ED BOONE’S MOTIVES FOR KILLING THE DOG IN MARK HADDON’S THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME A THESIS

  ED BOONE’S MOTIVES FOR KILLING THE DOG IN MARK HADDON’S THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG

  IN THE NIGHT-TIME A THESIS

  Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements to Obtain the Sarjana Pendidikan Degree in English Language Education

  By Galuh Dwi Ajeng

  Student Number: 051214150

ENGLISH LANGUAGE EDUCATION STUDY PROGRAM DEPARTMENT OF LANGUAGE AND ARTS EDUCATION FACULTY OF TEACHERS TRAINING AND EDUCATION SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY YOGYAKARTA 2009

  ED BOONE’S MOTIVES FOR KILLING THE DOG IN MARK HADDON’S THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG

  IN THE NIGHT-TIME A THESIS

  Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements to Obtain the Sarjana Pendidikan Degree in English Language Education

  By Galuh Dwi Ajeng

  Student Number: 051214150

ENGLISH LANGUAGE EDUCATION STUDY PROGRAM DEPARTMENT OF LANGUAGE AND ARTS EDUCATION FACULTY OF TEACHERS TRAINING AND EDUCATION SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY YOGYAKARTA 2009

  Do it not for your glory but for His glory!

• Mother Teresa-

  Dedicated with love and gratitude to: Everyone who is willing to respect others’ work

  

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 bibliography, as a scientific paper should.

  

ABSTRACT

  Ajeng, Galuh Dwi. Ed Boone’s Motives for Killing the Dog in Mark Haddon’s The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. Yogyakarta: English Language Education Study Program Department of Language and Arts Education.

  Faculty of Teachers Training and Education. Sanata Dharma University, 2009.

  This study discusses the motives of disastrous action conducted by Ed Boone, one of the main characters in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. This study aims to find Ed Boone’s hidden reasons for killing the dog. In order to do so, there are two questions to answer: (1) “How is Ed Boone described in the novel?” (2) “What are the motives of Ed Boone to kill the dog?”

  The sources in this study are taken from books and the internet. The novel, Mark Haddon’s The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is used as the main source. This study makes use of psychological approach. The theories used are theory of character, characterization and theory of psychology. In theory of psychology, I use Freud’s personality structure and defense mechanisms.

  The findings of this study are: First, the characteristics of Ed Boone are loving, patient, honest, and tidy. Here loving means that he really loves his son though his son has asperger syndrome meaning he has difficulty in communicating with others and showing his emotion. He is a patient person who can be described as the most levelheaded person in his family. Moreover, Ed Boone is an honest person. He always tells the truth to his son, Christopher. Then, Mark Haddon describes Ed Boone as a tidy person because he likes everything put in a good order. Second, Ed Boone’s motives to kill the dog are because of jealousy, disappointment, anger that his needs to love and to be loved are denied. These feelings come from his unconscious conflicts that are due to his relations with Mrs. Boone, Mr. Shears and Mrs. Shears. These lead him to kill the dog. Thus his motivation is to release his anger.

  Finally, it is suggested that certain passages of the novel can be used as the material to teach Intensive Reading II. It is also recommended that further researchers conduct research on the motive of Boone’s wife.

  

ABSTRAK

  Ajeng, Galuh Dwi. Ed Boone’s Motives for Killing the Dog in Mark Haddon’s The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. Yogyakarta: Program Studi Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris. Jurusan Pendidikan Bahasa dan Seni. Fakultas Keguruan dan Ilmu Pendidikan. Universitas Sanata Dharma, 2009.

  Studi ini membahas tentang alasan - alasan yang tersembunyi dari aksi Ed Boone, salah satu tokoh utama di The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night- Time, yang mebawa malapetaka. Studi ini bertujuan untuk menemukan alasan – alasan Ed Boone yang tersembunyi untuk membunuh anjing. Untuk menemukan alasan – alasan tersebut ada dua pertanyaan yang akan dijawab: (1) “Bagaimana Ed Boone digambarkan di dalam novel?” (2) “Apa alasan – alasan Ed Boone untuk membunuh anjing?”

  Sumber - sumber di dalam studi ini adalah data yang dapat dari buku – buku dan dari internet. Data utama dari studi ini adalah The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time karangan Mark Haddon. Studi ini menggunakan pendekatan psikologi. Teori – teori yang digunakan adalah teori karakter, karakterisasi dan teori psikologi. Di dalm teori psikologi, saya menggunakan

  Freud’s personality structure dan defense mechanims

  Hasil dari studi ini adalah: Pertama, sifat – sifat Ed Boone adalah penyayang, sabar, jujur dan teratur. Penyayang karena dia sangat menyayangi anaknya walaupun sang anak memiliki sindrom asperger yang berarti bahwa dia memiliki kesulitan dalam berkomunikasi dan dalam mengatur emosinya. Ed Boone adalah orang yang sabar karena dia adalah orang yang paling dapat berfikir tenang diantara keluarganya. Selain itu, Ed Boone adalah orang yang jujur. Dia selalu berkata jujur kepada anaknya, Christopher. Lalu, Mark Haddon juga mendiskripsikan Ed Boone sebagai orang yang teratur karena dia menyukai segala sesuatu dalam keadaan yang baik dan teratur. Kedua, alasan – alasan Ed Boone untuk membunuh anjing adalah rasa cemburunya, kecewanya, kemarahanya bahwa kebutuhannya untuk mencintai dan dicintainya disangkal. Perasaan – perasaan ini timbul karena adanya tekanan yang berasal dari konflik - konflik yang terjadi di dalam alam bawah sadarnya. Konflik – konflik ini berhubungan dengan orang –orang terdekatnya seperti istrinya serta ibu dan bapak Shears.

  Akhirnya, disarankan bahwa bagian tertentu pada novel ini dapat digunakan sebagai bahan untuk mengajar Intensive Reading II. Bagi para peneliti yang akan datang dianjurkan untuk mengadakan penelitian tentang alasan yang tersembunyi dari istri Ed Boone.

  

LEMBAR PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN

PUBLIKASI KARYA ILMIAH UNTUK KEPENTINGAN AKADEMIS

Yang bertanda tangan di bawah ini, saya mahasiswa Universitas Sanata Dharma : Nama : Galuh Dwi Ajeng

  Nomor Mahasiswa : 051214150

Demi pengembangan ilmu pengetahuan, saya memberikan kepada Perpustakaan

Universitas Sanata Dharma karya ilmiah saya yang berjudul :

  

ED BOONE’S MOTIVES FOR KILLING THE DOG IN MARK HADDON’S

THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME

beserta perangkat yang diperlukan (bila ada). Dengan demikian saya memberikan

kepada Perpustakaan Universitas Sanata Dharma hak untuk menyimpan, me-

ngalihkan dalam bentuk media lain, mengelolanya dalam bentuk pangkalan data,

mendistribusikan secara terbatas, dan mempublikasikannya di Internet atau media

lain untuk kepentingan akademis tanpa perlu meminta ijin dari saya maupun

memberikan royalti kepada saya selama tetap mencantumkan nama saya sebagai

penulis. Demikian pernyataan ini yang saya buat dengan sebenarnya. Dibuat di Yogyakarta Pada tanggal : 30 Oktober 2009 Yang menyatakan ( Galuh Dwi Ajeng)

  

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  First of all, I would like to thank Jesus Christ for His blessing and guidance. He becomes my very best friend that I have ever had. He is always beside me in every moment in my life especially when I needed His help finishing my thesis. His love is very incredible. I do love Him. Then to Mother Mary, the amazing mother in the world, I thank her for making me always have a hope needed when I am distressed or in sorrow. Through her, I always remember that God will always hear my prayers.

  Second, I send my gratitude to my beloved mother, F. Titik Murniati, my beloved father H. Djoko Pamungkas S.E., who always pray for me, share their love, and give me spirit to finish my study in ELSP. They also become my motivation to finish my study. I would be nothing without their kindness and patience. I love them very much. Then for my beloved sister, E. Gilang Kusumawati, who always supports me, I thank her for her suggestion, love and patience.

  Third, I would like to give my thanks to my sponsor, Drs. Antonius Herujiyanto, M.A., Ph. D., for giving me guidance and support during my thesis accomplishment. I would also extend my gratitude to all ELSP lecturers, who taught me the meaningful lessons and helped me during my study in Sanata Dharma University. Then for Laurentia Sumarni, S.Pd as my academic advisor, I express my gratitude to her for her willingness to be my friend during my study in Sanata Dharma. She knows how hard it was for me to finish my study but she always says that I should not give up. To father L. Suharjanto, S.J., S.S., B.S.T, I thank him for being my proof reader and also my friend. He gave me some advices and suggestions. I would also like to send my appreciation to Sr. Margaret who helps me check my grammar. Then, to Mba dani and Mba Tari, I thank them for their help.

  Fourth, I give my sincere appreciation to my entire friends who give me a meaningful life. I thank Novi, Opia and Lia for their spirit especially during my thesis accomplishment. We had passed many obstacles during our thesis accomplishment. Finally, we could complete my thesis. Then, I thank Mba Monic, Tari, Luki, Epha, Eska, Topik, Damaris, Bejo, Andi, Rani, Delfin and Nancy for their spirits that always remind me how to work hard. I also thank Menur crew, Damai, Elgo, Mita, Mba Ririn, Ana, Melati, Vina, Erni, Lena and Ajeng for drawing my life with the beauty of friendship, thank for their kindness and loyalty. Mr. Naryo’s family, who become my family in Yogyakarta I would like to thank them for their patience and kindness during my study in ELSP. I also thank my ESLP class members for being my best class members.

  Finally, I would like to thank everyone who was willing to help me finish my thesis. I would not finish it without their help, love, support, prayers, patience and kindness.

  Galuh

  

TABLE OF CONTENTS

  Page TITLE PAGE …………………………………………………………….. i APPROVAL PAGES ……………………………………………………… ii PAGE OF DEDICATION …………………………………………………. iv STATEMENT OF WORK’S ORIGINALITY ………………………...... v ABTRACT ……………………………………………………………….. vi

  

ABSTRAK ……………………………………………………………….... vi

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ………………………………………………. viii TABLE OF CONTENTS …………………………………………………. x LIST OF APPPENDICES ……………………………………………….... xiv LIST OF DIAGRAMS ……………………………………………………... xv

  CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background of the Study ……………………………..

  1 1.2 Objective of the Study ………………………………..

  4 1.3 Problem Formulation ………………………………....

  4

  1.4 Problem Limitation ……………………………………

  4

  1.5 The Benefit of the Study ………………………………

  5

  1.5.1 English Teacher or English Teacher Candidates ……………………

  5 1.5.2 Readers ………………………………………….

  5

  1.5.3 Students of English Education Study Program ………………

  2.1.2.3 Speech …………………………………… 10

  2.1.4 Theory of Psychology ……………………………. 12

  11

  2.1.2.9 Mannerism ……………………………….. 11 2.1.3 Theory of Critical Approach ……………………. .

  2.1.2.8 Thoughts …………………………………. 11

  2.1.2.7 Direct Comment …………………………. 11

  11

  2.1.2.5 Conversation of others …………………... 11 2.1.2.6 Reaction ………………………………….

  2.1.2.4 Past life …………………………………... 10

  2.1.2.2 Character as seen by others ……………… 10

  5 1.6 Definition of the Terms …………………………….....

  2.1.2.1 Personal Description …………………….. 10

  2.1.2 Theory of Characterization ………………………. 9

  2.1.1 Theory of Character ……………………………… 8

  8

  7 CHAPTER 2 REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE 2.1 Review of Related Theory ……………………………..

  7 1.6.4 Character …………………………………….......

  6 1.6.3 Motive …………………………………………...

  6 1.6.2 Motivation ……………………………………...

  6 1.6.1 Autism ………………………………………….

  2.1.4.1 Personality Structure ……………………… 13

  2.1.4.2 The Defense Mechanisms ……………….. 15

  4.1.2 Patient ……………………………………………. 26

  4.2.2.2 The Morality Principle …………………… 35

  4.2.2.1 The Reality Principle …………………….. 34

  4.2.2 The Motives of Ed Boone for Killing the Dog ………………………………...... 33

  4.2.1 The Motivation of Ed Boone for Killing the Dog …………………………………… 32

  4.2 The Hidden Reasons of Ed Boone to Kill the Dog ……..……………………………………… 31

  4.1.4 Tidy ………………………………………………. 30

  4.1.3 Honest ……………………………………………. 28

  4.1.1 Loving ……………………………………………. 23

  2.2 Theoretical Framework ……………………………....... 16

  4.1 Mr. Boone’s Character ………………………………… 22

  CHAPTER 4 ANALYSIS

  3.3 Method of the Study …………………………………… 20

  3.2 Approach of the Study …………………………………. 20

  3.1 Object of the Study …………………………………….. 19

  CHAPTER 3 METHODOLOGY

  2.4 Context of the Novel …………………………………… 18

  2.3 Criticisms …………………………………………….. 17

  4.2.2.2.1 Marriage ………………………... 35

  4.2.2.2.2 A Dog’s Level …………………. 36

  4.2.2.3 The Pleasure Principle …………………… 37

  4.2.2.3.1 Mrs. Boone …………………….. 38

  4.2.2.3.2 Mr. Shears ……………………… 39 4.2.2.3.3 Mrs. Shears …………………….

  41 CHAPTER 5 CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS

  5.1 Conclusions ……………………………………………. 43 5.2 Suggestions …………………………………………….

  45 5.2.1 Future Researcher ………………………………..

  45 5.2.2 Teaching Implementation ……………………….

  45 BIBLIOGRAPHY ………………………………………………………… 48 APPENDICES APPENDIX 1 …….………………………………………………………... (1) APPENDIX 2 ……………………………………….................................... (3) APPENDIX 3 ……………………………………………………………… (5) APPENDIX 4 ...………………………………………………………….... (8) APPENDIX 5 ……………………………………………………………… (9)

LIST OF APPPENDICES

  Page APPENDIX 1 Summary of the Novel …….……………………………… (1) APPENDIX 2 Biography of Mark Haddon ………………………………. (3) APPENDIX 3 Lesson Plan to Teach Intensive Reading I I ………………. (5) APPENDIX 4 Syllabus for Intensive Reading I I ......…………………… (8) APPENDIX 5 Reading Material ……………………………………………. (9)

LIST OF DIAGRAMS

  Page Diagram 1 ……….………………………………………………… (31) Diagram 2 ..……………………………………………………….. (44)

CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION This thesis is the study of Mr. Boone’s motives for killing Wellington, one

  of his neighbor’s dogs as seen in Mark Haddon’s The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night – Time. This chapter consists of several parts namely; background of the study, objective of the study, problem formulation, the benefits of the study, and definition of the terms.

1.1 Background of the Study

  A novel is a work of literature that draws a reflection of life. Readers can see the reality that gives them an understanding about life and its problems (Milligan 4). The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, which is written like a diary, also reflects a life with the whole conflicts that occur. The main protagonist in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is an autistic boy named Christopher. He is 15 years old. He comes from a broken family. He is different from his peers. He has unstable emotion and strange attitude. The story begins when he finds a dead dog, which is murdered by a mysterious person. In this novel, Mark Haddon tells that Christopher is a pet lover. For him, dogs are important. “I think dogs are important…” (Haddon 10). Moreover, this love drives him to investigate the murderer of the dead dog. Christopher becomes interested in being a detective and does not reduce his spirit in being a detective though his father, Mr. Boone, does not permit him to be a detective. He decides to investigate

  2 the murder of the dog secretly. On the contrary, the murderer that he looks for is his father. This condition creates many problems connecting to internal and external side of the characters.

  From the brief illustration above, there are problems, which arise in this novel. These problems become the interesting part of the novel. Moreover, the strong illustration of the characters gives me additional value to discuss one side of this novel, example Mr. Boone. Through him, one of the main characters in this novel, I realize how difficult it is to be an autistic parent. His reaction dealing with his autistic son touches me because he often acts as to what his son wants.

  Looking at his reaction dealing with his son, it illustrates that he is a good father. He exactly knows what his son likes and dislikes. He absolutely knows that his son likes a dog. In contrast, he has killed a dog. Hence, I enthuse to analyze him, as the murderer of the dog.

  As we know, for some people a dog is meaningful. Furthermore, Canis

  

lupus familiaris or dog is one of the popular and domesticated pets in the world. It

  is commonly believed that dog is human’s loyal companion. It is because dog has a close relation with human. Realizing that a dog can easily get health problems, people need to be well prepared to take care of their dog’s wellbeing. The British, for example, even develops a manual for caring for a dog, as noted in the quotation below. The statement below shows that British have great respect for their dogs.

  In order to keep a dog healthy and happy, it is necessary to provide for its basic needs of shelter and nutrition as well as pay attention to its behavior and appearance. This is very important so that you can recognize when your dog is unwell and may require veterinary treatment (“Love” 1).

  3 They love a dog as their friend and partner. That is why for British, a dog is important.

  On the contrary, Mark Haddon writes about murder mystery of the dog that is done by Mr. Boone but the setting of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is in Swindon, Wiltshire, England. Indirectly, this story becomes a contradiction when it is faced with the reality that British people really respect dogs. In addition, the motives that drive the murderer to kill the dog develop my curiosity to uncover them.

  Many different motives create human behavior. So, while talking about one’s behavior or one’s action means talking about one’s motives. In doing this disastrous action, Mr. Boone must have motives which drive him. These motives establish a motivation to do something. Besides, as what is stated in Psychological in Action, “Motivation refers to factors within an individual that activate, maintain, and direct behavior toward goal” (Huffman, J. Vernoy, M.Vernoy 392). From this statement, it is clear that motivation determines human action. Further, motivation drives human action to reach his goal. For example, Christopher becomes a detective because he wants to find the murderer of the dog. In this case, Christopher has a motivation to be detective because his goal is to find the murderer of the dog. The study, then, focuses on the description of Mr. Boone and his motives for killing Wellington.

  There are some theories used; theory of character and characterization and theory of psychology. To approach the problem, I employ psychoanalysis. The application of the theory of character and characterization is to find out how Mr.

  4 Boone is described in this novel. Then in the study, I use Freud’s personality structure in theory of psychology because this theory will be a suitable tool to explain the reason behind one’s action. Moreover, the defense mechanisms theory is the theory to explain the character’s action. I expect, this study can help the readers to realize that one’s reaction comes from one’s motives.

  1.2 Objective of the Study

  The objective of the study is to see the hidden reasons of somebody to kill somebody else’s pet as seen in Ed Boone, one of the main characters in Mark Haddon’s The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night – Time.

  1.3 Problem Formulation

  The problem in this study is formulated as follows:

  1. How is Ed Boone described in the novel?

  2. What are the motives of Ed Boone to kill Wellington?

  1.4 Problem Limitation

  This study deals with one’s motives that cause the curious incident of the dog. This study is limited only for discussing the problems formulated in the research questions. The writer would like to focus on one of the main characters' motives, Mr. Boone, why he kills the dog, named Wellington.

  5

1.5 The Benefits of the Study

  I expect that, this study can give beneficial contributions in teaching learning activities. The benefits of this study are addressed to teaching learning process, readers and students of English Education Study Program.

  1.5.1 Teaching Learning Process The author of this novel uses a simple way to create clear-cut atmosphere of the story. The dictions in this novel are also easy to understand. Knowing the positive side of this novel, the certain passages of this novel can be used as one of the materials to teach English, for example such as what is needed in Intensive Reading II.

  1.5.2 Readers Readers can see a little bit about autistic family life through Mr. Boone’s experiences. Moreover readers can also learn about how motivation drives one’s action. I also want to invite readers to look deeper into one’s actions because there must be hidden reasons or motives behind an action.

  1.5.3 Students of English Education Study Program I hope this study can help students of English Education Study Program to learn and discover something valuable and meaningful from a literally work that illustrates the reality of life. Through exploring the characters’ experience, students will understand how motivation and motives work in one’s actions.

  6

1.6 Definition of the Terms

  There are some important terms in this study. Those terms are explained to make the study easier to understand and to avoid the misunderstanding of the meaning.

  1.6.1 Autism Autism is “a severe mental illness that affects children and prevents them from communicating with other people” (Longman 115). One of the basic causes of this disorder is asperger’s syndrome. This syndrome causes children to have difficulties to communicate with other people and to express their feeling because they do not understand emotions and feeling. They are unable to express apart from basic emotions like laughing and crying. According to Robledo and Ham- Kurcharski autism is a neurobiological disorder. This disorder makes children usually manifest themselves in their toddler years. In this year, children usually indulge in imaginative play. This condition causes children to have difficulty in communicating and interacting with others (1-2).

  1.6.2 Motivation Petri explains the meaning of motivation. He states that motivation influences someone’s behavior because motivation is the basic concept of someone’s behavior. He says motivation is “…the concept we use when we describe the forces acting on or within an organism to initiate and direct behavior” (3). On the other hand, in this study motivation means a process, “the corresponding process” (Bootzin, Loftus, Zajonc 385). They note that motivation

  7 accumulates in psyche energy. Psyche energy operates in the id. Hence, it means that motivation operates in the id.

  1.6.3 Motive Motive means, “the reason that makes someone do something, especially when this reason is kept hidden” (Longman 1182). In addition, motive means,

  “the property that organizes behavior and defines it end states” (Bootzin, Loftus, Zajonc 385). An end state is “the goal or satisfaction of some need” (385). They state that motive also accumulates in the id. In this study motives mean the hidden reasons that content of forces and aims.

  1.6.4 Character According to Abrams (20) character is a person who is presented in the story. Readers interpret a character as having certain characteristics, which are expressed in what they say or dialogue and what they do or action.

CHAPTER 2 REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE This chapter consists of four main parts namely the theoretical description,

  theoretical framework, criticism and context of the novel. The first main part, the theoretical description, is divided into three basic theories such as the theory of character, characterization, and the theory of psychology. In applying theory of psychology I focus on Freud’s personality structure and defense mechanisms. I apply those relevant theories as the foundation of this study. Then the second main part consists of the theoretical framework. This part offers the explanation of how those theories are applied in answering the problem questions. The third is criticism. This part consists of several views of the novel which are used to see the other analysis of this novel. The fourth part is the context of the novel. In order to analyze the novel appropriately the context of the novel needs explaining they are socio economic, cultural and political aspect. The approach of this criticism is psychological approach that is a part of the critical approach.

2.1 Review of Related Theory

2.1.1 Theory of Character

  

In a novel there must be a character. Character represents human

  personality. According to Holman and Harmon, character is considered as a person who has a role in a story (81). Only few characters are illustrated in a language.

  9 Readers can also interpret characters through dialogue, action and thought that are expressed in the novel.

  Henkle states that there are two kinds of character, major characters and minor characters. Major characters are the most important and complicated characters in a story whereas minor characters are the opposite. The responses to the experiences of minor characters are less complex than major characters (92-97).

  Besides, a character can be static or dynamic. According to Holman and Harmon, “A static character is one who changes little if at all. Things happen to such a character without things happening within” (83). Static character does not show any important changes in response to some actions. On the other hand, they also state that “A dynamic character is one who is modified by actions and experiences, and one objectives of the work in which the character appears is to reveal the consequences of these actions” (83). As a result in response to some actions, there is a development in character’s personality that is called as dynamic character.

  The theory of character is important because this theory can help me to describe Mr. Boone’s personality as seen in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night – Time. The analysis deals with Mr. Boone’s reaction and thought.

2.1.2 Theory of Characterization

  Characterization comes from the word character. Holman and Harmon, describe characterization as the imagination of the author about the imagery person which appears in the story as if they exist as lifelike (81). Whereas Rohrberger and

  10 Woods describe characterization as a process by which an author creates characters (20-21). They also state characterization as a device to make readers believe that the character is the particular type of person.

  Through characterization, the author describes the characteristic of each character. The aim of characterization is to make readers understand the character clearly, so that they will follow the story more easily. Murphy explains nine methods in the characterization process. Those are:

  2.1.2.1 Personal Description Describing character is through character’s appearance and clothes. This description can help readers visualize the physical characteristic of the character such as the weight, the height, the skin color, and the level of the character.

  2.1.2.2 Character as seen by the others The author describes a character by using other’s opinion. The opinion may come from the others around the character.

  2.1.2.3 Speech The author describes the character in the story through what character says in his or her conversation and in giving opinion.

  2.1.2.4 Past Life Readers will understand the character in the story by learning the character’s past life. By learning the character’s past life, readers shape the character’s personality.

  11

  2.1.2.5 Conversation of Others Readers can take clues of person’s character through the conversation of other characters while they tell about a person’s character.

  2.1.2.6 Reaction The author gives clues of a person’s character by letting readers understand how the character reacts to various variation and event.

  2.1.2.7 Direct Comment The author can describe or comment on a person’s character directly.

  2.1.2.8 Thoughts What a person is thinking about can also be used to describe a person’s character.

  2.1.2.9 Mannerism This part shows that the author is able to describe a person’s mannerism and habits that may tell readers something about person’s character (161-173).

2.1.3 The theory of Critical Approach

  In explaining the analysis of this study, the critical approach is used. By using critical approach, the writer can have the basic understanding of a literally work; the nature, the historical context, the value, and the function (Daiches 312). On the other hand, Rohrberger and Woods formulate five kinds of critical approaches. The first is formalist approach. Formalist approach is an approach, which considers the aesthetic value. The second is biographical approach. Biographical approach is an approach that uses author’s background in

  12 understanding the work of art. The next is sociocultural-historical approach. This approach concerns with social, cultural, and historical events. The fourth is psychological approach. This approach works with psychological theories. Then, the fifth is mythopoeic approach. This approach deals with myth as the reference in understanding the work of literally (1-15).

  This study applies the psychological approach. It is because this study focuses on the motivation of one character in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. According to Daiches, Psychological approach is “the basic assumption of psychoanalysis that acts of every person is influenced by the forces of the unconscious” (333). This approach is also to answer the question on what is actually going on among the characters and to see the reason why the author displays certain characteristics based on the theory of psychology. In addition, this approach is used to clarify the true meaning of the text. Finally, I use the psychological approach to see the motivation, character, and behavior pattern based on the psychological theory.

2.1.4 Theory of Psychology

  Pettijohn defines that psychology is the science of behavior. Considering that psychology is related to behavior, he also describes the meaning of behavior.

  The meaning of behavior is anything we think and do. Those include mental activities, feeling, and various bodily reactions. He describes the aim of psychology. He states that psychology is used to understand someone’s behavior and help someone with personal and emotional problem (5-6). Moreover, Freud as

  13 one of the figures in psychology formulates personality structure and defense mechanism theory to understand one’s behavior.

2.1.4.1 Personality Structure

  Knowing that each person is unique and have his or her own ways of responding to the world, a famous personality theorist named Sigmund Freud develops a theory of personality. The reason why Freud can formulate this theory is because he has experiences while dealing with many kinds of hysterical patients.

  Therefore, he formulates a theory related to personality aspect. This theory is composed of three mental structures called id, ego and super ego (Huffman, J.

  Vernoy, M. Vernoy 476).

  The first is the id or unconscious forces. Freud believes that each person has psychic energy that influences one’s personality. He emphasizes that id is the original part of the psyche presented at one’s birth. Id is filled with energy that comes from the instincts without any organization because id is more about satisfaction of basic needs of pleasure principle.

  Freud characterized the id as reservoir of psychic energy that can be neither increased nor decreased. Although it is not a place, it may be seen metaphorically as a pool of instinctual biological drives presents in every individual at birth, so that the personality of a newborn is all id. (Bootzin Bootzin, Loftus, Zajonc 411) They states that, the id concerns with an instinct side which consists of the psychological expression of biologically basic need such as sex, food, warmth, and others. This instinct do not really consider of account, because the id only focuses on organism’s need that creates satisfaction. The id also becomes one’s motives.

  There are two types of instinct. The first is Eros, this type constructs the instinct

  14 responsible to have creativity, self-propagation, and for survival. The second is Thanatos. Unlike Eros, this type constructs aggressive tendencies. Hence, this type can grow negative behavior because this type can build human’s motivation to kill, conquer, and compete.

  Then the second is the ego. In contrast, the id is unconscious while much of the ego is conscious. “The ego takes for itself part of the energy of the id and proceeds to serve as the mediator between the id and reality…” (Freud, The Ego 29). If the id uses biological need on the other hand the ego uses reason, memory and judgment. Those are meant to satisfy the desire of the id.

  Ego is the rational part of the psyche that deals with reality and attempts to control the impulses of the id while also satisfying the social approval and self-esteem needs of the superego… (Huffman, J. Vernoy, M. Vernoy 476- 478) …the ego operates on what is called reality principle, the foundation of which is concern for safety. The ego is often called the executive agency of personality, because it controls the individual’s actions and manipulates the environment. (Bootzin, Loftus, Zajonc 411) The third is the superego. This type represents the societal standard for morality. The superego operates on the morality principle. So, it means that human personality is also judged by the society. This situation can be clearly seen in a family situation as conveyed by the parents to their child. For example parents teach good behavior based on the societal standard for morality to their child. Moreover, the superego also has relation with the id because superego receives the id’s energy similar with the ego.

  Unlike the ego, however, the superego takes no more account of reality than the id does. Instead of considering what actions are realistic or possible, the superego embraces both an ego ideal –our values and abstract moral ideals-

  15 and a conscience that constantly commands the individual to stifle the id’s sexual and aggressive impulses that conflict with moral goals. The function of the superego, then, is to prohibit what is morally wrong and to promote what is morally right. (Bootzin, Loftus, Zajonc 411) In fact, those mental structures influence the function of mind that will affect someone’s behavior. Because of that, each person has different aspects of personality. This theory is used to find out some reasons of Mr. Boone’s action whether it is good or not. Then, the aim of studying Freud’s personality structure is to analyze Mr. Boone’s behavior.

2.1.4.2 The Defense Mechanism

  We know the use of ego is to satisfy both the id and superego. But sometimes, the ego also can fail. After explaining about three mental structures, Freud composed the defense mechanisms. The defense mechanisms relate to the id, ego and superego. These mechanisms are the tools, which help defend the ego when the ego has difficulty to satisfy both the id and the superego. “Defense Mechanisms are strategies the ego unconsciously uses to reduce anxiety by distorting our perceptions of reality” (Huffman, J. Vernoy, M. Vernoy 478).

  There are several kinds of defense mechanisms. Those are repression, sublimation, denial, rationalization, intellectualization, projection, reaction formation, regression, and displacement. In this study I will apply one of the defense mechanisms named displacement to explain Mr. Boone’s disastrous action.

  Freud states displacement is substituting original object to object-choice. Displacement happens when energy of instinct is blocked and cannot secure the original object. The energy of instinct, then, displaces to object-choice. This

  16 happens to release the energy (Beyond 48-50). For example, a runner wins a competition. She suddenly returns to the person next to her and gives a big hug to that person. The person in this case becomes the object-choice of the winner to release her happiness. This defense mechanism influences by the id, ego and superego.

  Displacement occurs when the ego satisfies the id and fails the superego through realizing the energy of the id. On the other hand the superego gives forces to the id not to do what the id wants to do. The reason is the pleasure principle is not appropriate with the morality principle.

2.2 Theoretical Framework

  This study concerns with the theory of character, the theory of characterization, the theory of psychology. In theory of psychology, I only focus on Freud’s personality structure and Freud’s defense mechanisms. Considering that Ed Boone becomes the focus of the analysis, the theory of character and the theory of characterization are applied to analyze how Ed Boone is described in this novel.