Name: Adi Bagus Pangestu

Student Number: 2211418015

Subject: Book Report and Review
Majors: English Literature

A. Book title : “The Accidental Tourist”

B. Author : Anne Tyler

C. Theme :

Grief

Macon and Sarah Leary have lost their son in a tragic and senseless way. This loss has
directly led to their own relationship also disintegrating. Throughout the book, we see
how the couple separately deals with their grief.

True love

The story shows Macon grappling to discover the true meaning of love. It is clear that
he loves Sarah and his son Ethan, but he has lost both of them. As a result, Macon
struggles with motivation to live, feeling that, through loss, love has been taken from
him.

Isolation

Macon has a strong tendency to isolate himself, whether it be physically or

emotionally. After Ethan dies, he locks himself even more deeply in his own emotions,
refusing to share his thoughts and pains with his wife Sarah, leading to their separation.
Macon often reflects on how he has difficulty communicating with others and has
isolated himself in a sort of shell that prevents genuine contact with the outside world.

Modern marriage

The marriage of Macon and Sarah—along with its dissolution—is a central

component of the novel. In older times, marriage was seen as an unbreakable vow,
where the couple is supposed to work out differences for the sake of the union. In more
 modern times, divorce has become extremely common, with slight disagreements
becoming fodder to permanently part ways.

D. Figures and Characterizations :

Macon Leary
Macon Leary is the middle-aged protagonist of the novel. Throughout the story,
Macon grapples with grief, love, and purpose after the death of his son Ethan and the
falling apart of his 20-year marriage. Macon is a writer of travel guides—ironic,
considering he despises traveling and anything that brings him away from his highly
regimented routine.

Sarah
Sarah is Macon's wife and best friend of over 20 years. They are each others' first
loves, having come together when they were teenagers. In many ways, Sarah is the
perfect match for Macon, harboring a similar sense of upper-class values and a
tolerance for his eccentricities. However, after the death of their son, Sarah loses
patience with Macon, desiring a partner who can provide her with the warmth and
emotional comfort she desperately seeks. This is what ultimately leads her to ask for a
divorce.

Rose
Rose is the sister of Macon Leary. She is similar to Macon in her eccentricity and love
of domestic ritual, as seen in her placing the groceries in alphabetical order and
meticulously cooking for her adult siblings.

Julian
Julian is Macon's boss and the publisher of his travel guide series. They initially meet
after Julian reads an amateur column Macon has written for the local paper. For many
years, their connection has been mostly professional and cordial, but this changes when
Julian begins to take interest in Macon's sister, Rose. Julian is also a relatively kind and
patient boss for Macon, showing much understanding when Macon fails to meet his
deadline in his time of grief.

Muriel Pritchett
Muriel is initially encountered by Macon when he drops off his dog Edward at the
Meow-Bow Animal Hospital where she works. Muriel volunteers to train Edward, and
Macon, desperate to find a solution to the unruly Edward, agrees. From the get-go,
Muriel is an open book, using their dog training sessions as an opportunity to unveil her
life story and hint at her romantic interest in Macon. In many ways, Muriel stands as the
 stark opposite to Macon's controlled and closed-off character. She is extremely forward
in her interactions, emotionally open, and focused on the trivial aspects of life.

Alexander
Alexander is the 7-year-old son of Muriel. Alexander is a sickly boy with many allergies
and a type of meekness that often makes him the victim of bullying. When Macon
moves into the Pritchett household, he attempts to guide Alexander away from Muriel's
belittling influence to become more confident and independent.

Ethan
Ethan Leary is a character that is not in the present tense of the novel yet colors many
of the events that take place. He is the 12-year-old son of Macon and Sarah who is
murdered at a fast-food restaurant while away at sleep-away camp. His sudden and
tragic death leads to the breakup of his parents and their very long and difficult period
of mourning.

Edward
Edward is Macon Leary's pet dog. During the story, Edward causes much trouble for
Macon, frequently acting out by biting neighbors or trying to attack his siblings.
Symbolically, Edward can be seen to represent Macon's unconscious nature: the
emotional and instinctual tendencies that he has suppressed in favor of presenting a
tightly controlled image to the world.

Alicia
Alicia is the mother of the Leary children. She is mostly present in the story through
Macon's reminiscing about his childhood. She is painted as a very unstable character
that often moves houses and changes partners, despite the negative effect it has on her
children. Eventually, she surrenders her role as mother altogether and leaves the kids to
live with their grandparents.

Charles and Porter

Charles and Porter Leary are brothers of Macon. They have both been divorced and
have wound up living again in their former grandparents' house with their sister Rose.
These men, despite being in their 40s, are depicted as somewhat immature and
helpless. When Rose moves out of their house to live with her new husband, the
brothers can barely take care of themselves, having become accustomed to being
served by their sister.

E. Setting and Tone

Setting : Baltimore, 1980s

Tone : Darkly realistic with moments of ironic humor