Anaphora: Journal of Language, Literary, and Cultural Studies Volume 1 Number 1 July 2018 Page 1 - 7 1

ARISTOTELIAN FRIENDSHIP SEEN IN 'S THE BODY

Fitriya Muanah Alumni of Department of English University of 17 Agustus 1945 Surabaya, Indonesia

Mateus Rudi Supsiadji Department of English University of 17 Agustus 1945 Surabaya, Indonesia Email: [email protected]

Abstract. This article explores tl1e aristotelia n friendship in King 's The Body to answer two questions: 1) how is friendship described in Stephen King 's The body?; 2) what kinds of friendships are desscribed in Stephen King s The body? Aristotle grouped friendship into tlueefriendship based on utility ,friendship based on pleasure, andfoendship based on goodness. The research method applied was qualitative descriptive.The result of the analysis showed Gordie, Chris, Teddy and Vern performed friendship based on utility and lfriendship based on pleasure while Gordie and Chris perfonned in the friendship based on goodness because only both of them who always stayed to gethe r and shared goodness in their relationship , the y encouraged one another in good things. Chris showed his love and care to Gordie by the way he pushed Gordie to join the collage course and leave the gang because tlle gang will only drag him down.

Keywords: aristotelian friendship, friendship based on utility, friendship based on pleasure, friendship based on goodness

INTRODUCTION area and same situation. is something that Among other characteristics that works out between two people and cannot be human being may have, making friend seems forced upon anyone. Not only people and to have the important position in their life. people, in some cases people can make Friendship is the most unavoidable virtue. friends with animals or even things. For Avoiding friendship is a denial of human children making a ne w friend can be diffi cu lt dignity as individual beings and social beings. and a little scary but for adults makjng a new Even, it is the greatest is the ability to have friend is as easy as about having the same (Osterberg, 2007 in Yusuf, 2015). For the hobb y or having the same interest. In other demands of these social beings, the principle words, friendship is a social interaction that applies that the highest respect for a friend connected people from one to another. can be seen through what is done to him. In The study of friendship has a long other words, one needs to live out the essere history which can be traced back to the agere expression; how to act according to the ancient times. One can read the topic in the way one is. Or in a more popular language, Old Testament and the New Testament and one is what one does. the famous Hindu epic Mahabharata. In Friendship can be intertwined with intellectual Greek tradition, the study of people who live around, having same living friendship can be seen through Aristotle's

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thoughts which will become the basic ideas to and the opportunity of the moment. With discuss on King' s novella The Body in this advancing years, however, their tastes change article. This novella describes the friendship too, so that they are quick to make and to between the main character Gordie and other break friendships: because their affection characters who are interested in discovering a changes just as the things that please them do misterious body informed in a magazine. and this sort of pleasure changes rapidly. Also During the way they traced the body, they the young are apt to fall in love for erotic have to face obstacles that build they friendship is for the most part swayed by the frienship strongger and at the same challange feelings and based on ple asure. That is why the friendship existing among them. they fall in and out of friendship quickly, Aristotle argued that friendship could changing their attitude often within the same be categorized into three: friendship based on day. But the young do like to spend the day utility, friendship based on pleasure, and live to gether, because that is how they friendship based on goodness. Those who love realize the object of their friendship (Doyle for the sake of utility love for the sake of what and Smith: 2002). is good for themselves (Aristotle: 1976). A Then Aristotle argued that good friendship of this kind is an impermanent friendship is a friendship that is driven by a things because it changes according to reciprocal relationship of good will. Therefore circwnstances. So when the basis of the Aristotle said that lasting friendships are relationship disappears, the friendship also friendships based on virtue, in the sense that breaks up. It is because that is what keeps the friendship emerges as a form of respecting relationship alive. Friendships of this kind fellow beings as dignified and valuable seem to occur most frequently between the individuals. Aristotle vocalized that virtue or elderly (because at their age what they want is goodness is in every person and in each other. not pleasure but utility) and those in middle or That means goodness is intrinsic in everyone early life who are pursuing their own not because of coincidence as in pleasure and advantage. Such persons do not spend much use. Here friendship built on the basis of time together, because sometimes they do kindness takes the form that between those not even like one another, and therefore feel who are friendly arise a commitment to jointly no need of such an association unless they are do good, together feel good because they are mutually useful. For they take pleasure in each good people. About this good, Aristotle other' s company only in so far as they have distinguishes three kinds of goodness, both hopes of advantage from it. Friendships with external (external measure such as beauty), foreigners are generally included in this class both from the soul (dignity) and good from (Doyle and Smith : 2002). the body (muscular, high). According to Those who love for the sake of Aristotle, the good of the soul is the highest pleasure do so for the sake of what is because it is not accidental and is not present pleasant to themselves, and not in so far as in animals and plants. (Doyle and Smith: the other is the person lo ved but is so far as 2002). he is use full or pleasant (Aristotle : 1976). Friendship between the young is thought to RESEARCH METHOD be grouned on pleasure , because the lives of Concerning the data collection and the young are regulated by their feelings, and analysis , the discussion will apply descriptive their chief interest is in their own pleasure qualitative method. According to Hancock et

Aristotelian Friendshipseen in Stephen King's The Body Fitriya Muanah & Mateus Rudi Supsiadji 3

al (2009:6), qualitative research focuses on 1999:71). Gordie’s words can be understood description an interpretation of the the idea of friendship is similar to the relation wordsdata and this can lead to an evaluation of a customer and a waiter or waitress in a of an organizational process. It also focuses on restaurant. When one goes to a restaurant, description and interpretation that might the person is only tied with a waiter when lead to development of new concept or he/she needs to order things he/she wants. theory or to an evaluation of an organization When his needs are fulfilled the will not have process. The discussion will cover on the any more relationship. They will not take care characters and the conflicts they may have so much one another. The restaurant gues will and how the conflicts are read through the get busy soon with the things they order, and concept of friendship proposed by Aristotle. the waitress well be busy as well with other guests. DISCUSSION It happens to the friendship which Frienship in The body can be traced manifests in the relation of Vern and Teddy. through the progress of the plot. The story is After leaving the group, it seems that they do set in the summer 1960 and it involved not communicate frequently, and they seem four young boys of twelve year old, named to become stranger time by time. What Gordon Lachance, Chris Chambers, Teddy Gordie’s belief about friendship as such is Duchamp and Vern Tessio. Most of their times parallell to Aristotle’s concept of friendship they play in a tree house and from this place based on utility. When there is no more use, they plan to uncover the news they read in a friendship can be broken up and they magazine about a missing dead body. Their separate. friendship become more less and less as the time flies but the true friendship in this story Friendship Based on Pleasure potrayed in the relationship between Gordie Gordie, Chris, Teddy and Vern are all and Chris. They are growing together, taking coming from a bad families but they feel the same course and going to the collage comfortable when they are together, they together, they are fighting for their dream become friends because they enjoy to hang together until one day the news of Chris's out and have fun together. They have a club death on Gordie' s hand and it makes Gordie and build a tree house for their wasting time sad of loosing his best friend. Their friendship and doing boy’s activities, such as playing lasted until death separate them. cards, smoking, and read adult magazines (King, 1999 : 02). What they do are so typical Friendship Based on Utility young boys will do. They are there, for the After the search of the body, the most, to escape from the mess families. It is in development of the plot shows that the four the tree house that they can express who boys separated in to two groups. On one side they really are and have fun together. They there are Teddy and Vern who decide stay enjoy the moments and say joking. They together and form a new group. On the other share stori es and fo rgeting al1 the pain side group Gordie and Chris leave the group behind , they talk about inter esting thin gs and live their own lives. They do not feel and enjoying chit chat in a long time. They comfortable anymore after the body. Gordie spend their time in a deep conversat ion. Their believes that “friends come and out of togetherness bring them comfort feeling as one’s life like waitres in a restaurant” (King, how Gordie feels as he says “I was alive and

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glad to be.” Furthermore, he feels a lot of intention by looking through eyes. Only this “affectiona towards every one and every thing kind of friendship is perfect. For these people, aroun ... a very special feeling. (King, 1999 : they have and seek the similar goals in their 33). Eventough all the things are only friendship. It is the idea of friendship based temporary. Whe he comes who he will face on goodness that desires the good of their the reality. The situsation of their friends for the friends' sake. It is in this kind of togetherness can be seen below. friendship the truly friends one may gain, because each loves the other for what he is, We laid our blankets out on the ground and not for any incidental quality. In Chris’ and lay down on them . Then for about own expression '..., and for a moment we an hour we fed the foe and talked - the looked in each other's eyes and saw some of kind of talk you can never quite the true things that made us friends. (King remember when you get past fifteen and discover girls. We talked about 1999: 08) fishing and spor t, and about the Furthermore, the close relationship summer that was now ending. Teddy between Chris and Gordie is depicted in one told about the time he had been at scene. The narators depicts that how Chris White's Beach in Brunswick and some realy cares about Gordie’s future and he guy had hit his head while diving and knows well about Gordie’s parents. Chris is had almost drowned. We had a long the closest boy in the gang who understand discussion about our teachers at school. (King. 1999 : 39) Gordie very well he even tells Gordie to take the collage course because he does not want Those who love for the sake of Gordie to stay in the bad gang and waste his pleasure do so for the sake of what is life for no use, Chris believe that Gordie could pleasant to themselves. This kind of have a better life as he is the smartest boy in relationship will see others not under the light the gang. Staying with the bad boys will only of love but under the ideas of being usefull or drag him into fail, there will be no bright pleasant (Aristotle : 1976). Relationship based future if he stays in the gang. on love will last longger than relationship based on pleasure. Once again, Gordie’s 'It's foolish if your friends can drag you character development shows Aristotle’s down ,' Chris said finally. 'I know about you and your parents. notion of frienship based on pleasure, as They don't care about you. Your big Gordie then feels there is no more brother was the one they cared comfortability in his togetherness with his about.... friend. He leaves the group and closes 'If you stay with us just because you communication with the other three. don't wan t to lose the gang ' Chris went on, 'you' ll turn into just another guy, Friendship Based on Goodness it is no good use for his brains, except to make cle ver, cmel remarks Perfect friendship is based on about other people. You'll never escape goodness. This kind of friendship is pictured in Castle Rock. You'll think it's important Gordie and Chris relationship. Beside they to have the right kind of car and then enjoy one another pleasure they both love the right girl. And then you 'll get and care each other. Gordie and Chris can married and work in the factory or understand one another even withouth saying some shoe shop for ever. Is that what yo u want?' (King, 1999: 35-36) an word. They can see other’s needs or

Aristotelian Friendshipseen in Stephen King's The Body Fitriya Muanah & Mateus Rudi Supsiadji 5

his life better than what he is undergoing In fact Gordie is meant a lot for Chris as it is now. Gordie is the one who believes in Chris’ potrayed in the scene Chris feells alone and no capability and he knows that Chris is clever body is believe in Chris. In this situation it in enough and deserve to have a better life. only Gordie who can see the truth about the Another one can be traced from Chris’ being condition that Chris is facing. Chris does know together with Teddy and Vern. It is different who can be trusted while he is actually from the band of relationship that Chris has seeking person that he will be able to talk had with Teddy and Vern. Teddy and Vern openly. He needs someone that he can share seem to have given bad vibe and even they his secret. He then discovers that Gordie is the thay have dragged them down. Another is in one that he believes. Chris’ family background. It seems that no one It happens because Gordie knows well in the town believes in Chris because of his who Chris is. In one episode it is told Gordie’s family. trust toward Chris. It is about the secret that In Gordie’s side, it seems there is no Chris has. Once Chris has been accused for other motivation but to stand behind Chris to stealing money—an untrue fact—but Gordie get the best thing for Chris. What Gordie believes that even if Chris has taken the condusts that is by supporting Chris to take money, Chris actually has not meant to steal the collage course is an evident. Gordie knows it. In Gordie’s mind there is always be a Chris can make it, and he can fight for a better reason why Chris has done it. life out of Castle Rock.

'I know what people think of my family 'Chris,' I said , 'why don't you go into in this town. Nobody even asked me if I the college courses? You're clever took the enough.' milk-money that time.' 'The teachers decide all that in the 'Did you take it?' I asked .. I had school office. All they care about is never asked him before, and if you whether you've behaved yourself in had told me I ever would I'd have school and what the town thinks of your called you crazy. The words came out family. They don't want you to infect like a dry bullet: their topcolle ge-course pupils , the 'Yeah,' he said tiredly. 'Yeah I took it.' ones from the big houses on the hill. He was silent for a moment. 'You knew I !don't know if I could do it, but I might took it, Teddy knew everybody knew. try , because I want to get out of Castle Even Vern knew I think .' Rock and go to college and never see I started to deny it and then closed my my father or mybrothers again. I want mouth . He was right. I had argued with to go somewhere where nobody knows my parents that a person was innocent meand people don't have bad ideas until proved guilty . . . but deep inside I about me before I've even donean y had known the truth. (King 1999: 37) thi ng. But I don't know if I can do it.' 'Why not?' Moreover, the friendship that Gordie 'People. People drag you down.' and Chris perform show how Gordie has 'Who?' I asked thinking he must mean the teac hers , or hisbrother Eyeball or become a kind of engine for Chris’ life. There maybe his parents. But he said 'Your are three reasons for this argument. One friends drag you down Gordie. Don't reason can be seen in Gordie’s existence. It is you know that?' He pointed at Vern Gordie that has given Chris the fuel to grasp and Teddy, who were standing and

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waiting for us to catch up. 'Your friends do. They're like drowning He and I studied together almost every guys who are holding on to your legs. night, trying to win back the seven years You can't save them. You can only of education Chris had lost. We were drown with them (King, 1999: 38). hanging on to each other in deep water. We both graduated. Chris went to In addition, Gordie is also the one who stays university to study law. in a dangerous moment while Teddy and Vern Near the end of the spring term in 1968 , Chris was queuing in a restaurant bus y to save their own life from Ace and his when two men in front of him started gang. Chris does not care about who will to argue about who was there first. leave him but it is Gordie who is the most Chris who had ah ays been the best of important person he never want to go. it is us at making peace stepped between probably because Chris is asking for Gordie to them and got a knife in his throat. He stand by him while others leave as how it was dead in seconds. I wasn't there . shown in the conversation below; Chris was in graduate school and I had already graduated from university and

was married. When I read about it in Vern gave in first. With a scream he ran the newspaper I told my wife I was up the bank. Teddy waited only a going out to get a drink. I drove out of minute, then followed Vern, his hands town parked and cried for him. I cried held up over his head. On the other side for nearly half an hour without stop Vince Desjardins disappeared back ping. under the cover of some trees and ( King, 1999:65) Fuzzy Brackowicz soon joined him. But the rest of them stayed where they Perfect friendship or friendship based on were and Ace began to grin again... 'Stay with me Gordie ' Chris said in a goodness will last for ever and it is described low shaky voice 'Stay with me man.' 'I'm well in the relationship between Gordie and here.' (King, 1999: 63) Chris in The Body novella.

CONCLUSION As how Aristotle explain that friendship based The discussion showed that the on goodness is the perfect friendship after all. characters performed different ty pes of Only friendship based on goodness is last friendships in Aristotelian concept of forever, it is also happen to Gordie and Chris frienship. The first, friendship based on utility their friendship last forever. They influence which each other need a company and each other in good things. Gordie and Chris comfortability. This friendship portrayed on are growing together, taking the same course how the four of them need each other on and going to the collage together, they are finding the dead body but this friendship is fighting for their dream together until one day end up whenever the journey is also the news of Chris's death on Gordie' s hand completed. and it makes Gordie sad of loosing his best The second, friendship based on friend. Their friendship lasted until death pleasure is when they enjoy chit chat and separate them as how it is shown in the share stories and enjoy having fim together. quotation below; This friendship portrayed on how they can entertain each other and be what they are. And the last, friendship based on goodness

Aristotelian Friendshipseen in Stephen King's The Body Fitriya Muanah & Mateus Rudi Supsiadji 7

which is the perfect friendship. Only true friend can stand forever , this friendship Holman, C. Hugh and William Harmon. 1986. A portrayed on Gordie and Chris relationship. Handbook to Literature Sixth Edition. Gordie Chris, Teddy and Vern are in United States of America: Macmillan both the friendship based on utilit y and Publishing Company. friendship based on pleasure but only Gordie and Chris are in the friendship based on King, Stephen. 1999. The Body. Essex CM202E, goodness because only both of them who ah England: Penguin Edinburgh Gate vays stand together and share goodness in their relationship they encourage one Porter, Abbot H.2008 The Cambridge another in good things . Chris shows his love Introduction to Narrative.Cambridge and care to Gordie by the way he pushed University Press Gordie to join the collage cow-se and lea ve the gang because the gang will only drag him Rawlins, K William. 2003. Dialectical Theory of down. Gordie does show his love and care by Friendship. USA: 7C2 Candlewyck encouraging Chris to join the collage cow-se Park, Ithaca, NY 14850 with him and reach their dream together to be a succes person and living out of Castle Ruseenbarger and students of Lemm Rock. Chris study law in the university and elementary school. 2015. The Gordie fina lly be a wr iter , their friendship FriendshipBook. E-book last until one day Gordie read a news about Chris' death. Only friendship based on Sumanis, Neng. 2015. The Study of Friendship goodness which last forever and only death in J.K Rowling’s Harry Potter and The can separate the perfect friendship. Sorcerer’s Stone. Surabaya : Literature library of Untag REFERENCES University.(unpublished)

Altenberd and Lewis. 1966. A Handbook For Wellek, Rene and Austin Warren. 1989. The Study Of Drama. United States Theory of Literature. New York: of America: acmillan Harcourt. Brance and World Publishing Company http://stephenking.com/the_author.html (quoted at March 23rd, 2017) Doyle, M. E. and Smith, M. K. 2002. Friendship: theory and experience, the https://www.carrollwooddayschool.org/uploa encyclopedia of informal education. ded/documents/ElementsofFiction6- 4-10.pdf (quoted at March 23rd, 2017) Hancock, Beverley et al. 2009. An Introduction to Qualitative Research. UK: The NIHR RDS EM/YH

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