the interpersonal conflict of percy in single parent … · 2020. 1. 27. · percy jackson in...

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THE INTERPERSONAL CONFLICT OF PERCY IN SINGLE PARENT FAMILY AS SEEN IN RIORDAN’S PERCY JACKSON AND THE LIGHTNING THIEF NOVEL

A SARJANA PENDIDIKAN THESIS

Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirementsto Obtain the Sarjana Pendidikan Degree

in English Language Education

ByWuri Lukito Sari

Student Number: 111214086

ENGLISH LANGUAGE EDUCATION STUDY PROGRAMDEPARTMENT OF LANGUAGE AND ARTS EDUCATIONFACULTY OF TEACHERS TRAINING AND EDUCATION

SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITYYOGYAKARTA

2016

PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI

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DEDICATION PAGE

This Thesis is presented to My God Almighty, Jesus Christ

Because of His Grace and Plans in my life

1 Corinthians 13: 13And now abide faith, hope and love these three;

but the greatest of these is love.

This Thesis also dedicated to:My beloved family


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ABSTRACT

Sari, Wuri Lukito (2016). The Interpersonal Conflict of Percy in Single Parent Family as Seenin Riordan’s Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief Novel.Yogyakarta: English Language Education Study Program Sanata Dharma University.

This study analyses Rick Riordan’s novel entitled Percy Jackson and Lightning Thief. The novel tells about Percy Jackson’s life and journey as a demi god, half human and god or called hero. He lived with his mother and his step father.Unfortunately, he never knows his real father and the truth about him. Percy got attacked by a monster when he was in a school trip. Percy should have done his quest and saved the world and his mother. All tragedies that happened were related to his real father that he hated so much because he never met him since he was a baby. This analysis of study focuses on the characterization of Percy Jackson in single parent family. There are two formulated problems. The first is to analyze the characterization of Percy Jackson in the novel. The second is to find the intrapersonal conflict between Percy and his original father in the novel.

This is a library research. The approach of this study is critical approach focusing on psychological approach. In order to analyze the novel, there are two sources of data. The main source is the novel Percy Jackson and Lightning Thiefnovel and the second sources are some books and electronic sources on internet such as articles, journals and electronic books that support the research.

After conducting the research, the researcher found two points to conclude. The first point is the character who supports Percy in the novel and Percy characterization of the novel. Percy is described as a troublesome kid who always moves from one school to another school, is caring with his friend and his mother, is brave to face his quest and his long journey to finish it and isresponsible for his quest. The second point is finding the cause of his father’s leaving. Percy should know the truth about who is his father. Percy’s has journey to find lightening bold and bring him to the important fate. He never expected that he is a demigod and his father is Poseidon, god of the sea.

Therefore, the researcher concludes that Percy has four characteristicsnamely troublesome kid, caring, responsible and brave. Moreover, Percy has interpersonal conflict with his father. He has to find the truth by himself.

Keywords: characterization, single parent, conflict


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ABSTRAK

Sari, Wuri Lukito (2016).The Interpersonal Conflict of Percy in Single Parent Familyin Riordan’s Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief Novel. Yogyakarta: Pendidikan Bahasa dan seni, Departement Pedidikan Bahasa dan Seni. FakultasKeguruan dan Ilmu Pendidikan, Universitas Sanata Dharma.

Studi ini menganalisa sebuah novel yang berjudul Percy Jackson and Lightning thief. Fokus studi ini adalah menganalisa karakter dari tokoh utama “Percy Jackson and Lightning Thief” serta tokoh pembantu selama perjalanan.

Untuk menemukan karakter dari novel ini penulis merumuskan duapermasalahan. Permasalahan yang dirumuskan adalah “1) apakarakterdari Percy Jackson sebagai tokoh utama dalam cerita tersebut? 2) mengapa Percy membenciayahnya sendiri. Tujuan dari studi ini adalah untuk menemukan karakter seoranganak yang dibesarkan di lingkungan single parent family. Serta mengetahui apa yang harus dilakukan Percy untuk mengatasi konflik tersebut.

Metode yang digunakan studi ini adalah studi pustaka. Studi ini jugamenggunakan pendekatan psychology untuk menganalisa karakter dari tokohutama tersebut. Sumber utama dari studi ini adalah sebuah novel berjudul Percy Jackson and Lightning Thief serta beberapa sumber terpercaya dari internet danbahan bacaan untuk mendukung studi.

Setelah melakukan penelitian, penulis menemukan dua kesimpulan. Pertama mengenai karakter-karakter yang membantu Percy. Karakter-karaktertersebut adalah, Annabeth, Grover and Percy dan Luke sebagai tokoh yang menyebabkan kekacauan yang terjadi. Karakter Percy Jackson dalam studi inidapat disimpulkan sebagai karakter yang bertanggungjawab dan berani. Percy Jackson digambarkan sebagai anak yang bermasalah disekolah maupun di rumah. Yang kedua mengenai konflik antara Percy dan ayahnya serta perkembanganpercy sebagai anak dengan satu orang tua.

Peneliti menyimpulkan bahwa karakter dari tokoh utama dalam novel adalah anak yang bermasalah, peduli, bertanggung jawab dan pemberani. Selainitu, Percy dapat mengetahui mengenai ayah kandunganya yang telahmeninggalkan dia sejak masih dalam kandungan walaupun itu menimbulkankonflik dalam dirinya sendiri.

Kata kunci: characterization, single parent, conflict


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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to thank Jesus Christ for His blessing so that I can finish my

thesis. I believe that He is always with me and helps me finish my thesis. He is

my Father who loves His children so He never leaves me alone.

I would also like to thank my advisor, F.X. Ouda Teda Ena, M.Pd.,

Ed.D., for his guidance and ideas for my thesis. He is a patient person and always

supports me during my process of writing. He also gives his advice to me that I

should never give up in writing my thesis. He knows that writing thesis is not that

easy but he knows that I can do it because whenpeople want to see a rainbow they

need to pass the rain, the sunlight and sometimes the storms.

I dedicate my thesis to my beloved parents, my father Mardi and my

mother The Djian Nie. They always support me from my hometown and never

stop praying for me and my thesis so that I can finish it and get a good job later.

And also to my beloved little brother Septian Bayu Sembodo, who always

reminds me to do my thesis and support me with his love.

I would like to thank my best friends Yohanna Tannia and Septriany

Gloria, who always accompany me since the beginning of the first semester, even

before our orientation. They always support me and put my name in their prayers.

I would like to thank my beloved friends in ELESP 2011 especially class B for

fulfilling my life beautifully. I am really happy to spend 4 years with all of them. I

never forget every moment I spent with them and all of them are cool. I would

like to thank my beloved friends in GKKK Yogyakarta who always support me


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and give their prayer for me, I am really happy to meet and have process with all

of them.

Last but not least, I would like to thank my second family in Kos Merpati

especially Wulan, Ce Villy, Ce Fani. I really love them all. I thank them for

sharing their happinesses, sadnesses and tears and every moment we spent

together. We are live in the same place together and grow up together.

Wuri Lukito Sari


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE OF PAGE………………………………………………………………i

APPROVAL PAGE……………………………………………………………ii

DEDICATION PAGE…………………………………………………………iv

STATEMENT OF WORK ORIGINALITY………………………………....v

PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN PUBLIKASI…….………………………....vi

ABSTRACT……………………………………………………………………vii

ABSTRAK………………………………………………………………………viii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS…………………………………………………....ix

TABLE OF CONTENTS………………………………………………………xi

LIST OF APPENDICES……………………………………………………....xii

CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION….……………………………………………1

A. Research Background……………………………………………………..1

B. Problem Formulation……………………………………………………...2

C. Research Objectives……………………………………………………….3

D. Research Benefits……………………………………………………….....3

E. Definition of Terms……………………………………………………......3


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CHAPTER II. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE…….………………5

A. Review of Related Theories……………………………………………….5

B. Theoretical Framework………………………………………………......18

CHAPTER III. METHODOLOGY…………………………………………...20

A. Object of Study……………………………………………………..……20

B. Approach Study…………………………………………………………..21

C. Method Study…………………………………………………………….22

CHAPTER IV. ANALYSIS ………………………………………………........23

A. The Characterization of Percy Jackson..…………………………………23

B. The Interpersonal Conflict of Percy Jackson..……………………….......28

1. The Causes of Percy Interpersonal Conflict………..……………29

2. Percy Interpersonal Conflict through His Father………………...33

CHAPTER V. CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS…………………….36

A. Conclusions………………………………………………………………36

B. Suggestions………………………………………………………………38

C. Reflection…………………………………………………………….......38

REFERENCES………………………………………………………………...42

APPENDICES…………………………………………………………………44


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LIST OF APPENDICES

Appendices Page

1. The Summary of Percy Jackson and Lightening thief…………………44

2. The Biography of Rick Riordan……………………………………… 46


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CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

This research discusses children’s characteristics in a single parent family

and the interpersonal conflict of the main character in Riordan’s novel entitled

Percy Jackson and Lightning Thief novel. In order to give detailed information

about that, this chapter consists of five parts: Research Background, Research

Objectives, Research Benefits, and Definition of Terms.

A. Research Background

In this globalization era, many cases happen among children. Many

children have bad behaviors and characteristics in their social life. Building

children’s character is important for their future. In building their characters not

only teacher role but also need parents’ role, for that purpose and to face the

reality of globalization, parents’ roles are need to make their children have good

behavior and character building. But if the children only have single parent or

children, the parent must give extra attentions to teach his or her children.

In general according to Erickson (1959), children development refers to

the biological, psychological, and emotional changes. It occurs in human beings

between birth and the end of adolescence, as the individual progresses from

dependency to increasing autonomy. It is a continuous process with a predictable

sequence yet having a unique course for every child. It does not progress at the

same rate and each stage is affected by the preceding types of development.


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Children from single parent family usually have different behavior and

characteristic rather than children who have complete parents.

During the development, there are some factors that may influence

children behaviors, such as external factors that might influence child’s behavior,

internal factors that might influence child’s behavior and physical environment. A

different case in single parent family, causes many effects for children

development. Namely academic achievement, emotional effect and positive effect.

Beside children development, people must concern of children conflict

because every people have their own conflict. The conflict itself comes from

themselves or other people. According to Gaffar and Khan (2012), there are five

major types of conflicts including intrapersonal, interpersonal, intragroup,

intergroup, and organizational levels.

This novel discusses Percy Jackson as the main character. Percy lives with

his mother and his step father but his step father does not contribute of Percy’s life

and his mother’s life. He never knows who his father is and where his father right

is Percy has dyslexia. He cannot read and concentrate well in his school. Also he

always moves from one school to another school. It is not easy for him to adapt

and always moves to another school. He also does not have many friends in his

school. However this is not easy for him to pass it.

B. Problem Formulation

Based on the research background, the researcher formulates the following

research questions:


1. How is Percy characterized in Riordan’s novel entitled Percy Jackson and

Lightning Thief?

2. What are the interpersonal conflicts of Percy in Riordan’s novel entitled

Percy Jackson and Lightning Thief?

C. Research Objectives

The researcher intends to examine the characteristic of Percy Jackson as

the main character in novel Percy Jackson and Lightning Thief who lives with his

mother. The objectives of this study are to solve those two problems formulated.

The first is to explain the characterized of Percy Jackson as the main character of

Percy Jackson and Lighting Thief novel also the supporting characters such as

Grover, Annabeth and Luke. The second is to explain Percy’s interpersonal

conflict through his real father, this part is conflict between son and father. The

father leaves his son since he was an infant but Percy must face the reality that his

father needs his help.

D. Research Benefits

This thesis has many advantages in literary field and education field. The

first is in literary field. It will help the reader to criticize of this novel and build a

critical because every book always has purpose that the writers want to convey.

The second is in educational field. It will give teachers ways to treat students who

have dyslexia and problems with children in single parent family background.


E. Definition of Terms

Key words on this thesis are the first is characteristics of Percy Jackson as

the main character in Riordan’s novel entitled Percy Jackson and Lightning Thief.

It is best-selling novel by a famous novelist, Rick Riordan. This novel tells us

about the journey of a half-blood son of god as known as demigod. Demigod is a

child from a god and a human. It is because sometime a god is married to human

and they have children.

The second is single parent is a parent, not living with a spouse or partner,

who has most of the day-to-day responsibilities in raising the child or children.

Behavior change is often a goal for staff working directly with constituents,

organizations, governments, or communities. Individuals charged with this task

can be thought of as “interventionists” whose goal it is to design and implement

programs or interventions that produce the desired behavioral changes. The last is

interpersonal conflict between Percy and his real father. His father left him since

he was a baby.


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CHAPTER 2

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

This chapter consists of two section, namely review of related theories, and

theoretical framework. The theoretical description provides some important

concepts related to this research. Those concepts are: character, characterization,

and single parent family, Factors that affect someone character single parent

family, on the other side; this research also provides the theoretical framework

which consists of summary of some theories that will be used in order to solve the

research problems.

A. Review of Related Theories

This part will discuss some important theories related to this research. There

are some related theories discussed. They are character and characterization.

1. Characterization

There are some definitions about characterization from some different

experts. According to Bruto (2004), characterization is a literary device that is

used step by step in literature to highlight and explains the details about a

character in a story. Roane (2014) states characterization is the choices an author

makes to reveal a character’s personality, such as appearance, actions, dialogue,

and motivations. Characterization is an element of the discourse, a part of the

writer's strategy or plan. According to Murphy (1972) there are nine ways of

characterization.


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a. Personal Description

The writer describes certain character in the novel by his or her appearance

for instance by telling characters’ looks, or what he or she wears. This is dealing

with their own needs because some writers want to show the readers about their

personal description by giving details about the color of clothes, kind of clothes,

color of shoes or something they bring such as watch, bag, umbrella, etc.

b. Characters as Seen by Another

The writer uses other characters’ opinions to characterize some characters.

It means that opinions of other character give some description of the characters.

For example, a character may think the other character is very lazy because he

always comes late to school and never does homework.

c. Speech

The writer describes a character through the characters’ speeches. It can be

identified by viewing the character dialogues. The example is a conversation

between two characters in the novel.

d. Past Life

The past life of a several characters shapes the character’s characteristics.

It is because one’s past life influences one’s characteristics in the future. His or

her past life can be told directly by an author of the novel or other characters in

the novel.


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e. Conversation of Others

The writer describes some characters through the conversation of other

characters. It can be clues which reveal the characteristics of some characters.

Using conversation to describe certain characters can see what kind of topic that

the characters discus.

f. Reaction

The reaction of some characters in dealing with some situations and events

which he or she faces in the novel can reveal his or her characterization. It means

how certain characters react about the situation. It can be a panic reaction, enjoy

reaction, mad reaction, surprising reaction and many more.

g. Direct Comments

By describing of giving a comment on a certain character, the writer shows

the characterization to the readers through sentences in the novel. It means that

direct comments can show some characters because they are described by the

conversation among the characters.

h. Thought

In order to know the characteristics of some characters, the writer

describes them through the character’s thoughts. It means that characters are

shown by the way the characters think of something and how they deal with it.

i. Mannerism

The writer shows the characteristics of some characters through their traits,

habits, or manners. It means that the characters are describe by his daily activities

that they always do.


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2. Character

Character is a representation of an individual being presented in a dramatic

or narrative work through extended dramatic or verbal representation. The reader

can interpret characters as endowed with moral and dispositional qualities

expressed in what they say (dialogue) and what they do (action). Forster (1974)

describes characters as "flat" (i.e., built around a single idea or quality and

unchanging over the course of the narrative) or "round" (complex in temperament

and motivation; drawn with subtlety; capable of growth and change during the

course of the narrative). The main character of a work of a fiction is typically

called the protagonist; the character against whom the protagonist struggles or

contends (if there is one), is the antagonist. If a single secondary character aids the

protagonist throughout the narrative, that character is the deuterogamist (the hero's

"side-kick"). A character of tertiary importance is a protagonist. A character is

there presentation of a person, place, or thing performing traditionally human

activities or functions in a work of fiction.

3. A Single Parent

Parenting is multiply determined by characteristics of the parent, of the

child, and of contextual subsystems of social support; these three determinants are

not equally influential in supporting or undermining parenting; and developmental

history and personality shape parenting indirectly, by first influencing the broader

context in which parent-child relations exist (i.e., marital relations, social

networks, occupational experience). Belsky (2014), found that parental


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personality and psychological wellbeing were the most influential of the

determinants in supporting parental functioning. Single parent is usually

considered the primary caregiver, meaning the parent the children have residency

with the majority of the time.

Behavior change is often a goal for staff working directly with

constituents, organizations, governments, or communities. Individuals charged

with this task can be thought of as “interventionists” whose goal it is to design and

implement programs or interventions that produce the desired behavioral changes.

Another definition of Single-parent families are families with children under age

18 headed by a parent who is widowed or divorced and not remarried, or by a

parent who has never married, Encyclopedia of Single parent families(2014).

3.1 Effects of Single Parent Family

There are many researcher stated about the effect of children in single

parent family. According to Thomson et al. (1994) who find that the cognitive

disadvantage of children in one-parent families largely disappears when family

complete. Ginther and Pollack (2004) stated that children from one-parent

families display lower cognitive development than their peers from two-parent

families, but that this effect disappears when family income is included as a

control. (as cited in Encyclopedia of Children's Health 2014, p.1). Similarity,

Baxter et al. (2011) who use data from the Longitudinal Study of Australian

Children (LSAC). Prior to controlling for child background variables, children

living in two-parent families had better emotional outcomes than children living

in one-parent families. After controlling for demographic, socioeconomic and


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personal characteristics, children from single-parent families continued to display

lower emotional development.

4. Children Development Stages

Children development that occurs from birth to adulthood are largely

ignored throughout much of history. Children are often viewed simply as small

versions of adults and little attention is paid to the many advances in cognitive

abilities, language usage, and physical growth that occur during childhood and

adolescence. According to Piaget, children are born with a very basic mental

structure (genetically inherited and evolved) on which all subsequent learning and

knowledge is based. According to Freud (1915), children development is

described as a series of 'psychosexual stages.' In "Three Essays on Sexuality",

Freud (1915) outlines these stages as oral, anal, phallic, latency and genital. Each

stage involves the satisfaction of a libidinal desire and can later play a role in

adult personality. If a child does not successfully complete a stage, Freud (1915)

suggested that he or she would develop a fixation that would later influence adult

personality and behavior. Erikson (1959) believed that each stage of development

focuses on overcoming a conflict. For example, the primary conflict during the

adolescent period involves establishing a sense of personal identity.

a. Trust vs. Mistrust

Erikson (1959) said the first psychological crisis occurs during the first

year. In this stage infant is uncertain about the world in which they live. To

resolve these feelings of uncertainty the infant looks towards their primary

caregiver for stability and consistency of care. If the care that infant receives is


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consistent, predictable and reliable, they will develop a sense of trust which will

carry with them to other relationships, and they will be able to feel secure even

when they are threatened.

By developing a sense of trust, the infant can have hope as new crises arise. There

is a real possibility that other people will be a source of support.

b. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt

The children are developing physically and become more mobile. Between

the ages of 18 months and three, children begin to assert their independence, by

walking away from their mother, picking which toy to play with, and making

choices about what they like to wear and to eat.

The child will discovering that he or she has many skills and abilities, such

as putting on clothes and shoes, playing with toys. Such skills illustrate the child’s

growing sense of independence and autonomy. Erikson (1959) states it is critical

that parents allow their children to explore the limits of their abilities within an

encouraging environment which is tolerant of failure. Parents need to encourage

their children to become more independent whilst at the same time protecting the

children so that constant failure is avoided.

A delicate balance is required from the parents. They must try not to do

everything for their children but if the children fail at a particular task they must

not criticize the children failures and accidents (particularly when toilet training).

The aim has to be self-control without a loss of self-esteem. It will lead to the

virtue will. In this case if children in this stage are encouraged and supported in


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their increased independence, they become more confident and secure in their

own ability to survive in the world.

c. Initiative vs. Guilt

In this stage is around age of three and continuing to age of five. Children

assert themselves more frequently. During this period the primary feature involves

the child regularly interacting with other children at school. Central to this stage is

paly, as it provides children with the opportunity to explore their interpersonal

skills through initiating activities.

Children begin to plan activities, make up games, and initiate activities

with others. It gives children opportunity to develop a sense of initiative and feel

secure in their ability to lead others and make decision. In contrast this tendency is

squelched, either through criticism or control, children develop a sense of guilt.

They may feel like nuisance to others and lacking of self-initiative.

In these stages children will begin to ask many questions as their thrust for

knowledge grows. If the parents treat the children question as trivial. A nuisance

or embarrassing or other aspects of their behavior as threatening then the children

may have feeling of guilt for being a nuisance.

d. Competence vs. Inferiority

In these stage are children aged five to twelve years old. Where they will

be learning to read and write, to do sums, to do things on their own. Teachers

begin to take an important role in the child’s life as they teach the child specific

skills.


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The children peers group will grain greater significance and will become a

major source of the children self-esteem. The children now feel the need to win

approval by society and begin develop a sense of pride in their accomplishments.

If children are encouraged and reinforced for their initiative, they begin to

feel industrious and feel confident in their ability to achieve goals. If this initiative

is not encouraged, it is restricted by parents or teachers, then the children begins

to feel inferior, doubted of his own abilities and therefore they may not reach their

potential.

e. Identity vs. Role Confusion

In these stages are adolescences in aged 12 to 18 years old, the transition

from childhood to adulthood is most important. Children are becoming more

independent, and begin to look at the future in term of career, relationships,

families and housing. They want to belong to society and fit in.

This is a major stage in development where the children have to learn the

roles. They will occupy as an adult. It is during this stage that adolescent will re-

examine his or her identity and try to find out exactly who he or she is. Erikson

(1959), suggest that two identities are involved: the sexual and occupational.

Erikson (1959) claims that the adolescent may feel uncomfortable about their

body for a while until they can adapt and grow into changes.

During this period, they explore possibilities and begin to form their own

identity based upon the outcome of their exploration. Failure to establish a sense

of identity within society and role confusion involves the individuals not being


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sure about themselves or their place in society in response to role confusion or

identity crisis an adolescent may begin to experiment with different lifestyles.

Adolescent may curious about something happen around their environment and

the changes of their body.

f. Intimacy vs. Isolation

In these stages begin to share ourselves more intimately with others.

People explore relationship leading towards longer term commitments with

someone other than a family member.

Successful completion of these stages can lead to a comfortable

relationship and a sense of commitment, safety, and care within a relationship.

Avoiding intimacy, fearing commitment and relationship can lead to isolation,

loneliness, and even depression.

g. Generativity vs. Stagnation

This is stage for people in middle adulthood around ages 40 to 65 years

old. They establish their careers, settle down within a relationship begin our own

families and develop a sense of being a part of the bigger picture. People in this

stages will back to society through raising children, being productive at work and

becoming involved in community activities and organizations.

h. Ego Integrity vs. Despair


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In these stages for people around ages of 65 years old above. People in this

stages become senior citizens, they tend to slow down our productivity, and

explore life as a retired person. It is during this time they contemplate their

accomplishments and are able to develop integrity if they see themselves as

leading a successful life. Erikson (1959) believes if we see our lives as

unproductive, feel guilty about past or feel that we did not accomplish life goals

and become dissatisfied with life and develop despair often leading to depression

and hopelessness.

5. Conflict Theory

The research includes the theory of conflict. This theory includes the

conflict and the conflict resolution. The first part discusses the definition and

types of conflict. Meanwhile, the second part, which is the conflict resolution,

focuses on interpersonal conflict resolutions.

a. Conflict

According to Kasschau (2003), psychology is a scientific study of

behavior and mental process. When applied to humans, psychology covers

everything that people think, feel, and do. Since the unconscious motivation and

conflicts are responsible for human behavior. Therefore, conflict can be

considered as a psychological aspect of human being (Kasschau, 2003).

According to Insenhart and Spangle (2000), conflict is as an exposed struggle

between at least two independent parties that perceive incompatible goals and

inadequate resources and intrusion from another party in obtaining their goals.


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Conflict appears when there is a struggle between two independent parties

because they cannot fulfill two or more mutual actions altogether. It happens

whenever incompatible activities occur.Similarly, Hocker and Wilmot (1985)

define conflict as an expressed struggle between at least two interdependent

parties who perceive incompatible goals, scare rewards, and interference from the

other parties in achieving their goals

According to Gaffar and Khan (2012), there are five major types of

conflicts including intrapersonal, interpersonal, intragroup, intergroup, and

organizational levels. From the five types of conflict, a brief detailed information

about intrapersonal and interpersonal conflicts is discussed further. According to

Gaffar and Khan (2012), intrapersonal conflict arises because of multifarious

reasons within an individual. This conflict that happens within an individual

indicates the presence of different ideas, opposing feelings, and activities. It

causes stress, anxiety, uncertainty, hesitation, and depression. In contrast,

interpersonal conflict represents conflicts between two individuals. In other

words, this conflict occurs between two independent parties. Interpersonal conflict

always presents in groups because individuals differ in terms of values, beliefs,

attitudes, and behavior. For instance, interpersonal conflict appears because of

disagreement to achieve individuals’ goals.

1. Conflict Resolution

Conflicts often appear regularly in human life. It makes sense that people

have to deal with conflicts. People have to develop strategies to deal with

conflicts.


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McCollum (2009) states that conflicts can be managed in six ways. The first is

avoidance. A person can use this strategy to steer clear of conflicts, for any

number of reasons. The person can decide that the confrontation proves more

troubles that are worth. The second is independent action. This approach involves

the other side starting a conflict with little or no effort to communicate with the

other sides. It often involves violence, illegal acts, or both. Independent action is

almost and always a bad idea. The third is negotiation. Negotiation consists of

different sides talking one-on-one to try to work out resolution.

The fourth is mediation. This strategy is similar to negotiation. The difference

is that an outside party as a mediator takes part. The mediator makes no decisions,

but helps smooth the communication between the sides of conflict. The fifth is

arbitration. Arbitration involves an outside party taking part discussions. An

arbitrator makes judgment about how the conflict should be resolved. The last is

litigation. Litigation is the use of legal system to settle a dispute.

There are several ways to handle conflict based on its types that are faced.

Kasschau (2003) proposes four types of intrapersonal conflict situation and how

they are resolved. The first one is approach-approach type. An individual must

choose between two alternative. To deal with this type of conflict, the individual

decides which goals that he or she wants to approach. An approach-approach

conflict is a conflict in name only. It does not produce great deal of stress because

both choices are satisfying. The second is avoidance-avoidance type. The type

occurs when an individual confronts two unattractive alternatives. Therefore, the


18

most possible way to solve it is to either leave the conflict or choose one better

alternative over the others.

The third is approach-avoidance type. An individual who wants to do

something but has fears or doubts or is repulsed by it at the same time is

experiencing an approach-avoidance conflict. The resolution of this conflict is

often very difficult and depends generally on the person’s finding added reason to

choose one alternative over the other. The fourth is a double approach-avoidance

conflict. An individual must choose between two goals or more alternatives, each

of which has attractive and unattractive aspects. In other words, this type concerns

with choosing one goal and as a consequence in giving up the other goals.

Adler and Towne (1990: 376-380) propose three manners of taking the

decision to do or not to do something in interpersonal conflict. The first manner is

win-lose problem solving in which the party gets what she/he wants while another

party is not. Therefore, there will only be one satisfied party. The second manner

is lose-lose in which neither side is satisfied with the decision. The third manner is

win-win. It is aimed to satisfy both parties. It does not involve compromise in

which one should give up something or find the most correct solution for

everybody with similar problem, but it works when the individual can find the

right answer to the problem.

B. Theoretical Framework

According to Erikson (2012), he believes that each stage of development focuses

on overcoming a conflict. For example, the primary conflict during the adolescent


19

period involves establishing a sense of personal identity. And Percy Jackson was

in the stages of Identity vs. Role Confusion for 12-18 years old. In this stages he

is in social relationship that he wants to know other world outside house and he

started explore the social world. Percy is a teenager, in this stages also teens need

to develop a sense of self and personal identity.

Percy starts to know himself and who is he. It is because many things

strange happened around him and he cannot control his emotion or cannot

concentrate well in the class. The writer chooses this theory because his suitable

for the research and Erickson (2012), gives clear explanation about children stage

I range age on 12-18 years old.


20

CHAPTER III

METHODOLOGY

This chapter discussed the method of the study and it will be divide into

three parts. They are object of the study, approach of the study, and method of the

study.

A. Object of Study

This object of this study was the main character in Percy Jackson and

Lightning Thief novel. The subject of this thesis was Percy Jackson and

Lightening Thief novel by Rick Riordan. Richard Russell Riordan Jr. better

known as Rick Riordan is The New York Times bestselling American author of

the Percy Jackson and Olympians series. Born on June 5, 1964, Rick Riordan

grew up in Texas. The writer really like this sequel novel actually this novel

comes into 5 series. Riordans as the writer successfully brought the readers into

the Percy’s and friend journey. The categorized of this novel was fiction. The

number of the page of the novel were 376 pages

Percy is the main character in this novel. He is a son of Poseidon, God of the

ocean. He lives with his mother and stepfather. Percy never know his real father

since he was a baby. It is because Poseidon left him since he was a baby. Because

of Percy is a son of Poseidon, he inherit his father’s strength and ability. He isa

demigod because his mother is a human and his father is a god. When he goes to

school in the first time, he suffered from ADHD and Dyslexia. He can moves to


21

one school and another school because of the violence, he could not concentrate,

and read well. All of this can happen because he do not have complete family, he

never know his father and also do not like his step father. He has bad tempered

when he facing his step father. And then he really hates his father because he

never know him.

B. Approach of Study

In this thesis the writer used psychological approach. It was from the critical

approach by Rohrberger and Wood (1971). This critical approach is divided into

five, namely formalist approach, biographical approach, socio cultural-historical

approach, mythopoeic approach, and psychology approach. The reason using

psychological approach, was because the researcher wanted to examine Percy’s

character in the novel. He lived with his mother and his step father but he never

knew his real father at the first. In psychological critics view works through the

lens of psychology. Their looks either the psychological motivations of the

character or of the author themselves, although the former is considered a more

respectable approach. According to Freudian approach in psychology, there are

three type of psychological approach. They are id (pleasure principle in the

unconscious), Super ego (repository of conscience/pride that protect society), and

ego (the governing agent of the unconscious that protect the individual). Freudian

theory related to human behavior derives from libido/sexual energy.

1. Advantages: A useful tool for understanding some works, in which

characters manifest clear psychological issues. Like the biographical


22

approach, knowing something about a writer’s psychological makeup can

give us insight into his work.

2. Disadvantages: Psychological criticism can turn a work into little more than

a psychological case study, neglecting to view it as a piece of art. Critics

sometimes attempt to diagnose long dead authors based on their works,

which is perhaps not the best evidence of their psychology. Critics tend to

see sex in everything, exaggerating this aspect of literature. Finally, some

works do not lend themselves readily to this approach.

C. Method of Study

The method of this thesis is the writer using library studies. The researcher

used the Rick Riordan’s novel as the main research and other books to support the

research thesis such as, the book entitled Children Stages Development and some

sources from internet.

There were two steps that the writer did. The first step was the researcher read

the novel until the end to understanding the novel. Before the researcher read the

novel, the researcher watched the movie first. But in the movie cannot provide

accurate data that the writers needed. And then create two problem formulation.

After reading the novel, the researcher read again to collect the important data

from the novel. The writer highlighted and underlined the data related to the

problem formulation. And the last step was analyzing the data that the researcher

collected from the novel to solve the research problems


23

CHAPTER 4

ANALYSIS

In this chapter, the researcher discusses the characterization of Percy

Jackson as the major character in the Percy Jackson and Lighting Thief novel. The

discussion of this chapter is divided into two parts based on the problem

formulation. The first part is the discussion of Percy Jackson characterization and

the supporting characters. The second part is the reasons why he hates his real

father.

A. Characterization of Percy Jackson

Percy is the main character of this novel. He is a trouble kid who always

makes his school life ruin. He is twelve years old. He is a boarding student at

Yancy Academy for a trouble kids in upstate New York (p.1). Percy has dyslexia

and attention deficit disorder. He never makes above C- in his school life. Percy

lives with his mother and his step father. He never meets his original father since a

baby. His mother tell him that his father have to leave them because his father

have something important to do. Because he never meet his father, he really hates

his father. Percy claims that if his father never leaves him and his mother, they

will have a good life. It is because Percy and his mother have to live with his step

father that never really cares about his existence. Beside his background of Percy

family, he has many struggles after he knows the truth about his father. The fact is

Percy’s son of Poseidon. His father is a god of the sea and one of the big three god


24

(p.126) and then he is a demigod (p.95). Demi god is the terms of children from

human and god. Namely half-blood (p.95).

Percy livesin half-blood camp because his existence is in danger. After his

mother disappear, so he must live at there. It is a big accident that happen and

Percy is suspected do that. At the first he do not know the accident until Chiron

tell him (p .134). He had a quest to found something valuable. Zeus’s lighting

bold (p.135). It is a long journey to found it. Percy do his quest with Grover and

Annabeth. They faces many hardness until Percy finds it and he meets his father

at the first time.

The analysis is based on Murphy’s (1972) theory of character and

personalities. As the result there were four of Percy Jackson’s characteristics

found in Percy Jackson and Lighting Thief novel by Rick Riordan.

1. Troublesome

Percy is a troublesome kid. He is going to school at Yancy Academy, a

private school for trouble kids in upstate New York (p.1). He has dyslexia and

attention deficit disorder (p.7). Because he had dyslexia he could not concentrate

well in class and had difficult in reading. The past life of Percy, he had moments,

when his brain fallen asleep or something and the next thing he knew he had

missed something, as if a puzzle piece fell out of the universe and left staring at

the blank place behind it. His school counselor tell him he has ADHD. His brain

can miss interpreting things (p.11). Percy cannot concentrate well but from all of


25

his subject his like his Latin class at the most. He often moves from one school to

another school because of his disorder and disease.

2. Caring

Everyone has their caring side.Even Percy also hashis caring side to his

family and his friends. Care is kind of affection to other people. There are many

cares that Percy shows to his family and friends.

Percy really cares and loves his mother. He lives with his mother and step

father but his step father never treat him and his mother well. He will do anything

to protect his mother from his step father because he know that his step father

never treats his mother well (p.30). When Percy faces bull monster on the way to

half-blood camp he tries to protect his mother but he cannot save her (p.53) and

then he know the way to save his mother.

“Then, within an angry roar, the monster closed his fists around my mother’s neck, and she dissolved before my eyes, melting into light, a shimmering golden form, as if she were a holographic projection. A blinding flash, and she was simply… gone.” (p.53)

He definitely cares with his mother because she is the only one he has and

he never want to lose her even he must save his mother for underworld.

Percy also cares tohis friend named Grover. When Nancy Bobofit

bullyingGrover, Percy wants to take revenge to her and hit her but Grover calm

him down (p.3).

“Anyway, Nancy Bobofit was throwing wads of sandwich that stuck in his curly brown hair, and she knew I couldn’t do anything back to her because I was already on probation. The headmaster had threatened me with death by


26

in-school suspension if anything bad, embarrassing, or even mildly entertaining happened on this trip.”I’m going to kill her,” I mumbledGrover tried to calm me down. “It’s okay. I like peanut butter.” (p.3)

It is because Grover was his best friend since they are in the same

elementary school He attends the same school with Percy at Yancy Academy.

Percy looks him as a child who have been held back several grades. It is because

his appearance different from other children.

“He must have been held back several grades, because he was the only sixth grader with acne and the start of a wispy beard on his chin. On top of all that, he was crippled. He had a note excusing him from PE (Physical Exercise) for the rest of his life because he had some kind of muscular disease in his legs (p.3)”.

. Percy also cares with other people because when he cannot find a thunder

bold, people in the world are in danger so he triesto find the thunder bold and

saves other people. In the camp Percy has friend name Annabeth. They become

friend and partner to find the thunder bold. She is a demi god and daughter of

Athena, God of wisdom and battle. Annabeth comes to the camp when she is

seven years old (p.97).

“I have been here since I was seven,” she said. Every August, on the last day of summer season, you get a bead for surviving another year. I have been here longer than most of counselors, and they are all in college.”(p.97)

In the journey Percy saves Annabeth from Medusa because Medusa hates

Annabeth’s mother and wants to make her become stone by looking Medusa’s

eyes.

3. Responsible

He takes care of his mother (p. 31) and Grover (p.3). When he realize that his

mother disappear after they are attack by bull monster, he blames himself that


27

cannot protect his mother. He says, “I thought about how he had squeezed the life

and rage filled me like high-octane fuel. I got both hands around one horn and I

pulled back ward with all might” (p.55). And Percy livesin Half-blood camp when

he lives at camp, there is a big problem in Olympic because someone steal one of

biggest god important things and he is suspects as a thief. Percy knows that from

Chiron, who says, “You’ll meet worst, Percy. Far worse before you done.” And

Percy replies, “done…with what?” (p.134) and Chiron offer him for quest. After

that he gets his quest to find the thunder bold that own by Zeus with Grover and

Annabeth. During their journey to finds the thunder bold, Percy faces many

hardness. For the example: Most of Minotaur wants to kill him because of his

smell, Percy is son of Poseidon, god of the sea and Minotaur interesting with his

smell because Annabeth says, “You are a son of one the big Thor. Your smell

might be overpowering” (p.162).

Percy’s journeys is not long journey. He has to bring the lightening bold back

by the summer solstice (p. 137).

“Most thinking observers would agree that thievery is not Poseidon’s style. But the Sea God it too proud to try convincing Zeus of that. Zeus has demanded that Poseidon return the bolt by the summer solstice. That’s June twenty-first, ten days from now.” (p.137)

During the journey, He faces Medusa at The Garden Gnome Emporium,

Hydra at Museum, Chihuahua, Chimera, Ares and he saves his mother from

underworld. Finally, Percy and friends can finish their quest to find the valuable

thing that is missing before and save his mother from underworld he also saves

the world.


28

4. Brave

In the beginning, Percy is not brave enough. He has a school trip to

Manhattan with twenty eight mental kids and two teachers on yellow school bus,

heading to the Metropolitan Museum of Art to look at ancient Greek and Roman

stuffs(p.2). At there, he is learning many things about ancient Greek and he really

likes this major because of his Dyslexia he cannot study well except Greek and

Latin (p.18). During the school trip he never gets trouble but one of his teacher

asks him to talk something and says that Percy gives us problem (p.12). Suddenly

his teacher become a monster with bat wing and claws and a mouth of yellow

fangs (p.12). And he get a pen from Mr. Brunner and it is a bronze sword, which

he always uses on tournament day. When the monster towards Percy with a

murderous look in her eyes, his knee was jelly and his hands are shaking so badly

(p.11). It is proof that Percy is not brave enough person at that time but the time

goes and many journey pass.

Percy becomes a brave person. The first example is when he facing bull

monster. Actually he cannot beat that monster but his mother encourages him to

beat the monster and he do it. The second is when he fights with Medusa at the

Garden Gnome Emporium Percy can beat her to save Annabeth and Grover. And

the third, when he saves finishing his quest to find the valuable thing that is steal

and saves his mother from underworld.

B. The Interpersonal Conflict of Percy Jackson


29

The main character of this novel is Percy. He is twelve years old. He lives with his

mother and his step father who never feel his existence. Percy never meets his

father since a baby. He really hates his father. Actually he never knows about his

real father but there is a quest that he must face his father. Percy gets many

troubles during his school life and his miss father role in his life. It is because his

father and his step father ignore him.

1. The Causes of Percy Interpersonal Conflict

According to the novel since Percy is a baby, he lives with his mother and

his step father who never feels his existence. The only one his precious thing in

this world is his mother, he never wants to lose her. Because Percy does not live

in condition of complete family, many things happen to him and he has to deal

with his conflicts relates to the truth of his father and his fate.

a. Living in Single Parent Family.

According to Erickson (1959) in child development stages, Percy is in

adolescence stages which meant identity vs. role confusion. The age of this stage

around 12 up to 18 years old. In the novel, Percy is 12 years old (p.1). He does not

have many friends in school and he does not know how to socialize with his

friends. In this stage as a teenage, Percy does not have many friends. The only

friend that he has is Grover.

According to Erikson (1959), each stage of development focuses on

overcoming a conflict. Percy is in teen age which ismean that teenager always

curious about many things and like to join in the social community. However

Percy does not have many friends because of that he does not join any social


30

group. Despite that he suffers from dyslexia and could not concentrate well and

hard to study. Percy is in stage of identity vs. role confusion (Erikson, 1959).

Percy tries to find his identity and he still confuse of himself after he knows the

truth that he is a demigod. In Percy’s life, he is lacks of parents’ role because his

father leaves him since he is a baby and his step father treats him like he does not

exist. He only gets parent role from his mother. Percy lives in single parent family

condition and according to the Baxter et al. (2011) children living in two-parent

families have better emotional outcomes than children living in one-parent

families. After controlling for demographic, socioeconomic and personal

characteristics, children from single-parent families continue to display lower

emotional development. Percy always gets mad if his step father treats his mother

like a slave (p.30).

“Between the two of us, we made my mom’s life pretty hard. The way Smelly Gabe treated her, the way he and I Got along… “(p.30)

Besides, he hates his real father because his father left him. He never

knows how father’s love like every father always plays with his son. He also

never gets love from his step father.

“I felt angry with at my father. Maybe it was stupid, but I resent him for going on that ocean Voyage, for not having the guts to marry my mom. He’d left us and now were stuck with Smelly Gabe”. (p.39)

This condition makes his emotional unstable and Percy has lower emotional

development because he does not know how to share his feeling and what he

wants. As a son, Percy needs complete parents to support for his study, his social

life and his personal development but in fact his father and his step father are not


31

supports him. The effect of that makes Percy always move from one school from

to one another school. He becomes a troublesome kid in the school and does not

have many friends. The only friends he is Grover in the school and they become

best friends since a long time. Besides, his best friend, Grover is the only person

who can show his fate about who is he and who is his father.

b. Dealing with His Fates and His Father

Percy never feels the feeling having a father and spending his time with

father. That is why he has lost the father’s figure, even he has step father but he

cannot figure it out from him. At the first he never knows that he is a demigod.

When he is in the half blood camp, one of his friends there tells that Percy is a

half-blood (p.94).

“Don’t you get it, Percy? You are home. This is the only safe place on earth for kids like us… I mean not human. Not totally human, anyway, half human and half god.” (p.94)

At the first, he never believes that he is a demigod, who is a half human and a half

god. This is a proof that his real father is still alive. The truth that he is a demigod

has brought Percy something that he really hates. He really hates his father who

leaves him and his mother since he is a baby. His mother never tells Percy about

his father that makes Percy believes that his father is really bad that leaves his

mother and him also makes his mother stuck with his step father. When Percy has

a school trip to Metropolitan Museum of art to look at ancient Greek and Roman

stuff one of his teacher calls him to meet her after small accident that he never do.

Percy never realizes that he is in danger because it is just a trap on him, Mrs.

Dodds is a monster. She wants to kill Percy. At the end of fighting, Percy can


32

defeat the monster by the pen that Mr. Brunner give to him before (p. 13). His

mother notice about that and decide to send him to half-blood camp for someone

like him. The accident at the museum becomes the reason that Percy attends half-

blood camp for someone like him (p.40).

“I have tried to keep you as close to me as I could. My mom said they told me that was a mistake. But there’s only one other option, Percy- the place your father wanted to send you. And I just… I just can’t stand to do it.” (p.40)

After many accidents, Percy must go to half-blood camp during summer. He

finds the truth about him and his father. The fact that his father is still alive and he

has to head the big fate that change the world because of many things happen

during the half-blood camp. Percy is accuses of the lighting thief.

In half-blood camp Percy find his truth about his father. He is a special kid

because Percy is demigod but the biggest truth that his father is Poseidon, God of

the sea, and one of the big important gods and also Zeus’s second brother (p.127).

“The attack that scared ever body. It sent two messages: one, that I was the son of the sea god and two, monster would stop at nothing kill me. They could even invade a camp that had always been considered safe (p. 127).”

At that time Percy has a quest to find the lightening thief to make the world stable

because there is a war between Zeus and Poseidon. (p. 138).

“Imagine the world in chaos, nature at war with itself, Olympians forced to choose sides between Zeus and Poseidon. Destruction. Carnage. Million dead. Western civilization turned into a battleground so big it will make the Trojan War look like a water-balloon fight (p.138).”

Finally, Percy has to face his fate to find the lightening bold and starts his

journey with Grover and Annabeth. It is not an easy journey. In order to find the

lighting bold Percy faces many difficulties. Percy goes to find the lightening thief


33

and save his mother in underworld, he believes that his mother is still alive. He

have to meet Hades in the underworld because Hades suspects Percy as lightening

thief. It is becomes the first journey and dangerous for him during his life.

2. Percy Interpersonal Conflict through His Father

Most of children in this world want to spend their life with his father but

for those children whodo not have complete family cannot feel a warm from

father. This happened to Percy Jackson, at the first he never know his father and

he get bad experience with his step father. Percy does not believe in his father.

The only precious thing in his life is his mother and the hated thing is his father

who leave him since his mother is pregnant. When he knows the truth about his

father that he is a son of sea God. He has to accept that he is the son of Poseidon,

one of important Gods. The most unpredictable is the real identity of him that he

is a demigod, half human and half god. Percy has interpersonal conflict between

him and his father. According to Erikson (1964), he believes that each stage of

development focuses on overcoming a conflict.

a. Helping His Father

In the novel, he gets a quest to find the lightening thief and returns it by

the summer solstice. That is on June twenty-first, ten days from that time (p.137).

He is in conflict because Percy has to help his father to find the lightening thief

but his father had ignored him for twelve years and his father needed him (p.145).

“My dad needs me. Emotions rolled around inside me like bits of glass in a kaleidoscope. I didn’t know whether to feel resentful or grateful or happy or


34

angry. Poseidon had ignored me for twelve years. Now suddenly he needed me.”(p.145)

In this condition Percy has faced an intrapersonal conflict in dealing with

his father. According to Gaffar and Khan (2012), intrapersonal conflict arises

because of multifarious reasons within an individual. This conflict that happens

within an individual indicates the presence of different ideas, opposing feelings,

and activities. It causes stress, anxiety, uncertainty, hesitation, and depression.

Conflict between Percy and his father happens because his father has leaves him

since he is unborn. Percy really hated his father. That conflict gives bad effect of

his emotion development and his social development in primary school. It is a

proof that Percy does not have many friends in school and he is a trouble kid who

always moved from one school to another school, he is moved six time in six

years. Also his step father does not give any effect on him but makes it worst.

There are several ways to handle the conflict. Kasschau (2003) proposes four

types of intrapersonal conflict situation and resolution of based on its type. Those

four types are avoidance-avoidance, approach-approach, approach-avoidance, and

double approach-avoidance.

b. Accomplishing The Mission

Percy has accomplished his mission to find the lightening bold. He really

hates to do the mission because the mission comes from his father. How Percy can

do his quest if his father never meets him (p.145). It arises a conflict in him and

make him hates his father more. The more he thinks about his father the he more

hates him. Percy’s teacher in the camp asks for him to do quest for the sake of the

world. It is because there will be many victims if he refuses the quest. The


35

environment is unstable and there will be a storms, earth quakes and many bad

conditions will happen. Percy decides to find the lightening bold that is stolen by

someone to avoid the circumstances worst.

In this condition Percy has to deal with his conflict and helps his father

otherwise he does not want to help him because of his conflict with his father.

Percy avoids his feeling and anger. He wants to do the quest because of his

mother and the effect of the war if he cannot find the lightening bold. Dealing

with himself is not easy to him but he tries his best to overcome it and at the end

he starts to think about his father.


36

CHAPTER V

CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS

This chapter presents the summary of the study. It consists of three

sections concerning the conclusions, the reflection of the study, and the

suggestions for future researchers and ELESP lecturers and English teachers.

A. Conclusions

After analyzing the novel, the researcher found there were two points that

could be concluded from this study. The first finding is the characterization of the

major character Percy Jackson in the novel, and the second finding is the

interpersonal conflict dealing with his father.

The character of Percy in the novel Percy Jackson and Lightening Thief is

described as a special kid who always causes trouble. His characteristics are

troublesome, caring, responsible and brave.

As a troublesome kid character shows when Percy always moves from one

school to another school. He does not have many friends in school. His caring

character is showed from the accident of bull attack while his mother wants to

deliver him to half-blood camp. He has to face the truth that his mother disappear

and he wants to save his mother. Percy also cares with other people when he know

that western field become the battle field if he could not find the thunder bold. It

is because there are many civil victims so he wants to find the lightening bold.

Also Percy really cares with his friend namely Grover. When Nancy Bobofit


37

bullies Grover, Percy wants to take revenge to her and wants to hit her but Grover

calms him down. It is because Grover is his best friend since they are in the same

elementary school. Besides he is a responsible person, it is proves when he decide

his responsible to finds the thunder bold. He has to face the difficulties to find it

and finally he can find the lightening thief and the thunder bold. He is also a brave

person, it shows when he must fight a bull monster. The second when he is facing

Medusa at the Garden Gnome Emporium. Percy can beat her to save Annabeth

and Grover. And the third he accomplishing his quest to find valuable thing that is

stolen and saves his mother from underworld.

Beside all the characters of Percy Jackson there are always supporting

characters that always accompanies him from beginning of his journey namely

Grover, Annabeth, and Luke. Grover is his best friend since he is in primary

school, Annabeth is the daughter of Athena, God of wisdom and war strategy. He

meets her in a half-blood camp and they becomes friends. Both Grover and

Annabeth accompany Percy during the long journey to find the lightening thief.

Luke is son of Hermes, God of Delivery. He is one of Percy’s friendsin the half-

blood camp. Luke makes situation worst. He is the lightening thief.

Percy hates his father, because his father leaves Percy and his mother. When

his father needs him to find the lightening thief suddenly he thinks that why he

asks for help but he ignores him during twelve years. Maybe it is not fair for him

but he realizes that the only way to save his mother and world is finding the

lightening bold.


38

B. Suggestions

After conducting the research, there are two suggestions. The first one is

for future research. This study only analyses one character. Meanwhile there are

other characters who still can be analyzed. Therefore, the future researchers may

conduct the same study on the other characters.

The second suggestion is for the readers of this thesis. People with

dyslexia cannot be blamed. He wants to live normal like other. It is because the

researcher wants to the reader to become aware of people with dyslexia and

people with single parent. People do not know how hard other people’s lives.

They should not make them worse by blaming them.

C. Reflection

The major character of Percy in the novel Percy Jackson and Lightening

Thief written by Rick Riordan experiences a child in single parent family life.

Percy is a trouble kid who cannot study well, concentrate well, does not have

many friends, and moves six times in six years. Everything is bad for him and for

the study he never gets more than C-. It is because he suffers from dyslexia and

ADHD. Percy lives with his mother and his step father but his step never treats

him well. Percy never knows his father. He is mad at his father why he leaves him

and his mother so his mother lives with his step father who treats her like a slave.

He feels his life never goes well until his mother tells him about his father and

also tells him about the place that his father want to send him. When he is on the

way to that place accompanying by his mother and Grover, they get attacks by


39

bull monster. In the accident, Percy has to lose his mother. Percy is characterized

as troublesome kid, caring, responsible and brave. Those characterizations are

builds from his experience being children in single parent family life and his

interpersonal conflict between him and his father. Percy causes many problems in

school because his step father does not pay attention on him, only his mother do.

If his step father gives his attention to him and tell which is good or not, allows or

not allows and do or do not to do. Percy might have good social life in school and

has many friends and he will never moves from one school to another school.

Children in single parent family have low mentality. It is affects their

development and social lives.

Percy also has conflict with his father who leaves him since he was an

infant. He is mad with him. But in an important situation his father needs him to

find something steal. Percy feels guilty in his thought and heart because his father

has ignore him about twelve years and his father asks for Percy’s help. He does

not believeit at the first but he want to find the lightning bolt because of the

humanity.

The character of Percy is the reflection of people who live in a single

parent family situation. Percy just accepts the circumstances that he has at that

time until he finds the truth about the reason why his father leaves him and a little

bit understand the situation. When his father asks for him to find the lightening

thief he a bit satisfies because his father gives attention on him. People must know

how to treat children from single parent families well because they needs support

to become their strength in study and social. It is because most of children who


40

comes from single parent families have low mentality. Hence, people around them

need to support and do not judge them. It will make them worst. They will have

bad characters in the future.

The character of Percy teaches the researcher that every child must tell

what they feel and people must understand the condition. It is because being

children from a single parent family is not easy. The researcher cannot expect that

it will give a deep pain in his heart when Percy knows the truth about his father

and the reason why he should leave.

This research gives many benefits. The first is for the reader, they know

the situation of the major character. This novel does not only tell about the

interesting storyline but also, interesting character’s background. The readers

must know how hard the major character’s life without a father and how he suffer

dyslexia and ADHD. Behind the interesting story there will be an interesting

character.

The second benefit is in literary field. It helps the students to criticize this

novel and built critical thinking among students and teachers because every book

always has something that its writer wants to convey. The book itself is an author

feeling that is put on the storyline. Some author write based on their true stories

as.

The third benefit is in educational field. It gives teachers ways to treat

students who have dyslexia and problem with children in single parent family

background. In this novel, the teacher does not pay attention to the major


41

character so the teacher cannot maintain his development in school. Teachers

should give attention to their students in school and have great coordination with

their family to maintain situation in house. It is because teachers must know the

cause of students who cannot study well and the reasons why their students cannot

socialize with their friends in school.

This research gives a reflection to the researcher that people cannot choose

their own family to live in. When people know that their family is not complete

they have to realize that life must go on and having good behavior is important in

a community. If people cannot change the situation they donot make it worst.


42

REFERENCES

Berk, L. E. (2009). Child development(8th ed). New York: Pearson Education,Inc.

Erikson, E. (1959). Identity, youth, and crisis. New York: Norton.Retrieved on February 15, 2016, from http://simplypsychology.org/Erik-Erikson

Enclyclopedia children health (2014). Single parent families. Retrieved onNovember 20, 2014, from www.childrenhealth.com

Froster, E. M. (1974). Aspect of the novel and related writing. London: Edward Arnold Publisher.

Gaffar, A., & Khan, U. A. (2012). Nature of conflict and conflict management strategies. International Journal of English and Education 332-340.

Hocker, J. L., & Wilmot, W. W. (2011). Interpersonal conflict. (4th ed.). Dubuque, IA: W. C. Brown.

Insenhart, M. W., & Spangle, M. J. (2000). Collaborative approach to resolving conflict. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications.

Jaffee, S. R., et al. "Life with (or without) father: The benefits of living with two biological parents depend on the father's antisocial behavior." Child development 74 (January-February 2003): 109–27.

Kasschau, R. A. (2003). Understanding Psychology. Ohio: McGraw-Hill Publishing Company.

LoBrutto, V. (2005). Becoming film literate: The art and craft of motion pictures. Westport: Greenwood Publishing Group. Pp. 209-214.

McCollum, S. (2009). Managing conflict resolution. New York: Infobase Publishing.

Murphy, M. J. (1972). Understanding unseen: An introduction of English novel to oversees students. Oxford: George Allen & Unwin.

Riordan, R. (2005). Percy jackson and lightning thief. Jakarta:Mizan Fantasy.

Roane State Education. Characterization. Retrieved on November, 2014, from http://www.roanestate.edu/owl/elementslit.html

Rohrberger, M., & Wood, S. (1971). Reading and writing about literature. New

York: Random House.


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Norton edu. Characters. Retrieved November 15, 2014, from http://www.cod.edu/people/faculty/fitchf/readlit/character1

Piaget. (1968). Youth crisis. Retrived on November 15, 2014, from http://www.simplypsychology.org/piaget.html


44

APPENDICES


45

Appendix A

The Summary of Percy Jackson and Lightening Thief

Percy Jackson and Lightening Thief

The novel tells about Percy Jackson life and his journey. He is the main

character in the novel. The story is about an ordinary boy who has ADHD and

dyslexia. He always moves from one school to another school the highest score he

gets only c- and he is trouble kid. His name is Perseus Jackson or called Percy

Jackson, a twelve years old boy. He lived with his mother and his step father. One

day he knew that he was not ordinary boy because when he had a school trip, he

got attacked by a monster who pretended to be his math teacher. The monster

wanted him to put back the thing that he stole but he realized that he never stolen

anything and he was saved by a pen from his Latin teacher who told the truth

about him. Besides he had a best friend named Grover.

Percy and his mother lived with his step father named Gabe. He was a lazy

man who always made his mother become slave. Percy was really mad with his

step father but he could not do many things to stop it. His mother told about his

father that his father and the reason why his father left them. Percy could not

accept the unreasonable decision that his father took. One day, his mother wanted

to send him to a special camp for those people who had special abilities like him.

At the first, Percy did not know about his mother’s thought. When they were on

their way, a bull monster attacked them and he knew that Grover is not an


46

ordinary person but he was a half goat and man. From the accident his mother was

disappeared. Grover took him to the half-blood camp. This camp was the safe

place for person like Percy. It was because Percy was a demigod; half human and

half god. At that time, he was still confused why he lived in the half-blood camp.

He learnt many things at there and met many friends such as Annabeth and Luke.

Until he knew the truth about his father. The truth showed that Percy was the son

of Poseidon, Sea of god and one of the biggest god. Because of that, he was

suspected as the lightening thief and he help his father to find the lightening thief.

In his deep heart he felt his conflict between himself and his father but finally he

decided it for the world and humanity.

Percy did his journey with Annabeth and Grover. Many accidents

happened during his journey. He fought with Medusa, Cymera, and escape from

Mrs. Dodds, fought with Ares who was god of war, and went to underworld to

meet Hades and brought his mother back. All of journey finally brought him to

the truth that the truly lightening thief was Luke, son of Hermes. Actually he

could not believe that Luke was the thief but it was proven by Luke. He was mad

with all gods and his father at the end he could return the thunder bold to Zeus.


47

Appendix B

Biography of Rick Riordan

Richard Russell Riordan Jr. better known as Rick Riordan is The New

York Times bestselling American author of the Percy Jackson and Olympians

series. Born on June 5, 1964, Rick Riordan grew up in Texas. He attended the

Alamo Heights High School, graduating in 1982. For higher education Rick

enrolled at the University of Texas in Austin double majoring in English and

history. After graduation from the university in 1986, Rick Riordan chose

teaching for a career. For 15 years Rick taught English, history and Greek

mythology at various middle schools in the San Francisco Bay Area and in San

Antonio. In 2002, he was presented the St. Mary’s Hall’s first Master Teacher

Award for his exceptional teaching services.

Rick began to enjoy writing from an early age. He made many

unsuccessful attempts of publishing his short stories in teenage years. At school,

Rick was appointed the editor of the high school newspaper. It was not until

graduation from college and teaching in San Francisco that Riordan took writing

seriously.

Riordan’s son, Haley who was diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia held a

keen interest in a subject his father taught, Greek mythology. Then in the second

grade, Haley would often request upon Rick to tell him stories inspired by Greek

mythologies. In order to fulfill his son’s request, Riordan quickly invented the

character of Percy Jackson, a twelve year boy who suddenly discovers he is the


48

son of a Greek God. Riordan began a creatively crafted imaginative tale of

Percy’s expedition to bring back Zeus’s lightning bolt in present day America.

After Rick finished telling the story in three nights, Haley requested him to write

down the story as a book. Not wanting to disappoint his son, Riordan took out

time to write down the story. To show his respect and care for dyslexic children,

Riordan attributed some characteristics of this disease to Percy. Thus, Riordan’s

world famous Percy Jackson series came into being.

(Retrieved from: http://www.famousauthors.org/rick-riordan on 1 February 2016

at 02.39 am)


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