Candy’s needs as the Main Character in Ernest J. Gaines‘ A Gathering of Old Men

ABSTRACT

Literature is a terms used to express human‟s experience. It is written not only for enjoyment or entertainment but also for information because it really reflects events which happen in the real life which is written based on human‟s life which is factual or imagination. 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, which contrasts with non-fiction which is usually thought to be based on facts.

In this case, the researcher takes one of the works of literature, it is A Gathering of Old Men written by Ernest J. Gaines. In this thesis, the researcher wants to apply psychological analysis as the approach of the analysis on novel A Gathering of Old Men. The objectives of the research are first to find out the psychological condition of Candy in A Gathering of Old Men by Ernest J. Gaines and second to know Candy‟s needs as the main character in A Gathering of Old Men by Ernest J. Gaines viewed from the theory of hierarchy of needs by Abraham Maslow. The research observed by theory of Hierarchy of Human Needs by Abraham Maslow focuses on the hierarchy of needs consists of Physiological Needs, Safety Needs, Love and Belonging Needs, Esteem Needs and Self-Actualization Needs.

The result of this study is that the researcher finds some proves about the psychological condition of Candy as the main character and whether Candy includes in the five hierarchies of needs or not. As the result in this research are (1). The psychological condition of Candy as the main character is fluctuating because she gets confused and scared, happy, and angry. (2) Candy includes in the five hierarchies of needs. She requires the needs such as Physiological Needs, Love and Belonging Needs, Esteem Needs and Self-Actualization Needs.

The physiological need is required when she needs cloth, she needs entertanments, and she also needs take a rest during facing her problems to make her body fit again. She requires love and belongingness needs from other people. She regards Mathu as her father, after her parents getting accident. She also needs love from Lou as her boyfriend. Esteem need is also required by Candy. She is the owner of plantation, so she wants her people can hear her. Candy gets frustration when the esteem need is not fulfilled. She mad and trembling when Clatoo does not give permission to join Clatoo and others in a meeting. She feels that Clatoo does not appreciate her as the owner of plantation. In self actualization need, she knows that Mathu becomes a suspect of a murder, Beau Boutan. She tries to make effort to protect him as she can. She tries to gathering many people by bringing shotgun and the people will admit to Sheriff as murder. He will be confused to find the real murder and he cannot catch Mathu.