thesis 2016 full
TRANSCRIPT
INDIVIDUALISM IN AMERICAN 21ST
CENTURY SOCIETY
IN THE TIME KEEPER BY MITCH ALBOM
A Thesis
Submitted in Fulfillment of Requirements
Bachelor Degree Program
in English Literature
By:
Raihana Nurherdini
Student No. 0403512019
English Department
FACULTY OF LETTERS
UNIVERSITY OF AL AZHAR INDONESIA
JAKARTA
2016
i
―By the time. Indeed mankind is in loss. Except those who have believe and
done righteous deeds and advised each other to truth and advised each other to
patience.‖
{Q.S Al-Asr 103:1-3}
ii
APPROVAL OF THESIS SUPERVISORS
This thesis entitled ―Individualism in American 21st Century Society in The Time
Keeper by Mitch Albom‖ had been approved by the reviewers below:
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APPROVAL OF THESIS EXAMINATION COMMITTEE
This thesis entitled ―Individualism in American 21st Century Society in The Time
Keeper by Mitch Albom‖ had been examined on September 26, 2016 and
approved by the reviewers below:
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RESEARCH STATEMENT OF RESPONSIBILITY
This thesis submitted as partial to fulfillments of the requirement for Bachelor
Degree in Faculty of Letters University of Al Azhar Indonesia as the result of my
own work. I could verify and take responsibility for this paper entitled
“Individualism in American 21st Century Society in The Time Keeper by Mitch
Albom” under the supervision of Dr. Free Hearty, M.Hum. and Dra. Ria
Herwandar, M.Ed. except where otherwise acknowledge, and this thesis proposal
(or any part the same) has not been submitted for higher degree to any other
Universities of Institutions.
Jakarta, September 9, 2016
Raihana Nurherdini
Student No. 0403512019
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
AL-QUR’AN VERSE ........................................................................................... i
APPROVAL OF THESIS SUPERVISORS ...................................................... ii
APPROVAL OF THESIS EXAMINATION COMMITTEE ......................... iii
RESEARCHES STATEMENT OF RESPONSIBILITY ................................ iv
TABLE OF CONTENTS .................................................................................... v
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ................................................................................ vii
ABSTRACT ........................................................................................................ ix
ABSTRAK ............................................................................................................ x
CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION .................................................................... 1
1.1 Background of Study ................................................................................. 1
1.2 Research Questions .................................................................................... 8
1.3 Purposes of the Study ................................................................................ 8
1.4 Method of Research ................................................................................... 8
1.5 Significances of the Study ......................................................................... 9
1.6 Systematization ....................................................................................... 10
CHAPTER II THEORETICAL BACKGROUND .................................... 11
2.1 Cultural Studies ........................................................................................ 12
2.1.1 Representation Approach .............................................................. 13
2.2 Individualism: Theory and Practice ......................................................... 17
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2.2.1 History of Individualism ............................................................... 17
2.2.2 Factor and Impact of Individualism ............................................. 19
2.2.3 Values of Individualism ............................................................... 21
2.3 Intrinsic Elements .................................................................................... 22
2.3.1 Character and Characterization .................................................... 22
2.3.2 Setting ........................................................................................... 24
CHAPTER III ANALYSIS ........................................................................... 25
3.1 Characters as Representation of American Individualism ....................... 26
3.1.1 Victor Delamonte ......................................................................... 28
3.1.2 Sarah Lemon ................................................................................. 37
3.1.3 Dor ............................................................................................... 46
3.2 Setting as Representation of American Individualism ............................ 55
3.2.1 New York City, America .............................................................. 55
3.2.2 Babylon, Mesopotamia ................................................................. 57
3.3 Time in Relevance of American Individualism ....................................... 60
CHAPTER IV CLOSING ............................................................................. 63
BIBLIOGRAPHY .............................................................................................. 67
BIOGRAPHY .................................................................................................... 69
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Bismillahirrahmanirrahim. Alhamdulillah ‗ala kulli Hal. In the name of
Allah SWT, the Lord of the Worlds, the Beneficent and the Merciful. Syukron
Allhamdulillah, praises for Him who give me strength into the straight path to
able completing this thesis. Also, praise to the last prophet Muhammad SAW for
His guide who taught a good living as human is to be grateful and always doing
good to others, which have been inspired me well to convey this knowledge that
may be useful and keen to be learned. Amin.
I would like to utter couple words to my beloved family: for my father in
Heaven who bring me to this world, my mother who was safely birth me twenty-
two years ago and keen to always keep an eye even in distance, my Ayah who
firm me to be on righteous path of Allah SWT, and also my brothers, sisters and
the cats who fill my day so precious. Last but not least, my gratitude would not
be enough to my grandpa H. Asharsono D.D.K in Heaven and my grandma Hj S.
R. Asharsono D.D.K who eager to raised and taught me everything about how to
live and to be a tough girl for struggling in this ephemeral world. Bless you.
I would like to express my gratitude to Dr. Ir. Ahmad H. Lubis, M.Sc. as
the Rector of University of Al Azhar Indonesia, Dr. Faisal Hendra, M.Ed. as the
Dean of Faculty of Letters, and Sherien Sabbah, S.Sn., M.Hum. as the Head of
English Department. Deeply thank you to Dr. Free Hearty, M.Hum, as my first
supervisor and Dra. Ria Herwandar, M.Ed., as my second supervisor for their
supervision, time, suggestions, advices, and patience to help me accomplish the
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final assignment. For all my lectures; Andhika Pratiwi, S.S, M.Hum., Lusi Lian
Piantari, S.S, M.Hum., Era Bawarti S.Sos., M. Hum., Paramita Ayuningtyas,
S.Hum., Zarmahenia Mahzar, S.S, M.Hum., Drs. Murni Djamal, M.A., Diding
Fahrudin, Dr. Fokky Fuad, SH., M.Hum., and M. Ghozali Moenawar, Lc.,
M.Si.—who are teaching within sense of fun and good spirit when learning.
Thank you.
Big thanks for memorable classmates English Department 2012 as my
second family, ―Sastra… Selamanya!!‖ And other relatives in groups: Kumis-
Kiwil-Gado-Usro-Beni-Gondrong-Moro-Rumiyati as part of places where for
having good quality food for lunch, chill out and share jokes either in sunny day
or rainy day ‗always keep smile‘ when have faced tasks. Not to forget for all my
brotherhood from Faculty of Law 2012 and Faculty of Communication 2012,
Basketball team and Musik Sore UAI for the time we have fun together, and my
sisterhood from various departments which I cannot mention one by one–who
have share remarkable stories as part of my college life. Kindly regards to
mention Bobby and Sahlan for the bro-friendship since the first year until now.
May the Force be with you…
Jakarta, September 9, 2016
Raihana N
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ABSTRACT
This research entitled ―Individualism in American 21st Century Society in The
Time Keeper by Mitch Albom‖ briefly discusses about culture and behavior that
defines issue of individualism as American character which is represented. The
values consisting of independency, equality, privacy, competition, and freedom
are protected by American policies: life, liberty and property. Besides, 21st
century became a significant time of cultural development related to the values
that gives impact to the technology, education, economic, and politic after global
war. Thus, United States of America recognized as a superpower country within
strong values.
Keywords: Individualism, American values, Time, 21st century, Representation.
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ABSTRAK
Penelitian ini berjudul ―Individualisme di Amerika abad ke-21 Masyarakat di The
Time Keeper oleh Mitch Albom‖ singkat membahas tentang budaya dan perilaku
yang mendefinisikan masalah individualisme sebagai karakter Amerika yang
diwakili. Nilai-nilai yang terdiri dari independensi, kesetaraan, privasi, kompetisi,
dan kebebasan yang dilindungi oleh kebijakan Amerika: hidup, kebebasan dan
properti. Selain itu, abad ke-21 menjadi waktu yang signifikan dari
perkembangan budaya yang berkaitan dengan nilai-nilai yang memberikan
dampak pada teknologi, pendidikan, ekonomi, dan politik setelah perang global.
Dengan demikian, Amerika Serikat diakui sebagai negara adidaya dalam nilai-
nilai yang kuat.
Katakunci: Individualisme, Nilai-nilai Amerika, Waktu, Abad ke-21, Representasi.
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CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
America is a superpower nation and superior on many major industries
and technologies in global development. America has a basic value that is highly
attached within society. It has comprise the principle of Individualism, include
freedom, competitiveness and privacy, equality, informality, future, change and
progress, goodness of humanity, time, achievement, action, work, and
materialism, and directive and assertive (Althen, 2011:4). This general ideology
of American culture was precipitated by U.S American itself. Increasing self-
immunity after dealing with nightmare such as the economic crisis in late 20th
century makes them carry on better living. That tough time was like a Titanic
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sinking in United States, but then enlightened by the American Dream about hope
that awakened their spirit to get freedom and success as much as how the world
sees Americans today.
American values are truly stronger due to chain of values or culture
attached in social interaction and affect individual mindset. Depicted in the 21st
century, the world demonstrates tremendous development in the United States.
Hence, science and technology become one of the major effects, which contribute
people to have a decent life. For example, Internet (bridging two things, cyber
world and real life, e.g. e-mail faster than mail) and cell-phone (portable
telephone to make and receive calls over a radio frequency, e.g. text messaging,
MMS) gave so much potential and influential in connecting people overseas. So,
almost in every aspect that happen nowadays is going to be fast, efficient, and
beneficial. But, there are also impacts in this high technology era that is making
people less aware of the effects of the instant lifestyle, because something
excessive could be disadvantage to us or even others if not well thought out.
In this modern era, people rely on technology within success in helping
mankind to fulfill every activity. One of the essential things is media become
number one source of publication globally. As Hall explains,
―What cultural studies has helped me to understand is that media [for
example] play part in the formation, in the constitution, of the things
that they reflect. It is not that there is a world outside, ―out there‖,
which exists free of the discourses of representation. What is ―out
there‖ is, in part, constituted by how it is represented.‖ (Storey, 1996:3)
Through media in this popular culture, is easier to convey thought and aspiration,
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either something to see or to listen, as long as the message is delivered properly
from the messenger and comprehended by the receiver. In this thesis paper, the
researcher has chosen American literature, a novel The Time Keeper by Mitch
Albom published in 2012 and it is reasonable in supporting the idea of
representing Individualism in American 21st century in society. It is precisely,
Albom tried capturing the readers‘ mind to see what is going on in the world
lately, to rethink and find a solution for life restoration.
Mitch Albom was born on May 23, 1958 in Passaic, New Jersey. He is an
internationally recognize author, journalist, screenwriter, playwright, radio and
television broadcaster and musician. In his childhood, Albom grew up wanting to
become an artist, but that did not come true. However, he kept on track by paying
his tuition partly through working as a piano player. In 1979, he earned Bachelor
degree of Sociology at Brandeis University, Massachusetts and Master Degree of
Journalism, followed by an MBA of Business at Columbia University, New
York. In 1995, he married Janine Sabino, and began his career as fulltime writer.
His first work is Tuesday with Morrie (1997) became New York Times
Bestseller list for four years and is now the most successful memoir ever
published. In 1999, Oprah Winfrey also produced the film version and garnered
four Emmy Awards for the best TV film, director, actor and supporting actor.
The story is based on his experience with Morrie Schwartz, best friend and
formerly a lecture in college who dying from ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral
Sclerosis). He then spends every Tuesday privately with Morrie and to share
knowledge and meaning of life as Morrie stated,
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―So many people walk around with a meaningless life. They seem half-
asleep, even when they‘re busy doing things they think are important.
This is because they‘re chasing the wrong things. The way you get
meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote
yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to
creating something that gives you purpose and meaning.‖
(Albom, 1997:33)
Implicitly, Morrie reflects what Americans generally have spent their life
worrying their life instead of living it peacefully. Another thought was about time
that become the first thing appear between each individual to fulfill some goals
without interfering anyone. For example, schedules become priority of any events
in set up their time with others in order to respect and to connect.
Because his experience with Morrie determined him to deciding to be a
writer, Albom become an author who primarily writes about something that
meaningful for human. Then, he knew how to appreciate life that given and able
to give others lights in darkness. After gaining his first best-seller book, he
continued with Five People You Meet in Heaven (2003), For One More Day
(2006), and Have a Little Faith (2009) which is still putting him as international
and the best inspirational authors in decades. In 2012, not much different from
the previous life theme, Albom released his book that tells about the meaning of
time. This is one of his works where the researcher found the issue of
Individualism can be internalized in American life. Thus, it will reasonably for
solving problems by identifying meanings and practices of cultural studies.
The Time Keeper tells about the Father Time. Once, he was an ordinary child
but tends and remarkably born to be different who can change the world. His
name is Dor who grew up within obsessed in measuring and calculating
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surroundings until he succeed invented the concept of time. Unfortunately, God
whom watching him, got anger of something that against its will. Therefore, Dor
punished and exiled in a cave, not aging, but alive only to hear human‘s plea. In
redeem his deed; by find two endless voices of request only one thing, time–to go
slower (Sarah Lemon) or go faster (Victor Delamonte)–to teach them and for
himself about the meaning of it. In mission, Dor have faced cultural differences
where all things not same as the period he was lived. Luckily, he was granted a
power to control time with an hourglass on his hand, to do travel time and stop
the world to do so.
In this matter, the challenge in this study is to identify each aspect of the
story that relates in real world especially American life through aspects are:
modern era, technology advances, Science, the time, and cultures that depicted by
three main characters. This novel was written in a lighter language which word
and phrase is significant. Therefore, through language it can immediately
understand the purpose or the true meaning to be conveyed by the author. Using
the individualist theory and cultural studies approach the representation, can
study it more deeply.
―The most important thing to understand about Americans is probably
their devotion to individualism. They are trained from every early in
their lives to consider themselves as separate individuals who are
responsible for their own situation in life and own destinies.‖
(Althen, 2011:5)
Human is individually as they need to blend with society then became
social creature. As above had explained, American belief as an individual to
consider born with the concept of individualism life and get their own freedom to
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pursuit happiness. Ever since their childhood, they have formed basic identity.
Althen wrote as express self-confidence in stating, ―We are Individuals‖ means
that Americans are enough prove the general ideology in society. Spread out
brave stereotyped to the world front door. A little hope of American Dream made
them belief that each individual surely can do such hard working and strength of
mind to achieve everything. Highlight for foreigners in interpreting the American
values.
In comprehension of study cross cultural, it helps us to open window of
widely information against the world. As foreigners, scope of learning American
culture is quite surprising. Believe of their uniqueness, delivering us to
understand how they considerably different in the ways in acts. What the world
sees is what Americans want them to see, like how individualism has major
appearances in world development. Inside their assumptions that spread out
through families, relatives, religious official, media such as TV, Internet, books,
newspaper, and surrounding sources to representing American work ethic.
What has gained through media is the summarize from situation in giving
information in the cognition of representation culture. Representation means
shared meanings through language, or call it as ‗circuit of culture‘ because it is
about shared meanings. Hall explained that ―Representation means using
language to say something meaningful about, or to represent, the world
meaningfully, to other people.‖ (2013:15) Language become the medium to
produce and exchanged meanings and the highlight of media to understand the
information, thoughts, feeling, or ideas. It could use signs, symbols, images,
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songs, or objects that represented in culture to identify something in different
assumptions. For example, face expression is to say something, while the ‗face
reader‘ probably would assume as identity, emotion or reaction in situation.
As a literature student, reading literary works makes us eager to know
what happen now, especially human problems such as love, life, and nature. They
analyze each other, selecting their thoughts, and sharing their knowledge to other
as information based on restlessness around them to discussed and be informative
so the people aware of the message that wants to deliver through the works. As
the reader, having curiosity and start wondering why time really affects as part of
human life is exciting but freaking out if realized the benefit. Time has true
connected within the whole aspect in the universe, truly essential, but invisible by
the eyes. They could live on it, but not to hold or catch by our own hand. Feels l-
ike calculating in the air. No one ever knows how, when, and where the time is
had been working. Unless, God tells every second of reason and the meaning of
time in this life through experience that appear as it supposed to be.
As mankind, there are so many questions which may come beyond
reasons, and sometimes it is difficult to explain the truth except by legitimate
facts. In education, studying from the experts can be significantly comprehended.
As the researcher, this thesis is willing to answer the questions that the researcher
had mention before, in which can be studied the individualism values from the
experts and collect from Americans perspective. This remains in order to get
knowledge and credibility to improve skills, so later could be implement in
society within right values.
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1.2 Research Questions
In pursuing the existing problems and in order to limit it to keep it out of
context, as a researcher I have a major question as follow:
1. How is Individualism in the American 21st century society depicted in
The Time Keeper by Mitch Albom?
2. How does Time give impact to Individualism in affect towards human
life as depicted in The Time Keeper by Mitch Albom?
1.3 Purposes of the Study
According to the research question above, the main purpose in research of
the study first is, to analyze what is Individualism, and why the term could be the
value in shaping American character. Another reason is to generalize the point
that upholds individualistic character as the representation in American society.
By that, the second question could be the key to analyze how time affect
in individualism and why that thing could be the effect of individuals to work and
engage in society and to the world, as the main concern in this 21st century.
1.4 Methods of Research
1. Types of Research
Research case of study is using accurate data and the following
verification. Discussion material studied scientifically which means
systematic, logical and empirical. The references books from library, and
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articles, journals and PDF (portable document format) from website in
which support this research paper, and literary work as the object analyze.
2. Source of Data
The primary data is the American literature, a novel written by Mitch
Albom‘s The Time Keeper. For the secondary data are theories from book
of Cultural Studies: Theory & Practice Fourth Edition by Chris Baker and
Representation: Cultural Representation and Signifying Practices Second
Edition by Stuart Hall. Also, to supporting the theory are from American
Ways Third Edition written by Gary Althen and A Theory of Individualism
and Collectivism by Harry C. Triandis.
3. Method of Collecting Data
Search for and collection of data relating to American values,
Individualism theory, Cultural Studies and Representation approach by
Stuart Hall, and meaning of time in life for the human race (including
reference from movie Tuesday with Morrie in 1999).
4. Method of Analyzing Data
First of all, the plans starting by writing down the list of data and then
divide into specific topics. Continue with analyze the characters and other
sources that related towards American Individualism as the reflection
form of cultural representation. Elaborate the aspect of time as the
highlight of contribution in support all elements and giving meaning as its
core. Last step is bringing the line from all steps into one a meaningful
point.
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1.5 Significances of the Study
Significances in this research are divided into two, as follows:
1. Theoretically, this research is expected could be helpful and easier in
studying literature and culture, either by students or college level. The
theory of Cultural Studies in representation approach is bridging the
social values, especially in this 21st century within major globalization,
thus can be understood and to appreciate and respect cultural diversity in
the world.
2. Practically, this research within explicit content is knowledgeable and
expect for readers, students and lecturers in the Faculty of Letters and the
main library of the University of Al Azhar Indonesia to be insightful.
Sharing knowledge to others is priceless than price tag.
1.6 Systematization
This paper consists of four chapters. The first contains the background of
the study, research questions, purposes of the study, method of research,
significance of the study, and systematization. The second chapter contains
theoretical background, such as cultural representation and individualism theory,
and character and setting. The third chapter is analysis that emphasizes the
relation of cause-effect individualism that depicted in American society through
characters, settings, and symbol that connect each point. The fourth chapter is
closing. It would be the complete conclusion ever since this research was started
as the final assignment of study of literature.
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CHAPTER II
THEORETICAL BACKGROUND
Previously, the focus in this study is already presents the significant
context that related and support the main idea in research paper towards The Time
Keeper by Mitch Albom. The aim of this chapter is to introduce and explain
about what is and why put theory such as stated by Stuart Hall in his
representation approach of Cultural Studies and Harry C. Triandis within the
relevance theory of Individualism; past and present concepts that related one
another. Also, within this explanation is not escape from structure of rules of
writing in literary works such as intrinsic elements: character and
characterization, and setting which are strongly associated in the story.
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2.1 Cultural Studies
Culture is a pattern of studying human behavior or habit in day-to-day
even generations among particular groups in society and transmitted by symbols,
which are produce identity.1 Culture could be defined a way of thinking,
behaving, and working as individual existence in society. As practice to share
meanings within objects and events, interpret in reaction is the response towards
the concepts and ideas that is absorbed. It refers to the cumulative deposit of
knowledge, experience, beliefs, values, attitudes, religion, possessions and
notions of time. In social interaction, they produce meanings where ideas or
concepts would be delivered through languages. Globally, language was so
various and unique to learn and of course it will come up as identity in culture.
Notably, they save their cultural identity in inscription such writings, film,
songs, symbol, and so on. Defining meaning means of defining codes through
language. Moreover, in cultural studies they analyze it as the language-game
which is embedded, descriptive, and historical and contextually specific as the
part of the tradition (Barker, 2012:38). Cultural studies broadly emphasize on the
point of social power and cultural politics in it. Because of this, the most
influential theories, such as Marxism, structuralism, post-modern,
psychoanalysis, and feminism have appeared. What is on the human circulation
system is about identity, race, gender, power, social class, ideology intergroup
within discourse, significance practice, articulation, consumption into the
representation of culture.
1 https://www.tamu.edu/faculty/choudhury/culture.html (Retrieved on March 05, 2016 at 6:06
PM)
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2.1.1 Representation Approach
―Representation is an essential part of the process by which meaning is
produced and exchanged between members of culture. It does involve
the use of language, of signs and images which stand for or represent
things.‖ (Hall, 2013:1)
As the culture and signifying practices appear it would be the focuses of
this study. Within any specific society, language became a medium of formation
of meaning and knowledge. Culture is concerned with question of shared social
meanings and the key of repository of cultural values, so it makes language as the
central of material object. Language is produced symbolically in language as the
media, which thoughts, feelings, and concepts are represented in a culture. This
term leads us to the representation approach that presented by Stuart Hall.
Representation is a language process to construct and produce meanings.
Giving message that represents an action or idea towards other people through
words or written produce into the works. For example, in the game of guessing
face expression, the deliver not allowed telling directly what they want to say, but
the movement of the body or face, with the intention to invite the reader or the
speaker found a suitable answer. Things to do giver is an attitude interpret the
message he wants to convey, which can be interpreted and comprehended by the
recipient.
As Hall has pointed out three points in the sense of representation in
interpreting of word ‗represent‘ would appear in variety meanings. First is to
„represent‟ is „to stand for‟ means to symbolize or represent one thing with
another thing, like a flag on each country. Second is to „represent‟ means „to
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speak and act on behalf‟ or it is more like the diversity in language or ethics as
example, but people is stand and unite under one nation. Third is to „represent‟
means „to re-present‟ (2013:16). Commonly, many of it is in the form of a statue,
an image or a history book, but in the modern era, pro-active creative community
who makes a work history is quite unique. For example, as one of the most iconic
is Madame Tussauds exhibition that contain the wax statues which are made
similar to the world figures and international artist. This was intended as a sign of
accomplishments they achieved in the global influence.
Relate with the meaning of represent above, the third point is closely to
the research source that would elaborated by the researcher in here. A literary
work that embrace notions history about human from ancient era until modern
era, where one figure could assert many ideas that re-present the people, focus on
culture and values in discussion. After read Hall‘s theory thoroughly, the work of
representation always concerning around language and sharing codes. Give and
take in the way of interpreting share meanings, language effectively in exchange
codes to inform by selectively in words to represent concepts. Language is an
arbitrary accepted in a system of signs towards representation practices, similarly
as representation, sustainable inter-connection one another, like a spin cycle.
Thus, novel became the media where language within would be transform into
meanings and re-write into this research to give information that based on how
the writer interpret it.
15
As one of example, is by interpreting codes of concept through language
in visual sign that existed in drawing, painting, photograph, and TV image. The
object is seen in two dimensions as a resemblance of the real object in three
dimensions. Visual sign could be called as iconic signs. Thus, arbitrary in
language system makes the principle of collection words freely like mixing
languages as long as the perception is not out of the context. By reproduces actual
conditions that written or spoken signs in visual appearance like L O V E
represent in English and C I N T A represent in Indonesia, it is called Indexical. It
means that the index is pointing the relation to the comprehension in visual sign.
And within specific context, these words probably could define different
meanings; so it will need several sources to get accurate codes in interpretation.
Sharing codes are the activities of how do people in the same culture,
people who speak or write the same language, or people who share the same
conceptual map possibly access same meaning that LOVE is about feelings in
human interaction naturally.
―Codes make it possible for us to speak and to hear intelligibly, and
establish the translatability between our concepts and our languages
which enables meaning to pass from speaker to hearer and be
effectively communicated within culture.‖ (Hall, 2013:8)
It has found easier why does meaning, language and representation are such
critical elements in cultural studies. All conceptual and linguistic universals
belong to culture to know ideas that translate into different languages and how
through that could be interpreted as the world references are make sense.
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In terms of representation, Hall has drawing the distinction between three
theories: reflective, intentional and constructional approaches.
1. In reflective approach, meaning is thought to lie in the object like persons,
idea or event in the reality or fiction, and language works like a mirror
that gives a reflection of its true meaning that already existed in the real
world.
2. Intentional approach tends to find impose of the speakers or authors
meaning of the world through language. As individuals, they use language
to convey and communicate things, which are special, to our way seeing
the world. But this approach is flawed in general theory of representation
approach because we cannot be the particular source of meanings in using
language even though we could express ourselves in a private language.
3. Constructionist approach is recognizing as the social character of
language that acknowledged neither thing in them, nor the individual
users of language to make solitary meaning. In construct meaning is not
always used the way of representational systems–concepts and signs–but
meaning in language. Material world existence is conveying meaning
through language systems to represent our concepts. The system of
constructing meaning is to make the world meaningful and to
communicate about the world meaningfully to others. (2013:24)
Therefore, the researcher would be used reflective and constructive approaches
because of the object or character‘s behavior evolved in the story and convey
meanings through its system of representation.
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2.2 Individualism: Theory and Practice
In America, individualism became their habits in culture which builds the
idealization of individual‘s social-political philosophy. Generally, individualism
means make themselves as priority than others in society. In contrast,
collectivism is likely to attach in a group as togetherness. This term asserted as
the turning point of individualism as the reframing of American values.
2.2.1 History of Individualism
According to Triandis theory, the constructed can be found in ancient
legal writings, religious texts, and moral-political philosophies. It firstly found in
ancient legal structures in the Middles East– law of Hammurabi in 1700s BC–
where its written in universal codes that focus talk about right of individual,
which recognize as independent and having duties, meanwhile obligations to
other group members are defining attributes from collectivist culture ideology. As
later cultures developed the more individualistic notion of rational principles and
individual rights become more prevalent within legal systems. Secondly, it was
found in religious institutions throughout the centuries. For example, in the West,
the people are concerned with group identity and its section. As the focus in
individualism term, with the majority of Christian tradition, the individuals are
embracing the only true God and reject other religions and belief the relation is
between him and the Maker, one way prayer. Thirdly, individualism was found in
nature relationship between the individual and the state as debate in the late 18th
century. Philosophies are encountering forms of thoughts, such as moral-political
18
philosophy, liberalism as the place of freedom to make a personal choice and the
rights to protect. Later credit Locke‘s notion that individual right is the human
nature and the law of nature. His thoughts reflected in the American and French
Revolution (life, liberty, and property) and later debate comes into 19th
century
where Dewey distinguished individualism into Old (legal and religious
restriction) and New (self-cultivation) regime, and Dumont argued that
individualism as affection from Protestantism (self-prayer at home than go to
church), political (emphasize on equality and liberty) and economic (the
affluences) development. (2011:499-501)
2.2.2 Factor and Impact of Individualism
What human do for now will effect on future and before-after happen in
the past is written as history. There are factors that allow individuals to separate
from others based from Triandis antecedents of individualism such as ecology,
family structure, wealthy distribution, situational conditions, and demographic.
Each partial factor has support the living as individualists. Ecology is relating to
or concerned with the relation of living organisms with one another and to their
physical surroundings. In complex societies, individualism found among hunters
wherein self-reliance and freedom are crucial for survival. Family structure is the
idea of allowing separation among individuals and live distance–at age 16–and
often associated in nuclear family that regarded as a basic social unit. The nuclear
family mostly found with only one child (live farther away from grandparents,
aunts or uncles, and cousins), and trigger possibilities the cause of divorce cases.
19
Another distribution of separation in individualism are affording through
the distribution of wealth which positive correlation could make a human
distinction, like the haves and nots. This is heading into social independence that
leads from financial independence. As people become more affluent, they can do
their own thing like freedom from within. In Social condition, this thing
supported by a reward for those who put individual actions in disjunctive task
that accomplishment by one man in a group. In America, media like paparazzi
likely to expose the individual interest which increases potential of individualist
be acknowledged. Meanwhile, Demographics in general, shown that across many
societies, the lower social classes are more collectivist than the upper class based
from research. Within upper class, the productivity were absolutely is more able
to be supported. For example, the younger and educated individuals tend to be
more individualistic than older and less educated individuals across many
societies and with respect to gender are found no difference between male and
females which construct rationality. (2011:506-507)
The Impacts would appears after the factor which has proven the
influence towards the behavior of individualism where it promotes cognitions,
motivations, emotions, and behaviors all in service of pulling apart and separating
from others. According to Triandis, the consequences of individualism are within
aspect of implications in highlight individualistic cultures that insist in personal
affair against others. Emotionally has contributed as regardless of their main
thing is self-esteem that affects their internal attribution such as behavior and
personality, wherein the key to success is in their own abilities and failure to luck
20
or a difficult task. Individualists define themselves more or less stable behavior,
personality, and the right to refer to the environment as changeable. Later
emerge as the focus of their attention is on the individual as a figure and the
group as a background. They are also driven or motivated by personal choice as
more experienced and focused when working alone, more analytical and critical
attention to the object and based on explicit rules, and more competitive as norms
of behavior. They have a tendency in the stress values such as curiosity, think
broadly, creatively, and have a varied and exciting life, and for them
independence is very important.
In individualistic cultures, language and communication are mostly
assertive and directness. They are like to pronouns such as ‗I‘ and ‗you‘ in widely
used. They are open and communicative when talk something that matter to
them. It is a disaster for them to dependence on others for problems that arise
more directed at individual rights and autonomy. That is why they keep
everything as individual protection or privacy. In business, the negotiators tend to
share information directly like through questions about preferences. Meanwhile,
In-group, individualists tend to be more passive in the opinion because of self-
sacrifice that is somewhat lower than the high group solidarity. When making
judgments about the trustworthiness of others, they tend to rely on signs of
disposition, such as the ability and integrity. Highly focus on beliefs, values,
behaviors, and achieved roles in their circle of social behavior. (2011:508-510)
21
2.2.3 Values of Individualism
In culture, individualism have shared aspects includes theory in practices
and values. Herein, the researcher asserts the contrast values in order to aim the
reader understand the identification of individualism that appears as cross-
cultural differences through characteristic from both of it.
Continuum Values
Collectivistic Individualistic
Interdependence Independence
Obligations to others Individual rights
Rely on group Self-sufficiency
Adhere to traditional values True to own values and beliefs
Maintain traditional practices Continuously improve goals/interests
Fulfill role within group Pursue individual goals/interests
Group achievement Individual achievement
Competition between groups Competition between individuals
Group or hierarchical decision-making Self-determination & individual choice
Shame/guilt due to failing group Shame/guilt due to individual failure
Living with kin Independent living
Take care of own Seek help if needed
Property shared within group Strong individual property rights
Elders transmit knowledge (oral) Individuals seek knowledge (textual)
Objects valued for social uses Objects valued for technological uses
Table 2.2.2 Contrasts in Emphasis between Common Collectivistic and Individualistic Values2
2 http://www.ncset.org/publications/essentialtools/diversity/partIII.asp (Retrieved on March 17,
2016 at 12:42 AM)
22
2.3 Intrinsic Elements
In literature works, this is one of the elements that would not be separated
from the process of the storytelling. It consists of plot, character, setting, point of
view, theme, and symbolization. For the focuses in this analyzing, the researcher
only uses character and setting that will explain more to see and prove of how
culture representing values depicted in literary works.
2.3.1 Character and Characterization
Character is one of the most important elements in fiction because it is
directly related to actions and what keeps the story going. A story without a
character may be impossible. What is a character? Character is an imagined
person that inhabits a story and is directly involved with the conflicts.
Sometimes, it has not always been human. In the other hand, how the author
describes the character is characterization (Kirszener, 1999:92).
Character is full of action and motivation as the part of story. Action is the
character‘s behavior and motivation is the reason that cause the character to
behave (reason behinds the character‘s action). There are two kinds of the
character, major and minor character. The major character is the one who
becomes the key role and possibly has big impact to other characters in the story,
meanwhile minor character somehow rarely appear and has little impact to other
characters, but what makes them unique is how they presents their behavior. Flat
character has only one or two sides of character also known as two-dimensional
character that defined by a single quality without much individualizing detail.
23
Round character has multilayered and complex individual incapable of being
easily defined. The degree to which characters are given roundness and individual
complexity depends upon their function in the plot –some only need to be seen at
distance (strangers, acquaintance, etc.). In addition, Static characters either
remain stable in their attitudes throughout a work. Dynamic character is an
unpredictable and undergoes change and growth in some aspect of personality,
knowledge, and outlook, whether through a gradual process or a crisis; but in any
case they usually remain consistent in their basic nature.
Characterization is the process by which the writer reveals the personality
of a character through direct and indirect methods.3 Direct characterization tells
the readers what the personality of the character. For example, ―He likes that he
was stronger than other boys. Power became Nim‘s fascination. […] She keeps
her dark hair braided and her eyes lowered, lest her fairness encourage the bad
desires of men. Humility became Alli‘s cocoon.‖ (Albom, 2012:11) Next,
indirect characterization reveals the personality of a character through five
methods such as speech, thoughts, effect on others toward the character, actions,
and looks. Speech can be comprehended from what others say and react to the
character. The speech asserts the thoughts from the way characters think or feel
about good or bad thing to show. It causes an effect on others toward character
through action, which decides character to do or not do from beginning until end
in case stunning the story. The looks of the characters, physical appearance
spread out within expressions and gesture that occur in several situations.
3 http://tinyurl.com/md376rm (Retrieved on March, 24 2016 at 7.46 AM)
24
2.3.2 Setting
Setting is the time (when) and place (where) that the story take place.
Setting is usually integral to the author‘s development of character and theme.
The element of setting is not only important to create a ‗time‘ and ‗place‘ of an
action, but also relates to other elements in the story (character, plot, symbol,
irony, and theme). (Kirszener, 1999:133)
Historical setting is when a period (century, year, and date) can be
important in the story, in case to fully understand the conflict and the writer‘s
intention. The main relation is culture, social, economic and political situation.
For example, a work that took setting in the Victorian era would likely to giving
description about the social condition and explanation to character‘s action.
Geographical setting is when the moments in the story takes place. For
example, whether the story is set in America, in Middle East, or in developing
nation, that is explaining to why language and customs are unfamiliar with the
character acts which improbable and motivation in plot development might affect
personal consciousness and to others as the impact of character‘s reaction.
Physical setting could influence moods inside the story. Description about
the condition or the situation of the place, time of day, or weather conditions,
certainly would bring readers to the event of the story. It is also given an insight
landscape that is viewed by the character (outdoor setting) or details in an asylum
(indoor setting). For example in The Cask of Amontillado, the darkness of the
night and isolation inside catacombs can reflect character‘s depression.
25
CHAPTER III
ANALYSIS
In the previous chapter, the researcher has explained theories in cultural
contexts and individualism terms that relates to American society in which
highlighting 21st century. Through representation approach, understanding the
cause-effect of individualism in this time would be more clearly seen how human
lived and dealing within society, nature, and God as individual integrity. Thus,
these theories clearly inserted in conduct this analysis. Not to forget, the context
of time emphasized as boundaries of significant aspect of human interpretation
about it. It is going to show what and how the terms is work on them as to open
eyes and minds, to realize, and to do worth things as individual within any
chances before clock stop ticking.
26
3.1 Characters as Representation of American Individualism
The story tells about the Father Time. Once, he was an ordinary child but
tends and remarkably born to be different who can change the world. His name is
Dor who grew up within obsessed in measuring and calculating surroundings
until he succeed invented the concept of time. Unfortunately, God whom
watching him, got anger of something that against its will. Therefore, Dor being
punished and exiled in a cave, not aging, but alive only to hear human‘s plea. In
redeem his deed; by find two endless voices of request only one thing, time–to go
slower (Sarah Lemon) or go faster (Victor Delamonte)–to teach them and for
himself about the meaning of it. In mission, Dor have faced cultural differences
where all things not same as the period he was lived. Luckily, he was granted a
power to control time with an hourglass on his hand, to do travel time. So it is,
the Father Time ready to write his story in history.
Based on the preview of the story above, Albom is trying to define the
meaning of life to its reader. The prologue has briefly described to trigger readers
to find out more as written,
A man sits alone in a cave.
His hair is long. His beard reaches his knees. He holds his chin in
the cup of his hands. …
There are voices of people on Earth.
They want one thing only.
Time.
Sarah Lemon is one of those voices.
A teenager in our day, she sprawls on a bed and studies a photo on
her cell phone: good-looking boy with coffee-colored hair. …
Victor Delamonte is one of those voices.
A wealthy man in his mid-eighties, he sits in a doctor‘s office. His
wife sits beside him. White paper covers an exam table. … (2012:3)
27
His style of writing is light and easy to read within bold typing as summarizing
the point of each chapter to be told. He used plot story within groove back and
forth in order to emphasize the meaning of time, and divided into twelve chapters
with total 222 pages. It represents how the author willingness to work efficiently
by using third-person narrator point of view in which straightly point out the
main characters in imaginary situations. Definitely, it is quickly attracted the
attention for readers to read entirely. In addition, the story not only tells its story,
but the form of the words it could construct something that has its meaning.
Reasonably, for Albom who has uniqueness of pour ideas into a sci-fi novel is
quite easy to understanding each notion that reflected in real life, also feels
challenged to analyze in different perspective.
In the text, the researcher attempt to consider and interpret the
individualist cultures that emerge within reflective and constructive theory
through each character and events that occurred. Clearly outlines the conjunction
of words into meaning, and highlight concepts of human thought to comprehend
by others. Stuart Hall asserts, ―Culture is not much a set of things–novels and
paintings or TV programs and comics–as a process, a set of practices. Primarily
culture is concerned with the production and the exchange of meanings-‗the
giving and taking meaning‘ between the members of society or group.‖ (2013: 2)
That set of practice would lead to culture that explained from connection between
characters and settings in produce meaning to human as comprehension. Thus,
this theory is used as steps to deliver meaning through system of representation.
28
3.1.1 Victor Delamonte
First character appearances to analyze here is Victor Delamonte (87)–an
American businessman, who reflect a living of American Individualism values in
this century. In the beginning of the story, it mentioned in the text, ―Victor
Delamonte is one of those voices.‖ (2012:3) which has assumed as one of
representatives where the word ‗voices‘ could be implied as individual thoughts
or mindset to say or to express is realized by others. Each individual has their
own freedom and a right to protect their credibility in society. By that, Victor as
the main character has conflict versus himself, because his habit of thinking and
issue shaping root of behavior that could affect others. Indeed, all that matter to
debate here is to reach the life‘s goal where every individual has diverse
ambition, and it needs solidarity to live in huge groups, such as a nation who
consist of many regulations to be followed and could balance the world welfare.
In the beginning, nine years old Victor became an orphan, caused by bad
fortunes for his parents who chose to die. Unlike other children who like playing
around or running everywhere with friends, Victor already thinking about his
future in order not to end up like their parents. That is the choice he took until
finally he moved to from France to America with his uncle, and speed up his life.
Not to forget, education is very important to him to be successful. Fortunately,
living independently in big country makes him notice any opportunities and
slowly gain success. The young Victor successfully has his own company which
later brings him to oil eventually. Never doubt that effort will bring good results
is true.
29
Speaking about chances, America is the land of opportunity not the land
of opportunist, so things would be so competitive and need consistency and focus
to achieve the goal. Everybody wants to buy things, everybody wants to have
dinner with good service, and everybody wants to be known. To achieve that they
need to work, make some money. The term of independent living is something
usual applied by parents when they are busy to give attention on child‘s interest.
Like brushing their own teeth, washing dishes, cleaning the closet, etc. as basic
habit not to rely over to their parents. To interact with others, they start in the
medium circle of the society like school and then college, but mostly to get into
college they will pay own tuition or get a scholarship. It is aiming to prepare
them have strong values such as individual choice and personal responsibility to
face the world.
Those values are part of the way to pursue the dream and happiness. No
one is able to satisfy ourselves. It is freedom to reveal, to voice our minds to the
world within our own way. Belief and confidence in taking risks among choices
for an experience could be a learning process to do better. People have right for
that, because America is a Democratic nation who sovereign to life, liberty, and
property. The regulation, indeed to protect human rights, and as Victor
understands the law, he hired five lawyers as his protectors of his assets. It is
written, ―We can only set up documents based on current law. Future rulings
could render them obsolete.‖ (2012:116) He is always thinking one-step ahead of
anyone by configure his faith in the future, even though the lawyers warn him to
reconsider that the time could change the regulations of his testament.
30
A mind to control as his power over the law in protecting his welfare,
while media trying to expose the status to the public, in the mean to share the
potential or even give influence and inspiration to be rich like him. It stated that,
―Victor Delamonte was the fourteenth-richest man in the world, according to
a national business magazine.‖ (2012:52) Within curiosity, people like to dig
information for people like him and probably find the secret recipe of success.
Regrettably, Victor refused to be interviewed by the magazine due to the privacy
policy. Moreover, he rarely spoke with others but his inner circle of business–the
people that he thought is competent and intellect–and his wife, Grace. He really
likes to count people that useful for him, giving benefit like standing in best profit
of society. He has private things such as jet, five penthouse, black limousine, and
another luxuriousness that fit in quality and classy people. Perfection and
accuracy possess him to plan every schedule precisely.
Victor engagement within society definitely produces status as one of the
important role of American business. De Tocqueville later argues that ―I know of
no country, indeed, where the love of money has such a grip on men‘s heart. [...]
The business in America is business.‖ (Spence, 1989:150) Those people are
always getting ready to do business very soon; straight forward to the topic
without getting acquainted conversation, the less he knows the better. For them
the time is money. In addition, the text found that Victor talk about his life to a
stranger, except with Sarah Lemon, a girl who look weird but seems smart. He
feels comfortable and said, ―Believing that, in finance, secrecy is an ally. … Only
two kinds: the quick and the dead.‖ (2012: 174) The statement is the reason why
31
he refused to talk to the public about his business, and also avoid story about his
family which is should be shut. So, that is the social status and social benefits that
emerged to fulfill his personal interest above others.
As it comes to the fact that this era is tremendously modern, technology
has improved and beyond every needs where everything is going faster, on time,
insightful, and easy to reach. The people have grown more prominent and
creative among the competitors. There are a lot of scientists with new innovation
with experiments that created for humanity who need. For example is medical
field. What is the most expensive bed in the world? Sick bed, because it could
make human looks weak and surely stuck to do things. Relate to that, Victor in
the story diagnosed having cancer and only have little time to stay. It made
―Victor Delamonte fears of time running out.‖ (2012:9) Time makes him
overwhelming to think, however he likes to figure out the solution by himself.
Depicted that,
―Victor had always been able to see a problem, find its weak spot,
and crack it open. […] He took the same approach with death. […]
Like other men of enormous power, Victor could not imagine the
world without him. He felt almost obligated to stay alive.‖
(2012:59-60)
He is totally anxious but he never gives up. This is Victor‘s plan about
immortality with Cryonics4. In this term, ‗enormous power‘ relates to the power
of money. Realize that self-interest is the motivator of economic activity. He does
not matter how much it cost as long as he can make a chance of living in the
future as a good trade. But remember, great power brings huge responsibility.
4 The preservation of humans for later reanimation by freezing the body inside huge fiberglass
cylinders. In 1972, the first person cryogenically frozen was relatively new science. (2012:67-68)
32
However, that risk guarantees his chance to live again, being obligated
might reverse as his thought. How could he felt obligated? De Tocqueville added,
―They form the habit of thinking of themselves in isolation and imagine their
whole destiny is in their own hands.‖ (2010:508) The statement has conceive how
individualists could do anything beyond human imagination because they are so
optimistic. Obligation is a commitment of moral action, where honestly, it serve
in the part of your duty like tasks, get diploma before applying to work, service
for the country, and other thing that have to be dealt with as part of the
requirement to get right. Such as get holiday after fulfill the deadline, earn money
after work, and feel secure as form of concern to country, and means that
sacrifice brings result which makes the individual feel satisfied. In Victor case,
the time is changing, regulations and environment would not the same anymore,
and of course there are new ideas. The circumstances may change the habit of
thinking. And no one could change the destiny by cheating the death, it will ruin
God‘s story as the director.
Life has no limit. Work is the art of living. Money is one thing that Victor
concern in this world. Stay up all night, to make his dream come true as his
choice. Routinely check his schedule because he never misses one day to work,
the economic man who likes speaks to time ―Go faster.‖ (2012:35) Stay hungry
towards world treasure will keep digging to the core. Think that competition is
the regulator of economic activity. It depict in the text, ―If you don‘t come in on
Saturday, don‘t bother coming on Sunday.‖ (2012:116) The affirmative slogan at
Victor‘s office. That attitude could be categorized as ‗rugged individualists‘ who
33
like to doctrine behavior to reach personal interest by abandon everything, known
as the rebels when Victor stated, ―I want to change the rules.‖ (2012:99) and
standing with his perspectives as if a personal power. Victor did not concern his
employees, like it or not they need to follow his rule even it sounds selfish.
Abundant wealth and lovely wife are enough to accompany him. He
emphasized, ―When you have a lot of money, you can get people to do things.‖
(2012:100) He seems conceited, cannot deny that wealth is the true supreme
power to control. This entire thing is because Victor was ever in the lower
position, at his childhood. The story that he always cover from public, because
his father died when the time he needs the most. Moreover, Victor prays to God
for reversing the time. He whispers, ―Please make it yesterday, when Papa came
home,‖ (2012:132) that is the moment when her Mama taught him to pray to
God, hoping they could be together again. Unfortunately, the depression of the
lower class‘ housewife cannot bear anymore when she commits suicide by
jumping from the bridge, without thinking about her only child. Then, ―Victor
never prayed again.‖ (2012:132) where the situation causes him to disregard
hope that useless and only for the weak. Determine attitude of assertiveness, keep
effort, and not to rely on others, even God, which make him feel disappoint.
Independent living after raised by his uncle make him realize that to reach
to the top should put a lot effort. At age 40, his goal to pursue welfare has
accomplished. Later he met Grace, a soldier‘s widow who died in Korean War;
impress Victor with her presence, probably equal in status. Months later they
married until almost 47 years. Merely one until two years after marrying, they fill
34
up happiness one another. Sadly, there is no child between them. First reason is
because Grace was trauma over her first marriage, and the second is Victor was
so busy with his work around the world to travel alone, and talk less regarding
the child issue. In the following years, their marriage just likes a duty. They are
living together, but falling apart ever since. Naturally, communication is the
important element in human interaction, to understanding each other within
language, even in marriage. Without it could trigger the war or devastation, and
human may scatter less direction. In some case, those individualists who making
themselves isolated would not change much but will bring another problem.
On the other hand, as American citizen Victor knows how to manage a
social life by doing an annual charity at New Year‘s Eve within large donation
where the amount reflected the success of his fund, as a form of gratitude, when
he became stiff in dealing with his personal life. For the upper class, this becomes
a nice political shape in its participation that is exemplary and successful. Also, in
order to sharpen the existence in the wider community. Once again, De
Tocqueville said that, ―A democratic society is committed to the equality of
citizens, but foundations are the voice of plutocracy.‖5 Individuals who capable
were obliged to pay taxes that adjusted to the level of standard of living. In
America, they gave a mandate for people to pay taxes. For wealthy man like
Victor, a foundation will be more appropriate to support the community without
being involved directly, unlike social service. It is politic, and the stronger
existence will bring him into quality and power to control. That is how the
5 http://bostonreview.net/forum/foundations-philanthropy-democracy (Retrieved on April 21,
2016 at 12.21AM)
35
continuity of plutocracy played role in increase welfare, liberty and justice for all
from the standpoint of wealthy individual in democratic society.
He might succeed smoothly govern his life when alive, but there is a
system that no one could change, dead. Through cryonics, perhaps Victor could
not be dead but he might outlast it though human power in the world is nothing
than God‘s power that created them all. At the day of Victor‘s plan to being
frozen at New Year‘s Ever, right when he asked Grace to attend at the annual
gala alone, he was being processed at the lab. At the same moment, Father Time
the man who has hourglass, got the power to control and has stopped the time for
a while. On the moment in-between, the situation is neither life nor death. The
Father Time is gave Victor vision for the moment happen in the after and the
future, the only reason to understanding the choices he made. It depicted,
―This can‘t be.‖ His voice rose.
―I was supposed to be revived. I had papers. I paid good money!‖
―I had documents! Files!‖
―Gone now,‖ Dor said.
―I hired people to protect me.‖
―Gone now, too.‖
―What about my wealth?‖
―Taken.‖
―There are laws!‖
―There are new laws.‖ (2012:203-204)
Every action has consequences and his interpretation of power is clearly wrong
ideas. Victor‘s plan would make a catastrophe for others if he kept continuing it.
Human destiny already written, but their fate could still change in every chance.
Continue the quotation above; somehow human interprets death as the
end of everything, especially in the context of existence. Although it is the only
36
choice they have to letting go, greedy covers how to feel grateful. After all
sentence told story about Victor, individualist uphold the integrity to stand for
themselves before others. They need to know and should have self-esteem for
depend own strength, by that they would know how to beat competitors. If they
succeed, they would be acknowledged and praised. But, if they failed, no one
cares. So, to get attention, they need to be good. That is why Americans has fully
shaped their character, ahead from everyone; need hard work and time as the
process to spill their existence in the world, because they know life is only once.
React to that, Victor slowly realizes that what he did was not right.
Suddenly he felt guilty toward Grace for unrevealed the facts and started to miss
the day with her, to love again. He took Father Time‘s advice as if he talks with
his Papa, since no one told him what to do for his life just like what parents
should do. Therefore, seeing another chance to fix things out, Victor who knew
Sarah‘s brief background makes one great movement. When they back from
moment in-between, Victor being liable has generously bequeathed Sarah entire
tuition costs to support her dream to be a doctor and help others.
Therefore, this is how Victor‘s re-presents the American individualism
values, where in the end he associated with other characters to behave correctly.
When someone knows and understand the power they have, they start realized
that to nothing is precious than family, then he spend his last valuable time with
Grace, and treat Sarah like his own child. Through all that, it can summarize that,
he is flat and static character, stable inside the story where no significant
changing behavior in each the settings appear.
37
3.1.2 Sarah Lemon
Second character appearances to analyze here is Sarah Lemon (17)–an
American teenager, who also reflect a living of American Individualism values.
In the beginning of the story, it mentioned in the text, ―Sarah Lemon is one of
those voices.‖ (2012:3) Also, assumed as one of the representatives where the
word ‗voices‘ could be implied self-expression and freedom to pour ideas.
Sarah‘s journey in life is relatively new to compare with Victor who lived longer.
However, the point is both of them are in the same categorized regard to the
value of Individualism, and the difference is depending on the context to achieve
goals that they chase. Relate with that, education became the dominant thing to
learned and determine result of how she behaves to herself, family and society.
People like to get attention, even an infant. They are ambitious to get
everything, because acknowledge by others is something satisfy and could
increase bravery, and to shape self-identity. But for some people, it is not that
important thing. In the story, Sarah is depicted as a girl who looks weird at school
and has no friends. She likes to spend her time at library, at lunch separate sits in
the corner, and walk to home alone. Surely, it is something uncommon when
usually kids are enjoy with friends to play along, gossiping about boys at school
or talks about fashion. Most girls assumed that a good look is how they control
the situation and attract the boys‘ attention. Succeed with that, half of life
problem has been solved through beauty appearances. Meanwhile for Sarah,
those girls are fool and to avoid that she improve her skills become smart girl in
class, best thing she has achieved.
38
Talking about appearances, Americans knows how to cover their flaws.
They are eager to be perfect in presentation and think beautifully to action in
front of people. The thing is they are confident and able to set up mind and
seeking chances. Sarah might lose self-confident due to overweight and
disorganized looks that far of being beauty, but her brain remains clearly useful.
In the text is briefly stated that ―Sarah Lemon was really good at science.‖
(2012:49) Ranked third at class has slowly accomplished as part to pursue the
dream to be a doctor. That is her individual choice, and in the way to get that
point, she needs to finish her study as the obligation of being a student. One habit
earned in kids of America that at age 16 assumed as an adult but still under
parents‘ supervision.
―As individual, they have natural rights. Parents are urged to train their
children to become independent and self-reliant and to recognize and
respect their children's rights and individual needs. Think for
themselves and to discover their own uniqueness as basic of self-
identities.‖ (Spence, 1989:149)
This quotation could be relate to Sarah as she looking for a college and
get everything ready by herself. In this method, she could grow maturely even the
facts force her to do so. Truthfully, high school should be the memorable
moments to enjoy entirely, because college is another time to be harder and need
focus. However, people like Sarah who growing up faster and think ahead tend to
act glum and desperately want the time to run faster every day. Somehow it
makes sense when seeing the students appoint to the ring bell and rushed off to
go home or do else. Like the grown-ups who work in the limit of deadline or tight
schedule, when forced to get everything done perfectly right on time.
39
Nothing is absolute real about freedom. Why? Because there someone
who control behind every situation and condition. Within right, they can put
regulation upon it to determine the people quality. Divided them into sections
based on ability they have to be graded. This particular idea has successfully
created intellectual people to be above to rule, and be responsible towards the
choice they make to fulfilled. No wonder, there are several regulation and
requirement to apply to university. Sarah notices one of them mentioned to make
an essay about ―an influential community experience‖ to select the new graduate
as part of the program to continue degree. To comply that, she needs to come to
the social service, such as homeless shelter as her place to go routinely.
World seems fair to get freedom, only if each individuals are to know and
understand each other‘s. As known that, the right has obtained upon completion
obligations. For example, Sarah comes every Saturday morning to the shelter,
unloaded food from truck up to feed the homeless. Many teens there learn to
work without having to wait become college student. Some of them charging for
qualification letter, and the others aim to gain experience and make money
themselves. The problem is Sarah who tends to be an introvert feels insecure
among the homeless even though they are not harming her. She likes being alone
at the kitchen without getting any contribution further, because she worried over
gap in society which makes her uncomfortable to stay longer. Well school,
shelter, or even home, she does not talk much with people often like the time to
chat with her father, Tom, before divorced with Lorraine.
40
As it has mentioned before in Victor‘s case, that communication is the
most important thing in human interaction. By that, the relationship in between
will be fine. Divorce brought huge impact to Sarah when she was twelve. She
closer enough to Tom than to Lorraine, but she have to let go her father whom
married again in the year after. The valuable thing in her life is family time, but
she lost it due to no permission from her stepmom to meet with Tom. Cannot
hold up against depression is the reason why she lose weight and stop dressing
like normal kid. Most of the time she spent the days inside her room even for
lunch and dinner, and then straight away to sit in front of the computer. The best
way she can do to engage in society through cyber world.
Sadly, the communication between Sarah and Lorraine worsen, ever
since. Nothing again about gossiping or went to nail salon spending ‗the girls
time‘ anymore. Divorce change the life between them, feels like living together
but falling apart. It depicted the distance between them in the text,
―Sarah!‖
―…What?...‖
―Sarah!‖
―I‘m up!‖
―I‘ve been banging for five minutes!‖
―I had headphones on!‖
―What‘s going on?‖
―Nothing!‖
―Sarah!‖
―Leave me alone!‖ (2012:148)
This is not normal for parent and child to have healthy relationship. Someone
needed to fix this until the time would answer. The noun ‗I‘ is refer to how the
attitude of Sarah to stand against others, as an independent individual to confront
41
the right to speak as in the term of freedom. How cruel the world if they keep that
way to argue without discuss together as one team, to living in peace.
Frankly, it is not that easy to unite people though they born to speak with
the same language. Every person has different direction to do, and there will be
little argument to find a right decision to avoid fighting or war. In addition, an
understanding each other‘s point of view should be heard at least because
individuals have right to speak. Found in the text that ―They used to be closer, but
lately mother and daughter share a mutual incomprehension; each seems baffled
by the others. Sarah does not discuss boy with Lorraine.‖ (2012:35) All issues
should be discussing democratically to reach a mutual agreement to achieve the
liberty and the equality. It could assume that both of them are stubborn or maybe
give up over condition and situation that they cannot fix anymore. Like a kind of
rugged individualism, let the mess remain or like a fire without water, that slowly
spreading to new places until burnt down. This is the representation of American
individualist that alarming lately.
Let us take a simple conjugation over miscommunication as public
spotlight. Here is the thing when massive high technology comes to this era in
which originally created to help the communication to others to be more closely.
However, the fact that goes here is people stand out to using that wherever they
are going, even with or without someone. Unconsciously they like to be very
adhering to the dead matter, to cell phone and internet, from connecting to
separating. Definitely, they need some guidance or advice before everything is
too late to deal with.
42
This century considered as the digital era, where technology has big
influence in human life. Not only that, the user called as ‗smart people‘ of
smartphone. In America, the most valuable company is Apple Inc. is resemble as
the epitome of individualism. This because people have no worry about having
virus on their devices, so much data space, private 'face time', etc. New level of
innovation that significantly triggered other market to compete, never stop until
reach higher place. Meanwhile, the emergence of internet could faster access any
information through Google, Facebook, Twitter, or so. One device connects
everything, which makes teenager, as Sarah prefers technology communication in
2D like that. Trigger a crisis in global interface and interaction, because somehow
people could spread their thoughts or secret nakedly in that platform.
Another issue in American cases is about bullying and this time bomber
with cyber bullying and averagely appears among teenagers. It depicted,
“Sarah Lemon made play 4 me. Whoa. Ain‟t happening. That‟s what u
get 4 being nice.”
“Seriously?”
“U+Sarah=gross.”
“C movie: he‟s just not into u.”
“That butt‟s too big, bro.”
“Knew she was a skank.”
“Run, dude!”
“Isn‟t she the science geek?”
“Never be nice to psychos.”
“She‟s delusional.”
“2 bad, Ethan.” (2012:151)
Every girl has crush, and usually came with the boys who come out popular. That
such thing emerge attention and somehow makes boundaries between the
beautiful and the ugly, or the cool with the geek and so on. Sarah, who appears
43
very ordinary, likes to a boy who has extraordinary reputation at school, name
Ethan. With that distance, Sarah never speaks a word with him; avoid bullied by
the girls who chase him. It is like a Cinderella story in different version. In this
version is about, a suburban girl is admiring a boy who only she can look from
distance. Once a week, she had opportunity to talk with him at homeless shelter.
Another night, she has a date with him at private place, drunk in love over a
bottle of vodka and shared kiss. Lucky to Sarah to finally figured ‗someone
wanted her‘ and speaks to time, ―Go slower‖ (2012:35) However, when time is
up, everything goes like before.
To feel love is a hope, by seeing their picture in cell phone, remembering
every detail about them, even just to think about them could makes your heart
beating so fast and excited to welcome the days next. The true power for able to
do things positively and arise confidently. Christmas is a night full of love,
people will fill their time with family or people they love, and for Sarah is the
right moment to say her feelings toward Ethan. Unfortunately, he came to explain
the night they shared kiss was a mistake and left her as if nothing ever happen.
Shock with that, Sarah returns to home and reach her laptop, open her Facebook
account and want to send a private message to Ethan. Time gives her to think the
right words to say, but before that, she went to his page. Right at that moment,
the cyber bullying that mentioned above. Strictly hit her heart and thinks that
―When hope is gone, time is punishment.‖ (2012:158-160) and bullying has
punished to her core, like suck her soul in one seconds. Therefore, Sarah Lemon
fears of time running out. (2012:9) began to haunt her days slowly.
44
When someone feels burdened, tend to vent a bad behavior. Angry or
upset are the emotion that could trigger a mental breakdown, or stress out overly.
What has happened next to Sarah is one of broken home effects. Here is the thing
that no one understands the fragile Sarah thoughts that the world will end after
knowing several students point her name and speak words that hurt her pride. She
never went to school or gets out from her bedroom for a week and using same
black t-shirt. Lorraine worries about her, but she unable to reach her like do not
how to act freely. On the night of New Year‘s Eve, Sarah refused any event to go
out, while Lorraine left her alone to the widow‘s club party. Unbelievably, those
have no communication at all increase depression to the next level, as basic
human need interaction to share an opinion. Solve the problem alone only caught
little chances to do the right thing. At the same night where Victor goes to
process himself to be immortal, Sarah is walking to the garage holding the vodka
bottle. She starts the car engine and push the gas pedal until pollute cover her.
Sarah attempts suicide, when the world celebrate new year‘s or even wish
to live after rumor of doom‘s day on 12-12-12 spread all over the world. As
Triandis asserted that, ―There is data suggesting that divorce, delinquency, drug
abuse, heart attacks, and suicide are higher in individualist than in collectivist
cultures.‖ (2011:511) Freedom has become something to fear to achieve when
someone is powerless. Shamed and prefer stay in silence has shut her off from
society. She is afraid of being freedom to love, to speak, to react, and increase the
ability to be very brutal at the core. Depression is no way to do and then think
about suicide as her call to choose; sadly, poor Sarah has no little light in her.
45
A French philosopher, Jean-Paul Sartre asserts, ―I didn‘t say, ―You must
get involved‖ or ―Be involved‖. I said, ―You are already involved, even if you
don‘t think you are. You have a role to play in society and you don‘t recognize it.
You just don‘t realize. Be aware of the significance of your situation.‖6 Freedom
is frightened. Suicide would be a loss of hope is actually quite pity. Very young
and still a lot of the unknown about the state of the real world because being a
simple despair is not the solution, otherwise might spark a new problem.
―I was so lonely.
And Father Time said, ―You never alone.‖
…
―You had many more years,‖ he said.
―I didn‘t want them.‖
―But they wanted you. Time is not something you give back. The very
next moment may be an answer to your prayer. To deny that is to deny
the most important part of the future.‖
―What‘s that?‖
―Hope.‖ (2012:195)
In the past, she has Tom as her companion who could give advice and guide, this
time, Dor would do that to her as a figure of a father that she might forget. In the
quotation above, Sarah starts to heal after hope gives her a purpose to keep alive.
Also, realize her dream to be a doctor to help other‘s life. Years later, she
announced as Dr. Sarah Lemon who found a cure for the dread disease as Victor
and save millions of people, and life will never be the same.
Therefore, this is how Sarah‘s re-presents the American Individualism
values that she finally understands how important a family and be social
individualist. Through all that, it can summarize that she is a flat and static
character in the plot and not dramatically changed in settings.
6 https://youtu.be/PAMCZKDgL04 (Retrieved on 28 June, 2016 at 3:36 AM)
46
3.1.3 Dor
Third character appearances to analyze here is Dor (mid 30)–a man who
travels through time grant with an hourglass known as Father Time, emerge
within the constructionist approach to define the individualist values through
language and solitary meaning by him to others. First comes, as a person who
lived in Before Century, to write his story before the time for Victor and Sarah
exist in the world, and ahead before any kind of cultural product emerges in this
century. In the beginning of the story, it mentioned in the text, ―A man sits alone
in a cave.‖ (2012:3) From this point, the author wants to briefly attracts readers
towards the purpose of who and why the man is in the middle of the cave alone.
To be curious about something uncommon happens within modern perspective as
to further realization.
Later, in the text found as the simple answer quotation above that ―He is
gentle, an obedient child, but his mind goes deeper than those around him.‖
(2012:7) Dor‘s childhood is normal like other kids, who like to play with friends.
They are Nim, a burly boy in town, and Alli, a beautiful girl whom Dor pleased
to be together. Most of the time they spend together, until one day something
caught his attention. First, he begins to count the seconds of rock that fall from
the air, and then he measures the shadow behind a giant rock at sunlight. On the
next days, he able counting and measuring everything. It emphasized that, ―One
different child can change the world. Which is why God is watching him.‖
(2012:7) This issue came up at the beginning of all points in this research matter.
The individual choice that makes them have purpose to pursue the happiness.
47
In before century, people focus on going to work, make some money to
feed him and family member. They were living without worries to educate
themselves, except Dor. He never misses his days to count and measurement that
makes him productive, even though people confused towards strange activities he
did every day. Support with the tools he made alone; sticks, bowl, and stone, as a
new thing which later credit his ideas as a theory of math and physics, a science.
The new revolution in history because of a man succeeds. However, building an
empire in one night can only found in story tale. Of course, hard work to achieve
the point is not that easy. They need to get through a long process in time, to
learn every step accurately within several risks to take as an option to keep
forward.
On the contrary, his friend Nim has succeeded became a king in town.
How he rules the people within tyranny system, Nim makes the people being in
slavery and forces them to serve or die. He controls people within his power as
the highest credibility to govern. Not enough with that, he wants to get higher.
Start to build high tower ‗to defeat the gods‘ so he can rule from above. There are
slight similarities that reflect from Victor, who thinking about getting things done
immediately. At one day, Nim come visit to Dor‘s house asked to join him to be
his slave. A good opportunity he offered in case to help Dor fulfill his family
need, but Dor refused Nim request. As the consequences, Dor banished from the
town alone with Alli, and leaving his children at his parent‘s house. It can
analyze that Dor‘s decision is risky, but it is to maintain his pride and bold goal to
do something useful in the after. What is order if only comes with pain.
48
Dor continues his experiments within the uncountable time he had.
Meanwhile, God who is watching him eventually send an old man to meet him
means to reconsider his deeds. First time he shows up when Dor was a teenager,
his sticks and rocks has demolished by the strange old man who approach him.
Honestly, Dor did not understand the implicit meaning behind it so he kept
continuing his work. He competes with his curiosity until he finally found the
concept of time, and with his tools, he succeeds to invent the time. Proud of
himself after so many years, to bring knowledge about this relieve his mind.
Every achievement deserves granted awards, but technology at the time was not
as simple and easy as today. Thanks to Dor as forerunner of science worldwide.
As the origin source of science that made technology become so powerful
in this century is because of Dor. one man that changed the world, rebels from the
path of life given, turned into huge potential and influential to world progress.
from math they know Einstein, from business world they know Thomas Alva
Edison, the mechanics of manual machine (telegraph) to the digital era, as is
coming from cyber world they know Bill Gates, and from high technology they
know Steve Jobs. All those names are Americans, except Einstein from Germany.
However, the common things from them are born as the inventor. They never
stop thinking and imagining of curiosity to earn knowledge and do something
that help people. From self-help to self-destruction, which in nowadays it is
found reckless by depend themselves much to technology that precisely have
decreased social interaction. As part of the, Dor might be happy with that
reputation, and no one did not happy with that but God.
49
The anger God came down with a new point to Dor to execute his works.
Here comes a great power that brings a great responsibility. Control is illusion, as
it can be seen through the dialogue between Dor and the old man for second time
of meeting,
―Is it power you seek?‖ the old man asked. The voice was unlike any
Dor ever heard, muted, light, as if had never been used.
―I seek,‖ Dor whispered, ―only to stop the sun and moon.‖
…
―You began something in your days on Earth. Something that will
change all who come after you. […] There are many now. Once started,
this desire does not end. It will grow beyond anything you have
imagined. Soon man will count all his days, and then smaller segments
of the day, and then smaller still—until the counting consumes him, and
wonder of the world he has been given is lost.‖
…
―Why did you measure the days and nights?‖
Dor looked away. ―To know,‖ he answered.
―To know?‖
―Yes.‖
―And what do you know…‖ the old man asked ―about time?‖
―Time?‖
Dor shook his head. He had never heard the actual word before.
…
―Learn what you do not know,‖ the old man said. ―Understand the
consequences of counting the moments.‖
―How?‖
―By listening to the misery it creates.‖ (2012:45-48)
What does the old man implied is to show justice and liberty within the right
deeds. The clueless man has to find another perspective to understand the chaos
he created. Perhaps is not huge catastrophe, even it is yes, but the things is what
is the meaning after all his time he spent if only end up no meaning. The
consequences of human misery towards time blur the focus to enjoy the living but
count something unreal. Human can just see the time without using the time;
apply as to configure the activities more organized.
50
―As mankind grew obsessed with its hours, the sorrow of lost time
became a permanent hole in the human heart. People fretted over
missed chances, over inefficient days; they worried constantly about
how long they would live, because counting life‘s moments had led,
inevitably, to counting them down. Millions of voices surrounding him
who request more time were chock of Dor‘s existence. Although he‘d
lived when the world spoke but one language, he was granted the
power to understand them all now.‖ (2012:61-62)
The fact is, as individual in society has to be concerned and aware with the
surroundings. Someone who is insightful or knowledgeable would highly able to
astute in solving the problem with a solution. Rely on logic rather than emotion
will produce a different answer, as Dor using his power to study human culture
throughout several countries, which relate to modern developing countries that
put America as one of the major nations. ―In a world of global threats of conflict
and terrorism, understanding cultural difference can arguably be a matter of life
or death.‖ (Triandis, 2011:512) It is reasonable for a Dor to do the right thing,
make those people who lost in reaching existence as the last man standing. There
is nothing really matter in this world when people assumed that having the power
to control that would not change or make themselves acknowledged, even they
will never escape of one truth, death.
Human born reasonably to live, tested to be a grateful person who is able
to fulfill his personal interest without disturbing others interests. Making to build
better society it needs consideration one another. Respect and aim to do things
unite, as one is the strong value to control the world. Easy as it heard, but once
people implement it, there is a long way to go or detour to start another thing.
Democracy make individuals a freedom of choices, because they believe of
human dignity should be fight for it.
51
After sending to the cave for six thousand years, Dor finally came out, but
in one condition; he need to finish what he has started. God grant him hourglass
as his product of time, he can travel through time and ready to learn what he was
missing. In the future, there is no denial that, every human needs education in
order to understand this life to live properly, so they could not fool each other.
And Dor admit the problem that he need to learn something in this modern era,
how to be fit in the community, so for them it is sensible to understand his action
through words and giving it into reaction as the express of acceptance. He spent
his time traveled across the world such as he went to Spain, France, Belgium and
Germany within only one single day, which in normal time it could takes hundred
years. He stop at the last pit, that is the beautiful metropolis town, New York,
where he choose to work at clock shop, literally relate with his interest of all
time, to wait two hand who wanted him. In the right moment when it supposed to
be, Sarah and Victor meet with Dor eventually. Notice their problem about time,
Dor is start to learn them, pause every seconds around them merely to
understand.
As a father, he slowly feels their emotion towards the time, while as the
user he does not think that far. The meaning he invents the time without knowing
it the benefit is risky. That is the issue of what Victor and Sarah come after. Take
risk to satisfy themselves, to think that they own the time. Truthfully, the reason
of God create the time is not to be bother by human, because within curiosity and
knowledge they might abuse. Trigger danger to them or to entire humanity. The
proved as depicted in this story from the beginning.
52
On the other hand, as a husband, he yearn Alli and his three children, so
much. If he lives in this time, with technology he could save a picture as to
remember their face, or make video to remember all those memory together.
Behind every success man, there is a great woman. It is true, but Dor did not
realize Alli‘s existence while he was so busy to stick with his work. When
someone who they loved is heading to the end of their existence, they will show
up to help or ask God to make them better. Alli is dying in the middle of death,
when Dor was rushing to find medicine to her. In the past, his faith was in
measures and numbers. Now he begged the most high gods–the one that ruled
over the sun and moon–to stop everything. He did what she asked and stayed up
all night. ―Please, please, please, please, please…,‖ squeezing his eyes shut
because it somehow made the words more pure.‖ (2012:37-38) there is no
miracle if someone not really means to want it. Even by praying, the wishes
could not just arrived like a package from courier. What happened next is Alli is
weaker, poor lower class and abandoned from the city, they have nothing to
support health. Love makes Alli to stay with Dor, no matter what happen or how
poor he is, cannot grant her diamonds even a shelter, love cannot defeated even
with wealth. No doubt, that Alli is humble, and rich for having spirit to face the
life they have been through in years. That is actually, what human needs to feel
alive are not to fill the live only, but to feel love.
Many reaction and action has depicted from Dor‘s about life. Realize the
power of love he remembers from Alli, makes him strength to finish his journey.
By the time it expected, right on the New Year‘s Eve where everybody
53
celebrates to have fun meanwhile he felt desperately to see Sarah in danger. Lack
of hope is like lost to feel love. To give up because of love is fine, but give up to
life is not count. To understand Sarah, he reminds when the time he has
conversation with his son, talk about neighbor, a girl who maybe likes his son.
The statement is deniable by the son who thinks that girl is ugly. Shock with the
facts, Dor feels sorry to Sarah and sad, because gain someone to love not as easy
as to get enemies. People like to see facts so they can trust and understand others
to the real things if they see by their own eyes. At that time, Dor give Sarah
vision by put his hand to her eyes. Sarah see how many years Dor has spent
inside the cave, far from a family, and that memory makes her cry and for the
first time to miss her mother, Lorraine.
Victor who is standing and watching them silently, did not understand of
the purpose why Dor doing that. As he turns, Dor give him a vision in the future,
right after his attempt to be immortal. What he saw is terrible and most important
is, seeing her wife, Grace who look very sad and mad to him, because Victor
never reveal any secret to her. Dor do the same thing as he did to Sarah. he cover
Victor‘s eyes with his hand, and then Victor see the point Dor who busy towards
the work of time, not too giving attention to his family until death came to Alli.
Big sacrifice that Dor chosen, and make his life like a turning table. All the
reason he know now, is God gave him a second chance. An opportunity to do
better, not to escape the fact but to fix the chaos he made. A lesson for him is a
lesson for Victor and Sarah too.
54
Dor try to spread His righteous deeds as it said in the text,
―With endless time, nothing is special. With no loss or sacrifice, we
can‘t appreciate what we have.‖
… He had lived an eternity. Victor wanted an eternity. It had taken Dor
all these centuries to comprehend the last thing the old man had told
him, the thing he shared with Victor now.
―There is a reason God limits our days.‖
―Why?‖
―To make each one precious.‖ (2012:204-206)
Through words, he gave hope to the hopeless, and through deeds, he gave heart to
the faint of the heart. Dor stands against tyranny, slavery or any dictators who try
to control his life. Rebel to get freedom in some way is needs, and he has
appeared as the representation of how American collect their successful story
every day. Struggle to maintain and advance their dream for better future.
Slightly emphasized by President of United States, Obama clearly stated that,
―America knows how to solve problems. And when we work together, we can‘t
be stopped.‖7 A social individualist will know how to solve their problem.
Therefore, this is how Dor‘s re-presents the American Individualism
values as he using the constructive approach. A major character who appears
within dynamic and round character due to several circumstances that he face in
the story, within conflict between character vs. society. At first, he was under
self-interest than social interest, that makes him into a journey to realize that he
needs others. And, being love from people is long lasting than being satisfied
from the people. It means that family is the precious thing in the world, that
money cannot buy it, as the message he wants try to deliver in the story.
7 https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/12/19/remarks-president-year-end-press-
conference (Retrieved on May 24, 2016 at 8:31 AM)
55
3.2 Settings as Representation of American Individualism
In The Time Keeper, settings have a significant role as the part of the
story. It could be the determiner of each character to take action after reaction by
the five sense that have influenced by surrounding. Thus, the researcher would
describe the notion of culture background as the representation of each character.
Based on situation and condition they had, the reflection of cultural
representation will be cited and related to the various events in history connect in
current story.
3.2.1 New York City, America
The main topic about cultural representation of individualism in this era
has referred to one of the regions in the United States—New York City—with
accreditation as a global powerful city. This is the beautiful and dream city for
everyone, as one of the land of opportunity for all around the world. It can see
through several major fields such as media, art, fashion, research, technology,
education, entertainment, economic growth and financial center of the world.
First impression came from Dor who arrived when it was December 2012,
after travel to Europe for studies about the changing times, which he had passed
for thousands of years in the cave. As in text is found, ―New York City is
loomed as an unimaginable metropolis. […] The buildings were taller, with
barely a breathing space between them. And the people. The sheer number of
them!‖ (2012:103) To compare with the day he live before, surely this portrayed
as if a culture shock for Dor. Even though he have adapted in Europe, the feeling
56
of confusion experienced by someone who is suddenly subjected to an unfamiliar
culture, way of life, or set of attitudes8 could be defined in the quotation. The
taller buildings were mostly emerged as the result of economic growth like
American financial business. In this 21st century, two recognizable as the tallest
building in the world are firstly the Empire State building with 381m (2007) and
later surpassed by One World Trade Center 541m (2012), both are located in
Manhattan, New York. Based on the ideology of individualism in society within
form of competition that implanted due to pursue success and satisfaction to be
highest among people in particular groups. They are very persistent and work
hard as much as possible to achieve the goal, of course, always trying to be
different, innovative and creative. The representation of Dor, Sarah and Victor
who are eventually succeed being great people ever exist.
New York City is also known as 24/7 city. It has interpreted as the time
concept, which has non-stop activities. At daylight, Dor is observing Sarah and
Victor at the same time with the power of hourglass, and at night, Dor is trying to
understanding their activities from above, sitting at the skyscrapers tower and
contemplating the human desire towards time. The concept of time is much found
in this city, first is New York Times Square—a place where people gather to
celebrate big events—in the text, when Sarah was about to meet Ethan, and she
also saw news in TV about apocalypse 12-12-12 and brochures that scattered,
titled ‗End of the World.‘ Next is, TIME—American weekly news magazine that
contains news about important people or influential to print their talents in
8 http://study.com/academy/lesson/culture-shock-definition-stages-examples.html (Retrieved on
May 23, 2016 at 2:20 AM)
57
homeland–a source of information that appears when announced Victor as one of
the richest man, but he refused to be interviewed. Finally yet importantly, the
clock shops–where Dor waited and met Sarah and Victor. Therefore, these are
kinds of activities that apparently happening in the middle of the hectic city,
seeing people goes different places, destinations, and interests but have
something in common, that is to be on time and then fill other time.
The season at that time is winter, and New York City covered with snow.
The weather makes some people looking for warm place like staying at home,
drinking alcohol more often, or smoking cigarette to calm. In addition, some
people like making a snowman, doing activity with friends or take action in
social service to relax the mind from daily routine. As the city within strong
competitiveness, each individual are expected to have abilities, high awareness
and competent to maintain what they have, and getting promotions, higher to the
next level. That is why most individualists have high self-confidence and dare to
dream big, because being good is not enough but being great. For them, there is
no time to regret or stuck in the past besides keep moving forward, one
opportunity to take it or leave it.
3.2.2 Babylon, Mesopotamia
In this setting, this city has a significant role due to the origin of
individualism values that emerged to society. It was portrayed by Dor, who
emphasized ‗born to be different child that change the world,‘ in other words it
could interpreted as someone who seek another side rather than stand with others
58
in one same condition, let say a culture. Dor was living in the era long before
century where the cultures strictly uphold ideology of collectivism that is have
values for social uses, interdependence and obligations to others. Another factor
supported by the system of the government under a tyranny system, led by the
king Nim, who formerly Dor‘s childhood friend. The etiological myth9 of the
great King Nimrod written down, ―The way history tells the story, the Tower of
Babel was either destroyed or abandoned. […] Thousands of men were cast from
the tower that day, their tongues twisted into a multitude of languages.‖
(2012:39-40) This is what Albom is trying to tell the readers about the differences
between the culture. Through Dor, the person who can travel back and forth in
time, he may emphasize the system of living through two backgrounds era.
Babylon means of ‗gate of god‘ as the place of diversity growing
population live in the tyranny policies that held by king Nimrod who have
dominated several rule such as, build high tower to defeat the gods, and rule them
to speak single language only. Those people who are minor in society became
king‘s slave but Dor as the representation of rebels to make personal choice. The
people, who thought that the tall tower would bring them to heaven, motivate
them to work harder. Manually, they made great piles of hard-burned brick and
collected bitumen to use as mortar. The weather are mostly take place in daylight
where Dor could do his measure the days, months, years by the shadow that
appears behind every tools he had, and at night Dor still brimming activity
counting the moon, sacrifice to pursuit curiosity. Likewise Nim, in daylight all
9 https://answersingenesis.org/tower-of-babel (Retrieved on June 9, 2016 at 1:18 PM)
59
slave could work properly as if a spirit when sunny day so he can rule from
above, as the most powerful man ever. Honestly, human have lived in the world
with the concept by God, which means there is no things to do as that. In order to
prevent humanity of evil, God sent great storm causing collapse of the towers in
the land of Shinar, and variety of language to slaves so that they do not
understand each other, and then widespread on Earth. That is why ‗Babel‘ means
‗confusion‘ and implies that if they unite, nobody fall of social tolerance
behavior.
This is the forerunner to the emergence of forms of individualist values
after collective cultures, in which the role of the environment makes each
individual determines their choice. And those who have been strong to fend for
themselves without relying on others have created many men with potential and
mentally stronger than individuals in a collectivist society. It can be seen from
Dor monitors the American culture for the first time, ―As he walked between the
massive skyscrapers, he was reminded of Nim‘s tower. He wondered if there was
no end to man‘s ambition.‖ (2012:104) For human, when they able to make
something new, innovation after experimenting, they would likely make a marker
as one form of existence, that collecting values and forming an identity. This is
what Dor and Nim did in their era and bring influence to Sarah and Victor as
cultural representation of reflective situation and condition to this century. The
way he delivers of the implementation values of Individualism within
constructive approach in representation, so the differences between cultures have
clearly shown.
60
3.3 Time in Relevance of American Individualism
Time is something that is around humans, but cannot perceive through
senses. However, the time could be appeared when there any events or changes in
time.10
It leads to something that already exists become more real. In other words,
the existence of time can found with the way of measured or calculated. Relate
with that, in the study, symbol becomes something to convey that person‘s
identity or to share ideas. Symbolic is everywhere. The way Albom tried to
capture idea and put the frame into one story is an outstanding appreciation. In
basic sign theory, Danesi emphasized that, ―Knowledge of how to represent a
real-life physical situation in a symbolic way is a truly remarkable achievement
of the human mind.‖ (2004:33) The word ‗time‘ has been used since the
beginning, even the title that represent the whole meaning inside of the story.
Then in the middle, Albom describe ‗hourglass‘ as the symbol and meaning for
the chosen one who granted power to control the time. Not only that, time has any
relevance that represent the culture have been discussed. Dominated by how the
characters applying their time and the concerns over existence.
In the situation as marker of existence, time has embodied through
numerous experiment by human science, based on history, such as type of
sundial, water clock, hourglass, pendulum, pocket watch until something that can
use on human bodies like hand watch. This means time really attached in human
as a marker of activities. As the point of brimming ideas, Dor‘s experience
towards time is been capture in many ways and events thoroughly in the story.
10
http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/time-experience/ (Retrieved on June 22, 2016 at 5:16 PM)
61
Concisely, the contextual of time in the text archived as culture change to the
human evolution. In 21st century, the significant impact increased through
technology, science and economic. Thus, human have to be taught for
understanding the term to the right use and responsible–as Albom emphasize the
meaning of time in the novel. By emphasizing the notion of time, it becomes
something they have, probably affecting one another existence in life.
In human world, the concept runs as it is, but not as what is God think it
should be. In the text, Albom assert,
―Try to imagine a life without time keeping. You probably can‘t.
You know the month, the year, the day of the work. ... You have
schedule, a calendar, a time for dinner or a movie. Yet all around you
timekeeping is ignored. ... A fear of time running out. (2012:8)
That is the problem. Other problems focusing about time is the news of
doomsday on 12-12-12 that concern would be the end of human existence in the
world. In this line, people are scattered to counting how many time they have left.
In order to make the time efficiently used to manage their interests, time became
an industry as the bridging advanced technology into human eternal source. Time
is a gift to live, and without measuring it they can feel something invisible by the
eyes. It is the right for human to feel alive and enjoy the living.
As the representative of American individualism, Dor is the man who is
succeed for bring innovation to the world, determine his personal choice, stand
up for liberty against slavery, taking risk by sacrifice his family under personal
interest, but in the end he responsibility to the life he leave it. Before he realized,
he have no fear of nothing. Nevertheless, when he awoke from time, nothing left
62
but sorrow and regret. In text found that ―Dor‘s cave was already a product of
time.‖ (2012:69) The time concept inside the cave has embodied becomes an
hourglass. It was created from the process of dripping water from the ceiling that
form stalactite, and the stalactite dripped onto the cave floor, slowly rising to
form stalagmite. Hourglass has simplified to fit on human hand, so it easily to be
carried where ever they goes. Just like a timepiece, something that people
recognized and used in this age. In history, hourglass also took on symbolic
meanings, such as that of death, temperance, opportunity, and Father Time
usually represented as a bearded-old man by which meaning as marker of
existence.11
It means the fact or state of living or having objective reality.
Therefore, this is how the relation between time and individualism as the
marker of existence has been tell in the story. Dor, Sarah, and Victor might be
live in different place, ages, and occupation. However, they gathered with the
same goal and interest that coined to the context of time. In this research, it can
be assumed that human today are much concern of the time they have. Behave to
be fit in every opportunity in pursue personal interest, and time appears as the
system to behave tolerance with one another. Like a business, they need to
schedule everything, or like students who know time to be in class, break time,
and time to go home. Everything has its pattern and habit to have regularity in
social interaction as form to live in harmony. So, they can control and how to
use, to comprehend, and the practice of the time efficiently and effectively in
presenting meaningful life to themselves and others.
11
http://tinyurl.com/hkl3jv4 (Retrieved on August 11, 2016 at 8:11 AM)
63
CHAPTER IV
CLOSING
This chapter is the evaluation of entire chapters. Three main discussions
were talking about culture, individualism in American, and relevance with Time
that has been shown through the work of literature by Mitch Albom, The Time
Keeper. In this book, the researcher has captured ideas of representation towards
American life who living within notion of individualistic character under
Democracy society. The Individualist values are emphasized on autonomy of
individuals, privacy, competition, freedom, and equality, which form strong
character and belief. According to that, it will see how America leads the world
as a superpower, within great role that ahead from everyone. Last, the conclusion
would be inserted as the meaning of this story has created.
64
In this case, Albom is trying to capture idea of representation of the
American culture through three different characters within several situations and
conditions reflecting the individualistic cultures. Firstly has depicted by Victor
Delamonte (87), a poor migration from French who turns his luck became a
successful businessman and took him to the high level in America. Second has
depicted by an American teenager, Sarah Lemon (17), an introvert young girl
who slack of love but in the way she find the answers, she got much better life by
became a successful scientist. The third depicted by the most influential and
controversial character, Dor (mid 30) who came up with a fresh concept about
time, where is a rare issue at his time and bring effect to the next generations. His
choice to measuring and counting time causing fear and miserable to the world,
out of God‘s will. Therefore, to protect the world balance as it supposed to be,
Dor have to teach human that knowing and understanding the meaning of time.
These characters bound into one connection that represents American
individualism ideology from the cause-effect sights. It is associated with Dor who
invented the time emerge numerous speculations towards Victor and Sarah as the
impact of what he done in the past life. Granted with hourglass, symbol of
controller that generally human need power as self-defense from harm, and there
would be several norms to unite the diversity among individual interests. These
indicate how human in pursuing the happiness and freedom by keeping up their
life safe and sound. Portrayed the right of Democracy–life, liberty, and property–
against rules of Tyranny that depicted by Dor‘s childhood friend, Nim as an
ambition king. Therefore, the role of Dor became the determiner of the beginning
65
and end of the story as it has coined as the messenger speak what is right thing to
do. That is why Sarah and Victor as the representative of society in 21st century
have shown the differences in cultural context towards the values and Time.
Another detail are emphasized though events and places; the hills, cave, Dor‘s
displacement into various countries and eventually right in New York, he meet
them in December 2012, where a rumor of doom caught their fear of time.
As the headline of his direction towards American individualism values,
Time has support many things in the focus of human existence, cultures, and
hope. With that concept, the past and pre-event appears as the essence of human
memory, show the period of individual existence through experiences, thinks, and
acts as the point of uniqueness within identity. In addition, a pattern of learning in
particular groups in societies, when in modern times, people assumed the time as
precious commodity in human interaction, to fulfill their personal interest, the
most valuable power to control the life. The understanding of time has brought
effect to human existence. Definitely, Americans really know how to solve their
problems only if they unite, they cannot stop. Humans are born equal; there is
nothing different except their morals for themselves and others. And truly,
mankind is in loss, what is essential is invisible by the eye. God taught human to
be patient and be grateful of what they have, so they could live peacefully
without suffering because of time.
In this paper, the researcher can summarize two kinds of American
individualism, that is rugged individualism and social individualism. The
difference is slight shown by the way they behave as individual to others.
66
Through Sarah and Victor characters who portrayed several case to disengage in
society. People do need to interact even though they can solve the problem by
itself. The more denial to share thought, the more burdens to bear alone. As the
matter of fact, frustration and anxiety could trigger negative impacts such as
stress, greedy and suicide like those characters has shown. For them, Time would
be so important to captured or terminated.
Nothing is absolute, because everything will change by the time. The
process inside it is the key of life transforming. The human evolution increased
from one into many, and by that, they would help and teach each other as human
integrity. Disputes can happen at any time and to neutralize the situation, the law
is should be upheld. Time is changing, culture and values cannot be neglected to
its changes, because human knowledge has been escalating through human
revolution. Every system produces new rules to make people unite and stick in
diversity. Regarding to individualism, rugged individualist could turn into social
individualist as long as they understand the consequences of their choice. Thus,
they can change for the world better. As the conclusion, having a personal choice
is not bad. But, as individual who born with such values, consideration will allow
them to rethink over choices to take. As the end of the story, all characters have
realized what is truly missing in their life. Togetherness is much lighter and
happier than being a loner in darkness and sorrow.
67
BIBLIOGRAPHY
BOOKS
Albom, M. (1997). Tuesday with Morrie. New York: Warner.
(2012). The Time Keeper. New York: Hyperion.
Althen, G. & Janet B. (2011). American Ways: A Cultural Guide to the United
States. 3rd Edition. Boston: Intercultural Press.
Baker, C. (2012). Cultural Studies: Theory & Practice. 4th Edition. London:
SAGE Publications Ltd.
Danesi, M. (2004). Messages, Signs, and Meanings: A Basic Textbook in
Semiotics and Communication Theory. 3rd
Edition. Canada: Canadian
Scholars‘ Press Inc.
De Tocqueville, A. (2010). Democracy in America: Section 2. Influence of
Democracy on the Feelings of Americans. In Eduardo Nolla (Ed.).
Indiana: Liberty Fund, Inc.
Hall, S. (2013). Representation: Cultural Representations and Signifying
Practices. 2nd
Edition. London: SAGE Publications Ltd.
Kirszener, L.G. & Stephen R. M. (1999). Literature: Reading, Reacting, Writing.
4th
Compact Edition. Boston: Heinle & Heinle Publishers.
Storey, John. (1996). What is Cultural Studies? London: Hodder Headline Group.
Triandis, H.C and Michele J.G. (2011). A Theory of Individualism and
Collectivism. In Paul A.M. Van Lange, Arie W.K. and E. Tory Higgins
(Ed.). Theories of Social Psychology: Volume 1. London: SAGE
Publications Ltd.
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SITES
Culture Definitions https://www.tamu.edu/faculty/choudhury/culture.html
Accessed on March 05, 2016 at 6:06 PM
Culture Shock http://study.com/academy/lesson/culture-shock-definition-stages-
examples.html Accessed on May 23, 2016 at 2:20 AM
Continuum of “Individualistic” and “Collectivistic” Values
http://www.ncset.org/publications/essentialtools/diversity/partIII.asp Accessed on
March 17, 2016 at 12:42 AM
Defining Characterization http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/lesson_
images/lesson800/Characterization.pdf Accessed on March, 24 2016 at 7.46 AM
Documentary on the life of Jean Paul Sartre: The Road to Freedom
https://youtu.be/PAMCZKDgL04 Accessed on May 06, 2016 at 3:36 AM
Encyclopedia of Time http://tinyurl.com/hkl3jv4 Accessed on August 11, 2016 at
8:11 AM
The Experience and Perception of Time http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/time-
experience/ Accessed on June 22, 2016 at 5:16 PM
Tower of Babel https://answersingenesis.org/tower-of-babel Accessed on June 9,
2016 at 1:18 PM
What are Foundations for? http://bostonreview.net/forum/foundations-
philanthropy-democracy Accessed on April 21, 2016 at 12.21AM
https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/12/19/remarks-president-year-
end-press-conference Accessed on May 24, 2016 at 8:31 AM
69
BIOGRAPHY
She is ‗one of kind‘ person ever exist
and alive. Many people call her Rai,
Jawir, Polwan, Berto, Bondol, Bena,
and Masha–the last given at class.
Alhamdulillah, she was noted in
_______________________________
_______________________________
two decades ago, and she is number 3
out of 5 siblings. Happily, she grew up
in Javanese family background.
There are strong values in the culture that very strict about rules, descended from
ancestor. However, as individual, she always thinks, act, and speak under right
to pursuit happiness. To gain her freedom, as what people defend their choice, a
rebel who breaking the rules is indispensable. To keep the value and rights in
balance, she knows how to treat the people well. A good people bring out the
good in people. No doubt that her family a bit harsh taught and shaping
character, in order to prepare before face the real world. Life is not that easy. It
needs to focus, consistent, patient and struggle in every situation and condition.
Moreover, always be grateful and hope to God.
Art is life. Her mind pops out ideas, her eyes collect thousands colors, and
her body moves in every sounds. It is like having many personalities in one body
to interpret through language as it calls literature, the energy and dynamic to
arrange the words beautifully. Born as Gemini makes her positively likes to
adventure all things, to know, to understand, and to enjoy the moment. Therefore,
she has many stories to tell, especially to friends. Available to KEPO here:
www.instagram.com/rhnnrhrdn and www.rhnnrhrdn.tumblr.com, or you send
your story to [email protected]. Stay awesome, guys!