faces so many obstacles including financial burden. Clare then has to work as a nurse first before finally she is able to go to university.
Clare’s struggle in her terrible condition makes me amazed. I can see how she reacts toward different problems occurring in her life. She keeps her efforts to
reach her dreams no matter how hard they are. This story provides me a valuable lesson that life is hard and full of obstacles. So many problems will certainly
happen in life, and some of them might be very difficult. However, Clare’s spirit of life teaches me to keep struggling, even in the most terrible situations I have to
deal with. That is why this story is interesting to discuss.
B. Problem Formulation
In analyzing the novel, there are two problems related to the topic of the study. They can be formulated as follows:
1. How is Clare, the main character, described in the novel?
2. How does Clare struggle for her better life?
C. Objectives of the Study
The objective of the study is to analyze and to find out Clare’s struggle for a better life as seen in Constance Briscoe’s Ugly. Therefore, there are two
problems need to answer in this study. The first is to find out the characteristics of Clare, the major character, as revealed in the novel. The second is to find out the
reasons that cause Clare to struggle for life and how Clare manages to survive.
D. Benefits of the Study
This study deals with Clare’s struggle for life as seen in Constance Briscoe’s Ugly. Firstly, this study is hoped to give benefits for the readers
especially the students of English Education study program of Sanata Dharma University. Hopefully, this study will deepen their understanding and broaden
their knowledge about life through literary work. Moreover, the readers can grasp and implement important values revealed in this novel into their own life.
Secondly, for future researchers who intend to conduct researches on the same novel, I hope that this study will provide important information on
Constance Briscoe’s Ugly and also offer some beneficial information about the main character, the causes of her struggle for life, and how she struggles to gain a
better life. Finally, for me the writer, I can learn some important values through this
novel since it is a reflection of human life experience. This story teaches me to struggle and not to surrender even in the most difficult situation I have to face. It
encourages me to reach my dreams although some problems, including the terrible one may arise in my life. It inspires me not only to hold on my dreams, but also to
make them happen.
E. Definition of Terms
It is important to clarify the meanings of some significant terms used in this study to avoid misunderstanding and to give clearer explanation to the readers
in reading this study. For that purpose, some related terms are defined and presented as follows:
1. Struggle
According to McKechnie 367, struggle is a task or goal requiring much effort to accomplish or achieve. While Abate says that struggle means “make
violent or determined efforts under difficulties” 1514. In this study, struggle refers to a person’s effort to survive in dealing with difficult condition in her
life in order to reach her dreams and gain a better life. 2.
Better life Hornby states that life refers to a way in which somebody lives or condition of
an individual existence 1120. While according to Webster, better means in a more acceptable, appropriate or effective way 133. Thus, in this study better
life means a condition in which a person feels more comfortable in dealing with her problems.
3. Character
Abrams defines character as the person in a dramatic or narrative work, who is interpreted by the reader as being endowed with moral, disposition, and
emotional qualities expressed in what they say through dialogue and what they do 23. In this study, character is the person presented by the author to build
story through his action and expression.
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CHAPTER II REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
