A STUDY OF MORRIE S SELF -ACTUALIZATION AS SEEN IN … · A STUDY OF MORRIE S SELF -ACTUALIZATION...

A STUDY OF MORRIE’S SELF-ACTUALIZATIONAS SEEN IN MITCH ALBOM’S TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE

A Thesis

Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirementsto Obtain the Sarjana Pendidikan Degree

in English Language Education

ByLissa

Student number: 021214106

ENGLISH LANGUAGE EDUCATION STUDY PROGRAMDEPARTMENT OF LANGUAGE AND ARTS EDUCATIONFACULTY OF TEACHERS TRAINING AND EDUCATION

SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITYYOGYAKARTA

2007

PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI

A STUDY OF MORRIE’S SELF-ACTUALIZATIONAS SEEN IN MITCH ALBOM’S TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE

A Thesis

Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirementsto Obtain the Sarjana Pendidikan Degree

in English Language Education

ByLissa

Student number: 021214106

ENGLISH LANGUAGE EDUCATION STUDY PROGRAMDEPARTMENT OF LANGUAGE AND ARTS EDUCATIONFACULTY OF TEACHERS TRAINING AND EDUCATION

SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITYYOGYAKARTA

2007

i


Life is like a book.

The title page is your name,

the preface your introduction to the

world.

The pages are a daily record of your

efforts, trials, pleasures,

discouragements, and achievements.

Day by day your thoughts and acts

are being inscribed in your book of life.

Hour by hour the record is being made

that must stand for all time.

Once the word ‘finish’ must be written,

let it then be said of your book

that it is a record

of noble purpose, generous service,

and

work well done.

-Grenville Kleiser-

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And we know that in all things God worksfor the good of those who love Him, whohave been called according to His purpose

(Romans 8:28, NIV)

I DEDICATE THIS THESIS TO:

MY SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST&

MY BELOVED FAMILY

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ACKNOWLEDMENTS

This thesis would not be finished without the help of others. I believe each of

them who has helped and supported me has been sent by God. Hence, my most

tremendous gratitude is addressed to Jesus Christ, my source of love, joy, strength,

and my all in all. I thank Him for every single thing I have and every single moment I

experience. He always stands beside me and holds me tight every time I feel restless.

He shows me what the real unconditional love is. I wish to walk the path of life in His

embrace forever and ever.

I am so deeply indebted to my major sponsor, Drs. L. Bambang Hendarto

Y., M.Hum. that I wish to thank him for his willingness to guide me in finishing my

thesis by sharing his time to read, to check, to correct, and to criticize it. I also thank

him for his wonderful patience, advice, and kindness as well. There are not enough

words to tell how much I thank him. My sincerest gratitude goes to Sr. Maureen,

FCJ, for her kindness and willingness to check and correct my grammar. I really

appreciate her help.

I would like also to address my gratitude to all of my lecturers who have

taught and provided me with knowledge and skills to prepare me for the working

world. My earnest appreciation also goes to Ms. Lanny Anggawati for her inspiring

lessons in SPD’s class. She has shown me great qualitities of a ‘teacher’. Moreover, I

would like to thank Mbak Danik and Mbak Tari for helping me to deal with the

administrative stuffs.

My deepest gratitude goes to my beloved family. I am greatly indebted to my

Mom and Dad for loving and caring for me. I would like also to address my countless

thanks to my Big Bro who has supported me financially during my study in

vii


Yogyakarta. He is the best brother ever. To my only sister, my second brother, my

two little brothers, I thank them for always supporting, loving, and caring for me. I

am proud to be part of this big family. I love them all.

I wish to thank my charming cousin, Mimi, for always telling me not to give

up, for seeing me as a model, and for her persistence which inspires me a lot. I am so

thankful to have Wex as my best friend. I thank her for showing me the real friend in

deed and in need. I also thank Na for keep telling me to finish my thesis soon with her

typical-straightforward style which may make some people feel offended, but for me

her ‘harsh’ words are motivating. My next gratitude also goes to my friends in SunSix

boarding house: Mbak SanQ, Citra, Te-Goy, Mbak Pic, Ade, Funny, and Nciz for

every moment we have shared together and to my three beautiful sisters in my new

boarding house, Ms. Happy, Ms. Neny, and Mondee. I also thank Ian for willing to

read and post me some questions related to my thesis. My next appreciation goes to

my colleagues in CIC. I am really happy working with them.

I would like to thank my close friends with whom I have spent my days in

campus: Ucil, Sasha, Echie, Ita, Vivi, and Mawar, especially to Wieda, my partner

to share the progress of my thesis. She always encouraged me when I did no progress

on my thesis. She deserves my sincere thanks. I also thank all of my PBI ‘02 pals. I

am glad being part of this team.

I wish also to send my gratitude to my KTB’s friends: Mbak Othie as the

leader, Connie Capunk, Corry-Morry, Tatatouile, and Amsal-Pancasila. I thank

them for their motivating words, support, and prayers. I address my huge thanks also

to my beloved sister, K’Darma, for her immense care, support, and prayers. Next, I

am also thankful to Yoel for his sincere care, support, smses, calls, and every day

prayer as well. My endless gratitute goes to all of the Sunday School teachers of

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GKI Gejayan. I thank them for their boundless support and friendship we have

shared in the ministry. I am really grateful to be part of this wonderful ministry.

My special gratitude goes to ‘Someone’ who has recently colored my days. I

thank him for the small talks, discussions, laughter, and his greatly contagious spirit in

serving Jesus. Those moments we shared together mean something to me. We might

not be able to have them back, and therefore, I have written them in my heart as sweet

memories in my symphony of life.

The last but not least, my appreciation goes to all people who have not been

mentioned above but have supported me. I thank them for their care and prayers. I

will not try to list each of them because I am afraid I will miss a name. Let God list

their names because He is the only One who will not fail in doing so. May God be

with them all, always.

Lissa

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE PAGE .............................................................................................. iPAGE OF APPROVAL.............................................................................. iiPAGE OF BOARD OF EXAMINERS.......................................................iiiPAGE OF STATEMENT OF WORK’S ORIGINALITY .......................... ivPAGE OF LIFE MOTTO............................................................................ vPAGE OF DEDICATION.......................................................................... viACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ......................................................................viiTABLE OF CONTENTS............................................................................ xABSTRACT .............................................................................................xiiABSTRAK ............................................................................................... xiii

CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTIONA. Background of the Study ........................................................... 1B. Problem Formulation................................................................. 4C. Objectives of the Study.............................................................. 5D. Benefits of the Study ................................................................ 5E. Definition of Terms ................................................................... 6

CHAPTER II: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATUREA. Review of Related Theories....................................................... 8

1. Character ............................................................................ 8a. Definition ........................................................................ 8b. Kinds of Character .......................................................... 9

2. Characterization................................................................. 10a. Definition ...................................................................... 10b. Ways of Characterization .............................................. 10

3. Critical Approach ............................................................. 124. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs............................................ 14

a. Physiological Needs ..................................................... 14b. Safety Needs ................................................................ 14c. Belonging and Love Needs ........................................... 14d. Esteem Needs .............................................................. 15e. Self-Actualization ........................................................ 151) Definition of Self-Actualization .................................... 152) Characteristics of Self-Actualization ............................. 16

B. Criticisms ................................................................................ 21C. Theoretical Framework............................................................ 22

CHAPTER III METHODOLOGYA. Subject Matter ......................................................................... 23B. Approach ................................................................................ 24C. Procedures............................................................................... 25

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CHAPTER IV ANALYSISA. The Characterization of Morrie Schwartz ................................. 27

1. Weak and Dying ................................................................ 282. Tough ................................................................................ 313. Straightforward .................................................................. 334. Wise .................................................................................. 355. Affectionate ....................................................................... 37

B. The Self-Actualization of Morrie Schwartz............................... 381. In Facing His Disease ........................................................ 392. In Talking to Mitch ............................................................ 503. In His Family ……. ...................................................... …..564. In the Society …….. ........................................................... 60

CHAPTER V CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONSA. Conclusions ............................................................................ 68

1. Morrie’s Characterization 682. Morrie’s Self-Actualization ............................................. 69

B. Suggestions .......................................................................... 711. Suggestions for Future Researchers.................................. 712. Suggestion for Teaching Reading..................................... 71

REFERENCES ....................................................................................... 74

APPENDICESAppendix 1 Summary of Tuesdays with Morrie.............................(1)Appendix 2 The Biography of Mitch Albom .................................(6)Appendix 3 Lesson Plan for Teaching Reading .............................(9)Appendix 4 Questions to Teach Reading .....................................(10)

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ABSTRACT

Lissa. 2007. A Study of Morrie’s Self-Actualization as Seen in Mitch Albom’sTuesdays with Morrie. Yogyakarta: English Language Education Study Program,Department of Language and Arts Education, Faculty of Teachers Training andEducation, Sanata Dharma University.

This study discusses Mitch Albom’s novel entitled Tuesdays with Morrie. Thenovel tells about the life of Morrie Schwartz who is dying because of ALS(Amyotrophic Lateral Scelerosis), a disease known also as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Thisstudy discusses the main character’s self-actualization.

There are two problems formulated in this study related to the topicdisscussed: (1) How is Morrie characterized in Albom’s Tuesdays with Morrie? (2).How is Morrie’s self-actualization revealed in Albom’s Tuesdays with Morrie?

To answer the problems formulated, the psychological approach is appliedsince this study deals with a psychological issue on self-actualization. This is libraryresearch. There are two sources used, namely primary and secondary. The primarysource is the novel itself, Tuesdays with Morrie. The secondary sources are books onpsychology, literature, and internet sources.

Based on the analysis, Morrie is characterized as a weak and dying man whosuffers from ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), a deadly disease also known asLou Gehrig’s disease. Morrie is also portrayed as a tough, staightforward, wise, andaffectionate man. From the analysis, Morrie is revealed as a self-actualizing person.He is able to self-actualize himself to the sort of person he really is. He possesescharacteristics of self-actualizing people, which are an efficient perception of reality,a general acceptance of nature, others and oneself, spontaneity, simplicity, andnaturalness, a focus on problems outside themselves, a need for privacy andindependence, autonomous functioning, a continued freshness of appreciation,mystical, or “peak” experiences, social interest, interpersonal relations, a democraticcharacter structure, discrimination between means and ends, between good and evil,an unhostile sense of humor; creativeness, and resistance to enculturation. Thesecharacteristics are reflected in his ways of living by how he faces his disease, in hisconversations and discussions with Mitch, in his family, and in the society.

This thesis provides some suggestions for future researchers who areinterested in conducting another study of the novel. They may analyze Morrie’spositivism using the psychological approach. In addition, a study on Morrie’s culturethat he creates compared to the popular culture in his society would also be interestingto discuss. This study, moreover, provides a suggestion to implement the novel toteach reading subject to the second semester students of English Education StudyProgram.

xii


ABSTRAK

Lissa. 2007. A Study of Morrie’s Self-Actualization as Seen in Mitch Albom’sTuesdays with Morrie. Yogyakarta: Program studi Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris,Jurusan pendidikan bahasa dan Seni, Fakultas Keguruan dan Ilmu Pendidikan,Universitas Sanata Dharma.

Studi ini membahas sebuah novel yang berjudul Tuesdays with Morrie karyaMitch Albom. Novel ini bercerita tentang kehidupan Morrie Schwatz yang sedangsekarat karena menderita penyakit ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Scelerosis), sebuahpenyakit yang juga dikenal dengan penyakit Lou Gehrig. Studi ini membahasaktualisasi-diri dari tokoh utama novel ini.

Ada dua pokok permasalahan dalam studi ini yang berhubungan dengan topikyang dibahas: (1) Bagaimana Morrie dikarakterisasikan dalam novel Tuesdays withMorrie karya Mitch Albom? (2) Bagaimana aktualisasi diri Morrie diungkapkandalam novel Tuesdays with Morrie karya Mitch Albom?

Untuk menjawab pokok permasalahan tersebut, pendekatan psikologidigunakan karena studi ini berhubungan dengan topik psikologi tentang aktualisasi-diri. Studi ini adalah studi pustaka. Ada dua sumber yang digunakan, yaitu sumberutama dan sumber kedua. Sumber utama adalah novel Tuesdays with Morrie itusendiri dan sumber kedua adalah buku-buku tentang psikologi dan literatur, sertasumber dari internet.

Berdasarkan hasil analisa, Morrie dikarakterisasikan sebagai laki-laki yanglemah dan sedang sekarat karena menderita penyakit ALS (Amyotrophic LateralSclerosis), suatu penyakit yang mematikan dan juga dikenal dengan penyakit LouGehrig. Morrie juda dideskripsikan sebagai laki-laki yang tegar,terus terang,bijaksana, dan penyayang. Dari hasil analisa, Morrie dinyatakan sebagai seorang yangmengaktualisasi dirinya. Dia dapat mengaktualisasi dirinya sebagai seorang yangmenjadi dirinya sendiri. Dia memiliki ciri-ciri orang yang mengaktualisasi diri,diantaranya adalah persepsi yang efisien tentang realitas, penerimaan umum tentangalam, sesama, dan diri sendiri, spontanitas, kesederhanaan, dan sikap yang alami atauapa adanya, fokus akan masalah di luar dirinya sendiri, kebutuhan akan kebebasanpribadi dan kemandirian, kepuasan yang lahir dari diri sendiri, sikap selalu bersyukur,pengalaman mistik atau puncak, minat sosial, hubungan dengan sesama, demokratistanpa memandang superioritas, pembedaan yang jelas antara sarana untuk mencapaitujuan dengan tujuan itu sendiri, antara hal yang baik dan tidak, selera humor yangtidak menyakiti orang lain, kreativitas, dan resistensi terhadap enkulturasi. Ciri-ciritesebut tercermin dalam kehidupan Morrie dalam dia menghadapi penyakit yangdideritanya, dalam percakapannya dengan Mitch, dalam keluarganya, dan dalammasyarakat.

Skripsi ini memberikan beberapa saran untuk peneliti-peneliti lain yangtertarik membahas studi lain dalam novel ini. Mereka dapat menganalisa positivismeMorrie dengan menggunakan pendekatan psikologi. Di samping itu, studi komparasiantara budaya Morrie yang dibangunnya dengan budaya populer di masyarakatnyajuga menarik untuk dibahas. Studi ini juga memberikan saran untukmengimplementasikan novel ini untuk mengajar mata kuliah Membaca untukmahasiswa PBI semester dua.

xiii


CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

This chapter is divided into five sections. The first one is background in which

I mention the reasons for choosing the novel. The second section is problem

formulations which contain the questions to be answered in this study. The third

section is objectives of the study which state the goals. The fourth is benefits of the

study which elaborate some benefits obtained and expected from this study. The last

is definition of terms which clarifies some terms related to this study in order to avoid

misinterpretations.

A. Background of the Study

Human beings are said to be the highest and the most special beings in

comparison to other creatures. Human beings have the ability to differentiate what is

good or bad. Human beings have the highest intelligence, and therefore possess

critical thinking. Human beings also have the ability to grow, not only physically as

animals, but also psychologically.

By having these qualities, human beings always question. When a question

comes up, the process of development begins. When an answer is found, another

question comes. It is the nature of human beings to question continuously in order to

find truths. Therefore, human beings are said to be the searchers of truth.

To make life better, or to reach a fully-developed life, many people always try

to search for the essence of living. Some say that wealth, health, and fame are

the answers since it is believed that they will make life better. However, often this

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perception is far from the truth. There are numerous numbers of wealthy, healthy, and

successful people who seem to have an ideal life, yet they feel a great dissatisfaction

with living.

A Russian novelist, Leo Tolstoy, who was very successful and famous, can be

considered as a good example. He possessed what most people dream of, such as

loving family, wealth, health, fame, and success. However, he suffered from severe

depression. In a book entitled My Confession, he states that he is afraid of life and

does not know what he wants in life. He has a good wife who loves him and whom he

loves, good children and a large property. However, he notes how he is tempted to

commit suicide by hanging himself from the rafters or shooting his head with a gun.

He asks dramatically, “Why should I live? Why should I do anything?” (qtd. in James

159-161).

Leo Tolstoy is only one of millions of people who live in despair. Stoa (a

famous philosopher) and Yukio Mishima (a famous Japanese writer) are also those

who failed to bear the despairs of life, and then finally ended their life by committing

suicide. Perhaps, we might have seen people around us who seem to possess an ideal

life, yet they feel unhappy and desperate in living. Schultz states that:

We may live comfortably, have a secure job, a warm and loving family, be

free of worry, and yet not know any great joy, any overwhelming enthusiasm,

any intense feeling of dedication or commitment. Obviously, all is not well-

our lives are not as complete as they could be, in spite of the surface

experience (3).

According to humanistic psychologists who work in the field of human

growth, those who fail to bear the despairs of life cannot be considered

psychologically healthy. One of the humanistic psychologists, Abraham Maslow,

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proposes a model of healthy personality, to which he calls self-actualization.

According to Maslow, self-actualization is “the tendency to become more and more

what one uniquely is, to become everything that one is capable of becoming. Also, to

self-actualize is to accept one’s own real nature for what it is” (qtd. in Kalish 34). A

self-actualizing person is a person who realizes, grows, and develops to what and who

he/she is capable of becoming. He or she presents himself or herself as a unique

human being.

One of the literary works which portrays the issue of self-actualization is

Mitch Albom’s Tuesdays with Morrie. The story tells about Morrie Schwartz, a

professor at Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts who always teaches his

students to be fully human. One of his students is Mitch Albom who loves, adores,

and admires him. Mitch takes all subjects in which Morrie is in charge of. Soon,

Morrie and Mitch build a strong ‘friendship’. On his graduation day, Mitch promises

to keep in touch with his beloved professor. However, he never keeps his promise not

before he unintentionally catches his professor figure on “Nightline Show”, a very

popular show with Ted Koppel as the host. At that very moment, Mitch becomes

speechless knowing why his former professor is on the show.

Morrie suffers from ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), a fatal

neuromuscular disease. It is also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, taken from a famous

baseball player who died from this disease. One of the fatal results is paralysis

because of the progressive muscle debilitation.

Knowing that the professor is dying, Mitch visits him for the first time after

sixteen years since his graduation day. From that day on, he routinely visits his

professor on Tuesdays as he always did when he was a student. Mitch and Morrie

consider themselves Tuesday People. Morrie wants to do his ‘final thesis’ of what he

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calls ‘The Meaning of Life’ with Mitch as the only student. Therefore, in each class,

there is a lesson about life, such as regret, death, family, emotions, money, marriage,

forgiveness, etc.

Having read the story, I found out that Morrie’s self-actualization is interesting

to analyze. Although he is left by his mother since he was a child and then lives with

an unaffectionate father, he grows to be very affectionate. He devotes himself as a

loving teacher since he truly avoids jobs in which exploit others. According to

Maslow, self actualizing persons possess strong and deep feelings of empathy and

affection for all human beings, as well as a desire to help humanity. They are also

committed to their work with a sense of high dedication (qtd. in Schultz 71).

Considering that the issue of self-actualization is worth discussing, I would

like to analyze how Morrie reveals his self-actualization which is reflected in his ways

of living. I would analyze not only his self actualization he reveals in each talk with

Mitch on Tuesdays, but also his self-actualization from his past life. Hopefully this

study will be beneficial for us as a reflection to grow as a self-actualizing person.

B. Problem Formulation

There are two problem formulations which become the focus of this study.

They are formulated as follows:

1. How is Morrie characterized in Albom’s Tuesdays with Morrie?

2. How is Morrie’s self-actualization revealed in Albom’s Tuesdays with Morrie?

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C. Objectives of the Study

This study is intended to answer the problem formulations presented above.

Firstly, I would like to find out how Morrie is characterized in the novel. This would

help me to answer the second problem formulation. Therefore, after knowing

Morrie’s characteristics, I would like to reveal Morrie’s self-actualization.

D. Benefits of the Study

There are some benefits from this study. Firstly, I can gain more knowledge

on literature and psychology by conducting this study. This study can broaden my

knowledge on some theories of literature, and a give deeper understanding as well.

Since this study applies psychological approach, I can understand more about

psychology, especially about self-actualization. Morrie Schwartz, who becomes the

focus of this study, is revealed as a self-actualizing person. Hence, I can learn a lot by

seeing Morrie as a positive model.

Hopefully, this study will also be beneficial for future researchers who are

interested in conducting a study on self-actualization for they may use this study as a

reference. Finally, I hope that this study will be beneficial to the readers so that they

can gain knowledge on how to be a self-actualizing person as modeled by Morrie.

E. Definition of Terms

There are some specific terms needing to be clarified in order to prevent

confusion which might lead to misinterpretation.

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1. Character

According to Stanton (17), there are two ways in which the term character is

generally used. Firstly, character is “the individuals who appear in the story”.

Secondly, the term character also refers to “the mixture of interests, desires, emotions,

and moral principles that makes up each of these individuals”. While Abram defines

the term character as “the person presented in a dramatic or narrative work, who is

interpreted by the reader as being endowed with moral and dispositional quality that is

expressed in what he says -the dialogue- and by what he does –the action” (20). In

other words, a character is a person who plays a role in a story. This person expresses

interests, desires, emotions, and moral principles through what he says and what he

does.

2. Characterization

According to Murphy (161), characterization is the way used by an author in

an attempt to make his or her characters in a story understandable to and come alive

for the readers. In this study, characterization refers to the way of how an author tries

to develop his or her characters in a story so that they become alive for the readers.

3. Self-Actualization

Abraham Maslow states that self-actualization is “the tendency to become

more and more what one uniquely is, to become everything that one is capable of

becoming. Also, to self-actualize is to accept one’s own real nature for what it is”

(qtd. in Kalish 34). According to Carl Rogers, “Self-actualization is the process of

6


becoming oneself, of developing one’s unique psychological characteristics and

potentialities” (qtd. in Schultz 28). So, self-actualization refers to the process of

making use of all one’s abilities, of fulfilling one’s qualities, and of becoming what

one has the potential to become.

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CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

This chapter is divided into three sections, namely review of related theories,

criticism, and theoretical framework. The review of related theories consists of theory

of character, theory of characterization, theory of critical approach, and theory of

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. These theories are used to help me analyze the topic of

this study. In criticism, I state some critics’ views towards the author himself and his

works. At last, in theoretical framework, I explain how the theories elaborated are

used in this study.

A. Review of Related Theories

This section is divided into four parts. The first part is theory of character

which discusses the definition and kinds of character. The second part is theory of

characterization which explains about the definition and ways of characterization. The

next part is theory of critical approach which elaborates some critical approaches used

to analyze literary works. The final one is the theory of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs

which discusses the five basic needs including the detailed elaboration of the theory

of self-actualization.

1. Character

a. Definition

According to Stanton (17), there are two ways in which the term character is

generally used. Firstly, character is “the individuals who appear in the story”.

Secondly, the term character also refers to “the mixture of interests, desires, emotions,

and moral principles that makes up each of these individuals”. While Abram (20)

8


defines the term character as “the person presented in a dramatic or narrative work,

who is interpreted by the reader as being endowed with moral and dispositional

quality that is expressed in what he says -the dialogue- and by what he does –the

action”. In other words, a character is a person who plays a role in a story. This person

expresses his or her interests, desires, emotions, and moral principles through what he

says and what he does.

b. Kinds of Character

Foster (18) divides character into two kinds, flat and round. A flat character

has only one outstanding trait or feature. He or she can be described in a single phrase

or sentence and tends to remain the same in the story. In contrast, a round character is

presented with more facets with greater depth and more details. He or she is complex

in temperament and motivation. Therefore, a round character is difficult to describe as

like a person in real life. Moreover, he or she has the ability to surprise the readers.

According to Perine (71), a character is divided into two kinds. The first one is

static character who does not encounter changes from the beginning up to the end of a

story. He or she tends to remain the same with almost no changes in the

characteristics. The second character proposed by Perine is dynamic character. This

character undergoes changes in his/her personalities and outlooks from the beginning

up to the end of the story. It is also called a developing character since this character

can develop for better or worse personalities. His/her experiences appear as the

process of the character’s dynamical changing.

There are two kinds of characters proposed by Henkle (88). They are major

and secondary characters. The former one is the most significant, important, and

complex. Normally, this character gains the fullest attention from readers because he

9


or she holds the central point of the whole story. On the contrary, a secondary

character is less complex than the major character. His or her way in responding to

experiences is also more limited compared to the major character. Consequently, his

or her performances are less significant.

Major and minor characters are the two kinds stated by Milligan (155). A

major character appears more frequently in comparison to the other characters in the

story. Thus, he or she becomes the focus and plays an important role in revealing the

theme of the story. In short, the central experience lies in the major character.

Whereas, a minor character appears less frequently in the story. He or she plays a less

important and significant role in the story.

2. Characterization

a. Definition

According to Murphy (161), characterization is the way used by an author in

attempt to make his or her characters in a story understandable to and come alive for

the readers. The theory of characterization is important in helping me understand how

the main character, who becomes the focus of this study, is portrayed in the novel.

b. Ways of Characterization

Murphy (161-173) proposes nine possible ways in which an author attempts to

portray the characters’ characteristics. They are presented as follows:

1) Personal description

An author can describe a character by his or her appearance. The author’s

skillful choice of adjectives tells the readers about the character’s physical

appearance. By describing how the character wears clothes also helps the readers to

10


know the characteristics of this character. The author describes what is visible in

detail.

2) Characters as seen by others

An author can describe a character through other characters who appear in the

story. The reader gets a reflected image from how others see and think about the

character.

3) Speech

An author can also present a person’s characteristics through what the person

says. Whenever he or she speaks, the readers can get some clues on what sort of

person he or she is.

4) Past life

An author can describe a character from the author’s direct comments, the

character’s thoughts and conversations, or from the medium of another character

about the character’s past life. The information about what the character experienced

in the past gives clues to the readers in understanding more on the character.

5) Conversation of others

What others say in their conversations about a person give clues to the readers

to know the person’s character. So, the author uses what people say about the

character to describe the character.

6) Reactions

How a person reacts in different situations and events also gives clues to the

readers in understanding the characteristics of the person.

7) Direct comments

A person’s characteristics can also be described by an author. So, the author

directly gives comments about the person’s character.

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8) Thoughts

An author enables the readers to know a person’s characteristics by what the

person is thinking about. Here, the author knows what different people are thinking.

In short, the author describes the character by giving direct knowledge of what he or

she is thinking.

9) Mannerism

By letting the readers know about a person’s habits or manners, an author can

reveal the person’s characteristics.

3. Critical Approach

To understand the nature, function, and positive value of literary works, a

critical approach is needed. According to Rohberger and Woods Jr. (3-9), there are

five critical approaches, namely the formalist approach, biographical approach,

sociocultural-historical approach, mythopoeic approach, and psychological approach.

The details of each approach are discussed as follows:

a. The Formalist Approach

This approach emphasizes the total integrity of the literary object. It

concentrates almost on its aesthetic value by demonstrating the harmonious

involvement of all the parts to the whole and by pointing out how meaning is derived

from structure and how matters of technique determine structure. In short, this

approach is merely concerned with the literary object and its aesthetic meanings.

b. The Biographical Approach

This approach puts emphasis on the necessity to appreciate the ideas and

personality of the author so as to understand the literary object. The knowledge of the

life and development of the author is applied in an attempt to understand his or her

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writings. The biographical material provides useful facts about the author which helps

the readers to have a better understanding and appreciation towards the literary object.

c. The Sociocultural-Historical Approach

This approach is concerned mainly with the social background in which a

work of literary was created. The proponents of this approach say that the only way to

locate the real work is in reference to the civilization that produced it. In short, before

one can understand well a work of literature, he/she has to know the social, cultural,

and historical aspects of the literary work because these aspects are inseparable from

the literary object.

d. Mythopoeic Approach

This approach emphasizes the universal recurrent patterns of human thought.

It is believed that these patterns are found in ancient myths and folk rites which are so

basic to human thought and have meaning for all humans.

e. Psychological Approach

This approach believes that one’s imagination, capacity for creation, and

complexity of thoughts and behaviors are expressed through symbolic words,

thoughts and actions. These symbols are common to all humans in which can be

interpreted in light of the individual’s experience. Thus, this approach applies the

theory of psychology in understanding a literary object.

4. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

In the theory of motivation, Maslow in Schultz (62-64) proposes a hierarchy

of needs which covers physiological needs, safety needs, belonging and love needs,

esteem needs and self-actualization. The lowest needs should be satisfied before the

higher ones. Hence, before achieving the highest needs, the four lower needs must be

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at least partially satisfied. The brief explanation of the four lower needs and the

detailed elaboration of self-actualization are presented as follows:

a. Physiological Needs

Physiological needs involve the need for food, water, air, sleep, etc. the

fulfillment of these needs are essential for survival.

b. Safety Needs

Security, stability, protection, order, and freedom from fear and anxiety are the

examples of the safety needs. We add to our savings account at the bank, buy

insurance, and remain in safe, secure jobs so as not to lose the fringe benefits.

c. Belonging and Love Needs

We satisfy our love needs by establishing an intimate, caring relationship with

another person, or with people in general, and in these relationships it is just as

important to give love as to receive it.

According to Maslow, belonging and love needs are difficult to be satisfied in

this modern world in which people move a lot. We no longer stay permanently in one

place. We change houses, neighborhood, cities, countries, or even spouses. We are not

long enough in one place to develop a sense of belonging.

d. Esteem Needs

There are two types of esteem needs, namely esteem derived from others and

self-esteem. The former one is primary since very often we think well of ourselves if

we are sure that others think well of us. Reputation, admiration, status, fame, prestige

are examples of characteristics of how others think of us. On the other hand, self-

esteem involves the desires for confidence, self-worth, adequacy, all those

characteristics that if we lack them, we feel inferior, weak, and helpless in facing life.

e. Self-Actualization

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Since this study deals with self-actualization, the detailed elaboration will be

presented as follows:

1) Definition of Self-Actualization

Abraham Maslow states that self-actualization is “the tendency to become

more and more what one uniquely is, to become everything that one is capable of

becoming. Also, to self-actualize is to accept one’s own real nature for what it is”

(qtd. in Kalish 34). It is “the fulfillment of all our qualities and capacities” (qtd. in

Schultz 64).

According to Carl Rogers, “Self-actualization is the process of becoming

oneself, of developing one’s unique psychological characteristics and potentialities”

(qtd. in Schultz 28). So, self-actualization refers to the process of making use of all

one’s abilities, of fulfilling one’s qualities and capacities, and of becoming what one

has the potential to become.

2) Characteristics of Self-Actualization

Besides the definition and general points presented above, Maslow elaborates

a number of specific characteristics of self-actualizing people (qtd. in Schultz 69-68).

They are as follows:

a) An efficient perception of reality

Self-actualizing people have an objective perception of reality. They see the

world as it is, not as they want or need it to be. They do not judge an object based on

what others think, but based on their own judgment and perception without biases and

prejudgments. This gives them a better ability to make logical reasons and correct

conclusions.

b) A general acceptance of nature, others, and oneself

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Self-actualizing people possess a general acceptance of nature, others, and

oneself. Even though they have weaknesses and imperfections, they are not shameful

about them. They do not complain or worry about their shortcomings and strengths.

They accept their nature as it is. Moreover, they feel relaxed and comfortable with

their natures. Hence, they do not use either masks or social roles to hide themselves

behind.

However, they do feel guilty and shameful, or even regretful about some

aspects of their behaviors and shortcomings in which this could be improved and

changed, such as laziness, prejudice, jealousy, thoughtlessness, or envy. This is

mainly because these weaknesses are destructive which would lead to the inhibition of

human growth.

c) Spontaneity, simplicity, and naturalness

Self-actualizing people do not pretend or hide their feelings or emotions. They

express them in open and direct ways instead. Therefore, they behave simply,

naturally, and spontaneously in accordance with their nature.

d) A focus on problems outside themselves

Self-actualizing people are committed to their work. Their work is seen as a

mission to which they totally devote their energy. According to Maslow if this sense

of devotion and dedication is absent, it is impossible for someone to become self-

actualizing.

Maslow gives an analogy that self-actualizing people and their jobs are

described as a key and a lock. They fit and belong together. Most people work to earn

money for living. However, for self-actualizing people, working is not merely a

matter of making a living, but it develops their potentials and abilities to the highest.

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It also brings them a great satisfaction. Moreover, they work very hard and consider

their work as their play. Therefore, very often self-actualizing people continue doing

their work although they do not really need the income from it.

e) A need for privacy and independence

Self-actualizing people have a strong need for privacy and independence. It

means that they do not depend on others to make up their own minds, reach their own

decisions and exercise their own motivation and discipline.

f) Autonomous Functioning

Since self-actualizing people are independent, they have the ability to function

autonomously in social and physical environments. Their satisfactions do not depend

on others, but on their own potentialities. Therefore, when they face problems or

experience crises and misfortunes, they are able to remain calm. However, for less

healthy people these things may be considered catastrophes.

g) A continued freshness of appreciation

Self-actualizing people have the ability to continuously appreciate certain

experiences with a fresh sense of pleasure, awe, and wonder even though they have

experienced them repeatedly, such as everyday activities in which less healthy

persons might not even notice. For self-actualizing people, a beautiful sunset may be

seen as if it is their first experience although they see it almost every day. Hence, they

are always thankful for what they have and experience and take little for granted.

h) Mystical, or “peak”, experiences

Self-actualizing people continually experience mystical, or ‘peak’ experiences.

They are blissful and excited about being involved in any activities, working,

enjoying music, or simply watching a beautiful sunset.

i) Social interest

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Self-actualizing people possess a great social interest in helping humanity.

They have strong and profound feelings of empathy, love and affection for all human

beings. They consider themselves as members of a single family, the human race. As

a result, they possess a feeling of brotherhood or sisterhood with the other members of

the family.

j) Interpersonal Relations

Self-actualizing people have strong relationships with others. They place love

and deep friendship in relating to others. However, they do not like those who are

hypercritical, pretentious or arrogant. They can be harsh and even cruel toward them.

Certainly, this does not lessen their compassion and love for humanity in general

because this occasional attitude happens only toward some individuals.

k) A democratic character structure

Self-actualizing people tolerate and accept all people of different social class,

educational level, political or religious background, race or color. They do not feel

superior in their relations with others, even those who have a lower educational level

and intelligence. They are ready to learn from anyone who can teach them something.

l) Discrimination between means and ends, between good and evil

Self-actualizing people frequently consider a means, which is a way of

achieving a goal, as an end in certain activities and experiences. For self-actualizing

people, a means can become an end as they enjoy ‘doing’ those activities as much as

or more than achieving the goal. Thus, the enjoyment and satisfaction of doing this

make the means become the end.

In addition, self-actualizing persons have the ability to deal with ethical

matters, between good and evil, right and wrong. For less healthy persons,

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distinguishing between good and evil is often confusing, but for self actualizing

persons they can define well ethical and moral standards.

m) An unhostile sense of humor

Self-actualizing people have an unhostile sense of humor. It means that it

never hurts anybody else. “It is often instructive, designed to make a point as well as

produce a laugh”. It is also spontaneous without planning and therefore others might

only react in a smile and a nod of understanding instead of in loud laughter.

n) Creativeness

For self-actualizing persons, being creative is not always in terms of producing

or creating an artistic thing, such as abstract painting. Therefore creativeness here is

defined as “an attitude, an expression of psychological health concered with the way

of how we perceive and react to the world than with finished products of an artistic

nature”. As a result, anyone in any occupation can have and express creativeness.

o) Resistance to enculturation

Self-actualizing persons are well enough “to resist social pressures to think or

act in certain ways”. However, this does not infer that they are totally rebellious

against the culture or deliberately violate social rules in demonstrating independence.

They will openly challenge the rules and norms of society if an issue raises a moral or

ethical matter.

The characteristics elaborated seem to create a perfect human being. However,

Maslow states that there are no perfect human beings. Self-actualizing people are only

the models of the healthy personality. They can be silly, thoughtless, stubborn,

irritating, vain, ruthless, and temperamental, and other characteristics shared with less

healthy individuals. Moreover, they can have stress, worry, anxiety, guilt, or fear.

19


Therefore, they are saintly people with no shortcomings. What differentiates them

from those who are less healthy is that they experience less frequently these

imperfections.

B. Criticism

In this part, I elaborate some criticisms about the author himself and the novel

being analyzed in this study, Tuesdays with Morrie. The criticisms are mostly

obtained from the Internet since it is difficult to find the criticisms from books or

other references. The criticisms help me to understand more on the author and his

work, and therefore help me to analyze the novel profoundly.

The first criticism comes from Tiffany Webb. She states, “It's an eye opener

for what's important in life and what really matters at the end of the day. I hope that

each person who reads this book walks away feeling a greater appreciation for their

life and others”<http://www.amazon.com/Tuesdays-Morrie-Young-Greatest-Lesson>.

It shows how she thinks that the novel contains important life lessons. Another

comment comes from Alex Kotlowitz, author of There are No Children Here, who

praises and thanks Mitch Albom for introducing Morrie Schwartz. He says that

Morrie’s dignity and frankness stirred him. He also adds, “His good humor and zest

left me smiling.” (Albom xii). Justin Lee Tadlock adds another criticism to the novel.

He states that after reading the novel, one will want to re-evaluate his/her life and how

he/she views and interacts with the world. He recommends everyone to read the novel

<http://www.amazon.com/Tuesdays-Morrie-Young-Greatest-Lesson>. Sheree Wu,

the co-author of Angelic Force, gives an opinion that the novel “achieves its ultimate

goal” as long as one learns to have an honest self-examination after reading it

21


<http://www.amazon.com/Tuesdays-Morrie-Young-Greatest-Lesson>. It means that

the novel can be used as a reflection of how one lives his or her life.

These criticisms are only some of many positive comments on the novel since

most of the readers give praises after reading it. In conclusion, Tuesday with Morrie is

inspiring and has changed the attitude of millions.

C. Theoretical Framework

In this study, I apply some theories to support my analysis, namely theory of

character, theory of characterization, theory of critical approach, and theory of

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs which includes theory of self-actualization. These

theories are applied to help me answer the two problems formulated.

The theory of character is applied to help me differentiate whether Morrie is a

flat or round character, a static or dynamic character, etc. Meanwhile, the theory of

characterization is used to reveal the characteristics of Morrie. These theories are

important in answering the first problem formulation in which to know what sort of

person Morrie is.

The theory of critical approach is needed to see which approach is the most

relevant to the study, and it turns out that the psychological approach is the most

relevant because this study discusses the issue related to one’s personality, i. e. self-

actualization. Therefore, the theory of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs which includes

the theory of self-actualization is important to help me reveal Morrie’s self

actualization so that the analysis can be done more profoundly. This is to answer the

second problem formulation.

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CHAPTER III

METHODOLOGY

This chapter consists of three parts. The first is subject matter which explains

about the novel used in this study. The second is approach to the study which

elaborates the relevant approach applied in this study. The last is procedures which

mention the steps taken in conducting this study.

A. Subject Matter

The subject matter of this study is a novel entitled Tuesdays with Morrie

written by Mitch Albom as the primary source. It was first published in 1997. It

contains 192 pages and is divided into 27 chapters. Tuesdays with Morrie has been

translated in 31 languages in 36 countries. It is one of the bestsellers which has

changed millions of lives. This novel is considered as a biographical novel because it

is written based on the life of Morrie Schwartz, the author’s professor at Brandeis

University in Waltham, Massachusetts whom he adored, admired, and loved.

The story tells about Morrie Schwartz who is an affectionate and wise teacher

who always teaches his students being fully human. One of his students is Mitch

Albom who loves, adores, and admires him. Mitch takes all subjects in which Morrie

is in charge of. Soon, Morrie and Mitch build a strong ‘friendship’. On his graduation

day, Mitch promises to keep in touch with his beloved professor. However, he never

keeps his promise not before he unintentionally catches his professor figure on

“Nightline Show”, a very popular show with Ted Koppel as the host. At that very

23


moment, Mitch becomes speechless knowing why his former professor is on the

show.

Knowing that the professor is dying, Mitch visits him for the first time after

sixteen years since his graduation day. From that day on, he routinely visits his

professor on Tuesdays as he always did when he was a student. Mitch and Morrie

consider themselves Tuesday People. In each visit, or what both call ‘class’, there is a

lesson about life, such as regret, death, family, emotions, money, marriage,

forgiveness, etc.

B. Approach of the Study

According to Rohberger and Woods Jr. (3-9), the psychological approach

deals with one’s imagination, creativity, thought, and behaviour. This approach

applies the theory of psychology in understanding the nature of literary works. Since

this study is concerned with the psychological development of one’s personality, i.e.

self-actualization, the psychological approach is chosen.

The psychological approach provides a great contribution to the analysis in

understanding the main character’s personality about how he acts and behaves. By

using this approach, the analysis of how Morrie reveals his self-actualization can be

done profoundly. Consequently, it is the most relevant approach to be applied in this

study to help me effectively analyze the novel. Another proof that the psychological

approach is the most relevant is the use of the theory of psychology, i.e. the theory of

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs which explains the theory of self-actualization to

support the analysis.

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C. Procedures

This study was conducted by library research. Mostly I read and took notes

from books, encyclopedia, or any references related to the topic discussed in this

study including the references from the internet.

There were some steps taken in conducting this research. Firstly, I read the

novel, which is used as the primary source, several times to understand what the

whole story was about. From the first reading, my focus was drawn to the main

character, Morrie. I found that Morrie possessed some special characteristics of a self-

actualizing person. Based on this central character, two problems were formulated.

The first is how Morrie’s characteristics are described and how he is revealed to be a

self-actualizing person.

After the problems were formulated, I searched and collected some theories

from books, encyclopedia, and other references related to this study, including the

references from the internet. The theories obtained were used as the secondary

sources to support my analysis.

Having read the theories needed, I then focused my analysis on how Morrie is

depicted from the personal descriptions about him, what others say about him, how

his past life tells about his characteristics, etc. I took notes together with the

quotations from the novel. This step was done to answer the first problem

formulation.

The analysis on how Morrie reveals his self-actualization was the next step.

The same as the previous step, I also took notes and quoted some parts of the novel to

strengthen my analysis. This step was taken to answer the second problem

formulation.

25


After those two problem formulations were answered, I compared my analysis

with the theories to see how the analysis met the theories. Finally I made the

conclusion and suggestions for future researchers as well as the lesson plan for the

reference to teach reading skill.

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CHAPTER IV

ANALYSIS

This chapter contains the detail explanations of the problem formulations

presented in the first chapter. It is divided into two sections. In the first section, I

discuss how Morrie is characterized in the novel. While in the second section, I

elaborate how Morrie’s self-actualization is revealed in the novel. The theories

presented in the second chapter are applied to help me in the analysis.

A. The Characterization of Morrie Schwartz

Characters play an essential role in a novel. Without characters, it would be

very difficult, or impossible, to convey the message of the novel to readers, to

perform the conflicts, or to create a story. Therefore, it is impossible not to have

characters in a novel.

There are some types of character. According to Henkle (88), a character is

divided into two kinds, namely major and secondary characters. The first one is the

most significant, important, and complex. This character, usually, gets the fullest

attention from the readers as he or she holds the key point of the whole story. On the

other hand, a secondary character is less significant and complex than the major

character. His or her responses to experiences are more limited. Based on this theory,

Morrie is categorized as the major character since the readers’ attention is fully drawn

to him. He holds the central point of the whole story as well.

Foster (18) proposes another classification of character. He divides character

into two kinds as well. They are flat and round characters. A flat character has only

27


one specific trait or feature. This character tends to stay the same in the whole story,

and therefore can be described in a single phase or sentence. On the contrary, a round

character is presented with more traits in details. Moreover, he or she is complex and

is able to bring surprises to the readers. Morrie, according to this theory, is

characterized as a round character because he has many traits and is presented in deep

and detailed traits. He is also able to surprise the readers with his deep thoughts and

wisdom.

To present Morrie’s characteristics in detail, the theory of characterization

proposed by Murphy (161-173) is applied. There are nine ways in total, namely

personal description, characters as seen by others, speech, past life, conversation of

others, reactions, direct comments, thoughts, and mannerism. From these nine ways,

however, the author only makes use of personal description, characters as seen by

others, speech, past life, reactions, direct comments, and mannerism in order to

characterize Morrie. The detailed elaborations of Morrie’s characteristics are

presented as follows:

1. Weak and Dying

Morrie Schwartz is described as a seventy-eight old man who is dying because

he suffers from ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), a fatal neuromuscular disease.

It is also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, taken from a famous baseball player who

dies of this disease. Before he is diagnosed as suffering from ALS, he has already felt

something bad is going to happen on the day he gives up dancing (7). He begins to see

lots of doctors. It is after he has a muscle biopsy, then he finally knows positively

about his deadly disease.

28


Finally, on a hot, humid day in August 1994, Morrie and his wife Charlotte

went to the neurologist’s office, and he asked them to sit before he broke the

news. Morrie had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Lou Gehrig’s disease,

a brutal, unforgiving illness of the neurological system.

There was no known cure.

“How did I get it?” Morrie asked.

Nobody knew.

“Is it terminal?”

Yes.

“So I’m going to die?”

Yes, you are, the doctor said. I’m very sorry (7).

One of the fatal results of Morrie’s disease is paralysis because of the

progressive muscle debilitation. His doctor predicts he will survive for the next two

years, but Morrie knows he has less time.

ALS is like a lit candle: it melts your nerves and leaves your body a pile of

wax. Often it begins with the legs and works its way up. You lose control of

your thigh muscles, so that you cannot support yourself standing. You lose

control of your trunk muscles, so that you cannot sit up straight. By the end, if

you are still alive, you are breathing through a tube in a hole in your throat,

while your soul, perfectly awake, is imprisoned inside a limp husk, perhaps

able to blink, or cluck a tongue, like something from a science fiction movie,

the man frozen inside his own flesh. This take no more than five years from

the day you contract the disease.

Morrie’s doctor guessed he has two years left.

29


Morrie knew it was less (9-10).

On one occasion, Morrie shows Mitch how his body gradually is weakening.

He asks Mitch to do an A test by taking a deep breath, and then exhaling it while

counting as many numbers as possible before taking another breath. Mitch is able to

reach seventy, while Morries only eighteen.

He stopped, gasping for air.

“When the doctor first asked me to do this, I could reach twenty three. Now

it’s eighteen.”

He closed his eyes, shook his head. “My tank is almost empty” (37).

As Mitch observes his former professor progression of the disease, he realizes

that Morrie is running out of time.

Holding him like that moved me in a way I cannot describe, except to say I

felt the seeds of death inside his shriveling fame, and as I laid him in his chair,

adjusting his head on the pillows, I had the coldest realization that our time

was running out (59).

When Morrie has the second interview with Ted Koppel, he wears a long

sleeved blue shirt because he always feels cold even if it is ninety degrees outside

(69). This shows that his body is getting weak. Moreover, when he speaks he is not

able to gesture freely. He also has problem pronouncing certain words. This indicates

that very soon he will lose his voice.

And as he spoke, it became obvious. He was not waving his hands to make a

point as freely as he had in their first conversation. He had trouble

pronouncing certain words- the l sound seemed to get cought in his throat. In a

few more months, he might no longer speak at all.

30


Based on Morrie’s speech, Morrie’s personal description, the author’s direct

comments, and the character as seen by others, Morrie is characterized as weak and

dying because of ALS, a no-known-cure disease.

2. Tough

Being tough is another characteristic Morrie possesses. Although he suffers

from ALS and is dying because of the disease, Morrie has decided not to be

depressed. When he is first told by the doctor about his disease, he thinks about his

only two choices, whether to continue living by making the best of his life or keep

feeling sorry for himself. He chooses to live without feeling ashamed of dying.

But my old professor had made a profound decision, one he began to construct

the day he came out of the doctor’s office with a sword hanging over his head.

Do I wither up and disappear, or do I make the best of my life left? He had

asked himself.

He would not wither. He would not be ashamed of dying (10).

In the interview with Ted Koppel, Morrie also tells Ted Koppel how he

decides to live with dignity, courage, humor, and composure despite his dying of the

disease. Moreover, he also tells Ted that the disease indeed makes him mourn and feel

angry and bitter on some mornings. However, those feelings do not last long. He can

always get up and decides he wants to live. He is also betting on himself that he can

continue living with his positive attitude. Obviously, this shows how tough Morrie is.

“Ted,” he said, “when all this started, I asked myself, ‘Am I going to with

draw from the world, like most people do, or am I going to live?’ I decided

I’m going to live- or at least try to live- the way I want, with dignity, with

courage, with humor, with composure.

31


“There are some mornings when I cry and cry and mourn for myself. Some

morning I’m so angry and bitter. But it doesn’t last too long. Then I get up and

say, ‘I want to live…’

“So far I’ve been able to do it. Will I able to continue? I don’t know. But I’m

betting on myself that I will” (21-22).

Morrie also shows his toughness on Mitch’s first visit. He tells Mitch that he

may be dying, but it does not really matter because he has family and friends who

love and care for him. Mitch is astonished by Morrie’s toughness despite his being

unable to dance, swim, bathe, or walk.

“I may be dying, but I’m surrounded by loving, caring souls. How many

people can say that?”

I was astonished by his complete lack of self-pity. Morrie, who could no

longer dance, swim, bathe, or walk; Morrie, who could no longer answer his

own door dry himself after a shower, or even roll over in bed. How could he

be so accepting? (36)

In facing his final months, Morrie does not ask his sons, Rob who works in

Tokyo and Jon who works in Boston, to just stay at home to accompany him although

they will certainly do it for their beloved father. He does not want his disease to ruin

his sons’ lives. He himself who suffers is just enough. This shows how tough he is.

“…Had he so desired, they would have stopped what they were doing to be

with their father every minute of his final months. But that was not what he

wanted.”

“Do not stop your lives,” he told them. “Otherwise, this disease will have

ruined three of us instead of one” (93).

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On the last interview with Ted Koppel, Morrie assures Ted that the disease

will only attack his body, but not his spirit. “Ted this disease is knocking at my spirit.

But it’ll not get my spirit. It’ll get my body. It will not get my spirit.” (163). This

shows his toughness in facing the disease. Although his body will wither and he is

suffering a lot, he will keep his spirit alive.

From the proofs above, it is clear that Morrie is presented as a tough person.

Having suffered such a horrible disease, he does not give up and keep mourning for

what he has to suffer. The methods used by the author in presenting Morrie’s

toughness are Morrie’s speech, Morrie’s reaction, Mitch’s view, and the author’s

direct comment.

3. Straightforward

Morrie is also described as a straight forward person. When he knows his time

is running out, he honestly tells his students how he might die before the end of the

semester.

“My friends, I assume you are all here for the Social Psychology class. I have

been teaching this course fro twenty years, and this is the first time I can say

there is a risk in taking it, because I have a fatal illness. I may not live to finish

this semester.

“If you feel this is a problem, I understand if you wish to drop the course” (9).

Furthermore, when Ted Koppel, a very famous host of ABC-TV’s

“Nightline”, comes to have an interview with Morrie, he answers Ted’s question

openly without trying to hide his feelings, thoughts, or any facts in considering that he

is interviewed by a famous figure. He honestly admits that he has only seen Koppel’s

program twice and states his direct opinion that he thinks Koppel is a narcissist.

33


“Now let me ask you something,” Koppel said. “Have you ever seen my

program?”

Morrie shrugged. “Twice, I think.”

“Twice? That’s all?”

“Don’t feel bad. I’ve only seen ‘Oprah’ once.”

“Well, the two times you saw my show, what did you think?”

Morrie paused. “To be honest?”

“Yes?”

“I thought you were a narcissist” (20-21).

Morrie’s response to Koppel’s question about what Morrie dreads the most in

the progression of his disease also accounts for how straightforward he is.

….What, Koppel asked, did Morrie dread the most about his slow, insidious

decay?

Morrie paused. He asked if he could say this certain thing on television.

Koppel said go ahead.

Morrie looked straight into the eyes of the most famous interviewer in

America. “Well, Ted, one day soon, someone’s gonna have to wipe my ass”

(22).

From the proofs above, Morrie is presented as a straightforward person. He

does not hide his feelings, thoughts, or even his present condition. The methods used

by the author in describing Morrie as a straightforward person are personal

description, speech, direct comments, and mannerism.

4. Wise

Morrie is also characterized as a wise man. His wisdom can be seen from his

talk with Mitch when Mitch is still in college. He addresses Morrie with a nickname,

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“coach”, and Morrie seems to like the nickname because he wants Mitch to “play all

the lovely parts of life” that he is too old for now (31). Morrie tries to say that he will

guide Mitch in undergoing the paths of life.

When Mitch is in Wimbledon to get news on the world’s premier tennis

competition, he is knocked over by a British photographer who is chasing Andre

Agassi and his girlfriend Brooke Shields, but the photographer does not even say

‘sorry’. Mitch suddenly remembers what Morrie says to him. This shows that Mitch is

able to get a lesson from Morrie’s wise words which Mitch believes are certainly

right.

“So many people walk around with a meaningless life. They seem half-asleep,

even when they’re busy doing things they think are important. This is because

they’re chasing the wrong things. The way you get meaning into your life is to

devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around

you, and devote yourself to creating something that give you purpose and

meaning” (43).

Morrie’s wisdom is also shown in his willingness to share his time with Mitch

when they are still in the college. Morrie who must be very busy with his works, still

he always manages to have time to discuss with Mitch, his student. When Mitch

shares his problems, Morrie always tries to pass life’s lessons to him. He always

reminds Mitch to be “fully human”. Mitch always enjoys talking with Morrie because

he can have the fatherly conversation which he cannot do with his father who wants

him to be a lawyer.

….Each time we talk, he listens to me ramble, then he tries to pass on some

life lessons. He warns me that money is not the most important thing, contrary

to the popular view on campus. He tells me I need to be “fully human”. He

35


speaks of the alienation of youth and the need for “connectedness” with the

society around me. Some of these things I understand, some I do not. It makes

no difference. The discussions give me an excuse to talk to him, fatherly

conversations I cannot have with my own father, who would like me to be a

lawyer (46).

Mitch sees Morrie as a wise father who can accept his dream to be a musician

and encourage him as well. Morrie motivates him by saying that if he really wants to

be a musician, then he will make his dream happen (46).

Morrie also passes a precious lesson to Mitch when they are doing their ‘final

thesis’ on a subject called ‘The Meaning of Life’. He tells Mitch that when we learn

how to die, we also learn how to live. It means that we should accept that someday we

will die, therefore we should appreciate our life. Mitch wisdom’s is also shown in his

manner when he wants to make sure that Mitch has absorbed his point. He simply

repeats what he has said before so that Mitch might not feel embarrassed asking.

“The truth is, Mitch,” he said, “once you learn how to die, you learn how to

live.”

I nodded

“I’m going to say it again,” he said. “Once you learn how to die, you learn

how to live.” He smiled, and I realized what he was doing. He was making

sure I absorbed this point, without embarrassing me by asking. It was part of

what made him a good teacher (82).

To some up, Morrie’s wisdom can be seen from his speech, his manner, his

past life, and Mitch’s view.

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5. Affectionate

Morrie is portrayed as an affectionate person. Although he has a father who

never shows his care and love (75), Morrie grows to be very affectionate. When Mitch

comes for the first time to visit him after sixteen years, he is surprised with Morrie’s

affection considering he is the student who never keeps his promise to keep in touch

with his former professor who has been very kind to him during his years in college.

He rocked against me, not letting go, his hands reaching up for my elbows as I

bent over him. I was surprised at such affection after all these years, but then

in the stone walls I had built between my present and my past, I had forgotten

how close we once were…(28)

Moreover, when they eat together in the dining room, Morrie wants to feed Mitch as

he usually does when they are still in college. “As was his custom, he wanted to feed

me, and I said all right” (28). How Morrie receives Mitch with such a warm affection

shows that he still cares for Mitch. Although they never kept in touch for sixteen

years, the affection is still there. “I cannot tell you why he received me so warmly. I

was hardly the promising student who had left him sixteen years earlier” (33).

Morrie’s affection can also be seen in his care for other people’s problems

despite his own pain and suffering. He says that giving to others make him feel alive.

When he can make someone smile after sharing their problems, he feels ‘healthy’.

This shows how he cares and loves others.

“Why do you think it’s important for me to hear other people’s problem?

Don’t I have enough pain and suffering of my own?

“Of course I do. But giving to other people is what makes me feel alive. Not

my car or my house. Not what I look like in the mirror. When I give my time,

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when I can make someone smile after they were feeling sad, it’s close to

healthy as I ever feel (128).

From the proofs above, it can be concluded that Morrie is an affectionate

person. The methods used by the author to portray this characterisctic of Morrie are

Morrie’s speech, manner, reaction, and Mitch’s view.

B. The Self-Actualization of Morrie Schwartz

Morrie Schwartz is a unique character. He is able to accept his own real nature

for what it is. Furthermore, he can make use of all his abilities, fulfill his qualities and

capacities, and become the sort of person he has the potential to be. Therefore, he can

be considered as a self-actualizing person.

According to Maslow (qtd. in Schultz 69-68), there are a number of specific

characteristics of self-actualizing people, namely: an efficient perception of reality, a

general acceptance of nature, others and oneself, spontaneity, simplicity, and

naturalness, a focus on problems outside themselves, a need for privacy and

independence, autonomous functioning, a continued freshness of appreciation,

mystical, or “peak” experiences, social interest, interpersonal relations, a democratic

character structure, discrimination between means and ends, between good and evil,

an unhostile sense of humor; creativeness, and resistance to enculturation.

Morrie’s self-actualization is reflected in his ways of living, namely in facing

his disease, in talking Mitch, in the family, and in the society. How he reveals his self-

actualization is analyzed as follows:

1. In Facing His Disease

As stated above, Morrie is characterized as an old weak dying man who

suffers from a deadly disease called ALS. He is gradually unable to dance, swim,

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walk, bathe himself, and even wash his private parts. These are some effects of his

disease. For some people, knowing they are going to die may mean the end of the

world. Thinking about the effects caused by the disease may make them mourn of

why they have to suffer. As a result, they may end up feeling sorry and blaming life

which they think is unfair. However, for Morrie, the idea of feeling sorry or regretful

does not exist. Instead, the way he faces his disease is certainly unique.

From the first time he knows his disease, he has decided not to give up and be

ashamed of dying. On the contrary, he creates a great idea that he will make a final

project with he himself as the subject to be researched. Referring to Maslow’s theory

of self-actualizing people (qtd. in Schultz 68-69), the way he perceives and reacts to

the fact that he is dying shows his creativeness. Moreover, it also shows his efficient

perception of reality as well (qtd. in Schultz 68-69). He sees his current condition

objectively which results in a conclusion to consider himself as a human textbook that

can be studied.

He would not wither. He would not be ashamed of dying.

Instead, he would make his death his final project, the center point of his days.

Since everyone was going to die, he could be of great value, right? He could

be research. A human textbook. Study me in my slow and patient demise.

Watch what happens to me. Learn with me (10).

Morrie decides to do his final project with Mitch, his former student. Every

Tuesday, Mitch visits him and they talk about what-really-matters-in-life issues. On

one occasion, Mitch asks Morrie whether his disease makes him feel sorry for

himself. The disease indeed makes Morrie mourn sometimes in the morning when he

wakes up and finds out that he can no longer move some parts of his body, but it does

39


not last long. Morrie’s response is quite surprising to Mitch considering the progress

of his disease.

“Sometimes, in the mornings,” he said. “That’s when I mourn. I feel around

my body, I move my fingers and my hands- whatever I can still move- and I

mourn what I’ve lost. I mourn the slow, insidious way in which I’m dying.

But then I stop mourning.”

Just like that? (56-57)

Morrie continues to explain how he covers his self-pity. He says that he cries if he

needs to. He allows himself to have a few tears because he does not want to have self-

pity more than that. He then concentrates on all the good things he still has in his life.

This shows how he can stay calm and positive although he suffers a lot from the

disease.

“I give myself a good cry if I need it. But then I concentrate on all the good

things still in my life. On the people who are coming to see me. On the stories

I’m going to hear. On you-if it’s Tuesday. Because we’re Tuesday people.”

I grinned. Tuesday people.

“Mitch, I don’t allow myself any more self-pity than that. A little each

morning, a few tears, and that’s all” (57).

Mitch compares Morrie to those people he knows who often feel sorry for

themselves. Morrie is different because he is able “to put a daily limit on self-pity”

despite his horrible disease. To Mitch’s surprise, Morrie, in fact, thinks that his

disease is only horrible considering his physical condition, how the disease will make

his body “wilt away to nothing”, but it gives him a chance of getting to say good-bye

all the time. He also adds with a smile that not everyone is as lucky as he is having

that chance. Mitch almost cannot believe what he hears when Morrie mentions the

40


word “lucky”. Morrie, who is no longer able to stand, wash, and dress himself, says

that he is lucky. According to Maslow (qtd. in Schultz 68-69), this shows that he is

autonomous functioning. For most people, being unable to stand, walk, dress

ourselves, may mean catastrophes, but Morrie is able to remain calm in facing his

disease.

I thought about all the people I knew who spent many of their waking hours

feeling sorry for themselves. How useful it would be to put a daily limit on

self-pity. Just a few tearful minutes, then on with the day. And Morrie could

do it, with such a horrible disease…

“It’s only horrible if you see it that way,” Morrie said. “It’s horrible to watch

my body slowly wilt away to nothing. But it’s also wonderful because of all

the time I get to say good-bye.”

He smiled. “Not everyone is so lucky”

I studied him in his chair, unable to stand, to wash, to pull on his pants.

Lucky? Did he really say lucky? (57)

Referring to Maslow’s theory (qtd. in Schultz 68-69), Morrie also possesses a

general acceptance of nature, others and oneself. Morrie accepts his current condition

and is not shameful of dying and never complains about the sufferings caused by the

disease as well. When his body gradually weakens, he has to urinate into a large

beaker and it means someone has to help him in holding the beaker. However, Morrie

is not embarrassed.

Most of us would be embarrassed by all this, especially at Morrie’s age. But

Morrie was not like most of us. When some of his close colleagues would

visit, he would say to them, “Listen, I have to pee. Would you mind helping?

Are you okay with that?”(11)

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The progressions of his disease soon result in his being unable to dance, swim,

bathe, or walk. However, Morrie does not keep mourning for what he has lost. Mitch

is really astonished with Morrie who can be so accepting despite his shortcomings.

I was astonished by his complete lack of self-pity. Morrie, who could no

longer dance, swim, bathe, or walk; Morrie, who could no longer answer his

own door dry himself after a shower, or even roll over in bed. How could he

be so accepting? (36)

In an interview for the “Nightline” show, Ted Koppel, the host, asks Morrie

about what he dreads most from his disease. “Someone’s gonna have to wipe my ass”

is Morrie’s response to the question. When that day comes, Morrie accepts this

complete dependency.

Morrie lost his battle. Someone was now wiping his behind. He faced this

with typically brave acceptance. No longer able to reach behind him when he

used the commode, he informed Connie of his latest limitation

Besides Morrie’s acceptance of his current condition, he also behaves in a

very spontaneous, simple, and natural way, another characteristic of self-actualizing

people proposed by Maslow (qtd. in Schultz 68-69). He does not pretend or hide his

feeling or emotions. He shows them in open and direct ways. When he is interviewed

by Ted Koppel for the “Nightline” show, Morrie refuses to wear fancy clothes or

make up for the interview. He wears his “shaggy gray sweater”. He has a philosophy

that “death should not be embarrassing; he was not about to powder its nose” (21).

Moreover, in the third interview, Morrie even does not change his clothes. He wears

the same clothes he has the day before.

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For the interview, which took place on a Friday afternoon, Morrie wore the

same shirt he’d had on the day before. He changed shirts only every other day

at this point, and this was not the other day, so why break routine? (160)

According to Maslow (qtd. in Schultz 68-69), self-actualizing people consider

their work as a mission to which they devote their energy and dedicate themselves.

Morrie’s devotion and dedication fit what Maslow proposes. Although his disease has

caused him to walk with a cane, still he comes to campus, his “home’, where he has

dedicated his contribution for thirty years. It is his final course at Brandeis

University. He actually can stop teaching considering his current condition, and then

just stay at home to rest and have medical treatments. However, Morrie loves his job

so much that he keeps giving his best as long as he is still able to do it.

In the fall of 1994, Morrie came to the hilly Brandeis campus to teach his final

college course. He could have skipped this, of course. The university would

have understood. Why suffer in front of so many people? Stay at home. Get

your affairs in order. But the idea of quitting did not occur to Morrie (9).

When Morrie is already unable to go to campus to teach, he does not give up

giving what he is still able to give. He creates the idea to write down his thoughts and

philosophies about death into aphorisms. More than fifty aphorisms are written in a

short time. Morrie shares these aphorisms to his friends.

Yet he refused to be depressed. Instead, Morrie had become a lightening rod

of ideas. He jotted down his thought on yellow pads, envelopes, folders, scrap

paper. He wrote bite-sized philosophies about living with death’s shadow:

“Accept what you are able to do and what you are not able to do”; “Accept the

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past as the past, without denying or discarding it”; “Learn to forgive yourself

and to forgive others”; “Don’t assume that it’s too late to get involved.”

Referring to Maslow’s theory (qtd. in Schultz 68-69), self-actualizing people

also have a strong need for privacy and independence which means that they are able

to make up their own minds, reach their own decisions and exercise their own

motivation and discipline. When Morrie is first told by the doctor about the disease,

he is shocked and expects the world to stop and the people around him to take notice

at him. However, he realizes that the world is just the same. He wonders what he

should do then.

My old professor, meanwhile, was stunned by the normalcy of the day around

him. Shouldn’t the world stop? Don’t they know what has happened to me?

But the world did not stop, it took no notice at all, and as Morrie pulled

weakly on the car door, he felt as if he were dropping into a hole.

Now what? He thought (8).

Morrie, later, decides not to give up. He thinks of a unique idea instead that he

will let himself be researched. He will make his death become his final course. This

shows how he can make up his own mind, reach his own decision and exercise his

own motivation and discipline.

Instead, he would make his death his final project, the center point of his days.

Since everyone was going to die, he could be of great value, right? He could

be research. A human textbook. Study me in my slow and patient demise.

Watch what happens to me. Learn with me (10).

Self-actualizing people, according to Maslow (qtd. in Schultz 68-69), also

have the ability to continuously appreciate certain experiences with a fresh sense of

44


pleasure, awe, and wonder. Obviously, Morrie possesses this ability. It is shown when

he is telling Mitch about how he appreciates the window in his office to which he can

observe the nature outside. He says that it is like his first experience of seeing the

nature.

He nodded toward the window with the sunshine streaming in. “You see that?

You can go out there, outside, anytime. You can run up and down the block

and go crazy. I can’t do that. I can’t go out. I can’t run. I can’t be out there

without fear of getting sick. But you know what? I appreciate that window

more than you do.”

Appreciate it?

“Yes. I look out that window every day. I notice the change in the trees, how

strong the wind is blowing…I am drawn to nature like I’m seeing it for the

first time” (84).

Morrie is not only able to appreciate certain experiences, but he is also able to

experience mystical, or ‘peak’ experiences (qtd. in Schultz 68-69). He is blissful and

excited in listening to music, even it often makes him cry. On one occasion, a local

acapella group comes to his house to perform. He is so excited telling the story to

Mitch.

Morrie was focused. There were good days and bad days now. He was having

a good day. The night before he had been entertained by a local a cappella

group that had come to the house to perform, and he relayed the story, as if the

Ink Spots themselves had dropped by for a visit. Morrie’s love for music was

strong even before he got sick, but now it was so intense, it moved him to

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tears. He would listen to opera sometimes at night, closing his eyes, riding

along with the magnificent voices as they dipped and soared.

“”you should have heard this group last night, Mitch. Such a sound!” (124).

On another occasion, Mitch brings his wife, Janine, to visit Morrie. Janine is a

professional singer, and therefore, Morrie asks her to sing him a song. Janine sings a

1930s standard by Ray Noble. Morrie closes his eyes to absorb the song. He enjoys it

so much that it seems he is dancing inside his body. It moves him to tears.

It was a 1930s standard, written by Ray Noble, and Janine sang it sweetly,

looking straight at Morrie…Morrie closed his eyes to absorb the notes. As my

wife’s loving voice filled the room, a crescent smile appeared on his face. And

while his body was stiff as a sandbag, you could almost see him dancing

inside it. When she finished, Morrie opened his eyes and tears rolled down his

cheeks…(147).

Refferring to Maslow’s theory (qtd. in Schultz 68-69), Morrie also possesses

an unhostile sense of humor. When he decides to be cremated, he tells the rabbi from

Brandeis, Al Axelrad, who will conduct the funeral service, about his plan. “Make

sure they don’t overcook me” is the joke he says to the rabbi. This is an instructive

humor which conveys a point that he sees his body now as a “mere shell, a container

of the soul” because it is “withering to useless skin and bones anyhow, which made it

easier to let go” (171).

Based on Maslow’s theory (qtd. in Schultz 68-69), self-actualizing people

have strong and profound feelings of empathy, love and affection for all human

beings. Morrie also possesses this characteristic. On the first Tuesday, Morrie and

Mitch talk about the world. Mitch is astonished why Morrie bothers keeping up with

what happens in the world when he sees the newspaper Morrie has read before his

46


arrival. Mitch thinks it is strange for Morrie to care for the outside world because of

his current condition. Mitch’s astonishment turns into amazement when he listens to

Morrie’s explanation on how he feels closer to people who also suffer. Morrie tells

about what he saw on TV the other night. There are the innocent victims in Bosnia

who are shot and died. He then starts to cry feeling a deep sadness as if it is his own.

“Yes,” Morrie said. “Do you think that’s strange? Do you think because I’m

dying, I shouldn’t care what happens in this world?”

Maybe.

He sighed. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe I shouldn’t care. After all, I won’t be

around to see how it all turns out.

“But it’s hard to explain, Mitch. Now that I’m suffering I feel closer to people

who suffer than I ever did before. The other night, on TV, I saw people in

Bosnia running across the street, getting fired upon, killed, innocent

victims…and I just started to cry. I feel their anguish as if it were my own. I

don’t know any of these people. But-how can I put this?- I’m almost … drawn

to them”

Amazing, I thought. I worked in the news business. I covered stories where

people died. I interviewed grieving family members. I even attended the

funerals. I never cried. Morrie, for the suffering of people half away, was

weeping (50-51).

Morrie’s next response to Mitch’s wonder on why he cares for people he does

not even know shows how he values love. He says that to give out love and to let it

come in are the things he is learning most with his disease. He then quotes from

Levine, ‘Love is the only rational act.’

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“Mitch, you asked about caring for people I don’t even know. But can I tell

you the thing I’m learning most with this disease?”

What’s that?

‘The most important thing in life is to learn how to give out love, and to let it

come in.

His voice dropped to a whisper. “Let it come in. We think we don’t deserve

love, we think if we let it in we’ll become too soft. But a wise man named

Levine said it right, ‘Love is the only rational act.’”

He repeated carefully, pausing for effect.”‘Love is the only rational act.’” (52)

Morrie proves it right. He really puts into action what he says and believes. He

puts love and deep friendship into his relationships with others, even when he is

dying. According to Maslow’s theory of self-actualization (qtd. in Schultz 68-69),

Morrie has strong relationships with others. It means that he is good in building

interpersonal relationships.

To conclude, although Morrie is dying and suffering a lot because of ALS, he

is able to show his self-actualization. He is creative and able to have an objective

perception of reality. He is also autonomous functioning in a way that he can remain

calm and face his disease with courage and positive thoughts. Moreover, he can

accept his current condition and never complains about the pains caused by the

disease. He is also able to behave in a very spontaneous, simple, and natural way. He

expresses his feelings and emotions in open and direct ways. Although Morrie suffers

a lot, he is still able to focus on problems outside himself. He devotes to others every

single thing he is still able to give. In addition, Morrie has a strong need for privacy

and independence which results in his ability to make a profound decision not to give

up. Morrie is also able to continuously appreciate certain experiences. Moreover, he is

48


able to experience mystical, ‘peak’ experiences in enjoying music. He also has an

unhostile sense of humor. Furthermore, Morrie has a great social interest in humanity,

and therefore, is able to build good interpersonal relationships with others.

2. In Talking to Mitch

Morrie has close relationships with his students. One of them is Mitch. In the

first time Mitch takes Morrie’s class, he is asked which nickname he prefers. Mitch is

quite surprised and this makes him do a double take at Morrie. None of his teachers

has ever asked him this question.

“Mitchell?” Morrie says, reading from the attendance list.

I raise a hand.

“Do you prefer Mitch or is Mitchell better?”

I have never been asked this by a teacher. I do a double take at this guy in his

yellow turtleneck and green corduroy pants, the silver hair that falls on his

forehead. He is smiling.

Mitch, I say. Mitch is what my friend called me.

“Well, Mitch is then,” Morrie says, as if closing a deal. “And Mitch?”

Yes?

“I hope one day you’ll think of me as your friend” (24-25).

The quotation above shows that Morrie has a democratic character structure,

one of the characteristics of self-actualizing people proposed by Maslow (qtd. in

Schultz 68-69). He does not feel superior toward Mitch who has a lower educational

level. He even wants Mitch to consider him as a friend someday. It means that he does

not want to build a gap between a teacher and a student just like what commonly

happens in teacher-student relationships.

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When Mitch visits Morrie for the first time after sixteen years of separation,

Morrie still considers Mitch as his friend. “My old friend,” he whispered, “you’ve

come back at last” (28). Morrie does not forget the ‘friendship’ they once have during

Mitch’s college years. Morrie receives Mitch warmly.

He rocked against me, not letting go, his hands reaching up for my elbows as I

bent over him. I was surprised at such affection after all these years, but then

in the stone walls I had built between my present and my past, I had forgotten

how close we once were. I remembered graduation day, the briefcase, his tears

at my departure, and I swallowed because I knew, deep down, that I was no

longer the good, gift-bearing student he remembered (28).

Mitch is quite astonished at how Morrie welcomes him (33). Although they have not

kept in touch for such a long time, Morrie treats Mitch affectionately. Morrie does not

feel upset toward Mitch who has never kept his promise. Referring to Maslow’s

theory (qtd. in Schultz 68-69), self actualizing people have strong relationships with

others. They put love and deep friendship in their relationships with others. How

Morrie welcomes Mitch shows his strong interpersonal relation. He has built a deep

friendship with Mitch, thus, although Mitch might have disappointed him by not

keeping his promise, he still cares for him.

Moreover, Morrie’s statement that if he can have another son, he wants it to be

Mitch shows how Morrie loves Mitch. Obviously, Morrie has felt a strong bond of

emotion with Mitch.

“I don’t know why you came back to me. But I want to say this…”

He paused, and his voice choked.

“If I could have had another son, I would have liked it to be you.”

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I dropped my eyes, kneading the dying flesh of his feet between my fingers.

For a moment, I felt afraid, as if accepting his words would somehow betray

my own father. But when I looked up, I saw Morrie smiling trough tears and I

knew there was no betrayal in a moment like this.

All I was afraid of was saying good-bye.

During Mitch’s visits, Morrie always tries to pass life lessons to Mitch. One of

the issues Morrie is concerned most is about creating one’s own culture. He stresses

that if the culture is not teaching the good things, one has to create his or her own

culture instead of following the wrong ones.

“Well, for one thing, the culture we have does not make people feel good

about themselves. We’re teaching the wrong things. And you have to be

strong enough to say if the culture doesn’t work, don’t buy it. Create your

own…(35-36).

One of the examples of what the culture values most is money or anything deals with

worldly things. He tells Mitch that people have been brainwashed. They think that

owning worldly things is a very important matter in life.

“We’ve got a form of brainwashing going on in our country,” Morrie sighed.

“Do you know how they brainwash people? They repeat something over and

over. And that’s what we do in this country. Owning things is good. More

money is good. More property is good. More commercialism is good. More is

good. More is good. We repeated it-and have it repeated to us-over and over

until nobody bothers to think otherwise. The average person is so fogged up

by all this, he has no perspective on what’s really important anymore.

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“Wherever I went in my life, I met people wanting to gobble up something

new. Gobble up a new car. Gobble up a new piece of property. Gobble up the

latest toy. And then they wanted to tell you about it. Guess what I got? Guess

what I got? (125)

According to Morrie, when people value money or such worldly things a lot, they will

be afraid of losing them. It is then those things become their gods. For Morrie, he will

not buy such culture.

“People are only mean when they are threatened,” he said later that day, “and

that’s what our culture does. That’s what our economy does. Even people who

have jobs in our economy are threatened, because they worry about losing

them. And when you get threatened, you start looking out only for yourself.

You start making money a god. It is part of this culture.”

He exhaled. “Which is why I don’t buy into it” (154).

Referring to Maslow’s theory (qtd. in Schultz 68-69), Morrie is able “to resist

social pressures to think or act in certain ways”. When he thinks that the culture is

teaching the wrong things, he is able to stand for his own culture. However, it does

not mean that Morrie is totally rebellious against the culture or deliberately violate

social rules in demonstrating independence. He does not go around naked or ignore

red lights, for example. He tells Mitch not to let the culture determine how we think

and what we value.

“Here’s what I mean by building your own little subculture,” Morrie said. “I

don’t go around naked, for example. I don’t run through red lights. The little

things, I can obey. But the big things-how we think, what we value-those you

52


must choose yourself. You can let anyone-or any society-determine those for

you (155).

Morrie knows exactly what is really important to value. He interprets that the

people who are always chasing money as their life purpose are actually so hungry for

love that they use money as substitutes. However, they will always fail to do so

because there is no substitute for love, gentleness, or tenderness. He takes himself in

his current condition as the example. Neither money nor power helps him feel a sense

of care.

“You know how I always interpreted that? There were people so hungry for

love that they were accepting substitutes. They were embracing material

things and expecting a sort of hug back. But it never works. You can’t

substitute material things for love or for gentleness or for tenderness or for a

sense of comradeship.

“Money is not a substitute for tenderness, and power is not a substitute for

tenderness. I can tell you as I’m sitting here dying, when you most need it,

neither money nor power will give you the feeling you’re looking for, no

matter how much of them you have” (125).

Besides, he adds that they are confused of what they want versus what they

need. For example, they need food, but they want a chocolate sundae. Morrie believes

that those material things many people are chasing cannot actually give them

satisfaction. Offering others what they can give is the thing that can give them

satisfaction.

“There a big confusion in this country over what we want versus what we

need,” Morrie said. “You need food, you want a chocolate sundae. You have

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to be honest with yourself. You don’t need the latest sport car, you don’t need

the biggest house.

“The truth is, you don’t get satisfaction from those things. You know what

really gives you satisfaction?”

What?

“Offering others what you have to give” (126).

According to Maslow (qtd. in Schultz 68-69), Morrie is able to differentiate

between good and evil, right and wrong. For less healthy people, distinguishing what

really matters in life might be confusing. However, Morrie is definitely clear in such

matters.

The goal of the final project Morrie is doing with Mitch is that Morrie can tell

others, especially Mitch, about the important things in life. Morrie thinks that the

culture is teaching the wrong things that make people value “egotistical things, career,

family, having enough money, meeting the mortgage, getting a new car, fixing the

radiator when it breaks” (64). Hence, everyone needs someone to probe him or her to

“get into a habit of standing back and looking at our lives and saying, Is this all? Is

this all I want? Is something missing?” (65). In doing the final project, Morrie is

playing a role as a teacher to lead Mitch to the right tracks. To reach the goal, he has a

class with Mitch every Tuesday. He always feels happy when Mitch comes to visit.

He enjoys every physical contact when Mitch has to help him putting his glasses onto

his ears, lifting his head to a more comfortable spot, or kissing him good-bye. Such

“slightest human contacts” brings Morrie “immediate joy” (83). Therefore, he looks

forward to Mitch’s visits (101).

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Referring to Maslow’s theory (qtd. in Schultz 68-69), Morrrie is able to

consider a means, which is a way of achieving a goal, as an end in doing his final

project with Mitch. He enjoys talking to Mitch as much as or more than achieving the

goal of doing the project.

To sum up, in doing the final project with Mitch, Morrie shows how he self-

actualizes. He feels no superiority toward Mitch and is able to build a strong

interpersonal relationship with Mitch. Moreover, his lesson about creating one’s own

culture shows his resistance to enculturation and his ability to differentiate between

good and evil. He is also able to consider a means as an end in a way that he enjoys so

much talking to Mitch.

3. In His Family

Morrie has a bad experience of his childhood. When he is eight years old, his

mother dies and because he is the only one who can read in English since his father,

Charlie, a Russian immigrant, cannot speak English, he has to read the telegram from

the hospital informing of his mother’s death (73). Morrie and his younger brother,

David, then live with their father, who never shows a sense of care and love. Every

evening, Morrie always watches his father eat in silence and hopes that his father will

show his affection and warmth (75). Furthermore, Morrie always wishes his father to

talk to them instead of going for a walk after dinner. He also always waits for his

father to kiss him good-night (138). However, he never gets what he is expecting.

Therefore, having experienced how the feeling to be neglected is, he swears that he

will do those he-expects-his-father-to-do things if he has own children. Later, when he

has his own children, he successfully becomes an affectionate father every body

expects (138). He raises his children with care and love, the things every child needs

most. As a result, they grow to be caring and loving just like Morrie. “He had raised

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his two sons to be loving and caring, and like Morrie, they were not shy with their

affection” (93).

Morrie’s childhood gives him a precious lesson in building a warm family. He

marries with Charlotte. They have two sons, Rob and Jon. Rob works as a journalist

in Tokyo and Jon is a computer expert in Boston. The way he builds a relationship in

his family reveals his self-actualization.

Morrie believes that family is very important. It is the place where people can

get security, support, and especially love. He quotes from Auden that “Love each

other or perish”. Love is what he strongly believes will make things different. He

takes himself as an example. If he does not have family, it will be harder for him in

facing his disease. Having someone who will not leave and keep watching him all the

time is the thing he finds only in a family. Hence, nothing else can give him that,

neither money, fame, nor work.

“I think, in light of what we’ve been talking about all these weeks, family

becomes even more important,” he said.

“The fact is, there is no foundation, no secure ground, upon which people may

stand today if it isn’t the family. It’s become quite clear to me as I’ve been

sick. If you don’t have the support and love and caring and concern that you

get from a family, you don’t have much at all. Love is so supremely

important. As our great poet Auden said, ‘Love each other or perish.’”

“Love each other or perish.” I wrote it down. Auden said that?

“Love each other or perish,” Morrie said. “It’s good, no? And it’s true.

Without love, we are birds with broken wings.

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“Say I was divorced, or living alone, or had no children. This disease-what

I’m going through-would be so much harder. I’m not sure I could do it. Sure,

people would come visit, friends, associates, but it’s not the same as having

someone who will not leave. It’s not the same as having someone whom you

know has an eye on you, is watching you the whole time.

“This part of what a family is about, not just love, but letting others know

there’s someone who is watching out for you. Nothing else will give you that.

Not money. Not fame.”

He shot me a look.

“Not work,” he added.

Morrie also personally thinks that “marriage is a very important thing to do,

and you’re missing a hell of a lot of it if you don’t try it” (149). In addition, he also

states that only by having children can one experience the complete responsibility for

another human being and learn to love in the deepest way.

“I simply say, ‘There is no experience like having children.’ That’s all.

There’s no substitute for it. You cannot do it with a friend. You cannot do it

with a lover. If you want the experience of having complete responsibility for

another human being, and to learn how to love and bond in the deepest way,

then you should have children” (93).

When he gets sick, he does not ask his sons to stop their jobs and accompany

him during his final months. He is very objective with the situation they are facing. If

his sons stop their jobs, it means the disease ruins not only Morrie but also both of his

sons.

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Had he so desired, they would have stopped what they were doing to be their

father every minute of his final months. But that was not what he wanted.

“Do not stop your lives,” he told them. “Otherwise, this disease will have

ruined three of us instead of one” (93)

Referring to Maslow’s theory (qtd. in Schultz 68-69), this shows how Morrie is able

to have an efficient perception of reality that he is able to make logical reasons by not

asking his sons to quit their jobs.

In some families, there may be a case that when the old father or mother is

sick, the children will not really care about their parent. Some will just pay for a

nurse, if they can afford it, to take care of their sick parent. Some will take care of

their parent themselves but with the feeling of reluctance. However, it is not the case

in Morrie’s family. When his sons come and visit Morrie, they will sit with him and

there will be “a waterfall of affection, lots of kisses and jokes and crouching by the

side of the bed, holding hands (93).

Morrie also has a loving relationship with his wife, Charlotte. They have been

married for forty-four years. It shows how Morrie is able to maintain his marriage.

The loving relationship makes them understand each other. “They worked as a team,

often needing no more than a silence glance to understand what the other was

thinking” (149). Furthermore, Morrie respects Charlotte a lot. When he thinks that he

is talking about something his wife will feel uncomfortable with, he will directly end

the conversation.

Charlotte was a private person, different from Morrie, but I knew how much

he respected her, because sometimes when we spoke, he would say,

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“Charlotte might be uncomfortable with me revealing that,” and he would end

the conversation. It was the only time Morrie held anything back (149).

According to Maslow (qtd. in Schultz 68-69), self-actualizing people have strong

relationships with others. Morrie obviously has successfully built a strong relationship

in his family.

In conclusion, Morrie is able to build a loving interpersonal relationship in his

family and to have an efficient perception of reality as well. These show his self-

actualization in his family.

4. In the Society

Morrie has shown his self-actualization in facing his disease, in talking to

Mitch, and in his family as has been analyzed above. The last analysis of Morrie’s

self-actualization is in the society. Everyone lives in a society. Hence, it is a place

where everyone can actualize himself or herself.

When Morrie is a teenager, his father takes him to get a job in a fur factory

where his father works. Since there is barely enough work for the adult laborers

during the Depression, Morrie is not given the job and feels blessed because he

actually does not like the place and the boss who always screams at his workers to

work faster. Morrie makes a vow that he will never make money by exploiting others.

This, for Morrie, was a blessing. He hated the place. He made another vow

that he kept to the end of his life: he would never do any work that exploited

someone else, and he would never allow himself to make money off the

sweats of others? (78)

Morrie successfully keeps his vow. After finishing his doctoral degree, he decides to

work at a mental hospital because he thinks that “the research world would be a place

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where he could contribute without exploiting others” (109). He works there for five

years, and then becomes a teacher at Brandeis University where he contributes

himself for more than thirty years. He decides to have a phrase, “A Teacher to the

Last”, written on his tombstone (134).

When Morrie is first told by the doctor about his disease, he decides to make

his death as his final project. He thinks that people can study and learn something

about his current condition. He considers himself as a human text book (10). Thus, he

agrees to be interviewed by Ted Koppel, the host of the “Nightline” show. Although

he knows that the show may have a commercialism purpose by using him for a little

drama, he does not mind because he has the chance to convey his message to millions

of people (132). After the second show, letters from around the world keep coming to

Morrie. He will gather with his family and friends to have a letter-writing session

(85). The people writing letters to him mostly thank him for his inspiration on the

“Nightline” show.

According to Maslow (qtd. in Schultz 68-69), self actualizing people have a

great interest to help humanity. Morrie fits this point in which he has strong feelings

of empathy, love and affection for others. He refuses any jobs that exploit others.

Furthermore, it is because he has a great interest to help humanity that he decides to

make his death as his final project so that people can learn something from his

experience.

Besides having a great social interest to help humanity, Morrie is also able to

build strong interpersonal relationships with others. When he works at the mental

hospital, he faces the patients with care and patience. There is a patient, a middle-aged

woman, who always comes out of her room and lies down on the floor every day. She

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talks to no one and is ignored by everyone. It makes Morrie sad, and therefore, he sits

and even lies down beside her. At last, he is able to get her to return to her room.

…Every day, she did the same thing: came out in the morning, lay on the

floor, stayed there until the evening, talking to no one, ignored by everyone. It

saddened Morrie. He began to sit on the floor with her, even lay down

alongside her, trying to draw her out of her misery. Eventually, he got her to

sit up, and even to return to her room. What she mostly wanted, he learned,

was the same thing many people want-someone to notice she was there (110).

Moreover, Morrie also makes friends with some of the patients. One of them

is a woman who always spits at everyone. She even considers Morrie as her friend.

Morrie talks to her every day. However, one day she runs away from the hospital and

Morrie is asked to bring her back. When she sees Morrie, she becomes angry thinking

that Morrie is one of her ‘jailers’.

Another woman-who would spit at everyone else-took to Morrie and called

him her friend. They talked each day, and the staff was at least encouraged

that someone had gotten through her. But one day she ran away, and Morrie

was asked to help bring her back. They tracked her down in a nearby store,

hiding in the back, and when Morrie went in, she burned an angry look at him.

“So you’re one of them, too,” she snarled.

“One of who?”

“My jailers” (110-111).

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Morrie has always built strong interpersonal relationships with others. He has

developed his culture by interacting with people. He does not even waste his time to

watch movies like many people do.

Morrie, true to these words, had developed his own culture-long before he got

sick. Discussion groups, walk with friends… He started a project called

Greenhouse, where poor people could receive mental health services. He read

books to find new ideas for his classes, visited with collogues, kept up with

old students, wrote letters to distant friends. He took more eating and looking

at nature and wasted no time in front of TV sitcoms or “Movies of the Week.”

He had created a cocoon of human activities-conversation, interaction,

affection- and it filled his life like an overflowing soup bowl (42-43).

It is no wonder if Morrie’s former students always keep in touch with him.

When they know Morrie is sick, they call, write, and visit him. They all say that they

have never had another teacher like Morrie.

Then again, how many business or law students ever visit their old professor

once they leave? Morrie’s students did that all the time. And in his final

months, they came back to him, hundreds of them, from Boston, New York,

California, London, and Switzerland; from corporate offices and inner city

school programs. They called. They wrote. They drove hundreds of miles for

a visit, a word, a smile.

“I’ve never had another teacher like you,” they all said (113).

Morrie never fails to build good interpersonal relationships with others even

when he is dying. Morrie does not really care much about how to cure his disease,

how he can reduce the pain from the disease, or how he should take more rest.

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Instead, in his current condition he is able to entertain the people he loves. He has

some discussions about death. He asks his friends not to treat him with sympathy if

they want to help him but with visits, phone calls, a sharing of their problems.

In fact, he entertained a growing steam of visitors. He had discussion group

about dying, what it really meant, how societies had always been afraid of it

without necessarily understanding it. He told his friends that if they really

wanted to help him, they would treat him not with sympathy but with visits,

phone calls, a sharing of their problems- the way they had always shared their

problems, because Morrie has always been a good listener (11-12).

Morrie indeed suffers a lot with the progression of the disease. However, this

does not lessen his love for others. A strong relationship with others is what matters to

him. Giving to others makes him feel healthy and alive.

“Why do you think it’s important for me to hear other people’s problem?

Don’t I have enough pain and suffering of my own?

“Of course I do. But giving to other people is what makes me feel alive. Not

my car or my house. Not what I look like in the mirror. When I give my time,

when I can make someone smile after they were feeling sad, it’s close to

healthy as I ever feel (128).

In the second interview with Ted Koppel for the “Nightline” show, Morrie

tells Ted that it is the loving relationships he has with people and friends that keep

him strong. However, Morrie also admits that there are certain things that make him

feel dreadful, such as being unable to move his hands or losing his voice. For Morrie,

they are very important because it is the way he gives to people.

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“Here’s how my emotions go,” Morrie told Koppel. “When I have people and

friends here, I’m very up. The loving relationships maintain me.

“But there are days when I am depressed. Let me not deceive you. I see

certain things going and I feel a sense of dread. What am I going to do without

my hands? What happens when I can’t speak? Swallowing, I don’t care much

about- so they feed me through a tube, so what? But my voice? My hands?

They’re such an essential part of me. I talk with my voice and I gesture with

my hands. This is how I give to people” (70).

Ted then asks Morrie if he is unable to speak, what the scene will be like when Morrie

meets his beloved friend, Maurrie Stein, who sends Morrie’s aphorisms to the Boston

Globe. Stein is unable to hear while Morrie is unable to speak. Morrie responds that

they will only hold hands because they have had thirty-five years of friendship, and

therefore, they do not need speech or hearing. Holding hands is enough for them to

feel a lot of love passing between them (71).

Based on Maslow’s theory (qtd. in Schultz 68-69), Morrie has strong personal

relationships with others. He places love and deep friendship with all the people he

happens to know like his colleagues, friends, and students.

Besides having strong interpersonal relationships with others, Morrie also

possesses a democratic character structure, one of the characteristics of self-

actualizing people proposed by Maslow (qtd. in Schultz 68-69). It means that Morrie

does not feel superior towards others. He addresses his students with “my friends” (9).

He does not think that he has a higher status compared to the students who have a

lower educational level.

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When Morrie is unable to wash his behind, he tells Connie, his nurse who

takes care of him, about his complete dependency. One typical thing is that he always

asks Connie first whether she minds washing his behind. This shows that he does not

feel superior towards Connie, his helper.

…No longer able to reach behind him when he used the commode, he

informed Connie of his latest limitation.

“Would you be embarrassed to do it for me?”

She said no.

I found it typical that he asked her first. 115

To conclude, Morrie is able to self-actualize in the society in which he is

involved. He has a great interest in helping humanity. One of the ways to show this

quality is by making his death as his final project where every one can learn what

really matters in life. Morrie, moreover, always builds strong and loving interpersonal

relations with others, such as his colleagues, friends, and students. In interacting with

those people, he never shows that he is more superior even to his nurse who takes care

of him. He also does not show his superiority to those who have a lower educational

level considering that he is a prominent and respected professor. This shows he has a

democratic character structure.

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CHAPTER V

CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS

This chapter is divided into two sections. The first section states conclusions

which outline Morrie’s characterization and self-actualization. The second section

describes suggestions for future researchers and teaching-learning activities.

A. Conclusions

This part is divided into two points. The first one is Morrie’s characterization

and his self-actualization is the second point. The detailed elaboration is as follows.

1. Morrie’s Characterization

Based on the analysis presented in the previous chapter, Morrie is

characterized as an old and weak man who is dying because he suffers from ALS

(Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis). He is also described as tough, straightforward, wise

and affectionate man. These characteristics can be seen from personal description,

characters as seen by others, speech, past life, conversation of others, reactions, direct

comments, thoughts, and mannerism.

The progress of Morrie’s disease results in his being unable to stand, walk,

dress and bathe himself. Morrie ends up sitting in a wheelchair as the disease attacks

his leg. Day by day, his body gradually weakens. However, Morrie is a tough man

who never gives up with his shortcomings. He does not feel sorry for himself. He lets

himself drop a few tears if he needs to which usually happens in the morning when he

wakes up and mourns for what he has lost. He then focuses on things he still has.

Moreover, he is also very straightforward. He never hides his feelings and

emotions. He always expresses them in open and direct ways. Morrie is also depicted

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as a wise man. His wisdom can be seen from the life lessons he passes to Mitch in his

final project to which he calls “The Meaning of Life”. To accomplish the project,

Morrie and Mitch meet every Tuesday. During each visit, they talk about what-really-

matters-in-life issues. Furthermore, Morrrie is also presented as an affectionate man.

Although he lives with a very unaffectionate and ignorant father, he grows to be very

affectionate. His bad childhood experience does not make him treat his children as his

father does. He has a strong and close relationship with his wife and two sons. He also

builds strong interpersonal relations with his colleques, friends, and students as well.

2. Morrie’s Self-Actualization

Morrie’s self-actualization is revealed in his ways of living, namely in facing

his disease, in talking to Mitch, in his family, and in the society where he is involved.

He presents himself as a self-actualizing person by possessing the characteristics of

self-actualizing people.

For most people, knowing they are soon going to die may mean a catastrophe.

Morrie, however, is not like most people. When he first knows he is suffering from a

deadly disease, he has decided not to give up. Although Morrie is dying and suffering

a lot because of ALS, he is able to show his self-actualization. He decides to make his

death as his final project with he himself as the object to be researched. This shows

his creativeness and efficient perception of reality as well. Furthermore, he also shows

that he is autonomous functioning in a way that he can remain calm and face his

disease with courage and positive thoughts. He is also able to accept his nature as it is.

He accepts his current condition and never complains about the pains caused by the

disease. In addition, he is also able to behave in a very spontaneous, simple, and

natural way. He shows his feelings and emotions in open and direct ways without

pretending. Although Morrie suffers a lot, he is still able to focus on problems outside

67


himself. He considers his work as a mission to which he devotes all if his energy.

Moreover, Morrie has a strong need for privacy and independence in a way he can

make a profound decision not to give up. Morrie is also able to continuously

appreciate certain experiences. He is drawn to nature as if it is his first time in seeing

it. Moreover, he is able to experience mystical, ‘peak’ experiences for his love of

music. Furthermore, he possesess an unhostile sense of humor. In addition, Morrie has

a great social interest in humanity, and therefore, is able to build good interpersonal

relationships with others.

In doing the final project with Mitch, Morrie shows how he self-actualizes. He

does not feel superior towards Mitch who has a lower educational level. Instead, he

makes friends with Mitch. He is able to build a strong friendship with Mitch.

Moreover, the lesson he passess to Mitch about creating one’s own culture shows his

resistance to enculturation and his ability to differentiate between good and evil.

Furthermore, he is also able to consider a means as an end in a way that he enjoys a

lot talking to Mitch.

Morrie also shows his self-actualization in his family. He is able to build a

loving interpersonal relationship with his wife and his two sons. He, moreover, is able

to have an efficient perception of reality.

Furthermore, in the society where he is involved, Morrie is also able to be a

self-actualizing person. He has a great interest in helping humanity. Making his death

as his final project is one of the ways of showing this quality. He wants every one to

learn what really matters in life. Morrie, moreover, always builds strong and loving

interpersonal relations with others, such as his colleagues, friends, and students. In

interacting with these people, he never shows he is more superior compared to those

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who have a lower educational level considering that he is a prominent and respected

professor. Obviously, he has a democratic character structure.

B. Suggestions

There are two sections in this part. In the first section, I propose some

suggestions for future researchers. While in the second section, I give a suggestion for

teaching reading using the novel.

1. Suggestions for Future Researchers

Tuesdays with Morrie is a very interesting novel to read. It portrays the life of

Morrie Schwartz, a former professor at Brandeis University, who suffers from ALS

(Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis). There are many moral values and qualities as

depicted in Morrie. How he lives his life is certainly interesting to analyze. Hence,

this study focuses on Morrie’s self-actualization using psychological approach.

Future researchers who are interested in conducting a study of this novel may

focus on Morrie’s positivism. They may also analyze the people who influence

Morrie to develop, such as his father, his step mother, his only brother, etc. To get a

deeper analysis, a biographical approach can be applied since the novel is a

biographical novel.

Another aspect that is possible to analyze is Morrie’s culture he develops

compared to the culture in his society using sociocultural-historical approach.

2. Suggestion for Teaching Reading

Reading literary works, especially novels can give great pleasure. However, it

is not merely about ‘entertaining’ the readers. A novel can convey important values

69


about life because it portrays real life experiences. Therefore, a novel can be used as a

rich source in teaching English as a second language.

There are some good reasons for using a novel in teaching English as a second

language. As mentioned before, a novel presents real life experiences. Thus, students

can learn different cultures so as to enrich their knowledge and cross-cultural

understanding. Furthermore, using a novel to teach English can expose students to the

real target language.

The novel used in this study, Tuesdays with Morrie, contains many issues to

discuss. I recommend it to teach the second semester students of English Education

Study Program in Reading II. One of the issues to discuss is death. The detailed

activities are as follows:

1. The teacher asks some questions to brain storm and introduce the topic.

2. The teacher distributes the text to the students and asks them to read it.

3. The teacher encourages the students to first guess the meaning of new

vocabularies, and then consult them with a dictionary.

4. The teacher asks the students to work in pairs and answer the questions given to

enhance their comprehension skills.

5. The teacher discusses the answers to the questions with the class.

6. The teacher asks the students to work individually and write their perception on

death

7. The teacher reviews the lesson.

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http://www.amazon.com/Tuesdays-Morrie-Young-GreatestLesson/dp/0385484518accessed on Friday, July 6th, 2007 at 18.40 p.m.

http://www.amazon.com/Tuesdays-Morrie-Young-GreatestLesson/dp/0385484518accessed on Friday, July 6th, 2007 at 18. 43 p.m.

http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/morrie/quotes.html accessed on Saturday, July 21st,2007 at 2.05 p.m.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitch_Albom accessed on Saturday, July 21st, 2007 at2.19 p.m.

72


Appendix 1

The Summary of Tuesdays with Morrie

Mitch Albom, the book's narrator, recalls his graduation from Brandeis

University in the spring of 1979. After he has received his diploma, Mitch approaches

his favorite professor, Morrie Schwartz, and presents him with a monogrammed

briefcase. While at Brandeis, Mitch takes almost all of the sociology courses Morrie

had taught. He promises Morrie, who is crying, that he will keep in touch, though he

does not fulfill his promise. Years after Mitch's graduation from Brandeis, Morrie is

forced to forfeit dancing, his favorite hobby, because he has been diagnosed with

ALS, a debilitating disease that leaves his "soul, perfectly awake, imprisoned inside a

limp husk" of a body. Morrie's wife, Charlotte, cares for Morrie, though at his

insistence, keeps her job as a professor at M.I.T.

Sixteen years after his graduation from Brandeis, Mitch is feeling frustrated

with the life he has chosen to live. After his uncle dies of pancreatic cancer, Mitch

abandons his failing career as a musician to become a well-paid journalist for a

Detroit newspaper. Mitch promises his wife Janine that they will have children

eventually, though he spends all of his time at work, away on reporting assignments.

One night, Mitch is flipping the channels on his television and recognizes Morrie's

voice. Morrie is being featured on the television program "Nightline" in the first of

three interviews with Ted Koppel, whom he quickly befriends. Before consenting to

be interviewed, Morrie surprises and softens the famed newscaster when he asks

Koppel what is "close to his heart." Mitch is stunned to see his former professor on

television.

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Following Morrie's television appearance, Mitch contacts his beloved

professor and travels from his home in Detroit to Morrie's home in West Newton,

Massachusetts to visit with him. When Mitch drives up to Morrie's house, he delays

greeting his professor because he is speaking on the phone with his producer, a

decision he later regrets.

Shortly after his reunion with Morrie, Mitch works himself nearly to death reporting

on the Wimbledon tennis tournament in London. There, he spends much time thinking

about Morrie and forfeits reading the tabloids, as he now seeks more meaning in his

life and knows that he will not gain this meaning from reading about celebrities and

gossip. He is knocked over by a swarm of reporters chasing celebrities Andre Agassi

and Brooke Shields, and it is then that Mitch realizes he is chasing after the wrong

thing. When he returns to his home in Detroit, Mitch learns that the article he has

worked so hard to write will not even be published, as the union he belongs to is

striking against the newspaper he works for. Once more, Mitch travels to Boston to

visit Morrie.

Following their first Tuesday together, Mitch returns regularly every Tuesday

to listen to Morrie's lessons on "The Meaning of Life." Each week, Mitch brings

Morrie food to eat, though as Morrie's condition worsens he is no longer able to enjoy

solid food. In his first of three interviews with Koppel for "Nightline," Morrie admits

that the thing he dreads most about his worsening condition is that someday, he will

not be able to wipe himself after using the bathroom. Eventually, this fear comes true.

Interspersed throughout Mitch's visits to Morrie are flashbacks to their days together

at Brandeis. Mitch describes himself as a student who had acted tough, but had sought

the tenderness he recognized in Morrie. At Brandeis, Mitch and Morrie shared a

relationship more like that between father and son than teacher and student. Soon

(2)


before Morrie's death, when his condition has deteriorated so much that he can no

longer breathe or move on his own, he confides that if he could have another son, he

would choose Mitch.

In his childhood, Morrie had been very poor. His father, Charlie had been cold and

dispassionate, and had neglected to provide for Morrie and his younger brother

emotionally and financially. At the age of eight, Morrie must read the telegram that

brings news of his mother's death, as he is the only one in his family who can read

English. Charlie marries Eva, a kind woman who gives Morrie and his brother the

love and affection they need. Eva also instills in Morrie his love of books and his

desire for education. However, Charlie insists that Morrie keep his mother's death a

secret, as he wants Morrie's younger brother to believe that Eva is his biological

mother. This demand to keep his mother's death a secret proves a terrible emotional

burden for young Morrie; he keeps the telegram all of his life as proof that his mother

had existed. Now that he is nearing his death, Morrie says that he has reverted to a

figurative infancy, and tries in earnest "enjoy being a baby again." He and Mitch often

hold hands throughout their sessions together.

In his lessons, Morrie advises Mitch to reject the popular culture in favor of

creating his own. The individualistic culture Morrie encourages Mitch to create for

himself is a culture founded on love, acceptance, and human goodness, a culture that

upholds a set of ethical values unlike the mores that popular culture endorses. Popular

culture, Morrie says, is founded on greed, selfishness, and superficiality, which he

urges Mitch to overcome. Morrie also stresses that he and Mitch must accept death

and aging, as both are inevitable.

On one Tuesday, Janine travels with Mitch to visit Morrie. Janine is a

professional singer, and Morrie asks her to sing for him. Though she does not usually

(3)


sing upon request, Janine concedes, and her voice moves Morrie to tears. Morrie cries

freely and often, and continually encourages Mitch to do so also. As Morrie's

condition deteriorates, so does that of the pink hibiscus plant that sits on the window

ledge in his study. Mitch becomes increasingly aware of the evil in media, as it

drenches the country with stories of murder and hatred. One such story is the murder

trial of O.J. Simpson, the verdict of which causes major racial division between

whites and blacks.

Mitch tape records his discussions with Morrie so that he may compile notes with

which to write a book, Tuesdays With Morrie, a project which he and Morrie refer to

as their "last thesis together." Morrie continually tells Mitch that he wants to share his

stories with the world, the book will allow him to do just that.

Meanwhile, at Morrie's insistence, Mitch attempts to restore his relationship

with his brother Peter who lives in Spain. For many years, Peter has refused his

family's help in battling pancreatic cancer and insists on seeking treatment alone.

Mitch calls Peter and leaves numerous phone messages, though the only reply he

receives from his brother is a curt message in which Peter insists he is fine, and

reminds Mitch that he does not want to talk about his illness. Morrie prophetizes that

Mitch will once more become close with his brother, a prophecy which, after Morrie's

death, is realized. At Morrie's funeral, Mitch recalls his promise to continue his

conversations with his professor and conducts a silent dialogue with Morrie in his

head. Mitch had expected such a dialogue to feel awkward, however this

communication feels far more natural than he had ever expected.

Taken from:

http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/morrie/ accessed on Saturday, July 21st, 2007 at 2.05

(4)


Appendix 2

The Biography of Mitch Albom

Mitchell David Albom (born May 23, 1958 in Passaic, New Jersey) is a U.S. novelist

and newspaper columnist for the Detroit Free Press, radio host, and TV commentator.

He is a graduate of Akiba Hebrew Academy, Brandeis University, and Columbia

University. Before becoming a journalist, Albom was briefly an amateur boxer,

nightclub singer, and pianist.

Sports Columnist

Albom first gained fame as a sports columnist for the Detroit Free Press

newspaper.Between 1985 and 2000 Albom wrote several sports columns each week,

as well as a regular column in Playgirl Magazine. Presently, his columns appear on a

sporadic basis. During that time, Albom also provided regular sports updates on local

radio stations.

Each year his sports columns were entered in the Associated Press Sports Editors

contest. Albom competed against columnists at newspapers with a circulation above

250,000. All entries are judged anonymously. Preliminary judging is done by more

than 90 sports editors, then senior news executives at papers throughout the United

States make the final awards. The judges change each year. Albom is the most

decorated winner in the history of the contest. Between 1985 and 2000 Albom won

first place in column writing thirteen times, and between 1991 and 2000 he won first

prize in feature story writing seven times.

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During a strike at the Detroit Free Press in the mid-1990s that gained considerable

national attention, Albom crossed the picket line and returned to work.

Author

Albom wrote Tuesdays With Morrie in 1997. After being featured prominently on

Oprah Winfrey's show, the book became a best-seller, and Oprah Winfrey produced a

television movie adaptation for ABC starring Hank Azaria and Jack Lemmon. The

television movie adaptation of Tuesdays with Morrie was the most watched television

movie of 1999 and won four Emmy Awards. Albom's second book is the New York

Times best-seller The Five People You Meet in Heaven (2003). It was turned into a

television movie for ABC, starring Jon Voight, Ellen Burstyn, Michael Imperioli and

Jeff Daniels.

Some of Albom's other contributions include "Live Albom" volumes I-V, Fab Five,

and Bo.

Albom's most recent book, published in 2006, is titled For One More Day, about a

son who gets to spend a day with his mother who died eight years earlier.

Albom was suspended from the Detroit Free Press for prewriting and submitting an

article about an event that didn't occur. The article featured outright fabriciations

including descriptions of alumni players clothing at a basketball game they never

attended. He issued an apology regarding his misreporting that the players attended

the game but never apologized for fabricating particular descriptions.

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Personal life

After his experiences with Morrie Schwartz, subject of Tuesdays with Morrie, he

started a Detroit volunteer group in 1998 called "A Time to Help". Every month, the

group (affiliated with Volunteer Impact) does a project to help serve and improve the

Detroit community. Projects have included work at homeless shelters, food banks,

senior citizens homes, and orphanages. Albom and radio co-host Ken Brown lead

each project and try to use the group as a catalyst to increase volunteerism.

Albom is also part of a rock band, The Rock Bottom Remainders, whose members are

all published writers.

Albom appears regularly on ESPN's The Sports Reporters and SportsCenter. His

radio show airs on WJR radio in Detroit from 5 to 7 p.m. ET, with Mondays having

an extra hour for just sports as of 2006. The radio show was simulcast on MSNBC in

2001.

Albom currently lives in Michigan with his wife Janine.

Albom appeared on the Dr. Phil show on May 30, 2007.

Taken from:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitch_Albom accessed on Saturday, July 21st, 2007 at2.19 p.m.

(7)


Appendix 3

Lesson Plan for Teaching Reading

Subject : English

Skill : Reading

Topic : Death

Level : 2nd semester students of English Education Study

Program

Material : Chapter 13 of the novel Tuesdays with Morrie, pages 80-85

(enclosed)

Time Allocation : 2 x 50 minutes

BasicCompetencies

AchievementIndicators

Learning Experiences Form ofEvaluation

Reading The students

are able tocomprehend thenarrativepassage given

finding specificinformation inthe passage

finding theimpliedmeanings of thepassage

getting a morallesson on death

The students answer thepre-reading questionsgiven by the teacher

The students read thepassage to understandthe content

The students work inpairs answer thecomprehensionquestions

The students discusstheir answers togetherwith the teacher

The students workindividually to writetheir perception aboutdeath

Students’participationandsubmittedwork

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Appendix 4

Questions for Teaching Reading

Pre-Reading Questions:

1. Is there any person in the world who can live forever and ever?

2. Who is the oldest person in the world? How old is he/she?

3. Is there any person in the world who can decide how long he/she would like to

live?

Whilst-Reading Questions:

1. Who is the narrator of the passage?

2. What is the newest thing the narrator mentions in Morrie’s house? What does

it tell?

3. Morrie says, “Everyone knows they’re going to die, but nobody believes it”.

What does it mean?

4. What is the better approach Morrie proposes to the idea of seeing death?

5. Why does he think it is a better approach? How to put the better approach into

practice?

6. Why is it so hard for people to think about dying?

7. Why does Morrie appreciate the window more than Mitch? What does the

window symbolize?

8. In your opinion, what kind of person Morrie and Mitch are?

Post-Reading Questions:

What is your perception on death?

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