Josephine Alibrandi`s maturity as the result of conflicts in Melina Marchetta`s Looking for Alibrandi an undergraduate thesis
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JOSEPHINE ALIBRANDI S MATURITY
AS THE RESULT OF CONFLICTS
IN MELINA MARCHETTA S LOOKING FOR ALIBRANDI
AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of The Requirements
for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra
in English Letters
MARCELLA DWINDA DANTI HUTAMI
Student Number : 084214074
ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS
FACULTY OF LETTERS
SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
YOGYAKARTA
2013
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JOSEPHINE ALIBRANDI S MATURITY
AS THE RESULT OF CONFLICTS
IN MELINA MARCHETTA S LOOKING FOR ALIBRANDI
AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS
dntesrsa tliraiulfntm
eofT
hem
equirnts
orftheegrof
Sarjana Sastra
inlishstre
By
MARCELLA DWINDA DANTI HUTAMI
Student Number : 084214074
ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS
FACULTY OF LETTERS
SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
YOGYAKARTA
2013
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Live, travel, adventure, bless, and don't be sorry.
Jack Kerouac
To Father and Mother
for giving me the opportunity of an education
and infinite support throughout my life.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I am indebted to many different people for making the time working on this
thesis a meaningful experience. I would like to express my deep appreciation and
gratitude to the following people for encouraging me complete this thesis because it
would not have been possible without their supports and contributions in their different
ways.
I wish to express my deepest gratitude to my advisor, Ni Luh Putu Rosiandani,
S.S., M.Hum., who abundantly offers assistance, valuable support and guidance
especially in reading the drafts. I also thank my co-advisor, Dewi Widyastuti, S.Pd.,
M.Hum., for reading my undergraduate thesis and giving me suggestions in order to
make it better. Immense gratitude is also due to all the lecturers of English Letters
Faculty for enriching my knowledge during the years of my study.
Furthermore, it is a privilege to meet and work with many great people who
become friends over the last several years. All of you have been invaluable
encouragement during all these years. Infinite gratitude goes to my family for the
perpetual supports, endless encouragement, and enduring love throughout everything.
Last but not the least, the omnipresent Creator, the omniscient Guardian and the Fallen
Light, to whom I owe my very existence, strength and exquisite vision.
Marcella Dwinda Danti Hutami
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
TITLE PAGE ...........................................................................................................i
APPROVAL PAGE ................................................................................................ii
ACCEPTANCE PAGE ..........................................................................................iii
STATEMENT OF WORK S ORIGINALITY ....................................................iv
PERSETUJUAN PUBLIKASI................................................................................ v
DEDICATION PAGE ............................................................................................vi
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .................................................................................vii
TABLE OF CONTENTS .....................................................................................viii
ABSTRACT ............................................................................................................ix
ABSTRAK ................................................................................................................ x
CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION .......................................................................... 1
A. Background of the Study ............................................................................... 1
B. Problem Formulation .................................................................................... 6
C. Objectives of the Study ................................................................................. 6
D. Definition of Terms ....................................................................................... 6
CHAPTER II: THEORETICAL REVIEW .......................................................... 8
A. Review of Related Studies ............................................................................. 8
B. Review of Related Theories ......................................................................... 11
1. Theories of Character ............................................................................ 11
2. Theories of Characterization .................................................................. 12
3. Theories of Conflict .............................................................................. 14
4. Theories of Maturity ............................................................................. 15
5. The Relation of Literature and Psychology .......................................... 20
C. Theoretical Framework ............................................................................... 21
CHAPTER III: METHODOLOGY .................................................................... 22
A. Object of the Study ...................................................................................... 22
B. Approach of the Study ................................................................................ 24
C. Method of the Study .................................................................................... 25
CHAPTER IV: ANALYSIS ................................................................................. 27
A. The Description of Josephine Alibrandi ..................................................... 27
B. The Conflicts Leading Josephine Alibrandi to Maturity ............................. 41
C. The Result of Conflicts toward Josephine s Maturity ................................. 47
CHAPTER V: CONCLUSION............................................................................. 61
BIBLIOGRAPHY .................................................................................................. 65
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ABSTRACT
MARCELLA DWINDA. Josephine Alibrandi s Maturity as the Result of Conflicts
in Melina Marchetta s Looking for Alibrandi. Yogyakarta: Department of Letters,
Faculty of English Letters, Sanata Dharma University, 2013.
Looking for Alibrandi is the debut novel of Melina Marchetta and one of her
best selling novels. This study is concerned about the maturity reached by Josephine
Alibrandi, a seventeen-year-old girl of Italian descent but lives and grows up in
Australia. The novel tells about the life of Josephine that is full of conflicts. Josephine
changes because of the conflicts and finally develops different attitude of seeing things
in her life. It shows that she is able to reach maturity.
There are three problems presented in this thesis. The first is to explain the
description of Josephine. The second is to explain the conflicts experienced by
Josephine that lead her to maturity. The third is to explain that Josephine s maturity
results from the conflicts. In order to complete the study, the thesis writer conducts
library research. Since the study focuses on maturity gained by Josephine as the result
of conflicts, psychological approach is applied in the analysis.
From the analysis, the thesis writer finds that Josephine tries to connect with
reality, truth and people. Born illegitimately, born in the middle of two different
societies, Josephine s belief that she feels inferior at school and Josephine s revelation
about her grandmother s past affair are some problems that Josephine has. Besides,
being a troublemaker leads Josephine to have conflict with her school teacher, Sister
Louise. The finding about her grandmother s past affair also leads her to have
conflicts. John Barton from a wealthy and well-known family, whom Josephine attracts
to in the beginning of the story, represents all things that Josephine wants in her life.
Josephine experiences conflict when John commits suicide. The conflicts experienced
by Josephine opens her mind and changes the way she views wealth and social status.
After encounters conflict with Sister Louise and evaluates herself, Josephine sees
actually she is not inferior at school. The conflict Josephine has with her grandmother s
past affair leads her to have different view toward her grandmother. The conflict that
Josephine experiences because of John s suicide makes Josephine realizes that wealth
and social status do not make someone happy. Her ability to learn from the conflicts
helps her to reach maturity. Josephine s application of knowledge and experience,
dealing constructively with frustration, differential responsiveness, and emotional selfefficacy give an affirmation that Josephine has reached maturity.
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ABSTRAK
MARCELLA DWINDA. Josephine Alibrandi s Maturity as the Result of Conflicts
in Melina Marchetta s Looking for Alibrandi. Yogyakarta : Fakultas Sastra, Jurusan
Sastra Inggris, Universitas Sanata Dharma, 2013.
Looking for Alibrandi adalah debut novel dari Melina Marchetta dan salah satu
dari novel-novel terlarisnya. Studi ini fokus pada kedewasaan yang diraih Josephine
Alibrandi, seorang gadis berumur tujuh belas tahun yang berasal dari keturunan Italia
tetapi tingal dan besar di Australia. Novel ini menceritakan kehidupan Josephine yang
sarat akan konflik. Josephine berubah dikarenakan konflik -konflik tersebut dan
akhirnya mempunyai sikap yang berbeda dalam memandang hal -hal yang terjadi di
dalam hidupnya. Ini menunjukkan bahwa Josephine telah mampu untuk mencapai
kedewasaan.
Terdapat tiga masalah yang dikemukakan dalam studi ini. Yang pertama adalah
untuk menjelaskan deskripsi tentang Josephine. Yang kedua untuk menjelaskan tentang
konflik-konflik yang dialami Josephine dan yang mengarahkannya untuk mencapai
kedewasaan. Yang ketiga adalah untuk menjelaskan bahwa kedewasaan Josephine
adalah hasil dari konflik-konflik yang dialaminya. Dalam rangka melengkapi studi ini,
penulis menggunakan studi pustaka. Karena studi ini berfokus pada kedewasaan yang
dicapai Josephine sebagai hasil dari konflik-konflik, pendekatan psikologi
diapplikasikan dalam studi ini.
Dari analisa tersebut, penulis menemukan bahwa Josephine berusaha untuk
menghubungkan dirinya dengan kenyataan, kebenaran, dan orang-orang. Terlahir
sebagai anak diluar nikah, terlahir di tengah-tengah dua masyarakat yang berbeda,
kepercayaan Josephine yang melihat dirinya berada pada level social yang rendah di
sekolah, dan penemuan Josephine akan hubungan gelap neneknya di masa lalu
merupakan sederet masalah- masalah yang sering dikeluhkan oleh Josephine. Di
samping itu, menjadi seorang pembuat masalah mengarahkan dirinya mempunyai
konflik dengan guru di sekolahnya, Suster Louise. Penemuan Josephine akan hubungan
gelap neneknya di masa lalu juga mengarahkannya pada konflik. John Barton yang
berasal dari keluarga kaya dan terkenal, yang disukai Josephine di awal cerita,
mewakili semua hal yang diinginkan Josephine di dalam hidupnya. Josephine
mengalami konflik ketika John memutuskan untuk bunuh diri. Konflik-konflik yang
dialami Josephine membuka pikirannya dan mengubah cara pandangnya. Setelah ia
menghadapi konflik dengan Suster Louise dan mengevaluasi diri sendiri, Josephine
melihat bahwa sebenarnya dirinya bukan orang luar di sekolah. Konflik yang dimiliki
Josephine dengan hubungan gelap neneknya di masa lalu mengarahkannya pada cara
pandang yang berbeda terhadap neneknya. Konflik yang Josephine alami karena John
bunuh diri membuat Josephine sadar bahwa kekayaan dan status social lantas tidak
membuat seseorang bahagia. Aplikasi Josephine terhadap pengalaman, kemampuan
untuk menghadapi frustrasi, perbedaan respon dan daya kontrol emosi diri
membuktikan bahwa Josephine telah mencapai kedewasaan.
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!" # $
As we know, changes are common thing that happen in human beings. They
undergo changes that are imposed upon them or that developed during their
upbringings and experiences in life. Furthermore, there are two different types of
changes in human being according to Danuta Bukatko in Child and Adolescent
Development: A Chronological Approach, which are physical and psychological
changes in a lifetime (2008: 3). In the journey, people go through a series of
developmental stages that are essential to all aspects of their personhood including
physical and psychological changes. Therefore, it is important that every individual
must pass through several stages on their life to become adults.
The changes in human beings happen in various stages of growth where they
learn certain things. The stages are infancy, early childhood, middle childhood, late
childhood, and adolescence stage. The latter is the right stage next to the adult stage,
which means it is the last step before being an adult. Thus, it makes adolescence stage
becomes a significant period of an individual s life. Bukatko also states the
significance of adolescence stage, which is according to many popular accounts,
adolescence is a unique phase in emotional development (2008: 531).
Rita Atkinson, Richard Atkinson and Ernest Hilgard describe the definition of
adolescence in Introduction to Psychology as a period of transition which is from
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childhood to adulthood (1981: 92). The age limits of adolescence stage is not clearly
stated but commonly it extends from age 12 to the late teens. One of the important
tasks for adolescent is to reach maturity as it is stated by Justin Pikunas Human
Development, An Emergent Science.
Adolescent maturation is a highly personal task, and the adolescent must deal
with himself or herself to find a place in peer and and later adult society and
to achieve a self-gratifying identity (1976: 189).
The ability and the motivation to respond in mature ways under varying
circumstances is an important adult developmental task. A mature response
implies the overcoming of puerile and pubescent tendencies (1976: 296).
According to R. Guys Lefrancois in Psychological and Human Learning
reaching maturity is related to development which includes growth and learning as a
relatively permanent change in the behavior of individual resulting from experiences
(1982: 107). Experiences that occur in adolescence stage can be in the form of
conflict since adolescence stage tends to produce a period of conflicts (Atkinson
and Hilgard, 1981: 93). Stephen Worchel adds one of the important characteristics of
a mature person in Psychology: Principles and Applications which is a mature
person will not avoid problems or conflicts, he or she will accept it to develop his or
herself (1985: 109). It means that sometimes people need to encounter conflict that
later lead them to reach maturity. Due to above reasons, the adolescence stage tends
to be very fascinating to be discussed since it is called to be one of the important
stages in an individual s life. Furthermore, maturity is one of the important issues in
adolescence stage since it is the main task that needs to be reached in adolescence
stage.
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Thus, it can be argued that studying the topic of this study, which is a
development of a character, is important because the inner thoughts and inner feelings
of the character that later change and finally lead to a better way can be seen clearly.
M.H Abrams in A Glossary of Literary Terms states that the characters are the
persons presented in a dramatic or narrative work who have moral, dispositional, and
emotional qualities, which are expressed in the dialogue and the action (1981: 23). It
means that a character is a reflection of human act in the real life that shows his or her
knowledge, moral, opinion and others. Meanwhile, in real life, they are hard to be
seen or perhaps they are only can be guessed through behaviors. Therefore, the
readers are able to observe and analyze human nature with all its complexities
through literary works. Laurence Perrine also states in Literature, Structure, Sound
and Sense that literature enables us to know people, to understand them, and to learn
compassion from them (1983: 66). It can be said that the readers are also able to
know and understand human being in real life better and learn from it. Justin Pikunas
adds his idea about the importance of literature in capturing all of the exciting events
in life that psychology barely touches on.
Of course, the student here may miss certain notches in the life of any
person, as when the toddler learns how to open the door, when the child learns
how to speak and be understood, when he finds a friend to confide in, when
the teenager begins to wonder what it feels like to engage in a sexual act with
someone of the opposite sex, or when the idea of living together for life with a
loved person is contemplated. There are many exciting events in life that
psychology barely touches on. Novels and biographies usually emphasize this
kind of moving experience (1976: 400).
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Various literary works have developed various issues in adolescent s maturity
and novel is one of them. Novel is one of the forms of prose fiction, which is
interesting to be discussed because it has much pleasure to be relished. It is stated in
Mark Van Doren and Arno Jewett in Insights into Literature that for among those
pages, as among the pages of other great novels, readers have discovered an
enjoyment different from that which any other literary form can yield (1965: 588).
One of the novelists who interests the thesis writer to explore the work about
adolescent s life is Melina Marchetta, who is one of Australia's most celebrated
authors of young adult fiction (www.puffin.com.au). The Young Adult Service
Division of the American Library Association defines the age range of an adolescent
or young adult as ages 10-19 whereas the definition of young adult literature is
literature written for and marketed to young adults (www.public.iastate.edu). For
instance, her first young adult novel Looking for Alibrandi which was first published
in 1992 swept many literary awards for young adult fiction in 1993 including the
winner of the CBC Book of the Year. Looking for Alibrandi, the much-loved
Australian classic, is her first acclaimed novel that affirms her name as one of the best
young adult authors (www.puffin.com.au).
The thesis writer considers Looking for Alibrandi as worth studying due to
some reasons besides the achieved awards. The first reason is some researchers also
state the significance of Looking for Alibrandi in literature. Heather Voskuyl in her
doctoral thesis, Plainsong or Polyphony: Australian Award-Winning Novels of the
1990s for Adolescent Readers,states that since Looking for Alibrandi was judged as
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one of the best Australian novels written in the 1990s, therefore it can be argued that
Looking for Alibrandi reflects a culturally sanctioned ideology of Australian
adolescent (http://epress.lib.uts.edu.au). It means that Melina Marchetta s Looking
for Alibrandi successfully reflects the life of Australian adolescent that is full of
important issues in adolescent s life such as maturity, identity, family and society.
Besides Heather Voskuyl, Lesley Speed also states the significance of Melina
Marchetta s Looking for Alibrandi in revealing Italia-Australian female identity in her
article "No matter how far you run": Looking for Alibrandi and coming of age in
Italo-Australian cinema and girlhood.
The film and novel of Looking for Alibrandi mark a public coming-of-age for
Italo-Australian female identity. Marchetta's novel is part of the literary
tradition of the coming-of-age story, which typically centers on a young
person whose acquisition of experience entails a loss that facilitates her
acquisition of a new maturity
Josie's narration in the novel and film
of Looking for Alibrandi serves to assert her identity on multiple levels. It
makes public the thoughts and emotions of Josie Alibrandi as a woman, as an
Italo-Australian and as an Australian born to an unwed mother: identities that
in earlier decades were likely to be kept private (http://www.latrobe.edu.au).
The second reason why the thesis writer chooses Looking for Alibrandi is
because the novel brought up various important experiences that commonly occur in
adolescent s life and one of them is maturity which is the main attention of this study.
Looking for Alibrandi concerns about adolescent experiences in the final year of high
school. It is the story of the main character s maturity process throughout a span of
journey in school life, family life, and friendship.
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There are three problems presented in this thesis. The problems are stated
below:
1. How is Josephine described in the novel?
2. What are the conflicts experienced by Josephine?
3. How does Josephine s maturity result from the conflicts?
4& 5*6,7128,9 ): 1;,
In this study, the main character s maturity as the result of conflicts is
analyzed. The first purpose of this study is to find out the context and the
characteristics of the main character throughout the novel in order to get better
understanding of the character. The second is the writer wants to find out what
conflicts leading her to maturity. The last aim is to find out how Josephine s maturity
results from the conflicts.
?& ?,:23212)3 ): @,(-9
In order to achieve better understanding of the study, the writer needs to
provide the definition of particular terms in this study. In this study, the term maturity
refers to the psychological term. Justin Pikunas in Human Development, An Emergent
Science states that a mature person is one who has acquired a personal identity and
has made progress in integrating his or her total personality into a smoothly
functioning system (1976: 295). It means that maturity is the ability to respond in
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mature ways under various circumstances and finally accept wholeheartedly his or
her own life as it is. A person can achieve maturity through the adolescent
experiences that make them learns from the experiences.
The term conflict in this study also refers to the psychological term. Dean G.
Pruitt and Jeffrey Z. Rubin in Social Conflict: Escalation, Stalemate and Settlement
define conflict as a sharp disagreement or opposition, as of interests, ideas and
includes the perceived divergence of interest, or a belief that the parties current
aspirations cannot be achieved simultaneously (1986: 4).
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L[[\]^_ `[a bc]dae^f] written by Melina Marchetta has become a great novel
to be read and an interesting literary work to be analyzedg hue to the reasoni there are
some studies that had been conducted before by other researchersg To find out
whether this thesis is original or noti it is important to map out the studies on Melina
Marchettajs L[[\]^_ `[a bc]dae^f] that had been previously doneg
The first thesis on Melina Marchettajs L[[\]^_ `[a bc]dae^f] is klm nmc`
Between Two Worlds: Cultural Authenticity in Melina Marchetta s Looking for
Alibrandi and Saving Francesca conducted by oasiliki Tassiopoulosg pis thesis
examines cultural authenticity because it has close relationship with the lives of the
teen protagonists who become the main characters in the two young adult novels that
both novels were written by Melina Marchetta qhttpsrsscirclegtuvgvaswg The writer uses
theories in cultural studies to analyze the cultural authenticityg pe also uses a xreeky
zanadian point of view in examining the novels and then connected it to the lives of
the characters since the writer also has grown up living between two cultures with an
integrated understanding and appreciation of both xreek and zanadian cultures as
well as in the lives of the charactersg
This thesis is different from Tassiopoulosjs thesis since this thesis examines
the main characterjs process toward maturity in Melina Marchettajs Looking for
A
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{
|}~~ ue to the reason psychological point of view is used for examining the
topic This thesis focuses on the development of the main character examined from
psychological approach meanwhile Tassiopouloss thesis focuses on the readers
response based on the characters experiences Tassiopouloss thesis is listed here
because Tassiopoulos used a novel that also becomes the object of the study of this
thesis which is Melinna Marchettas L~ |}~~ n other words this
thesis tends to discover a new topic on Melina Marchettas L~ |}~~
The next paper comes from a journal article conducted by Rita ilson who is
an ssociate Professor of Languages ultures and Linguistics in Monash University.
Her journal article, titled ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ xperiences across the generation, examines the writers of Italian descent
who made the narration of diasporic experiences. Furthermore, Wilson analyzes the
ways in which relationships between home and destination cultures are negotiated
across the generations (http://ehlt.flinders.edu.au).
Wilson uses the narrations of three women writers, Rosa Cappiello, Anna
Maria Dell oso and Melina Marchetta, and then analyzed them to show how
negotiating the tensions between nostalgia for the past and the needs of the present
transforms and translates notions of home for writers who are living in between
cultures. Wilson chose the texts that revealed distinctive strategy of representation in
which spatiality functions as a symbolic conduit between the plotting of identity
constructions and Italian/Australian realities (http://ehlt.flinders.edu.au)
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The other paper is written by Lana Zannettino entitled From Looking for
Alibrandi To Does My Head Look Big In This? The Role of Australian Teenage
Novels In Reconceptualising Racialised gendered Identities. This paper undertakes a
comparative analysis of three ustralian teenage novels
Melina Marchetta s
Looking for Alibrandi (1992), Randa Abdel-Fattah s Does my Head Look Big in
This? (2005), and Morris Gleitzman s Girl Underground (2004). Drawing from
feminist post-structural and postcolonial theories, the paper examines how each
author has constructed the racialised-gendered identities of their female protagonists,
including the ways in which they struggle to develop an identity in-between minority
and dominant cultures. Zannettino also considers how each author inter-weaves race,
gender and class to produce subjects that are positioned differently across minority
and dominant cultures (http://epress.lib.uts.edu.au).
This thesis is different from Wilson s and Zannettino s paper since this thesis
examines the life of the main character in Melina Marchetta s Looking for Alibrandi.
Meanwhile, the other two papers focus on the Melina Marchetta s life.
¡¢ £¤¥¦¤w §¨ £¤©ª«¤¬ ®¤§¯¦¤°
It is necessary to include all related theories which are very useful to be used
for answering the problems formulated. Because the topic examined in this thesis
focuses on the main character, therefore theories on character, characterization and
conflict are very useful to be included in order to get better understanding of the
character. Those theories enable the thesis writer to analyze the changing
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characteristics of ²osephine ³librandi into becomes a mature person who is
influenced by conflict´ µurthermore¶ theories on maturity are needed to analyze the
main character·s decisions and actions of facing and solving the conflicts that lead her
to become a mature person´
¸¹ º»¼½¾¿¼À ½Á »þÃÄż¾
ÆÇÈard Morgan µorster in ÉÊËÌÍÎÊ ÏÐ ÎÑÌ ÒÏÓÌÔ proposes two famous types of
characters that are commonly presented in literary works which are round character
and flat character Õ±Ö×ØÙ ±ÚÛÜ´ Round character is usually the major character in the
work and this character undergoes some changes in his or her actions¶ thoughts and
feelings because of his or her experiences´ On the other hands¶ flat character often
becomes the minor character¶ although not all minor characters are flat´ ³ccording to
ÆÇÝar Þ´ Roberts and ßenry Æ´ ²acobs in Fiction: An Introduction to Reading and
Writing¶ àround characters can be considered dynamic since they undergo changes
and flat characters can be considered static since they do not change or grow (1987:
145). Hugh Holman and William Harmon in A Handbook to Literature also add brief
descriptions about static and dynamic character. Static character is a character who
does not undergo any kind of changes, in his or her appearance, attitudes, behaviors,
disposition, or the way he or she thinks from the beginning of the story until the end.
Different from the static character, a dynamic character is a character who can
undergo changes in appearance, attitudes, behaviors, disposition, or the way he or she
thinks from the beginning of the story until the end (1986: 83).
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áâ
ãä åæçèéêçë èì íæîéîïðçéêñîðêèò
óccording to ôolman and ôarmonõ characterization is öthe creation of images
of imaginary persons so that they exist for the readers as lifelike (1986: 81). In other
words, characterization is the creation of imaginative character in the fiction. The
thesis writer believes that it is important to know about the methods in doing
characterization in order to enhance the understanding of character. In Understanding
Unseen: An Introduction to English Poetry and the English Novel for Overseas
Students, M.J Murphy states that characterization is how an author conveys to the
reader what sort of people they are, how an author makes the reader get to know and
understand them. According to Murphy, there are nine methods in doing
characterization which are personal description, character as seen by another, speech,
past life, conversation by another characters, reactions, direct comment, thought, and
mannerisms (1972: 162-173). The writer will use some of those methods to observe
the characteristic of the main character which are the personal description, character
seen by another, speech, conversation of other characters, reactions toward various
events or situations, and thoughts.
a.
Personal description
The author describes a person by giving details of appearance. The author can
tell the readers the details of the color of the skin and of the hair, the shape, or the
clothes used, which may keep the readers to visualize the person and to know
characters as well.
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bù
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úharacter as seen by another
Using this way means that the author may describe a person by using another
person s eyes and opinion. What people in the story think about certain character can
be significant to the reader s understanding from which the readers can set a reflected
image on the character.
c.
Speech
The author can give the readers an insight into a person s character through
what the person says. Whenever a person speaks in a conversation, or it gives an
opinion, he gives a clue that the reader may know how his character is.
d.
Past life
It suggests that the author may picture a person s past life permitting the
readers to obtain a clue to events that have helped to shape his character. This can be
done by direct comment by the author, through the person s thought, through his or
her conversation or through the medium of another person.
e.
Conversation of other characters
The author uses this way to give a description of a person through the
conversation of other people and things they say about him. People do talk about
other people and the things they say often served as a clue to the character of the
person that is spoken about.
f.
Reaction
To describe a person, the author can show how the person reacts to various
situations and events which allow the readers to get a clue to this character.
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gý
ûü
þirect comment
ÿt means that the author can explicitly give direct description or comment on a
person s characterý
hý
Thoughts
The author can describe a person s character by giving the readers knowledge
of what the person is thinkingý
iý
Mannerism
ÿt suggests that the author can convey something about a person by describing
his mannerism bits or idiosyncrasiesý
þean ý Pruitt and effrey Zý Rubin in
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define conflict &as a sharp disagreement or opposition as of interests
ideas and includes the perceived divergence of interest or a belief that the parties
current aspirations cannot be achieved simultaneously (1986: 4). According to Roy
J. Lewicki, Bruce Barry and David M. Saunders in
!!# ! '#( ,
there
are several different types of conflict, including interpersonal and intrapersonal
conflicts (2006: 17).
a. Interpersonal conflict
Wayne Weiten, Dana Dunn and Elizabeth Hammer describe the important
points of interpersonal conflict in
)!
y*(+ ,--#%
Modern Life : Adjustment in
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./
21st Century3 4nterpersonal conflict exists when people have different views5
goals5 6nd perspectives3
People do not have to be enemies to be in conflict and being in conflict does
not make people enemies3 4nterpersonal conflicts exist whenever two or more
people disagree3 4nterpersonal conflict is present anytime people have
disparate views5 opposing perspectives5 incompatible goals and a desire to try
to address and resolve their differences 789..: 8;8
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JOSEPHINE ALIBRANDI S MATURITY
AS THE RESULT OF CONFLICTS
IN MELINA MARCHETTA S LOOKING FOR ALIBRANDI
AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of The Requirements
for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra
in English Letters
MARCELLA DWINDA DANTI HUTAMI
Student Number : 084214074
ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS
FACULTY OF LETTERS
SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
YOGYAKARTA
2013
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JOSEPHINE ALIBRANDI S MATURITY
AS THE RESULT OF CONFLICTS
IN MELINA MARCHETTA S LOOKING FOR ALIBRANDI
AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS
dntesrsa tliraiulfntm
eofT
hem
equirnts
orftheegrof
Sarjana Sastra
inlishstre
By
MARCELLA DWINDA DANTI HUTAMI
Student Number : 084214074
ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS
FACULTY OF LETTERS
SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
YOGYAKARTA
2013
i
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Live, travel, adventure, bless, and don't be sorry.
Jack Kerouac
To Father and Mother
for giving me the opportunity of an education
and infinite support throughout my life.
vi
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I am indebted to many different people for making the time working on this
thesis a meaningful experience. I would like to express my deep appreciation and
gratitude to the following people for encouraging me complete this thesis because it
would not have been possible without their supports and contributions in their different
ways.
I wish to express my deepest gratitude to my advisor, Ni Luh Putu Rosiandani,
S.S., M.Hum., who abundantly offers assistance, valuable support and guidance
especially in reading the drafts. I also thank my co-advisor, Dewi Widyastuti, S.Pd.,
M.Hum., for reading my undergraduate thesis and giving me suggestions in order to
make it better. Immense gratitude is also due to all the lecturers of English Letters
Faculty for enriching my knowledge during the years of my study.
Furthermore, it is a privilege to meet and work with many great people who
become friends over the last several years. All of you have been invaluable
encouragement during all these years. Infinite gratitude goes to my family for the
perpetual supports, endless encouragement, and enduring love throughout everything.
Last but not the least, the omnipresent Creator, the omniscient Guardian and the Fallen
Light, to whom I owe my very existence, strength and exquisite vision.
Marcella Dwinda Danti Hutami
vii
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
TITLE PAGE ...........................................................................................................i
APPROVAL PAGE ................................................................................................ii
ACCEPTANCE PAGE ..........................................................................................iii
STATEMENT OF WORK S ORIGINALITY ....................................................iv
PERSETUJUAN PUBLIKASI................................................................................ v
DEDICATION PAGE ............................................................................................vi
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .................................................................................vii
TABLE OF CONTENTS .....................................................................................viii
ABSTRACT ............................................................................................................ix
ABSTRAK ................................................................................................................ x
CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION .......................................................................... 1
A. Background of the Study ............................................................................... 1
B. Problem Formulation .................................................................................... 6
C. Objectives of the Study ................................................................................. 6
D. Definition of Terms ....................................................................................... 6
CHAPTER II: THEORETICAL REVIEW .......................................................... 8
A. Review of Related Studies ............................................................................. 8
B. Review of Related Theories ......................................................................... 11
1. Theories of Character ............................................................................ 11
2. Theories of Characterization .................................................................. 12
3. Theories of Conflict .............................................................................. 14
4. Theories of Maturity ............................................................................. 15
5. The Relation of Literature and Psychology .......................................... 20
C. Theoretical Framework ............................................................................... 21
CHAPTER III: METHODOLOGY .................................................................... 22
A. Object of the Study ...................................................................................... 22
B. Approach of the Study ................................................................................ 24
C. Method of the Study .................................................................................... 25
CHAPTER IV: ANALYSIS ................................................................................. 27
A. The Description of Josephine Alibrandi ..................................................... 27
B. The Conflicts Leading Josephine Alibrandi to Maturity ............................. 41
C. The Result of Conflicts toward Josephine s Maturity ................................. 47
CHAPTER V: CONCLUSION............................................................................. 61
BIBLIOGRAPHY .................................................................................................. 65
viii
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ABSTRACT
MARCELLA DWINDA. Josephine Alibrandi s Maturity as the Result of Conflicts
in Melina Marchetta s Looking for Alibrandi. Yogyakarta: Department of Letters,
Faculty of English Letters, Sanata Dharma University, 2013.
Looking for Alibrandi is the debut novel of Melina Marchetta and one of her
best selling novels. This study is concerned about the maturity reached by Josephine
Alibrandi, a seventeen-year-old girl of Italian descent but lives and grows up in
Australia. The novel tells about the life of Josephine that is full of conflicts. Josephine
changes because of the conflicts and finally develops different attitude of seeing things
in her life. It shows that she is able to reach maturity.
There are three problems presented in this thesis. The first is to explain the
description of Josephine. The second is to explain the conflicts experienced by
Josephine that lead her to maturity. The third is to explain that Josephine s maturity
results from the conflicts. In order to complete the study, the thesis writer conducts
library research. Since the study focuses on maturity gained by Josephine as the result
of conflicts, psychological approach is applied in the analysis.
From the analysis, the thesis writer finds that Josephine tries to connect with
reality, truth and people. Born illegitimately, born in the middle of two different
societies, Josephine s belief that she feels inferior at school and Josephine s revelation
about her grandmother s past affair are some problems that Josephine has. Besides,
being a troublemaker leads Josephine to have conflict with her school teacher, Sister
Louise. The finding about her grandmother s past affair also leads her to have
conflicts. John Barton from a wealthy and well-known family, whom Josephine attracts
to in the beginning of the story, represents all things that Josephine wants in her life.
Josephine experiences conflict when John commits suicide. The conflicts experienced
by Josephine opens her mind and changes the way she views wealth and social status.
After encounters conflict with Sister Louise and evaluates herself, Josephine sees
actually she is not inferior at school. The conflict Josephine has with her grandmother s
past affair leads her to have different view toward her grandmother. The conflict that
Josephine experiences because of John s suicide makes Josephine realizes that wealth
and social status do not make someone happy. Her ability to learn from the conflicts
helps her to reach maturity. Josephine s application of knowledge and experience,
dealing constructively with frustration, differential responsiveness, and emotional selfefficacy give an affirmation that Josephine has reached maturity.
ix
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ABSTRAK
MARCELLA DWINDA. Josephine Alibrandi s Maturity as the Result of Conflicts
in Melina Marchetta s Looking for Alibrandi. Yogyakarta : Fakultas Sastra, Jurusan
Sastra Inggris, Universitas Sanata Dharma, 2013.
Looking for Alibrandi adalah debut novel dari Melina Marchetta dan salah satu
dari novel-novel terlarisnya. Studi ini fokus pada kedewasaan yang diraih Josephine
Alibrandi, seorang gadis berumur tujuh belas tahun yang berasal dari keturunan Italia
tetapi tingal dan besar di Australia. Novel ini menceritakan kehidupan Josephine yang
sarat akan konflik. Josephine berubah dikarenakan konflik -konflik tersebut dan
akhirnya mempunyai sikap yang berbeda dalam memandang hal -hal yang terjadi di
dalam hidupnya. Ini menunjukkan bahwa Josephine telah mampu untuk mencapai
kedewasaan.
Terdapat tiga masalah yang dikemukakan dalam studi ini. Yang pertama adalah
untuk menjelaskan deskripsi tentang Josephine. Yang kedua untuk menjelaskan tentang
konflik-konflik yang dialami Josephine dan yang mengarahkannya untuk mencapai
kedewasaan. Yang ketiga adalah untuk menjelaskan bahwa kedewasaan Josephine
adalah hasil dari konflik-konflik yang dialaminya. Dalam rangka melengkapi studi ini,
penulis menggunakan studi pustaka. Karena studi ini berfokus pada kedewasaan yang
dicapai Josephine sebagai hasil dari konflik-konflik, pendekatan psikologi
diapplikasikan dalam studi ini.
Dari analisa tersebut, penulis menemukan bahwa Josephine berusaha untuk
menghubungkan dirinya dengan kenyataan, kebenaran, dan orang-orang. Terlahir
sebagai anak diluar nikah, terlahir di tengah-tengah dua masyarakat yang berbeda,
kepercayaan Josephine yang melihat dirinya berada pada level social yang rendah di
sekolah, dan penemuan Josephine akan hubungan gelap neneknya di masa lalu
merupakan sederet masalah- masalah yang sering dikeluhkan oleh Josephine. Di
samping itu, menjadi seorang pembuat masalah mengarahkan dirinya mempunyai
konflik dengan guru di sekolahnya, Suster Louise. Penemuan Josephine akan hubungan
gelap neneknya di masa lalu juga mengarahkannya pada konflik. John Barton yang
berasal dari keluarga kaya dan terkenal, yang disukai Josephine di awal cerita,
mewakili semua hal yang diinginkan Josephine di dalam hidupnya. Josephine
mengalami konflik ketika John memutuskan untuk bunuh diri. Konflik-konflik yang
dialami Josephine membuka pikirannya dan mengubah cara pandangnya. Setelah ia
menghadapi konflik dengan Suster Louise dan mengevaluasi diri sendiri, Josephine
melihat bahwa sebenarnya dirinya bukan orang luar di sekolah. Konflik yang dimiliki
Josephine dengan hubungan gelap neneknya di masa lalu mengarahkannya pada cara
pandang yang berbeda terhadap neneknya. Konflik yang Josephine alami karena John
bunuh diri membuat Josephine sadar bahwa kekayaan dan status social lantas tidak
membuat seseorang bahagia. Aplikasi Josephine terhadap pengalaman, kemampuan
untuk menghadapi frustrasi, perbedaan respon dan daya kontrol emosi diri
membuktikan bahwa Josephine telah mencapai kedewasaan.
x
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!" # $
As we know, changes are common thing that happen in human beings. They
undergo changes that are imposed upon them or that developed during their
upbringings and experiences in life. Furthermore, there are two different types of
changes in human being according to Danuta Bukatko in Child and Adolescent
Development: A Chronological Approach, which are physical and psychological
changes in a lifetime (2008: 3). In the journey, people go through a series of
developmental stages that are essential to all aspects of their personhood including
physical and psychological changes. Therefore, it is important that every individual
must pass through several stages on their life to become adults.
The changes in human beings happen in various stages of growth where they
learn certain things. The stages are infancy, early childhood, middle childhood, late
childhood, and adolescence stage. The latter is the right stage next to the adult stage,
which means it is the last step before being an adult. Thus, it makes adolescence stage
becomes a significant period of an individual s life. Bukatko also states the
significance of adolescence stage, which is according to many popular accounts,
adolescence is a unique phase in emotional development (2008: 531).
Rita Atkinson, Richard Atkinson and Ernest Hilgard describe the definition of
adolescence in Introduction to Psychology as a period of transition which is from
1
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childhood to adulthood (1981: 92). The age limits of adolescence stage is not clearly
stated but commonly it extends from age 12 to the late teens. One of the important
tasks for adolescent is to reach maturity as it is stated by Justin Pikunas Human
Development, An Emergent Science.
Adolescent maturation is a highly personal task, and the adolescent must deal
with himself or herself to find a place in peer and and later adult society and
to achieve a self-gratifying identity (1976: 189).
The ability and the motivation to respond in mature ways under varying
circumstances is an important adult developmental task. A mature response
implies the overcoming of puerile and pubescent tendencies (1976: 296).
According to R. Guys Lefrancois in Psychological and Human Learning
reaching maturity is related to development which includes growth and learning as a
relatively permanent change in the behavior of individual resulting from experiences
(1982: 107). Experiences that occur in adolescence stage can be in the form of
conflict since adolescence stage tends to produce a period of conflicts (Atkinson
and Hilgard, 1981: 93). Stephen Worchel adds one of the important characteristics of
a mature person in Psychology: Principles and Applications which is a mature
person will not avoid problems or conflicts, he or she will accept it to develop his or
herself (1985: 109). It means that sometimes people need to encounter conflict that
later lead them to reach maturity. Due to above reasons, the adolescence stage tends
to be very fascinating to be discussed since it is called to be one of the important
stages in an individual s life. Furthermore, maturity is one of the important issues in
adolescence stage since it is the main task that needs to be reached in adolescence
stage.
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Thus, it can be argued that studying the topic of this study, which is a
development of a character, is important because the inner thoughts and inner feelings
of the character that later change and finally lead to a better way can be seen clearly.
M.H Abrams in A Glossary of Literary Terms states that the characters are the
persons presented in a dramatic or narrative work who have moral, dispositional, and
emotional qualities, which are expressed in the dialogue and the action (1981: 23). It
means that a character is a reflection of human act in the real life that shows his or her
knowledge, moral, opinion and others. Meanwhile, in real life, they are hard to be
seen or perhaps they are only can be guessed through behaviors. Therefore, the
readers are able to observe and analyze human nature with all its complexities
through literary works. Laurence Perrine also states in Literature, Structure, Sound
and Sense that literature enables us to know people, to understand them, and to learn
compassion from them (1983: 66). It can be said that the readers are also able to
know and understand human being in real life better and learn from it. Justin Pikunas
adds his idea about the importance of literature in capturing all of the exciting events
in life that psychology barely touches on.
Of course, the student here may miss certain notches in the life of any
person, as when the toddler learns how to open the door, when the child learns
how to speak and be understood, when he finds a friend to confide in, when
the teenager begins to wonder what it feels like to engage in a sexual act with
someone of the opposite sex, or when the idea of living together for life with a
loved person is contemplated. There are many exciting events in life that
psychology barely touches on. Novels and biographies usually emphasize this
kind of moving experience (1976: 400).
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4
Various literary works have developed various issues in adolescent s maturity
and novel is one of them. Novel is one of the forms of prose fiction, which is
interesting to be discussed because it has much pleasure to be relished. It is stated in
Mark Van Doren and Arno Jewett in Insights into Literature that for among those
pages, as among the pages of other great novels, readers have discovered an
enjoyment different from that which any other literary form can yield (1965: 588).
One of the novelists who interests the thesis writer to explore the work about
adolescent s life is Melina Marchetta, who is one of Australia's most celebrated
authors of young adult fiction (www.puffin.com.au). The Young Adult Service
Division of the American Library Association defines the age range of an adolescent
or young adult as ages 10-19 whereas the definition of young adult literature is
literature written for and marketed to young adults (www.public.iastate.edu). For
instance, her first young adult novel Looking for Alibrandi which was first published
in 1992 swept many literary awards for young adult fiction in 1993 including the
winner of the CBC Book of the Year. Looking for Alibrandi, the much-loved
Australian classic, is her first acclaimed novel that affirms her name as one of the best
young adult authors (www.puffin.com.au).
The thesis writer considers Looking for Alibrandi as worth studying due to
some reasons besides the achieved awards. The first reason is some researchers also
state the significance of Looking for Alibrandi in literature. Heather Voskuyl in her
doctoral thesis, Plainsong or Polyphony: Australian Award-Winning Novels of the
1990s for Adolescent Readers,states that since Looking for Alibrandi was judged as
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one of the best Australian novels written in the 1990s, therefore it can be argued that
Looking for Alibrandi reflects a culturally sanctioned ideology of Australian
adolescent (http://epress.lib.uts.edu.au). It means that Melina Marchetta s Looking
for Alibrandi successfully reflects the life of Australian adolescent that is full of
important issues in adolescent s life such as maturity, identity, family and society.
Besides Heather Voskuyl, Lesley Speed also states the significance of Melina
Marchetta s Looking for Alibrandi in revealing Italia-Australian female identity in her
article "No matter how far you run": Looking for Alibrandi and coming of age in
Italo-Australian cinema and girlhood.
The film and novel of Looking for Alibrandi mark a public coming-of-age for
Italo-Australian female identity. Marchetta's novel is part of the literary
tradition of the coming-of-age story, which typically centers on a young
person whose acquisition of experience entails a loss that facilitates her
acquisition of a new maturity
Josie's narration in the novel and film
of Looking for Alibrandi serves to assert her identity on multiple levels. It
makes public the thoughts and emotions of Josie Alibrandi as a woman, as an
Italo-Australian and as an Australian born to an unwed mother: identities that
in earlier decades were likely to be kept private (http://www.latrobe.edu.au).
The second reason why the thesis writer chooses Looking for Alibrandi is
because the novel brought up various important experiences that commonly occur in
adolescent s life and one of them is maturity which is the main attention of this study.
Looking for Alibrandi concerns about adolescent experiences in the final year of high
school. It is the story of the main character s maturity process throughout a span of
journey in school life, family life, and friendship.
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6
%& '()*+,- .)(-/+012)3
There are three problems presented in this thesis. The problems are stated
below:
1. How is Josephine described in the novel?
2. What are the conflicts experienced by Josephine?
3. How does Josephine s maturity result from the conflicts?
4& 5*6,7128,9 ): 1;,
In this study, the main character s maturity as the result of conflicts is
analyzed. The first purpose of this study is to find out the context and the
characteristics of the main character throughout the novel in order to get better
understanding of the character. The second is the writer wants to find out what
conflicts leading her to maturity. The last aim is to find out how Josephine s maturity
results from the conflicts.
?& ?,:23212)3 ): @,(-9
In order to achieve better understanding of the study, the writer needs to
provide the definition of particular terms in this study. In this study, the term maturity
refers to the psychological term. Justin Pikunas in Human Development, An Emergent
Science states that a mature person is one who has acquired a personal identity and
has made progress in integrating his or her total personality into a smoothly
functioning system (1976: 295). It means that maturity is the ability to respond in
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7
mature ways under various circumstances and finally accept wholeheartedly his or
her own life as it is. A person can achieve maturity through the adolescent
experiences that make them learns from the experiences.
The term conflict in this study also refers to the psychological term. Dean G.
Pruitt and Jeffrey Z. Rubin in Social Conflict: Escalation, Stalemate and Settlement
define conflict as a sharp disagreement or opposition, as of interests, ideas and
includes the perceived divergence of interest, or a belief that the parties current
aspirations cannot be achieved simultaneously (1986: 4).
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BCDEFGH II
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L[[\]^_ `[a bc]dae^f] written by Melina Marchetta has become a great novel
to be read and an interesting literary work to be analyzedg hue to the reasoni there are
some studies that had been conducted before by other researchersg To find out
whether this thesis is original or noti it is important to map out the studies on Melina
Marchettajs L[[\]^_ `[a bc]dae^f] that had been previously doneg
The first thesis on Melina Marchettajs L[[\]^_ `[a bc]dae^f] is klm nmc`
Between Two Worlds: Cultural Authenticity in Melina Marchetta s Looking for
Alibrandi and Saving Francesca conducted by oasiliki Tassiopoulosg pis thesis
examines cultural authenticity because it has close relationship with the lives of the
teen protagonists who become the main characters in the two young adult novels that
both novels were written by Melina Marchetta qhttpsrsscirclegtuvgvaswg The writer uses
theories in cultural studies to analyze the cultural authenticityg pe also uses a xreeky
zanadian point of view in examining the novels and then connected it to the lives of
the characters since the writer also has grown up living between two cultures with an
integrated understanding and appreciation of both xreek and zanadian cultures as
well as in the lives of the charactersg
This thesis is different from Tassiopoulosjs thesis since this thesis examines
the main characterjs process toward maturity in Melina Marchettajs Looking for
A
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|}~~ ue to the reason psychological point of view is used for examining the
topic This thesis focuses on the development of the main character examined from
psychological approach meanwhile Tassiopouloss thesis focuses on the readers
response based on the characters experiences Tassiopouloss thesis is listed here
because Tassiopoulos used a novel that also becomes the object of the study of this
thesis which is Melinna Marchettas L~ |}~~ n other words this
thesis tends to discover a new topic on Melina Marchettas L~ |}~~
The next paper comes from a journal article conducted by Rita ilson who is
an ssociate Professor of Languages ultures and Linguistics in Monash University.
Her journal article, titled ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ xperiences across the generation, examines the writers of Italian descent
who made the narration of diasporic experiences. Furthermore, Wilson analyzes the
ways in which relationships between home and destination cultures are negotiated
across the generations (http://ehlt.flinders.edu.au).
Wilson uses the narrations of three women writers, Rosa Cappiello, Anna
Maria Dell oso and Melina Marchetta, and then analyzed them to show how
negotiating the tensions between nostalgia for the past and the needs of the present
transforms and translates notions of home for writers who are living in between
cultures. Wilson chose the texts that revealed distinctive strategy of representation in
which spatiality functions as a symbolic conduit between the plotting of identity
constructions and Italian/Australian realities (http://ehlt.flinders.edu.au)
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The other paper is written by Lana Zannettino entitled From Looking for
Alibrandi To Does My Head Look Big In This? The Role of Australian Teenage
Novels In Reconceptualising Racialised gendered Identities. This paper undertakes a
comparative analysis of three ustralian teenage novels
Melina Marchetta s
Looking for Alibrandi (1992), Randa Abdel-Fattah s Does my Head Look Big in
This? (2005), and Morris Gleitzman s Girl Underground (2004). Drawing from
feminist post-structural and postcolonial theories, the paper examines how each
author has constructed the racialised-gendered identities of their female protagonists,
including the ways in which they struggle to develop an identity in-between minority
and dominant cultures. Zannettino also considers how each author inter-weaves race,
gender and class to produce subjects that are positioned differently across minority
and dominant cultures (http://epress.lib.uts.edu.au).
This thesis is different from Wilson s and Zannettino s paper since this thesis
examines the life of the main character in Melina Marchetta s Looking for Alibrandi.
Meanwhile, the other two papers focus on the Melina Marchetta s life.
¡¢ £¤¥¦¤w §¨ £¤©ª«¤¬ ®¤§¯¦¤°
It is necessary to include all related theories which are very useful to be used
for answering the problems formulated. Because the topic examined in this thesis
focuses on the main character, therefore theories on character, characterization and
conflict are very useful to be included in order to get better understanding of the
character. Those theories enable the thesis writer to analyze the changing
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characteristics of ²osephine ³librandi into becomes a mature person who is
influenced by conflict´ µurthermore¶ theories on maturity are needed to analyze the
main character·s decisions and actions of facing and solving the conflicts that lead her
to become a mature person´
¸¹ º»¼½¾¿¼À ½Á »þÃÄż¾
ÆÇÈard Morgan µorster in ÉÊËÌÍÎÊ ÏÐ ÎÑÌ ÒÏÓÌÔ proposes two famous types of
characters that are commonly presented in literary works which are round character
and flat character Õ±Ö×ØÙ ±ÚÛÜ´ Round character is usually the major character in the
work and this character undergoes some changes in his or her actions¶ thoughts and
feelings because of his or her experiences´ On the other hands¶ flat character often
becomes the minor character¶ although not all minor characters are flat´ ³ccording to
ÆÇÝar Þ´ Roberts and ßenry Æ´ ²acobs in Fiction: An Introduction to Reading and
Writing¶ àround characters can be considered dynamic since they undergo changes
and flat characters can be considered static since they do not change or grow (1987:
145). Hugh Holman and William Harmon in A Handbook to Literature also add brief
descriptions about static and dynamic character. Static character is a character who
does not undergo any kind of changes, in his or her appearance, attitudes, behaviors,
disposition, or the way he or she thinks from the beginning of the story until the end.
Different from the static character, a dynamic character is a character who can
undergo changes in appearance, attitudes, behaviors, disposition, or the way he or she
thinks from the beginning of the story until the end (1986: 83).
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ãä åæçèéêçë èì íæîéîïðçéêñîðêèò
óccording to ôolman and ôarmonõ characterization is öthe creation of images
of imaginary persons so that they exist for the readers as lifelike (1986: 81). In other
words, characterization is the creation of imaginative character in the fiction. The
thesis writer believes that it is important to know about the methods in doing
characterization in order to enhance the understanding of character. In Understanding
Unseen: An Introduction to English Poetry and the English Novel for Overseas
Students, M.J Murphy states that characterization is how an author conveys to the
reader what sort of people they are, how an author makes the reader get to know and
understand them. According to Murphy, there are nine methods in doing
characterization which are personal description, character as seen by another, speech,
past life, conversation by another characters, reactions, direct comment, thought, and
mannerisms (1972: 162-173). The writer will use some of those methods to observe
the characteristic of the main character which are the personal description, character
seen by another, speech, conversation of other characters, reactions toward various
events or situations, and thoughts.
a.
Personal description
The author describes a person by giving details of appearance. The author can
tell the readers the details of the color of the skin and of the hair, the shape, or the
clothes used, which may keep the readers to visualize the person and to know
characters as well.
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bù
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úharacter as seen by another
Using this way means that the author may describe a person by using another
person s eyes and opinion. What people in the story think about certain character can
be significant to the reader s understanding from which the readers can set a reflected
image on the character.
c.
Speech
The author can give the readers an insight into a person s character through
what the person says. Whenever a person speaks in a conversation, or it gives an
opinion, he gives a clue that the reader may know how his character is.
d.
Past life
It suggests that the author may picture a person s past life permitting the
readers to obtain a clue to events that have helped to shape his character. This can be
done by direct comment by the author, through the person s thought, through his or
her conversation or through the medium of another person.
e.
Conversation of other characters
The author uses this way to give a description of a person through the
conversation of other people and things they say about him. People do talk about
other people and the things they say often served as a clue to the character of the
person that is spoken about.
f.
Reaction
To describe a person, the author can show how the person reacts to various
situations and events which allow the readers to get a clue to this character.
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ûü
þirect comment
ÿt means that the author can explicitly give direct description or comment on a
person s characterý
hý
Thoughts
The author can describe a person s character by giving the readers knowledge
of what the person is thinkingý
iý
Mannerism
ÿt suggests that the author can convey something about a person by describing
his mannerism bits or idiosyncrasiesý
þean ý Pruitt and effrey Zý Rubin in
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define conflict &as a sharp disagreement or opposition as of interests
ideas and includes the perceived divergence of interest or a belief that the parties
current aspirations cannot be achieved simultaneously (1986: 4). According to Roy
J. Lewicki, Bruce Barry and David M. Saunders in
!!# ! '#( ,
there
are several different types of conflict, including interpersonal and intrapersonal
conflicts (2006: 17).
a. Interpersonal conflict
Wayne Weiten, Dana Dunn and Elizabeth Hammer describe the important
points of interpersonal conflict in
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Modern Life : Adjustment in
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./
21st Century3 4nterpersonal conflict exists when people have different views5
goals5 6nd perspectives3
People do not have to be enemies to be in conflict and being in conflict does
not make people enemies3 4nterpersonal conflicts exist whenever two or more
people disagree3 4nterpersonal conflict is present anytime people have
disparate views5 opposing perspectives5 incompatible goals and a desire to try
to address and resolve their differences 789..: 8;8