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THOMSEN’S MOTIVATION TO OVERCOME POVERTY
OF THE VILLAGERS SEEN IN LIVING POOR A PEACE
CORP CHRONICLE BY MORITZ THOMSEN
AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements
for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra
in English Letters
By
HELYNKA RESI ASTIKA
Student Number: 114 214 045
ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAM
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS
FACULTY OF LETTERS
SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
YOGYAKARTA
2018
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THOMSEN’S MOTIVATION TO OVERCOME POVERTY
OF THE VILLAGERS SEEN IN LIVING POOR A PEACE
CORP CHRONICLE BY MORITZ THOMSEN
AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements
for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra
in English Letters
By
HELYNKA RESI ASTIKA
Student Number: 114 214 045
ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAM
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS
FACULTY OF LETTERS
SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
YOGYAKARTA
2018
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“IF I HAVE THE BELIEF THAT I CAN DO IT, I SHALL SURELY ACQUIRE THE CAPACITY TO
DO IT EVEN IF I MAY NOT HAVE IT AT THE BEGINNING.”
-MAHATMA GANDHI
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For My Beloved Parents
“You are precious to me, and I have given you
a special place of honor. I love you.”
Isaiah 43:4a
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
First of all, I would like to thank my Lord, Jesus Christ for His blessing,
everlasting love in my life. He gives me strength for my day, comfort for my
tears, and light for my way. I am nothing without Him. I praise Him in every
second in my life.
I am indebted to my thesis advisor, Drs. Hirmawan Wijanarka, M.Hum,
for his advice, time, patient guidance and inspiration in the process of writing
my undergraduate thesis from the beginning until now. My appreciation also
goes to my co-advisor, Adventina Putranti, SS., M.Hum for the correction and
guidance that help me complete this undergraduate thesis. I also want to thank
my lecturers in Sanata Dharma University, secretariat and library staff who have
helped and supported me during the process of my study.
I would also like to give my greatest gratitude to my beloved parents,
Pudjono Hermanto and Adi Nurati who patiently wait for my undergraduate
thesis and always give me the unconditional support, motivation, loves and cares
for me. I would like to thank my sister and brothers, Kartika Ardiansari, Bryan
Wisnu Hernadi, Agustinus Yudhianto Herawan and also my little nephew
Angelo Hadiatma Hayu Waratmaja. Thanks for their love, guidance, and support
for me to finish my study. Also for my grandmother, Darti Silih Antara who
always support me to finish this study and remind me to do my obligation.
I would like to also thank my best friend Nuradha Triyaningtias who
always gives me the never-ending motivation and be my partner for sharing all
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my problems. Thank my friend Yohanes Satrio Prabowo who always gives me
support and his time helping my troubles before I submit this undergraduate
thesis. Thank for all my friends in Sanata Dharma University, for their
happiness, time, motivation and love. I thank my kost friends MB 21 for their
support too.
Last but not least, I thank all people that that have helped and supported
me. I could not make these happen without you.
Love,
Helynka Resi Astika
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
TITLE PAGE ............................................................................................................ ii
APPROVAL PAGE ................................................................................................. iii
ACCEPTANCE PAGE ........................................................................................... iv
LEMBAR PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN PUBLIKASI KARYA ILMIAH
..................................................................................................................................... v
STATEMENT OF ORIGINALITY ...................................................................... vi
MOTTO PAGE ...................................................................................................... vii
DEDICATION PAGE ........................................................................................... viii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .................................................................................... ix
TABLE OF CONTENTS ........................................................................................ xi
ABSTRACT ............................................................................................................ xiii
ABSTRAK .............................................................................................................. xiiii
CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION ........................................................................... 1
A. Background of the Study .......................................................................... 1
B. Problem Formulation ................................................................................ 3
C. Objectives of The Study ........................................................................... 4
D. Definition of Terms .................................................................................. 4
CHAPTER II: REVIEW OF LITERATURE ....................................................... 5
A. Review of Related Studies ....................................................................... 5
B. Review of Related Theories ..................................................................... 9
1. Theory of Character and Characterization ................................... 9
2. Theory of Motivation ................................................................. 12
3. The Relation between Psychology and Literature ...................... 17
C. Theoretical Framework .......................................................................... 19
CHAPTER III: METHODOLOGY ...................................................................... 21
A. Object of The Study ............................................................................... 21
B. Approach of The Study .......................................................................... 23
C. Method of The Study .............................................................................. 23
CHAPTER IV: ANALYSIS .................................................................................. 25
A. The Description of Thomsen’s Character .............................................. 25
1. Smart .................. ................................................................................25
2. Caring.............. ........... ........................................................................28
3. Confident .......................................................................................... 29
4. Enthusiastic.................. ......... .............................................................31
B. Thomsen’s Motivation to Overcome Poverty of the Villagers .............. 33
1. To Change the Mindset of the Villagers ........................................... 34
2. To make a Better Life for the Villagers ........................................... 38
CHAPTER V: CONCLUSION ............................................................................. 42
BIBLIOGRAPHY .................................................................................................. 44
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APPENDIX ............................................................................................................. 46
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ABSTRACT
HELYNKA RESI ASTIKA. Thomsen’s Motivation to Overcome Poverty of
The Villagers Seen in Living Poor A Peace Corp Chronicle by Moritz
Thomsen. Yogyakarta: Departement of English Letters, Faculty of Letters,
Sanata Dharma University, 2017.
Moritz Thomsen: Living Poor A Peace Corp Chronicle is a story that about the
main character, Moritz Thomsen, in his experience as a Peace Corps volunteer
in the 1960s in a small village in Ecuador named Rio Verde. Thomsen comes to
the village with aim that he will be successful, that he will make a difference,
and he can help people out of poverty.
As the ground of the study, there are two problems formulated. The first
problem discusses the characteristic of Thomsen. The second problem discussed
Thomsen’s motivation to overcome poverty of the villagers.
This study employs library research in order to find out the characteristics of
Thomsen and how his characteristics reveal his motivation to overcome poverty
of the villagers. The writer collects the data by analyzing the books and web-
based articles. This study applies the psychological approach to analyze
Thomsen’s motivation to overcome poverty of the villagers.
The study finds out that there is some characterization from Thomsen as the
main character, smart, caring, confident, and enthusiatic. Furthermore, from the
characterization which has been analyzed previously, this study then continues
analyzing motivation of Thomsen to overcome poverty of the villagers in
Ecuador. There are two motivations from Thomsen, to change the mindset of the
villagers and to make a better life of the villagers.
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ABSTRAK
HELYNKA RESI ASTIKA. Thomsen’s Motivation to Overcome Poverty of
The Villagers Seen in Living Poor A Peace Corp Chronicle by Moritz
Thomsen. Yogyakarta: Program Studi Sastra Inggris, Fakultas Sastra,
Universitas Sanata Dharma, 2017.
Moritz Thomsen: Living Poor A Peace Corp Chronicle adalah sebuah cerita
yang menceritakan tentang karakter utama, Moritz Thomsen, dalam
pengalamannya ketika bergabung sebagai sukarelawan Peace Corp pada tahun
1960an di desa kecil di Ecuador, Rio Verde. Thomsen datang ke desa tersebut
dengan maksud dia akan sukses, bahwa dia akan membuat suatu perubahan, dan
dia dapat membantu masyarakat terbebas dari kemisikinan.
Sebagai dasar penelitian, penulis merumuskan dua rumusan masalah. Rumusan
masalah pertama membahas karakteristik Thomsen. Rumusan masalah kedua
membahas motivasi Thomsen untuk mengatasi penduduk desa dari kemiskinan.
Penelitian ini menggunakan studi pustaka untuk mengetahui karakteristik
Thomsen dan bagaimana kerakteristiknya tersebut mengungkapkan motivasinya
untuk mengatasi penduduk desa dari kemiskinan. Penulis memperoleh data
dengan menganalisis buku dan artikel berbasis web. Penelitian ini menerapkan
pendekatan psikologis untuk menganalisis motivasi Thomsen mengatasi
penduduk desa dari kemiskinan.
Dari analisis ini menemukan bahwa ada beberapa karakterisasi dari Thomsen
sebagai karakter utaman, pintar, peduli, percaya diri dan bersemangat.
Selanjutnya, dari karakterisasi yang sudah dianalisis sebelumnya, analisis ini
kemudian berlanjut dengan menganalisis motivasi Thomsen untuk mengatasi
kemiskinan penduduk desa di Ecuador. Ada dua motivasi dari Thomsen, untuk
mengubah cara pikir penduduk desa dan untuk membuat kehidupan penduduk
desa lebih baik.
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CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
A. Background of the Study
William Henry Hudson (2006:10) defines literature as a vital record of
what men have seen in life, what they have experienced of it, what they have
thought and felt about those aspects of it. By that idea, the writer sees that one
uses literary works as medium to express their feelings that are related to social
life. Literature becomes essential because it covers people, feelings, ideas, and
thought about social life.
It is obvious that one has purposes in life that lead him/her to his/her
destiny. Thus, that person will have many interactions with others in order to
achieve his/her purposes. The writer may say that those interactions are done as
an effort to survive. Besides, the purposes of a person life in this world is also to
fulfill his/her needs and reach his/her destiny.
In fact, human being has a privilege to share their thought and their
feeling with other human beings. They need to interact with other human beings
in their society to learn about life. Through literature, people express the way
they think and feel about the world, their relationship with each other their
society, and their life.
A literary work may presents a real life since literature ‘represents’ ‘life’,
and ‘life’ is in large measure, a social reality, even though the natural
work and the inner or subjective world of the individual also been
objects of literary ‘imitation’ (Wellek & Warren, 1956:93).
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From the quotation above, it can be said that a literary work is an
imitation of life. If a literary work is a representation of reality, it can be said
that the characters in the literary work represent human nature.
When analyzing a literary work, it would be better if we analyze the
separate elements that build the literary work. This idea is strengthened by
Kenney’s statement in his book:
To analyze a literary work is to identify the separate parts that make it up
(this corresponds roughly to the notion of treating it to process), to
determine the relationship among parts, and to discover the relation of
parts to the whole (1996:5).
A book is one of the parts which is become the important thing for the
readers in understanding a literary work. By understanding the book itself, the
readers will find out all the necessary information in a literary work which can
be useful in analyzing it.
Motivation of the character is one of the necessary information in literary
work. Gerrig and Zimbardo in Psychological and Life (2002:364), define
motivation as a process of starting, directing and maintaining physical and
psychological activities toward a certain goal. In general, when we speak of
motivation we are referring to the causes or reason that underlie a given
behavior.
Moreover, a literary work can be viewed through various approaches. A
psychological approach is one of the approaches that can be used to analyze the
behavior of character in the story that influences their motivation in doing
action. Motivation is one aspect that influences human’s behavior.
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Moritz Thomsen has produced four books in his lifetime, Living Poor: A
Peace Corps Chronicle, The Farm on the River of Emeralds, The Saddest
Pleasure, and My Two Wars. Those books reveal Thomsen’s memoirs of life.
Marcus Convert stated, “Thomsen’s four books are all memoirs; they contain
everything he cared to say about his extraordinary life. Thomsen’s choice of
memoir as his genre may partly explain his “little-known status”
(http://peacecorpsworldwide.org, October 11, 2017).
Since the author’s memoir of life is the strongest element of Thomsen’s
works, the writer is interested to analyzing one of Thomsen’s works, Living
Poor: A Peace Corps Chronicle. This Thomsen’s first book was published by
University of Washington Press in 1969. It is considered to be one of the best
accounts of the Peace Corps experience to this day.
In this study, the writer tries to analyze the characterization of Thomsen
and his motivation to overcome poverty of the villagers in Rio Verde. It is
interesting to be analyzed since it tells about a 48-year-old farmer who joined
the Peace Corps because he was good at two things, living poor and farming. He
has motivation to overcome poverty of the villagers and would make the
Ecuadorian have a better life.
B. Problem Formulation
To achieve the objective and specify the study, two research questions
related to the topic have been prepared. The questions are formulated as follows:
1. How is the character of Thomsen described in the story?
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2. What is Thomsen’s motivation to overcome poverty of the villagers seen
in Living Poor A Peace Corp Chronicle’s story?
C. Objectives of the Study
This study, in general, is intended to analyze the characteristic of
Thomsen in the story. Furthermore, this study intends to find Thomsen’s
motivation to overcome poverty of the villagers.
D. Definition of Terms
In order to avoid misunderstanding and ambiguity in this study, the
writer gives some explanations about the meaning of terms that are closely
related to the topic. The first term is characters. Abrams delivers that
characters are the person which presented in a dramatic or narrative work, who
are interpreted by the reader as being endowed by moral, dispositional and
emotional qualities which are expressed in their dialogue and action (1985:23).
The second term is motivation. According to Petri, motivation is the
concepts we use when describing the forces acting on an organism to initiate
direct certain behavior (1981:3).
In other words, motivation is the reason underlying someone to start
doing an action. Motivation in this study refers to the reason why Thomsen
overcome poverty of the villagers.
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CHAPTER II
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
A. Review of Related Studies
In order to support the study, it is necessary for the writer to discuss the
studies that have been done related to the topic and object of this study.
There are two researchers from Sanata Dharma University that discuss
the same topic. The first is Brilyan Nilam Pratiwi, a student of English Letter
Study Program Department of English Letters of Sanata Dharma University,
2009. In her study entitled “Wanderer’s Motivation to Live with Human in
Stephenie Meyer’s the Host”, Pratiwi focuses on Wanderer’s motivation to live
with human. There are three points in her analysis. The first is the description
of Wanderer’s characterization, the second is description of the conflict of
Wanderer, and the third is how her motivation to live with human is revealed
due to the influence of her characterization on and conflict.
She uses psychological approach in analyzing her work since it deals
with motivation. Thus, she obtains an understanding of Wanderer’s mind,
feelings and behaviors that influence her motivation to live with human.
The last, the writer finds out the reasons behind Wanderer’s motivation
using Maslow’s hierarchy of needs that are influenced by her characteristics
and her conflict. Wanderer is motivated to live with humans to fulfill her
physiological needs, safety needs, love needs or belongingness needs, and
esteem needs.(Pratiwi, 2009: xi )
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Wanderer is motivated to live with human, firstly in order to fulfill her
physiological needs such as drinks and food. The second level, which is
safety needs also fulfilled because human can give her protection from
Seeker and another human who wants to kills her. Her love or
belongingness needs also fulfilled as human consider her as friend and
also part of their community. Last, her need of esteem is also fulfilled
when they are appreciated and respect her as important as human. She
is no longer seen as an enemy due to the fact that she does the best she
can do for them (Pratiwi, 2009: 55).
It can be concluded that Wanderer’s characters and conflicts influenced
her motivation to live with human. Her strength, bravery, intelligence,
persistence, compassion, and sincerity affect her behavior to solve her
conflicts. This characters motivate Wanderer to fulfill her physiological needs,
safety needs, love or belongingness needs, and esteem needs that happen when
the conflict arise. Her needs can be fulfilled only when she lives with human.
Meanwhile, Wiwit Hendra Asmara a student of English Language
Education Study Program Department of Language and Arts Education
Faculty of Teachers and Education Sanata Dharma University, 2006, in her
study entitled “The Motivation of Jewel’s Heroic Actions as Seen in
Faulkner's As I Lay Dying” focuses on Jewel’s motivation in committing
heroic actions happened in his daily life besides in his ignorant and selfish
attitude.
Jewel commits his heroic actions because he gets pleasure when he is
able to give other people something they need. In other words, he gets
satisfaction when he succeeds in helping other people. His motivations
to sympathy based on the fact that he treats other people as a subject
rather than an object. He gives them what they want instead using them
to get what he wants. His heroic actions are solid evidence that he has a
great love towards his family (Asmara, 2011: xiii).
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He uses psychological approach in analyzing her work since the study
is aimed at getting a deeper understanding of the character’s motivation in
committing such heroic actions.
His undergraduate thesis is closely related to this study, discussing the
same topic about motivation. He focuses to analyze on Jewel’s motivation in
committing heroic action happened in his daily family life. Meanwhile, this
study focuses on Thomsen's motivation to overcome poverty in Ecuador . The
main difference between Asmara’s undergraduate thesis and this
undergraduate thesis is the object of the study. While Asmara tried to analyze
the novel descriptively by focusing on Jewel’s his motivation happened in his
daily family life, this undergraduate thesis tries to reveal the Thomsen’s
motivation happened in Ecuador area.
Jeffrey S. Blumberg, J.D a student of The School of Continuing Studies
and of The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Masters of Arts in Liberal
Studies Georgetown University in his thesis entitled “The American Dream
Through The Window of Peace Corps Memoirs”. He focuses on whether and
how Peace Corps volunteers attempt to impart the values of the American
Dream to the communities where him serve. “Thomsen is constantly trying to
coach him on the path to success, a path that can define by the values of
conservative American Dream; thrift, hard work, perseverance, and diligence”
(2008:44).
Thomsen was in one of the first Peace Corps volunteer groups, and an
analysis of his memoir sheds light on the idea of volunteers trying to
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impart the values of the American Dream to the communities where
they served (2008:38).
It explains that Thomsen join Peace Corp is from his willingnes and he
want to deliver to the villagers about the good behavior like an American to
make a better life and to change the villagers’ condition better.
As Thomsen works in his village, as he tries to impart his American
Dream values, he learns about himself and the villagers he is serving.
An analysis of his experience opens up the window to the American
Dream as it is being imparted by one volunteer to a small village in
Ecuador in the 1960s”(2008:39).
It means that Thomsen comes to the village with purpose that he will be
successful, that he will make s difference, that he can help the villagers out
from poverty and help them find the version of American Dream.
The last, the writer finds out the result of the volunteers, Thomsen that
attempt to impart the values of American Dream to the Ecuadorian. That the
values of American Dream cannot be applied in his service in Ecuador. “In the
end, Thomsen faces disillusionment and learns that the villagers have to find
happiness within their own culture and that the American Dream ideas do not
necessarily fit that equation” (2008:51). The focus is different from this study,
but his study is discussing the same work.
The two studies from Brilyan Nilam Pratiwi and Wiwit Hendra Asmara
reviewed above describe the same topic that is about the motivation of
someone to reach their goals. Although the studies mentioned have the same
topic, but the contexts are different. The first study discusses the Wanderer’s
motivation to live with human and her sincerity is genuine because she helps
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humans to have better lives. The second study discusses the motivation of
Jewel’s heroic action. She has a great love for her family and also feels
satisfied to help people.
In addition the third study from Jeffrey S. Blumberg, J.D. have
different topic and context with this study, but discussing the same work Peace
Corps Memoir-Living Poor A Peace Corps Chronicle by Moritz Thomsen.
Thus, the main context of this study is the motivation of Thomsen as the main
character to overcome poverty of the villagers.
B. Review of Related Theories
There are some theories that the writer uses to answer the questions that
are formulated in chapter I. This part presents reviews of the theories applied
in this study namely theory of character and characterization and theory of
motivation.
1. Theory of Character and Characterization
A character has an important role in a literary work or story apart from
plot, conflict, and setting. It also drives a control how the story goes.
Moreover, though the character, readers are able to gain a better understanding
of the story, the value of life and theme presented in the story. Therefore, it is
important to know the character which appears in the story and how it is
characterized.
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A character becomes an essential intrinsic element in the story since it
is the main point of the story. A character in a story becomes the device to
deliver the value that is implied by the author. According to Abrams,
characters are the person which presented in a dramatic or narrative
work, who are interpreted by the reader as being endowed by moral,
dispositional and emotional qualities which are expressed in their
dialogue and action (1985:23).
A character may expose the nature of his/herself to be his/her distinct
feature. Therefore, a character is a person that has characteristics which
contribute the development of the story in a narrative work.
According to Hankle, the character can be divided into two part; major
and secondary character. The major character is the most significant character
in the story. It can be analyzed by the complexity of the characterization, the
attention given to certain figures, and the personal intensity that characters
seem to transmit (1977:87). On the contrary, the secondary character performs
more limited functions. It is less complex and described in shallower relief. It
becomes a point of reference in the story or sometimes acts as contrast for the
major character.
In order to analyze character’s characterization in a story, Murphy
stated nine ways. Those ways help the readers gain a better understanding of
the character.
The first way is personal description of the character. Character can be
analyzed through their personal description. The detail about character’s
appearance such as clothes, the face, skin, and eyes are important keys to find
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the characterization (1972:161) it provides particular clues related to the
character due to the fact that each character has their own appearance.
The second way is through character description as seen by another
(1972:162). The reader is able to obtain reflection or image of the character
through the eyes of another character in the story.
The third way is speech of the character. The author can give some
understanding of the character through what character says. The author
presents some hints of the characterization whenever a character speaks,
whenever a character is in conversation with another character or whenever
character states an opinion (1972:64).
The fourth way is the past life of the author. The reader can learn
something about a character’s past life by a hint given by the author in the
story. The past life of the character reflects through direct comment seen in the
person’s, thought, conversation, or through the medium of another character
(1972:66).
The fifth way is the character’s conversation by of other. The character
often talks about other characters and it gives some hints to the description of
particular character (1972:167).
The sixth is reaction of the character. The characterization can be
analyzed through reactions. The author can give the reader hints by presenting
the character’s reactions to particular situations and events (1972:168).
The seventh is direct comment from the author to the character. The
characterization can be analyzed through direct comment shows by the author.
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The author explains or comments on a person’s character straightly without
any medium (1972:170).
The eighth way is character’s thoughts. The author gives the reader
straight information of what character is thinking about, what is on the
character’s mind and what the character feels (1972:171).
The last way is mannerism of the character. The author portrays a
character’s mannerism by the description of the character’s habits and
behaviors (1972:173).
2. Theory of Motivation
Many psychologists have defined and explained the meaning of
motivation. According to Petri, “motivation’ is the concepts we use when
describing the forces acting on or within an organism to initiate and direct
behavior” (1981:3). Besides, Jung also adds that motivation refers to the terms
of diverse conditions like desires, wises, plans, goals, intents, impulses, and
purposes (1978:4).
McClelland states that there are three kinds of needs, which influenced
by the cultural background and life experiences. They are the need for
achievement motivation, the need for power or power motivation, the need for
affiliation of affiliation motivation (1985:45). The writer does not uses power
motivation because the characteristics of power motivation are contrary to this
study. However, in this study, the writer only uses the achievement and
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affiliation motivation because those two motivations are appropriate to this
study.
a. Achievement Motivation
Lahey states that achievement motivation is ‘the psychological need to
succeed in school, work, and other areas of life” (2009: 39) in some cases, he
explained that the definition of “success” is different from the one to others.
People might have different motivation to achieve a version of success. Thus,
to understand people’s achievement motivation needs to understand the thing
they want to do and the reasons underlying action.
Murray, as cited in Huffman, Vernoy, and Vernoy explains
achievement motivation is “the need for success, for doing better than others,
and for mastering challenging task” (2000:399). Then, as cited in Beck,
Murray states that achievement motivation is “a desire or tendency to
overcome an obstacle, to exercise power, to strive to do something difficult as
well as quickly as possible” (1978:317). Meanwhile, Murray, as cited in
McClelland defines that achievement motivation deals with the reasons
underlying someone doing something better for intrinsic satisfaction. He
defines achievement motivation as follows.
To accomplish something difficult. To master, manipulate, or organize
physical objects, human beings, or ideas. To do this rapidly and as
independently as possible. To overcome obstacles and attain a high
standard. To excel oneself. To rival and surpass others. To increase
self-regard by successful exercise of talent (1985:46).
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From some definitions of achievement motivation above, it can be
summarized up that the achievement motivation is the need or desire which
actuates people to strive to do something better, overcome obstacles, and
master challenging or difficult task so that they can exercise their abilities and
achieve their own success, goals, or standards.
Huffman, Vernoy, and Vernoy add that achievement-motivated people
will be responsible for the task and tend to persist at the task as if they are
difficult. They will also fell satisfied if they can finish the task well
(2000:399).
The explanation above, explains that the achievement motivation is the
need to do and master challenging task in order to reach the goals or standards.
The achievement motivation can be evaluated by identifying the characteristics
and standards of achievement-motivated people.
It can be concluded that people with achievement motivation are people
that need challenging. They thrive on overcoming difficult problems or
situations. People with need of achievement motivation are work very
effectively. They want to know what they are doing right-and wrong-so they
can improve.
b. Affiliation Motivation
As human beings, people tend to stay with others. As stated by Jung, it
is inherent in the nature of human needs that people cannot survive without the
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assistance of others. They need others to share and support their living
(1989:46). In the other words, the tendency to affiliate exists in human lives.
McClelland gives the definition of affiliation motivation, as follows.
To draw near and enjoyably cooperate or reciprocate an allied other
(another who resembles the subject or who likes the subject). To please
and win affection of catheter object. To adhere and remain loyal to a
friend (1985:46).
The definition shows that the affiliation motivation is the desire to have
personal relationships and be with others. Worchel and Shebilske explain that
social comfort and interaction have the influence of the development of the
people with the need for affiliation. In order to reduce their anxiety or fear, the
people with the need for affiliation will seek out others who they think can
help them cover particular feelings. Besides, they tend to interact more with
others, form the more about friendship, and know more about their friends.
Therefore, the personal traits also affect the development of the need for
affiliation (1989:399-400).
The presence of others for the people with the need for affiliation may
have bad or good side. Epley, as cited in Beck explains that there are three
ways, in which the presence of others may reduce the development of the need
for affiliation, as follow.
First, the other person may serve as a ‘calm’ model for anxious person
to imitate. Second, the companion may do something to distract the
subject. Third, the mere physical presence of another might be fear
reducing, even though the other person does nothing (1978:356).
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However, when the presence of others can reduce the fear and anxiety
of the people with the need for affiliation, it gives good side to the
development of the people with the need for affiliation.
In conclusion, the affiliation motivation is defined as the desire to
associate with and be around others. It is affected by the personal traits and
learning and early experiences. The presence of others helps people with the
need for affiliation reduces their feeling of distrust, fear, and anxiety. They
want to belong to the group. They work best in a group environment. They
want to be liked, and will often go along with whatever the rest of the group
wants to do. These people work effectively in roles based on social
instructions.
c. Power Motivation
Winter and Stewart in McClelland give the definition person with
power motivation, “the characters are described in ways that increase or
decrease their prestige. Settings, title, adjectives of status, reputation, and
alliance with some prestigeful person or institution are all example of prestige”
(1985:272). The definition shows that people with power motivation are the
individuals that have a desire to control and influence others. Status and
recognition is something they aspire. The need to enhance their self esteem and
reputation drives these people.
Besides, Winter and Stewart in McClelland also give other explanation
about people with power motivation.
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Power imagery: scored if some person or group of persons in the story
is concerned about establishing, maintaining, or restoring power-that is
impact, control, or influence over another person, group, or the world at
large (1985:272).
From some definition of power motivation above, it can be summarized
that power motivation is the need of desire within a person to hold control and
authority over another person and influence and change their decision in
accordance with his own needs or desires. The need to enhance their self-
esteem and reputation drives these people, they desire their views and ideas to
be accepted and implemented over the views and ideas over others. Those with
a high need for power motivation work best when they are in charge. Because
they enjoy competition.
3. The Relation Between Literature and Psychology
There is a close relation between literature and psychology. A literary
work creates its own world in which terms we can find an atmosphere of life as
we might find in a real world. In fact, a literary work, which constitutes an
author’s imagination sometimes, can reveal the truth, sadness, happiness, and
struggle of life as well as in human experience.
According to Wellek and Warren, psychology and literature have a
close relation to a literary work. Literature studies human as the creation of the
author, while psychology studies human as a real creation made by God.
Human life, from the point of view of the author, is the main objects of his
work. Literature, as the creation of the author, is used to express and
communicate emotions, style of life, thought, and his views toward human life.
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Understanding literary work means understanding human’s problem and life.
Formerly, some theorists argue that literature cannot be studied at all. People
can only read, enjoy, appreciate it (1984:15).
Wellek and Waren (1984:81) say in Theory of Literature:
By ‘psychology of literature’ we may mean the psychological study of
the writer, as type and as individual, or the study of creative process, or
the study the psychological types and laws present within works of
literature, or , finally, the effects of literature upon readers (audience
psychology).
In this study, the writer exposes the study of psychological presents
within a work of literature. On the surface, psychology and literature are seen
as two different things. Psychology may be seen as a field of study which
concerns on human’s mind and how it systematically. Therefore, all the things
related to psychology field are made in a scientific way. While, literature is
seen as a field of study which deals with a work of art in written form like
prose, play, and poem. Literature is very contrast with scientific writing since
literature is respected as the work of art.
Yet, when the writer looks deeper, both psychology and literature share
the same property. Through psychology, people get help to understand one’s
behavior. Through literature, people have the understanding on human values
in the art of writing. In short, psychology and literature concern on human’s
condition in life.
The author of the story experiences a creative process while producing
a work of literature either prose, play, or poem (Wellek and Waren, 1984:81).
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The creative process is closely related to the author’s state of mind. As s result,
the author may create a character in a novel that is the reflection of the author-
self and perhaps the character shares the same qualities with the author.
Thereafter, a psychological study takes part in this matter. By applying
psychological study, it enables the reader to identify the character’s behavior.
So, it is clear that psychology and literature have a very close relation in
attempt to analyze a character’s behavior in a literature.
d. Theoretical Framework
In this section, the rationale of the theories is elaborated. The writer
chooses some suitable theories for the basic analysis and the theories have
their own contribution to the analysis. There are two theories which have been
explained, there are theory character and characterization and theory of
motivation.
By theory of character and characterization suggested by Murphy that
presents nine ways that are used to answering the first question formulated in
problem formulation. The writer only uses three methods, they are: by the
speech, by conversation, and by his reaction. This theory helped the writer to
understand the characteristic of the characters described in the story in order to
conduct in the further analysis.
Theory motivation and the relation of psychology and literature are
used to examine how motivation acquires. Based on the psychological
approach in order to analyze Thomsen’s motivation in order to overcome
poverty of the villagers. In the end, the writer finds out how the motivation is
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reflected in the Thomsen’s action by analyzing the data that already gathered
using psychological approach and theory of motivation.
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CHAPTER III
METHODOLOGY
A. Object of the Study
The object of the study is a book created by Moritz Thomsen: Living
Poor A Peace Corps Chronicle published by University of Washington Press on
1969. This book consists of four parts and 278 pages. This book is based on true
story of the author. The book tells about Thomsen’s experience as a Peace Corps
volunteer in the small village in Ecuador named Rio Verde. Thomsen, 48 years
old, is a pig farmer that has difficulties of speaking Spanish and has a dream to
make Ecuadorian have a better life and out of the poverty.
This book is suitable to be observed because discussed the author’s
struggles as he tried to make chenges to the villagers in Ecuador. His struggles
to overcome the poverty condition in Ecuador. Thomsen brings goals of helping
the developing world to Ecuador. He brings this goals as well from his own life
experiences and abilities that give him his definition of success.
Thomsen comes to the village in Ecuador named Rio Verde with goals
that he will be successfull in that village, that he will make a change to help the
people in Ecuador overcome poverty. The complete summary of this book can
be found in the appendix on the last page on this study.
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B. Approach of the Study
The appropriate approach is needed by the writer in this study. Since the
writer deals with the character’s motivation. The approach that is used in
analyzing this study is psychological approach. This approach is suitable
because the approach deals with human behavior a human motivation. It helps
the writer to understand the character’s mind and behavior well as Ryan’s
statement that “psychology is associated with more recent developments in the
sciences of the mind” (2012:44).
The psychological approach is used, considering that this study is aimed
at getting deeper understanding about Thomsen’s motivation to overcome
poverty of the villagers. Rohrberger and Woods state that “psychological
approach draws knowledge which carries human motivation, mind, imagination,
thought and behavior (1971:13).” It means that character’s motivation,
behavior, and also thought is the subject of psychological approach.
Moreover, Rohgerber and Woods stated that “psychological approach
involves the effort to locate and demonstrate certain recurrent patterns’
(1971:13). It can be said that the purpose of psychological approach is to define
repeated patterns of people. The patterns are behaviors, perspectives, and
emotions are the clues to discover psychological aspects such motivation. In this
study, the patterns are the characterization of Thomsen that can be through his
behavior, perspective, and emotion. This characterization influenced he to do
actions to reach his goal.
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Therefore, this approach is suitable for this study because the writer
focuses on human motivation, to explain the character that reveals the
motivation of Thomsen. In this case, the writer also tries to see the character’s
motivation and behavior through psychological point of view.
C. Method of the Study
In this study, the writer applies a library research. Library research
means that the writer uses books, theories, and any information related to the
topic to collect supportive data on the subject matter.
Several steps were carried in order to analyze the story. The first step
was reading the primary source, Living Poor A Peace Corp Chronicle as an
object of the study. The second step was searching the data from another book
as the secondary sources. The secondary sources were from internet and theory
books. Third, the writer presented the two problems that were discussed in this
study. Fourth, the writer used some references that were taken from books,
internet, and articles to analyze the story. Fifth, the writer found out the review
of related studies and appropriate theory that helped the writer analyze this
study. It was important to use the undergraduate thesis from Asmara and Pratiwi
from English Language Education Study Program Department of Language and
Education Faculty of Teachers and Education Sanata Dharma University, and a
thesis from Jeffrey S. Blumberg, J.D a student of The School of Continuing
Studies and of The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Masters of Arts in
Liberal Studies Georgetown University, because the focus and the object are
same with this study.
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The writer applied the theories and approach that were presented earlier
to answer the problem formulation. The theory character and characterization
were used to reveal the characteristics of Thomsen as the main character. After
the first question in problem formulation answered, the second problem could be
answered as well by applying the relation between literature and psychology and
theory motivation were used to reveal the Thomsen’s motivation to overcome
poverty of the villagers.
The last step was drawing a conclusion. It was important because
contained the summary of the study and the problem formulations.
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CHAPTER IV
ANALYSIS
In this chapter, the writer wants to analyze the problems that have been
shown in the beginning chapter. This chapter is divided into two parts. The first
part discusses the character and characterization. The second part explains
Thomsen’s motivation to overcome poverty of the villagers. In another word, in
the last analysis, the writer tries to show the motivation of Thomsen that reveal
through his action in lift the villagers from poverty.
A. The Description of Thomsen’s Character
In order to explore Thomsen characterization, the writer uses the theory
presented by Murphy. Thomsen’s characterization is pictured through several
ways of characterization such speech, character’s reaction and character’s
thoughts. Those ways can help the writer analyze Thomsen characterization.
Thomsen’s characterizations are as follows
1. Smart
Throughout the story, obstacle and hardship happen to Thomsen since he
lives in Ecuador and faces many people with different mindset that are not
accustomed to doing business and make new step to be better. Fortunately, he
can overcome the problem because he is a smart soul. The situation makes her
reacts smartly to think about how the way to get more money. The
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characterization of the character can describe by his/her reactions to particular
situations and event.
“For the money, hombre. For the money. When does a poor man have
enough money to buy a whole hog?”
“But you are known as an honest man; you have a good name. Why you
don’t buy the pig on credit, sell the meat, and pay the owner the next
day?” (p.50).
From the quotation above can be said that the Ecuadorian people are still
kept in their bad behavior that have become accustomed to poverty. But,
Thomsen is a smart person, he can give advice to Alexandro to do pig business.
Thus, his cleverness enables him to find a solution he needs to solve the problem
to get more money to Alexandro.
Whenever a character is in conversation with another character or
whenever character states an opinion can be the clue of his/her characterization.
Thomsen is a smart person, it can be seen through his conversation with Ramon
and her action to donate the nails to help Ramon build chicken business.
“Good,” I said. “That’s great.” I’ll even help you build it; I’ll donate the nails”
(p.65).
Besides that, Thomsen also quick to give his response to Ramon and
gives some options to help Ramon build that chicken business. He gives options
that the chickens are for meat or for eggs. It is the smart action of Thomsen
because it is the way that Thomsen uses to taught Ramon how to build chickens
business, not just for eggs but also for the meat. “Now tell me, what kind of
chickens do you want, for eggs or for meat?” “About half and half, I think”
“That’s a good idea,” I said (p.65).
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Moreover, Thomsen also gives a smart reaction in his conversation with
Ramon, he gives his ideas to Ramon about the chicken business. He said that
Ramon should divide the house down the middle then Ramon can see which
type that makes the most money. Next, Thomsen gives his smart action again,
he told to Ramon that balanced ration is so very important to do that chicken
business.
“I said. “We’ll have to divide the house down the middle. Then you can
see which type makes the most money for you. Now, as I told you, the
main thing is that you have enough money for a balanced ration. Without
a balanced ration, without protein, this whole new system is worthless.”
“Yes, I understand,” he said (p.65).
From that conversation, it explains that Thomsen is a smart person. He
always gives the best opinions and ideas to get the best solution about chicken
business. He always asks Ramon about what Ramon should do in that business,
so he will get the best chicken business.
Now, how many chickens do you think you can afford to raise? We have
to make gallinero big enough, two and one half square feet for each
chicken.”
“Yes, “Ramon said. “I want to do everything just right. I think I can
handle six chickens-three for meat and three for eggs” (p.65).
From the conversations above, it can be said that Thomsen is very smart
person in reacting in that situation, he gives good opinions to doing business
with Ramon. His reaction shows his cleverness because he can make Ramon
believe and agree with his opinions. He can make Ramon have great ambition to
do that business. Thomsen has no doubt to do that, to help Ramon build chicken
coop.
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The last, Thomsen shows that he is a smart person give a solution when
he explaining to the villagers about orange juice. How young baby should be
feed orange just because every two weeks in there the child was ill. And how
important it was to balance a diet with vitamin and minerals.
For two months, I have been explaining about orange juice to Alexandre
and his wife. Every two weeks, every time the child was ill, I had
explained the whole solution to them in detail-how at first to mix the
juice with boiled water and then gradually feed it stronger and stronger;
how important it was to balance a diet with vitamins and minerals (p.51).
It is describe that Thomsen is a smart person. Thomsen’s reaction that
gives information to the villagers about orange juice to reduce the child illness is
the clue that he is a smart person.
2. Caring
Thomsen often thinks about other people. He is very helpful and
generous. Through Thomsen’s reaction and his speech can give the clues about
his characterization. Thomsen’s reaction and speech in some situations show
that Thomsen is a caring person.
The first, Thomsen shows that he is a caring person when Alexandro had
no funds to get the bamboo to make chicken houses though Alexandro wanted to
raise chickens.
Realizing that he had no funds, I told him that I would loan him money
to buy a few sack of corn while the price was low and that he could pay
me back later when his chickens began to lay. I was only making two
thousand sucres a month (p.57).
Thomsen’s reaction and speech to Alexandro are clearly explaining that
he is a caring person. He always tries to help the people around him. Alexandro
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also had a real passion to raise chickens, but that bamboo sold for two dollars
for a dozen and Alexandro could not figure out how he was going to raise so
much money with everyone. Moreover, there was also the problem of feed. The
price of corn would double and triple in price from the low of thirty sucres a
sack. However Thomsen shows that he is a caring person, he gives a loan to
Alexandre to buy a few sack of corn. Through Thomsen’s reaction, it shows that
Thomsen is a caring person.
The second, the evidence showing that Thomsen is a caring person is
when he met the baby with malaria. He asks senora to take the baby to the
doctor after he checks the baby’s temperature with a thermometer.
I went over to lunch one day to find the senora distraught pacing back
and forth with the baby in her arms.”
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“Oh my God, the little creature has mal aire;”
The baby wouldn’t keep the thermometer in her mouth, so we put the
thermometer between the baby’s legs and held them together; she had a
temperature of 102.
“You’d better get into Emeraldas to the doctor,” I told the senora (p.52).
His quick respond and reaction to the baby who gets malaria explain that
he is a caring person. He still cares to the baby condition, he seriously cares
about that and gives his best action. At the end, he asks to the baby condition to
the doctor, it is described that he is very caring person, he wants the baby get the
best solution.
3. Confident
Thomsen is a confident person. Some ways to prove Thomsen’s
confidently are through his speech, reaction and thought (Thomsen shows his
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confident when he gave a talk with the people about the cooperative, community
chicken houses, and cooperative hog project.
I gave a talk on what a cooperative was, and how it would be possible if
there was no panic for everyone to own his own land. I talked about
chicken houses and a co-operative hog project (p.166).
From the quotation above, it can be seen that Thomsen is a confident
person seen from his thought, by what his mind. He delivers to the people that
“it would be possible if there was no panic” it explains how confident he is in
order to invite the people to join the cooperative.
The second evidence that Thomsen is a confident person is when he
talked to everyone to make a new pond, to make a dam, and all people agree
especially the women during the dry season.
“I said, we’ll have to clean and burn all the brush so that tractor can get
into work, and then we’ll have to build some sort of a spillway so the
dam won’t wash away in the first rains” (p.191)
From the quotation above, explain that Thomsen is a confident person
seen from his speech. He is very confident to invite the people to do what he
said to their project.
By his reaction and his thought toward the villagers, are others evidence
that proof Thomsen is a confident person.
“No,” I said, I won’t help, but I think it would be fine if the co-op wants
to give the town a lagoon. I’m not thinking of the town but the co-op; the
fact is that the old lagoon on top of the hill now belongs to the co-op,
and if you can build a lagoon closer to town then the people won’t be
coming up on the farm to steal all your corps” (p.195)
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It explains that Thomsen is a very confident person. He believes if the
villagers build a lagoon closer to the farm, it will be safe from the people who
want to steal all the crops.
In every situation that Thomsen faces, explain that he is a confident
person through his reactions and thought. He is always given the best solutions
with very confidence. Whatever Thomsen ideas that he gives to the villagers are
for their projects. So the projects will get the best result. Thomsen's reaction,
speech, and thoughts above show that he is a man who has a strong confident.
4. Enthusiastic
Thomsen is an enthusiastic person, he shows it during his time in
Ecuador. Some ways to prove that Thomsen is an enthusiastic person are
through his speech, reaction and thoughts. Thomsen shows it when he gives
some ideas to the villagers about the activities that can give their more money to
their lives.
Thomsen responds to the request for more marmalade by asking the
villager to make the next batch.
“Why don’t you make some then?
“I can show you again how to make it, and you can show the women
how to make it. I sat there visualizing all the women in town stirring up
great pots of marmalade and stuffing the scrawny children with
vitamins”(p.49).
From Thomsen’s reaction and speech above, explain that he is an
enthusiastic person. He wants the villagers going to make another marmalade, so
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they can sell it and get more money to their life. He is very enthusiastic about it and
also wants to teach the villagers to make it.
In the village of Rio Verde, there is very little meat. A villager tells
Thomsen that he was able to buy a hog with some money and then sold the meat
for a profit to all of the villagers. Here, Thomsen shows that he is the
enthusiastic person with giving advises again to the man to follow his idea and
try to buy some hogs on credit and then continue to sell the meat for a profit,
“Why don’t you buy a pig on credit, sell the meat, and pay the owner next
day?”(p.50).
The evidence showing that Thomsen is an enthusiastic person from his
speech and reaction. He keeps giving some good advice to the villager to get
more money from pig transaction. Although the villagers do not have enough
money, Thomsen give the clue to buy the pig on credit and then sell the meat
and pay the owner in the next day. Thomsen is very enthusiastic, although the
villagers get the obstacles he still gives the solution and very enthusiastic in
order to help the villagers.
Then, at some point. Thomsen discusses his chicken projects with the
village chief, Segundo. He explains that he would not sell the chief any chickens
unless he first builds a raised chicken house. Thomsen explains the chief that he
was not only in the business of selling chickens but also teaching better ways to
raise them.
I explained that I couldn’t sell him any chickens if he didn’t first build a
raised chicken house to keep them in, that my primary business wasn’t
selling chickens but to teach new and better ways to raise them (p.77).
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Thomsen’s statement above, it can be an evidence that Thomsen is an
enthusiastic person. He still on his concept and he keeps it. He not only wants to
sell chickens and get results in that, but he wants to teach the villagers how to
achieve more results by teaching them better ways. Because the point of this
business is that the villagers can know how to keep their business up and make it
better again. Thomsen's reaction and speech above shows that he is a man who
has a strong enthusiastic.
B. Thomsen’s Motivations to Overcome Poverty of the Villagers
Living Poor A Peace Corp Chronicle, written by Moritz Thomsen,
mostly talks about Thomsen’s life when joining Peace Corp as a volunteer, he is
having lives in a tiny Ecuadorean farming cooperative and working in a poor
village in Ecuador. In the book, Thomsen meets new people with poor condition
that have different mindset of life. He is trying to make a small, poor Ecuadorian
town a better place.
As stated in Chapter II, Petri states motivation is the concepts we use
when describing the forces acting on or within an organism to initiate direct
behavior (1981:3).
As for the concept of motivation to indicate behavior, in this section
tries to find out Thomsen’s motivation to lift the villagers out from poverty in
Ecuador. As it is described in the previous part, Thomsen is a smart person
because he can solve every problem in the right way, in every situation makes
he reacts smartly to think. Thomsen is an enthusiastic man who always wants
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34
give the best to the villagers, he never gives up to take a risk in every situation
and in every project, so he should take risk more than he had in a project with
the villagers. And he is a caring man that always cares about the villagers since
he came to Ecuador and knows the condition in that town. He also wants to help
the villagers if they had problems.
From the theory of motivation. Thomsen is categorized as the person
with achievement and affiliation motivation. His motivation to overcome
poverty of the villagers poverty, it is derived from Thomsen’s willingness.
Those reasons are as follows.
1. To Change the Mindset of the Villagers
As the writer have been analyzed before, Thomsen is a smart and caring
person, he has high motivation to do his goals. When Thomsen initially arrives
in the village, he meets one of the villagers that have been among the local for
thirty years. He says that Thomsen cannot change anything in Rio Verde.
They are a lazy shiftless bunch here on the coast, the worst in the whole
country. I guess the worst in the whole world. The living is too easy. A
piece of fish, a dish of rice, a platano, and their goddamned hammock,
they don’t want anything else. You’re not going to change them; you’re
not going to change anything. They’ll love you to your face, boy, but
they’ll hate you to your back. (1969:41).
This man is proposing to Thomsen that he will end up a failure. He will
not be successful. This explains that he a pessimist, and he explains how bad the
mindset of the villagers, the villagers in Rio Verde do not believe something
new that can make their life better, that can make their village develop. They
just accept the condition of their village that the village is bad with poor people.
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Thomsen, however, is not deterred and spends the next two years trying to make
a difference, trying to teach the villagers about how to success and the
possibility for a better.
Thomsen is a smart and caring person, and it becomes the reason to be
responsible for task and tend to persist at the task as if they are difficult.
Although it is difficult and the villagers are not accustomed to doing the
suggestion that Thomsen given to make the condition better, he still shows that
he is responsible with that.
“Why don’t you make some then?”
“Lemons are very scarce and dear,” he said.
“My God,” I said, “it only takes two lemons.”
“But the price of lemons,” Alexandro cried. “A real fandango, pure gold,
over a penny a piece.”
“I can show you again how to make it, and you can show the women
how to make it. I sat there visualizing all the women in town stirring up
great pots of marmalade and stuffing the scrawny children with
vitamins” (p.49).
He has strong motivation for doing something and become responsible to
do it because he knows it is better for him to do. It is proved by his willingness
to find another business to make a better life in Rio Verde. Thomsen talked to
everyone in town about chicken projects, they are the most expensive meat in
Ecuador at forty cents a pound. This is the new step to make a change in the
villagers.
I talked to everyone in town and went up and down the beach blowing
off to the tobacco farmers and the fishermen about chickens. They are
the most expensive meat in Ecuador at forty cents a pound. With all the
cheap corn and fish and a perfect climate, it seemed that the best way to
dazzle the local people with the brilliance of the Peace Corp was to get
some successful chicken projects going (p.65).
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Thomsen is categorized as a smart and caring person with high
motivation to be success to handle aal the problems around him. As people with
achievement motivation that need for success, for doing better than others, and
for mastering challenging task. Thomsen also shows that he needs to success in
Ecuador, he doing something better here, he wants to make improvement and
get greater result than before. In the village of Rio Verde, there is very little
meat. A villager tells Thomsen that he was able to buy a hog with some money
and then sold the meat for a profit to all of the villagers. When Thomsen advises
the man to his suggestion and try to buy more hogs on credit and then continue
to sell the meat for a profit, he is met with the same response. The villager
shakes his head and says they are not accustomed to this.
“And couldn’t you go up the river every week and get a pig and sell it
here in Rio Verde?”
“No, the people are very poor, but every two weeks they would buy a
piece of meat.”
“Why don’t you do it then?” (p.50)
This shows that the villagers in Ecuador, especially in Rio Verde, are
still live in their negative mindset, that do not want to try something new to
make their life better. They would rather do business in the way in which they
are accustomed. They just accept the fact that they are cannot do any business
and do not want to try something new.
Therefore, the writer finds out that there are motivations that Thomsen
does when he meets with the villagers and see the situation and condition in that
time. Thomsen have desire to overcome obstacle, to exercise power and to strive
to do something difficult as well as quickly as possible. Other than that, when
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Thomsen know there is a child that got malaria, he reacts quickly went back to
his house to put a thermometer and then check the child’s temperature, but when
the baby wouldn’t keep the thermometer in her mouth, Thomsen act quickly
again with put the thermometer between baby’s legs and held them together.
After Thomsen checks the child’s temperature and she had temperature of 102,
Thomsen ask to the mother of the child to go to the doctor as quickly.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“Oh my God, the little creature has mal aire;”
The baby wouldn’t keep the thermometer in her mouth, so we put the
thermometer between the baby’s legs and held them together; she had a
temperature of 102.
“You’d better get into Emeraldas to the doctor,” I told the senora
(1969:52).
From the quotation above explain that Thomsen’s action is his desire to
overcome the condition that he looks, a child with malaria. And his action
explains that Thomsen is exercising his power and strive to solve the situation
that happens in that time. Thomsen wants to show the villagers that they should
change their mindset that does not pay attention to their condition. Because
when there is a death in their village is because get malaire. “The babies all get
mal aire when there is a death” (p.52).
The other evidence that the villagers still have bad mindset is when
Thomsen meet a daddy with his boy that had a very high fever.
“ ‘He’s got worms,’ I said. ‘We’ll have to give him some ‘Sure Shot’ ”.
“ ‘Oh, no,’ the father said. ‘You can’t worm my son with that fever; you
have to wait until the fever dies.’
“ ‘Listen,’ I said, ‘he’ll die before the fever does; it's the worms that are
causing the fever.’ And I finally had to make him go outside while I gave
the boy a good double dose of ‘Sure Shot’ ” (p.41).
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From the quotation above, Thomsen shows that he wants the villagers to
think better about their condition, and change their bad mindset. This motivation
can be related to his characteristic as a caring person. He is a caring with the
villagers’ health condition.
From all the explanation above, Thomsen motivation to overcome
poverty is categorized as achievement motivation because his motivation to
change the villagers’ mindset is a challenging action. It is similar with the
characteristic of achievement motivation that needs of challenging. Thomsen
also thrives on difficult problems and work effectively, it belongs to the concept
of achievement motivation.
2. To Make a Better Life for the Villagers
Thomsen is confident and enthusiastic person with condition around him
to faces all problems. As an enthusiastic person, he has motivation to make a
better life for the villagers.
“I explained that I couldn’t sell him any chickens if he didn’t first build a
raised chicken house to keep them in, that my primary business wasn’t
selling chickens but to trying to teach new and better ways to raise them”
(p.77).
It shows that he wants the villagers have a business and the villagers know
how to keep and raise them in better ways. Thomsen doing this action because
he wants the villagers get the best business and can make their life condition
better.
Achievement motivation deals with the reasons underlying someone
doing better as Thomsen action that doing something better and accomplish
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39
something difficult, so he can exercise his ability and achieve his goal to make
a better life for the villagers.
Moreover, the presence of others can give a good side to the
development affiliation motivation if they can reduce the fear and anxiety.
After Thomsen had a meeting with the villagers and knows that they can
accept him to work together with them, he feels better to join with them.
The meeting ended on an inconclusive note, but it was a fine
encouraging day. A couple of the farmers came over to visit me that
night, and we sat around by candlelight drinking coffee and talking
about pigs. My relationship with the town changed quite suddenly after
that meeting (p.31).
The presence of the villagers that can accept Thomsen and the good
relationship between Thomsen and the villagers have the good impact for
Thomsen. It makes Thomsen feels and he realizes that he has responsibility to
change the condition make a better life for the villagers. Moreover, it reduces
Thomsen’s fear and anxiety.
I so busy that I had to make appointments with the farmers three or four
days ahead of time. I was happy and very tired (the words seemed to go
together) (p.32).
The action that Thomsen did, describe the condition that he has strong
affiliation motivation that social and comfort interaction have the influence of
development his affiliation motivation. He interacts with Alexandre one of the
villager in that town to get more information about the others villagers and the
condition of their village. It can be seen when he is in Rio Verde.
I didn’t want to get involved in any quick projects this time, and I spent
the first few weeks traveling around the zone with Alexandro meeting
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40
people and trying to learn their names and names of the villages where
they worked (p.40).
Before Thomsen involved with any projects with the villagers in that
town. First Thomsen has the desire to associate with and be around others.
Here, the presence of Alexandre helps Thomsen with the need of affiliation to
reduce their feeling of fear and anxiety.
Besides that, according to McClelland, affiliation motivation is
To draw near and enjoyably cooperate or reciprocate an allied other. To
please and win affection of catheter object. To adhere and remain loyal
to a friend (1985:46)
Therefore, it is the desire to have personal relationship and be with
others. The need for affiliation covers all kind of relationships such as
friendship and partnership. It seems like what Thomsen wants. He wants to
live and make friends in that village and then help them to do some business
that can produce more money, so the villagers’ life will be better.
I wish to live in the village, make friends, learn their language and their
customs, and that I wanted nothing from them except their friendship
and, if they wished, a chance to help them create a school garden and to
organize an experimental nursery. I also wanted to show them some
new ways of raising pigs, chickens, and cattle (p.30).
With his confident and enthusiastic personlity, it clearly that Thomsen
wants to have relationship with the villagers, a good relationship. He also
wants to know more about the villagers, and then help them to change their
village especially change their condition. He wants to make some business in
order to change the villagers’ life. So the villagers will have a better life.
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Thomsen is categorized a person with affiliation motivation through his
action that have been explained above to make a better life to the villagers. His
motivation to make a better life to the villagers defined as affiliation
motivation because it means that he has desire to associate with and be around
others. From the actions of Thomsen that has motivation to make a better life
to the villagers, it belongs to affiliation motivation that work effectively in
roles based on social instructions.
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CHAPTER V
CONCLUSION
In this chapter, the analysis of this study will be concluded. The book
was written by Moritz Thomsen entitled Living Poor A Peace Corp Chronicle
is a story that reveal Thomsen’s memoir of life when he being volunteer in
Ecuador. In this study, the objectives are to describe the characterization of
Thomsen and to identify his motivation to overcome poverty of the villagers.
The characterization uses the theory proposed by Hankle major and secondary
character and by Murphy which nine ways of characterization. After analyzing
the characterization, the writer analyzes Thomsen’s motivation to overcome
poverty based on psychological approach, with the theory of motivation as the
specific concept of that approach.
Based on the theory of characterization stated by Murphy, it can be
concluded that Thomsen is a smart and caring person, proven by his speech
and reactions. He gives advice and best solution to Alexandro when faces
money problem to do pig business, to Ramon when he faces chicken business.
Thomsen often thinks other people, he is very helpful and generous. He helps
Alexandro when Alexandro had no funds to get the bamboo to make chicken
houses. Meanwhile, Thomsen is a confident and enthusiastic person, proven by
his speech reaction and thought. When he delivers with confident his idea to
the villagers about cooperative, he is also very confident when he invites the
villagers to do what he said for their project. Moreover, he is a very
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43
enthusiastic person when he intends gives his idea and ability to make
marmalade with the villagers. Besides, he discussed his chicken project with
the village chief and explains that he would not sell the chief any chickens
unless he first builds a raised chicken houses. This indicates that Thomsen is a
very enthusiastic person.
His motivation to overcome poverty is also reflected through Petri,
Jung, Murray, Huffman, Vernoy, & Vernoy, Worchel & Shebilske, Beck, and
McClelland theory. From the analysis, the writer finds that Thomsen’s
motivation to overcome poverty of the villagers is derived from Thomsen’s
willingness.
The first motivation is to change the mindset of the villagers. It is based
on the achievement theory of motivation. Since Thomsen arrives too the
village, he meets one villager that has been there for thirty years. He says that
Thomsen cannot change anything in Rio Verde. Besides that, Thomsen has
motivation to change the pessimist and bad mindset of the villagers to be an
optimistic people.
The second motivation is to make a better life for the villagers. It based
on affiliation theory of motivation. Already know that Rio Verde is a poor
place with bad condition life too. Based on that, Thomsen comes to Rio Verde
to change the condition, to make a better life for the villagers. So he gives
some project to the villagers so they will get more income to their life.
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
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Murphy, M.J. Understanding Unseens: An Introduction to English Poetry and
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APPENDIX
The summary of Moritz Thomsen: Living Poor A Peace Corp Chronicle
Moritz Thomsen: Living Poor A Peace Corp Chronicle is a book tells
about the main character, Moritz Thomsen, in his experience as a Peace Corps
volunteer in the 1960s in a small village in Ecuador named Rio Verde. Thomsen
comes to the village with aim that he will be successful, that he will make a
difference, and he can help people out of poverty.
When he initially arrives in the village, he meets one of the villagers that
has been living for thirty years. This villager said that Thomsen will end up
failure. He will not be successful to make a change to the villagers. However,
Thomsen is not deterred and spends the next two years trying to make a
difference, trying to teach the villagers about success and the possibility for a
better, more prosperous life.
Initially, some of Thomsen’s ideas are met with enthusiasm. One of
Thomsen’s first ideas is chicken cultivation project in the village. Many of the
villagers signed on and started chicken projects. One man is very excited while
discussing the prospects of starting this project. Then, the second's project is an
idea to make marmalade. He realizes that he can make a marmalade and then
sell it. He realizes that the villagers could pull themselves out of poverty with a
profitable marmalade business. But, when he is talking to one villager who asks
him to make some marmalade, this villager answer that the villagers in there
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aren’t accustomed to making marmalade. Thomsen constantly faces this
response when trying to invite the villagers with hog project.
Towards the end of his service, Thomsen decides to start a cooperative
that will farm more permanent crops, like coconuts or orange, that will
eventually bring in a more steady and stable income for the village. But, not all
of the villagers agree and join this project. And in the end, the co-op fields are
attacked by worms and all the crops die. The co-op is a failure. But, not of all of
Thomsen’s projects were failures, and some villagers did achieve some measure
of financial success from these projects.
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