The relationship of a mother and a son as portrayed in Mitch Albom`s For One More Day.

PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI

THE RELATIONSHIP OF A MOTHER AND A SON AS PORTRAYED
IN MITCH ALBOM’S FOR ONE MORE DAY
A SARJANA PENDIDIKAN THESIS
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements
to Obtain the Sarjana Pendidikan Degree
in English Language Education

By
Vieka Aprilya Intanny
Student Number : 051214124

ENGLISH LANGUAGE EDUCATION STUDY PROGRAM
DEPARTMENT OF LANGUAGE AND ARTS EDUCATION
FACULTY OF TEACHERS TRAINING AND EDUCATION
SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
YOGYAKARTA
2012

PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI

THE RELATIONSHIP OF A MOTHER AND A SON AS PORTRAYED
IN MITCH ALBOM’S FOR ONE MORE DAY
A SARJANA PENDIDIKAN THESIS
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements
to Obtain the Sarjana Pendidikan Degree
in English Language Education

By
Vieka Aprilya Intanny
Student Number : 051214124

ENGLISH LANGUAGE EDUCATION STUDY PROGRAM
DEPARTMENT OF LANGUAGE AND ARTS EDUCATION
FACULTY OF TEACHERS TRAINING AND EDUCATION
SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
YOGYAKARTA
2012

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‘’Do not give up when you still have
something to give
Nothing is really over
until the moment you stop trying’’
(anonymous)

This Thesis is dedicated to:
My Loving Father and Mother
My Caring Brother

My Amazing Angel

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STATEMENT OF WORK’S ORIGINALITY
I honestly declare that this thesis, which I have written, does not contain the work
or parts of the work of other people, except those cited in the quotations and the
references, as a scientific paper should.

Yogyakarta, December 12, 2011

Vieka Aprilya Intanny
051214124

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LEMBAR PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN PUBLIKASI KARYA ILMIAH
UNTUK KEPENTINGAN AKADEMIS
Yang bertanda tangan di bawah ini, saya mahasiswa Universitas Sanata Dharma:
Nama
Nomor Mahasiswa

: Vieka Aprilya Intanny
: 051214124

Demi pengembangan ilmu pengetahuan, saya memberikan kepada Perpustakaan
Universitas Sanata Dharma karya ilmiah saya yang berjudul:
THE RELATIONSHIP OF A MOTHER AND A SON AS PORTRAYED
IN MITCH ALBOM’S FOR ONE MORE DAY
Dengan demikian saya memberikan kepada Perpustakaan Universitas Sanata
Dharma hak untuk menyimpas, mengalihkan dalam bentuk media lain,
mengelolanya dalam bentuk pangkalan data, mend istribusikannya secara terbatas,
memplubikasikannya di internet atau media lain untuk kepentingan akademis
tanpa perlu meminta ijin kepada saya selama tetap mencantumkan nama saya
sebagai penulis.
Demikian surat pernyataan ini saya buat dengan sebenarnya.

Dibuat di Yogyakarta,
Pada tanggal: 12 Desember 2011

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ABSTRACT
Intanny, Vieka Aprilya. 2011. The Relationship of a Mother and a Son as
Portrayed in Mitch Albom’s For One More Day. Yogyakarta: English Language
Education Study Program, Sanata Dharma University.
This thesis analyzes Mitch Albom’s novel, For One More Day. It is an
interesting novel since it discusses about family relationship. For One More Day
tells about a son and his lovely mother. The main character Charley is obsessed to
be a professional baseball player. However, he feels guilty because when his
mother dies, he is not around her. Then, he decides to end his life. Unfortunately,
he is unsuccessful in ending his life, but he comes back home to his old house to
see his dead mother.
There are three problems formulated discussed in this thesis: (1) How are
the characters of Charley and Pauline described in the novel? (2) How is the

relationship between Pauline and Charley described in the novel? (3) How does
Charley manage the conflicts in his relationship with his mother?
Since the study discusses about the relationship between a son and a
mother, the psychological approach is considered as a suitable one to apply.
Moreover, library research is used in this study as a methodology.
After analyzing the novel, there are three points that can be concluded.
The first point is about the characters of Pauline and Charley. Pauline is a loving,
protective, and humorous mother. Charley is a bad-tempered person. Sometimes
he also acts rudely. The second point is about the relationship between Charley
and Pauline. The relationship between Charley and Pauline is a conflicting one.
They face both intrapersonal and interpersonal conflicts in their relationship.
Although Charley is described as a rebellious or rude person, actually he loves her
mother very much. The third conclusion concerns Charley’s conflict management
in his relationship with his mother. In managing the conflict, Charley uses four
different approaches. They are avoidance, shooting, competition, and solving. The
conflicts between Charley and Pauline arise because of different factors. The first
one is because Charley and Pauline have a different view of life. Another factor
comes from misunderstanding between them.
As a final point, some suggestions are given to future researchers. As this
study focuses on the relationship between a son and a mother, the future study

may analyze the relationship between a son and a father. For teaching learning
activities, the novel can be applied to teach Basic Writing for the students of
English Education Study Program in Sanata Dharma University Yogyakarta.

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ABSTRAK
Intanny, Vieka Aprilya. 2011. The Relationship of a Mother and a Son as
Portrayed in Mitch Albom’s For One More Day. Yogyakarta: Program Studi
Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris, Universitas Sanata Dharma.
Skripsi ini membahas novel karya Mitch Albom yang berjudul For One
More Day. Novel ini sangat menarik karena membahas tentang hubungan dalam
suatu keluarga. Tokoh utamanya adalah Charley yang terobsesi menjadi pemain
baseball profesional. Dia merasa bersalah terhadap ibunya karena pada saat
ibunya meninggal dia tidak berada disampingnya. Kemudian dia memutuskan
untuk mengakhiri hidupnya. Namun, dia tidak berhasil melakukan hal tersebut.
Dia kembali ke rumah masa kecilnya dan bertemu dengan ibunya yang sudah
meninggal.

Ada tiga masalah yang akan dibahas dalam skripsi ini: (1) Bagaimana
karakter Charley dan Pauline digambarkan dalam novel tersebut? (2) Bagaimana
hubungan antara Charley dan ibunya Pauline digambarkan dalam novel tersebut?
(3) Bagaimana Charley menyelesaikan konflik dengan ibunya?
Pendekatan psikologi merupakan pendekatan yang paling sesuai untuk
digunakan dalam skripsi ini karena membahas tentang hubungan antara seorang
anak dengan ibunya. Metode studi pustaka juga diterapkan dalam skripsi ini.
Setelah menganalisa novel tersebut, ada tiga hal yang dapat disimpulkan.
Pertama yaitu tentang karakter Charley dan Pauline. Pauline adalah karakter yang
datar. Pauline adalah seorang ibu yang penuh kasih sayang, protektif, dan
humoris. Charley adalah seorang yang emosional. Terkadang dia juga beritngkah
laku dengan kasar. Kedua yaitu tentang hubungan antara Charley dan Pauline.
Dapat disimpulkan bahwa hubungan antara Charley dan Pauline dapat disebut
sebagai hubungan yang penuh dengan konflik. Charley dan Pauline sama-sama
menghadapi konflik intrapersonal dan interpersonal dalam hubungan mereka.
Meskipun Charley memiliki sifat pemberontak dan keras, sebenarnya dia sangat
menyayangi ibunya. Kesimpulan kedua berhubungan dengan masalah yang kedua
yaitu tentang bagaimana cara Charley untuk menyelesaikan konflik antara dirinya
dengan ibunya. Charley menggunakan empat cara yang berbeda untuk
menyelesaikan konflik dengan Pauline, yaitu menghindar, menembak langsung,

kompetisi, dan pemecahan. Konflik dapat terjadi karena beberapa faktor.
Diantaranya yaitu perbedaan pandangan antara Charley dan Pauline. Faktor lain
yang dapat menyebabkan konflik yaitu karena adanya kesalahpahaman diantara
mereka.
Sebagai penutup, diberikan beberapa saran untuk skripsi berikutnya.
Skripsi ini membahas tentang hubungan antara ibu dan anak laki-lakinya. Untuk
skripsi berikutnya dapat membahas tentang hubungan antara ayah dan anak lakilakinya. Saran untuk kegiatan belajar mengajar yaitu novel ini dapat digunakan
sebagai materi untuk mengajar Basic Writing bagi mahasiswa Pendidikan Bahasa
Inggris di Universitas Sanata Dharma Yogyakarta.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I am so grateful to my dearest Lord Jesus for His blessing. His gracious
love shines on me through many people around me by whom I have been given
care, encouragement, assistance, and accompaniment. I would like to say my very
best thanks to these beloved people.

My thankfulness goes to my beloved father, Stevanus Suyud Jatmiko, my
loving mother, Lusandari, and my handsome brother, Galih Dwi Wratsongko.
They have become my motivation in accomplishing this thesis. I would like to
thank them for their concern, encouragement, prayer, and accompaniment.
My biggest gratitude goes to my major sponsor Drs. L. Bambang Hendarto
Y., M.Hum., for his advice and guidance through the process of writing of this
thesis, for endowing me his time to read and to correct it, and for his fatherly in
sharing his knowledge with me. Undeniably, I have received so much from him.
His patience, friendliness, and care have comforted me in improving my writing
through every thesis consultation I had with him. To all lecturers in PBI, I thank
them for their teachings, supports, and helps during my study in Sanata Dharma. I
also thank PBI’s secretariat staff, Mbak Dhanik and Mbak Tari for always being
very nice and patient to me.
I would like to thank my beloved one, Yohanes Dwi Jati Purnama for his
endless love, care and support during my study. I am also grateful to all my PBI
friends, Charula Wisnu Wardhani, Fitriyani, Carolina Tri Dewi TimTim, and
Verena Vega Arsti Puruhita for supporting me with their sincere friendship. I felt

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very happy with their criticism and suggestions toward the thesis I wrote. Their
criticism and suggestions have been very helpful for the accomplishment of my
thesis. It is my prayer to my gracious Lord to bless all who have so kindly
supported and fostered me through all this time.
To those who have been helping me in completing this thesis that I could
not mention here, I would like to thank them for their efforts.

Vieka Aprilya Intanny

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
TITLE PAGE………………………………………………………….……...…

i

APPROVAL PAGES ………………………………………………….…...…… ii
DEDICATION PAGE …………………………………………………………

iv

STATEMENT OF WORK’S ORIGINALITY………………………..……………v
LEMBAR PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN PUBLIKASI KARYA
ILMIAH ………………………………………………………………………..

vi

vii
ABSTRACT …………………………………………………………………..……
iii
ABSTRAK ……………………………………………………………..…………v…
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ……………………………………………………… ix
TABLE OF CONTENTS …………………………………………………………xi
.
CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION
A. Background of the Study …………………………………………..…

1

B. Problem Formulation ……………………..….……………………...… 3
C. Objectives of the Study……………………………………….……….… 4
D. Benefits of the Study …….………………………………….….…….…4
E. Definition of Terms …………………………………………….…………4
CHAPTER II. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
A. Review of Related Studies ………………………..………………….… 7
B. Review of Related Theories ………………………..…………………..…8
1. Critical Approaches ……………………..……………………….… 9
10
2. Character ………………………..……………………………………
a. Definition of Characters ………………………..………….….…10
b. Types of Characters ……………………………...………………10
..
3. Characterization ……………………………………..…………..….11
..
11
a. Definition of Characterization ………………..……………..….…
12
b. Characterization …………………………………..…………....…

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4. Family ………………………………………….………..………….13
13
a. Meaning of Family …………………………………..……………
b. Kinds of Family …………..………………………………...……15
.
1) Nuclear Family …………..………………..……………..…...15
2) Extended Family ……………………………..………………15
..
5. Relationship in a Family ……………………….………..……….…16
16
a. Mother-Son Relationship ……………………………….…………
17.
b. Father-Son Relationship ………………………………..…………
18
6. Conflict …………………………………….…………..………..……
18
a. Definition of Conflict …………………………………….…….…
b. Kinds of Conflicts ……………………….….……………………19
c. Conflict in Mother-Son Relationship …….….…….……….……21
.
21
d. Conflict in Father-Son Relationship ……………….….…….……
22
e. Conflict Management ………………………….………..…………
1) Be Prepared ……….………………….…..…………………..22
2) Be Involved ……..………………………..……………..……22
23
3) Withhold Quick Retorts …………………..……………..…..…
4) Review and Summarize …………………..…………..………23
..
f. Conflict Resolutions …………………………………..…………23
1) Blake’s and Mounton’s Conflict Resolution………………….23
2) Pruitt’s and Rubin’s Conflict Resolution…….……………….24
.
3) Rusbult’s and Mounton’s Conflict Resolution………..………25
7. Value ………………………………….…………….…..……..……25
a. Definition of Value ………………………..………….…….……25
b. Important Value of Life …………………………..…..…….……26
1) Respect……….………………..…………..………..……..….26
.
2) Understanding ……….……………………………..…………26
3) Discipline ……….………….………..…………….….………26
..
C. Theoretical Framework ……………………………..………..…………27

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CHAPTER III. METHODOLOGY
A. Object of the Study …………………………………..………………...…
28
B. Approach of the Study ………………………………………………… 30
C. Method of the Study ………………………………………….……… 30
CHAPTER IV. ANALYSIS
A. The Description of the Characters ………….. ……………………… 32
1. Characterization of Pauline …………………………..………..…. 34
2. Characterization of Charley …………………………………………36
..
B. The Relationship of Charley and Pauline ……………………………
1. The Relationship as a Mother and a Child .…..……………..….

37
37

a. Before His Parent’s Divorce ……………………..……….. 37
b. After His Parent’s Divorce ………………………………… 41
2. The Relationship as a Mother and an Adult …………….…..…… 43
a. The Relationship Before Charley is Married ……..….………43
b. The Relationship After Charley is Married …………….… 45
C. Charley’s Conflict Management in His Relationship with His
Mother ………………………………………………………………... 47
1. As a Mother and a Child …………………………..…………….. 48
a. Before His Mother’s Divorce ……………….…………….. 48
b. After His Mother’s Divorce ………………………………….50
2. As a Mother and an Adult ………………………….…….………. 52
a. Conflict Management Before Charley is Married ……………52
..
b. Conflict Management After Charley is Married…………… 54
CHAPTER V. CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS
A. Conclusions ………………………………………………………………
57
B. Suggestions ….………………………………………………………... 58
1. Suggestion for Future Study …………………………………………
59
2. Suggestion for Teaching Learning Activities Using Literary
Work…………………………………………………………………5.9

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REFERENCES …………….………………………………………………

60

APPENDICES ……………………………………………………………… 62

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LIST OF APPENDICES

Page
Appendices Cover ………………………………………………………..…….62
.
Appendix 1. Lesson Plan of Basic Writing ……………………………………63
Appendix 2. Teaching Material of Basic Writing ……….. ………………… 65
Appendix 3. The Summary of For One More Day ………… ……………..……
74
Appendix 4. The Cover of Mitch Albom’s For One More Day ………….……78
…. . .
Appendix 5. List of Works …..………………………………...........................79
..

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CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION

This chapter presents five parts. The first part is background of the study. It
explains the reason for choosing Mitch Albom’s novel, For One More Day. The
second part is problem formulation which concerns the problems that lead to the
analysis of the study. The third part is the objectives of the study. The fourth part
states benefits of the study, the aims of conducting the study are stated. The last part
is definition of terms used in this thesis.

A. Background of the Study
A mother is an important figure in our life. A mother plays an important role
in raising and taking care of the children. She is the primary caregiver for us since we
are born. A mother has a great love for all of her children. Furthermore, she gives the
children love, attention, and care. Freud (1990) stated that relationship between
mother and children is the unique one (p. 320). There is a strong emotional occurring
in between. Therefore, she becomes the closest person for her son and daughter. In
contrast, a daughter may have closer relationship to her father while a son is closer to
his mother. A father has an important figure for a son to fight in his life, while a
mother teaches a son to think from his heart. A mother has a chance especially to
teach a son how to treat a girl. This will be helpful for him especially to have a better
relationship in the future.
According to Freud (1990), all mothers want to be queens to her sons (p.
327). A crucial phase of a mother-son relationship comes when another woman
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2

enters into his life either as a girlfriend or as a wife. In this stage, a mother will feel
insecure and becomes fearful. She has to share the love with someone else who is as
important as her son’s life. Her position as the only women in her son’s life will be
replaced soon by another woman. It is time to understand each other, a mother
should realize that her son will soon have their own life and she should not hold her
son all the time. When a son leaves his mother to seek success in life, he does not
know that it makes the mother painful. A son does not know that a mother will feel
hurtful at this going away. It has been known that a mother and a son sometimes
have a special bond, but it does not mean that mothers love their sons more than their
daughters.
A mother-son relationship can also be portrayed in a novel like For One
More Day. It is one of the literary works and that pictures the world we live.
Kennedy and Gioia (1999) noted that a novel is a picture of real life and manners and
of the time in which it was written (p. 266). It deals with a human character in a
social situation. We will find human characters in For One More Day namely
Pauline as the mother and Charley Benetto as the son with their social situation they
face.
It is showed in this novel that a mother has eternal love to her son. Her
greatest love to her son is the only thing which can forgive her son. For One More
Day is a family story. The main character Charley “Chick” Benetto is told by his
father, “You can be a mama’s boy or a daddy’s boy, but you can’t be both.” So he
decides to be a daddy’s boy. Charley lives happily with his family, but years after his
parents face continuous problems in their marriage. The climax of these problems is
the divorce of his parents. After the divorce, Charley lives with his mother and

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3

younger sister. Years after, he leaves his mother and his family until she passes away
unexpectedly. Charley feels guilty to his mother because when his mother dies, he is
not in around her. Finally he becomes desperate and leaves his wife and children.
Some decades later, Charley is a broken man. His life has been crumbled by alcohol
and regret. He loses his job. He leaves his family and he decides to kill himself. He
makes a midnight ride to his small hometown. He tries to end his life by crashing his
car to truck and jumping from a water tower. Unfortunately, he is unsuccessful to
end his life, but he come back to his old house. He finds an amazing discovery in his
old house. His mother, who dies eight years ago, still lives there and greets welcome
him home as if nothing ever happens.
The family relationship between mother and son as portrayed in Mitch
Albom’s For One More Day is interesting to discuss. This is an interesting and
touching story about family relationship. We have to build a good relationship
among the members of the family. This is the main reason why I will discuss the
relationship between the main character and his mother, and also about the way to
maintain the relationship.

B. Problem Formulation
Based on the formulation of the background, the problems are formulated as
follows:
1.

How are the characters of Charley and Pauline described in the novel?

2.

How is the relationship between Pauline and Charley described in Mitch
Albom’s For One More Day?

3.

How does Charley manage the conflicts in his relationship with his mother?

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4

C. Objectives of the Study
This thesis in general is intended to describe the characteristics of Pauline as
a mother and Charley as a son in this novel. Furthermore, the analysis of the
relationship between Pauline and Charley will also be discussed. Researcher will
analyze Charley’s conflict management to solve the conflict in his relationship with
Pauline.

D. Benefits of the Study
This research is expected to give valuable contribution for the following
people. The first is addressed to the reader. They can get the understanding of
characterization of the novel as it is an important element in this novel. They will
also get some messages through the novel that we must maintain our relationship
with our parents especially with mother.
The second is addressed to the teacher of English Language Education Study
Program and English Letter Study Program. They can apply certain chapter of this
novel to teach student, for example in reading class and answer some questions based
on that novel.

E. Definition of Terms
Some items need clarifying to avoid misunderstanding. They are:
1. Relationship
A Comprehensive Dictionary of Psychological and Psychoanalytical Terms
defines relationship as the fact of any kind of relation between persons that is based
upon common decent. According to Horace & Ava (1970), relationship usually
includes such close socially recognized relationship as those by marriage and by

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5

adoption (p. 248). In this study, the relationship between a mother and a son is
focused. The relationship of Charley and Pauline is a family relationship. Three years
after married, Pauline really wants him badly. Finally God give her a son named
Charley. They interact and communicate with each other as a mother and a son.
2. Maternal Relationship
Paternal relationship is different from maternal relationship. Mother and
father have different styles in the relationship with their children. In the book entitled
Communication in Family Relationship by Noller and Fitzpatrick (1993), ‘Motherchild interactions tend to be dominated by caretaking, with greater proportion of the
time mothers spend with their children being spent on these activities.’’ (p. 206). In
addition, Noller and Fitzpatrick (1993) noted that on the other hand, father-child
relationship is dominated by play with much greater proportion of their interactions
with their children being focused on play (p. 206). We can find in the novel that
Pauline has more attention in giving affection and attention to Charley. While his
father spends more of the time available in play activities like baseball.
3. Family
Burgess and Locke (1975) described that family as a group of persons united
by ties of blood, marriage or adoption; constituting a single household interacting
and communicating with each other in their respective social roles of husband and
wife, mother and father, son and daughter, brother and sister, and creating and
maintaining a common culture (p. 8). In the book entitled Communication in Family
Relationship, the first class of family definition is based on family structure.
According to Noller and Fitzpatrick (1993), ‘’Most of us use the term family in two
common ways: (a) when we mean partners and children and (b) when we mean

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6

relatives by blood or marriage such as siblings, grandparents, aunts, and cousins’’
(p.19).
Based on that theory, the relationship between Pauline and Charley Benetto
belongs to family relationship. It is because Pauline and Benetto are united by ties of
blood as a mother and a son. They interact and communicate with each other as a
mother and a son. Children start to learn anything in a family. Pauline as a mother
teaches Benetto from a simple thing until the big thing in his life, even though it is
commonly done with a father.
4. Character
Abrams (1981) explained that character is the persons presented in a dramatic
or narrative work, which is interpreted by the readers as being endowed with moral
and dispositional qualities that are expressed in what they say-the dialogues-and what
they do-the action (p. 20). In a novel, a character may remain essentially stable or
changes. There are two characters that will be analyzed in this study, Pauline as a
mother and Charlie as a son. Both characters have important role in a story. Pauline
and Charley becomes the centre of the story. They always come out in the story from
the beginning until the end of the story.

PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI

CHAPTER II
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

This chapter consists of four parts. The first part is about a review of related
studies already conducted that discuss the same novel. The second part is about
theoretical review that consists of the theory of critical approaches, theory of
character, and the theory of characterization. The third part is the review of related
theory and is divided into four: the theory of family, the theory of mother-son
relationship, the theory of father-son relationship, and the theory of conflict. The
last one is the theoretical framework.

A. Review of Related Studies
For One More Day is a novel written by Mitch Albom. It tells about a son
who is given a chance by his beloved mother to maintain his relationship with his
mother. By reading this novel, the writer would like to share about the meaning of
family, especially a mother who has endless love for her children. She is the early
caregiver for her children. A mother gives attention, care and love to her children
since the conception until the end of their life. Even though her children make some
mistakes in their life, a mother will always forgive them.
Mitch Albom’s For One More Day is interesting to discuss. There are two
studies done related with this novel. The first one was written by Dian Prawesti in
2009. The title of her study is The Influence of Benetto’s Intrapersonal Conflicts on
his Personal Life as Reflected in Mitch Albom’s For One More Day. It mainly
discusses about Charley Benetto’s character and his intrapersonal conflicts. In
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8

this thesis, Prawesti focuses on Charley Benetto’s intrapersonal conflicts with his
father. Prawesti concludes that Charley Benetto faces five major intrapersonal
conflicts. Furthermore, Charley Benetto’s intrapersonal conflict gives negative
effects on his behavior which finally destroy his own personal life.
The second study is written by Esti Dewanti entitled A Study of Chick
Benetto’s Conflicts as seen in Mitch Albom’s For One More Day. This thesis was
written in 2009 and mainly discusses Charley Benetto’s characteristics, Charley
Benetto’s conflicts and the resolution to his conflicts. Dewanti concludes that
Charley Benetto faces two types of conflict, namely internal conflict and external
conflict. In addition, Dewanti also states that Charley Benetto uses accommodation
and avoiding types to solve his conflicts.
Based on those studies, it can be concluded that Charley Benetto faces two
main conflicts in his life namely internal and external conflict. Internal conflict is
when he deals with his mind. The external conflict is when Charley Benetto has
different point of view with other characters such as his father, his mother, his
sister, his wife, etc. Considering to those studies, this study will analyze how the
relationship between Pauline and Charley Benetto and how Charley Benetto
manages the relationship with Pauline. It emphasizes on the relationship between a
mother and a son. This covers the characteristics of Charley Benetto and Pauline,
what conflict they face in their relationship, and how they solve the conflict.

B. Review of Related Theories
Theoretical review will discuss some theories which provide information for

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analyzing the novel. Those theories are theory of critical approach, theory of
character, and theory of characterization.

1. Critical Approaches
According to Rohrberger and Woods Jr (1971) in their book entitled
Reading and Writing about Literature, there are five approaches to analyze a novel
(p. 6). The first approach is the formalist approach. This approach focuses on the
techniques and structure that the author uses in his work. It only examines the
literary work without reference to the author’s life, genre of the work or to its place
in the development of the work or in literary history and without reference to its
social environment. Second approach is the biographical approach. This approach
believes that the life of the author is an important point to analyze one piece of
literary work. It attempts to learn as much as they can about the life and
development of the author and to apply this knowledge in their attempts to
understand his writings.
The third approach is the sociocultural-historical Approach. This approach
insists that the only way to locate the real work is in reference to the civilization that
produced it. Based on sociocultural-historical approach, society and historical
background are the crucial things to be analyzed in order to understand a literary
work. Next approach is the mythopoeic approach. The aim of this approach is to
discover certain universally recurrent patterns if human thought which the
significant works of art is. Recurrent patterns is related to those that found in
ancient myths and folks rites and are so basic to human thought that they have
meaning for all men. The last approach is the psychological approach. This

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approach involves the effort to locate and demonstrate certain recurrent patterns. It
is usually related to human motivation, personality and behavior patterns written in
literary objects.

2. Character
a. Definition of Characters
A definition of character is given by Abrams in his book Glossary of
Literary Terms. Abrams (1981) explained that characters are the persons presented
in a dramatic or narrative work, who are interpreted by the readers as being
endowed with moral and dispositional qualities that are expressed in what they saythe dialogues- and what they do- the action (p. 20). Another definition of character
is given by Roberts and Jacobs in his book Fiction: An Introduction to Reading and
Writing. Roberts and Jacobs (1989) stated that the characters are an extended verbal
representation of a human being, the inner self that determines thoughts, speech and
behavior (p. 143). Based on that theory, it can be concluded that character is a
person in a dramatic or narrative work who is also a representation of a human
being.

b. Types of Characters
Henkle (1977) stated that there are two kinds of characters based on the
importance: major and minor characters (p. 86). A major character is a centre of the
story. It has an important role in a story. The reader will pay most of the attention to
major character rather than minor character. In order to understand the story, we
need to give more attention to the major character. Otherwise, minor character has

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less important point in a story rather than major character. It has limited role of
action in a story. Minor character has a role as a supporter in the development of
major character.
E.M. Forster (1974) divided characters into flat and round character (p. 46).
A flat character can also be called a type or two-dimensional. It is constructed
around a single idea or quality and is presented without much individualizing detail.
Flat characters usually introduced from the beginning until the end of the story in a
stable description. Forster adds some advantages of flat characters. The great
advantage of flat characters is that they are easily recognized not only by the
reader’s visual eye but also by the reader’s emotional eye. A second advantage is
that flat characters are easily remembered by the reader since flat characters are not
easily change. Flat characters remain to be the same from the beginning until the
end of the story. A round character is complex in temperament and motivation. It is
dynamic because round characters can have capability to change. It can change
based on the situation and condition. The changing of round characters can make
the reader surprise.

3. Characterization
a. Definition of Characterization
Rohrberger and Woods (1971) defined characterization as the process by
which an author creates a character (p. 20). In addition, according to Roberts and
Jacobs (1989) characterization is the way that an author uses to give information
about the characters (p. 147). Characters have their own personality and physical

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attributes that distinguish them from one another. Characterization helps an author
to transform real-life people into character in fiction.

b. Characterization
Rohrberger and Woods (1971) said that there are two principal ways a
character can be characterized (p. 20). First, he can use direct means to describe
physical appearance of a character. Moreover, he can describe character through the
intellectual and moral attributes. Second, he can use dramatic means and place her
in situation to show what she is by the way she behaves or speaks. Then the
character will react in a particular way based on the situation.
Stanton (1965) stated that they are four ways in creating the characters
(p.17). Firstly, the author gives names to the characters. Secondly, the author
describes explicitly and comments upon the characters. Next is creating the
characters through the minor characters’ attitude towards the major characters. The
last one, the author shows what the characters are through their own speech and
behavior.
In addition, M.J. Murphy (1972) in his book Understanding Unseens
showed nine ways how the author makes the readers understand the character
(p.161). First way is called personal description. The author can describe a
character’s physical appearance, the clothes and also parts of body in details. The
second way is called the character as seen by another. The author describes a
character through another character’s opinions and eyes instead of describing him
directly. Next way is speech. Here, the author gives information about a character
through what he/she says. The fourth way is called past life. Information about a

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character’s past life could help the readers in understanding the characters. Next
way is called conversation of others. The author can give information about a
character through the conversation of other characters. Reaction is the next way in
understanding the characters. The author lets the readers know a character’s
personality through his reaction to various situations and events. In letting the
readers know about the character, the author can use direct description and direct
comment on character’s personality. This is the next way called direct comments.
Next way is called thoughts. Direct knowledge of what a character is thinking about
could be given to the readers. The last way is called mannerisms. Through
describing a character’s mannerisms and habits, the author tells the readers
something about the characters.

4. Family
Family will always be the most important part of someone’s life. The
definition of the family will be discussed in this part. It also includes the two kinds
of family which consist of nuclear and extended family.
a. Meaning of Family
In the book of The Family, Burgess and Locke (1975) defined family as a
group of persons united by ties of blood, marriage or adoption, constituting a single
household interacting and communicating with each other in their respective social
roles of husband and wife, mother and father, son and daughter, brother and sister,
and creating and maintaining a common culture (p. 8). A family is the main
caregiver for children because they get their basic need from family. A family is
also a main source for children to learn anything. They can learn how to talk, walk,

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eat, and how to communicate with other from their family. A parent will teach and
educate their children so that they can grow well and prepare for their future.
Burgess and Locke (1975) also add four main characteristics of a family
(p.7). The first character is that a family consists of persons united by the ties of
marriage, blood or adoption. In this character, blood describes the relationship
between parent and their children. Children may come from marriage or adoption.
Furthermore, bond describes the relationship of a husband and his wife. Second
character is that the members of the family usually live together under one roof and
constitutes a single household. The parent and their children tend to live together in
the same house. It will be very helpful when they have to communicate each other.
The parent will have much time to monitor the development of their children. The
third character is that the family is a unity of interacting and intercommunicating
persons to perform the social roles of husband and wife, mother and father, son and
daughter, brother and sister. There are some roles that exist in our society connected
with the relationship in a family. It can be the social role of husband and wife,
mother and father, son and daughter or brother and sister. The last character is that
the family maintains a common culture, derived mainly from the general culture,
but in a complex society possessing some distinctive features for each family. When
a couple gets married, they will bring different culture to each other based on their
own family. These different cultures will make some unique features in their new
family.
In addition, Noller and Fitzpatrick (1993) stated that the first class of family
definition is based on family structure (p. 19). Most of us use the term family in two
common ways. First way is when we mean partners and children which are usually

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called family of procreation. The second way is when we mean relatives by blood
or marriage such as siblings, grandparents, aunts, and cousins called family of
origin. Family of origin is a child which comes from a marriage of a couple where
this child begins his life in. Every person must have a mother and a father.
Sometimes they may have sister or brother, aunt, cousins, and many more. This
kind of relationship is usually called family of procreation.
b. Kinds of Family
According to the book entitled Sociology of Family Life written by David
Cheal (2002), the structure of a family can be divided into nuclear family and
extended family (p. 172).
1) Nuclear Family
According to Cheal (2002), nuclear family is composed of a legally married
couple and their children, for as long as the latter lived at home (p. 4). There is no
other member of family such as grandfather, grandmother, uncle, aunt, and many
more who lives at home. There are only the parent and their children. In addition,
Noller and Fitzpatrick (1993) in the book entitled Communication in Family
Relationship state that nuclear family is restricted to those living in the same house
(p. 3). In this kind of family, the parent and their children live separated from the
other family in one house until finally their children married and live with their new
family. Nuclear family is established after the World War II and become the ideal
model of family in our society today.
2) Extended Family
The opposite of nuclear family is called extended family. According to
Cheal (2002), extended family consists of a number of households whose male
heads were linked to one another by descent from a common male ancestor (p. 5).

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In Palestine, extended family is also called hamula. Hamula in Palestine consists of
several households who live in the same village. Usually, the head of the hamula is
the oldest man in the village. Today, extended family is already spread out in many
countries. One family can live with their relatives such as grandparent, uncle, aunt,
etc. They live together in one roof.

5.

Relationship in a Family
This part consists of two parts: the meaning of mother-son relationship and

the theory of conflict in mother-son relationship. In the first part, it consists of the
important role of a mother based on Cheal.
a.

Mother-Son Relationship
Cheal (2002) stated that mothering is a gendered identity which has

profound effects on the lives of women (p. 102). Mothering is a kind of social
activities. This kind of activity starts since her baby is born until the end of her life.
A mother has dominated role since the beginning of her children’s life because she
give the care of children more than a father does. It is not only raising a child but
also it involves nurturing and caring children so that they will grow up well. A
mother interact more to her children rather than a father. She can observe and watch
the development of her children because she spends more time with her children
than a father. A mother is an important figure in children’s life. She enjoys caring
for the children by watching the children’s development and responding to their
urgent needs. The role of mother has a unique position especially in influencing the
development of a son at every stage. A mother has a chance especially to teach a

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son how to treat a girl. This will be helpful for him especially to have a better
relationship in the future.
According to Freud (1990), all mothers want to be queens to her sons
(p.327). A mother is the first woman for a son and it cannot be replaced by anyone.
Through a mother, a son can learn how to think from his heart. A mother can teach
a son how to treat a girl well so that he can be a gentle man. A critical phase of a
mother-son relationship comes when another woman enters into his life either as a
girlfriend or as a wife. A mother will feel fearful when another woman come into
her son’s life. She has to share the love with someone else who is as important as
her son’s life. She feels worry if her son will forget her and leave her. In this stage,
there must be an understanding from a mother and also her son. A mother should
realize that her son will be no longer live with her. He should start his new life with
other women that he loves. Furthermore, a son must also understand that it is very
hard for a mother to let her son go for his new life. It is time for a son to convey his
mother that even though he already has a new family, he will not forget her and her
love will not be replaced by anyone else.

b. Father-Son Relationship
According to Robert (1982), father-son relationship has a major impact on a
man’s psychological development (p. 187). A father-son relationship could help a
boy develop a healthy masculinity. A father can help his son to develop his
masculinity by giving special attention to his son. A father could pay attention to
the son by these following activities: earning a good exam, getting a hit in a
baseball game, or doing well on a work project. By doing these activities, it will

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arouse his son a sense of confidence to himself. In addition, by doing some
activities together, a father have a strong bond with his son because they can spend
and share what they feel each to each other.
In the book entitled Family in Transition, there are two kinds of fatherhood.
These kinds of fatherhoods are the good father and bad father. A good father is a
father who can fulfill his duty to support his family. He is warm, wise and able to
spend time with his wife and children in his spare time. In contrast, a bad father is a
father failing to fulfill his duty for his family. He cannot support his family as a
breadwinner then he let his children grow up without his attention. Robert (1982)
also stated that when a father acts as a good role model it helps his son see him as a
hero (p. 188). When a father acts as a breadwinner and educates his family in a
good way, a son will see him as a good man for his family. He sees his father as a
hero. Furthermore, a father usually has dominant role in a family especially in
decision making. In this stage, a son will portray a father as a perfect man. It is
because a father can protect him from all dangers.

6.

Conflict
Conflict cannot be avoided in our life. Conflict is a common thing that

happens in someone’s life. The explanation of conflict will be discussed deeply in
this part which includes the conflict’s management and resolution.
a.

Definition of Conflict
According to Zeuschner (1992), conflict is a disagreement or an argument,

perhaps a flight, battle, or even a war (p. 155). In the book entitled Communication
in Family Relationship written by Noller and Fitzparick (1993), it is stated that

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conflict in family relationship is an inevitable part of family life (p. 99). In addition,
Noller and Fitzpatrick (1993) stated that the conflict occurs when family members
do not agree about event or situation in their lives (p. 99). For example is the
decision about particular family tasks. A father has a dominant role especially in
decision maker. He may decide who should do a particular family task. Sometimes,
this decision is not accepted easily towards his son.
In the book entitled Communication in Family Relationship written by Noler
and Fitzpatrick, it is stated that there are three main potential reasons in family
conflict (p. 100). The first one is about the agreement about sex roles to decide who
should do what. Thirty or forty years ago, it is common that a man should be the
breadwinner while a woman should do family tasks. Nowadays, both man and
woman can be the breadwinner for their family and do family tasks together.
Second reason is the greater interchangeability of roles. When there is a decision
about who should do what, there must be a time when flexibility is expected. For
example, when one family member is sick, the other member of family is expected
to help in finishing family tasks. A flexibility role between family members is
expected especially in a crucial moment. The last reason is the change in
assumption about family decision. It is concern about how to make it and who
should make it.
b. Kinds of Conflicts
Worchel and Cooper (1979) in the book entitled Understanding Social
Psychology stated that there are two types of conflict, namely intrapersonal conflict
and interpersonal conflict (p. 460). Intrapersonal conflict usually occurs when a
person faces a choice between two or more alternatives. According to Worchel and

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