the main character’s management of grief as … · ─mahatma gandhi plagiat merupakan tindakan...

THE MAIN CHARACTER’S MANAGEMENT OF GRIEF AS

REFLECTED IN HELEN FIELDING’S BRIDGET JONES:

MAD ABOUT THE BOY

AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS

Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements

For the Degree of Sarjana Sastra

In English Letters

By

NURADHA TRIYANINGTIAS

Student Number: 114214061

ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAM

DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS

FACULTY OF LETTERS

SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY

YOGYAKARTA

2017

PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI

ii

THE MAIN CHARACTER’S MANAGEMENT OF GRIEF AS

REFLECTED IN HELEN FIELDING’S BRIDGET JONES:

MAD ABOUT THE BOY

AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS

Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements

For the Degree of Sarjana Sastra

In English Letters

By

NURADHA TRIYANINGTIAS

Student Number: 114214061

ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAM

DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS

FACULTY OF LETTERS

SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY

YOGYAKARTA

2017


iii


iv


v


vi


vii

“Without action, you aren’t going anywhere.”

─Mahatma Gandhi


viii

I dedicated this thesis

to

my parents and my big families.


ix

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This page is dedicated for those who help and support me in writing this

undergraduate thesis. First of all, I would like to thank my Allah SWT for all the

blessings in the process of my research and for the strength during the difficulties

in writing this study.

My second gratitude is sincerely addressed for my thesis advisor, Ni Luh

Putu Rosiandani, M.Hum, for all her guidance and advice so that I can complete

this undergraduate thesis. Besides, I also thank my co-advisor Maria Ananta Tri

Suryandari, S.S., M.Ed for her willingness to correct my thesis. I would also give

thank my all lecturers who help me during my study in Sanata Dharma University

and all staff in Secretariat of English Letters.

Then my gratitude goes to my parents, Ibu and Bapak, who never stop to

support me to finish this study, for all the call day and night to remind me to do

my obligation. Also for my brother, Mas Ary, and my sisters, Putri and Mbak

Mita for the support along the way to finish this study.

Also, my special thanks are given to my high school friends in Balikpapan,

my best friends Deasy, Ika, Ikhsan, Tony, Nuri, Noa, Nabil, who never get tired to

remind me for finishing my thesis. For Jumva, thank you for answering all my

questions before I submit this paper, you are truly my 24 hours non-stop

emergency calling. I thank my kost best mates Bella and mbak Ratih for always

there beside me, for always cheer me up and for always let me be me. For Nana,

thank you for always be my partner for sharing all my problems. For Hanif, thank

you for becoming my partner for mid-night food hunting. I thank Indah, Lynka,


x

Ayu, Oksa, Indah, Ardian, Intan, for the friendship and all the memories during

my study in Sanata Dharma University. String Movie Maniacs, thank you for let

me be a part of you.

Last but not least, I also thank all my hiking partners from Jakarta,

Bandung, Malang, Semarang, and Lombok for guided me wherever I go during

my college break, for all the sincerity to help me on difficult tracks and also for

always provided the safety equipment for hiking. For my KKN group, Bu Dukuh,

Pak Dukuh, and all the member of her families, thank you so much for all the

experiences we have been through, thank you for the good atmosphere, thank you

for becoming my second family.

Nuradha Triyaningtias


xi

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE PAGE ........................................................................................................... ii

APPROVAL PAGE ................................................................................................ iii

ACCEPTANCE PAGE ........................................................................................... iv

LEMBAR PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN PUBLIKASI KARYA ILMIAH

..................................................................................................................................... v

STATEMENT OF ORIGINALITY ...................................................................... vi

MOTTO PAGE ...................................................................................................... vii

DEDICATION PAGE ........................................................................................... viii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .................................................................................... ix

TABLE OF CONTENTS ........................................................................................ xi

ABSTRACT ............................................................................................................ xii

ABSTRAK ............................................................................................................. xiii

CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION ........................................................................... 1

A. Background of the Study .......................................................................... 1

B. Problem Formulation ............................................................................... 5

C. Objective of The Study ............................................................................ 5

D. Definition of Terms .................................................................................. 6

CHAPTER II: REVIEW OF LITERATURE ....................................................... 8

A. Review of Related Studies ....................................................................... 8

B. Review of Related Theories ................................................................... 12

1. Theory of Character and Characterization ................................. 12

2. Theory of Stage of Grief ............................................................ 14

3. The Relation between Psychology and Literature ..................... 18

C. Theoretical Framework .......................................................................... 19

CHAPTER III: METHODOLOGY ..................................................................... 21

A. Object of the Study ................................................................................. 21

B. Approach of the Study ........................................................................... 22

C. Method of the Study ............................................................................... 23

CHAPTER IV: ANALYSIS .................................................................................. 25

A. The Description of Bridget Jones ........................................................... 26

B. The Management of Grief of Bridget Jones ........................................... 38

1. Stage of Denial ................................................................................. 39

2. Stage of Anger .................................................................................. 42

3. Stage of Bargaining .......................................................................... 44

4. Stage of Depression .......................................................................... 47

5. Stage of Acceptance ........................................................................ 50

CHAPTER V: CONCLUSION ............................................................................. 54

BIBLIOGRAPHY .................................................................................................. 57

APPENDIX ............................................................................................................. 59


xii

ABSTRACT

TRIYANINGTIAS, NURADHA. The Main Character’s Management of Grief

as Reflected in Helen Fielding’s Bridget Jones: Mad about The Boy.

Yogyakarta: Department of English Letters, Faculty of Letters, Sanata Dharma

University, 2017.

Bridget Jones: Mad about The Boy tells about the life of the main character,

Bridget Jones, in managing her grief after the death of her husband, Mark Darcy.

She has two children, Billy and Mabel, to be taken care of and it is not easy as she

holds double roles on parenting.

This research focuses on revealing the process of the main character’s

management of grief through a psychological approach. In this research, there are

two questions related to the topic. The first question is how the characterization of

the main character and the roles of Bridget Jones are described in Bridget Jones:

Mad about The Boy after losing her husband and the second question is how she

manages her grief.

This study uses the theory of character and characterization by M.H Abram and

M. J Murphy, the theory of relation between literature and psychology by Wellek

and Waren, Reichert, Stanton, Crow and Crow, Rohrberger dan Woods and the

last is the theory of stages of grief by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross and David Kessler.

In this study, it uses the library research method as the primary source. Besides, it

also collects the data from the internet and some theoretical books to support the

study. The approach used in this study is psychological approach. This approach

is used as this study highlights how Bridget Jones as a single parent with two

children manages her grief after the death of her husband.

In the analysis, it shows that the description of Bridget Jones is divided into three

parts in order to better understand her characterization. The first part is the

description in the beginning of her grieving process which shows her

characteristic as she recently knows the death of her husband. The second part is

her description in the middle of her grieving process that is followed by the

description in the end of her grieving process. Furthermore, from the

characterization which has been analyzed previously, this study then continues the

analysis of her management of grief until she finally reaches the stage of

acceptance and tries to move on with the one who she can depend on, Mr.

Wallaker.


xiii

ABSTRAK

TRIYANINGTIAS, NURADHA. The Main Character’s Management of Grief

as Reflected in Helen Fielding’s Bridget Jones: Mad about The Boy.

Yogyakarta: Program Studi Sastra Inggris, Fakultas Sastra, Universitas Sanata

Dharma, 2017.

Bridget Jones: Mad about The Boy menceritakan tentang kehidupan tokoh utama,

Bridget Jones, untuk mengelola kedukaan setelah kematian suaminya, Mark

Darcy. Ia mempunyai dua anak, Billy dan Mabel, yang harus dijaga dan bukan hal

mudah untuk memegang peran ganda dalam rumah tangganya.

Penelitian ini difokuskan pada proses tokoh utama dalam mengelola kedukaan

yang sedang dia alami dengan pendekatan psikologi. Penelitian ini terdiri dari dua

pertanyaan yang berkaitan dengan topik. Pertama, bagaimana karakterisasi dan

peran tokoh utama dideskripsikan dalam Bridget Jones: Mad about The Boy

setelah kematian suaminya dan yang kedua adalah bagaimana Ia mengelola

kedukaan.

Penelitian ini menggunakan teori karakter dan karakterisasi oleh M.H Abram dan

M.J Murphy, teori hubungan literature dan psikologi oleh Wellek dan Waren,

Reichert, Stanton, Crow dan Crow serta Rohrberger dan Woods dan terakhir

adalah teori tingkat kedukaan oleh Elisabeth Kübler-Ross dan David Kessler.

Dalam penelitian ini, penulis menggunakan metode studi pustaka sebagai bahan

utama. Selain itu, penulis juga mengumpulkan data data dari internet dan beberapa

buku teori untuk mendukung penelitian. Pendekatan yang digunakan adalah

pendekatan psikologi. Pendekatan psikologi digunakan karena penelitian ini

membahas bagaimana Bridget Jones sebagai orangtua tunggal untuk kedua

anaknya, Billy dan Mabel, mengatur kedukaan setelah kematian suaminya.

Dari hasil analisis, dapat dilihat bahwa deskripsi Bridget Jones terbagi menjadi

tiga bagian agar dapat lebih memahami karakterisasinya. Bagian pertama adalah

deskripsi diawal proses kedukaan yang menunjukkan karakterisasinya diawal

waktu saat mengetahui suaminya meninggal. Bagian kedua adalah deskripsi

ditengah masa kedukaan dan diikuti oleh deskripsi diakhir masa kedukaan.

Selanjutnya, dari karakterisasi yang telah dianalisis sebelumnya, penulis

melanjutkan penelitian ini dengan menganalisa pengelolaan kedukaan Bridget

sampai akhirnya Ia mencapai taraf penerimaan dan mencoba untuk menjalani

hidup dengan seseorang yang dapat diandalkan, Mr. Wallaker.


1

CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

A. Background of the study

Literature is a term used to describe written works. The term is most

commonly used to refer to works of poetry, drama, fiction, and non-fiction.

Literature introduces people to new worlds of experience. The reader can discover

the meaning in literature by focusing on what the authors say and how they say it.

Literature cannot be separated from human’s life. The characters in the

novel are inspired by the people in real life. Wellek and Warren in Theory of

Literature stated that literature represents human’s life.

Literature is the reflection of human feeling toward his life. It is closely

related to human experience through which we can learn the image of

human being that expressed in the written way. It can also be defined as

the work of arts which represents human life. (Wellek and Warren, 1956:

94)

According to what Wellek and Warren stated above, it is clearly seen that human

beings can learn a lot of things from any literary works. Literary work does not

only entertain but also gives human beings certain values about the experience of

the others’ life. Human beings have mind or soul that makes them different from

the other creatures and it is used by human beings to control their everyday life.

Human can feel, memorize, and think by using their mind which is known

as psyche, and it can be studied in a specific discipline which is called

psychology.


2

Furthermore, psychology takes the important role in literature, because the

composition of literary work in its story could not be separated from the

psychological aspect. According to Thomas and Johnson, the relationship between

literature and psychology is that both of sciences are from the same branches that

are humanity sciences (2009: 10). It can be concluded that all psyche problems

and conflicts that human faced in their life may exist on literary work.

A literary work is a reflection of the phenomena that happens in real life.

There will be a lesson that people get from their experiences. Birth and death are

natural events in life. Loss is not something most people can walk away from

without an emotional response. Grief is natural as it is the emotional reaction that

people experience when someone is taken out of their life. The term management

of grief is the process that will be faced by people who experience grief. In the

grieving process, it is critical to accept the reality and the changes that the loss of

a loved one brings. Being aware of the psychological reactions after the loss might

also help people to overcome the grief and adjust to the new life ahead. Grief can

last for a shorter period or turn into a prolonged disorder that require professional

help to understanding the disorder and treat it. (HelpGuide.org: Coping with Grief

and Loss)

Dealing with grief happens naturally, and no set timeframe exists for the

grieving process to be completed. There is no right or wrong time frame for

grieving. How long it takes can differ from person to person. Most people go

through a series of the stage during the grieving process (Smith and Segal, 2016).


3

Helen Fielding’s Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy is one of the novels that talks

about the grieving process of the main character, Bridget Jones, aged fifty-one. It

is the third novel written by Helen Fielding that was published in October 2013.

The novel sets in present-day London. It is revealed in the book that Bridget’s

husband, Mark Darcy, died five years earlier and they have two children, Billy

and Mabel, aged seven and five.

The first Bridget’s sequence novel written by Helen Fielding is Bridget

Jones’s Diary. It is a 1996 novel of Bridget’s personal diary started from January

1st and ends on the following New Year’s Eve. The novel is an autobiographical

of a thirty-something single working woman that tries to make a living through

the process of life and dating. In 1999, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason is a

sequel to Bridget Jones’s Diary. It talks about Bridget’s adventures. She finally

has a boyfriend named Mark Darcy, their ups and downs appear here and at the

end of the novel, Bridget accepts Mark Darcy’s proposal. Both novels were turned

into movies meanwhile the third novel (Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy) is not

as same as the third movie. The third movie entitled Bridget Jones’s Baby was

released in October 2016 and the fans of Bridget Jones are pleased for the movie

does not follow the plot of Fielding’s third novel.

In Helen Fielding’s third novel Bridget Jones: Mad about The Boy (2013),

there is a plot twist that makes the fans of Bridget Jones protest to Helen Fielding.

Both in the first and the second book talk about the relationship between Bridget

and Mark Darcy which is really mattered and it becomes the beating heart of the

story. In the third book, the main character, Bridget, tries hard to get through the


4

grieving process of the loss of her husband, Mark Darcy. It took fourteen years for

Helen Fielding to write the third book and she decided to be brave with the plot

that she wrote on her third book by killing off Mark Darcy.

On Daily Mail’s website, Helen Fielding (the author of the novel) revealed

that the beloved character Mr. Darcy had been killed off in Helen Fielding’s latest

novel, Bridget Jones: Mad about The Boy (2013). She says, “I wrote this book

from the inside out, that is what happened, Mark died. No one gets to Bridget’s

age without suffering some sort of loss, life does not turn out as you expect.”

(Waterlow, 2013). She wants to emphasize that everything can happen in

Bridget’s life, even the worst thing, the death of her husband.

In this study, the writer uses the third novel of Helen Fielding’s Bridget

Jones: Mad about The Boy (2013) as a source of the material. The writer finds the

most interesting point of this novel is the plot twist comparing from Fielding’s

two previous books; about how the management of grief experienced by the main

character, Bridget Jones. In this novel, the author illustrates Bridget as an older

parent who has had successful career need to struggle since the death of her

husband makes her whole life change rapidly.

The study focuses on the discussion of management of grief in Helen

Fielding’s Bridget Jones Mad about The Boy; about the grieving process of the

main female character, Bridget, to deal with the reality after the death of her

husband. The theory of Elisabeth Kübler-Ross and her co-author, a grief expert

David Kessler’ On Grief nd Grieving: Finding The Meaning of Grief through the

Five Stages of Loss (2004) which examines about the cycle of grief is being used


5

to help analyzes the management of grief of the main character. Grief allows a

person to understand the loss of someone or something special, and that the

sadness never goes away completely, but knowing the stages of grief help her to

stay on a right path.

B. Problem Formulation

In order to understand the novel, there are two questions in the problem

formulation that need to be analyzed.

1. How is Bridget Jones described in Helen Fielding’s Bridget Jones: Mad about

The Boy after the loss of her husband?

2. How does Bridget Jones manage her grief?

C. Objectives of the Study

The discussion is mainly to answer the two problems formulated above.

The first objective is to describe the characteristic of the main character named

Bridget Jones after the death of her husband. The theory of character and

characterization by Abram and Murphy will be used in this step. After analyzing

the character and the characterization of the main character of the novel, the

management of grief can be seen and it relates to the second objective of this

study. The second objective is to find out how Bridget Jones manages her grieving

process until she deals with the reality of losing her husband.


6

D. Definition of Terms

There is a term used in relation to the topic of this thesis. It is important to

understand the term since the term is essentially related to the problem discussed.

Management of Grief

Management of grief is the process of how people manage their grief after

the significant loss. Grief defined by oxfordictionary.com is the intense sorrow,

especially caused by someone’s death. In real life, grief is not only related to the

death of someone, but there is many other significant losses can also trigger grief.

Restoration Therapy Center states,

Grieving involves so much more than physical death: it can occur over the

ending of a relationship, the loss of a dream, the realization of the

consequences of our actions, etc. When you are an addict or a partner of an

addict, a major part of the process of recovery involves grieving. (Simon,

2016)

Grieving is a personal individual experience. Management of grief depends on

many factors, including the personality and the coping style, the life experience,

the faith, and the nature of the loss. The grieving process takes time. Healing

happens gradually and it cannot be forced or hurried.

While grief is a journey common to all, no one can tell you exactly how

you should grieve because it is personal path unique to everyone who

walks it. And there’s no single right way to grieve. However,

understanding how grief works and what influences it will better prepare

you for what you encounter after a loss. (Jackson, 2013: 8)

Based on the quotation above, it is important to understand that people will grieve

in their own unique way. People grieve in no one’s way but their own. By going


7

all the way through the grief, people are on the way to their healing process to

deal with the reality.


8

CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF LITERATURE

This chapter consists of three main parts. The first part of this chapter

discusses the studies related to this study, consist of doctoral dissertation and

thesis which are related to the topic of this study. The second part of this chapter

is review of related theories which is the compilation of some theories required to

conduct this study. The theories are the theory of character and characterization

and the theory of stage of grief. The last part of this chapter is theoretical review

which explains the correlation between the theory and the contribution of the

theory in solving the problem in this study.

A. Review of Related Studies

The writer finds in a doctoral dissertation by Catherine Margaret

Tomlinson entitled “A Review of The Grief Process and Bereavement Follow Up

Support”, that grief is an individual process with its aim not to be finite and bond

breaking, but a process whereby one learns to live with grief and is encouraged to

embrace and enjoy a healthy relationship with the deceased. Tomlinson believes

that death is often a very honest and humbling experience and one which everyone

is certain to be affected by.

When people are in the grieving process, the shock has worn off and the

loss is recognized. The emotion is extreme and unstable, so it affects the

individual characteristic. While we wish we never had to learn or

understand these emotions, being aware of them may offers us comfort in

our way of sorrow. (Tomlinson, 2001: 33)


9

From the excerpt above, Tomlison points out that when people lose someone that

they love, they will experience shock since there is a rapid change that turns the

world into the unfamiliar place in the case that the affected people should do

everything alone. Coping with grief become the exhausting things to do. People

who experience grief must learn to understand the emotion and be aware of all

things that may happen in life.

Based on the explanation by Tomlison above, the writer finds that it has

the similar topic with this study. The analysis written by him can be applied in this

study since it also discusses about grief. While his study talked about the grieving

process in general, this study focuses on the grieving process experience by a

woman who loses husband. It is not easy for Bridget to take care of her children

by herself. Besides, she also experiences shock as it is the common initial feeling

of people dealing with loss.

The second study related to this thesis is a bachelor thesis by Patricia

Nalungwe’s Loneliness among Elderly Widows and its Effect on Their Well-

Being: Literature Review (2009). Her study talks about the grieving process of a

woman that losses husband.

To work through and complete grief means to face the feelings openly and

honestly, to express and release the feelings fully and to tolerate and

accepts the feelings for however long it takes for the wound to heal. Newly

widowed women are often scared that they will never be able to overcome

the bereavement, the truth is that bereavement does dissolve with the time.

(Nalungwe, 2009: 12)

The quotation above talks about the impact of the death of the husband. It is so

never ending sadness for a woman when they lose a husband. It is such a


10

traumatic event that has long-term effects on the lives of the woman who

experiences grief. The study above shows that although it may take one year or

two or more, their grief will definitely reach an end and be transformed into

acceptance.

Since the study above analyzed the grieving process experienced by a

woman who loses her husband, there is additional information that useful to

complete this study.The same thing happens to the main character, Bridget Jones,

who lost a husband. But the difference is that Bridget has her children whose

indirectly force her to strengthen herself. The death of spouse or life partner is one

of the most devastating events in a person’s life bringing with its own particular

difficulties. As a result of the death, Bridget lost a life’s partner, a lover, and a

father of the children. After losing her husband, she should struggle to live

without her husband and being forced to make more changes than from any other

event that people will never experience yet.

The last study that helps the writer to complete this analysis is a doctoral

dissertation by Mgr. Lazaros A. Vlachopoulos entitled Supporting The

Educational in Grief and Bereavement. In her paper, she shows the reader about

the human development on their process to face the reality after losing someone.

The concern of her doctoral studies is children, it is a children’s case study. The

purpose of her study is to find ways directly and indirectly to support the children

that experience grief.

If children’s emotions are not met with understanding and patience,

frustration and bitterness will result. Children will feel helpless and out of

control, and may be unable to express the deep loneliness and


11

hopelessness they experiencing. Children do not want to be left alone with

their thoughts. (Vlachopoulos, 2008)

The excerpt above explains that not only the adult who can experience grief, but

also the children. The children also need support from their surroundings. Most

people that lose someone that they love will always try hard to move on, but the

fact is it will never succeed because people need time to accept it, so do the

children. The death of the parent of the children can make them feel frustrated and

feel lonely since the only thing they know is there is an absence of someone in

their life without knowing the reason and the result of it in the later life.

This study is different with Vlachopoulus’ study since this study has a

different object with him. While his study talked about the grieving process

experienced by the children, this study focusses on the grieving process

experienced by a woman who loses husband and becomes a single parent with two

children. While the children do not have the ability to control and to know deeper

about the loss, the aged people have the ability to control the emotion resulted

from the loss of the spouse. But, lucky her that her children are a type of

understanding child who never brings her down. Bridget can handle everything

alone since it is her obligation to be responsible to her role as a single mother. It

takes a long time to make she realizes that she should be strong to face the reality.


12

B. Review of Related Theories

There are some theories that the writer uses in analyzing this thesis. The

theories give the writer valuable information for conducting the thesis. The

theories that the writer uses are the theory of character and characterization and

the theory of management of grief.

1. Theory of Character and Characterization

Character has a very important role in a story. The character is the one that

connects the reader to the story itself. The action and the dialogue help the reader

to understand the story deeper. In a literary work, character is a very significant

and interesting element to be discussed. According to Abrams’ A Glossary of

Literary Terms (1981: 23), character is a person who represented on a dramatic or

narrative work that being interpreted by the reader with particular moral,

emotional, and intellecnctual qualities.

Moreover, there is another theory that being used about character and

characterization. According to Murphy’s Understanding Unseen: An Introduction

to English Novel for Overseas Students (1972: 161-173), characterization is the

way the author describes the character to convey to the reader what sort of people

they are. There are 9 ways to understand deeply about the character, they are:

physical appearance, direct speech from the author, description from other

characters, conversation, speech, past life, thought, manner or habit, and reaction

towards various situations. In this study, only 4 ways of characterization are

applied: speech, past life, reaction, and thought.


13

a. Speech

The author describes the character through the way how the character

speaks in the novel. The character can talk in order to deliver his opinion.

Whenever the author takes a person in speaking, he is trying to give the reader

some clues about the character (Murphy, 1972: 163).

b. Past Life

The author shows the reader about the past life of the character so that the

reader knows deeper about the background and the past life of the character. It can

be seen the trough the conversation or through the medium of another person in

the novel itself (Murphy, 1972: 166).

c. Reaction

The author gives a clue to a person’s character by showing how that

person reacts to various situations and events. The quality of the character in the

novel might be expected to be shown when the character itself deals with various

situations and events that he encounters (Murphy, 1972: 166).

d. Thought

The author gives the reader the information of what the character actually

thinking about. What the character thinks reveal things about the character itself.

People can discover things about the personality and the feeling, which sometimes

help the reader understand the character’s action (Murphy, 1972: 168).


14

2. Theory of Stages of Grief

Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross’ On Death and Dying (1969: 1) introduced the

cycle of grief phases that known as five stages of grief. These stages were based

on her studies on the dying patients who were facing terminal illness. But, before

her own death in 2004, Elisabeth Kübler-Ross and her co-author, a grief expert

David Kessler, expanded her previous grief theory for those who experienced

grief in general on the book entitled On Grief nd Grieving: Finding The Meaning

of Grief through the Five Stages of Loss (2004). The five stages: denial, anger,

bargaining, depression, and acceptance are the framework that help people to

learn to live with the one we lost, but it has no linear timeline and not everyone

goes in prescribe order (2004: 7). It is possible if the person who is already go

forward than they are go backwards since the emotional condition of people who

are grieving are unpredictable and unstable but grief does soften over time.

The writer applied the expansion of the cycle of grief by Kübler-Ross and

David Kessler (2004) because the main character, Bridget Jones, in Helen

Fielding’s Bridget Jones: Mad about The Boy experienced the loss of her

husband, Mark. This theory being used to help to manage and understand these

stages of grief. The five stages are the framework that helps people to learn to live

without the one they lost.

a. Stage of Denial

The first phase is denial, it is the early and first element of the grief

process that actually visible on the outside. In this phase, grieving people are


15

unable or unwilling to accept that the loss has taken. The grieving person also

becomes shock when gets the bad news and make them go numb.

The first stage of grieving help us to survive the loss. In this stage, the

world becomes meaningless and overwhelming. Life makes no sense. We

are in a state of shock and denial. We go numb. We wonder how we can

go on. we try to find a way to simply get through each day. Denial and

shock help us to cope and make survival possible. Denial help us to pace

our feelings of grief. (Kübler-Ross and Kessler, 2004: 10)

Denial is the reaction that forms out of a feeling of disbelief; they are shock when

they receive bad news. The grieving person tends to deny the loss has taken place.

Even it is possible that they are thinking that it is impossible that their loved one

dies and they cannot get over it. Once the denial and the shock start to fade, the

start of healing process begins.

b. Stage of Anger

The second stage is anger. After people have passed through denial and

accept that the loss has occurred, they begin to feel anger at the loss and the

unfairness of it. Sometimes the anger is directed at the bearer of the bad news.

This stage presents itself in many ways: anger at your loved one that he

didn’t take care of himself or that you didn’t take better care of him. Anger

doesn’t have to be logical or valid. You may be angry that bad things

could happend to someone who meant so much to you. (Kübler-Ross and

Kessler, 2004: 11)

The quotation above explains that anger has no limit. It can extend not only to the

bereaved friend, the doctor, and the family, but also to God. The loss of the loved

one make the need to blame others arises for the injustice that happened and also

may redirect the anger to the close friends and family.


16

Anger is necesssary stage of the healing process. Be willing to feel your

anger, even tough it may seem endless. The more you truly feel it, the

more it will begin to dissipate and the more you will heal. It is a useful

emotion until you’ve moved past the first wave of it. In the process of

grieving you will have many subsequent visit with anger i its many forms.

(Kübler-Ross and Kessler, 2004: 11)

The quotation above explains that it is important to truly feel the anger. Anger

becomes the bridge to bring the bereaved back into the reality and let them

connect with other people. It is the good expression rather than being silent and do

nothing for life.

c. Stage of Bargaining

The third stage is bargaining. In this stage, people try to get away from the

dreadful truth in many different ways and it makes the emotions remain high.

People are demonstrating more involvement in the situation, questioning the

situation and trying to find a way out. This stage usually involves promises of

better behavior or significant life change which will be made in exchange for the

reversal of the loss.

After a loss, bargaining may take the form of temporary agreement. We

become lost in a maze of “if only...” or “what if...” statements. We want to

go back in time: find the tumor sooner, recognize the ilness more quickly,

stop the accident from happening... if only of only if only. Gulit is often

bargaining’s companion. We will do anything not to feel the loss. We

remain in the past, trying to negotiate our way out of the hurt (Kübler-Ross

and Kessler, 2004: 17)

This stage marked by the endless “what if” statements. By setting the new goal,

the feeling of the guilt is soften. This is a defense to protect the grieving person

from the painful reality. They also stated that bargaining can help the mind move

from one stage of loss to another (2004:18). It can be a way to give the mind the

time it may need to adjust.


17

d. Stage of Depression

The fourth stage according to Kübler-Ross and Kessler (2004) is

depression. In this stage, the truth finally sinks and the person involved feels

helpless and misunderstood. As the result, they avoid communication with people.

They can take refuge in alcohol and drugs as painkillers. In this stage, grieving

people usually cry, experience sleep or eating habit changes.

The loss of a loved one is a very depressing situation, and depression is a

normal and appropriate response. To not experience depression after a

loved one died would be unusual. When a loss fully sttles in your soul, the

realization that your loved one didn’t get better this time and is not coming

back is understandably depressing. (Kübler-Ross and Kessler, 2004: 20)

This stage represents the emptiness and grief enters a into a deeper level. The

world becomes too overwhelming and the bereaved do not want to be around

others and do not like to talk. But as the bereaved allow themselves to experience

depression, it will leave as soon as it has served its purpose in your loss (2004:

22). As the depression works, the bereaved grows stronger, it may come time to

time, but it is how grief works.

e. Stage of Acceptance

The last stage is acceptance. In this stage, people can accept the bad news

and they can recover from the previous stages and accept their grief. They are able

to accept that the loss has occurred, go back to the routines, able to plan for their

futures and re-engage in daily life. This is when the anger, sadness, and mourning

went away.

This stage is about accepting the reality that our loved one is phsycally

gone and recognizing that this new reality is the permanent reality. We


18

will nevwer like this reality or make it okay, but eventually we accept it.

We leran to live with it. (Kübler-Ross and Kessler, 2004: 23-24)

It is clearly understand that in this stage, the grieving person becames aware of the

fact that there is no more hope about the loss and they can accept the bad news.

Although the feeling of sad still exist, they are able to start moving forward with

life.

As we heal, we learn who we are and who our loved one was in life. In a

strange way, as we move through grief, healing brings us closer to the

person we loved. A new relationship begins. We learn to live with the

loved one we lost. We start to process of reintegration, trying to put back

the pieces that been ripped away. (Kübler-Ross and Kessler, 2004: 25)

In the grieving process, the best thing that the grieving person can do is to allow

themselves to feel the grief as it comes. The more people like to resist it, the more

it will prolong the process of healing. In this stage, the bereaved understand the

loved one can never be replace, but they can move, grow, and evolve into the new

reality.

3. The Relation between Psychology and Literature

There is a close relationship between literature and psychology. Literature

exhibits how human beings behave in dealing with their problems and

environment. Meanwhile, psychology deals with the study of observable patterns

of human behavior.

In Lester D Crow and Alice Crow’s Readings in General Psychology,

Edward L Thondike states that “Human psychology deals with the thoughts and

feelings of human beings and seeks to explain the facts of intellect, character, and

personal life” (1954: 1). Based on their explanation, it is clearly seen that


19

psychology has a relation with literature since in literature, the character is being

analyzed through the life experience to see the behavior and that both of them are

connect with human beings and their reaction.

Besides, according to Stanton’s An Introduction to Fiction (1965),

psychology is a body of knowledge which studies about human psyche and the

most related element to psychology is the character. Since the character can be

considered as a human being that exists in the work of literature, his or her

personality can be investigated through psychology as psychology deals with

human psyche.

C. Theoretical Framework

The theoretical framework contains some theories that the writer used to

find the answer of problem formulation. The theories of characterization and

stages of grief are being used as a material to answer the problem formulations.

The first problem formulation used the theory of character by Abrams’ A

Glossary of Literary Terms (1981) to describe the main character, Bridget Jones,

in Helen Fielding’s Bridget Jones: Mad About A Boy. However, the theory of

characterization by Murphy’s Understanding Unseen: An Introduction to English

Novel for Overseas Students (1972) also helpful to complete the description of the

main character.

The second problem formulation used the theory about cycle of grief or

also known as five stages of grief by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross and David Kessler’

On Grief and Grieving: Finding The Meaning of Grief through the Five Stages of

Loss (2004) to identify how the main character manages her grief after losing her


20

husband. After analyzed the description by used the theory of characterization, the

writer can see that the main character experiences the grieving process until she

finally reach the state of acceptance.


21

CHAPTER III

METHODOLOGY

This chapter consists of three major points. The first point is object of the

study, it describes the work analyzed. The second is the approach of the study, it

explains the approach used to analyze the work and the reason of using that

approach. The last point is method of the study that describes the procedure of

analyzing the work.

A. Object of the Study

The object of this study is Helen Fielding’s Bridget Jones:Mad about The

Boy. This fiction novel is published in the United States by Vintage Books in

October 2013. In its debuted, it becomes number one on the Sunday Times

bestseller list and number seven in The New York Times bestseller list. Also, this

novel is nominated in the Popular Fiction category of the National Book Award. It

is published in more than forty countries and has been sold more than fifteen

million copies worldwide and has been translated into thirty-two languages.

The novel talks about the main character, Bridget Jones, whose condition

of her life changes after her husband, Mark Darcy, is killed in an accident in

Africa. Bridget is a fifty-one-year-old woman who has two children. Four years


22

after death of her husband, she still does not want to accept another man enter her

life. The whole story talks about Bridget’s grieving process; about how she

manages her grief.

B. Approach of the Study

This study reveals the management of grief through the main character in

the novel. The writer uses the psychological approach to analyze the main

character, Bridget Jones, on Bridget Jones: Mad about The Boy. This approach is

the most suitable approach to analyze the novel. Rohrberger and Woods in

Reading and Writing about Literature stated, “Psychological approach involves

the effort to locate and demonstrate certain recurrent pattern” (1971: 13). The

current pattern used in this study is a psychological pattern to analyze the

psychological condition of the main character, Bridget Jones.

Psychological approach is used when the focus of the literature work is on

the psychological pattern of the character in the novel. Furthermore, Rohrberg and

Woods also stated that analysis of the society is a necessity (1971: 9). Literature is

influenced by the author first before it is influenced by the society. On the writing

of literary works, the author expresses the ideas, actions, or attitudes of the

society. Then, society can take the important role toward literature.

Psychological approach is chosen to analyze Bridget Jones: Mad about

The Boy to see the management of grief by the main character; how Bridget has

finally accepted the reality that she needs to move on after the death of her

husband, Mark Darcy. The psychological approach is relevant to be used as an

approach to analyzing literary work because psychology and literature are closely


23

related. In Bornstein’s Psychology and Its Allied Discipline, Lindauer stated that

psychology studies human characteristics systematically, both in real life as well

as in literature. Psychological approach tries to examine the work of literature

from the condition which is inside the character. It deals with the character’s

thought, action, and also personality. Thus, it is clear that the most suitable

approach for this thesis is the psychological approach.

C. Method of the Study

This research applied a library research in order to collect the data. The

primary source is Bridget Jones: Mad about The Boy by Helen Fielding. The

secondary sources are Abram’s A Glossary of Literary Terms, Murphy’s

Understanding Unseens: An Introduction to English Poetry and English Novel for

Overseas Students, and Elisabeth Kübler-Ross and David Kessler’s On Grief and

Grieving: Finding The Meaning of Grief through the Five Stages of Loss.

Besides, the writer also took some related information from the internet to

complete the analysis.

The writer took some steps to analyze the novel. First, the writer

conducted a deeper reading in the novel in order to comprehend the story well and

find the detail. After reading the novel, the writer found something that interesting

to be discussed, which was the management of grief of the main character, Bridget

Jones, after the death of her lovely husband, Mark Darcy.

The next step is to focus on Bridget’s character; try to find out how she

faces her life after the death of her husband, then formulated some questions. The

theory of


24

ccharacter and characterization were used to reveal the characteristics of the main

character through the novel as the response of the death of her husband.

Characterization is the method used by the writer to deeper understands about the

main character, Bridget. The method includes the character’s speech, shows the

character’s past time, displays of the reaction, and reveals the character’s

thoughts.

Besides, the theory of management of grief by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross and

David Kessler (2004), was used to reveal Bridget’s grieving process of the loss of

her husband and how she manages her grief. Third, try to apply theories and

approach that is already presented earlier to answer the problem formulations. By

answering the two problems formulation, the writer analyzes how the

characteristics and the role of Bridget Jones contributed to revealing her

management of grief and finally the writer can make a conclusion based on the

analysis on it.


25

CHAPTER IV

ANALYSIS

In this chapter, the writer analyses the two formulated problems. The

analysis done at each subchapter is based on the various relevant theories as

provided in the theoretical review. The first one is the description of the main

character, Bridget Jones. The writer divides the description of the character into

three parts based on the psychological condition, the state of mind, and the feeling

of her from the beginning of her adjustment after get the news of the death of her

husband and ends with the state that she can accept the loss.

The second part of the analysis is the management of grief that

experienced by the main character. The management of grief helps Bridget to deal

with the pain and the shock of the loss until acceptance is reached. She lost the

person who satisfies her deepest needs: the need for an intimate emotional

relationship, the sexual needs, and the need for companionship. Lots of

differences in life will require her to reevaluate her whole life. Lucky her that her

surrounding always support her, meaning that they are contribute to help her get

through the grieving process.

To better understand the characteristic of the main character, the writer

uses Murphy’s Understanding Unseen: An Introduction to English Novel for

Overseas Students (1972: 161-173) theory of character and characterization. Some

of his characterization theory which useful to analyze this study are speech, past

life, reactions, and thoughts.


26

A. The Description of Bridget Jones

1. The Description of Bridget Jones in The Beginning of The Grieving

Process

Bridget Jones is a widow after her husband, Mark Darcy, tragically died.

She lives with two young children, Mabel and Billy, who barely have memories

of their perfect father. In the novel, her husband, a human right lawyer Mr. Mark

Darcy, has been killed while on a foreign assignment in war-torn Darfur, Sudan.

As a single parent, she has a new challenge to do all the things alone without

someone she can depend on.

Mark Darcy, the British human rights lawyer, was killed in the Darfur

region of Sudan when the armoured vehicle in which he was traveling

struck a landmine. Darcy, the internationally recognized authority in cross-

border litigation and conflict resolution, and Anton Daviniere, a Swiss

representative of the UN Human Rights Council, were both killed in the

accident, Reuters reported. (Fielding, 2013: 151)

Through the past life, the author explains how Mark and his travel companion are

both reported dead by a news agency. However, there is no reference is made to

Mark funeral, nor the way how his body is brought back to the UK. Losing

husband means losing an important companion that make her feel numb and panic

for the future without her husband and the figure of a father to both of her

children. The following is the psychological condition, the state of mind, and the

feeling of Bridget while she is on the earlier time of her difficult journey after she

loses her husband.


27

a. Being a Pessimistic Person

Murphy said that the author can describe the character by showing how

they react to various situations and events (1972: 162). The first reaction when

Bridget get the news is a shock. When the news first comes, it is hard to believe

that the reality is really happening. It is seen that she feels shock and unable to

accept the fact that her husband died.

The memories are blur. Friends, family, surrounding me like a womb,

Mark’s lawyer friends shorting everything, the will, the death duties,

unbelievable, like a film that was going to stop. (Fielding, 2013: 33)

The quotation proves that the memories take Bridget backward to past time when

she knows about the death of her husband, Mark. She experiences shock when she

gets the news. It leads her to be pessimistic since she must live without her

husband. After her husband died, it is never been easy for Bridget Jones to take

care of her children, Billy and Mabel. Before her husband died, she was a type of

a cheerful and an optimist person, but as the first reaction, the death of her

husband makes her being a pessimistic person. As Murphy stated, the author gives

the reader straight information of what a character thinking about (1972: 171).

We knew each other inside out, back to front. Mark is a gentleman and I

trusted him completely in everything and I went out from that safe place

into the world. It was like exploring the scary underwater ocean from our

safe little submarine. And now… everything is scary and nothing will be

safe again. (Fielding, 2013: 32)

It is seen that Bridget becomes pessimistic since she must live without the

guidance of her husband. To start over with everything becomes a frightening

experience for her since she must stand by herself only. Bridget thinks that life

makes no sense, has no meaning without her husband.


28

... Just Mabel and Billy─ my miniature Mark─ All I had left of him to

keep alive and to keep me alive. A mother, a widow, putting one foot in

front of the other. But inside I was on empty shell, devastated, no longer

me. (Fielding, 2013: 35)

Through the thought, Bridget states that she no longer becomes the one as she

were before. Life gets harder since there are lots of rapid change in her life and it

demands great adjustment. In fact, she wears a mask every time to always look

like everything is fine in order to raise her children well, but deep inside, she feels

pessimistic that everything changes unexpectedly and everyday is a struggle for

her since Mark died.

I need you to comfort me, counsel me like we said at our wedding. And

hold me. And tell me what to do when I get all mixed up. And tell me I’m

all right when I’m crap. And do my zip up. And do my zip down… oh

God, the first time you kissed me… (Fielding, 2013: 152)

Mark will always be in Bridget’s memory and it is a good thing to keep him in

mind because he will never be forgotten. After the death of Mark, she writes a

letter for him and keeps it inside the box. By writing the letter, the pain releases

and it makes her feeling better. In her letter, she writes about how life is going on

without her husband and how she is being pessimistic to face the future without

him to calm her when needed.

b. Being a Disoriented Person

Due to the loss of her husband, Bridget is being disoriented, she does not

know how to survive after for the long time she lives with her husband and now

she must face all the upcoming celebration only with her two children. Murphy

stated that the author can describe the character in the story by showing how that

person reacts to various situations and events (1972: 162).


29

I stepped into the bushes where no one could see and wiped away a tear,

taking a giant slurp of Diet Coke and wishing it was neat Vodka. They

were growing up. It was all going so fast. I realized I was not just sad but

scared; scared of trying not to get lost driving in the dark, scared of all the

years ahead of doing this alone: concert, prize giving, Christmases,

teenagers, problems… (Fielding, 2013: 396)

The scene above happens in Summer Concert in Billy’s school. Bridget goes into

the bushes to hide her tears when seeing Billy playing piano on the stage. She is

angry at the fact that Mark left her family too soon. She is being disoriented when

the other parents are sharing the happiness with their mates for the successful

concert, she has nobody beside her to share with. She also feels disoriented for she

must face the upcoming celebration without the figure of a father for her children.

2. The Description of Bridget Jones in The Middle of The Grieving Process

After the Prologue in the novel, the books continues with the Part One:

Born Again Virgin, following by Part Two: Mad about The Boy. These two parts

happen in present time in the year of 2013 and the flashback in 2012. In this part,

Bridget’s friends: Talitha, Tom, and Jude force her to date again. Through the

whole novel, Bridget has date two men, first is the leatherjacketman named Andy

and the second is Roxster, aged twenty-nine, but both are ended with no serious

relationship. The followings are her condition in the middle of her grieving

process.

a. Being Overwhelmed

She is being overwhelmed for her surrounding pushes her too much to

move on. The fact is that she does not have the strength to move faster. Murphy


30

stated that the author presents some hints to character whenever he or she is in the

conversation with another (1972:164). Through the conversation between Bridget

and Tom, it is seen that she is being overwhelmed since her surrounding always

forces her to start a new relation with man.

“No, I meant I can’t shag anyone,” I elucidated. “It wouldn’t be fair for

the kids. There’s too much to do, and men are very high-maintenance

matters.” “A woman has her needs,” Talitha growled dramatically. “What

good is a mother to her poor children if she’s suffering from low self-

esteem and sexual frustration?”

“It wouldn’t fair to Mark.”(Fielding, 2013: 42)

Bridget is the main caregiver for her children, she does not want to waste her time

with a new man. She says that if she lets another man to enter her life, it would

not fair her children and Mark. She is being overwhelmed to convince her

surrounding that she is not ready yet to start a new relationship. Murphy stated,

“the author can give the characterization by letting the reader know about what the

character thinking about” (1972: 171).

Maybe I have just been like a wave building momentum and now I have

crashed and another will come along soon! For as it says in Men are from

Mars, Women are from Venus, woman are like waves and men are like

rubber bands which ping away to their caves and come back.

Except mine didn’t come back. (Fielding, 2013: 87)

By the thought of Bridget above, it is seen that she is being overwhelmed by the

pressure from her mother that asks her to celebrate Christmas in her retirement

living. She knows that she cannot handle everything alone since she had a bad

experience in the last Christmas when she celebrated there. Besides, in the last

sentence of the quotation, it is clearly shown that she makes a parable that the one

she loved will never come back. She is being overwhelmed and it seems that she

is stuck and unable to move forward with life itself.


31

b. Becoming a Responsible Person

Everything she does involve consideration in the decision making process.

After years spending time in the low condition to live without her husband and

feeling lost, she tries to make improvements to her life and tries to find life

direction. When Mark is alive, she loves to hang out with her best friends, but

now as she is the only one controler in her life, this condition forces her to become

a responsible person.

Kids are asleep. Wildly puffed up re-meeting. Am professional woman

again and going to a meeting! Am going to wear navy silk dress and get

hair blow dried in spite of Mr. Bloody Wallaker’s supercilious take on

coiffeurs. (Fielding, 2013: 14)

She is successfully becoming more responsible with her work, and it is proved by

her enthusiasm to prepare the dress she wears for her meeting. Being a working

single mother forces Bridget to strike a balance between her professional and

family life. For a working mother, the process becomes more stressful, it is a

multitasking job to being a working woman and being a mother. Five years

experiences as a single parent make her becomes stronger than before. She

becomes more responsible and it makes she learns to deal with the difficult

situations as well.

“Be careful hon, he said,” suddenly sobering up into professional mode.

“It’s going to be a lot to take on if you’re having proper meetings and

deadlines and stuff.”

“I know, but you said I should start doing work again and be writing and ”

“Yes. But you’re going to need some more help with the kids. You’re in a

bit of a bubble right now. It’s fantastic, how you’ve turned everything

round, but you’re still vulnerable underneath and ” (Fielding, 2013: 19)


32

The conversation between Bridget and Tom above proves that Bridget is a

responsible person, although she is a single mother, she still can control the

financial by work as the screenplay writer. Although Mark already prepared it all,

she still wants to work hard. She is writing the script “The Leaves in His Hair”

based on the adaptation of “Hedda Gabler” behind The Greenlight Production.

She is gradually has a stable condition of emotion since she already learns from

her past that she cannot stay in her sorrows forever. She surely always has some

sadness, but it cannot stop her from finding life again.

I will have you know,” I said, drawing myself to my full height, “that I am

a professional woman and am writing an updating of Hedda Gabler by

Anton Chekhov, which is shortly to go into production with a movie

company. Come along, Billy,” I said, sweeping him off towards the school

gates muttering, “Honestly. Mr. Wallaker is so rude and bossy.” (Fielding,

2013: 288)

The quotation above shows about how responsible Bridget is. There is a debate

between Bridget and Mr. Wallaker, she wants to tell Mr. Wallaker that she is a

professional woman. Although she is a single parent, she does not want anyone

else to offend her. Her statement emphasizes that she is becoming more

responsible since in addition to take care of her children at house and school, she

still can manage her time to work.

c. Becoming a Highly Motivated Person

Over time, the pain can be fixed and she can drive into her life again, she

becomes healed sooner. Although sometimes her best friends make her being

overwhelmed, there is a time when they actually want her to embrace her life


33

again. Tom is one of them, he does not want to see Bridget in a poor situation and

get stuck after the death of her husband.

“Mark. He would want you to find someone. He wouldn’t want you to

stop─”

I haven’t stopped,” I said, straightening up with some difficulty.

“You need to work,” he said. “You need to get a life. And you need

someone to be with you and love you.”

“I do have a life,” I said gruffly. “And I don’t need a man, I have the

children.” (Fielding, 2013: 43)

The conversation above shows how Tom tries to strengthen and support Bridget.

Tom does not want to see Bridget gets sad, he reminds her to get a life and find a

man to accompany her and her children. But, it is seen that she has a high

motivation to living life with her children and it is enough for her. The scene

below comes to nearly Christmas day. She does not want her children to have bad

memories on Christmas day, so she decides to write a Christmas resolution to

make it into a good Christmas.

*Stop feeling sad and thinking about or attempting to live through men,

but think about children and Christmas. (Fielding, 2013: 156)

The resolution of Christmas above is another proof that Bridget has a high

motivation to have a better Christmas. From the bad condition that hit her before,

she learns that she must make changes. The decision making is important and she

does not want to make the Christmas day gets worse with the unstable condition

of herself. She decides to not thinking too much about man and feeling motivated

to focus on her children.


34

3. The Description of Bridget Jones in The End of The Grieving Process

As a single parent, she makes a progress through her life, she survived

since her family and her friends always support her. In order to stabilize and

adjust her condition, she tries to improve her emotion into some positive ways and

it is important to note that grief needs time and needs space so that she is not

always feeling worse all the time.

a. Becoming an Optimistic Person

Four years after Mark died, she tries to make a change. The presence of

her children forced her to make a movement because if she stays on the bad

condition of her herself, she will never be able to be a good mother for her

children. As time goes by, slowly but sure, Bridget starts to improve her life as her

reaction to be better not only for her but also for her children. After a long self

adjustment, Bridget decides to change her life, to make “a new start - a new me”.

*Be better at looking after the children than Chloe the nanny.

*Establish regular routine with children so everyone knows where they

are and what supposed to be doing, esp. self.

*Read parenting self-help books, including One, Two, Three… Better,

Easier, Parenting and French Children

*Don’t throw food in order to be better at looking after the children than

Chloe. (Fielding, 2013: 50)

From her to-do-list above, it is seen that she is becoming an optimistic person. She

tries to improve her parenting skill in order to control her children in a better way.

She wants to organize all the things that she did wrong and tries to cover her

mistakes by commits to be better. By the condition of becoming optimistic, she

can prove to her surrounding that she does make improvements. As Murphy


35

stated, the author gives the reader a view “straight information of what a character

thinking about (1972: 171).”

And I seriously think Billy and Mabel thought it was great. Billy does not

remember Christmas with Mark, and Mabel never had one. (Fielding,

2013: 161)

And the rest of the time we’ve been in and out of Rebecca’s house,

crossing the road with pans of burnt food, and moaning about computer

games, and her and the kids in and out of ours and next year is going to be

so much better! (Fielding, 2013: 161)

She may have lots of bad days after Mark died, but her children make her to keep

moving on. On the Christmas day, she is not only thinking about how she gets

through it, but also thinks about her children. However, when the Christmas

comes, it is never as bad as she thinks since she spends Christmas with her

children and Rebecca. This event makes her becoming optimistic that the future

without a husband is not as worst as she thinks at the earlier time and that the next

Christmas is going to be better.

b. Becoming a Tough Single Parent

Since the death of her husband is unexpected, Bridget never got to say

goodbye for the last time to Mark. From time to time, Bridget faces the grieving

process and sooner or later it makes her stronger than she were before. It is going

to feel one step forward and then two steps backward when people are in their

grieving process, so does Bridget. It may difficult to believe now, but life will get

better and it will be good again.

Five years. Has it really five years? To start with it was just a question of

getting through the day. Thankfully, Mabel was too little to know anything

about it, but oh the flashback to Billy, running all through the house

saying, “I lost Dada!” Jeremy and Magda at the door, a policeman behind


36

them, the look on their faces. Running instinctively to the children,

holding them both to me in terror: “What’s wrong, Mummy? What’s

wrong?.” Government people in the living room, someone accidentally

turning on the news, Mark’s face on the television with caption: Mark

Darcy 1956-2008. (Fielding, 2013: 33)

The quotation above tells about the past life when she and her children get the

news that her husband died. Five years after the death of her husband, Bridget is

seen as a tough person comparing to the earlier time. She still remembers the first

time she got the news that Mark is killed by a landmine while negotiating the

release of aid workers in Sudan. Although it is never been easy to be a single

parent, she realizes that she is so much stronger than she initially thought.

I thought about Mark, and all the times the moon had followed us, and all

the years when i was sure, sure that he would always be there and that

there wasn’t heartbreak ahead... ( Fielding, 2013: 341)

It is reasonable to take a step back and be sad, but the most important thing is she

does not stuck on it. The quotation shows the thought of Bridget that although it is

difficult to deal with the reality, she still feels grateful for everything that happens

to her. She may feel numb in the beginning of her grieving process, but as the

time goes by, she can get through it. Her emotional condition is going better since

she realizes that although Mark died, she believes that he is always there beside

her.

c. Becoming a Realistic Person

As Bridget has best friends that love her so much, it is a common thing

that they always comment and want the best for Bridget. The statement below is

the thought of her when people always say that they can imagine how it feels to be

in her position, but that is actually impossible. They will never know except if


37

they ever in the same position as Bridget. Losing husband makes Bridget learns

lots of life value that the second step is always awaiting to be explored and to be

lived.

I made my excuse and left, thinking, really, after a certain page, people

are just going to do what they are going to do and you are either going to

accept them as they are or you’re not. (Fielding, 2013: 383)

The quotation above shows that Bridget learns that how hard life hits her, it is a

must for her to keep goes on and to choose the best decision for her own life. In

this case, Bridget chooses to focus on the thing left behind, to focus on her

children and make sure that they are well. It helps Bridget to live her life into the

better condition. However, at almost in the end of the novel, she becomes more

realistic and decides to enjoy her life with her lovely children.

“I need to be gentle now,” I thought, blinking rapidly. “It’s a gentle time.

Never mind anyone else, we’ll just be us me, Billy and Mabel. Just feel

the wind in our hair, and the rain in our faces. Just enjoy them growing

up. Don’t miss it. They’ll be gone soon. (Fielding, 2013: 415)

The quotation above shows that Bridget starts to being more realistic and wants to

spend her time with both of her children. In the state of being realistic, she does

not want to think about what other people thought about her since it will not affect

her life, they are the outsider and Bridget is the only one who can drive to which

way she will choose. By spending time with her children, she can strengthen the

bond with them and train herself into a better mother.


38

B. The Management of Grief of Bridget Jones

After identifying the description of Bridget Jones using Abrams’ A

Glossary of Literary Terms (1981: 23) and Murphy’s Understanding Unseen: An

Introduction to English Novel for Overseas Students (1972: 161-173), the writer

finds that the death of her husband makes big impacts to her life. From the

description of her on the previous problem formulation, it proves that by

identifying the feelings seen from the psychological conditions and emotional

conditions of Bridget Jones, the writer can see how she reacts to the death of her

husband and how she manages her grieving process. The description marked on

what stages she is and how she manages her grief until she finally reaches the

stage of acceptance.

The five stages of grief by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross and her co-author, a

grief expert David Kessler’ On Grief and Grieving: Finding The Meaning of Grief

through the Five Stages of Loss (2004) is used to analyze how Bridget manages

her grief. The five stages: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance

are the framework that helps people to learn to live with the one we lost, but it has

no linear timeline and not everyone goes in prescribe order (2004: 7).

In this part of the study, the writer analyzes the grieving process of the

main character, Bridget Jones, after she loses her husband and how she manages

her grief until she finally accepts the reality that her husband died and starts to

make big decision to live her life as normal and chooses Mr. Wallaker as her

everyday companion. From the description from the previous analysis, this theory

can be used to complete and to show more details about her grieving process.


39

These stages of grief described as a cycle of emotions that Bridget feels, as a

result of the sudden loss of her husband.

On the beginning of her grieving process, the journey is so frightening, she

refuses to accept the fact. The more significant the loss, the more intense the grief

will be. It is natural that she feels disoriented when she lost someone she loves,

live with, and depend on. Therefore, it is important for Bridget to do everything

she can do to take care of herself and both of her children, Mabel and Billy. It is

challenging to be a parent without a husband, she should take care of everything

by herself.

The grieving process involves a lot of very powerful emotion for Bridget,

it can grow and fade as she moves across the different stages. However, not

everyone experiences the same stages at the same time and in the same order

(Kübler-Ross and Kessler, 2004: 7). Grief is cycles that experienced by Bridget

and it shows the movement and proves that she actually makes progress to

manage her feelings, state of mind, and psychological condition after her husband

died. This part explains the process that Bridget goes through from the initial time

when she feels shocked with the death of her husband, Mark, until she accepts the

new reality that her lovely one will never comeback and that she must keep going

on with her life. She goes through all the stage in a sequence stages. The further

analysis as follows.

1. Stage of Denial

Denial is the first stage of the five stages of grief. As Kübler-Ross and

Kessler (2004: 10) stated, denial is the situation where the person is in a state of


40

shock and denial. They wonder how they can go on. This stage helps the bereaved

to survive the loss. Denial is the first stage that is experienced by Bridget when

she loses her husband. In this stage, she is unable to handle the reality and being

pessimistic. It happens due to the uncontrollability of the reality that her husband

is no longer exist in her life. Bridget also becoming pessimistic for she has no one

to depend on. The greater the loss, the greater the potential change.

The dreams, with Mark still in them. The mornings, waking up at 5 a.m.,

washed clean by sleep for a split second, thinking everything was the

same, then remembering: prolaxed by pain, as though a great stake was

ramming me to the bed, straight through the heart, unable to move in case

I disturbed the pain and it spread, knowing that in half an hour the children

would be awake... (Fielding, 2013: 33)

The quotation above is a flashback when she knows her husband died. It takes

time to really believe that the one who seemed so real and tangible is no longer

exist in Bridget’s life. It seems surreal like maybe her husband will be back

someday. Disbelief is a natural shock which allows her to process her grief in a

natural way.

I must stop thinking of the way he used to sleep with his arm across my

shoulder, like he was protecting me, the physical intimacy, the scent of the

armpit, the curve of muscle, the stubble on the chin. The way I felt when

he answered the phone about work and went into his busy and important

mode. (Fielding, 2013: 150)

In this stage, Bridget just cannot bring herself to the realization that her husband is

really gone. It seems that Bridget can get few steps ahead but then the grief and

loss just overwhelmed her. In the earlier time after losing a husband, she comes to

the hardest experience in her life and that she is suffering to face the hard life day


41

by day just by stand on herself. here, the quotation shows that she keeps imagine

that Mark is still there beside her.

Wished that Mark was here. Had sudden flashback to Mark in his lawyerly

dressing gown at night, the glimpse of hairy chest. The sudden flashes of

humor at baby chaos, getting all military trying to organize us all, as if it

was some sort of cross-border situation, then realizing the absurdity of it

all, and both of us ending up giggling. (Fielding, 2013: 45-46)

It is impossible to forget about someone that people loved. To accept the worse

truth is to try to believe that all the thing do moving on. Bridget has so many

memories with Mark, whether it is good or bad, she will never forget about it. The

more people will try hard to forget, it will be harder to do it. No matter how hard

she keeps busy and not think about the loss, she still cannot control the feeling of

emptiness she feels without her husband for they have spent time together daily

before. In this stage, she just knew that she could not make it without her husband

because he was such a major player in her life more than anyone really knew.

On her process to get through the stage of denial, she tries to cope the pain

by encouraging herself to feel the denial itself. As what Kübler-Ross and Kessler

(2004: 10) said, “Denial help us to pace our feelings of grief”. Denial is the

important stage of grief since she will never come to the realization if she does not

experience the denial stage. Things appear negative at the first time, but as she

learns to cope with it, her nightmare can be positive and helpful to strengthen

herself especially her psychological condition.


42

2. Stage of Anger

Anger is the second stage of grief. Kübler-Ross and Kessler (2004: 11)

stated, “Anger doesn’t have to be logical or valid. You may be angry that bad

things could happen to someone who meant so much to you”. As the shock of the

loss fades, Bridget experiences anger. It is expressed as a protest against what

seems to be an unfair faith for her to live without her husband, she is being

overwhelmed. Bridget appears as the one who is angry at the mate for having

died, though the emotion cannot be rational since it is useless. Then she expresses

her anger to people around her. She talks with high intonations to show the anger

and it is a common reaction in this stage.

“I hate fucking technology. Why can’t everyone just FUCKING SHUT

UP AND LET ME READ THE PAPERS?” (Fielding, 2013: 107)

Run up the stairs, head a mass of guilty thoughts ─ “I’m a terrible mother,

there is a hole inside them left by the loss of their father which they are

trying to fill with technology”─And opened the door. (Fielding, 2013:

108)

The scene above happens on the weekend, in Bridget’s house in the morning. She

talks with a high intonation to her children and it shows that she is angry with the

situation. On every weekend, Bridget always gives an extra time for her children

to play with the electronics, such as a computer and an X-Box. Weekend becomes

the hard days to control since there is always some mess happen in her house.

Bridget even makes a statement that she feels guilty and recognizes that she is a

terrible mother that cannot control the mess of her children that tries to replace the

presence of their father with technology.

I so fucking miss you and miss fucking you. And I wish our life… I can’t

bear that you’re not seeing them grow up. (Fielding, 2013: 153)


43

The quotation above shows that Bridget wants to be back to a normal life when

Mark was alive. After years of being apart from her husband, it can be upsetting to

be all alone. As Kübler-Ross and Kessler stated, “This stage presents itself in

many ways: anger at your loved one that he didn’t take care of himself or that you

didn’t take better care of him”. She misses Mark and all the things they have done

on long time ago. She is angry with Mark and being overwhelmed to face the

reality that it does not let her husband to see their children grow up.

Everything is completely intolerable and, I hate my self, I’m a rubbish

mother,” tore up a piece of toilet paper pettily and, for lack of a grander

gesture, threw it into the toilet.

“Look, will everyone just SHUT UP?!” (Fielding, 2013: 167)

The quotation above happens when both of her children are both crying while she

is on the toilet. It is another proof that she is being overwhelmed, she recognizes

herself as a rubbish mother since she cannot handle the messiness on her house.

Also, as the expression of her anger, she says in a high intonation to her children

that surely not makes the condition better. In this stage, Bridget gets angry to her

husband for leaving her and her children, but since the deceased is no longer

around, the anger gets taken out on anyone around the individual who overcome

experiences grief.

“You all right?”

“Yes! I said indignantly, wiping my fist across my eyes.

“Why do you keep BURSTING up on me? Why do you keep asking me if

I’m all right?”

“I know when a woman foundering and pretending not to be.”

(Fielding, 2013: 396)


44

The conversation between Mr. Wallaker and Bridget happens on Billy’s school

concert. She feels so proud for the piano playing done by Billy, but she also feels

emotional, even makes her cry. Since Billy is the littlest ones, he makes several

mistakes when playing but all the wrong notes are covered by Mr. Wallaker. After

the concert finished, all the parents are hand in hand to went to the lake, since she

has no one beside her, she chooses to avoid the noise and cries there. At the same

time, Mr. Wallaker appears and asking why she is crying. Again, Bridget is being

overwhelmed for Mr. Wallaker always appears on the wrong time.

He was starting to head off, then turned. “But just for the record, other

people’s live are not always as perfect as they appear, once you crack the

shell.” (Fielding, 2013: 398)

Along her stage of anger, she expresses her feelings all out and it helps the healing

process. The more people truly feel it, the more it will begin to dissipate and the

more it will heal (2004: 11). She has the right to be angry for it can reduce the

pain. Although Mr. Wallaker overwhelming her, he still strengthens her by saying

that not everything seen is as beautiful as it is. Indirectly, his act helps her to feel

this stage and move to the next stage. There is no right or wrong way in the way

people grief since it is a matter of time; time does heal.

3. Stage of Bargaining

Bargaining is the stage when Bridget tries to bargain about anything

related to the death of her husband. When people live with someone for any length

of time, they will regret all the things that the individual do not say or do not do.

After a loss, bargaining may take the form of temporary agreement. We

become lost in a maze of “if only...” or “what if...” statements. We want


45

life returned to what it was, we want our loved one restored. We want to

go back in time: find the tumor sooner, recognize the illness more quickly,

stop the accident from happening. if only of only if only. Guilt is often

bargaining’s companion (Kübler-Ross and Kessler, 2004: 17)

It happens with Bridget, when her husband died, she suddenly realizes all the

things she wanted to say and to do but she did not. It is so human to feel guilty

and to want another chance to erase the neglect or the failure. Although her

husband will never come back, she still often wishes that she can repeat all the

memories behind.

I watched them, touching their soft cheeks, listening to their story

breathing, then, fatal thought “If only…” invaded in my head without

warning. “If only…” Darkness, memories, sorrow rearing up, engulfing

me like a tsunami. (Fielding, 2013: 16)

For Bridget, the pain of loss does not ever go away completely. It may take a long

time to get used to. Bargaining is a natural reaction of those who are experiencing

grief. Bridget starts to bargain in order to put off the change or find a way out of

the situations. The nights were the longest time for Bridget’s head is full of the

thought about her husband, how she wishes that her husband still alive.

The main thing I remember from those sessions was, bottom line: “Can

you survive?” There wasn’t any choice. All those thoughts that crowded in

our last moment together, the feel of Mark’s suit against the skin, me in

my nightie, the unknowing last kiss goodbye, trying to recapture the look

in his eye, the ring at the doorbell, the faces on the doorstep, the thoughts

”I never…” “If only…,” they had to be blocked out. The carefully

orchestrated grieving process, watched over by experts with soft voices

and caring upside down smiles, was less helpful than figuring out how to

change a nappy whilst simultaneously microwaving a fish finger.

(Fielding, 2013: 34)

The quotation explains what things that Bridget remembers about the suggestions

from the therapist that helped Billy and Mabel. To not remember about Mark is


46

always the hardest thing for Bridget since Mark is her everyday companion, so

she has the right to express the feelings of the loss of her husband and to grieve as

the way she wants it to be. The absence of husband forces her to be stronger. It

forces Bridget to survive in every second of the single day.

Come on, come on. Keep Buggering On. I have just got to, got to get over

this. I MUST stop thinking, “if only Mark was here.” I must stop thinking

of the way he used to sleep with his arm across my shoulder, like he was

protecting me, the physical intimacy, the scent armpit, the curve of muscle,

the stubble o the chin. (Fielding, 149- 150)

In the quotation, Bridget’s statement “If only Mark was here” explains that there

is a guilt in herself that she wants life returned to what it was, like when all the

things happened normally when Mark is still alive. She tries to strengthen herself

by saying, “I have just got to, got to get over this”, it proves that it is important to

think rationally and to have a willing to get through the grieving process, even

when it frightens her. But, overall, her thought makes her becoming optimistic to

get through for the better condition of herself. Gradually she absolutely can

overcome the fears.

I just wish we could do it together, and share all the little moments. How is

Billy ever going to understand how to be a man without his father? And

Mabel? They don’t have a dad. They don’t know you. And we could have

just been at home together for Christmas if only…. Stop it. Never stay

could’ve, should’ve and if only. (Fielding, 2013: 153)

Bridget cannot imagine how Billy understands how to be a man without his

guidance. She lost the presence of him in every aspect of her whole life; her whole

family. Although she keeps imagine that Mark still alive, she proves the reader

that she is a tough single parent by saying to herself to stop wishes that Mark can

be back again.


47

In the third stage of grieving experienced by Bridget, she is becoming

optimistic and tough, she tries to be more capable, more in control, and getting

over her grief as the effort to cope with the bargaining stage. As Bridget and

Kessler stated, the bargaining stage can help the mind move from one stage of loss

to another (2004:18). This is a defense to protect the grieving person from the

painful reality.

4. Stage of Depression

Depression is the most complicated stage in the grieving process, it can

getting worse if the people who experience it cannot motivate themselves to go

through this stage into the stage of acceptance. Stage of depression marked by the

condition when the truth finally sinks and the person involved feels helpless

(Kübler-Ross and Kessler, 2004: 20). In this stage, Bridget is on the realization of

the inescapable of the death of her husband, Mark. She is being disoriented. It

indicates that she is on the stage of depression since that feeling is the common

sign of depression.

Children are asleep. Oh God, I’m so lonely, Twitter follower-less, fat,

hungry, and sick of feeling obesity products. Hate this time of day when

children are asleep. Should be relaxing and fun instead of just lonely.

Right. I am not going to wallow in it. (Fielding, 2013: 63)

Several years after the death of her husband, the condition seems getting worse

than at the beginning of her grieving. The nights are even worse for her, she often

feels empty at night since she has no one to talk to. To deal with this reality is

hard for her. There is a quite emptiness that surrounds her after the absence of her


48

husband. In this situation, Bridget tries to convince herself to be relax and do

something fun instead of always feels lonely and do nothing.

I can’t carry on having every sweet thing which happens with the children

tinged with sadness. I can’t have another Christmas like that. I can’t have

another year like this. I can’t carry on like this. (Fielding, 2013: 150)

Bridget and Mark are together for many years, now she is upsetting of being

alone. There is no rule that forced the people who experience grief to do faster

recovery because the process is so exhausting. When she is on the stage of

depression, again, she is being disoriented for she cannot handle the upcoming

celebration without her husband. In the same day, she called Tom and he suggests

her to write Mark a letter in order to grieve properly.

Just called Tom. “Bridget you have to grieve. You have not grieve

properly. Write Mark a letter. Wallow on it. W.A.L.L.O.W.” (Fielding,

2013: 150)

Bridget feels hopeless for the Christmas day that comes nearly and she must

celebrate it without the figure of father for her children. On phone, Tom tells

Bridget to do a proper grief and not to force herself too hard to get through the

grieving since grief takes time and it has no timetable. Here, Tom is seen as a

supportive best friend for her. She is lucky to have him who always support her to

make her move or at least not to stuck on her depression stage.

And the rest of the time we’ve been in and out of Rebecca’s house,

crossing the road with pans of burnt food, and moaning about computer

games, and her and the kids in and out of ours and next year is going to be

so much better! (Fielding, 2013: 161)


49

At first, she worries about the upcoming Christmas she must face without her

husband. But the fact is not as bad as she thought before. Rebecca invites them to

spend Christmas together, so they all ended in a pleasant Christmas with her best

friend, Rebecca. Even she becomes optimistic for having the better upcoming

Christmas. It is seen that the support of her best friend help her to move from the

stage of depression into the next stage of grieving.

She stumbled awkwardly, knelt in front of me, put her arms around me

and pulled me to her. “My little girl.”

It was the first time I’d actually felt Mum’s bouffe. It was crispy, almost

solid. She didn’t seem to mind it being squashed as she held me close. I

really like it. I wanted her to give me a bottle of warm milk or something.

(Fielding, 2013: 161)

The quotation above happens between Bridget and her mother. As time goes by,

finally her mother can accept her for what she wants to be. In the novel, her

mother seen as the one who always forces her to get through the grieving process

quickly. But now, she also supports Bridget and it helps Bridget to survive in the

stage of depression and to move into the next stage.

As the bereaved allows themselves to experience depression, it will leave

as soon as it has served its purpose in your loss (Kübler-Ross and Kessler, 2004:

22). The most important factor in healing from the loss is having the support of

the other, so does Bridget. Her surrounding holds an important role to make her

condition better.


50

5. Stage of Acceptance

Acceptance is the last stage of grief. They are able to accept that the loss

has occurred and able to plan for their futures and re-engage in daily life (Kübler-

Ross and Kessler, 2004: 23-24). Have a social life can be tough. People may be

anxious about dating. Many people miss the feeling of the closeness that marriage

brings, but, after time, Bridget is ready to have a social life again. In this stage,

Bridget becomes highly motivated that she cannot stuck in her sorrow. It is not

easy for her to faces all the challenges to live without Mark. After the failed date

with men, she decides to make improvement related to her screenplay work and

other little things.

* Start writing my Hedda Gabbler adaptation in order to have professional

adult life again.

* Actually write said screenplay instead of spending half day setting off to

look for something then wandering vaguely from room to room

worrying about unanswered emails, texts, bills, play dates, go-kart

parties, leg waxes, doctor appointments, parents' evenings, babysitting

schedules, strange noise from fridge, cupboard under stairs, reason why

telly don't work, then sitting down again realizing have forgotten what

was looking for in the first place. (Fielding, 2013: 49)

In this stage, it is seen that Bridget tries to be more responsible and has a high

motivation to do her job as a screenwriter although it is hard for her to focus on

one object since she also has the obligation to take care of her children. By

making the to-do-list above, meaning that she is brave enough to make a new

decision for her life.

On November 2013, there is an incident happens on the day when Billy

has a football match at another school. There is a car hits the fence and it makes

the fence start to topple, but luckily he and his friend are saved by Mr. Wallaker.


51

After the incident, Mr. Wallaker picks them up into the house. On the sofa, she is

crying and Mr. Wallaker puts his arms around Bridget.

“You’re doing all right, Bridget,” he said softly. “You’re a good mum and

dad, better than some who have a staff of eight and a flat in Monte Carlo.

Even if you have put snot on my shirt.”

And I felt like the aeroplane door opening, when you arrive on holiday,

with a rush of warm air. It felt like sitting down at the end of the day.

(Fielding, 2013: 453)

Based on the conversation happens between Mr. Wallaker and Bridget above, it is

clearly seen that he tries to motivate Bridget who feels that she is failed to become

a good mother for she cannot protects Billy and also his friends, Bikram and

Jeremiah. His acts make Bridget feels so much better and makes her calm down.

After the long journey to stand by herself, there is a right time when she becomes

realistic and let herself ready to love someone again. She does not need to force

herself to get over the loss, but she should learn how to cope it. She would not

grieve forever, she moves on and tries to accept the reality.

It is sad. But mostly I am happy. It only takes a really bad thing to nearly

happen to make you appreciate what you have. (Fielding, 2013: 456)

The quotation above proves that Bridget is in the stage of acceptance. She tries to

strengthen her psychological condition. It shows that she does not want to let

herself on the sad situation. She does learn from her grieving process that she

must be grateful for all things happened behind and to appreciate life itself. The

fact is the reality makes her stronger.

… but Mr. Wallaker had stopped singing and was just looking at me. And

looked back, with my face covered in mascara and my coat covered with


52

chocolate. Then Mr. Wallaker smiled, the slightest, kindest smile, the one

smile that understood, over the heads of all those boys he’d taught to sing

“Once in Royal David’s City.” And I knew that I loved Mr. Wallaker.

(Fielding, 2013: 461)

After the long journey of grieving, she realizes and even makes a statement that

she loves Billy’s sport teacher in his school, Mr. Wallaker. It proves that Mr.

Wallaker holds a role to help Bridget moves through her grieving process until

she reaches the stage of acceptance and found herself drawn to the man who can

comfort her.

And somewhere up above it all, I knew in my heart that Mark would be

glad. That he really, really would not have wanted us to be alone and in a

confused state. And that if it had to be someone, he would be glad it was

Mr. Wallaker. (Fielding, 2013: 475)

Although it makes Bridget feel excited to find a love again, the thought of Mark

will forever stay on her mind. After a long time, she realizes that Mr. Wallaker is

the right man to be the new member of her family. Although Bridget and Mr.

Wallaker do not get married, they both become a committed couple. They have

their four children christened. Also, she is becoming realistic; she knows that

Mark wants her to move on and that Mark would be glad that things have turned

out all right.

In her last stage of grieving, she has a greater sense of much improvement.

She begins to living life as normal again and enjoys her life with Mr. Wallaker. It

is hard to reach the phase of acceptance for the death of her husband, but once she

does realize, it is the best decision she ever made. As what Kübler-Ross and

Kessler said, people are able to go back to the routines of their to make plans for

their future (2004: 23-24).


53

However, there is always the state of acceptance and the new beginning

over everyone’s life. Her success to reach the stage of acceptance is because she

has a willing to move on and that she has supportive people around her who make

her strong enough to get through all the grieving process.


54

CHAPTER V

CONCLUSION

In this last chapter, it is drawn a conclusion from the analysis in the

previous chapter. Helen Fielding’s Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy is the

novel about Bridget, the main character, who has been losing her husband, Mark

Darcy. In order to find the management of grief experienced by Bridget, the writer

observes the description of her by used the theory of Abrams’ A Glossary of

Literary Terms and Murphy’s Understanding Unseen: An Introduction to English

Novel for Overseas Students and combine it with Kübler-Ross and Kessler’ On

Grief and Grieving: Finding The Meaning of Grief through the Five Stages of

Loss. By managing her grieving properly, Bridget can cope with the pain, ease her

sadness, and ends with the condition where she accepts the reality of the loss to

move on with her new life.

The loss of Bridget’s husband brings a big and a rapid change in her life.

As the first reaction, she becomes shocked when get the news about the death of

her husband and it leads her become pessimistic. Denial is the refusal to believe

that the loss occurred in her life. Losing her husband means that she lost a part of

herself. Mark Darcy is a human right lawyer. Mark and his travel companion are

reported dead by a news agency after the armored vehicle they drive hits a

landmine in Darfur, Sudan.

Moreover, after the death of her husband, Bridget must hold double roles,

as a mother and also as a father for both of her children. Anger is the second stage


55

of grieving process after the denial fades gradually. In this stage, she is being

overwhelmed. By the death of her husband, to be a breadwinner is so challenging,

she feels angry with her condition which forces her to do everything alone. She is

also being overwhelmed worrying how life will be to do everything alone and that

her children losing the figure of father in the young age.

In the bargaining stage, she involves promises of better behavior and

significant life change. She becomes optimistic and tough in this stage. In the

middle of her too many “if only” she tries to make better changes for her life since

it will be useless if she stucks in her sorrow. In this stage, she writes Mark a letter

and keeps it in a box, it becomes the way to communicate all her feelings with her

husband.

After the long journey through the grieving process, she experienced the

stage of depression. In this stage, she feels that all the effort she has done before is

useless. In this stage, she is on the lowest and complicated position of her grieving

process, she is being disoriented by the fact that her children must face the

upcoming celebration without the figure of father. While she is on this stage, the

feeling of emptiness comes into a deeper level. The feeling of sadness and loss of

motivation also come to her life as it is the appropriate response to a great loss.

The stage of acceptance experienced by Bridget appears on almost the end

of the novel. Bridget accepts the reality of the loss and the fact that nothing can

change the reality. She becomes responsible, highly motivated, and realistic. This

stage also marked by the realization of Bridget that chooses Mr. Wallaker as her

everyday companion. He is the sports teacher of Bridget’s child, Billy, in Junior


56

Branch where Billy attends school. It is revealed that Mr. Wallaker is the man

Bridget was looking for even though he did not appear to be at first.

From this analysis, it can be learned that people that lose someone or

something they love will absolutely need time to heal all the sad feelings. The

most important factor in healing from the loss is to have a willing to move on and

to have the support of the other. Her surrounding holds an important role to make

her condition better and help her to get through the grieving process as well.

Moreover, by using the management of grief, Bridget finally can accept the reality

that her husband died and that she must think rationally that life must go on.

Hopefully, there will be another researcher that conducts a study on this with a

broader circle and bases her or his study on this thesis.


57

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Abrams, M.H. A Glossary of Literary Terms, Sixth Edition. Fort Worth: Harcourt

Brace College Publisher, 1993.

Adams, Morgan. “Grief Symptoms, Causes, and Effects.”

(www.psychguides.com/guides/grief-symptoms-causes-and-effects/).

January 2, 2017.

Arp, Tomas R. and Greg Johnson. Perrine’s Literature: Structure, Sound, and

Sense

(Tenth Edition). Boston: Wadsworth Cangange Learning, 2009.

Bornstein, Marc H. Psychology and Its Allied. London: Lawrence Erlbaum

Associates, Inc, 1984.

Crow, Lester D and Alice Crow. Readings in General Psychology. New york:

BARNES & NOBLE, Inc.1954.

Fielding, Helen. Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy. New York: Random House

LLC, 2013

Kübler-Ross, Elisabeth. On Death and Dying. New York: The Macmillan

Company,

1969.

Kübler-Ross, Elisabeth and David Kessler. On Grief and Grieving: Finding The

Meaning of Grief through the Five Stages of Loss. New York: The

Macmillan Company, 2004.

Murphy, M.J. Understanding Unseens: An Introduction to English Poetry and the

English Novel for Overseas Studies. London: George Allen & Unwin Ltd,

1972.

Nalungwe, Patricia. “Loneliness among Elderly Widows and Its Effect on Their

Well

Being: Literature Review”. 2009.

Rohrberger, Mary & Samuel Woods Jr. Reading and Writing about Literature.

New

York: Random House, 1971.

Simon, Kevie. “Grieving: It’s Not Just About Death”. May 4, 2016.

(http://restorationstherapycenter.com/grieving-its-not-just-about-death/).

March 12, 2016.


http://(www.psychguides.com/guides/grief-symptoms-causes-and-effects/

http://restorationstherapycenter.com/grieving-its-not-just-about-death/

58

Smith, Melinda, Lawrence Robinson, and Jeanne Segal. “Coping with Grief and

Loss: Understanding The Grieving Process and Learning To Heal” . April

2017. (www.helpguide.org/articles/grief-loss/coping-with-grief-and-

loss.htm). February 24, 2016.

Stanton, R. An introduction to fiction. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston,

Inc. 1965

Tomlinson, Catherine Margaret. “A Review of the Grief Process and Bereavement

Follow Up Support”. A Doctoral Dissertation of Australian Catholic

University. 2001

Vlachopoulos, Mgr. Lazaros A. “Supporting The Educational in Grief and

Bereavement”. 2008.

Waterlow, Lucy. “No-one Gets Bridget’s Age Without Suffering Some Loss:

Helen

Fielding Defends her Reason for Killing Off Mr. Darcy”. Daily Mail

Online. October 21, 2013. (www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-

2470254/Bridget-Jones-Mr-Darcy-Helen-Fielding-defends-killing-

off.html). June 11, 2016.

Wellek, Rene, and Austin Warren. Theory of Literature. New York: Harcourt,

Brace and World, Inc, 1956.


http://www.helpguide.org/articles/grief-loss/coping-with-grief-and-loss.htm

http://www.helpguide.org/articles/grief-loss/coping-with-grief-and-loss.htm

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2470254/Bridget-Jones-Mr-Darcy-Helen-Fielding-defends-killing-off.html



59

APPENDIX

The Summary of Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy

London becomes the main setting where Bridget, her family, Mr. Wallaker

(which in the end of the novel becomes the man she chooses), Talitha, Jude, and

Tom live and work. Bridget’s father died and her mother lives in St. Oswald’s

house, the living place of the retirement community. The story begins with the

debate at the present time (2013) that happens between Bridget and Talitha, her

best friend, whether Bridget should bring Roxster, Bridget’s boyfriend, to Talitha

sixtieth’s birthday party or not because unfortunately on the same date, Roxter has

his thirties birthday. He is her first serious boyfriend four years after the death of

her husband, Mark.

In the middle of the novel, the novel travels back into the year of 2012. It

tells that the first man Bridget dates is the Leatherjacketman, a divorced man with

two children. He is the man she met in the Stronghold club when she hangs out

with Tom, Talitha, and Jude. Then, Roxster is the second man appears in the

novel after she failed continuing her relationship with the Leatherjacketman. She

finds Roxster on Twitter and starts dating him after weeks full of tweeting each

other.On the last part of the novel, Bridget ends up dating and living her life with

Mr. Scott Wallaker, a military veteran that turned into Billy’s sport school teacher

who already has two kids of his own.

The death of Mark resulted massive changes in Bridget’s life since she has

two children that should be look after to. It really needs time for her to adjust her


60

emotions and her feelings from the bad conditions of herself into the better her.

The losing of her husband means that she lost her everyday companion and a

place to depend on. She is no longer having someone that always there beside her

even to be the witnesses of her shortcomings.

The first time Bridget meets with Mr. Wallaker is at Billy’s school. All the

parents in Billy’s school are adore him, but Bridget is not. Also, there is a rumor

that he is already married and have children. But, the fact since Mr. Wallaker is no

longer in his marriage. She gets the fact from her neighbor, Rebecca, whose

husband is work in SAS (Special Air Force), the place where Mr. Wallaker works

in the past time. He went off to Sandhurst and Afganistan, then he was abroad a

lot until he feels tired and decided to stop exist in the military field because he

wants to simpler his life and chooses to teach at a London private school.

The acceptance is reached when she realizes that the reality is something

she is going to have for now and get on with her new life. After all the effort she

has done alone, there comes a time where she finally ready to live her life with

someone she chooses. All of them are not married, but all of her children are

baptized. Matt and Fred, Mr. Wallaker’s children are no longer in boarding

school, now they are living in one house located near Hampstead Heath.


the main character’s management of grief as … · ─mahatma gandhi plagiat merupakan tindakan...

Documents