A STUDY OF CHRIS’S MOTIVATIONS IN LIVING OFF THE LAND IN ALASKA AS SEEN IN JON KRAKAUER’S INTO THE WILD

  

A STUDY OF CHRIS’S MOTIVATIONS

  

IN LIVING OFF THE LAND IN ALASKA

AS SEEN IN JON KRAKAUER’S INTO THE WILD

A THESIS

  Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements to Obtain the Sarjana Pendidikan Degree in English Language Education

  By Andreas Candra Yoga Pamungkas

  Student Number: 031214130

  

ENGLISH LANGUAGE EDUCATION STUDY PROGRAM

DEPARTMENT OF LANGUAGE AND ARTS EDUCATION

FACULTY OF TEACHERS TRAINING AND EDUCATION

SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY

  

A STUDY OF CHRIS’S MOTIVATIONS

IN LIVING OFF THE LAND IN ALASKA

  

AS SEEN IN JON KRAKAUER’S INTO THE WILD

A THESIS

  Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements to Obtain the Sarjana Pendidikan Degree In English Language Education

  By

  Andreas Candra Yoga Pamungkas Student Number: 031214130

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

  HAPPINESS ONLY REAL WHEN SHARED ( Christopher Johnson McCandless)

  Dedicated with love and gratitude to: my Dad up heaven there and my super beautiful Mom, who have introduced me to the beauty of life

  

STATEMENT OF WORK’S ORIGINALITY

  I honestly declare that the thesis, which I wrote, does not contain the works or parts of the works of ther people, except those cited in the quotations and the references, as a scientific paper should.

  Yogyakarta, 8 November 2008 The Writer,

  Andreas Candra Yoga Pamungkas 031214130

  

LEMBAR PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN

PUBLIKASI KARYA ILMIAH UNTUK KEPENTINGAN AKADEMIS

  Yang bertandatangan di bawah ini, saya mahasiswa Universitas Sanata Dharma: Nama : Andreas Candra Yoga Pamungkas Nomor Mahasiswa : 031214130 Demi pengembangan ilmu pengetahuan, saya memberikan kepada Perpustakaan Uiversitas Sanata Dharma karya ilmiah saya yang berjudul:

  A STUDY OF CHRIS’S MOTIVATIONS

  IN LIVING OFF THE LAND IN ALASKA AS SEEN IN JON KRAKAUER’S INTO THE WILD

  Beserta perangkat yang diperlukan (bila ada). Dengan demikian saya memberikan kepada Perpustakaan Universitas Sanata Dharma hak untuk menyimpan, mengalihkan dalam bentuk media lain, mengelolanya dalam bentuk pangkalan data, mendistribusikan secara terbatas, dan mempublikasikannya di internet atau media lain untuk kepentingan akademis tanpa perlu 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: 28 November 2008 Yang menyatakan, Andreas Candra Yoga Pamungkas

  

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  First of all, I would like to praise and thank my beloved Jesus Christ and

  

Mother Mary for the wonderful grace, blessings, and for giving me the strength

so that I could complete my thesis.

  My deepest gratitude also goes to my major sponsor, Drs. A. Herujiyanto,

  

M.A., Ph.D. who always read, re-read my thesis, and supported me with his

  beneficial suggestions. I do believe that without his guidance, I could never have accomplished my thesis. From the bottom of my heart, I would like to thank him for his sincere guidance, patience, and time. I also give thank Mbak Dani and

  

Mbak Tari for helping me with the administrative matters and to all Sanata

Dharma University staff.

  My sincere gratitude goes to my beloved parents F. Sumpeno

  

Yudonugroho and Rosalia Budi M. who always give me supports

  encouragement, and prayer. I also thank to my sister Mbak Ika and my brothers Mas Irvan and Mas Candra for being patient to me.

  I truthfully would like to thank my best friends: 6 CHE 2003, Inu, Yudo,

  

Edwin, Eong, Kuda, Si Po, etc. for the time they spent with me. I would also like

  to thank Ajeng, Melon, Timur, Babi, Dudung, Grace, Cherly and my friends

  

at Sanata Dharma University for encouraging me to complete my thesis. I

  would like to thank Mitra Perpustakaan for the cooperation during this time. I hope our friendship will never end. Finally, I thank those whose names cannot be mentioned one by one, who have helped and supported me. MAY GOD BLESS

  

TABLE OF CONTENTS

  Page

  

TITLE PAGE………………………………………..……………………………i

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

DEDICATION PAGE………………………………………………………......iii

STATEMENT OF WORK’S ORIGINALITY……………………...…………iv

LEMBAR PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN PUBLIKASI

  ……….……….……v

  

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS..…………………….…………………...…………vi

TABLE OF CONTENTS…………………………………………...….………vii

LIST OF APPENDICES...…………………………………..…………………...x

ABSTRACT………………………………………………………….…………..xi

ABSTRAK

  ………………………………………………….…..……….…......…xii

  CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION

  1.1 Background of the Study……………………………………...1

  1.2 Objectives of the Study………………………………………...3

  1.3 Problem Formulation...………...………....……………………3

  1.4 Benefits of the Study………...………..……………………….4

  1.5 Definition of Terms……………………….………..………….4

  CHAPTER II REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

  2.1.1 Character……………………………………………………..6

  2.1.2 Characterization……………………………………………...8

  2.1.3 Approaches…………………...………………………….....10

  2.1.4 Motivations………………..………………………………..12

  2.2 Criticism…………...………………………………………....15

  2.3 Theoretical Framework…….…………………………………17

  CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY

  3.1 Subject Matter………...………………………………………18

  3.2 Approach………..……………….…………………………...19

  3.3 Procedure….…………………………………………...……..20

  CHAPTER IV ANALYSIS

  4.1 The Description of Chris McCandless………………………..22

  4.2 Chris McCandless’s Motivations in Living of the Land in Alaska…………….……………….35

  4.2.1 Having Interpersonal Conflict with His Parents……...…….35

  4.2.2 Sharing His Love to the Nature and Others……….………..37

  4.2.3 Showing His Ability as a Good Adventurer...………...……39

  4.2.4 Having New Experiences………………..…………………41

  4.2.5 Realizing His Dream of Wildlife………..……...…………..41

  CHAPTER V CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS

  5.1 Conclusions…………………...……………………………...44

  5.2 Suggestions……………..…………………………………….47

  5.2.1 Suggestion for Future Researchers……………..…………..47

  5.2.2 Suggestion for Teaching-Learning Activities…………..…..48

  

REFERENCES………………………..………………………………………...50

APPENDICES………………………………………………………………......52

LIST OF APPENDICES

  Page Appendix 1: Summary of Into The Wild…………………………………….......53 Appendix 2: The Biography of Jon Krakauer……………………………………56 Appendix 3: Map of Alaska……………………………………………………...58 Appendix 4: Lesson Plan of Teaching Extensive Reading II ……………...……59 Appendix 5: Material…………………………………...………………………..60

  

ABSTRACT

  Pamungkas, Andreas Candra Yoga. 2008. A Study of Chris’s Motivations in

Living off the Land in Alaska as Seen in Jon Krakauer’s Into the Wild.

Yogyakarta: English Language Education Study Program. Department of Language and Arts Education. Faculty of Teachers Training and Education. Sanata Dharma University. Yogyakarta.

  This thesis analyzes Jon Krakauer’s Into the Wild. It is about Christopher Johnson McCandless, the major character of the novel. He is a young man who hitchhikes to Alaska, walks alone, and lives off the land into the wilderness in the north of Mount McKinley. The aim of this thesis is to find out Christopher’s reasons to live in the wilderness. In order to do so, this study explores how Christopher is depicted in the novel and his motivations in conducting his actions.

  This thesis is a library study. It employs psychological approach and several theories that are related to the study. The primary source is the novel itself, while the secondary sources are the movie based on the novel, some books on literature and psychology, as well as the related articles from the internet.

  Based on the analysis, it can be concluded that Christopher Johnson McCandless is smart, brave, stubborn, and musical. He is also generous, friendly, and obsessed with social issues. Not only does he love his sister, but also he cares for the nature and wildlife.

  Based on the human needs, his motivations can be categorized as intrinsic and extrinsic ones. His interpersonal conflicts with his parents, for example, can be categorized as one of his extrinsic motivations. His intrinsic motivations include sharing his love to the nature, having new experiences, and realizing his dream about wildlife.

  Finally, this thesis suggests that further researchers examine the novel by focusing on Chris’s interpersonal conflicts due to his relation with his parents. As for English teachers, they are recommended to make use of the novel to teach Extensive Reading II.

  

ABSTRAK

  Pamungkas, Andreas Candra Yoga. 2008. A Study of Chris’s Motivations in

Living off the Land in Alaska as Seen in Jon Krakauer’s Into the Wild .

Yogyakarta: Program Studi Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris. Jurusan Pendidikan Bahasa dan Seni. Fakultas Keguruan dan Ilmu Kependidikan. Universitas Sanata Dharma. Yogyakarta.

  Skripsi ini menganalisa novel Into the Wild yang ditulis oleh Jon Krakauer. Novel ini berkisah tentang Christopher Johnson McCandless, tokoh utama, seorang anak muda yang menumpang ke Alaska, berjalan sendiri, dan hidup dari alam di hutan belantara di sebelah utara Gunung McKinley. Skripsi ini bertujuan untuk menemukan alasan-alasan Christopher untuk hidup di dalam hutan belantara. Untuk menemukannya, skripsi ini akan menyelidiki Christopher digambarkan dalam novel dan motivasi-motivasinya dalam melakukan tindakan- tindakannya.

  Skripsi ini adalah studi pustaka. Studi pustaka yang dilakukan adalah dengan menggunakan pendekatan psikologi dan beberapa teori yang berhubungan dengan studi ini. Sumber primernya adalah novel itu sendiri, sedangkan sumber- sumber sekundernya adalah film yang berdasarkan novel tersebut, beberapa buku tentang psikologi dan kesusastraan, dan juga beberapa artikel dari internet.

  Berdasarkan analisis yang dibuat, dapat disimpulkan bahwa Chris pintar, pemberani, keras kepala, dan memiliki bakat musik. Dia juga dermawan, ramah, dan terobsesi oleh persoalan-persoalan sosial. Chris tak hanya mencintai adik perempuannya, tetapi dia juga mencintai alam dan kehidupan margasatwa.

  Berdasarkan apa yang dinamakan dengan kebutuhan-kebutuhan manusia, motivasi-motivasi Chris adalah motivasi yang muncul dari dalam dirinya dan dari luar dirinya. Memiliki konflik interpersonal dengan orang tuanya sebagai contoh, dapat digolongkan sebagai salah satu motivasi yang muncul dari luar dirinya. Motivasi dari dalam dirinya yakni termasuk berbagi cintanya pada alam dan sesama, memiliki pengalaman-pengalaman baru, dan mewujudkan mimpinya akan kehidupan marga satwa.

  Akhirnya, novel ini menyertakan saran-saran bagi peneliti lain yang hendak mempelajari novel ini lebih jauh dengan mengacu pada konflik interpersonal Chris dalam hubungannya dengan orang tuanya. Selain itu bagi pengajar bahasa Inggris, mereka juga disarankan untuk memanfaatkan novel ini sebagai bahan mata kuliah Extensive Reading II.

CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION Chapter one consists of five parts. They are background of the study,

  objectives of the study, problem formulation, benefits of the study, and definition of terms. The background of the study explains some reasons underlying the basis for writing on the topic. The second section talks about the objectives of the study to answer the problem formulation. The third one is problem formulation, which gives general description of the problem that will be analyzed in this study. The fourth part is the benefits of the study. Finally, description of terms explains meaning of some important terms related to the study.

1.1 Background of the Study

  Human beings have many needs to be pursued, for example they need food, water, house to live in. If people can fulfill their basis needs, they move to the higher level of needs. It is common when people do actions to fulfill the needs, difficulties emerge. To be successful in passing difficulties, someone must have a strong willingness to do actions. The strong willingness underlying the actions is called motivations.

  A literary work such as a novel reflects the reality of life. Lynch and Warner say that novels offer a detail and general representation of everyday life. The story of novel more or less illustrates the reality of life. Motivation is a phenomenon which is realistic and deals with life situations and off course, it can be presented a novel can represent motivation because motivation is real in daily life. Moreover, the novel used in this study is based on true story.

  One of the novels represents someone’s motivation is the novel Into The Wild. The novel tells the story of a young man who has strong motivations to go to Alaska. The major character, Christopher Johnson McCandless, has some motivations in order to be persistent in living off the land in Alaska. According to Abrams, character’s motivation is portrayed from their speech and actions and presented through their temperament, desires, and the moral nature.

  I was interested in reading the novel after watching “Oprah Winfrey Show” on the television. Chris’s parents and sister came to this show to tell much about Chris’s life. When I read the novel Into The Wild, I was interested in Chris McCandless’s experiences of having motivations to live off the land in Alaska. It was because Chris donated his college fund to OXFAM America, which was dedicated for fighting hunger and then went to Alaska to live off the land there whereas in fact he has a rich family. I was interested in this novel also because I loved nature and did some adventures as Chris did. Then I decided to analyze Chris McCandless’s motivations in living off the land in Alaska.

  The novel began when Jim Gallien drove Chris McCandless to Alaska, where Chris then finds his death after living off there for 113 days alone. Living off there is his greatest desire. After graduating from Emory University, in May 1990, he decided to begin his journey to Alaska. Chris’s trips to Alaska took 2 years. During the trips to Alaska, he got a lot of new friends who helped him. car stuck because of flashflood, being caught when he hops in the train, and losing his canoe because of the strong wind. His great willingness to live off the land made Chris keep on struggling to go to Alaska and living off the land there.

  This study, then, focuses on Chris McCandless’s motivations in living off the land in Alaska. It is interesting to discuss motivations since it always happens in daily life. People might experience motivations when they want to fulfill their needs in life.

  1.2 Objectives of the Study

  The aim of this study is to find out what one’s reasons to live off in the wilderness as seen in Chris, the major character of Jon Krakauer’s Into The Wild.

  In order to find the reasons, this study will explore what the possible motivations of the major character in doing his actions are. In addition, this study tries to assure the readers that sometimes people do something different from others from what they feel and what they want that results from certain motivations they have.

  1.3 Problem Formulation

  In this section, there are two problems that arise into discussion. They are formulated as follows:

  1. How is Chris described in Into The Wild?

  2. What are Chris’s motivations in living off the land in Alaska?

  1.4 Benefits of the Study

  There are some advantages of this study. First, analyzing this novel gives me more information about literature and motivations. I know more about one’s persistence and struggles in reaching the dream.

  The second benefit is for those who are interested in literary works. This study can help them to understand the major character’s motivations, how the author characterizes the character, and the author’s message.

  The third benefit is for the readers of English Language Education Study Program of Sanata Dharma University. They can use this study as a reference in analyzing a literary work.

  1.5 Definition of Terms

  This section deals with the important terms used in this study. The terms are described as follows:

1. Character

  This study uses two kinds of character’s definitions. The first definition is related to the literary study. According to Abrams, characters are the persons presented in dramatic or narrative work, who are interpreted by the readers as being endowed with moral and disposition qualities that are expressed in what they say (dialogue) and by what they do (the action) (23). In this study, character refers to Chris, the major character in Jon Krakauer’s Into The Wild. The second is related to the psychological study. Based on Stanton’s opinion, character deals with someone’s interests, desires, emotions, and moral principles. It creates a distinctive type of person or, character refers to someone’s trait.

2. Motivations

  According to Bootzin et. al., “motivation” as the “corresponding process” of an energetic behaviour which is “define its and state” (367). Worchel and Shebilske state that motivation is the reason why an individual plays in certain way in certain time (373-374).

CHAPTER II REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE This chapter discusses the theories that are used to analyze the topic of this

  study. This chapter consists of three sections, namely review of related theories, criticism, and theoretical framework. Review of related theories consists of theory of character, theory of characterization, theory of approaches, and theory of motivations. Criticism contains some criticism on Jon Krakauer’s Into The Wild.

  Theoretical framework explains how the theories are employed to answer the questions in the problem formulation.

2.1 Review of Related Theories

2.1.1 Character

  Character can not be separated from a novel. According to Abrams, characters are “the persons presented in a narrative or dramatic work, who are interpreted by the reader as being endowed with moral, dispositional, and emotional, and emotional qualities that are expected in what they say in the dialogue and what they do in action” (23). It means that character is the person who is presented in a literary work, such as novel. Characters in a novel have their own characteristics or in another word, each character in a novel has different characteristics.

  Character can be determined into two terms. There are major and minor characters. According to Milligan, a major character is the most important the content of the story. He plays from the beginning until the end of the story and influences the whole story, so his appearance is more often than the other characters. From his action, the idea of the story is conveyed. While minor characters are characters who plays less important role than major characters.

  Their appearance supports the major character to develop the story so that they appear only in certain setting (155).

  A major character is the centre of the story since he endures problems, conflict, happiness and sorrow. From his actions, the readers know the author’s messages of the story. A minor character does not play big roles in the story because they do not play significant roles in the story as the major character does.

  Meanwhile, Forster states that there are two kinds of characters, flat and round characters. A flat character is simple and there is not much individualizing detail in this character (74). Forster also says that this kind of character is flat because the readers see only one side of him. Round character is more complex in temperament and motivation and is represented with subtle individuality. Therefore, it is difficult to describe this kind of character. This character is more or less the same as a person in real life and has capability of surprising us.

  According to Forster’s statement about kinds of characters, the character can be recognized from their complexity. A flat character does not have a complexity in the sense that there are not much traits or individualizing details in him. Thus, general readers can recognize this character without any difficulty. Furthermore, a round character is more complex than a flat character. Readers do not easily recognize a round character because this character can change his personality into some one that we do not expect before.

2.1.2 Characterization

  a. Definition of Characterization

  In order to know Chris’s characterization in the novel, I use the theory that is related to characterization. Rohrberger and Woods say that characterization is a process by which an author creates a character (20). Characterization is an important element in a novel. Meanwhile, Murphy states that characterization is “the technique used by the author to make the qualities of the character from his likes and dislikes, how he lives, and what he does” (52). It means that characterization is the way that is used by the author in his literary work to make the readers able to recognize the character and to find out the ideas which are conveyed by the character. This statement is supported by Holman and Harmon. They say that the term characterization is “the creation of the imaginary persons so that they exist for the readers as lifelike” (81). In short, characterization is the way the author shows and tries to make his characters alive and understandable for the readers as realistic ones in his literary work.

  b. Methods of Characterization

  According to Murphy in his book Understanding Unseens: An Introduction to English Poetry & English Novel for Overseas Students, there are nine ways of describing characters in a story (161-173). Those are described as follows:

  1) Personal description

  To describe the character, the author explains physical appearances of the character, such as face, skin, body, clothes and hair cut.

  2) Character as seen by another

  Instead of describing, the author can directly describe the character through the opinion from another. Others characters will give explanation about what the character is like. Others’ thoughts about a certain character can be a significant factor to build understanding of him.

  3) Speech

  The author can give us insight into the thought through what the character says.

  4) Past life

  By learning a person’s past life, the author can give the readers a clue that has helped to shape a person’s character. The character’s past life is always closely connected to his present life.

  5) Conversation with others

  The author can give a clue to a person’s character to the readers through conversation of other people and things they say about him. We need to pay attention towards the conversations of other characters. It is useful to go to speech-by-speech to determine exactly what is meant and implied by them.

  6) Reaction

  The author also gives the readers a clue by letting us know how the character reacts toward various situations and events, as a way to describe the character.

  7) Direct comment

  The author gives a straightforward comment or description to the readers about the character directly.

  8) Thought

  The author gives a clue about a character’s characteristics through the character’s thought.

  9) Mannerism The author may describe a person’s mannerism that may also represent the character.

2.1.3 Approaches

  According to Rohrberger and Woods, there are five approaches which can be used in analyzing a literary work. They are formalist approach, the biographical approach, the sociocultural-historical approach, the mythopoeic approach, and the psychological approach (3-15). Those five approaches are explained as follows:

a. The Formalist Approach

  The formalist approach insists on the totality of the integration of the involvement of all parts to the whole, and it concerns with the point out how meaning is derived from structures and how matters of technique determine structure (6-7).

  b. The Biographical Approach

  The biographical approach takes us to the necessity for an appreciation of the ideas and the personality of the author to an understanding of the literary object. This approach derives the literary works as the reflection of someone’s personality. By reading it the readers may understand and get the author’s point of view, ideas, and consciousness (8).

  c. The Sociocultural – Historical Approach

  The sociocultural – historical approach is considered from the social, cultural, and historical events where the literary work is produced. The subject matter is the definition of the civilization of attitudes and actions. Civilization is defined as the attitudes and actions of a specific group of people. It is necessary to investigate the social milieu, the cultural and the historical background in which a novel is created (9).

  d. The Mythopoeic Approach

  The mythopoeic approach seeks to discover certain universally recurrent patterns of human thoughts which they may believe to find the expression in significant work of art. The universally recurrent patterns are those that found first expression in ancient myths and folk rites and also basic to human thought that they have meaning for all men (11).

e. The Psychological Approach

  The psychological approach involves the effort to locate and demonstrate certain recurrent patterns. It uses various theories of psychology to explain the characters, motivation, and behaviour pattern (13).

  In this study, I apply the psychological approach. I focus on the motivations which become one of psychological issues of someone. The psychological approach leads us to analyze the character from the psychological point of view. The psychological approach helps me to understand the character’s personality and behaviour pattern better because it is from the psychological point of view which is related to the motivations.

2.1.4 Motivations

  For the reason that this is the study of the major character’s motivations in living of the land in Alaska, I need to know some theories motivations. This part is about the theory of motivations which consists of the definition of motivations, the kinds of motivations, and the causes of motivations.

a. The Definition of Motivations

  Psychologists, Bootzin et. al. state “motivation” as the “corresponding process” of an energetic behaviour which is “define its and state” (367). In order to make the definition understandable, Worchel and Shebilske say that motivations are “the reason why an individual plays in a certain way at a certain time” (373). Therefore, it can be understood that motivations are the certain

  b. The Kinds of Motivations

  Worchel and Shebilske (1988: 408) divide motivations into two kinds. They are extrinsic motivation and intrinsic motivation. Extrinsic motivation comes from the external factors of an individual. The external factors might be come from their desires to pay, status, grades, promotion and the similar types of rewards.

  The other kind of motivations is the intrinsic motivation. When people do actions which are derived from the enjoyment and satisfaction, it is called intrinsic motivation. In addition, Worchel and Shebilske state that intrinsic motivation has two basis, they are: the people should control their behaviour and they should have feeling as a capable and a competent person. Basically, the difference between extrinsic and intrinsic motivation is on the activation of the action. The extrinsic motivation is activated by some rewards while intrinsic motivation is activated by enjoyment of the performance rather than an expectation of reward.

  c. The Causes of Motivations

  According to Maslow, motivation is classified into the needs hierarchy (35- 46). He classifies a hierarchy of human basic needs which is classifying human motivation. The hierarchy starts from the physiological needs, the safety and security needs, the love and belongingness needs, the self esteem needs, the self actualization needs. Maslow says that the higher level can not be activated until the lower level at least partially satisfied.

  The first needs are physiological needs. It includes the needs for food, oxygen, water, and sleep. “A person who is lacking of food, safety, love, and Maslow in Braun’s book adds that a person who is extremely hungry and thirsty would not even think of the social acceptance and security. He or she would become more creative to achieve the needs (35).

  When the physiological needs are satisfied, the safety and security needs come out. People needs to feel safe and they also need the stability, dependency, protection, freedom from fear, from anxiety and chaos, need for structure, order, law, limits, strength in protection. The safety needs come out when people feel threats by others in the sense of law, order, and the sense of authority (39).

  The needs of love, affection, and belongingness will emerge when the safety and security needs are satisfied. When someone feels left by other people, this kind of needs emerge (43).

  The next is the self-esteem needs. Maslow divides the self-esteem needs into two categories. The first one includes the desires of strength, achievement, adequacy, mastery and competence, confidence, and the independence and freedom. The second category consists of desires of reputation and prestige, status, fame, glory, dominance, recognition, dignity or appreciation. Maslow states that the satisfaction of the self-esteem needs leads to feelings of self confidence, worth, strength, capability, and adequacy of being useful and necessary in the world (45).

  The self-actualization needs usually emerge when the physiological needs, the safety and security needs, the love and belongingness needs, and the self- esteem needs are satisfied. Maslow says,”What man can be. He must be. He must others. Being their own and doing what they can do is the example of self actualization. The lack of the self-actualization needs satisfaction needs might cause bad feelings, inferior and powerlessness (46).

  Motivation is caused by human needs which classify into hierarchy. Maslow states that the higher level of needs can not be activated until the lower level of needs at least partially satisfied.

2.2 Criticism

  Jon Krakauer’s Into The Wild is a new novel. The criticism on Jon Krakauer and his literary works comes from many sources. The criticism is used for helping the reader to understand the author’s work deeper. Jon Krakauer is the author of Eiger Dreams, Into The Wild, and Into Thin Air and is editor of the Modern Library Exploration series. He is good in writing adventure stories. Many people like to read Into The Wild because this novel is based on true story and meaningful. Some life values in the novel such as Chris’s motivations attract the readers to read the novel. Nevertheless, some people have different opinions.

  Therefore some comments of some people will be presented in this section.

  The Washington Post (Into The Wild, 1998) stated that when the novel was first published, it became an instant classic of American literary nonfiction.

  Catherine Sweet, a reader from New York said that this book is an unexpected treasure. Though she initially has disdain for Christopher, she begins to understand Chris when she realizes he was really just trying to sort out the same purpose?" and “What has lasting value and meaning in life?". He said that it is a great book. Other positive opinion is from Nick Farago, a reader from New York.

  He states that Into The Wild is an essential item on the shelf of every non-fiction enthusiast. It is a story of Chris McCandless, his life, and his tragic death at the hands of the Alaskan wilderness. The author, Jon Krakauer, uses every possible technique to give light to an epic tale of adventure, risk, and peril. He recommends this book on the basis of Krakauer’s brilliant style and dedication, and a story that will leave the reader in a retrospective trance. For every person who has immersed themselves in nature or plans on doing so must have insight into the life of Chris McCandless. A fascinating story involving an even more compelling subject makes Into The Wild a frustratingly hard book to put down. The story gives insight into the psychology of McCandless’s life and the adventure that took it from him.

  However, some people state negative opinions. As Beth’s opinion, that she had to read this book for a summer assignment for school and she thought it was horrible. She cannot understand McCandless' motivations for wanting to wander off into the wilderness all alone with no knowledge on how to survive. She also has a problem with the way the book was written. She thinks that the author skips from one topic to the next. One chapter, he's died. The next, he's working at a Burger joint. After that, we tour his childhood. Then, he is dying. There is no chronological order and the flow of the story is choppy and hard to follow.

  Therefore, she would not recommend the novel to the readers. http://www.bookbrowse.com/reader_reviews/index.cfm?book_number=191&start _id=13&order=dt&view=long, accessed on Sunday, May 11, 2008 at 11.00 p.m.

2.3 Theoretical Framework

  This study is set to find out the motivations of Christopher Johnson McCandless, the major character of Jon Krakauer’s Into The Wild, in living of the land in Alaska. In analyzing the novel, some theories are applied. The theories are theory of character, theory of characterization, theory of critical approach, and theory of motivation.

  In order to analyze the first problem in this study, theory of character is applied. The theory is used to help me to understand what kind of character Chris is. Theories of major and minor characters are used to understand the character of Chris.

  The theory of characterization is used to analyze the characteristics of Chris. The characteristics of Chris can be identified from his personal description, he as seen by other characters, his speech, his reactions, his thoughts, and his manner.

  The theory of critical approach is used to gather more information about this novel. The theory of motivation is applied to get a better understanding about motivations of Chris in living off the land in Alaska in order to answer the second problem in this study.

CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY This chapter is divided into three sections. The first section is subject matter

  which explains the content of Jon Krakauer’s Into The Wild. The second section is approach which explains the approach that I use in this study. The third is procedures which contain series of steps in conducting this study.

3.1 Subject Matter In this study, I analyze the novel Into The Wild written by Jon Krakauer.

  The novel was first published in USA in 1998 in New York by Villard Books, a division of Random House, Inc., New York. This edition was published in 2007 by Pan Books, an imprint of Pan Macmillan, Ltd., London. It consists of 205 pages and 18 chapters.

  The novel was already filmed by Paramount Vantage. The novel Into The Wild tells about the story of Chris McCandless who comes from a rich and well educated family. He grows without spending much time with his parents since his parents are so busy with their jobs. His parents also often get quarreling and threatening to divorce each other. It makes him feels lack of love from his parents.

  Chris is always interested in the nature and the wildlife. It is because he admires his grandfather who lives near to the nature. Chris loves having road trips and going for camping. Finally, after graduating from his university, he decides to go to Alaska to live off the land. He finds many troubles during his two-year-trips living off the land for 113 days in Alaska, he finds his death after consuming poisoning root which is not explained in the book he brings whether it is poisoning or not. This error brings him to his death.

  The novel represents many aspects of human life. One of them is about the human motivations. The novel tells how Chris keeps his motivations in living off the land in Alaska. He has to build his motivations in living off the land in Alaska although he finds difficulties during the trips to Alaska and when living off the land in Alaska.

3.2 Approach

  In conducting the study, the psychological approach is applied. It is because this study focuses on the major character’s motivations, which are a part of psychological aspects. Thus, the psychological approach is applied.

  This psychological approach leads us to analyze the character from the psychological point of view. The character’s behaviour, mind, and appearance must be noticed. By using the psychological approach, we can analyze the details of character’s behaviours, mind, and appearance. The psychological approach helps me to understand the character’s personality better and the character’s characterizations which are closely related to his motivations in doing actions.

  By applying this approach, we can understand the character’s reasons why he extremely wants to live off the land in Alaska. The reasons behind his willingness are related to the motivations. Therefore, the psychological approach

3.3 Procedure

  The procedure of this study consists of some steps in analyzing Jon Krakauer’s Into The Wild. First of all, I read the novel several times to get better understanding. Then, I watched the Into The Wild movie. After that, I read it again and I focused on the Chris’s characterizations in the novel and his motivations in living off the land in Alaska.

  On the second step, I formulated the problem formulations. In this case, the problem formulations were related to how the major character is described in the novel and the major character’s motivations in living off the land in Alaska.

  The third step was looking for information related to the Jon Krakauer, the novel, Into The Wild, and also the topic which would be analyzed such as character and motivation. The information was gathered from some literature books and psychology books, especially which were related to character and motivation. I also gathered the data from some sources in the internet. They were important as the guidance and direction to answer the questions in problem formulation.

  The next step was doing the analysis. I analyzed the characterization of Chris McCandless as the major character of the novel. The analysis also discussed Chris’s motivations in living off the land in Alaska. In this analysis I used the psychological approach and also applied some related theories such as: character, characterization, and motivation theories.

  Finally, the last step, I concluded the important points of the analysis as the results of the analysis. I also made suggestions for future researchers and for teaching-learning activities.

CHAPTER IV ANALYSIS This analysis is to find the answers in the problem formulation. The novel Into the Wild serves as the main resource and the theories in the chapter two are implemented as the supporting theories. This chapter is divided into two sections. The first analysis concerns with

  the description of Chris in the novel. The second analysis concerns with Chris’s motivations to live off the land. The purpose of analyzing the character is to understand the motivations of the major character to live off the land as described in Into the Wild.

4.1 The Description of Chris McCandless In the novel, a character plays an important role in building a story.

  According to Barnet, a character is a figure of a literary work (7). It can be stated that Chris is the character in the novel.