Striving for Superiority in Zadie Smith’s White Teeth

Striving for Superiority in Zadie Smith’s White Teeth Novel: An Individual

Psychological Approach.

THESIS

Submitted as a Partial Fulfillment of Requirement for S-

1 Degree in English Department

By:

NAAFI’ATUN NUR LATHIFAH

B0315064

ENGLISH DEPARTMENT FACULTY

OF CULTURAL SCIENCES

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i

MOTTO

“Verily, with hardship comes ease.”

The Holy Qur’an (94:5)

“There should be no boundaries to human endeavor. We are all different. However bad life

may seem, there is always something you can do, and succeed at. While there’s life, there is

hope.”

–Stephen Hawking

“Take it easy for a little while, you know you did everything good so far”

-Ardhito Pramono-

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DEDICATION

I dedicated this thesis to:

Myself

My beloved mother, father,

and sister

My thesis supervisor

English Department Family

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ACKNOWLEDGMENT

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious and the Most Merciful

Alhamdulillah, all the praises and thanks to Allah S.W.T for His bountiful

blessing in giving me the strength, the ability, and the courage to complete this

thesis well. Without encouragement and guidance from many people, I as the

researcher would never have been able to finish this thesis well. Therefore, I intended

to express gratitude and appreciation to:

1. The Dean of Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Prof. Dr. Warto, M. Hum for

approving this thesis

2. The Head of English Department, Dr. Fitria Akhmerti Primasita, S.S., M.A.,

for her approval on this thesis.

3. My thesis supervisor, Dra. Rara Sugiarti, M.Tourism, for her endless

patience, guidance, and support in completing this thesis.

4. My academic supervisor, Drs. Agus Hari Wibowo, M.A., P.h.D., for his

assistance and advice during my study at Sebelas Maret University.

5. All of the English Department lecturers for their valuable knowledge and

experience during my study at Sebelas Maret University.

6. My beloved mother, father, and sister for their loves, supports, and endless

prayer for me to be better every day.

7. All of my friends from the English Department students 2016, especially

literature program for the great time

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8. All of my best friends, Dhiana, Sandra, Retno, Irma, Nandhika, Evi, Nisa,

Sufina, Intan, Azizah, Resa, Grace, Kelita, and Nur for the endless support

9. My boyfriend, Galih Aji Wicaksono for the endless support through my

thick and thin

Lastly, I realized as the researcher that this thesis has not been perfect,

therefore I would be glad to receive suggestions and criticism to improve

my ability in conducting future research. I hope this research will be useful

for whoever reads it.

Surakarta, 10 September 2020

Naafi’atun Nur Lathifah

B0315064

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Cover .......................................................................................................................... i

Thesis Approval of the Thesis Supervisor ................................................................. ii

Thesis Approval of the Board of Examiners ............................................................. iii

Statement of Academic Integrity.............................................................................. iv

Motto ..........................................................................................................................v

Dedication ................................................................................................................ vi

Acknowledgement................................................................................................... vii

Table of Contents ..................................................................................................... ix

Abstract .................................................................................................................... xi

CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION

A. Research Background .....................................................................................1

B. Scope of the Study ..........................................................................................4

C. Research Questions .........................................................................................4

D. Research Objective .........................................................................................4

E. Research Benefits ...........................................................................................4

F. Research Organization ....................................................................................5

CHAPTER II LITERATURE REVIEW

A. Previous Studies .............................................................................................6

B. Individual Psychology ....................................................................................9

1. Inferiority Feeling .............................................................................10

2. Inferiority Complex ..........................................................................12

3. Style of Life ......................................................................................15

4. Striving for Superiority .....................................................................16

5. Fictional Finalism .............................................................................18

C. Theoretical Approach

1. Psychological Approach ......................................................................24

CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY

A. Research methodology ....................................................................................23

1. Type of Research ..............................................................................23

2. Data and Source of Data ...................................................................24

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3. Technique of Collecting Data ...........................................................24

4. Technique of Analyzing Data ...........................................................25

CHAPTER IV FINDING AND DISCUSSION

A. The Reasons Why Irie Strives for Superiority ..............................................29



3. Style of Life ......................................................................................36



B. The Ways Irie Strives for Superiority ...........................................................43



3. Style of Life ......................................................................................49



CHAPTER V CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION

A. Conclusion ..................................................................................................56

B. Suggestion ..................................................................................................57

BIBLIOGRAPHY

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ABSTRACT

Naafi’atun Nur Lathifah. B0315064. 2020. Striving for Superiority in Zadie

Smith’s White Teeth Novel: An Individual Psychological Approach.Thesis:

English Department Program Faculty of Cultural Sciences Universitas Sebelas

Maret Surakarta.

This research studies the issues why and how the main character strives for

superiority. This study uses individual psychology theory by Alfred Adler to

analyze the issues portrayed in the novel. The researcher employs psychological

and structural approach. The researcher uses descriptive qualitative method in

analyzing the novel. The result of this research shows that the main character, Irie

Jones has an inferiority feeling of her Jamaican appearances. Because of her

Jamaican features, she often gets bullied and discriminated by her classmates. That

is why Irie Jones tries to change her appearances by dyeing and straightening her

hair. She also uses a corsetry to make her body look slimmer.

Keywords: superiority, inferiority, jamaican, individual, psychology.

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ABSTRAK

Naafi’atun Nur Lathifah. B0315064. 2020. Striving for Superiority in Zadie

Smith’s White Teeth Novel: An Individual Psychological Approach. Thesis:

English Department Program Faculty of Cultural Sciences Universitas Sebelas

Maret Surakarta.

Penelitian ini mempelajari masalah superioritas dan bagaimana karakter utama

memperjuangkan superioritasnya. Teori yang digunakan untuk menganalisis

permasalahan yang terdapat di novel dalam penelitian ini yaitu psikologi individual.

Peneliti menggunakan pendekatan psikologi dan pendekatan struktur. Dalam

menganalisis novel ini, peneliti menggunakan metode deskriptif kualitatif. Hasil

dari penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa Irie Jones memiliki perasaan inferioritas

karena penampilan Jamaika-nya. Dia sering mendapatkan rundungan dan

diskriminasi dari teman sekelasnya dikarenakan penampilan Jamaika-nya. Hal

inilah yang membuat Irie Jones mencoba merubah penampilannya dengan

meluruskan dan mewarnai rambutnya. Dia juga memakai korset untuk membuat

perutnya terlihat lebih ramping.

Kata kunci: superioritas, inferioritas, jamaika, individual, psikologi

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Striving for Superiority in Zadie Smith’s White Teeth