Introduction
The birth of America was the birth of religion freedom. The term ‘freedom’ successfully applied in the development of US religion; the wide gate of probability to welcome new era coming with new ideology which shapes new face of the current ideology. The ‘main’ religion in US history was Calvinist Christianity. However, it grew into some new faces of the later US Christianity due to the emergence of new interpretation of religions, such as Deism, Unitarianism, and Transcendentalism. They are not even seen merely in the case of Christianity doctrines but religion in a universal meaning.
Those first four ideologies in early America indicate the changing identity of US society –although the ideas are not simply represented the whole society of it. Tracking the journey of God in those four isms, I see the way American society construct their identity through their bound with God. It supports the idea of being ‘protestant’ including the spirit to always have new ‘innovation’ of religion by critically re-considering current ideology.
Religion can be seen as a cultural production which is constructed based on certain system of ‘supply and demand’ (Finke, 1997). How this idea works can be seen on the history of American thought. Each new ism comes as the answer of the previous one(s). It can be totally new, half new, or re-appear merely as an old concept in a new name. As a cultural production, the emergence of certain ism cannot be separated from its social background to explain what kind of society owning the demand of religion that the thinker should give supply for it.
According to Hegel’s theory on “thesis – antithesis – synthesis”, the new isms usually come with an additional knowledge or system of thought. They were born to complete the previous ones either in a whole concept or a certain focus. Hence, there will be certain ‘silver line’ connecting the dynamical changing on a particular issue.
In this writing, I will focus on the changing of God’s authority upon American society during the era of Puritanism, Deism, Unitarianism, and Transcendentalism. Later on, this journey of thought is importance to conceptualize the face (identity) of American society since religion is somehow attached –at least, personally– to certain identity of people.
Discussion
Basic Principles of Ideology
Puritanism came as a breakthrough of current Rome Catholic atmosphere which is viewed as a corrupt disenchanted institution. Based on the idea of Geoffrey Moor in his book entitled American Literature, the basic ideas of Puritanism is defined as follow; 1) total and innate depravity, 2) unconditional election, 3) prevenient and irresistable grace, 4) preseverence of the saints, 5) limited atonement (Sardjana, 1988).
In the era of European and American enlightenment, Deism was born in a more extreme way of thinking. It is not only protesting the institution of religion but also refuse the institutionalization of religion (Horton & Ewards, 1974; Sardjana, 1988; Suseno, 2006). This thinking was the first step to have an open-minded religion culture of US society. Its basic concepts are; 1) that there is a God, 2) that He ought to be worshipped, 3) that piety and virtue are the essentials of worship, 4) that man ought to repent his sins, 5) that there are rewards and punishment in a future life (Horton & Ewards, 1974; Sardjana, 1988).
As the effect of mass growing on science and technology, Unitarianism appeared with a more diffuse ‘rituals’ of religion (Blau, 1965; Horton & Ewards, 1974; Sardjana, 1988). This ideology give more rooms for human development as it can be seen from its basic principles as follow: 1) the fatherhood of God, 2) the brotherhood of man, 3) the leadership of Jesus, 4) salvation by character, 5) the progress on mankind onward and upward forever (Holman, et al, 1986 in Sardjana, 1988).
The last ism had the strongest concept of preserving human power, authority, and dignity. According to Holman, et al (1986), the basic principles of Transcendentalism are; 1) it is important to live close to nature, 2) every person’s relation to God is a personal matter to be established directly by the individual rather than through formal religion, 3) human beings are divine in their own right, 4) self-trust and self-reliance are to be practised all times since to trust oneself was really to trust the voice of God speaking through us, 5) it is important to support reform movements which foster human potential such as the abolition of slavery and the enfranchisement of women (Sardjana, 1988).
The Authority of God and Individual Position
In the early development of American thought, Puritanism had its huge number of believer since the holy purpose on purifying Christianity as the religion of God. For these people, God has the biggest power and authority among all. Having the role to be the Creator, Supervisor, and the Judge in the day of Final Judgment, God is the One connected with every single line of life. In the most extreme idea, Puritans had a big dream to create a nation upon religion base or theocracy (for maintaining its law, government, and society) (Blau, 1965; Marty, 1988; Sardjana, 1988).
Individual position in the case of arguments (thoughts) distribution is not important due to the existence of clergies as the only justifiable people to interpret Bible. Different point of view in religion sectional is forbidden because of the doctrine believing in the Divine Unity. Moreover, every ‘different’ thinker considered have dangerous ideology such as Thomas Hooker, Roger Williams, and Anne Hutchinson were alienated and punished.
However, authority of God was decreased in the emergence of Deism. God is deemed only as the Creator. There is no authority of God to control or supervise human’s life. The destiny of man is determined by their deed. This thought diminished the role of God as the Elector of human’s future life; whether they are included as the chosen people of heaven or not (Blau, 1965; Foerster, 1980; Sardjana, 1988). God created the world, creatures, and a permanent system to control it before leaving it all works alone. Men are the ones responsible to control and drive their lives.
The face of God is painted in some emotive descriptions such as merciful and graceful (Amstrong, 2003; Suseno, 2006). This concept contradicted with Puritans belief on God as the ‘Executor’ and the One giving men the ‘origin of sin’ of Adam and Eve. The notion of excluding men from the story of Fallen Adam in this belief encourages people to live the life in an optimistic way. According to their basic principles number 3, it is not the doctrine of the church to measure one’s good deed, but something related with humanism (piety and virtue). Therefore, to get positive position in the eyes of God, man has to have good attitude with others.
Coming in the era of enlightenment, Deism gave big portion of human development in the form of freedom of thinking. It was the way far different with Puritanism which limited the access of knowledge. Deistic people considered human as the owner of high authority thus they have to explore it. In addition, they accept as true that the success of man is determined by the development of their brain, not by religious doctrine (Sardjana, 1988).
In the journey of Unitarian, this ism declines trinity system of God as one of Calvinism characteristic. There is only one God to be worshipped. They believe no in Holy Ghost and declare Jesus as a man gifted by great leadership skill. Unitarianism put human in a higher position and reduce the authority of God since they believe that God lies inside human. Accepting this kind of notion, Unitarians see God not as the Determinant of their destiny since they (man and God) both work ‘together’ –men do what God said to them.
God or Religion = New Identity
In the era of Puritanism, religion principles should be practiced under the dogma of church. Besides, as the representation of God in the earth, a nation should make its constitution based on Bible. Religion had strong collocation with activity and thought of group (congregation). Thus, individual identity should stand for group (congregation) identity. This condition leads to the important role of religion as the ‘bond’ of people grouped in certain congregation for constructing one’s identity. Hence, identity of people is determined by the belonging of certain group of religion, not merely by the essence belief of God.
Deism, however, disagree with the idea of religion rituals. They believe in God, but they put religion as an individual interest. They refuse the Puritan congregation system as form of collecting people to do some rituals in certain place. The term ‘essentials of religion’ in Deism’s basic principles shows that religion’ rituals have no strong role in this ism. For these people, religion is no more the only way for God to communicate with men. These people appreciate every individual to ‘customize’ their own religion based on their own understanding. Religious leadership should be separated with governmental issue. Therefore, religious institution has less authority to control society and personal thought is well acknowledged. At the end of the day, Deism put God as the parameter of identity, not by formalizing the belief into certain religion (rituals).
Conclusion
The changing of God’s authority upon American society during the era of Puritanism, Deism, Unitarianism, and Transcendentalism creates different characteristic of group of people. Since belief is strongly related with one’s identity, to frame American identity by portraying its religion means to identify each personal idea of God. The history of US religion shows process of religion development in particular of its way of seeing God and the application of principles answering His existence.
From the journey of Puritanism until Transcendentalism, I conclude the way of thinking of American as a ‘protestant’ to always re-considering their belief and fix it with the current condition. The existence of a religion is determined by its ability to confer with current condition; what the society needs (demand).
In term of religion identity, US society attached themselves to a group (congregation) identity in the era of Puritanism. Later on, Deism creates the sense of ‘religious essentialism’ which concerns more in the personal relation with God; therefore communal identity is no longer glorious. The two late beliefs (Unitarianism and Transcendentalism) are way more moderate by strengthen the concept of vertical relationship and put human in a highest position of authority and dignity. Those ideas create some notion of not obeying outer authority, one way to personally interpret and ‘customize’ their own religion.
Bibliography
Amstrong, K. (2003). Sejarah tuhan: Kisah pencarian tuhan yang dilakukan oleh orang-orang yahusi, kristen, dan islam selama 4.000 tahun.Bandung: Mizan Media Utama.
Blau, J. L. (1965). Men and movements in american philosophy.New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, Inc.
Finke, R. (1997). The illusion of shifting demand: Supply-side interpretations of american religious history. In T. A. Tweed (Ed.), Retelling u.S. Religious history.Los Angeles: University of California Press.
Foerster, N. (1980). Image of america: Our literature from puritanism to the space age.London: University of Notre Dame Press.
Horton, R. W., & Ewards, H. W. (1974). Background of american literary thought.London: Prentice Hall International, Inc.
Marty, M. E. (1988). Religion in america. In L. S. Luedtke (Ed.), Making america: The society and culture of the united states.Washington DC: United States Information Agency.
Sardjana, B. M. (1988). Ambivalensi pikiran nathanael hawthorne dalam the scarlet letter. Sebelas Maret University, Surakarta.
Suseno, F. M. (2006). Menalar tuhan.Yogyakarta: Penerbit Kanisius.
Showing posts with label lecture. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lecture. Show all posts
April 9, 2013
Civil Disobedience and Individual Right Empowerment in US Society
Introduction
Civil Disobedience is recognized as the pioneer of formal action of society resistance toward government in the history of United States. This term comes in the essay of Henry David Thoreau written in the time of war between America and Mexico during the territorial expansion on purpose of applying the notion of ‘manifest destiny’(Diggins, 1987; Horton & Ewards, 1974; Luedtke, 1990; Sardjana, 1988; Zinn, 1980).
Comes with the idea of not directly obeying every single rule made by the government, civil disobedience has awakened US society to the importance of self dignity and sovereignty. This concept later helps US philosophers to generate the basic principles of individualism in the US history until today’s struggle of individual rights empowerment.
As one of the most significant events in US history, the emergence of civil disobedience shapes the character of US society (Sardjana, 1988; Stevenson, 1998). For being known as the most open and critical society, US citizens have their democracy development as the fastest as well as the role model in the world. This fact is shown clearly in the improvement number of struggle of democracy and human rights –which increases not only in term of amount but also types and medium. Even if US society is hardly involved politically by registering themselves to be part of House of Representatives, their political involvements are expressed through the new form of nowadays civil disobedience. This is exactly tracking the line of Thoreau’s struggle concept of civil disobedience that the regeneration of society must begin with self-regeneration, not political participation (Diggins, 1987).
Most of the previous civil disobedience studies focus merely in portraying this action and relating it with political policy of US government (Diggins, 1987; Horton & Ewards, 1974; Luedtke, 1990; Sardjana, 1988; Taylor, 2000; Zinn, 1980). Somehow, as a democratic country, US put the people to have the highest authority through the idea of government of the society, by the society, and for the society. Therefore democracy gives a big portion of any individual to take part in the running of government, particularly in the decision-making process. *I should explain more: the relation between civil disobedience and the character shaping of US society –something ended with ‘therefore’*
This paper is aimed to improve new understanding of US civil disobedience in the history and the significant effect of its emergence toward US development, specifically in the shaping of US society character as democratic individual.
Discussion
Civil Disobedience
Opposing the war between US and Mexico, Henry David Thoreau, a writer living in Massachusetts, refused to pay his poll tax in 1846. He was jailed for three days and released after his friend paid it secretly. Thoreau made his lecture of “Resistance to Civil Government” based on essay entitled Civil Disobedience as a critique to government’s decision in Mexican war. Nevertheless, Thoreau did not specifically write his protest toward US government in the detail of the war. As a transcendentalist, he concern more in the idea of self-government; how to see individual as the owner of a high independent authority (Diggins, 1987; Horton & Ewards, 1974; Sardjana, 1988; States, 2005; Zinn, 1980).
Civil Disobedience explain some ‘eternal’ pro-contra issues in many types of society around the world such as majority and minority right, social and individual right, government and society interest, liberal individualism and liberal pluralism, and a brief concept explanation of radical individualism (Diggins, 1987).
Considering the historical emergence background, civil disobedience can be applied whenever any government breaks the role to protect people’s right and safeguard their interest. However, in the case of today’s US application of civil disobedience, many scholars put ‘lack of management’ as the problem of ‘controlling’ civil disobedience (Diggins, 1987; Luedtke, 1990; Stevenson, 1998).
The formula of existence
It is not Thoreau who is the first thinker of civil disobedience even since the idea even has existed in the era of John Locke. The spirit of ‘people as the owner of highest authority’ is actually the main idea of self-government. The typical questions of what so importance important with civil disobedience and why it survives until today can be answered at least by three points of reason; the strong historical background (Mexican War), the political grounds (Declaration of Independence), and the helps of internalized myths in US society (self-made man and woman, American Dream, the Chosen people) that helps the existence of civil disobedience to be one of the nature characterization of today’s US society.
Why does it matter?
The reason why civil disobedience matters for US development can be seen for the society (characteristic) development after the introduction to with the idea of civil disobedience. US society is now well known as the most open and critical society where every governmental action can be viewed more easily through mass media. This nation characteristic is shaped by many factors; one of them is the idea of civil disobedience because of its huge space available for them to be critical toward power and authority outside a man’s.
To be a critical citizen can be simply defined as a ‘protestant’ –who loved nothing so much s to protest, to question, and deny authority(Diggins, 1987; Moten, 2007). For these people, there will be no submissive without questions. The scenario when the people approve the government system or rule only happens after the negotiation, at least one which placed inside them. The negotiation, also known as US culture of self-criticize, deals with questioning and re-thinking its benefits to take decision or action. It can be sum up that there is no ‘governmental works’ which is not under their supervision. As a form of civil disobedience, this culture is now still exist –and even grows bigger– in US society.
Civil Disobedience in US society nowadays
Today’s civil disobedience comes with the different reasons, forms, and media. Their acts are legally protected by the government under some specific laws such as The Freedom of Information Act (1966) and The Privacy Act (1974) that allow all Americans to see whatever information government agencies, federal, state, and local, might have on them (Stevenson, 1998). Considering Thoreau’s proposal of the not-a-big-sense for politically involved in the parliament, US people tend to express their disobedience through some popular products and art works.
Movies, music, and literary works protesting government policies are spread out and consumed with no boundaries. The birth of new media significantly helps the people to ‘shout’ their protest to government more easily. In all cases of this new movement, the idea of civil disobedience is highlighted in the individual effort of preserving the self-dignity over every outer authority and power. However, critiques rise to these new ways of civil disobedience as it is judged to be less effective compared to its historical victory.
Conclusion
The spirit of civil disobedience comes since the revolution of US which is manifested in the Declaration of Independence. This concept still exists as the process of democracy development of US society. Civil disobedience expands as one of the political idea of US government as well as the indicator of US people’s characteristic. To be a critical-minded individual as part of US society means to have a society consist of people who are aware of their power and authority. Therefore, in the development of US society, the emergence of civil disobedience is significant to create the idea of individual rights empowerment of which self dignity, authority, sovereignty is uphold.
Bibliography
Diggins, J. P. (1987). Civil disobedience and american political thought. In L. S. Luedtke (Ed.), Making america: The society and culture of the united states.Washington DC: United States Information Agency.
Horton, R. W., & Ewards, H. W. (1974). Background of american literary thought.London: Prentice Hall International, Inc.
Luedtke, L. S. (1990). A reader's guide to making america: The society ans culture of the united states.Washington DC: United States Information Agency.
Moten, F. (2007). Democracy. In B. Burgett & G. Hendler (Eds.), Keywords for american cultural studies.New York: New York University Press.
Sardjana, B. M. (1988). Ambivalensi pikiran nathanael hawthorne dalam the scarlet letter. Sebelas Maret University, Surakarta.
States, B. o. I. I. P. U. (2005). Outline of u.S. History. In D. o. State (Ed.).
Stevenson, D. K. (Ed.). (1998). American life and institutions.Washington DC: Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs US Information Agency.
Taylor, R. L. (2000). Government of the people: The role of the citizen. In R. T. Targonski (Ed.), Outline of us government:Office of International Information Programs US Department of State.
Zinn, H. (1980). A people's history of the united states.New York: Harper Collins Publisher.
Civil Disobedience is recognized as the pioneer of formal action of society resistance toward government in the history of United States. This term comes in the essay of Henry David Thoreau written in the time of war between America and Mexico during the territorial expansion on purpose of applying the notion of ‘manifest destiny’(Diggins, 1987; Horton & Ewards, 1974; Luedtke, 1990; Sardjana, 1988; Zinn, 1980).
Comes with the idea of not directly obeying every single rule made by the government, civil disobedience has awakened US society to the importance of self dignity and sovereignty. This concept later helps US philosophers to generate the basic principles of individualism in the US history until today’s struggle of individual rights empowerment.
As one of the most significant events in US history, the emergence of civil disobedience shapes the character of US society (Sardjana, 1988; Stevenson, 1998). For being known as the most open and critical society, US citizens have their democracy development as the fastest as well as the role model in the world. This fact is shown clearly in the improvement number of struggle of democracy and human rights –which increases not only in term of amount but also types and medium. Even if US society is hardly involved politically by registering themselves to be part of House of Representatives, their political involvements are expressed through the new form of nowadays civil disobedience. This is exactly tracking the line of Thoreau’s struggle concept of civil disobedience that the regeneration of society must begin with self-regeneration, not political participation (Diggins, 1987).
Most of the previous civil disobedience studies focus merely in portraying this action and relating it with political policy of US government (Diggins, 1987; Horton & Ewards, 1974; Luedtke, 1990; Sardjana, 1988; Taylor, 2000; Zinn, 1980). Somehow, as a democratic country, US put the people to have the highest authority through the idea of government of the society, by the society, and for the society. Therefore democracy gives a big portion of any individual to take part in the running of government, particularly in the decision-making process. *I should explain more: the relation between civil disobedience and the character shaping of US society –something ended with ‘therefore’*
This paper is aimed to improve new understanding of US civil disobedience in the history and the significant effect of its emergence toward US development, specifically in the shaping of US society character as democratic individual.
Discussion
Civil Disobedience
Opposing the war between US and Mexico, Henry David Thoreau, a writer living in Massachusetts, refused to pay his poll tax in 1846. He was jailed for three days and released after his friend paid it secretly. Thoreau made his lecture of “Resistance to Civil Government” based on essay entitled Civil Disobedience as a critique to government’s decision in Mexican war. Nevertheless, Thoreau did not specifically write his protest toward US government in the detail of the war. As a transcendentalist, he concern more in the idea of self-government; how to see individual as the owner of a high independent authority (Diggins, 1987; Horton & Ewards, 1974; Sardjana, 1988; States, 2005; Zinn, 1980).
Civil Disobedience explain some ‘eternal’ pro-contra issues in many types of society around the world such as majority and minority right, social and individual right, government and society interest, liberal individualism and liberal pluralism, and a brief concept explanation of radical individualism (Diggins, 1987).
Considering the historical emergence background, civil disobedience can be applied whenever any government breaks the role to protect people’s right and safeguard their interest. However, in the case of today’s US application of civil disobedience, many scholars put ‘lack of management’ as the problem of ‘controlling’ civil disobedience (Diggins, 1987; Luedtke, 1990; Stevenson, 1998).
The formula of existence
It is not Thoreau who is the first thinker of civil disobedience even since the idea even has existed in the era of John Locke. The spirit of ‘people as the owner of highest authority’ is actually the main idea of self-government. The typical questions of what so importance important with civil disobedience and why it survives until today can be answered at least by three points of reason; the strong historical background (Mexican War), the political grounds (Declaration of Independence), and the helps of internalized myths in US society (self-made man and woman, American Dream, the Chosen people) that helps the existence of civil disobedience to be one of the nature characterization of today’s US society.
Why does it matter?
The reason why civil disobedience matters for US development can be seen for the society (characteristic) development after the introduction to with the idea of civil disobedience. US society is now well known as the most open and critical society where every governmental action can be viewed more easily through mass media. This nation characteristic is shaped by many factors; one of them is the idea of civil disobedience because of its huge space available for them to be critical toward power and authority outside a man’s.
To be a critical citizen can be simply defined as a ‘protestant’ –who loved nothing so much s to protest, to question, and deny authority(Diggins, 1987; Moten, 2007). For these people, there will be no submissive without questions. The scenario when the people approve the government system or rule only happens after the negotiation, at least one which placed inside them. The negotiation, also known as US culture of self-criticize, deals with questioning and re-thinking its benefits to take decision or action. It can be sum up that there is no ‘governmental works’ which is not under their supervision. As a form of civil disobedience, this culture is now still exist –and even grows bigger– in US society.
Civil Disobedience in US society nowadays
Today’s civil disobedience comes with the different reasons, forms, and media. Their acts are legally protected by the government under some specific laws such as The Freedom of Information Act (1966) and The Privacy Act (1974) that allow all Americans to see whatever information government agencies, federal, state, and local, might have on them (Stevenson, 1998). Considering Thoreau’s proposal of the not-a-big-sense for politically involved in the parliament, US people tend to express their disobedience through some popular products and art works.
Movies, music, and literary works protesting government policies are spread out and consumed with no boundaries. The birth of new media significantly helps the people to ‘shout’ their protest to government more easily. In all cases of this new movement, the idea of civil disobedience is highlighted in the individual effort of preserving the self-dignity over every outer authority and power. However, critiques rise to these new ways of civil disobedience as it is judged to be less effective compared to its historical victory.
Conclusion
The spirit of civil disobedience comes since the revolution of US which is manifested in the Declaration of Independence. This concept still exists as the process of democracy development of US society. Civil disobedience expands as one of the political idea of US government as well as the indicator of US people’s characteristic. To be a critical-minded individual as part of US society means to have a society consist of people who are aware of their power and authority. Therefore, in the development of US society, the emergence of civil disobedience is significant to create the idea of individual rights empowerment of which self dignity, authority, sovereignty is uphold.
Bibliography
Diggins, J. P. (1987). Civil disobedience and american political thought. In L. S. Luedtke (Ed.), Making america: The society and culture of the united states.Washington DC: United States Information Agency.
Horton, R. W., & Ewards, H. W. (1974). Background of american literary thought.London: Prentice Hall International, Inc.
Luedtke, L. S. (1990). A reader's guide to making america: The society ans culture of the united states.Washington DC: United States Information Agency.
Moten, F. (2007). Democracy. In B. Burgett & G. Hendler (Eds.), Keywords for american cultural studies.New York: New York University Press.
Sardjana, B. M. (1988). Ambivalensi pikiran nathanael hawthorne dalam the scarlet letter. Sebelas Maret University, Surakarta.
States, B. o. I. I. P. U. (2005). Outline of u.S. History. In D. o. State (Ed.).
Stevenson, D. K. (Ed.). (1998). American life and institutions.Washington DC: Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs US Information Agency.
Taylor, R. L. (2000). Government of the people: The role of the citizen. In R. T. Targonski (Ed.), Outline of us government:Office of International Information Programs US Department of State.
Zinn, H. (1980). A people's history of the united states.New York: Harper Collins Publisher.
Personality Disorders Reflected in the Short Story “Letter to America” by Claire Capel-Stanely
*without abstract*
Introduction
Human personality has been the focus of psychology for decades. Psychologists examine human personality through their object’s attitude, behavior, and product (Hawasi, 2009; Nencini, 2009; Paris, 1997; Purnama, 2012; Takwin, 2007; Wishart, 2011). Using those media, they conceptualize human personality as well as its disorder and find the problematic childhood as the main cause of human personality disorder (Freud, 2006; Moroz, 2005; Shpancer, 2011).
As the product of human being, examiners have used literary works in their observation of human personality development since Sigmund Freud introduce the concept of psychoanalysis and unconscious aspect of human psyche (Baker, 2007; Wishart, 2011). From the point of view of psychology, literature and literary studies have often “represented and still represents both a source of psychological data and a theoretical source of insight for psychologists” (Nencini, 2009).
Findings of literature as cultural product depicting reality through its story and character, make it being used as a tool for understanding human as the general aim of psychology (Baker, 2007; Hawasi, 2009; Nencini, 2009; Paris, 1997; Takwin, 2007; Wishart, 2011).
More specifically, psychological approach has been used in analyzing the character of literary works. According to Paris (1997), imagined character in the literary work reflects the real character of human in the real world. Psychologists meet their limit when they unable to explain some extraordinary personality disorders. Authors, on the other hand, had been successfully portraying those conditions into their stories and used in psychological research (Paris, 1997; Takwin, 2007; Wishart, 2011). These conditions create new mainstream in psychology called narrative psychology, which previously is a branch of literature study (Takwin, 2007).
Almost all of the studies above focus only on the linear pattern research; author’s psychological condition reflected through the product (writing), or character’s psychological condition shown by the attitude in the story. I hardly find the study of story’s main character using the character’s product (writing) as the cross pattern of analysis. Many recent studies of psychological symptom in literary works mainly spotlight the act of the character which physically can be observed.
In this research, I examine short story entitled Letter to America written by Claire Stapel-Stanely. This story published by Australian National University (ANU) in 2009 as one of finalists of ANU’s annual short story competition. I choose this story since the writer provides it in form of main character’s full-version letter to his old friend. This unusual form of literary work, especially short story, contributes significantly in the character analysis. For the reason that short story in form of letter is infrequently produced, this sufficient analysis on how the writing (letter) of the character reflects his personality disorder and psychological problem becomes part of important new views in literature study.
The objective of this paper is to observe the personality disorder of Letter to America’s main character. I examine the psychological symptoms indicated only in the main character’s writing (letter) as the object to conceptualize the character’s characteristic. The personality analysis focuses on the story told in the letter as the text of psychological symptoms of the main character.
In the following part, the study of psychological approach of literature is appraised. I observe the personality disorder of the main character by defining the basic cause of disorder and explicating the psychological symptoms I find in the short story. In this analysis, I categorize the symptoms of personality disorder into three main parts; neurosis, narcissism, and childhood phobia.
The last section of this paper shows how the understanding of the character’s personality disorder through his letter and relationship in a literary work (imaginative world) create better understanding upon the psychological condition and personality disorder of people in the real world.
Discussion
Psychological approach in literature analysis
Psychological approach in literature analysis reflects the modern psychology’s effect upon literature criticism. Sigmund Freud firstly introduced it with his psychoanalytic theories. Psychoanalysis deals with human beings in conflict with themselves and each other, and literature portrays it and is read by such people (Paris, 1997).
This concept changes the common way human behavior being explored through contentious ideas including “wish-fulfillment, sexuality, the unconscious, and repression” as well as expanding the understanding of how “language and symbols operate by demonstrating their ability to reflect unconscious fears or desires” (Baker, 2007; Kennedy & Gioia, 1995; Takwin, 2007).
Literature is considered as a significant part of society and “the most ancient form of mass communication” which is still being explored by other disciplines “as an impressive example of an explanation (or rather, a description) of our world, our feelings, relationships” (Hawasi, 2009). Psychological approach is used to the human behavior, attitude and also the mind of the character since psychological factor is the main cause of the character’s personality.
Two approaches commonly used in psychological analysis are; 1) Looking closely at the characters and the psychological symptoms shown in their story, and 2) Looking closely at the life of the author to determine what in his/her life caused him/her to write characters in a specific way and give the characters specific attributes. (Wishart, 2011). In this paper, I use the first approach in the character analysis.
Two of psychology methods I use in this research are biography and data collecting. These methods require me to examine the object using biography and self-product of the object. Biography contains the data of past events written by the doers themselves. Purnama (2012) believes writing such as autobiography, journal or diary, prose, poem, as the product of the object can be used in biography and data collecting method. Therefore, as a writing telling past events written by the object, the letter of the short story I explore is eligible as a psychology tool.
Behind realistic literature there is a well-built “psychological pulse” that tends headed for appearance of “highly individualized figures that resist abstraction and generalization”. When we encounter a fully drawn mimetic character, "we are justified in asking questions about his motivations based on our knowledge of the ways in which real people are motivated" (Paris, 1997).
In analyzing this short story, I focus more on the psychology activity of the main character, who is the writer of the letter. The character desperately tries his sick effort on how he writes the letter to be a common letter to the girl from his past. However, I instead feel a deep feeling of missing an old friend and a wish to meet in this letter although there is no word or phrase clearly states them so.
Psychological Symptoms in Letter to America
The story which is the letter itself tells about the childhood of the main character with the recipient of the letter. The unfinished past event which is going to be confirmed by “I” is exercised as the main point to reveal the character and psychology symptoms of “I” in this story. I sum up the mental concept of the main character as someone who has not enough self-confidence, living with problems of self-actualization, denial, narcissism, and desperately stuck in his childhood trauma.
After opening the letter with some trivial greetings which the writer himself claimed it as unnecessary words, “I” start to retell his past event with the recipient. The different sex of main character (“I”) as a boy shown in the 13th paragraph (You never made fun of me for being such a child, such a stupid boy) and the recipient as a girl shown in the 5th paragraph (I still think you are a little girl) gives enough contribution in revealing the likelihood of their relationship.
According to Abraham Maslow theory of humanistic psychology (Goble, 1995; Moroz, 2005; Shpancer, 2011), some unconscious conflicts in childhood are the starting point of some emotional disorders in the future. I consider the unfinished event in the silo – that the main character has not know what his friend want to show him – (paragraph 21) as the main object causing “I” trapped in his past.
I still don’t know what you wanted to show me. Was that it? (paragraph 21). In the closing part of the letter, he is still questioning what actually the objective of the girl to take him in the silo is.
Psychological Interpretation
Psychology syndromes in this short story can be seen using ‘interpretation’ theory in psycho-analysis by Freud. This will be highly related with a big restlessness of “I” for not knowing something or being failed to relate a thought with another one. This feeling of “I” is shown by his failure to tell something which he really wants to tell at the very first beginning. Instead, he is telling a bunch of trivial stuffs in the first and second paragraph of his letter. He then starts his true story (or question) to the girl in the 9th paragraph. I view this as too much ‘intermezzo’, since Freud concepts denial by identifying the ‘long space’ of giving prologue to the real speech. However, it may be his tools on defending his self ego. It is on how he always tries not to say something directly but with so many denials.
Neurosis symptom
The main character in this short story has a psychological problem called neurosis. Neurosis, also known as psychoneurosis, is a personality disorder as the result of frequently avoiding unfulfilled childhood willingness. The process starts when children are afraid to tell what they actually want and oppositely repress it. The willingness, however, continues living in the unconscious mind and starts disturbing the mental development while the person is in trauma or stress (Baker, 2007).
First clues indicate the character has neurosis symptom is his lack of time focus (The time zones are different, I can’t think how it works now, backward or forward... 1st paragraph). It is not because he is not aware or not knowing the exact time of America and Australia, but he is trying not to put detail attention to his prologue. Freud (2006) on his theory of neurosis explains someone with this symptom will not think about his recent and future but merely spending his life thinking his past.
Someone with neurosis is trapped in his past. He will busy to get his mind back to the past, seek for all happiness happen in the time he obtains it. Moreover, this character has no care upon the recent news about death of Heath Ledger, although he used it as his opening and closing mark of the letter, and focuses more on his question of unfinished story in the silo (20th paragraph).
Another indication of people with neurosis symptom is the repetition of particular action (Baker, 2007; Freud, 2006). This is reflected in the way the main character habitually gives several rhetoric questions for the girl. He does not really want the girl to answer his questions but he keeps asking. I discover those issues in 5th paragraph (... Do you go to uni? Or ‘college’? Don’t answer that...), 8th paragraph (You know what it sounds like when there is such a loud, constant noise like that?), 9th paragraph (Do you remember the day we drank...?). Those rhetoric questions can be the way of the main character to communicate with the girl. He aims to get in to his main point by stating some rhetoric as its prologue.
As a man with neurosis symptom, he also has a problem of relationship with the girl for the lack of acceptance. He seems to try his best to look good in his letter, but he hopes the girl has no concept in her mind what he looks like. This condition leads him to another psychological problem in term of self denial. Denial is an act of refusing to accept one’s unacceptable desires or fears, or refusing to accept a traumatic event (Wishart, 2011).
He is afraid the girl knowing what he looks like (I want you to be able to read this and hear the story and not have any idea about me now, what I am like, how I have changed or grown up, or whatever – 3rd paragraph) but keeps telling his self image and life by describing it indirectly from his feeling of his work (I don’t like my work, but I like not liking it. I like to complain about my co-workers, and the pay and the music we have to play –paragraph 4), his point of view of music (If Dizze Rascal implores me one more time, through pounding base and shuddering electro, at more decibels that is conversationally appropriate, to ‘fix up, look sharp’ swear I will scream –paragraph 4), and reaction of social issue (death of Heath Ledger), which shows his real desire to be recognized by the girl.
This denial also shows me that he has a deep affection with the girl. This condition is hand in hand with Freud’s theory on how sexuality passions everything in human’s life (Baker, 2007; Freud, 2006). He attempts to say his feeling to the girl that he is not so important for her as well as the girl is only seen as ‘people from past’ in his eyes. This is contradict with the whole substance of the letter on how he remembers all little things he spent with the girl. However, the story's contradictions become intelligible if it is seen as part of inner conflicts of the character (Paris, 1997).
The biggest consequence following the character’s neurosis symptom in this short story is this denial. He confesses not to be able to say something (I know you think I’m being ridiculous, but see, now I’ve already given you ideas about me, just by saying nothing. I’m not making sense, I’m sorry -2nd paragraph). He acknowledges that he is ashamed to do something, that something is more about someone else, not him (I’m not sure why. It is probably more your memory than mine, I guess- 20th paragraph). After elucidating many issues, he then says that what is actually in his mind is not essential (...Besides, I don’t have any plans to visit you anytime soon (I can’t afford it) and I don’t think you have plans to visit me. So it would be pointless. So I will just tell the story- 3rd paragraph).
Lack of self-confidence is another psychological problem owned by the main character as the cause of neurosis. Due to his sentiment of less accepted and acknowledged by the girl in his childhood, he puts his self-image in a low degree. It is proven in the 2nd paragraph (I’m not making sense. I’m sorry), 3rd paragraph (I don’t think you have plans to visit me), 13th paragraph (...I felt pretty stupid anyway), 16th paragraph (I had this feeling that you were running away from me), and 20th paragraph (It is probably more your memory than mine...). Those feelings cause the main character builds his self image as someone minor in the girl’s eyes.
As the effect of his lack of self confidence, he reinforces the denial in his idea that he is excessively unintelligent (You never made of me for being such a child, stupid boy, but you didn’t have to because I felt pretty stupid anyway- 13th paragraph), yet very peculiar and bizarre (I know you think I’m being ridiculous, but see, now I’ve already given you ideas about me, just by saying nothing. I’m not making sense. I’m sorry- 2nd paragraph).
Narcissism Symptom
I consider the main character as someone with narcissism by identifying his style of writing. Someone with this syndrome always uses himself as the main point of the story (Castor, 2010; Walters, 2012). Moreover, this is related with his denial once he tries not to ask too much detail about the girl therefore it automatically puts him as the center of the story. Generally, when someone writes a letter to his friend, he will be normally ask or tell things which are more about ‘them’, not only ‘himself’. The whole letter tells about “I” from “I” point of view. He has no effort in putting the memories as ‘theirs’ since it will be only about him or her, not them, in his point of view (20th paragraph).
Some paragraphs indicate “I” as narcissist by the way he persuade the girl to agree with his views (Castor, 2010; Walters, 2012). It is actually when “I” explain his thinking or feeling about something and it sounds as a tendency to make the girl have the same opinion with him. The letter exposed this in his thought of old friend (Friends that you have when you are a kid always seem unreal later on .... I know it must be the same for you- 5th paragraph), his view of other’s judgment (It is just that it is always strange to watch people when they don’t know you’re there- 7th paragraph), along with feeling and interpreting of rain (... It sounds like the buzz in our head before you go to sleep and the sound of it sounds like your own brain thinking, until you realise that you are, actually, thinking- 8th paragraph).
On the surface narcissistic people are "rather optimistic" and "turn outward toward life," but "there are undercurrents of despondency and pessimism" (Paris, 1997, p.9). This unique idea of narcissism is appropriate with the previous notion of the main character as someone with lack of self confidence.
Childhood phobia
Phobia can be another psychological problem of “I” which builds the personality disorder of the main character. Phobia is typically in form of physical fear such as headache, sweaty body, increasing heart’s pulse, or shocked (Baker, 2007).
The main character’s dark phobia is not only shown by the increasing production of sweat and heart’s pulse in the silo (paragraph 12 and paragraph 19), but also on how darkness plays big role in driving his mind. He starts thinking his past when he is sitting alone in the darkness waiting for the rain (6th paragraph). In this darkness, he stops over his mind on past when he and his friend (the girl whom he write the letter for) are playing in the summer. The past moment ended with a big question in the silo –and in the darkness, too.
For children, darkness and loneliness can be their first phobia and this will last forever (Freud, 2006; Moroz, 2005; Shpancer, 2011; Zanden, Crandell, & Crandell, 2007). I cannot specifically put any term to describe their activity in the dark silo (18th and 19th paragraph). However, they explore their intimate both physical and psychological which cause the main character has his increasing production of sweat and heart’s pulse.
...Then, do you remember, you stretched out your arm and felt around for my ankle, to pull me into your little hole, and once I realised what you were trying to do I moved forward and let you. I sank my knees into the grain and curled up facing you, and the little granules fell away around us and made the hole bigger for us, but also closed us in like a blanket... (paragraph 18)
The main character, by his unanswered question in the silo, has a tendency to get traumatic effect. This is because the unfinished story of past during his childhood. It is believed that tendency of unfinished stage of development is the reason of raising traumatic effect (Freud, 2006; Moroz, 2005; Shpancer, 2011; Zanden et al., 2007).
Besides, the main character experienced some problematic emotional affection with the girl in his unfinished story. Moreover, he himself failed to understand the cause of all anger or sadness or ignorance of the girl in front of him. This is shown in his assumption of being rejected by the girl (16th paragraph), confused with the girl’s anger (17th paragraph), and not knowing the reason of crying girl (20th paragraph).
Whereas, children’s knowledge of emotional experiences normally changes markedly from ages 7 through 12 by: 1) learning to read facial expressions, and 2) being able to identify inner states and attach labels (Zanden et al., 2007).
I find another unique point about Heath Ledger. The main character states this name in the first and last part of the letter. Both of them merely appear to inform the death of this actor of Brokeback Mountain. It may raise an assumption on what the relation about Ledger, “I”, and the girl is. However, I argue that Ledger’s name appearance in this short story is barely in reason of channeling one part to another. As an element of intermezzo made by “I”, it should be only the two of them (“I” and the girl) who know the exact relation between Ledger and their story.
In study of psychology, this similar condition appears when there is a song in our head with no specific reason. Freud (2006) believes we can find some fantasies behind that song by exploring our mind. However, only the owner of the head where the song is played can interpret the song correctly. That is why different reader may have different interpretation of probability relation between Heath Ledger, “I”, and the girl.
Conclusion
A letter as the cultural text (human’s product) can be used to reveal and conceptualize the writer’s personality and psychological condition. In the short story Letter to America, the personality disorders of the character I found as he writes the letter are basically related to neurosis and narcissism symptom, and childhood phobia. As the field of psychology, using letter as the object of personality research has been commonly examined. Literature analysis, however, rarely portrays this character’s product of writing as the instrument of analyzing and conceptualizing the character’s personality.
Nevertheless, as a non-fiction literature, a letter of character is qualified to be used as a psychology device. Furthermore, this paper shows the fact that writing’s of imaginative character reflects the character’s personality disorder in imaginative writing’s world (short story) as well as it occurs in the real world.
References
Baker, R. (2007). Sigmund freud: Di seberang masa lalu (J. Firdaus, Trans.). Yogyakarta: Penerbit Sketsa.
Castor, G. (2010). Symptoms of narcissistic personality syndrome (or disorder). Retrieved July 10, 2012. 10 PM, from http://suite101.com/article/characteristics-of-narcissistic-personality-disorder-a285383
Freud, S. (2006). Pengantar umum psikoanalisis.Yogyakarta: Pustaka Pelajar.
Goble, F. G. (1995). Mahzab ketiga psikologi humanistik abraham maslow.Yogyakarta: Penerbit Kanisius.
Hawasi, D. K. (2009). Character analysis of avanti in ernest hemingway's cat in the rain: A psychological approach. Retrieved July 16, 2012. 5 PM, from http://papers.gunadarma.ac.id/index.php/letter/article/viewFile/2351/2253
Kennedy, X. J., & Gioia, D. (1995). Literature: An introduction to fiction, poetry, and drama.New York: Harper Collins.
Moroz, K. J. (2005). The effects of psychological trauma on children and adolescents. Retrieved July 10, 2012. 10 PM, from http://mentalhealth.vermont.gov/sites/dmh/files/report/cafu/DMH-CAFU_Psychological_Trauma_Moroz.pdf
Nencini, A. (2009). A matter of shared knowledge. Retrieved July 16, 2012. 4 PM, from http://www.psyartjournal.com/article/show/nencini-a_matter_of_shared_knowledge
Paris, B. J. (1997). Imagined human beings: A psychological approach to character and conflict in literature. Retrieved July 16, 2012. 4:07 PM, from http://grove.ufl.edu/~bjparis/books/imagined/imagined.pdf
Purnama, D. S. (2012). Metode-metode dalam psikologi. Retrieved July 16, 2012. 4:37 PM, from http://staff.uny.ac.id/sites/default/files/pendidikan/Diana%20Septi%20Purnama,%20M.Pd./%283%29%20Metode%20Psi.pdf
Shpancer, N. (2011). Dealing with childhood trauma in adult therapy: Facts and follies. Retrieved July 9, 2012. 11 PM, from http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/insight-therapy/201109/dealing-childhood-trauma-in-adult-therapy-facts-and-follies
Takwin, B. (2007). Psikologi naratif: Membaca manusia sebagai kisah.Yogyakarta: Jalasutra.
Walters, G. (2012). Narcissistic personality disorder (npd). Retrieved July 10, 2012. 11 PM, from http://outofthefog.net/Disorders/NPD.html
Wishart, C. (2011). Psychogical approach to literary analysis. Retrieved July 16, 2012. 4 PM, from http://www.google.co.id/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=psychological%20approach%2C%20literary%2C%20analysis&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CFYQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.easyliteracy.com%2Fpsychologicalapproach.ppt&ei=e9cDUImbEYq8rAf82KCrBg&usg=AFQjCNHuE3SacOQc1446iZ-p95vJxumnCA&cad=rja
Zanden, J. W. V., Crandell, T. L., & Crandell, C. H. (2007). Human development (8th edition ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.
Introduction
Human personality has been the focus of psychology for decades. Psychologists examine human personality through their object’s attitude, behavior, and product (Hawasi, 2009; Nencini, 2009; Paris, 1997; Purnama, 2012; Takwin, 2007; Wishart, 2011). Using those media, they conceptualize human personality as well as its disorder and find the problematic childhood as the main cause of human personality disorder (Freud, 2006; Moroz, 2005; Shpancer, 2011).
As the product of human being, examiners have used literary works in their observation of human personality development since Sigmund Freud introduce the concept of psychoanalysis and unconscious aspect of human psyche (Baker, 2007; Wishart, 2011). From the point of view of psychology, literature and literary studies have often “represented and still represents both a source of psychological data and a theoretical source of insight for psychologists” (Nencini, 2009).
Findings of literature as cultural product depicting reality through its story and character, make it being used as a tool for understanding human as the general aim of psychology (Baker, 2007; Hawasi, 2009; Nencini, 2009; Paris, 1997; Takwin, 2007; Wishart, 2011).
More specifically, psychological approach has been used in analyzing the character of literary works. According to Paris (1997), imagined character in the literary work reflects the real character of human in the real world. Psychologists meet their limit when they unable to explain some extraordinary personality disorders. Authors, on the other hand, had been successfully portraying those conditions into their stories and used in psychological research (Paris, 1997; Takwin, 2007; Wishart, 2011). These conditions create new mainstream in psychology called narrative psychology, which previously is a branch of literature study (Takwin, 2007).
Almost all of the studies above focus only on the linear pattern research; author’s psychological condition reflected through the product (writing), or character’s psychological condition shown by the attitude in the story. I hardly find the study of story’s main character using the character’s product (writing) as the cross pattern of analysis. Many recent studies of psychological symptom in literary works mainly spotlight the act of the character which physically can be observed.
In this research, I examine short story entitled Letter to America written by Claire Stapel-Stanely. This story published by Australian National University (ANU) in 2009 as one of finalists of ANU’s annual short story competition. I choose this story since the writer provides it in form of main character’s full-version letter to his old friend. This unusual form of literary work, especially short story, contributes significantly in the character analysis. For the reason that short story in form of letter is infrequently produced, this sufficient analysis on how the writing (letter) of the character reflects his personality disorder and psychological problem becomes part of important new views in literature study.
The objective of this paper is to observe the personality disorder of Letter to America’s main character. I examine the psychological symptoms indicated only in the main character’s writing (letter) as the object to conceptualize the character’s characteristic. The personality analysis focuses on the story told in the letter as the text of psychological symptoms of the main character.
In the following part, the study of psychological approach of literature is appraised. I observe the personality disorder of the main character by defining the basic cause of disorder and explicating the psychological symptoms I find in the short story. In this analysis, I categorize the symptoms of personality disorder into three main parts; neurosis, narcissism, and childhood phobia.
The last section of this paper shows how the understanding of the character’s personality disorder through his letter and relationship in a literary work (imaginative world) create better understanding upon the psychological condition and personality disorder of people in the real world.
Discussion
Psychological approach in literature analysis
Psychological approach in literature analysis reflects the modern psychology’s effect upon literature criticism. Sigmund Freud firstly introduced it with his psychoanalytic theories. Psychoanalysis deals with human beings in conflict with themselves and each other, and literature portrays it and is read by such people (Paris, 1997).
This concept changes the common way human behavior being explored through contentious ideas including “wish-fulfillment, sexuality, the unconscious, and repression” as well as expanding the understanding of how “language and symbols operate by demonstrating their ability to reflect unconscious fears or desires” (Baker, 2007; Kennedy & Gioia, 1995; Takwin, 2007).
Literature is considered as a significant part of society and “the most ancient form of mass communication” which is still being explored by other disciplines “as an impressive example of an explanation (or rather, a description) of our world, our feelings, relationships” (Hawasi, 2009). Psychological approach is used to the human behavior, attitude and also the mind of the character since psychological factor is the main cause of the character’s personality.
Two approaches commonly used in psychological analysis are; 1) Looking closely at the characters and the psychological symptoms shown in their story, and 2) Looking closely at the life of the author to determine what in his/her life caused him/her to write characters in a specific way and give the characters specific attributes. (Wishart, 2011). In this paper, I use the first approach in the character analysis.
Two of psychology methods I use in this research are biography and data collecting. These methods require me to examine the object using biography and self-product of the object. Biography contains the data of past events written by the doers themselves. Purnama (2012) believes writing such as autobiography, journal or diary, prose, poem, as the product of the object can be used in biography and data collecting method. Therefore, as a writing telling past events written by the object, the letter of the short story I explore is eligible as a psychology tool.
Behind realistic literature there is a well-built “psychological pulse” that tends headed for appearance of “highly individualized figures that resist abstraction and generalization”. When we encounter a fully drawn mimetic character, "we are justified in asking questions about his motivations based on our knowledge of the ways in which real people are motivated" (Paris, 1997).
In analyzing this short story, I focus more on the psychology activity of the main character, who is the writer of the letter. The character desperately tries his sick effort on how he writes the letter to be a common letter to the girl from his past. However, I instead feel a deep feeling of missing an old friend and a wish to meet in this letter although there is no word or phrase clearly states them so.
Psychological Symptoms in Letter to America
The story which is the letter itself tells about the childhood of the main character with the recipient of the letter. The unfinished past event which is going to be confirmed by “I” is exercised as the main point to reveal the character and psychology symptoms of “I” in this story. I sum up the mental concept of the main character as someone who has not enough self-confidence, living with problems of self-actualization, denial, narcissism, and desperately stuck in his childhood trauma.
After opening the letter with some trivial greetings which the writer himself claimed it as unnecessary words, “I” start to retell his past event with the recipient. The different sex of main character (“I”) as a boy shown in the 13th paragraph (You never made fun of me for being such a child, such a stupid boy) and the recipient as a girl shown in the 5th paragraph (I still think you are a little girl) gives enough contribution in revealing the likelihood of their relationship.
According to Abraham Maslow theory of humanistic psychology (Goble, 1995; Moroz, 2005; Shpancer, 2011), some unconscious conflicts in childhood are the starting point of some emotional disorders in the future. I consider the unfinished event in the silo – that the main character has not know what his friend want to show him – (paragraph 21) as the main object causing “I” trapped in his past.
I still don’t know what you wanted to show me. Was that it? (paragraph 21). In the closing part of the letter, he is still questioning what actually the objective of the girl to take him in the silo is.
Psychological Interpretation
Psychology syndromes in this short story can be seen using ‘interpretation’ theory in psycho-analysis by Freud. This will be highly related with a big restlessness of “I” for not knowing something or being failed to relate a thought with another one. This feeling of “I” is shown by his failure to tell something which he really wants to tell at the very first beginning. Instead, he is telling a bunch of trivial stuffs in the first and second paragraph of his letter. He then starts his true story (or question) to the girl in the 9th paragraph. I view this as too much ‘intermezzo’, since Freud concepts denial by identifying the ‘long space’ of giving prologue to the real speech. However, it may be his tools on defending his self ego. It is on how he always tries not to say something directly but with so many denials.
Neurosis symptom
The main character in this short story has a psychological problem called neurosis. Neurosis, also known as psychoneurosis, is a personality disorder as the result of frequently avoiding unfulfilled childhood willingness. The process starts when children are afraid to tell what they actually want and oppositely repress it. The willingness, however, continues living in the unconscious mind and starts disturbing the mental development while the person is in trauma or stress (Baker, 2007).
First clues indicate the character has neurosis symptom is his lack of time focus (The time zones are different, I can’t think how it works now, backward or forward... 1st paragraph). It is not because he is not aware or not knowing the exact time of America and Australia, but he is trying not to put detail attention to his prologue. Freud (2006) on his theory of neurosis explains someone with this symptom will not think about his recent and future but merely spending his life thinking his past.
Someone with neurosis is trapped in his past. He will busy to get his mind back to the past, seek for all happiness happen in the time he obtains it. Moreover, this character has no care upon the recent news about death of Heath Ledger, although he used it as his opening and closing mark of the letter, and focuses more on his question of unfinished story in the silo (20th paragraph).
Another indication of people with neurosis symptom is the repetition of particular action (Baker, 2007; Freud, 2006). This is reflected in the way the main character habitually gives several rhetoric questions for the girl. He does not really want the girl to answer his questions but he keeps asking. I discover those issues in 5th paragraph (... Do you go to uni? Or ‘college’? Don’t answer that...), 8th paragraph (You know what it sounds like when there is such a loud, constant noise like that?), 9th paragraph (Do you remember the day we drank...?). Those rhetoric questions can be the way of the main character to communicate with the girl. He aims to get in to his main point by stating some rhetoric as its prologue.
As a man with neurosis symptom, he also has a problem of relationship with the girl for the lack of acceptance. He seems to try his best to look good in his letter, but he hopes the girl has no concept in her mind what he looks like. This condition leads him to another psychological problem in term of self denial. Denial is an act of refusing to accept one’s unacceptable desires or fears, or refusing to accept a traumatic event (Wishart, 2011).
He is afraid the girl knowing what he looks like (I want you to be able to read this and hear the story and not have any idea about me now, what I am like, how I have changed or grown up, or whatever – 3rd paragraph) but keeps telling his self image and life by describing it indirectly from his feeling of his work (I don’t like my work, but I like not liking it. I like to complain about my co-workers, and the pay and the music we have to play –paragraph 4), his point of view of music (If Dizze Rascal implores me one more time, through pounding base and shuddering electro, at more decibels that is conversationally appropriate, to ‘fix up, look sharp’ swear I will scream –paragraph 4), and reaction of social issue (death of Heath Ledger), which shows his real desire to be recognized by the girl.
This denial also shows me that he has a deep affection with the girl. This condition is hand in hand with Freud’s theory on how sexuality passions everything in human’s life (Baker, 2007; Freud, 2006). He attempts to say his feeling to the girl that he is not so important for her as well as the girl is only seen as ‘people from past’ in his eyes. This is contradict with the whole substance of the letter on how he remembers all little things he spent with the girl. However, the story's contradictions become intelligible if it is seen as part of inner conflicts of the character (Paris, 1997).
The biggest consequence following the character’s neurosis symptom in this short story is this denial. He confesses not to be able to say something (I know you think I’m being ridiculous, but see, now I’ve already given you ideas about me, just by saying nothing. I’m not making sense, I’m sorry -2nd paragraph). He acknowledges that he is ashamed to do something, that something is more about someone else, not him (I’m not sure why. It is probably more your memory than mine, I guess- 20th paragraph). After elucidating many issues, he then says that what is actually in his mind is not essential (...Besides, I don’t have any plans to visit you anytime soon (I can’t afford it) and I don’t think you have plans to visit me. So it would be pointless. So I will just tell the story- 3rd paragraph).
Lack of self-confidence is another psychological problem owned by the main character as the cause of neurosis. Due to his sentiment of less accepted and acknowledged by the girl in his childhood, he puts his self-image in a low degree. It is proven in the 2nd paragraph (I’m not making sense. I’m sorry), 3rd paragraph (I don’t think you have plans to visit me), 13th paragraph (...I felt pretty stupid anyway), 16th paragraph (I had this feeling that you were running away from me), and 20th paragraph (It is probably more your memory than mine...). Those feelings cause the main character builds his self image as someone minor in the girl’s eyes.
As the effect of his lack of self confidence, he reinforces the denial in his idea that he is excessively unintelligent (You never made of me for being such a child, stupid boy, but you didn’t have to because I felt pretty stupid anyway- 13th paragraph), yet very peculiar and bizarre (I know you think I’m being ridiculous, but see, now I’ve already given you ideas about me, just by saying nothing. I’m not making sense. I’m sorry- 2nd paragraph).
Narcissism Symptom
I consider the main character as someone with narcissism by identifying his style of writing. Someone with this syndrome always uses himself as the main point of the story (Castor, 2010; Walters, 2012). Moreover, this is related with his denial once he tries not to ask too much detail about the girl therefore it automatically puts him as the center of the story. Generally, when someone writes a letter to his friend, he will be normally ask or tell things which are more about ‘them’, not only ‘himself’. The whole letter tells about “I” from “I” point of view. He has no effort in putting the memories as ‘theirs’ since it will be only about him or her, not them, in his point of view (20th paragraph).
Some paragraphs indicate “I” as narcissist by the way he persuade the girl to agree with his views (Castor, 2010; Walters, 2012). It is actually when “I” explain his thinking or feeling about something and it sounds as a tendency to make the girl have the same opinion with him. The letter exposed this in his thought of old friend (Friends that you have when you are a kid always seem unreal later on .... I know it must be the same for you- 5th paragraph), his view of other’s judgment (It is just that it is always strange to watch people when they don’t know you’re there- 7th paragraph), along with feeling and interpreting of rain (... It sounds like the buzz in our head before you go to sleep and the sound of it sounds like your own brain thinking, until you realise that you are, actually, thinking- 8th paragraph).
On the surface narcissistic people are "rather optimistic" and "turn outward toward life," but "there are undercurrents of despondency and pessimism" (Paris, 1997, p.9). This unique idea of narcissism is appropriate with the previous notion of the main character as someone with lack of self confidence.
Childhood phobia
Phobia can be another psychological problem of “I” which builds the personality disorder of the main character. Phobia is typically in form of physical fear such as headache, sweaty body, increasing heart’s pulse, or shocked (Baker, 2007).
The main character’s dark phobia is not only shown by the increasing production of sweat and heart’s pulse in the silo (paragraph 12 and paragraph 19), but also on how darkness plays big role in driving his mind. He starts thinking his past when he is sitting alone in the darkness waiting for the rain (6th paragraph). In this darkness, he stops over his mind on past when he and his friend (the girl whom he write the letter for) are playing in the summer. The past moment ended with a big question in the silo –and in the darkness, too.
For children, darkness and loneliness can be their first phobia and this will last forever (Freud, 2006; Moroz, 2005; Shpancer, 2011; Zanden, Crandell, & Crandell, 2007). I cannot specifically put any term to describe their activity in the dark silo (18th and 19th paragraph). However, they explore their intimate both physical and psychological which cause the main character has his increasing production of sweat and heart’s pulse.
...Then, do you remember, you stretched out your arm and felt around for my ankle, to pull me into your little hole, and once I realised what you were trying to do I moved forward and let you. I sank my knees into the grain and curled up facing you, and the little granules fell away around us and made the hole bigger for us, but also closed us in like a blanket... (paragraph 18)
The main character, by his unanswered question in the silo, has a tendency to get traumatic effect. This is because the unfinished story of past during his childhood. It is believed that tendency of unfinished stage of development is the reason of raising traumatic effect (Freud, 2006; Moroz, 2005; Shpancer, 2011; Zanden et al., 2007).
Besides, the main character experienced some problematic emotional affection with the girl in his unfinished story. Moreover, he himself failed to understand the cause of all anger or sadness or ignorance of the girl in front of him. This is shown in his assumption of being rejected by the girl (16th paragraph), confused with the girl’s anger (17th paragraph), and not knowing the reason of crying girl (20th paragraph).
Whereas, children’s knowledge of emotional experiences normally changes markedly from ages 7 through 12 by: 1) learning to read facial expressions, and 2) being able to identify inner states and attach labels (Zanden et al., 2007).
I find another unique point about Heath Ledger. The main character states this name in the first and last part of the letter. Both of them merely appear to inform the death of this actor of Brokeback Mountain. It may raise an assumption on what the relation about Ledger, “I”, and the girl is. However, I argue that Ledger’s name appearance in this short story is barely in reason of channeling one part to another. As an element of intermezzo made by “I”, it should be only the two of them (“I” and the girl) who know the exact relation between Ledger and their story.
In study of psychology, this similar condition appears when there is a song in our head with no specific reason. Freud (2006) believes we can find some fantasies behind that song by exploring our mind. However, only the owner of the head where the song is played can interpret the song correctly. That is why different reader may have different interpretation of probability relation between Heath Ledger, “I”, and the girl.
Conclusion
A letter as the cultural text (human’s product) can be used to reveal and conceptualize the writer’s personality and psychological condition. In the short story Letter to America, the personality disorders of the character I found as he writes the letter are basically related to neurosis and narcissism symptom, and childhood phobia. As the field of psychology, using letter as the object of personality research has been commonly examined. Literature analysis, however, rarely portrays this character’s product of writing as the instrument of analyzing and conceptualizing the character’s personality.
Nevertheless, as a non-fiction literature, a letter of character is qualified to be used as a psychology device. Furthermore, this paper shows the fact that writing’s of imaginative character reflects the character’s personality disorder in imaginative writing’s world (short story) as well as it occurs in the real world.
References
Baker, R. (2007). Sigmund freud: Di seberang masa lalu (J. Firdaus, Trans.). Yogyakarta: Penerbit Sketsa.
Castor, G. (2010). Symptoms of narcissistic personality syndrome (or disorder). Retrieved July 10, 2012. 10 PM, from http://suite101.com/article/characteristics-of-narcissistic-personality-disorder-a285383
Freud, S. (2006). Pengantar umum psikoanalisis.Yogyakarta: Pustaka Pelajar.
Goble, F. G. (1995). Mahzab ketiga psikologi humanistik abraham maslow.Yogyakarta: Penerbit Kanisius.
Hawasi, D. K. (2009). Character analysis of avanti in ernest hemingway's cat in the rain: A psychological approach. Retrieved July 16, 2012. 5 PM, from http://papers.gunadarma.ac.id/index.php/letter/article/viewFile/2351/2253
Kennedy, X. J., & Gioia, D. (1995). Literature: An introduction to fiction, poetry, and drama.New York: Harper Collins.
Moroz, K. J. (2005). The effects of psychological trauma on children and adolescents. Retrieved July 10, 2012. 10 PM, from http://mentalhealth.vermont.gov/sites/dmh/files/report/cafu/DMH-CAFU_Psychological_Trauma_Moroz.pdf
Nencini, A. (2009). A matter of shared knowledge. Retrieved July 16, 2012. 4 PM, from http://www.psyartjournal.com/article/show/nencini-a_matter_of_shared_knowledge
Paris, B. J. (1997). Imagined human beings: A psychological approach to character and conflict in literature. Retrieved July 16, 2012. 4:07 PM, from http://grove.ufl.edu/~bjparis/books/imagined/imagined.pdf
Purnama, D. S. (2012). Metode-metode dalam psikologi. Retrieved July 16, 2012. 4:37 PM, from http://staff.uny.ac.id/sites/default/files/pendidikan/Diana%20Septi%20Purnama,%20M.Pd./%283%29%20Metode%20Psi.pdf
Shpancer, N. (2011). Dealing with childhood trauma in adult therapy: Facts and follies. Retrieved July 9, 2012. 11 PM, from http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/insight-therapy/201109/dealing-childhood-trauma-in-adult-therapy-facts-and-follies
Takwin, B. (2007). Psikologi naratif: Membaca manusia sebagai kisah.Yogyakarta: Jalasutra.
Walters, G. (2012). Narcissistic personality disorder (npd). Retrieved July 10, 2012. 11 PM, from http://outofthefog.net/Disorders/NPD.html
Wishart, C. (2011). Psychogical approach to literary analysis. Retrieved July 16, 2012. 4 PM, from http://www.google.co.id/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=psychological%20approach%2C%20literary%2C%20analysis&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CFYQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.easyliteracy.com%2Fpsychologicalapproach.ppt&ei=e9cDUImbEYq8rAf82KCrBg&usg=AFQjCNHuE3SacOQc1446iZ-p95vJxumnCA&cad=rja
Zanden, J. W. V., Crandell, T. L., & Crandell, C. H. (2007). Human development (8th edition ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.
Homosexuality between Two Ages: Solution Remains Similar
Short Story to Film Analysis: Brokeback Mountain
Released in 2005, Brokeback Mountain have no huge change as an adaptation work of a short story published in 1997 with the same title. Generally, the movie and short story have similar setting, character, characterization, plot, and theme. Most of the words used in movie’s dialogue are even written as exactly the same as the texts found in the short story. The adaptation of 28 pages short story into 130 minutes film is done well through some extensions and additional characters without changing the story itself.
The setting of mountain, country, and many beautiful types of scenery helps the creation of romantic atmosphere between Ennes and Jack. The cliché genre of gay cowboy sends image of manhood in some senses; for instance through manly physical appearances and activities showing the masculinity of Ennes and Jack. The blend of men’s adventure in wilderness as the background of same sex relationship between two cowboys also employs certain contrast of setting in an uncommon harmony. This way of framing seems to counter the idea of queer as ‘manless’, besides showing the nature of ‘love’ as human.
Generally, the grand timeline of both artworks are similar. The different parts are actually the minor ones, though it gives certain sense of the story. Those are the inexistence of the opening of the short story (the first paragraph) which sum up the story in the film and the end of the story (how Ennes lives his life after the dead of Jack). However, these dissimilarity do not hamper the gist of the story but adding new ‘tastes’ and ‘perspectives’.
The different length of these artworks becomes another reason of the emergence of more additional conflicts in the film. I think the problems depicted in the film are richer since they are not only focusing on Ennes and Jack’s romance but also exploring their ‘real’ domestic life out of their same sex relationship.
Since both of them are married with their heterosexual partners, the story of their relationship with their wives happens to be another interesting point; such as the different acceptance of Alma and Lureen to their husband, their ‘professional’ concept marriage or less-lovable husband (Ennes’ reproduction function, Jack’s business-partner relationship), and the love story of their wives (the disappointment of Alma knowing her husband is queer, the sad expression of Lureen losing his husband while Jack’s dead).
Besides, Ennes and Jack’s relationship with their children are also more explored in the film. The deep relation between them is seen from the visits and stories of Alma Jr, Ennes’ payment of his child support, the choice of Ennes for taking care of his children than having date with Jack in a time, and the way Jack teach his son to drive and behave in a dinner.
Essentially, there is no distinct characterization of the character. However, in some way, I feel Ennes character is more explored in the film (through his emotions as a lover, husband, and father). Physically, the choice of Heath Ledger is excellent since he represents Ennes very similarly with the way Proulx describes him. Jake Gyllenhaal characterizes Jack less emotionally than the short story Jack did. This is due to the different physical appearance of them and the focus point of view of Ennes makes less space for him to expose.
The use of third-person omniscient point of view in both artworks leads to free interpretation of the spectator since the narrator only functions as the story teller of what happened, including the emotional emotion of the stakeholders. Regarding to the controversial issue of the artwork, it will be depend on spectator’s stance; whether they will support or against the ideology after watching or reading the works. The using of this point of view, somewhat is quite fair for this sensitive issue.
However, on the other hand, this narrative style gives less space of emotional release of the character. It will be different, for example, using first person point of view of Ennes in delivering the story. The human side of queer probably can be felt deeper and more on the idea of why same sex relationship is justifiable. Nevertheless, I personally agree with the using of this omniscient point of view for its more ‘fair-narrow-knowledge’ on what happens with other characters.
Generally, the artworks tell about same sex relationship, particularly the faithfulness of homosexuals in maintaining their relationship for 20 years under certain fear of being revealed as the unwanted part of society. The problems occurred during their dilemmatic choices between normal family, children, work, social paradigm, and love. The loyalty to partner is one of the key points of the story. At the end of the works, this faithful is depicted in different ways. Ennes’ faithfulness to Jack is seen through his longing for Jack by having emotional dreams with him.
The movie, however, has different way of defining faithfulness by letting Ennes move on from his past (indicated with his agreement to attend his daughter’s marriage) without forgetting his deep affection and story with Jack (reflected when he is crying, saying ‘I swear’ in front of their united shirts).
Published in different time, these works still bring the same issue of homosexual’s human side. One of the social issues brought in these works is the killing of revealed homosexual. This kind of problem remained in the time between the short story published and the film released. Moreover, this case is still unfixed in today’s American life by only 10 out of 50 states in America legalizing same sex marriage. The dilemmatic condition of these queer is always portrayed without clear solution for their civic right’s fulfillment.
In the short story, this condition is represented through Ennes’ way of keeping his feeling muted, as it is stated in the last sentence of the story, “if you can’t fix it you’ve got to stand it”.
Released in 2005, Brokeback Mountain have no huge change as an adaptation work of a short story published in 1997 with the same title. Generally, the movie and short story have similar setting, character, characterization, plot, and theme. Most of the words used in movie’s dialogue are even written as exactly the same as the texts found in the short story. The adaptation of 28 pages short story into 130 minutes film is done well through some extensions and additional characters without changing the story itself.
The setting of mountain, country, and many beautiful types of scenery helps the creation of romantic atmosphere between Ennes and Jack. The cliché genre of gay cowboy sends image of manhood in some senses; for instance through manly physical appearances and activities showing the masculinity of Ennes and Jack. The blend of men’s adventure in wilderness as the background of same sex relationship between two cowboys also employs certain contrast of setting in an uncommon harmony. This way of framing seems to counter the idea of queer as ‘manless’, besides showing the nature of ‘love’ as human.
Generally, the grand timeline of both artworks are similar. The different parts are actually the minor ones, though it gives certain sense of the story. Those are the inexistence of the opening of the short story (the first paragraph) which sum up the story in the film and the end of the story (how Ennes lives his life after the dead of Jack). However, these dissimilarity do not hamper the gist of the story but adding new ‘tastes’ and ‘perspectives’.
The different length of these artworks becomes another reason of the emergence of more additional conflicts in the film. I think the problems depicted in the film are richer since they are not only focusing on Ennes and Jack’s romance but also exploring their ‘real’ domestic life out of their same sex relationship.
Since both of them are married with their heterosexual partners, the story of their relationship with their wives happens to be another interesting point; such as the different acceptance of Alma and Lureen to their husband, their ‘professional’ concept marriage or less-lovable husband (Ennes’ reproduction function, Jack’s business-partner relationship), and the love story of their wives (the disappointment of Alma knowing her husband is queer, the sad expression of Lureen losing his husband while Jack’s dead).
Besides, Ennes and Jack’s relationship with their children are also more explored in the film. The deep relation between them is seen from the visits and stories of Alma Jr, Ennes’ payment of his child support, the choice of Ennes for taking care of his children than having date with Jack in a time, and the way Jack teach his son to drive and behave in a dinner.
Essentially, there is no distinct characterization of the character. However, in some way, I feel Ennes character is more explored in the film (through his emotions as a lover, husband, and father). Physically, the choice of Heath Ledger is excellent since he represents Ennes very similarly with the way Proulx describes him. Jake Gyllenhaal characterizes Jack less emotionally than the short story Jack did. This is due to the different physical appearance of them and the focus point of view of Ennes makes less space for him to expose.
The use of third-person omniscient point of view in both artworks leads to free interpretation of the spectator since the narrator only functions as the story teller of what happened, including the emotional emotion of the stakeholders. Regarding to the controversial issue of the artwork, it will be depend on spectator’s stance; whether they will support or against the ideology after watching or reading the works. The using of this point of view, somewhat is quite fair for this sensitive issue.
However, on the other hand, this narrative style gives less space of emotional release of the character. It will be different, for example, using first person point of view of Ennes in delivering the story. The human side of queer probably can be felt deeper and more on the idea of why same sex relationship is justifiable. Nevertheless, I personally agree with the using of this omniscient point of view for its more ‘fair-narrow-knowledge’ on what happens with other characters.
Generally, the artworks tell about same sex relationship, particularly the faithfulness of homosexuals in maintaining their relationship for 20 years under certain fear of being revealed as the unwanted part of society. The problems occurred during their dilemmatic choices between normal family, children, work, social paradigm, and love. The loyalty to partner is one of the key points of the story. At the end of the works, this faithful is depicted in different ways. Ennes’ faithfulness to Jack is seen through his longing for Jack by having emotional dreams with him.
The movie, however, has different way of defining faithfulness by letting Ennes move on from his past (indicated with his agreement to attend his daughter’s marriage) without forgetting his deep affection and story with Jack (reflected when he is crying, saying ‘I swear’ in front of their united shirts).
Published in different time, these works still bring the same issue of homosexual’s human side. One of the social issues brought in these works is the killing of revealed homosexual. This kind of problem remained in the time between the short story published and the film released. Moreover, this case is still unfixed in today’s American life by only 10 out of 50 states in America legalizing same sex marriage. The dilemmatic condition of these queer is always portrayed without clear solution for their civic right’s fulfillment.
In the short story, this condition is represented through Ennes’ way of keeping his feeling muted, as it is stated in the last sentence of the story, “if you can’t fix it you’ve got to stand it”.
European Colonialism to American Military Invasion
Novella to Film Analysis: Heart of Darkness and Apocalypse Now
Apocalypse Now is known as the most famous adaptation of the novel Heart of Darkness. As an adaptation art work, the movie changed the novel in some way. However, the soul of ‘darkness’ remains both in the novel and movie.
The strongest similarity between the novel and the movie is the plot structure. In a straight and open plot, both works are started with a mission to accomplish through a hairy journey of the main character to find the so-called ‘evil’ character. The journey physically ended when the main character (as well as the narrator) met the so-called ‘evil’ character, but at the same time continued in a more psychological way –in which the character had to deal more with his inner thought and standard of morality. Both of the works got the climax when the so-called ‘evil’ character died, and the story ended with the way go home of the narrator. The novel and the movie gives a free space for the reader and viewer to interpret whether there is finally a ideological change inside the main character; thus I conclude them both as an open plot.
As an adaptation, Apocalypse Now has a quite big difference in the way the director change the setting from Congo, Africa (in the Heart of Darkness) to Vietnam and Cambodia. In term of time setting, both of the movies got the tense of ‘conflict area’ in the era of European explorer’s colonialism (Heart of Darkness) and American military invasion during the height of Vietnam War (Apocalypse Now).
Depicting the gloomy atmosphere, the novel uses words of the narrator (Marlow) while the movie employs the setting of atmosphere through cinematographic technology such as lighting, camera angel, sound effect, and framing. Using this high technology, I feel the ‘darkness’ in the movie more easily. The harsh of European colonialism –portraying by the savage to native African– is adapted in a different sense of seeing how cruel war is during the suffering of civil Vietnamese.
Basically, both the novel and the movie have the same character composition: Marlow and Willard against Kurtz. However, these characters are developed in a different characterization. As an assigned worker to find Kurtz, Marlow and Willard employed the same psychological denial to fulfill their mission during the journey. Facing the fact that materialism leads the company to treat native America as non-human workers trigger Marlow to jump to Kurtz’s side. This inner conflict also happened as Willard witnessing how war fails to get the righteous people. However, Willard seems to have more stable (or in any case, unclear) stance of this, since he was able to assassinate Kurtz himself after his lecturing of the psychology of war and the idea of morality.
The character of Kurtz –both in the novel and movie– is described as a brilliant (even genius) designed to get high position before his unsound way is considered as a threat to the ‘institution’ he comes from. His power to establish own ‘government’ with native tribe worshiping him as a high spiritual figure is seen as mental illness to curry or even, terminate. The ‘Novel’ Kurtz seems did nothing but sharing his ideas to Marlow before his dead, while the ‘Movie’ Kurtz got the chance to show his ‘power’ by imprisoning Willard and killing one of Willard’s crews. Following the different behavior, this character is also physically built in different way. The genius ivory agent is described as a lifeless thin of illness man; while the genius colonel appears as a huge man with military-well built body.
Using the first person point of view, both of the works tell the story through the eyes of Marlow and Willard. However, the different development of these characters of the narrator for me, somehow, impact to the atmosphere of the story. As the narrator, Marlow tends to be more active than Willard. He is actively share his thoughts and perspectives of what he sees and feels of every moment during the journey. On the other hand, Willard performs as a more passive character who functions as the ‘silent camera’ during the movie. The major actions done by him are only the killing of woman survivor in the civil small ship and the killing of Kurtz.
As the reader, I felt –as if I am– led by the author to judge ‘the others’ (concerning racism issue) the same way as it is narrated by Marlow. The journey he experienced is told in a story of his thoughts, leaving less space for the reader to have their own judgment. However, through the eyes of Willard as a ‘silent camera’, I got more space to take my own perspective toward certain issues and the existence and the ‘civilization degree’ of ‘the others’.
The major similarity of the works is the theme, even though they both are served in a different taste. Shifting European Colonialism into American Military Invasion, Apocalypse Now does not diminish the issues of White superiority. Critiques of the idea of civilization (native African and Vietnamese are less civilized than European or American), ‘foreign’ superiority (to enslave African is justifiable as well as to take military invasion during Vietnam War), prejudice mentality and standard of morality (Marlow and Willard are forced to take Kurtz based on the owner of authority’s prejudice), and notion of insanity (they who refuse any cooperation with the ‘righteous’ people and extend their life with ‘uncivilized’ society will turn to be insane) are expressed in this two art works.
Carrying these values, there is no way to deny these two works as the critique of so-called White supremacy.
Apocalypse Now is known as the most famous adaptation of the novel Heart of Darkness. As an adaptation art work, the movie changed the novel in some way. However, the soul of ‘darkness’ remains both in the novel and movie.
The strongest similarity between the novel and the movie is the plot structure. In a straight and open plot, both works are started with a mission to accomplish through a hairy journey of the main character to find the so-called ‘evil’ character. The journey physically ended when the main character (as well as the narrator) met the so-called ‘evil’ character, but at the same time continued in a more psychological way –in which the character had to deal more with his inner thought and standard of morality. Both of the works got the climax when the so-called ‘evil’ character died, and the story ended with the way go home of the narrator. The novel and the movie gives a free space for the reader and viewer to interpret whether there is finally a ideological change inside the main character; thus I conclude them both as an open plot.
As an adaptation, Apocalypse Now has a quite big difference in the way the director change the setting from Congo, Africa (in the Heart of Darkness) to Vietnam and Cambodia. In term of time setting, both of the movies got the tense of ‘conflict area’ in the era of European explorer’s colonialism (Heart of Darkness) and American military invasion during the height of Vietnam War (Apocalypse Now).
Depicting the gloomy atmosphere, the novel uses words of the narrator (Marlow) while the movie employs the setting of atmosphere through cinematographic technology such as lighting, camera angel, sound effect, and framing. Using this high technology, I feel the ‘darkness’ in the movie more easily. The harsh of European colonialism –portraying by the savage to native African– is adapted in a different sense of seeing how cruel war is during the suffering of civil Vietnamese.
Basically, both the novel and the movie have the same character composition: Marlow and Willard against Kurtz. However, these characters are developed in a different characterization. As an assigned worker to find Kurtz, Marlow and Willard employed the same psychological denial to fulfill their mission during the journey. Facing the fact that materialism leads the company to treat native America as non-human workers trigger Marlow to jump to Kurtz’s side. This inner conflict also happened as Willard witnessing how war fails to get the righteous people. However, Willard seems to have more stable (or in any case, unclear) stance of this, since he was able to assassinate Kurtz himself after his lecturing of the psychology of war and the idea of morality.
The character of Kurtz –both in the novel and movie– is described as a brilliant (even genius) designed to get high position before his unsound way is considered as a threat to the ‘institution’ he comes from. His power to establish own ‘government’ with native tribe worshiping him as a high spiritual figure is seen as mental illness to curry or even, terminate. The ‘Novel’ Kurtz seems did nothing but sharing his ideas to Marlow before his dead, while the ‘Movie’ Kurtz got the chance to show his ‘power’ by imprisoning Willard and killing one of Willard’s crews. Following the different behavior, this character is also physically built in different way. The genius ivory agent is described as a lifeless thin of illness man; while the genius colonel appears as a huge man with military-well built body.
Using the first person point of view, both of the works tell the story through the eyes of Marlow and Willard. However, the different development of these characters of the narrator for me, somehow, impact to the atmosphere of the story. As the narrator, Marlow tends to be more active than Willard. He is actively share his thoughts and perspectives of what he sees and feels of every moment during the journey. On the other hand, Willard performs as a more passive character who functions as the ‘silent camera’ during the movie. The major actions done by him are only the killing of woman survivor in the civil small ship and the killing of Kurtz.
As the reader, I felt –as if I am– led by the author to judge ‘the others’ (concerning racism issue) the same way as it is narrated by Marlow. The journey he experienced is told in a story of his thoughts, leaving less space for the reader to have their own judgment. However, through the eyes of Willard as a ‘silent camera’, I got more space to take my own perspective toward certain issues and the existence and the ‘civilization degree’ of ‘the others’.
The major similarity of the works is the theme, even though they both are served in a different taste. Shifting European Colonialism into American Military Invasion, Apocalypse Now does not diminish the issues of White superiority. Critiques of the idea of civilization (native African and Vietnamese are less civilized than European or American), ‘foreign’ superiority (to enslave African is justifiable as well as to take military invasion during Vietnam War), prejudice mentality and standard of morality (Marlow and Willard are forced to take Kurtz based on the owner of authority’s prejudice), and notion of insanity (they who refuse any cooperation with the ‘righteous’ people and extend their life with ‘uncivilized’ society will turn to be insane) are expressed in this two art works.
Carrying these values, there is no way to deny these two works as the critique of so-called White supremacy.
January 23, 2012
The Promise by Will Small
i actually am an english department student. my english isn't good, though. i however want to share something i've got from my lecture so my mom won't be upset for letting me study there - by thinking i got nothing.
this is my first assignment on introduction to prose analysis lecture, anyway. an analysis - with no special approach - on short story written by Will Small.
i know that this short story isn't that popular in this virtual world so that my lecturer feel easy to let his students surf in internet. we found nothing, of course. i even don't know who Will Small is, and there's no way to get Google help me. thus, i did i myself. and the result goes as my wish. here it is :)
A Brief Analysis on The Promise by Will Small
special characteristic/uniqueness of the short story
The Promise by Will Small is the short story I finally choose for this essay for its special characteristic compared to two other stories (Belinda Miller’s A Love Song and Jennifer Eadie’s Coward) in its value; in other word is the story itself. The strong value lay in the story becomes the main point of collecting the uniqueness of The Promise.
As to the interpretive story concept of Laurence Perrine in Story and Structure, The Promise leads the reader to a deeper thinking about life in the process of knowing ourselves. It is not merely a writing in purpose of amusing someone by its literary form but also an enlightenment for such problem provided as the main idea of the story. How the author explains his point of view of life through this story is successfully delivered by the fact that the reader (I myself) can sum up the idea of not taking literary works as merely way to lead us take superficial attitudes toward life. Instead, this story by its values makes the reader realize what life is actually like –as the matter of interpretive story which let the reader be the actor to reveal what something is actually be and should be.
Though the value feels strongly dominated this story, there is no way to neglect the existing of amusing form in The Promise. How the author lays the value through a good form so that the reader can accept it is actually one of the ways to decide whether the value is good or not. However, I still prefer take value as the uniqueness of this story compared to other. While two other stories both also use first person in their point of view and contain certain message for each idea, with the longest word of all, The Promise has more opportunity to put the ideology more clearly in readers mind –in case to raise their awareness to think it more.
Personally, the two other stories are not bad at all, but I found it is really something for the author to write such a (long) short story with no reason for readers to stop before finishing it. It may particularly because my interest for such theme upheld as its value, but there is no sentence thrown as a waste but explaining the whole idea of taking analogy of life as one black hole after another.
However, somehow taking value as the uniqueness of a story might raise a problem of judging every story as a special only because of the existing of value. When we are simply agreeing value as a theme since it usually appears as the main idea or the morality core (which later mostly decided to be the theme), it is obvious that not every story can be special or unique merely by having such a value. As to the concept written in Story and Structure that not all stories have theme, we can sum up that not every value can be the special characteristic of a story.
fictional unity and the coherence
From the first point above, it is obvious that I assume The Promise has a quite good fictional unity and coherence towards each internal element of the story. How the author constructs the good structure more or less can be illustrated as the diagram below:
All the fictional elements are well built enough since it is not an easy stuff to take one point as its major element in term of contribution. How the author use flashback plot to create such particular suspense for the reader is well mixed with the use of first person point of view to get the closer approach of the reader to be the actor for instance. Hence, a correct atmosphere can be felt in this correct characterization and plot usage.
Concerning more for its plot, I think The Promise can be claimed as the best among two other stories since its flashback takes good contribution of constructing a good-amusing form. I called the use of ‘time stating’ in this story as an excellent technique of the writer to drive the reader from the past to the recent time and vice versa. It may be a common technique but I don’t lose its literary sense and it even helps the plot to be quite clear when the author opens the story with 2:36 am stated as the time setting. The story then goes back to the previous months (stated clearly too) and ends to the recent time at 3:40 am.
A good plot, in my case, is the one which can help the author construct a good structure and lead the reader to the understanding. Thus, it doesn’t mean by merely creating such complicated and complex plot then a story can be judged as the greatest one with no understanding of the reader at all.
The use of first person point of view in this story not only gives an easier way to understand the story but also supports the flow of the story. As an interpretive literature which contains more emotional and mental conflict, it is better for the author to use this point of view to get the understanding of the reader. Since the purpose of creating interpretive literature is not only to entertain the reader, the understanding of the readers which later leads them to a deeper thinking and analysis is needed.
Since there is only few numbers of people as the character in The Promise, it is easier to analyze each of them more deeply. The way the author introduce the characters is quite obvious by their actions (both in mind or real act). A quite good setting also shown in every time, place and atmosphere described by the author; then it is even easier for the reader to get the feeling as the doer of the story.
Thus, how the author builds a good structure through the fictional unity and coherence is actually the only way to make the purpose of the story is well accepted.
visibility of form and value
I find The Promise as the story which has a good value more visible than its form since I feel the soul of the story lies within its value. However, once I say ‘the value is more visible than the form’, it will be totally different with ‘the form is more visible than the value’ because there is no vice versa for a good value bears a good form. Logically, we can accept the idea of a speech if the speaker delivers it in a good structure and communication. It is what makes the difference between escape and interpretive story. While escape story has its only object pleasure, the interpretive story has its object pleasure plus understanding.
The Promise tells about the internal problem of ordinary IT consultant named Tom who is boring with his very ordinary life. He finds himself stick in the black hole of life where once he gets in; there will be no chance to get out. Tom actually regrets himself as the owner of “I hate my job” mentality. He then plans to take a rest for having a trip with his mate Callum, whose rejection causes Tom not to get his trip. Tom becomes comfort to the condition in the black hole; that finding himself fails to get out, he stops trying.
As the philosophy learner, Callum gets the concept on how Tom fails in reaching his self-happiness. That true happiness is not merely from the money, as to Callum’s advice, it is better for Tom to quit his job since he hates it. Ignoring Callum’s advice, Tom is finally attracted by the coming of a girl in the story: Natasha. He even feels his life is now livelier that he has got out from one black hole. However, he falls into another hole when Callum die in an accident. The hole gets into a deeper and darker condition while Natasha meets him to say goodbye. Tom stick in his deep black hole: with no friend, job, and girl.
Natasha later calls him to offer a solution to wake Tom up from his dark age. Naked dipping in the sea at the midnight for a better feeling is the solution proposed by Natasha. She even makes Tom promise to do that. Once Tom finally takes his first step to move on fulfilling the promise, he gets his freedom for the first time.
There are at least five values in The Promise: relationship, sense of loss, real happiness, nature of job, and freedom as an individual. Those concepts are softly spread by the author in the narrations and dialogues. Telling philosophy concept of something usually comes up in the form of abstract explanation. But those concepts in The Promise are brought with some clear analogies which help the reader to get the point.
As I mentioned that not every complex and complicated story has a good value, I find that almost all of stories with good value will have good form. It first entertains us by the choice of words, theme, plot, character, and other form elements, and at the same time it gets the reader understanding of life –or at least, the willingness to think it more deeply. That is what I get from The Promise.
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Sources:
1. Story and Structure by Laurence Perrine
2. A Handbook of Critical Approaches to Literature by Wilfred L. Guerin, et al
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