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Coming Of Age: An Analysis of A Young Adult Character Development In Ellen Hopkins’ Crank
By: Rizky Fajarrani* English Language and Literature Program (E-mail: [email protected] / Mobile: 08562113133) *Rizky graduated in February 2013 from Literature Major at English Language and Literature Study Program, Indonesia University of Education Bandung
Abstract The present research entitled Coming of Age: An Analysis of a Young Adult Character Development in Ellen Hopkins’ “Crank” is a textual analysis of Ellen Hopkins’ young adult fiction focusing on the issue of coming of age in the novel. The discussion focuses on the main female character in the story to reveal the ways coming of age issue is addressed in the novel. Therefore, the discussion is framed within the theories of the characteristic and development of young adult (Bucher and Hinton, 2010), coming of age (e.g. Millard, 2007 and Fox, 2010) and identity (Barker, 2002). The research utilizes a qualitative method particularly textual analysis. The result of the present research shows that coming of age describes a progress shift which is experienced by the main character, Georgia, from a teenage girl who is simple-minded to a mature adult with higher-level of thinking. In other words, coming of age issue shows the process of adolescents from immaturity to maturity.
Keywords: Coming of Age, Young Adult, Character Development, Identity
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Rizky Fajarrani Coming Of Age: An Analysis of A Young Adult Character Development In Ellen Hopkins’ Crank
INTRODUCTION and Bucher, 2009, as cited in Bucher Every adolescent or young and Hinton, 2010, p.2). In other adult is maturing, but each may take words, every adolescent experiences a different road and going at different their development differently, which speed on his or her journey from are affected by their surroundings, childhood to adulthood (Manning like family and peers, and also their readiness to be an adult. Therefore, adult fiction. One of the examples is Bucher and Hinton (2010) further the novel entitled Crank which was state that it is important to know written by Ellen Hopkins. Crank adolescents or young adults on an talks about a teenage girl named individual basis and to use this Georgia who is quiet and seems not knowledge to select appropriate to have any problems in her life. young adult literature. However, everything in her life One of the common themes changes when she went to visit her of young adult literature is coming of father. She experiences many age. Terminologically, the problems in her coming-of-age expression coming of age is usually period such as becoming a drug user, used to mean ‘to reach full legal being raped by a teenage boy and so adult status’ (Millard, 2007, p.11). on. In other words, the story Millard (2007) further says that the describes a teenage character who moment of coming of age is usually has to face her life with some occur in twelve and nineteen-years- problems. The ways she overcomes old. In this case, adolescents try to her problems are interesting to be reach full legal adult status variously analyzed. In addition, the writer between cultures, especially in wrote her novel in an unusual yet relation to such cultural markers as unique way by writing the stories of alcohol, sexual consent, driving Georgia like a poem. Hence, this license, and marriage. study focuses on how the the issue The issue of coming of age is coming of age is addressed in the often adapted in a story of young novel Crank by Ellen Hopkins.
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Regarding the explanations developments, namely biological, above, the study is conducted to psychological and social reveal way coming of age issue is development (Karunan, 2006, p.5). addressed in the novel Crank by Karunan (2006) further states that Ellen Hopkins. This study is these developments occur conducted using qualitative method simultaneously at different paces for due to the data used in this research each adolescent within each gender, is in the form of text. The data which being impacted oftentimes, by are in the form of words, phrases, structural and environmental factors. and sentences are critically selected In the journey to the as textual evidences to answer the maturation, physically adolescents or research question. The research young adults mature earlier (Bucher analyzes the way coming of age issue & Hinton, 2010, p.2). Physical or is addressed in the novel Crank by biological development of young Ellen Hopkins. The result of the adults can be easily observed from study is expected to give valuable their rapid growth and changes. knowledge in young adult literature Bucher and Hinton also state that and to enrich the literature collection adolescents also experience changes of the related theories employed in in their way of thinking called the present study. cognitive development (2010, p.3). To add more, the three key Bucher and Hinton (2010) further concepts – young adult characteristic state that cognitively, adolescents or and development, coming of age, and young adults experience higher-level identity – become the major thought process. In the process of theoretical frames that inform the cognitive development, the moral research. Adolescents or young and ethical of adolescents increase adults are those between 12- to 20- naturally with the guidance from the years of age who experience a period parents, teachers and other authority of transition from childhood to figures. In addition, social adulthood (Bucher and Hinton, 2010, development is also experienced by p.2). This transition involves adolescents. Socially, they have a
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Rizky Fajarrani Coming Of Age: An Analysis of A Young Adult Character Development In Ellen Hopkins’ Crank
preoccupation with friends and peers of age, adolescents are important due (Manning & Bucher, 2009, cited in to the ways in which they are at the Bucher & Hinton, 2010, p.2). In forefront of social change, even other words, adolescents increase while they are simultaneously the social interactions and also products of an adult social culture strengthen their friendship with the that shapes their development peers. (Millard, 2007, p.8). In other words, Coming of age is one of the adolescents are considered having themes that emerges in adolescents’ potentiality to change their society literature. Terminologically, the and reconfigure the existing social expression coming of age is the term structures and also institutions. that usually used to mean ‘to reach The purpose of the coming- full legal adult status’ (Millard, 2007, of-age novel is a particularly useful p.11). Millard (2007) further says distinction (Said, 1975, p.3, as cited that the moment of coming of age is in Millard, 2007, p.16). Said (1975) usually occur in nineteen and twelve- further states that in many years-old. In this case, adolescents contemporary coming-of-age novels try to reach full legal adult status the narrative moves forward in time variously between cultures, towards a point of maturity from especially in relation to such cultural which it can address that unspoken markers as alcohol, sexual consent, origin that began it, but which is driving license, and marriage. In antecedent to its beginning. It can be other words, adolescents try to prove understood that the narratives moves that they are mature enough to be in the coming-of-age novel attempts adults who have larger rights and to discover why and how the obligations as humans being. adolescents experience and face the To add more, coming-of-age process of coming of age to reach a novel usually presents an issue with point of maturity. which all young people must engage Identity may refer to the in on their road to adulthood (Fox, characteristic attributes or expected 2010, p.33). Within the issue coming behaviors. Hall (as cited in Du Gay
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et al, 2000, p. 17) defines identity as According to Barker, identity something that is never unified and belongs to an individual as a subject increasingly fragmented and or as a member of part of particular fractured. In the process of its social group (Barker, 2002, p.109). construction, identity is always Barker (2002) further says that changing along with the change of identity is thought to be a universal contexts and influences (Kellner, and timeless core, an ‘essence’ of the 1992, p. 142). It is in line with self that is expressed as Gauntlett’s (2002, p. 16) and representations that are recognizable Bauman’s (1996, p. 25) opinions that by ourselves and by others. In other people’s identity is evolving so that it words, identity is an essence can change and adapt through signified through signs of taste, ‘fragmentation of time into episodes’ beliefs, attitudes and lifestyles. which each was collected from its past to its future.
FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION Based on the data, the issue in which those decisions help her to of coming of age in the novel Crank solve her conflicts. is addressed into two phases that The immature phase is Georgia went through relating to characterized by the lack of how she stepped into adulthood. The confidence shown by Georgia. The steps are the immature phase and the lack of confidence can be seen from mature phase. The immature phase three things that reflect her shows the stage when Georgia has behaviors. First, Georgia is not able not had the ability to solve her to face the reality in overcoming problems of her teenage life. difficult problems in her life. Second, Whereas, the mature phase shows a Georgia is easily influenced by her phase when Georgia acquired the peers and other people in her life. ability to make decisions for her life The last one, Georgia also often makes uninformed judgments and
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Rizky Fajarrani Coming Of Age: An Analysis of A Young Adult Character Development In Ellen Hopkins’ Crank
decisions without thinking about the simple and fair to be a mature adult impacts and consequences. who has higher-level thinking ability. Whereas, the mature phase of The conflicts that happen in Georgia’s life as a teenage girl is Georgia’s life are the process to the marked by the change of her maturation. It conforms Said’s behaviors in facing and solving her statement (1975, p.3), as cited in teenage problems. In this phase, Millard (2007, p.16) that “in many Georgia’s behavior shows that she contemporary coming-of-age novels, has been well developed emotionally the narrative moves forward in time and she behaves responsibly. First, towards a point of maturity from Georgia has been finally able to which it can address that unspoken accept other’s fault and decision. origin that began it, but which is Second, Georgia learns to suppress antecedent to its beginning”. It can her selfishness. The last one, she be understood that the narratives learns how to make informed moves in the coming-of-age novel decisions and judgment. attempts to discover why and how Regarding to the issue of the adolescents experience and face coming of age, the immature phase the process of coming of age to reach and the mature phase indicate the a point of maturity. theme in the novel Crank in which its protagonist progresses from naive CONCLUSION or callow youth towards a sense of a In conclusion Ellen Hopkins’ mature adult consciousness and novel Crank captures the tendency of fulfilling social integration (Millard, how coming of age novel describes 2007, p.161). In other words, as the adolescent who is in transition stage protagonist character, Georgia from children to mature adult. The experiences the progress from a narrative events in coming-of-age teenage girl to be a mature adult. It novels move forward in time through reflects that as an adolescent, a point of maturity. The narrative Georgia experiences a progress shift events revolving around the main from children who think that life is character’s teenage life also indicate
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that there is a journey to the stage of maturity. The journey to the maturity is emphasized by the fact that the main character is able to solve her teenage problems. It changes the main character from a teenage girl who is simple-minded to a mature adult with higher-level of thought. There are some suggestions relating to the present research that can be proposed for further research. First, it would be better for the next researchers to analyze other researchable issues or aspects that contained in the novel. Second, the next researchers may conduct a similar issue in other literary texts such as short stories, poems, drama scripts or song lyrics.
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