SELF-ACTUALIZATION REFLECTED IN CHARACTER

OLIVER BY CHARLES DICKENS NOVEL

OLIVER TWIST (1838)
A HUMANISTIC PSYCHOLOGICAL APPROACH

A. Background of the Study

Every human in this life must have self need from the basic need until the

highest need. Human will compete each other since they were born, they will

struggle to achive the highest need that they want. One researcher emphasize that

the desire to become more and more what one is, to become everything that one

is capable of becoming (Globe,1970). To concern the final steps human must

through the five stages itself, according to Maslow this stage in the hierarchy

can only be achieved when needs lower down in the hierarchy are satisfied

(Maslow, 1954). So, the basic needs will be the first steps of human hierarchy,

human will do anything to make the dream comes true. To achieve the highest

needs human must be work hard because it is so difficult. If one of the needs

cannot satisfied it cannot be reached the highest need because in order to proceed

to the next steps human must happy for the previous steps. Human should solve

one by one, from the small steps to the hard one it is indicate that human through

it with successful.

Abraham Harold Maslow was born in Brooklyn, New York, on 1 April

1908. He was known as discoverer of humanistic psycologycal. Maslow believes

that human want to know and receive themselves as well. His theory that very

popular until now is theory about Hierarchy of Needs. His experience and his

family life give so many influence for his psychology concept. Human
psychology believe that each person have pretension to showing the pontential on

themselves, to reached the self-actualization. Human can feel the top of needs

when human balance with themselves or around of them. Maslow contend that

human that actualize themselves more get the highest need than human that

cannot actualize themselves.

According to Burger humanistic personality focuses on the individuals

quest to attain a sense of meaning and personal satisfaction in his or her life

(Burger,2000). The results of the people efforts will see at the end. Human that

have big ambition to fulfil their life, they must mitivate themselves for looking

what they want. If they can up to the highest needs they will be happy and living

in this world feels comfortable.

Maslow using self actualization as highest needs or reached someone.

Maslow find without see where that person comes, each human experience need

steps in themselves life. The necessary needs include:

1. psychological needs (foods, water, clothes, etc).

2. savety needs (home, law, security, etc).

3. love and belongingness (best friends, family, wife, child, a group, etc).

4. self-esteem (harga diri, status, convidence, respect, appreciation from

another person).

5. self-actualization (someone needs to be proper as their potential.

Creativity, self realization, self development,) (Maslow page 9).

 From that explain above, it can be conclude that self-actualization is a

process to be ourself with develop characteristic along with individual

potention appropriate with the uniqueness that already to be whole

personality.

Charles John Huffam Dickens was born on February 7, 1812, in

Portsmouth on the southern coast of England. He was the author of many

classic novel like Oliver Twist (1838), A Chrismas Carol (1843), Nicholas

Nickleby (1838), David Copperfield (1850), A Tale of Two Cities (1859) and

Great Expectations (1861). In Oliver Twist, the story tells about a child who

was an orphan because he lost his parents from he was born. He lived in

workhouses; children labor and slavery trade was made illegal. In this era the

children protect law was very weak thats why in this era children got many

terrible life like they should filch for a piece of bread. According to Hoaglind

industrial revolution gave many impacts for society such as high

unemployement rapid urbanization and criminal action in that time

(Hoaglind, 1960:203).

Oliver has a bad life since he was born, over time he began to learn about

life. This paper will showing the steps that Oliver struggle to keep a life from

the basic needs until the self-actualization with theory Hierarchy of needs by

Abraham Maslow.

The basic needs

 Mr Sowerbury was allowed to make Oliver work as much as he

liked for the next seven years. The board expected Mr Sowerbury

to feed Oliver; but how much, and what kind, was up to him

(Dickens 11).

Savety needs

that night Dodger took Oliver into the centre of London. He told

Oliver that he knew an old gentleman who would happily give

Oliver a place to sleep; and it was true. The old gentleman did give

Oliver a place to sleep and was very pleased to meet him (Dickens

16-17).

Love and Belongingness needs

..to Oliver it was like heaven on earth. As soon as he was strong

enough to put on the clothes, Mr Brownlow had a complete new

suit, shoes and a cap, made for him. He was told he could do what

he liked with his old ones.. (dickens 40).

Self Esteem neds

I will only be ten minute, sir, replied Oliver, happy to help at

least. He buttoned up his coat. He put the bank-note carefully in his

pocket, picked up the parcel and was let out of the front door

(Dickens 41).

Self Actualization
 with Mr Brownlows guidance, help, and financial support, Oliver

was able to become a gentleman. He was educated, well-read and

respected in society by all who meet him (Dickens 74-76).

Relating to the fact above, this study will analyze about what the basic

needs dealing with the main character in the novel Oliver Twist based on the

psychology approach about theory of needs by Abraham Maslow, how he

quests self-actualization.

B. Scope of The Study

This study will focus on the basic needs to self actualization that reflected

in the main character Oliver in novel Oliver Twist. And will discuss the

criteria of basic needs to self actualization in the main character.

C. Problem Formulation

1. What are the basic needs come up in Oliver as the main character in

Oliver Twist ?

2. How does Oliver seek self actualization ?

D. Objective of The Study

1. To know the basic needs come up in Oliver as the main character in

Oliver Twist.

2. To explain Oliver seek for self actualization.

E. Significant of The Study

To help the reader learning self-actualization that reflected in the main

character of this novel. This study can used as reference for student, sepecially

for english literary student. And this study hopefully can make the reader can
 catch meaning of self-actualization that include in Oliver Twist by Charles

Dickens.

A. Bibilography

Burger, Jerry M. Personality, 5th Edition. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, 2000.

Dickens, C. 1838. Oliver Twist. Book.

Goble, F., 1970. The Third Force: The Psychology of Abraham Maslow A

Revolutionary New View of Man. Pocket Books, New York, NY.

Hoaglind. 1960. Learn World History: The Easy Way. London: Greystone

Press.

Maslow, A. H. (1954). Motivation and Personality (3rd ed.) New York:

Harper & Row.

Maslow, A. H. Motivation and Personality. Op.cit. p. 91.