THE CAUSES AND THE EFFECT OF PECOLA’S INFERIORITY IN TONI MORRISON’S THE BLUEST EYE.

The Causes and The Effect of Pecola’s Inferiority

in Toni Morrison’s

The Bluest Eye

A THESIS

Submitted as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Bachelor Degree of English Department Faculty of Arts and Humanities State Islamic

University of SunanAmpel Surabaya

By:

FitriaNur Indah Sari

Reg. Number : A83212162

ENGLISH DEPARTMENT

FACULTY OF ARTSAND HUMANITIES

STATE ISLAMICUNIVERSITY SUNAN AMPEL SURABAYA

ABSTRACT

Sari, Fitria Nur Indah.2016. “The Causes and The Effect of Pecola’s Inferiority in

Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye”.Thesis. English Department. Faculty of Letters and Humanities. States Islamic University Sunan Ampel Surabaya.

Advisor: Abu Fanani, MPd.

This thesis talks about inferiority found in Toni Morrison’s The Bluest

Eye. This thesis focuses on Pecola as one of main character in this novel. The aim

of this thesis is to know what the causes and the effect of Pecola’s inferiority. This

thesis is descriptive analytic. It uses library based study to collect books, journals and internet sources having related with this analysis

The result of this thesis shows that the bad treatment from people surrounding becomes the main factor of her inferiority. From the factor , Pecola experiences inferiority complex that impact to herself. Finally, the effect of

pecola’s inferiority is lack of confident and tendency to obsess the blue eyes Keywords: New Criticism, inferiority

INTISARI

Sari, fitria Nur Indah.2016.“The Causes and The Effect of Pecola’s Inferiority in

Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye”.Thesis. Sastra Inggris, Fakultas Adab dan Humaniora UIN Sunan Ampel Surabaya.

Pembimbing : Abu Fanani, MPd.

Penelitian ini membahas tentang teori rendah diri yang ada pada novel The Bluest Eye karya Toni Morrison. Penelitian ini fokus kepada Pecola sebagai karakter utama di dalam novel. Tujuan dari penulisan ini untuk mengetahuiapa penyebab dan dampak dari rendah diri Pecola. Penelitian ini adalah penelitian kualitatif. Jenis penelitian ini penelitian kepustakaan yaitu mengumpulkan buku-buku, jurnal dan referensi internet yang memiliki hubungan dengan analisis ini.

Hasil dari penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa perlakuan buruk dari keluarga, teman dan masyarakat menjadi factor utama adanya perasaan rendah diri pada pecola. dari factor tersebut, Pecola mengalami yang namanya rendah diri yang berdampak pada dirinya. Pecola cenderung kurang percaya diri dan terobsesi untuk memiliki mata biru.

TABLE OF CONTENTS Table of Contents

Inside Cover Page ... i

Inside Title Page ... ii

Declaration Page ... iii

Advisor’s Approval Page ... iv

Examminer’s Approval Page ... vi

Motto ... vii

Dedication Page ... viii

Acknowledgement... ix

Table of Contents ... x

Abstract ... xii

CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION ... 1

1.1 Background of The Study ... 1

1.2 Statement of Problem ... 5

1.3 Purpose of The Study ... 5

1.4 Significance of the Srudy ... 6

1.5 Scope and Limitation ... 6

1.6 Method of The Study ... 6

1. 6.1 Research Design ... 7

1.6.2 Data ... 7

1.6.3 Data Collection... 8

1.6.4 Data Analysis ... 8

1.7 Organization of the study ... 8

CHAPTER II LITERATURE REVIEW ... 9

2. Theoretical Framework ... 9

2.1.1Character ... 10

2.1.2 Characterization ... 11

2.1.3 Conflict ... 13

2.2 Individual Psychology ... 16

2.2.1 Inferiority Complax ... 17

2.3 Review of Related of the Study ... 20

CHAPTER III ANALYSIS ... 22

3.1 Pichola’s Character ... 22

3.2 Pecola’s Inferiority complex ... 27

3.3 The Caueses of Pecola’s inferiority ... 31

3.3.1The Bad Treatment from Pecola’s Family ... 31

3.3.2 The Bad Treatment from Pecola’s Peer ... 34

3.4 The Effect of Pecola’s inferiority ... 39

3.4.1 Lack of Confident ... 40

3.4.2. The Tendency of Picola’s to obsess the blues eyes ... 41

CHAPTER IV CONCLUSION ... 45

WORK CITED ... 47

APPENDIX SYNOPSIS ... 49

Chapter 1

Introduction

1.1Background of the study

Literature is as the expression of beautiful thoughts, feeling and human

experience in beautiful language. According to west, literature is the body of written

works of a language, period, or culture (19). Literature can also be described as “An

analysis of experience and a synthesis of the findings into a unity or the art

(occupation) of a literary writer” (20). Literature, in general, contains much information, especially information about history, sociology, and psychology (Brooks

1).

Besides, literature refers to written compositions designed to tell stories,

dramatize situations, and reveal thoughts and emotions, and also more importantly, to

interest, entertain, stimulate, broaden and enable readers to understanding in literature

itself. People usually classify literature into the following genres or classes, which are

“poetry, short story, drama, and novel (Roberts 1). Novels are different from stories, poems, and narratives in a number of key respects (Ellis 2).

The writer is interested in talking about novel because the story more

complete and easier to understand than the other literary works. According to

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a greater variety of characters, greater complication of plot, a fuller development of

setting and deeper, more sustained exploration of character and motives (Barry 5).

So, novel is long enough to fill a complete book. The content of a novel usually tells

about human daily problems (Jassin 85). In function, novel can express the side of

human nature (the pure passions, that is to say the dreams, joys, and sorrows) (Brooks

5).

One of the novels the writer analyzes belongs to Toni Morrison’s work. The

writer chooses Toni Morrison’s work to be analyzed because she is a great novelist.

Her novel represents her opinion about beauty standard that develop in the

African-American society. She is one of writer who disagrees with the standardization of

white beauty. She thinks that every woman should be able to receive her physical

attributes. Her style language in her novel is simple and vivid dialogue. In her works,

she disagrees that the skin color creates limitation to each culture because she thinks

that the people’s belief about white beauty standard is wrong. She believes that

beauty is not something to behold, but something one could do (Morrison 209).

“Morrison was one of the first writers, black or white, to ask what happened to the

mind, heart and soul, of a young African-American girl who is raised in a society that

values beauty standards that are not her own” (Rhodes 50).

As a great African-American writer, Toni Morrrison tries to reveal that the

concept of beauty in African- American standard can influence their self-esteem. She

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skin. She has been being successful to voice her inspiration through her great works.

Her novels are known to have a “lyrical prose, storytelling, African-American folklore, and African-American history which are giving a new thing to the American

literary establishment” (Rhodes 9)

Toni Morrison gets so many Noble Prizes. She has won a Noble Prize in

literature and became a highly respected editor at Random House at that time (Rhodes

59). Besides that, she also becomes a great professor of literature at some universities.

As mentioned earlier, Morrison is one of black African American author who has a

great achievement in whole this world. In 1977, she got national Book Critics Circle

Award for her Song of Solomon. In 1988 she won Anisfield –Wolf Book Award and

Pulitzer prize, which is the one of the most distinguished awards in America, for her

beloved (Rhodes 81).

Toni Morrison has written nine novels. Her first novel was The Bluest Eye

which at the first time was written as a short story talking about a young

African-American girl who had prayed to God for blue eyes (Rhodes 43). Then in 1970 this

story evolved into her first novel entitled The Bluest Eye. In 2000, The Bluest Eye

was chosen as a selection of Oprah’s Books Club. In 1973, she wrote her second

novel Sula, a story talking about a very close friendship between two

African-American women named Sula and Nel who live completely different lives and have

different points of view about what makes life worth living (Rhodes 55). In 1975, it

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Solomon which was then published in 1977. In this novel, Morrison combined some

of the most important elements from African-American culture, classic Greek

literature, European-American literary style, and also the value of Christianity

(Rhodes 63). Song of Solomon was brought her a national attention. It won the

National Book Critics Circle Award for fiction and also featured on the front page of

The New York Times book Review at that year (Rhodes 64).

In 1981, Morrison wrote her fourth novel entitle Tar Baby, a story of a

passionate love affair between a fugitive named Son Green and young, sophisticated,

high- educated black model named Jadine Childs (Rhodes 67). In 1987, Morrison

wrote her fifth novel entitle beloved, a story telling about runaway slave named Sethe

who escape from her plantation whose children then was killed by herself in order to

protect them from enslavement (Rhodes 78). This novel became a real success and

won The Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1988. Her others work are Jazz (1992), Paradise

(1999), Love (2003), and the newest one is Mercy (2008).

One of the novels of Toni Morrison the writer analyzes is The Bluest Eye. The

novel tells about Pecola who believes that with blue eyes, blonde hair and white skin,

people will regard her existence. This belief brings her into the greatest effect to her

psyche. As an African-American, she must deal with the concept of beauty. Her

condition of Breedlove’s family was full of violence experience. Pecola gets many

problems in her life. Her life is difficult because no one pay any attention to her.

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From All the bad treatments and lack of love in Pecola’s life support her obsession

for beauty. In her inferiority, Pecola thinks that to be admitted and be part of the

society she must have that beauty. She believes that if she owns that beauty she will

get everything. For her, “having blue eyes mean having everything: love, acceptance, friend, and family; in short, a truly enviable place in the society” (Harris 43). From the synopsis above the writer is interested in rising into thesis because there are great

effects from the causes of inferiority.

1.2 Statement of the problem

From the “The Bluest Eye” novel, the writer is interested in analyzing the

problem come to the main character. Which are formulated as follows:

1.2.2 What are the causes of Pecola’s inferiority in novel The Bluest Eye?

1.2.2 What are the effects of Pecola’s inferiority toward her personality in novel

The Bluest Eye?

1.3Purpose of the study

In accordance with the statement of the problem stated above, this study

has two objectives that can be stated as follows:

1.3.1 To know what are the causes of Pecola’s inferiority in novel The Bluest

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1.3.2 To know what are the effects of Pecola’s inferiority toward her personality

in novel The Bluest Eye

1.3 Significance of the study

This study is expected to be able to help the writer and reader to get deeper

understanding about the novel and get benefit from each other. The writer hopes it

can make reader more interest in Tony Morrison’s works especially in The Bluest Eye novel and psychological study in literary works. Secondly, the writer expects that by reading this thesis, the readers will have further view of inferiority

especially about the causes and the effect of the inferiority.

1.4 Scope and limitation

The scope of this research is inferiority. This research will be limited on

Pecola’s character in Tony Morrison’s The Bluest Eye novel. Furthermore, to make

clear in this analysis the writer uses the causes and effect of Pecola’s inferiority as

individual psychology of inferiority as supporting theory to analysis.

1.6 Method of the study

Every research has a method to make clearer about the data and analysis process.

There are some methods in research field. Those are research design, supporting data,

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1.6.1 Research design

In this case the writer uses descriptive analysis for this study. The core of

descriptive analysis relates to the processes of describing phenomena, classifying it,

and seeing how the concepts interconnect. Descriptive studies can be contrasted

unfavorably with more analytic and theoretically oriented research, as though

description is a „low level’ activity hardly worth attention (Dey 31-32). The data observation is library based. Therefore, from library data the writer has opportunities

to have good data from books, e-book, and online resources.

1.6.2 Data

The data consist of two parts. They are main data and supporting data:

a. Main data

The main data is taken from a western novel The Bluest Eye by Tony

Morrison.

b. Supporting data

Supporting data is taken from some information, such as from some books,

thesis, and internet. The writer uses individual psychoanalysis inferiority theory

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1.6.3 Data collection

In collecting the data, the writer will use some steps to get the data. First, the

writer will read the novel as the subject of the research and understand the novel as

deeply as the researcher can be analyzed. Second, the writer takes some note to

collecting the valid data. Then, the writer analyzes the text of novel chapter by

chapter in detail.

1.6.4 Data analysis

After all data already collected, the writer analyzes all the data collection. To

analyze the data, the writer identifies and classifies the data concerning the problems

of the study. The writer applies individual psychology of inferiority as supporting

theory analysis. After identifying and classifying the data, the writer can answer the

question in statement problem above.

1.7 Organization of the study

In this thesis, there are four chapters. The first chapter consists of background

of the study, statement of the problem, purpose of the study, significance of the study,

scope and limitation, method of the study, organization of the study. In the second

chapter is review of related theory used in analysis the topic and review of related

study. The third part is the discussion in which the writer applies with theory, to the

analysis of Pecola’s inferiority. Finally, the writer concludes all the discussion in the

Chapter II

Literature Review

2. Theoretical Framework

This chapter is about explanation of theory that will be conducted this

research. Here, the writer uses individual psychology theory, inferiority theory, as the

main theory to reveal the main character’s inferiority. The writer also uses new

criticism theory as supporting theory. The writer will present definition of character,

characterization, and conflict to analyze about the characterization of female

character in this research because the writer thinks that characterization is the most

influential element to analyze a novel. Besides, the writer explains previous studies.

2.1 New Criticism

New Criticism is called their approach objective criticism because their focus

on each text’s own formal elements. And Gillespie said formalism sometimes is called new criticism. It involves the analysis of literary text (172). They claimed that

each text, each object being interpreted, would itself dictate how it would be

interpreted. According to Tyson in Critical Theory Today, the New Critics introduced

to America and called “close reading”. It means that New Critical focus the reader’s

attention on the literary work as the sole source of evidence for interpreting the text,

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symbols, metaphors, rhyme, meter, point of view, setting, characterization, plot and

so on (137). Furthermore, in this study the writer discusses about character and

characterization because character and characterization have correlation with the

novel.

2.1.1 Character

Character is one of intrinsic elements in fiction or narrative work. It is an

important element in the story. Because Nurgiyantoro said character often becomes

more important to discuss than other elements (164). According to Abrams, character

is a person in a dramatic or narrative work which naturally processes moral

dispositional qualities that are expressed in what he rays through the dialogue and

what he does through his/her actions (20). Character takes place in strategic position

to give massage, value, moral and all things that the author wants to give to the

readers (Nurgiyantoro 167-168). It means that character is in the story has relevancy

with reader response; actually the reader will gives interpretation about the character

in the story by themselves (Nurgiyantoro 166).

Characters in fiction are divided in some types, the first, in significance role in

developing story there are main character and peripheral character. Main character is

a main person that appears in almost all scenes in the whole story. The second types,

in appearance function character, there are protagonist and antagonist characters.

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shows sympathy and our looking. Antagonist character is caused from conflict that

happens (178-179).

The third is about static and dynamic character. A static character is one who

changes little. A dynamic character, on the contrary, is one who is modified by

actions and experiences. In other word, a static character remains the same

throughout the work; it is a character that has one private quality, while a dynamic

character changes in the course of the work and gives expression of any personality,

living and identity. Usually strong characters are rounded and dynamic; they exhibit

the full range of human emotions and reactions to people and events. They have

histories and more than one possible future. They have hopes and fears (188-189).

The last is based on reflection of the character, there are; typical character and neutral

character. Typical character is character that often appears in working quality or

nationality and seldom appears with showing personality condition. Neutral character

is a character that always exists for the story (191-192).

By knowing about character widely, it helps to make easy to analyze The

Bluest Eye. This study focuses on woman character named Pecola. It will help to get

more knowledge about Pecola, so we can know about her character in this story.

2.1.2 Characterization

Shaw states that the way in which or the way how an author presents his or

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be understood as the creation of image of imageries person in drama, narrative poetry,

the novel and short story (71).

Characterization is literary device that is used by the author to reveal to the

readers about the character felling, action, and attitude (Perrine 83). According to

Bennet characterization is people can “see what character do and hear what they say;

people sometimes know what the characters think, and what other people say about

the characters” (18). Therefore, from the characterization, it will make the reader easier to understand what happen with the character in the story and fell what the

character feels. So, through characters, an author can give his idea and message to

make story more interesting and lively in the novel because without interesting

character, the novel will lose its emotional impact.

According to Bernardo there are two types of characterization, direct

characterization and indirect characterization, direct characterization refers to what

speaker or narrator directly says or thinks about character, the reader is told what the

character is like and indirect characterization refers to what the character says or does

(2). The reader then infers what the character is all about, the reader who is obligated

to figure out what the character is like

After learn the theory of characterization, the writer concludes that

characterization is important tool to complete this analysis. The writer will use the

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this novel, about the problem happen in her life. Here, the writer hopes that the

readers can understand about the character in this novel.

2.1.3 Conflict

Conflict is one of social process which happened in our life which involves

some of people or group of people which challenge each other which has inviolacy

impact. Conflict must happen in human life. Conflict does not always have negative

impact. With the conflict, people can get the best solution in every problem that

happens in human life.

According to Luken, a conflict is a struggle againts opposing forces, occurs

when the protagonist againts an antagonist, or opposing force (100). While Gordon

and Kuehner say, “Conflict is an internal or external struggle between main character and an opposing force” (2)

Conflict is happened because of some different characteristics. The

differences can be physically, knowledge, customs, belief, etc. by these differences.

Conflict becomes an ordinary thing to every community. We can conclude that

nobody have not conflict in this world. Even for the conflict between himself or with

another individual that lives surround himself. Conflict itself will never lose forever

until that community itself becomes lost.

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outside force; character may face several types of outside force. In contrast, external

conflict is the conflict if the struggle that takes place in a character’s mind. Bsides, there are three kinds of Conflict, those are:

The first is physical conflict The physical conflict or elemental conflict that is

occurs within the main character between man and nature. Physical conflict is a type

of external conflict that occurs in the story when individual character struggle against

other external force. In physical conflict, we usually find a man in conflict with

nature. In such a story we may go through the struggles of a man climbing a

mountain, a woman fighting to survive in a cyclone, a man fighting an army of ants

on his plantation. The principal appeal of this kind of story is almost wholly to the

emotions of the readers (Jones.30).

The second is social conflict. It is a conflict the struggle is of one person

against another. For example: two women seeking to marry the same man, two men

competing for a job, a detective pitted against a criminal, a child in conflict with his

parent (Jones,30).

The third is psychological conflict. It is man struggling against himself, his

conscience, his guilt, or simply trying to decide that he/she is going to do. In such a

story we may see a honest but poor bank employee fighting the temptation to steal

from his bank, a woman struggling with the sequences of a lie she’s told, or an unwed

pregnant girl trying to decide whether to have an abortion, place her child up for

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In this case, the psychological conflicts of the main character consist of;

affection, anxiety, jealous, anger, disagree, sadness, love, unlike, hoping, arrogant,

pity, and happiness. There are some the cause of conflict.

As a human being, we are very familiar about conflict when we interact and

communicate with others. Conflict appears when there is no balancing of mind

affected the problems in life that come from us to environment.

Cause of conflict is the way the author in starting a story and who will direct

the purpose of the story. The author makes one or several character in a certain

situation in a story. Character this figure do decisions or action that may impact

future time, either in the nearest-term or long-term solution to the problem.

The Effect of Conflict In daily life, we are familiar with conflict. Every day

we are doing socialization and communicate with others. Therefore, we must interact

and adapt with other person to get relationship. Conflict will appear when we interact

and adapt with other, because we cannot avoid the different opinion in environment.

Conflict gives many effects to the individual, such as depression, frustration,

anger, unpleasant, anxiety, and so on. The effect of conflict depends on the cause of

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2.2 Individual Psychology

Individual Psychology is a branch of psychology developed by Alfred Adler

that studies human as a unity. Adler believes that human is a social being. As a social

being, an individual„s behavior is mostly influenced and motivated by social

environment. Their movement in life is led by their own goals, which make them to

truly realize what they are doing and why they are doing it. Thus, individuals

themselves do determine who they are. Adler claims that an individual„s personality is not determined once and for all, but an individual„s personality is determined in the

process of development as the results of their actions and experiences so that their

behavior can be understood. Thus, Adler defines human personality as a unity

(58-61). People are indivisible for what they are doing as their goals of life.

In Theories of Personality, Feist writes that Adler claimed “people are born

with weak, inferior bodies ...” (69). Since individuals are born weak, they need

supports from community so that they have to be interested in the community around

them. As they interact with community, their incapability may grow less or greater.

From this feeling, they have a will to compensate their incapability and it becomes

their orientation in their life. In the book The Science of Living, Adler states that

individuals have their own way of selecting all possible memories oriented to their

need, as a compensation of their inferiority (11). This compensation then moves

toward an ideal completion or goals of an individual which affects in how they live

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social being, social environment comes as a crucial impact in developing their

behaviors and personality. The seeking of compensation also sets their life whether

they are able to live on both individual and social terms.There is one concept of

Individual Psychology that is used to analyze Pecola’sThe Bluest Eye. That is inferiority complex.

2.2.1 Inferiority Complex

The great feelings of inferiority is called inferiority complex. Adler states in

The Science of Living, “This is an abnormal and pathological expression of the feeling of inferiority ... The abnormal feeling of inferiority has acquired the name of

inferiority complex” (74). The inferiority complex will withdraw them from a

dominant society to another society where they can dominate and take over. This

feeling also drives them to overcome their difficulties with unnecessary things such

as fighting, revenge, impertinent, or being arrogant. The inferiority complex exists

universally to certain degree within all people. This is because we wish to improve

ourselves all the time (51). Thus, as people feel an inferiority complex there is a

process of compensation that stems from that experience ending in self-improvement,

and forms harmony with society (25).

History records many examples of such compensation: In ancient times the

Greek statesman Demosthenes overcame a stutter to become a great orator. The

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physical fitness as an adult. Efforts to overcome organic inferiority can result in

striking artistic, athletic, and social accomplishments, but if these efforts fail, they can

lead to an inferiority complex. (Schultz 147)

On the contrary, few people feel difficult of how to compensate their

inferiority feelings. Schultz adds that people with an inability to overcome inferiority

feelings intensives’ them. Leading to the development of an inferiority complex,

People with an inferiority complex have a poor opinion of them and feel helpless and

unable to cope with the demands of life. An inferiority complex can arise from three

sources in childhood: organic inferiority, spoiling, and neglect (133).

The investigation of organic inferiority, Adler’s first major research effort,

was carried out while he was still associated with Freud, who approved of the notion.

Adler concluded that defective parts or organs of the body shape personality through

the person’s efforts to compensate for the defect or weakness, just as Adler had

compensated for rickets, the physical inferiority of his child-hood years. For instance,

a child who is physically weak might focus on that weakness and work to develop

superior athletic ability. (Schultz 147)

All people have weak and inability that leads them into inferior feeling, but to

close their inability, they try to compensation their problem. To Adler, people are

born with weak, inferior bodies- a condition that leads to feelings of inferiority and a

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may develop a will to grow up and become capable. They desire to become more

powerful and capable which lead their ways to achieve their goals. They make many

ways to get their goals depending on their experience of life. They will get many

problems of life to be solved in order to achieve their goals. Sometimes they feel

impatient to overcome their difficulties. This indicates a great feeling of inferiority.

In inferiority feeling, children feel weaker and smaller than adults. According

to Jess Feist and Gregory J. Feist in Individual‘s Life Begins With “physical

deficiencies that activate feelings of inferiority” feelings that motivate a person to

strive for either superiority or success (70). This feeling forms incompleteness,

weakness, and fears in individuals. Inferiority feeling may be constructive or

destructive to individuals.

Everyone suffers from inferiority in one form or another. For example, Adler

began his theoretical work considering organ inferiority, that is, the fact that each of

us has weaker, as well as stronger, parts of our anatomy or physiology (7). There are

also many people who cannot handle their difficulties, and live lives of quiet despair.

I would guess that our optimistic, up-beat society serious underestimates their

members (8). An inability to overcome Inferiority feelings intensifies them, leading

to the development of an inferiority complex. People with an inferiority complex

have a poor opinion of themselves and feel helpless and unable to cope with the

demands of life. Adler found such a complex in the childhood of many adults who

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Adler said that the inferiority complex greatly influenced a person’s life of

which he tried to find the origin of this problem and to solve it (14). He was not

trying to solve the inferiority complex that motivates one to progress, but rather the

inferiority complex which drags one to failure. Through this he discovered that an

inferiority complex forms within the early years of a child.

The progress that is found within human lifestyles comes from the effort to

overcome one’s inferiority complex. A person’s effort to be perfect arises from the

self-awareness of not being enough. People are inevitably aware of their exposure to

nature and work hard for their safety which is why a person’s lifestyle progresses

through being a human ( Hwan 366).

Through the above, it is easy to understand how neglected, unwanted, and

rejected children can develop an inferiority complex. Their infancy and childhood are

characterized by a lack of love and security because their parents are indifferent or

hostile. As a result these children develop feelings of worthlessness, or even anger,

and view others with distrust. (Schultz 147)

2.3 Review of related of the study

This part presents some related studies which have been done previously. The

first reviewed previous study was conducted by Tia PuspitaGestiana (2010) from

State University of Surabaya, English Department, under the title Pauline’s

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Morrison’s The Bluest Eye. This previous study focuses on one character, because

she wants to grow up her opinion about the strong woman in her thesis especially

about Pauline character and the effect of character Pauline’s self-esteem as the impact

of her reaction toward white beauty standard.

Another previous study was conducted by IkaYanuarista (2010) from State

University of Surabaya, English Department, under the title The Representation of

White Beauty Standard Through Signs in Toni Morrison’s the Bluest Eye: A

Semiotics realism Study. This thesis focuses on some female black character and uses

semiotics theory by Charles Sanders Peirce, which defines triadic relation of signs,

object and interpreting. The signs which represent the nation of white beauty standard

are focused in the form of icon, index, and symbol.

What makes this thesis different from the previous studies is because this

thesis only focuses on individual psychology on inferiority complex, what its causes

and its effect. Furthermore, the writer also uses literary approach through literary

device called characterization. Through characterization, the readers will be able to

Chapter III

Analysis

The writer learns that there are some intrinsic elements of literature, such as

character, characterization and conflict. Here the writer analyze about Pecola’s

character. Besides, the writer wants to make an analysis on the causes of Pecola’s

inferiority, and the effect that experienced by her. There are also several problems

that come from her family and society that cause her feel inferiority. Those are the

bad treatment from her family because her family is disharmonious and ignore her.

The second cause is the bad treatment from her peer. The beauty standard in society

make her often get mock and insult, because her ugliness. Her weakness and inability

to resolve her problem leads her into inferior feeling. The effect of the causes make

Pecola lack of confident and tends to obsess the blue eyes.

3.1 Pecola’s Character

Character is the most significant element in the novel. There are two types of

the character, static character and dynamic character. As it has explained before,

dynamic character has many changes in his or her personality while static character

does not change throughout the story. In this analysis, Pecola is ugly little black girl,

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eyes. To understand the character of Pecola to solve her problem, we can see from her

characteristic as follow:

1. Kind

Pecola was very kind. She did not want to dominate everybody around her.

This condition occurred when Pecola arrived to Claudia and Frieda’s home. At that

time Pecola was homeless because her father, Cholly had burned up his house as the

result all of his family was out door.

The country had placed Pecola in Claudia’s house for a few days until Pecola’s family could reutine. As a new corner Pecola could be a close friend for Claudia and Frieda. When Frieda ordered graham cracker and some milk in blue and

white Shirley temple cup they had loving conversation about how cute Shirley temple

was. She smiled and accepted gracefully the food. So Claudia and Frieda love her

although Pecola was new friend for them. it can be seen in the statement as follow:

When we discovered that she clearly did not want to dominate us, we liked her. she laughed when I clowned for her, and smiled and accepted gracefully the food gifts my sister gave her. (19)

From the statement above we can find that Pecola is kind person. She could

directly interact with another people which someone new in her community.

In other line we can find the characteristic of Pecola talked about her

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problem. Everybody knows that Ellihue Micah is homosexual. All of people hate

him. Ellihue Micah is a guy.

But he has a brilliant mind to read the condition of other people. So that

Pecola come to him to help her. With honestly and carefully she talked to psychic

what she wants. It can be seen in this statement as follow:

Soaphead church told to her come in

“What can I do for you, my child?”

She stood there, her hand folded across her stomach, little protruding pot of tummy

“May you can do it for me” “Do what for you?” (137)

I can’t go to school no more. And I thought maybe you could help me”

Help you how? Tell me. Don’t frightened” “My eyes

From the statement above we know that Pecola with very polite said to

Soaphead curch to help her. Pecola wants psychic made her eyes became the blue

eyes.

Pecola with the ugliness and blackness but she did not want to fight

everybody insulted her. When she wanted to buy some candy in Mr. Yakobowski

shop, he did not want to see Pecola. Because of her ugliness and her blackness Mr.

Yakoboeski does not believe that Pecola really want candy and have money to pay

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hand. This condition is not be a problem to her. She thought maybe she is disgust so

Mr. Yakobowski keep his glance form her. it can be seen in this statement as follow:

She holds the money toward him. He hesitates, not wanting to touch her hand. She does not know to move the finger of her right and from the display counter or how to get the coins out of her left hand. Finally he reaches over and takes the candy from her hand. His nails grazed her damp palm. (43)

From the statement above we know how kind Pecola was. She does not think

bad about everything to another person who hate her even at the fact Mr. Yakobowski

anger disgust to Pecola because of her ugliness and her blackness.

2. Friendly

Beside kind person Pecola is also friendly to another people around her. we

can find out this characteristic from statements as follows:

Three whores lived in the apartement above the Breedlove’s store

front. China, Poland and miss marie. Pecola loved them, visited them and run their errands. They in turn did not despise her. (43)

From the text above we can find how friendly Pecola is.

Everyday Pecola came to Miss Marrie, China, Poland to talk about everything

as if Pecola and them were close friend. Those girls are friendly to Pecola. those

women are not like many people who hate to Pecola but in turn they loved her.

Another statement drew the characteristic of Pecola’s friendly. When winter came, there was a new girl in Pecola, Frieda and Claudia school. Her name was

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girls. She enchanted the entire school. This condition made Frieda and Claudia

bemused, irritated, and fascinated to her but not for Pecola. She is friendly and nice to

Maureen. One day they had a loving conversation about a little actress named Pecola.

The conversation as follow:

Maureen, suddenly animated, put her velved-sleeved arm through

Pecola’s and began to behave as though they were the closets friend. I

just moved here. My name is Maureen Peal. What yours? Pecola.

“Pecola? wasn’t that the name of the girl in imitation of life?I don’t

know. What is that?. The picture show you know? Where this Mulatto girl hates her mother caused she is black and ugly but then cries at the funeral. It was really sad. Everybody cries in it Claudettew Colbert too

Oh: Pecola’s voice was no more than a sigh any way, her name was

Pecola too. She was so pretty (56-57)

From the explanation above there was a good conversation between Maureen

Peal and Pecola. Pecola could accompany Maureen to talk about the name Pecola an

actress in their country. They talk about everything this actress from who Pecola was,

how the family of Pecola as a little actress inimagination life. It means that Pecola

always be able to interact with everybody who love her and who insulted her. Further

statement as follow:

There on the tiny railed stoop sat Pecola in a light red sweater and blue cotton dress. A little wagon was parked near hear. She seemed glad to see us.

“Hi” “Hi”

What you all doing here?” she was smiling and since it was a rare thing to see on her, I was surprised at the pleasure it give me. (45)

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From the text above we know that Pecola was friendly person. When her close

friend Frieda and Claudia looking for her and discover her, she was very nice to meet.

She was so excited upon Frieda and Claudia arrival. They finally love to talk about

their neighbor named Maginot Line. Pecola call her Miss Mary. Pecola explained to

Frieda and Claudia that Miss Mary was interesting person. Frieda and Claudia

believed it.

3.2 Pecola’s Inferiority Complex

Inferior feeling has been occurred in everyone„s childhood. They feel inferior

because of their incapability of doing or getting something than their friends, adults,

their parents, and others. In this novel, there are many inferiority feelings from the

characters which develop to be more complex. These feelings affect in their

personality.

From the novel, it is explained that Pecola is an American black girl who is

eleven years old. She never gets love and affection from other people, especially from

her family. She and everyone around her think that she is ugly.

The eyes, the small eyes set closely together under narrow foreheads. The low irregular, hairlines, which seemed even more irregular in contrast to the straight, heavy eyebrows which nearly met.Keen but crooked noses, with insolent nostrils. They had high cheekbones, and their ears turned forward. Shapely lips which called attention not to themselves but to the rest of the face. You looked at them and wondered why they were so ugly (38-39)

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Her background as an American black girl creates her inferiority feeling to

others. Pecola is always ignored and insulted her friend. All of people say to her

family that they are really perfect disgusting family. The father, Cholly had burn the

house and go away as a result all of his family out door. This condition made Pecola

lack of confident to interact with another person. Because of all her friends and

neighbor hated her and her family. Pecola become victim of discrimination from

another people. This statement found as follow:

Mrs. Breedlove handled hers as an actor does a prop for the articulation of character, for support of a role. She frequently imagined was hers Sammy used his as a weapon to cause others pain. He adjusted his behavior to it. Choose his companions on the basis of it. People who could be fascinated, even intimidated by it and Pecola. She hid behind hers. Concealed, veiled, eclipsed, peeping is out from behind the shroud very seldom and then only to yearn for the return of the mask. (34-35)

Pecola is an ugly girl. The environment where Pecola was born and where she

grew, bring an impact to her inferiority. It also influences her personality and way of

thinking. The environment where Pecola lives caused her to think over who she really

is. She was born as an ugly girl, and she is demanded by people surrounding to agree

with white beauty concept. Her experience has greatly influence her personality. It

makes the ways of her thinking to be beauty as other girl has.

If she looked different, beautiful, maybe Cholly would be different,

and Mrs. Breedlove too. Maybe they’d say, “Why, look at pretty-eyed

Pecola. We mustn’t do bad things in front of those pretty eyes.” (46)

From the words above, Pecola feels inferior to other people by comparing

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blue eyes. She feels that is impossible to get it. Her inferiority comes out when her

background as an ugly girl is not recognizes again.

Besides, Pecola is also powerless girl. It makes her weak and cannot do

anything to help her if there is someone insulting her. Pecola feels suffering, if her

family and classmates mock her as ugliness. Her condition makes her think that all

people can say and do everything to her. Therefore, if there is someone hurting her,

she just can cry without action.

Most of juice splashed on Pecola’s legs, and the burn must have been

painful, for she cried out and began hopping about just as Mrs. Breedlove entered with a tightly packed laundry bag. In one gallop she was on Pecola, and with the back of her hand knockedher to the floor.

Pecola slid in the pie juice, one leg folding under her. (109) Pecola feels that no one loves her. It makes her do not know how to be loved

by people, especially her parents. Therefore, she made bold to ask to one of the

prostitute who live in breedlove’s storefront.

“I never seen nobody with as many boyfriends as you got, Miss Marie.

How come they all love you?” (53)

“How do you do that? I mean, how do you get somebody to love you?”(32)

Pecola always lives in her sadness. She always feels not happy with her

condition, because of her sorrow. She often gets bad treatment. Her existence

ignored, disrespected, and unconsidered as if her existence is not important by people

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She was a child-unburdened-why she wasn’t happy? The clear

statement of her misery was an accusation. (161)

“…What you want to do, Pecola?”

“Idon’t care,” she said. “ Anything you want.” (26)

From the explanation above, the writer concludes that Pecola does not get

love and affection by people, especially her parents. Therefore, she hopes people

around her can love, care and admit her existence..

Here we can also see that Pecola gets angry easily when people underestimate

her. But, she is nothing do. She is just silent and crying. “Pecola edged around the

circle crying. She had dropped her notebook, and covered her eyes with her

hands”.(66) This sentences express her inferiority that becomes complex by comparing himself and wishing something he does not have.

As the explanation above, Pecola has developed her inferiority complex. Her

inferiority complex then influences herpersonality. However, Pecola„s personality is

obviously changing since he gets many bad treatments which arise her inferiority

complex throughout the novel. The bad treatment hurts her and turns her inferiority

complex to be greater. Her inferiority complex then drives her to struggle for equality

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3.3 The Causes of Pecola’s Inferiority

The writer learns that there are several problems coming from Pecola’s family

and Peer. The first problem is the bad treatment from her family. The second is the

bad treatment from her peer. Pecola often get mock and insult from them.

3.3.1 Bad Treatment from Pecola’s Family

Ideally, a family should be a base for shaping the character of children. It

should be a comfort place for children to find love, support, protection, and recognize

who they are, where they are going to, and what they want to be. In this case, the

relation between Pecola and Pauline is harmonious. It describes by Morrison with the

good treatment from Pauline to Pecola when she was pregnant. Pauline has promise

that whatever Pecola’s face, she will receive her and love her. Then, after Pecola was

born, Pauline recognized that Pecola’s eyes were beautiful. She believed that Pecola

would be meaningful to her. Pauline recognized about Pecola’s condition and did not

care about Pecola’s ugliness. “When I had the second one, a girl, I „member I said I’d love it no matter what it looked loke” (61,) but day by day after Pecola grew up as a teenager, her good treatment to Pecola was fade. “Mrs. Breedlove yanked her up by the arm, slapped her again, and in voice thin with anger, abused Pecola directly and

Frieda and me by implication”. (109)

Since then, Pecola never gets what she needs from her family. Her family

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abuse her. Every day Pecola always sees her parents fighting in front of her. It makes

her does not feel at home and feel anguish to her family.

He fought her the way a coward fights a man—with feet, the palms of

his hands, and teeth. She, in turn, fought back in a purely feminine

way—with frying pans and pokers, and occasionally a flatiron would

sail toward his head. They did not talk, groan, or curse during these beatings. There was only the muted sound of falling things, and flesh on unsurprised flesh. (43)

Actually she is concerned with her family’s condition and as a daughter, she

wants to see her parents have a good relationship and live in peace so that they can be

the role models for her. But nothing she can do. Even, she hope can die in order to

make her not look the dispute happen in the house. “She struggled between an

overwhelming desire that one would kill the other and a profound wish that she

herself could die”. (43)

Pauline gives bad treatment to Pecola. It makes Pecola feels scared and

strange to her mother. As a mother, she never teaches Pecola about how a woman

should do when she grows up become a woman, how to grow up well by believing in

herself and being proud of herself.

Pauline kept this order, this beauty, for herself, a private world, and never introduced it into her storefront, or to her children. Them she bent toward respectability, and in so doing taught them fear: fear of being clumsy, fear of being like their father, fear of not being loved by

God, fear of madness like Cholly’smother’s. Into her son she beat a

loud desire to run away, and into her daughter she beat a fear of growing up, fear of other people, fear of life. (128)

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Besides, the relation between Pecola and Cholly was also not close. In the

family, father is a model for his children. Father should give protect and affection to

his children as his obligation to his family. But in the novel of The Bluest Eye, Cholly

is a bad father for his family, especially to Pecola. As a father, Cholly never got

education from his parents how to be a good father. It makes Cholly does not

understand how the way to raise his children well. He cannot transfer his affection,

love and take care to Pecola. So, Cholly is never close with Pecola.

Having no idea of how to raise children, and having never watched any parent raise himself, he could not even comprehend what such a relationshipshould be. (160)

In this novel, Morrison describes cholly as a black American who drunk and

temper. Cholly, has a bad habit. Every day, he spends his time to drunk and fighting

with his wife. “Cholly, by his habitual drunkenness and orneriness, provided them both with the material they needed to make their lives tolerable”.(41-42).

Besides, Cholly ever rapes Pecola. That happens when Pauline is not in the

house. When Cholly is drunk, he saw Pecola was washing the plate in the kitchen. He

comes near to Pecola. She was surprised. Then, Cholly rapes pecola. her existence as

daughter lead her into powerless feeling.”She was a child-unburdened-why she

wasn’t happy? The clear statement of her misery was an accusation. (161)

The last, is Sammy, Pecola’s brother. Even though Sammy and Pecola are

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family. He only cares to her body and does not want to know the dispute between his

father and mother. So, he runs away from the reality.

Sammy cursed for a while, or left the house, or threw himself into the fray. He was known, by the time he was fourteen, to have run away from home no less than twenty-seven times. Once he got to Buffalo and stayed three months. His returns, whether by force or circumstance, were sullen. (43)

3.3.2 Bad treatment from Pecola’s Peer

All people give the bad treatment to Pecola. They think that woman’s beauty

depends on white skin, blue eyes and blonde hair. They will not care to ugly girls

because they think that ugly girl is not worthy. If she has the blue eyes, she will look

beauty.

“Here,” they said, “this is beautiful, and if you are on this day „worthy’ you may have it.” I fingered the face, wondering at the single-stroke eyebrows; picked at the pearly teeth stuck like two piano keys between red bowline lips. Traced the turned-up nose, poked the glassy blue eyeballs, twisted the yellow hair (21)

When Pecola knows that she is pregnant after her father rapes her. In that

position, she feels down, but no one can help and give support her. Instead, they

blame, mock and despise her without feel sympathy.

“Did you hear about that girl?” “What? Pregnant?” “Yas. But guess who?”

“Who? I don’t know all these little old boys.” “That’s just it. Ain’tno little old boy. They say it’s

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Cholly.”

“Cholly?Her daddy?” “Uh-huh.” (188-189)

Her peers and teacher are treated badly and unfairly to Pecola because of her

ugliness. Her condition makes her despised and ignored by them. She never get the

good position in there. It makes her feels inferior.

Long hours she sat looking in the mirror, trying to discover the secret of the ugliness, the ugliness that made her ignored or despised at school, by teachers and classmates alike. She was the only member of her class who sat alone at a double desk. (45)

Even, her teachers who should be fair in treating their students also treat her

badly. They never have been supportive to Pecola as a student. They also show their

disliking to her, even they are not interested in her physical appearance and do not

want to touch or look her. “Her teachers had always treated her this way. They tried

never to glance at her, and called on her only when everyone was required to

respond”. (45-46)

Pecola also knows that her friends often make fun of her because they

consider her as the ugliest person at school and it is so funny to make fun of her. She

knows that her friends look her as a strange person because of her ugliness and

because of that, it seems they have a right to make a fun with her and do or say bad

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When one of the girls at school wanted to be particularly insulting to a boy, or wanted to get an immediate response from him, she could say.

“Bobby loves Pecola Breedlove! Bobby loves Pecola Breedlove!” and

never fail to get peals of laughter from those in earshot, and mock anger from the accused. (46)

Pecola’s friends at school always insult her by remarking the matter of her skin. They are blacks, they know that fact, but they also know that Pecola’s skin is

much darker than theirs. That is why they always insult her by saying something bad

about her skin and habit of the blacks whose skin are darker than theirs.

Black e mo. Black e moYa daddy sleeps nekked. Stch ta tastch ta ta

Statch ta tatatata (65)

In this case, Pecola meet with Maureen peal in the school as a new student.

Maureen peal’s parents is come from American black skin and white skin descent.

She is beautiful and rich girl. Her appearance is more beautiful than Pecola, so her

classmates are interested to her. Her classmates make comparation between Pecola

with Maureen Peal. They more care to Maureen Peal than Pecola. They always insult

Pecola. Her ugliness make her classmates can do everything to give bad treatment.

They had extemporized a verse made up of two insults about matters over which the victim had no control: the color of her skin and speculations on the sleeping habits of an adult, wildly fitting in its incoherence. (65)

Firstly, Pecola and Maureen peal is close friend. One day, Maureen peal treats

Pecola, frieda and Claudia to buy ice cream together. With Maureen Peal’s popular,

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But, Pecola does not realize that the purpose of Maureen peal close with her just for

fulfill her curiosity about Pecola’s private secret. She wants to know about Pecola’s family. Maureen Peal asked about Pecola’s father that pointed in fighting.

“I didn’t say „father.’ I just said „a naked man.’” “Well . . . ”

“How come you said „father’?” Maureen wanted to Know. (71)

Then, Maureen peal compare Pecola with other girl who has same name with

Pecola. Maureen peals thinks that all of girls who has Pecola’s name is certain ugly

and always suffer.

“Pecola? Wasn’t that the name of the girl in Imitation of Life?”

“I don’t know. What is that?”

“The picture show, you know. Where this mulatto girl hates her

mother cause she is black and ugly but then cries at the funeral. It was

real sad. Everybody cries in it. Claudette Colbert too.” “Oh.” Pecola’s voice was no more than a sigh. (67)

In this case, Pecola does not get recognition from her friends. The comparison

between Maureen Peal and Pecola is different. Maureen Peal is more beautiful than

her. It makes her boyfriend’s more interested to Maureen Peal. They recognize the

beauty of Maureen Peal and they do not care to Pecola. So, Pecola’s existence is

ignored by them. The presence of Maureen peal open Pecola’s mindset that the

chocolate skin as Maureen peal have can be recognized by people surrounding, so

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like Maureen peal. Her skin is also be categorized as a beauty concept as Maureen

peal has.

Besides, Pecola also gets problem in her school. That’s problems come from

her teachers and friends. The color of Pecola’s skin makes them claim Pecola as an

ugly girl. Her ugliness makes her teachers and friends despise and ignore her position

as a student in there. Even, she was the only member of her class who sat alone at a

double desk.

Her teachers had always treated her this way. They tried never to glance at

her, and called on her only when everyone was required to respond. She also knew

that when one of the girls at school wanted to be particularly insulting to a boy, or

wanted to get an immediate response from him, she could say. “Bobby loves Pecola

Breedlove! Bobby loves Pecola Breedlove!” and never fail to get peals of laughter

from those in earshot, and mock anger from the accused. (45-46)

As a black girl, Pecola realizes that she is ugly. It is supported by society’s bad treatment which mock and insult her every meet each other. They always despise

her condition as she does not have important position in the society. It makes Pecola

more believe that her sorrow comes from her ugliness.

The distaste must be for her, her blackness. All things in her are flux and anticipation. But her blackness is static and dread. And it is the blackness that accounts for, that creates, the vacuum edged with distaste in white eyes. (49)

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Pecola’s powerlessness to fight against the bad treatment of society makes her difficult to struggle her right as a human being who appreciated. It leads her into deep

pain. From her lack can open the chance all people to do and say anything bad to her.

Pecola backed out of the room, staring at the pretty milkbrown lady in the pretty gold-and-green house who was talking to her through the

cat’s fur. The pretty lady’s words made the cat fur move; the breath of

each word parted the fur. Pecola turned to find the front door and saw Jesus looking down at her with sad and unsurprised eyes (92)

3.4 The Effect of Pecola’s inferiority

Pecola needs love, affection, support, and positive treatment from other

people. She also wants to be accepted and respected in the society with whatever her

condition. In the reality, she is not lucky because all she needs cannot she get. Her

inability makes her feel inferiority. People around her subjected her as worthy person.

There is no one to love, give affection, support, and give positive treatment for her.

As a powerless person, she only can cry although her ego makes her feels angry and

inferiority when there is someone hurt her. She cannot fight them to fight for her right

as a human who need to be respected by other. She cannot do anything because her

mother never teach her how the way to resolve her problem. So, it leads her into sad

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3.4.1 Lack of Confident

Pecola was ugly, poor, black and Pecola believed she was ugly. The ugliness

came from conviction. It makes her lack of her confident. In other statements as

follow:

As long as she was ugly, she would have to stay with these people, some how she belonged to them. Long hours she sat looking in the mirror, trying to discover, the secret of the ugliness, the ugliness that made her ignored or despised at school by teacher and classmates alike. (39)

From the text above Pecola had drawn that she accepted discrimination from

her teacher and classmates. Although when the teacher has treated, never to glance at

her and called her only when everyone was required to respond. She knows when one

of the girls at school wanted to be insulting to a boy, they could say “one of them

love Pecola”. This condition never fails to get laughter from them. it makes her feel not confident if she in front of them.

At school Pecola insulted and became a victim from her boy classmates. One day the boy of her classmates circling and holding a victim, Pecola. They harassed her. they insulted insults about the color of her skin and speculation on the sleeping habits of adult. It can be

seen in statement, “Black e mo black emo Ya daddy sleeps necked”

(55).

Pecola ever debates with Maureen Peal who is a new classmate in her school.

Firstly they chat about boys, babies, and somebody’s naked man. Suddenly, the

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movement when Maureen Peal does not want to trust what she said. Although Pecola

try to explain but Maureen Peal just hold her opinion without care to Pecola.

Pecola shouted, “I never saw my daddy naked. Never.” “You did too,” Maureen snapped. “Bay Boy said so.” “I did not.”

“You did.” “I did not.” (72)

Pecola wants to explain what exactly she wants to say her but that is useless

because Geraldine Peal just hold her opinion and judge Pecola ever saw daddy naked.

In this case Pecola does not get trust from Maureen Peal and leads her into lack of

confident.

3.4.1 The tendency of Pecola to obsess the blues eyes

The tendency of Pecola’s obsesses come from her ugliness and the insult from

people surrounding. In the chance, Pecola thinks about what makes her became ugly.

She finds the fact that her eyes are the answer on her question. As a beauty concept in

the society, blue eyes is one of the reason about the perception of society. Every day

she thinks about blue eyes. She does not care what other people say to her about the

impossible how Pecola get it. She just believes it in herself.

Pretty eyes.Pretty blue eyes.Big blue pretty eyes. Run, Jip, run. Jip runs, Alice runs. Alice has blue eyes. Jerry has blue eyes. Jerry runs. Alice runs. They run

S a r i | 42

blue eyes. Blue-sky eyes. Blue-like Mrs. Forrest’s

blue blouse eyes. Morning-glory-blue-eyes. Alice-and-Jerry-blue-storybook-eyes.(46)

Pecola always feel suffering, it makes her hate her eyes as causes of people’s

insult to her. She feels disappointed with what she has. Every night, she prays to God

for her expectation for the blue eyes in order to be granted. She never gives up to pray

every night. She believes, God will hear her pray and give her the miracle.

Each night, without fail, she prayed for blue eyes. Fervently, for a year she had prayed. Although somewhat discouraged, she was not without hope. To have something as wonderful as that happen would take a long, long time. Thrown, in this way, into the binding conviction that only a miracle could relieve her, she would never know her The Bluest Eye beauty. She would see only what there was to see: the eyes of other people. (46-47)

Pecola really wants the blue eyes. She hopes, God can give her blue eyes like

white people have. She believes that if she has the blue eyes, she will get different

treatment from people surrounding. She believes that if she has the blue eyes the

people would not do anything bad in front of her blue eyes and they will love her. If

she looked different, beautiful, maybe Cholly would be different, and Mrs. Breedlove

too. (46)

The people’s mindset about beauty concept has influenced Pecola’s mindset.

People think that white skin, blue eyes and blonde hair is a beauty concept. So, their

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the blue eyes. As an American black girl, Pecola has interesting to Shirley temple that

has white skin. Every time she looks the pictures of Shirley Temple.

Pecola really is interested in Shirley temple. She is interested in Shirley

Temple’s cup to see her blue eyes as an icon of beauty. She feels happy even though she only sees Shirley Temple’s cup. Then she is more interested in using the pictorial

cup of Shirley Temple. “Her anxiety makes her be able to spend three liter of milk from McTeer’s family”. We knew she was fond of the Shirley Temple cup and took

every opportunity to drink milk out of it just to handle and see sweet Shirley’s face

(23). Pecola’s purpose is only for using the pictorial cup as if Shirley’s temple’s

identity will move to her body. So, Pecola can feels beauty as Shirley Temple has.

Besides, Pecola also meets with Soaphead church. He feels pity when he

sees Pecola, then he asked her about the causes of her sadness.

“Do what for you?”

“I can’t go to schoolno more. And I thought maybe you could help me.”

“Help you how? Tell me. Don’t be frightened.” “My eyes.”

“What about your eyes?” “I want them blue.” (174)

Soaphead feels surprised to hear pecola’s wish. He knows that it is impossible to happen. So, he refuses Pecola’s wish with by saying that he is not a magician.

S a r i | 44

“I can do nothing for you, my child. I am not a magician. I work only

through the Lord. He sometimes uses me to help people. All I can do is offer myself to Him as the instrument through which he works. If

He wants your wish granted, He will do it.”(174)

Soaphead swing round his face because he is not strong to look at Pecola’s

face expression. But finally, he fulfills her wish even though he actually lies to her.

Soaphead church has Pecola to give food to the dog in the street, to get the blue eyes.

“Take this food and give it to the creature sleeping on the porch. Make

sure he eats it. And mark well how he behaves. If nothing happens, you will know that God has refused you. If the animal behaves

strangely, your wish will be granted on the day following this one.”

(175)

Pecola does all Soaphead church„s command. After doing what Soaphead church’s command, she goes with the belief that she would get the blue eyes. The basic of Pecola’s wish is because she wants to get love from people surrounding. And the result, she get fail to get the blue eyes. It leads her into insanity.

Chapter IV

Conclusion

In this thesis, we have seen in the previous chapter that Pecola experiences

inferiority feeling. From all bad treatment from people surrounding makes her

became suffering as a victim. All the people insult, despised, and blame her as a black

girl. She cannot do anything when people hurt her heart.

Besides, there are some causes and effect of inferiority. The first cause is the

bad treatment from Pecola’s family. Here, Pecola never gets affection, protect and care from her family. The second cause is the bad treatment from her peers. So, the

effect of the Pecola’s inferiority is the tendency of Pecola to obsess the blue eyes and

lack of her confident. It is reflected on her mindset. She tends to talk with her

imaginary since she feels alone.

Besides, she also tends to imitate her white idol. She feels happy when she

can see the image of her idol as if the beauty’s idol will move to her body. Even, she

believes can get the blue eyes from Soaphead Church who lies to her. She allowed

Soaphead’s demand because she really wants to get the blue eye. If she has the blue

eyes, she will look beautiful, and the people treatment’s people also will different.

She will get love, care and support. Even, people will trust and recognize her

S a r i | 46

is born, she does not get the blue eyes because her baby dies. Since then, she realizes

that Soaphead has lied to her. She cannot accept this reality and lead her into insanity.

After analyze the process of Pecola’s inferiority in novel The Bluest Eye by

Toni Morrison, the writer concludes that the last result of Pecola’s inferiority is tragic

life. It is caused by some problem come to her. The beauty standard of society

oppresses her thinking to get blue eyes. From the experience of Pecola, it can be seen

Work Cited

Adler, Alfred. The Science of Living. London: George Allen & Unwin Ltd, 1929.

Adler, Alfred. Understanding Life. USA: Oneworld Publications, 1997.

Brooks, Cleanth, John Thibaut Purser, and Robert Penn Warren. (1964). An Approach to

Literature. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall

Edgar, V. Roberts. (1964). Writing Themes about Literature. 4th ed. New Jersey. Prentice- Hall Inc, Englewood Cliffs.

Eagleton, Terry. Literary Theory. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing, 1996. Print.

Feist, Jess, and Gregory J. Feist. Theories of Personality. New York: The McGraw-Hill

Companies, 2008..

Gill, Richard. Mastering of English Literature. London: The Macmillan press. Ltd, 1995.

Gordon, Jane Bachman and Kuehner, keren, The Elements of the Short Story. NTC: West Touhy Avenue. 1975.

Holman, C. Hugh, William Harmon. (1986) A Handbook to Literature. New York: Mac-Millan Publishing Company,

Jones, Edward H. Outlines of Literature: Short Stories, Novels, and Poems. Macmillan: New

York

Luken, J.Rebecca. 2003. A Critical Handbook of Children’s Literature. Pearson Education, Inc.

Morrison, Toni. The Bluest Eye. New York: Washington Square Press Publication of pocket

book, 1970

Nurgiyantoro, Burhan. Teori Pengkajian Fiksi. Yogyakarta: Gadjah Mada University Press,

S a r i |48

Sul Young Hwan 2005, interpretation of Adler’s psychology. Seoul: Sun Young Publishing.

Tyson, Lois. Critical Theory Today Second Edition. New York: Routledge. 2006

Wellek, Rene and Warren, Auustin. (1942). Theory of Literature. New York: Harcourt, Brace

digilib.uinsby.ac.id digilib.uinsby.ac.id digilib.uinsby.ac.id digilib.uinsby.ac.id digilib.uinsby.ac.id digilib.uinsby.ac.id digilib.uinsby.ac.id

S a r i | 43

the blue eyes. As an American black girl, Pecola has interesting to Shirley temple that has white skin. Every time she looks the pictures of Shirley Temple.

Pecola really is interested in Shirley temple. She is interested in Shirley Temple’s cup to see her blue eyes as an icon of beauty. She feels happy even though she only sees Shirley Temple’s cup. Then she is more interested in using the pictorial cup of Shirley Temple. “Her anxiety makes her be able to spend three liter of milk from McTeer’s family”. We knew she was fond of the Shirley Temple cup and took every opportunity to drink milk out of it just to handle and see sweet Shirley’s face (23). Pecola’s purpose is only for using the pictorial cup as if Shirley’s temple’s identity will move to her body. So, Pecola can feels beauty as Shirley Temple has.

Besides, Pecola also meets with Soaphead church. He feels pity when he sees Pecola, then he asked her about the causes of her sadness.

“Do what for you?”

“I can’t go to schoolno more. And I thought maybe you could help me.”

“Help you how? Tell me. Don’t be frightened.” “My eyes.”

“What about your eyes?” “I want them blue.” (174)

Soaphead feels surprised to hear pecola’s wish. He knows that it is impossible to happen. So, he refuses Pecola’s wish with by saying that he is not a magician.

S a r i | 44

“I can do nothing for you, my child. I am not a magician. I work only through the Lord. He sometimes uses me to help people. All I can do is offer myself to Him as the instrument through which he works. If He wants your wish granted, He will do it.”(174)

Soaphead swing round his face because he is not strong to look at Pecola’s face expression. But finally, he fulfills her wish even though he actually lies to her. Soaphead church has Pecola to give food to the dog in the street, to get the blue eyes.

“Take this food and give it to the creature sleeping on the porch. Make sure he eats it. And mark well how he behaves. If nothing happens, you will know that God has refused you. If the animal behaves strangely, your wish will be granted on the day following this one.” (175)

Pecola does all Soaphead church„s command. After doing what Soaphead church’s command, she goes with the belief that she would get the blue eyes. The basic of Pecola’s wish is because she wants to get love from people surrounding. And the result, she get fail to get the blue eyes. It leads her into insanity.

digilib.uinsby.ac.id digilib.uinsby.ac.id digilib.uinsby.ac.id digilib.uinsby.ac.id digilib.uinsby.ac.id digilib.uinsby.ac.id digilib.uinsby.ac.id

45 Chapter IV

Conclusion

In this thesis, we have seen in the previous chapter that Pecola experiences inferiority feeling. From all bad treatment from people surrounding makes her became suffering as a victim. All the people insult, despised, and blame her as a black girl. She cannot do anything when people hurt her heart.

Besides, there are some causes and effect of inferiority. The first cause is the bad treatment from Pecola’s family. Here, Pecola never gets affection, protect and care from her family. The second cause is the bad treatment from her peers. So, the effect of the Pecola’s inferiority is the tendency of Pecola to obsess the blue eyes and lack of her confident. It is reflected on her mindset. She tends to talk with her imaginary since she feels alone.

Besides, she also tends to imitate her white idol. She feels happy when she can see the image of her idol as if the beauty’s idol will move to her body. Even, she believes can get the blue eyes from Soaphead Church who lies to her. She allowed Soaphead’s demand because she really wants to get the blue eye. If she has the blue eyes, she will look beautiful, and the people treatment’s people also will different. She will get love, care and support. Even, people will trust and recognize her existence in society. But the last result is different with her thinking. When her baby

S a r i | 46

is born, she does not get the blue eyes because her baby dies. Since then, she realizes that Soaphead has lied to her. She cannot accept this reality and lead her into insanity.

After analyze the process of Pecola’s inferiority in novel The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison, the writer concludes that the last result of Pecola’s inferiority is tragic life. It is caused by some problem come to her. The beauty standard of society oppresses her thinking to get blue eyes. From the experience of Pecola, it can be seen that the inferiority feeling is the bad treatment from her family and peers.

digilib.uinsby.ac.id digilib.uinsby.ac.id digilib.uinsby.ac.id digilib.uinsby.ac.id digilib.uinsby.ac.id digilib.uinsby.ac.id digilib.uinsby.ac.id

47

Work Cited

Adler, Alfred. The Science of Living. London: George Allen & Unwin Ltd, 1929. Adler, Alfred. Understanding Life. USA: Oneworld Publications, 1997.

Brooks, Cleanth, John Thibaut Purser, and Robert Penn Warren. (1964). An Approach to Literature. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall

Edgar, V. Roberts. (1964). Writing Themes about Literature. 4th ed. New Jersey. Prentice- Hall Inc, Englewood Cliffs.

Eagleton, Terry. Literary Theory. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing, 1996. Print.

Feist, Jess, and Gregory J. Feist. Theories of Personality. New York: The McGraw-Hill Companies, 2008..

Gill, Richard. Mastering of English Literature. London: The Macmillan press. Ltd, 1995.

Gordon, Jane Bachman and Kuehner, keren, The Elements of the Short Story. NTC: West Touhy Avenue. 1975.

Holman, C. Hugh, William Harmon. (1986) A Handbook to Literature. New York: Mac-Millan Publishing Company,

Jones, Edward H. Outlines of Literature: Short Stories, Novels, and Poems. Macmillan: New York

Luken, J.Rebecca. 2003. A Critical Handbook of Children’s Literature. Pearson Education, Inc. Morrison, Toni. The Bluest Eye. New York: Washington Square Press Publication of pocket

book, 1970

Nurgiyantoro, Burhan. Teori Pengkajian Fiksi. Yogyakarta: Gadjah Mada University Press, 2010. Print

S a r i |48

Sul Young Hwan 2005, interpretation of Adler’s psychology. Seoul: Sun Young Publishing. Tyson, Lois. Critical Theory Today Second Edition. New York: Routledge. 2006

Wellek, Rene and Warren, Auustin. (1942). Theory of Literature. New York: Harcourt, Brace and Company.