REVEALING MESSAGES THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE THREE MAJOR CHARACTERS IN COLLEEN McCULLOUGH’S THE THORN BIRDS

AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS

Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra in English Letters

By

RETNO PURWANTININGSIH

Student Number: 984214083 Student Registration Number: 980051120106120082

ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS FACULTY OF LETTERS SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY YOGYAKARTA 2007

i

CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

A. Background of the Study

A novel is one kind of literary works besides drama and poetry. It can be considered as a literary work since it can give us pleasure as well as knowledge of human affairs. Murphy in his book says that the greatest novels reflect life and are compounded similarity of many elements, just as life is a mixture of joy, disappointment, hope, sorrow, humor, suffering, and success (1972:133).

By reading a literary work such as novel, the readers expect that they can get something from it. Analyzing the novel helps to discover what the novel would like to tell.

One of aspects that contribute the story that makes the story flows lively is character. Character is the doer of the story. The story becomes nothing when there is no character. In this writing, I intend to discuss the three major characters of the novel The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough. I want to analyze three major characters: Fee, Meggie and Justine. They are three generations of the

Cleary.

A person’s character develops over the time. It could be by parents, family, environment, society, time, age, etc. The closest environment of a child is his family, especially his parents. From being born, a baby depends on his parents.

Every parent wants to guide their child to be a “good person” but sometimes

1 parents forget that they are just human beings who have limitations. They are not angels for their children. No one can be perfect parent but at least they try. It is hard to tell the difference. And children become like their parents. They have a close relationship, a blood relationship. One of the reasons that two people decide to get married is having a baby.

Those characters deal with marriage. For Fee and Meggie, they got marriage because of wrong reasons. Pierce Dufoyer in his book, The Choice of A

Husband gives definition of a marriage as the following, “A marriage is the complete and harmonious communion of two human being of different sex”

(1964:21).

His opinion clearly says that marriage is a serious problem. The complete and harmonious communion of two human beings of different sex needs consequently a serious preparation dealing with a long process in advance to understand each other well. Prior to the final, it might be said that marriage is the last step of human relationship.

According to Bowman, marriage on the other hand, is not something that

“comes naturally”. It is not the product of inborn behavior pattern; it is a institution. It is a cluster of customs and group habits, of attitudes, ideas, and ideals, of social definitions and legal restrictions (1954:28).

Marriage is hoped to be last for forever. It means that marriage is not something that we can play with. It is hoped to happen just once during a life time. A marriage should be based on love. It is a very important aspect, and it might lead to destruction if the couple does not have it.

2 What will happen if in a marriage there is no love? Love is the basic element in a marriage. If a family does not have a strong basic foundation how can they build up a house? The parents who are maladjusted in marriage find it difficult or impossible to be a good parent.

When someone is still single he does not study in school how to be a good parent. There is no formal institution which teaches a person to be a good parent.

But someone can learn to be a good parent by reading book, asking expert, or learning from our parents, etc. There is a relation between maladjusted parents and maladjusted children, who in turn tend to become maladjusted parents themselves. This is a vicious circle that tends to repeat itself.

A child needs love and acceptance by others, at least his parents, he must feel free to establish himself to be different from others and grow; make changes which develop oneself, learn to solve problems, and explore his talent/ potential.

Acceptance is like a fertile ground that possibly a small seed can grow to be a beautiful flower. Acceptance needs to be shown; for example by touching, smiling, etc. Children need encouragement to determine themselves and children get self-respect. There is nothing more important than a child feeling that he is loved and accepted. Because accepting what he is, is an act of love.

After love and acceptance, the greatest need of a child is room to grow. He needs respect for his individuality and an area in which he can make his own decisions. Children need also training, guidance and supervision. If a child does not get what he needs, he may become rebellions or sink into becoming a mere appendage of his parents. Unhappiness in the home and the failure of effective

3 parental guidance makes a child turn away from home and look in other directions to satisfy his desire/wants/needs.

I would say that a child should be respected especially for his individuality. If parents respect a child’s individuality, parents have built up his or her self-respect, without it he or she is nothing. By respecting him or her as a person parents put a value on him or her, which brings out all that is best in him or her. There is a power in every child for good or evil. By treating him or her with respect parents release the power for good. If this is combined with parental love and good examples from adults around him, a child can be guided toward maturity

(http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/ALAN/winter 95.Nadeu.html).

From this novel, I learn that these three major characters have the similarity of what happened in their lives, especially to repeat the same mistakes of the previous generation. Experience is a good teacher. A good teacher should warn us to take the benefit of what happened toward our parents. It gives us signal to avoid the repeating mistakes.

This novel tells us that parents, especially mother has a great influence towards her children. How a mother threats her children from infant to adultness gives influences in shaping the children’s characters development. If Fee respects

Meggie as a worth child, it gives influences toward Meggie to raise her own daughter with respect too. But the first generation gives a wrong influence to the next generation; it drives the repetition of the mistake to the next generation.

4 B. Problem Formulation

From the background of the research stated above, the problem in which the writer would like to analyze further can be summarized into some questions as follows:

1. How are the three major characters described?

2. From their character development, what are the possible messages of the

novel?

C. Objectives of the Study

This objective of this study is to obtain satisfying answer for the questions raised in the problem formulation. Therefore, the first aim of this thesis is to discuss the character and the characterization of the three major characters in this novel. The characterization will be analyzed by using Murphy’s theory of characterization, it is a method to describe the three major characters in the novel either through direct description by the author or indirect description by other characters. The three major characters are Fee, Meggie and Justine. The last aim is to reveal the possible messages expressed by the three major characters.

D. Definition of Terms

There are some terms that are used in this writing that I want to define to make the reader easier in understanding this discussion because each term may have its own meaning and interpretation. Those terms are character development and message.

5 Perrin in Literature: Structure, sound, and Sense describes that all fictional characters can be classified as static or developing. The developing or dynamic character undergoes a permanent change in some aspects of his or her character, personality or outlook. The change may be for a large or a small one, it may be better or worse; but it is something important or basis (1974:71).

Thus, when we combine this term and character, character development means the growth or the changing of a figure’s, thought, feeling, behavior, the mental or moral qualities in literary work through the environment and successive period as the result of his action to fulfill some motives regardless of the influence of other characters or his past.

In New World of Literature, the word message is defined as the real meaning or some easy conclusion that can be simply stated or summarized inside a work of art (Beaty and Hunter.1989:899). The term leads to simplification and gives the illusion that a work of literature exists for its statement that tempts the readers with sweetness of the story to get the real meaning. Meanwhile John

Sinclair in Collins Co build Essential Dictionary defines message as an idea that someone tries to communicate to people, for example in a play or a speech or the meaning (1988:490)

6 CHAPTER II

THEORETICAL REVIEW

In this chapter, the discussion is divided into three sections. The first is the review of the related studies. Here, this study will provide some comments about

Colleen McCollough’s The Thorn Birds. The second is review of related theories, which consists of the theories that will be used to support the analysis. The last part will be the theoretical framework, which tells the readers how the theories will be used in the analysis.

A. Review of Related Studies

In this section, I provide some comments and reviews about the novel, The

Thorn Birds by Colleen McCollough.

According to Langley’s The Pea Pickers, this novel in which the family legend of the father’s wanderlust was so enticing that his daughter actually attempted to turn herself into imitation males

(www.acurrentaffair.com.au/stories/397.asp to read Colleen McCulough).

The Thorn Birds was written by Colleen McCullough. It became the best selling novel. It was also broadcast on ABC for 10 hours between 27 and 30

March 1983. While winning the 1983 Golden Glode award for Best Miniseries,

The Thorn Birds was not without its controversy. The subject matter-a priest breaking his vow of celibacy- was contestable enough, but the fact that ABC

7 chose to broadcast the program beginning on Palm Sunday and running through

Holy Week, raised the ire of The United States Catholic Conference.

Some newspapers gave comment about this novel. Boston Globe said that

The Thorn Birds is the kind of book the word-blocking buster was made for. It keeps you hanging till the last paragraph

(www.acurrentaffair.com.au/stories/397.asp to read Colleen McCullough).

Publishers Weekly said that The Thorn Birds is the interweaving of love stories from one generation to the next, the dramatic plotting, the sense of steadily mounting tension; the believable characterizations are well nigh irresistible

(www.acurrentaffair.com.au/stories/397.asp to read Colleen McCullough).

London Times said that The Thorn Birds is a story, which is superbly told.

Miss McCullough deals with the vast canvas of characters with assurance

(www.acurrentaffair.com.au/stories/397.asp to read Colleen McCullough).

I agree with those comments. McCullough is a genius for combining three generations of the Cleary family into one novel. This novel is a complex story of the Clearys. They face experiences many tragedies and hardships including fires, foods, droughts, and devastating deaths of loved ones. I truly enjoy how the author used a lot of description and detail in the novel. This description enables me to paint vivid pictures of the beautiful, Australian land in my mind, as well as clear pictures of the many different characters’ inner and outer appearances. This novel is worth reading to anyone who enjoys drama and romance, as well as suspence, action and sadness.

8 B. Review of Related Theories

1. Theories on Character and Characterization

Character is one of the important elements of a story. It can be considered as a person who has a role in a story. Abrams in his theory says that the persons presented in a story are called the characters. The readers interpret the characters a having certain characteristics in the way they play their roles that are expressed by what they ay or their dialogue and what they do or their action (191:20). In other word Abrams wants to say hat a character might be an actor in a story.

Harvey in Character and The Novel states that an author has a right to create and present his or her fictional characters in the novel, whatever they look like, their personality, and what the problem they might face. He adds that the relationship between the author and the characters is like the relation between God and his creation. The author must be both omnipotent and omniscient; we can see the fictional character in the novelist private self, secret and entirely solitary

(1968:32).

There are some characters, which appear in this novel. To understand the novel it is important to understand the character. We cannot separate between story and character.

There is no story, which does not have character in it. There is not a character, which appears without a story. So the writer thinks to explain more about the theory of character.

Character is defined by Abram in A Glossary of Literary Term (1981:23-

24) as

9 The person presented in a dramatic or narrative work, which are interpreted by the reader as being endowed with moral and disposition qualities that are expressed in what they say (the dialogue) and by what they do (the action).

There are some definitions about character. There are two kinds of character according to Mary Rorhberger and Samuel H.Wood in Reading Writing

About Literature. They are flat character and round character. The flat character is built round a single idea or quality. It is presented without much individualizing detail and therefore can be adequately described in single phrase or sentence. And the last is round character. Round character is complex in temperament and motivation. This character is represented with subtle particularity.

Perrine says that the change of an actor or a character is something important. The change of character must follow three criteria. The first criterion is that the change must be within the possibilities of the character that makes it.

Secondly, the change would happen when the character finds the influence of his environment toward himself. And the last is that the change must be allowed enough time for a change of its magnitude believably to take place (1974:71).

Classification of the characters based on the criterion of the character development is presented by Perrine in his book Structure, Sound, and Sense. He classifies the character into a static character and a developing or dynamic character. A static character is the same sort of person at the end of the story as he was at the beginning (1974:71). This character does not have any changes in role from the beginning of the story until the end, although there is a change in plot.

On the other hand, developing or dynamic character undergoes a permanent

10 change in some aspects of his character, personality, or outlook (1974:71). It means that a dynamic character will have a change and development of events and the plot in the story.

A character can be expressed by two ways. The first is by direct presentation. The author describes directly about what a character is like. The author describes the character by the physical condition in exposition or analysis.

And the last is by indirect presentation. The author describes a character by the action. We can understand the character by paying attention to the speech, mind or action. Characters should be dramatized their meaning, showing, speaking and acting (Perrine: 1974).

Another way to understand a character in a novel is paying attention how the author expresses his or her characters through (Murphy, 1972, 161-1673).

There are nine ways to understand a character. First is by personal description.

This way says that the writer explains to the reader about the physical appearance of the character. Second is by other characters. Through the eyes of other character, the author mentions his or her characters. The reader through the other characters’ eyes would catch a reflected image of certain character. Third is by speech. The personality of a character can be notified through his or her speech.

The speech can be the clues to interpret the character. Fourth is by past life. The past life can give a hint to guess the character. The character is often influenced by his or her past experience. Reader may depend upon the direct comment that is given by the author, the character’s thought, conversation, or the medium of another person. Fifth is by conversation of others. In a novel, there are dialogues

11 that are spoken by some characters about the character in the story. A reader may refer to this conversation to know about the character in the story. Sixth is by reactions. The author may also mention the personality of the character by letting the readers know how the character reacts to various events or situation. Seventh is by thoughts. When the readers read the description of what a character is thinking about, they will get knowledge of the character. In this aspect, the character is able to do what we cannot do in real life. It is impossible to know what a person is thinking. But in literary work the author is like “god” who knows everything about the character even his or mind. Eighth is by mannerism. The author may describe a person’s mannerism on his or her character that may also tell the reader something about the character. And the last is by direct comment.

When the author uses a direct comment to describe his or her characters, he or she will tend to judge them. The author will state directly whether a character is kind or bad, beautiful or ugly, etc.

A character also can be seen by his or her performance. Ian Milligan says that there are two characters based on his or her performance. The first is major character (1983:115). The major character appears more often than others. The major character performs an important role in clarifying the theme of the novel, so the readers’ expectation depends on his or her idea. The second is secondary character. The secondary character appears in certain setting, only necessarily to become the background of the major character.

Rohrberger and Woods believe that characters have particular personalities and physical attributes that distinguish them from the other character, therefore an

12 author needs to do what is called characterization. What is meant by characterization is the processes by which an author creates characters, the devices by which he makes us believe a character is the particular type of person he is (1971:2021). The same definition is presented by Trimmer by saying that characterization is the way the author creates, reveals, and develops the characters in a story (1992:235).

Rohrberger (1971:20) supported by Timmer (1992:335) presents two principal ways in the process characterization. The first principal is the direct way in which the author tells the readers the physical appearance of the character directly. The writer describes the character’s performance in order to make the readers to be able to grasp character’s characterization. The second principal is dramatic or indirectly way. It presents the character’s behavior, personality, and values, when he or she is giving opinion about the situation he or she faces.

2. Theory of Message

According to Beaty and Hunter in New World Literature, message is the real meaning or some easy conclusions that can be simply stated or summarized inside a work of art (1989:899). The term leads to simplification and gives the illusion that a work of literature exists for its statement that tempts the readers with sweetness of the story to get the real meaning. Meanwhile John Sinclair in

Collins Cobuild Essential Dictionary defines message as an idea that someone tries to communicate to people, for example in a play or a speech or the meaning

(1988:490)

13 Roman Jacobson as quoted by Jeremy Hawthorn in A Concise Glossary of

Contemporary Literary Theory says that sending the message is the general function of language. He adds, in order to be operative, message needs several requirements. There are six factors determining the effectiveness of message itself, addressee who receives the message, context in which the message referred to, code being used for the meaning of a particular word, and contact both physical or psychological connection between addresser and addressee to stay in communication (1992:73-74).

Sometimes, message is considered identical with theme although in fact they do not always refer to the same meaning. Both message and theme can be viewed as two elements that have a kind of similarity or own the looking like.

Nevertheless, theme is more complex than message. Message has no direct value as suggestion addressed to the reader. Message, thereby, can be viewed as one of the elements that form a theme in simple form. But not all of themes are considered as message (Kenney, 1966:89).

Meanwhile, Beaty and hunter also discuss the term “theme” and

“message”. They say that the difference between theme and message is while message seeks to inform or convince, theme seeks to have the reader comprehend and emphasize so that the ideas are more broadly accessible (1989:899).

When we are talking about message, we are also discussing moral. It can be said briefly that generally morals means a teaching of good and bad (Kenny,

1966:89). According to Burhan Nurgiyantoro in Teori Pengkajian Sastra, moral in a work of literature is called as message. This element actually is the

14 background of the work of literature; it is the idea that forms the background of creating the work of literature (1995:322).

Every work of literature consists of and offers moral message. Of course there are many types of moral lesson conveyed. The type of message occurs in a literary work depends on the author’s belief, wish and interest. The type of the moral lesson itself, we may say, includes unlimited problem. It involves all problems in life, especially those that are related to human right and dignity. In general, problem of human life is divided into three problems; they are the problem of the relationship between a man and himself, the problem of relationship between a man and his fellowman including his relationship with his surrounding and the problem of relationship between a man and his God

(Nurgiyantoro, 1995:324).

Fiction, especially novels often has more than one moral message. A novel, of course, may consist of and offer one, two, or three of them at once with their details forms. Besides that, a work of literature may contain several moral messages that can be classified into major and minor messages (Nurgiyantoro,

1995:325).

3. The Relation between Parents’ Behavior and Children’s Personality

As the smallest unit of society, family has a contribution is shaping children personality. Robinson in his theory said that personality development is ruled largely by the attributes at the family, especially the way the parents behave

15 towards their children (in Sue, 1986:93). In that statement, it can be clearly understood that parents take the biggest pat in shaping their children’s personality.

Sullivan said that if parents behave towards the children as though they are worthwhile, the children are likely to develop a positive self-image and sense of self-worth (in Sue, 1986:93-93). On the contrary, if the parents do not see their children as worthwhile persons, and be little and antagonize the children, they cause the negative self-image development of the children (in Sue, 1986:93-94).

There is a real need to develop methods for evaluating behavior that include the total impact of the relationship between the uniqueness of the individual and his environment. Some of the earliest knowledge of human behavior was gained through diary records of infant behavior, usually recorded by one or both parents who were the experimenters. Relation between people especially parent and children are not static. They grow and mature as the individuals gain insight and understanding of each other. Experiences in successful and unsuccessful interaction with others tend to alter behavior, particularly the behavior of the growing child. Becoming a socialized person is a sow and lengthy process our society. Frequently the early stages of social development are forgotten by the individual, and while he may honestly try to recall his thoughts, feelings and attitudes, it becomes virtually impossible for him to do.

Guidance is an important aspect of family responsibility, and knowledge of how parents pass on family and cultural values could give insight into the developmental pattern of the socialization of the child. Many child development

16 specialists have assumed that there must be a satisfying dependency relationship with adults especially parents before a child can be secure enough to achieve a good relationship with others.

Robinson in his theory said that personality development is ruled largely by the attributes at the family, especially the way the parents behave toward their children (Sue, 1986:93).

Parke and O’Neil formulate the parent’s role into six roles. First is a parent as instructor. It means that parents give the order and information to the children.

Parents create and give some rules for the children to obey and to do something for their own good. Second is a parent as educator. It means that parents give knowledge of him things happening around them, not only intellect teaching but also the moral teaching. Third is a parent as the advisor. It means that parents give some advises on what happens and what will happen in order for him to be able to come to the appropriate way that leads him to find the best solution for his problem. Fourth is a parent as supervisor. It means that parents keep an eye on the children. Therefore, the children are under controlled and keep away from destructive and irresponsible behavior. Fifth is a parent as facilitator. It means that parents provide some facilities to support the children’s development. And the last is parents as role model. It means that parents give themselves to the children to be the model they always look at. By doing so, the children have someone to rely on in his life. He will sure that he will not get lost (1997:32-39).

Becker sees parents’ behavior as having three key dimensions: restrictiveness, permissiveness, warm-hostility, and anxious emotional

17 involvement-calm detachment (in Craig, 1980:323). Some researches said that restrictive parents tend to have dependent, submissive, and compliant children.

Although permissiveness is the opposite of restrictiveness, it does not necessary produce independent children. Permissiveness is related to active, outgoing, creative, and constructively aggressive behavior in children. Permissiveness in a climate of warmth detachment seems to produce positive characteristics. In the other hand, when permissiveness is accompanied by high hostility, it is more likely to result in noncompliance and aggressiveness. A research on maternal overprotection tries to look at the effect of both restrictiveness and permissiveness when they are combined with great warmth and anxious emotional involvement

(Levy, in Craig, 1980:325).

Hurlock says that family can influence an individual’s personality pattern

(1974:351). Further she says that directly, the family influences comes from identification, from unconscious imitation of attitudes, behavior patterns, and from the mirror image of one self one develops by viewing oneself through the eyes of family members (p.352).

4. The Role of Parents

Family is the smallest unit of society. It contains a father, a mother, and children. Each member of a family has his or her role. What is meant by parents’ role is the dynamic aspect of the status as parents (English, 1970:13).

Parke and O’Neil formulate the parent’s role into some roles. Parents are instructor, educator, advisor, supervisor, facilitator, and role-model. As an

18 instructor, parents give the order and information to the children. Parents create and give some rules for the children to obey and to do something for their own good. As the educator, parents give knowledge of the things happening around hem. Parents do not only focus on the intellect teaching but also the moral teaching, in order to bring the children into a deep understanding of the environment. As the advisor, parents gives some advises on what happens and what will happen in order for him to be able to come to the appropriate way that leads him to find the best solution. As the supervisor, parents keep an eye on the children. Therefore, the children are under controlled. Parents keep their children away from some destructive and irresponsible behavior. As the facilitator, parents provide some facilities to support the children’s development. They can facilitate the children by giving him education in school, giving them facilities to do some sports, and providing them with toys to play. As the role model, parents give themselves to the children to be model they always look at. By doing so, the children have someone to rely on in his life. He will be sure that he will not get lost (1997:32-39).

Lidz, states that mother is the primary and major nurturing figure to the child, particularly the small child. She is an expert in child-rearing techniques

(1968:56). In giving love and attention to the children, the mother also needs the support from whom she can gain such a physical and emotional sustenance. What a mother needs can be fulfilled by her husband. Mother’s behavior in conducting her role affects the children so much. As the role advisor, when the mother gives the children some advices but she does not try to solve the problem for them, the

19 outcomes were positive. The children will feel that their mother is a good friend to share their problems.

The quilt and nature of the parental nurturance which the children receive, will influence their emotional development, frustration, and his or her aggression, anxiety, hopelessness, helplessness, and anger which he or she experiences under various conditions (Indriyani, 1999:2). Parents have a big contribution to the children development. The positive or negative development of children depends on what the parents do to them. Parents must play role in a proportional manner, to gain the best result of their child’s development.

C. Theoretical Framework.

This theoretical framework contains some theories which support this writing. The theories are the theory of character, the theory of message and the theory of the relationship between parents’ behavior and children personality.

The three major characters that will be analyzed are Fee, Meggie, and

Justine. To understand those characters I use the theory of character. It helps me to discover that the characters of Fee, Meggie, and Justine cannot be seen only by their actions but by other ways which support to understand their characters.

The three major characters in this story are influenced by their parents. So

I use the theory of the relationship between parents’ behavior and children personality. By using this theory, I find that Fee’s parents, Meggie’s parents, and

Justine’s parents have a great influence toward their daughter.

20 To find the message of this story, I use the theory of message. It is not as easy as reading this book but I have to analyze also other intrinsic element of this story to find out what might be the possible message.

21 CHAPTER III

METHODOLOGY

A. Object of the Study

Colleen McCullough was born on June 1, 1937 in Wellington, western

New South Wales. Colleen was educated at the holy Cross College, Sydney; the University of Sydney and the Institute of Child Health Care, London. She established the Department of Neurophysiology at Royal North Shore hospital in Sydney, where she remained for five years. After working in England and

United States of America for number of years in her chosen field, Colleen retired to Norfolk Island in search safety and solitude. It was here she met her future husband, Ric Robinson (www.acurrentaffair.com.au/stories/115.asp).

Colleen’s first novel Tim which was published in 1974, was followed up with more best selling novels including The Thorn Birds, An Incedecent

Obsession and The ladies of Missalongi. Many Colleen’s works have been made into films, and interestingly, The Thorn Birds and Tim have been made into musicals

The Thorn Birds was published by Avon publishers of Bard, Camelot,

Discuss and Flare Books. It was distributed for first time on June 1979. The

Thorn Birds has seven chapters. Every chapter used the name of the characters on this novel. Not only the name but it used also the periodic of time. First chapter is Meggie 1915-1917, second chapter is Raph 1921-1928, third is

Paddy 1929-1932, fourth is Luke 1933-1938, fifth is Fee 1938-1953, sixth is

22 Dane 1954-1965 and the last is Justine 1965-1969. The function of using the name of character is to show that every chapter has one character as the focus.

B. Approach

I want to centralize the study so I use psychological approach. In a story there is a relation between character as a part of literary work and psychology.

According to Rohrberger and Woods both literature and psychology discuss people and human lives. The difference is that literature discusses man and his life which the writer expresses through language in the work of literature and based on psychology point of view, psychology is a study of man’s life together with his mind and behavior(1971:6-15). They summarize that this approach brings us to analyze the novel from the psychological point of view of human being (1971:13).

Rohrberger says that most authors employed Freud’s psychology on human personality (p.6-15). Guerin says that psychological approach is an excelelent tool for “reading beneath the Lines” (1979:121). He explains that the psychological theory is most commonly used as an interpretive tool by modern critics and to show by examples how the reader may apply this mode of interpretation to enlarge his understanding and appreciation of literature

(1979:120).

C. Method of the Study

This writing uses the method of library research. All the sources, which support this writing, were taken from books read in the library.

23 In analyzing this writing, I read and reread the novel as the first step taken. While reading the novel, I tried to find out the character development of

Colleen McCullough since she was still teenager until she is mature. To support the finding, I took some books as the guidance. The books are A

Glossary of Literacy Terms by M.H Abrams, Understanding Unseen by M.J

Murphy, and other related book.

The second, I determined the three major female characters and their characteristics in the novel by their personal descriptions, actions, speeches and their conversations with other characters. To analyze this point, I used some theories related to the character.

After analyzing both the three major female characters, I defined the message of the novel by relating between three major female characters based on the analysis done previously. The last step was drawing conclusion of the whole analysis.

24 CHAPTER IV

ANALYSIS

This chapter deals with the analysis of the problem formulated in Colleen

McCullough’s The Thorn Birds. It is divided into two parts. The first is how

McCullough are describing three major female characters. Colleen McCullough

The Thorn Birds contains numerous characters all of which are female. The most important characters in the novel are analyzed in details below.

1. The characterization of three major female characters a. Fiona Cleary

Fiona or Fee was a very beautiful woman. She spoke little and never share an opinion. Fee was one of those people whose feeling was so intense that became unbearable and unlivable. She was also described as a woman who was always so feeling less.

She was a silent woman, not given to spontaneous conversation. What she thought, no one ever knew, even he husband; she left the disciplining of the children to him, and did whatever he commanded without comment or complaint unless the circumstances were most unusual (p.12).

She was from the rich family so when she married she did not know anything about housework’s. Paddy, her husband, thought her to work house, to sweep the floor, wash and iron clothes.

Her feeling was empty or dead when her father asked her to marry a man who she was no love. After her married, the days were long and bitter with a sense of failure. For almost 25 years she had been crushing emotion out of

25 existence, and she was persuaded to marry a man, Paddy, who could accept her pregnancy. It seemed the best way to safe her family from humiliates. Finally

Fee obeyed. She married with the chosen man. Fee had no feeling with her husband. As the reaction she had never complained, or even laughed.

Paddy had always known that Fee loved her baby, Frank, was like her soul than other children, especially her daughter. In her opinion, a daughter was a younger version of oneself who will do all the things she has done, cried the same tears. She believed that what happened with her would happen to her daughter.

Fee realized that what happened with her was no good. She got pregnant when she was no husband. Fee ever broke her parents’ heart, humiliated her parents’ pride.

Fee saw that her life was unworthy enough. When Fee delivered Meggie, Fee saw

Meggie as a reflection her mistake in the future. Fee was not the sort of person one could approach nor would Fee do the approaching to Meggie, her daughter.

Fee cast her no more than a passing glance before leaving; there was no mystery to Meggie, she was female. Fees knew what her lot would be, and did not envy her or pity her. The boys were different; they were miracles…(p.22).

As a parent, Fee was supposed to be able to become an educator, an advisor and a role model especially for her daughter, Meggie. Fee also can not have a nice conversation with her daughter.

For Fee, she supposed that mothers were always a little blind about their daughters until they were too old to be jealous of youth. Fee was jealous that

Meggie had a time not to repeat Fee’s mistake in the past. Meggie had time to be more than Fee. Fee could not turn back the time to fix her mistake.

26 Fee was a very unhappy woman. For one reason or another she had been unhappy since the day she met Pakeha, a man she loved. Pakeha was Frank’s father. Fee still loved Pakeha although she got married Paddy. Fee always looked at her past, her memories with Pakeha. It still remained in her heart although Fee had a new life and got children.

When Fee was delivered of twins, James and Patrick, they became common property immediately they were born, for beyond giving them milk Fee took no interest in them. Jims and Patsy, short names for James and Patsy, were favorites with women up the house, maids and the widowed childless housekeeper.

It was made easy for Fee to forget her twin’s sons because they had three “mothers” (p.146).

After Paddy died, Fee discovered how much she loved Paddy, but it was too late, too late for Fee and too late for Paddy.

If you knew how I wanted the chance to take him in my arms, tell him I loved him! Oh, God, I hope no other human being ever has to feel my pain! (p.275)

Time brought Fee open her mind and her heart to Meggie, although she just didn’t know how to show it (p.428). She gave Meggie advices based what with happened herself.

“You’re going to pay, Meggie. Believe me, you’re going to pay. You won’t get away with it any more than I dud. I lost frank in the worst way a mother could; I can’t even see him and I long to…You wait! You’ll lose Dane too” (p.489).

27 Fee used to think having a daughter wasn’t nearby as important as having sons, but Fee was wrong. Fee enjoyed Meggie, in a way Fee can never enjoy her sons.

Fee was the only one who knew that Dane was not Luke’s son, but

Ralph’s.

“I’m getting old at last, Meggie. And things don’t hurt as much anymore. What a blessing old age can be...I feel better within myself because of it. For the first time in years I feel like talking” (p.485). b. Meghan Cleary’s character.

On December 8, 1915 Meghan Cleary, Meggie, had her fourth birthday.

She was the only daughter of the Cleary family; but her parents or even her brothers did not spoil her. It was a forbidden for the Clearys to cry, even for

Meggie.

They took no notice of Meggie as she stood crying; it did not occur to her to seek help, for in the Cleary family those who could not fight their own battles got scant aid or sympathy, and that went for girls, too (p.5).

She lived in poverty as the impact, the society especially in School, they underestimated her. Her teachers did not give her right to excuse or even time for explaining her situation. The nuns always hated poor pupils. Meggie got punishment and the punishment was physical abuse.

“What happened then?” “Sister Ag caned her good and proper, and sent her home in disgrace” (p.38).

Meggie was left-handed. Sister Agatha, her teacher, tied Meggie’s left arm so she used her right hand to write. On Sister Agatha’s opinion, God’s children were all right-handed; left-handed children were the spawn of the devil.

28 Meggie learnt that her teacher judged people by looking at wealth. Meggie was worthless because her teachers did not respect her equal with her friends.

Meggie was loneliness. She had no friends of her own age to contribute to her education. Her life was absolutely harnessed to the needs of the house.

Meggie lived in a family, which was son-oriented. All Meggie’s life she would obey move with in the boundaries of her female fate, nursing or house keeping. Meggie was stuck in her destiny. What she could do was just keep silent, obey and never complain as her mother did. It was a straight distinction duty between female and male in the house. The house was woman’s work. No male in the house was to put his hand to a female task.

Agnes, the only name she knew elegant enough for such a peerless creature…Meggie didn’t own a doll and had no idea little girls and dolls belonged together. She played happily with the whistle and slingshots and battered soldiers…it never occurred to her that Agnes was to play with (p.3-4).

No one thought, even her mother, of Meggie as important. Because in

Fee’s mind, a daughter was a younger version of she who will do all the things even mistakes Fee has done, cry the same tears.

After Paddy’s aunt, Mary Carson, asked Paddy to move in Australia, their status raised. Paddy’s aunt was the richest woman in South Wales.

Meggie was described as sensitive; weeps and cries were her way to express her depression and her feeling. She could not share her feeling with her mother. They never had a nice conversation. Meggie knew that her mother only could share with her beloved son, Frank. Meggie was never prepared by her

29 mother to be a young girl. How to dress up, talking about sex even talking about menstruation were never discussed among Meggie and her mother.

Meggie was also a hard worker and carrying. Fee could not manage without her. Meggie took care of her younger brother, Hall. Fee was too busy with her emptiness. When Fee got born Hall, Meggie took her life for nursing Hall.

Meggie absolutely had no choice for her life. She simply filled the vacuum in the

Hall’s life and became “his mother “for the absence of Fee. It happened when Fee had no notice to the family after Frank, her golden children, was gone. What

Meggie did to Hal was not any sacrifice, for she loved him dearly and found him a helpless, willing target for all the love she was beginning to, want to lavish on some human creature. Hall loved her and it caused Hal become possessive.

Meggie was the loving nucleus for Hal’s world. Meggie was just like a tiny mother at her age. She would have regarded it as a duty rather than pure pleasure, and been off to do something more alluring as fast as she could.

Meggie never wished to be a grown-up mother so desperately and Meggie was never thinking that she was a woman like Fee. When Hal was dying Fee couldn’t heal him because Fee was not his mother. Meggie was confused and terrified; she held Hall’s body close and trying to help Hal breathe. It never occurred to her that he might die, even when Fee and Paddy sank to their knees by the bed and prayed, not knowing what else to do (p.147).

When hall was dead, it was the first moment for Meggie seeing someone dead. This was a burden she would have to carry until the end of her days. Meggie lost someone who could see that Meggie was important, someone who had passion.

30 Meggie’s ideas about the condition of death were vague; she wasn’t even clear on what her status would be in that incomprehensible other world. Religion to Meggie was a set of laws rather than a spiritual experience; it couldn’t help her at all. Meggie obeyed the laws of the Church simply because not to do so meant burning in Hell throughout eternity. There was no way she could come to term with death; she laid night after night in a confused terror, trying to imagine if death was perpetual night.

When the Clearys went to church on Sundays, Meggie had to stay home.

Paddy held that small children had no place in any house, and his rule held even for a house of worship. Meggie had no basic of spiritual life since she was a child.

Meggie was an introvert person. She hid her distress to well. The old lessons had been well learned, her self-control was phenomenal and her pride formidable. No one must ever know what went on inside her. Meggie’s sorrow she kept exclusively to herself; her pain had the unreasoning for other children, and mysterious (p.160). She did not know how to speak up especially with men.

She was the only daughter in her family. It was too difficult for her because the only chance to share with was her mother. From her mother also Meggie learnt how to hide her distress well.

Meggie was out of her mother attention because her mother paid attention to her sons only. They expected that Meggie should shoulder the entire task herself. Meggie grieved for her mother too but by no means as whole-heartedly as the men, for her loyalties were sorely tied. When Meggie have her own

31 children, she would think to herself, that she was never going to love of them more than the rest (p.225).

On her deepest heart Meggie was loneliness, needed a home, family and someone, who needed her and loved her. Someone who needed her loved her and took her as a worthy. Meggie looked for a role mode that represented a figure of her “father” and “mother”. And she found it in Father Ralph. Young Meggie felt in love with a priest, Ralph, who devoted hid life in Australia.

“If you had not been a priest, Father, would you have married me?” (p.206).

Meggie knew Ralph would never be willing to give up his God. It was for that reason Meggie was determined at has the only part of Ralph. Meggie ever would have, that was Ralph child, Dane. For Meggie Dane who was not and could not ever is a full-hearted part of her.

“…Ralph I can’t have, his baby I can. I feel…oh, as if there’s a purpose to my life after all!...I’m going to protect this child in every way I can, no matter what cost to myself…(p.418).

By time, Meggie was described as a strength, beauty, passion and full of love that made her a timeless heroine. Her strength was tested when in her families there were many tragedies and hardships including fires, flood, drought and devastating deaths of loved ones. Meggie was the only woman who took part to cultivating the land. She worked as her brothers did. When there was a disaster in Drogheda, Meggie took an important part to manage the land. Because her brothers were sent to join the army, she could prove that she could take the responsibility as a member of the family.

32 Meggie was also a self-perceived to suffer from an excess of

“masculinity”. Meggie saw portraits of “marriage” were marked by the same radical pessimism. Meggie married Luke not because of love but Luke was nothing more than a substitute, a man who just would give her children, children who Meggie could not get from the man who she loved, Ralph. Meggie has never loved anybody else, and while trying to forget her desire for Ralph that will never go away, she found more trouble.

Oh, it wasn’t fair! How dare someone else have eyes and face like Father Ralph! Not the way he looked at her: the mirth was something of his own and he had no love burning for her there…to look into his eyes and not see him! (p.289)

Meggie made a wrong reason to get married. She thought that Luke was the one who could give her a baby. When she got pregnant Luke did not want it.

The morning sickness was all day. Meggie felt ill, helpless, unloved; even the baby did not love her, did not want to be conceived on born. Meggie could feel it inside her; the weakly tiny creature’s feeble protested against growing to being.

Disappointed and unhappy though she was, Meggie would not consciously do anything to harm the baby.

She had grown used to hiding what she felt, to appearing always calm and outwardly happy. Self-control was growing around her. She always thought, would she end up like Fee, cut off from her feeling. Meggie had grown up enough to realize there was more to getting babies than she used to think; some sort of physical contact absolutely forbidden between any but a married couple. She thought that her mother must have disgrace and humiliation through over Frank.

In book only the lowest, cheapest girls had babies outside marriage; yet Fee was

33 not cheap, could never have been cheap. If it happened to Meggie, Meggie thought, she would want to die. With all her heart Meggie wished Fee could talk to her about it, or that she herself had the courage to bring up the subject. Perhaps in some small way she might have been able to help. But Fee was not the sort of person one could approach, nor would Fee do the approaching. Meggie hoped nothing like that ever happened to her (p294).

Meggie did not want to plod like a little automaton for the rest of her life, she wafted to change and vitality and love.

Love, husband and babies. what was the use of hungering after a man she could never have? Ralph did not want her, Ralph never would want her. Ralph said he loved her, but not as a husband. Because he was married to the church. There was a question in her mind about men. Did all men do that; love some inanimate thing more than they could love a woman? The difficult ones, perhaps, the complex ones with their seas of doubts and objections, rationalities. But there had to be simpler men, men who could surely love a woman before all else. Men like Luke, for instance (p.295).

Meggie was too ashamed to tell her family that her marriage was not going well. Meggie could not face telling her family that Luke kept her without a penny in her purse. The day she did tell them was the day she would leave Luke, never to go back to him. Everything in her upbringing conspired to prevent her leaving

Luke; the sacredness of her marriage vows, the hope she might have a baby one day, the position Luke occupied as husband and master of her destiny. Luke admitted the money helped, but he married Meggie because he liked her not because of love. On Luke’s opinion love is nothing. It was a figment of women’s imagination.

34 Meggie found herself fascinated with the process and the child, Justine. It was a long time since she had been indifferent to Justine, and she yearned to lavish love upon her daughter, hug her, kiss her, laugh with her (p.431).

Meggie was down when Dane asked her that he wanted to be a priest as

Ralph. Meggie stole Ralph from God, and she was paying with her son. Dane adored Ralph as a perfect priest. Dane wanted to be like him, serve God.

“Do you know where you’re going? asked Meggie “Saint Parick’s College, I suppose. At least until I find my feet. Perhaps then I’ll espouse an order. I’d rather like to be a Jesuit, but I’m not quite sure enough of that to go straight into the Society of Jesus.” Meggie stared at the tawny grass bouncing up and down through the insect-spattered windscreen (p.552)

Meggie began tough when finally she lost her son, Dane, was dead in

Crete when Dane was trying to help someone who was drowned (p.640). Meggie was getting old at last. Time gave her priceless lessons, that she ha not only one child but two children. Dane was dead but the most important that Justine was alive.

Meggie could learn that what happened with Dane help her to fix her relation to Justine. Meggie replied Justine’s letter and told her how proud she was.

They forgave each other. .Meggie thanked to God that she was still given time to spend her time with her daughter. She was given time to fix her mistakes. Meggie wanted to a place when Justine needed a friend to share her problem, a place where Meggie could give her peace, love, and attention. c. Justine Cleary

Justine could feel that she was rejected by her parents since she was infancy. When her mother, Meggie, informed that she was pregnant, Luke was not

35 enthusiastic. It was a bitter pill for Meggie to shallow, but she did. Meggie was disappointed and unhappy; Meggie would not do anything to harm the baby. Her enthusiasm and her longing to have someone of her own to love withered in her.

The incubus child hung heavier. It took four weeks until Meggie could rid herself of this intolerable burden, the ungrateful child. Meggie learnt to hate it. Because

Meggie wanted that Luke would look forward to the baby, but he did not. That was why after Justine was getting born, it seemed that Justine did not want to be hugged, kissed or made to laugh.

Her face had shrunk, and seemed all eyes; they were soft and filled with a misty light, no hate but no love either. “I suppose I want her…but while I was carrying her I couldn’t feel anything for her, except that she didn’t want me. I don’t think Justine will ever be mine, or Luke’s, or anyone’s. I think she’s always going to belong to herself” (p.377).

The most dismaying thing as Justine’s dogged refusal to smile or laugh.

Every soul on Drogheda turned inside out performing antics to make her smile

without success. But Justine only got closer to her grand mother.

Justine was special; she walked and talked early, at nine months. When

Justine exactly was sixteen months old, Meggie’s son was born. Totally dry for

Justine, Meggie’s breast was full to overflowing. No need for bottles or tins this

time. Not that she as either noisy or defiant; simply that she was made of very

hard metal indeed.

She had none of Luke, her father, arresting beauty, or her mother’s

exquisiteness. Her figure was passable though not spectacular, trifle on the thin

side. Only the vivid red hair ever stood out. But on a stage she was as beautiful

as Helen of Troy or as ugly as a witch.

36 Justine was learning about responsibility since she was a child. Justine set eyes on her brother, adored her baby brother.

“I can’t be here at the homestead to look after him myself,” she said, “so it all depends on you, Justine. He’s your baby brother and you must always watch out for him, makes sure he doesn’t get into danger or trouble.”…”I like having Dane all to myself. So don’t worry. I won’t let anything happen to him (p.451).”

Dane gave the changes in Justine’s life. Justine was four years old before she saw anything funny, and that she ever did was probably due to Dane, who had laughed from babyhood. Because he laughed, so did her. Meggie’s children learned from each other all the time (p.451).

Justine became possessive. Justine seemed to frighten family who loved

Dane. Justine was jealous of the way they monopolized Dane’s company, for it meant she had no one to play with (p.451). Justine didn’t seem to need a mother, since she was convinced she was right about everything. As far as she was concerned, Meggie was mostly someone who interfered with her pleasure in

Dane. Justine got on a lot better with her grandmother.

Justine’s heart was full of hatred. She did not feel love from her parents.

Her father did not want her; because he thought that having a baby meant adding burden. Her present was not wanted by her parents. Her parents did not give her role model of the meaning of family. Meggie was supposed to give her protection, caring, giving love and attention. Meggie needed the support from whom she can gain such a physical and emotional sustenance. What Meggie needed should be fulfilled by her husband. But she did not get it. Justine was undesirable. It influenced how Justine saw her parents.

37 Justine was a strong, self-willed, determined young woman struggling with knowing she was not as treasured as her brother Dane (p.542). No one could have called her a pretty child, but no one ever forgot her, not merely on account of eyes but also because she had remarkable strength of character; astringent, forthright and uncompromisingly intelligent.

That was so Justine. She liked to act for herself and she would not be told what to do. Justine felt that she was not like her mother, Meggie. It was a simple biological bond. She was not sure if they liked each other. Justine had always wanted Meggie to talk to her the way she talked to Dane, and wanted to get along with Meggie the way Dane did. But either there was something lacking in

Meggie, or something lacking in Justine (p.542). Justine knew that her mother loved Dane more than Meggie loved her. Justine was ignored by her own mother.

Dane was the central of Meggie life. Dane was as if Meggie’s breathe. Dane was so meaningful than the rest of Meggie’s life. What Justine could do to satisfy her mother was to take care of Dane, as if Dane was her own son. Justine was so careful to look after Dane. Nothing could happen to Dane without her permission.

Justine was her innate godlessness. Justine at eight cared as little what anyone thought of her as he had a baby. Only on person was very close to her;

Dane. She still adored him, and still regarded him as her own property, which had led to many a tussle of wills between her and her mother. It had been a rude shock to Justine when Meggie hung up her saddle and got back to being a mother. For one thing, Justine did not seem to need a mother, since she was convinced she was right about everything. Nor was she the sort of little girl who required a

38 confidante or warm approval. As far as she was concerned, Meggie was mostly someone who interfered with her pleasure in Dane. She got on a lot better with her grandmother, who was just the sort of person Justine heartily approved; she kept her distance and assumed one had a little sense.

Justine was blamed herself when she found that Dane was dead. She thought that it was her responsibility to take care of Dane.

“…He was on holiday, mum, he asked me to go with him and I didn’t, I wanted to be with Rain. If I’d only been with him! If I had, it mightn’t have happened...” (p.640)

Justine was feeling guilty of her mother. She just was not able to nerve herself to confront her mother; to do so mean the whole sorry (p.660). She thought that if she accompanied Dane, the accident would not happen. Especially the accident happened when Justine refused Dane’s invitation, and she preferred to go with Rainer. Justine thought that her mother would be mad because Justine could not take care of Dane.

Justine was a young woman who knew exactly what she wanted to do.

Justine wanted to be an actress because it was a place for her where she could

scream, yell. Justine felt that along this time she was not allowed to do any of

screaming or yelling. Justine wanted to have a place where she could express

her emotion (p.529). Justine kept her words to be an actress although her mother

forbid her. Justine kept move on, and tried to convince her mother that she had

the ability.

Her friend, Arthur, first noticed her during a teaching period, when she

was required to recite a passage from Comrade’s Lord Jim using various

39 accents. Justine was extraordinary; he could feel the excitement in Albert Jones

and finally understood why Albert devoted so much time to her. She gave

character to every word she said. And there was the voice, a wonderful natural

endowment for any actress, deep, hussy and penetrating (p.538).

Her life offended the stage. To Justine, acting was first and foremost

intellect and only after that, emotion. The one liberated the other, and polished

it.

Meggie ever said Justine was a monster. When Justine met Rainer, said monster too. But Justine was not sure what either Rainer meant by monster.

Rainer tried to define the term of monster. It meant someone who terrified others; rolled over the top of people; felt so strong only God can defeat; had no scruples and few morals.

“She has no right to suffer for me! Let her suffer for herself if she must, but not for me. Never for me (p.664).

Justine had terrified of committing herself to the kind of love marriage would entail. One of the reasons was Justine saw her grandmother’s married and her parent’s married that did not go well. Since Dane’s dead, Justine was run away from herself. She could not accept Rain’s love.

By the time, Meggie was mature. Meggie saw that Justine was special. She did get angry or blame Justine for the death of Dane. Meggie asked her to relax, calm down when Justine informed that Dane was dead. Meggie said that was nobody’s fault. When Justine was informed that Dane was dead, what she thought was her mother. Meggie did not even have the lovely last sight of Dane’s face in

Rome. What in Meggie’s mind that she had to make was the payment. Meggie

40 stole Ralph from God and she had to pay back with her son. Dane was free from anybody. Meggie said that she thanked to God that she still had Justine, that she did not lose both her children. With her heart Meggie tried to pour wrath and comfort across the miles to her devastated daughter in London. Justine realized that she needed her mother’s love, someone who gave her shoulder when she cried on.

From this tragedy both Meggie and Justine found that they had to stand up together. Meggie realized that she made mistakes toward Justine and Justine felt sorry also.

Finally, she could accept Rain after she fix her relation with her mother.

Justine tried to forget her past and she found someone who could heal her wound.

Justine wrote a letter to Meggie and told about her activity, her plan to go home for good and her plan to get married with Rain.

2. The possible messages seen from the major characters description

In the last part of the problem formulation, I intend to reveal some possible messages through the main characters descriptions.

Looking back to the meaning of message, it is defined as what is conveyed in speech or writing from one person to one or more other people (Richards, Platt, and Weber, 1985:176). It means that through the story the author seems to communicate a moral lesson to the readers, and it depends on the way the author delivers the message, in direct or in indirect for in this study, the message is delivered in indirect form. The author does not directly give her advice, she

41 expresses the message implicitly. Through the story, the readers have a chance to interpret the message by themselves so that it is needed for the readers to understand the story well. The reader that s the writer herself will try to interpret the message inside.

The first message that I can take after learning the main character is that each generation is doomed to repeat the missteps and failures of the previous generation. Lidz, states that mother is the primary and major nurturing figure to the child, particularly the small child. She is an expert in child-rearing techniques

(1968:56). In giving love and attention to the children, the mother also needs the support from whom she can gain such a physical and emotional sustenance. What a mother needs can be fulfilled by her husband. Mother’s behavior in conducting her role affects the children so much.

In early childhood, the child needs to believe that his parents can answer all his questions. Meggie had no change to have a nice conversation with her parents. Because her parents never paid attention and realized that she was there, belonged to the family. Paddy was son-oriented. He forgot that he had a daughter.

Meggie needed someone to share with. But she did not have it. She felt that no one loved her. It happened when Meggie got her first period. She thought that she was dying, got cancer, a lot of blood run out of her bottom (p.163). Ralph was completely lost too because her mother should have told Meggie years ago. It happened because Meggie learnt from her mother. Meggie hid distress too well.

No one must ever know what went on inside Meggie.

42 Children need her parents’ example and teaching. Meggie learnt that Fee as wife left the disciplining of the children to husband; and wife did whatever husband commanded without comment or complaint (p.12). Meggie felt the same when she got married. Her husband married her because of money. She did not get any penny in her pocket. She worked as a maid to fulfill her needed because her husband never gave her money. Meggie did what her husband said without complaining.

Meggie also learnt that displays of affection between husband and wife were as something suitable only for bedroom (p.131). Love was something to secret to talk about. Love did not need to be express. So the Clearys seemed cool, no passion because they were used to hide it, keep it.

It happened with Meggie’s family too. She became no desire, no passion with her husband even to her daughter. Meggie did not learn to overcome her past.

She learnt well what exactly family meant. There was a place where was no communication, sharing. And Meggie did the same thing with her family.

Every member of Cleary knew that it was Frank who laid closest to Fee’s heart, Frank who loomed as the star in Fee’s limited heaven, he was the only one who seemed to enjoy sitting talking to Fee. And Fee loved Frank more than the rest of family (p.59). Even Paddy knew it, he just kept silent. He did not give any advises that Fee did only have one son, but there were other children who needed her attention.

Although Meggie said that she would never pay attention to only one of her children but she did it. Both Fee and Meggie only loved the sons from men

43 they loved. Meggie loved Dane more than Meggie loved Justine. Meggie could not get enough closer to Justine. It seemed that Justine did not want to be hugged, kissed or made to laugh (p.431). Meggie did not adore Justine that she felt less for

Justine than she had for any of her mother’s younger babies. The strange thing was that Justine did not seem to want to be picked up or crooned over; she quieted much faster if she was left alone (p.380). It happened because Justine knew that she was rejected since she was not getting born. Justine felt that nobody even her parents needed her present.

When Meggie was pregnant, Luke did not want it. Luke said that as far as he was concerned, becoming a father simply meant he would have too non working mouths to feed (p.366). Meggie got trouble because the baby was not sitting well whether because of the heat or her unhappiness Meggie did not know.

The morning sickness was all day. Meggie felt ill, helpless, unloved; even the baby did not love her, did not want to be conceived on born. Meggie could feel it inside her, the weakly tiny creature’s feeble protested against growing to being.

Disappointed and unhappy though she was, Meggie would not consciously do anything to harm the baby.

It was different when Meggie got pregnant Dane. The pain was minimal, the ordeal so quickly over it might hardly have been; in spite of the stitches she had to have because his entry into the world had been so precipitate, Meggie felt wonderful (p.432).

Another repetition mistakes is about marriage. Fee was from a high social status. Fee had disgraced her family; she was not married and she had a child.

44 Fee’s father offered 500 pounds if he married Fee and guarantees to take her out of the South Island. For the first time, Paddy and Fee married with no love. Paddy was a man who could accept a woman who got pregnant with other man. Paddy have always known that Fee loved her son, Frank, more than the rest of family.

Fee must have loved Frank’s father. But Paddy loved her so much even she ignored him (p.131).

It happened to Meggie also. Meggie and Luke had married for all wrong reasons; Luke for Meggie’s money, Meggie as an escape from Ralph. Ralph was pride in being a priest. Luke admitted the money, but he married Meggie because he liked her not because of love. Through marriage, the sacredness of Meggie’s marriage vows, the hope she might have a baby one day. The position Luke occupied as husband and masters her destiny. Luke was nothing more than a substitute, a man who would give her children (p.135). Another reason was that

Luke was look like Ralph (p.289). Justine felt for almost her ages, that to be convinced that there was no love.

Another repetition was both Fee and Meggie lost their golden son. Meggie stole Ralph from God, and she was paying with her son. Meggie believed that what happened, after Dane’s dead, must be for the best. It was different with Fee.

Although Frank came back to Drogheda, but it was completely not the same. The most Fee could do for Frank was to make him as happy as possible, and surely the way to do that was to accept the now Frank as always Frank. Gradually the Cleary men grew used to having frank back in the family, began to understand that the threat Frank used to represent to their own welfare was quite empty. Nothing

45 would ever change that Fee felt for Frank, it did not matter whether Frank was in jail or on Drogheda, Fee would still feel it. The important thing was that to have him on Drogheda made Fee happy. For Fee it was not a joy to have Frank home again yet; seeing him everyday was simply a different kind of sorrow from not being able to see him at all, the terrible grief of having to witness a ruined life, a ruined man. Who was her most beloved son, and must have endured agonies beyond her imagination (p.522).

The second message was that all sadness will pass, and one day something beautiful will come from that pain. This story was full of tears. Tragedy, flood, fire, death were something the Clearys had to be faced. It began when Paddy married Fee. It was completely wrong excuse for a couple get married with no love. But Paddy was so patient to love Fee although he knew that Fee did not love her. They were from different social status. Paddy taught Fee how to be a good house wife. He taught her how to cook, iron clothes and wash the dishes. Paddy worked hard to fulfill what Fee needed. He never complained although he was so tired with his work. It was not a short time to open Fee’s heart. It happened after

Paddy was dead because of fire. Fee felt empty when Paddy was not beside her again. It seemed too late for Fee or Paddy. But it was a starting point for Fee to fix what she had done. Fee saw Meggie as an ally; she became a place that Meggie could run away. Fee started to open a nice conversation with Meggie. It was priceless for both Fee and Meggie. Because when they were together, they could face problems even it was harder.

46 The death of Dane was tragedy for this family. It was a deep sorrow for

Meggie. Dane was the central life of Meggie. Dane was the only thing she could have from Ralph. Meggie realized that she could not have Ralph, she could not steal Ralph from God. Meggie kept it as a secret even she did not tell Dane who was his blood father. Ralph also did not know it. When Dane was dead, thus secret was open. Meggie must ask Ralph help to bring back Dane’s body. First

Ralph did not want to help her because Dane’s body was already buried. But when Meggie told the truth that Dane was Ralph’s son, Ralph tried to bring back

Dane’s body to Drogheda. Ralph felt guilty because he could not protect his own son.

Dane’s death gave a deep sorrow for Justine. Meggie knew that Dane was

Justine’s beloved brother. Justine loved Dane more than Justine loved her mother.

Justine always kept an eye on Dane in every minute. She was responsible with her duty to take care of her brother. If she could replace, she would die to replace

Dane.

Meggie learnt how to be a good mother by time. When Justine informed her about Dane’s death, she was not getting mad. She realized that what she stole from God, she had to pay back. She did want to lose both of children.

Dane was dead but Justine was alive. Meggie thanked to God that she was still given time to spend her time with her daughter. She was given time to fix her mistakes. Meggie wanted to a place when Justine needed a friend to share her problem, a place where Meggie could give her peace, love, and attention.

47 Justine could feel the changes of Meggie. Justine was happy that finally she could feel love of a mother. Something that was impossible she could feel came get closer to her life. When Justine could heal the pain, Rain came to support her, help her to wrap her wound. It was love that brought back this family.

It was full of thankful, joy and relief.

48 CHAPTER V

CONCLUSION

From the analysis, I can conclude that three major characters here help us in revealing the message in Colleen McCollugh’s The Thorn Birds. By learning the characters, the reader can learn numerous moral values which are regarded the message of this work. McCullough is a genius for combining three generations of the Clearys into one novel.

The previous analysis has already explained about three major characters and the possible messages. The badness or goodness of the children’s character development depends on the parents’ role that can be seen from their behavior. If they can do their roles in a balance portion, the children will develop as well as they wish. On the contrary, if they cannot do their roles properly, the children cannot develop normally.

It is true if we say that not only parents who become the central factor that influence children’s character development. Nevertheless, parents are the first things a child got contact with. Automatically, he gets his first lesson from his parents. So that, it can be said that everything happens with children’s character development has a correlation with the parents’ contribution.

For some reasons what happened to Fee, Meggie and Justine were influenced by their parents. Fee’s father asked her to leave her house because she got pregnant and she did not have a husband yet. Fee humiliated her parents’ pride. Her father looked for a man who would marry her.

49 It was obvious that they got married because they had no choice. Love was an important aspect in a marriage. It might lead to destruction if the couple did not have it.

Meggie did the same mistake too. Meggie got married for a wrong reason.

Luke, her husband, married Meggie for her money; Meggie was an escape from

Ralph. Luke was the only man whose face was looked like Ralph, and was the only one who could possibly give her a baby. Something that Ralph could not give it to Meggie. But it was nothing when Meggie got pregnant and Luke did not give attentions or even said that Luke did not want it. Meggie felt ill, helpless, unloved; even the baby did not love her, did not want to be conceived on born.

The baby could felt it that her mother rejected her presence. The baby also rejected to be born, because she knew it that her parents did not want her.

The dead of Dane opened Meggie’s heart that she was given a chance to take care of her daughter, Justine. Dane was dead but Justine was still alive.

Meggie was given a time for rebuilding her relation, her communication with

Justine.

The second message was that all sadness will pass, and one day something beautiful will come from that pain. This story was full of tears. Tragedy, flood, fire, death were something the Clearys had to be faced. They had faced so many tragedies and it gave them best experiences. Fee, Maggie and Justine learnt that they could face the hardest time when they started to communicate with each other. They could take the values of the hardest time. It was love that brought back this family. It was full of thankful, joy and relief.

50 The mothers and daughters shared similar characteristics. The influence of mother-daughter relationship in characterization was reflected in the presence of the conflict, the opposite of past lives, opinions, life style, thoughts and manners, between the mother and the daughter. The mother representing the older generation, is opposed with the daughter, representing the younger generation.

These three generations of the Clearys gave moral message. It was never too late to learn, to love because love could heal the pain, could wrap the wound.

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