,
though what she did would be considered bad by them. She has the different way
looking at the world. The other main character in Paper Towns spends the whole
book trying to figure her out.

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R a h a y u | 29 

 

Margo always loved mysteries. And in everything that came
afterward, I could never stop thinking that maybe she loved
mysteries so much that she became one. (20)
Margo tries not too open to anyone. She doesn't want others to know in
details. She doesn't need anything from anyone. what she did, did not need to gain
approval from others. Margo was very assertive in everything, even in arranging
her life. She very rarely shows reactions too emotionally on an event or people
around them. She is a figure of a girl that is not legible.
Margo likes to go on adventures and journeys to interesting places. She
always went to places that people would not normally visit. She doesn’t like to
stay in one place for a very long time. She does stay in one place because she
doesn’t like to stay around the s