Atticus’ motivation in defending Tom Robinson in Happer Lee’s to kill a Mockingbird

ABSTRACT

Literature is a term used to describe written or spoken material. Broadly speaking, "literature" is used to describe anything from creative writing to more technical or scientific works, but the term is most commonly used to refer to works of the creative imagination, including works of poetry, drama, fiction, and nonfiction. Fiction is a work of the imagination or invention, which contrasts with non-fiction (which is usually thought to be based on facts). Written works like novels, short stories, plays, and poems are fictional.

Related to the explanation above, it was interesting to conduct a psychological analysis entitled” Atticus’s Motivation in Defending Tom Robinson in Happer Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird”. In this thesis, the researcher wants to apply psychological analysis as the approach of the analysis on novel “To Kill a Mockingbird” There are three statements of the problem. The first is how Atticus Defending Tom Robinson, the second is Atticus’s Motivation Defending Tom Robinson based on Abraham Maslow’ theory, And the last one is the results of Atticus Defending Tom Robinson are.

The researcher observed it by using Abraham Maslow’s theory, because this research will describe psychological condition of the main character on novel “To Kill a Mockingbird”. The contains of novel is related much with psychological approach, Atticus as the main character is someone who wants to gain the actualization need, five basic needs by Abraham Maslow’s theory and others needs.

The result of this research is that the researcher finds some proves about whether Atticus as the main character includes in the five hierarchies of needs or not, and that is true that Atticus’s reasons to defend Tom Robinson is motivated by some needs based on Abraham Maslow’s theory. Especially: 1 Self actualization needs, the reason of Atticus Defending Tom Robinson is a motivation of self-actualization needs that are spritual kind. Atticus tries to do good to all humans that is regardless of race or ethnicity, 2. Esteem needs, Atticus is motivated by Esteem Need in Defending Tom Robinson. Atticus wants to get respect from the socity because his legislature status in Maycomb. and 3. Safety need, Atticus Finch defends Tom Robinson is motivated by the safety need. he wants his children future not to get a revenge from the black men, because Atticus has faith that one day blacks will have power and will revenge from what the white men had done against them.