Emotion

What is the definition of emotion? some may say that it is bad and the others may say it is good aspects in life. Life without emotion is the same like body without soul. They are connected each other.They have a link to transform each other. They give a signal to sign a symbol of life. Perhaps, it will start to stand in anger or start in temper negotiation. Back to the meaning of its, we can drive it into a positive wave, it is not easy and many times people get fall into its. Finally, to those who manage these all, they will find a peaceful place or find the harmony. we need high levels to reach this..... Processing life will bring us into this level, peace with your life or live in a big wave? I myself still learn how to deal with these... it is quite hard but possible to conquer......

Hidden Obsession

“Two kinds” is a part of the story from novel “The Joy Luck Club” and it was written by Amy Tan, she is a Chinese American author. From this novel, she draws Chinese American immigrant families in San Francisco. She images of how the Chinese American lives, especially about women and their daughters. Here we can see their dreams, and how they build the dream come true and it is about their life in America. One of the interesting things is the story about mother’s obsession. Suyuan Woo is a mother who has a passion; she considers her daughter becomes success prodigy. 

 Suyuan Woo describes a mother who has a stance on her thought in order to make her daughter to be child prodigy. She wants the daughter to be a pianist, and tend to shape the daughter to be a pianist. Nevertheless, the daughter said that she does not want to be a pianist, but the mother keeps forcing and asks the daughter to take a course. Her idea came after watching TV, and she images her child as a star. Finally, the mother sends her to get Piano course but Jing Mei gets objection, because she does not want to be a pianist and as the result, she is lazy to practice Piano. One day, she made a fool when she performed her first recital, and the mother feels disappointed. Refusal and dispute happens, the mother keep insisting to be a pianist but the daughter does not want it. The story portrays that the mother has very high expectation to the daughter. This story shows that the mother does not realize what she did. She forces her wishes.

  Besides talking about the mother wishes, “Two Kinds” represents the American Dream. Here, the mother believes and she said, “You can do anything you want to do in America and you can make your dream come true”. That is why mother asks to prove them. Mostly, immigrant parents are willing to sacrifice everything. It is including family, career, and property to pursue the dream or a new life in America. Relating to the story, a mother who is a Chinese immigrant tends to transform her ambition to the daughter. Jing Mei is a rebellious child, she catches two cultures as an American and as a Chinese decent. As an American, she is influenced by the American society, which can determine the aspirations, but as a Chinese, she has to follow the family rules. Contradiction and dilemma ties her. Jing Mei feels that she has a right to choose her dream, but the opposite; she has to listen to her mother. She cannot explore her wishes.  

“Two kinds” emphasize two major characters; Mother (antagonist) and Daughter (protagonist). Two major characters are contradiction with the hopes. As the literary works, the author shows the value of life and takes one symbol at the end of the story. The author conveys the value about children’ right and we can conclude how to learn to be a mother, and the piano is the gift to the daughter, which is a symbol of mother’s wish. 

The story is interesting, and the author takes the reader’s emotion when the mother slapped the daughter. She said that she never has intention to force but she wants Jing Mei to do her best, at that time Jing Mei was crying because she felt under pressure. One day, Jing Mei declared herself that she does not want to do what mother said anymore. Here, we can see from the physiology aspects. First point, Jing Mei is willing to do the piano course in which to fill mother’s urge. At the rest, she cannot do her best. She feels her mother obliges her. We know that something to be forced is not good, at the end; this cannot be taken as a maximum result. Second point, Mother has dreams on her child, but she does not want to see deeply and how to encounter the feeling well. She does not know how to persuade her daughter well. Mother’s character is a dominant and as a decisive person.    

This story reflects the relation between mother and daughter. Parents can muse to the reality of life so that parents cannot force the wishes to the children. Parents guide the children and let the children find the goals and dreams. Realizing or not, sometimes parents forget about that. Most of the parents demand their children. They do not think about abilities and competence, which develops as a natural gift. Many parents dominate the decision without asking or discussing first. Of course, it is not good because parents have to contemplate their wishes. After reading this story, we can mark and learn how to be a wise mother. Besides, the story can be an example of how to raise the children without neglecting the children’ dream. Remember, Children are human also, even though they look innocent but they have a right to be independent persons. They also have a right to choose their life and let them create the ideas. Parents should help to develop their dream. 

  

I wish to see...

The rain is falling now..

Thunder winks the light without the sound hears..

The wind blows...

The trees move wary ..

I just hear the sounds of rain genuinely..

The rain falls through the air, its crawl, steal and steered...

Watching leaves fall to change new grow steadily....

Shall the rainbow come? or its shows fleshly..?

But why does the dawn come early..?

I am waiting to see the beauty...

I am here watching above as if the wind nodding agree...

The wind says "The rainbow come appear shall be..."

I am smiling with hope to see you immediately...

Beyond You and Me....

I lay on my bed and think about you

I love you so much and I don't know what to do

I feel your warmth beside

The pain in my heart moves to my eyes 

You are the reason I am still here.

I'm waiting the time when we can talk

I'm waiting the time we can finally hold and walk

To feel you for real... so close to me

Your eyes shine like a million suns

You shine more brightly than anyone

Your smile is so sweet and tender

It stops my world even for a little while

I'm waiting the time when my hand is in yours

Even thought you aren't here

but I feel you are near

I'll love you forever

I'll always love you my far away lover.

A Study of the Plot, Theme, and Characterization of Elinor Dashwood and Marianne Dashwood in Jane Austen’s Novel Sense of Sensibility (Methodology Research)

1.     Background

Literary work is one of the human expressions that written in novels, short stories, poetries, and drama. Usually, the authors, or poets write the expressions based on the reality of life. It means that the literary work can be a representation of human life and their problems. “Literature is a vital record of what men have seen in life, what have they experienced of it. What they have told and felt about those aspects of it, which have the immediate and enduring interest for all of us. It is a fundamentally an expression of life begin with that literature lives by virtue of the life which of the life which it embodies” (Hadson, 1910:10).

As we know that, a novel is one of the products of literature and novel itself can bring a pleasure to the readers, besides we can catch the values inside. According to M.H Abram and it based on his book A Glossary of Literary Terms, “Novel is characterized as a fictional attempt to gave the effect of realism by representing complex characters with mixed motives who are related in social class, operate in a highly developed social structure, interact with many others characters and undergo plausible and every modes of experience” (1987: 120).

To build a story like a novel, we need the elements that call as; plot, character (and characterization), setting, and theme, and all of these are connected to be one structure in order to build a story. That is why, story will stand lively and we can also imagine the

Situation, recognize the characters or characterizations and we can draw how the place or setting describes in a story.

In this paper, the writer analyzes a novel entitled Sense of Sensibility written by Jane Austen. This novel is about Dashwood’s family, one night before he died, Mr. Henry Dashwood as a father gave the legacy to his John Dashwood (Son). He asked to John to make a promise to afford the sisters, at time the law stated the legacy was given to the son only, and the daughters (Elinor, Marianne, and Margarette) had no right to have the prosperity. John does not fulfill promising to afford the sisters; John’s wife provokes to not affording the sisters and asks him to move out soon from the cottage. In the deep sorrow, Mrs. Dashwood and the daughters have to move out from the Barton Cottage in Denvonsire, they have to leave all the prosperity, and her cousin invited her to live in Middletons at Barton Park. In this story, Jane Austen picks the intricacies love between Elinor Dashwood, and Edwar Ferars. Another view is about love triangle between Marianne Dashwood, Mr. Willoughby, and Colonel Brandon appears between them. This story is very interesting because it tells about the British social life in 1811. This story is mixed between classic and contemporary era.       

In this paper, the writer focuses on analyzing the plot, theme and characterization of Elinor Dashwood and Marriane Dashwood characters, as we know that characterization close to the story. The events developed the plot lively; that makes the characters embody the words of Sense of Sensibility visible. From these elements, the writer is interested to find out the theme of the story. The theme itself is the core of the story.

1.2 Statement of Problem

Based on the background above, the researcher would like to research about:

1.       How does the author describe the plot based on Sense of Sensibility story?

2.      How is the character describing the characterization?

3.      How the theme convey in this story?

1.3 Scope of study

These are many aspects that could be analyzed in a novel, but the writer only discusses about the plot, theme and characterization.

1.4 Objective of Study

Every discussion and topic has a purpose and the purpose of this paper is to grasp the content of the novel. The objective of this research is to explain how the plot, theme describes in this story, and how the characterization describe the character.

1.5 Significance of Study

This study has significance for the students, especially for the English Department.  This study is meant to encourage the students and they can study more about literature. Moreover, this study gives information about how the plot is built and how the characterization embodies the character. Besides, it gives the information to the students to study the novel as one of literary works. The most important thing is that this study is meant to provide a model for those who are doing literary study.

1.6 Theoretical approach

This paper focuses on the plot, characters (and characterization) and theme that underlying in a story. These are the intrinsic elements from the story. Therefore, the appropriate approach that is used structuralism. According to Peter Barry in An introduction to Literary and Cultural Theory,

“Structuralism presents a series of parallels (Plot), echoes (Structure), reflections (Characters), patterns (Language), and contrasts (Situation/Circumstance/Location)” (2002; 50)

It means that structural presents the term or elements of a story and we can identify the terms by its.

1.7 Method of Research

The writer uses the library research in collecting data. To obtain the necessary data, and the writer read the whole of the novel. The next is folding the important pages that consist of the problem that will be analyzed in study. Then, underlining and making a note for the main data that related to the problem that will be analyzed by using some theories, concepts and approach. These techniques are used to help easier in analyzing. 

1.8 Thesis Organization

This thesis will be divided into four chapters :

            Chapter 1 is Introduction that consists of background of study, statement problem, significance of study, scope of study, theoretical approach, method of research, and thesis organization.

Chapter 2 is the theoretical review, where the researcher will take several quotes from Literature fields.

            Chapter 3 is the analysis. In this chapter, the researcher will analyze the plot and characterization.

Chapter 4 is the last chapter that consists of suggestion and Conclusion.

Shapely Butterfly (Example of Descriptive writing)

When I walked down to the park I saw butterfly, it was perching on a flower. I felt amazed to see, my eyes were attracted by its. I was thinking about the shape and colors. I named it “shapely butterfly”, for its shows and uniqueness. I have never seen such beautiful like this before.   

            Why I call it “shapely butterfly”? Yes of course because of the shape and colors, as I know it was unique. When I saw the wings it had three colors, there were black, brown and white. Black as the frame of wings and it had mingled around the brown color and a little white on the top of wings. The unique butterfly looked from the transparent color which placed in the middle of the wings. The skeleton of the wings looked transparent. I thought it was dragonfly but when I discerned, then yes it was butterfly. About the shape, the butterfly had little longer antenna. The body looked clearly seen because of transparent wings. Whole body color was black, the eyes colors were grey. The length was not too long, only around five Centimeter. I felt wonder when I saw it. Until now I am musing to my heart.  How amazing it is. He creates perfectly, He is the best creator, He has never created the same creations, and each creation has special things to be shown.

            This is my first experienced to see butterfly that had transparent color. Its Looked different appearance. That is why I call it “Shapely Butterfly”. I wish I could meet again. One thing I could not forget when the butterfly flied, it seemed follow the wind blow and was trying to find new flowers to be perched and to sip the flowers. When I walked down on the park, I was smiling alone to see butterfly, how beautiful it was.  

Contemporary Literary Criticism, The Effect of Parents' Attitude to the Children Development seen in "Mnemonic", "The Gift", "A Mother Day" (Poems) and "Big Fish" (movie).

1. Background

Parents have a huge role in educating children and it gives tremendous developmental psychology to the children. Approaching and persuading bring the power to them in order to develop their personalities. Furthermore, the children will be confident in facing challenges. Wise parents have to learn how to be good parents, and can be friends for them. Nowadays, many children feel reluctant to share their feelings because parents cannot be good listeners, and this is a cause of the problem because the children do not feel comfortable to share their feelings. The lack of understanding in giving opinion can make a fence between parents and children. In this case, parents should be sensitive and aware, and do not give an authoritarian attitude toward them. 

Neither easy nor hard to be parent, we have to be patient and have sense of art to express the affections so that the children can learn something from the parents. They also can be wise because they see how parents treat the children. Approaching process or giving a time to discuss about daily activity can make the relationship closer. Authoritarian parenting will give unfavourable impact to the children. Otherwise, the parents who teach about the tenderness will give a good example and it can help to establish the confidence to the children. However, children are the reflection of parents, so parents should be a role model to the children. Respecting each other, forgiveness and willing to admit the mistakes will help them to shape their personality to be mature persons. 

Nowadays, there are many experts of psychology and they give advices and trying to help the parents to understand their children. Beside psychology aspect that has written, there are many expressions in the world of literature. If we observe in work of literature there are many poets, authors or directors reveal the story of relationship between parents and children. They write it into poems, novels, or movies. Usually, they take the inspiration based on reality of life. Some of the poets talk about parent' mistakes, some are trying to express the love between parents and children, and the other one talk about parents' expression to their children and many more. Literature is a tool to convey the feeling, which has purpose to hint between the lines. One of the poems that describe the relation between parents and children are Li Young Lee Poems, the titles are Mnemonic and The Gift and other poem by David Young and it describes about Mother Love, the title is Mother's Day. Another works of literature that reveal on the movie based on novel and its title is Big Fish by Daniel Wallace. This story is the reflection of Father's love to his son, even the son thinks that the story has told is kind of liar but if we take look at the value and we will know the symbols of love itself, because different people will have different perspective. The point is that how the father share a time and describe how to be a man. The message from this movie appear after watching the movie and the writer of this novel try to assume the meaning and it says; "The man who keen to reach something, he will get what he want to be", the scene shows when father chase mother's love. If we analyze it then we will get the meaning inside the story, literature deserves the example of life, including relationship between parents and children, however we can catch and learn from them.

From the movie and poems that have been mentioned above, we can learn something through the messages or values. We can learn how the relationship between parents and children. Therefore, we can learn the values based on literature, and we get the lessons from them. The expression of literary work gives deep meaning and typically has a moral and value inside. We can also learn about the life from the poems, novels or movies. It is undeniable that literature is an expression of human life that can be learned inside the meaning.

2. Discussion

Li Young Lee was born in Jakarta, Indonesia on August 19, 1957. He studied in University of Pittsburgh where he began to love for writing. At the end, Lee began to dive into the art of language. Lee's poets have been influenced by classic Chinese poets. In his poem "Mnemonic", this talks about the relationship between the poet and the father. The poet tries to figure out the feeling to his father, sometimes he feels the father has a little rudeness, but the other times the father does the tenderness, just like to help him to put off the sweater and this memories baffles him.  Probably it happened when he was a child, and he feels that the action come and shadow him. He wonders about what father did, because as a child it can give the impact to the psychology aspects. 

In Mnemonic, the poet wrote, "I won't last, memory is sweet, even when it's painful, memory is sweet". We can split here, even he feels the painful inside but it also gives the meaning to him, the purpose of our parents sometimes give us disagreement, and many of arguments reveal, but what parents want is just the best to the children. I am sure; the poet realizes the purpose and can absorb the meaning after some years, when he becomes mature and he begins to understand. Even the parents have mistakes to the children, and how to convey something wrongly, but at the end he knows that his father does not understand how to express the feeling, how to express the wishes to the children.

 In some other cases, it might be kind of the refusal to the children, because the rudeness gives strongly impact and it can shape the behaviour to the children (Ex: like to spank other people when the anger comes, and this is very bad). The son becomes confused and disoriented; father looks so stern and fierce. On the other hand, the understanding of what he saw will grow well after he is growing. Li Young Lee's poetry can serve as the sample where a rude attitude is not good for children mental development. 

Another poem that describes the relationship between father and son is "The Gift", and it was written by Li Young Lee. This poem is different from the previous one, and it illustrates about father's affection. This also tells about how to show the tenderness towards the son, and the memory gives the impact to the son into adulthood. This poem is very nice packed and gives the deep impression to the readers. If we look at every stanza, it will show the simplicity of the father who read the story when he wanted to pull the splinter out from his son. We can take the point here, the gentleness gives a reference or an example to the son and he will record the sense into adulthood. The poem draws that the son does the same thing after he has a wife; he helps the wife as his father did to him. In other words, the children are innocent and when we give the examples of a good thing, it will be reflected into the future.  This poem is an expression of memories for the writer, and it is a flashback from childhood memory. The poem is very nice because I imagine a little boy who cries when there is a splinter in his hand but his father managed a gentle way by telling a tale to divert the attention, as the result the child stayed calm and was not crying. Another lesson we can get from this poem is how to conquer the pain and it can be reflected into our lives. The unpleasant life always come and go, as long as we have the knowledge to conquer then we can pass the pain. Foremost we can deal and pass it with the calmness and patient. 

The gift is a symbol for the poet, and this is the gift that cannot be seen as a real form but it is a string of gift that is given to him morally. The gift is an abstract lesson and has a huge meaning to the future, and more than this the actions of father influence strongly in order to shape the child's personality.  As we read in this poem, the father is the concrete example in expressing his affection, and proved when the poet expresses his affection to his wife. He does the same way when the father treated him. If we relate the title "The Gift" and the gift itself is the tenderness from his father and I assume that the poet is trying to tell us that we should value the lessons and learning from our parents, and one day we may teach our children, or spouse based on the experience that we have. 

 In here, we can learn from the experiences about the children development in different ways. Firstly, the father's rebuked in and secondly is the father's tenderness then it can produce a point of view to the children. Sometimes parents are not aware about the action that makes the children become confused and make them introvert but the opposite thing is when the parents give full of support, full of affection, automatically the children feel comfortable. The understanding, the tenderness that parents give will be provisions to the future. In here, we learn based on literature and this is a place or it can be said as the media to share the feeling between the reader and the author.  We can dig the lessons about life from literature, because literature is a reflection of life. 

Another literary work that presents the expression of relationship between mother and child reveals in a poem "Mother's Day" by David Young. David Young was born in Devent port, Iowa. He is a professor of English Language. In his poem, he wants to reveal mother's love. Although the poem is short but it has deep meaning, every sentence contains the memory of his mother. This poem addresses to all children, and he wants to depict how mother's love is ever lasting. Mother's love contributes the instrument of children development. Love and compassion is one of the assets that bring the spirit to the life, foremost it brings from the mother. Love, compassion or affection manifests through the children' life and we have known that the real sample we have taken is from mother. In an atmosphere of affection or tenderness, these can educate the situation. In other words, mother is created to be the goddess of love to their children. 

The love and affection of mother love is very wide to define. Every human being should have understood about what mother love is. Someone's life will be so dry without mother's love. Mother's love means eternal. In order to create the love between families, each member should make the happiness to other members. Mother always gives the sense of affection for the father, the sons and the daughters. This will nourish the feelings and can bind to one another. If there is a grief to the family then it would be a grief to all members and vice versa, if there is happiness, then all the members can share the joy.  

Back to the poem "Mother's Day", David Young would like to show the mother's jobs and she does all the matters with sincerity. In the poem itself, the poet depicts the routine job, like paying the bill, lifting a magazine or book into a shelf. Maybe some people will say that this is an easy job but mother can do this without feeling bored. We know that the routine job sometimes makes us tired and bored, and that is the wonderful thing from mother, she always shows the best and never feels tired. If we take a look into the deeply heart, mother's love is the greatest love we have. Mother figure is remarkable and she has the best understanding to the children. The struggle of a mother to her children will never stop and it will continue to all time. Can you imagine, if mother takes off time and she does not take care of the house or the children; anyhow, mother never stops to shower the light to the family, how tired becoming a mother. Mother is an extraordinary person, she is the place where we run to, and she is the place for the family. Mother always provides the warmth when we feel cold. A mother's prayer is the emitted sacrifice to her children and she devotes it to whole lifetime, why she does it, just because she wants the children safe.

David Young as the poet expresses the remorse because, he states in the last sentence "and wish that I could say, and she could hear". Probably as the child, he has the dissident attitude towards his mother, and he hopes that he could mend the mistakes and could meet his mother again. Usually, teenagers have unstable perspective. They easily influenced by friends and surroundings, it is different with adult because adult able to conduct the problems. Other problems appear because the nature of adolescents cannot examine the issues that faced. These can affect to their family, foremost to the mothers. Mothers face the difficulties in handling the adolescents. Kindly, the mothers should be wise in facing the unstable behaviour. In this era, Adolescents construct the attitude become the rebellion. If the mother cannot understand this phase, probably the dispute happens between them. If we relate the reality life between the expressions of David Young's poem is about the mother, her love is like a lamp and never die. It is the symbol to figure out the love itself. 

Another example that can be learned by parents is in The Big Fish Movie. It tells about the relationship between father and son. The movie based on the novel and the author is Daniel Wallace. John August lifted the story into a screenplay. The story revolves around a dying father and his son, who is trying to learn more about his Dad by piecing together the stories he has gathered over the years. The son winds up recreating his father's elusive life in a series of legends and myths inspired by the few facts he knows. Through these tales, the son begins to understand his father's great feats and his great failings. (http://www.werewolfpage.com/multimedia/film/2000/bigfish.htm).  This movie is very interesting and touching.  Realizing or not, the way of parents love cannot be accepted easily and this happens between parents and the children. From the movie "The Big Fish", the problem appears when the son does not believe with what father has said. 

The story of Big Fish has a hyperbole sense, the father wants the son understand about the meaning of life. By telling story, Father gives a myth story and it has a symbol, but the opposite thing, the story looks unreasonable for his son and telling story is continuously into adult. This way shows that the father does not realize that the son is growing. The son tries to prove the story when the father getting sick. Misunderstanding between father and son happened because he felt that his father was telling a lie. The fact, father wanted to teach about the life so that the son can learn about the life based on the story. After some time, when the son grows up the he begun to understand with father's story, and when the son got married and he has a son then he starts to tell the same story to his son, including the myth and all the magic inside the story. Here we can see, the way he told the story is the same with his father. The role of parents was very influential on the psychology development. 

Life lessons and values above are served  in literature, and literature presents many stories and most of them based on the life story as well as the relationship between parents and children. Actually, we can see these topics deeper because literature is a product of the human life and it is reflected into novels, poems, moreover these can be figured to the movies also. Literature is kind of media to express their thought and draw the reality in order to understand about the life. From the life, literature appears, and it is as an expression of thought.  

Conclusion

Children are the gift from God; parents should be responsible to educate the children. Both father and mother have the same role to educate their children. Participation of parents in educating is the best key and it is the earlier of successful in family itself. Parenting is a pattern of behaviour that is applied by parents, and it is consistent to apply. The children can perceive this behaviour, either in the form of positive or negative behavioural patterns. That is why parents should be careful in applying of role and pattern of behaviour. 

There are some patterns in parenting ways:

1. Democratic

Parents who take care of their children with democratic way will produce independent and mature personality. In here, the children learn to determine something in their life and they will know how to be democratic person.    

2. The Authoritarian

Besides democratic way, there is an Authoritarian way that shows the way parents teach the children. It is not good because an authoritarian way stick to the parents rules. The children do not have opinion in giving the ideas; usually the children must follow the orders. 

3. The Carelessness

The parents do not care about children development. Usually the parents are very busy to their works, so the children are served by the material only. Therefore, the children will feel lonely and become introvert. They have problems to interact with the society. Finally, they feel no one beside them. 

Now, we can make a conclusion, which one is good or bad. Every day is a process to mend the mistakes or to make the role better and better if the circumstance has already been managed well then it will easier to shape the children' characters. Good habit or bad habit indicates the quality of family. The character does not happen by itself, the parents have duty to help them in finding identity. In other words, the process of socialization or education is very important to apply. Parents should make the family become a first place to learn the goodness; family is the microenvironment to attach the values of life. Parents have a big contribution to shape the character and to develop their children.

In family, the character of children will grow and it influenced to their future. From the children point of view, parents are the examples that followed by them. However, the parents should be able to handle the children and give attention to them but do not to spoil them; giving correct decision is a good way to help the children to learn when they have to choose something necessary. By taking the right role, the child will grow and develop optimally. Every child want to get attention from their parents, maybe it sounds simple but this the fundamental role in educating the children. The parents should not make any differences between the children (in context of affection). Another aspect that should be avoided is how to press the emotion, sometimes parents forget to conduct the anger and showing the emotion to the children and it makes them blue. 

It is the same as in literature aspects, mostly the author, or the poets would like to show the family life by his writing. These are the reflection of human life, which can be the examples to us. We have to peruse in order to help children psychology aspect. They need support from the parents. Children are parents' reflection; the power they get is from where they live. Family is the first place to develop their strengths, and more over the strengths can build the self-confidence when they want to determine their goals. With love and sincerity they will stand firmly to reach the future. The strengths they have are becoming their provision to face the world and to find their abilities they want to achieve, and let them become what they want to do.  Kids are precious gifts from God. They have beautiful faces, innocent and unique. Parents embraced are the most comfortable place for children.

(Sources; The Poems “Mnemonic, The Gift, Mother’s Day and The Big Fish movie, book: Marcus Buckingham; Find Your strongest Life.)

A Psychological study of Major Character in Novel Jodi Picoult Sing You Home (Literary Criticism)

1.1 Background

Basically, the observers of literary works have the aims to enjoy the literary forms, or to evaluate the literary works in form of novels, plays, poems or short stories. Some of them try to figure out the character by finding the curiosity, and this fictional character has a character and its associated with the psychological conflicts through the experienced by human in real life. The observers try to figure out by finding the elements based on novels, short stories, poetries, or screenplays as the primary data. In a short story or novel, we find some elements in the story. They are plot, setting, themes, and characters. These are very important to embody the story. 

M.H Abrams stated that the character is the person presented the dramatic or narrative work, who are interpreted by the readers as being endowed with moral, dispositional and emotional qualities that are expressed in what they say─dialogue─and by what they do─the action (Glossary Literary Terms, 7th edition, 1999:32). 

Generally, the authors depict the characters based on the human behaviours or follow the examples of human life and yet the authors have an aim to present the characters including the attitude, they way they speaks, and all the attributes that give the clue to guess the characters of them. These are the data to recognize the examples of human behaviour and the characterization of human being. 

Characters in a short story or novel can change according to plot; sometimes they become wise, grumpy, greedy, wicked or back to be wise and kind. The characters are the images of human being, in real life human can change because of life event. 

In a novel Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult, we find some characters, there are; Zoe (as the major character), Max, and Vanessa. This story tells about a woman who wants a baby, Max and Zoe were a couple as a husband and wife. They joined some methods to have a baby, apparently, the fortune did not hang on them, Zoe got pregnant tree times but the baby died after twenty weeks. The Doctor said that Zoe has anomaly blood problem that is why she cannot have a baby. Zoe was in the deep sorrow and frustrated, Max as her husband gave her the encouragement, but she was still in her mourning. Finally, Max felt tired with Zoe’s behaviour. Max thought that Zoe’s wishes were too excessive. Besides, Max would rather to wait naturally. One day, he asked Zoe to divorce and it was her second disaster after losing her babies. After some time she met Vanessa, she felt that her days were changing. Astonishingly, they became lesbian and had intention to make a family and finally they got married. After married to Vanessa, Zoe remembered that she had tree embryos and kept them in Clinic fertility. The dispute happened because Zoe fought to have that embryos, she had intention to raise the baby with Vanessa. Max did not agree with the idea and secretly he wanted to give the baby to his brother. Time after time, Zoe faced many conflict to her life. These are  the unexpected things happen through her life, and it makes people change through the behaviour such as normal become lesbian, wise become stubborn, desire to have a baby, or ego binds between. These are human characters, and all of these can be depicted into a story. We can also learn about human behaviour through the psychoanalysis through the fiction characters in novel, or short story.  

Back to the elements of story, we can detect one of them and the writer would like to emphasize about the character in novel “Sing You Home”, especially the major character in this novel. Zoe as the major character and she is categorized as around character.

 “Around character is complex in temperament and motivation and is represented particularity; such a character therefore is difficult to describe with any adequacy as persons, is capable of surprising us” (M. H Abrams, Glossary of Literary term, 7th edition, 1999; 33). 

Zoe becomes round character because of life event and her passion to have a baby. She wants to personify her passion to have a baby in all the way, time pass by, after her meeting with Vanessa then she becomes lesbian. However, she does not care about people’s perspective; her purpose is just to have a baby and having a happy life with Vanessa. 

1.2 Statement of Problem

The problem that analyzed is: 

1. Why Zoe has a huge desire to have a baby?

1.3 Theoretical Approach

As we know that human’s character can change due to life experienced and why people have such a great desire to have something, and it makes the writer would like to find out the answer why Zoe has a big desire to have a baby.  In this writing paper, the writer would like to use Sigmund Frued Psychoanalysis to answer the statement problem. Why does the writer choose this theory to answer the statement problem? Because the psychoanalysis related to people’s character, conscious or unconsciousness behaviour reflected human behaviour. Sigmund Frued is a father of psychoanalysis; he was an Australian neurologist (born Sigismund Schlomo Frued; 6 May 1856-23 September 1939) launched the theory about structural elements in human personality; there are Id, Ego, and Superego. (Structural Model Personality;  http://allpsych.com/psychology101/ego.htm) 

2. Discussion 

According to Frued theory “Structural Model Personality”, every human has an Id, and it relates to human needs, such as; we need to eat, drink, and shelter. After the Id has fulfilled then it will move become ego. Ego is based on reality principle and it takes into reality consideration. Ego can be positive and can be negative and these are derived by a huge desire and sometimes become a selfish person or it is impulse to the heart says. When a person’s thought become mature then they will have superego. Superego is the stages of development into a maturity way. It contains moral, ethical, values, and knowing right or wrong. These stages can be used as the balance of mind, heart and reality. Frued explained that in healthy people, they can fill each stage equally. (http://allpsych.com/psychology101/ego.html) 

In the story of Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult, Zoe Baxter as the major character has a huge desire to have a baby. Besides, she becomes a lesbian, and she has a small chance to have a baby but she keeps fighting to have a right to raise the baby and would like to live in harmony with Vanessa. In this case, the writer would like to analyze Zoe’s character based on Sigmund Frued theory, and these are the analysing:

1. Based on Sigmund Frued theory, the first element of human personality is influenced by Id. Id is an important part of our personality because as newborns it allows us to get our basic needs (http://allpsych.com/psychology101/ego.html). Basic human needs are the elements required for survival and normal mental and physical health, such as food, water, protection from environmental threats, and love. 

“According to Abraham, he conceptualizes about the basic needs are the following five levels of needs, arranged in a ladder starting with lower need and moving on to higher needs: 1. Physiological needs, for example, hunger, thirst; 2. Safety needs, for example security, stability; 3. Belongingness and love needs, for example, affection, identification; 4. Esteem needs for example prestige, self respect; 5. Need for self-actualization” (Krech,et al; 1974: 462). Maslow criticizes the Frued’s theory and defines about the basic needs clearly. 

 Zoe Baxter, as the major character in novel Sing You Home was trying to find the social    needs (belongingness and love) after her divorced. She found Vanessa and they become a lesbian couple. One day, they declared as husband and wife. In this stage, Zoe has already gotten Id and it is for her first fulfilment.

“In the literal sense, anyway I’m fulfilled by her, which is way better. The real difference between my marriage to Max and my relationship with Vanessa has nothing to do with sex only, actually. It’s about balance. When Max would come home, I’d wonder if he was in a good mood, or if he had a good day- and I’d become a person he needed me accordingly. With Vanessa, I get to come home just to be me, with Vanessa I wake up and think: This is my best friend, this is the most brilliant person in my life...” (Sing You Home: 204) 

2. After the first element, people try to find others need to reach their goals. Frued called this part as the Ego. “Ego is based on reality principle. In this stage, the ego understands that ego will come after the first element has fulfilled. In this phase, people need desire or sometimes being impulsive or selfish” (http://allpsych.com/psychology101/ego.html 

Zoe Bexter wants to have a baby. If we take look at our minds, this is kind of illogical sense that a couple of lesbian could have a baby, instead of a normal spouse needs a man and woman to have a baby. In this case, Zoe does not think about it. Her ego rises, because she remembers that she has frozen embryos with her X-husband. At that time, Zoe and Max joined some methods to have a baby. They did not succeed in joining methods; three times pregnancy fell before the date of birth. Zoe thought that she has to fight to have that embryos and she has planned to get them. We can catch that Zoe’s ego is huge and it is just because her passion. Zoe wants to have a normal life like other people, have a baby and husband. In here, Max has been replaced by Vanessa. Zoe fought to get the embryos, and Max does not give his permit to raise the baby. The other sides, Zoe does not realize her big ambition to have baby makes her character looking unreasonable. 

“I understand better than anyone, but I also understand that this is my last chance to have a biological child, Mother replied, ‘You live with Vanessa in her home, is that correct?’ Vanessa argued, ‘Yes, We are married!’’.... (Sing You Home; 411). 

 The only thing she wanted is just to have a baby and she forgets about the gratitude and God. 

Counsellor, “You don’t think much of people who go to church, do you?’, Zoe answered; ”I think everyone should be entitled to believe what they want which includes not believing at all....” Counsellor; “So you wouldn’t plan to raise these pre- born children with any religion?’ Zoe replied again, “I don’t know.... I am going to raise a child to be loved and to show love; to be self-respecting, open-minded, and tolerant of everyone. If I can find the right religious group to support that, then maybe we will join it.” (Sing You Home; 413). 

 Zoe also takes a court and contact the human right foundation to grab the embryos. Pro and contra combine to those who know Zoe’s problems, but she does not care and never gives up having the embryos. We can trace through Zoe’s behaviour, it is about ego and the ego that binds her. She thought that being a mother and having a baby are her completely happiness. That is why and no matter how she fights to get them. Sometimes, ego drives people into a selfish space. 

3. Based on Frued theory, after ego in structural models is Superego. Superego is a great management to conduct Id and Ego. Superego is the moral part of us and develops due to the moral and ethical restraints placed on us by our caregivers (http://allpsych.com/psychology101/ego.html). It is the stage of development into maturity way. Zoe becomes a little bit calm after hearing the advice from Vanessa and her words makes her rationalization appear.

Vanessa said, “Safety is relative; you can be so close to the shore that you can practically feel it under your feet, when you suddenly find yourself breaking apart on the rocks. And that’s life...” (Sing You Home; 451). 

Rationalization have two purposes, first is to decrease the disappointment when we failed to reach the goal and the second is to give a motive that can received to the behaviour (Hilgard, et al., 1975; 443-444).    After some time, Zoe had intention to meet her X-husband. She needed to talk about their frozen embryos. She explained her feeling to Max without any vexations. Apparently, Zoe started to open her heart and no longer using her ego. In this stage, superego appears to conduct the ego. When Zoe met Max, she talks defencelessness, she said to Max;

 “First I lost my son. Then I lost you. Now I stand here to lose the embryos... and there will not be anything left. Yes take them, and yes take the embryos...” (Sing You Home; 453). This time, Zoe’s sincerity began conducting her. 

At the court, Zoe sat between her mother and Vanessa.  After hearing the Zoe’s words last night, suddenly Max change his mind, Max walked toward his X-wife and said, “Zoe... I am sorry... you had to go through all this.... –Zoe was crying, and said,’ they will have a good life..’I promise, and I hand her the legal document Wade Preston, which why I am giving them to you...” (Sing You Home; 460). 

Finally, after struggling in such long way, Max approves Zoe’s wishes to raise the embryos, she wins the court, and she can raise the baby with Vanessa.

Frued believed that human character is strongly influenced by three elements and people will change because of one element cannot be fulfilled by certain conditions. Zoe has a huge desire to have a baby because her ego dominates her.  

3. Conclusion 

After the discussion above, the writer wraps up the summary that the behaviour is the result of the conflict and it is a reconciliation of the three systems of personality (Id, Ego, and Superego). The factors that influenced the personality are from the past and contemporary events, these are the factors that forming the individual. The unconsciousness and consciousness thoughts reflect to the human behaviour also. The things that follow the human needs are satisfaction, that is why people try to pursue the aim of life and it based on their goal. Zoe as the major character in novel Sing You Home has dissatisfaction life, it forced her to posses her wishes, and this is the cause that her ego operates her personality. Zoe wants to have a baby because her ego dominates her personality. Psychology conflicts drives someone’s behaviour change (normal become abnormalities behaviour such as; gay or lesbian)    

4. Bibliography
allpsych.com/psychology101/ego.html,htpp://www.simplypsychology.org/maslow.html. Glossary of literary terms, 7th edition, 1999, Novel Sing You Home, by Jodi Picoult, 2011, Literary Criticism, Introduction to Theory and Practice, 2nd edition, 1999-1994, Psikology Sastra, Albertine Minderop, 2010.

Srintil is a victim of Sex Exploitation

The story of the Dancer by Ahmad Tohari (Trilogy Novel) represents about the Srintil’s life of being a Ronggeng dancer in Dukuh Paruk village, Central Java. At that time, Srintil was eleven years old and she had crowned as a Ronggeng Dancer and and it was bounded her to play with other friends because She had to follow the rituals as a Ronggeng dancer. In Dukuh Paruk village, Ronggeng was a symbol of the right hand from the ancestor whose name Ki Secamenggala that was why the villagers felt enthusiastically to respond the event. Srintil was innocent of being a Ronggeng Dancer and she just followed the rituals. One of the rituals that must be followed by her was Bukak Klambu. It was kind of hell for her because she had to give her virginity to the man who could pay the Dukun Ronggeng highest. It was the final ritual for her to become a ronggeng and legitimate her as a Ronggeng Dancer. Srintil had no choice as a kid. Ironically, her grandfather supported the rituals as a Ronggeng dancer. In this story, Srintil became a victim of sex exploitation. 

After the last ritual which called Bukak Kelambu, Srintil as a major character in novel The Dancer begun to dance officially and had a duty to satisfy the men. The fate had written that she had to dance and slept with men. The dukun Ronggeng always took care of Srintil’s body beautifully. Many people adored her as a ronggeng and many men would like to sleep with her, the more they could give the money, the more they could enjoy Srintil’s body. Secretly, the dukun ronggeng whose name Nyi Kertareja had massaged Srintil’s womb so that she could not get pregnant. If she got pregnant, it would be the last carrier for her and the dukun could not get the money from her. Basically, Sritntil had a talent to be a dancer, she danced beautifully and followed the instrument of the music elegantly. Every time she danced with a man, it would be ended by the desire fulfillment. 

A matter of fact, Nyi Kertareja and Ki Kertareja (a couple of dukun ronggeng) had a big contribution in order to develop Srintil’s carrier as a ronggeng dancer. She always persuaded Srintil so that she wanted to perform her dancing and got a lot of money from the guests especially men who want to sleep with her. The more she could sleep with the men, the more she got the money or gold. Without realized, Srintil had been using by the dukun ronggeng. The purpose was to enrich the dukun ronggeng, and took benefit from Srintil’s performance. At the odd moment, Srintil did not want to perform as a ronggeng, but the dukun ronggeng always reminded that Ki Secamenggala as the ancestor would be angry if she did not want to dance. 

At the age of eighteen, Srintil was realized by the condition of life, she did not want to be a dancer anymore, and she had known the meaning of being a woman. She wanted to have husband, and children. She missed a normal life like other people. Srintil thought that if she slept with a man, it would become as prostitution but for the villagers, it was a quite common. Time passed by, Srintil could not avoid as a ronggeng dancer. Right up to the politic case in Dukuh Paruk village, Srintil was trapped by the problems that she did not know, foremost about the political subfield. Dukuh Paruk only knew about Ki Secamenggala who protect the village and never knew about politic systems, and at that time, there was an assault in the village. The government hustled out the villagers and had to leave the Dukuh Paruk land. Bajus was one of Srintil’s friends who sold her to the politic leaders; again… Srintil had to give her body to fill the lust. Srintil was trapped by the situation. The life pressure made her crazy and lived in the deep sorrow. Finally, Srintil lost her conscious thought. She was sent to the hospital to recover her memories. Injustice life made her down and stress.  Sex exploitation was huge terrible in her life. It is called as veiled prostitution and deviation from the culture.  

From the story above, we can catch that Srintil is being a victim of social event (cultures, customs or traditions). There is no space to explore the abilities as women, sometimes the culture transforms as roles, and they cannot hide it. Srintil was one of victims from sex exploitation, at night she had to dance as ronggeng and in a day, she had to sleep with men. Ahmad Tohari describes how the culture arranges the woman and put her as a second gender or as a submission only. Sadly, she did not have any rights as human being, and it still happens around us and this is one of the oppressions to the women. Imagine! How if the innocent face have to be a sex worker like Srintil and she cannot flee from the roles. To be honest, if I were Srintil, it would be a disaster life ever! and this is the saddest life ever. This story is one of the reflections human lives that have written. I myself do not know whether Ahmad Tohari witnesses himself about the tradition of being a ronggeng or not, but I ever read about the history of ronggeng itself. It is about the thanksgiving dancing to the gods, especially Dewi Sri, the goddess of rice but in Srintil’s case it is bounded sex exploitation, but as we know that literature is one of the resembles of human life. The author tries to present the story that appears in social lives. We have known that many facts tell the same that women are treated as the second gender, and have no choice to their lives. Women and men are born to be equal; there is no specialization status of being men or women. Women are not a tool to satisfy a lust, and not a means of reproduction only. Women have the rights to get the same position among the social lives.       

Even the Jungle and the Dweller Could Talk Deeply (Book Report)

The history of the salt of the jungle represents the values of life. In this story, we can learn the values from “The Monkeys”. It is funny but true. We can imagine how the monkeys have wonderful behaviour, which is

called “The Loyalty”. Yes, because female monkey tried to help her mate after Mr Dieu has shot the male monkey. Furthermore, she tried to resist Mr Dieu. The touching of the story of the monkeys and the theme of loyalty can be a mirror to reflect human life. In this story, we can find the strategic of how they protect the fellows, how they overcome the problems. The salt of the jungle is interesting to be read.

Mr Dieu is the major character in this story. He has an idea to go hunting, when his son gave him a gift. It is a double-barrelled and he is so happy to have it. In the way to hunt, he finds some troubles after he shot the male monkey and the dispute happens because the monkeys feel unsecure, some of them appear from the top of the trees as if they want to stalk the incident. Mr Dieu never thinks tha the monkeys will try to prevent their community or they will try to fight against him. The baby monkey tries to grab the weapon when the shotgun drops to the land and drag it far from the owner. As the story progress, Mr Dieu finally has a guilty feeling. He changes his mind after seeing the monkey dying. He also tries to help the monkey to bandage the wound. 

The interesting thing from the book appears when we know the monkeys’ behaviour. First is the togetherness between the monkeys, they have sense to cover their fellows. The second is the loyalty of the female monkey and it is shown by her actions. It is a good partner in order to face the troubles even the baby monkey has purpose in it. Yes, of course, it is funny, instead, it is just a baby monkey. The last is about the solidarity. When one of the monkeys feels unsecured, they will be hand in hand to cover the members or they will fight against the enemy to protect the groups. This is astonishing action from them. Here, we can compare to the human life, do we have values as they do? Realizing or not, nowadays people are so rare to care each other. People are so busy with their own business and egoism dominates them. The salt of the jungle is another aspect of life where we can learn about life and the values, all of these are so priceless.   

The Effect of Divorce to the Children

Divorce is being separate to their couples in order to make ending the status between husband and wife. Now days many spouse decide to be apart, because they think about infelicity as being husband and wife. Sadly, most divorce influences the children characteristics. Sometimes parents forget about it. Many cases appear because the children unstable to conduct the emotion. Kids may feel uncertain or angry at the prospect of Mom and Dad splitting up.

The cases of divorce can be in many factors, Cathy Meyer is a certified Marriage and Relationship Educator and she holds a master Degree in Psychology from the University of Alabama explain the major of divorce. She concludes after a year working with the clients. She said there are three majors why spouse take the decision to be apart. Firstly, laziness is the first phase that occurs before divorce happen. Laziness means the couple feels reluctant to maintain the marriage life. The couple must learn about the relationship. Mostlythey do not keep and not holding to the commitment they have made, and blame each other. Cathay Mayer said, “Marriage takes hard work, if you want to make your marriage life will not last”. Secondly, lack of communication skills. It means communication between spouses is necessary. The spouses do not know how to impress their feelings besides they do not want to try to be a good listener each other. Thirdly ishigh expectation to the marriage life. Sometimes men and women think about what they want before they communicate the aim to marry someone. 

Since the marriage life does not have foundation, of course the purpose will not come to the top of goal. Misunderstanding can be a trigger for the couples. Apparently, maturity is the key to hold the marriage life, no matter how hard if we look at the basic aim, the couples can survive in order to maintain the marriage life rather than to have separation. 

Egoistic between the couple can bring the kind of victims to the children. Marriage couples who have children will find another case. Regrettably, parents do not think about it. They just set out the egoism aspects, and parents mostly ignore the effects of divorce. Serious impacts remain to the children because they cannot handle their emotion after seeing separation. The children are faced with multiple stressors, and they will have brittle characters. The law of advisor in UK explained the effect of divorce to the children producetraumatic feeling, and feeling fear.According to Dr.Guidubaldy’s researched that the children who exposed with divorced are likely twice to repeat a grade; it is the same with problem learning.

Based on The Law of Advisor in UK, traumatic feeling occurred when the children realized that the parents do not live in the same roof anymore. Children will have feeling sad, because they have unstable emotion. Grieving of losing the parents, and they feel that they have are gone. Daily routine which settle become ruin and feeling sad to face their life and it makes trauma feeling remain in them. Children are like adult they need a time to release their feeling, traumatic appears becoming anger characteristic. 

Feeling fear or even overwhelming fear is what they feel about parents’ separation. Children will feel alone, they feel no one hold them to face the future. Children are innocent they feel afraid that they cannot meet their parents anymore.

Problem learning, Dr.Guidubady explained his research, “Children who exposed to divorce are twice as likely to repeat a grade and five times likelier to be expelled or suspended from school”. We can see the seriousness effect of divorce influenced the children directly. Do not let it happen, wise couple will not make the marriage life end.

However, divorce is not the solution to the marriagelife. We need to learn more about what is relationship between husband and wife. Kindly parents have to think about the effect to the children also. Throw away the emotion and think twice before having decision because we are not alone. Marry someone is not merely to think about two persons. Realized that another member’s family are bound in it. The children will extremely feel the effect of divorce after separation. Learn to be wise is the key to hold the marriage life. 

No body perfect in this world, acceptance, struggled in honest, the softness, and forgiveness are the tools in order to defend the problems. The children are the assets from the family itself, we have to take care of them. Children are the mirrors, and they become our reflections. They need provision to face the future, and this is our jobs to shape the characteristics so that they can be strong persons to reach their goals. 

Sources; Simple free law advisor.co.uk/<http://www.sfla.co.uk/effectschildren.htm> and Three Major Causes of Divorce, The effect of Divorce to the Children,<http://divorcesupport.about.com/od/isdivorcethesolution/a/Three-Major-Causes-Of-Divorce.htm>

I and My Lovely Bird (Short Story)

One day, I walked along through the small forest. I was singing, humming and swirled along, at that time I was so happy. I saw the flowers were blooming, butterfly was flying and the wind blew through the grass. The wind flowed softly and it spread out the fragrance, so fresh and tender. The ray of sun peeped from the boughs, as if the sun was shy.  

 I kept walking, my mouth still kept humming. At that time I was happy but I felt no one beside me. I suddenly got sad, I walked slower. My sadness picked the tears up so that my eyes were watery. When I mused about my sadness then I walked slower, I heard a bird tweeted. It turned me walked slowest and some steps ahead I heard the sound of bird clearer but the sound heard differently. It seemed hurt, sad, and pain yet the bird kept tweeting. My eyes looked around, above, left, right and suddenly stopped to the big tree. Again my sight looked above and walked nearer to the tree. I saw one nest perched on a big bough, I whispered myself “Where is the bird, I only see the nest”. Still I heard the bird tweeted, I walked nearer to the tree and tried to find the bird. Second time I whispered myself “Ohh.. Bird, I know that you are hurt, let me find you first”, my lips were grumble to find the bird. In around five steps ahead I found the dense grass and I saw the bird in the middle. I did not think twice, I took the bird from the grass immediately. The bird’s color was blue but looked pale, limp and the right wing was wound, I saw the bird wishfully. I myself promised to cure the bird.

I took the bird home quickly. As I arrived at home, I made the bird clean. After all I gave him medicine, food, drink and put the bird to the small cage. I felt so glad because I had a new friend. Day by day I took care of him and I could talk with him, I realized the bird could not talk nor speak but at least I had a friend. Every time I came to the cage, I always asked him, “Hi... Little blue bird, how are you.. Do you feel better now?”. The bird answered with gesture as if he felt better and I knew from his eyes. The bird tweeted beautifully. Woow.. I was surprised by its. I told him “hey you just like sing a song my dear come on keep tweeting”. I smile widely. The bird knew that I was happy at that time I gave him out from the cage. I told him “Come on, come out, we go to the garden. It’s time for you learning how to fly”. Most of time I spent my days with him, we talked each other, I played with him, I sang a song, even I could dance with him and when I sang a song, he replied with his sound beautifully. I was proud, I could cure his wound, and the bird became healthy. I love the bird very much, I thought that he was the only love and friend I had.

Sunday morning, I told to the bird after we had breakfast “My dear bird, you have to practice again.. :)”, the bird tweeted as if he nodded agree. And I replied “Yes of course how to fly. I know you have proven the way you fly, but I want you to be a good flier” the bird tweeted loudly, he knew and happy about it. I and my bird went to the meadow, there was one big tree. I sat on a log. The bird was on my shoulder. Again and again I asked him “Come on fly, if you feel tired, you can sit on my shoulder again”. The bird was so spoiled, sometimes he flied diligently and sometimes he was so lazy. Spontaneity I said something to him “Darling, I know that you love me, and I love you too. But I want you to be independent and not depend on me. My purpose is to cure and encourage you. One day you will go far away to find your nature, do not worry.. my love will never less. Anytime you can come to me and bring your spouse here”. The bird tweeted loudly, as if he would not go. His motioned regret, as if he knew what I was saying about. His gesture assured me that he did not want to go. And I assured him back that I would not leave him, “hey don’t worry about me, I’m Ok here. You know I lived alone before. In the mean time I found you. But I know that you will not with me for whole life time. My love is big for you, do you know How I love you..?. Now, you have to practice again “. At once the bird tweeted louder and louder. I smiled and the bird flied. After some time I did not realize while I was sitting the bird sat behind me. My thought was running, even I assured the bird, in the deep within I was so sad. If the bird leave, I will feel lonely. I strengthen myself for it. Suddenly, I was jerked by the bird but I smiled because of his sound, and I asked him to go home.

The next day, I woke up from slumber. I saw the time, and it showed morning time. As usual I went to make breakfast and checked the cage. I shocked because the bird has gone, I forgot to lock the cage. I was so nervous when I went out I did not find him. I looked at the back yard because I heard his sound tweeting. In short ordered I went to find him. He played with his friends, he flied around the trees, he teased his friends, so attracted. I shouted him “hey come on! Go back, you have not gotten your breakfast..!”. The bird flied hastily and came to me. I was afraid of losing him. The bird followed me and I thought he knew that I was angry. At home I told him “You know, it is prohibited for you if you go out without my permit, you got it…!!”. The bird tweeted sadly.

 I remembered the day when I left him, I bought some food for us. As I went back home, I did not find him, I yelled him but no answered. I moved around the house, my anger arose. I shouted “Hey bird, where are you..!!, did you know I go to buy some food for you, I bought you a favorite food, and why you go again, this is the second time you go without my permit!!”. I peeped through the window, and I saw him. He played with the same birds like yesterday, and another one came and played with him. I thought he has forgotten me, I myself grumbled “Now you have a good condition, now you can fly away, now you have some friends. I know that you have a right to do these, but I want you ask me first. You have to ask my permission to go outside, you forget that!!” I was so sad, I didn’t want to lose him. I was afraid being lonely, I gave him affection, I gave him love, I care so much about him, even more when he was sick and wound. Suddenly I was shocked by him. He chirruped beside the windows, I walked and looked outside. I saw from his eyes that he was happy to see me, but I was not!. I opened the door, he came in and chirruped. He wanted to show that he was fine and health enough and he was happy to have some friends. But he knew I didn’t happy with that and he sad, he stopped to chirrup and perch on the table. And stared on me, I knew he assured that he would not go, he just happy because he became well.

My awareness changed to him, I felt he denied me. I was thinking that I gave him the best but he didn’t appreciate it. The bird knew it, he was so sad. Even so many times he was chipping, tweeting to entertain me. He did it every day, and still I had a heart for him. For some times I teased him and we backed to our laughter, we share our world as if no one between us. But.. again I disappointed with him when he went with no permit, and went back home late at night. One day he perched on my right shoulder, he tweeted like to ask about permit, he wanted to go outside. I didn’t answer and I crumpled my face, I told him with regret “Bird if you want to go just go! As usual u didn’t need my permission even to go outside”. The bird fly. When he came home I told him “Bird, I love you. You are my best friend, you are the place I share, but I realized we cannot go along for whole life time. Now I give you a time to go, to find your nature, to breathe the fresh air, I don’t want to build a fence around you. I set you free even I love you. Again the bird tweet sadly. 

Some days after we chatted and I have conveyed about what I want and what I feel, the bird went again and back home. And on the next day he tried to ask about permission to go outside. I just nodded, and he flied. I sat on the couch and mused to my heart, I recalled when I met him. I was so happy but also I wanted to cure his wound and promised to give him back to the nature. Just thought I was wrong even I had a love but didn’t mean to be over protected. I didn’t deny I was afraid being lonely. But I forgot my purpose to the bird. I felt stumble and fall when my loneliness came, and these was so mixed into my thought. But I built my struggles to be strong.

 One evening time, the bird perched on my right shoulder like usual he did. He chirruped beautifully. I smiled on him, I told him “Go if you want to go outside, I love you dear. When you happy then I feel happy, when you feel down then I would be the same” the bird replied with his beautiful sound. And he flied away, I was standing and still looked at him. In a short time he came back on my shoulder. I told him “why you come at soon? Huh.. You like to fly, don’t you?” The bird looked sad. My eyes looked at the trees while I was talking to the bird ”Hey look, I see your friends on the trees, go with them, you have to join with them, and you must be happy”. Down deep within my heart, I was really sad. I pretended my feeling, I become a great pretender as if I was strong to face my loneliness. And the bird flied and looked back on me but I posed my face with a smile. The bird flied to find his friends.

At night when I went to sleep the bird came, he chirruped beautifully as if he sang a song. On my bed, I was crying. My tears rolled down hardly. I knew I would be alone and lonely. But I sincere with all the things I have done to him. This is the way I love him, to let him go, to let him free, to find his happiness. I was thinking  "If God wills, He will find us back. If not it means he has own life. So If I dont want to find him again, it doesn't mean to forget but I'm trying do not depend on him".  

What is Love? What is an affection? What is care? What is sincerity? Yes.. Love doesn’t always to have. It’s really hard, other words may say Love does not demand and better have no expectation when we have given our loves to those we love. Realizing the life, it can be to our children, our lovers, our friends, because when we expect something it makes hard to our feelings. God knows best even He has met us to the people with their own purpose yet dont be sad if they go away from you or gruffly to leave, even we've done the best for someone we love but they go. That’s hurt but for sure kindness and love always valuable to those who sincere with the deed. Good deed will always linger and God never sleeps, he counts every kindness and every Love we have shared.