A STUDY OF CHRISTIAN VALUES AS SEEN IN THE IMACULEE’S CONFLICTS IN IMACULEE ILIBAGIZA’S LEFT TO TELL
A STUDY OF CHRISTIAN VALUES
AS SEEN IN THE IMACULEE’S CONFLICTS
IN IMACULEE ILIBAGIZA’S LEFT TO TELL
AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements
for the Degree Sarjana Sastra
in English Letters
By
FABIOLA SEKAR MELATI
Student Number: 064214068
ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS
FACULTY OF LETTERS
SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
YOGYAKARTA
2010
A STUDY OF CHRISTIAN VALUES
AS SEEN IN THE IMACULEE’S CONFLICTS
IN IMACULEE ILIBAGIZA’S LEFT TO TELL
AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements
for the Degree Sarjana Sastra
in English Letters
By
FABIOLA SEKAR MELATI
Student Number: 064214068
ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS
FACULTY OF LETTERS
SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
YOGYAKARTA
2010
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LEMBAR PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN
PUBLIKASI KARYA ILMIAH UNTUK KEPENTINGAN AKADEMIS
Yang bertanda tangan di bawah ini, saya mahasiswa Universitas Sanata Dharma:
Nama
Nomor Mahasiswa
: Fabiola Sekar Melati
: 064214068
Dalam pengembangan karya ilmiah, saya memberikan kepada Perpustakaan
Universitas Sanata Dharma karya ilmiah saya yang berjudul:
A STUDY OF CHRISTIAN VALUES AS SEEN IN THE IMACULEE’S
CONFLICT IN IMACULEE ILIBAGIZA’S LEFT TO TELL
beserta perangkat yang diperlukan (bila ada).
Dengan demikian, saya memberikan Perpustakaan Universitas Sanata Dharma hak
untuk menyimpan, mengalihkan dalam bentuk media lain, mengelolanya dalam
bentuk pangkalan data, mendistribusikan secara terbatas, dan mengaplikasikannya
di internet atau media lain untuk kepentingan akademis tanpa meminta ijin kepada
saya maupun memberikan royalty kepada saya. Selama nama saya tercantum
sebagai penulis.
Demikian pernyataan ini saya buat dengan sebenarnya.
Di buat di Yogyakarta
Pada tanggal: 22 November 2010
Yang menyatakan
Fabiola Sekar Melati
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If You can dream it,
You can do it
(Walt Disney)
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
First of all, I would to express my deepest gratitude to The Almighty
God, Jesus Christ for helping me to finish one of the important parts in my life.
His blessing and guidance always be with me in finishing this thesis.
I am grateful for my advisor, Maria Ananta Tri S., S. S., M.Ed., for her
patience and understanding during the process of finishing this thesis. And I also
would like to express my gratitude to my co-advisor, Drs. Hirmawan
Wijanarka, M.Hum., for the advice for my thesis.
My deepest appreciation also goes to my beloved parents, my mother:
Yohanita Sri Astuti, who always prays for me from heaven, my father: Prajojo,
my Dad: TA. Bhinukti Prapto N., and my Mom: Ch. Sri Ismidasi, my sisters:
Anne Amelia Aquina, Bernadetta Belinda Aquina, and Nur Indah Chandra
F. And my lovely cousin: Petrus Damiani Febriyanto M.P. Thank you very
much for the support, love and prayer for me.
I thank my Uncle: dr. H. Rahardjo, SpOg, M.Kes., and family. Thank
for the support and understanding since through the years until this thesis finished.
I wish to express my gratitude to all of my lecturers and the staffs in
English Letters Department. Thanks for the patience and great support.
My sincere gratitude goes to Immanuel Boby in supporting me with his
caring, love and patience.
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For all my clas smates in 2006, especially my beloved friends, Ionk, Ucy,
Siska, Elis, and Via for the lovely friendship, support, care, and the unforgettable
moments we had together.
My last gratitude is for anyone who I do not mention but already give me
support and friendship. Thank you very much.
Fabiola Sekar Melati
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
TITLE PAGE…………………………………………………………
APPROVAL PAGE…………………………………………………..
ACCEPTANCE PAGE………………………………………………..
MOTTO PAGE……………………………………………………….
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS…………………………………………..
TABLE OF CONTENTS……………………………………………..
ABSTRACT……………………………………………………………
ABSTRAK………………………………………………………………
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CHAPTER I: INRODUCTION………………………………………
A. Background of the Study……………………………………
B. Problem Formulation………………………………………..
C. Objectives of the Study……………………………………..
D. Definition of Terms…………………………………………
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CHAPTER II: THEORETICAL REVIEW………………………….
A. Review of Related Studies…………………………………..
B. Review of Related Theory…………………………………..
1. Theory of Conflict……………………………………….
2. Theory of Christian Values………………………………
a. Christian Faith…………………………………………
b. Christian Hope………………………………………..
c. Christian Love…………………………………………
C. Theoretical Framework………………………………………
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CHAPTER III: METHODOLOGY………………………………….
A. Object of the Study………………………………………….
B. Approach of the Study………………………………………
C. Method of the Study…………………………………………
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CHAPTER IV: ANALYSIS……………………………………………
A. The Imaculee’s Conflicts Found in Left to Tell ……………..
1. Internal Conflict………………………………………
2. External Conflict………………………………………
B. Christian Values Found in Left to Tell………………………..
1. Christian Faith………………………………………...
2. Christian Hope…………………………………………
3. Christian Love…………………………………………
C. The Significance of Christian Values in Facing the Conflicts..
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CHAPTER V: CONCLUSION………………………………………...
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BIBLIOGRAPHY……………………………………………………….. 61
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ABSTRACT
FABIOLA SEKAR MELATI. A Study of Christian Values as Seen in The
Imaculee’s Conflicts in Imaculee Ilibagiza’s Left To Tell. Yogyakarta:
Department of English Letters, Faculty of Letters, Sanata Dharma University,
2010.
Imaculee Illibagiza’s Left to Tell is an autobiography which tells about
Christian values that are shown in the main character and her society. This
autobiography also talks about the significance of Christian values in helping the
main character to face the conflicts. The writer is interested in analyzing Christian
values that reflected from the main character’s attitude in facing the conflicts.
The writer focuses on three problems. First is the description of conflicts
that the main characte faces from her family and surrounding. The next problem is
Christian values that described in the autobiography. The last problem is the
significance of Christian values in helping the main character to face the conflicts.
In analyzing the topic, the writer uses two theories, theory of conflict and
theory of Christian values. Besides, Moral-Philosophical Approach is needed to
help the writer to analyze the topic. The writer uses library research method.
Many books and other sources from internet are used to help the writer in
analyzing the topic.
The writer finds that Imaculee, as the main character, experiences many
external and internal conflicts. The external conflicts come from her family and
society. The internal conflicts come between her mind and her heart. They come
when Imaculee faces hard situation. People in the society where Imaculee lives
are devout people. They take their in God by showing their faith, hope, and love.
It shows how the people live based on God’s rules. They show their Christian
values by praying, going to church, and helping others with all of their heart The
people’s ways of life influence Imaculee. She becomes a devout Christian person.
It also influences her attitude in her daily life. It is shown when she gets many
external and internal conflicts, she takes her problem in God. She believes that
God will always save her from the killers and help her to face the conflict. She
also prays for her, family, others’ safety. Not only that, but she also shows her
love to others by helping people who need her help. The most important thing is
she can forgive people who already kill her family. The Christian values really
help her to face the conflicts that come from her surrounding and herself.
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ABSTRAK
FABIOLA SEKAR MELATI. A Study of Christian Values as Seen in The
Imaculee’s Conflicts in Imaculee Ilibagiza’s Left to Tell. Yogyakarta: Program
Studi Sastra Inggris, Fakultas Sastra, Universitas Sanata Dharma, 2010.
Autobiografi karya Imaculee Ilibagiza yang berjudul Left to Tell bercerita
tentang nilai-nilai kekristenan yang ada dalam diri tokoh utama dan
lingkungannya. Autobiografi ini juga bercerita mengenai signifikan nilai-nilai
kekristenan dalam menolong tokoh utama untuk menghadapi konflik-konflik.
Penulis tertarik untuk menganalisis nilai-nilai kekristenan yang diperlihatkan oleh
tokoh utama dalam menghadapi konflik-konflik yang dihadapinya.
Penulis berfokus pada tiga masalah. Pertama adalah deskripsi dari konflikkonflik yang dihadapi oleh tokoh utama yang didapat dari keluarga dan
lingkungannya. Selanjutnya adalah nilai-nilai kekristenan yang ada dalam
autobiografi. Terakhir adalah signifikan dari nilai-nilai kekristenan dalam
membantu tokoh utama untuk menghadapi konflik-konflik.
Dalam menganalisa topic ini, penulis menggunakan dua teori, teori konflik
dan teori nilai-nilai kekristenan. Selain itu, pendekatan moral-philosophical juga
dibutuhkan untuk membantu penulis untuk menganalisa topik. Penulis
menggunakan metode penelitian perpustakaan. Banyak buku dan sumber-sumber
lainnya yang diambil dari internet digunakan untuk membatu penulis dalam
menganalisa topic ini.
Penulis menemukan bahwa Imaculee, sebagai tokoh utama, mengalami
banyak konflik dari dalam dan dari luar. Konflik dari luar datang dari keluarga,
lingkungan, dan para pembunuh. Konflik dari dalam datang dari pikiran dan
hatinnya. Konflik-konfik tersebut datang ketika Imaculee menghadapi situasi yang
dilema. Orang-orang di lingkungan Imaculee tinggal adalah orang-orang yang
beriman. Mereka meletakkan hidup mereka pada Tuhan dengan menunjukkan
iman, harapan ,dan cinta. Hal ini juga menunjukkan bagaimana orang-orang hidup
berdasarkan perintah-perintah Tuhan. Mereka menunjukkan nilai-nilai kekristenan
mereka dengan berdoa, pergi ke gereja, and menolong sesama tanpa
mengharapkan imbalan. Cara hidup mereka mempengaruhi Imaculee. Imaculee
menjadi orang Kristen yang taat. Hal ini juga mempengaruhi sikap-sikapnya
dalam kehidupan sehari-hari. Hal ini ditunjukkan ketika Imaculee mendapat
banyak konflik dari dalam dan dari luar, dia meletakkan masalah-masalahnya
pada Tuhan. Imaculee percaya bahwa Tuhan akan selalu melindunginya dari para
pembunuh dan menolongnya dalam menghadapi konflik yang dia hadapi.
Imaculee juga berdoa untuk keselamatannya, keluarganya, dan orang lain.
Tidak hanya itu, dia juga menunjukkan cintanya dengan menolong orang
yang membutuhkkan bantuannya. Hal yang paling penting adalah Imaculee dapat
memaafkan orang-orang yang sudah membunuh keluarganya. Nilai-nilai
kekristenan benar-benar membantu Imaculee dalam menghadapi konflik yang
datang dari lingkungannya dan dari dirinya sendiri.
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CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
A. Background of the Study
Reading literary work can give people many advantages in daily life. By
reading literary work, people can enrich knowledge and experience in life.
Literary work does not only give people pleasure but also educates people. Moody
in Literary Appreciation said, “the greatest pleasure and satisfaction in literature
occurs where (as it often does) it brings us back to the realities to human
situations, problems, feelings, and relationships” (1968: 2). By reading literary
work, the reader will be brought to the real condition because literary work
reflects the condition of society. From the literary work, people will know the
problems that happen in society. People can get the information about the past, the
social condition, human behavior, and conflicts or problems that the characters
face in the society. Besides that, many factors influence the author to produce the
literary works. Society and their real conflict in the author’s life can be the
inspiration for the author to write literary works.
Definition of literature can be different because each person has his/her
own perspective on literature. Barnet in An Introduction to Literature stated,
“Literature is (to quote Robert Frost) a performance in words. It has in it an
element of entertaining display, and surely we expect literature to be in some
sense entertaining, or, to put it in different terms, to afford pleasure.” (1963:1).
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Literary work as the imitation the world in form of writing, hopefully, can be a
tool to entertain, give pleasure, and give lesson to its reader.
One of well-known literary forms is fiction. It is divided into novel, play,
short story. Not only that, there are still two types of writing; biography and
autobiography. They are different because it tells about real person’s life and
contains facts. The writer chooses autobiography to be main topic to discuss in
this study. According to Oxford Advanced Leaner’s Dictionary, autobiography is
the story of a person’s life, written by that person (2005:88). Kazin and Francis
Rusell Hart in The American Autobiography point out that autobiography is
simply and profoundly, personal life (1981: 3). Autobiography contains a person’s
story and it is deeper because tells the reader about what really happen to the
author.
Autobiography is different from literary work; it is a personal life and
contains history. But in some cases, autobiography can be treated like literary
work which can give readers lesson, like what Liliard states in The American
Autobiography, “They are history in that they are source materials, containing
facts and interpreting facts, preserving the past, and drawing lessons from it. They
are literature in that they must please and entertain as well as teach. And like both
history and literature, they have to select and narrate it” (1981: 12). The form of
autobiography is just like literary work as long as it can teach and entertain the
reader. The autobiography itself is made by the reality from the author. It contains
fact and keep the fact as the main source because its function as the history. The
work itself has to give lesson besides tell story to the reader.
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Autobiography can be used to teach its reader besides to give pleasure and
entertainment. Autobiography, which contains true story about the author’s life,
gives the reader lesson about life from the experiences. It teaches about how to
solve conflict and other problems that happens in society. Besides teaching about
life experiences, autobiography can also be used to teach religious values. It tells
the readers about their relationship to God. Her/his belief in God can help the
character to face their problem. However, nowadays, people start to forget about
their belief. People become selfish and only think about material goods and every
modern convenience. They compete to get popularity and a lot of money. Not
only that, but crime also increase drastically. Mugging and rape make
environment unsafe, and marriages end in divorce. These phenomena seem to
become the common problem in society and shows people’s weakness in applying
religion in life.
Religion is important because it functions to control and to rule human’s
attitude so human can live well in order to make good relation with God. Christian
religion, one of the religions, has three main points that have to apply in the
believers. Tiliach in The Dynamics of Faith states that human as God’s creature
should love God with all our heart, soul, and might (1967:96). Human, as God’s
creature, has to love God with all of his heart and soul just like the Bible
mentioned. Fisher and Hart in Christian Foundation said that 1 Corinthians 13
mentions that faith, hope, and love are the foundation in Christian religion (1967:
96). Those points cannot be separated because they are related to each other.
Christian values have important role in literary work when it tries to give message
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to the reader. Christian values can be found in many literary works and
autobiographies, such as in Left to Tell by Imaculee Ilibagiza. The writer is
interested in analyzing this autobiography because it consists of Christian values.
Imaculee, as the major character, brings Christian values into her life in order to
face her problems. Her belief to God makes her survive and gives her hope to
make her live better. In this thesis, the writer will discuss Christian values; faith,
hope, and love that can be seen in conflicts which are described and the Christian
values’ contribution to help her to face the conflict.
Left to Tell is primarily an account of personal survival and a personal
spiritual journey. Immaculeé Ilibagiza’s aim is not to analyze the complex social
and political forces that lead to the genocide through which she lives. This book
should not be read as a resource for understanding the political and cultural
realities of the Rwandan genocide but this book is about Imaculee’s spiritual
journey. There are many interesting issues in this book, but Christian values still
become the important one. Imaculee finds her faith and hope in genocide era. She
can survive from the genocide because of her faith and hope to God. She also can
forgive people who already kill her family. That is why the writer is interesting to
discuss about Christian values.
Left to Tell is divided into three parts. In part 1, The Gathering Storm,
Immaculeé focuses on her life before the genocide. Born to a middle-class,
Catholic, Tutsi family, her life is one of relative prosperity and peaceful, although
a few childhood incidents illustrate that the Hutu/Tutsi distinction has an effect on
her early life. She is in high school when the Rwandese Patriotic Front (RPF),
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makes up of expatriate Tutsi soldiers, enter Rwanda in 1990, and war breaks out
between them and the Hutu government’s military forces. In April 1994,
Immaculeé, by then a university student, is home for Easter when they hear that
the president of Rwanda has been killed. This event sparks the killing of nearly a
million people in Rwanda over the next three months. As Hutu civilians arm with
machetes start to kill Tutsis and moderate Hutus all over the country, Immaculeé’s
parents, fearful that she might be raped and killed, advise her to go and hide in a
nearby pastor’s house.
The second part of the book, Into the Bathroom, tells the story of how
Immaculeé and several other Tutsi women hide in a tiny seldom-use bathroom at
the back of the pastor’s house for three months. During the three months that the
women are hiding there, soldiers come to search the house several times, but
never find the bathroom. Several incidents stand out in this part of the story:
former neighbors and even friends, who come looking for her by name, aiming to
kill her; her suspicion that a young man that is killed brutally in order to “look at
the brain” of a Master’s degree recipient is in fact her brother Damascene; her
Hutu boyfriend who is happy that she is in hiding so that he does not have to
worry about other men looking at her. But the real drama in this central part of the
book lies in Immaculeé’s spiritual journey, as she struggles with anger, prays for
the ability to forgive, comes to realize that her family is dead, and forges plans for
a new life. One can describe the time in the bathroom as a kind of womb during
which Immaculeé finds a new identity.
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Part three, A New Path, tells the story of Immaculeé’s escape from the
bathroom, her temporary shelter in a French camp, her move to the capital, Kigali,
and the start of a new life. After the genocide, Immaculeé learns about the death
of her parents and her brothers Damascene and Vianney and only her eldest
brother Aimable, who is in Senegal at the time of the genocide, has survived. With
great courage and resilience she persists in trying to fulfill her dream of working
at the UN, in which she eventually succeeds. It is at the UN offices in Kigali
where she later meets her husband, Bryan Black, an American who has come to
Rwanda to help set up the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda.
B. Problem Formulation
Related to the topic that is chosen, there are three problems used for
guiding to analyze the topic.
1. How are Imaculee’s conflicts described in the autobiography?
2. How are Christian values described in the autobiography?
3. What is the significance of Christian values in facing the conflicts?
C. Objectives of the Study
Related to the problem, there are three objectives of the study that are
going to be discovered. The first is to find how the Imaculee’s conflicts are
described; the second is to find Christian values that appear in the novel and the
third is to find out the significance Christian values in facing the conflicts.
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D. Definition of Terms
The writer provides definition of terms to avoid misunderstanding. There
are three definitions of terms that are used to analyze the topic.
1. Conflict
Redman in A Second Book of Play stated conflict as:
The struggle between two opposing forces, ideas, or beliefs, which is the
protagonist-succeeds or fails in overcoming the opposing force.
Sometimes, the protagonist gives up the struggle as too difficult or not
worthwhile. The term inner conflict refers to a struggle within the heart
and mind of the protagonist. The term external conflict refers to a struggle
between the protagonist and outside force (1962:363).
Holman and Harmon in A Handbook of Literature states that conflicts not
only implies the struggle of thee protagonist against someone or something, it also
implies the existence of some motivation for the conflict or some goal to be
achieved thereby (1986: 108).
2. Christian values
Based on The International Bible Associations in its article, “Two Paths of
Christian Values,” Christian values are things that Christians do to others and God
based on God’s rule. It is also the principles for living that are emphasized most
strongly in the Bible.
3. Study
Based on Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary, study is the activity of
learning or gaining knowledge, either from books or by examining things in the
world (2005:1525).
CHAPTER II
THEORETICAL REVIEW
In this chapter, the writer will provide some theories that will be used to
analyze the topic. Therefore this chapter is divided into three parts. First is review of
related studies which will discuss some opinions from articles about the object of the
study. Second is review of related theories which will discuss about theories related
to the study; they are theory of conflict and theories of Christian values are provided
by the writer to analyze the study. The last is theoretical framework that explains the
function of each theory to analyze the study.
A. Review of Related Studies
The object of the study is an autobiography that tells a story about genocide in
Rwanda, Africa. Imaculee Ilibagiza presents her experience and struggle when she
lives in genocide era. Since the writer wants to discuss about Christian values, the
writer also uses some articles about Christian values in this autobiography takes from
internet.
This autobiography is a usual book with amazing story; a story about
discovering God during one of bloodiest genocide. Since the writer chooses Christian
values as the topic, the review of the related studies also talk about Christian values in
this autobiography. From Publisher’s Weekly, the editor says that this autobiography
consists of Christian values as the central. Her faith, hope, and love to God make her
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survive when the genocide happens. When Imaculee stays in the bathroom for 91
days, with 7 other women, she finds strength in prayer and Bible. She makes herself
closer to God in order to get power to face the situation at that time.
From Steve Erwin in a website, it is said that Imaculee shows the reader how
to use the power of prayer and to make relationship with God deeply. She describes
the Hutu race as the evil rather than the murder. She believes all human are kind and
have good relationship with God. And when the genocide happens, she thinks it is not
human, it is evil that works in their bodies. But she believes by using her faith, she
will find ”a light way” to forgive people who kill her family and the other victims.
This autobiography contains of many interesting topic to be discussed, such as
family, faith, and ethnic identity.Based on Read One Book Association, it is said that
faith is the most interesting topic in this autobiography. Since the story tells about
Imaculee’s spiritual journey, its reader can decide that faith is the central. Not only
that, hope and love to God and each other also become the main part in this story.
This study, like these previous related studies, also discusses about Christian
values; faith, hope, and love. Reading this autobiography, the author realizes that the
author wants to convey message from the author’s experience. The Christian values
also can be seen in Imaculee’s conflicts and from the way in facing problems in hard
situation.
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B. Review of Related Theories
1. Theory of Conflict
Conflict already becomes part of people’s life. Human as God’s creature
always has unsatisfied feeling in every single thing that they have done. This reason
brings people into trouble, or usually called conflict.
Redman in A Second Book of Plays stated that conflict is:
The struggle between two opposing forces, ideas, or beliefs, which is the
protagonist-succeeds or fails in overcoming the opposing force. Sometimes,
the protagonist gives up the struggle as too difficult or not worthwhile. The
term inner conflict refers to a struggle within the heart and mind of the
protagonist. The term external conflict refers to a struggle between the
protagonist and outside force (1962:363).
The term external conflict refers to a struggle between the protagonist and
outside force. When people’s mind is in the dilemma situation, usually people are in
the difficult situation. When people (the characters) have conflict with their own
mind, it is called inner conflict, because there is no effect from other people. In other
hands, if people (the characters) have conflict with other people or the surrounding, it
is called external conflict. The character itself cannot avoid the conflict in life
because conflict makes the story alive and it becomes the main point in the story.
Holman and Harmon in A Handbook of Literature states that conflicts not
only implies the struggle of thee protagonist against someone or something, it also
implies the existence of some motivation for the conflict or some goal to be achieved
thereby (1986: 108).
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2. Theory of Christian Values
Christian values based on the Holy Bible in I Corinthians 13:13, is divided
into three; faith, hope, and love (1971: 162). Since the writer realizes the main
character also has struggle to forgive the killers as the part of her love to others, love
becomes one thing that should be discussed. In order to analyze the topic, the writer
provides theory of Christian faith, hope, and love..
a. Christian Faith
Fisher and Hart in Christian Foundation said that faith is so central in
Christian life. The important thing to become a Christian is to believe. The Christian
has to believe in Jesus in order to hear message and receive gifts (1995: 95).
Brownlee in his book stated that there are some interpretations of faith:
1. Faith is an alliance and a unity between God and people which is reflected by
serving to God’s guideline.
2. Faith is a faithful attitude of faith as the form of self-action of worship of the
followers into God.
3. Prayer is the real attitude of the faith as the reaction to open herself of the
God’s guideline all of her life. And prayers attitude is the traits to give her
plan as the openness of mind to God’s will.
4. Preach, congregation, and prayers are the faith form in social service. Have
served the Poor, and insulted people are the proof of serving God. Faith is the
readiness to follow Christ whatsoever and whenever he teaches; goes to
poverty, goes to desolation. Even goes into the death as Jesus says that cited
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in Christian Holy Bible “And when he had called the people unto him with his
disciples also, he said unto them, whosoever will come after me, let him deny
himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” (1978: 1045)
5. Faith also means prayers alliance. This form is to ask God help for other
people because of sadness, weakness, endurable, and injustice (1993: 76-81).
b. Christian Hope
Hope is an expectant desire. With faith and love, St. Paul classes hope among
the valuable and enduring virtues (I Corinthians 13:13).
According to Carmody in Christianity: An Introduction, the definition of hope
is written:
In the (New Testament), sense, hope is ultimately constituted by the
intersection, on the one hand, of that divine predestining plan for man
whereby the love of God-which, being incarnate in Christ, has become human
history-has efficaciously and permanently affected man, and on the other hand
of the responsive attitude towards this plan shown by the person (or the
Church), in which the highly personal response of which each individual is
capable is persevered and sustained) who confidently awaits the final
consummation of the divine economy of salvation in the coming of Jesus
Christ, in reliance on the saving plan which has already and irrevocably been
initiated by God, as he knows with the certainty of faith (2006: 67).
Hope, quoting from Dewi Sakuntalawati’s thesis, “Roman 5:1-5 determines
Hope is the result of faith, accepts tribulations with joy, follows the process of
tribulation with patience, experience. Moreover, Hope is marvelous as the love of
God scratches over her heart” (1978: 1172-1173). When the Christians believe in
Jesus Christ, hope is needed in order to make us certain that the world is cared for and
loved by God. No one is excluded from God’s grace. All of people can get God’s
13
grace as long as they believe and take the hope for God, because the goodness of
Jesus can give all human a new birth.
c. Christian Love
Considering about Christian values, love is the most important thing among
faith and hope. As stated in Christian Holy Bible, in 1 Corinthians 13:13, “So faith,
hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”
The gift of love is likewise a duty, in Mt. 22:37-39: “You shall love the Lord
your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is
the great and first commandment. And a second is like it, You shall love your
neighbor as yourself.” As the God’s creature, people should love God because live is
God. Besides, loving each other is also important, it makes good relation with them.
God’s love for people is a gift and takes forever. In A New Catechism: Catholic Faith
for Adult, it is stated that love is not just a feeling but it is also an action. Many ways
to show love to God and each other, such as by pray, go to church, charity,
forgiveness, salvation, giving without any purposes, etc (1967: 114). In other words,
without love there is no Christian God and people should love both God and each
other.
C. Theoretical Framework
The writer’s aim is to reveal Christian values that are reflected in this
autobiography. Discussing about this topic, the writer uses some theories to make
easier for the writer in doing the analysis. Theories that used are theory of conflict
14
and theory of Christian values. Each of them has its own function in order to help the
writer to answer the questions in problem formulation.
Since the writer chooses Christian values as the topic that is going to be
discussed, theory of Christian values is needed. Christian values in this story become
the main topic because it became the problem solution in order to survive in hard
situation. Her faith, hope, and love, to God are the keys to face such situation.
CHAPTER III
METHODOLOGY
This chapter is divided into three parts. Object of the study consists of
information the work, second is approach of the study is about the appropriate
approach that will be used to analyze the work. The last is methodology which
contains the sources and steps that the writer used.
A. Object of the Study
The object of the study is an autobiography titled Left to Tell written by
Imaculee Ilibagiza with Steve Erwin. This autobiography consists of 215 pages and
divided into three parts; The Gathering Storm, Into the Bathroom, and A New Path. It
is published by Hay House in June 2006.
This autobiography tells about Imaculee’s story in the era when she lives.
Imaculee lives in Rwanda and after she finishes her study in Lycee de Notre Dame
College, she goes home and it is when the genocide begins. This tragedy makes her
family, friends, and people she loves died. She is safe because she hides in pastor’s
bathroom with seven other Tutsi women for three months. This autobiography should
not read as a resource for understanding the political and cultural reality of the
Rwandan genocide but this book is about Imaculee’s spiritual journey. In this
15
16
bathroom, she holds on God with prayer and Bible. She takes her hope in God in
order to get safety.
Left to Tell is not only a usual autobiography, but it also opens world eyes
about what really happens in the third world. The story inspires the reader and makes
the reader realize that there are many people who cannot enjoy life, especially for
black people. The discrimination itself does not come from the white people, but
from the black people which are greedy of power. Because of its story, this
autobiography got some awards, such as A Christopher Award: “Affirming the
Highest Values of Human Spirit” and “Best Outreach Testimony/Biography Resource
of 2007.” Not only the reader, but Imaculee as the author also gets awards, such as
“The Mahatma Gandhi International Award for Reconciliation and Peace 2007” and a
finalist as one of Beliefnet.com’s “Most Inspiring People of the Year 2006.”
B. Approach of the Study
The writer is interested in using moral-philosophical approach to analyze the
work. As stated in A Handbook of Critical Approaches to Literature by Guerin, that
moral-philosophical approach is one of the traditional approaches that is used to teach
morality and probe philosophical issue. There are many critics who explore their idea
about moral-philosophical approach. Plato emphasizes moralism and utilitarianism;
Horace stresses that literature should be delightful and instructive; Matthew Arnold
says that there are moral and religion in literature; and according to Samuel Jackson
17
is the basic position of such critics is that the larger function of literature is to teach
and morality and to probe philosophical issues (2004: 77). Literary work, based on
the critics, is something that must give the reader pleasure and lesson. The most
important function of the literary work is to give lesson to its reader. In other words,
it must teach the reader, so its reader can get lesson which can be applied in life. Still
from the same source, moral-philosophical approach does not only concern just in its
way of saying, but also in what it says (2004: 77). Literature has many forms and
ways to say about the story in literature. In moral-philosophical side, the form or the
way of the author to tell the story is not important. The important thing is what the
work said in order to teach and give effect to its reader.
C. Method of the Study
In analyzing this topic, the writer used library research method. The writer
used books and internet to find the sources to support this study. The sources were
divided into two categories: primary and secondary source. The primary source was
Left to Tell book and the secondary source were books and articles from internet
including theories, references or any related topic.
The books that were used by the author were Literary Appreciation by
Moody, An Introduction to Literature by Sylvan Barnet, A Second Book of Play by
Redman, A Handbook of Critical Approaches to Literature by Guerin, The American
18
Autobiography by Albert E. Stone, Christianity: A Foundation by Carmody,
Christian Foundation by Fisher and Hart, and other sources
In order to analyze the topic, the writer did some steps. First, the writer read
the work, Left to Tell as the primary source. Since the writer focused in the
contribution of Christian values to face the conflicts, the writer read many books that
related to the theories. Besides, related studies were needed in order to find other
studies which discussed the same topic. Next, in chapter four, the writer answered
three problems; the first was, analyzed the conflict that are described in the book;
second was, found the conflicts that are described in the book; and the last was, found
out the significance Christian values in facing the conflicts.
CHAPTER IV
ANALYSIS
This chapter consists of the answers of the problems that were already
mentioned in chapter 1. It is divided into three parts. First is the description of the
conflicts, second is, how the Christian values are described, and the last is the
significance Christian values in solving the conflicts.
A. The Imaculee’s Conflicts Found in Left to Tell
In this part, the writer wants to explore the conflict which the main character
faces. Conflict, based on Redman in A Second Book of Plays is:
The struggle between two opposing forces, ideas, or beliefs, which is the
protagonist-succeeds or fails in overcoming the opposing force. Sometimes,
the protagonist gives up the struggle as too difficult or not worthwhile. The
term inner conflict refers to a struggle within the heart and mind of the
protagonist. The term external conflict refers to a struggle between the
protagonist and outside force (1962:363).
Based on the theory, the writer divided the analysis on conflict into two parts;
first is internal conflict and the second is external conflict.
Based on Holman and Harmon in A Handbook of Literature, conflicts not
only implies the struggle of thee protagonist against someone or something, it also
implies the existence of some motivation for the conflict or some goal to be achieved
thereby (1986: 108).
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20
Redman in A Second Book of Plays explains that the term inner conflict refers
to a struggle within the heart and mind of the protagonist (1962:363). Imaculee as the
main character experiences the internal conflicts in this book.
1. Internal Conflict
The situation in Rwanda after the war begins is very hard situation for its
people, especially for Tutsis. They face the discrimination in any aspects. One of the
worst situations is in education aspect. Tutsis kids, especially Imaculee, experience it.
When the government holds a scholarship, she wants to apply this scholarship. But,
she is not sure that she will win the scholarship.
Two years passed, and I was one the top students in the school. When the
government announced that it was holding a special exam for honor students
who wanted to enter public school, I decided to take the test. Deep down
inside, I felt that it wouldn’t matter it I scored the highest test results in the
country-I’d still be passed over because I was Tutsi. Nevertheless, I studied
hard and was sure that I’d written an excellent exam, but weeks went by
without any word, so I put it out of my mind (p. 20).
By reading this quotation, the writer sees that Imaculee doubts about her
ability in applying the scholarship. She decides to take the test but in her mind, she
feels dilemma and she has struggle between her mind and her heart. Her mind says
that she has to follow the test, but in her mind she is sure that she will not win the
scholarship because of her race. She wants to help her parents because if she studies
in public school, her parents do not need to pay the tuition. Besides, she wants to
prove to her brothers and parents that even though she is woman, she has ability just
like man, especially as smarter as her brothers. And finally, she decides to try the test
21
and the result is unpredictable, she wins the scholarship. Her dream to make her
parents and brothers proud becomes real.
In this internal conflict, Imaculee wants to join the scholarship, but something
blocks her desire. Based on the theory of conflict in literature, the different opinion
between her mind and her heart blocks her desire to apply the scholarship. Finally,
she decides to follow the scholarship.
The other internal conflict is when she wants to help other Tutsis but she
cannot do it. When the war begins, she and her boyfriend go to Kigali in visiting
Sarah’s parents, she sees a woman that is intimidated by a group of young Hutu men.
The boys take the poor lady’s purse, pull of her jewelry, steal her packages, and
knock her down. Then they yank her shoes and rip off her dress. And after that, they
leave the poor woman in the street. Nobody helps her because people afraid of the
Hutus. Actually Imaculee really wants to help the poor woman, but she is not allowed
for doing that by her boyfriend. It makes her sad because she cannot help the Tutsi
(p.34).
Not only cannot help the poor woman in the street, but she also feels dilemma
when she cannot help Nzima and Sony, her Tutsi neighbors. She feels pity but she
can do nothing because she also a Tutsi who only expect Pastor’s kindness. And then
she can only hear their scream when the killers kill Nzima and Sony. She feels guilty
because both of them are the best fiends of her parents (p. 36).
Those internal conflicts above make Imaculee feels guilty. She really wants to
help people who are intimidated by the Hutus. As a Tutsi, she cannot do that. This
22
situation is very hard for her and once again she has to a struggle between her mind
and heart. She wants to help them but in fact if she helps them it just makes the
situation becomes worse. So, she decides not to help them.
Imaculee faces those conflicts when she wants to help the other Tutsis. Those
conflicts called as conflict because Imaculee has desire to help others, and her mind
and her heart blocks her way to do that. She cannot help them because she is a Tutsi
and sahe does not want to take the consequence.
Besides helping people from outside, the internal conflict also comes when
her and her family spend holiday in their house. At that time, Imaculee’s brother,
Damascene, tells them about the list of death that is made by the Hutus and their
family’s name is mentioned in the list. Damascene says that the Hutus will come and
kill them in that night. He insists on his father to take his family away from their
house. But in fact, his father doubts and ignores Damascene’s information. He tells to
other members of the family to have positive thinking because Damascene only gets
the information from his friend, so his father cannot make sure the information is
right or not.
Imaculee confuses whether she should believe Damascene or not. She knows
Damascene well. She knows that Damascene is smart and is not fooled easily. If he
can say like that means that he is serious. She wants to follow Damascene’s advice to
go away from their house to save their life, but she does not get permission from her
father.
23
Everyone was quiet. I’m sure that we all wanted to run to Lake Kivu and hop
into a rowboat, but my brothers and I couldn’t leave our parents without
saying good-bye. And we were so accustomed to our father making the
decisions in the household that it was natural for us to follow his lead.
Besides, we reasoned, it was getting so late that Augustine and Vianney were
falling asleep in their chair. So Damascene and I decided that we should wait
until morning and talk to Dad again, and then we all headed to bed (p.42).
From this quotation shows that Imaculee and her brothers want to run away
from home to Lake Kivu, but they cannot go without saying good-bye to their
parents. Imaculee also can do nothing. In her heart, she really wants to run away but
in other sides she cannot go without her parents’ permission. She has a purpose to
save her family’s life, but she knows her father’s command blocks her act. So she
decides to obey her father’s command and talk to her father next morning.
Since her father does not allow Imaculee and her brothers to run away to other
places, she realizes that there is no way to escape from this kind of situation besides
pretending to be brave and thinking everything will be fine. Imaculee feels dilemma
when she has to hide her fear. She is afraid if the killers really come and kill her and
her family. But she does not want to make her family worries. She advises her
brothers to have faith and pretend not to think about the war, but in fact she is afraid.
The truth was that I had little faith myself-I wasn’t studying to prepare for
exams, but to keep my mind off my family’s worries (p.46).
In order not to think about the war, she makes herself concentrate for studying
the exam, but actually it is only her way to hide her fear. In her heart, she wants to
make her family feels safe but in her mind she realizes she can do nothing in facing
this situation. Besides feeling worry, she also thinks that her family cannot think
24
clearly. There is no way to save her family besides pretending to be tough and keep
her family from negative perspective. So, she is the only one who can keep her family
from this situation by pretending that everything will be okay.
Imaculee is just the human which has feeling. In that time, she feels life is
unfair for the Tutsis. She cannot understand about this situation. The war between
two races in the same country means the war between two tribes who live in the same
land.
Why is this happening?”I cried into my pillow.” What have we done to
deserve this? Why is being a Tutsi is so wrong? Why are you letting this
happen with us, God? (p.49)
Imaculee feels God is unfair to the Tutsis. She knows human makes the war
but her heart blames God for what already happened. But finally she realizes that this
is not God’s fault. It happens because human is greedy of the power. Hutus want to
make Rwanda into their own country. So, the Hutus make genocide to kill the Tutsis
in order to make Tutsis destroy from Rwanda.
Imaculee is an optimistic person which always wants to make other people
feel safe. But finally she realizes that her act only make people think impossible
thing. The writer can see the internal conflict from this quotation.
A wave of guilt rolled over me. Had my optimism led my brothers and parents
into this nightmare we were living in now? Was I responsible for their fate?
What else could we have done, since Dad wouldn’t leave, and everything had
happened so fast? Should I have despaired, sunk into depression, or become
hysterical over our plight? That would have made matters worse. People need
hope to survive (p.63).
25
She is in dilemma because she worries if her family becomes the victim of her
acting of pretending that “everything will be okay.” She worries if this situation
becomes her responsibility. She wants to make her family feels safe, but in fact she is
afraid her acting gives bad effect to her family. Imaculee’s purpose is to make her
family feels safe, but in fact, her goal is blocked by her thought that everything will
be okay. Finally, she can only pretend to be a brave person.
Another internal conflict comes when she is hiding in the Pastor’s house.
When the killers attack Imaculee’s house, her father takes Imaculee, her brother,
Vianney, and his friend, Augustine to hide in Pastor’s house, who is her father’s best
friend. Fortunately, he is a kind Hutu, so it is no problem to hide in his house. The
pastor already hides seven Tutsi women in his house and he thinks that it is too
dangerous to hide men in his house, so the pastor let Vianney and Augustine go and
find other places to hide. Imaculee is very sad when she hears pastor’s command. She
cannot let them go, because she remembers Damascene’s word for not leaving this
place. Sending Vianney and Augustine away now means delivering them to their
death. Imaculee thinks she will go with them, but suddenly she changes her mind.
She cannot sleep in that night and has no idea what she should do to protect them.
She does not want to let them go but she has no choice. This is her deep sadness
because she will let Vianney and Augustine go away. As Vianney’s sister, she wants
to keep Vianney stays with her, but she also knows that it is an impossible thing. It
will be very dangerous if she keeps Vianney with her. And finally she lets Vianney
and Augustine go away (pp. 68-69).
26
Imaculee wants to save her brother and Vianney, but she cannot do it. Her
desire to save them become unreal because there is struggle between her mind and
her heart that block her dream to save her brother and Vianney.
Imaculee also experiences internal conf
AS SEEN IN THE IMACULEE’S CONFLICTS
IN IMACULEE ILIBAGIZA’S LEFT TO TELL
AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements
for the Degree Sarjana Sastra
in English Letters
By
FABIOLA SEKAR MELATI
Student Number: 064214068
ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS
FACULTY OF LETTERS
SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
YOGYAKARTA
2010
A STUDY OF CHRISTIAN VALUES
AS SEEN IN THE IMACULEE’S CONFLICTS
IN IMACULEE ILIBAGIZA’S LEFT TO TELL
AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements
for the Degree Sarjana Sastra
in English Letters
By
FABIOLA SEKAR MELATI
Student Number: 064214068
ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS
FACULTY OF LETTERS
SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
YOGYAKARTA
2010
i
ii
iii
LEMBAR PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN
PUBLIKASI KARYA ILMIAH UNTUK KEPENTINGAN AKADEMIS
Yang bertanda tangan di bawah ini, saya mahasiswa Universitas Sanata Dharma:
Nama
Nomor Mahasiswa
: Fabiola Sekar Melati
: 064214068
Dalam pengembangan karya ilmiah, saya memberikan kepada Perpustakaan
Universitas Sanata Dharma karya ilmiah saya yang berjudul:
A STUDY OF CHRISTIAN VALUES AS SEEN IN THE IMACULEE’S
CONFLICT IN IMACULEE ILIBAGIZA’S LEFT TO TELL
beserta perangkat yang diperlukan (bila ada).
Dengan demikian, saya memberikan Perpustakaan Universitas Sanata Dharma hak
untuk menyimpan, mengalihkan dalam bentuk media lain, mengelolanya dalam
bentuk pangkalan data, mendistribusikan secara terbatas, dan mengaplikasikannya
di internet atau media lain untuk kepentingan akademis tanpa meminta ijin kepada
saya maupun memberikan royalty kepada saya. Selama nama saya tercantum
sebagai penulis.
Demikian pernyataan ini saya buat dengan sebenarnya.
Di buat di Yogyakarta
Pada tanggal: 22 November 2010
Yang menyatakan
Fabiola Sekar Melati
iv
If You can dream it,
You can do it
(Walt Disney)
v
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
First of all, I would to express my deepest gratitude to The Almighty
God, Jesus Christ for helping me to finish one of the important parts in my life.
His blessing and guidance always be with me in finishing this thesis.
I am grateful for my advisor, Maria Ananta Tri S., S. S., M.Ed., for her
patience and understanding during the process of finishing this thesis. And I also
would like to express my gratitude to my co-advisor, Drs. Hirmawan
Wijanarka, M.Hum., for the advice for my thesis.
My deepest appreciation also goes to my beloved parents, my mother:
Yohanita Sri Astuti, who always prays for me from heaven, my father: Prajojo,
my Dad: TA. Bhinukti Prapto N., and my Mom: Ch. Sri Ismidasi, my sisters:
Anne Amelia Aquina, Bernadetta Belinda Aquina, and Nur Indah Chandra
F. And my lovely cousin: Petrus Damiani Febriyanto M.P. Thank you very
much for the support, love and prayer for me.
I thank my Uncle: dr. H. Rahardjo, SpOg, M.Kes., and family. Thank
for the support and understanding since through the years until this thesis finished.
I wish to express my gratitude to all of my lecturers and the staffs in
English Letters Department. Thanks for the patience and great support.
My sincere gratitude goes to Immanuel Boby in supporting me with his
caring, love and patience.
vi
For all my clas smates in 2006, especially my beloved friends, Ionk, Ucy,
Siska, Elis, and Via for the lovely friendship, support, care, and the unforgettable
moments we had together.
My last gratitude is for anyone who I do not mention but already give me
support and friendship. Thank you very much.
Fabiola Sekar Melati
vii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TITLE PAGE…………………………………………………………
APPROVAL PAGE…………………………………………………..
ACCEPTANCE PAGE………………………………………………..
MOTTO PAGE……………………………………………………….
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS…………………………………………..
TABLE OF CONTENTS……………………………………………..
ABSTRACT……………………………………………………………
ABSTRAK………………………………………………………………
i
ii
iii
iv
v
vii
ix
x
CHAPTER I: INRODUCTION………………………………………
A. Background of the Study……………………………………
B. Problem Formulation………………………………………..
C. Objectives of the Study……………………………………..
D. Definition of Terms…………………………………………
1
1
6
6
7
CHAPTER II: THEORETICAL REVIEW………………………….
A. Review of Related Studies…………………………………..
B. Review of Related Theory…………………………………..
1. Theory of Conflict……………………………………….
2. Theory of Christian Values………………………………
a. Christian Faith…………………………………………
b. Christian Hope………………………………………..
c. Christian Love…………………………………………
C. Theoretical Framework………………………………………
8
8
10
10
11
11
12
13
13
CHAPTER III: METHODOLOGY………………………………….
A. Object of the Study………………………………………….
B. Approach of the Study………………………………………
C. Method of the Study…………………………………………
15
15
16
17
CHAPTER IV: ANALYSIS……………………………………………
A. The Imaculee’s Conflicts Found in Left to Tell ……………..
1. Internal Conflict………………………………………
2. External Conflict………………………………………
B. Christian Values Found in Left to Tell………………………..
1. Christian Faith………………………………………...
2. Christian Hope…………………………………………
3. Christian Love…………………………………………
C. The Significance of Christian Values in Facing the Conflicts..
19
19
20
27
34
34
38
40
45
viii
CHAPTER V: CONCLUSION………………………………………...
58
BIBLIOGRAPHY……………………………………………………….. 61
ix
ABSTRACT
FABIOLA SEKAR MELATI. A Study of Christian Values as Seen in The
Imaculee’s Conflicts in Imaculee Ilibagiza’s Left To Tell. Yogyakarta:
Department of English Letters, Faculty of Letters, Sanata Dharma University,
2010.
Imaculee Illibagiza’s Left to Tell is an autobiography which tells about
Christian values that are shown in the main character and her society. This
autobiography also talks about the significance of Christian values in helping the
main character to face the conflicts. The writer is interested in analyzing Christian
values that reflected from the main character’s attitude in facing the conflicts.
The writer focuses on three problems. First is the description of conflicts
that the main characte faces from her family and surrounding. The next problem is
Christian values that described in the autobiography. The last problem is the
significance of Christian values in helping the main character to face the conflicts.
In analyzing the topic, the writer uses two theories, theory of conflict and
theory of Christian values. Besides, Moral-Philosophical Approach is needed to
help the writer to analyze the topic. The writer uses library research method.
Many books and other sources from internet are used to help the writer in
analyzing the topic.
The writer finds that Imaculee, as the main character, experiences many
external and internal conflicts. The external conflicts come from her family and
society. The internal conflicts come between her mind and her heart. They come
when Imaculee faces hard situation. People in the society where Imaculee lives
are devout people. They take their in God by showing their faith, hope, and love.
It shows how the people live based on God’s rules. They show their Christian
values by praying, going to church, and helping others with all of their heart The
people’s ways of life influence Imaculee. She becomes a devout Christian person.
It also influences her attitude in her daily life. It is shown when she gets many
external and internal conflicts, she takes her problem in God. She believes that
God will always save her from the killers and help her to face the conflict. She
also prays for her, family, others’ safety. Not only that, but she also shows her
love to others by helping people who need her help. The most important thing is
she can forgive people who already kill her family. The Christian values really
help her to face the conflicts that come from her surrounding and herself.
x
ABSTRAK
FABIOLA SEKAR MELATI. A Study of Christian Values as Seen in The
Imaculee’s Conflicts in Imaculee Ilibagiza’s Left to Tell. Yogyakarta: Program
Studi Sastra Inggris, Fakultas Sastra, Universitas Sanata Dharma, 2010.
Autobiografi karya Imaculee Ilibagiza yang berjudul Left to Tell bercerita
tentang nilai-nilai kekristenan yang ada dalam diri tokoh utama dan
lingkungannya. Autobiografi ini juga bercerita mengenai signifikan nilai-nilai
kekristenan dalam menolong tokoh utama untuk menghadapi konflik-konflik.
Penulis tertarik untuk menganalisis nilai-nilai kekristenan yang diperlihatkan oleh
tokoh utama dalam menghadapi konflik-konflik yang dihadapinya.
Penulis berfokus pada tiga masalah. Pertama adalah deskripsi dari konflikkonflik yang dihadapi oleh tokoh utama yang didapat dari keluarga dan
lingkungannya. Selanjutnya adalah nilai-nilai kekristenan yang ada dalam
autobiografi. Terakhir adalah signifikan dari nilai-nilai kekristenan dalam
membantu tokoh utama untuk menghadapi konflik-konflik.
Dalam menganalisa topic ini, penulis menggunakan dua teori, teori konflik
dan teori nilai-nilai kekristenan. Selain itu, pendekatan moral-philosophical juga
dibutuhkan untuk membantu penulis untuk menganalisa topik. Penulis
menggunakan metode penelitian perpustakaan. Banyak buku dan sumber-sumber
lainnya yang diambil dari internet digunakan untuk membatu penulis dalam
menganalisa topic ini.
Penulis menemukan bahwa Imaculee, sebagai tokoh utama, mengalami
banyak konflik dari dalam dan dari luar. Konflik dari luar datang dari keluarga,
lingkungan, dan para pembunuh. Konflik dari dalam datang dari pikiran dan
hatinnya. Konflik-konfik tersebut datang ketika Imaculee menghadapi situasi yang
dilema. Orang-orang di lingkungan Imaculee tinggal adalah orang-orang yang
beriman. Mereka meletakkan hidup mereka pada Tuhan dengan menunjukkan
iman, harapan ,dan cinta. Hal ini juga menunjukkan bagaimana orang-orang hidup
berdasarkan perintah-perintah Tuhan. Mereka menunjukkan nilai-nilai kekristenan
mereka dengan berdoa, pergi ke gereja, and menolong sesama tanpa
mengharapkan imbalan. Cara hidup mereka mempengaruhi Imaculee. Imaculee
menjadi orang Kristen yang taat. Hal ini juga mempengaruhi sikap-sikapnya
dalam kehidupan sehari-hari. Hal ini ditunjukkan ketika Imaculee mendapat
banyak konflik dari dalam dan dari luar, dia meletakkan masalah-masalahnya
pada Tuhan. Imaculee percaya bahwa Tuhan akan selalu melindunginya dari para
pembunuh dan menolongnya dalam menghadapi konflik yang dia hadapi.
Imaculee juga berdoa untuk keselamatannya, keluarganya, dan orang lain.
Tidak hanya itu, dia juga menunjukkan cintanya dengan menolong orang
yang membutuhkkan bantuannya. Hal yang paling penting adalah Imaculee dapat
memaafkan orang-orang yang sudah membunuh keluarganya. Nilai-nilai
kekristenan benar-benar membantu Imaculee dalam menghadapi konflik yang
datang dari lingkungannya dan dari dirinya sendiri.
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CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
A. Background of the Study
Reading literary work can give people many advantages in daily life. By
reading literary work, people can enrich knowledge and experience in life.
Literary work does not only give people pleasure but also educates people. Moody
in Literary Appreciation said, “the greatest pleasure and satisfaction in literature
occurs where (as it often does) it brings us back to the realities to human
situations, problems, feelings, and relationships” (1968: 2). By reading literary
work, the reader will be brought to the real condition because literary work
reflects the condition of society. From the literary work, people will know the
problems that happen in society. People can get the information about the past, the
social condition, human behavior, and conflicts or problems that the characters
face in the society. Besides that, many factors influence the author to produce the
literary works. Society and their real conflict in the author’s life can be the
inspiration for the author to write literary works.
Definition of literature can be different because each person has his/her
own perspective on literature. Barnet in An Introduction to Literature stated,
“Literature is (to quote Robert Frost) a performance in words. It has in it an
element of entertaining display, and surely we expect literature to be in some
sense entertaining, or, to put it in different terms, to afford pleasure.” (1963:1).
1
2
Literary work as the imitation the world in form of writing, hopefully, can be a
tool to entertain, give pleasure, and give lesson to its reader.
One of well-known literary forms is fiction. It is divided into novel, play,
short story. Not only that, there are still two types of writing; biography and
autobiography. They are different because it tells about real person’s life and
contains facts. The writer chooses autobiography to be main topic to discuss in
this study. According to Oxford Advanced Leaner’s Dictionary, autobiography is
the story of a person’s life, written by that person (2005:88). Kazin and Francis
Rusell Hart in The American Autobiography point out that autobiography is
simply and profoundly, personal life (1981: 3). Autobiography contains a person’s
story and it is deeper because tells the reader about what really happen to the
author.
Autobiography is different from literary work; it is a personal life and
contains history. But in some cases, autobiography can be treated like literary
work which can give readers lesson, like what Liliard states in The American
Autobiography, “They are history in that they are source materials, containing
facts and interpreting facts, preserving the past, and drawing lessons from it. They
are literature in that they must please and entertain as well as teach. And like both
history and literature, they have to select and narrate it” (1981: 12). The form of
autobiography is just like literary work as long as it can teach and entertain the
reader. The autobiography itself is made by the reality from the author. It contains
fact and keep the fact as the main source because its function as the history. The
work itself has to give lesson besides tell story to the reader.
3
Autobiography can be used to teach its reader besides to give pleasure and
entertainment. Autobiography, which contains true story about the author’s life,
gives the reader lesson about life from the experiences. It teaches about how to
solve conflict and other problems that happens in society. Besides teaching about
life experiences, autobiography can also be used to teach religious values. It tells
the readers about their relationship to God. Her/his belief in God can help the
character to face their problem. However, nowadays, people start to forget about
their belief. People become selfish and only think about material goods and every
modern convenience. They compete to get popularity and a lot of money. Not
only that, but crime also increase drastically. Mugging and rape make
environment unsafe, and marriages end in divorce. These phenomena seem to
become the common problem in society and shows people’s weakness in applying
religion in life.
Religion is important because it functions to control and to rule human’s
attitude so human can live well in order to make good relation with God. Christian
religion, one of the religions, has three main points that have to apply in the
believers. Tiliach in The Dynamics of Faith states that human as God’s creature
should love God with all our heart, soul, and might (1967:96). Human, as God’s
creature, has to love God with all of his heart and soul just like the Bible
mentioned. Fisher and Hart in Christian Foundation said that 1 Corinthians 13
mentions that faith, hope, and love are the foundation in Christian religion (1967:
96). Those points cannot be separated because they are related to each other.
Christian values have important role in literary work when it tries to give message
4
to the reader. Christian values can be found in many literary works and
autobiographies, such as in Left to Tell by Imaculee Ilibagiza. The writer is
interested in analyzing this autobiography because it consists of Christian values.
Imaculee, as the major character, brings Christian values into her life in order to
face her problems. Her belief to God makes her survive and gives her hope to
make her live better. In this thesis, the writer will discuss Christian values; faith,
hope, and love that can be seen in conflicts which are described and the Christian
values’ contribution to help her to face the conflict.
Left to Tell is primarily an account of personal survival and a personal
spiritual journey. Immaculeé Ilibagiza’s aim is not to analyze the complex social
and political forces that lead to the genocide through which she lives. This book
should not be read as a resource for understanding the political and cultural
realities of the Rwandan genocide but this book is about Imaculee’s spiritual
journey. There are many interesting issues in this book, but Christian values still
become the important one. Imaculee finds her faith and hope in genocide era. She
can survive from the genocide because of her faith and hope to God. She also can
forgive people who already kill her family. That is why the writer is interesting to
discuss about Christian values.
Left to Tell is divided into three parts. In part 1, The Gathering Storm,
Immaculeé focuses on her life before the genocide. Born to a middle-class,
Catholic, Tutsi family, her life is one of relative prosperity and peaceful, although
a few childhood incidents illustrate that the Hutu/Tutsi distinction has an effect on
her early life. She is in high school when the Rwandese Patriotic Front (RPF),
5
makes up of expatriate Tutsi soldiers, enter Rwanda in 1990, and war breaks out
between them and the Hutu government’s military forces. In April 1994,
Immaculeé, by then a university student, is home for Easter when they hear that
the president of Rwanda has been killed. This event sparks the killing of nearly a
million people in Rwanda over the next three months. As Hutu civilians arm with
machetes start to kill Tutsis and moderate Hutus all over the country, Immaculeé’s
parents, fearful that she might be raped and killed, advise her to go and hide in a
nearby pastor’s house.
The second part of the book, Into the Bathroom, tells the story of how
Immaculeé and several other Tutsi women hide in a tiny seldom-use bathroom at
the back of the pastor’s house for three months. During the three months that the
women are hiding there, soldiers come to search the house several times, but
never find the bathroom. Several incidents stand out in this part of the story:
former neighbors and even friends, who come looking for her by name, aiming to
kill her; her suspicion that a young man that is killed brutally in order to “look at
the brain” of a Master’s degree recipient is in fact her brother Damascene; her
Hutu boyfriend who is happy that she is in hiding so that he does not have to
worry about other men looking at her. But the real drama in this central part of the
book lies in Immaculeé’s spiritual journey, as she struggles with anger, prays for
the ability to forgive, comes to realize that her family is dead, and forges plans for
a new life. One can describe the time in the bathroom as a kind of womb during
which Immaculeé finds a new identity.
6
Part three, A New Path, tells the story of Immaculeé’s escape from the
bathroom, her temporary shelter in a French camp, her move to the capital, Kigali,
and the start of a new life. After the genocide, Immaculeé learns about the death
of her parents and her brothers Damascene and Vianney and only her eldest
brother Aimable, who is in Senegal at the time of the genocide, has survived. With
great courage and resilience she persists in trying to fulfill her dream of working
at the UN, in which she eventually succeeds. It is at the UN offices in Kigali
where she later meets her husband, Bryan Black, an American who has come to
Rwanda to help set up the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda.
B. Problem Formulation
Related to the topic that is chosen, there are three problems used for
guiding to analyze the topic.
1. How are Imaculee’s conflicts described in the autobiography?
2. How are Christian values described in the autobiography?
3. What is the significance of Christian values in facing the conflicts?
C. Objectives of the Study
Related to the problem, there are three objectives of the study that are
going to be discovered. The first is to find how the Imaculee’s conflicts are
described; the second is to find Christian values that appear in the novel and the
third is to find out the significance Christian values in facing the conflicts.
7
D. Definition of Terms
The writer provides definition of terms to avoid misunderstanding. There
are three definitions of terms that are used to analyze the topic.
1. Conflict
Redman in A Second Book of Play stated conflict as:
The struggle between two opposing forces, ideas, or beliefs, which is the
protagonist-succeeds or fails in overcoming the opposing force.
Sometimes, the protagonist gives up the struggle as too difficult or not
worthwhile. The term inner conflict refers to a struggle within the heart
and mind of the protagonist. The term external conflict refers to a struggle
between the protagonist and outside force (1962:363).
Holman and Harmon in A Handbook of Literature states that conflicts not
only implies the struggle of thee protagonist against someone or something, it also
implies the existence of some motivation for the conflict or some goal to be
achieved thereby (1986: 108).
2. Christian values
Based on The International Bible Associations in its article, “Two Paths of
Christian Values,” Christian values are things that Christians do to others and God
based on God’s rule. It is also the principles for living that are emphasized most
strongly in the Bible.
3. Study
Based on Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary, study is the activity of
learning or gaining knowledge, either from books or by examining things in the
world (2005:1525).
CHAPTER II
THEORETICAL REVIEW
In this chapter, the writer will provide some theories that will be used to
analyze the topic. Therefore this chapter is divided into three parts. First is review of
related studies which will discuss some opinions from articles about the object of the
study. Second is review of related theories which will discuss about theories related
to the study; they are theory of conflict and theories of Christian values are provided
by the writer to analyze the study. The last is theoretical framework that explains the
function of each theory to analyze the study.
A. Review of Related Studies
The object of the study is an autobiography that tells a story about genocide in
Rwanda, Africa. Imaculee Ilibagiza presents her experience and struggle when she
lives in genocide era. Since the writer wants to discuss about Christian values, the
writer also uses some articles about Christian values in this autobiography takes from
internet.
This autobiography is a usual book with amazing story; a story about
discovering God during one of bloodiest genocide. Since the writer chooses Christian
values as the topic, the review of the related studies also talk about Christian values in
this autobiography. From Publisher’s Weekly, the editor says that this autobiography
consists of Christian values as the central. Her faith, hope, and love to God make her
8
9
survive when the genocide happens. When Imaculee stays in the bathroom for 91
days, with 7 other women, she finds strength in prayer and Bible. She makes herself
closer to God in order to get power to face the situation at that time.
From Steve Erwin in a website, it is said that Imaculee shows the reader how
to use the power of prayer and to make relationship with God deeply. She describes
the Hutu race as the evil rather than the murder. She believes all human are kind and
have good relationship with God. And when the genocide happens, she thinks it is not
human, it is evil that works in their bodies. But she believes by using her faith, she
will find ”a light way” to forgive people who kill her family and the other victims.
This autobiography contains of many interesting topic to be discussed, such as
family, faith, and ethnic identity.Based on Read One Book Association, it is said that
faith is the most interesting topic in this autobiography. Since the story tells about
Imaculee’s spiritual journey, its reader can decide that faith is the central. Not only
that, hope and love to God and each other also become the main part in this story.
This study, like these previous related studies, also discusses about Christian
values; faith, hope, and love. Reading this autobiography, the author realizes that the
author wants to convey message from the author’s experience. The Christian values
also can be seen in Imaculee’s conflicts and from the way in facing problems in hard
situation.
10
B. Review of Related Theories
1. Theory of Conflict
Conflict already becomes part of people’s life. Human as God’s creature
always has unsatisfied feeling in every single thing that they have done. This reason
brings people into trouble, or usually called conflict.
Redman in A Second Book of Plays stated that conflict is:
The struggle between two opposing forces, ideas, or beliefs, which is the
protagonist-succeeds or fails in overcoming the opposing force. Sometimes,
the protagonist gives up the struggle as too difficult or not worthwhile. The
term inner conflict refers to a struggle within the heart and mind of the
protagonist. The term external conflict refers to a struggle between the
protagonist and outside force (1962:363).
The term external conflict refers to a struggle between the protagonist and
outside force. When people’s mind is in the dilemma situation, usually people are in
the difficult situation. When people (the characters) have conflict with their own
mind, it is called inner conflict, because there is no effect from other people. In other
hands, if people (the characters) have conflict with other people or the surrounding, it
is called external conflict. The character itself cannot avoid the conflict in life
because conflict makes the story alive and it becomes the main point in the story.
Holman and Harmon in A Handbook of Literature states that conflicts not
only implies the struggle of thee protagonist against someone or something, it also
implies the existence of some motivation for the conflict or some goal to be achieved
thereby (1986: 108).
11
2. Theory of Christian Values
Christian values based on the Holy Bible in I Corinthians 13:13, is divided
into three; faith, hope, and love (1971: 162). Since the writer realizes the main
character also has struggle to forgive the killers as the part of her love to others, love
becomes one thing that should be discussed. In order to analyze the topic, the writer
provides theory of Christian faith, hope, and love..
a. Christian Faith
Fisher and Hart in Christian Foundation said that faith is so central in
Christian life. The important thing to become a Christian is to believe. The Christian
has to believe in Jesus in order to hear message and receive gifts (1995: 95).
Brownlee in his book stated that there are some interpretations of faith:
1. Faith is an alliance and a unity between God and people which is reflected by
serving to God’s guideline.
2. Faith is a faithful attitude of faith as the form of self-action of worship of the
followers into God.
3. Prayer is the real attitude of the faith as the reaction to open herself of the
God’s guideline all of her life. And prayers attitude is the traits to give her
plan as the openness of mind to God’s will.
4. Preach, congregation, and prayers are the faith form in social service. Have
served the Poor, and insulted people are the proof of serving God. Faith is the
readiness to follow Christ whatsoever and whenever he teaches; goes to
poverty, goes to desolation. Even goes into the death as Jesus says that cited
12
in Christian Holy Bible “And when he had called the people unto him with his
disciples also, he said unto them, whosoever will come after me, let him deny
himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” (1978: 1045)
5. Faith also means prayers alliance. This form is to ask God help for other
people because of sadness, weakness, endurable, and injustice (1993: 76-81).
b. Christian Hope
Hope is an expectant desire. With faith and love, St. Paul classes hope among
the valuable and enduring virtues (I Corinthians 13:13).
According to Carmody in Christianity: An Introduction, the definition of hope
is written:
In the (New Testament), sense, hope is ultimately constituted by the
intersection, on the one hand, of that divine predestining plan for man
whereby the love of God-which, being incarnate in Christ, has become human
history-has efficaciously and permanently affected man, and on the other hand
of the responsive attitude towards this plan shown by the person (or the
Church), in which the highly personal response of which each individual is
capable is persevered and sustained) who confidently awaits the final
consummation of the divine economy of salvation in the coming of Jesus
Christ, in reliance on the saving plan which has already and irrevocably been
initiated by God, as he knows with the certainty of faith (2006: 67).
Hope, quoting from Dewi Sakuntalawati’s thesis, “Roman 5:1-5 determines
Hope is the result of faith, accepts tribulations with joy, follows the process of
tribulation with patience, experience. Moreover, Hope is marvelous as the love of
God scratches over her heart” (1978: 1172-1173). When the Christians believe in
Jesus Christ, hope is needed in order to make us certain that the world is cared for and
loved by God. No one is excluded from God’s grace. All of people can get God’s
13
grace as long as they believe and take the hope for God, because the goodness of
Jesus can give all human a new birth.
c. Christian Love
Considering about Christian values, love is the most important thing among
faith and hope. As stated in Christian Holy Bible, in 1 Corinthians 13:13, “So faith,
hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”
The gift of love is likewise a duty, in Mt. 22:37-39: “You shall love the Lord
your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is
the great and first commandment. And a second is like it, You shall love your
neighbor as yourself.” As the God’s creature, people should love God because live is
God. Besides, loving each other is also important, it makes good relation with them.
God’s love for people is a gift and takes forever. In A New Catechism: Catholic Faith
for Adult, it is stated that love is not just a feeling but it is also an action. Many ways
to show love to God and each other, such as by pray, go to church, charity,
forgiveness, salvation, giving without any purposes, etc (1967: 114). In other words,
without love there is no Christian God and people should love both God and each
other.
C. Theoretical Framework
The writer’s aim is to reveal Christian values that are reflected in this
autobiography. Discussing about this topic, the writer uses some theories to make
easier for the writer in doing the analysis. Theories that used are theory of conflict
14
and theory of Christian values. Each of them has its own function in order to help the
writer to answer the questions in problem formulation.
Since the writer chooses Christian values as the topic that is going to be
discussed, theory of Christian values is needed. Christian values in this story become
the main topic because it became the problem solution in order to survive in hard
situation. Her faith, hope, and love, to God are the keys to face such situation.
CHAPTER III
METHODOLOGY
This chapter is divided into three parts. Object of the study consists of
information the work, second is approach of the study is about the appropriate
approach that will be used to analyze the work. The last is methodology which
contains the sources and steps that the writer used.
A. Object of the Study
The object of the study is an autobiography titled Left to Tell written by
Imaculee Ilibagiza with Steve Erwin. This autobiography consists of 215 pages and
divided into three parts; The Gathering Storm, Into the Bathroom, and A New Path. It
is published by Hay House in June 2006.
This autobiography tells about Imaculee’s story in the era when she lives.
Imaculee lives in Rwanda and after she finishes her study in Lycee de Notre Dame
College, she goes home and it is when the genocide begins. This tragedy makes her
family, friends, and people she loves died. She is safe because she hides in pastor’s
bathroom with seven other Tutsi women for three months. This autobiography should
not read as a resource for understanding the political and cultural reality of the
Rwandan genocide but this book is about Imaculee’s spiritual journey. In this
15
16
bathroom, she holds on God with prayer and Bible. She takes her hope in God in
order to get safety.
Left to Tell is not only a usual autobiography, but it also opens world eyes
about what really happens in the third world. The story inspires the reader and makes
the reader realize that there are many people who cannot enjoy life, especially for
black people. The discrimination itself does not come from the white people, but
from the black people which are greedy of power. Because of its story, this
autobiography got some awards, such as A Christopher Award: “Affirming the
Highest Values of Human Spirit” and “Best Outreach Testimony/Biography Resource
of 2007.” Not only the reader, but Imaculee as the author also gets awards, such as
“The Mahatma Gandhi International Award for Reconciliation and Peace 2007” and a
finalist as one of Beliefnet.com’s “Most Inspiring People of the Year 2006.”
B. Approach of the Study
The writer is interested in using moral-philosophical approach to analyze the
work. As stated in A Handbook of Critical Approaches to Literature by Guerin, that
moral-philosophical approach is one of the traditional approaches that is used to teach
morality and probe philosophical issue. There are many critics who explore their idea
about moral-philosophical approach. Plato emphasizes moralism and utilitarianism;
Horace stresses that literature should be delightful and instructive; Matthew Arnold
says that there are moral and religion in literature; and according to Samuel Jackson
17
is the basic position of such critics is that the larger function of literature is to teach
and morality and to probe philosophical issues (2004: 77). Literary work, based on
the critics, is something that must give the reader pleasure and lesson. The most
important function of the literary work is to give lesson to its reader. In other words,
it must teach the reader, so its reader can get lesson which can be applied in life. Still
from the same source, moral-philosophical approach does not only concern just in its
way of saying, but also in what it says (2004: 77). Literature has many forms and
ways to say about the story in literature. In moral-philosophical side, the form or the
way of the author to tell the story is not important. The important thing is what the
work said in order to teach and give effect to its reader.
C. Method of the Study
In analyzing this topic, the writer used library research method. The writer
used books and internet to find the sources to support this study. The sources were
divided into two categories: primary and secondary source. The primary source was
Left to Tell book and the secondary source were books and articles from internet
including theories, references or any related topic.
The books that were used by the author were Literary Appreciation by
Moody, An Introduction to Literature by Sylvan Barnet, A Second Book of Play by
Redman, A Handbook of Critical Approaches to Literature by Guerin, The American
18
Autobiography by Albert E. Stone, Christianity: A Foundation by Carmody,
Christian Foundation by Fisher and Hart, and other sources
In order to analyze the topic, the writer did some steps. First, the writer read
the work, Left to Tell as the primary source. Since the writer focused in the
contribution of Christian values to face the conflicts, the writer read many books that
related to the theories. Besides, related studies were needed in order to find other
studies which discussed the same topic. Next, in chapter four, the writer answered
three problems; the first was, analyzed the conflict that are described in the book;
second was, found the conflicts that are described in the book; and the last was, found
out the significance Christian values in facing the conflicts.
CHAPTER IV
ANALYSIS
This chapter consists of the answers of the problems that were already
mentioned in chapter 1. It is divided into three parts. First is the description of the
conflicts, second is, how the Christian values are described, and the last is the
significance Christian values in solving the conflicts.
A. The Imaculee’s Conflicts Found in Left to Tell
In this part, the writer wants to explore the conflict which the main character
faces. Conflict, based on Redman in A Second Book of Plays is:
The struggle between two opposing forces, ideas, or beliefs, which is the
protagonist-succeeds or fails in overcoming the opposing force. Sometimes,
the protagonist gives up the struggle as too difficult or not worthwhile. The
term inner conflict refers to a struggle within the heart and mind of the
protagonist. The term external conflict refers to a struggle between the
protagonist and outside force (1962:363).
Based on the theory, the writer divided the analysis on conflict into two parts;
first is internal conflict and the second is external conflict.
Based on Holman and Harmon in A Handbook of Literature, conflicts not
only implies the struggle of thee protagonist against someone or something, it also
implies the existence of some motivation for the conflict or some goal to be achieved
thereby (1986: 108).
19
20
Redman in A Second Book of Plays explains that the term inner conflict refers
to a struggle within the heart and mind of the protagonist (1962:363). Imaculee as the
main character experiences the internal conflicts in this book.
1. Internal Conflict
The situation in Rwanda after the war begins is very hard situation for its
people, especially for Tutsis. They face the discrimination in any aspects. One of the
worst situations is in education aspect. Tutsis kids, especially Imaculee, experience it.
When the government holds a scholarship, she wants to apply this scholarship. But,
she is not sure that she will win the scholarship.
Two years passed, and I was one the top students in the school. When the
government announced that it was holding a special exam for honor students
who wanted to enter public school, I decided to take the test. Deep down
inside, I felt that it wouldn’t matter it I scored the highest test results in the
country-I’d still be passed over because I was Tutsi. Nevertheless, I studied
hard and was sure that I’d written an excellent exam, but weeks went by
without any word, so I put it out of my mind (p. 20).
By reading this quotation, the writer sees that Imaculee doubts about her
ability in applying the scholarship. She decides to take the test but in her mind, she
feels dilemma and she has struggle between her mind and her heart. Her mind says
that she has to follow the test, but in her mind she is sure that she will not win the
scholarship because of her race. She wants to help her parents because if she studies
in public school, her parents do not need to pay the tuition. Besides, she wants to
prove to her brothers and parents that even though she is woman, she has ability just
like man, especially as smarter as her brothers. And finally, she decides to try the test
21
and the result is unpredictable, she wins the scholarship. Her dream to make her
parents and brothers proud becomes real.
In this internal conflict, Imaculee wants to join the scholarship, but something
blocks her desire. Based on the theory of conflict in literature, the different opinion
between her mind and her heart blocks her desire to apply the scholarship. Finally,
she decides to follow the scholarship.
The other internal conflict is when she wants to help other Tutsis but she
cannot do it. When the war begins, she and her boyfriend go to Kigali in visiting
Sarah’s parents, she sees a woman that is intimidated by a group of young Hutu men.
The boys take the poor lady’s purse, pull of her jewelry, steal her packages, and
knock her down. Then they yank her shoes and rip off her dress. And after that, they
leave the poor woman in the street. Nobody helps her because people afraid of the
Hutus. Actually Imaculee really wants to help the poor woman, but she is not allowed
for doing that by her boyfriend. It makes her sad because she cannot help the Tutsi
(p.34).
Not only cannot help the poor woman in the street, but she also feels dilemma
when she cannot help Nzima and Sony, her Tutsi neighbors. She feels pity but she
can do nothing because she also a Tutsi who only expect Pastor’s kindness. And then
she can only hear their scream when the killers kill Nzima and Sony. She feels guilty
because both of them are the best fiends of her parents (p. 36).
Those internal conflicts above make Imaculee feels guilty. She really wants to
help people who are intimidated by the Hutus. As a Tutsi, she cannot do that. This
22
situation is very hard for her and once again she has to a struggle between her mind
and heart. She wants to help them but in fact if she helps them it just makes the
situation becomes worse. So, she decides not to help them.
Imaculee faces those conflicts when she wants to help the other Tutsis. Those
conflicts called as conflict because Imaculee has desire to help others, and her mind
and her heart blocks her way to do that. She cannot help them because she is a Tutsi
and sahe does not want to take the consequence.
Besides helping people from outside, the internal conflict also comes when
her and her family spend holiday in their house. At that time, Imaculee’s brother,
Damascene, tells them about the list of death that is made by the Hutus and their
family’s name is mentioned in the list. Damascene says that the Hutus will come and
kill them in that night. He insists on his father to take his family away from their
house. But in fact, his father doubts and ignores Damascene’s information. He tells to
other members of the family to have positive thinking because Damascene only gets
the information from his friend, so his father cannot make sure the information is
right or not.
Imaculee confuses whether she should believe Damascene or not. She knows
Damascene well. She knows that Damascene is smart and is not fooled easily. If he
can say like that means that he is serious. She wants to follow Damascene’s advice to
go away from their house to save their life, but she does not get permission from her
father.
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Everyone was quiet. I’m sure that we all wanted to run to Lake Kivu and hop
into a rowboat, but my brothers and I couldn’t leave our parents without
saying good-bye. And we were so accustomed to our father making the
decisions in the household that it was natural for us to follow his lead.
Besides, we reasoned, it was getting so late that Augustine and Vianney were
falling asleep in their chair. So Damascene and I decided that we should wait
until morning and talk to Dad again, and then we all headed to bed (p.42).
From this quotation shows that Imaculee and her brothers want to run away
from home to Lake Kivu, but they cannot go without saying good-bye to their
parents. Imaculee also can do nothing. In her heart, she really wants to run away but
in other sides she cannot go without her parents’ permission. She has a purpose to
save her family’s life, but she knows her father’s command blocks her act. So she
decides to obey her father’s command and talk to her father next morning.
Since her father does not allow Imaculee and her brothers to run away to other
places, she realizes that there is no way to escape from this kind of situation besides
pretending to be brave and thinking everything will be fine. Imaculee feels dilemma
when she has to hide her fear. She is afraid if the killers really come and kill her and
her family. But she does not want to make her family worries. She advises her
brothers to have faith and pretend not to think about the war, but in fact she is afraid.
The truth was that I had little faith myself-I wasn’t studying to prepare for
exams, but to keep my mind off my family’s worries (p.46).
In order not to think about the war, she makes herself concentrate for studying
the exam, but actually it is only her way to hide her fear. In her heart, she wants to
make her family feels safe but in her mind she realizes she can do nothing in facing
this situation. Besides feeling worry, she also thinks that her family cannot think
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clearly. There is no way to save her family besides pretending to be tough and keep
her family from negative perspective. So, she is the only one who can keep her family
from this situation by pretending that everything will be okay.
Imaculee is just the human which has feeling. In that time, she feels life is
unfair for the Tutsis. She cannot understand about this situation. The war between
two races in the same country means the war between two tribes who live in the same
land.
Why is this happening?”I cried into my pillow.” What have we done to
deserve this? Why is being a Tutsi is so wrong? Why are you letting this
happen with us, God? (p.49)
Imaculee feels God is unfair to the Tutsis. She knows human makes the war
but her heart blames God for what already happened. But finally she realizes that this
is not God’s fault. It happens because human is greedy of the power. Hutus want to
make Rwanda into their own country. So, the Hutus make genocide to kill the Tutsis
in order to make Tutsis destroy from Rwanda.
Imaculee is an optimistic person which always wants to make other people
feel safe. But finally she realizes that her act only make people think impossible
thing. The writer can see the internal conflict from this quotation.
A wave of guilt rolled over me. Had my optimism led my brothers and parents
into this nightmare we were living in now? Was I responsible for their fate?
What else could we have done, since Dad wouldn’t leave, and everything had
happened so fast? Should I have despaired, sunk into depression, or become
hysterical over our plight? That would have made matters worse. People need
hope to survive (p.63).
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She is in dilemma because she worries if her family becomes the victim of her
acting of pretending that “everything will be okay.” She worries if this situation
becomes her responsibility. She wants to make her family feels safe, but in fact she is
afraid her acting gives bad effect to her family. Imaculee’s purpose is to make her
family feels safe, but in fact, her goal is blocked by her thought that everything will
be okay. Finally, she can only pretend to be a brave person.
Another internal conflict comes when she is hiding in the Pastor’s house.
When the killers attack Imaculee’s house, her father takes Imaculee, her brother,
Vianney, and his friend, Augustine to hide in Pastor’s house, who is her father’s best
friend. Fortunately, he is a kind Hutu, so it is no problem to hide in his house. The
pastor already hides seven Tutsi women in his house and he thinks that it is too
dangerous to hide men in his house, so the pastor let Vianney and Augustine go and
find other places to hide. Imaculee is very sad when she hears pastor’s command. She
cannot let them go, because she remembers Damascene’s word for not leaving this
place. Sending Vianney and Augustine away now means delivering them to their
death. Imaculee thinks she will go with them, but suddenly she changes her mind.
She cannot sleep in that night and has no idea what she should do to protect them.
She does not want to let them go but she has no choice. This is her deep sadness
because she will let Vianney and Augustine go away. As Vianney’s sister, she wants
to keep Vianney stays with her, but she also knows that it is an impossible thing. It
will be very dangerous if she keeps Vianney with her. And finally she lets Vianney
and Augustine go away (pp. 68-69).
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Imaculee wants to save her brother and Vianney, but she cannot do it. Her
desire to save them become unreal because there is struggle between her mind and
her heart that block her dream to save her brother and Vianney.
Imaculee also experiences internal conf