CHAPTER III LITERARY REVIEW

Transcription

1 13 CHAPTER III LITERARY REVIEW A. Previous Research A memoir entitled Eat Pray Love (EPL) written by Elizabeth Gilbert is a contemporary novel, published in 2006 as the first edition. As far as the researcher knows based on the object researched, the novel Eat Pray Love has ever been researched on objective/structural perspective only. It was conducted by Devi Harmeigawati s thesis entitled Usaha Liz Dalam Menemukan Keseimbangan Hidup Dalam Novel EPL Karya Elizabeth Gilbert in She was a student of English Department, Faculty of Literature, Diponegoro University. Then, the theory of Abraham Maslow had been researched in another object of research. The object using Maslow s theory was Emily Bronte s Wuthering Heights. It was conducted by Titik Siswanti s thesis entitled Kajian Kejiwaan Tokoh Heathcliff Dalam Novel Wuthering Heights Karya Emily Bronte (Pendekatan Psikologi Humanistik Abraham Maslow) in She was a student of English Department, Faculty of Foreign Language and Culture, Muhammadiyah University of Semarang. They are the previous research of the researcher to conduct this research. This research is different from both of them. In it, the researcher chooses the novel Eat Pray Love to be analyzed by psychological approaches, especially on needs theory by Abraham Maslow which consists of D-needs (Deficit needs)

2 14 and B-needs (Being needs) or self-actualization. The psychological analysis of Eat Pray Love EPL makes this research different from previous research, especially in the main character s being needs. By conducting this research, the researcher offers a different view that the novel entitled Eat Pray Love (EPL) can be studied by various approaches. Data analysis that is applied by the researcher in Elizabeth Gilbert s Eat Pray Love (EPL), focuses on main character (Elizabeth Gilbert). According to the researcher, Liz dominates the story and fulfills the requirements to be analyzed by using needs theory by Abraham Maslow since the character of the story maximizes her excess to get what she wants. B. Theoretical Review 1. Structural Theory Structural theory is intrinsic elements of prose. It contains some kinds, such as character and characterization, setting, plot, point of view, and theme. In this research, the researcher only uses one of the intrinsic elements, that is, character and characterization to describe the main character in Eat Pray Love (EPL) in details. a. Character and Characterization Boulton cited by Aminuddin stated that the way of an author describes a character is various. Occasionally, an author describes a character as a personage that exists only in illusion and has high spirit of struggle to survive. Furthermore, frequently an author describes a character that has almost similar ways with a person in real human life (1988:79).

3 15 Every character in literary work has different roles. A character that has important roles in a story is called main character, while, the other kind of character is called supporting character. It appears only to complete, service, and support main character. Then, the protagonist character is the character who has good characteristics, behaviour, and attitude. Different from protagonist, there is antagonist character who becomes an opponent to the protagonist charater and has bad characteristic (Aminuddin, 1988:80). Aminuddin also states that, besides protagonist and antagonist character there are simple, complex, dynamic, and static character. Generally, the simple character is supporting character who does not have complex problem in his/her appearance. Meanwhile, the complex character is usually the main character and has the complex problem in his/her appearance in a story. In addition to both of simple and complex character, there are dynamic and static characters. The dynamic/round character is the character that has changing and developing in his/her heart in his/her performance in a story. Then, the static/flat character is the character that has no significance of changing and developing in his/her heart in his/her performance in a story (Aminuddin, 1988:80-83). Then, characterization is the way author describes the characters. Aminuddin stated that there are nine ways to analyze the characterization, those are: 1) author s description on the main character, 2) author s description through the main character s surroundings, 3) description of character s behavior, 4) description of character s opinion about herself/himself, 5) understanding the way character thinks, 6) description of how the other characters talk about the

4 16 main character, 7) description of how the other characters are talking to the main character, 8) description of how the other characters react to the main character, 9) description of how the main character reacts the other character (Aminuddin, 1988:81). The theory above is used by the researcher to explain character and characterization of Liz in Gilbert s Eat Pray Love (EPL). It is able to explain the main character in details. 2. Psychological Approach Psychological approach used by the researcher is to explain extrinsic element of prose. The theory of psychology used by the researcher is Abraham Maslow in his Hierarchy Needs. Maslow arranges theory of human motivation or human s needs are viewed in a hierarchy or step by step. Each step of needs can only be completed if the previous needs are relatively satisfied (Alwisol, 2004:255). The Hierarchy Needs arranged by Maslow are as follows: Being Needs Self-actualization Esteem Needs Belonging Needs Safety Needs Physiological Needs Deficit Needs (Hierarchy Needs from Maslow, cited by Boeree, 2004:278)

5 17 a. D-needs Theory of Abraham Maslow Based on the description of hierarchy needs above D-needs or Deficit needs or basic needs consists of four different parts related to each other. Those parts occur from basic to higher parts. When the lowest part from the hierarchy is completed, hence, the other higher part can be achieved. If there is a lack of something among four of them, then it is caused deficiency and need to that. However, if the need is obtained, hence, there is no motivation again to get it. It also describes in proverb never miss water, until thirst is coming again (Boeree, 2004: ). Maslow explains the deficit needs are as follows: 1) Physiological Needs The physiological needs stated by Maslow is that individual needs cover the needs to oxygen, water, salt, sugar, vitamins and other basic needs (Boeree, 2004:279). 2) Safety Needs If physiological needs are completed, hence, this second part occurs. In the mature Americans, these needs are completed by their desire to make good neighborhoods, and have their safe job (Boeree, 2004:279). 3) Belonging Needs The belonging needs are not always meant by longing and loving to boyfriends or girlfriends, but it can be meant to belonging to people who always support us when in trouble. It can be family, close friends and other people (Boeree, 2004:279).

6 18 4) Esteem Needs After the needs before are completed, hence, people try to find this esteem needs. It is divided into two categories: first, esteem needs based on the respect to skill and independency of our own. Second, esteem needs based on the other s value to our own (Boeree, 2004:279). b. Self-actualization or B-needs Theory of Abraham Maslow Self-actualization is exploration and maximization of power, potential, existence and development of someone who becomes an actualizer. Maslow states that self-actualization can be achieved perfectly, only a few people who can achieve it. It is not easy. Someone can actualize himself/herself through the education or others. One of the important things as the requirement to achieve self-actualization is lower needs such as, physiological, safety, belonging, and esteem needs are fulfilled. Meanwhile, the others requirements to receive are: first, the need of self-actualization is the weakest need that is easily influenced by habit, pressure and culture. Second, when someone can conquer his fear and change to new concepts and unpredictable things, hence, self-actualization can be achieved. Third, self actualization needs well-conditioned surroundings to explore and choose the best attitude (Budiharjo, 1997: ). The need of self-actualization is different from one person to another. Moreover, self-actualization does not need a special talent or any other artistic activities. There are some differences and special characteristics between people who actualize themselves or not (Budiharjo, 1997: ) as follows:

7 19 1)Having ability to look the reality more efficient, 2) Acceptance to herself, another people and basic features, 3) Having peak and mystical experience, 4)Having strong empathy to fellow being, 5) The independency, 6) Focus to the problem, 7) Having a great inter-relationship, 8) Becoming a democratic person, 9) Becoming a creative person, 10) Having conviction, hence not really influenced by culture, 11) Having enough sense of humor, 12) Having clear explanation between medium and aim, 13) Having appreciations, 14) Having needs to privation and independency, 15) Spontaneous and simple. Those are the characteristics of actualizer who explore himself/herself. Maslow states that although, the actualizers have the characteristics above, but it does not mean they are perfect people. However, they are human being. They often do some ridiculous, emotional, arrogant, fool, and other human s features. They are still imperfect creatures. They can not be escaped from mistakes, anxiousness, shyness, worry, or conflicts (Budiharjo, 1997:175)