Count Olaf's failures seen in Lemony Snicket's a series of unfortunate events : the bad beginning - USD Repository

  

COUNT OLAF’S FAILURES SEEN IN LEMONY SNICKET’S

A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS: THE BAD

BEGINNING

AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS

  Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra in English Letters

  By

NIKO NEKA PRASETYA

  Student Number: 084214099

  

ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME

DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS

FACULTY OF LETTERS

SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY

  A Sarjana Sastra Undergraduate Thesis

  

COUNT OLAF’S FAILURES SEEN IN LEMONY SNICKET’S

A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS: THE BAD

BEGINNING

  By

NIKO NEKA PRASETYA

  Student Number: 084214099 Approved by Dewi Widyastuti S. Pd., M. Hum. October 16, 2013.

  Advisor Ni Luh Putu Rosiandani S. S., M. Hum. October 16, 2013.

  Co-Advisor

  A Sarjana Sastra Undergraduate Thesis

  

COUNT OLAF’S FAILURES SEEN IN LEMONY SNICKET’S

A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS: THE BAD

BEGINNING

  By

NIKO NEKA PRASETYA

  Student Number: 084214099 Defended before the Board of Examiners on October 28, 2013 and Declared Acceptable

  

BOARD OF EXAMINERS

Name Signature

  Chairman : Dr. F.X. Siswadi, M. A ____________ Secretary : Sri Mulyani, Ph.D.

  Member 1. : Sri Mulyani, Ph.D. Member 2. : Dewi Widyastuti, S.Pd., M.Hum. Member 3 : Ni Luh Putu Rosiandani S. S., M. Hum.

  Yogyakarta, October 31, 2013 Faculty of Letters

  Sanata Dharma University Dean

  

LEMBAR PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN PUBLIKASI KARYA ILMIAH

UNTUK KEPENTINGAN AKADEMIS

  Yang bertandatangan bawah ini, saya mahasiswa Universitas Sanata Dharma: Nama : Niko Neka Prasetya Nomor Mahasiswa : 084214099 Demi perkembangan ilmu pengetahuan, saya memberikan kepada perpustakaan Universitas Sanata Dharma karya ilmiah saya yang berjudul:

  

COUNT OLAF’S FAILURES SEEN IN LEMONY SNICKET’S A SERIES

OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS: THE BAD BEGINNING

  Beserta perangkat yang diperlukan (bila ada). Dengan demikian saya memberikan kepada Perpustakaan Universitas Sanata Dharma hak untuk menyimpan, mengalihkan dalam benuk media lain, mengelolanya dalam bentuk pangkalan data, mendistribusikan secara terbatas, dan mempublikasikannya ke internet atau media lain untuk kepentingan akademis tanpa meminta ijin dari saya maupun memberikan royalti kepada saya selama tetap mencantumkan nama saya sebagai penulis. Demikian pernyataan ini saya buat dengan sebenarnya. Dibuat di Yogyakarta Pada tanggal: 31 Oktober 2013 Yang menyatakan

  

STATEMENT OF WORK’S ORIGINALITY

  I honestly declare that the thesis I wrote does not contain the works or part of the works of other people, except those cited in the quotations and bibliography, as a scientific paper should

  Yogyakarta, October 16, 2013 The Writer

  Niko Neka Prasetya

  At The Center of Your Being You Have the Answer:

  You Know Who You Are and You Know What You Want

• Lao Tsu -

  Dedicated To The Almighty God, Jesus Christ The Name Above All Names, To My Beloved Parents Nely Soekarno and Nur Prawestie To My Beloved Sister Anita Maria

  

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  First of all I would like to thank to Jesus Christ for His love, care, and blessing. I dedicated this thesis to my beloved parents, Nely Soekarno and Nur Prawestie, and my lovely sister, Anita Maria, who have supported and prayed for me during my study in this university.

  I also would like to express my deepest gratitude to my advisor, Dewi Widyastuti S. Pd., M. Hum. for all the guidance, attention, patience, support, and suggestion from the beginning to the end of the thesis writing. I would like to express my gratitude to my co-advisor, Ni Luh Putu Rosiandani, M. Hum. for all the guidance, support, and suggestion during the thesis writing. I also send my deepest gratitude to my academic advisor, Linda Valentina Budiman S. S., M. Hum. for all the guidance, attention, and support during my study in this university. I also send my gratitude to all my lecturers and the administrative staff in English Letters Department, Sanata Dharma University.

  I also would like to thank all of my best friends Ade Daniel Patty, Topan Putra, Harum Ajeng Kinasih, Feronika and all my classmates in A, B, C, and D. I also would like to express my gratitude to my brothers, Simon, Dimas Dhyara, Bagas Sularso Adi, and Sadana Maharja, “Long Live Brotherhood”. I also would like to thank my business friends IG Nugroho, Arya Surya, and the entire member of TKP Jogja. I thank for the happiness and sadness that we share together. I never forgot you all.

  The last gratitude goes for those whose names cannot be mentioned here, I

  TABLE OF CONTENTS TITLE PAGE .............................................................................................. i

APPROVAL PAGE .................................................................................... ii

ACCEPTANCE PAGE .............................................................................. iii

LEMBAR PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN PUBLIKASI

  ...................... iv

  

STATEMENT OF WORK’S ORIGINALITY ........................................ v

MOTTO PAGE ........................................................................................... vi

DEDICATION PAGE ................................................................................ vii

ACKNOLEDGEMENTS ........................................................................... viii

TABLE OF CONTENTS ........................................................................... ix

ABSTRACT ................................................................................................ xi

ABSTRAK ................................................................................................... xii

  

CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION .............................................................. 1

A. Background of the Study ........................................................... 1 B. Problem Formulation .................................................................. 4 C. Objectives of the Study .............................................................. 4 D. Definition of Terms .................................................................... 4

CHAPTER II: THEORETICAL REVIEW ............................................. 6

A. Review of Related Studies .......................................................... 6 B. Review of Related Theories ....................................................... 9 1. Theory of Character ............................................................. 9 2. Theories on Failure ................................................................ 12 3. The Relation between Literature and Psychology .............. 14 C. Theoretical Framework .............................................................. 16

CHAPTER III: METHODOLOGY ......................................................... 18

A. Object of the Study ..................................................................... 18 B. Approach of the Study ................................................................ 19 C. Method of the Study ................................................................... 20

CHAPTER IV: ANALYSIS ....................................................................... 22

A. The Characteristics of Count Olaf .............................................. 22 1. Bad-Tempered ...................................................................... 23 2. Demanding ............................................................................ 26 3. Rude ...................................................................................... 28 B. Count Olaf’s Failures ................................................................. 31 1. Count Olaf’s Failure in Approaching Baudelaire Children .. 32 2. Count Olaf’s Failure to be Patient ........................................ 35 3. Count Olaf’s Failure to Steal Baudelaire’s Fortune ............. 37

CHAPTER V: CONCLUSION ................................................................. 40

  

APPENDIX ................................................................................................. 45

  

ABSTRACT

NIKO NEKA PRASETYA. COUNT OLAF’S FAILURES SEEN IN

  

LEMONY SNICKET’S A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS: THE

BAD BEGINNING

  . Yogyakarta: Department of English Letters, Faculty of Letters, Sanata Dharma University, 2013.

  A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning is a novel by Lemony

  Snicket. The novel is published by Harper Collins Publisher in 1999. It is Lemony Snicket’s first children book that he wrote. The novel tells about Count Olaf’s efforts in getting Baudelaire’s fortune. Baudelaire’s parents are perished in a terrible fire in their house when the Baudelaire children play in the beach. Since that event, Baudelaire children are adopted by distance relative, Count Olaf.

  The aim of this undergraduate thesis is to answer the problem formulation that has been stated in chapter one. The problems are how is Count Olaf described in the novel and what are Count Olaf’s failures.

  Psychological approach is applied to analyze this undergraduate thesis. The psychological approach is used to aim the writer to analyze the characteristics of Count Olaf. After knowing the characteristics of Count Olaf, the writer analyzes his failures in the novel.

  In this undergraduate thesis, the writer analyzes Count Olaf’s characteristics. Count Olaf cannot control his emotion, he is always angry when something goes wrong. This condition shows that Count Olaf is bad-tempered. Once, he slapped Klaus in his face. When he cannot control his anger, he is rude. Count Olaf also demands the Baudelaire children to do many chores. Before he goes out to rehearse with his theater troupe, he leaves the children with some chores and demands the children to do them. The writer found the characteristics of Count Olaf are bad-tempered, rude, and demanding.

  In the second problem formulation, the writer analyzes some of Count Olaf’s failures. The writer found that Count Olaf fails in approaching Baudelaire children. His characteristic of bad-tempered and rude affects his effort in approaching Baudelaire children. His characteristics show that he is unfriendly, uncooperative, and he cannot adjust himself. The writer states that Count Olaf fails to be patient. Count Olaf’s rudeness shows that he cannot adjust himself and makes him impatient. Count Olaf also fails in stealing Baudelaire’s fortune. Count Olaf and his theater troupe make a fake play in order to steal Baudelaire’s fortune.

  Ho wever, he fails in stealing Baudelaire’s fortune because he has not good cooperated with his theater troupe. He is also unfriendly which he does not know that Violet is right-handed. His characteristic of bad-tempered and demanding make him not cooperated with his troupe in stealing Baudelaire’s fortune.

  

ABSTRAK

NIKO NEKA PRASETYA. COUNT OLAF’S FAILURES SEEN IN

  

LEMONY SNICKET’S A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS: THE

BAD BEGINNING

  . Yogyakarta: Jurusan Sastra Inggris, Fakultas Sastra, Universitas Sanata Dharma, 2013.

  A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning adalah sebuah novel

  karya Lemony Snicket. Novel ini diterbitkan oleh Harper Collins Publisher pada tahun 1999. Ini adalah buku anak anak pertama yang dia tulis. Novel ini menceritakan tentang usaha usaha Count Olaf dalam mendapatkan kekayaan Baudelaire. Orang tua Baudelaire tewas dalam sebuah kebakaran yang dashyat di rumah mereka ketika anak-anak Baudelaire bermain di pantai. Sejak kejadian itu, anak-anak Baudelaire diadopsi oleh kerabt jauh, Count Olaf.

  Tujuan dari skripsi ini adalah untuk menjawab perumusan masalah yang telah dinyatakan di bab satu. Permasalahannya adalah bagaimana Count Olaf di diskripsikan di dalam novel dan apa kegagalan Count Olaf.

  Pendekatan psikologi digunakan untuk menganalisa skripsi ini. Pendekatan psikologi di gunakan untuk membantu penulis untuk menganalisa karakteristik dari Count Olaf. Setelah mengetahui karakteristik dari Count Olaf, penulis menganalisa kegagalannya di dalam novel.

  Di dalam skripsi ini, penulis menganalisa karakteristik Count Olaf. Count Olaf tidak bisa mengendalikan emosinya, dia selalu marah jika sesuatu berjalan dengan tidak benar. Kondisi ini menunjukkan bahwa Count Olaf adalah pemarah.

  Suatu waktu, dia menampar Klaus di wajahnya. Ketika dia tidak bisa mengendalikan kemarahannya, dia kasar. Count Olaf juga menuntut anak-anak Baudelaire untuk melakukan pekerjaan rumah yang banyak. Sebelum dia pergi keluar untuk berlatih dengan rombongan teaternya, dia meninggalkan anak-anak dengan beberapa pekerjaan rumah dan menuntut anak-anak untuk melakukannya. Penulis menemukan karakteristik dari Count Olaf adalah pemarah, kasar, dan penuntut.

  Di dalam perumusan masalah kedua, penulis menganalisa beberapa kegagalan Count Olaf. Penulis menemukan bahwa Count Olaf gagal dalam mendekati anak-anak Baudelaire. Karkteristiknya dari pemarah dan kasar mempengaruhi usahanya dalam mendekati anak-anak Baudelaire. Karakteristiknya menunjukkan bahwa dia tidak ramah, tidak dapat bekerja sama, dan dia tidah dapat menyeduaikan dirinya. Penulis menyatkan bahwa Count Olaf gagal untuk bersabar. Kekasaran Count Olaf menunjukkan bahwa dia tidak dapt menyesuaikan dirinya dan membuat dia tidak sabar. Count Olaf juga gagal dalam mencuri kekayaan Baudelaire. Count Olaf dan rombongan teaternya membuat sebuah drama palsu untuk mencuri kekayaan Baudelaire. Akan tetapi, dia gagal dalam mencuri kekayaan Baudelaire karena dia tidak bekerja sama dengan baik dengan rombongan teaternya. Dia juga tidak ramah yang membuatnya tidak tahu kalau violet memakai tangan kanan. Karakteristiknya dari pemarah dan penuntut

CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION A. Background of the Study Literature is a creative writing which contains imagination and figurative

  languages. It is not designed for direct or practical communication (Wellek and Warren, 1956: 3). Literature is different from any other writing. In reading and understanding a literary work, someone must do an exploration and contemplation toward the contents, while it is different in reading an ordinary writing. Those things are needed in order to get the ideas of the author.

  Literature has two functions, as a work of art and a science. The difference is based on the way they are treated. As a work of art, literature is a work or activity done by an artist like a novelist, and a playwright. As a science, literature is discussed by one or who is scholar in literature world (Wellek and Warren, 1956: 15).

  As a literary work, a novel is different from the other literary genres, such as poetry and drama. The novel may amuse the readers or even shock the readers by its story. Moreover, the readers may have their imagination in interpreting what they read.

  A novel has some elements which cannot be separated. There are intrinsic elements, such as characters, setting, plot, theme, symbols, and so on. Through these elements, there will be problems in the novel. One important aspect in the so on. The theme is the central topic of the study. In this undergraduate thesis, the writer picks failure as the theme of his study.

  In this undergraduate thesis, the writer uses the novel by Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning. In this novel, the writer tries to discuss the failure of Count Olaf.

  According to Collins, Concise Dictionary and Thesaurus, failure means someone or something that is unsuccessful (Gilmour et al, 2003: 334). In other words, it may be lack of success. A person can fail in achieving something in his or her life; for example, someone who fails to pass examination, marriage, gets a job or effort in gaining something. These examples of failures are some examples of human aspect of life.

  There are some psychological aspects or factors, which cause people to fail in their lives. Napoleon Hill and Clement Stone said in their book, Success Through A Positive Mental Attitude, which one of the primary causes of failure is the negative mental attitude, which is shown in the negative characteristics (Hill, 1960: 28).

  In writing this undergraduate thesis, the writer focuses on the Count Olaf’s failure in the story. The writer tries to point out t he character’s characteristics and point out his failures. This novel begins with the killing of Baudelaire’s parents.

  Then, all the fortune, inheritance, falls to Violet Baudelaire, as the oldest child. The problem begins when the Baudelaire children is sent to Count Olaf, as their legal guardian. Count Olaf, as the legal guardian instead tries to steal Baudelaire’s

  A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket is a novel that can be read by children and adult. Children novel is a good novel for children; however, adults may read the children novel also. Peter’s Hunt in Literature for Children: Contemporary Criticism stated that

  Children’s literature, like any literature, bears examining from the viewpoint of adults reader. Even its child-directed projects reflect adult writer’s intentions and satisfy adult readers’ notion about children’s taste and need, as well as fulfilling the needs of the adults’ societies to which the children belong (Hunt 1992: 80) The novel A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning by

  Lemony Snicket is a children novel, but, it is not only for children, adults may read this novel. The children novel sometimes has unique story that arouse adults want to read the novel. Moreover, this children literature is created by an adult, means that the novel contains idea from the author, which he is an adult. Children literature is a good book for children because the story is suitable for their age. Adults may like children novel because it can arouse their old moment when they were children.

  In this undergraduate thesis, the writer wants to describe the characteristics of Count Olaf and also point out Count Olaf’s failures in the story.

  The first point, the writer will identify the characteristics of Count Olaf by looking at his dialogues and acts in the novel. Then, the writer analyzes his failures.

  B. Problem Formulation

  According to the topic of the study, there are two main questions that the writer wants to analyze in this study. The questions are as follows.

  1. How is Count Olaf described in the story? 2.

  What are Count Olaf’s Failures?

  C. Objectives of the Study

  The aim of this study is to reveal the failures of Count Olaf in the novel by looking at his characteristics. The writer has made two problem formulations. The objective can be found by answering the two questions in the problem formulation.

  The first, the writer will find out the characteristics of the antagonist character, Count Olaf, by looking at his characterizations in the novel. Then, the second objective is to find out some failures which Count Olaf did on the novel and analyze it.

  D. Definition of Terms There are some terms which the writer uses in this undergraduate thesis.

  To avoid ambiguities and misunderstanding in meaning, the writer tries to give some definitions of those terms. The writer has two terms to explain, there are the term of character and failure. The first term is:

  1. Character

  The word “character” means “the person presented in a dramatic or narrative work, who are interpreted by the reader as being endowed with moral, dispositional, and emotional qualities that are expressed in what they say-the dialogue- and what they do

• – the action” (Abrams, 1993: 23). From the preceding quotation, character has the meaning of a person who acts in the novel and has the quality of moral, dispositional and emotional which he or she does in his or her acts and dialogues. Character related to someone’s personality which is reflected through his or her behavior.

  2. Failure

  The second definition is the definition of failure by Horace B English and Ava Champney English in their book A Comprehensive Dictionary Psychology and Psychoanalytic Terms. He stated that

  “failure” is defined “as a person who does not attain the major goals for which he is striving” (1970: 202). From the preceding quotation, failure has the meaning of an effort which a person does in the purpose to gain something, but he or she fails. The person has done the best thing he or she has to attain their goal, but even so, they can fail for what they are striving.

CHAPTER II THEORETICAL REVIEW A. Review of Related Studies Lemony Snicket a.k.a Daniel Handler is a writer who has three identities. He has published two novels for adults, The Basic Eight and Watch Your Mouth

  (http://www.iblist.com) (2 October 2012). He has also published eleven of the planned thirteen books in a series for children called A Series of Unfortunate Events under the name of Lemony Snicket.

  This is the first time for Lemony Snicket in writing children novel, a novel which begins and ends in bad conditions or events, a novel which is very different from other children books which always have happy ending, but not for this novel. The writer used the first novel by Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning. There is a view and opinion about the novel A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning by Christian Perring in his website,

  This story acknowledges the existence of terrible events and does not pretend that everything always turns out for the best in the end; that is both refreshing, and might even make this book good for the moral education of children. Children who have themselves suffered the loss of parents might especially find some comfort in the story of the Baudelaire children. Adults whose imaginations have not become completely shriveled should also take great pleasure in this book. (http://metapsychology.mentalhelp.net) (10 October 2012). In this statement, Perring showed that life is not always end in happiness. Life is not like a story which has happy ending. It is a good book for readers book has a fresh idea in its story while some other books have almost the same idea, which is happy in the end. Peering showed that children who have the real condition like Baudelaire children will feel comfort because someone who has the same story of Baudelaire children will understand how it feels the suffering of losing their parents.

  There is also an opinion about the novel by Natasha Godeliva in her undergraduate thesis entitled ‘The Message As Revealed by The Characters’ Series of Tragedy in Lem ony Snicket’s “A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning”. She stated that

  In conclusion, the children’s struggle to reach their will to be free from Count Olaf’s control reveals some moral values. Although the children are innocent and they are not deserved to experience a series of tragedy, they still struggle to face and solve their problems. The struggle they show reveal some moral values to the reader that misfortune may also befall to anyone else in sudden and even though the situation is very hard to compete, it is better to try to solve it rather than run away and surrender from that problem (Godeliva, 2011: 62).

  In her analysis, Godeliva showed some moral values. There are two messages that Godeliva tries to reveal in her analysis. The first messages she revealed is that misfortune may happen to anyone, even to good people. Everyone in this world may suffer from misfortune like Baudelaire children no matter how kind or bad they are. The second message is that someone should not surrender before they are trying. This message shows that someone needs to struggle to face their problem. There are some people who run away or surrender on their problem because they do not know what to do. The way the children overcome with their problems can be the lesson of life for the readers. Godeliva tried to show the fact that we cannot have everything we want. We need to face and struggle with our condition or problem.

  This is an opinion on A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning by Barbara Smith Chalou. She stated that In some respects, these literary characters suffer all the abuses and neglect of the Stuwwelpeter’s character, but the differences are evident. Charlie Bucket, Harry Potter, and the Baudelaire orphans suffer abuse and neglect from truly evil villains and these outside forces are eventually punished from their misdeeds. Justice prevails. Punishing the evil force offers the young reader a satisfying closure that is congruent with Lawrence’s theory of moral development in children. Children in pre-conventional stage of their moral behavior believe that evil behavior is the result of obedience or of avoidance of the evil implicit in disobedience (google.book.com/ Struwwelpeter: Humor Or Horror?: 160 Years Later) (10 October 2013). In the preceding quotation, Chalou states that the children, the characters in the story, are suffering all the abuses and negligence, but in the end, the justice will prevail. In this quotation, Chalou states that justice prevails. The readers are being taught some moral lessons about good and bad behavior. The readers will understand which one is good to do and which one must be avoided to do.

  There is also review from Ana Mardoll in her website about the novel by Lemony Snicket A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning. She wrote,

  However, the story is engaging and well-told and it's impossible to not be drawn into the drama of the Baudelaire orphans as they struggle to survive in the wake of their parents' deaths. The children are wonderfully characterized, and it is such a breath of fresh air to have Violet as an active female character who invents things and scales towers; and brother Klaus is a delightful support character as the brainy bookworm who digs through libraries for answers to help the children out of peril. And, of course, Sunny the biter adds a great deal to the story with her loosely translated shrieks and baby gurgles (http://www.anamardoll.com) (10 October 2012).

  In her review, Mardoll explained about the struggling of Baudelaire heavy chores. Mardoll also showed the wonderful characteristics of Baudelaire children. In her review, Mardoll tried to show the impressive Baudelaire children’s characteristics struggling in Count Olaf’s house. Mardoll shows how Baudelaire children can move on after the death of their parents and how Baudelaire children can struggle in Count Olaf’s house.

  In this study, the writer focuses on the different viewpoint, which is the failure of Count Olaf in the story. In the novel, Violet Baudelaire, as the oldest child of the Baudelaire’s family, always get bad treatments from Count Olaf as her guardian because she was the heir of the Baudelaire’s fortune. Count Olaf always tries to capture Baudelaire’s fortune in many ways. The writer tries to look at Count Olaf’s view point and reveals his characteristics. Also, the writer tries to reveal Count Olaf’s failures in this novel.

B. Review of Related Theories

  There are some theories which the writer used to reveal the problem formulation. The first theory is theory of character. This theory conducted the writer in defining the characteristic of Count Olaf. Then, the writer uses the theory of failure to show some failures which Count Olaf did in the novel.

1. Theory of Character In this study, the writer uses the theory of character by M. H Abrams’.

  The person presented in a dramatic or narrative work, who are interpreted by the reader as being endowed with moral and disposition qualities that are expressed in

  Abrams said that a character could be judged by his or her dialogues. The conversation in the story shows the reader how the character is. The other point to comprehend the character is looking at his or her actions. From these two points, the reader will understand the characteristics of the character presented in the novel.

  There are also two types of character, namely the flat and the round character. The flat character is the character that possesses only one conspicuous trait. A round character is a character that described in detail, through his or her thoughts, feeling and perceptions toward something (Forster, 2000: 61). The flat character stays the same from the beginning until the end of the story, but round character is a dynamic character which is more fully developed and described.

  Holman and Harmon in A Handbook of Literature stated that characterization is the creation of imaginary person so that they exist for the reader as if the people in the real life (Holman and Harmon, 1986: 81). While in order to understand the characteristics of a character, M.J. Murphy in his book Understanding Unseen: An Introduction to English Poetry and the English Novel for Overseas Students stated nine important points that are needed to understand (1972: 161-173). They are: a.

  Personal Description is the way the author draws the character’s appearance and clothes. The character can be fat, thin, handsome, or bad looking. From the description, the readers are given image of how the character looks like (1972: 161). b.

  Character as Seen by Another is the way the author describe a character through other characters’ viewpoint and opinions, instead of describing a character directly. This helps the readers understand the character deeper (1972: 162).

  c.

  Speech is the way the author gives the readers an insight into the character of one person in the book through what the person says. Whenever the character speaks, including conversation with another or giving opinion, the character itself is giving the readers some clues to its characteristics or personalities (1972: 164).

  d.

  Past Life is the way the author guides the readers to figure out the character, by learning somethi ng about the person’s past life. This usually stated by the direct comment by the author, the person’s thought, his or her conversation, or through the medium of another person (1972: 166).

  e.

  Conversation of Others is a person’s character which is seen through the conversation of other people or through the things that they say about him or her. People talk about other people and things they say often give a clue to the character of the person spoken about (1972: 167).

  f.

  Reaction is a clue given by the author to a person’s character by letting the reader knows how that person reacts to various situations and events. A character’s reactions show his or her personality in facing problems or situations (1972: 168).

  g.

  Direct Comment is the way the author describes or comments on a person’s h.

  Thought is the way the author gives the readers direct knowledge of what a person is thinking. Therefore, an author is able expressed his or her thoughts to do what his or her reader cannot do in real life (1972: 171). i.

  Mannerism is the way the author describes a person’s mannerism, habits, or idiosyncrasies that may also tell the reader something about his or her character (1972: 173).

  The nine elements of the theory of characters and characteristics by M. J. Murphy will not be used all. There are only several elements that are needed to analyze the character in the story because there are only some elements of the character that are explained using the theory of characters and characteristics.

2. Theories on Failure

  Failure is a conditional term to define and cannot be judged in one way or another, but there are some ways to judge the definition of failure. The proper way to determine if someone fails doing something or not is only the person who undergoes it. Human beings are weak creature, sometimes they fall in failure.

  People are not always able to achieve what they expect, not all their desires can be fulfilled though they have tried hard to achieve them.

  Kassarjian in his psychological report Success, Failure, and Personality says that The cultural patterns of success and failure were defined as a two- dimensional process. The first is indicated by objective measures of achievement, the “societal’ success-failure continuum; the other by the aspirations of the individual and his self perception of success or failure concept, fewer adjustive attitudes; greater complains of physical and mental illness symptoms and less socially desirable personality traits than found in individuals who score as successful on both criteria (p. 567). In his study, kassarjian stated that success and failure are results of a process. He said that there are two ways to measure someone was success or fail, by their achievment in societal and individual perception. Personal traits have a big impact to someone who is success or fail. Failure is related to negative traits.

  According to Kassarjian, failure is related to self concept. He stated that someone who fails has low self concept. In the contrary, success person has good self concept. Kassarjian explains that success or failure is related to human characteristics. Kassarjian stated that failure related to a poorer self concept, fewer adjustive atitudes, greater complains of physical and mental illness symptoms and less socially desireable personality traits.

  Failure means the state or condition of not meeting a desirable or intended objective, and may be viewed as the opposite of success. In other words, it means lack of success. A person can fail in achieving something in his or her life, for example he or she fails to pass the exam, fails in marriage, and fails in their efforts, etc. These are the examples of human aspect of life. Aspects of life can be divided into three, they are intellectual, social, and psychological (Franken, 1982:350). The writer tries to discuss the psychological aspects that might lead the character to failure.

  There are some psychological aspects of factors, which cause people to fail in their lives. Napoleon Hill and Clement Stone say in their book, Success mental attitude, which is shown in the negative characteristics, such as suspicion, pessimism, jealousy, greed, discouragement, close-mindedness, selfishness and bad common sense (1960: 13). It means that the negative mental attitude could bring failure in someone’s life if it dominates or obsessed his or her life.

  Failure is usually followed by negative result. Failure can lead someone to have the feeling of shame, incompetence, guilt, resignation, aggression, or surprise, depending on how the person account for his or her failure (Franken, 1982: 354-360). The worst effect of failure may cause a deep frustration that might lead a person to insanity or even suicide or self murder (Franken, 1982: 362).

3. The Relation Between Literature and Psychology

  Literature and Psychology are two broad disciplines. Applied to literature, psychological principles help us explore what the writer’s write, the characters act, and what the reader’s interpretation. Literature provides us with the expression and psychology provides us with the possibility of interpretation of the meaning of the signs and symbols we find in the text, of explaining how and why human beings think, feel, react, and interact.

  According to Dastmard, Razmjoo, and Salehi in their journal The Relationship Between Psychology and Literature,

  The relation between psychology and literature is a bilateral relation. The psychology of the unconscious can be called literature, and is a dune mining approach to its foreign opinion, very familiar to literature and literary critics (Dastmard et al, 2012: 9423).

  In the preceding quotation, Dastmard et al try to explain that there is relation between psychology and literature. Literature provides a work which made by psychology of unconscious. Psychology has a role to develop the writer’s idea. Psychology helps the writer in building a work of art.

  There is opinion about the relation between psychology and literature comes from Moghaddam in his article Performance Capacity and Performance Style Looking Back and Moving Forward in Psychology.

  The relationship between psychology and literature can usefully be conceptualized in three broad categories. At the lowest level of abstraction is ‘psychology in literature’: literature as a source of psychological data, literature as a source of insights for psychology. The second level of abstraction involves literature as an independent variable, literature as a dependent variable, and literature as understood through psychology. At the third and highest level of abstraction are: psychology as nomothetic and literature as idiographic; psychology as culture-free and literature as culture-bound; psychology as concerned with actual worlds and literature with possible worlds; and, finally, psychology is literature (Moghaddam, 2006: 840).

  Moghaddam made three categories that psychology has relation with literature. The point of the above quotation is that psychology has a role in understanding the literature data. Psychology and literature has complementary relation and they stay in different side, in other words, they have their own role.

  Psychology relates to reality world which happen, while literature relates to possible world. Literature is data source for psychology to analyze.

  There is another opinion from Motlagh in his study Psychology and Literature.

  Psychology helps the reader and the critic in four ways: first it helps to explain the creative process of creating a work of art. Some theorists the author. Second, it can provide some references to the author‘s life. Biography of the author, his letters and other documents can show the author‘s personality. Third, it can help to interpret the true meaning of a given text. Forth, it creates a sensual impression on the reader (Motlagh, 2010: 9).

  In the preceding quotation, Mothlag explained about the usefulness of psychology in literature area. There are four points that psychology has role in literature. Psychology helps literature in building a creative work; work of art needs creativity from the creator, psychology has role in developing the creator’s idea. In understanding the meaning of work of art, the creator’s psychology has a role to analyze the art. Psychology develops imagination in the readers’ mind.

C. Theoretical Framework

  There are some theories used in this study. The usage of these theories is to answer the problem formulation. There are three theories that are used to analyze this undergraduate thesis. They are the theory of character, the theory of failure, and the relation between literature and psychology.

  The first theory is the theory of character, since in this study it is used to analyze the characteristics of Count Olaf. The theory of character is used to analyze, to identify, and to understand what behavior that Count Olaf has. The writer uses the theory character by M. H. Abrams because it helps the writer in defining the character’s characteristics by looking at his dialogues and acts. The writer also used the theory of character by M. J. Murphy to analyze the characteristics of Count Olaf. There are nine points which M. J. Murphy stated in English Novel for Overseas Students, but the writer may be used some of the important points which has correlation with the characteristic of Count Olaf.

  After knowing his characteristics, the writer tries to point out his failures in the novel. In this part, the theory of failure is needed to explain the failure of Count Olaf. The writer used the theory of failure by Kasarjian, beside that; the writer also uses the theory of failure by Napoleon Hill and Clement Stone. In their book, there are the characteristics of failure which will be used to analyze the failure in the novel.

  Finally, the writer tries to know the failures of Count Olaf in stealing Baudelaire’s fortune. The writer assumes that Count Olaf’s characteristics lead him to his failure. The writer also gives some proof that there is a relation between literature and psychology. This theory is needed to know that psychology has a role in literature in building the character’s characteristics.

CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY A. Object of the Study The object of the study is the novel by Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning which is published by Harper Collins Publisher in the year of 1999. It consists of 162 pages. It is his first c

  hildren’s book that he wrote. This book is the first book of planned thirteen series.

  In addition to its strong reviews, A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning won multiple literary awards, there are the Colorado Children's Book Award, the Nevada Young Readers Award, 3 IRA or CBC Children Choice Award, Nickelodeon Kid’s Choice, Quill Book Award and Nene Award (http://www.kidsbookseries.com) (10 October 2012). This novel has sold more than 60 million copies and translated into 41 languages. This book was filmed and played on the theater on 2004 by Nickelodeon Movies as the producer, starring Jim Carey as the villain actor, Count Olaf (http://movies.nytimes.com) (6 November 2012). This book is different from other children books, because the common children book usually has happy ending, but not for this book which is the reverse.

  This book told about the three young Baudelaire children who lost their parents in terrible fire in their house. Then, their parents’ executor, Mr. Poe, sent Baudelaire children to stay with a family member name Count Olaf who treated three Baudelaire children have a big fortune, especially for Violet, who is the heiress of Baudelaire’s fortune. Then, Count Olaf made a plan to take over Baudelaire’s fortune.

  Count Olaf tries some efforts to get Baudelaire’s fortune. One of his plans, Count Olaf puts Violet in his tricky play, which is to play in his fake play performance named The Marvelous Marriage, in order to marry Violet legally and take over her fortune. But, the plan fails because Violet signed the document with the wrong hand. Mr. Poe, Justice Strauss, and the audience knew Count Olaf’s bad plan which is to take over Baudelaire’s fortune. Then, Mr. Poe gave order to arrest Count Olaf; unfortunately, one of Count Olaf’s theater troupes turned off the light. In the darkness, Count Olaf escaped from the theater before the police came.