1 CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION A. Background of the Problem Naturally in literary works, all of the works can apply the elements of pshycology. Those elements can be analized through concepts and theory of pshycology which are used to understand the literary text. In Elizabeth Gilbert s contemporary novel Eat Pray Love (EPL), besides the story is interesting, the novel also contains many interesting, and remarkable aspects to analyze by psychological point of view. It means that psychological perspective of the main character dominating the story and as the author of the story. When the main character is thirty years of age, she has everything that mostly women want to. Someday, she decides to divorce. Then she leaves everything she has and to travel to three different countries, looking for sobriety of life. Eat Pray Love (EPL) transferees any feelings and experiences having been around by the main character as in her personal diary. Then many other things which are from her feelings with people around her, herself and her surroundings. Based on those problems, the researcher feels that the novel is interesting to analyze through the psychological
2 approach of literature, in Abraham Harold Maslow s self-actualization needs theory. The Liz s self-actualization which occurs in Eat Pray Love (EPL) is the descriptions of the main character, Liz, who also as the author of the story. After she gets many problems, and she thinks that she does not bear those problems anymore, then she decides to leave all of her owns. She wants to explore herself. She looks for happiness, composure, and balance of live in three different countries which are Italy, India, and Indonesia. Based on those problems which are in Liz in Eat Pray Love (EPL), the researcher tries to express the causes of Liz s problems by formulating statement of problem. By using the statement of problem, the researcher becomes easier on maintaining descriptions and finding the answer of the complex problems which played by that character. B. Statement of the Problem Based on the background of the research, the problem identification can be formulated as follows: 1. How are the character and characterizations of the main character in Elizabeth Gilbert s Eat Pray Love (EPL)? 2. What are D-needs (Deficit needs) of the main character in Gilbert s Eat Pray Love (EPL) based on the hierarchy needs theory of Abraham Maslow?
3 3. What are the self-actualization or B-needs (Being needs) of the main character in Gilbert s Eat Pray Love (EPL) based on the hierarchy needs theory of Abraham Maslow? C. Purposes of the Research Based on the background and identification of the research, thereby, this research is aimed to the following matters: 1. To describe the character and characterization of the main character in Gilbert s Eat Pray Love (EPL). 2. To describe D-needs of the main character in Gilbert s Eat Pray Love (EPL) based on the hierarchy needs theory of Abraham Maslow. 3. To describe the self-actualization or B-needs of the main character in Gilbert s Eat Pray Love (EPL) based on the hierarchy needs theory of Abraham Maslow. D. Significance of the Research This research aims to produce a text which describes and explains the character and characterizations of the main character, D-needs (Deficit needs), and self actualizations or B-needs (Being needs) which are faced by the main character in Gilbert s Eat Pray Love (EPL). Based on the objectives, this research has three significances, namely scientifical, institutional and social significances. The scientifical significance of the result of this research is this research may become a reference toward the same field of research. It expected to be able to enrich American literature
4 references especially novel. In addition, the institutional significance of this research is this research can add students knowledge about literature especially for students in Faculty of Foreign Language and Culture by getting the whole explanation about the character and characterization of the main character, D-Needs, and Self-actualization of the main character in Elizabeth Gilbert s Eat Pray Love based on Maslow s theory of Hierarchy Needs. Meanwhile, the social significance gets from this research; this research may increase science perception about the analysis of literature and psychological literature especially the self-actualization. E. Scope of the Research In this research, the researcher only focuses on the main character in Gilbert s Eat Pray Love (EPL). The memoir is established in 2007 by Penguin Books, the second edition. Based on the problem and objectives of the research that are achieved, the researcher restricts the research on: 1. Analysis of character and characterizations of the main character in Gilbert s Eat Pray Love (EPL). 2. Analysis of D-needs of the main character in Gilbert s Eat Pray Love (EPL) based on the hierarchy needs theory of Abraham Maslow. 3. Analysis of self-actualizations or B-needs of the main character in Gilbert s Eat Pray Love (EPL) based on the hierarchy needs theory of Abraham Maslow.
5 F. Underlying Theories The external element analysis makes good use of psychological approach, as a reflection of human s feel, mind and soul. The researcher uses the theory of Hierarchy Needs from Abraham Maslow which covers D-needs and B-needs or self-actualization. The theory can describe the main character s needs in details. G. Method of the Research 1. Research Approach Wellek and Warren (1989) stated that intrinsic approach (structural approach), which spread it from within, is a research that the resources are in the text. Then, the extrinsic approach is the context of the research based on the external literary text (Endraswara, 2008:9). Research in Gilbert s Eat Pray Love (EPL) which aimed to reveal and explain character and characterizations of the main character, D-needs, and self actualization or B-needs of the main character in Gilbert s Eat Pray Love (EPL), therefore, the researcher uses two (2) kinds of approaches, those are: a. Structural approach method; especially a theory related to the characterizations. It explains character and characterizations of the main character in literary works. b. Extrinsic approach by using psychological approach method; especially a theory related D-needs and B-needs or self actualizations
6 of the main character in hierarchy needs from Abraham Maslow s theory. 2. Method of Collecting Data In this research, the research determines two categories of resources. The resources are primary and secondary method. According to Stokes cited by Wilujeng (2009: 9), a primary data source is the substance of the object analysis itself that consists of what is researched and analyzed. Meanwhile, a secondary data source is data to support and strengthen the research. The primarily data source, used in this research, is Elizabeth Gilbert s Eat Pray Love (EPL). Nevertheless, the secondary data source, used in this research, refers to library or online resources, contains many kinds of references, such as books, learning materials, and other supporting data, that are able to support and facilitate the researcher to get information in analyzing, deals with knowledge concerned. H. Thesis Organization In order to ease readers in understanding this thesis, the researcher divides this thesis into five chapters as follows: Chapter I explains background and problem of the research, objectives and significances of the research, scope of the research, method of the research, and thesis organization. Chapter II explains biography of the author and summary of the memoir from Elizabeth Gilbert Eat Pray Love (EPL).
7 Chapter III explains literary review which covers a related preview research, theoretical review that focuses on giving explanation to the structural analysis on the view of character and characterizations of the main character, D-needs, and self-actualization or B-needs based on the hierarchy needs from Abraham Maslow s theory to describe the needs of the main character in Gilbert s Eat Pray Love (EPL). Chapter IV explains the analysis of character and characterizations of the main character, D-needs, and self-actualizations that faced by the main character in Gilbert s Eat Pray Love (EPL). Chapter V explains closing which covers conclusion of this research ans suggestion for the next research.