The influence of the matriarchal family on tom`s character development in Williams` the glass menagerie.

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ABSTRACT

Riawan, B. Dhedi. 2008. The Influence of the Matriarchal Family on Tom’s Character Development in Williams’ The Glass Menagerie. Yogyakarta: English Language Education Study Program, Department of Language and Art Education, Faculty of Teachers Training Ed ucation, Sanata Dharma University.

The study discusses the character development of Tom in William’s The Glass Menagerie as he is influenced by the matriarchal family. Referring to Tom as the centre of discussion of the study, the play is about a family which is left by the father because of another woman. Here, Tom is the one who supports the economy of the family by working at the warehouse. Unexpectedly, he is often treated inappropriately by his mother, Amanda. This condition has changed his persona lity and his manner of responding to certain events.

The study aims to answer the question in the problem formulation. The first question is how Tom’s character described in Williams’ The Glass Menagerie. The second question is how Tom’s character develops under the influence of a matriarchal family. Referring to the problem formulation questions, the two main aims of the study are to discover how Tom’s characters are described and how he is influenced by the matriarchal family. In order to find the intended answers, the psychological approach was employed to go deeper to the character’s feeling and thinking. The theory of character was used to study carefully the way to comprehend the character and to comprehend the character himself. The approaches required the presence of any other sources. The drama script of Williams’ The Glass Menagerie was the primary source and the other books related to the study were the secondary ones.

The true Tom’s personality trait is affectionate. His father’s leaving has instilled hatred in his heart. It is flourished with the bad relationship between him and Amanda. The other personality traits such as temperamental and revengeful are influenced by his being in the matriarchal family. Based on the analysis, I can conclude that Tom has undergone the succession of progressive changes. The changes that happen to Tom designate that he is influenced by the matriarchal family. This study also suggests two matters related to families in this world and to the study itself. The first suggestion is that families in this world are to develop an affectionate atmosphere to raise children. The second one is that the implementation of Williams’ The Glass Menagerie to teach Drama for advance learners is to be done with good interaction between lecturer and students.

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ABSTRAK

Riawan, B. Dhedi. 2008. The Influence the Matriarchal Family on Tom’s Character Development in Williams’ The Glass Menagerie. Yogyakarta: Program Studi Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris, Departemen Pendidikan Bahasa dan Seni, Fakultas Keguruan dan Ilmu Pendidikan, Universitas Sanata Dharma.

Studi ini membahas perkembangan karakter Tom dalam karya William yang berjudul The Glass Menagerie sebagaimana dipengarui oleh keluarga matriarkal. Mengacu pada karakter Tom yang menjadi pembahasan utama dalam studi ini, drama ini mengisahkan tentang sebuah keluarga yang ditinggal pergi oleh seorang kepala keluarga karena tertarik pada wanita lain. Dalam studi ini, Tom adalah seorang yang menopang ekonomi keluarga dengan bekerja di warehouse. Walaupun begitu, dia sering mendapat perlakuan yang tidak sepantasnya dari ibunya sendiri yaitu Amanda. Keadaan seperti ini telah mengubah kepribadian dia dan bagaimana dia menaggapi berbagai peristiwa.

Studi ini bertujuan untuk menjawab pertanyaan-pertanyaan dalam formulasi masalah. Pertanyaan pertama adalah bagaimana karakter Tom digambarkan dalam karya William yang berjudul The Glass Menagerie. Pertanyaan kedua adalah bagaimana karakter Tom berkembang dalam pengaruh keluarga matriarchal. Mengacu pada pertanyaan-pertanyaan dalam formulasi masalah, ada dua tujuan utama dalam studi ini yaitu menemukan bagaimana karakter Tom digambarkan (melaui kata-kata) dan bagaimana dia dipengaruhi karena hidup dalam keluarga matriarkal. Agar dapat menemukan jawaban-jawaban yang dimaksud, pendekatan psikologis diterapkan untuk mengetahui lebih dalam apa yang dirasakan dan dipikirkan oleh karakter. Teori tentang karakter digunakan untuk menelaah cara memahami karakter dan untuk memahami karakter itu sendiri. Pendekatan-pendekatan tersebut memerlukan sumber-sumber lainnya. Naskah drama dari karya William yang berjudul The Glass Menagerie adalah sumber utama dan buku-buku yang lain adalah referensi kedua.

Sifat sejati Tom adalah penuh kasih sayang. Kepergian seorang ayah telah menanamkan kebencian pada hati Tom. Kebencian itu tumbuh dengan baik karena hubungan yang buruk antara Tom dan Amanda. Sifat-sifat lain seperti pemarah dan pendendam adalah pengaruh karena keberadaan dia dalam keluarga matriarkal. Berdasarkan analisa, saya dapat menyimpulkan bahwa Tom telah mengalami serangkaian perubahan perkembangan. Perubahan-perubahan yang terjadi pada Tom dengan sangat jelas menandai bahwa dia terpengaruh oleh keluarga matriarchal. Studi ini juga menyarankan dua hal yang berkaitan dengan keluarga-keluarga di dunia ini dan yang berkaitan dengan studi ini sendiri. Saran pertama adalah keluarga-keluarga di dunia harus mengembangkan suasana yang penuh kasih sayang dalam membesarkan anak-anak. Saran kedua adalah pelaksanaan karya Williams yang berjudul The Glass Menagerie dalam pengajaran Drama untuk pelajar-pelajar yang sudah maju supaya dilakukan dengan interaksi yang baik antara dosen dan para mahasiswa.

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THE INFLUENCE OF THE MATRIARCHAL FAMILY ON TOM’S CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT IN WILLIAMS’

THE GLASS MENAGERIE

A Thesis

Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements to Obtain the Sarjana Pendidikan Degree

in English Language Education

By:

BLASIUS DHEDI RIAWAN Student number: 031214138

ENGLISH LANGUAGE EDUCATION STUDY PROGRAM DEPARTMENT OF LANGUAGE AND ARTS EDUCATION FACULTY OF TEACHERS TRAINING AND EDUCATION

SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY YOGYAKARTA

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STATETEMENT OF WORKS’ ORIGINALITY

I honestly declare that this thesis, which I wrote, does not contain the work or part of the work of other people, except those cited in the quotation and the references, as a scientific paper should.

Yogyakarta, 12 January, 2009 The Writer,

Blasius Dhedi Riawan 031214138

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LEMBAR PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN

PUBLIKASI KARYA ILMIAH UNTUK KEPENTINGAN AKADEMIS

Yang bertanda tangan di bawah ini, saya mahasiswa Universitas Sanata Dharma : Nama : BLASIUS DHEDI RIAWAN

Nomor Mahasiswa : 031214138

Demi pengembangan ilmu pengetahuan, saya memberikan kepada Perpustakaan Universitas Sanata Dharma karya ilmiah saya yang berjudul :

THE INFLUENCE OF THE MATRIARCHAL FAMILY ON TOM’S

CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT IN WILLIAMS’ THE GLASS MENAGERIE

beserta perangkat yang diperlukan (bila ada). Dengan demikian saya memberikan kepada Perpustakaan Universitas Sanata Dharma hak untuk menyimpan, me-ngalihkan dalam bentuk media lain, mengelolanya dalam bentuk pangkalan data, mendistribusikan secara terbatas, dan mempublikasikannya di Internet atau media lain untuk kepentingan akademis tanpa perlu meminta ijin dari saya maupun memberikan royalti kepada saya selama tetap mencantumkan nama saya sebagai penulis.

Demikian pernyataan ini yang saya buat dengan sebenarnya. Yogyakarta, 21 Februari 2009

Yang menyatakan

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

On this page, I would like to deliver my deepest gratitude. First of all, I would like to thank Jesus for his path of salvation, blessing, strength to undergo everything and the like. I also thank Him for lighting the darkness and shining me a spot of light of hope to the point of finishing my thesis.

Secondly, I would like to thank V. Triprihatmini, S.Pd., M.Hum., M.A. as my sponsor for helping me with her helpful suggestions and criticism on my thesis. I also thank her for making me enjoy the hard time during the accomplishment of my thesis. I thank Drs. YB Gunawan, M.A. for being kind. Here, I am also thankful to all lecturers in English Language Education Study Program and all staff of Sanata Dharma University.

My deepest gratefulness goes to my late mother in heaven. I thank her for her constant praying to God for me. I particularly thank my father, B. Sagiyo, for his support. He is everything for me. I thank them for ‘everything’. I love them so much.

I am very thankful fo r all my friends. I thank Singgeh_SD, Willi, Andri, Timur, Cipok, Tedy, Yoyok, Widia, Lia, Winni (big), Siwi, Deni, Sindhu, Uri, Upik and all of them I cannot mention here exclusively. I thank Roy who has given me the soft copy of Williams’ The Glass Menagerie. I also would like to deliver my special thankfulness to Dono and Joe for being my companion in many cases in Sanata Dharma University. I thank them for being very patient to me as well. May God always bless them.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

TITLE PAGE ... i

PAGES OF APPROVAL ... ii

STATETEMENT OF WORKS’ ORIGINALITY ... iv

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ... v

TABLE OF CONTENTS ... vi

ABSTRACT... vii

ABSTRAK ... viii

CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION ... 1

1.1 Background of the Study ... 1

1.2 Problem Formulation ... 4

1.3 Aim of Study... 4

1.4 Benefits of the Study ... 4

1.5 Definition of Terms ... 5

CHAPTER II: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE ………. ... 9

2.1 Theory of Critical Approach to Literature ... 9

2.2 Theory of Character and Characterization ... 11

2.3 Human’s Relationship and Family ... 14

2.3.1 Human’s Maturity: Emotion and Motivation ... 14

2.3.2 Parents’ Role in Educating Children ... 17

2.3.3 The Function of the Family ... 20

2.3.4 The Influence of Divorce toward Children ... 21

2.3.5 Family Members Relationship: Character Development ... 23

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vii

CHAPTER III: METHODOLOGY ... 28

3.1 Subject Matter ... 28

3.2 Approaches ... 29

3.3 Procedures ... 29

CHAPTER IV: ANALYSIS ... 31

4.1 Tom’s Personality Traits When He was Raised in a Complete Family ... 31

4.1.1 Tom is Affectionate ... 32

4.1.2 Tom is Patient ... 33

4.1.3 Tom is Honest ... 33

4.1.4 Tom is Introverted ... 34

4.2 Tom’s Life in the Matriarchal Family ... 36

4.2.1 The Reason Why the Family is Called Matriarchal ... 36

4.2.2 Tom’s Relationship in the Family ... 38

4.2.2.1 Tom’s Relationship with Laura ... 38

4.2.2.2 Tom’s Relationship with Amanda ... 39

4.3 Tom’s Character Development under the Influence of the Matriarchal Family ... 46

4.3.1 The Influences of Tom’s Relationship with Laura on his Character Development ... 47

4.3.2 The Influences of Tom’s Relationship with Amanda on his Character Development ... 50

4.3.3 Tom’s Personality Traits after being Influenced by the Matriarchal Family ... 54

4.3.3.1 Tom is Discriminative ... 60

4.3.3.2 Tom is Temperamental ... 62

4.3.3.3 Tom is Untruthful ... 64

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4.3.3.5 Tom is Revengeful ... 68

4.3.3.6 Tom is More Introverted ... 71

4.3.3.7 Tom is Adaptive ... 72

4.3.4 Tom’s Final Action as a Result of the Suppressing Condition in the Matriarchal Family ... 73

CHAPTER V: CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS ... 76

5.1 Conclusion ... 76

5.2 Suggestions ... 79

5.2.1 Suggestion for Further Research ... 79

5.2.2 Suggestion for Implement ing William’s The Glass Menagerie in Teaching- Learning Process ... 80

REFERENCES ... 82

APPENDICES APPENDIX A: Lesson Plan to Teach Advance Learners in Drama Class ... 85

APPENDIX B: Scene one of Williams’ The Glass Menagerie ... 87

APPENDIX C: Summary and Remark of Each Scene of The Glass Menagerie ... 92

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ABSTRACT

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ABSTRAK

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1 CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION

This chapter is divided into five different parts. The first part is the background of the study. It contains the reason why the study is conducted. The second part is the aim of the study. It gives details about the intended purposes of the study. The third part is the problem formulation. This part contains two questions related to the study. The fourth part is benefits of the study. This part explains the hopefully obtained advantages for thesis readers. The very last part of chapter one is the definition of terms. This part lists important terms related to the study.

1.1 Background of the Study

Everybody in this world is a character that represents someone and undergoes roles for others. There is no one in this world that has no role. Everyone is interrelated to one another. Nevertheless, one and all are frequently encountering some challenges or things to be carried out that unavoidably influence everything around them.

Every human, as a character in this world, experiences various occurrences. As long as human is interacting to one another, there is always an action taken. As in written drama, when readers pay close attention to characters, they will discover themselves to go from the what to why—from the characters’ words and actions to

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their motives. Furthermore, so as to know the characters’ motivation, they are to identify what the characters do and how they do it (Guth, 1997: 69).

In fact, drama is related to the characters interaction amongst others. Short (1996: 168) states that “drama largely consists of character-to-character interaction”. Synonymously, the writer can utter that there will be various contacts whether they are direct or not. Take for examples, through touches or words.

Referring to the two former paragraphs, all living inhabitants in earth cannot avoid doing interaction. The identical reason for doing interaction is that humans need others to survive. Humans need others and each of them holds different interests and motivations to do particular things. The similar things also happen in drama: the characters in drama are interacting to one another; they are holding interests and motivation behind what they are doing.

Specifically, in the play of Williams’ The Glass Menagerie (1945), Amanda is a mother who is passionate to take care both of her children, Laura and Tom. However, as an ordinary human, she often does mistake in directing them. For example, she uses unacceptable manner to communicate her advice to Tom so that he is feeling look down upon. Responding to such treatment, Tom frequently does actions that are affected by her mother’s saying. He can go out of control at the moment and release his uncomfortable feeling by doing something unworthy. For instance, he goes out every single night. Additionally, Tom’s behaviors are also affected by the absence of a father as a good role model for his life. In the matriarchal

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family, he does not have a figure of a father as the guidance for his life, whereas his mother often cannot understand his feelings.

Based on the above elucidation, I notice the awfully complex relationship between Tom and his mother. I am interested to comprehend the matriarchal family influences on how Tom is doing certain things and how he reacts to particular happenings. By doing so, I can notice Tom’s changes. The relationship between Amanda and Tom relate to his character development. Of course, there are many other influences to Tom’s character development to be in the matriarchal family. Furthermore, I believe that there are many valuable values in the Williams’ The Glass Menagerie (1945) that can be revealed. In addition, there is no smoke if there is no fire—in relation with the study, it means that the matriarchal family led by Amanda as a mother causes Tom to act in different manners.

Williams’ The Glass Menagerie (1945) illustrates how the characters are trying to affect the others. For example, the mother, Amanda, is trying to influence Tom to think that Laura will be better if she has got boyfriend by telling him that he will be so much easier to go out (Williams 1712). Knowing the fact that the matriarchal family led by Amanda as a mother has great influences toward Tom’s character development, I am very eager to explore more about it.

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1.2 Problem Formulation

Based on the above background, I would like to formulate the problems as guidance in doing the study as follows:

1. How is Tom’s character described in William’s The Glass Menagerie? 2. How does Tom’s character develop under the influence of a matriarchal

family? 1.3 Aim of the Study

Since the study aims at observing and answering the formulated problems, there will be two main aims to execute the study in order to find the intended answers. The first is to describe or to explain in words Tom’s characters in general. It also gives detail on how the character can emerge. The second is to examine Amanda’s matriarchal family that influences Tom’s character development. By figuring out the answer of the last question in the problem formulation, the study meets the intended answer.

1.4 Benefits of the Study

A number of benefits hopefully will be gained for English Language Education Study Program students, readers and other researchers. Firstly, this study is hopefully beneficial for students of English Language Education Study Program of Sanata Dharma University. Since the study is mainly about the influence of the matriarchal family on Tom’s character development in Williams’ The Glass Menagerie (1945), the study will provide important data

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of the play. For that reason, the study is a good source to help them to refer to a high-quality reference in a literature class.

Secondly, readers of The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams will gain better understanding about the play. This study will also help them to go deeper into the essence of the influences of being in the matriarchal family to Tom.

Finally, the study is expected to be a good reference for other researchers who would like to conduct literature analysis particularly about Williams’ The Glass Menagerie.

1.5 Definition of Terms

To provide clarity and to avoid misunderstanding, this study provides some related terms definition as listed. All the terms definitions below are in the same meaning with the writer’s intention to define the term. They represent what the study is about.

1. Character

Abrams (1981: 23) confirms that “characters are the person presented in a dramatic or narrative work, who are interpreted by the readers as being endowed with moral, dispositional, and emotional qualities that are expressed in what they say—the dialogue—and by what they do—the action”

2. Development

Hornby (1995: 318) defines Development (N) as the action or process of developing or being developed. In addition, Claninger (2004: 21) defines

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Development (N) as formation or change (of personality overtime). In the study, those words also refer to the change of behavior.

3. Influence

The Webster’s Newworld Dictionary of the American Language (1979: 722) defines Influence to be three parts that each of them is relatively related to the study.

a). The power of persons or things to affect others, seen only in its effect.

b). The ability of a person or a group to produce effect indirectly by means of power based on the wealth, high position.

c). Implies the power of persons or things (whether or not exerted consciously or overtly) to affect others.

In the study, the word influence carries a very significance meaning since it transmits to the readers the power of a person to make the other one follow what she or he is saying.

4. Matriarch and Matriarchal Family

Hornby (1995: 723) defines matriarch (N) as the female head of family or tribe—matriarchal (A). According to Nair (www.rise-of-womanhood.org), concept of a matriarchal society is “when women have taken up collective leadership and actively engaged in economic or social developmental activity”. It leads to intense changes in the society. From what Nair says, I can narrow down the concept into family scope which is related to the study. Concept of a

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matriarchal family is when a woman has taken up a leadership in a family and become dominant in the family decision making. It leads to intense changes in the family. In this study, I combine the ‘matriarch’ definition and the concept of a matriarchal family. Referring to the combination, matriarchal family is therefore any family that is led by a mother. The leadership happens when a father does not control the family but the mother does.

Referring to the thoughts above, I have decided to use the term of ‘matriarchal family’ to illustrate Tom’s family. The decision has been taken because Amanda is the leader of the family since Tom’s father’s leaving.

5. Character Development

Based on the definition above, I would like to define what is meant by character development in this study. In connection with the study, the term of character refers to the person represented in the play. It also confirms the person of having equipped with moral, inherent qualities of mind, and emotional qualities that are expressed in what he says and what he does. The term of development in this study is referring to the continuous progressive changes happen to the character.

Referring to the definition above, character development in this study is defined as the continuous progressive changes happen to the character in the play which can be identified by analyzing the character’s saying and doing. Of course, the action taken by the character interrelates with the relationship amongst characters in the play—exemplifies the character development.

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The term of character development is used instead of personality development because of five reasons. First, the use of personality development term will only refer to the changes of the character’s personality traits, but I cannot emphasize on the character himself. Second, the use of the character development term will also emphasize to the analysis of the character as well as the character’s personality traits. Third, if I use the personality development term, I will only emphasize it, not the character development of Tom in the play. Fourth, in the study, the character development term is the cover term for personality development. Fifth, in general, when we talk about a character in the drama, we will also talk about the character’s personality traits. Conversely, when we talk about a character’s personality traits, we will just focus on the analysis of it.

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9 CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

The theories mentioned below will help to have a foundation for the analyses in the study. This chapter provides a literary theory and some thoughts that the writer will apply to analyze the formulated problems in the problem formulation. They are theory of critical approach to literature, theory of character and characterization, human’s maturity and family, parents’ roles in educating children, the function of the family, the influences of divorce toward children, family members relationship: character development, and theoretical framework.

2.1 Theory of Critical Approach to Literature

According to Rohrberger and Woods (1971: 6-15), there are five types of critical approach in literature namely the Formalist Criticism, the Biographical Approach, the Sociocultural- Historical Approach, and the Mythopoeic Approach, as well as the Psychological Approach. In this study, I only use the Psychological Approach. Psychological approach is a critical approach that “involves effort to locate and demonstrate certain recurrent patterns” (Rohrberger and Woods, 1971: 13). It means that one main reason to do something is coming from the result of human’s thoughts that follow certain patterns. I believe that someone cannot understand truly what the other wants without trying to understand the psychological situation. The same principal applied in the literary work analysis as well. Referring to the

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understanding above, I consider the Psychological approach the most appropriate approach to help to analyze Tom’s character development in the play.

In order to assist the psychological approach, I provide some thoughts of psychological criticism by Kennedy and Gloia (1999: 1947). Here, I would like to utter their thoughts in accordance with the study. First, it investigates the creative process of a character. It relates to normal mental function of a character. Synonymously, it relates to how a character thinks about something. The creative process of the character shows how he tries to achieve something through what he is doing. Second, it employs the psychology to understand character’s motivations and behaviors. Every human has certain things to encourage him to do something. Here, the psychology can investigate what is the reason of the character to do certain things. Moreover, it can also investigate how the character reacts to certain phenomena. Third, it uses the modern insight of human behaviors in real condition to investigate the fictional characters’ act. This thought carries the human behavior in real condition or in real world to investigate the character’s traits in the play—by doing analogy. Moreover, the thought of creative process relates to what Lillie (1961: 21) says about mental process. He says that by explaining the action someone is doing, her or his mental process can be understood.

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2.2 Theory of Character and Characterization

Specifically, Murphy (1972: 161-173) has presented nine ways of observing characters. These references will exclusively guide the analyses of the characters in the study.

1. Personal description

“The author describes a person’s appearance and clothes”. Here, the author can describe the person’s appearance through describing the person’s tallness, body weight, and hair. The author can also describe the type of clothes the person wears. The description of the type of clothes will make readers notice what kind of person he is—the job.

2. Character as seen by others

Characters in the play do interact with other characters. The person’s trait can be described through the opinion of the other ones. For example, when Jim talks about Laura (Williams 1737) in Williams’ The Glass Menagerie, the author indicates Laura’s traits—shy.

3. Speech

Through speech of characters, readers can gain insight into the characters through “what he says, whenever he speaks, whenever he is in conversation with other, whenever he puts forward an opinion”. The character’s responses to certain events give clues to his character.

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4. Past life

Past life of a character can give clues to events that have helped to shape a person’s character. The person’s character can be showed through direct comment of the author himself. The author can give comment related to the person’s character. Through the thoughts of the person while dealing with something, the author can indicate the person’s character. In the play, conversation to one another are irresistible, it also shows the person’s character. 5. Conversation of others

The clues of a person’s character can be gained through the conversation of other character and through the things they say about him. Commonly, “people do talk about other people and the things they say often give a clue to the character of the person spoken about”. Synonymously, when characters talk about the other, the things they say often indicate the characters’ traits.

6. Reaction

The way characters react to certain events or situation give clues to readers about the persons’ characters. For example, when parents are talking to each other, the child who passes will bow slightly (Javanese tradition). This example shows how the author lets reader know that the character is polite.

7. Direct comment

The author describes or gives direct comment to characters. The author describes the character’s traits directly. For example, the author can directly say that a character is sullen, happy, and proud.

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8. Thoughts

Here, the author knows the mind of the character. He can tell direct knowledge to readers about what she or he is thinking about. Since the author can do the thing readers cannot do in real life, he can describe what different characters are thinking about. Moreover, he has a sort of listening device to the characters so that he knows everything about them.

9. Mannerism

A person’s mannerism, habits or idiosyncrasies that probably contain something about the character can be described by the author. Character in the play will always show certain behavior that is easy to be identified. For example, a character in the play likes to stand and laugh alone. This is one of many ways the author shows the character’s trait.

In literature, the term of flat and round character are often heard. According to Pickering and Hoeper (1986: 28-29), flat character is the one who has limited qualities of traits and ideas. This type of character is simple and static. On the contrary, round character is the one who has a lot of qualities of traits and ideas. This type of character has the ability to develop himself. Similarly, Perrine (1974: 71) states about the static and dynamic character. Static character refers to the one who does not make any change. This type of character possesses similar traits from the beginning of the story until the end of it. The fact that the static character does not change is in the contrary to the dynamic character that does change. It especially

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refers to the characteristics. In detail, character has different traits from the beginning of the story until the end of it. For example, Lawrence used to be a shy girl. At the end of the story, she becomes a talkative pretty girl.

From the elucidation of how to observe the character from Murphy (1972: 161-173) above, the process of how to create a character is shown in several ways. The way to do so is called characterization (Rohrberger and Woods, 1981: 20). It also refers to the techniques used by the author to give an idea about the character—for example, what he likes and dislikes (Murphy, 1972: 52). Here, characterization is the mean used by the author to let readers know the character in the literature work. Furthermore, it is also used to describe the character so that he will be understood by readers.

2.3 Human’s Maturity and Family

2.3.1 Human’s Maturity: Emotion and Motivation

In order to identify the characters in the play, I need some references. By referring to the references below, I can figure out Tom’s reasons of behaving.

Lawlor (1963: 18) states that people require personal experiences to become organized in doing various things. Then, she affirms that “control and balance are what characterize emotional maturity, not total detachment” (Lawlor, 1963: 38). Additionally, she clarifies what is suggested by the word maturation. “Maturation refers to something which appears late in the life of organism but as a direct result of the growth process that control the ordinary development of a person or animal—like

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growing teeth or reaching sexual maturity” (Lawlor,1963: 38). Later, the understanding will assist to identify Tom’s final character development.

As illustrated below, Claninger (2004: 11) presents a sample of hypothesis that eventually will be useful to analyze Tom’s reasons of behaving. The hypothesis will also serve as the way to analyze the reason of Tom’s behaving in certain manners.

Hypothesis Derived from a Theoretical Proposition

Claninger (2004: 11)

In order to be able to identify what stimulates Tom when he does actions, I provide myself with some understandings about human’s emotion as well human’s motivation that can help me to recognize Tom’s reasons in behaving.

Theoretical Constructs + Frustration + Aggression

Theoretical Proposition + Frustration leads to aggression Operational Definition:

Frustration + Losing 75 cents in a soda machine + Failing an exam

+ Loosing one’s job

Aggression = Kicking the soda machine = Rating the instructor as poor = Beating one’s spouse

Hypothesis

1. Subject who loses 75 cents in a soda machine (which is rigged by experimenter) will kick the soda machine more often than the control group which loses no money.

2. Students who are told they have failed an exam will rate their instructor lower than students who are told they have passed the exam.

3. When unemployed rises, the number of reported spouse beating will increase.

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Related to human’s emotion, Lawlor (1963: 30) states that “emotion mobilizes and organizes us rather than needs, drives or instinct”. Moreover, there are two matters that motivate human behavior. First, referring to what has been concluded by Hergenhahn & Olson (2007: 7) from many experts, he confirms that hedonism or the tendency to seek pleasure and avoid pain is one of matters that motivate human behavior. Second, Hergenhahn & Olson (2007: 7) has concluded from many experts that self-actualization or the impulse to realize one’s full potential is the matter that motivates human behavior.

Wiwoho (2004: 61) gives new point of view to value human’s motivation. He argues that human possesses two sources of motivation namely internal and external. Moreover, he explains the decision to do something is made inside or outside someone. Wiwoho (2004: 61-62) gives some characteristics of people with internal and external motivation. People with internal motivation tend to have source of motivation and standard of evaluation inside themselves. These kinds of people are having a hard time to accept opinions and orders from others. They are also question opinions from criticizer which is relatively negative because they think that they have done the work well. Basically, people with internal motivation want to gather information from outside, but they have their own internal standard to decide what to do. In contrast, people with external motivation need opinions, instructions, and responses from other parties to be constantly motivated. For instance, these kinds of people need responses while they are working—they do not know whether they are correct or wrong if there are no response from other. Principally, people with external

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motivation do not have self standard. Since they do not have it, they will get confused if there is no assistance from others. The standard is obtained from outside world.

In addition, Wiwoho (2004: 71) confirms that people who have standard motivation are not egoist ones who do not want to listen to others. They still gather information, but by using their own standard they make decisions.

2.3. 2 Parents’ Roles in Educating Children

In fact, parents have many roles in the family. One of them is to take care of children. Here, I provide some roles to be taken by parents in taking care of their children. In order to help to analyze deeply about the influences, the writer will use some key terms about children from Joseph and Bird (1972: 29-45).

1. Omniscience

Children need to believe their parents can answer all their questions so that they can pass the new world, but the parents are also to make sure their children have found answers. This answer is important to encourage them to have purposes in their life.

2. Responsibility

Reaching the age of adulthood, children are hoped to have formulated goals. The goals are in extended span of time, and by practicing to be responsible they will be able to reach it. Here, family plays a very important role because the family is the place to train themselves to be discipline and to have reward for their

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interpersonal responsibility. They will also learn about the rights and obligation in the relation with others.

3. Coping

Parents’ role to be children’s role model to cope with frustration is unquestionably needed. Undeniably, children are great imitator in almost everything. Parents are to act nicely because what they are doing will be imitated by their children. Parents are to show calmness when they are dealing with problems.

4. Strength

Children need good figure of parents to rely on. They must figure out that their parents possess the strength of conviction because their knowledge about it will help them to build their own conviction as they mature.

5. Security

Parents have to be able to make their children feel secure emotionally, physically, and financially. As omniscience role for parents, they are to give the children security. This condition will encourage them to grow normally—no psyche disturbance. Moreover, children will feel more comfort to live in the family. 6. Self-image

Parents must provide information to their children that they have special values in their life. If a child is valued positively, he will grow up with positive self- image. Parents must not discourage the ir children by treating them badly. The positive

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self- image the children acquire will also determine their motivation and behavior to step forward to their future.

7. Limits

Children need structure, direction in their lives and they need to know what kind of outcome will be from their actions. From the points, they can understand the limits. Parents cannot always allow their children to do anything they want. Occasionally, parents are to restrict the children to do useless or dangerous things affectionately. The affectionate manner in restricting the children will not hurt their feelings.

8. Role Identity

To be mature parents, people are to learn many roles. They need to consider many aspects of family values. By knowing them, parents know the worthy things to do.

Children need parents or someone who can fill the role of parents. Children need to go out of their vulnerability so that they can be self-sufficient. Identically, before reaching the ages when they are able to be self-sufficient, they will depend physically and emotionally towards their parents (Joseph and Bird, 1972: 28).

Joseph and Bird (1972: 100) state that parents are to “learn to converse with their children in psychological language expressive of empathy and acceptance, something called ‘childrenese’”. Furthermore, they state that it is an obligation for the parents to learn children’s language, not vice versa.

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Specifically, in the family, a father plays a very crucial role in educating children. Dagun (1990) presents an understanding about father’s role in the family. The understanding is very helpful to assist the analysis of why Tom behaves uncontrollably in the matriarchal family. Specifically, the understanding will be the reference in interpreting the need of a figure of a man for Tom.

Dagun (1990: 17) states that a father has very important direct roles in his child development—he can fondle, organize language contacts, and talk as well as act playfully with. He adds that a father can direct and manage his child activities so that she or he will be able to determine how she or he can act properly in their social intercourse.

2.3. 3 The Function of the Family

Referring to the points below, I will be able identify the lack of the family in Williams’ The Glass Menagerie (1945) and to compare it. Soekanto (1990: 85) mentions four fundamental functions of nuclear family:

1. As the place of primary socialization. The children are taught to understand and follow principles in society.

2. As a unity to control proper sex relationship.

3. As a unit of social-economic that form the basic children’s social-economic. 4. As a shelter so that family’s life is in order and peaceful. They can also live in

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Similarly, Parsons (1987: 122) confirms three function of a family: 1. A direct source of interpersonal involvement.

2. A context for the acquisition of interpersonal skills and facilitative attitudes. 3. A secure base from which to establish peer relationships.

2.3. 4 The Influences of Divorce toward Children

Separatio n in the family will influence something. Since the situation of the matriarchal family in Williams’ The Glass Menagerie (1945) is similar to the situation of divorce family, I believe that the influences of matriarchal family toward Tom can be identified through referring to the thoughts below.

I believe that divorce will influence the children. In relation to the divorce toward children, Pohan (1972: 177) states

Primus inter pares or father and mother as duumvirate in the family are taking

really important responsibility and role in the family life. They determine every step and attitude that is going to be taken for the family’s benefit, solve every problem and be the pillar of all the family’s members, especially the children. They also determine to what direction and how the children are carried to the adultness.

On the contrary and in relation with the study, children absolutely need the presence of their parents to be their guidance in all cases. If children lose one of them, it will degrade the children’s contentment in learning new things for their life.

The next theory is about the direction of the children. Pohan (1972: 177) states that children who are left by one of their parents will lose the direction to go because they do not have direction itself. “Lose one of their parents is a shock or lose

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balance”. Children are not administered properly if they loose their direction makers. “If children are allegorized as chicks, they loose their mother”. Furthermore, Pohan (1972: 176) confirms that children personalities are determined by both of parents, mother and father, as inseparable duumvirate.

Pohan (1972: 195) verifies the impact of children being separated from their parents. The separation can cause the disturbance of behavior and the emerging of psyche disturbance. The disturbance especially tends to about anti-social behavior, depression, and naughtiness that lead to criminal action. Pohan (1972: 195) argues that the naughtiness happens because basic education, the intimacy tied in the relation between parents and children in the family, is cut. In addition, the psyche development and personality formation of children are truthfully depending on how the relation between parents and children: how the relationship between them is perceived by children.

I also refer to Dagun (1990) as my reference. Hetherington et al (as cited by Dagun, 1990: 149-151) say more specifically about the influence of children being raised by a mother. They state that the divorce cause psyche disorganization for children. The family uncertain condition makes parents are not holding an effective role—they do not have full responsibility in raising children. This situation make parents loose their wise strictness in training their children to be responsible.

Hetherington et al (as cited by Dagun, 1990: 152) state that “for a mother, divorce is painful, do not understand each other between mother and child …”. He

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adds that a boy is more influenced by the divorce. The family conflict and divorce cause children, especially a boy, disturbed in his social intercourse.

2.3. 5 Family Members Relationship: Character Development

Each member of the family relate to one another. It creates a kind of relationship. The references below will help to value the influences of the absence of Tom’s father. It is also useful to analyze the factors that influence Tom’s character development.

Dagun (1990) provides several statements about family’s relationship. Dagun (1990: 19) states that when a husband and a wife have a good relationship, they will support each other in nursing their children. For example, when a husband support his wife while she is feeding her baby, she will be more effective to feed him. This situation is on the contrary with strain relationship between them. Moreover, in family’s life, husband and wife are alternately supporting and filling in handling some works (Dagun, 1990: 150). In general, the growing children need the existence of their father to guide them in developing their competence whether it is in the social intercourse or in knowing new situation (Dagun, 1990: 96).

A baby will cry in a longer time if she is not accompanied by his father when she is bathed, changed clothes etc. (Dagun, 1990: 97). Apart from all thoughts above, Gunarsa and Gunarsa (1990: 7) utter a thought related to the study. The figure of a mother and a father as the first one’s inner self filler must do the nurturing with great

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responsibility in love atmosphere—when a milieu of child is getting larger, there will be more figures to her or his inner self filler.

When parents take good care of their children, the warmth relationship is built. On the contrary, when a parent is “alternately affectionate and violent, caressing him one minute and throwing a piece of furniture at him at the next, the child will become an impulsive and an emotional temperament” one (Pressey et al, 1939: 445-446).

Bursteln (1990: 264-267) states some thoughts related to communication in the family. The thoughts as listed below are very useful to analyze the whys Tom does actions in particular ways in the play.

1. Good communication between parents and children make them feel supported or spirited to find solution they face.

2. Through good communication, parents can notice personalities of their children so that they can be more appreciative to them.

3. Parents’ comments that tend to exhort their children will only teach them to be afraid and hate.

Related to the term of family relationship, Parsons (1987) present some understanding about it. Parents’ roles are very important. Parents are to guide their children to develop. Hall (as cited by Parsons, 1987: 23) conceptualizes that “adolescent as a period of storm and stress, a period characterized by a lack of emotional steadiness, violent impulses, unreasonable conduct, lack of enthusiasm, and sympathy”. Parsons (1987: 34) states that adolescents tend to increase privacy by

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spending more time outside the family and by holding the information. Here, the family functions as the institution to erase the negative impact of being lonely (Parsons, 1987: 121). If there is no good communication, youths tend to erase their painful feeling by retreatism which can direct them to do drug (Parsons, 1987: 124). Once they do not feel comfort at home, they will run away. They satisfy their desire to do adventure and leave the intolerable home life. Furthermore, the act of leaving home is based on the inability to do communication (Parsons, 1987: 124).

In term of communication, Hurlock (1974: 352) adds that communication influences personality development. She clarifies that the influences are coming from the unconscious attitudes imitation. Of course, the relationship and communication in the family will influence the member of it. Hurlock (1980: 2-3) defines what is called by development. It is succession of progressive changes happen because of maturity process and experience. Then, she affirms the intention of development. It is intended to enable oneself to adapt to the environment where she or he lives.

In term of development, parents take a big role in it. Watson & Lindgreen (1973: 300) verifies about the parental influences: “personality pattern that persist are set by the way in which parents characteristically restrict, comfort, admonish, instruct, and express acceptance and worth”.

As stated above, the act such as restricting, comforting, and admonishing will form a relationship between parents and children. Hurlock (1974: 355) confirms that the relationship formed in the family will influence the personality pattern of the members of the family. Moreover, she adds that to consider the effects of family

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toward the member must also consider the type of relationship existing amongst the members of the family.

2.3 Theoretical Framework

The theories and the thoughts above are to help the analyses of the problems to find out the intended answers. I used the psychological approach to go deeper to the mind of the characters so that I can gain some key ideas to reveal the points I want to utter.

In order to identify Tom’s personality traits, I use the theory of character (Murphy, 161-173) to identify Tom’s personality traits in the complete family. Tom’s personality traits in the matriarchal family are analyzed by using some thoughts about character development such as Watson & Lindgreen (1973: 300) and Hurlock (1974: 355). Moreover, the use of the drama script as the primary source functions as the main reference in doing the study.

To discover the intended answers, the influences of being in the matriarchal family to Tom, the thoughts presented above can be the references to analyze Tom’s behaviors in the play. Through analyzing Tom’s behaviors in the play, I can conclude the intended answers. The thoughts will direct to the answers since they are describing about family members relationship, the influences of loosing one of parents and the like.

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As the final point, Tom’s character development under the influences of the matriarchal family will be determined by referring to the analyses of the previous ideas. Additionally, the analyses will also refer to the relationship between Amanda and Tom.

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28 CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY

The methodology employed in this study is described in this chapter. It consists of four primary parts. The first is subject matter which communicates the focus of the study. The second is approaches which explain the steps in acquiring the intended answers in the problem formulation. The third is procedure which exemplifies the manner of the study is conducted. The fourth is sources which states the primary source and secondary sources the study used.

3.1. Subject Matter

Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie (1945) is the object of this study. The drama script is available in a book by Hans P. Guth and Gabriel L. Rico (1997: 1693-1742). It consists of seven scenes. In 1945, Williams’ The Glass Menagerie won the Drama Critic’s Circle Award and accomplished spectacular commercial success. Additionally, most of Williams works are based on his family atmosphere (Hans P. Guth and Gabriel L. Rico, 1997: 1693).

There are, at least, four characters in the play that are equally important. They are Amanda, the mother of the family, Laura, Amanda’s daughter, Tom, Amanda’s son, and Jim O’Connor, the gentlemen caller. The four characters are interrelated to one another to form the play story.

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3.2. Approaches

The Psychological approach by Rohrberger, and Woods, Jr. (1971: 13) was the approach implemented in this study. According to them, psychological approach is a critical approach that “involves effort to locate and demonstrate certain recurrent patterns”. In this study, it would help to know character’s main reason to do certain thing from her or his thoughts that follow certain patterns.

Through this approach, I could analyze more deeply about Tom’s thoughts, manner of behaviors and how he reacted to certain phenomena. Explicitly, the approach helped to analyze Tom’s character development in the play. Moreover, the approach could direct to observe and discover the influences of being in the matriarchal family on him. They were the reasons why the psychological approach was chosen.

Since the study was about the matriarchal family, the psychological approach was used to investigating Tom’s reason of behaving. Tom’s reason of behaving must follow his thoughts that follow certain patters. In this study, the approach will be the strong background for analyzing Tom’s reason of behaving.

3.3. Procedure

The method implemented in this study for data gathering was library research. I referred to several books as guidance in doing the study. So as to be able to find the intended answers, I followed several procedures as follows: First, I read the primary

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source several times. The knowledge gained from reading it would not be valid and credible for readers unless I really understood it and then shared it. By doing so, I believed that the data achieved would be reliable for the study and I could gain enough knowledge to do theoretical study as well as analyses. Second, I was able to find out the noteworthy information related to the Problem Formulation by being assisted with the knowledge after reading the primary source several times. This was done by analyzing the drama script. Third, I had to do theoretical study to reaffirm and confirm my analysis in order to be more reliable. The literature references were also giving new point of view in the analysis. Fourth, the psychological approach was very helpful to analyze the whys Tom’s behaviors. They led to the finding of Tom’s character development in the play. Fifth, I comprehended Tom’s personality traits. Sixth, I had to understand the literature reference about the influences of being in the matriarchal family to Tom. Seventh, assisted with the literature references, Tom’s Personality Traits, the influences of the matriarchal family on Tom, I was to analyze and to discover Tom’s character development under the Influence of being in the matriarchal family. Eighth, I drew conclusion from the answers.

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31 CHAPTER IV

ANALYSIS

Four main parts in this chapter are related to the study. They are Tom’s personality traits when he was raised in a complete family, Tom’s life in the matriarchal family, Tom’s character development under the influences of the matriarchal family, and Tom’s final character development. The first part presents the analysis of Tom as the character when he was raised in the complete family. The second part presents the analyses of Tom’s life in the matriarchal family. This part begins the analysis by firstly explaining the background setting of the matriarchal family. The fourth part determines the analyses of Tom’s character development under the influences of the matriarchal family. Finally, the final part concludes Tom’s final character development from the various changes he has experienced.

4.1 Tom’s Personality Traits When He was Raised in a Complete Family Psychological criticism from Lillie (1961: 21) is employed here to know the character’s way of thinking. Explicitly, it will give valuable reference to do analysis. This study also uses some of nine ways of understanding character from Murphy (1972: 161-173) to gain Tom’s personality traits. From the viewpoint of characters in the play interact to one another, I judge Tom’s personality traits based on the analysis of the dialogues. Here, the nine ways of understanding character from Murphy (1972: 161-171) function as the guideline in the analysis.

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4.1.1 Tom is Affectionate

Tom’s affectionate feeling mainly refers to Laura. This can be observed through what he says (Williams 1718).

Tom: Laura seems all those things to you and me because she’s ours and we love her. We don’t even see she’s crippled anymore.

He does not consider Laura’s defect. From Tom’s saying, it also justifies what Murphy (1972: 164) says that author can give clue to the person’ character through speech. Tom’s saying indicates that he has affectionate feeling toward his sister.

Tom actually possesses an affectionate feeling to his mother as well. He feels that he wants to take care of his mother (Williams 1710).

TOM [hoarsely]: Mother. ! - I apologize, Mother. [AMANDA draws a quick, shuddering breath. Her face works grotesquely. She breaks into childlike

tears.] I'm sorry for what I said, for everything that I said; I didn't mean it.

AMANDA [sobbingly]: My devotion has made me a witch and so I make

myself hateful to my children!

TOM: NO, you don't.

AMANDA: I worry so much, don't sleep, it makes me nervous!

TOM [gently]: I understand that.

AMANDA: I've had to put up a solitary battle all these years. But you're my

right- hand bower! Don't fall down, don't fail! TOM [gently]: I try, Mother.

From the above dialogues, I consider how the response Tom gives to his mother is the representative of his affectionate feeling to his mother. Amanda feels guilty because she is devoted to his son but it makes him uncomfortable. Then, Tom tries to make his mother feels comfortable. He ensures his mother that she does not make him hateful to her. Furthermore, he tries to make his mother relieved by letting her

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know that he will struggle for her. 4.1.2 Tom is Patient

According to Murphy (1972: 171), an author can give clue about the character through mannerism. Tom’s being patient is shown clearly when he talks to his mother. Although he has just conflicted with her (Williams 1698), he keeps on listening to her (Williams 1699).

AMANDA: Sometimes they come when they are least expected! Why, I remember one Sunday afternoon in Blue Mountain.

TOM: I know what's coming

LAURA: Yes. But let her tell it.

TOM: Again?

LAURA: She loves to tell it.

AMANDA: One Sunday afternoon in Blue Mountain, your mother received seventeen! gentlemen callers! … TOM: How did you entertain those gentleman callers?

Tom’s patient is also showed by his willingness to respond to Amanda’s story about the gentlemen callers. Tom’s patience to listen and respond to his mother, although he has just conflicted with her, indicates that when he was raised in the complete family he is patient.

4.1.3 Tom is Honest

A person’s character can be shown through the responses he gives. This detail is inline with Murphy (1972: 171). He says about one of the ways to understand a person’s character—speech. Moreover, Lillie (1996: 21) confirms the similar thing to

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that. He confirms that by explaining the action someone is doing, her or his mental process can be understood.

Tom is advised to eat properly by his mother, but the way to do so is unacceptable according to him (Williams 1698). He is furious about that. Tom’s response to his mother shows his honesty (Williams 1698).

TOM: I haven't enjoyed one bite of this dinner because of your constant directions on how to eat it. It's you that makes me rush through meals with your hawk- like attention to every bite I take. Sickening - spoils my appetite - all this discussion of - animals' secretion - salivary glands – mastication!

Tom’s frank response to the unacceptable manner of advising shows his honesty. He used to be honest so that he says frankly what is in his mind. This fact will change if Tom used to be a liar. It is very possible he will say with higher tones, “I enjoy every bite of this dinner because of your constant direction on how to eat it. With your hawk-like attention to every bite I take, you spoil my appetite”. Although he responds with his uncomfortable feeling but he shows his honesty. Additionally, Tom’s response explains his mental process that he is honest. He does not hide anything.

4.1.4 Tom is Introverted

Murphy (1972: 167) says that an author can give clue to a person’s character through the conversation of other character statements about someone else. In detail, the conversation of the characters will indicate the person’s character.

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Laura says that Jim is a very popular boy when he was in the senior high school and everybody liked him (Williams 1733).

LAURA: You were always surrounded by your own friends so much that I never had a chance to. JIM: You should have just

LAURA: Well, I - thought you might think I was -- JIM: Thought I might think you was - what?

LAURA: Oh

JIM [with reflective relish]: I was beleaguered by females In those days. LAURA: You were terribly popular!

Jim’s being popular is also admitted by Tom as well (Williams 1719). He knows various things about Jim when he was in the senior high school. For example, Tom knows about Jim’s being a leader in debate club, basketball captain, president of the senior class and the like (Williams 1719).

TOM: ... In high school Jim was a hero. He had tremendous Irish good nature and vitality with the scrubbed and polished look of white chinaware. He seemed to move in a continual spotlight. He was a star in basket-ball, captain of the debating club, president of the senior class and the glee club and he sang the male lead in the annual light operas. He was always running or bounding, never just walking. He seemed always at the point of defeating the law of gravity. He was shooting with such velocity through his adolescence that you would logically expect him to arrive at nothing short of the White House by the time he was thirty. …

On the contrary, Tom does not know Jim as a close frie nd, but he knows him as a common one. Instead of knowing Jim as a close friend, he knows him as a popular boy. He can get a lot of information from his friends in the senior high school or from the hearsay. Here, Tom’s being introverted can be deduced from what Jim says. He says that he does not know Tom possesses a sister (Williams 1724). This fact

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indicates that Tom is an introverted person at that time. He does not share things with friend.

JIM: Shy, huh? It's unusual to meet a shy girl nowadays. I don't believe you ever mentioned you had a sister.

TOM: Well, now you know. I have one. Here is the Post Dispatch. You want a piece of it?

4.2 Tom’s life in the Matriarchal Family

In order to give background viewpoint of the analysis of Tom’s life in the matriarchal family, this part will firstly exemplify the reasons why the family is called matriarchal family. Then, the relationship in the matriarchal family will be analyzed to know Tom’s life. By knowing the relationship in the family, I can conclude Tom’s life.

4.2.1 The Reason Why the Family is called Matriarchal

The description of the matriarchal family is a path to the analyses of Tom’s life the matriarchal family. This description will exemplify the ideas that later will be the starting points or references to do the analyses. Additionally, by referring to this description of the matriarchal family, I can enlighten more clearly and meaningfully the ideas I would like to utter.

The family consists of the father of the family, Amanda, the mother of the family, Laura, Tom’s elder sister, and Tom himself. They live in an apartment which depicts poverty to the dweller (Williams 1696-1697).

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The Wingfield apartment is in the rear of the building, one of those vast hive-like conglomerations of cellular living-units that flower as warty growths in overcrowded urban centers of lower-middle-class population and are symptomatic of the impulse of this largest and fundamentally enslaved section of American society to avoid fluidity and differentiation and to exist and function as one interfused mass of automatism.

The apartment faces an alley and is entered by a fire-escape, a structure whose name is a touch of accidental poetic truth, for all of these huge buildings are always burning with the slow and implacable fires of human desperation. The fire-escape is included in the set - that is, the landing of it and steps descending from it. …. Downstage is the living-room, which also serves as a sleeping-room for Laura, the sofa is unfolding to make her bed.

The father of the family has left the family for a long time. He used to work as a telephone man and he felt in love with long distances. Then, he left the job from the company, and he went out of town for the woman he had dreamt of. The family only notices his last message through a picture post-card from Mazation, on the Pacific coast of Mexico, saying only two words “Hello—Goodbye!” (Williams 1698).

After the father’s irresponsible leaving, Amanda is the one who is in charge to lead the family. It is proven by her dominancy in the family. For example, when she orders Tom, the family breadwinner, to eat properly but in unacceptable manner according to him (Williams 1698).

AMANDA [to her son]: Honey, don't push with your fingers. If you have to push with something, the thing to push with is a crust of bread. And chew! chew!. ….

For sure, only a woman who has authority can do such a thing—a leader does. She is dominant because she controls and decides matter in the family. For instance, she asks Tom to find a gentlemen caller for Laura so that she will have someone to take care of her (Williams 1712-1713).

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AMANDA: Will you? [He opens door. Imploringly.] Will you? [He starts

down.] Will you? Will you, dear?

TOM [calling back]: YES !

Another example that Amanda decides matter in the family is that when she insists Laura to use ‘Gay deceivers’ (Williams 1720).

LAURA: Mothe r, what are you doing? AMANDA: They call them 'Gay Deceivers'! LAURA: I won't wear them!

AMANDA: YOU Will!

Amanda’s dominancy in the family indeed leads to intense changes of the family, especially to Tom’s character traits.

The leaving of the father is the beginning of the problems in the matriarchal family because the fundamental function of the family as stated by Soekanto (1990: 85) cannot be afforded by Amanda. She cannot fulfill simultaneously her roles as a mother and a father. Since she is not the breadwinner of the family, she does not have full control of the family (in term of sincere willingness: Amanda’s children hardly ever do what she wants sincerely).

4.2.2 Tom’s Relationship in the Family 4.2.2.1 Tom’s Relationship with Laura

Basically, Tom relationship with Laura is only a common one, because there is no special interrelatedness between the two of them. This reason is reasonable because Tom and Laura spend most of their time in their own world. For sure, Laura is busy with her world of the glass (Williams 1734-1735), whereas Tom is busy with his work at the

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warehouse and his world of movies—he watches movies every night (Williams 1706).

AMANDA: … I don't believe that you go every night to the movies. Nobody goes to the movies night after night. ….

However, one thing for sure about Tom is that he loves and cares about her. Tom agrees with Amanda’s wanting to find a gentlemen caller for Laura (Williams 1712-1713). It proves that he loves and cares about her.

Though they have a common relationship, but they care to each other. Laura does not want to see any longer the ruin relationship between Tom and his mother. She is a very shy girl. She is also very introvert and she suffers from inferiority complex, when someone low-rates himself (Williams 1734), but she cares for the existence of good relationship between a son and a mother (Williams 1709).

Laura: If you just say you’re sorry she’ll start speaking. Laura: (---, pleadingly glancing at Tom: stage direction)

Laura (at door): Do what I asked you, Will you, will you, Tom?

It is obviously seen from what Laura says to Tom that she wants Tom to apologize to Amanda. She cannot see their ruin relationship anymore. At this point, Laura can illustrate that she closes to Tom because she can make sure or encourage him to apologize to Amanda.

4.2.2.2 Tom’s Relationship with Amanda

The meaning of “Fluctuate” is the depiction of the relationship between To m and his mother. Frequently, they cannot manage themselves to stay calm and to enjoy

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time together. The relationship between them is merely a son and a mother. This can be proven by the conflicts emerge easily because they cannot express their wishes properly and in acceptable manners. Sometimes, they do not try to understand each other.

The first conflict appears easily is when Amanda advises Tom to eat appropriately, but in unacceptable manner according to Tom (Williams 1698). Amanda does not have any consideration that the way she advises Tom will not make him happy. As a mother, Amanda should notice the right manner of advising her son, but she cannot implement it. This indicates that their relationship is merely a son and a mother. I consider that To m only needs a little attention which is appropriate from his mother. He is a work man and he can figure out the manner of eating well with simple advice. The manner Amanda expresses her attention to Tom is excessive and childish.

In view of the fact that the relationship is merely a son and a mother, they tend to oppose anger with anger. One of them cannot response wisely against provoking situation (Williams 1705).

TOM: What in Christ's name am I— AMANDA [shrilly]: Don't you use that - TOM: Supposed to do!

AMANDA: Expression! Not in my - TOM: Ohhh!!

AMANDA: Presence! Have you gone out of your senses? TOM: I have, that's true, driven out!

AMANDA: What is the matter with you, you - big - big IDIOT! TOM: Look!- I've got no thing, no single thing—

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From the dialogues above, I can notice the increasing tension after Tom has said “What in Christ name am I”. How can a gentle mother say “IDIOT” to his son? Here, Amanda is excessive to express her dislike to Tom. Amanda and Tom are not able to control their emotion. This is getting worse when Amanda uses rude word to admonish Tom. Again, one of them cannot act wisely to confront the increasing tension that can be controlled if they are patient.

The relationship actually can be built to be more welcoming if both of them want to understand each other. On the contrary, Amanda does not start to do it. Based on the analysis, I can confirm that she is a type of mother who cannot touch his son’s heart (Williams 1706).

AMANDA: You will hear more, you -

TOM: No, I won’t hear more, I'm going out! AMANDA: You come right back in -

TOM: Out, out, out! Because I'm -

AMANDA: Come back here, Tom Wingfield! I'm not through talking to

you!

Based on the dialogue above, Amanda keeps insisting Tom to pay attention to her. It can be inferred that the words used by Amanda are in high tones. The using of high tones in speaking is carrying negative feelings. Furthermore, it will not create a good atmosphere in their relationship.

Apart from all the conflicts, Amanda can also act sufficiently well to Tom. Amanda’s acts make Tom a little relieved while talking to her (Williams 1710).

AMANDA [sobbingly]: My devotion has made me a witch and so I make

myself hateful to my children!

(55)

AMANDA: I worry so much, don't sleep, it makes me nervous! TOM [gently]: I understand that.

AMANDA: I've had to put up a solitary battle all these years. But you're my right- hand bower! Don't fall down, don't fail! TOM [gently]: I try, Mother.

AMANDA [with great enthusiasm]: Try and you will SUCCEED! [The

notion makes her breathless] Why, you - you're just full of natural

endowments! Both of my children - they're unusual children! Don't you think I know it? I'm so proud! Happy and - feel I've - so much to be thankful for but - Promise me one thing, Son!

TOM: What, Mother?

AMANDA: Promise, Son, you'll - never be a drunkard!

TOM [turns to her grinning]: I will never be a drunkard, Mother.

The dialogues above shows how Amanda tries to touch Tom’s heart through devoted words she says to him. Amanda talks tenderly and is able to make Tom listen to her carefully. This time Amanda can utter her wish acceptably. At the least, Tom can feel the warmness of his mother. This manner of conversation makes their relationship a little bit warmer.

In nature, Amanda is not a sphinx, an inscrutable person who keeps her thoughts and intentions secret, but she says things clearly so that Tom understands what she has intended to say (Williams 1715).

AMANDA: What did you wish for?

TOM: That's a secret.

AMANDA: A secret, huh? Well, I won't tell mine either. I will be just as

mysterious as you.

TOM: I bet I can guess what yours is. AMANDA: Is my head so transparent?

TOM: You're not a sphinx.

AMANDA: No, I don't have secrets. I'll tell you what I wished for on the moon. Success and happiness for my precious children! I wish for that whenever there's a moon, and when there isn't a moon, I wish for it, too. TOM: I thought perhaps you wished for a gentleman caller.

(1)

encourages Laura to get married soon. Conversely, Laura responds unenthusiastically.

The remark related to the summary and the study

Love and encouragement of a mother to her daughter are what Amanda gives to Laura in this scene. Amanda’s love and encouragement to her daughter can be perceived obviously through her words “why, you’re not a crippled, you just have a little defect”. The sentence shows how Amanda tries to make sure Laura that it is tolerable for Laura to have such a defect and to make La ura confident of herself (Williams 1704). Additionally, the sentence of encouragement in the form of questions (Williams 1704) is another form of Amanda’s trial to encourage Laura to be a tough girl so that Laura is spirited to do beneficial things for the sake of herself: So what are you going to do the rest of your lives? Stay home and watch the parades go by? Eternally play those worn-out phonograph records your father left as a painful reminder of him? etc.

Scene 3 The

summary

In this scene, the idea to get a gentleman caller for Laura becomes more important for Amanda.

Amanda and Tom quarrels after she has sent back his book back to the library. Tom thinks he has the right to do anything because he pays the rent of the apartment. Then, Amanda accuses Tom of doing ashamed things instead of go ing to the movies.

Angrily, Tom says he does not like to work at the ware house because he can only gain sixty- five dollars a month (Williams, 1707). Tom is distressed because he argues that he cannot spend his life to support the family. The quarrel cont inuous

(2)

and Tom uses sarcastic words “you ugly—babbling old—witch” before leaving the apartment. Amanda says “she will not to Tom until he apologizes”.

The remark related to the summary and the study

The conflict shows how egoism cannot solve conflict in the family. Amanda and Tom have shown that egoism will only increase the tension of conflict. This point is valuable to be taken as consideration in life of human in general.

There is no body emotionless. Although Amanda loves both of her children, but she cannot bear of being angry to Tom. This conflict is the most conspicuous conflict in the scene. The conflict is the true representative of human real life. In addition, this scene provides a very general idea of a mother is a human as well. Moreover, a mother who loves their children does not guarantee that she can utter it properly.

Scene 4 The

summary

After leaving the apartment, Tom comes back to the apartment with unsteady body movement—drunk. Laura opens the door for him. She asks him to apologize to Amanda. He does not want to do it because he is sure if his mother will not consider it. Nevertheless, Laura keeps encouraging him.

Tom apologizes to Amanda. Amanda forgives him. Then, she starts to that without him she cannot make the family stays together. She also says devoted words such as “promise, son, you’ll—never be a drunkard”.

Amanda says: “why are you so restless? Where do you go to, nights?” Tom says that he loves doing adventur e. He can find it in the movies, not much at work.

(3)

After that, Amanda begins to talk about Laura’s lover. She says Tom can be free after Laura has somebody to take care of her. She also affirms that the one to be concerned is Laura because is still young and is eager to play the worn out phonograph. Hearing such touching words, Tom agrees with Amanda’s intention to find a gentlemen caller for Laura.

The remark related to the summary and the study

When Tom says “House, house! Who pays rent on it, who make a slave of himself to---” (Williams 1706). It shows that Tom is the one who pays the rent. At the end of scene 3 Tom went outside the apartment. Tom’s coming back to the apartment though hesitantly. He is asked to apologize to Amanda by Laura. For short, this scene shows how responsible Tom is. He would like to come back to the apartment for his sister and mother. I believe that if Tom goes away forever, he will kill his sister and mother slowly, but surely. That is why Tom is coming back.

In this scene, Amanda shows her dependency toward Tom as the breadwinner of the family. She depends on Tom to support the family life. Furthermore, she also asks Tom to find a gentlemen caller for Laura.

Scene 5 The

summary

After dinner, Amanda asks Tom to comb his hair to emulate his father—the appearance. Tom does not like to do it because ha hates his father. Instead of doing what his mother asks, he goes to smoke. Amanda complains about Tom’s smoking too much—a pack a day at fifty cents a pack.

Then, Amanda chats to Tom about the gentlemen caller for Laura. Tom says he has found a gentlemen caller for her. Tom has

(4)

already invited him to dinner. Amanda is exited to hear about the news.

Since Amanda has heard about the gentlemen caller, she wants to make a fuss. Before the gentlemen caller comes, she asks plenty questions related to him to Tom. She wants to know a lot about him.

The remark related to the summary and the study

Love is the word that really related to scene 5. When Amanda says ‘Success and happiness for my precious children’ (Williams 1715) she gives a clue that she will not let any terrible incident happen to both of her children. I believe that as a mother, Amanda wants the best for her family. In this scene, she wants the best man for her daughter. The mother’s intention to give the best for his daughter can be proved when Amanda tries to find information about the gentleman caller through Tom. She does not want to meet a very bad-behaved man nor does she want to meet the same person as Amanda’s husband that left the family. Furthermore, this scene is ornamented by the Amanda’s trial to make the family happy especially for Laura: her best wishing for the children, her trying to find information about the gentleman caller, her preparation to welcome the wanted man etc.

Scene 6 The

summary

In the beginning of the scene, Tom talks about the gentlemen caller namely Jim. He tells about Jim when he in Senior high school and when he works in the warehouse.

(5)

because Amanda has made a fuss. Amanda has also done “something” to Laura’s breast—more interesting for guys. In order to welcome the gentlemen caller, she wears the dress which attracted Laura’s father.

Laura knows that the gentlemen caller is the one she ever loved in senior high school. Consequently, she does not want to open the door.

Tom and Jim are having a conversation. Tom says he is going to prepare for a change. Tom explains to Jim that he is thinking of quitting the job and leaving the family. He has planned it secretly.

The remark related to the summary and the study

After reading scene 6, I bewilder of who is truly wanted to be given the best by someone? Amanda or Laura? If Amanda wants to give the best for Laura, why does Amanda dress in a very attractive way? Jim can be attracted by her way of dressing. She should dress in motherly dress, not in girlish dress style. One important point is that Amanda is s charming mother.

The fact that Tom wants to leave the family as his father did reveals the empty relationship between them. It also proves Amanda’s inability to make Tom feels comfort at the apartment.

Scene 7 The

summary

The lights off in the apartment, but luckily they have candles. This happen because Tom did not pay the bill. While Amanda does the dishes in the kitchenette, she asks Jim to carries wine for Laura and accompanies her.

Jim and Laura are in the living room. They are conversing about a lot of things. In their conversation, they also talk about the

(6)

memories in senior high Scholl. Jim encourages Laura so that she is more confident of herself through touching words—lovely words.

After chatting for a while, Jim has to leave the apartment, but Amanda asks him to come again. Jim says to Amanda that he will never come again because he has already engaged with his fiancée.

Amanda is shocked when she knows the gentlemen caller is going to be married with a girl he goes steady with—the second of June. The gentlemen caller goes home and leaves the angry mother.

Knowing the fact that the gentlemen caller has already engaged, Amanda is totally angry to Tom. She is quarreling with Tom furiously. The raising tension of the quarreling makes To m decide to leave the family. Tom leaves the family, but his mind always remembers his elder sister.

The remark related to the summary and the study

Amanda keeps on acting rigid to his son. She does not want to understand his son. She cannot accept the reason Tom proposes—Tom’s ignorance of Jim’s engagement. The rigidness set the final conflict to the play.

In scene 7, Jim is the main actor because he is the one who is wanted by Amanda (she has prepared a lot of things to welcome him), he is the man who is talking intimately with Laura and he can make Laura feel something to him. He is the one that can set the conflict in the story between Tom and Amanda. In addition, Jim is the man that animates the scene 7—without his presence there will be no such story.

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