The influence of parents` abuse on Anson`s personality development as seen in Dean Koontz`s The Husband - USD Repository
THE INFLUENCE OF PARENTS’ ABUSE ON ANSON’S PERSONALITY
DEVELOPMENT AS SEEN IN DEAN KOONTZ’S THE HUSBAND
A Thesis
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements to Obtain the Sarjana Pendidikan Degree in English Language Education
By Berlina Budi Utami
Student Number: 051214093
ENGLISH LANGUAGE EDUCATION STUDY PROGRAM
DEPARTMENT OF LANGUAGE AND ARTS EDUCATION
FACULTY OF TEACHERS TRAINING AND EDUCATION
SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
YOGYAKARTA
2009
THE INFLUENCE OF PARENTS’ ABUSE ON ANSON’S PERSONALITY
DEVELOPMENT AS SEEN IN DEAN KOONTZ’S THE HUSBAND
A Thesis
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements to Obtain the Sarjana Pendidikan Degree in English Language Education
By Berlina Budi Utami
Student Number: 051214093
ENGLISH LANGUAGE EDUCATION STUDY PROGRAM
DEPARTMENT OF LANGUAGE AND ARTS EDUCATION
FACULTY OF TEACHERS TRAINING AND EDUCATION
SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
YOGYAKARTA
2009
STATEMENT OF WORK’S ORIGINALITY
I honestly declare that this thesis, which I have written, does not contain the work or parts of the work of other people, except those cited in the quotations and the references, as a scientific paper should.
Yogyakarta, September 25, 2009 The Writer
Berlina Budi Utami 051214093 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus
Philippians 4:6-7
.
This thesis is devoted especially to my beloved family and those who have
introduced me to the wonderful life
LEMBAR PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN
PUBLIKASI KARYA ILMIAH UNTUK KEPENTINGAN AKADEMIS
Yang bertanda tangan di bawah ini, saya mahasiswi Universitas Sanata Dharma: Nama : Berlina Budi Utami
Nomor Mahasiswi : 051214093 Demi pengembangan ilmu pengetahuan, saya memberikan kepada Perpustakaan Universitas Sanata Dharma karya ilmiah saya yang berjudul:
THE INFLUENCE OF PARENTS’ ABUSE ON ANSON’S PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT AS SEEN IN DEAN KOONTZ’S THE HUSBAND
Beserta perangkat yang diperlukan (bila ada). Dengan demikian saya memberikan kepada Perpustakaan Universitas Sanata Dharma hak untuk menyimpan, mengalihkan dalam bentuk media lain, mengelolanya dalam bentuk pangkalan data, mendistribusikannya secara terbatas, dan mempublikasikannya di internet atau media lain untuk kepentingan akademis tanpa perlu meminta ijin kepada saya selama tetap mencantumkan nama saya sebagai penulis.
Demikian surat pernyataan ini saya buat dengan sebenarnya. Yogyakarta, 25 September 2009 Yang menyatakan Berlina Budi Utami 051214093
ABSTRACT
Utami, Berlina Budi. (2009). The Influence of Parents’ Abuse on Anson’s
Personality Development as Seen in Dean Koontz’s The Husband. Yogyakarta:
English Language Education Study Program, Department of Language and Arts Education, Faculty of Teachers Training and Education, Sanata Dharma University.
This study is concerned with the influence of the abusive parents on the minor character in Dean Koontz novel entitled The Husband. The abuses which happen to Anson have shaped his personality development into adulthood. This novel contains many meaningful lessons of life. Moreover, it is interesting to discuss the influence of parents’ abuse on children because it can give some information both to children and parents. Therefore, child abuse can be prevented and reduced.
There are three problems analyzed in this study: (1) How is Anson described in Dean Koontz’s The Husband? (2) What kinds of abuses does Anson experience in Dean Koontz’s The Husband ? (3) What are the influence and the effect of Anson parents’ abuse to Anson’s personality development?
This study used psychological approach in order to analyze child abuse and Anson’s personality development. Library study was also applied in this study. This study used two main sources. The primary source is a novel The Husband written by Dean Koontz. The secondary sources are some books and internet sources related to child abuse and personality development. This study used theory of character and characterization, theory of abuse and theory of personality to answer those problems formulation.
After analyzing the novel, there are three points that can be concluded. First, Anson is described as a person who has round character. He is obedient, smart, kind, masculine and ambitious. Second, there are two kinds of abuses which happen to Anson, namely physical and psychological abuse. Third, parents’ abuses influence Anson’s personality development. The abuses which have happened to him change him to be more ambitious and leave psychological scars on Anson’s life. Abuses happen to him affect his ambition to get the freedom. It makes him evil, arrogant, self-loving, and self-pitying. Moreover, he brings his heart to kill his parents to take revenge the bad treatment in his childhood.
This study is expected to add some information for the future researches who analyze the same novel or topic. Besides, this study is suggested for English teacher. This novel is proposed for the implementation of literary works in teaching learning activity, as one of materials to teach Intensive Reading I in English Education Study Program, Sanata Dharma University. Keywords: character, personality, physical abuse, psychological abuse, and psychological approach.
ABSTRAK
Utami, Berlina Budi. (2009). The Influence of Parents’ Abuse on Anson’s
Personality Development as Seen in Dean Koontz’s The Husband. Yogyakarta:
Program Studi Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris, Jurusan Pendidikan Bahasa dan Seni, Fakultas Keguruan dan Ilmu Pendidikan, Universitas Sanata Dharma.
Studi ini menganalisa pengaruh kekerasan dari orangtua pada tokoh pendukung dalam novel The Husband karya Dean Koontz. Kekerasan yang terjadi pada Anson membentuk perkembangan kepribadian ketika dewasa. Novel ini mempunyai banyak pelajaran hidup yang berarti. Selain itu, pengaruh dari kekerasan orangtua pada perkembangan kepribadian, menarik untuk dibahas karena bisa memberi informasi bagi anak-anak dan orangtua. Sehingga kekerasan pada anak dapat dicegah dan dikurangi.
Ada tiga pokok bahasan yang dibahas dalam studi ini : (1) Bagaimana Anson dideskripsikan dalam The Husband karya Dean Koontz? (2) Jenis kekerasan apa saja yang dialami oleh Anson dalam The Husband karya Dean Koontz? (3) Apa pengaruh dan dampak kekerasan dari orangtua pada perkembangan kepribadian Anson?
Studi ini menggunakan pendekatan psikologi untuk menganalisa kekerasan orangtua dan perkembangan kepribadian Anson. Studi pustaka juga diterapkan dalam studi ini. Studi ini menggunakan dua sumber. Sumber utama adalah novel The Husband karya Dean Koontz. Sumber pendukung adalah buku-buku dan sumber internet yang terkait dengan kekerasan anak dan perkembangan kepribadian. Untuk menjawab permasalahan-permasalahan diatas, studi ini menggunakan teori karakter, teori kekerasan, dan teori kepribadian.
Setelah menganalisa novel tersebut, ada tiga hal yang bisa disimpulkan. Pertama, Anson dideskripsikan sebagai tokoh bulat. Dia patuh, pintar, baik, maskulin dan ambisius. Kedua, ada dua jenis kekerasan yang terjadi pada Anson yaitu kekerasan fisik dan psikologi. Ketiga, kekerasan dari orangtua mempengaruhi perkembangan kepribadian Anson. Kekerasan yang dialami Anson merubahnya menjadi lebih ambisius dan meninggalkan bekas luka psikologis dalam kehidupan Anson. Kekerasan yang terjadi pada masa kecilnya mempengaruhi ambisinya untuk mendapatkan kebebasan. Hal ini membuatnya jahat, angkuh, cinta diri, dan mengasihi diri. Bahkan, dia tega membunuh orangtuanya sebagai balas dendam atas perlakuan buruk mereka pada masa kecilnya.
Studi ini diharapkan bisa menambah informasi bagi peneliti-peneliti berikutnya yang menganalisa novel atau topik yang sama. Disamping itu, novel ini diusulkan sebagai penerapan karya sastra dalam kegiatan pembelajaran sebagai salah satu bahan untuk mengajar Intensive Reading I di Program Studi Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris, Universitas Sanata Dharma. Kata kunci: karakter, kepribadian, kekerasan fisik, kekerasan psikologis, dan
pendekatan psikologi
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to express my greatest gratitude to my savior, Jesus Christ. His unlimited love and his sacrifice are the best gift in my life. I could accomplish my thesis because of His blessing and grace. Thanks for His chance that I could finish it.
My deepest appreciation goes to my major sponsor, V. Tripihatmini, S.Pd.,
M.Hum., M.A. who has guided and helped me in giving suggestion, correction,
feedback, and advice. I thank her for devoting her time and her effort to improve my thesis.
My gratitude goes to all lecturers and PBI staff. They have given me a chance to study and guided me until the end of my study in Sanata Dharma University.
My sincere gratitude goes to my beloved parents FX. Suyoto and Sayekti, my sister Atin Kristiyaningrum and my brother in-law Wisnu Widjajayanto who always support and love me. I also give my gratitude to Handita Adhi who always gives me love, prayer, and motivation.
My special gratitude goes to Rindang Kurniasari, Room Mawardi
Yohanes, Nancy Paula, Patrice, Chandra, and Andreas Aris Ardianto who have
helped me in giving suggestion and correction to my thesis. My next gratitude goes to my friends, Gregoria Antris Dewanti and Arum Kusumawardhani for their kindness and beautiful smile for me.
I would like to express my appreciation to my classmates Gregoria Mayang
Dwiandhesti, Andreas Indra Pangarsa, Yb Agung, Anasthasia Erlita Putri,
Maria Stefani Taju, Koko Adityanto, and all managers in Golden Compass
Rinanti Nur Oktapuri, Dinar Ratnasari, Kris Widiastoto, and Intan who have
taught me about friendship, loyalty, and team work. My gratitude also goes to Dedy Agung Kris who always supports and cares to me.
I would like to express my gratitude to all people who have helped me in accomplishing my thesis.
Berlina Budi Utami
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page TITLE PAGE ..……………………………………………………………... i
APPROVAL PAGES ………………………………………………………. ii STATEMENT OF WORK’S ORIGINALITY …………………………… iv
PAGE OF DEDICATION …………………………………………………. v
LEMBAR PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN PUBLIKASI
UNTUK KEPENTINGAN AKADEMIS ……………….……………………. vi
ABSTRACT ……………………..…………………………………………. vii
ABSTRAK ….………………………………………………………………… viii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ……….……………………………………….. ix TABLE OF CONTENTS ………………………………………………... ... xi LIST OF APPENDICES ………...………………………………………… xiv
CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION A. Background of the Study ………………………………... 1 B. Problem Formulation ………….…………………...…….. 6 C. Objectives of the Study …………………………..………. 6 D. Benefits of the Study ……………………………………… 7 E. Definition of Terms ….…………………………………… 8
CHAPTER II. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE A. Review of Related Theories…………….…………….... 10
1. Critical Approach……………………………...... 10 2. Theory Character and Characterization…………..
12
3. Kinds of Abuses………………………………… 16
4. Theory of Personality ……………………………
21 B. Theoretical Framework………………………………….. 27
CHAPTER III. METHODOLOGY A. Object of the Study ………..………………………………. 29 B. Approach of the Study……………………………………. 30 C. Method of the Study ………………………………………. 31 CHAPTER IV. ANALYSIS A. The Personality of Anson…………………………………... 33
1. Obedient ……………………………………………… 34
2. Smart ……………………………………………..….. 35
3. Kind ….. ……..………………………………………. 37
4. Masculine …………………………………………….. 38
5. Ambitious.…………………………………………….. 39 6. Hard Worker ……...…………………………………...
40
B. The Abuses of Anson’s Parents …………………………... 40
1. The Background of Anson’s Parents Abuse Him…… 41 2. The Kinds of the Parental Abuse toward Anson……..
43 C. The Influence of Child Abuse to Anson’s Personality Development…………………………………...
50
1. Anson’s Personality Development……………………… 50
2. The Factors Influence Anson’s Personality Development ……………………………......... 58
CHAPTER V. CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS A. Conclusions …………………………………………………. 60 B. Suggestions
1. Suggestion to Future Researchers ……………………… 63
2. Suggestion for Teaching Intensive Reading I Using Literary Work ……………………………….......... 64
REFERENCES ……………….………………………………………................. 66 APPENDICES ………………………………………………………………… 68
LIST OF APPENDICES
APPENDIX 1 Cover of The Husband …………………………………… 68 APPENDIX 2 Summary of The Husband ………………………………. 69 APPENDIX 3 Biography of Dean Koontz ……………………………… 72 APPENDIX 4 Lesson Plan for Teaching Intensive Reading I ……………. 74 APPENDIX 5 Learning Material for Teaching Intensive Reading I ……… 77 APPENDIX 6 Reading Passage …………………………………………… 79
CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION This chapter consists of five parts. First, the background of the study
discusses the important topic. Second, the problem formulation mentions the main problems that will be analyzed. Third, the objectives of the study explain the aims of this study. The next part is the benefits of the study. The last part is the definition of terms. It describes several terms significantly related to the topic of this study.
A. Background of the Study There are many problems related to the children personality development.
Abuse is one of problems which often happens to children. It can happen in a family, especially in the process of rearing child. According to Crosson Cynthia and Tower, “the parents-child relationship, they contend, is the basis on which a child’s emotional growth depends. Only when parents fail to nurture that child’s growth in the most minimal way should intervention be considered” (40).
In the family, especially in early age, children build their self-concepts. In this period, they begin to build their character, emotion, and further to develop personality. The children build their personality by grasping the information and knowledge around them and put it in their mind. If the information has a good value, usually their concept of life and the personality development will be good. However, if the children put the bad experience in their mind, it will usually build bad personality development in their adulthood.
According to Craig, “two of the strongest influences on a child’s personality development arise from his relationships with siblings, peers and from his parents’ attitudes toward child-rearing” (394). Therefore, child’s experience is one of factors which can influence personality development. Parental abuse is one of children problems which can be found around us. The example of parental abuse is parents who ask their children with rude words and they sometimes force their children to follow parents’ instruction or parents’ expectation. Therefore, children lose their freedom to build their own imagination and to enjoy their childhood.
The story of the novel is usually the reflection of human life . Therefore, the atmosphere and the plot of the story in the novel are created as natural as possible. The problems in the novel are also close with the human life. The phenomenon about child’s problems especially abuse also happens in Indonesia.
Lombok is one of beautiful islands in Indonesia. Behind its beauty, it hides the issue of child abuse. Melati (not her real name), eight years old, lives there with her family. One day her mother notices that Melati does not walk correctly and bringing her to the health clinic. The doctors find that she is bleeding, and after an internal exam, it becomes clear that she has been sexually abused (http://indonesiabuse.html). Abuse, which happens to Melati, is only one of the examples of child abuse done by adult. This case indicates that child abuse can happen every time and everywhere, therefore this case needs more attention and prevention.
Sexual abuse, which happens to Melati, is only one of examples of the kinds of child abuses. The kinds of child abuses and the effects should be known in order to decrease and solve the problem of child abuse gradually . There are many kinds of child abuses. Those are physical, emotional or psychological abuse, and sexual abuse. Some factors can change the personality and this study concerns to examine parents’ abuse as one of the factors which can change the personality as seen in Dean Koontz’s The Husband.
This study will discuss about parents’ abuse which happens to Anson in Dean Koontz’s The Husband. Koontz is one of America’s authors of thrillers and The Husband is one of the fiction novels written by him. Generally, this novel tells about love, criminals and thriller which happen to Holly, Mitch Rafferty’s wife, the main character of this novel. However, this study will concern about Anson’s abuse experience in the childhood which has relationship with Anson personality development and the cause of kidnap case happened to Mitch, Anson’s brother and Holly.
Anson is the oldest child of his siblings. He has one brother named Mitch, twenty eight and three sisters named Connie, thirty one , Megan, twenty nine, who has highest IQ, and Portia, the youngest sister. His parents, Dr. Daniel and Katherine Rafferty are both doctors of behavioral psychology at UCI (University of California Irvine-ed). His father always emphasizes about self-sufficient. His parents use learning room as a tool for child rearing. The parents use learning room to isolate them from the society. It is like a home schooling, but it is stricter. As a mother, Kathy has no firm opinions in the rearing child. However, she wants to prove the method used by her husband. In other words, Anson’s parents use their children for their experiment of learning room in the rearing child.
Daniel and Kathy also ask Anson to play the shame game. He should be naked twenty-four hours for seven days while his families remain clothed. His parents make him not have sensibility and shame . It appears in the novel that the parents think that modesty is related to diffidence, and diffidence is related to shyness. Shyness is a synonym for timidity. Anson is clever. Anson’s score is always close to Megan’s score. However, he feels so depressed, he does not like the child-rearing system applied by his parents.
According to his parents’ opinion, fantasy is a doorway to superstition. Therefore, his parents never permit him to read fairy tale. Anson dreams of one day owning a sailing yacht. Anson begins to dream of sailing because his parents suffer motion sickness and aversion to the sea. He wants to free himself from his parents and he thinks that the sea is the place in which he can get his freedom and no one can drive him. As the oldest, Anson always tries to give motivation to his siblings through the childhood.
His parents always force him to have confidence and to follow their expectation, because he is the oldest child in his family. The parents expect that Anson can give good example to his siblings. However, in adult, his personality has changed. His ambition to get his freedom influences him to do such kind of criminality. The worst action is that he drops the dime on his own brother just to prove he that is the hardest and strongest and brings his heart to kill his parents. He takes revenge for bad treatment of parents’ abuse in his childhood.
The writer chooses this novel because there are many aspects which can be dug out. This novel does not only tell about love and criminal conflicts but also tells that childhood experience can effect the personality development. The parental abuse is described in this novel especially which happens to Anson. In the novel, he is described as a character who has been abused by his parents in his childhood. Child abuse is not always physical or sexual abuse but it can be physical abuse, which is followed by psychological abuse, as seen in Anson’s experience. In his childhood, he is an obedient child. Anson always tries to fulfill his parents’ expectation. He becomes parents’ favorite son because of his achievement. However, his personality has changed. He does everything to reach his dream. He collects a lot of money and even does such kind of criminality to be free from his parents. Referring to Anson’s experience, this study focuses on Anson’s character described in the story, the kinds of abuses happen to him, and the influence of parents’ abuse to Anson’s personality development.
The phenomenon about parental abuse and its effects are the interesting topics to be analyzed. These topics are closer with our life and often happen to the children. One possible reason why children behave or have bad personality is their experiences which happened in their childhood especially in early year, as stated by Craig above. In the early year, children begin to build self-concept. Some children are happy with their childhood. However, the others who have bad experience during their childhood do not feel happy, as happens to Anson, one of minor characters in Dean Koontz’s The Husband.
As one of students of English Education Study Program, who concerns about children and education, the writer wants to know about parents’ abuse and its effects for children personality development in order to protect the children and avoid parents’ abuse to happen. The writer tries to discuss this novel from psychological aspect.
B. Problem Formulation
Related to the background of the study, this study is going to answer three problems. Those are:
1. How is Anson described in Dean Koontz’s The Husband?
2. What kinds of abuses does Anson experience in Dean Koontz’s The
Husband ? 3.
What are the influence and the effect of Anson parents’ abuse to Anson’s personality development?
C. Objectives of the Study
This part states the purpose of the study undertaken in relation to the research questions. There are three objectives in this study. The first objective is to describe Anson’s character in the novel, the second is to find out the kinds of abuses which influence to Anson. The third one is to know the influence and the effect of parents’ abuse done by his parents to Anson’s personality development.
Having found the answer of those problems, this study is expected to give the information about child abuse to the readers of this thesis. Therefore, the child abuse can be prevented and can be solved.
D. Benefits of the Study
There are four benefits of this study. They are for the English Education Study Program in Sanata Dharma University, for the other researchers, for the readers, and for the writer. The first is for the English Education Study Program in Sanata Dharma University. This study is expected to describe the Anson’s personality in the novel clearly and to implement literary work such as novel in teaching learning activity like in Intensive Reading I.
The second is for the other researchers, especially the students of English Education Study Program. By reading this thesis, the students will find out the types and the influence of abuses as seen in Dean Koontz’s The Husband. Further, this study can be used as the reference for the researchers who will analyze the same topic or same novel. This study is expected to add some information for the next researches.
The third is for the readers of this thesis. Generally, this study aims to give some information about abuses and know the effects of parents’ abuse to the children personality development. The last is for the writer. This novel inspires some lessons of life and enriches the writer about the information related to parents’ abuse so that child abuse can be avoided.
E. Definition of Terms
This part presents several terms and the definitions dealt with what the writer needs to discuss in this thesis. The aim of this part is to avoid misconception and misinterpretation. Those terms are:
1. Influence
According to Horace B. English and Champney English, “influence is part-cause of an event or condition that which has effect on an even” (108). In this study, the word “influence” refers to the Anson’s experience in his childhood which causes his bad personality development.
2. Abuse
According to Crosson and Tower, “Abuse refers to the use or treatment of something (a person, item, substance, concept, or vocabulary) that is harmful” (10). In this study, abuse is focused on physical and psychological abuse done by Anson’s parents.
3. Personality
Allport as cited in Hurlock states that Personality is the dynamic organization within the individual of those psychophysical system that determine his unique adjustments to his environment. Personality type refers to the psychological classification of different types of people. Personality types are distinguished from personality traits, which come in different levels or degree (462).
Ernest R. Hilgard states “Personality is the characteristic patterns of behavior and modes of thinking that determine a person’s adjustment to the environment” (383). In this study, the word “personality” refers to the Anson’s characterization in the novel as the result of his early year experience factor
4. Effect
According to Horace B. English and Champney English, “effect is a phenomenon or event that in variably follows a certain other phenomenon and never occurs except in such sequence” (170). In this study, the word “effect” refers to the result of the rearing method applied by Anson’s parents to Anson’s personality development.
CHAPTER II REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE This chapter is divided into two main divisions. The first part is the review
of related theories. These are the theories which are relevant with the study. The second one is theoretical framework. It explains the contribution on each theory in solving the problems.
A. Review of Related Theories
The review of related theories consists of the theory of literary approach, theory of character and characterization, theory of abuse, and theory of personality. The review of related theories reviews the theories applied in conducting the study.
1. Critical Approach
According to Rohrberger and Woods the critical approach is divided into five approaches to analyze a work of literature. Those are “formalist approach, biographical approach, sociocultural-historical approach, mythopoeic approach, psychological approach” (6). The first one is the formalist approach, “this approach concerns with demonstrating the harmonious involvement of all the parts to the whole and with pointing out how meaning is derived from structure and how matters of technique determine structure” (6). The formalist approach is
11 not necessary to study the author’s life, the social background and the psychological aspects, or any sources related to the work.
The second approach is the biographical approach, “this approach asserts the necessity for an appreciation of the ideas and personality of the author to an understanding of the literary object” (8). Therefore, it puts an emphasize on the author’s life and background to get a good understanding about literary works because sometimes the literary work produced by the authors is based on their life experiences. However, the reader cannot judge any moral value of the writing based on the life of the writer.
The third one is the sociocultural-historical approach, “it investigates the social milieu in which a work was created and which it necessarily reflects” (9).
Establishing the validity of the text is evidence to support the readers in analyzing a work of literature. Literary works can be a portrait of events at a certain moment in time.
The fourth one is the mythopoeic approach, “it seeks to discover certain universally recurrent pattern of human thought, which they believe find expression in significant works of art” (11). The universally recurrent patterns are those that found first expression in an ancient myths and folk rites. Those are very basic to human thought that they have meaning for all men.
The last one is psychological approach. It involves the effort to locate and to demonstrate certain recurrent patterns. It draws on a different body of knowledge, “one of the most powerful of the conflicts arising from the interplay of parts of the personality occurs early in childhood” (13).
12 Atkinson states that psychoanalytic theories explore the private personality; the unconscious motives that direct behavior, “psychoanalytic theory is also concerned with the way in which personality develops” (395). Both Woods and Atkinson have the similar idea about psychological approach. They emphasize the way personality develops. Since the topics in this study, character, abuse, and personality are parts of psychological knowledge, psychological approach is the proper approach as a base in analyzing this study.
2. Character and Characterization
a. Definition of Character and Characterization
According to Abrams, character can be defined in two. First, “character is the name of literary genre” (23). It usually draws as a short and amusing in prose of a distinctive type of person. Second, “character is the person presented in dramatic of narrative work”(23). This character is interpreted by the reader as being gifted with moral, dispositional and emotional qualities. Those are expressed in what they say the dialogue and by what they do the action. In this study, the second definition is the appropriate definition to define the character of the novel.
Rohrberger and Woods state, “character involves person who acts out in a particular time and place some kind of conflict in a pattern of event” (20). This study needs theory of character because characters have particular personalities and physical attributes that distinguish them from other characters. The process by which an author creates a character in the story is called characterization.
13 According to Abcarian and Klotz, “characterization is the process by which the character is rendered to make them seem real to the reader” (6).
Murphy states “characters and personality are conveyed to the readers to make them understand” (161). Both Abcarian and Murphy have similar idea to conclude the character and characterization in the story. Both of them aim to make the readers understand each character appears in the story. This theory can be used to analyze Anson’s character in Dean Koontz’s The Husband.
b. Types of Characters
Forster, as quoted in Abram’s, divides character in two parts. They are flat and round characters. “A flat character is presented without much individualizing detail and can be fairly adequately described in a single phrase or sentence” (24). A round character is complex in temperament and motivation is represented with subtle particularity. Guth and Rico states, “A flat character is a one-dimensional character, which has a one-tract personality” (70). Flat character is simpler than round character, because a round character has a combination of traits. This character usually undergoes changes in some aspects.
Murphy states that there are nine ways, in which an author attempts to make each character in the story understandable and come alive for the readers.
Those are personal description, character as seen by another, speech, past life, conversation of others, reaction, direct comment, thought, and mannerism. First is personal description, “the author can describe a person’s appearance and clothes” (161). This way describes the character from the body. It gives the detail
14 information to the readers about the appearance such as hair, scar, and skin.
Therefore, the readers are helped to imagine the character which is pictured in the novel from the body or appearance.
The second is character as seen by another. Instead of describing a character directly, “the author can describe him through the eyes and opinions of another” (162). The author describes one character from another character’s opinion. It describes the impression of one character to the other. In this method, the readers are helped to understand the character in the story from another’s point of view.
The third is speech, “the author can give us an insight into the character of one of the person in the book through what that person’s says” (164). How the person says in the novel can be used as a clue to know the character. The way the person gives opinion can be used to know the character, as seen from their diction to deliver the message or information and how they give comment or suggestion.
The fourth is past life. “by letting the readers learn something about person’s past life, the author can give us a clue to events that have helped to shape a person’s character” (166). The person’s character can be seen from the past life. What happened in the past life and how the past life may influence in building the character. Therefore, the readers can conclude the person’s character from the person’s background in the past.
The fifth is conversation of others, “the author can also give us clues to a person’s character through the conversations of other people and the things they say about him” (167). The attempt to know about person’s character does not
15 always come directly from the author. It can be concluded from the conversation, how people give opinion to someone.
The sixth is reaction. The author can also give us a clue to a person’s character by letting us know how that person reacts to the various situations and events. The people’s character can be seen from not only how they speak but also how they react to something. The reaction indicates their quality, because what they react is the reflection of their mind. The readers can know the person’s character from their reaction.
The seventh is direct comment. “the author can describe or comment on a person’s character directly” (170). The author directly helps the readers to know the character in the novel by giving the information and clue about the person’s character. The author describes each character in the story so that the readers can imagine the description of the character in the way.
The next way is thought, “the author can give us direct knowledge of what a person is thinking about” (171). What the character thinks is the clue of forming the character. Therefore, by knowing the person’s thought the readers can decide his character in the story. The last method is mannerism, “the author can describe a person’s mannerisms, habits or idiosyncrasies which may also tell us something about his character” (173). What the person usually does can reflect his character, for example someone’s character who loves jazz music may be different from the one who loves rock music. Therefore, mannerism can be used to identify the character in the story. Those methods above are the attempts to analyze the character which is described by the author of the story. In this study, those ways
16 can be used in understanding and analyzing Anson’s character in Dean Koontz’s The Husband.
3. Kinds of Abuses
According to Pritchard Colin, there are three kinds of abuses. Those are “physical, emotional or psychological, and sexual abuse” (11). In child abuse cases, there are two main factors those are the abuse and abuser, and the impact of child abuse. Theory of abuse is needed to describe the kinds of abuses and the abuser and the influence of abuse. This theory is needed to identify and categorize the kinds of abuse which happen to Anson.
a. Physical Abuse
Physical abuse is the most obvious abuse, which can be detected and observed. Physical abuse often leaves scar, therefore it is easier to be recorded.
Pritchard Colin
According to there are many forms of physical abuse, such as “frequent or severe hitting, slapping, beating, shaking, punching, kicking” (12)
Crosson and Tower states, “the cause of physical abuse can be categorized in three. Those are the psychodynamic or character-trait models, the interactional models, and the environmental/ sociological/ culturally based models” (97). First is the psychodynamic or character-trait models, both of them attribute the abuse to characteristics of the abusive parents. Second is the interactional models. It considers how the interactions between the victim and the abuser or the dynamics within the family gives rise to an abusive situation. The third is the environmental/
17 sociological/ culturally based models, which focus on the part that the milieu, and stressors within the milieu, plays in the abuse.
Physical abuse is the easiest abuse to be observed and to be taken action to against, because it usually leaves scars. It causes damages and injures the body.
Sometimes in some cases of abuse, discipline is often used as the reason to give punishment. The frequent punishment such as hitting, kicking, or slapping can be categorized as physical abuse because the aim is not to make the children discipline but more to make the children trauma. The punishment which related to body or a treatment which limits the space to move and develop his body can be categorized as physical abuse. The traumatic experience happens to the victim leaves indelible memory. Therefore, in some cases physical abuse has related to the psychological abuse.
b. Psychological Abuse
Garbino et al. as cited in Pritchard Colin states, “the presence of one of these types of emotional abuse is sufficient to cause long-term psychological harm if it is profound and repeated in nature” (12). Psychological abuse is difficult to be observed because it is related to the emotion inside. It cannot be seen physically.
However, sometimes it relates to physical abuse too, if the physical abuse gives long traumatic to the victim.
There are some treatments which can be categorized as psychological abuse “Threats to injure or kill; constant sneering/sarcasm or belittling; throwing
18 away or destroying toys; forbidden to speak or play; scapegoating; favoritism to
(12)
siblings; locked in room or confined space” Crosson states, “Emotional or psychological maltreatment underlies all types or neglect” (216). Psychological abuse is more difficult to observe than physical or sexual abuse. Therefore, it is unnoticed or untreated. The effect of emotional abuse can be detected if the victim shares or if the victim demonstrates behavior problems such as anger, depression or maladjustment. Garbarino as cited in Cynthia Crosson and Tower states that today psychological is not an inaccessible event, but rather a pattern of physically destructive behavior that may include rejecting, isolating, terrorizing, ignoring, and corrupting (216)
First is rejecting. When the adult refuses to acknowledge the child’s worth or the legitimacy of the child’s need is the kind of rejecting. Second is isolating.
Isolating is one of the patterns of physical destructive, which can cause psychological abuse. It happens when the adult isolates the child from normal social experiences, prevents the child from forming friendships and makes the child believes that he or she is alone in the world.