3 Furthermore, there are a lot of factors influencing people’s reaction that
would be the fundamental reasons of doing it. Mostly, the factors themselves and the way people react are unpredictable. Therefore, it is interesting to find out how
one react toward the reality of his or her life and what underlies him or her to do certain reactions. Such an interesting fact as mentioned above is the main reason
why this study is conducted As seen in Amos McCracken, the main character of William Goldman’s
Father’s Day. He is described in the novel as a smart and famous song writer facing the reality that he has divorced and has no custody of his only daughter.
The discussion is focused on how Amos McCracken reacts toward the reality of his life. In order to do so, the theory of motivation and the theory of
psychoanalysis are applied. The theory of motivation proposed by Abraham Maslow is applied to explain the need that motivates Amos McCracken attitudes
as written in the novel 1981: 302308. Then, the theory of psychoanalysis proposed by Sigmund Freud 1975: 404408 is applied to explore the
unconscious drives that determine him to do his actions.
1.2 Objective of the Study
The aim of this study is to find out one’s reactions toward his or her bitter reality as seen in Amos McCracken, the main character of William Goldman’s
Father’s Day, who is divorced and has no custody of his daughter.
1.3 Problem Formulation
In this part, I would like to present two questions as the problems to discuss in this study. Two problems could be formulated as follows:
4 1. How is Amos McCracken, the main character of the novel, described?
2. How does Amos McCracken react to the reality of his life?
1.4 Benefits of the Study
This study is expected to give benefits for the writer who analyzes this study, the readers, and the students of English Language Study Program. Through
this study, the writer understands more about one’s reactions toward the reality of his or her life, which give moral values of admitting that human nature are vary.
Through the study of this novel, the writer wants to show the values that this novel gives to the reader that might be useful in the real life. By
understanding Amos McCracken’s character in Father’s Day, it is expected that the readers can learn from the character’s experience. It is expected that this study
might help the readers to understand further how to counter with the unpleasant reality of their life with more acceptable ways in their society.
For the students of English Language Education Study Program, this study is useful to enrich their knowledge about literature. They can also use this study
for a reference or as a comparative study to conduct studies on this novel. There is
also suggestion in implementing Father’s Day to teach Extensive reading.
1.5 Definition of Terms
There are some terms used in this study. Those terms need to be defined to avoid misunderstanding. The definitions of those terms are:
1. Character This study uses two kinds of character’s definitions. The first is related to
literary study, that is the person presented in a dramatic or narrative work, which
5 are interpreted by the reader as being endowed with moral and dispositions
qualities that are expressed in what they say –the dialogue – and by what they do the action Abram, 1981: 20. The second is the character related to the
psychological study that is according to Webster’s Dictionary, character is a description of the traits of qualities of a person or type; character sketch. A
character is also a person in a play, story, novel, etc 1972: 304. In this study, character refers to a person in a literary work who has tendency to speak and act
in a particular way.
2. Personality Kalish 1973: 5152 states that, the word personality is defined as “the
dynamic organization characteristics attributes leading to behavior and distinguishing one individual from other individuals and it refers to the total
individual and includes needs, motives, and method of adjusting, temperament, qualities, self concept, role behaviors, attitudes, values and abilities. In this study,
personality refers to one’s action toward his or her life.
3. Influence Hornby 1995: 611 states that influence is the power to affect somebody.
In this study influence means the ability of the situations to affect Amos McCraken’s personality.
4. Custody Hornby 1995: 103 states that, custody is the right or duty of caring for or
guarding of his or her child. In this study, custody refers one’s right or duty of caring his or her daughter.
6 5. Reaction
Hornby 1995: 343 states that reaction has two definitions. Those are: 1. Respond emotionally: to respond to something by showing the feelings or
thoughts it arouses. 2. Respond by taking action: to respond to something by taking action.
In this study, reaction refers to one’s responds toward the reality of his or her life that is, has no custody of his or her daughter.
7 CHAPTER II
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
To answer the questions stated in the problem formulation, it is necessary to include some theories, which later will be connected to find the appropriate
answer to the problems stated in the previous chapter. Therefore, this chapter is divided into five sections. The first part is theoretical review, which consists of
theory of character, theory of characterization, and critical approach in the literary study. The second part is theory of psychology, which consists of theory of
psychoanalysis and theory of motivation. The third part is criticism of the novel. The fourth part is the context of the novel, while the last part is theoretical
framework.
2.1 Theoretical Review
