THE SELF ACTUALIZATION OF THE MAIN CHARACTER ’’IN THE PELICAN BRIEF ’’ FILM DIRECTED BY ALAN J. PAKULA
Gaguk Rudianto Universitas Putera Batam, Batam, Kepri, Indonesia gagukrudianto@ gmail.com
Abstract Characteristics of sef actualization are the terms to identify whether a person is categorized into self-actualized person or not. A sef actualized person is a person who is living creatively and fully using his or her potentials to realize his desire for self- fulfillment, namely, to the tendency for him to become actualized in his own potentials. This research is discussing about the characteristics of self-actualization of the main character, Derby Shaw in fulfilling her self-actualization needs in “Pelican Brief” film directed by J. Pakula in 1993. The method of collecting data in this research is qualitative descriptive research where the data are in the form of sentences or utterences from the script of the film and then they are categorized based on the Abraham Maslow theory of personality especially the motives and the characteristic of self-actialization namely 1) An Accurate perception of reality, 2)Independence, Creativity, Spontaneity, 3) Acceptance of themselves and others, 4) A Problem- centered outlook, rather than a centered outlook, 5) Enjoyment of Life, 6) Good Sense of Humor. After they are categorized, they will be explained to find out the characteristic of sef actualization in the film
Keyword: self-actualization need, Pelican Brief, characteristic of self actuaized person
1. INTRODUCTION creativity and spontaneity 3) Acceptance of 1.1 Background of the Study himself and others 4) Problems centered Self-actualization according to Abraham outlook 5) Enjoyment of life and 6) A good Maslow which is known as “Hierarchy of sense of humor. Needs” is the desires to fulfill ones highest One of the actualized persons can be seen potential differently in every person depends on from one of the main characters of “The what he is fitted for. For example a musician Pelican Brief” Darby Shaw (Julia Roberts). She must make music, an artist must paint, a poet acted as the second year Tulane University must write. These needs are the highest needs Law School student. She wrote down legal of the human being. They are the needs of a brief telling about her theory on why two human being to explore himself in order to Supreme Court Justices were killed she also achieve his full potentials or to actualize delivered her legal view to her law professor, himself (Carl Roger 1980: 550) mentor and lover Thomas Callahan (Sam A person is categorized into self- Shepard). actualized person if what he has characteristic The Pelican Brief is a 1993 legal of self-actuaized person, they are 1) Accurate political thriller based on the novel of the same perception of reality, 2) Independence, name by John Grisham. Directed by Alan J.
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Pakula, the film stars Julia Roberts in the role b) Independence, Creativity, Spontaneity of young law student Darby Shaw and Denzel It means that A person freely to choose Washington as Washington Herald reporter what they want and to create their minds. While Gray Grantham. Music was composed by these people are able to follow generally James Horner. This was the last film to feature accepted social expectations, they do not feel Pakula as a producer and writer before his confined by these norms in their thoughts or death. behaviors. In addition, Self-actualizing individuals behave more spontaneously 1.2 Limitation of the Problem because they better understand their true The problems in this research deals motives, emotions, and abilities. with the characteristics of self-actualization of c) Acceptance of themselves and others the main character, Derby Shaw.. Self-actualizers are more tolerant of human 1.3 Formulation of the Problem weakness. They avoid judging other people or Based on the background of the study themselves, although they may experience above, the writer can formulate the problem of some guilt about any personal deficiencies that the study as follows: they have been unable to overcome. a. How does the main character, Darby Not only do self-actualized people fully accept Shaw fulfills her self-actualization needs themselves; they also embrace other people for viewed from Maslow’s Theory? who they are. Other individuals are treated the b. What characteristics of self-actualization same regardless of background, current status, of the main character of the film which or other socio-economic and cultural factors. can be seen? d) A Problem- centered outlook, rather 2. REVIEW OF THE RELATED than a centered outlook LITERATURE Self-actualizers tend to have a 2.1 Characteristic of Self-Actualization consuming mission in life that occupies much According to Maslow (1962,1971) in their time and energy. It is often motivated by a Kalat (1993:551) there are 6 characteristics that strong sense of personal ethics and people with a self-actualized personality shows responsibility. They enjoy applying their the following characteristics : problem-solving skills to real-world situations a) An Accurate perception of reality and like helping other people improve their Self actualizing people are freer of own lives. unwarranted optimism, pessimism, and other e) Enjoyment of Life defensive distortions of reality. They are able to While self-actualized people have evaluate people and events with considerable concrete goals, they do not see things as simply accuracy. a means to an end. The journey toward It means that people perceive the world as it is, achieving a goal is just as important and not as they would like is to be, but they are enjoyable as actually accomplishing the goal. willing to accept uncertainty and ambiguity f) A Good Sense of Humor when necessary.
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Self-actualized individuals generally used intrinsic element in analyzing her have a thoughtful sense of humor. They are research. able to enjoy the humor in situations and laugh 3 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY at themselves, but they do not ridicule or make 3.1 Research Design fun at the expense of another person's feelings. The research which is applied in this Self-actualization is at the top of research is called qualitative research. One of Maslow's hierarchy of needs - becoming '"fully characteristics of qualitative research can be human"...maturity or self-actualization - and is seen from the form of the data. The form of considered a part of the humanistic approach to data in qualitative research is not in the form of personality. Humanistic psychology is one of number. Thus the data is in the form of several methods used in psychology for dialogue, utterance, description or explanation studying, understanding, and evaluating about the main character of Darby Shaw. The personality. The humanistic approach was dialogues or utterance which are delivered by developed because other approaches, such as the characters of the Pelican Brief movie. the psychodynamic approach made famous by Qualitative research is a means for Sigmund Freud, focused on unhealthy exploring and understanding the meaning individuals that exhibited disturbed behavior; individuals or groups ascribe to a social or whereas the humanistic approach focuses on human problem. The process of research healthy, motivated people and tries to involves emerging questions and procedures, determine how they define the self while data typically collected in the participant’s maximizing their potential. setting, data analysis in deductively building
from particulars to general themes, and the 2.4 Previous Study researcher making interpretations of the To prove the originally of this study, the meaning of the data. The final written report writer presents the previous study can be seen has a flexible structure. Those who engage in from Dwi Susilowati (2010) entitled ” THE this form of inquiry support a way of looking at ELEMENTS OF AMERICAN research that honors an inductive style, a focus INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM IN THE on individual meaning, and the importance of NOVEL OF THE PELICAN BRIEF BY JOHN rendering the complexity of a situation GRISHAM in Dipenogoro University. She (Creswell, 2009:4). discussed about the element of American Based on explanation above, the investigative Journalism and the source of the qualitative research does not use numeric or data for her research are taken from the novel calculation data and this research describes of Pelican Brief rather than the film. The systematically, factual and accurate about the method of collecting data in her research is facts and causal relationships phenomenon descriptive qualitative research. The data are in under study. This research uses a script in the the form of quotations from the novel. She does form of words as the writer’s research data. not used any approach to analyze, thus she only
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3.2 Source of the Data After the data which only relate to the self- According to Creswell (2009: 196) actualization of the Darby Shaw are collected explained that the data source of qualitative from the sources both from printed such as research is words, expressions, and the rest is book or others and non printed material such as additional data such as documents and others. in the form of file or soft copy, they will be The primary data of this research are taken classified into two namely whether the data from dialogues or utterances, explanation or relate to the values of self-actualization of the descriptions which are taken from the script of main character the data relate only to how the film and the film itself namely Pelican Brief Darby Shaw, the main character fulfills her conducted by Pakula in 1993. The dialogues or self-actualization. If the data relate to the utterances in the film which become the data of values of the main character, the data will be this research can be delivered by the main classified into four types namely awareness, characters or supporting characters as long as honesty, freedom or trust. The second type is they have closely relationship with the topic of the classification of the characteristics of self the research. actualization of the main character. This The secondary data of this research is classification is divided into Characteristic of supporting data (Creswell, 2009: 208). They Self-Actualization. are taken from both printed materials and According to Maslow (1962,1971) in electronic materials. The secondary data relate Kalat (1993:551) there are 6 characteristics that to the theories which will be the basis for the people with a self-actualized personality shows writer to analyze the data. the following characteristics they are first An 3.3 Data Collection Procedure Accurate perception of reality. Self actualizing According to Creswell, 2009:178) people are freer of unwarranted optimism, explained that the data collection procedures pessimism, and other defensive distortions of include setting the boundaries for the study, reality. They are able to evaluate people and collecting information through unstructured or events with considerable accuracy. Second semi structured observation, interviews, Independence, Creativity, Spontaneity. documents, and visual material, as well as A person freely to choose what they want establishing the protocol for recording and to create their minds. While these people information. are able to follow generally accepted social The data of this research are collected from expectations, he does not feel confined by these the script of the Pelican Brief movie and visual norms in their thoughts or behaviors. In material the movie itself. The data from both addition, Self-actualizing individuals behave sources will be sorted based on the topic of the more spontaneously because they better research. Thus the data which only have understand their true motives, emotions, and relationship with self-actualization of the main abilities. Third Acceptance of themselves and character Darby Shaw which will be analyzed. others. In this case 3.4 Data Analysis Procedure A self-actualizer is more tolerant of human weakness. He avoids judging other people or
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themselves, although he may experience some When he entered Mr. Hardwick's bedroom... guilt about any personal deficiencies that they ...he found him in bed with a man. have been unable to overcome. The fourth is The officer arrested Hardwick...... for violating Georgia's statute Problem- centered outlook, rather than a which outlaws sodomy. centered outlook Even though Georgia dropped the case... Self-actualizers tend to have a consuming ...Hardwick challenged mission in life that occupies much their time the constitutionality of the statute. Now, what was his claim? and energy. It is often motivated by a strong - That it violates the right of privacy” sense of personal ethics and responsibility. (00:09:09-10:36).
They enjoy applying their problem-solving The characteristic of self-actualized skills to real-world situations and like helping person can be seen from Derby Shaw comment other people improve their own lives. The fifth on the lecture where according to her the police is Enjoyment of Life violated the right of privacy. This event While self-actualized people have concrete happened when Prof. Thomas Callahan (Sam goals, they do not see things as simply a means Shepard) gave his lecture about the case of to an end. The journey toward achieving a goal Hardwick. At that time Hardwick had violated is just as important and enjoyable as actually drinking law, he drank in public. The police accomplishing the goal. The sixth is A Good officer tried to arrest him when he was in his Sense of Humor bedroom with a man and he was arrested him Self-actualized individuals generally have for violating Georgia’s statute. a thoughtful sense of humor. They are able to The self-actualized people perceived enjoy the humor in situations and laugh at the world as it is, not as they would like is to themselves, but they do not ridicule or make be, but they are willing to accept uncertainty fun at the expense of another person's feelings. and ambiguity when necessary. In this After the data are well arranged and classified characteristic of self-actualization is to accept based on the classification above, they will be her uncertainty in her safety because she was in analyzed and explained one by one. danger to face all president men who 4 DISCUSSION committed crime. She hides in Washington to 4.1 An Accurate perception of reality avoid this danger. This can be seen from below Self-actualizing people are freer of quotation: unwarranted optimism, pessimism, and other “they'll do anything defensive distortions of reality. They are able to not to be exposed. Where can you hide? evaluate people and events with considerable Go back to Washington”. (01:38:10- accuracy. This can be seen in below quotation: 19) Accepting condition of uncertainty in “A police officer entered Mr. Hardwick's above quotation can be seen when Derby Shaw apartment to serve him a warrant... safety is in danger where all president men will ...for an unpaid violation for drinking in public. do anything in order the brief is not expose to They caught him with an open beer
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the public because if it is exposed the president contaminated by DDT and other pesticides for will lose his change of reelection. thirty years. While the two justices Jensen and “Now if your brief is right Rosenberg handled the case of violation of and it ever reaches the light of day... environmental law of Mattice to Court of ...the president loses any chance of reelection. Appeals in New Orleans. The men around the president
won't let that happen. (01:37:15-24) 4.2 Independence, Creativity, Spontaneity The only person who know the brief is It means that A person freely to Derby Shaw, on the contrary all president men choose what they want and to create their do not want the brief exposed, even they think minds. While these people are able to follow that the brief has never exist. They will do generally accepted social expectations, they do anything include killing Derby Shaw. Thus if not feel confined by these norms in their she disappeared, there would be no justice. thoughts or behaviors. In addition, Self- ...all said the brief doesn't exist. actualizing individuals behave more You may be the only witness to the spontaneously because they better understand fact there is a brief. If you disappear... their true motives, emotions, and abilities. ...so does justice. (01:37:33-44) “Jensen and Rosenberg had in
common. Other quotation about accurate Exactly. Jensen generally protected the rights perception about reality as one of of criminal defendants. characteristics in self-actualized person can be Some notable exceptions. He wrote 3 majority opinions seen when Derby Shaw explained the protective of the environment. backround of the assassination of two justices And almost always supported tax protestors. to Political reporter Gray Grantham So they might have been assassinated So if you're Mattiece... by an insatiable tax collector? ...and you don't mind killing As yet, I rule no one out. a couple of Supremes... Everyone is assuming the motive ...now's the time to kill them, is hatred or revenge. when you can predict their Or an attempt to influence replacement. the social agenda of the court. But why Jensen? What if the issue involved He shared one piece old-fashioned material greed? of common ground with Rosenberg: A case that involves Protecting the environment (01:33:42- a great deal of money”? (00:23:45- 53) 24:28)
According to Derby Shaw analyzes of From quotation above can be seen that the motives of murder are because Mattice the the dialogue between Derby Saw and professor great contributor to the political campaign of Thomas Callahan (Sam Shepard) discussed the incumbent president broke the about the motives of the assassination of the environmental law relating to the operational of two justices Jensen and Rosenberg. They were oil drilling which caused pelicans were in the arguing about the motives, prof Thomas brink if extinction because they were Callahan mentioned that they were killed by an
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insatiable tax collector because Jensen Went on for 2 months. Where's the appeal? generally protected the rights of criminal Not perfected yet. defendants and almost always supported tax I think the deadline is August 1st. So, who done it? protestors. Yet Derby Shaw mentioned that the You have some obscure suspect background of assassination is the motive unknown to the FBI and the CIA and... hatred and revenge and involved a great deal of ...Secret Service money. From her statement it is true that she and 10,000 police departments? I had one...” (00:24:35-25:06) expressed better understanding about the motives of the murder. This is one of For the first time when Derby Shaw characteristics of self-actualized person. came to the court to get more trial data relating Other quotation about independence is to the two justices murder, she argued with the one of characteristics to be self-actualized clerk of the court. The clerk finally permit her person can be seen when Derby Shaw did to look up it after she mention about the everything in order to reveal the murderer of Freedom Information Act. She did everything justices find the motives behind the by herself including collecting supporting assassination. Her effort can be seen from evidences relate to the case. Above quotation (00:23:31-45). mention that she was an independent woman. “Where've you been?
The library. I studied a printout of the Supreme Court docket. 4.3 Acceptance of themselves and others I even made a list of possible suspects. Self-actualizers are more tolerant of And then threw it away because they'd be obvious to everyone. human weakness. They avoid judging other Then you looked for areas”. people or themselves, although they may
From quotation above can be seen that experience some guilt about any personal Derby Shaw is an independent woman, she deficiencies that they have been unable to does everything in order to reveal the motives overcome. and criminals who killed two justices. Other Not only do self-actualized people fully quotation about her independency in collecting accept themselves; they also embrace other evidences about the murder can be seen when people for who they are. Other individuals are she went to court to find trial document treated the same regardless of background, concerning with the case. current status, or other socio-economic and “Can I help you? cultural factors. This can be seen when Kalahan I'd like to see this file, please. her professor and boy-friend was killed in a car Why? It's public record, isn't it? bomb. (00:43). He was drunken and Derby Semi-public. Shaw tried to persuade to drive for him but he Are you familiar with the Freedom of Information Act? thought that he was capable enough to drive. This file has the pleading... “Can I have the keys? ...and correspondence. I'm perfectly capable of driving. The rest is discovery and the trial. You've drunk too much. When was the trial? Give me the keys. Last summer. Remember the Mashed Potato?
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Give me the keys. Went on for 2 months. - You're too young. Where's the appeal? - I know it. Not perfected yet. Do you remember the Fishback? I think the deadline is August 1st. - The Slide? So, who done it? - No. Please. You have some obscure suspect - Please what? unknown - Give me the keys. to the FBI and the CIA and... Give me the keys. ...Secret Service I'll drive or I'll walk. and 10,000 police departments? You'll walk? I had one...” (00:24:35-25:06) Yes. Have a nice stroll. Other problem centered out look can Miss Shaw! be seen from the quotation below when Derby You take my breath away! Thomas!” (00:41:19-42:32) Shaw and Gray talked about Mattice appealed
in New Orleans Court. From quotation above can be seen that “It takes 7 years for the pelican suit Miss. Shaw tried to persuade him in order she to go to trial in Lake Charles. drive the car because Thomas Kahan was The 3-man jury, caring less about the pelicans than jobs... drunken. He did not give the key to her and ...votes in favor of Mattiece. finally he came in the car by himself and when But the judge rules to keep the injunction against drilling because... he tried to turn on the engine suddenly the car ...he thinks Green Fund has proven exploded and he was dead. Facing this its point about the pelican...... a federally-protected species, condition she was very sad. Her behavior of and that it will appeal. accepting her professor or boy-friend died What's the lawsuit's status? From the trial level... incudes one of characteristics of self- ...it will be appealed to the Court actualization. of Appeals in New Orleans in a month. Any idea what the court will do?
It could be reversed. 4.4 A Problem- centered outlook, rather Then the fun starts. If either side is unhappy with the court... than a centered outlook ...they can appeal Self-actualizers tend to have a to the Supreme Court. consuming mission in life that occupies much From today, how long would it take their time and energy. It is often motivated by a for a decision by the Supreme Court?” strong sense of personal ethics and (01:32:29-33:28). responsibility. They enjoy applying their problem-solving skills to real-world situations 4.5 Enjoyment of Life and like helping other people improve their own lives. While self-actualized people have “Can I help you? concrete goals, they do not see things as simply I'd like to see this file, please. Why? a means to an end. The journey toward It's public record, isn't it? achieving a goal is just as important and Semi-public. Are you familiar with enjoyable as actually accomplishing the goal. the Freedom of Information Act? In this characteristic is her journey toward This file has the pleading...... and correspondence. achieving her goal namely to reveal the case The rest is discovery and the trial. such as how she collected some evidences from When was the trial? Last summer. the court about the minutes of trial on
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environmental case of Mattice, how she met 5 CONCLUSION Verheek who was finally killed by Khamel. 5.1 Conclusion Before he could kill her, he was shot and killed As the main character of Pelican Brief by an unknown agen Verheek was the only film, Derby Shaw has some motives or person who knew the brief because he got form background in fulfilling her self-actualization Prof. Callahan, who was killed in the car bomb. needs. They are first an Accurate perception of The characteristic of actualized person can be reality as she is freer of unwarranted optimism, seen when Derby Shaw discussed with Mr. pessimism, and other defensive distortions of Gray Grantham about the illegal business of the reality. She is also able to evaluate people and Mantice events with considerable accuracy. Second she “He's made and lost several is independence, creativity and spontaneity. fortunes drilling oil in Louisiana. She is free to choose what she wants and In 1979...... his oil company punched some holes creates her minds. While she is able to follow in Terrebonne Parish and hit oil. generally accepted social expectations, she A lot of oil. He needed governmental permission... does not feel confined by these norms in her ...to dredge a channel though thoughts or behaviors. In addition, she behaves the marshlands to get the oil out. Enter Mattiece, more spontaneously because she better the great campaign contributor... understand her true motives, emotions, and ...and as night follows day...... government permission abilities. Third is acceptance of herself and to gouge through the endangered others. In this case she is more tolerant of marshes. Mattiece is that close human weakness. She avoids judging other to at least a billion dollars... people or herself. She also embraces other ...when Green Fund...... an obscure environmental outfit... people for who they are. Other individuals are ...trots down to the U.S. District court treated the same regardless of background, in Lafayette and files a lawsuit...... to stop the entire operation. current status, or other socio-economic and Of course, Mattiece spares no expense cultural factors. Fourth is a Problem- centered to win the lawsuit. I don't think there's a top law firm outlook, rather than a centered outlook. She between Houston and New Orleans... tends to have a consuming mission in life that ...that he hasn't hired.” (01:30:21-31:29). occupies much their time and energy. It is often 4.6 A Good Sense of Humor motivated by a strong sense of personal ethics Self-actualized individuals generally have and responsibility. She enjoys applying herr a thoughtful sense of humor. They are able to problem-solving skills to real-world situations enjoy the humor in situations and laugh at and like helping other people improve their themselves, but they do not ridicule or make own lives. Fifth is enjoyment of Life. In this fun at the expense of another person's feelings. case she does not see things as simply a means In this film the main character did not have to an end. The journey toward achieving a goal good sense of humor. Thus this point cannot be is just as important and enjoyable as actually found in this film. accomplishing the goal. Sixth is a Good Sense
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of Humor. As a students of Law faculty she is Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc. an individual with a little sense of humor Sixth Edition Kalat. James W. 1993. Introduction to BIBLOGRAPHY Psychology. California. Brooks/Cole Biography of Alan J. Publishing Company, third edition Pakula.http://www.britannica.com/biogr Markey, C. N. and Markey, P. M. (2014), aphy/Alan-J-Pakula. Retrieved on June Personality, Relationships, and Health. 11, 2016 time: 04.20 p.m Journal of Personality, 82: 467–471. doi: Bordwell. David. Kristin Thompson. 2008. 10.1111/jopy.12080 Film Art: an Introduction.New York. Maslow. A. 1943. A Theory of Human NY: McGraw-Hill Companies. Eighth Motivation. New York. NY: Harper Edition Maslow. A. 1970. Motivation and Personality. Chiesa Alberto etals. 2011. Mindfulness based New York. NY: Harper cognitive therapy for psychiatric Minderop, Albertine. 2010. Psikologi Sastra. disorders: A systematic review and Jakarta. Yayasan Pustaka Obor meta-analysis. Elsevier Psychiatry Misdi, Misdi. 2014. Beyond Critical Thinking Research In Academic Writing: A Discourse Volume 187, Issue 3, 30 May 2011, Perspective. Jurnal Basis, [S.l.], v. 1, n. Pages 441–453 2, p. 51-56, feb. 2018. ISSN 2527-8835. Creswell. John W. 2009. Research Design: Available at: Qualitative,Quantitative, and Mixed 44 n. 2, p. 39-49, feb. 2018. ISSN 2527- 8835. Available at: 45 46