The character development of jonas in Lois Lowry`s the giver.

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SUBEKTI, ANDREW NANTIO. The Character Development of Jonas in Lois Lowry’s The Giver. Yogyakarta: Department of English Letters, Faculty of Letters, Sanata Dharma University, 2016.

This thesis examines the main character of Lois Lowry’s The Giver, named Jonas.

Jonas lives in a certain society, where it is almost perfect place to live. The character of Jonas is described as a good and smart boy, who has high curiosity. Like all citizens, Jonas is always obedient to the rules in his society in the beginning. His character develops since he is selected as the new Receiver of Memory.

There are three problems formulated in this undergraduate thesis that the writer wants to analyze. The first problem is about what are the descriptions of Jonas’ character in the novel. The second problem is about what were the issues that Jonas faced in the society. The third problem is about what is the influence of the society toward Jonas’ character development.

The method used in this study is library research. The books about literary theories were used to understand the theory that is relevant with the topic of the discussion, especially in this case, the theory of character and characterization is used to reveal Jonas’ characters. Another supporting theory is theory of personality and personality development that leads into a further discussion of the topic. The approach that is used in this study is psychoanalytic approach, since it is important to identify the relation between mind and behavior that underlies the character development of Jonas.

The result of the analysis shows that Jonas is friendly, smart, curious, and well-behaved boy. During his training with the Giver, the personality of Jonas begins to develop. He often feels angry and disappointed with the society. From the memories of the past, Jonas learns and feels many new things that he never experience before. After he knew the truth about what really happened in the society, Jonas starts to rebel and planned to escape from the society with Gabriel forever. It can be said that Society can shape someone’spersonality since people are interact one to another. The society certainly has effect toward someone’s life. It is reflected in Jonas’ life. Both the memories and the society have contributed toward the personality development of Jonas. Due to the issues that he faces, Jonas’ personality finally develops.

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SUBEKTI, ANDREW NANTIO. The Character Development of Jonas in Lois Lowry’s The Giver. Yogyakarta: Jurusan Sastra Inggris, Fakultas Sastra, Universitas Sanata Dharma, 2016.

Skripsi ini meneliti karakter tokoh utama Jonas dalam novel karya Lois Lowry berjudul The Giver. Jonas tinggal di suatu tempat yang hampir sempurna untuk ditinggali. Karakter Jonas digambarkan sebagai anak yang baik dan cerdas, yang punya rasa keingintahuan yang tinggi. Seperti penduduk kebanyakan, Jonas selalu patuh akan peraturan yang ada di masyarakat pada awalnya. Karakternya berubah setelah dia dipilih menjadi “Receiver of Memory” yang baru.

Ada tiga pokok permasalahan dalam skripsi ini yang akan diteliti oleh penulis. Permasalahan pertama adalah apa deskipsi karakter Jonas di dalam novel. Permasalahan kedua adalah tentang isu-isu apa yang Jonas hadapi di dalam masyarakat. Permasalahan ketiga adalah bagaimana pengaruh masyarakat terhadap perkembangan karakter Jonas.

Penelitian ini menggunakan metode kepustakaan, yaitu dengan mempelajari buku-buku yang memiliki kaitan dengan topik yang akan dibahas dalam penelitian ini. Oleh Karena itu, metode yang digunakan adalah metode kepustakaan. Buku-buku tentang teori kesusastraan digunakan untuk membantu memahami teori-teori yang relevan dengan topic pembahasan, dalam hal ini khusunya, teori karakter dan karakterisasi digunakan untuk meneliti karakter Jonas. Selain teori karakter, teori lain yang mendukung penelitian ini adalah teori kepribadian dan perkembangan kepribadian yang akan menjadi topik pembahasan lebih dalam. Pendekatan yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah pendekatan psikoanalitik, karena penting untuk mengidentifikasi hubungan antara pikiran dan perilaku yang mendasari pengembangan karakter Jonas.

Hasil dari analisis menunjukkan bahwa Jonas adalah seorang yang ramah, cerdas, ingin tahu dan berkelakuan baik. Selama berlatih bersama the Giver, kepribadian Jonas mulai berkembang. Dia sering merasa marah dan kecewa akan masyarakat. Dari ingatan masa lalu, Jonas belajar dan merasakan hal-hal baru yang belum pernah dirasakan sebelumnya. Setelah ia mengetahui apa yang sebenarnya terjadi di masyarakat, Jonas mulai memberontak dan berencana pergi dari masyarakat bersama Gabriel selamanya. Masyarakat dapat membentuk kepribadian seseorang karena orang berinteraksi satu dengan yang lain. Masyarakat pasti mempunyai efek terhadap kehidupan seseorang. Hal ini tercermin dalam kehidupan Jonas. Baik kenangan dan masyarakat telah memberikan kontribusi terhadap perkembangan kepribadian Jonas. Karena masalah yang dihadapinya, kepribadian Jonas akhirnya berkembang.

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AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS

Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra

in English Letters

ANDREEW NANTIO Student Number: 104214036

ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAM DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS

FACULTY OF LETTERS SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY

YOGYAKARTA 2016

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AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS

Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra

in English Letters

ANDREEW NANTIO Student Number: 104214036

ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAM DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS

FACULTY OF LETTERS SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY

YOGYAKARTA 2016

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AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS

Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra

in English Letters

ANDREEW NANTIO Student Number: 104214036

ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAM DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS

FACULTY OF LETTERS SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY

YOGYAKARTA 2016

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IN LOIS LOWRY'S

TTIE GTWR

ANI}REEW NANMIO ST}BEKTI

Student Nunrb er l0/i2l4}3 6

4,2016

Dra TheresiaEnny Anggraini, M.A., PhD

Co-Advisor April

14,2016

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THE

CHARACTER

DEVELOPMENT

OF JONAS

IN

LOIS

LOWRY'S

THE GIVER

ANDREEW NAI\TIO SUBEKTI

Student Number: 104214036 Defended before the Board of Examiners

on April 27 _,2016

and Declared AccePtable

Name Chairperson Secretary

Member 1

Member 2

Member 3

o gy akarta, April 29, 201 6

Faculty of Letters

Sanata Dharma UniversitY

Dr. P. Ari Subagyo, M.Hum.

!4,

Ph.D.

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Yang bertanda tangan di bawah ini, saya mahasiswa Universitas Sanata Dharma

Nama

: AndreewNantio

Subekti

Nomor Matrasiswa : 104214036

Demi pengembangan ilmu pengetahuan, saya memberikan kepada Perpustakaan Universitas

Saufa Dharma karya ilmiahsaya yang berjudul

THE

CHARACTER

DEYILOPMENT

OF JONAS

IN LOIS LOWRY'S

THE

GIWR

beserta permgkat yang diperlukan (bila ada). Dengan demikian saya memberikan kepada Perpustakaan Universitas Sanata Dharma hak untuk menyimp4 mengalihkan dalam bentuk media lairq mengelolanya dalam bentuk pangkalan datA mendistribusikan secara terbatas, dan mempublikasikannya di internet alau media lain untuk kepentingan akademis tanpa perlu

memirta

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kepada saya maupun memberikan royalty kepada saya selama tetap mencantumkan rwna saya sebagai penulis.

Demikian pemyataan ini saya buat dengan sebenarnya.

Dibuat di Yoryakara Pada tanggal 29 April 2016

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“WHAT GETS US INTO TROUBLE

IS NOT WHAT WE DON’T KNOW

IT’S WHAT WE KNOW FOR SURE

THAT JUST AIN’T SO”

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TWAIN-For

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First of all, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Jesus Christ, my Savior, who always helps and strengthens me, so that I can accomplish this thesis. I could not imagine how I could be without His blessings.

I express my gratitude to my Advisor, A.B Sri Mulyani, M.A., Ph.D, for her time, guidance, and support in finishing this thesis. I also would like to express my gratitude to my co-advisor, Dra. Theresia Enny Anggraini, M.A., Ph.D. for reading my thesis and for the suggestions and corrections to improve my thesis.

I thank all lecturers of English Letters Department, especially my academic advisor, Anna Fitriati S.Pd.,M.Hum, for her guidance along my study this past few years in English Letters Department. I also thank mba Ninik at the secretariat.

After that I would like to give my deepest gratitude to my father Nanang Subekti, who had passed away and my mother Tatiek Gerhaningsih for their loves and prayers. Also my sister Indri Deniyanthi and my nephew Arthur Kaisar Efraim.

To all my beloved friends in A class, such as Laksono, Rama, Matheus, Rizky, Martin, Michael, Danis, Hans, Anto, etc, thank you for the friendship. I have found new family in here. I have so many memorable memories while I study in here. We have been through so much together and I wish you all to be successful, amen.

Last but not least, I would like to dedicate this undergraduate thesis to my beautiful girlfriend, Sinta Fitriani. She always keeps my spirit up when I was down. She always

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APPROVAL PAGE……….

ACCEPTANCE PAGE………..

LEMBAR PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN PUBLIKASI KARYA ILMIAH STATEMENT OF ORIGINALITY……….. MOTTO PAGE…….………... DEDICATION PAGE………

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS...………..

TABLE OF CONTENTS………...

ABSTRACT...……….. ABSTRAK...……….

CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION...………...

A. Background of the Study……….

B. Problem Formulation ………...

C. Objectives of the Study ………..

D. Definition of Terms ...……….

CHAPTER II : REVIEW OF LITERATURE………. A. Review of Related Studies……….. B. Review of Related Theories………... 1. Theory of Characterand Characterization……… 2. Theory of Personalitiesand Personality Development………….

3. Theory of Society……….

C. Relation Between Psychology and Literature……… D. Theoretical Framework………..

CHAPTER III: METHODOLOGY……….

A. Object of the Study ………...

B. Approach of the Study………..………..

C. Method of the Study ………...

CHAPTER IV: ANALYSIS………..

A. TheDescriptions of Jonas’ Character………. B. The Issues that Jonas Faced in the Society………_………

C. The influence of the Society toward Jonas’s Character Development………... CHAPTER V: CONCLUSION………... BIBLIOGRAPHY……… iii iv v vi vii viii ix xi xii xiii 1 1 6 6 6 8 8 11 12 15 18 19 19 21 21 22 23 25 25 32 39 48 51

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SUBEKTI, ANDREW NANTIO. The Character Development of Jonas in Lois Lowry’s The Giver. Yogyakarta: Department of English Letters, Faculty of Letters, Sanata Dharma University, 2016.

This thesis examines the main character of Lois Lowry’s The Giver, named Jonas.

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SUBEKTI, ANDREW NANTIO. The Character Development of Jonas in Lois Lowry’s The Giver. Yogyakarta: Jurusan Sastra Inggris, Fakultas Sastra, Universitas Sanata Dharma, 2016.

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CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION

A. Background of the Study

There are many ways for people to communicate with other people nowadays. The communication can take forms of conversation, sign, music, and literature. People can freely express their feelings through many ways. Literature is one of the ways to communicate and to express our thoughts or feelings.

According to Hudson in An Introduction to the Study of Literature,“Literature

is a vital record of what men have seen in life, what they have experienced of it, what they have thought and felt about those aspects of it which have the most immediate and enduring interest for all of us. It is thus fundamentally an

expression of life through the medium of language” (Hudson, 1910:10).

We can say that literature is the portrait of human life. It comes from what they have seen, what they have experienced and what they have thought and felt of all aspects in life. People can learn and take the value of life through literature. In literature we can feel things such as love, pain, joyful, fear and so on.

In addition, Wellek and Warren in Theory of Literature state, Literature

‘imitates’ ‘life’; and ‘life’ is, in large measure, a social reality, even though the

natural world and the inner or subjective world of the individual have also been

objects of literary ‘imitation’ (Wellek and Warren, 1956: 89).

It means that literature is the ‘imitation’ of human life. Many of literary works

are based on what really happens in human life. Literature cannot be apart from society and society cannot be apart from literature. Literature is based on what

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people are dealing with in real life, whether it is about culture, society, gender, race, or anything. Also, literary works present some aspects of human life. Sometimes what people see and what they feel can be represented in the literary works. Therefore, throughout literature people can get not only pleasure and enjoyment, but also enrich our knowledge and learning something from it.

There are many great works of art that have been written through literature. Poetry, short story, play, drama, and novel are types of literary work. One kind of literary works that have been read by many people is novel. According to Murphy in Understanding Unseen, novel is the most widely practiced and most widely read form of literature in the world today (Murphy, 1972: 127). It means that novel is one of literary works that has been read by many people from children until adult.

In addition, Abrams says in Glossary of Literary Terms-fourth edition, “Novel

is characterized as the fictional attempt to give the effect of Realism, by representing complex characters with mixed motives who are rooted in a social class, operate in a highly developed social structure, interact with many other characters, and undergo plausible and everyday modes of experiences”

(1981:120).

In other words, novel is a work of fiction written in narrative style, which is longer than short story, has more complex characters and motives, and contain with human experience in its story. The story of novel commonly deals with themes such as friendship, social conflict, personal conflict, and love.

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There are two elements in literature, intrinsic elements and extrinsic elements. The intrinsic elements are setting, plot, theme, and character. If we talk about novel, we cannot separate it with character. Because character is one of the aspects in the novel that is very influential.

In novel, the role of a character is very important. According to Abrams in

Glossary of Literary Terms-fourth edition, “Characters are the persons presented

in a dramatic or narrative work, who are interpreted by the reader as being endowed with moral and dispositional qualities that are expressed in what they say-the dialogue- and by what they do-the action” (1981: 20).

Characters are very important because they are the medium where the reader can understand the whole story and they are responsible for the thoughts and actions in the story. In literature, characters guide readers through their stories, helping them to understand plots and themes. The reader can grasp the idea that the writer gave through character itself.Without character, the story will be flat and

there is no conflict in it.

Because character is an important aspect in novel, it becomes the focus of this study. Therefore, in this study the writer wants to analyze the character

development of Jonas in Lois Lowry’The Giver. The writer choses Lois Lowry’

The Giver as the subject of analysis because the story of the novel gives great

impression to the writer and it has good moral values for the readers.

The story tells about a certain society that contains some issues which are interesting to discuss. The presentation of the character of Jonas in the novel can

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gain reader’s attention, especially how Jonas deals with the issues in the

community. It seems that it has something to offer to the reader.

Lois Lowry is American writer who has already written more than thirty

children’s literature and autobiography. Several of her books have been rewarded

awards. Lois Lowry’The Giver is one of her great novels which has been widely

read and studied. It means that The Giver is very well-known novel and it can be read easily by children and adult.

The setting of the novel takes place in a community where all the people lives in almost perfect world or many people say utopian society. There were no conflicts, crime, inequality, injustice, poverty, unemployment, divorce. It seems an ideal world to live. Everything is well provided and well organized. All citizens in the community are determined what should they do, who is their partners, and even every parents must adopt children, one boy and one girl. It has been carefully chosen by the Committee of Elders. The people lived in a sameness and in regularity. Every people in the community have to speak and act in the right manners. The community is very strict and monotonous. Life in this community is not colorful. There is no freedom in the community.

The main character, Jonas, an eleven years old boy who lives with his parents and his seven years old sister Lily. He was nervous of his upcoming ceremony of twelve. Every child in the community celebrates the increase of age in December. At the age of 12, children are assigned their jobs, which they are going to train for and do for the rest of their lives. They are assigned a job based on what they are

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capable of and what they are interested in. Before the child are assigned a job, they have plenty of training hours to accomplish.

In the ceremony of twelve, where all the people in the community gathered, every twelve has been chosen a job. Surprisingly Jonas has been selected as the next Receiver of Memory by the chief elder. This task is very important in the community because there is only one receiver in the community and he has to receive all the memories from the past. It means he has great responsibility in his shoulder. This memories have been kept from society because they did not want to suffer from the memories itself. It brought pain to them. Jonas had no idea of what task of a new Receiver is about.

He had given some privileges which others cannot get, in order to complete the training. As the time goes by and he had done the training, the character of Jonas changed. He received memories and feelings that he never felt before. From the training he knew the feeling of happiness, joyful, sadness, and hatred. He felt

more ‘human’ by receiving the memory.

From the plot above, it is important to know how Jonas’s characteristic

developed since he is selected by the chief elder as the next receiver of memory. Henceforth this study aims to know why his character changed from the perspective of psychology.

In order to analyze the topic of this thesis, the writer concludes three problem formulations. First, how the character of Jonas described. Second, what the issues that Jonas faces in the society are. Third, what the influence of the society toward

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B. Problem Formulation

From the background of the study that the writer has described above, the writer concluded three problem formulations, which are:

1. What are the descriptions of Jonas’ character? 2. What were the issues that Jonas faced in the society?

3. Whatis the influence of the society toward Jonas’s character development?

C. Objectives of the Study

Based on problem formulations above, there are three objectives of the study which must be found out in the thesis in order to answer the problem formulation. First of all, it tries to see how the character of Jonas described in the novel. The second is to examine the issues of the society in the novel. The third is to find out

Jonas’s character development due to the experience that he faces.

D. Definition of Terms

To understand more about the topic, the writer gives some explanations on several important terms mainly used and closely related to the topic.

1. Character

In Glossary of Literary Terms-fourth edition, it is stated that “Characters are

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reader as being endowed with moral and dispositional qualities that are expressed in what they say-the dialogue- and by what they do-the action” (1981: 20).

2. Characterization

According to Sylvan Barnet, Morton Berman, and William Burto in an

Introduction to Literature: Fiction, Poetry, Drama I, characterization is defined

by what the characters do (stage direction), by what they say, by what others say about them, and by the setting in which they move. From what the character say in the context of the story, the readers can see their characterizations. From what

the character does in the story, the readers can easily recognize the character’s action in the story. Other people’s actions in the story may also help to indicate the characterization of the character.

3. Personality

Jess Feist and Gregory J. Feist in Theories of Personality discussed that personality is a pattern of relatively permanent traits and unique characteristics

that gave both consistency and individuality to a person’s behavior (2006: 196).

4. Development

In An Introduction to Theories of Human Development, development is explained as a series of changes that is moving forward in a measurable pattern as a result of the interaction between biological and environmental factors (Salkind, 2004: 4).

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Lemme defines development in Development in Adulthood, as systematic changes in behavior overtime that result from interaction between the individual and the internal and external environment (1995: 8).

CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF LITERATURE

This chapter consists of three parts: Review of Related Studies, Review of Related Theories, and Theoretical Framework. In the Review of Related Studies, the writer gives a brief explanation on certain studies that have been done that have similar topic with the writer’s study. In the Review of Related Theories, the

writer explains about the theories that are going to be used which are relevant for

analyzing the topic of the writer’s study. In Theoretical Framework, the writer explains how the theories are applied in the writer’s study.

A. Review of Related Studies

This discussion is not the only one that discusees Louis Lowry’s The Giver.

The topic of the study is different, but there are other people who have done the same topic in the previous years.The writer finds some related studies that discuss the same work but in different topic. Those related studies help the writer to understand more about the issue in the novel that the writer wants to reveal.

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Importance of Memory Relating to Jonas’ Self-Actualization through Jonas’

Characteristics in Lois Lowry’sThe Give_r”_{by Yoseph Hary Wibowo}

Yoseph focuses on how the character of Jonas deals with all the memories and how the tracks of memory become the way Jonas actualizes himself. He said in his undergraduate thesis:

“Lives generally need memory. The community needs a receiver of

memory to give them wisdom of life. Jonas decide to escape the community forever in order to unleash all memories that have been kept from the citizens for so long. This kind of struggle is considered as self-actualization” (2008: ix).

Therefore, the roles of memory are very important that can lead to Jonas’

self-actualization. In his thesis, Yoseph wants to analyze Jonas’ self-actualization through the way Jonas faces the experiences to deal with all the memories. From memories, people get many experiences of life. From experiences itself, they can learn something about life and take the value from it.

“With his characteristics, Jonas is able to experience life meaningfully that

is full of memories. Later, the importance of memory can be perceived since

received memories have given him wisdom of life” (2008:ix).

Yoseph uses psychological approach in his undergraduate thesis, since the concept of memory and self-actualization are the significant theories in psychology. The topic that the writer chose is different from Yoseph, but using the same approach. The writer wants to analyze the character development of Jonas using psychological approach.

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Other related study that use the same work is Pranathalia Bondan Prasnorirni’s undergraduate thesis entitled “Revealing the Theme through

Characters and Settings: A Formalistic Study of Louis Lowry’s The Giver”.

Pranathalia explores the descriptions on characters and settings to reveal the

theme (the main idea) of the novel. “All characters in the novel are pictured as

good persons. They live with strict rules, etiquettes and habits that help to shape their personalities. The setting in the novel is described as unemployment,

peaceful, safe and comfortable society” (2004: x).

As Pranathalia mentioned above, she explains how the settings (place and

time) can influence people’s characteristics in the novel. She explains the

descriptions on characters and settings one by one in details using formalistic approach to reveal the theme of the novel. Yet here the writer uses different

approach from Pranathalia’s undergraduate thesis.

Since the focuses in the thesis is the character development of Jonas in The

Giver, the writer adds another related study that use the same approach. This

study is taken from Nicki Astrianingsih’ undergraduate thesis entitled “A Psychological Study of the Character Development of Maud in Sarah Water’s

Fingersmith”. Although the literary work that Nicki analyzed is different from the

writer, it uses the same approach, which is psychological approach to understand the character development of the main character in the novel.

“Maud’s personality changes are affected by several conditions. Maud’s

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house, and in Lant Street. Social factor must be Maud’s factor to develop her

character. Social factor includes people surround her and her family” (2011: xii).

In her undergraduate thesis, she analyzes the factors that make the character of Maud change. There are two factors that cause the characteristic of a person to develop, namely internal and external factors. In her thesis, Maud’s

personality development is supported by the external factors. The external factors are the environment that she lives and her experiences that she gets.

From those related studies that the writer mentioned before, there are some similarities and differences. The first and the second related studies used the same literary work, The Giver. In the first related study conducted by Yoseph Hary Wibowo, he focuses his study on the importance of the memory and the self-actualization of Jonas. He uses psychological approach since the concept of memory and self-actualization are the significant theories in psychology. While the second related study focused on revealing the theme of the novel through characters and settings using formalistic approach by Pranathalia Bondan Prasnorirni.

From this point, the writer found new topic that is discussed the character development of Jonas. The writer tries to analyze how the character of Jonas developed and what are the factors that cause it develops. To enrich knowledge about the character development using psychological approach, therefore, the

writer adds another related study from Nicki Astrianingsih’s undergraduate thesis.

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There are some theories that are used by the writer in conducting the study. These theories give the writer valuable information which is very helpful in analyzing the novel. The theories used are theory of character, theory of characterization, theory of character development.

1. Theory of Character and Characterization

M.H Abrams defines character as the person presented in a dramatic or narrative work, who are interpreted by the reader as being endowed with moral and disposition qualities that are expressed in what they say- the dialogue- and by what they do- the action (1981: 20-21).

Another definition of character is given by Roberts and Jacobs in their book

Fiction: An Introduction to Reading and Writing. They define that a character is

an extended verbal representation of human being, the inner self that determines thoughts, speech, and behavior (1989: 143).

Based on theories of character above, the writer defines that character is a person in a dramatic or narrative work, which is the representative of human being. They can be described as a smart and fine young man or clumsy and reckless teenager. It depends on how authors characterize the characters in their work.

According to Henkle in Reading the Novel, there are two kinds of characters based on the importance: “major” and “minor” characters (1977: 86). Major

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identified through the complexity of their characterization, the attention given certain figures, and the personal intensity that a character seems to transmit. The reader will pay more attention to major character rather than minor character. In the other hand, minor character has less important point in the story than major character. Although the role of minor character is not as significant as major character, minor character has a role as a supporter in the development of major charter.

Abrams stated in A Glossary of Literary Terms 4thedition, there are two types

of characters: flat and round characters.

Flat character is built around “a single idea or quality” and is presented without

much individualizing detail and can be described in a single phrase or sentence. While a round character is complex in temperament and motivation and is represented with subtle particularity; thus he is as difficult to describe with any adequacy as a person in real life, and like most people, he is capable of surprising us.

From the quotation above, flat character may have the same (static) characteristic from beginning to end of a work. Flat character is usually the minor character, although not all the minor characters are flat. Round character is relatively fully developed by the author. Round character is considered as dynamic as they possess many individual and unpredictable human traits. Round character is usually the major character because it has complex characteristics and play central role to the plot.

Characterization is the creation of imaginary persons so that they exist for the readers as a lifelike (Holman and Harmon, 1985: 81). There are three fundamental way characterizations in fiction according to Holman and Harmon

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a. The explicit presentation by the author of the character to direct exposition, either in introductory block or more over piecemeal throughout the work, illustrated by the action.

b. The presentation of the character in action with little or no explicit comment by the author, in the expectation that the reader will be able to deduce the attribute of the actor from the actions.

c. The presentation from within character, without comment on the character by the author, of the impact of actions and emotions on the character’s inner self,

with the expectation that the reader will come to clear understanding of the attributes of the character. (1985: 81)

In addition, there are some ways in which an author can make his/her character understandable to read and come alive for his/her reader. According to Murphy in Understanding Unseens: An Introduction to English Poetry and the

English Novel for Overseas Students there are nine ways of how an author

describes the character’s personalities and traits to the reader. They are as follows:

a. Personal Description

The author can describe a person’s appearance and clothes.

b. Character as Seen by Another

Instead of describing a character directly the author can describe him through the eyes and opinion of another.

c. Speech

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he is in conversation with another, whenever he puts forward an opinion, he is giving us some clue to his character.

d. Past Life

By letting the reader learn something about a person’s past life the author can

give us a clue to events that have helped to shape a person’s character.

e. Conversation of Others

The author can also give us clues to a person’s character through the

conversation of other people and the things they say about him. f. Reactions

The author can also give us a clue to a person’s character by letting us know

how that person reacts to various situations and events. g. Direct Comment

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

h. Thoughts

The author can give us direct knowledge of what a person is thinking about. He can tell us what different people are thinking.

i. Mannerism

The author can describe a person’s mannerisms, habits, or idiosyncrasies

which may also tell us something about his character (Murphy, 1972: 161-173).

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Those nine ways can help the reader to understand about how the character is described in literary works.

2. Theory of Personalities and Personality Development

Talkingabout personalities, it must be something related to human’s behavior. “Personality is a pattern of relatively permanent traits and unique characteristics that give both consistency and individuality to a person’s behavior” (Jess and

Feist, 2006:4). Personalities can be observed by understanding human’s

characteristics when they deal with problems in their life. That is why every theorist of personality has different point of view about its theory since people have different perspectives and way of thinking. “Each personality theory reflects

the individual personality of its creator, and each creator has a unique philosophical orientation, shaped in part by early childhood experiences, birth order, gender, training, education, and pattern of interpersonal relationship”

(2009:12). In Theories of Personality by Jess Feist and Gregory J.Feist, it is explained that

“Personality theories differ on basic issues concerning the nature of humanity.

Each personality theory ‘reflects its author’s assumptions about humanity. These

assumptions rest on several broad dimensions that separate the various personality theorists. We use six of these dimensions as a framework for viewing each

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Therefore, the writer wants to apply the six dimensions, especially in analyzing the main character of the work. Those six dimensions of personality theories that are stated by Feist (2009:11-12) include

a) Determinism versus free choice

Are people’s behaviors determined by forces over which they have no control, or can people choose to be what they wish to be?

b) Pessimism versus optimism

Are people doomed to live miserable, conflicted, and troubled lives, or can they change and grow into psychologically healthy, happy, fully functioning human beings?

c) Causality versus teleology

Do people act as they do because of what has happened to them in the past, or do they act as they do because they have certain expectations of what will happen in the future?

d) Conscious versus unconscious determinants of behavior

Are people ordinarily aware of what they are doing and why they are doing it? e) Biological versus social influences on personality

Are people mostly creatures of biology, or are their personalities shaped largely by their social relationship?

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Should the study of personality concentrate on those traits that make people alike, or should it look at those traits that make people different?

In addition, according to Hurlock in Personality Development, the changes of personality can be divided into three major categories. The first category is the changes for the better or the worse. It reflects the kind of life adjustment that the individual is making that time. The second category is the changes on quantitative or qualitative. Quantitative means characteristics that already presents are reinforced, strengthened, or even weakened. While qualitative means a complete replacement of a desirable trait by undesirable one or vice versa. The third category is the changes occur slow or rapid. Changes are regarded slowly if they are barely perceptible while rapid changes are readily apparent to all. Normally, personality changes are slow and gradual (1974: 120-122).

In order to analyze the personality of Jonas, the theory on personality development is used by the writer to explain how the personality development of the main character is described. Based on Hurlock’s Personality Development

states that human life consists of two aspects, which are individual and social aspect, and those have different concern.

Human life consists of two aspects, which are individual and social aspects. For the individual aspect, it is concern with physical changes and humans personality development. Human personality development itself is influenced by two factors. First is human’s experience within family. The second factor is

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From the quotation above, it is stated that the personality development also influenced by two factors, which are human’s experience in their family and the

environment factor. Those are the aspect that can shape someone’s personality.

3. Theory of Society

According to Young in Personality and Problems of Adjustment, a society is the broadest association of people who possess a certain common set of habits, attitudes, and ideas, sufficient to hold them together, who live in a definite territory, and who are often set off from other societies by attitudes and habits of difference or antagonism (Young, 1945:125). In addition, Young also said in his book that human personalities developed because of the influence of society and culture.

The individual is always born into a group (or a society made up of various smaller groups) which has a culture. In this sense society and culture are always antecedent to any particular individual. All the references of psychologists to Robinson Crusoe and to feral man to the contrary, actually we know of no human personalities which have developed outside the matrix of society and culture (1945:124).

From the statement above both society and culture have influence to shape

someone’s personality. Thus, wherever it is, the environment always shapes and

influence someone’s life.

C. Relation Between Psychology and Literature

In analyzing the characters and their personality development in a novel, the knowledge about psychology is needed – since learning about psychology is

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learning about human’s character. Related to the novel that the writer wants to

analyze, it is portrayed that the issues that Jonas faces, eventually influence

Jonas’s personality. To build the character in the novel, the author has to create the imagination of how the character is described and how they become. In other words, the representation of a character in literary works cannot be apart from the

author’s creation of mind. Like what is stated that “In the narrative writer, we think of his creation of characters and his ‘invention’ of stories” (Wellek &

Warren, 1956:89).

D. Theoretical Frameworks

To support the analysis, the writer applies several theories in this undergraduate thesis. There are theory of character, theory of characterization, and theory of personality development. First, the writer uses theory of character by Abrams and Henkle to find out how the main character, Jonas and other characters are described in the novel. Abrams states that there are two types of characters: flat and round characters, while Henkle states there are two kinds of character based on the importance: major and minor character. These theories are applied to answer how the character of Jonas is described. Theory of characterization is also applied to analyze how the characters are presented and characterized by the author. The writer uses Holman and Harmon and Murphy theories. From characterization, the reader can also get the theme of the novel.

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Second, theory of society is applied to analyze the society where Jonas lives and what is the issue in that society. The writer uses theory of society by Young to find out what is the main issue in the society.

Last, the writer uses theory of personality development to reveal Jonas’s

character development. The writer wants to analyze how the character of Jonas

develops, the factor of Jonas to leave the community, and the impact in Jonas’ life

and society. Therefore theory of personality development is applied to answer the questions.

CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY

In this chapter, the writer discusses the methodology that is used in this study. This chapter consists of three parts, namely Object of the Study, Approach of the

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Study, and Method of the Study. The first part, object of the study, describes a brief description of the novel. The second part is approach of the study, the writer explains the approach that is applied in the study. The third is in the method of the study, the researcher explains some steps of analyzing the data.

A. Object of the Study

The object of the study in this analysis is The Giver by Lois Lowry. It is published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt in Boston in 1993. The novel consists of 225 pages, and divided into 23 chapters. The Giver achieved the Newbery Medal and the William Allen White Award, and it is assigned reading in thousands of schools. The Giver is not the only book written by Lowry. She has written more than 40 books for kids and young adults, ranging from a historical novel about the Holocaust (Number the Stars) to a rollicking series about a suburban preteen and her family (the Anastasia Krupnik books) to a fictionalized account of her sister's passing (A Summer to Die). Many have been wildly popular, but The Giver has been Lowry's greatest success. It is sold more than 12 million copies and has been adapted into a play, a musical and an opera ( http://www.npr.org/2014/08/16/340170478/lois-lowry-says-the-giver-was-inspired-by-her-fathers-memory-loss).

The Giver is an interesting novel about a young boy called Jonas who lives in

almost perfect society (utopian society) which are free of crime and sadness. At the age of 12, children are assigned their jobs, which they will be trained for and

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stands apart from the community when he is chosen to become the new Receiver of Memory.

The society lives without memories of past life. The memories and experiences cause pain and terrible discomfort for the community. Since Jonas has been transmitted the memories from the giver, Jonas realized that lives needs memories. Since he knew the meaning of a ‘release’ for children and elders, Jonas

plans to escape from the community forever with his brother, Gabriel. In the end of the novel, he saw the first memory on the top of the hill and the ending is not clear whether Jonas and Gabriel died or found a new place. The ending of the

novel is up to the reader’s interpretation.

B. Approach of the Study

The writer uses the psychoanalytic approach in analyzing the character development of Jonas. According to Lois Tyson in Using Critical Theory: How to

Read and Write About Literature, Life is filled with emotional ups and downs,

and our hard times as well as our happy times play an important role in our personal growth. As psychoanalytic theory tells us, we all encounter life-events, as we grow up, that shape our psychological development, and these early experiences tend to play out in our adult lives (Tyson, 2011:81).

This statement has certain relation with the character of Jonas in the end of the story, when he finally decided to escape from the family. Even though he realizes that he does something risky, but he has such psychological motives behind it.

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Since psychoanalytic also deals with psychological side of a person, it concerns about the psychological problems which are a natural and unavoidable part of being human. It is important to try to identify and understand them because, according to psychoanalytic, that’s how people can begin to heal those

problems. Thus, psychoanalytic approach is used to examine the relation between mind and behavior that underlies the character development of Jonas, and the reason why Jonas finally decided to leave the community.

C. Method of the Study

The study is conducted based on written source from books and articles. Besides, the writer also gains information related to the topic of the analysis by some articles from the internet. Therefore, the method of the study is library research.

The main source of the study is the novel titled The Giver by Lois Lowry. While the secondary sources are books and articles mostly about character and its development, since the writer wants to analyze the character development of the main character in the story. Some other theses, books or articles about the related studies and related theories are also used by the writer to conduct a complete analysis.

There are some steps taken in analyzing the novel. The first step is reading the novel to examine the main character, Jonas, and to get the idea of how the character is described in the novel. By reading the novel, the writer also tries to

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The second step is examining the issue of Jonas’ life, especially in the family and society where Jonas lives. This will lead into another comprehension about the character development of Jonas due to the issue that he experiences.

The third step is finding some theories that are appropriate with the topic that the writer wants to discuss. The theory of character and characterization are used by the writer to analyze about the character, especially the character of Jonas in the novel in order to answer the first problem formulations. The understanding of the issue experienced by Jonas and the reason behind is also examined by the writer to answer the next problem formulations. Since the character development of Jonas is really interesting to discuss, the writer wants to analyze it by using the theory of character development.

CHAPTER IV ANALYSIS

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In this chapter the writer analyzes three problem formulations that have been formulated in the previous chapter. This chapter is divided into three parts. In the first part, the writer discusses how the character of Jonas is depicted through his personal description, attitudes, speech, reaction, thoughts, and other characters’

opinion. In the second part, the writer tries to reveal the character development of Jonas as seen in the novel. In the third part, the writer analyzes what the reason for Jonas to leave the community forever is. From those findings, the writer finds out the changes that happen in his characteristics.

1. The Descriptions of Jonas’ Character

In this part, the writer tries to find out the answer of the first question in problems formulation by describing the characteristics of Jonas in the beginning. There, the writer can analyze the characteristics and later the writer can figure out

Jonas’ personality and how it is changed. In order to describe the character of Jonas, the writer uses the theories that have been provided in the previous chapter. As it is stated by Henkle, there are two kinds of characters based on the

importance: ‘major’ and ‘minor’ characters (Henkle, 1977: 86). Although the role

of minor character is not significant as major character in the novel, the minor character has a role as a supporter in the development of major character. Jonas is categorized as the main character of the novel. Jonas becomes the center of the story and he always comes out from the beginning until the end of the story. The reader will pay more attention to the major character.

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Based on theory of Abrams, there are two types of characters: flat and round character. Round character is relatively fully developed by the author. Round character is considered as dynamic as they possess many individual and unpredictable human traits (1981: 21). Jonas can be categorized as a round character. He has complex characteristics and play central role to the plot.

Further, according to Murphy, there are several ways to characterize a character in fictional works in order to make the characters life-like to readers. Murphy proposes nine ways of characterization through which characteristics of a character can be depicted. They are personal description, character as seen by another, speech, past life, conversation of others, reactions, direct comment, thoughts, and mannerism. In revealing characteristics of Jonas, the writer applies those nine ways.

Jonas is characterized as a good boy who will turn twelve soon. He lives with his parents and little sister, Lily, which have no blood relation, because all babies are born from the Birthmothers. He also lives with a new children named Gabriel, who is being taken care by his father, because Gabe, the new child’s nickname, is

not doing well. He is not growing as fast as he should and he does not sleep soundly, so his father as a Nurturer take him home and take care of him.

Every year in December, the community celebrate special event. All the Twelves are going to assign a job. Each member of The Community has their profession and partner carefully chosen for them by the Committee of Elders, and they never make a mistake. There are no freedom to choose the Assignment and the spouse. All citizens of the community live in a sameness.

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In the beginning, Jonas is the same with another citizens in the community. He is obedient to the rules, like other citizens. Jonas is as unconcerned as anyone else about how he lives. He lives his life with precise language and in a same routine activity every day. Not until he becomes the Receiver of Memory. It can be seen on page 2:

Then all of the citizens had been ordered to go into the nearest building and stayed there. Immediately, the rasping voice through the speakers had said. LEAVE YOUR BICYCLES WHERE THEY ARE. Instantly, obediently, Jonas had dropped his bike on it’ side on the path behind his family’s dwelling (Lowry, 1993: 2).

From the statement above, Jonas depicted as an obedient character who always obey the rules, whatever they are, in his community. Another prove that shows he is an obedient boy is when his family oblige each family member to share feelings that they experience in each day before they go to sleep. Besides, the family members have to share their dreams in the morning after they woke up.

“It was one of the rituals, the evening telling of feelings” (6). Jonas solely does it

every day just because he wants to follow his family tradition, not his own

eagerness. “The ritual continued. ‘Jonas?’ Father asked. ‘You’re last, tonight’.

Jonas sighed. This evening he almost would have preferred to keep his feelings hidden. But it was, ofcourse, against the rules” (12).

Another characteristic of Jonas is diligent. He is depicted as a boy who always study and like to prepare the materials for his school. He does it regularly

every day before and after the evening meal. “And I studied hard in school, as you

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prove is: “He forced himself to arrange his papers and try to study a little before

the evening meal” (32). The quotation above shows that he study hard and always

prepare his school papers in the evening every day.

Jonas is restless of what is going to come, the ceremony of twelve. He have slightly no idea of what job he will be assigned for. In the ceremony of twelve, he was selected to be the next Receiver of Memory. Ceremony of twelve is the last ceremony for children and all the twelve are assign a job which was

carefully chosen by the Committee of Elders. “The ceremony of twelve was the

last of the ceremonies. The most important” (18). It is very important for the

twelve because they will move into a new group who share the same interest, no

more playing, and they will prepare for their adult life. It is proved from Jonas’ mother statement: “After the Ceremony of Twelve, you’ll be with your

Assignment group, with those in training. No more volunteer hours. No more

recreation hours. So your friends will no longer as close” (22). It means after they

become twelve, they will receive new rules according to what the assignment are and complete the training hours. No more volunteer hour and no more recreation time.

There are some reasons why Jonas was selected to be the next Receiver of Memory. Here, the writer quote the statement from the Chief Elder in the Ceremony of Twelve:

“He has shown all of the qualities that a Receiver must have.”

“Intelligence,” she said. “We are all aware that Jonas has been a top student throughout his school days.”

“Integrity,” she said next. “Jonas has, like all of us, committed minor

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he would present himself promptly for chastisement, and he has always

done so.”

“Courage,” she went on. “Only one of us here today ever undergone the

rigorous training required of a Receiver. He, of course, is the most important member of the Committee: the current Receiver. It was he who

reminded us, again and again, of the courage required.”

“The fourth essential attribute,” the Chief Elder said, “is wisdom. Jonas

has not yet acquired that. The acquisition of wisdom will come through his

training.”

“Finally, The Receiver must have one more quality, and it is one which I

can only name, but not describe. I do not understand it. You members of the community will not understand it, either. Perhaps Jonas will, because the current Receiver has told us that Jonas already has this quality. He

calls it the Capacity to See Beyond” (Lowry, 1993: 78-79).

Those are five qualities listed for Jonas to be the Receiver of Memory. There is only one Receiver of Memory and he has been greatly honored in the

community. From the Chief Elder’s statement above, the readers know Jonas’

characteristics are smart, well behaved, brave, and he is gifted to have one special quality which is the Capacity to See Beyond. Moreover, the writer tries to add some proves to strengthen those five qualities that Jonas has as mentioned above.

Jonas is eager to experience something new. He spends his volunteer hours in different places and not focus on what he likes the most, while most of all children, especially the eleven, spend their volunteer hours in an area where they

like the most. It can be show from the statement: “The freedom to choose where

to spend those hours had always seemed a wonderful luxury to Jonas; other hours of the daywere so carefully regulated” (33) and“Jonas was glad that he had, over

the years, chosen to do his hours in a variety of places so that he could experience

the differences” (37). Because of that, Jonas has no idea of what his Assignment

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In addition, he is a well behaved citizen. He rarely makes mistake. There are two evidences that show he is well behaved. First prove is:

There was never any comfortable way to mention or discuss one’s success without breaking the rule against bragging, even if one didn’t mean to. It

was a minor rule, rather like rudeness, punishable only by gentle chastisement. But still. Better to steer clear of an occasion governed by a rule which would be so easy to break (Lowry, 1993: 34).

The second prove is: “Jonas has, like all of us, committed minor transgressions” (78). From this statement, Jonas rarely makes mistake and he obeys the Community’s Rules. He knows although it is not the Community’s rule to mention someone’s success, but still he does not do it. He is also precise in

language.

Jonas’ physical characteristic is different from other citizens in the

community. He has a light eyes. It is very rare in the community, for someone who have that kind of eyes. Almost every citizens in the community have dark eyes. His parents did, and Lily did too. Only Jonas, Gabriel, the Giver, and a

female five who have the different eyes. As Jonas sees Gabriel’s eyes, he realizes

something.

Now, seeing the newchild and its expression, he was reminded that the light eyes were not only a rarity but gave the one who had them a certain look---what was it? Depth, he decided; as if one were looking into the clear water of the river, down to the bottom, where things might lurk

which hadn’t been discovered yet. He felt self-conscious, realizing that he,

too, had that look (26).

Jonas decides that people who have the light eyes has a certain look, the look of Depth. As they can see the in the clear water of the river and there is something hidden in the bottom of the river. The writer sees the different as a special gift. A gift that not many people have. For example, Jonas described has

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the Capacity to See Beyond. He has the ability to see things change in a way that he cannot explain. For example when he is playing a simple game of catch during recreation time with his best friend, Asher, using an apple. While they are playing, Jonas realizes something happen to the apple. It can be prove from this statement:

But suddenly Jonas had noticed, following the path of the apple through the air with his eyes, that the piece of fruit had---well, this was the part that he couldn’t adequately understand---the apple had changed. Just for an instant. It had changed in mid-air, he remembered. Then it was in his hand, and he looked, at it carefully, but it was the same apple. Unchanged. The same size and shape: a perfect sphere. The same nondescript shade, about the same shade as his own tunic (Lowry, 1993: 30).

Jonas seems bewildered at that time. Only Jonas realizes that something happen to the apple. It is one thing that he has, the Capacity to See Beyond, but he does not know yet about what it is until he becomes a Receiver of Memory and meets the Giver.

Another characteristics of Jonas is curious. He is curious about everything. One of his curiosity is what happen if someone are release from the community? Where do they go? Is there elsewhere besides the community? Jonas wondering and keep looking for an answer by asking some people. He asks Larrisa, an old

woman in the House of the Old. “Jonas slowed the strokes of his hand on her back thoughtfully. ‘Larissa’, he asked, ‘what happens when they make the actual

release? Where exactly did Roberto go?’” (41) and also he asks Asher “’Anyway’,

Jonas pointed out, ‘have you ever once known of anyone---I mean really known

for sure, Asher, not just heard a story about it---who joined another community?’”

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After the Ceremony of Twelve, everything start to change. Jonas is friendly person. He loves to be around with his friends. Since Jonas is selected to be a Receiver of Memory, he has to do his training apart. As the time goes by, his character developed and that development change his life and the community forever.

2. The Issues that Jonas Faced in the Society

After describing the characters of Jonas, the writer tries to analyze the issues in Jonas’s society that affect Jonas’s character development. The writer uses theory of society in order to analyze the issue that Jonas faces in the society. It is already stated in the previous chapter that Jonas lives in almost perfect society which eliminated pain, suffer, hunger, crime, and war. It is very safe, serene, and well-designed community. There are four statements that show the community is very safe. Firstly it can be seen in the first chapter of the novel when Jonas saw jet fighters, for the first time, were flying low above the community.

At first, he had been only fascinated. He had never seen aircraft so close, for it was against the rules for Pilots to fly over the community. Occasionally, when supplies were delivered by cargo planes to the landing field across the river, the children rode their bicycles to the riverbank and watched, intrigued, the unloading and then the takeoff directed to the west, always away from the community (Lowry, 1993: 1-2).

That kind of incident make the entire citizens afraid, including Jonas, for they have never seen that kind of planes before. Normally the cargo planes (a squat, fat-bellied planes) always fly away from the community and land in the landing field across the river. Secondly when night comes, all citizens stay in their

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house and begin their family ritual.“The evening proceeded as all evenings did in

the family unit, in the dwelling, in the community: quiet, reflective, a time for

renewal and preparation for the day to come” (32).

From the statement above it shows that it is very quiet and peaceful community. There is no activity occur in the night outside the dwelling. All

citizens are not allow to go out from the dwelling at night. “This was probably the

most dangerous part, because it was a violation of a major rule for any citizen not on official business to leave a dwelling at night” (Lowry, 1993: 198). This

quotation refers to Jonas’s plan to escape from the community in the night, but to

leave a dwelling in the night is prohibited.

Once there was an incident in the community, when a child named Caleb was lost from the community. It is stated from the novel that it is very rare

incident that a child is missing from the community without notice. “The

community was extraordinarily safe, each citizen watchful and protective of all children. But somehow the first little Caleb had wandered away unnoticed, and

had fallen into the river” (56).

Third prove is when Jonas plans his escape in the midnight and tries not to

get caught. “’I’ll leave at midnight,’ Jonas said. ‘The Food Collectors will be

finished picking up the evening-meal remains by then, and the Path-Maintenance

Crew don’t start their work that early’” (198). From the statement above, the

readers will know how comfort and safe the community is. Foods are distribute to citizens by Food Distributors and in the mid-night, they will take the leftovers by

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The last prove is when the Giver transmits the memory of snow to Jonas and try to explain about it. It is the Giver’s job to transmit memories of the past to Jonas. “’Simply stated,’ he said, ‘although it’s not really simple at all, my job is to transmit to you all the memories I have within me. Memories of the past’”

(Lowry, 1993: 97). Jonas’first memory is about riding on a sled in a snow on the top of the hill. He does not know what it is because there are no snow, sleds, and also hills in the community. Certainly Jonas feels happy, at that time, when he received the memory. He wonders why the community do not have it.

“But what happened to those things? Snow, and the rest of it?”

“Climate Control. Snow made growing food difficult, limited the

agricultural periods. And unpredictable weather made transportation

almost impossible at times. It wasn’t a practical thing, so it became

obsolete when we went to Sameness.

“And hills, too,” he added. “They made conveyance of goods unwieldy.

Trucks; Buses. Slowed them down. So---“He waved his hand, as if a gesture had caused hills to disappear. “Sameness,” he concluded” (106).

This statement is the most significant prove that shows how perfect the community is. It is explained by the Giver the reasons why the community does not have snow, sleds, and also hills. All citizens live without memories of the past. They used to have it, long time ago, before Sameness. They choose to eliminate snow and make Climate Control since it brings good benefits for the community.

From the four proves that the writer provides above, Lois Lowry tries to tell readers that it is fine, safe, and well-designed community. The community eliminate all the bad things for the community, including memories of the past. They live their life in a same and routine activities every day. There is no bad weather, crops failure, poverty, and, hunger. Everything is provided for the community.

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In the society where Jonas lives, all citizens live in a very strict rules and high level of politeness. All citizens use proper language and precision of language is a must in a community. Children start to learn the acquisition of correct language when they are three years old. There will be a punishment for children if they make mistake.

The punishment used for small children was a regulated system of smacks with the discipline wand: a thin, flexible weapon that stung painfully when it was wielded. The Childcare specialists were trained very carefully in the discipline methods: a quick smack across the hands for a bit of minor misbehavior; three sharper smacks on the bare legs for a second offense (Lowry, 1993: 69).

Jonas is careful about language. Unlike Jonas, Asher always talks too fast and mix things up, scrambling words and phrases until they are barely recognizable and often very funny. For example, it is happened when Asher just a Three and he misspell word “snack” instead of “smack”. Although Asher said it

unintentionally, he still got the punishment from the Childcare worker. “The

discipline wand, in the hand of the Childcare worker, whistled as it came down

across Asher’s hands. Asher whimpered, cringed, and corrected himself instantly.

“Snack,” he whispered” (69-70).

From the example above, all citizens must use precise language. It is one of the Rules in the community. Although it is a minor rule, citizens who make mistake will get punishment with a discipline wand. The punishment is applied for all citizens, including small children and the old. It is also stated from what

Fiona said to Jonas.”…did you know that they use a discipline wand on the Old, the same as for small children?” (114). This is also a punishment for the Old when

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As the writer has mentioned before, all children are born from the Birthmothers. Each family unit can only have exactly two children. It is stated from what Jonas’ mother said to Lily. “Two children---one male, one female---to each family unit. It was written very clearly in the rules” (Lowry, 1993: 11). In

addition, the writer adds another prove to show how strict the rules are in Jonas’

society.

It is stated from what Jonas’ mother has said. She holds an important

position at the Department of Justice. “You know that there’s no third chance. The rules say that if there’s a third transgression, he simply has to be released”

(11).

There are two kinds of release. Release which mean a punishment, and release for the old and the new child. If the release means punishment, the

community will not celebrate it and they will feel ashamed. “For a contributing

citizen to be released from the community was a final decision, a terrible punishment, an overwhelming statement of failure” (3). On the contrary, release for the old and the new child is different with release which mean punishment.

”Release of the elderly, which was a time of celebration for a life well and fully

lived; and release of a newchild, which always brought a sense of what-could-we-have-done” (10).

As it is stated in the novel, release is a final decision for someone to leave the community forever. It is not mentioned what happen when someone is released from the community, at first. Since ceremony of release is a private ceremony, only certain people can see it, including Jonas who already becomes a

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New Receiver. It is stated from what the Giver said to Jonas. “All private

ceremonies are recorded. They are in the Hall of Closed Records. Do you want to

see this’s morning’s release?” (183).

The giver wants to show something to Jonas about the morning’s release.

It is a new born child who is released. When a Birthmother give birth to twins, the

community’s rule must choosethe one who weigh more, and release the smaller

one. It is stated from what Jonas’s father is said. “I’ll have to select the one to be nurtured, and the one to be released. It’s usually not hard, though. Usually it’s just

a matter of birthweight. We release the smaller of the two” (Lowry, 1993:144). It is him who is assigned to perform the release. But later Jonas finds out the meaning of release is death when he watched the record of his father when he was doing the ceremony of release to the new child.

His father turned and opened the cupboard. He took out a syringe and a small bottle. Very carefully he inserted the needle into the bottle and

began to fill the syringe with a clear liquid… To his surprise, his father

began very carefully to direct the needle into the top of newchild’s

forehead, puncturing the place where the fragile skin pulsed. The newborn

squirmed, and wailed faintly… He pushed the plunger very slowly, injecting the liquid into the scalp vein until the syringe was empty… As he

continued to watch, the newchild, no longer crying, moved his arms and legs in a jerking motion. Then he went limp. His head fell to the side, his eyes half open. Then he was still. With an odd, shocked feeling, Jonas recognized the gestures and posture and expression. They were familiar.

He had seen them before. But he couldn’t remember where… Once again,

as he had on the playing field, he felt the choking sensation. Once again he saw the face of the lighthaired, bloodied soldier as life left his eyes. The memory came back. He killed it! My father killed it! Jonas said to himself, stunned at what he was realizing. He continued to stare at the screen numbly (186-188).

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for Asher and for Fiona, but they could not feel it back, without the memories (169-170).

Although Jonas misses his childhood and his friends, he knows he cannot go back to the world without memories and feelings. He still does his training with the Giver. The second conditions that affect someone’s personality development is strong motivation. “People generally improve their pattern in order to get greater social acceptance and also to improve their social relationship. When the motivation to improve the personality pattern is strong enough, changes can be effected” (Lowry, 1993: 128). When Jonas finds out the real meaning of release is death, he feels very disappointed that the society live like this and do want to change. He tries to leave from the community forever.

Knowing Gabriel is going to be released, Jonas decides to leave the community earlier. Gabriel is going to be released because he is not sleep soundly. He often whines during the night and need extra attention to take care of him. Therefore they are going to release the toddler. That is how the community works, they release a flawed new child. From this phase, Jonas has the strong motivation leaving the community. In the beginning of the novel, he is unconcerned and live like other citizens in the community. Everything is changed when he is selected to be the Receiver of Memory. He often feels angry and frustrated with the members of his community. He starts to rebel by leave the community into the Elsewhere and change the community forever. Jonas steals his father’s bicycle and a supply of food and sets off for Elsewhere.

It can be categorized as the changes for the better. Hurlock states that personality changes for the better lead to successful adjustment that improves the

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self-concept and self-confidence of a person (120). It is shown by how he inspired the Giver to devise a plan for Jonas to change the community forever. Jonas shows his bravery by protecting the people that he loves, Gabriel, and will not let him to be killed. Although it is very dangerous if he get caught, he already made up his mind and leave from the community forever.

CHAPTER V CONCLUSION

In this chapter, the writer concludes the results of the analysis on the previous chapter. The writer analyzes Jonas’ personality development and the influence of his community towards his personality development. In the novel, Jonas is characterized as a good boy. He is clever, obedient, curious, friendly, and love to learn something new. The writer finds out that the personality of the main character develops since he is selected to become the new Receiver of Memory, the most honored position in the community, in the Ceremony of Twelve. He is selected because he has shown all the qualities that a Receiver must have and also he has a capacity to see beyond.

Due to that reason, he has to do the training apart, only with the Giver. The Giver is an old man who held all the memories from the past and uses his wisdom to help the Committee of Elders to make important decisions. The Giver transmits all the memories to Jonas by touching in his bare back. In his training, Jonas experienced so much things that he never experienced before, such as: sun, snow,

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sad at the same time because he can feel all the feelings that the memories bring. The community lives without memories of the past and went into the“sameness”.

As it is understood, the community has eliminated pain, suffer, conflict, hunger, and choices long time ago. They do not want to be burdened and pained by the memories, so they choose the Receiver to lift that burden. That is why the Receiver is vital to them and the most honored position in the community. All citizens live orderly and predictable. Everything is based on strict rules and everyone has to obey it. It can be said that the people in the society are restricted to the rules that limit their choices and their freedom. The rules in the community are organized from generations to generations, and if someone disobeys the rules, they will get punishment.

One of the rules in the community which becomes the main issue that happens in the novel is “Release”. Citizens who have done three transgressions, they will be released from the community. There are two kinds of “Release”. “Release” which mean a punishment, and “Release”for the old and the new child. If the “Release”means punishment, the community will not celebrate it and they will feel ashamed. On the contrary, “Release” for the old and the new child is different with release which mean punishment. As it is stated in the novel, “Release”is a final decision for someone to leave the community forever.

In the end, Jonasfinds out that the meaning of “Release” is death. He saw his father killing a baby with lethal injection (euthanasia) in the ceremony of “Release”. He feels angry and disappointed to the community because they live without memories. Knowing the truth about the community, Jonas plans

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something with the Giver. Jonas plans to escape from the community forever with Gabriel, his little brother. He does not want to live in the community anymore because it eliminates all the rights and freedom. All citizens live in restricted rules and live under burdens. Jonas loves his family and his friends, but he cannot live with a world without feelings and memories anymore. Therefore, he decided to save Gabriel and escape from the community.

Society can shape someone’s personality since they interact one to another. The society certainly has effect toward someone’s life. It is reflected in Jonas’ life. The reality in his society is surprising and makes him disappointed. As it is mentioned before, there are many issues that appears in the society. It turns out that the society where Jonas lives is not as perfect as he thinks. The personality of Jonas develops since he began his training and know the truth about what really happen in the society. Both the memories and the society have contributed toward the personality development of Jonas.

Jonas is filled with great emotions with all the memories he has got from the Giver. Jonas feels sorry and disappointed at the same time, because he thinks that memory should be shared, not only be kept by someone. It is not fair if someone must take all the burdened by her/himself. Jonas wants to change the society forever. He does not want to live his entire life like that, so he decided to leave the community forever into somewhere else lies beyond the community.

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Bibliography

Abrams, M.H. A Glossary of Literary Terms, 4thEdition, New York. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich College Publishers. 1981

Astrianingsih, Nicki. “A Psychological Study of the Character Development of Maud in Sarah Water’s Fingersmith,” Undergraduate Thesis. Yogyakarta: Universitas Sanata Dharma, 2008.

Barnet, Sylvan, Morton Berman and William Burto. an Introduction to Literature: Fiction, Poetry, Drama I. New York: Harper Collins, College Publishers. 1994

Harvey. W.J. Character and the Novel. New York: Cornell University Press. 1965 Hudson, William H. An Introduction to the Study of Literature, London: George

G. Harrap and Co. Ltd. 1910

Holman, Hugh and William Harmon. A Handbook to Literature: Eleventh Edition. New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2009.

Hurlock, Elizabeth B. Personality Development. New York: Mc.Graw Hill Book Company, 1976.

Jess, Feist and Gregory J. Feist. Theories of Personality Sixth Edition. Boston: Mc Graw Hill International Edition, 2006.

Lemme, Barbara H. Development in Adulthood. Boston: Allyn and Bacon Co, 1995.

Lowry, Lois. The Giver. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 1993.

Murphy, M.J. Understanding Unseens: An Introduction to English Poetry and the English Novel for Overseas Students. London: Geroge Allen & Unwind Ltd. 1972.

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Prasnorirni, Pranathalia Bondan. “Revealing the Theme through Characters and Setting: A Formalistic Study of Lois Lowry’s the Giver,” Undergraduate Thesis. Yogyakarta: Universitas Sanata Dharma, 2004.

Wellek, Rene and Austin Warren. Theory of Literature: 3rdedition. New York: Harcourt, Brace & World Inc., 1956.

Wibowo, Yospeh Hary. “The Importance of Memory Relating to Jonas’ Self-Actualization through Jonas’ Characteristics in Lois Lowry’s the Giver,” Undergraduate Thesis. Yogyakarta: Universitas Sanata Dharma, 2008.

The character development of jonas in Lois Lowry`s the giver.

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