THE IMPORTANCE OF ALTRUISM FOR HAPPINESS OF OTHERS IN NICHOLAS

SPARKS DEAR JOHN NOVEL (2006) : A PSYCHOANALYTIC APPROACH

A.Background of the Study

Altruism (altruisme) is a voluntary act of helping others, selflessness, or doing

good deeds (Shroder, Penner, Dovido, & Piliavin, 1995). The people, who are willing to
make altruisms, usually thought that altruisms will be useful for those who accept the
altruism, although he must be willing to altruism body and soul. Altruism involves provide
a positive benefit for another people.

In daily life, altruisms for now rarely done by the people, because this era
people are only thinking of himself, without regard for others. For example, parents
altruism time and sleep to take care their children. In fact, altruism is the act of a very
precious because it can help people change their lives for the better. So, the writer would
take the issue of the importance of altruism for happiness of others.

The importance of altruism not only becomes the attention of many people,
but also becomes the attention of the authors in literary world, one of them is Nicholas
Sparks. He has written over ten books, like Message in a Bottle (1998), A Walk to
Remember (1999), The Rescue (2000), A Bend in the Road (2001), Nights in Rodanthe
(2002), The Guardian (2003), The Wedding (2003), True Believer (2005), At First Sight
(2005), Dear John (2006), The Choice (2007), The Lucky One (2008), The Last Song
(2009), Safe Haven (2010), The Best of Me (2011), and The Longest Ride (2013). Some of
those works have been made into the film, including Dear John.

Dear John novel is romantic novel which shows her concern about altruism. It
tells the altruism of love between John and Savannah. John and Savannah’s story is quick,
intense and care-free at the beginning but as the relationship grew, circumstances
unraveled which tested their love to each other. Since , John’s mother died. Richard
Jenkins (John’s father) must take care John with his own. Richard Jenkins became afraid
of people and more interested with his coin collection. According to Savanah, John’s father
has autism.In a summer vacation, he met Savannah Lynn Curtis, a student looking
attractive.John was in hid hometown of Wilmington, North Carolina for two weeks leave
from his job in Germany. While Savannah spend his vacation by join a group of volunteers
to help build house for poor families. The group is led by a friend of Savannah, Tim
Wheddon.

In short time, love grew in hearts of John and Savannah. They relationship
was kind of long distant relationship. John is still to finish its work in the army before he
married with Savannah. When separated, John promise that he will soon return to marry
Savannah that could wait until John returned. They decided to write to each other.
Savannah was the one who first wrote and decided to communication by letters. When the
tenure of John had ended, there was a tragic events of 11 September make John felt that his
energy is still required and decided to go on duty even though he really wanted to go home
to see Savannah. John re-apply for two-year term and was sent to Irak. He believes
Savannah understand with his decision. Since, John in Irak, the letters always began with
“Dear John” was reduced. John getting problem and a letter from Savannah will not come
again. Since , John and Savannah broken. Savannah began a relationship with Tim.When
John return from work as soldiers. Savannah and Tim were married. Savanah want to
marry with Tim because she wanted to help Tim to keep Alan. Savannah cares with Alan
because he is autist. Savannah took over taking care of Alan because she is the only one
besides Tim who can take care of Alan. She decides to altruism herself for Alan because
this condition.

In a literary work, the work of a novel which is produced by an author doesn’t

always necessarily correspond with the hope of all readers of the work, as well as in the
novel. Some readers have a positive and negatife response.

The negative response by Miss Erin is the ending of the novel not
good,because the novel not finished with a happy ending. I hate Nicholas Sparks' writing
and the story is simple and not a lot of conflict by Kristy. And the last based on Miss Kiky
said the story in this novel is easy to guess or no surprise and the story is too long.s
 The positive response is the ending is to some extent depressing, but I do have
to give it to Sparks because he paints a realistic picture, based on Arlene. Other reader
argued that this novel don’t show many conflict. I would recommend this read to anyone
who wanted something easy to read that would not make you think, based on Katsumi.
Melanie Chapin thought that this novel was a great book,great story, and easy to read. I'm
a huge Nicolas Sparks fan & have read all of his books now. This is one of my favorites
novel.

The research of Dear John is important due to the following third reasons.
First, Dear john is written in first-person perpective, this novel tells the love story of John
Tyree, a member of the US army. The story is beautifully told from these characters that
are well rounded characters. It is full of surprise and the ilustrations of the book delight the
researcher when reading the novel. This is the story of altruism of John to happiness of
Savannah.

The second, the main character is Savannah. When, the researcher read the
synopsis of the Dear John novel, she thought that Savannah is the antagonist character
because she made John broken heart. However, after reading the novel until end, it is not
like what the reseacher thought at first. Savannah is the kindest character. Savannah
married with Tim because she wanted to help Tim to keep Alan. She decides to altruism
herself for Alan.

The third reason is this novel has a moral message conveyed in this story. The
researcher wants to explore the importance of altruism to happiness of others. In this
novel , John as the main characters in this story who have kindest character. for the
happiness of Savannah, John willing to altruism Savannah married with Tim.

Based on the illustration above, the writer is interested to analyze this novel by
using psychological of literature entitled THE IMPORTANT OF ALTRUISM FOR
HAPPINESS OF OTHERS IN NICHOLAS SPARKS DEAR JOHN NOVEL (2006) : A
PSYCHOANALYTIC APPROACH.
B. Problem Statement

Based on the background of the study above, the problem will be formulated as follows:

1. What are the motivation of altruism reflected in the novel ?

2. How is the altruism portrayed in the novel ?

3. Why is altruism an important issue in the novel ?

C. Objectives of the Study

Dealing with problem statement above, the writer formulates the objectives of the study
as follows:

1. To findout the motivation of altruism

2. To describe the altruism in the novel.
3. To describe the important of altruism for happiness of others in the Dear John novel.

D. Limitation of the Study

The researcher focuses this research in analyzing the important of altruism for happiness
of others in Nicholas Sparks Dear John novel (2006), psychoanalytic approach.

E. Benefits of the Study

The benefit expected from this study are the following:

1. Theoritical Benefit
The study is projected to give more contribution and information to thelarger
body of knowledge, particularly in the literary studies.
2. Practical Benefit
 The study is expected to enrich the knowledge and experience of the writer and
other universities interested in literary studies.

F. Paper of Organization

The research paper of “the important of altruism for happiness of others in Nicholas
Sparks Dear John novel (2006), a psychoanalytic approach. The details of the paper organization
are : Chapter one is introduction. It consists of Background of the Study, Problem Statement,
Limitation of the Study, Objective of the Study, Benefits of the Study, and Paper Organization.
Chapter two is Literature Review. It consists of Previous Study and Underlying Theory ( Notion
of Psychoanalytic Approach, System of Personality).Chapter three is Research Method. It
consists of Object of the Research, Types of the Data and the Data Source, Technique of Data
Collection, and Technique of Data Analysis. Chapter four is Psychology Analysis of Nicholas
Sparks’s novel Dear John. Chapter five is Conclusion and Suggestion. Chapter four is
Pyschological analysis of Nicholas Spark’s novel Dear John. Chapter Five is Conclusion and
Suggestion.

G. Previous Study

Dear John novel is an interesting novel to read. As fa as the writer knows the research of
Dear John has been conducted by Ali Mufti from UIN Sunan Ampel University in 2015 with
the title is “ A Study of Altruisme as Seen through Savannah in Nicholas Sparks’s Dear John”.
This research is about the Savannah’s altruisme that portrayed in the story and to know the effect
of altruisme to herself. The writer uses psychoanlysis theory and new criticism theory to get
profound knowledge about Savannah’s character.
The second research is Esa Yolanda Putri from State Islamic University Syarif
Hidayatullah Jakarta in 2011. The title of he research is “ An Analysis of Stylistic in Dear John
Novel by Nicholas Sparks”. The objective of this study to describe the kinds of figurative
language and the meaning of each figurative language used in Dear John novel. The writer uses
theories stylistics, figurative languange and meaning of her research.
The third research is Rohana from University of Sumatera Utara in 2011. The title of her
research is “ Major Character Conflicts in Dear John Novel”. The objective of this study to
analyze the conflicts that occur in the main character in Dear John novel by Nicholas Sparks.
The writer uses theory from Kurt Lewin, there are Approach-Approach Conflict, Avoidance-
Avoidance Conflict, and Approach- Avoidance Conflict.

The fourth research is Donata Luke Siwi.P from Sanata Dharma University in 2012. The title
of her research is “ The Influence of Savannah’s Characteristics and Condition in Her Motivation
to Marry Tim as Seen in Nicholas Spark’s Dear John”. The objective of this study are to find out
the main character’s description, to find out the conditions that the main character faces, and to
find out the influence of the main character’s characteristics and condition in her motivation to
marry Tim in the story Dear John novel. The writer uses psychological approach in her
research.
The fifth research is Okti Ermawati from Muhammadiyah University of Surakarta in 2013.
The title of her research is “ John’s Big Heart in Nicholas Sparks’s Dear John Novel (2006). The
objective of this study is to analyze the novel based on structural elements and to analyze the
novel based on psychoanalytic approach.

H. Underlying Theory
1. Notion of Psychoanalysis Theory
Psychoanalysis is the branch of psychological study that focuses on the
personality og human being. Pervin states that “Psychoanalysis reflects to the
changing valve in the society and it plays a role in the changing of valves” (Pervin
1984: 21). Psychoanalytic theory emphasis on the following concepts emphasis on the
following concepts psychological determinism, the unconscious, behavior as goal
directed and expssive of interplay among forces or dynamics and the behavior as an
outgrowth of events in the last time on the individual.
2. System of Personality
According to Sigmund Freud psychoanalytic theory, personality consists of three
elements. These three elements of personality known as the id, ego and superego are
working together to create complex human behaviors. According to Freud, id, ego
and superego “are not persons,places, or physical things they are the names given to
certain motivational forces whose existence is inferred from the way people behave”
(Feist 1985:24).
1. The Id
The id is the only component of personality that is present from birth.
Aspects of personality are fully conscious and inclusive of instinctive
bahavior. According to Freud, the id is the source of all psychic energy,
making it a major component of personality. Id encouraged by the pleasure
principle, which try to finding immediate satisfaction of all wants and needs.
For example, increased hunger or thirst should produce immediate attempt to
eat or drink.
According to Freud (Burger 1986:.56) “the Id uses wish fulfillment to
satisfy the need: if a baby hungry and doesn’t see food nearby, the Id imagines
the food and thereby at least temporarily satisfies the need”. Freud maintained
that these Id impulses are unconscious, so that are unware of all the impulse
we might wish to act upon.
According to Freud ,Id is the most basic system of personality where the
innate instinct exists (Burger 1986:56). Freud says that the Id is concerned
only with satisfying personal desires, regardless of the physical or social
limitations that might prevent desire, getting whatever we want. The Id
functions entirely in the unconscious and closely tied to instinctual biological
urges (to eat, sleep,defecate,conpulate) that energize our behavior. The id as
the oldest and original structure of the mind, expresses the primary principle
of all human life, the immediate discharge of psychic energy produced by
biologically rooted drives especially sex and aggression (Hjelle 1992:88).
2. Ego
Ego is the component of personality that is responsible for dealing with
reality. Koeswara ststes that “Ego is a personality system that acts as
individual director to the object of reality, and perform its functions based on
the principle reality” ( Koeswara 1991:33-34).
Ego is the executive of the personality which the rule, control, and
regulate (Corey 2003:14). Freud maintains that human behavior is motivated
 by the instinct and directed toward tension reduction. According Freud, the
people called the “executive” of the personality because it chooses stimuli to
which we respoond and decides what instincts to satisfy and when and how
the ego nevertheless derives its power from the id, and its ultimate purpose is
to forward the id aims.
Bertens states that, ego task is to defend its own personality and ensure
alignment with the natural surounding (Berten 2002:71). Ego also controling
what is going on in consiousness and what he does. Boereee states that ego
connects with the reality of the world of organism through conscious
occupied, and look for objects to satisfy the desires and passions are generated
id to represent what is needed organisms this settlement process called
secondary processes (Boereee 2005:39).

3. Superego
Superego “is the personality system that contains the values and rules that
are evaluative” (Koeswara 1991:34-35). The superego is the aspect of
personality that holds all of our internalized moral standards and ideals that
we acquire from both parents and society our sense of right and wrong. The
superego provides guidelines for making judgments. There are two parts of
the superego:

1) The ego ideal includes the rules and standards for good behaviors. These
behaviors include those which are approved of by parental and other authority
figures. Obeying these rules leads to feelings of pride, value, and
accomplishment.
 2) The conscience includes information about things that are viewed as bad by
parents and society. These behaviors are often forbidden and lead to bad
consequences, punishments or feelings of guilt and remorse. The superego
acts to perfect and to civilize our behavior. It works to suppress all
unacceptable urges of the id and struggles to make the ego act upon idealistic
standards rather that upon realistic principles. The superego is present in the
conscious, preconscious, and unconscious.

The superego does not marely punish the individual for moral violations.
It is also provides the ideals the ego uses to determine if a behavior is virtuous
and therefore worthy of praise. In other individuals, the superego can become
to powerful, or “Super moral” and burden the ego with impossible standard of
perfection (Burger 1986:57).
The example, people may be able to forgive themselves or someone else if
it is clear that something was an accident or done under circumstances of
severe stress (Pervin 1984:76). In the course of development, children learn to
make such important distinctions and see thing not only in all or noun, right or
wrong, black or hite terms.

3. Notion of Altruism
A. Altruism
Altruism is the same things as selflessness. It is as simple as that. It is the concen for
the well being of others and can be seen in various cultures and religions across the
world. Three types of altruism include: nepotistic altruism, reciprocal altruism
(mutualism), group-based altruism.

1. Nepotistic Altruism

Nepotistic Altruism is selfish at the level of the gene, but nonetheless altruistic
at the level of the organism. The logic of nepotistic altruism extends beyond
parent offspring into all kin. For example, two baby in house. One mother
loves with her baby, feeds it, nurtures it, protects it and cuddles it. The other
mother focuses only her own needs, and basically neglects with her baby. The
first baby is better protected and go on to reproduce. The mother’s altruistic
care helps foster the reproduction of her kin. The mother has internalized the
interest of the child and sacrifices on its behalf, which is the definition of
altruism (Sarwono & Eko 2009 : 125-126).

2. Reciprocal Altruism (Mutualism)

Reciprocal altruism is the second form of altruism. Reciprocal altruism is

sacrifice in the short term to receive some benefit at a later time. For
example, when you buy a lunch, your friend forgot bring her wallet and she
return your money the following week. So, you have engaged in reciprocal
altruism (Sarwono & Eko 2009 : 125-126).

3. Group –Based Altruism

The third form of altruism, group-based altruism. Group-based altruism is

sacrifice for the good of the group. When the Arizone Cardinal Pat Tillman
gave up his football career and joined the armed forces and was subsequently
killed in Afghanistan that was a prototypical example of group-based altruism
(Sarwono & Eko 2009 : 125-126).
 4. Moral Altruism

Moral altruism is sacrifice for others mediated via the individual’s

justification system. For example, someone was running into a blaze to save
someone else’s life. So, moral altruism is a sacrifice to the well being of
others or saving a life of the other person (Sarwono & Eko 2009 : 125-126).

I. The Novelty of the Research

The Novelty of the research is the researcher only focusing in the importance of
altruism for happiness of others. The researcher anlyze the novel using Psychoanalytic
theory which have not researched yet by another researcher.