The Seek for Imperative Life in Sidney Sheldon's

Review

The seek for imperative life in Sidney Sheldon’s Memories of midnight, if tomorrow comes, the other side of midnight: An existentialist approach

Ume Sumayya and Ume Amen

Department of Business Administration, Iqra University, Pakistan

Accepted 30 March, 2015

The paper deals with the exploration for significant life as reflected in Sidney Sheldon’s Memories of Midnight, If Tomorrow Comes, the Other Side of Midnight. This study aims at exposing the internal structure of the novels and exploring the philosophical values of human’s existence about searching the meaning of life. The primary information is taken from the novel itself whereas the secondary information is taken from totally different sources like’s comments and criticism toward the novel. The tactic of knowledge assortment is library analysis. The approach uses is existentialist theory as a way of research. The technique of knowledge assortment is descriptive qualitative. The end result of the reading is as follows: first off the structural components of the novel gift an honest unity. The novel exposes the rummage around for meaningful life as mirrored by the foremost character that uses the facility as a treatment to succeed in it. The theme of the novel issues within the uncontrolled power that leads one to failure in checking out meaningful life. Secondly, the results of existentialist analysis show that the novel represents one amongst the necessary reflections of the author’s concern in his criticism concerning life. The author critic the existentialist who proposes that power is everything. Sidney Sheldon was rarely accused of writing great literature, but many of his works were wildly popular. His protagonists were usually women, and often had libido in mind. His books were called 'trashy' or 'melodramatic' by critics, but were always best-sellers. In The Other Side of Midnight a woman spends years plotting vengeance on a man who betrayed her; in If Tomorrow Comes a woman seeks revenge after being convicted of a crime she did not commit; in Rage of Angels a female attorney is falsely accused of being involved with organized crime. Sheldon also wrote page-turning thrillers like Windmills of the Gods and the Sky is Falling, and even tried science fiction with The Doomsday Conspiracy.

Key words: Philosophical values, existentialist theory, descriptive qualitative.

INTRODUCTION:

A Sidney Sheldon novel typically contains one or more heiress or two; skeletons in lavishly appointed closets; usually many more of these ingredients: shockingly shadowy international cartels, communists and lawyers; beautiful women, square-jawed heroes and fiendish globe-trotting ambassadors, supermodels and very bad villains; fame, fortune and intrigue; penthouses, villas and dogs; forced marriages and amnesia; naked ambition and the jet travel these entail; plutonium, diamonds and a nakedness in general; a great deal of vengeance; and as touch of botulism; rape, sodomy, murder and suicide; The New York Times Book Review described it in 1989, mysterious accidents and mysterious disappearances; an “a pastoral coed nude rubdown with dry leaves.” Though Mr. Sheldon jetted to exotic locales to research his books and lived in homes brimming with art and antiques, his life had little in common with those of his *Corresponding author’s e-mail: [email protected]. characters at least, to hear him tell it, in one crucial Sumayya and Amen 67

respect. The means of life is that necessary things which Overview of Sidney Sheldon philosophy in his writing will be modified from time to time and might be found within the real experiences of the everyday life as a tenet Sidney Sheldon was rarely accused of writing great from the human activities and created it the goal of life literature, but many of his works were wildly popular. His (Bastman, 1997:52). During a vital state of affairs peoples characters were usually women. The author doesn’t show will still be consistent to search out and make the means us the interior of characters in details. Mostly he of life. However, in another state of affairs individuals will describes the events and how an ordinary person fail in looking in meaningful life. behaves in this or that situation. The language of the Frankl (Koeswara, 1987:43) extends concerning the books is simple enough. While reading I gathered the failure to look through around for meaningful life, known impression that it was told by a simple story-teller. Here as associate degree existential frustration. It wills the we can find lexics from different spheres: law, official, individuals to recompense in style of self-escape like conversational lexics, literal language. The narrator tells alcoholism, drug, sex, and gambling. Searching of which us a story in the form of monolog and all the means of life doesn't continually represent the faith conversations are shown in the form of dialog in his downside however it typically constitutes the philosophy books. of life that have lay characteristic. what is more Frankl Based on the existentialist analysis of Sir Philip Sidney says that, “Human being will notice the means of life, not Sheldon’s Memories of Midnight with existentialist solely from faith or by realization of non secular prices concerning the checking out meaningful life will be however conjointly from realization of human values conclude that, philosopher proposes his perspective enclosed of artistic value, aesthetic price, moral price, usually that the human’s life is meaningful if it fills 3 and experiential value” (Koeswara, 1987:40-41). It aspects namely: the desire to power and morality. implies that person finds or creates the means of life. In Memories of Midnight Constain Demiris may be a Frankl in Koeswara (1987:41) extends concerning the 3 major character that has the desire power as a treatment ways which will create meaningful life. First, one thing is to succeed in the meaningful life. Demiris is mirrored as given to life (creative works). Second, one thing is taken someone has associate degree ambition to be a strong from life as well as the wonder, truth and love. The last, man. Burdened by the suffering throughout his youth, his associate degree perspective is given to certainty of fate life is incredibly poor and therefore the business partner that would not be modified. From those there ways in that causes his ambition raise ever deceives him. He which, the endeavor of man to succeed in the meaning of feels his life is meaningful once he becomes a ruler of a life is incredibly significant. In fact, individuals continually fiefdom massive and a lot of powerful that a lot of face varied issues, one amongst them is to wage war countries have in them. He’s one amongst 2 or 3 against him, it implies that individuals should be ready to wealthiest men within the world and his influence is management and manages himself. uncounted. Though he had no title or official position, he Considering all of these, I’m interested about frequently buys and sells prime ministers, cardinal conducting a study on completely unique novels. He had ambassadors and king. He can do everything to urge the created many works within the style of novel. One wealth and a lot of to carry the facility. amongst his novels is Memories of Midnight in 1990 by Nietzsche said (Arifin, 1987:54) someone’s life in Warner Books Inc. New York with the amount of pages is significant if he's ready to reach the Ultra human. It 404 pages. happens in major character; conjointly finds the goal of Memories of midnight may be a fashionable novel. The his life by reaching the best satisfaction and become the story is straightforward to grasp as a result of the ultra human. There are 2 needs to succeed in the ultra language is straightforward and uses the straightforward human namely; humans as creators should produce and grammatical structure. Thus it simple for the readers to alter the values system and should base on the own grasp the messages extended by author. The message ability. In Memories of Midnight, major character extended thought this work will be hampered as a result determines his life by making justice, values and roles by of the author is accepted nevertheless by the society and himself. He confronts the principles of standard men. It is conjointly shopping for power of society continues to be done by him as a result of his life is stuffed by the low. sensation of hates and grudge within the past. Thus he This study describes the search around for meaningful should struggle and brave to commit the games of death. life in Sir Philip Sidney Sheldon’s Memories of Midnight The illustration of major character’s life seen from by giving limitation to her concern on the foremost morality he categorized into the master morality. He character’s effort to make the meaningful life by using reach the meaningful life with becomes a person who has Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche’s existentialist in views master morality. He determines the own direction, brave because the primary approach. This can be a reason to to face his life, to carry the sport of life and death decide on the title “The seek for imperative life in Sidney manipulate the weak peoples for his importance. But in Sheldon’s memories of midnight: an Memories of Midnight, Demiris mirrored as someone who existentialist approach for this analysis. includes a master morality, that ready to occur his Scholarly J. Sci. Res. and Essay 68

morality within the sure proportion. It means that in his and ambition. Within the phenomena of human’s life, life, he cannot management his self-belong to regulate many of us wish their meaningful life by mistreatment the passion and therefore the power ambition. He reach his facility completely as a treatment to succeed in it. meaningful life is simply a flash. Uncontrolled his power However, their state of mind concerning the controlled and his self could lead one to failure in checking out power could lead one to failure and destruction to meaningful life. Within the last he's dead beside the themselves. That’s why Sheldon critics that condition. destruction of his power. Based on structural analysis and existentialist analysis of the novel Memories of Midnight with the limitation of Grand challenges in his Novels study supported Nietzsche’s principle of existentialist concerning the explore around for meaningful life, that If Tomorrow Comes is a 1985 crime fiction novel by are done on the preceding part, the explore worker return Sidney Sheldon. It is largely an adventure book, in which to the conclusion. The conclusion is drawn to answer the the action and the plot move ahead breathlessly, keeping matter statement of the reading. It deals with however the suspense up from the beginning to the very end, and Demiris’s try for meaningful life. even after it It is a story portraying an ordinary woman The piece of writing like the novel is that the media of who is framed by the Mafia, her subsequent quest for expression the author uses to specific the thought, vengeance towards them and her later life as a con artist. feeling, thinking, imagination, expertise and feeling. Just I would like to discuss an extract from the book .If like the novel Sir Philip Sidney Sheldon’s Memories of tomorrow comes, I was very much impressed by that Midnigh, the author tries to speak his plan concerning book and this book is also very interesting. The author human expertise. He takes one issue in human life knows how to develop the plot to intrigue the reader and specifically the means of life. Sheldon tries to reveal the to make him keep reading further and further. Having philosophical values human’s existence stressed on familiarized myself with his books I couldn’t help getting checking out meaningful life. It’s mirrored on major interested with this author. I think the main idea of the character (Constantin Demiris). He’s illustrated as a book is the following: everything that happens is for the person who includes a power that's used as a treatment better. At the beginning of the book it seemed that the to succeed in the meaningful life. Tracy’s future is to be a wife of a rich man. But in her life Based on the existentialist analysis deals with there are many changes that make her another, strong Memories of Midnight of day, looking of meaningful life person and the following events show that there are not becomes attention of this study, however the foremost so many good, loyal people and there are much cruelty character strives for meaningful life is seen from and iniquity. Her bridegroom appeared to be a weak Nietzsche’s principle of existentialist. Firstly, as occurred person who doesn’t want to do anything to help her in Memories of Midnight, Constant in Demiris because because he is afraid for the reputation of his family, a the major character will reach his meaningful life by the strange person makes her mother a bankrupt and takes desire to power. Secondly, his life is meaningful as a Tracy to prison for 15 years, at her work nobody believes result of he's ready to reach the meaningful life by having in her faultlessness and in other places there are the master morality. As happens in Memories of Midnight problems with job etc. But there are good people who , Demiris has the master morality; but the author shows believe in her and help her. that Demiris is unable to use his master morality and his Tracy becomes somebody like Robin Hood. She robs rich power as a result of he's unable management himself people who earned their money rascally. But unlike Robin namely: his passion and ambition. He defies the Hood she doesn’t give these money to poor people, she principles and morality of standard man. Within the last, spends it on herself. I think it is quite just to divide your he's destroyed beside the destruction of his power. He money with robbers like you. One more idea of the book loses his meaningful life and loses his existence. is the following: everything returns to people and From the analysis higher than, will be conclude that the someday justice gets its way. end result of this study shows that the novel represents one amongst the necessary reflections of the author’s The Other Side of Midnight is a novel by Sidney concern in his criticism concerning life. Suddenly it Sheldon published in 1973. The book reached No.1 on reminded him of his own writing “every dark night has to the New York Times Best Seller list. The Other Side of finish and bright day has to arrive, instead of frightening Midnight is quite a page-turner. The reason for this can from the dark, just think it is only few moments before the quite easily be found in the structure of the book. It is Morning ”. The author criticism philosopher existentialist divided into different chapters always switching from that power is everything. According the author, power is Noelle to Catherine. The chapters end with a question to unimportant, power isn't everything, power isn't which the reader wants to know the answer as quickly as satisfaction, power is mindless, and power is nonsense if possible. Also the characters make the book very it not attended with the attention of 1 self to regulate the interesting, because they are all so different. Especially facility specifically awareness for self-control of passion Catherine and Noelle: The one is Daddy’s girl whereas Sumayya and Amen 69

the other doesn’t care for anything. Also Constantin successful theatrical films or television miniseries. He has Demiris plays his part to add interest to the book. He written the screenplays for twenty-three motion pictures, seems to be the wittiest and most evil person on earth, including Easter Parade (with Judy Garland) and Annie but then, from time to time, you discover his weakness, Get Your Gun. He also created four long-running his feelings. And Larry too, makes the book an interesting television series, including Hart to Hart and I Dream of one. Catherine is warned various times that Larry is not a Jeannie, which he produced. In 1993 he was awarded sincere person, but the reader cannot see why. This the Prix Litteraire de Deauville, from the Deauville Film makes one want to read on and on. How can Larry be Festival, and he is now in the Guinness Book of Records such a horrible person? Well, in time one does find out. as "The Most Translated Author'. Mr. Sheldon and his One thing that was quite tiring about the story is that it wife live in southern California. really goes into all the detail of Noelle’s affaires. At first one gets the feeling that this is the only thing the books is about, but in time it gets more diverse and the affairs REFERENCES moves more into the background and no longer remain Arifin, C. (1987) . Kehendak Untuk Berkuasa: Friederich Nietzche. the main interest of the book. The book’s language is not Jakarta: Erlangga too challenging. It might not be something one would call Bastman, H.D. (1997). Intregasi Psikologi dengan Islam (Menuju an easy read, but it can certainly be read without too Psikologi Islam), Yogyakarta: Pustaka Pelajar. many problems. It is very pleasant to read, not disturbing Indreswari, P. (1997). “An Analysis of English Imperative Sentences in the Novel Memories of Midnight by Sidney Sheldon and Their at all. Translaltion Into Padang Bayang Kelabu by Budijanto T. Pramono”. I can recommend this book to anyone who likes Solo: UNS. murder stories and enjoys getting to the bottom of things. Koeswara, E. (1987). Psikologi Existential: Suatu Pengantar. Bandung: Also it can be interesting, even if only for a short while, to PT. Eresco. Kusumaningrum, Budi, A Muhammadiyah University of Surakarta Student Who Studied This Novel Uses Sociological people who are interested in social situations of the pre- Perspective In Her Research Entiteld, The Impact of Secularized Life World War II times. I enjoyed the book very much, as In Sidney Sheldon’s Memories of Midnight: A Sociological Approach. soon as the story really got going, which did take quite Surakarta: UMS. some time, but it sure was worth it. At the end I could Sheldon, S. (1990). Memories of Midnight. New York: Warner Books. Inc. hardly put it down, for it had captured me so much. Sunardi, ST. (1996). Nietzsche. Yogyakarta: LKis. I must say the above books are a brilliantly written empirezine.com/spotlight/ sheldon /sheldon 1.htm book. These stories are fascinating. Sheldon has taken www.kashif-ali.com/2011/06/ sydney -sheldon / up a very realistic concept. He makes an effort to educate http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sidney_Sheldon http://www.biography.com/people/sidney-sheldon-9481476#synopsis us through this story. In one occasion Sydney said:

“Life is like a lift, it goes up & down. If you are in crisis, assume you are at the bottom, but be sure it will go up. The secret of success is that never quit the lift!”

On another occasion Sydney wrote: “Don’t give up. There are too many nay-Sayers out there who will try to discourage you. Don’t listen to them. The only one who can make you give up is yourself.”

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

If Tomorrow Comes, Windmills of the Gods, The Sands of Time, Memories of Midnight, The Doomsday Conspiracy, The Stars Shine Down, Nothing Lasts Forever and Morning, Noon & Night, all international bestsellers. His first book, The Naked Face, was acclaimed by the New York Times as 'the best first mystery novel of the year'. Mr. Sheldon has won a Tony Award for Broadway's Redhead and an Academy Award for The Bachelor and the Bobby Soxer. Most of his number one bestsellers have been made into highly