The impact of the social surroundings towards the compulsive buying disorder of the main character in Sophie Kinsella`s confession of a Shopaholic.

ABSTRAK

KUSUMASARI, FRISCHA. The Impact of the Social Surroundings towards the Compulsive Buying Disorder of the Main Character in Sophie Kinsella’s Confession of a Shopaholic. Yogyakarta: Program Studi Sastra Inggris, Fakultas Sastra. Universitas Sanata Dharma, 2017.

Karya sastra yang dianalisis dalam skripsi ini adalah novel berjudul Confession of a Shopaholic karya Sophie Kinsella. Kinsella dalam seri novel Shopaholicnya bercerita tentang seorang wanita yang ketagihan belanja sehingga menjadi seseorang yang gila belanja. Ada beberapa alasan mengapa seseorang menjadi gila belanja. Berdasarkan Rosenberg dan Feder dalam bukunya berjudul Behavioral Addictions, seorang gila belanja dapat disebut dengan sebutan Compulsive Buying Disorder melalui beberapa ciri. Ciri-ciri tersebut adalah Sailance, Tolerance, Withdrawal Symptoms, Conflict and Relapse. Untuk menganalisis CBD sebagai dampak dari lingkungan sosial, teori latar dan tempat akan digunakan.

Ada tiga masalah yang dirumuskan dalam karya ilmiah ini. Pertama, merumuskan tentang bagaimana karakteristik tokoh utama yang mencerminkan Compulsive Buying Disorder. Rumusan masalah yang kedua untuk menganalisa tentang bagaimana deskripsi lingkungan sosial tokoh utama. Rumusan masalah yang ketiga adalah untuk menemukan bagaimana lingkungan sosial mempengaruhi CBD.

Dalam menyusun skripsi ini, penulis menggunakan metode penelitian pustaka dengan sumber utama novel karya Sophie Kinsella berjudul Confession of a Shopaholic. Materi penunjang adalah buku dan karya ilmiah yang berhubungan dengan teori yang digunakan di dalam penelitian ini. Teori-teori yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah sebagai berikut, teori tentang tokoh dan penokohan, teori latar, dan teori CBD. Pendekatan psikologis digunakan untuk menganalisa perubahan kepribadian tokoh sebagai dampak dari lingkungan sosial.

Hasil dari studi menunjukan bahwa Rebecca dideskripsikan sebagai seorang gila belanja, pembenar diri sendiri, dan pencari keuntungan diri sendiri. Rebecca tinggal di London, tempat yang terkenal dengan gaya hidup yang tinggi. Hidupnya dikelilingi oleh orang-orang yang memiliki gaya hidup mewah. Selain itu, Rebecca memilik ibu yang gila belanja. Setelah melihat lingkungan sosial Rebecca, dapat membuktikan bahwa lingkungan sosial dapat memberikan dampak buruk terhadap perilaku seseorang. Lingkungan sosial dapat mempengaruhi kepribadian seseorang. Rebecca sebagai karakter utama menderita CBD. Oleh karena itu dapat disimpulkan bahwa CBD yang diderita olehnya dipengaruhi oleh lingkungan sosial. Deskripsi dari latar dan tempat dalam cerita tersebut mendukung seseorang yang gila belanja menjadi CBD. Tokoh utama dalam novel tersebut membuktikan bahwa semakin sering intensitas seseorang melakukan suatu kebiasaan dapat membuat kebiasaan tersebut menjadi sebuah kelainan psikologis.

ABSTRACT

KUSUMASARI, FRISCHA. The Impact of the Social Surroundings towards the Compulsive Buying Disorder of the Main Character in Sophie Kinsella’s Confession of a Shopaholic. Yogyakarta: Department of English Letters, Sanata Dharma University, 2017.

The literary work that is analyzed in this study is a novel entitled Confession of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella. Kinsella in her Shopaholic stories tells about a woman, who is addicted to go shopping. There are usually some reasons why someone becomes shopaholic. According to Rosenberg and Feder in the book of Behavioral Addictions, a shopaholic can be identified as Compulsive Buying Disorder (CBD) by several components. Those are, Salience, Tolerance, Withdrawal Symptoms, Conflict and Relapse. To analyze the CBD as an impact of social surroundings, the theory of setting will be applied.

There are three objectives of this study. The first objective is to depict what the characteristics of the main character that reflect the CBD. The second objective is to analyze how social surroundings are described. The third objective is to find out how the social surroundings influence the CBD.

The research method applied in this study is library research. The primary source is Sophie Kinsella’s novel entitled Confession of a Shopaholic. The secondary sources are taken from books and thesis that are related to the theory applied in this study. Theories which are applied in this study are theory of character and characterization, theory of setting, and theory of Compulsive Buying Disorder. Psychological approach is used to analyze the impact of the social surroundings toward the main character’s personality.

The result of this study shows that Rebecca is described as a shopaholic, self-justification, and self-seeking. Rebecca lives in London, a place where has high-standard of lifestyle. Rebecca’s life is also surrounded by a glamorous life. Furthermore, Rebecca has a shopaholic mom. By looking at Rebecca’s social surroundings, it shows that social surroundings can give impacts to someone’s behavior. Social surrounding influences someone’s personality. Rebecca as the main character suffers from CBD. Therefore, it can be concluded that Rebecca’s CBD is influenced by social surroundings. The description of the setting espouses the shopaholic become CBD. The main character of the novel proves that too much time on engaging on a certain behavior can make it become disorder.

IN SOPHIE KINSELLA’S CONFESSION OF A SHOPAHOLIC AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS

Presented as Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra

in English Letters

By

FRISCHA KUSUMASARI Student Number: 134214006

ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAM DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS

FACULTY OF LETTERS SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY

YOGYAKARTA 2017

ii

IN SOPHIE KINSELLA’S CONFESSION OF A SHOPAHOLIC

AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS

Presented as Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra

in English Letters

By

FRISCHA KUSUMASARI Student Number: 134214006

ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAM DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS

FACULTY OF LETTERS SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY

YOGYAKARTA 2017

vii

“I can’t change the direction of the wind,

but I can adjust my sail to always reach

my destination

.”

Jimmy Dean

_-

viii

This thesis is dedicated to MY BELOVED PARENTS, MY LITTLE ANGEL, PANDAN And MY DEAREST FRIENDS

ix

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to express my gratitude to God and my savior, Jesus Christ, for His blessing so that I was able to finish my thesis. He gave me strength and good health so that I could endure the whole process of making this thesis. Thesis writing is an amazing process for me and in this process I am blessed with the following amazing advisor who always help me to get through this process. My deepest gratitude goes to my humble advisor, DewiWidyastuti, S.Pd.,M.Hum., and my co-advisor, Dra. Theresia Enny Anggraini, M.A., Ph.D., for imparting their knowledge and guidance in completing this thesis.

I believe that I would never accomplish my thesis without the help from others. My gratitude also goes to my parents for their endless love and support that keep me motivated to complete this undergraduate. I would like also to thank my sister for her second academic title, M.A., so that I can be more enthusiastic to finish this thesis. To my little family, I am thankful toPandanmy little angel who always be my mood-booster, and also for Vito Babtista who always gives support. I would like to thank my dearest friends, Yohana, Imas, Deasy, Istu, Eunike and Karina. I would like also to thank for helping me through this process, especially to Yohana and Imas who always be my lovely reader. I would like to thank the A class for being part of my learning process in Sanata Dharma University.

Last but not least, I give thanks to all the people who give me thoughts, advice, and awareness of this life.

x

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE PAGE ... ii

APPROVAL PAGE ... iii

ACCEPTANCE PAGE ... iv

LEMBAR PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN PUBLIKASI KARYA ILMIAH ... v

STATEMENT OF ORIGINALITY ... vi

MOTTO PAGE ... vii

DEDICATION PAGE ... viii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ... ix

TABLE OF CONTENTS ... x

ABSTRACT ... xii

ABSTRAK ... xiii

CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION ... V A. Background of the Study ... V B. Problem Formulation ... 4

C. Objectives of the Study ... 4

D. Definition of Terms ... 5

CHAPTER II: REVIEW OF LITERATURE ... 6

A. Review of Related Studies ... 6

B. Review of Related Theories ... 9

V. Theory of Character and Characterization ... V0 2. Theory of Setting... VV 3. Theory of Compulsive Buying Disorder (CBD) ... V2 C. Theoretical Framework ... V5 CHAPTER III: METHODOLOGY ... V7 A. Object of the Study... V7 B. Approach of the Study ... V8 C. Method of the Study ... V9 CHAPTER IV: ANALYSIS ... 2V A. The Characteristics of Rebecca Bloomwood ... 22

V. Shopaholic ... 22

2. Self-Justification ... 24

xi

B. Society in the Novel ... 28

V. Places... 29

2. Relationship ... 3V 3. Family ... 33

C. The Influence of Society toward CBD ... 34

V. Places... 36

2. Rebecca’s Friends ... 39

3. Family ... 43

CHAPTER V: CONCLUSION ... 45

xii

ABSTRACT

KUSUMASARI, FRISCHA. The Impact of the Social Surroundings towards the Compulsive Buying Disorder of the Main Character in Sophie Kinsella’s Confession of a Shopaholic. Yogyakarta: Department of English Letters, Sanata Dharma University, 2017.

The literary work that is analyzed in this study is a novel entitled

Confession of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella. Kinsella in her Shopaholic stories

tells about a woman, who is addicted to go shopping. There are usually some reasons why someone becomes shopaholic. According to Rosenberg and Feder in the book of Behavioral Addictions, a shopaholic can be identified as Compulsive

Buying Disorder (CBD) by several components. Those are, Salience, Tolerance,

Withdrawal Symptoms, Conflict and Relapse. To analyze the CBD as an impact of social surroundings, the theory of setting will be applied.

There are three objectives of this study. The first objective is to depict what the characteristics of the main character that reflect the CBD. The second objective is to analyze how social surroundings are described. The third objective is to find out how the social surroundings influence the CBD.

The research method applied in this study is library research. The primary source is Sophie Kinsella’s novel entitled Confession of a Shopaholic. The secondary sources are taken from books and thesis that are related to the theory applied in this study. Theories which are applied in this study are theory of character and characterization, theory of setting, and theory of Compulsive Buying Disorder. Psychological approach is used to analyze the impact of the social surroundings toward the main character’s personality.

The result of this study shows that Rebecca is described as a shopaholic, self-justification, and self-seeking. Rebecca lives in London, a place where has high-standard of lifestyle. Rebecca’s life is also surrounded by a glamorous life. Furthermore, Rebecca has a shopaholic mom. By looking at Rebecca’s social surroundings, it shows that social surroundings can give impacts to someone’s behavior. Social surrounding influences someone’s personality. Rebecca as the main character suffers from CBD. Therefore, it can be concluded that Rebecca’s CBD is influenced by social surroundings.The description of the setting espouses the shopaholic become CBD. The main character of the novel proves that too much time on engaging on a certain behavior can make it become disorder.

xiii ABSTRAK

KUSUMASARI, FRISCHA. The Impact of the Social Surroundings towards

the Compulsive Buying Disorder of the Main Character in Sophie Kinsella’s Confession of a Shopaholic. Yogyakarta: Program Studi Sastra Inggris, Fakultas Sastra. Universitas Sanata Dharma, 2017.

Karya sastra yang dianalisis dalam skripsi ini adalah novel berjudul Confession of a Shopaholic karya Sophie Kinsella. Kinsella dalam seri novel Shopaholiknya berkerita tentang seorang wanita yang ketagihan belanja sehingga menjadi seseorang yang gila belanja. Ada beberapa alasan mengapa seseorang menjadi gila belanja. Berdasarkan Rosenberg dan Feder dalam bukunya berjudul Behavioral Addictions, seorang gila belanja dapat disebut dengan sebutan Compulsive Buying Disorder melalui beberapa kiri. Ciri-kiri tersebut adalah Sailance, Tolerance, Withdrawal Symptoms, Conflict and Relapse. Untuk menganalisis CBD sebagai dampak dari lingkungan sosial, teori latar dan tempat akan digunakan.

Ada tiga masalah yang dirumuskan dalam karya ilmiah ini. Pertama, merumuskan tentang bagaimana karakteristik tokoh utama yangmenkerminkan Compulsive Buying Disorder. Rumusan masalah yang kedua untuk menganalisa tentang bagaimana deskripsi lingkungan sosial tokoh utama. Rumusan masalah yang ketiga adalah untuk menemukan bagaimana lingkungan sosial mempengaruhi CBD.

Dalam menyusun skripsi ini, penulis menggunakan metode penelitian

pustaka dengan sumber utama novel karya Sophie Kinsella berjudul Confession of

a Shopaholic. Materi penunjang adalah buku dan karya ilmiah yang berhubungan dengan teori yang digunakan di dalam penelitian ini. Teori-teori yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah sebagai berikut, teori tentang tokoh dan penokohan,

teori latar, dan teori CBD. Pendekatan psikologis digunakan untuk menganalisa

perubahan kepribadian tokoh sebagai dampak dari lingkungan sosial.

Hasil dari studi menunjukan bahwa Rebekka dideskripsikan sebagai seorang gila belanja, pembenar diri sendiri, dan penkari keuntungan diri sendiri. Rebekka tinggal di London, tempat yang terkenal dengan gaya hidup yang tinggi. Hidupnya dikelilingi oleh orang-orang yang memiliki gaya hidup mewah. Selain itu, Rebekka memilik ibu yang gila belanja. Setelah melihat lingkungan sosial Rebekka, dapat membuktikan bahwa lingkungan sosial dapat memberikan dampak buruk terhadap perilaku seseorang. Lingkungan sosial dapat mempengaruhi kepribadian seseorang. Rebekka sebagai karakter utama menderita CBD. Oleh karena itu dapat disimpulkan bahwa CBD yang diderita olehnya dipengaruhi oleh lingkungan sosial. Deskripsi dari latar dan tempat dalam kerita tersebut mendukung seseorang yang gila belanja menjadi CBD. Tokoh utama dalam novel tersebut membuktikan bahwa semakin sering intensitas seseorang melakukan suatu kebiasaan dapat membuat kebiasaan tersebut menjadi sebuah kelainan psikologis.

1 CHAPTER I INTRODECTION A. Background of the Study

Literature can be seen as the activity of human creation that lives in the social life with all the matters. Those matters of social life will make literature have their own world on describing something.

Another way of defining literature is to limit it to ‘great books’, book which, whatever their subject, are ‘notable for literary form of expression’ (Wellek and Warren, 1962: 21).

There are so many expressions in the literature. In the literary works, the value of the story can be the strongest point. The importance of the content can be the points to learn for human life. Literature is also good to be understood as human life’s reflection. Every literary work has its own specialty to be discussed. In the other words, every literary works has their own aesthetic value that can be seen from certain point of view.

Intrinsic and extrinsic elements are the way to analyze a literary work. The theme, characters, setting, plot, symbol, and point of view are the intrinsic elements. The extrinsic elements are everything outside the literary works that inspire the reader, such as the background of the writer, economics, politics, historical problem or the psychological problems of the character. The writer chooses to discuss a novel for this study. The writer discuss the novel through the intrinsic and extrinsic elements.

Psychological life and the characteristic of the main characters become the points to be discussed in this study. The behaviour of the main character in this

novel will be the thing to discuss. Rebecca as the main character has a problem with her shopping addiction.

In the era of credit card and shopping online are very helpful for everyone to buy something. People do not have to go somewhere, bring cash money and go around the store to get something. The facilities of online shop also changes everything. A lot of promotion and discount from the card facilities have increased while people choose to use their credit cards. These situations do not have ends. In the matter of time, people will be addicted to shopping. People’s personality could be change because of these things.

People have to know about this addictive disorder (compulsive buying disorder) and spend their money wisely. Because of the credit card and shopping online, shopaholic become one of addictive disorder that mostly happen in the society. The writer chooses this novel to be discussed because the problem of the main character can be the life – learning. Psychological analysis is one of many terms that can be the instrument to criticize literary works. Sometimes the reader get the story’s value from the psychological point of view.

By ‘psychology’ of literature, we may mean the psychological study of the writer, as type and as individual, or the study of the creative process, or the study of psychology types and laws present within works of literature (Wellek and Warren, 1962: 81).

The writer finds out that the main character has special disorder to be discussed by psychological analysis. The social surroundings can be the main point about the reason behind the main character’s disorder. The influence of the social life such as the society, peer, and family will be discussed in this study.

In general, personality can be defined as the human characteristic. It can make them different to each other because human’s personality has their own specialty. In this novel Rebecca has unusual characteristic in her character as a woman who loves to shop. Coombs (2004: 411) stated that “buying impulses are normal and frequent and can help people feel better about themselves, at least temporarily.” Rebecca as the main character usually feels better with something new in her life. It makes her become addicted because she always wants to buy something that actually is not necessary. Shopaholic is kind of addictive disorder. Carson (2000: 374) states that “addictive behavior is one of the most pervasive and intransigent mental health problem facing our society today”. As stated before, the shopping addiction is also called as the compulsive buying disorder. It is the disorder which is not realized by the people in general.

The writer chooses one of Sophie Kinsella’s novels entitled Confession of a Shopaholic to be analyzed. The writer is interested in analyzing this novel because of the characterization of the main character that often happens in the society. There are several shopaholic’s series by Kinsella, but the writer chooses this novel because the main character’s life as the shopaholic begins here. This novel tells about a woman named Rebecca who becomes shopaholic in her life. There are many problems that she has to face because of her addiction to certain brands. This behavior shows the reader that the main character has a compulsive buying disorder. As it is mentioned before, the main character named Rebecca has a problem that sometimes happens in real life.

The writer chooses the novel in this study because the writer finds some problems in the story that are similar to the society. The social surroundings is the important thing to be discussed about why someone personality can change into disorder. In a word, the novel can teach the reader about managing the money. Furthermore, it also shows us about how close the social surroundings can give impact to the personality.

B. Problem Formulation

Through this novel, this study has some problems that need to be identified. The problems that the writer identifies are related to:

1. What do the characteristics of the main character that reflect the compulsive buying disorder?

2. How are the social surroundings described?

3. How do the social surroundings influence the compulsive buying disorder of the main character?

C. Objectikes of the Study

This study has three objectives. The first objective is to find the personality disorder in the main character, Rebecca Bloomwood. The writer identifies how Rebecca as the main character is described in her personality, her daily life, and her behavior in the social life which can be reflected as the personality disorder. The second objective is to find out about the settings of the novel. The writer finds out more information about the settings that influence the story. The third objective is to find how the social surroundings influence Rebecca Bloomwood’s

personality disorder. The writer analyzes about Rebecca’s social life in two points. They are her life style and the social cultures where she lives.

D. Definition Terms

In order to avoid misunderstanding, the terms that are related to the topic are going to be explained. There are two terms that are used in this study.

The first term is the social surroundings. According to Klarer, “the term ‘setting’ denotes the location, historical period, and social surroundings in which action of a text develops.” (1999: 25). In a word, the social surroundings in this study is related to the location and the social life in the novel. It is followed by some factors such as the family, society, and relationship.

The second term is the compulsive buying disorder. “The compulsive buying disorder is characterized by excessive shopping cognition and buying behavior that leads to distress or impairment.” (Black: 2007:1). The compulsive buying disorder is one of the disorder that happen because of some reasons. This study focuses on the social surroundings as the reason of the disorder.

The third term is the definition of social surroundings based psychology. In order to see the bridge between literature and pschology, the definition of social surrounding based on psychology is needed.

The Social and Environmental Psychology theme comprises two collaborative groupings conducting basic and applied research addressing issues such as behaviour change, collective action, attitudes, values, motives, lifestyles, judgments of risk, conflict and prejudice. (www. psych.cf.ac.uk).

Based on pyschology, the term of “social surrounding” is known as social environment. It is related to the several points that lead to the bahavioral change.

6

CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF LITERATURE

A. Review of Related Studies

The novel of Confession of a Shopaholic is written by an English novelist in 2009, Sophie Kinsella. According to the New York Times Version Kinsella becomes the bestselling author. She has written many interesting chick-lit novels. Most of her novels become the bestseller. In the shopaholic’s series, Kinsella has written about seven books. The earliest, Confession of a Shopaholic has a good story that makes the reader wants to read the next book of the shopaholic series. In the shopaholic series, Rebecca Bloomwood is the main character. In this novel Rebecca successfully attracts the readers with her story because of her behavior as a shopaholic. Having behavior as a shopping addict makes Rebecca have Compulsive Buying Disorder (CBD).

The Teknosastik Journal (2014) by Mulia Hetti and Yuseano Kardiansyah is a study about Oniomania as seen in Kinsella’s Confessions of a Shopaholic Novel. The journal discusses the main character as an oniomania sufferer. By using data gathering and library research, the study is about the cause of the Becca’s oniomania. This journal states that the reasons behind it are the consumerism and the childhood experience. The researchers explain further about the Becca’s oniomania in her personality. It is explained that being an oniomania sufferer is indicated by her senseless of shopping and her euphoria of shopping in order to

release her desire. This journal also states that oniomania is called compulsive buying disorder.

With this analysis, the researchers explains in depth about the oniomania sufferer inside the novel The Confession of a Shopaholic. It explained that Rebecca as oniomania sufferer is indicated by her senseless and Rebecca euphoria in shopping. Rebecca always spends money to buy things which are not being her need, she was also getting pleasure after doing the shopping. Those become the main focus of the writer in this analysis (Hetti and Kardiansyah, 2014: 14).

The journal analyses Rebecca’s oniomania in term of shopaholic. Some indications are made to understand further about the oniomania inside Rebecca’s personality. Hetti and Kardiansyah said that Rebecca as an oniomania sufferer has senseless of shopping.

Wididianingrum Nandini (2006) in her Undergraduate Thesis “Criticism to Consumeristic Society in Don Delilo’s Cosmopolis and Sophie Kinsella’s

Confession of a Shopaholic” proves that Rebecca Bloomwood is one of the representations of over-consumptive character. In the other words, Rebecca is the representation of cosmopolitan London woman. As the cosmopolitan London woman, Nandini finds out that one of Rebecca’s characteristics is consumptives. Nandini uses comparative study for analyzing consumptive behavior. She compares the consumptive behavior in two novels as an effect of Second World War.

Consumerism in Cosmopolis and Kinsella’s novel is quite similar. Nandini describes the consumerism from some aspects such as appearance, personality, friends, and their responsibility towards money. Besides, in the contexts of consumerism, this thesis also studies about the respective societies and the

culture. According to Nandini’s thesis, consumeristic society becomes the main point to analyze the characters of both novel. Nandini also studies that the consumeristic society that is described in the novel must be similar to the writer’s society. This thesis states that (2006: 25) “Rebecca Blomwood, the major character, is mostly depicted to show consumerism has affect her.” Consumeristic problem is an impact from the society. It becomes the reason why Nandini’s thesis concerns to analyze about how such phenomenal issue as consumerism has influenced the society as seen in both novel.

The similar study is done by Agustina Herni Lestari (2011). In her thesis, “The Influence of Motivation toward Rebecca’s Shopping Disorder as seen in Sophie Kinsella’s Confession of a Shopaholic”, Rebecca is described as a shopping addict. It is more or less similar to Nandini’s thesis. The term of consumerism is also used in her study because of the Rebecca’s behavior as a shopaholic. Lestari tends to discuss to the emotion and motivation of the neighborhood toward Rebecca’s shopping disorder. Motivation in this study is described as the surrounding environment that influences the Rebecca’s shopping disorder.

Rebecca is a shopaholic who always tries hard to get all the stuff she wants whatever the way. She uses her instinct as a shopaholic. It is like mother who understand the crying of her baby. The mother uses her instinct to know wat her baby needs, whether the baby needs some milk, feel hunger, or needs a friend. Rebecca always uses her instinct when she shop (Lestari, 2011: 48).

In the Lestari’s thesis, Rebecca is described as a person who likes to do shopping and it is motivated by her environment. When she shops, Rebecca looks

like a person who has instinct to do everything in order to buy something. It is also stated that her instinct as a shopaholic becomes one of her motivation.

The two theses mostly discuss on the consumerism of the main character and about the influence of the disorder. The first thesis is about the consumeristic behavior while the second is more about the motivation of shopping. Both of the study also discuss about the Rebecca’s behavior towards the society.

This present thesis also chooses Confession of a Shopaholic as the object of the study. This thesis focus to analyze the main character of the novel, Rebecca. Being different to the Teknosastik Journal, Nandini’s thesis and Lestari’s thesis that mostly discuss about the oniomania inside the main character, the representation of over consumptive person or as cosmopolitan London woman, and also the motivation of Becca’s shopping disorder, this present study will focus on the Rebecca’s CBD that is influenced by the social surroundings. Although, all these studies talk about the main character, this present study has different point of view compared with the previous studies. Here, the things that are going to be analyzed further are the characteristic of the society in the novel, the characteristic of CBD inside the main character, and the CBD that characterized in the main character as an impact of the society. In order to know the reason behind Rebecca’s disorder, the writer uses psychology analysis. By using the psychological approach, this study is going to be expanded in terms of social surroundings as an impact.

B. Review of Related Theories

In order to make this study become scientific, the writer needs some theories as the references. There are three theories that will be used in this study. They are theory of character and characterization, theory of setting, and theory of Compulsive Buying Disorder (CBD).

1. Theory of Character and Characterization

Characters in the story seem to be the most important point. Characters are important because they are the elements who establish the plot of the story. There are several kinds of characters in every story. According to Klarer (1999: 17) the kinds of character are divided into two. First, typified character or called as flat character. Second, individualized character or called as round character. Flat character is usually dominated by one specific trait and the round character usually denotes a person with more complex and different feature.

According to Abrams (1985: 24) characterization can be analyzed by using

showing method. The author will let the reader to conclude about the character’s motives and disposition behind it by understanding about what the characters talks and act. In order to expand the inferences about the characterization, the reader can make form of what the characters have talk about when they talk to each other.

The theory of character and characterization is necessary to use in this study. This theory will be related to the discussion about all the characteristic that

the characters have. Murphy (1972: 161-173) states that to understand further about the characters, there are nine important points that are needed. They are:

a. Personal Description: The author can describe about the appearance and clothes of the person.

b. Character seen by another: A person can be described through the eyes and opinions of another by the author.

c. Speech: By looking at what the person say, the author can gives us an insight into the character of one of the person in the book.

d. Past life: The author makes the reader learn about the person’s life in the past that can be the clue to shape a person character.

e. Conversation of Others: It is the way how the author figure out the character by learning something in the person’s past life.

f. Reactions: The person’s character can be understood by knowing the reaction of the person towards the various situation and event.

g. Direct Comment: The author describe or comments on a person’s character directly.

h. Thought: It is the way the author gives the reader direct knowledge of what person thinking.

i. Mannerism: The person’s character can be understood in person’s mannerisms, habits or idiosyncrasies which is described by the author. The nine elements of the theory of character and characteristics by M.J. Murphy will not be used all because some of them cannot be applied. Some

elements that will be used are Personal Description, Character seen by another, Speech, Past life, and Reaction.

2. Theory of Setting

According to Klarer (1999: 25), the term ‘setting’ denotes the location, historical period, and social surroundings in which action of a text develops. It means that setting is the aspect that supports the action to take place, such as place, time, and the environment. Setting can be defined as the location where something happens. Klarer also states that setting can be the crucial point or elements (1999: 26). By using the theory of setting, the writer finds out some important points about setting in the novel such as the social environment that influences the main character’s behavior.

Dealing with the social surroundings means that the study also deal with the society of the story. Society is related to the human relationship with around them. In the book of Society in the Novel (1984: 6) by Elizabeth Langland, society in the novel is described in some points such as custom, beliefs, physical environment, human relationship, background, places and institution. According to Murphy (1972: 143), there are three points to consider in setting. The points are time, place, and atmosphere. By looking to the theory of setting from Elizabeth Langland and Murphy, setting can be concluded into three things. Those things are places, relationship, and family.

3. Theory of Compulsive Buying Disorder (CBD)

Literature and psychology are two different disciplines. Talking about literature is always related to the literary works or written works such as poem,

fiction, drama, vice versa. Then in the psychology, it is scientific that deal with human’s behavior, mental human personality. In a word, psychology is called as the study of human minds work. In order to analyze the psychological thing in literary works, both terms can be used to analyze.

Characters in plays and novels are judged by us to be ‘psychologically’ true. Situations are praised and plots accepted because of this same quality. Sometimes a psychological theory, held either consciously or dimply by an author, seems to fit a figure or a situation (Wellek and Warren, 1956: 91). In the book Theory of Literature by Wellek and Warren, psychological term can be applied in some ways in literature, such as the characters, the author, and the background of the story. Psychological theory can help the reader to analyze the characters behavior and personality. Klarer (1999: 17) states in his book that

A psychological approach is, however, merely one way of evaluating characters; it is also possible to analyze character representation in the context of narratological structures.

Thus, the theory of psychology can be applied to analyze the characteristic of the character in psychological point of view. In a word, theory of psychology can be applied in literature to analyze the character inside the story because the characteristic of human and the characters inside the story are similar.

In human psychological problem, the disorder term usually comes up. Disorder is human’s behavior or activity which has unusual things in general. People with disorder always has some different personality. Compulsive buying disorder (CBD) is one of disorders that mostly happens in society. CBD is the disorder when people do shopping activity to release their desire. They will not think about the price, quality, even about the function. They will buy anything to release their desire. CBD also includes in the behavioral addiction. According to

the Behavioral Addiction by Rosenberg and Feder (2014: 65), to define the behavioral addiction, there are six components inside. In this study only five components that is applied. One of the components, Mood-Modification, is not used because it cannot be applied to the character’s personality. The components that is applied are, Salience, Tolerance, Withdrawal Symptoms, Conflict and

Relapse.

a. Salience: The behavior in a person’s life becomes the most important activity and also tends to dominate the thinking, feelings and behavior.

b. Tolerance: The process whereby increasing amounts of the behavior are required to achieve the former mood=modifying effects, often meaning greater periods of time are spent engaging in the behavior, and/or there is a desire escalation in the intensity, recklessness, destructiveness, and ego-dystonic nature of behavior.

c. Withdrawal Symptoms: The unpleasant feeling and physical effects such as the moodiness, and irritability that occur when a person cannot engage in the behavior.

d. Conflict: it referenced discord between the person and the surroundings such as social life, work, hobbies, and interest. Besides, from the individual itself will be occur intraphysic conflict or subjective feelings of loss of control. In a word, it is concerned with spending too much time for engaging in addictive behavior.

e. Relapse: The tendency for repeated behavior to earlier pattern of excessive behavior to recur and for a common return to the most extreme pattern of excessive behavior soon after period of control.

Thus, it is already explained by Rosenberg and Feder that the behavioral addiction has some elements about the personality and the social surroundings that have to be studied. The main character of the story is the object of the study in CBD. Those elements can be applied in the main character in order to determine the behavioral addiction.

C. Theoretical Framework

In order to support this study in answering the problems, some theories is used. The theories are theory of character and characterization, theory of setting, and theory of compulsive buying disorder.

The theory of character and characterization is used to describe the characteristic of the main character Rebecca Bloomwood. The characteristic of the main character is going to be analyzed by using the characterization. The writer finds out that Rebecca has unusual behavior. She is shopping addictive. According to Klarer’s theory, the writer finds that Rebecca is an individual’s change character. This character is considered as the round character. Characterization in this study will also be studied by using Murphy’s theory in analyzing character. In the Murphy’s theories, there are several elements such as personal description, character seen by another, speech, past life, reactions, and mannerism. In this study, not all the elements are needed to analyze the character

of the story because some of them cannot be applied. Those elements are personal description, character seen by another, speech, past life and reaction.

Theory of setting is used to analyze where the story take place. The term of setting in this study is the social surroundings of the main character. It includes the place, time, and the social environment. Theory of setting by Murphy (1972: 143) is used to analyze the time, place and atmosphere inside the story that influence the main character’s behavior.

Theory of Compulsive Buying Disorder (CBD) is related to the Rebecca’s disorder. Becca’s addiction to shopping makes her become CBD. Based on the Rosenberg and Feder in the theory of CBD which is stated, some components will be used to analyze Rebecca’s disorder. The components are salience, tolerance, withdrawal symptoms, and conflict.

17 CHAPTER III METHODOEOGY

A. Object of the Study

The object of this study is one of the shopaholic series by Kinsella, Confession of a Shopaholic. This is the very first book of the shopaholic series and was published in New York 2001. The novel that is used in this study is the fifth edition. It was published in New York 2007 and consists of 269 pages. Moreover, it is divided into 24 chapters. Kinsella is a bestselling author based on New York Times. This novel has a genre as chick lit novel that mostly attracts the young female’s readers.

Briefly, this novel tells about a shopaholic woman with all her financial problems and falls in love with a guy in the middle of her complicated problems. There is something that is interesting in the beginning of this novel. It is the event when the form of letter from Endwich Bank is sent to the main character. The main character, Rebecca, has some financial problems. Rebecca Bloomwood is a 25 year-old woman who lives in London where fashion is something priceless. She works as a writer in Successful Saving (financial magazine). Working at the financial magazine does not give any impact on her life. It is proven by the financial problem that she has to face. Some financial problems come one by one in her life. Being the writer in Successful Saving does not mean that she is able to fix her own problem.

Shopping is the most favorite activity that Becca likes. The only reason why she cannot get out of her problems is because she cannot control her hobby. Becca is called as a shopaholic because she always feels better when she can hear any ring of the cashier machine. The mannequin in every shop looks very beautiful in her eyes. The talking mannequin is always in her mind. She feels that the mannequin gets her attention to any kind of thing that she bought. Even it makes her purchase something which is not necessary.

In order to fix her financial problem, Becca consults this problem with Suze who is her best friend. Actually, Suze is also a shopaholic. However, in this situation she tries to help Becca. She does some advices from Suze. As her mind is complicated by her financial problem, there is a guy who successfully distracts her love life. In Rebecca’s thought, to make her life happy is not about having relation with a guy. She feels that she does not need any guy in her life. Meanwhile, for Becca, shopping is the only thing that can create happiness. B. Approach of the Study

Discussing the psychological problem, the writer uses psychological approach. According to Wellek and Waren (1956: 91) psychological term can be applied to the literature, such as characters, the author, and background of the story. In this study, psychological approach is used to analyze the character of the story. In relationship between literature and psychology, theory of psychology can be applied in literature to analyze the character inside the story. It is because the characteristic of human and the characters inside the story are similar.

In the book of A Handbook of Critical Approaches to Literature (Guerin, 2011: 222), psychological approach is defined as the psychological interpretation and used to analyze human personality through human’s mind. It is also used to reinforce the understanding and the appreciation of a literary works by analyzing one of the characters in the story through psychological approach. Since literary works mostly discuss on human relationship, human behavior, and the conflict, psychological approach can be used to describe the development of personality disorder that is experienced by the character.

In a more specific conclusion, psychological approach is used to determine the reason behind the development of personality disorder. The writer uses psychological approach because it deals with human’s psychological aspect. The psychological aspect of human is usually influenced by the society. In a word, this aspect can be influenced by the society or the social surroundings. This approach focuses on human activities. It deals with the way the society influences someone’s behavior. Therefore, the writer uses psychological approach to analyze the psychological aspect of the main character.

C. Method of the Study

This study is a library research. There were two kinds of sources used in this study. They are primary source and secondary sources. The first is the primary source that becomes the main source for this study. It is the novel entitled Confession of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella. The second one is the secondary sources. They are the sources that can support the analysis. The secondary sources

are the reviews, the theories, the approach, and some data that are taken from the internet.

In order to analyze the novel, the writer took some steps. The first step was reading the novel many times. By reading many times, the writer wanted to have more understanding about the novel. The second step was stating some problems that are mentioned in the problem formulation. The third step was collecting the data that supported the novel. The data were taken from the library research and internet. Some theories would be used to analyze the novel. The writer found the theory of Compulsive Buying Disorder from Behavioral Addictions. This theory is used to analyze the addictive disorder in the main character. Then, the last step was drawing the conclusion.

212 CHAPTER IV

ANALYSIS

In2 this2 analysis,2 the2 writer2 tries2 to2 answer2 the2 questions2 in2 the2 problem2 formulation.2This2chapter2is2divided2into2three2parts.2The2first2is2the2characteristic2 of2Rebecca2Bloomwood2as2the2main2character2in2the2Confession of a Shopaholic.2 The2second2is2the2social2surrounding2of2the2novel.2The2third2is2the2influence2of2the2 social2surrounding2toward2the2main2character’s2compulsive2buying2disorder.22

According2to2the2Klarer’s2theory2about2the2kinds2of2character,2the2writer2 concludes2that2Rebecca2is2classified2as2a2round2character.2Klarer’s2theory2(1999:2 17)2states2that2the2round2character2usually2denotes2a2person2with2more2complex2 and2different2features.2Since2the2beginning2of2the2story,2Rebecca2Bloomwood2is2 described2as2a2shopaholic2with2a2lot2of2financial2problems.2She2has2a2lot2of2debts2 because2she2cannot2control2her2desire2to2do2shopping.2Rebecca2is2very2motivated2 in2 doing2 something.2 Moreover,2 she2 is2 a2 self-seeking2 woman.2 She2 usually2 uses2 some2 ways2 in2 order2 to2 get2 something.2 After2 reading2 further,2 the2 writer2 can2 conclude2that2Rebecca2has2personality2disorder.2Because2of2the2society,2Rebecca2 becomes2 one2 of2 Compulsive2 Buying2 Disorder2 sufferers.2 The2 role2 of2 the2 society2 unconsciously2 enhances2 her2 hobby2 that2 is2 a2 shopaholic2 becomes2 a2 personality2 disorder.2

2 222 2

A. The Characteristics of Rebecca Bloomwood

According2to2the2theory2of2character2and2characterization2by2Murphy2(1972:2 161-173),2there2are2nine2ways2that2can2be2applied2to2analyze2the2characteristic2of2 the2 character.2 In2 this2 study,2 only2 five2 ways2 that2 will2 be2 applied.2 Those2 are2 personality2description,2character2seen2by2another,2speech,2past2life,2and2reaction.2 2

1. Shopaholic

Generally,2a2person2becomes2a2shopaholic2when2she2or2he2truly2enjoys2to2do2 shopping,2she2or2he2usually2buys2everything2that2he2or2she2wants.2However,2in2this2 novel2Rebecca2is2described2as2a2shopaholic2when2she2enjoys2shopping2on2a2certain2 brand2with2high2quality.2According2to2her2thesis,2Lestari2also2said2that2Rebecca2is2 a2person2who2always2tries2hard2to2 get2all2the2stuff2she2wants2whatever2 the2way2 (2011:2 48).2 Rebecca’s2 desire2 to2 shop2 cannot2 be2 controlled2 when2 she2 looks2 at2 something2 in2 good2 quality.2 It2 becomes2 the2 reason2 why2 Rebecca2 is2 known2 as2 a2 woman2who2has2high-standard2of2style.2By2looking2at2the2personality2description,2 Rebecca2is2described2as2a2252year-old2woman2who2is2addicted2to2shopping.2It2is2 also2stated2in2the2novel2about2Rebecca’s2appearance.2

I2 casually2 close2 my2 eyes2 and2 start2 to2 tot2 up.2 There2 was2 that2 suit2 in2 Jigsaw.2 And2 there2 was2 dinner2 with2 Suze2 at2 Qualinos.2 And2 there2 that2 gorgeous2red2and2yellow2rug.2The2rug2was2£200,2come2to2think2of2it.2But2it2 was2definitely2worth2every2penny—everyone’s2admired2it.2Or,2at2least,2Suze2 has.2

And2the2Jigsaw2suit2was2on2sale—302percent2off.2So2that2was2actually2 saving2money.2

I2 open2 my2 eyes2 and2 reach2 for2 the2 bill.2 As2 my2 finger2 hit2 the2 paper2 I2 remember2new2contact2lenses.2Ninety-five2pounds.2Quite2a2lot.2But,2I2mean,2 I2had2to2get2those,2didn’t2I?2What2am2I2supposed2to2do,2walk2around2in2a2 blur?2(Kinsella,22005:21).2

Being2known2as2a2shopaholic,2Rebecca2usually2wants2to2buy2something2that2 she2 thinks2 as2 a2 good2 thing2 with2 good2 quality.2 The2 brand2 becomes2 the2 most2 important2consideration2for2Rebecca2to2decide2whether2the2things2that2she2wants2to2 buy2is2worth2or2not.2She2will2not2take2any2further2consideration2if2she2thinks2that2 the2brand2that2is2in2sale2is2worth2buying.2

In2the2window2of2Denny2and2George2is2a2discreet2sign.2Its2dark2green2with2 ice2cream2lettering,2and2it2says:2SALE.2I2stare2at2it,2and2my2skin’s2all2prickly.2 I2can’t2be2true.2Denny2and2George2can’t2be2having2a2sale.2They2never2have2a2 sale.2Their2scarves2and2pashminas2are2so2coveted,2they2could2probably2sell2 them2 at2 twice2 the2 price.2 Everyone2 I2 know2 in2 the2 entire2 world2 aspires2 to2 owning2a2Deny2and2George2scarf2(Kinsella,22005:27).2

2

At2that2moment,2Rebecca2will2go2to2the2press2conference2in2Financial Times.2 On2her2way2to2go2to2the2conference,2she2looks2at2the2Denny2and2George’s2window.2 Rebecca2 feels2 that2 she2 wants2 to2 buy2 the2 scarves2 and2 the2 pashmina2 that2 are2 displayed2as2a2sale2in2the2window.2As2a2shopaholic,2she2needs2to2buy2the2thing2that2 she2wants2in2order2to2release2her2desire.2Rebecca2will2insist2on2any2consideration2 that2will2make2the2thing2become2important2to2buy.2By2seeing2at2her2reaction,2the2 writer2 can2 conclude2 that2 it2 can2 be2 one2 of2 the2 characteristics2 of2 Rebecca’s2 shopaholic.2

Rebecca2lives2in2the2flat2with2her2friend2named2Suze.2Also,2Suze2really2 loves2fashion.2Hearing2the2ring2of2cashier2machine,2hearing2some2words2from2the2 shopkeeper2 about2 her2 appearance,2 and2 holding2 some2 paper2 bags2 from2 branded2 shops2always2makes2her2feel2better.2Having2friend2who2also2loves2to2shop2makes2 Rebecca2 feel2 happy.2 She2 will2 buy2 everything2 that2 she2 wants2 without2 any2 consideration.2 If2 there2 is2 any2 consideration,2 she2 will2 ask2 Suze.2 The2

characterization2of2character2can2also2be2seen2in2the2way2the2character2talks2and2 acts.2

I2count2out2the2money2in2tens2and2twenties2and2wait,2almost2shivering2as2the2 ducks2behind2the2counter2and2produces2the2green2box.2She2slides2it2into2a2 thick2glossy2bag2with2dark2 green2 cord2handless2and2hands2it2to2me,2and2 I2 almost2want2to2cry2out2loud,2the2moment2is2so2wonderful2(Kinsella,22005:2 17).2

2

Rebecca2always2takes2a2pleasure2of2it.2The2happiness2is2in2her2eyes2when2she2 can2buy2something2that2she2wants.2At2the2moment2she2is2interested2in2something,2 she2will2buy2that2thing.2 The2characteristic2as2a2shopaholic2is2also2shown2in2this2 part2that2can2be2found2by2character2as2seen2by2another.2

“Oh2 God,2 there’s2 something2 wrong,2 isn’t2 there?”2 wails2 Suze.2 I2 knew2 it.2 Maybe2you’re2really2ill.”2She2hurries2into2the2room2and2reaches2for2my2head.2 “Have2you2got2temperature?2Does2anything2hurt?”2

“Have2you2had2a2bump2on2the2head?”2she2wiggles2her2hand2in2front2of2my2 face.2“How2many2fingers?”2(Kinsella,22005:2223).2

2

2 Being2a2shopaholic,2Rebecca2never2ignores2any2invitation2to2do2shopping.2 She2really2loves2shopping.2When2Suze2asks2her2to2do2shopping,2usually2Rebecca2 will2say2yes.2However,2in2this2situation,2Rebecca2refuses2that2invitation.2It2make2 Suze2thinks2that2there2is2something2wrong2with2her.2It2is2because2in2Suze’s2point2 of2view,2as2another2character2in2the2novel,2Rebecca2is2seen2as2a2shopaholic.2Thus,2 it2is2really2weird2when2Rebecca2does2not2want2to2do2shopping.2

2 2

2. Self-Justification

Rebecca2always2justifies2herself2when2she2wants2to2buy2something.2Self-talk2 will2happen2when2she2tries2to2take2consideration2whether2something2is2necessary2 to2buy2or2not.2Some2words2that2help2her2to2feel2better2to2buy2will2come2into2her2

mind.2 This2 situation2 makes2 herself2 become2 someone2 who2 does2 shopping2 just2 because2of2her2desire,2not2the2necessity.22

Christmas2 shopping!2 I2 can2 do2 all2 my2 Christmas2 shopping2 here!2 I2 know2 March2is2bit2early,2but2why2not2to2be2organized?2And2then2when2Christmas2 arrives2 I2 won’t2 have2 to2 go2 near2 the2 horrible2 Christmas2 crowds.2 I2 can’t2 believe2 I2 haven’t2 thought2 of2 doing2 this2 before.2 And2 it’s2 not2 breaking2 the2

rules2 because2 I’d2 have2 to2 by2 Christmas2 present2sometime, wouldn’t2 I?2

(Kinsella,22005:268).2 2

2 Looking2at2her2speech,2the2characteristic2of2self-justification2can2be2seen2in2 the2quotation.22The2situation2when2Rebecca2wants2to2buy2something2unnecessary2 happens2in2self-talk.2It2happens2when2she2wants2to2buy2the2Christmas2present2in2 March.2 Normally,2 the2 reason2 to2 buy2 Christmas2 present2 in2 March2 to2 avoid2 the2 crowd2is2too2much.22

2 The2financial2problem2is2not2the2thing2that2is2accepted2as2her2fault.2She2will2

blame2another2thing2 as2the2cause2of2her2 fault.2Rebecca2 always2thinks2that2there2 will2be2a2certain2reason2behind2something2that2happens.2Everything2that2is2done2by2 her,2becomes2the2thing2which2must2happen2naturally.2

Frugality.2Simplicity.2There2are2my2new2watchwords.2A2new,2uncluttered,2 Zen-like2life,2in2which2I2spending2nothing.2Spend2nothing.2I2mean,2when2you2 think2about2it,2how2much2money2do2we2all2waste2every2day?2No2wonder2I’m2 in2 a2 little2 bit2 of2 debt.2 And2 really,2 it’s2 not2 my2 fault.2 I’ve2 merely2 been2 succumbing2to2the2western2drag2of2materialism—which2you2have2strength2to2 have2strength2of2elephants2to2resist.2At2least2that’s2what2it2says2in2my2new2 book2(Kinsella,22005:241).2

2

Blaming2as2the2impact2of2western-materialism,2Rebecca2thinks2that2she2needs2 the2strength2of2elephant2to2resist.2Actually,2what2the2writer2gets2is2the2Rebecca’s2 justification2in2order2to2make2herself2feel2better2with2her2problems.2Looking2at2the2 reaction,2Rebecca’s2reaction2to2her2problem2shows2that2she2cannot2manage2herself2 to2face2her2problem.22

The2 other2 reaction2 of2 self-justification2 mostly2 comes2 up2 when2 she2 gets2 her2 self-talk.2 In2 her2 self-talk,2 she2 will2 push2 her2 desire2 to2 buy2 something.2 In2 other2 words,2 she2 will2 think2 that2 it2 is2 better2 to2 buy2 something.2 This2 situation2 happens2 when2she2has2to2avoid2her2desire2to2do2shopping.2All2of2her2efforts2to2save2money2 are2broken2when2she2finds2a2sale.22

I2mean,2I2know2I’m2not2really2supposed2to2be2spending2money—but2this2is2 complete2one-off.2They2are2coolest2jeans2you’ve2ever2seen.2And2902euro2is2 nothing2 for2 a2 pair2 of2 really2 good2 jeans.2 If2 you2 were2 in2 Gucci,2 you’d2 be2 paying2at2least25002euro.2Oh2God,2I2want2them.2I2want2them2(Kinsella,22005:2 92).2

2

The2writer2can2conclude2that2Rebecca2Bloomwood2always2makes2her2self-justification2 when2 she2 wants2 to2 get2 a2 thing.2 She2 tries2 to2 forget2 her2 financial2 problems2in2debt.22In2order2to2fill2her2desire,2she2will2have2some2imagination2in2her2 self-talk2which2looks2like2supporting2her2in2doing2something.2

2 2

3. Self-Seeking

Self-seeking2 is2 a2 condition2 when2 a2 person2 who2 has2 a2 strong2 desire2 or2 determination2to2get2something2for2his2or2her2need.2In2the2self-seeking,2a2person2 will2tend2not2to2care2about2what2happens2to2other2people2when2they2want2to2get2the2

thing.2 In2 the2 novel2Confession of a Shopaholic, Rebecca2 Bloomwood2 can2 be2

categorized2 as2a2self-seeking.2Rebecca2is2a2person2who2has2strong2desire2to2 get2 something2that2she2wants.22

Rebecca2 loves2 fashion2 since2 her2 childhood.2 She2 always2 tries2 to2 match2 the2 style2of2a2person2in2a2magazine.2That2activity2is2her2favorite2one.2She2usually2reads2 a2magazine2that2can2help2her2to2see2about2the2newest2style2in2fashion.22

It’s2habit2of2mine,2itemizing2all2clothes2I’m2wearing,2as2though2for2a2fashion2 page.2I’ve2been2doing2it2for2years—ever2since2I2used2to2read2just seventeen. Every2issue,2they’d2stop2a2girl2on2the2street,2take2a2picture2of2her2and2list2all2 her2clothes2(Kinsella,22005:26).2

2

Her2dream2to2be2a2successful2person2is2motivated2by2her2love2in2fashion2and2 style.2 By2 looking2 at2 her2 past,2 Rebecca2 can2 be2 characterized2 as2 a2 self-seeking2 because2of2her2effort2to2get2what2her2wants2in2life.2In2the2beginning2of2the2story,2it2 is2described2when2she2wants2to2buy2the2scarf.2She2gets2some2problems2with2her2 money2to2buy2the2scarf.2Then,2she2asks2the2shopkeeper2to2keep2it2for2her2until2she2 gets2her2credit2card.2

I2tear2a2piece2of2paper2out2of2my2notebook,2write2on2it2“Can2you2lend2me2 twenty2quid?”2and2pass2it2to2Elly,2who’s2still2surreptitiously2listening2to2her2 mobile2 phone.2 I2 wonder2 what2 she’s2 listening2 to.2 It2 can’t2 still2 be2 her2 horoscope,2surely?2She2looks2down,2shakes2her2head2and2writes,2“No2can2 do.2Bloody2machine2swallowed2my2card2(Kinsella,22005:213).2

2

At2that2moment,2Rebecca2tries2to2lend2some2money2from2her2friends2in2order2 to2buy2the2scarf.2Finally,2she2lies2to2everyone2that2she2needs2the2money2 for2her2 aunt2who2is2hospitalized.2On2her2way2to2go2back2to2the2store,2she2meets2a2man2who2 is2also2in2a2hurry2because2his2wife2is2in2labor.2Rebecca2tries2to2forget2about2the2fact2 that2her2business2is2nothing2than2the2man’s.2Looking2at2Rebecca’s2reaction2to2this2 situation,2the2writer2concludes2that2Rebecca2makes2her2business2become2the2most2 important2among2all2things.2She2also2does2not2really2care2to2others’2problem.2She2 just2wants2to2take2the2scarf2which2is2actually2pointless.2She2also2states2that2what2 she2wants2is2also2important.2

As2I2walk2along2the2pavement,2I’m2feeling2a2bit2shamefaced.2I2should2have2 got2out2my21202quid2and2given2it2to2that2man2for2his2baby,2instead2of2buying2 pointless2scarf.2I2mean,2when2do2you2think2about2it,2what’s2more2important?2 Clothes—or2the2miracle2of2new2life2(Kinsella,22005:216).2

Although2she2already2thinks2about2the2matter2of2her2business2in2buying2the2 scarf,2 she2 still2 sticks2 on2 her2 side2 that2 her2 business2 is2 more2 important2 than2 the2 miracle2of2a2new2life.2By2seeing2the2reaction,2Rebecca2can2be2characterized2as2a2 self-seeking.2 She2 sticks2 on2 her2 plan,2 no2 matter2 what,2 in2 order2 to2 get2 what2 she2 wants.2

2

B. Society in the Novel

According2 to2 Klarer,2 setting,2 location2 and2 social2 surrounding2 are2 the2 important2point2that2supports2the2action2to2take2place.2In2this2novel,2Confession of a Shopaholic,2 location2 and2 social2 surrounding2 where2 Rebecca2 lives2 have2 influences2to2Rebecca’s2characteristics.2The2term2society2in2the2novel2is2usually2 related2to2the2relationship2of2the2characters2inside2the2story.2Meanwhile,2Elizabeth2 Langland2 has2 described2 society2 as2 the2 social2 surrounding2 in2 the2 novel2 in2 some2 points,2such2as2the2relationship,2background,2and2places.22

In2 this2 discussion,2 the2 writer2 reveals2 the2 influence2 of2 the2 society2 toward2 Rebecca’s2disorder.2By2observing2the2social2surrounding2in2the2novel,2the2society2 will2 be2 the2 main2 point2 to2 be2 discussed.2 Society2 in2 the2 novel2 is2 the2 aspect2 that2 supports2 the2 story2 to2 take2 place.2 It2 also2 determines2 the2 characteristic2 of2 the2 character2in2the2story.2In2this2study,2the2writer2focus2on2the2society2that2influences2 the2 main2 character’s2 personality.2 Places,2 human2 relationship,2 and2 family2 background2 are2 the2 points2 that2 support2 the2 writer2 on2 analyzing2 the2 main2 character’s2personality.2

1. Places

Someone’s2 lifestyle2 is2 usually2 determined2 by2 the2 place2 where2 he/she2 lives.2 Place2 will2 lead2 someone2 to2 be2 a2 certain2 kind2 of2 person2 that2 is2 similar2 toward2 his/her2 surroundings.2 Social2 surroundings2 in2 the2 certain2 place2 are2 usually2 described2 as2 the2 lifestyle’s2 background2 of2 a2 person.2 In2 the2 novel,2 London2 is2 a2 place2where2all2of2Rebecca’s2story2takes2place.2Trend-fashion2in2London2is2very2 famous.2It2is2seen2in2the2brand2of2the2thing2that2London2has.2Almost2every2brand2is2 known2by2other2countries.2In2London,2Rebecca2lives2in2the2flat2with2her2flat-mate,2 Suze.2It2is2located2in2Fulham.2The2flat2in2Fulham2is2well-known2as2the2luxury2flat2 in2London.2

Suze2suggested2I2move2in2with2her.2I’m2sure2the2rent2she2charges2is2too2low,2 but2I’ve2never2insisted2I2pay2full2the2market2rate,2because2I2couldn’t2afford2it.2 As2 market2 rates2 go,2 I’m2 nearer2 Elephant2 and2 Castle2 than2 Fulham2 on2 my2 salary.2 How2 can2 normal2 people2 afford2 to2 live2 in2 such2 hideous2 expensive2 places?2(Kinsella,22005:221)2

2

2 Rebecca2and2Suze2live2in2the2flat2where2rich2people2live2in.2Based2on2what2

Rebecca2 said2 above,2 the2 hideous2 expensive2 place2 itself2 is2 really2 expensive2 for2 people2who2have2good2salary.2Thus,2the2flat2where2Rebecca2lives2is2surrounded2by2 rich2people2who2can2afford2to2buy2or2rent2the2flat.22People2around2them2look2like2 as2if2they2do2not2have2any2financial2problem.2They2also2have2high-standard2of2life.2 It2is2also2stated2in2the2novel2that2certain2magazine2has2a2review2about2the2girls2who2 live2in2the2flat2has2a2glamorous2life.2The2glamorous2life2can2be2identified2by2seeing2 the2 neighborhood2 of2 the2 flat.2 However,2 this2 situation2 makes2 Rebecca2 feel2 that2 glamorous2is2also2her2style.2It2changes2her2mind-set2in2terms2of2lifestyle.2She2tends2 to2follow2her2surroundings2for2having2glamorous2life.22

This2 situation2 is2 very2 different2 from2 Rebecca’s2 financial2 condition.2 She2 said2that2the2flat2is2such2a2hideous2expensive2place.2Financially,2Rebecca2does2not2 have2enough2salary2to2pay2the2rent.2Then,2she2has2to2afford2some2money2to2rent2the2 flat2with2Suze.2Another2fact2about2Rebecca’s2flat2is2that2the2Flat2in2Fulham2is2also2 known2as2a2trendy-flat.2It2is2described2in2the2novel2that2there2is2something2special2 with2the2people2who2live2in2the2Flat.2It2can2be2the2reason2why2those2people2have2 high2standard2of2lifestyle.2An2article2said2that2the2flat2is2surrounded2by2girls2who2 live2on2trust2funds.2Thus,2many2people2who2live2around2Rebecca2also2have2a2high2 quality2of2life.222

“Good2weekend,2Rebecca?”2says2Philip.2

“Fine,2thanks,”2I2say,2glancing2up2from2the2brochures2as2though2surprised2to2 be2interrupted2while2I’m2at2work.2

“I2was2round2your2neck2of2the2woods2on2Saturday,”2he2says.2“The2Fulham2 Road.2Trendy2Fulham.”2

“Right,”2I2say2absently.2

“It’s2the2place2to2be,2these2days,2isn’t2it?2My2wife2was2reading2an2articles2 about2it.2Full2of2It-girls,2all2living2on2trust2funds.”2

“I2suppose2so,”2I2say2vaguely.2

“That’s2what2we’ll2have2to2call2you,”2he2says,2and2gives2a2little2guffaw.2 “The2office2It-girl.”2(Kinsella,22005:2104)2

2

Philip2as2her2boss2in2the2office2sees2that2Rebecca2is2also2part2of2the2It-girl2in2 the2Fulham2road.2Known2as2a2trendy2Fulham2makes2Rebecca2become2known2as2 the2pop-girl2with2a2hilarious2life.2This2is2called2as2the2place2that2someone2lives2will2 be2 described2 as2 someone2 lifestyle’s2 background.2 The2 fact2 that2 Rebecca2 loves2 shopping2and2buying2something2branded2sometimes2becomes2the2reason2why2she2 has2high2standard2of2lifestyle2while2financial2problems2follow2her2life.2In2this2case,2 Rebecca2feels2that2she2needs2to2be2glamorous2as2the2others2around2her.22

In2 the2 conversation2 above,2 Rebecca2 does2 not2 look2 interested2 in2 Philip’s2 question.2 She2 realizes2 that2 Philip’s2 statement2 is2not2 really2 true2 for2 her.2 She2 just2 answers2 vaguely2 when2 Philip2 mentions2 about2 the2 trust2 fund2 because2 in2 fact,2 Rebecca2has2no2that2thing2from2her2parents.2However,2in2order2to2pay2the2rent,2she2 usually2pays2it2together2with2Suze.2In2this2situation,2the2problem2is2that2Rebecca2 wants2to2look2the2same2when2she2meets2her2neighbor.22

2 2

2. Human Relationship

Humans2are2social2beings.2As2a2social2beings,2they2need2some2relations2to2 live2 in2 a2 certain2 society2 because2 they2 cannot2 live2 alone.2 It2 is2 the2 reason2 why2 relation2 is2 always2 related2 to2 the2 society.2 Having2 a2 good2 relationship2 with2 the2 society2 will2 help2 someone2 to2 have2 a2 good2 life.2 It2 also2 has2 a2 big2 influence2 to2 someone’s2life.2In2the2society,2there2are2some2components2that2people2have2to2deal2 with,2such2as2friendship,2social2interaction,2job2environment,2and2the2peer2group.22

In2the2story,2Rebecca2has2a2good2 friendship2with2her2flat2mate,2Suze.2She2 feels2that2Suze2always2has2the2same2idea2as2her2in2terms2of2shopping.2They2never2 have2any2serious2problem2about2friendship.2Actually,2Suze2is2also2described2as2a2 shopaholic.2The2same2as2Rebecca,2she2also2has2a2glamorous2life.2It2is2seen2in2the2 way2 Suze2 appreciates2 anything2 that2 Rebecca2 buys.2 Suze2 usually2 knows2 the2 essential2points2inside2the2thing,2such2as2the2standard2of2the2brand,2the2quality,2etc.2 The2difference2is2that2Suze2still2gets2money2from2her2parents2every2month.2Suze’s2 parents2 have2 a2 good2 financial2 condition.2 It2 is2 the2 reason2 why2 she2 never2 gets2 financial2problem2in2her2life.2

As2a2best2friend,2Suze2usually2helps2Rebecca.2She2never2asks2Rebecca2for2 the2rent2payment2when2she2seems2having2no2money.2Suze2also2becomes2the2one2 who2 will2 be2 asked2 by2 Rebecca2 when2 she2 wants2 to2 buy2 something.2 Having2 the2 same2 idea2 for2 making2 some2 considerations2 in2 shopping2 makes2 both2 of2 them2 become2very2close2to2each2other.22

This2is2why2 I2love2sharing2a2flat2with2Suze.2Julia,2my2old2flat2mate,2 would2have2wrinkle2her2brow2and2said,2“Denny2and2who?”2or,2“That’s2a2lot2 of2 money2 for2 a2 scarf.”2 But2 Suze2 completely2 and2 utterly2 understand.2 If2 anything,2she2worse2than2me2(Kinsella,22005:220).2

2

“Oh2no,”2says2Suze2assuredly.2“What2happens2is,2the2money’s2lent,2it’s2 returned2 with2 a2 thank-you2 letter,2 and2 that’s2 the2 end2 of2 the2 matter.2 This2 card”—she2waves2it2at2me—“this2is2something2extra.”2

This2is2the2way2I2love2sharing2a2flat2with2Suze.2She2knows2stuff2like2 this,2because2she2mixes2in2the2right2social2circles2(Kinsella,22005:270).2

2

Rebecca2 feels2 very2 grateful2 that2 she2 has2 a2 friend2 like2 Suze.2 It2 is2 because2 Suze2is2very2different2from2Rebecca’s2flat2mate2in2the2past.2Besides,2Suze2also2has2 high-standard2of2lifestyle2just2the2same2as2Rebecca.2That2is2why2Rebecca2feels2so2 happy2 when2 there2 is2 someone2 who2 can2 give2 her2 any2 comment2 in2 choosing2 something,2such2as2the2style,2and2the2brand.2

Rebecca2works2as2a2financial2journalist2in2Successful Saving.2Having2a2job2

as2a2journalist2makes2her2have2to2attend2some2conferences2in2order2to2write2the2

article.2In2her2work’s2environment,2she2has2special2attention2to2the2PR girl.2The2

outfits2that2are2worn2by2them2are2the2things2that2she2has2to2focus2on.2She2usually2 compares2her2outfit2with2PR2girls.22

Like2today,2she’s2wearing2an2orange2chiffony2shirt2over2a2pair2of2white2 cotton2trousers,2espadrilles,2and2a2big2wooden2necklace,2the2kind2I2could2 never2in2a2million2years2(Kinsella,22005:29).2

Staring2straight2down2at2me,2I2should2say.2He2must2be2well2over2six2feet2 tall2 with2 dark2 hair2 and2 dark2 eyes2 and2 ...2 wow.2 Isn’t2 that2 suit2 nice?2 An2 expensive2suit2that2almost2makes2you2want2to2be2a2man.2It’s2inky2blue2with2 a2faint2purple2stripe,2single2breasted,2with2proper2horn2buttons.2As2I2run2my2 eyes2 over2 it2 I2 find2 myself2 wondering2 if2 it’s2 by2 Oswald2 Boateng,2 and2 whether2 the2 jacket’s2 got2 a2 silk2 lining2 in2 some2 stunning2 color2 (Kinsella,2 2005:29).22

2

Rebecca’s2 working2 environment2 also2 influences2 her2 as2 a2 shopaholic.2 She2 always2compares2her2outfit2with2the2PR2girl.2She2looks2at2the2appearance2of2PR2 girls2 from2 their2 outfit’s2 brand.2 Unfortunately,2 the2 PR2 girls2 wear2 branded2 outfits2 like2what2Rebecca2usually2wears.2She2tries2to2mention2every2detail2of2it.2Rebecca’s2 working2environment2is2also2surrounded2by2the2people2who2have2high2standard2of2 lifestyle.2Actually,2Rebecca2feels2comfortable2with2some2relationships2with2other2 women2 who2 has2 high2 standard2 of2 lifestyle.2 However,2 this2 situation2 also2 makes2 Rebecca’s2desire2to2have2this2lifestyle2is2growing2bigger.22

2 2

3. Family

The2role2of2family2in2life2is2very2important.2It2is2because2family2is2the2very2 first2place2for2children2to2learn2something.2The2role2of2parents2in2a2family2is2the2 most2important.2A2child2will2try2to2copy2what2his/her2parents2do.2Some2children2 usually2 have2 the2 same2 character2 with2 the2 mother2 or2 the2 father.2 In2 the2 term2 of2 setting,2Murphy2has2said2that2past2time2has2some2influences2to2the2characteristic2of2 the2character.222

Someone’s2personality2will2develop2by2the2family.2Family2is2the2important2 point2that2influences2someone’s2personality.2It2is2because2family2is2the2very2basic2 society2 for2the2 character’s2development.2 In2this2 story,2Rebecca2has2parents2who2

really2love2her.2Rebecca’s2mother2is2described2as2a2woman2who2likes2to2shop.2It2is2 similar2 to2 Rebecca.2 However,2 in2 this2 case,2 her2 mother2 is2 not2 as2 shopaholic2 as2 Rebecca.22

Mom’s2terrible.2She’s2always2buying2new2stuff2for2the2kitchen—and2she2just2 gives2 the2 old2 stuff2 to2 charity2 shops.2 New2 kettles,2 new2 toaster2 ...2 We’ve2 already2had2three2new2rubbish2bins2this2year—dark2green,2then2chrome,2and2 now2yellow2translucent2plastic2(Kinsella,22005:229).2

2

Mum’s2 really2 happy,2 too,2 as2 she’s2 found2 a2 pair2 of2 candle2 sticks2 for2 her2 collection.2 She2 got2 collections2 of2 candle2 sticks,2 toast2 racks,2 pottery2 jugs,2 glass2animal,2embroidered2samplers,2and2thimbles.2(Personally,2I2don’t2think2 the2 thimbles2 count2 as2 a2 proper2 collection,2 because2 she2 got2 the2 whole2 lot.2

Including2 the2 cabinet,2 from2 an2 ad2 at2 the2 back2 of2 the2 Mail on Sunday

magazine.2 But2 she2 never2 tells2 anybody2 that.2 In2 fact,2 I2 shouldn’t2 have2 mentioned2it.)2(Kinsella,22005:230)2

2

It2 shows2 that2 Rebecca’s2 mother2 also2 likes2 to2 buy2 something2 which2 is2 not2 necessary,2for2example2the2kitchen2stuff.2She2buys2a2new2toaster2even2though2she2 still2 has2 the2 good2 one.2 She2 usually2 buys2 something2 just2 because2 the2 color,2 the2 shape,2 or2 the2 motive.2 Also,2 her2 mom2 buys2 some2 unnecessary2 stuffs.2 The2 writer2 concludes2that2Rebeca’s2mom2is2also2a2woman2who2loves2to2shop.2Similar2with2 Rebecca,2her2mom2tends2to2buy2something2which2is2not2necessary2but2not2in2high2 quality.2She2usually2buys2something2because2she2wants2it,2just2like2Rebecca.2It2is2 the2 reason2 why2 Rebecca’s2 mother2 can2 be2 seen2 as2 a2 person2 who2 influences2 Rebecca’s2shopaholic.22

2

C. The Influence of Society toward CBD

After2 knowing2 the2 characteristics2 of2 Rebecca2 as2 the2 main2 character2 and2 identifying2the2society2around2her,2the2writer2complete2this2analysis2by2showing2 the2enhancement2of2the2society2toward2Rebecca’s2characteristics2that2are2seen2as2

Compulsive2Buying2Disorder2(CBD)2sufferer.2In2other2words,2this2part2provides2 the2answer2to2the2third2question.2

Rebecca2Bloomwood2is2the2main2character2who2is2characterized2as2a2CBD2 sufferer.2 Having2 a2 hobby2 to2 do2 shopping2 makes2 her2 addicted2 to2 that2 hobby.2 According2 to2 Rosenberg2 and2 Feeder,2 behavioral2 addiction2 is2 a2 condition2 that2 people2have2when2they2cannot2control2to2engage2with2their2wants.2It2is2one2of2the2 psychological2 problems2 in2 the2 mental2 illness.2 The2 writer2 said2 that2 Rebecca2 has2 psychological2problem2according2to2her2addiction2to2do2shopping.2Also2her2hobby2 causes2her2to2get2financial2problems.2

CBD2 is2 characterized2 by2 someone2 who2 is2 addicted2 to2 buy2 something2 in2 order2to2release2his2or2her2desire.2However,2this2kind2of2habit2makes2a2distress2in2 someone’s2mind.2Rebecca’s2hobby2is2also2known2as2the2reason2that2causes2her2into2

a2 distress.2 According2 to2 the2 book2 of2 Behavioral Addiction,2 CBD2 has2 some2

characteristics,2such2as2Salience, Tolerance, Withdrawal Symptoms, and2Conflict.

Rebecca2has2those2characteristic2as2a2CBD.2Her2characterization2as2a2shopaholic2 also2shows2her2characteristic2as2CBD2sufferer.22

Based2 on2 the2 analysis2 about2 the2 characteristics2 of2 Rebecca2 Bloomwood,2 Rebecca2is2considered2as2a2shopaholic,2self-justification,2and2self-seeking.2In2this2 part2 of2 the2 analysis,2 the2 writer2 provides2 Rebecca’s2 behavioral2 addiction2 that2 is2 affected2 by2 the2 social2 surroundings.2 Rebecca2 is2 surrounded2 by2 society2 that2 unconsciously2 enhances2 her2 shopping2 hobby.2 The2 enhancement2 of2 the2 society2 makes2 her2 shopping2 hobby2 becomes2 behavioral2 addiction2 that2 is2 also2 called2 as2

CBD.2 In2 addition,2 considering2 the2 focus2 of2 this2 analysis,2 the2 writer2 decides2 to2 apply2Rosenberg2and2 Feder’s2theory2about2behavioral2addiction2in2order2to2find2 out2which2part2of2Rebecca’s2life2that2involves2the2most2in2Rebecca’s2personality.2 The2 writer2 provides2 the2 society2 in2 Rebecca’s2 life2 that2 enhances2 one2 of2 her2 characteristics2as2a2CBD2sufferer.22

1. Places

Through2the2explanation2of2Rebecca2as2the2main2character2in2this2novel,2the2 author2clearly2describes2that2Rebecca’s2flat2is2the2trendiest2place2in2Fullham.2In2 this2case,2the2writer2refers2to2the2effect2of2the2social2surrounding2around2the2flat2 towards2the2main2character’s2personality.2As2stated2before,2Rebecca2lives2in2a2flat2 that2 is2 well-known2 as2 the2 trendiest2 flat2 in2 Fulham.2 Living2 in2 the2 society2 where2 people2force2her2to2get2a2better2life2is2not2easy.2In2other2words,2when2people2are2 surrounded2by2high-class2people,2they2tend2to2follow2the2surrounding2in2order2to2 get2the2recognition2from2them,2they2want2to2be2accepted2in2that2society.2

Rebecca2really2loves2to2bring2some2shopping2bags2from2several2expensive2 brands2and2likes2to2call2herself2as2a2woman2who2wears2something2branded.2She2 thought2that2people2who2look2at2her2will2pay2attention2to2what2she2wears.2Also2she2 thought2that2by2wearing2some2branded2stuff,2she2will2be2recognized2as2a2high-class2 person.2When2she2gets2a2new2scarf,2she2calls2herself2as2a2girl2in2the2Denny-George2 scarf.2 Then,2 she2 calls2 herself2 the2 girl2 in2 the2 white2 coat2 when2 she2 gets2 a2 new2 branded2 coat.2 This2 situation2 drives2 her2 shopaholic2 to2 become2 more2 addictive2 though2her2life2is2already2miserable2because2of2her2debt.2

The2recognition2as2a2high-class2person2by2wearing2expensive2stuff2is2very2 important2for2her2life.2She2thinks2that2others2will2see2her2as2a2woman2who2has2high2 standard2 of2 lifestyle.2 Thus,2 she2 never2 thinks2 about2 her2 future’s2 need2 such2 as2 a2 house,2saving,2and2so2on.2Rebecca2experiences2it2when2her2childhood2friends2ask2 her2to2get2a2better2flat2though2she2has2lived2in2a2good2flat2with2her2flat-mate.2

“Are2 you2 moving?”2 I2 say2 in2 surprise.2 Elly2 lives2 in2 the2 coolest2 flat2 in2 Camden,2with2two2guys2who2are2in2a2band2and2get2her2into2loads2of2free2gigs2 and2stuff.2I2can’t2think2why2she’d2want2to2move.22

“Actually,2I’m2buying,”2she2says.2“I’m2looking2around2Streatham,2Tooting2 …2I2just2want2to2get2on2the2first2rung2of2that2property2ladder.”2

“Right,”2I2say2feebly.2“Good2idea.”2

“You2should2do2it2yourself,2you2know,2Becky,”2she2says.2“You2can’t2hang2 around2in2a2student2flat2forever.2Real2life2has2to2begin2sometime!”2

She2glances2at2one2of2her2men2in2suits,2and2he2gives2a2little2laugh.2It’s2not2a2 student2flat,2I2think2indignantly.2And2anyway,2who2defines2“real2life”?2Who2 says2“real2life”2is2property2ladders2and2hideous2pearl2earrings?2“Shit-boring2 tedious2life,”2(Kinsella,22005:2130).2

2

Rebecca2thinks2that2she2has2already2had2a2good2life,2but2it2is2different2from2 what2other2see2about2her.2After2she2met2her2old2friend,2she2begins2to2think2about2 her2 life.2 By2 answering2 feebly,2 she2 looks2 so2 jealous2 of2 her2 friend.2 Then,2 her2 characteristic2 as2 a2 self-justification2 person2 influences2 her2 to2 justify2 her2 life2 in2 reality2which2is2much2more2different2to2her2old2friends2who2do2not2know2about2 fashion2at2all.2The2moment2of2self-talk2happens.2She2begins2to2blame2others2and2 thinks2 that2 she2 is2 right.2 Rebecca’s2 characteristic2 as2 a2 self-seeking2 person2 also2 makes2her2not2think2about2others.2She2feels2that2her2business2is2her2own.2No2one2 can2change2or2even2touch2it.22

The2writer2sees2that2Rebecca’s2reaction2to2her2old2friends2also2reveals2her2 characteristic2as2a2CBD2sufferer.2She2makes2her2own2business2become2the2most2

usually buys everything that she wants. The brand becomes the most important consideration to decide whether the thing that she wants to buy is worth or not. It influences her life until she cannot control her desire to do shopping. This situation that always happens throughout her life makes her become shopaholic.

Second, she is described as a self-justification. As it is mentioned before that Rebecca usually buys something that she wants, she usually justifies herself to get the thing. The moment of self-talk always happens to her mind in order to make her choice or her wants become the important thing to buy. This situation also makes Rebecca become someone who does shopping just to release her desire, not the necessity. Third, she is described as a self-seeking. Rebecca is a person who will do anything to get something that she wants. Her big desire on shopping makes her become self-seeker. She will not care to anything except on herself.

Furthermore, to comprehend Rebecca’s CBD as an effect of social surroundings, society of the novel becomes the second problem formulation. In the society of the novel, there are three points that can be drawn from the novel. First, places in the novel. London is described as a place where has high-standard of lifestyle. Rebecca lives in Fulham road which is famous as a place for women who have glamorous live. Living in a place that is surrounded with a certain atmosphere will make someone become similar with the surrounding. It is the reason why Rebecca cannot control her desire to do shopping until some financial problems comes in her life.

Second, Rebecca’s relation is related to her society. Rebecca has a best friend named Suze who has the same hobby to do shopping. Suze has a glamorous life because she comes from high-class family. Rebecca’s relation to the PR girls also influences her desire to do shopping. Those girls usually wear beautiful outfit with high-standard of quality. Rebecca feels that she has to be more than those girls. Her relation makes her desire to have high-standard of lifestyle is bigger. Third, family. Rebecca’s mom has a similar problem with Rebecca. Her mom cannot control to buy something that she wants. Even though her mom is not as shopaholic as Rebecca, it can be the influences of Rebecca’s problem.

Regarding the characteristic of Rebecca Bloomwood and the description of social surroundings that is explained above, the writer aims to answer the last question of the problem formulation. The last question is about how the social surroundings influences the Compulmive Buying Dimorder (CBD). According to the theory of CBD by Rosenberg and Feder, the writer already figured out five out of six characteristics of CBD sufferer which are matched. Those are Salience, Tolerance, Withdrawal Symptomm, Conflict, and Relapme.

The first characteristics of CBD that is Salience can be identified in Rebecca’s reaction to her old friends. She never thinks about others because the behavior that Rebecca’s has, it tends to dominate her feeling. Rebecca has shown the characteristic of Salience because her shopping hobby becomes the most important thing for her and also tends to dominate the way of her thinking, feelings and behavior.

The second characteristic is Tolerance. As it is mentioned that Tolerance is the increasing of mood that happens because of the increasing amounts of behavior. The writer found that Rebecca has similar characteristic with Tolerance. The increasing amounts of shopping behavior usually affect her mood. The third characteristic is Withdrawal Symptomm. This characteristic of CBD happens when she cannot engage to her hobby. Rebecca will have unpleasant feeling when she cannot do shopping.

The fourth characteristic of CBD is a feeling loss of control which is called Conflict. It can be seen when Rebecca cannot control any desire to buy something. As an effect of her mother who also loves to shop, Rebecca’s problem is more complicated. The last characteristic can be seen here, the repetition of behavior but more extreme, called Relapme. Since her childhood, Rebecca is described as a girl who loved to read fashion magazine. Her mom also allowed her to buy fashion magazine that possibly became the reason of her big desire to shop. She needed to control her desire to shop until she has her own salary. After she has her own salary, her desire to shop is explode and cannot be controled.

Based on the conclusion above, it can be said that Rebecca Bloomwood as the main character becomes Compulsive Buying Disorder sufferer because of the impact of the social surroundings. Rebecca lives in a place that is surrounded by the high-class people. Thus, it makes Rebecca’s desire to do shopping is getting bigger and uncontrolled. This is the reason why her hobby on doing shopping turns into Compulsive Buying Disorder. It has been confirmed by five out of six characteristics of CBD from the book Behavioral Addiction by Rosenberg and

Feder. The writer’s questions are answered after analyzing the description of the main character, the social surroundings and matched those characteristics to the symptom of Compulmive Buying Dimorder (CBD) as the impact.

In conclusion, Confemmion of a Shopaholic shows that social surroundings can give impact to someone’s behavior. Living in a place that is surrounded by a certain atmosphere makes someone become the same as the surroundings even more. As a woman who lives in a high-standard of life, shopping is a good thing in their daily life. It is because the majority of women think that they have to have a good appearance, called as beauty. Almost every people usually looks at women’s appearance to determine whether they are beautiful or not. Some women are good on managing money because they can differentiate the use of money for their daily life. In some others, it can be called as disaster because they cannot control their financial problem. Every woman should be able to manage her money even though the surroundings speak the opposite.

Rebecca Bloomwood, the main character of Confemmion of a Shopaholic, proves that social surroundings can be the big reason why someone’s behavior becomes a disorder. As a woman who loves fashion since the childhood and also loves to shop, living in the place that is surrounded by people with high-standard of lifestyle can give big impact. Rebecca shows that she cannot leave the surrounding behind her. She also has to be like the surroundings or at least the same until the financial problem comes to her life. The main character proves that letting a certain behavior dominate her life can make it a disorder for her own self.

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