Suwen`s motivation in keeping her virginity as seen in Suchen Christine Lim`S Fistful Of Colours.

ABSTRACT

Nugraha, Mutiara. (2014). Suwen’s Motivation in Keeping Her Virginity AsSeein in Suchen Christine Lim’s Fistful of Colours. English Language Education Study

Program, Department of Language and Arts Education, Faculty of Teachers Training and Education, Sanata Dharma University, Yogyakarta.

This research analyses a novel entitled Fistful of Colours, which was written by Suchen Chritine Lim. It focuses on analysing the motivation of Suwen in keeping her virginity and her characteristics as seen in the novel.

In order to reveal Suwen’s motivation in keeping her virginity, this research formulated two problems. The problems of this research are 1) what are the characteristics of Suwen? and 2) what are Suwen’s motivations in keeping her virginity? The objectives of this research are to identify Suwen’s characteristics as seen in the novel and find out Suwen’s motivation in keeping her virginity as seen in Suchen Christine Lim’s Fistful of Colours.

The method which employed in this research is library research. The primary source of this research is the novel written by Suchen Christine Lim, entitled Fistful

of Colours. The secondary sources of this research are some books and some sources

from electronic sources about psychoanalytical theories. This research applied psychological approach to identify Suwen’s characteristics and find out Suwen’s motivation in keeping her virginity.

Based on the first finding, Suwen is described as a young woman who is insecure and introvert but she is a well-educated and an obedient woman too. The second finding is Suwen’s motivation in keeping her virginity is influenced by the role of her mother and her bad experience. She is a young woman who never meets her own father in her life. When she begins to regard her stepfather as her own father, her mother sends her abroad. Her mother is afraid of the relationship between Suwen and her stepfather. Unfortunately, her stepfather tries to rape her in her room. This bad experience influences her to keep her virginity by avoiding men.

ABSTRAK

Nugraha, Mutiara. (2014).Suwen’s Motivation in Keeping Her Virginity As Seen in

Suchen Christine Lim’s Fistful of Colours. Yogyakarta: Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris. Departemen Pendidikan Bahasa dan Seni. Fakultas Keguruan dan Ilmu Pendidikan. Universitas Sanata Dharma, Yogyakarta.

Studi ini menganalisa sebuah novel yang berjudul Fistful of Colours karya Suchen Christune Lime. Fokus studi ini adalah menganalisa motivasi Suwen dalam mempertahankan keperawanannya dan karakter Suwen yang nampak di dalam novel.

Untuk menemukan motivasi Suwen mempertahankan keperawanannya, studi ini merumuskan dua permasalahan. Permasalahan yang dirumuskan di dalam studi ini adalah 1) apa saja karakter Suwen? dan 2) apa motivasi Suwen untuk mempertahankan keperawanannya? Objektif dari studi ini adalah untuk mengidentifikasi karakter Suwen yang terdapat dalam novel dan menganalisa motivasi Suwen untuk mempertahankan keperawanannya yang terdapat dalam novel Fisful of Colours karya Suchen Christine Lim.

Metode yang digunakan dalam studi ini adalah studi pustaka. Sumber utama dari studi ini adalah novel karya Suchen Christine Lim yang berjudul Fistful of Colours dan sumber lainnya adalah beberapa buku dan beberapa sumber yang berasal dari internet mengenai teori psikoanalisis. Studi ini menggunakan pendekatan psikologi untuk mengidentifikasi karakter Suwen dan motivasinya dalam mempertahankan keperawanannya.

Berdasarkan analisapertama, Suwen digambarkan sebagai seorang wanita muda yang tidak percaya diri dan tertutup namun ia juga seorang wanita yang berpendidika dan penurut. Analisa yang kedua adalah motivasi Suwen untuk mempertahankan keperawanannya dipengaruhi oleh peran ibunya dan pengalaman buruknya. Suwen adalah seorang wanita muda yang tidak pernah bertemu ayah kandungnya. Saat ia telah menganggap ayah tirinya sebagai ayah kandungnya, ibunya mengirimnya ke luar negri. Lalu, ayah tirinya mencoba untuk memperkosanya tetapi ibunya menyalahkannya. Pengalaman buruknya ini mempengaruhinya untuk mempertahankan keperawanannya dengan menghindari pria.

SUWEN’S MOTIVATION IN KEEPING HER VIRGINITY

AS SEEN IN SUCHEN CHRISTINE LIM’S

FISTFUL OF COLOURS

A SARJANA PENDIDIKAN THESIS

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

in English Language Education

By

Mutiara Nugraha Student Number: 101214123

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

SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY YOGYAKARTA

i

SUWEN’S MOTIVATION IN KEEPING HER VIRGINITY

AS SEEN IN SUCHEN CHRISTINE LIM’S

FISTFUL OF COLOURS

A SARJANA PENDIDIKAN THESIS

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

in English Language Education

By

Mutiara Nugraha Student Number: 101214123

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

SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY YOGYAKARTA

vi ABSTRACT

Nugraha, Mutiara. (2014). Suwen’s Motivation in Keeping Her Virginity AsSeein in Suchen Christine Lim’s Fistful of Colours. English Language

Education Study Program, Department of Language and Arts Education, Faculty of Teachers Training and Education, Sanata Dharma University, Yogyakarta.

This research analyses a novel entitled Fistful of Colours, which was written by Suchen Chritine Lim. It focuses on analysing the motivation of Suwen in keeping her virginity and her characteristics as seen in the novel.

In order to reveal Suwen’s motivation in keeping her virginity, this research formulated two problems. The problems of this research are 1) what are the characteristics of Suwen? and 2) what are Suwen’s motivations in keeping her virginity? The objectives of this research are to identify Suwen’s characteristics as seen in the novel and find out Suwen’s motivation in keeping her virginity as seen in Suchen Christine Lim’s Fistful of Colours.

The method which employed in this research is library research. The primary source of this research is the novel written by Suchen Christine Lim, entitled Fistful of Colours. The secondary sources of this research are some books and some sources from electronic sources about psychoanalytical theories. This research applied psychological approach to identify Suwen’s characteristics and find out Suwen’s motivation in keeping her virginity.

Based on the first finding, Suwen is described as a young woman who is insecure and introvert but she is a well-educated and an obedient woman too. The second finding is Suwen’s motivation in keeping her virginity is influenced by the role of her mother and her bad experience. She is a young woman who never meets her own father in her life. When she begins to regard her stepfather as her own father, her mother sends her abroad. Her mother is afraid of the relationship between Suwen and her stepfather. Unfortunately, her stepfather tries to rape her in her room. This bad experience influences her to keep her virginity by avoiding men.

vii

ABSTRAK

Nugraha, Mutiara. (2014).Suwen’s Motivation in Keeping Her Virginity As Seen

in Suchen Christine Lim’s Fistful of Colours. Yogyakarta: Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris. Departemen Pendidikan Bahasa dan Seni. Fakultas Keguruan dan Ilmu Pendidikan. Universitas Sanata Dharma, Yogyakarta.

Studi ini menganalisa sebuah novel yang berjudul Fistful of Colours karya Suchen Christune Lime. Fokus studi ini adalah menganalisa motivasi Suwen dalam mempertahankan keperawanannya dan karakter Suwen yang nampak di dalam novel.

Untuk menemukan motivasi Suwen mempertahankan keperawanannya, studi ini merumuskan dua permasalahan. Permasalahan yang dirumuskan di dalam studi ini adalah 1) apa saja karakter Suwen? dan 2) apa motivasi Suwen untuk mempertahankan keperawanannya? Objektif dari studi ini adalah untuk mengidentifikasi karakter Suwen yang terdapat dalam novel dan menganalisa motivasi Suwen untuk mempertahankan keperawanannya yang terdapat dalam novel Fisful of Colours karya Suchen Christine Lim.

Metode yang digunakan dalam studi ini adalah studi pustaka. Sumber utama dari studi ini adalah novel karya Suchen Christine Lim yang berjudul Fistful of Colours dan sumber lainnya adalah beberapa buku dan beberapa sumber yang berasal dari internet mengenai teori psikoanalisis. Studi ini menggunakan pendekatan psikologi untuk mengidentifikasi karakter Suwen dan motivasinya dalam mempertahankan keperawanannya.

Berdasarkan analisapertama, Suwen digambarkan sebagai seorang wanita muda yang tidak percaya diri dan tertutup namun ia juga seorang wanita yang berpendidika dan penurut. Analisa yang kedua adalah motivasi Suwen untuk mempertahankan keperawanannya dipengaruhi oleh peran ibunya dan pengalaman buruknya. Suwen adalah seorang wanita muda yang tidak pernah bertemu ayah kandungnya. Saat ia telah menganggap ayah tirinya sebagai ayah kandungnya, ibunya mengirimnya ke luar negri. Lalu, ayah tirinya mencoba untuk memperkosanya tetapi ibunya menyalahkannya. Pengalaman buruknya ini mempengaruhinya untuk mempertahankan keperawanannya dengan menghindari pria.

viii

“You only live once, but if you do it right, once

is enough”

-Mae West-

“Live

as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as

if you were to live forever”

-Mahatma Gandhi-

“Life is a dream for the wise, a game for the

fool, a comedy for the rich, a tragedy for the

poor”

ix

I dedicate this undergraduate thesis to

My Lord Jesus Christ

My beloved father and mother

My beloved younger sister

x

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

First of all, I would like to thank God because finally I could finish my thesis. He often gives me spirit and power in finishing this thesis.

I would also like to thank my advisor, Henny Herawati, S.Pd., M.Hum., because she always read my thesis carefully and suggested many ideas and improvement for my thesis. She was patient and kind in guiding me in the process of finishing this thesis. In addition, I would like to thank Dra. Novita Dewi, M.S., M.A. (Hons.), Ph.D., for the suggestions to improve my thesis. I also give my great gratitude to all lecturers and staff of English Language Education Study Program for their support, help, and guidance during my study in this university. I would like to thank Victorius Didik Suryo Hartoko, S.Psi, M.Si., a lecturer of Psychology Faculty, for giving me suggestions and references about psychoanalytical theories for this thesis.

I dedicate this thesis to my beloved parents, papa Ameh and mama Eneng, younger sister, Tari, uncle, aunt, and cousins for their support when I wrote this thesis. I would like to thank them too because they prayed for me and gave me spirit in writing this thesis. Without them, I cannot become what I am now. I love them very much.

I would like to thank my best friends forever; Niken, Retno, Evelyn, Siska, and Lingga, who supported me in writing this thesis and entertained me when I was tired and bored. I would also thank my second family “Greenland”; Cik Vina, April, Siwi, Geo, Finta, Dessy, Mba Arum, Gista, Cik Len, Mba

xi

Esti, and Mba Hepat, who often made me laugh with their jokes. They also supported me to finish this thesis as soon as possible. I love them very much.

I would like to thank my best crazy friends; Dino, Vina, Guida, Tere, Bita, Dini, Riska, and Heni for supporting and making me laugh with their craziness. I am so happy to have them as my best friends in Yogyakarta. I would also thank “FriendZone” as my best friends; Sista April, Cik Vina, Uti, Nicko, Panus, Glow, Made, Ino, and Liza for supporting and accompanying me in writing this thesis every night. They often entertained me with their crazy jokes so that I was not bored in writing this thesis.

I give my great gratitude for Bita, Surya, Febby, Cicil, Fina, Tia, Brito, Susi, Kak Quimbra, and Wisnu for the togetherness and happiness during KKN. In addition, I thank them because they always supported and entertained me when I was tired in writing this thesis. I love all of them.

I would like to thank my friends in my SPD group; Siwi, Mbak Putri, Susay, Dino, Wisnu, and Guida who supported and prayed for me during writing this thesis. I would also like to thank my friends in 2010; Siwi, Epi, Prita, Vina, Dino, Tere, Heni, Ika, Diah, Narima, Marino, Satya, Bita, Silvy, Duma, Cika, and others who I cannot mention one by one. I thank them for the togetherness and happiness during my study in Sanata Dharma University. I love them very much and I will not forget them.

xii

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

TITLE PAGE... i

APPROVAL PAGE... ii

STATEMENT OF WORK’S ORIGINALITY... iv

PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN PUBLIKASI... v

ABSTRACT... vi

ABSTRAK... vii

DEDICATION PAGE... ix

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS... x

TABLE OF CONTENTS... xii

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION... 1

A. Background of the Study... 1

B. Problem Formulation... 3

C. Objectives of the Study... 3

D. Benefits of the Study... 4

E. Definition of Terms... 4

CHAPTER II: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE... 7

A. Review of Related Theories... 7

1. Psychological Approach... 7

2. Theory of Character and Characterisation... 8

a. Personal Description... 9

b. Character as Seen by Another... 9

c. Speech... 9

d. Past Life... 9

e. Conversation of Others... 9

xiii

g. Direct Comment... 10

h. Thoughts... 10

i. Mannerism... 10

3. Theory of Motivation... 10

a. Defense Mechanisms... 11

b. Theory of Human Development... 12

B. Theoretical Framework... 16

CHAPTER III: METHODOLOGY... 18

A. Object of Study... 18

B. Approach of Study... 20

C. Method of Study... 20

CHAPTER IV: ANALYSIS... 22

A. Characterisation of Suwen... 22

1. Insecure... 23

2. Introvert... 24

3. Well-Educated... 27

4. Obedient... 29

B. Suwen’s Motivation... 30

1. Suwen’s Defense Mechanisms... 30

2. Suwen’s Personal Development... 33

a. Basic Trust vs. Basic Mistrust... 33

b. Intimacy vs. Isolation... 35

CHAPTER V: CONCLUSIONS, IMPLICATIONS, AND SUGGESTIONS...38

A. Conclusions... 38

B. Implications... 40

xiv

REFERENCES... 43

APPENDICES... 45

APPENDIX 1: The Summary of the Story... 46

1

CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION

This chapter consists of five parts as an introduction section of the study discussion. They are the background of the study, problem formulation, objectives of the study, benefits of the study, and definition of terms. In the first part, the researcher explains the background of the study. The second part is the problem formulation in which the research problems of this study are presented. The third is the object of the study and a brief explanation of the goal of this study. The benefits of this study and definition of terms can be found in the fourth and fifth parts.

A. Background of the Study

The novel is one of the literary works which deals with the reflection of human life in the reality. A novel may describe the social phenomenon, social problem, the authors’ experiences, and also others’ experiences. Commonly, a novel always contains some moral values which can be learned by the readers.

According to Bressler (1999), a novel is a literary work which has some certain qualities containing some elements, namely plot, characters: major and minor character, tone, symbol, and also conflict, which usually represents the

author’s loge and teaches some positive moral values to the readers. The positive

moral values which are written in the novels teach the readers to be better in the real life.

The social phenomenon which appears in Suchen Christine Lim’s Fistful of Colour is virginity. The author of this novel describes the irony of the main

character’s motivation in keeping her virginity as revealed in the novel. Suwen, the main character of the novel, finds the difficulties to interact with others, especially men. In addition, her childhood insecure experience also influences her decision to keep her virginity and remain unmarried.

In fact, some women decide to keep their virginity because they have some bad experiences in the past. For instance, a woman who becomes the victim of rape or sexual harassment sometimes avoids doing some sexual activities with others. The reason is that she may feel traumatic with her bad past experience so that she will avoid doing some sexual activities with men. In addition, this action may remain her to become an unmarried woman.

In Indonesia, virginity still becomes so important that women should give it to their future husbands. Most people may judge negative towards women who have lost their virginity before married. Thus, most women will keep their virginity and give it to their future husbands. On the other hand, some women remain unmarried because they feel traumatic with their bad past experience.

Based on the fact that bad experience also influences a woman in keeping her virginity, the researcher chooses Suchen Christine Lim’s Fistful of Colours as

the main source to be analysed in this study. Fistful of Colours tells about Suwen, the main character of the novel, who has decided to keep her virginity even though her best friends have given up their virginity to their lovers. She still stands on her choice to keep her virginity even though it has not become an

important thing anymore in Singapore. Furthermore, her bad past experience also influences her to face her own choice. She becomes very sure not to let any men take her virginity after her best friend and her lover have betrayed her.

This study is going to analyse Suwen’s motivation in keeping her virginity as revealed in Suchen Christine Lim’s Fistful of Colours. The researcher is

interested to analyse it because Suwen still stands on her principle even though she has lived abroad for several years. Furthermore, her best friends have given up their virginity to their lovers.

B. Problem Formulation

Based on the background stated above, there are two problems which are going to be discussed in this study, they are:

1. What are the characteristics of Suwen as seen in Suchen Christine Lim’s

Fistful of Colours?

2. What are Suwen’s motivations in keeping her virginity as seen in Suchen Christine Lim’s Fistful of Colours?

C. Objectives of the Study

Related to the formulated problems above, there are two objectives in this study. The first objective is to identify the characteristics of Suwen in Suchen Christine Lim’s Fistful of Colours. The second objective is to explain and analyse

D. Benefits of the Study

This study deals with Suwen’s motivation in keeping her virginity as seen in Suchen Christine Lim’s Fistful of Colours. There are some benefits for the

readers, lecturers and also the researcher. The first benefit goes to the readers, especially for the students of English Language Education Study Program of Sanata Dharma University, to encourage their knowledge of Asian literary works. Moreover, they are able to learn about Asian culture which is described in some Asian literary works.

Secondly, this study may help the lecturers to introduce Asian literary works to the students of English Language Education Study Program. Asian literary works are interesting to be learned since the cultures among Asian countries are little different. Furthermore, the lecturers may help the students to encourage their knowledge about Asian literary works.

The last one, this study also helps the researcher to understand about literary works and some theories of literature. The researcher has learned that there are many interesting things in the literary works which can be analysed in the students’ thesis, such as; motivation, culture, and also women’s dignity as found in this study’s novel.

E.Definition of Terms

The terms that are used in analysing this study are character, characterisation, motivation, and virginity. In order to avoid misunderstanding, the researcher has defined the definition of terms in the following page.

1. Character

Character is a person presented in a dramatic or narrative work, who is interpreted by the reader as being endowed with moral, dispositional, and emotional qualities that are expressed in what he says – the dialogue – and by what he does – the action (Abrams, 1985, p. 23). In this study, the character refers to Suwen as one of the characters which is going to be discussed and analysed. 2. Characterisation

According to Henkle (1977), characterisation is a method by which an author creates, reveals, and develops the changes so that the readers may imagine what kind of a character is in the literary works. Furthermore, characterisation helps the readers to know and understand what kind of the character is. Therefore, how Suwen is characterised in the novel is going to be discussed in this study. 3. Motivation

Abrams (1985) suggests that the grounds in the characters’ temperament, desires, and moral nature for their speech and action are called their motivation. Meanwhile according to Petri (1981), motivation is a concept we use when we describe the forces acting on or within an organism to initiate and direct behaviour. Motivation can be influenced by external motivational stimuli and internal motivational factors (Petri, 1981). Moreover, motivation may come from the past life of an individual which makes him feel traumatic or not.

4. Virginity

Carpenter (2005) defines virginity as a state of never having had a sexual intercourse or a state of being unmarried. In addition, she also has differentiated

three meanings of virginity by interviewing some women and men. The first meaning of virginity is a gift. It means that a woman gives her virginity to her lover as a gift. The second meaning of virginity is a shameful stigma to be lost in the first opportunity. In addition, virginity is also defined as a part of knowledge and sexual activity.

In this study, the definition of virginity refers to Suwen’s action in avoiding doing the sexual intercourse with any men. In other words, virginity means awoman who remains unmarried during her life.

7

CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

This chapter consists of two main sections, namely the review of related theories and theoretical framework. In the review of related theories, the researcher reviews the theories related to the study and directly relevant with the study. The last part is the theoretical framework which describes the steps in analysing the study.

A. Review of Related Theories

Some theories which are used in this study to answer the problem formulations which become the focus of this study.

1. Psychological Approach

The psychological approach is an approach which is used to explain the characters behaviour as seen in the novel (Rohrberger, 1952). The explanation of the characters behaviour is seen from the psychology side to make the readers understand the characters easily. In addition, this approach has a relation with the literary works because some literary works deal with the issue of psychology.

Psychoanalysis is a branch of psychology which deals with unconscious mind. Furthermore, unconsciousness is an area in which an individual hides and represses his deepest fears and desires beyond his consciousness (Barry, 2009). Psychoanalysis was firstly introduced and developed by Freud, an Austrian

psychologist. Sigmund Freud is also well-known as the father of psychoanalysis because of his finding on theories of psychoanalysis.

2. Theory of Character and Characterisation

A character is one of the most important things in the story. The character is also a device to connect the reader to the story. The reader may know the story well and deeper by seeing their action and dialogue in the story. In addition, Abrams (1985) states that:

Characters are the person presented in a dramatic or narrative work, who are interpreted by the reader as being endowed with moral, and emotional qualities that are expressed in what they say-the dialogue-and what they do-the action (1985: 23).

The author makes the story more alive and real by using the characters. The author sometimes makes the characters easier to be understood by the readers. The purpose is to make the characters come out as the real person in the real life to the reader. Furthermore, the author can describe the characters implicitly or explicitly. Not only understand by direct description, but the reader may also understand the characters from their way of speaking and acting in the story.

Characterisation is a process when an author creates a character in his literary works (Rohrberger et al, 1971). Barnet (2008) also tells that characterisation is a presentation of a character whether it is explained by direct description, the action of the character through the novel, or the presentation of the others character who define each other. It means that the characterisation of each character can be seen from the performance and interaction between the characters in the plot of the story.

Murphy (1972) states that people’s characters and personalities in the novel can be learned and understood by using nine ways (1972: 161-173).

a. Personal description

The author describes a person’s appearance, clothes, and gestures in order to describe a person’s character in a novel.

b. Character as seen by another

The author can describe a person’s character by using other characters’ point of view and judgement about him or her. Thus, the author does not often need to describe the character directly.

c. Speech

How he or she speaks, responds in a conversation with another, and also states his or her opinion are the ways of the author to describe a person’s character in a novel.

d. Past life

The author can give a clue to the events which have helped the readers to shape a person’s character. This can be done by direct comment by the author, through the person’s thought, through his or her conversation or through the medium of another person.

e. Conversation of others

Instead of describing a character directly, the author can describe a person’s character by giving a clue to a person’s character through the conversation of other people and the things which they say about him or

her. The things which are talked by other people should point a person’s character in a novel.

f. Reactions

The author can let the readers know about a person’s character by giving a clue how that person reacts to various situations and events. The reactions of a person towards some events will make the readers know the characters of the person through the novel.

g. Direct comment

The author can describe or comment on a person’s character directly. h. Thoughts

The author gives the readers direct knowledge about what a person is thinking about. In this respect, he is able to do what we cannot do in the real life. He tells us how a person is thinking of something. The readers become the secret listeners who listen to an individual’s thought in the novel.

i. Mannerism

The author describes an individual’s habits, manners, and also politeness which tell the readers about his character in a novel.

3. Theory of Motivation

According to Petri (1981), motivation can be defined as the concept that we use when we describe the strong action on or within an organism to initiate and direct behaviour. He also tells that most people tend to use the concept of motivation to indicate and find out the direction of behaviour.

Scott (1963) states that the hidden instincts, memories, ideas, and emotion that exist in the individuals’ mind influence and affect the individuals’ behaviour in all of us in the unconscious way. In other words, what the individuals do and respond in the reality come from their mind unconsciously. The individuals are motivated to reach their goals beyond their consciousness. In some case, the individuals are motivated to protect themselves from their bad experiences.

a. Defense Mechanisms

Defense mechanisms are the psychological defenses that protect an individual from the anxiety, pain, punishment, and unpleasant experiences which happened in the past. Most psychologists believe that the defense is done on an unconscious level. In other words, the individuals are not conscious when they defend themselves from the anxiety, pain, punishment, and bad experience (Weiner, 1980, p. 64).

Anxiety is one of effects which caused by an individual’s unpleasant or bad experience. Anxiety is often used in psychological terms to explain one of phenomena in psychology. Weiner, Miller and Mowrer (n.d.) describe anxiety as a reaction to the past experience because the past experience makes the individual feel shock and fear. In addition, the anxiety reaction leads the individual to escape from the situations which bring the individual to his bad experience.

Repression is one of the defense mechanisms which is done beyond the consciousness by the individuals to protect themselves from the bad experiences (Weiner, 1980). Freud (1934) also stated that repression is the most important and significance defense mechanism because the individuals eliminate their

unpleasant experience and cover it with the pleasant experience. In other words, the individuals try to forget their unpleasant experiences and cover it with the pleasant experience (as cited in Weiner, 1980, p. 64-65).

The individuals avoid talking about the topics which will make them remember their bad experiences. In some cases, the individuals’ bad experiences will make them do the negative action or reaction in the reality (Weiner, 1980). For instance, a woman, who becomes a victim of rape, will isolate herself to interact with others because of her bad experience in the past.

Denial is one of defense mechanisms which are the effort to protect the individuals from pain and bad experience. Weiner (1980) defines denial as a rejection or refusal to accept the situation which makes the individuals remember their unpleasant experiences. The individuals reject or refuse the existence of this situation consciously. In other words, the unpleasant or bad experiences are recalled in their mind and make them to avoid the situation which brings them into the similar experiences.

b. Theory of Human Development

Freud (1969) states that an individual’s childhood experience also influences the individual’s emotion, instinct, and motivation in his behaviour unconsciously. Erikson (1963) explains about theory of human development which affects an individual’s identity and motivation unconsciously (p. 247-269). He explains the human stages from the infant stage until the adult stage.

1) Basic Trust vs. Basic Mistrust

In the early stage of childhood, the role of a mother is really important to build a basic trust between a child and a mother, and also between a mother and a child. The reason is when a child trusts his mother; he will trust others, including himself. It will be different if a mother does not play her role well in his childhood. In this case, he will be difficult to trust his mother and others, including himself.

2) Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt

In this stage, a child wants to do everything by himself. He will have his pride when he successfully reaches his goal. If his parents are able to recognize his capability in reaching his goal, the child will develop a sense that he is able to control his muscles, his impulses, and also himself. It is what we often call the

sense of autonomy.

The main problem of this stage is what does he do based on what he

wants? Or what does he do based on what his parents want? When a child tries to

follow what his parents want, the sense of shame and doubt will raise. The reasons are because he will feel doubt whether what he does is wrong or not, and he will feel shame when other people think what he does is wrong. In this stage, the control of ego is very important to choose the certain decision.

3) Initiative vs. Guilt

This stage is also called as the genital stage of classical psychoanalysis. A child wants to learn and try something new in this stage. When his parents give

him a freedom and an opportunity to initiate motor play, such as running, riding a bike, wrestling, and also skating, he will have a sense of initiative reinforced.

On the other hand, the child who fails to face this stage will often feel guilty. He will evaluate what he does is wrong even though other people do not see what he does actually. Furthermore, the feeling of guilt comes from his mind and thought which evaluate himself as the wrong person.

4) Industry vs. Inferiority

The child enters the school life and he learns to compete to produce something with his classmates. He will try to produce and encourage his efforts to make, do or build practical things to get recognition from his parents. It will enhance the sense of industry. On the other hand, when parents see his effort in doing, making, building, and produce something as easy making a mess, it will enhance the sense of inferiority of the child. He will often compare himself to others so that he will feel inferior.

5) Identity vs. Role Confusion

In this stage, a young person will face some social problems which are related to his physiological development. It will challenge him to play his role in the society in order to find and develop his identity. When his parents and people around him support and help him solve his challenges and problems, he will be successful to develop his strong identity.

However, when a young person fails to struggle and find out his identity because of an unfortunate childhood or social circumstances, he will show a certain amount of role confusion. The role confusion is a sense of not knowing

who he is, where he belongs or whom he belongs to. In addition, the role confusion may come because of the coercion to choose a partner, ideology, and belief and it will bring him into a weak identity.

6) Intimacy vs. Isolation

A young adult will face a problem in this stage when an intimacy against an isolation. He will achieve an intimacy when he is able to develop his responsibility toward his family. Furthermore, the feeling of being loved by his parents, family, and closest people influence his identity where he is able to love and get closer to others.

On the contrary, a young adult will be difficult to interact with others in the society when the feeling of being loved does not exist in his childhood. He tends to avoid getting closer to others or making a deep social interaction with others. Furthermore, he chooses to make some adventures with new people without getting closer to them.

7) Generativity vs. Stagnation

This stage-middle age is a stage when an adult opens his mind to give a positive contribution for the world and young generation. Generativity is not only found in parents but also in an adult who concerns himself to make a better place for the young generation to live and work. The opposite of generativity is stagnation, where an individual thinks if he is not able to give any contribution for a better life. He tends to feel bored and unhappy during his life and he also feels pity for himself. Sometimes, he loves himself very much so that he feels anxious and he only thinks of his welfare.

8) Ego Integrity vs. Despair

It is the last stage of an individual when ego integrity against despair. He will respect his past and his life so that he will make his existence meaningful in this world. Furthermore, he creates a harmony between his life and people around him. The ego integrity brings him into happiness so that he will be so happy to face his life. The opposite of ego integrity is despair, when an adult often feels sorry for what he has done in the past. He often feels desperate and rejects his real life because he thinks he has missed many good chances in his life.

B. Theoretical Framework

There are two main problems which are discussed in this study, namely characterisation of Suwen and her motivation in keeping her virginity as seen in Suchen Christine Lim’s Fistful of Colours.

In order to solve the first problem which concerns with the characteristics of Suwen, the researcher uses Murphy’s theory of character and characterisation. The researcher chooses to use this theory because these theories help the researcher analyse the characteristics of Suwen deeply and clearly. Furthermore, these theories also help the researcher to understand how Suwen’s characteristics are characterised by the author in the novel.

The researcher uses Freud’s theory of motivation in order to answer the second problem formulation which relates to Suwen’s motivation in keeping her virginity. Psychological approach is used as the approach of this study in order to make the readers easier to understand the novel and help the writer in analysing

the novel. In addition, the researcher also uses Erikson’s theory to find the influence of Suwen’s childhood towards her action in keeping her virginity as revealed in the novel. Erikson’s theory is also used to help the researcher to answer the second problem formulation.

18 CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY

This part consists of three main sections, namely the object of the study, the approach of the study, and the method of study. In the object of the study, the researcher describes the physical description of the novel. The next part is the approach of the study which states the approach employed in analysing the work, its description, and the reasons for its selection. The third part is the method of study which describes the procedures of the analysis of the work. It also includes the explanation whether the study is a library study or field study.

A. Object of Study

The object of this study is a novel entitled Fistful of Colours which was written by a Singaporean author, Suchen Christine Lim. It was first published in 1992 by SNP international in Singapore and reprinted in 2003 and 2007 by SNP Publishing Pte LTD. This novel also consists of 305 pages which are divided into 8 parts. Furthermore, this novel also won the inaugural Singapore Literature Prize in 1992.

The story begins with a sparring of Suwen and her mother about the things that happen in their lives. Suwens wants to have a freedom and escape from the Ong mansion while her mother demands her to stay at there. It becomes so hard for her when she remembers what her stepfather has done years ago. Her suffering is increased since her mother blames her for what happens with her.

The next scene tells the past life of Suwen before the betrayal of her lover and her friend happens. She has some best friends who come from different cultures, races, and also beliefs; they are Nica, Janice, Robert, Zul, and also Mark Campbell. Actually, there is a special relationship between Mark and Suwen though they do not show their closeness in the novel. Suwen also loves Mark even though she tries to not admit her feeling to Mark and herself. Mark also loves Suwen but he does not tell his feeling to Suwen because she sometimes avoids talking to him.

In the novel, Suwen shows her admire towards Nica since Nica is brave to struggle her fate to get her freedom. Moreover, she can become a confident and inspirational artist while Suwen is not confident enough with her skill and ability. She is also not brave to argue Nica’s thought and she chooses to keep her thought in her mind.

Suwen has a big project for her painting, namely a root history painting project. She wants to paint the history of the Ong family, her stepfather’s family. In order to make her project perfect, she interviews some people who know the history of the Ong family and collect some old photos. She also consults her project with Nica because she thinks that Nica is a genius artist so that Nica may give some advices for her.

While Suwen is getting busy with her project, Nica is getting closer to Mark. It happens because Suwen rejects to be kissed by Mark, they never talk each other again. Furthermore, Nica asks Mark to become her nude model for her sketches and Mark agrees for that. After making the sketches, Nica calls Suwen to

come to her house in the evening. She shows off all of her sketches to Suwen. When she realizes that the nude model of the sketches is Mark, she is getting angry to Nica. Unfortunately, Nica insults Suwen’s choice to keep her virginity but Suwen does not try to argue her. She only argues Nica in her mind while Nica still insults her.

In the end of the story, Suwen decides to leave Singapore and she goes to a small town in Malaysia. She also leaves her mother who feels so sad because the mansion is sold and her stepfather is bankrupt. She leaves all of her life in Singapore but she brings her big dream, loneliness, feeling betrayed, and sadness to Malaysia.

B. Approach of Study

The psychological approach is employed to analyse this study. This approach is used to understand the influences of Suwen’s childhood towards her relationship with others and her motivation in doing something as revealed in the novel. How Suwen interacts with others and how Suwen reacts towards others’ action isfound and easy to be understood by using this approach. This approach also helps the researcher analyse the characteristics of Suwen in the novel deeper.

C. Method of Study

This study applied library study to analyse Suchen Christine Lim’s Fistful of Colours. Library study is applied because books have given the important

sources used in this study, namely the primary resource and the secondary resources.

The primary source of this study is a novel entitled Fistful of Colours. The secondary sources are obtained from some books related to theory of character and characterisation, theory of motivation, and theories of psychoanalysis. Some references were taken from the electronic sources since the researcher could not find those in the library. Some theories were taken fromsome books which were written by Barry (2009), Murphy (1972), Weiner (1980), Freud (1969), and Erikson (1963).

There are some steps in accomplishing this study. The first step is reading the novel Fistful of Colours as the primary research. After finishing, the researcher tried to find the problems in the novel and noted them. Then, the researcher re-read the novel again and again in order to dig the problem deeper. Finally, the researcher found Suwen’s characteristics and her motivation in keeping her virginity in the novel are influenced by her childhood and bad experience in the past.

The next step is the researcher collected the data from some books and references from the electronic sources as the secondary resource in analysing this study. After collecting the data, the researcher analysed the problem formulations by using the theories which are found from the secondary resources. And the last step is drawing a conclusion of this study.

22 CHAPTER IV

ANALYSIS

This chapter consists of two main parts which answer the problems formulation of this study. The first part analyses the character and characterisation of Suwen in the novel by using the theories of character andcharacterisation. The purpose is to answer the first problem of this study. The second part analyses Suwen’s motivation in keeping her virginity by using the theories of motivation. It will answer the second problem of this study.

A. Characterisation of Suwen

The character is a person which appears in a dramatic or narrative work and delivers some moral values and messages which are expressed in the dialogue and action in the dramatic or narrative work (Abram, 1985).In Suchen Christine Lim’s Fistful of Colours, there are some characters which influence the plot of the

story and also help each other to build the characters and personality. Suwen is the main character of the novel and she becomes the focus of the story. There are some supporting characters that underline the characters of Suwen in the novel; they are Mark, Nica, Jan, Zul, Suwen’s mother, and Suwen’s stepfather.

In this novel, Suwen is described as a daughter, a woman, an art teacher of a college, and also a painter. Furthermore, Suwen has some characteristics which are revealed in the novel; they are insecure, introvert, well-educated, and obedient. Those Suwen’s characteristics are found after the researcher analysed how she

acts, how she thinks about herself and others, direct description to her, and also

others’ comments about her.

1. Insecure

Actually, Suwen is a good painter and art teacher even though she often compares herself to Nica. She often thinks that Nica is better than her so that she feels insecure with her skill and ability. In addition, she also consults her project and painting to Nica before she starts to paint hers. The reason is that she regards Nica as a well-known and brilliant artist whose skills are better than her.

Suwen also feels insecure with her physical appearance whereas she compares herself to Nica. Due to the fact that she feels insecure with her fashion style, she regards herself as a person with lack of confidence and it is reflected by her thought in some parts of the novel.

Nica had the confidence which she, Suwen, lacked. She had often seen Nica walked down Orchard Road, ever so confident that her little dancer’s body was a natural construct built for admiration. She, Suwen, on the other hand, had never felt that way about her body before. Not ever. She more like a raindrop, falling like millions of other raindrops to join the common pool of humanity flowing into the wide open sea (p. 66).

Suwen sometimes feels insecure with her style. Furthermore, Suwen often asks Nica about her fashion style because Suwen admires Nica’s fashion style. She will ask where Nica buys her clothes, scarf, and skirt even though Nica tries to make Suwen confident that her fashion style is also good. By using Murphy’s theories of characterisation, one of the conversations between Suwen and Nica shows how suwen is not confident with her style.

“Tekkah market.Very cheap.”

“But nice. I wish I know how to put together things like this”

“That’s what you always say, Su. Just be yourself. You dress okay.”

(p. 81)

It often makes her difficult to talk to others, especially strangers and men. It also happens when Suwen is in the university. She cannot join her friends drinking beers, dancing, and talking about many things because she is not able to let herself enter into their world. Although she ever tries to join them, she fails to be confident to interact with them. Suchen Christine Lim writes about her insecure character by a direct comment in the novel, “She seemed to shrink like a morning glory flower in the evening, having little or no confidence in her own ability to attract others and hold her own in conversation” (p. 176).

2. Introvert

In the novel, Suwen never shares her problems with others. She always keeps her problems by herself even though her friends try to make her share her problems. As one of her best friends, Nica often tries to make Suwen share her problems, especially about her feeling towards Mark.

In several conversations between Suwen and Nica, Nica tries to interrogate her feeling towards Mark and her relationship with Mark. However, Suwen does not tell the truth of her feeling to Mark. She keeps it and she does not share it to anyone, including Nica. Furthermore, Suwen always says that Mark is a good friend to her and there is not any special relationship between her and Mark when Nica starts to interrogate her. One of the conversations between Nica and Suwen shows Suwen’s introvert character and it is found by using Murphy’s theories of character and characterisation.

“Now that ,Mark’s here, your life will change, what,” Nica said one day.

“No, why should it change?” she protested.

“Don’t bluff lah! Of course it will change. Your loved one is here.” “No, listen...”

“I am listening. Tell me about Mark. How did you meet him?” “Well, actually, we became good friends after a first fight.” (p. 77)

When Nica starts to talk about Mark and ask about her relationship with Mark, Suwen often avoids talking about Mark. She pretends that she does not understand what Nica talks or asks her. In addition, she answers Nica’s question about her relationship with Mark shortly and briefly. She does not share to Nica what she feels towards Mark. By using Murphy’s theories of characterisation, her introvert character can be seen from her conversation with others.

“Does Mark live in the countryside?”Nica asked, looking at her shrewdly. “Yes, on the Scottish border.”

“Hmmm, how are the two of you getting on?” “Okay, we are good friends.”

“I know you are good friends, dumbo. Anything else?”

“I don’t know what you want to know. I enjoy his company and enjoys mine.” (p. 105)

When Suwen and Mark go for a walk, Mark tries to kiss Suwen’s lips. Unfortunately, Suwen rejects to be kissed by Mark. After that, Suwen and Mark never talk anymore. Suwen avoids meeting, calling, talking, and interacting with Mark in several occasions. As one of her best friends,Nica knows what happen between Suwen and Mark because Mark tells Nica before leaving for Bali. However, Nica wants to know the story from Suwen even though Suwen does not tell her about that. Her introvert character makes her not to share her feeling and stories to Nica and it is shown in their conversation below.

“Oh, for crying out loud! You sure know how to pamper your own

feelings! Are you missing Mark?”

“Hey, there’s no need to shout. I can hear you. Mark called me before he left for Bali. He sounded real low. What’ve you done to him?”

“Nothing!”

“You didn’t give him a reason to go off like this, did you?”

“I don’t know.”

“You’re sure you don’t know? You’re always keeping things from me, I know you.” (p. 197)

Her introvert character also makes her difficult to interact with others in the society. She almost does not have many best friends during her childhood and she only has a few close friends in her adulthood. Furthermore, she avoids interacting with her classmates when she is in college.

During her study in school, she does not have many friends. She fills her days with sketching and painting because she feels alive by doing these two activities. When most girls choose to go home in summer holiday, Suwen chooses to spend her summer holiday in the dormitory alone. She does not want to go home because she does not want to meet her mother, who sends her abroad. She chooses to spend her summer holiday in the college even though it sometimes makes her feel lonely. Her introvert character can be found in the novel by using

one of Murphy’s theories of characterisation. It is Suwen’s behaviour or manner as seen in a part of the novel.

She withdrew deeper into herself. She made no friends during her two years in school although she had classmates and dorm-mates with whom she went shopping or cycling. She went for walks in the woods by herself and took up sketching and painting to fill the lonely days of the next two summers when most of the girls went home to their families. (p. 175) When her classmates spend their weekends by going to some pubs and cafes, Suwen spends her weekends by going for a walk or sketching. She never joins her friends going somewhere and she chooses to do something alone. In

other words, she enjoys being an independent person, “She spent weekends going for long solitary walks, sketching the bare trees in winter and the leafy foliage in

summer” (p. 176).

Not only avoiding people, but Suwen also avoids conflicts in her life. She will not argue with others when she has different idea and she will keep her idea in her mind. In some occasions, Suwen does not state her idea when Nica argues her project. The reason is that she does not want to have any conflicts with Nica. She ever argues Nica’s opinion once and then Nica does not talk to her for several days. Her introvert character can be seen in a part of the novel when the author tells what she thought.

The photo essay was not what Suwen had in mind; in fact, she had nothing in her mind. Her project was really a search for the perfect union of medium and content. And she was willing to wait for what would eventually emerge. She did not want to upset and argue with Nica, her teacher and model, again. (p. 103)

Suwen only thinks of how she avoids conflicts and confrontations around her. The reason is because she does not want to make herself upset because of conflicts and confrontations.

3. Well-educated

One of Suwen’s characteristics which is seen in the novel is that she is a well-educated woman. Her mother and stepfather send her abroad to get a good education for her. She continues her study in Durham University and she focuses on art since she loves painting. “After her matriculation exam, she went to

Durham University to read English and the History of Art in the Western World”(p. 175).

Suwen often tells some brilliant ideas about her painting to Nica and she has a good knowledge about art. Furthermore, her knowledge about history is good since she mixes art and history in her big project. As one of Suwen’s best friend, Nica often talks and discusses art with her. Nica sometimes forgets that Suwen gets her education abroad when they are talking about history. The reason is because the history what Suwen explains to Nica is a little different from the fact that happens in Singapore years ago. It is because the history that Suwen knows is explained by her lecturer in the university. According to Murphy (1972),

an individual’s characters can be seen from other characters’ thought in the novel. By using Murphy’s theory, the researcher has found a part which contains Nica’s

thought about Suwen and it tells Suwen’s character, “Nica was peeved. Suwen

had studied abroad” (p. 250).

Due to the fact that Suwen is a well-educated woman, she tries to control her emotion and anger in giving her reaction towards something. In the novel, Suwen is described as a woman who never gives negative reactions towards her

friends’ anger and negative arguments. She keeps calm and controls her emotion in some situations.

Her attitude as a well-educated woman is shown in her reaction towards the betrayal of Nica and Mark. When Nica insults and mocks her, Suwen keeps calm and she does not say anything. Furthermore, Suwen does not respond Nica’s

anger when Nica challenges her to argue her. She chooses to keep her anger in her mind and she does not express her anger towards Nica.

She would never stoop to fight with another woman over a man. It’s

degrading. If a woman has to fight with another woman over a man, then her relationship with the man is worthless! There is something innately wrong in two women reducing a man to the level of a prize to be fought

for! Aren’t we regressing? (p. 296)

A woman who fights with another woman over a man will decrease her pride. It is the way Suwen thinks about how a well-educated woman should do. Due to the fact that she does not want to decrease her pride as a well-educated woman, Suwen chooses to leave Singapore after knowing Nica and Mark have betrayed her. Although Mark tries to call her several times, she rejects his call and avoids meeting him. Furthermore, she does not want to come to Mark for reconciliation because it will decrease her pride as a well-educated woman (p. 303). This character is shown by her own thought in a part of the novel, “She would rather choose pain and loneliness than a cheap reconciliation with Mark simply because she feared being alone and single” (p. 303).

4. Obedient

Suwen really wants to leave her mother and the Ong mansion to get a freedom. She feels so disturbed because her mother often asks her stepfather not to sell the Ong mansion. Unfortunately, she cannot leave her mother alone with her stepfather because she still stands on the principle that a child should obey and follow what her mother says. “She was her mother’s daughter. Still Asian enough

to believe that children should respect, not strip off, their parents’ illusions” (p.

When her mother asks Suwen to be close with her stepfather, she follows what her mother wants. Her obedience is shown by her attitude in doing what her mother wants, “She had thought her mother had wanted her to be close to the

stepfather. To be his daughter” (p. 173). She tries to play her role as a good daughter for her stepfather and regard him as her own father. Furthermore, her mother also asks her to accompany him and stay on her stepfather’s side so that he will not meet his mistresses outside.

B. Suwen’s Motivation in Keeping Her Virginity

Motivation is a concept that an individual uses to describe his strong action in doing something to reach his goal (Petri, 1981). In Suchen Christine Lim’s

Fistful of Colours, Suwen shows her strong action to keep her virginity by

avoiding talking about sex, love, and men. It makes her become a woman who is unmarried and she also does not have any special relationship with any men.

1. Suwen’s Defense Mechanisms

Defense mechanisms are defined as the psychological defenses that protect an individual from his unpleasant or bad experience (Weiner, 1980). In this case,

Suwen’s decision in keeping her virginity is caused by her unpleasant or bad experience. In other words, she tries to protect herself from pain so that her bad experience will not happen anymore.

Her bad experience is when her drunken stepfather tries to rape her in her bedroom before she goes abroad. She feels angry, anxious, and also disappointed because she regards him as her own father. She has lost the figure of a father from

her life whereas she successfully gets and feels it from her stepfather. After that incident, Suwen hates her stepfather very much and she does not love him anymore. It is shown by her action in avoiding talking with her stepfather.

He grabbed her breasts, squeesing them as he tried to plant his foul kisses on her lips. She scratched his face like a wild cat, and pushed him onto the bed. Then she ran into the bathroom and locked the door, her heart pounding with pain. She had tried to scream but no sound came out of her throat. It had been strangled by fear. He was bestial! A beast! The air was full of his immoral snorts and hisses. She shoved a clenched fist into her mouth and bit hard. She would not cry. She refused to cry. (p. 16)

By using Freud’s theories of defense mechanisms, the researcher found that Suwen’s bad experience makes her avoid talking about men and sex to others deeper. The reason is that she tries to repress and eliminate her bad experience in her mind by avoiding those topics. In the novel, she often gives a short comment when Nica talks about sex with her. Sex becomes a taboo thing to be discusses with others, sex was perceived as a threat and the road to damnation (p. 76). Sex becomes a word which brings her to the bad experience so that she avoids talking about this topic.

“You’re acting silly, avoiding Mark like this,” Nica was saying. “You do like him. But you don’t want to admit it. Not even to yourself. D’youwant to remain virgin forever or what?”

“Oh, Nica! Must you always bring things down to that level?”

“What level? You talk as if sex is real-down. We all have feelings and

urges. Nothing to be ashamed of!”

Silence. (p. 255)

Not only avoiding talking about sex and men, but Suwen also avoids talking about her family. She never talks about her family to others because she has a bad experience in the past. She feels afraid that she will recall the past

incident when she talks about her family to others. Furthermore, Suwen calls her

stepfather “that man” because of what her stepfather has done towards her.

Such things, however, Suwen would never reveal. She was not in the habit of talking to others about her family or lack of it. One could put it down to natural reticence. But, perhaps, it was more than that. The incident with

her mother’s husband, “that man” as she referred to him inside her head,

had clung to her like a body odour which would not go away. (p. 104)

Suwen’s bad experience also influences her to avoid interacting with men.

In other words, she protects herself from her bad experience by avoiding the physical interaction or sexual activity with any men and not making any special relationship with them. In addition, she rejects some chances and situations which will make her to have a physical interaction with men. By using the theories of defense mechanisms, the researcher found that Suwen rejects to be kissed by Mark because she denies this situation which will make her recall her bad experience.

Very gently, he turned her to face him snd took her into his arms, kissing her hair, then her shoulders. His mouth sought hers as their fingers laced

and interwined like the flaments of aerial roots from the banyan tree. “No, Mark,” she broke away from him. “I’m...I’m sorry.” She turned and started

to walk down the slope. He followed. In silence. (p. 191)

In order to protect herself from pain and bad experience, Suwen also chooses to remain unmarried. In other words, she chooses to be an unmarried woman rather than she should give up her virginity to men. She decides to keep her virginity because she does not want to recall the incident which will bring her to pain and suffering.

2. Suwen’s Personal Development

A past experience in childhood will influence an individual’s emotion and

motivation in his behaviour unconsciously (Freud, 1969). The individual’s emotion, instinct, motivation, and desire are formed during their childhood and also influenced by people around them, especially family. Due to that fact, an

individual can find others’ motivation in doing something by analysing their childhood. In order to find out Suwen’s motivation in keeping her virginity, the researcher tries to analyse Suwen’s life during her childhood by using Erikson’s theory of human development. The reason is that there is a relationship between her childhood and her motivation in the adulthood. Furthermore, this study only uses two theories of human development because there are only two stages which

are found in Suwen’s personal development.

a. Basic Trust vs. Basic Mistrust

In the early stage of childhood, the role of a mother is really important to build a basic trust between a child and a mother, and also between a mother and a child (Erikson, 1963). A basic trust among an individual with others is built in this early stage and a mother has an important role in building the basic trust. When a mother fails to fill her role, the individual will fail to trust himself and others.

Suwen never meets her mother until she is seven years old. Her mother never takes care of little Suwen and her mother also puts Suwen in a small village with her grandparents. Since her mother plays very little role in her childhood, she does not trust herself and others. This action influences her characters so that become an introvert person who never trusts others in social interaction.

Due to the fact that the role of her mother is very little during her childhood, she also tends to hate her mother very much. She often argues with her mother when she meets her mother or she sometimes annoys her mother. In one occasion, she annoys her mother by singing a song in front of her friends when they visit her house. “My home’s my garage, my garage is my home,” Suwen used to sing to annoy her mother (p. 32).

She shows her dislike towards her mother by her action and decision to remain single. Her mother tries to introduce some men to her even though she refuses all of those men. Thus, her mother thinks that what Suwen does for her own life is a punishment for her mother because she is not able to become a good mother for Suwen when she is child. In a part of novel, it tells about “Mrs. Ong was beginning to think that her elder daughter had adamantly refused all offers of marriage just to spite and punish her” (p. 166-167).

In this case, Suwen fails to trust her mother as an individual who bears her because her mother does not take care of her in her childhood. She fails to trust a figure of a mother who should become a trusted person in her life. In addition, Suwen does not also trust others and herself because of a lack of social interaction between her and her mother during her childhood.

Her mistrust towards men also appears because of her mother’s bad experience. Her mother bears her without marrying a man and it becomes a big trouble for her family. Due to the fact that her mother has born her without a husband, her grandfather often tells her not to do what her mother has done. He said to her, “Never be like your mother. She is stupid,” (p. 20). She becomes a

woman who does not trust any men in the adulthood. It is because she does not want to do what her mother has done, trusting a man so much and giving her virginity to a man easily. Her mistrust towards men makes her keep her virginity by avoiding men and avoiding having physical interaction with them.

b. Intimacy vs. Isolation

An individual is easy to get closer to others if he successfully gets closer with his family. The feeling of being loved by his parents in his family will influence him to find a good relationship with people around him. In other words, the feeling of being loved by his parents, family, and closest people influence his identity so that he is able to love and get closer to others (Erikson, 1963).

Erikson (1963) also explains that an individual will be able to find a good relationship with others when his mother plays her role well in his childhood. He interacts with others well and he is also easy to make friends. In other words, a good relationship with others will be easy to be made when he has a good relationship with his mother.

A crisis of intimacy will exist when an individual fails to feel the feeling of being loved by people around him, especially his parents. Furthermore, his relationship with his parents is not as good as others who are loved and near with their parents. He isolates himself from people around him and he does not build a close relationship with others. In other words, he avoids getting closer with other people and making a distance between him and others (Erikson, 1963).

In this case, Suwen, who never knows her own father, fails to make a good relationship with people around her, especially men. The reason is because her

father does not play his role well in the family. Furthermore, Suwen does not have a good relationship with her mother in her life and it makes her sometimes difficult to interact with others. In other words, she does not have a complete family which consists of a mother and a father.

Suwen’s relationship with her mother is shown in a part of the novel when her mother decides to send her abroad. In this case, Suwen feels that she is rejected by her mother when she tries to be a good daughter for her mother and stepfather. In other words, her relationship with her mother is getting worse than before.

“Aiyah, that farm girl! Not properly brought up, mah! Always tickling and giggling with Master Tay Luck. But she is sixteen, big girl already! And he, only twenty-nine! Things will happen, you say right or not. When you

touch me, I touch you. Aiyah, choylor!” But in front of her, Ah SiewChay

spoke with another mouth. “Aiyah, Ong tai-tai, girls are girls. She is young

and doesn’t know anything. And men are,aiyah, like this! Very hard for

you. Both sides of your hand cover with the same flesh. One is your husband and one is your daughter. Better for you to send her away. Send her to school far away. In another country. Master Tay Luck has money.

Make him pay.” And that was how she was separated from the girl again,

barely a few years after she had come to live with her. (p. 68)

Isolating from others and avoiding people are the effects of her mother’s decision in sending her abroad. She does not have many closest friends in her life and she never lets herself get closer with others. Furthermore, when she starts to get closer with a man, she will pull herself and avoid interacting with him. In other words, she avoids men and reminds herself not to get closer with a man.

Her action in isolating herself often makes Mark confused whether she has the same feeling with him or not. The reason is because Suwen sometimes avoids him after they talk all day. In other words, she does not want to make a deep

interaction with Mark and make a special relationship with him. By using

Erikson’s theories of human development, the researcher found out a part of the

novel when Suwen sometimes avoids Mark after they have a conversation in a day.

There was something indecisive in her feeling towards him. Warm, almost affectionate at times, and then quite unaccountably, she turned cool. Take last Saturday. Suwen had refused to accept a lift from him, insisting on going home with Zul and Jan instead, even though it had been quite late and Zul would have had to go out of his way to take her home. And yet, all evening, Suwen had sat next to him. Quite close. Once or twice, he had even managed to rest his arm upon her shoulders, the nape of her neck resting to him, and he had thought that she was comfortable with him at last, until she had abruptly insisted on leaving with Jan and Zul. (p. 20) Due to the fact that her mother does not play her role well during her childhood, Suwen fails to find a good relationship with her mother. As Erikson (1963) says that the role of a mother is important in the childhood to make a good relationship with others. The danger of Suwen’s action in isolating herself is she is not able to make a special relationship with a man. It is shown by Suwen’s

action and reaction in responding Mark’s feeling and expressing her feeling to

Mark. She sometimes becomes talkative and feels enjoy with him but she sometimes avoids meting and talking to Mark (p. 120). Thus, Suwen finds being virgin as the consequence of her action in avoiding men.

38 CHAPTER V

CONCLUSIONS, IMPLICATIONS, AND SUGGESTIONS

This chapter consists of three sections; they are the conclusions, impilcations, and suggestions. The first section contains the conclusions of this study. The second section contains the implications in education and the last section contains the suggestions for the future researchers.

A. Conclusions

There are two points that can be concluded from this study. The first finding is Suwen’s characteristics which are seen in Suchen Christine Lim’s

Fistful of Colours. The second finding is about Suwen’s motivation in keeping her

virginity.

In Fistful of Colours, Suwen is described as a thirty nine year old woman. She is a painter and she is also an art teacher in a college. She has some characteristics which are described through the novel by the author, Suchen Christine Lim. The characteristics of Suwen are insecure, introvert, well-educated, and obedient.

Insecure is one of Suwen’s characteristics which isrevealed in the novel. Her insecure character is shown from her conversation with others and her thought. She often compares herself to Nica because she thinks that Nica is better than her. Morever, she does not realize that she has a good skill in painting and she is one of the best artists in Singapore actually.

Suwen never shares her problems to others and she keeps her problems and stories in her mind. Furthermore, she also does not have many best friends in her life and she only has Nica, Jan, Zul, and also Mark as her best friends. Nica sometimes tries to make her share her problem but it often fails.

Suwen is also described as a well-educated woman in the novel. Her mother sends her abroad in order to get a good education there. She has a brilliant idea of her painting which makes her one of the best artists. Furthermore, her well –educated character is shown by her reaction towards her friend’s anger.

Suwen’s motivation in keeping her virginity is affected by her childhood and bad experience. Her parents do not play their role well and guide her during her childhood. In other words, she has lost the figure of her parents since she was a child. Due to the fact that her parents do not play their roles well, she fails to make a good interaction with others, especially men.

Suwen’s basic mistrust towards her mother, her friends, and others is arisen as the effect of her relationship with her mother. Because she fails to trust her own mother as a good mother, she fails to trust others, including herself. Her basic mistrust also makes her distrust any men and it makes her keep her virginity. Her bad experience also influences her motivation in keeping virginity. When she tries to regard her stepfather as her own father, her stepfather tries to rape her in her room. Unfortunately, her mother blames her for that incident. Due to that fact, Suwen fails to get a figure of a father in her life. In addition, that incident makes her isolate herself from men. In other words, she avoids making a special relationship with men because of her bad experience.

47 They have different occupation but they often gather and discuss together in Nica and Robert’s apartment. Suwen is a painter and art teacher in a college where Jan and Mark work. Zul is a reporter of a local newspaper in Singapore and Nica is a sculptor. Nica is very famous because she is very confident to speak and show her talent in front of many people. In addition, Robert is Nica’s boyfriend and he is an artist who likes travelling very much.

One day, they come to visit Suwen’s house and she introduces the garage as her house. The purpose is to quip her mother because she hates her mother very much. Furthermore, her mother welcomes her friends well and her mother also shows some photos of Ong’s family to her friends. Her mother also shows some antique things which are claimed as the ancestral relics. Her friends listen to her mother’s story about Ong’s family and how Ong Ah Buck (Suwen’s stepfather) becomes a successful man.

After hearing the story of her stepfather’s family, Suwen is interested to make a historical project about her stepfather’s family. The project is to paint some paintings which show the history of her stepfather’s family. Before she starts to paint for her project, she consults her idea to Nica first. Unfortunately, Nica does not think that her project is a good idea because it is not easy to combine words and painting in explaining the history of Ong’s family. However, Suwen still works hard for her project.

She also consults and shares her idea to Mark. Mark is one of Suwen’s best friends and she has a special feeling to him actually. In addition, Mark also

48 has a special feeling to her but he does not try to make Suwen as his girlfriend. The reason is because Suwen always keeps a distance with him even though she has the same feeling actually.

One Saturday, Suwen and Mark go to the Chinese cemetery together. They talk many things about Chinese people and language. When they are talking together under a banyan tree, Mark tries to kiss her on her lips. Unfortunately, Suwen rejects to be kissed by Mark and she walks down the slope. They walk together silently, without saying anything.

Suwen never meets and talks with to Mark anymore because she avoids talking and meeting Mark after that moment. Suwen decides to focus on her project to forget her feeling to Mark. She collects some data from a maid who has been working for Ong’s family for a long time. While Suwen is getting busy in collecting data for her project, Mark is getting closer with Nica. Furthermore, Nica’s family think that they look like a perfect couple even though they do not have a special relationship.

In order to make her project perfect, Nica asks Mark to become her nude model for her project. Mark agrees to become her nude model and he does some poses based on Nica’s instruction. In addition, Nica is also nude when she draws some sketches of Mark’s body. Nica touches every inches of Mark’s body and draws the detail sketches in order to get the best sketches.

In one evening, Nica invites Suwen to come to her apartment in order to show her sketches. Suwen is very shocked after seeing the nude model of the

49 sketches. She expresses her angry towards Nica and she demands an explanation from Nica. On the other hand, Nica insults Suwen without explaining anything. Nica insults Suwen who does not give her virginity to any men and have a special relationship with a man.

Suwen chooses to leave Singapore and stay in a small town in Malaysia. She wants to continue her life and project there so that she can become a famous artist. Furthermore, she wants to forget the betrayal and bad experience which happen in her life.

50

Appendix 2

Suchen Christine Lim’s Biography

Suchen Christine Lim is one of the famous Singaporean authors. She was born in Ipoh, Malaysia in 1948. She came to Singapore when she was forteen years old. Furthermore, she studied at the Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus (CHIJ). Then, she studied Literature at the National University of Singapore and she got a post-gradueate diploma in Applied Linguistics. After her graduation, she joined the Ministry of Education and she became a curriculum specialist.

She often describes herself as an “accidental writer” because she began writing when she was invigilating an “A” level exam. In order to kill the boredom, she started writing some sentences and these sentences became into paragraphs. It became the genesis of A Rice Bowl, her first novel which was published in 1984. She also became a co-writer a short play, The Amah: A Portrait in Black and White in the process of writing her second novel. The play made her earn the Merit Prize in the National University of Singapore – SHELL Short Play Competition in 1986.

Gift from the Gods was published in 1990 and it becomes her second novel. Her second novel was nominated for a National Book Development Council Award in 1992. In the same year, her third novel, Fistful of Colours, won

51 the inaugural Literature Singapore Prize. Fistful of Colours is her first novel which is awarded the inaugural Literature Singapore Prize. The novel tells about a young teacher who searches her identity as a woman and an artist. Due to the story, it became an outstanding novel at that time according to the judges’ judgement and opinion. A Bit of Earth (2000) also nominated for inaugural Literature Singapore Prize in 2004 but this novel did not win this award.

In 1996, Lim was conferred a Fulbright Foundation award and took part in the International Writers’ Programme at the University of Iowa. In addition, she became the University of Iowa’s International Writer-in-Residence in the spring of 2000. She has also held writing residencies in Myanmar, the Philippines, South Korea, Australia and the United Kingdom.

Lim retired from the Ministry of Education in August 2003 in order to devote her time for writing and her family. Her novels entitled Hua Song: Stories of the Chinese Diaspora was published in 2005 and The Lies that Build a Marriage: Stories of the Unsung, Unsaid and Uncelebration in Singapore in 2007.The Lies that Build a Marriage: Stories of the Unsung, Unsaid and Uncelebration in Singapore was made into a film for national television. Furthermore, her new novel, The River’s Song, was published during the Singapore Writers’ Fest in 2013 and in London 2014.

Lim also writes some Children’s books which were published during 1990-2014. Some of her Children’ s book are The Hatching (1990), Granny (1991),Roti Prata(1991), The River People (1992), My New Monster Truck

52 (2009), and Fried Eggs(2014). Her Children’s books are adopted by the Ministry of Education for kindergartens and primary schools. In other words, Lim writes children’s books, fictional novels, and also non-fictional novels. In 2012, Lim was received the South East Asia Write Award for all of her works.

Sources:

Lim, S. C. (2003). Biography of Suchen Christine Lim.

Retrieved October 16, 2014, from http://www.suchenchristinelim.com/ Singapore Council of Women’s Organisations. (n.d.).

Retrieved October 16, 2014, from http://www.swhf.sg/the-inductees/11-arts-culture-entertainment/110-suchen-christine-lim