THE MAIN CHARACTER’S CONFLICT IN SEARCHING OF IDENTITY IN JAMES WELCH’S THE DEATH OF JIM LONEY

AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS

Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the degree of Sarjana Sastra

in English Letters

By

Dwima Odivia

Student Number: 994214164

Student Registration Number: 990051120106120164

ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS

FACULTY OF LETTERS SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY

YOGYAKARTA 2007

i

THE MAIN CHARACTER’S CONFLICT IN SEARCHING OF IDENTITY IN JAMES WELCH’S THE DEATH OF JIM LONEY

AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS

Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the degree of Sarjana Sastra

in English Letters

By

Dwima Odivia

Student Number:994214164

Student Registration Number:990051120106120164

ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS

FACULTY OF LETTERS SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY

YOGYAKARTA 2007

iv

For the sake of times……

Human will be defeated, except for the people who

believe and for those who have escrow to hold firmly

at truth and patience.

(AlQuran: Al ‘Ashr)

Four things come not back, the spoken word, the spent

arrow, the past, and the neglected opportunity. (Omar

Idn Al-Hali)

v

This undergraduate thesis is dedicated for:

Papa and Mama Bapak and Ibu

My sisters and Brothers My “Valiant” husband in Heaven

My Beloved Son My “Sunshine” Apriyanto Ernal

And my best friends

vi

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

First of all I am so grateful to Allah SWT for His kindness. By His blessing

and his guidance, I am able to finish this thesis.

I would also like to express my deepest and sincerest gratitude to Ibu Dra.

A.B Sri Mulyani, MA., my advisor, for great assistance to help me finish this thesis.

I would also like to express my deepest gratitude to Ibu Dra. Th. Enny Anggraini,

M.A., as my co-advisor, for great kindness in correcting my thesis. I am greatly

indebted to all the lecturer for their guidance during my study. My special thanks for

Mbak Niniek, for her kindness to help me all this time. Also for all the staff the

Department of Letters, Sanata Dharma University.

My profound gratitude is also dedicated to my beloved father, Papa

Yudiono, Spd and Ibu Dra. Hj. Trie .W., for all their love, care, prayer and

encouragement during finishing this thesis, also Mama Wiwik, wherever you are, I

hope you are always happy. My gratitude also goes to my gorgeous sisters, Mbak

Yeane, S.IP., Putri “Nisa” and my chubby brother, Hari “Alay”, my sweet niece,

Elke for lovely times and for encouraging me in everything. For My beloved little

son, Kevin, thanks for your patience and your understanding if I can not see you for a

while. My deepest gratitude is dedicated to Blora Family: Bapak and Ibu

Triwiyono for their financial support, care, and prayer. Also Thanks to my sisters

there: Mba’ Jesty, Bawien, Jovan, Cilla, Vega and Andre, also my brother

Malthus. My gratitude also goes to my husband in heaven, Valiant Vicky for being a

vii

good husband and father. My gratitude also goes to Apriyanto Ernal, S.Hut. Thanks

for your love, care, patience and supporting me when I am down in working on this

thesis, Thanks for loving me in my hard condition and thanks for loving Kevin as

your own son. We have a hard path to reach our goal, I hope we can make it. I just

want to say that You’re my best I ever had.

Last but not least, I would like to thank to JMers Management: Gamma-

Ane, Fandy-Lia, Agung “Siphue”, Dedy “Suhu”, Diego, Rony “Gaex” all Techo

crews, especially, Andro-Dela, Mink, Wisnu, Niar, Fery, Erwan-Dany, Fendy,

Susi, Nita, Panji, Mas Gatot, Mas Aga, Mas Acot. 3CHe Management: Mas

Andri, Mas Pras, Mas Gatot, thanks for the great days we have spent together. To

all my friends in Department of English Letters, class of 99 especially Okie, Susan,

Monique, Dina, Elen, Fany, Frans, I miss u all, also to Endro, thanks for the

“lunatic” time we have spent, when I am in a hard situation, thanks bro…you are my

best friend ever. Wisnu “kampret”, thanks for the encouragement in the last day

before the defense. Ary “Genter”, AT, Bina, Galih, Mas Dewa, Luki, Budi,

Wiwid, Mba’ Indira, Dea, Melly and those that I cannot mention here one by one,

thanks for the lovely days in our beloved college.

Dwima Odivia

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE PAGE …................................................................................................. APPROVAL ……………………………………………………………………ACCEPTANCE PAGE ………………………………………………………...MOTTO PAGE ………………………………………………………………...DEDICATION PAGE………………………………………………………..... ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS …............................................................................TABLE OF CONTENTS ……………………………………………………...ABSTRACT …………………………………………………............................ABSTRAK …………………………………………………………………......STATEMENT OF WORK ORIGINALITY ………………………………….. CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION………………………………………….... A. Background of the Study ……………………………............................ B. Problem Formulation ………………………………………………….. C. Objective of the Study …………………………………………………. D. Definition of Terms …………………………………………………… CHAPTER II: THEORETICAL REVIEW ………………………………. A. Review of Related Studies ……………………………………………. B. Review of Related Theories …………………………………………… 1. Theory of Character and Characterization ……............................. 2. Theory of Conflict within Literary Works………….....................

3. Theory of Identity and Identity crisis ……………………………. C. Review on The American Indian: A Psychological Review…………… D. Theoretical Framework …………………………........................... CHAPTER III: METHODOLOGY ………………………………………..

A. Object of the Study…………………………………………………….. B. Approach of the Study ………………………………............................

C. Method of the Study …………………………………………………... CHAPTER IV: ANALYSIS ………………………………………………...

A. The Characteristic of Jim Loney as the Main Character………………. B. The Identity Crisis of The Main

Character………………………………………………………………. a. Diffusion Phase ……………………………….......................... b. Moratorium Phase ……………………………………………..

C. The Conflict in James Welch’s The Death of Jim Loney …………… a. The Internal Conflict of Jim Loney ……………………………… b. The External Conflict of Jim Loney……………………………… i. Jim Loney VS Rhea ………………………………..

ii. Jim Loney VS Katherine Loney …………………… iii. Jim Loney VS Myron Pretty Weasel……………….

iv. Jim Loney VS Ike Loney ………………………….. CHAPTER V CONCLUSION ……………………………………………… BIBLIOGRAPHY ……………………………………………………………

i ii iii iv v vi viii ix x xi 1 1 2 3 3 5 5 7 7 10 12 16 17 19 19 20 21 23 23 31 29 31 35 36 36 43 43 45 48 51 56 59

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ABSTRACT

DWIMA ODIVIA (2007). The Main Character’s Conflict in Searching of Identity in James Welch’s The Death of Jim Loney. Yogyakarta: Department of English Letters, Faculty of Letters, Sanata Dharma University. The Death of Jim Loney is American literature’s masterpiece. The novel is first published in1979 written by James Welch. The novel tells about identity crisis of Jim Loney who is the half-breed of white man and Indian. The main character of the novel shows the conflict within himself and the conflict with the people around him within the search of his identity.

There are three problems formulated based on the background of the study. The first problem is about the characteristic of the main character, Jim Loney, as he is described in the novel. The second problem is to see the identity crisis of the main character. The third problem is to reveal the conflict arises in the main character’s mind and between the main character and the people around him who is bringing a major effect towards the search of his identity.

The study applies psychological approach since it is related with human’s conflict in searching identity. Through the approach that is supported by theories of identity and identity crisis, it is seen that the characterization and the people outside have significant influence toward one’s conflict in his searching of identity.

Based on the analysis, the writer concludes the answer for the three questions. The writer has found that the characterization of the main character influences him in searching his identity. Loney has an Indian outlook from his mother, it is very attractive, Loney is a smart and talented person and also he likes to see something in details but he has a gloomy past life, which is influences his behaviors. Loney becomes a person who lack of confidence and Loney becomes a weak person so he easy to give up in facing his problem. Loney feels alienated that he feels lonely so he always spent his night go to bar for some wine. The second result of the analysis is that Loney experiences a diffusion phase, in this phase, he does not experience a crisis yet, in the moratorium phase, he experiences a crisis it is related to his past life, he chooses Indian as his temporary identity, He prefers to be an Indian man than a white man. The third result of the analysis is that Loney experiences an internal conflict within his mind and heart in searching his identity. Although he chooses his identity as an Indian but he never feels as Indian because of he has different way of live from Indian people. Loney also experiences an external conflict with people around him; his Lover Rhea and his sister Kate persuade him to move from Montana. Both of the women want Loney starts a new life it is becomes a conflict between Loney and them. Loney kills Myron Pretty Weasel because he never feels grateful of being Indian. His father, Ike, persuades him to escape to other city when he knows Loney kills his friend. The main character ends his journey in searching for the identity by commits a suicide. However, it is also found that the main point in this story is about the freedom to be ourselves to find our identity.

x

ABSTRAK

DWIMA ODIVIA. The Main Character’s Conflict in Searching of Identity in James Welch’s The Death of Jim Loney. Yogyakarta: Jurusan Sastra Inggris, Fakultas Sastra, Universitas Sanata Dharma, 2007 .

Novel The Death of Jim Loney pertama kali diterbitkan pada tahun 1979, yang ditulis oleh James Welch yang merupakan karya literature America. Novel ini menceritakan tentang krisis identitas seorang Jim Loney yang merupakan peranakan dari orang kulit putih dan Indian. Karakter utama dalam novel ini menunjukkan konflik dalam dirinya maupun konflik dengan orang orang yang ada di sekitarnya di dalam pencarian identitasnya.

Dalam analisis ini ada tiga pokok rumusan masalah yang muncul. Pertama tentang karakter dari karakter utama yang digambarkan dalam novel. Kedua untuk melihat krisis identitas dari karakter utama. Ketiga untuk mengungkap konflik yang muncul di pikiran karakter utama dan diantara orang-orang di sekitar tokoh utama yang membawa dampak besar pada krisis identitasnya. Studi ini menggunakan pendekatan psikologi karena adanya hubungan dengan konflik dari krisis identitas. Melalui pendekatan ini yang didukung oleh teori-teori konflik dan krisis identitas dapat dilihat bahwa karakter dan orang-orang disekitar mempunyai pengaruh yang penting terhadap krisis identitas seseorang.

Berdasar pada analisis, penulis menyimpulkan jawaban dari ketiga perumusan masalah. Penulis menemukan bahwa penokohan dari karakter utama mempengaruhi pencarian identitasnya. Loney mulai mengetahui identitasnya. Dia mempunyai penampilan seperti Indian yang di dapat dari ibunya, ini sangat menarik, dia juga pintar dan berbakat oleh karena itu dia melihat sesuatu secara detail tetapi dia mempunyai masa lalu yang suram yang berpengaruh terhadap perilakunya. Dia menjadi seseorang yang kurang percaya diri, dia menjadi seseorang yang lemah sehingga dia mudah untuk menyerah dalam menghadapi masalah. Dia merasa terasing dimana dia merasa kesepian sehingga dia selalu pergi ke bar untuk minum anggur tiap malam. Loney mengalami fase difusi dimana dia belum mengalami krisis, pada fase moratorium, Loney mengalami suatu krisis. Pada fase ini Loney memilih identitas sementaranya. Dia lebih memilih menjadi seorang Indian daripada kulit putih. Loney mengalami konflik dalam dirinya dalam pencarian identitasnya. Walaupun dia memilih identitasnya sebagai seorang Indian tapi dia tidak pernah merasa sebagai Indian karena dia menjalani kehidupan yang berbeda. Loney juga mengalami konflik dengan orang-orang sekitarnya, pacarnya, Rhea dan kakaknya, Kate membujuknya untuk pindah dari Montana. Mereka ingin Loney menjalani hidup yang baru. Loney membunuh Myron Pretty Weasel karena dia tidak pernah bersyukur menjadi Indian. Ayahnya, Ike membujuknya untuk melarikan diri ke kota lain ketika dia mengetahui Loney membunuh temannya. Loney mengakhiri perjalanannya dalam mencari identitasnya dengan memutuskan untuk bunuh diri. Karakter utama mengakhiri perjalanan dalam mencari identitasnya dengan memutuskan untuk bunuh diri. Bagaimanapun juga, kesimpulan dari cerita ini adalah tentang kebebasan menjadi diri kita sendiri untuk mencari identitas kita.

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CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

A. Background of the Study

We as human being spend a lot of time and effort thinking about

ourselves. To some extent, we tend literally to be self-centered. It means that as a

young man, we find ourselves about who we are by trying some new experience

in our life whether it is taking a risk or not. To reach our purpose, it is not rarely

we become selfish and put aside the important thing which more realistic for us.

The self is the center of each person’s social universe. Your self-identity, or self-

concept, is acquired primarily through social interactions that begin with your

immediate family and continue with the other people you meet throughout life.

(Baron and Byrne: 1996: 152) and each person’s self-identity, or self-concept, is

acquired through interaction with others (Baron and Byrne: 1996: 190). This

might be one possible reason when people search for their self-identity, they are

influenced by other people among them in social life.

The process of searching for the self-identity can be seen as a picture of

human life. It may cause a conflict. This tough situation may be familiar to many

of us. Given that we engage in conflict so early in our lives and continue to do so

throughout our lives, it is clear that understanding the development of conflicts

may functions to the conflicts serve in relationships and human growth. It

becomes interesting in literature because in James Welch’s The Death of Jim

Loney we can see the main character that has dilemma in his identity.

2

Jim Loney is raised without both of his parents and then later without his

sister, Loney seeks desperately to understand the forces that have shape in his

personal life. He and his sister, Kate, are the product of a broken marriage

between an Indian mother and a white father.

<http://oncampus.richmond.edu/faculty/ASAIL/SAIL2/104.html> (April 2005).

In the novel, we can see the main character feels depressed by his identity

that influence his life. He tries to find his existence and faces many failures, it

happens because of the people who lived around him. He is confused about his

personal identity. His emotion seems to grow in Loney through some people with

whom he associates. Loney gradually gets some influences of people around him.

The story is a psychological study of the mind of a young American

Indian’s soul searching for his identity. The struggle in searching for identity is

the struggle of every youth. In this novel, the main character thinks that there are

some orders in his life. His lack of ability to fulfill his order is making him

depressed. He feels that there is one thing he does not have, that is his identity,

and in the process of searching for his identity, he faces conflict with himself and

people around him. It is interesting that every time the main character searches for

identity there are people who seem to know the proper answer for him and offer a

specific identity for him.

B. Problem Formulation

Related to the topic that the writer wants to discuss, here, the writer has set

the problem formulations as follows:

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1. What are the characteristics of Loney presented in James Welch’s The

Death of Jim Loney?

2. How is the identity crisis of Loney described in the novel?

3. What are the conflicts faced by Loney in searching his identity?

C. Objective of the Study

The objective of this study is to find the answer to the three questions

stated in the problem formulation. To be more specific, this study intends first to

identify the main character’s characterization. Second, the writer wants to find out

the main character’s identity crisis experience and the last, the writer wants to find

out the conflicts faced by Loney in searching his identity.

D. Definition of Terms

In order to give the readers a clearer understanding of the title and the

analysis, the writer will give the meaning of the words:

1. Identity

In Encyclopedia of Psychology, Erikson defines identity as “an integration

of all previous identifications and self images” (1996:443). He, in his book

Identity Youth and Crisis, explains identity as “the wholeness to be achieved”

(1968:87). Identity, according to Webster’s Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary

of the English Language, is defined as “State or fact of remaining the same one, as

under varying aspects or conditions” (p.707).

4

2. Identity Crisis

Erik Erikson in Sarah Cirese’s Quest (a search for self) defines identity

crisis as the period during which and individual attempts to integrate self-image

with the image others have of him or her (Erikson, 1985:89)

3. Conflict

Conflict, according to Encyclopedia Americana, is considered a state of

discomfort or stress caused by an individual’s experiencing two or more desires or

needs that are incompatible (1995:537).

Perrine in his book Literature, Structure, Sound and Sense, said that

conflict is a clash of action, ideas, desires or will between two individuals or

among people in society (1974:44). Conflict itself can be classified into physical,

mental emotional or moral. Regardless to those types of conflict, he states that

conflict maybe single, clear cut and easily identifiable and multiple, various and

difficult to be understood.

4. Character

In A Glossary of Literary terms (1971:20), Abrams defines characters as

follows: “characters are the person presented in a dramatic or narrative works who

are interpreted by the reader as being endowed with moral disposition qualities

that are expressed in what they say, dialogue and by what they do the action”.

5. Characterization

Rohrberger and Woods (1971:20) in Reading and Writing about Literature

define characterization as the process by which the author creates the character.

5

CHAPTER II

THEORETICAL REVIEW

A. Review of Related Studies

As contemporary American Indian fiction, The Death of Jim Loney by

James Welch receives acclaims and criticisms from many reviewers. Some

criticisms, which are found while searching the Internet, will be used in this

analysis. J. Malcolm (Mac) Swan in his book Montana: Let There be lit! , said:

Although its language and adult situations probably disqualify it as a curriculum choice, this is a superb novel. Welch’s insightful eye pulls us into Loney’s painful life. The issues it raises in this novel are identity, the effects of family disintegration, the clash of cultures, alcohol use, ties to place, tenacity, the pros and cons of sensitivity. I found this book comparable in quality to Winter in the Blood and Fools Crow. The simple, fresh language paints sharp, realistic character. <http://www.bookofmontana.com/bm/2004/212/42.0.html> (July 25, 2005) Swan sees that this novel is powerful with its language that develops the

story besides the characteristic of the main character, Loney as a half-breed young

man is naturally described in this novel. This novel is interesting as same as the two

of Welch’s other famous novels, Winter in the Blood and Fools Crow. Loney’s

lack of family, friends and racial identity confesses him to drink alcohol escaping

from the reality are the part of Loney’s misery of life.

Meanwhile Paul Lauter, a General Editor, author of The Heath Anthology

of American Literature, Fifth Edition said that In Winter in the Blood and The

Death of Jim Loney, Welch drew with superb understatement the unlived lives of

the contemporary Native American men, shut off from college educations because

of family poverty and ignorance, warded away from financial respectability

6

because of that education cut short. In each book, the protagonist had been a star

high school athlete. Now, a decade or more after that athletic career ended, the men

have no direction and no promise. They lead aimless lives of drinking, sex (and the

promise that a healthy sexual relationship might hold is undercut by their own

nihilistic attitudes), and apathy. More than plot, these novels are marked by mood

and tone, atmosphere as precisely drawn as anything by Hemingway or Richard

Wright. Alienation and loss are what remain from reading these stunning texts.

<http://college.hmco.com/english/lauter/heath/4e/students/author_pages/contempor

ary/welchblackfeetgrosventre_ja.html> (July 25, 2005)

There is also a discussion by Aaron Skogen, which discusses the other

strength of Welch’s The Death of Jim Loney as quoted from his article:

The setting is very detailed. The way he describes the town in the book makes me think of another small Montana town that I’m familiar with. The description is strong enough that we see and smell the things around him, the story development is very deep, and the ending in this book is like no other I have read. And strength in this novel is the story development. It is very strong, building up until the end. Just imagine what it would be like, to have your life ruined by the time you’re ten years old. That is the feeling reading this book will give you, but the setting, story development and ending were all so good, I would recommend this book to many people. <http://www.bilkent.edu.tr/~jast/Number8/Mackie.html/> (April 7 2005) In the story of the novel, Skogen sees that the setting in the novel and the

story development is strength in this novel, which is interesting to discuss.

Meanwhile as quoted from Library Journal in James Welch’s The Death of

Jim Loney published in 1979 said that in this extraordinary novel, James Welch

explores the fate of a man who is stranger in society, a stranger to himself. In spare,

7

moving prose, Welch offers a harrowing portrait of noble, inevitable self-

destruction. “Welch displays a superb eye for detail…. This is a minor classic.”

In the meantime, the writer of this thesis sees that no one has ever tried to

see The Death of Jim Loney from the main character’s conflict in searching of

identity crisis experience along the story. Therefore, the writer decided to use the

topic for this thesis.

B. Review of Related Theories

1. Theories of Character and Characterization

Character is an important element in the literary work. It handles a big role

to make a literary work more interesting and alive. Character in fiction is indeed

imaginary person. However, Rohrberger states: “characters must be credible; that

is, reader must accept them as believable people.” (1971:20), to meet the condition,

the character must be lifelike and convincing. To present convincing characters,

Laar (1958:170) states that in a story an author then: “must create human being, put

them in human situation and make them behave like actual human being”.

Fictional characters, therefore, also have physical appearance as real human being,

have feeling, carry out actions and experience problem, conflict and even

development. Thereby, readers can accept them as believable people.

Stanton also gives another definition of character. Characters are the

individual who appears in the story and refers to the mixture of interest, desire,

emotion and moral principles that makes up each of these individuals. Furthermore,

he distinguishes the characters in the story into two types, main or major

character and minor character. Major character is the most important character

8

in the story. Basically, the story is about this character but he cannot stand on his

own. He needs others character to make the story more convincing and lifelike.

Minor characters are characters of less importance to the main characters

(1965:17)

Besides types of characters mentioned by Stanton, there is also type of

characters in Ian Milligan’s The Novel in English: An Introduction. They are major

and secondary characters. Milligan says, “The major characters are those who

appear more often in the story than the other characters, while secondary characters

are those who appear less often the story” (1983:195). According to Milligan, the

major characters are the same with main character, set as the main intension is a

story. On the contrary, the second character or minor characters are those who

appear as the complements of the story.

Both Stanton and Milligan have almost the same type of characters but they

have only different understanding of the definition of characters.

The process where an author creates a character is called characterization.

Characterization is the creation of imaginary persons. They are created

imaginatively, but they have to be seen real, so that they exist for the readers as

lifelike (Holman & Harmon, 1986:81-82).

According to M.J Murphy in his book Understanding Unseen (1972: 161-

173), he mentions nine ways to establish a character understandable and lively for

the readers:

9

The first one is personal description. It deals with physical appearance to

the person’s character. The author can describe a person’s appearance by using

facial expression and clothes that they wear in the story. A well-dressed person can

be identified as a rich and intelligent man. A man with scars on his face can show

that he is criminal. This will help the reader to have visualization of the person’s

character as well. The second is characters as seen by another. The author

describes a person by using another character’s sight and opinion. These can be

helpful ways to give the reader a reflected image of one’s character. The third

characterization is speech. Through this way, other’s opinion and conversation can

reveal what kind of character he/she has. So the reader can get some clues, which

are related to the character. The forth one is past life. A description of someone’s

past life more or less can help to shape his character. The author can give this past

life’s description through his direct comment, the person’s conversation and

thought, or uses the other person as medium. The fifth characterization is

conversation of others. Through the conversation of others, the reader can get

some clues which are related to the person they speak about. The sixth

characterization is reactions. Different characters will react differently if they are

faced with problems. Through the reaction of the person in facing various situation

and events, the reader can get some clues to understand the person’s character. The

seventh one is direct comment. Through his own statement, the author can directly

give description or comment on a person’s character.

The eighth characterization is thoughts. Through other person’s thought,

the author gives the readers knowledge of the person’s character. The last one is

10

mannerism. The readers can understand the person’s character by the author’s

description of the person’s manners, habits, behaviors, etc.

2. Theory of Conflict within Literary Works

Character has big roles in creating and solving conflicts. They give

description to the readers whether they have conflicts within the heart and mind of

protagonist. Characters in the story have important role in delivering the conflict,

the conflict can be inside the character’s mind or the conflict with other people.

Danziger and Johnson in An Introduction to Literary Critism said that:

In literature, especially in novel, the character has big contribution in producing a good story, especially on revealing conflict. Within the lives of the character, conflicts, whether a conflict between two people or the conflict within one person’s mind is expressed throughout the story. (1961: 28).

Conflict is the struggle that grows out of the interplay of two oppositions of

two people. They may argue, fight, enlist help against each other, and otherwise

carry on their opposition. Conflicts may also exist between larger groups of people,

although in fiction, conflicts between individuals are more identified and therefore

more interesting. Conflicts may also exist between on individual and larger forces,

such as natural objects, idea, modes of behaviors, public opinion and their like. The

existence of difficult choices within an individual’s mind may be presented as

conflict or dilemma. In addition, the conflict may also be presented not as direct

opposition but rather as a set of comparative or contrastive idea or values, the

conflict can exist within the main character himself (internal conflict) or it may

11

exist between the main character and outside forces (external conflict). (Harmon

and Holman, 1996: 115-116)

Stanton in his book, An Introduction to Fiction presents another explanation

about conflicts. In his opinion, conflict is divided into two categories; there are

external conflict happened between the character, it may be with nature,

environment, may be with human environment (1965:16)

External conflict can be divided into two categories. Firstly, physical

conflict or elemental conflict is conflict as the impact of the collision between

character and the nature environment. Social conflict is conflict affected by social

interaction among people or problem, which arises as the effect of the interaction of

human being. Secondly, internal conflict or psychological conflict refers to a

struggle within the heart, the mind of the protagonist. It is more about internal

problem of human life. The internal conflict is conflict between two desires or

values in a character’s own mind, and he has to choose the best one for him.

Psychologically in addition to these, Stanton states that internal conflict and

external conflict could happen together even though the intensity of appearance

may be different.

Redman (1964: 363) defines it as a struggle between two opposing forces,

ideas, or beliefs. There are two kinds of conflicts (Redman, 1964: 363). The first

one is the inner or internal conflict means a struggle between the heart and mind

of the protagonist or the conflict between the heart and mind of the protagonist or

the conflict between oneself. The second one is the external conflict means a

12

struggle between the protagonist and an outside force for example conflict between

two or more people.

Redman also suggest that to find out the conflict in the play, the first thing

to do is to sign the problems in the story including the character’s attitude toward

the problems. In this way, the conflicts between characters will be clearly

identified. Furthermore, we are able to know the end and the result of the conflict

(1964: 363).

Conflict will arise because of a major reason, the differences of an

individual with his or her society, and comes up as a signal of changes that the

individual with his or her society, and comes up as a signal of changes that the

individual needs to adjust, or not. It all depends on the person himself/herself

whether they want to or not, and whether they are capable of doing so or not. The

way they resolve it will influence the result too.

3. Theory of Identity and Identity Crisis

The writer would like to present theory of psychology that support the writer’s

analysis on James Welch’s The Death of Jim Loney.

Erick Erikson in Sarah Cirese’s Quest (a search for self) defines identity as a

sense of self. The identity could be described as the concept of me as a person,

unique and distinct from all others and as a whole being, existing as unity through

the lifetime (Erikson, 1985:176). Identity related to the answer the questions of

“who am I”, for instances I am five feet seven inches tall, I am white, I am female, I

13

am my thought, I am that person I picture myself to be, I am who I see myself as,

that is, my self-image” (Erikson,1985:176-177).

A person’s identity is not only personal, it is also social. That is, our

identities are formed through our interactions with the other persons and in a social

context. It is important to know how and how much others define us. It is also

important that our experiences through ourselves be congruent with the ways

others’ experiences of us (Erikson, 1985:178).

Adolescence is the time of identity reformulation, or in Erik Erikson’s

terms, identity crisis. Identity crisis is the period during which an individual

attempts to integrate self-images with the images other have of him or her (Erikson,

1985:89).

Erikson’s views of self provide a sense of continuity with past experience,

but also incorporate the possibilities of new and future selves, preparing the

individual to meet new challenges. From the discussion above, the identity crisis

normally happens during adolescent period.

Based on Erik Erikson description of the identity formation in adolescence,

there are four kinds of phases during the formation of identity, the first is Diffusion

phase. A person who is in the diffusion phase has not experienced crisis yet. This

is the period when a young people who are confused and unsettled regarding their

values and who have few ideas about who they are going. Identity diffusion may be

a short term phase, (Erikson, 1985:149). He also has not made any commitments to

14

an ideological, occupational, or interpersonal stance and he is not currently

considering any such commitments.

The second is Foreclosure phase. In this phase, some adolescence have

adopted a ready-made identity without examining it or exploring alternatives to it.

The identity adopted is characteristically the one the parents have defined for their

child. With a little questioning, foreclosed adolescent will conform to the way his

or her parent sees him or her and will assume the parent’s plan for the future

(Erikson, 1985:149)

The third is Moratorium phase. In the moratorium phase there is an active

searching, questioning, and experimenting. This is the crisis period during which

the adolescent is exploring the several possibilities of who she or he might be

without reaching any conclusions. During the moratorium phase, the expectation of

definite identity is temporarily suspended. The crisis period of simple questioning

and answering or anywhere between these processes. The key to this phase is the

active search and, as yet, a lack of commitment (Erikson, 1985:150). Erikson

describes moratorium as:

A moratorium is a period of delay granted to somebody who is not ready to meet an obligation, forced on somebody who is not ready to meet an obligation, or forced on somebody who should give himself time. By psychological moratorium, then, we mean a delay of adult commitments, and yet it is not only a delay. It is a period that is characterized by a selective permissiveness on the part of society and of provocative playfulness on the part of youth, and yet it is also often leads to deep, if often transitory, commitment on the part of youth, and ends in a more or less ceremonial confirmation of commitment on the part of society. (1968: 157)

15

A person experiences crisis in the moratorium status. In this status,

alternatives are considered. Moratorium is a period of exploration of alternatives.

The fourth is Achieved phase. In this phase, a person gone through an identity

crisis and having reached some stable sense of whom one is. This status is usually

not reached until the late adolescence (Erikson, 1985:150).

The first phase during the formation of identity is Diffusion phase. A person

does not experience crisis yet, this is a short-term phase. In this phase, there is a

dissension of self-image, confusion on the breaking up or dissolution of personal

identity. It is because an adolescent faces many problems. The second phase is

Foreclosure phase. In this phase, a person does not get the crisis or do exploration;

however, they make commitments about ideology without their own finding

process but inherited by anybody else, especially parents. They never become

themselves, but follow anybody else’s will. Parents take the important part to the

adolescent’s identity. The third is Moratorium phase. Moratorium is a awaiting

period. Adolescent starts to find his identity. They usually explore themselves

actively in searching their identity, They explore an alternative identity but they

might be without reaching any conclusions. During the moratorium phase, the

expectation of definite identity is temporarily suspended. The other characteristic of

this phase is they like to do rebellion and they usually have intention to revolt and

disobey. The last phase is Achieved phase, a phase which an adolescent still

experiences a crisis and he begins to realize who he is. However, this phase usually

cannot be reached until the late of adolescence.

16

C. Review on the American Indian: A Psychological Overview

Being Indian is more than checking the box for ethnic origin. It is a way of life, a way of being. The love for family, respect for your elders, spirituality, self-determination, integrity, pride, understanding, protecting the environment, humor, and socializing are all the essence of being Indian. (p.35)

For the non-Indian, American Indian people are often an enigma. Cinema,

television, popular, fiction, and the media have presented a picture of Indian people

as primitive and savage on one hand, and spiritual, romantic, and noble on the

other. Somewhere between these two extremes lies a truer description of Indian

people in American today. The following sections offer an “Indian” perspective on

some issues with which American Indians struggle. These include stereotyping,

acculturation, social and mental health concerns, and responses to continuing

racism and discrimination.

a. Stereotyping and being Indian

Part of being Indian is doing away with stereotyping so we can get past this and get on with the many opportunities available to us.

Stereotypes are used to explain and predict a person’s behavior when no

other knowledge of that person is available. Some of the more common stereotypes

applied to American Indians rely on descriptors such as lazy, drunk, childish,

savage, proud, irresponsible, and immoral (Trimble,1988). Unfortunately,

American Indians today more often than not, deal with these stereotypes. Many

times American Indians are “romanticized” and thought to be more spiritual, or

even mystical, in comparison with other groups. Indian people, however, vary on

the amount of spirituality they exhibit, as do other members of U.S, society. Some

try to follow the more traditional Indian religious paths, some are devoted to the

17

Native American church and its peyote ceremonies, and some are Catholic,

Protestant, agnostic, and even atheist. Traditional Indian religious ceremonies as

well as some of those of the Native American church are closed to the general

public. Because they are in fact purposeful, emotionally charged, spiritual

occasions, they are considered sacred and are not undertaken for “show.” Through

these ceremonies, Indian people give thanks to the Creator and renew their spiritual

selves.

b. Full-Blood, Mixed-Bloods, and Tradition

In the present day (20th Century), most Indians who are traditional and speak their native language are elders. It is assumed that the younger generation is letting their culture die. I do not live on a reservation, but in a city. I personally am very interested in keeping my Kiowa tradition alive. According to U.S Census information, there are over 200 federally

recognized American Indian tribes whose members can be found virtually every

part of the United States. American Indians remain the smallest ethnic minority

group in the U.S. While the number of people identifying themselves as

“American Indian”.

D. Theoretical Framework

In this part, the writer wants to explain about the theories that are used and

the reason why those theories are needed in this analysis. The first theory is the

theory of character and characterization. The theory will be used to study what

kinds of characters James Welch presents in The Death of Jim Loney. The theory is

used here to know deeper how Welch characterizes and develops his characters in

the novel and this theory will be focused on the main character, Loney.

18

The second theory is the theory of psychology; the writer used theory of

identity and theory of identity crisis. Theory of identity and identity crisis will be

used to know about the identity crisis that the main character is experienced in the

story. In addition, theory of conflict will be used to know about the main

character’s conflict is described in the story. The writer also used Review on the

American Indian: A Psychological Overview to know deeper about the American-

Indian people’s life.

After studying the characterization of the main character and the main

character’s identity crisis, it will be used to answer the last, the conflicts faced by

the main character in searching his identity.

19

CHAPTER III

METHODOLOGY

A. Object of the Study

The writer used The Death of Jim Loney as the main object of the study.

The Death of Jim Loney was written by James Welch. The Death of Jim Loney

was first published in the United States of America by Harper and Row, Inc.1979

and the writer used the novel which was published by Penguin Books, USA,

Inc.1987. This novel consists of 179 pages and consists of 3 chapters. James

Welch was the author of three other novels including Winter in the Blood, and

Fools Crow; for which he received the Los Angeles Times Book prize, an

American Book Award, and the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Award.

The Death of Jim Loney that was actually considered Welch’s second

novel capitalized upon the successes of Winter in the Blood. James Welch was a

Native American novelist, poet, and historian whose skillful portrayal of Native

experiences has helped change persistent stereotypes about American Indians.

Alongside other writers of the “Native American Renaissance,” Welch has

produced a body of literature that was both socially conscious and artistically

sophisticated. Best known for fiction, he created characters who must define their

place within multiple cultures that were simultaneously complimentary and

conflicting. Despite such nuances, his novels remained accessible and

entertaining, often employing a wry humor to temper a harsh social realism. His

first two novels – Winter in the Blood (1974) and The Death of Jim Loney (1979)

20

– present contemporary Native American who struggle to understand themselves

in relation to their Indian heritage and community. His two subsequent novels –

Fools Crow (1986) and The Heartsong of Changing Elk (2000) – recreated a

nineteenth-century context to examine the motivations and decisions of Native

peoples uprooted by historical events. In each of his works, Welch transcended a

focus on Native Americans only, compelling readers to recognize and appreciate

the universality of the human condition.

<http://www.richmond.edu/~rnelson/pvi.html/> (7 April 2005).

James Welch, the writers of this novel described the main character, Jim

Loney as a mixed-blood Native American living on a Montana reservation. He

was described as a man who feel isolated, depressed, and alienated, he cannot

identify neither with the white community nor with his Native American heritage.

Although his lover, Rhea, and his sister, Kate, both try to save him, Loney cannot

accept their help. As his waking life began to surrender to dreams and

hallucinatory visions, a biblical passage and an image of a black bird haunt him.

On a hunting trip, he accidentally killed his partner, Pretty Weasel, and convinced

himself that he somehow meant to do it.

B. Approach of the Study

The writer uses psychological approach to analyze this novel because the

study related to human psychology. Literature and psychology are two different

fields that have close relationship.

Literature, in some dramas or novels creates characters that can be

analyzed through the theory of psychology. X.J. Kennedy and Dana Gioia in An

21

Introduction to Fiction, Poetry and Drama explain further about relation between

literature and Psychology, they said that modern psychology has had an immense

effect on both literature and literary criticism (1999:1947)

Meanwhile, according to Rohrberger and Woods, both literature and

psychology discuss people and human lives. Literature discusses humans and their

lives and those are expressed through language as a work of literature.

Meanwhile, psychology is the study of man’s life together with his mind and

behavior (1971:6-15). Rohrberger and Woods also state that psychological

approach bring us to analyze the novel( a work of literature) from the

psychological point of view of human being (1971:13).

Welch’s The Death of Jim Loney is a novel that deals with the main

character’s conflict in searching of identity. It means, the main character’s

conflict in searching of identity become a part of this novel which is a part of

psychology, therefore psychological approach is appropriate to apply in the

analysis of the study.

C. Method of the Study

The writer here used the library research as the method of study. The

writer had arranged several steps in completing this analysis. The first step, the

writer had to read and read again the novel in order to understand and to

comprehend the story because the novel was the primary source of this analysis

and then formulated problem into questions. Thus, the problem formulations led

to both the formulation and the scope limitation of the topic.

22

The second step, the writer determined the topic of the analysis and

arranged the problem formulations which later became the key concepts to do the

analysis. In this step, the writer tried to find the elements of the literary works,

which are divided into some group of data. The first group consisted of some

criticism of the work itself. The second group was some theories on character and

characterization and theory of conflict. The third group was some theories of

identity crisis.

The third, the writer answered the question formulated before, in here, the

writer decided to apply Psychological approach, which was considered

appropriate to be applied in this study. The first part of this analysis section

revealed the characteristics of the main character, Loney as an American- Indian.

The writer used the third question to related the first and second problem. The

second part analyzed the identity crisis of Loney as American Indian. The theory

of identity and identity crisis and theory of conflict were used in order to analyze a

psychological effect of the main character’s conflict in searching his identity as

described in the novel. By the third problem, the writer was able to answer the last

problem as it was related by the first and second problem. Finally, the writer drew

the conclusion of the analysis.

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CHAPTER IV

ANALYSIS

In this chapter, the writer will analyze the problem formulation part by part.

There are three parts of discussions that will be elaborated in the analysis. The

first part will discuss the characteristic of the main character, Loney. The second

part will discuss the conflict of Jim Loney and the third will elaborate how the

conflict of the main character’s identity crisis described in the novel.

A. The Characteristic of Jim Loney as the Main Character

In describing the characteristic of Jim as depicted in the novel, The Death of

Jim Loney, will be based on the theory of Robert Stanton, in his book An

Introduction to Fiction about character. Stanton stated that character appears in

the story is the mixture of interest, desires, emotions and moral principles and the

writer also uses theory of M.J Murphy in his book Understanding Unseens.

In James Welch’s novel, The Death of Jim Loney, Loney is described as a

person who has Indian heritage in his physical appearance. He gets his Indian

outlook from his mother who originally comes from Gros Ventre, people of

Montana. We can use Murphy’s theory, Character seen by others (1972:64). It

can be seen when Ike Loney, Jim Loney’s white father stared at him in the

Kennedy’s bar:

…he saw his son’s thin face. In a way it was his own face: the profile that he had never seen. The identical slightly large ear, the horizontal jaw line and the dark eye set back as a ways from the straight nose. He had his mother’s hair, Ike thought, black, almost blue. And her dark skin. (p.99)

24

In the quotation above it can be seen that Ike, Loney’s father was

surprised when he saw Loney at the first time, Loney’s Indian features reminds

him to the Indian woman that he loves very much, Eletra, Loney’s Indian mother.

On other hand in other’s point of view, he has Indian appearance as a biological

heritage from his mother.

Loney is described as an attractive man with his Indian outlook. He has a

white blood but his body signifies Indian traits. He has dark skin and dark hair

and mysterious profile. His attractive Indian figure makes Rhea, the white girl

interested of him: ‘…I love your dark skin and your dark hair, your noble dark

profile….’ (p.12). When Rhea sees Loney’s sister, Kate, she thinks that both of

them are gorgeous:

She would find the sister beautiful and the brother fascinating in comparison, as if she hadn’t really looked at him before, but now she gasped, “oh, my!”. (p.66-67) The quotation above describes that Loney has an interesting figure the

same as his sister Kate, both of them has figure signifies Indian who has dark hair

and dark skin and for Rhea, their figure is something different and she is

fascinated to the physical appearance of Loney.

Rhea also believes that the attractiveness of Loney also makes Rhea falls

in love with him.

She looked at her brother, and she thought, there is something about that face like a wolf, so canny and innocent, that is attractive, and she wondered if Rhea’s experiences with men weren’t something like her own (p.66)

25

Based on quotation above, Kate sees his brother, Loney as an attractive

man with his Indian features and Kate is certain that the appearance of Loney

makes Rhea fall in love with him.

Loney is a talented and smart person; he is one of the stars of basketball

team on the state championship.

He had been the best ball handler and passer that Pretty Weasel had played with or against. He never looked at you but he always got the ball to you, even when you didn’t expect it. Sometimes when you saw him just right, his face was exactly tha6t of a mongrel, hungry and unpredictable, yet funny looking. Once in a game Pretty Weasel had broken toward the free-throw line and Loney had looked right at him before passing and Pretty Weasel in love right on the spot. (p.82) Based on the quotation above, we can see that Loney is a good basketball

player. His play makes Pretty Weasel, his friend since he was a kid until high

school impressed by him because Pretty Weasel is the best player but after he

plays basketball against Loney, he feels that he is nothing compared to Loney.

He is also a smart person in school. He has many achievements when he

was in school. Based on Murphy’s theory on character seen by others (1972:64)

seems that Loney is a smart person based on Pretty Weasel’s opinion: ‘All

through high school Loney had been the smart one, the one they all got their

answer off, the one who lived in that proper boardinghouse run by the preacher.’

Another opinion proved that Loney is a smart person is from Rhea’s when

she gives a reason why she loves Loney to Kate, Loney’s sister: ‘ I met Jim and I

was curious about him. No more. I found out who he was, that he had been a

bright student, a basketball player, and I was intrigued. (p.86). Her opinion about

Loney proved that he is a smart and talented person.

26

Jim Loney has a gloomy past life. He grows without the presence of his

parents. His mother leaves him when he was a year old and his father leaves him

when he was nine years old, then, he and his sister was taken by Sandra, the white

woman from agency.

‘I guess he wasn’t much of a father. ‘I must have been nine or ten when he left. ‘He went out drinking one night and didn’t return for twelve years. ‘Kate was about fifteen then and she’d been taking care of me for some time already.’ ‘What about your mother?’ ‘She didn’t exist. ‘She left when I was a year old. Kate sort of remembers her. At least she says she does. ‘She was an Indian woman from out around Hays, a Westwolf maybe.’ Kate thinks she went crazy sometime after she left.’ II didn’t know her.’ (p16) From the conversation between Loney and Rhea above, based on

Murphy’s theory on character Past life (1972:164), It proves that he has a tragic

childhood because his mother ignores him even leaves him although he was just a

year old. Meanwhile, his father goes away after his mother is leaving without

saying “good bye” to him and his sister, Kate. He does not get love, care and

affection, which should be given to him and his sister during his growing age. He

never feels happy and it makes him desperate about his life. Because of that

reason, he always spends his night going to the bar for a cheap wine after he

works for local ranchers.

Based on Murphy’s theory, Mannerism, (1972:164), to see the character of

Loney, a drunken man, Loney is addicted drinking wine to cover his suffering:

‘He had a bottle of wine at home, but he wanted a drink of whiskey, a drink that

would warm him inside and out.’ (p. 3).

27

The bad habit of Loney is solely of his gloomy past life. He thinks that by

drinking wine, he feels better and feels comfortable so that he does not think the

burden of his life.

Living in uncertain condition earns him to be a weak person. Loney’s

weaknesses is seen when he tries to remember his friends who leaves him. It can

be seen when Myron Pretty Weasel, his old friend since he was kid until high

school, invites him to hunt together after along time: ‘Back in his bedroom, he

dressed himself. As he pulled the warm socks over his burning feet, he wondered

why Pretty Weasel would want to hunt together after all these years’ (p.109).

Loney feels sad when he remembers Pretty weasel, he thinks that Pretty

Weasel does not assume him as a friend and he just wonders why Pretty Weasel

wants him to hunt together and what for.

Pretty Weasel had the drop on him in both departments. Friendship? How could that be? Pretty Weasel didn’t need friends. Loney reached for his wine and his eyes got wet. A kind of hopelessness burn through the early morning hang over. He was hang over most of the time now. (p. 109)

It seems that Loney is a weak person. He cannot control his tears when he

remembers his best friend. He is described as lonely man, he does not have a best

friend to rely on when he needs to share his problem. He assumes that Pretty

Weasel and George Yellow Eyes are his friends because since they were kids,

they always go together, but Pretty Weasel leaves him to go to college in other

town. As seen in this paragraph: ‘ now he thought of the day Pretty Weasel went

away to college, Loney and George Eyes had driven him to Billings to catch the

plane to the University of Wyoming’.(p.109).

28

However, after he knows, his mother leaves his father because George

Yellow Eye’s father and he never talks to George Yellow Eyes anymore: ‘They

had a mother in common, Loney’s natural mother and Yellow Eyes’ stepmother.

Even Kate didn’t know that their mother had left their father for Yellow Eyes’s

father. (p. 119). Later he hears that George Yellow eyes had died: ‘and he thought

of Yellow Eyes. Struck by a train, killed beyond recognition, in February of 1963.

Somewhere in the south of Montana between Bozeman and Butte.’ (p.118) He

only has Rhea, his lover.

When Rhea wakes up in the morning and Loney is still lying in a bed,

Rhea hears a magnificent voice that inspires Rhea.

“Rhea, you’re the only friend I’ve got in the whole world” “I know,” she heard her own clean voice say,” and it frightens me.” And she watched dawn and thought about Seattle. (p.32) Rhea thinks the voice that she hears is her thought of Loney, she

understands about Loney’s condition of being lonely, she never knows Loney’s

friends pick him up to go somewhere. She realizes that she is the only one who

can be his friend.

Meanwhile, Russell, the bartender on the Serviceman’s bar, calls Jim

Loney as a Lone Ranger. It shows that Loney is such a man who likes to travel

alone. When Loney goes there for some drink, Russell addresses her by calling

him the Lone Ranger: ‘The lone Ranger,’ he said’ (p.4)

Russell’s address toward Loney describes that Russell has an opinion that

Loney is a lonely man who always goes everywhere by himself without any

friends to escort him.

29

Loney is an alienated man, he always feels uncomfortable among people

that he does not recognize well even he had been in Rhea’s house: ‘He never felt

comfortable in other people’s homes. He hadn’t been in many and he touched as

few as few things as possible’ (p.29), he never socializes with other even when he

goes to the bar so that it makes him feel strange in other’s home although he never

comes to anywhere and he will refuse if someone invites him.

The feeling of being alienated creates Loney to be man who feels low self-

confidence especially with Rhea, his rich educated white lover. He feels that he is

only an ordinary man who has a bad habit and he feels ill assorted with her:

He knew he couldn’t be just himself with her forever, because he was nothing. She came from better things and she would need him to be better. And he couldn’t think of a way in the world to be good enough. And that’s what frightened him. (p.37) His lack of confidence is triggered by his fear that Rhea will change him

to be a better man that is suitable for her, he feels unconfident of himself

remembering he is just a small thing to her. He knows that Rhea’s friends are

mostly the wealthy people and have a high social position. It makes him feel

nothing to her. His sense of unconfident appears when he meets Rhea’s friends.

Loney glanced into the living room and whised he hadn’t come. All the quests were white and respectable. The men wore sweaters or sports coats, or both, and the women wore dresses or sweaters and slacks. There were all clean and they stood in group and gestured with their drinks. (P. 40) He feels uncomfortable when Loney stares at Rhea’s friends. The one of

his reason is because he is different from them. Their way drinking and chatting is

very classy according to him.

30

Meanwhile, Loney thinks that his pride of his talent being the best

basketball player in the past is not important to him because his condition in the

present.

Lacking both parents, he never knows his parent’s religion, and he is

confused about what religion that he believes in even when he lives with Sandra,

his father’s lover who raises him. Sandra is a Catholic. The quotation above

shows, Loney never celebrates Christmas he just follows his Aunt that he knew

later as his father’s lover.

His lack of religion is not just shown in the way he does not celebrate

Christmas: ‘He hadn’t read the Bible in Fifteen years’ (p. 4). From the quotation

above, he never goes to church and reads the bible for many years. It proves that

Loney is not a religious person.

Loney is a person who has interests on every detail of what happens in his

life and has an ability to consider something deeper than others. This character

brings Loney to be a person who looks for details on something. Like what Loney

does in the way he looks on dreams in detail and remembers one of the biblical

passages from Isaiah: ‘Turn away from the man in whose nostrils is breath, for

what account is he?’ (p.1). This warning of God's imminent wrath from the

second chapter of Isaiah forms one-half of what Loney calls a puzzle.

Loney is described as someone who is easy to give up with the problem

that he has in his life, he feels that he does not have a purpose in his life; in fact,

he did not know the desire of himself toward his life.

He had been thinking of his life for a month. He had tried to think of all the little things that added up to a man sitting at a table drinking wine. But

31

he couldn’t connect the different parts of his life, or the various people who had entered and left it. Sometimes he felt like an amnesiac searching for the one event, the one person or moment, that would bring everything back and he would see the order in his life. (P. 20-21)

The quotation above shows that Loney feels a sense of aimlessness toward

his life, he even does not remember the event happened during the time. He feels

something missing in his life and he does not know what it is.

B. The Identity Crisis of The Main Character

a. Diffusion phase

Jim Loney himself is a figure of a "half-breed" living on the edge of the

reservation. He grows up without his mother, and then later without his father or

sister, Loney seeks desperately to understand the forces that have shaped his

personal history. In the previous page, the writer learns that Loney and his sister,

Kate is a "half-breed": culturally and biologically their father is from Anglo-

American stock, while his mother is fully Gros Ventre. Because of his gloomy

past life, Loney spends his childhood and adolescence in a variety of homes. He

feels that he has no family that gives him a happiness: ‘It was no longer a question

of life with her, of kind of family, which used to fill him with pain; rather it was a

simple regret that he did not get to know her.’(p.51). Then, Jim Loney goes to a

mission school in southern Montana. His sister, Kate refuses to live with the aunt

and she decides to go to another mission school, in Flandreau, South Dakota after

their father leaves them:

…he had been sent away to a mission school in southern Montana. Kate had already left. She had never lived with the aunt. Instead, she had gone away to another mission school, in Flandreau, South Dakota, right after their father had

32

left them. Loney often wondered why she never lived with him and the aunt’. (p.51)

In the school, Loney is bored with school because he has to study hard and

he had to live in dormitory with its breakfast menu: ‘ he hate this school; he

worked hard at his studies, but he had the dormitory and early morning mass and

the pasty cereal’. (p.51).

In this period, Loney is experiencing of a diffusion phase. In this phase, Loney

is not interested to do some school activities that he thinks bored him. The thing

that he likes is to meet Brother Gerard, who teaches science and teaches him to

play basketball: ‘He didn’t like the fathers and the brothers–except for Brother

Gerard, who taught science and taught him how to play basketball.’(p.51). For a

brief period, he becomes one of the stars on the basketball player’s state team: ‘He

had been on the team that won Harlem’s only state championship. ‘In the picture

he was kneeling beside Myron Pretty Weasel, who was holding the basketball that

read STATE B CHAMPS 1958.’ (p.21).

However, after high school, with no sense of real direction, he enrolls in the

army: ‘He caught the bus up to Havre to enlist in the army and he never saw the

minister and his wife again. (p. 53).

This is as mentioned in Erick Erikson in his book Identity: Youth and Crisis

about the phases of formation of identity. The main Character experiences a

diffusion phase. In this phase, the main character comes to the point of no return.

The main character has a dissension of self-image, confusion on the breaking up

or dissolution of personal identity. It is because he faces many problems.

33

In high school period, it seems that Loney is experiencing confusion about his

family, and when he lives with his aunt that his sister rejects to lives with. In the

school, he does not find any thing that interests him to do some activities there.

Then, after he lives in a dormitory, he finds a man who can teach him a basketball

that make him not feel bored anymore. After high school, he enrolls army without

any purpose. He enrolls the army because he confused about his life. It seems that

Loney is in a diffusion phase, he feels confused by find out the things that he likes

at the right time and he does not know what he wants exactly but he does not

experiences crisis yet.

b. Moratorium Phase

In this phase, Loney experiences crisis. It is related with his gloomy past life

where he lives without the presents of his parents. In his childhood, he never gets

the explanation about Indian people’s life, because his Indian mother leaves him.

Then, his white father leaves him. He never gives Loney an education about white

people’s life. His lacks of both ethnic identities make him confused about his

identity. He starts to search and explore his identity by himself.

After his father’s leaving, he lives with Sandra, a white woman that he knows

as his aunt and Sandra is a Catholic. He does not understand when Sandra

celebrates Christmas, which he knows later, it is a white people tradition.

In two years he had lived with her, they must have celebrated Thanksgiving, but the only holidays he could remember were Christmas and Easter. He remember them because of church─midnight mass at Christmas, sunrise service at Easter. (p. 50) He confused about the white’s tradition because his lack of the religion. And

when his minister’s wife in his Catholic school gives him a bible: ‘…the bible that

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the minister’s wife had given him as graduation present.’ (p.52-53). He is

confused about the white people’s religion life. In other hand, his white aunt

always goes to church and always celebrates Christmas but his minister and his

wife never goes to church and celebrates Christmas. It is can be seen in the

quotation below:

He lived during his high school years in a boardinghouse run by a minister and his wife’ he didn’t believe that the man was a real minister. He had no church, and as far as Loney knew, no God. No midnight mass, no sunrise service. Loney did remember saying prayers before meals, but the minister never ate with them. (p.52).

He prefers to be an Indian people as his identity because of his appearance is

the same as Indian people and he is still curious about it. He does not choose a

white man as his identity because he is confused about white people’s life and his

hatred to his white father leads Loney to choose Indians as the alternative identity.

Jim Loney thinks that he is a different man now and he has real member

partners, Indian cronies . It seems in his quotation below:

He never really had friends, but he had cronies, and a couple of women he saw every once in a while, whenever he needed to. And whenever he needed money, he worked, putting up hay for ranchers, fighting fire with an Indian crew, laboring for the railroad, the highway.(p.154-155) From the quotation above, Jim Loney realizes that he has to gather with

his real cronies that are the Indian cronies because during the time he feels he has

no friends around him. He thinks if he gets together with the Indian cronies, he

can do something if he needs money. Jim Loney realizes what he really wants in

his life after he thinks about Indian cronies.

35

Jim Loney meets the young Indian named Amos After Buffalo who wants

to visit his aunt and uncle in town for Thanksgiving when he buries his dog,

Swipesy. The kid is questioning him, and he says something like about who he is.

“What are you going to do with him once you get him out?” “That’s a good question.” “Are you going to throw him away?” “No―I guess I’ll burry him.” “That’s what I’d do.” And Amos After Buffalo squatted to watch. He liked to watch the man work. And he liked being the man’s helper. “I’d bury him out there,” he said, pointing in the general direction of the Little Rockies.” “Maybe that’s just what I’ll do.” “That’s where I live. I live way out there.” He thought for a moment. “Do you know where I live?” (p.54)

Amos after Buffalo says that he wants to bury Loney’s dog in the Little

Rockies, the place where he comes from. The kid impression gives Loney sign

that Loney is Indian and he must bury his dog in appropriate place. He says so to

Loney that he lives out there. It seems he feels lifeless because he does not live in

the right place that is Little Rockies like Indian. Jim Loney feels that his fate is the

same as Amos After Buffalo who he thinks he lives in an inappropriate place.

Loney’s decision not buries his dog at that moment shows that he agrees with

Amos After Buffalo’s thought.

When Loney goes to Little Rockies after killing Myron Pretty Weasel, in

his break time, he remembers of Amos After Buffalo who comes from “out there”.

He wishes that the kid sees him bury his dog in a place that the kid wishes for it,

in the Little Rockies.

That had been on Thanksgiving Day, almost a month ago. Amos After Buffalo will grow up, thought Loney, and he will discover that Thanksgiving is not meant for him. It will take longer because he lives in

36

Hays and Hays is on the edge of the world, but he will discover it someday and it will hurt him, a small wound when you think about it, but along with the hundred other small cuts and bruises, it will make a difference, and he will grow hard and bitter and he might do something bad, and people will say, “Didn’t we tell you, he’s like all the rest,” and they will think Indians do not know the meaning of the word ”Thanksgiving.” Amos, if I could, I would take you with me, right now, and spare you sorrow. I might survive. Oh God, we might survive together…(p.166-167) In the quotations above, Loney thinks that Amos After Buffalo is not

needed to celebrate Thanksgiving because he is Indian, as Indian, he thinks

Thanksgiving does not fit with the Indian culture. It is a White people culture.

Loney ever celebrates it with his aunt and he suffers for that because he is a half-

breed and he is confused to mix two different cultures, which are difficult to mix

it.

In this phase, an adolescent is active in searching and questioning about his

identity, this is the crisis period during which the adolescent is exploring the

several possibilities of who she or he might be without reaching any conclusions.

During the moratorium phase, the expectation of definite identity is suspended.

This is as mentioned in Erick Erikson in his book Identity: Youth and Crisis. In

addition, in this phase, Loney chooses Indian as his temporary identity.

C. The Conflict in James Welch’s the Death of Jim Loney

There are two types of conflict in The Death of Jim Loney related to his identity

crisis, there are:

a. The Internal Conflict of Jim Loney

Jim Loney experiences the identity crisis within himself. The conflict

happened because of the opposing desires in Jim Loney’s own mind and he has to

choose the best one for him.

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In the story, although Jim Loney has a physical appearance of an Indian

than as a white man but he never felt as an Indian. He thinks that as Indian people,

they have to act like Indian where they live in the reservation.

He never felt Indian. Indian were people like the Cross Guns, the Old Chiefs ──Amos after Buffalo. They lived an Indian way, at least tried. When Loney thought of Indians, he thought of the reservation families, all living under one roof, the old ones passing down the wisdom of their years, of their family’s years, of their tribe’s years, and the ones soaking up their history, their places in their history, with a wisdom that went beyond age. (p.102). Loney thinks that he never feels as an Indian although he chooses Indian

as his identity. The reason why he never feels as Indian because he is different in

many ways from Indian. He does not live in the reservation with a group of Indian

family and He thinks that the name of Indian People must represent of Indian

nature and his name does not represent an Indian nature. it leads an internal

conflict toward him.

In Loney's understanding, there are real Indians, “like the Cross Guns, the

Old Chiefs--Amos After Buffalo” whom he imagines as possessing a pure and

unchanged connection to inherited traditions, and then there are people like

himself, neither "Indian or white". Loney recognizes the existence of

contemporary Native American communities at Fort Belknap and Rocky Boy that

continue to engage in cultural performances, which provide them with a sense of

connection to a shared ancestry.

The problem is that the genuineness he attributes to these "real" Indians

eclipses the genuineness of his own identity. He remains unable to see that he is

and continues to be genuine within a local Indian community that includes figures

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such as the bartender Russell, Myron Pretty Weasel, Waker, the big Indian,

Pepion. Nevertheless, Loney's crisis points to an experience of disconnection from

and hunger for ancient culture. Loney looks up to figures such as Emil Cross

Guns, the Old Chiefs, and Amos After Buffalo for signs of this connection.

Consider how Loney's own statement that he never felt Indian comes in response

to the way his body is read by the world at large: “he was considered an Indian”

(p.102). Given the closeness to several Indian reservations and Loney's dark skin,

his body signifies Indian trait. However, there is a split between Loney's self-

identification and the definition of identity forced upon him from anything.

(www.montana.edu/faculty/ASAIL/syll/dp.html)

In his journey in searching identity, he is confused by the presence of two

different kind of dreams at the same time. The first dream is about the image of

the bird that haunts his sleepless nights that makes him think harder about the

puzzle.

And he saw the smoke ring go out away from his face and he saw the bird in flight. Like the trembling, the bird was not new. It came every night now. It was a large bird and dark. It was neither graceful nor clumsy, and yet it was both. Sometimes the powerful wings beat the air with the monotony of grace; at other times, it seemed that the strokes were out of tune, as though the bird had lost its one natural ability and was destined to eventually lose the air. (p.20) As his waking life begins to surrender to dreams and hallucinatory visions,

an image of a black bird haunt him. The appearances of the dark bird in every

night make Loney think that the bird is sending by his mother’s ancestor:

‘Sometimes I think it is a vision sent by my mother’s people. I must interpret it,

but I don’t know how.’ (p.105). He always tries to discover the meaning of the

39

appearance of the bird. Because he is alienated from both white and Native

American culture, Loney cannot interpret the symbol.

“There is a Bible phrase. It’s crazy. It popped into my mind a couple of month ago at a football game. “Turn away from man in whose nostrils is breath, for what account is he?” I haven’t looked it up because I’m afraid I will find it and it will be bad.” (p.105)

The Bible phase, from Isaiah: ‘It’s from Isaiah,’ said Rhea. (p 105), which

is appeared in Loney’s dream, makes Loney worries. He is afraid if the meaning

of this dream is bad for him.

“I think of it quite a bit. It just pops into my mind and I don’t know how I know it. I went to a Catholic boarding school, and then I lived in a minister’s house-it must come from one or the other. The minister was kind of a screwball. Maybe he put it in my mind. The point is, it’s there and bothers me. I want to make a little sense out of my life and all I get are crazy visions and Bible phrases. They are like puzzles.” (p.105)

The contradiction of both his dreams leads him to an internal conflict

within his mind, he knows that he never goes to church, but he can remember the

phase. He is afraid that his choice to be an Indian man is a wrong decision. He

realizes that white people usually use the bible; an Indian never uses the bible

because they usually worship their ancestor. As mention in Bennet’s The

American Indian: A Psychological Overview “ Indian people are thought to be

more spiritual, or even mystical. Traditional Indian religious ceremonies are

closed to the public. Because they are in fact purposeful, emotionally charged,

spiritual occasions. Through these ceremonies, Indian people give thanks to the

Creator and renew their spiritual selves.” (p.36).

40

He believes that his dream about a dark bird is as a sign from his mother

ancestors but at that time he also dreams about the bible phase from Isaiah that he

is afraid the sign from God because he never expect to be a white people. His

internal conflict places him between two choices that he has to choose.

His curiosity about Indian life as seen when he learns the type of an Indian

family because he wants to be a real Indian, so he wants to know deeper about it.

In Bennet’s The American Indian: A Psychological Overview said that “ Being

Indian is more than checking the box for ethnic origin. It is a way of life, a way of

being. The love for family, respect for your elders, spirituality, self determination,

integrity, pride, understanding, protecting the environment, humor, and socializing

are all the essence of being Indian.” ( p. 35 ).

Jim Loney sees other types of Indian family’s way, there are, Pretty Weasel’s

family and the Emil Cross Guns family. He thinks that both families are very

different, and it makes him confused and it raises conflict in his mind.

He remembered when the Cross Guns family used come to town. The car would be full of adults and kids, and when they scattered to their various appointment, only Old Emil Cross Guns would be left, sitting in the back seat in his black hat, black neckerchief knotted around his ropy old neck. Loney recalled going up to the window and touching his hand and the old man saying something in Gross Ventre. All the kids used to touch his hand because he was a medicine man. Pretty Weasel told Loney that Emil had cured his older sister of infantile paralysis. (p.102) Loney thinks that the Cross Guns is a great Indian person, because he can

cure people by touching his hand. Loney thinks that is the truly Indian family

which is while any person in Indian family grows old than the others, the oldest

became a medicine man.

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Another Indians family that Loney is seeing differently is Pretty Weasel

family. He thinks that Pretty Weasel family is different from other Indian family

that he knows.

…Even Pretty Weasel came from a different kind of family. Both his father and mother had gone to college. And his father had been tribal chairman for a number of years. There was a picture in their house of him shaking hands with President Eisenhower. Now he was old, but in a white way, thrown away. Not like Emil Cross Guns. (p.102) Loney gets some description of other Indian family, and he thinks that

Pretty Weasel’s family is a picture of modern Indian family whom the member of

family goes to college and although the Pretty weasel’s father is a chairman in his

tribe, but when he grows older, he does not become a healer like the Cross Guns.

There is a kind of contradictory life between Indian family. Both of the

Indian family represents an Indian people’s life and he does not live in those types

of family. It leads an internal conflict to Loney.

Loney thought this and grew sad, not for Pretty Weasel’s father, nor for Emil Cross Guns, but for himself. He had no family and he wasn’t Indian or white. He remembered the day he and Rhea had driven out to Little Rockies. She had said he was lucky to have two sets of ancestors. In truth he has none. (p.102)

In the quotations above, Loney experiences conflict within his mind. He

thinks that he is not Indian or white because his life does not represent both of

Indian or White which he thinks that Indian way of live is like the Emil Cross

Guns family or Pretty Weasel Family. He loses his identity. The crisis of his

identity becomes a conflict that he does not know when it will end.

42

Loney has other opinion about the real Indian. For an example, his own

cultural reading occurs while at the airport, waiting for his sister Kate to arrive.

He notices an old Indian woman:

She wore an old cloth coat and a black silk scarf and moccasins and leggings. Loney guessed she is from Rocky Boy, because the old women still dressed that way out there (p.55). The woman's clothes signify in ways that allow Loney to interpret where

she is from, what Native American community she belongs to. However Loney

does not belong to this community. A moment later this point is emphasized when

her companion is say something to the old woman: “ the girl said something in

Cree to the old woman” (p.57). Loney recognizes the language as Cree, which

indicates a specific Native American community.

When Loney breaks up his relationship with Rhea, he tells her about his

dilemma of his choice either Indian or a white. If he chooses to be an Indian, he

must stay in Montana but if he chooses to be a white man, he must to leave from

Montana. His dilemma leads him to internal conflict

Loney thought for a moment . “I’ve never understood it. Once in a while I look around and I see things familiar and I think I will die here. It’s my country then. Other times I want to leave, to see other things, to meet people, to die elsewhere.”

The internal conflicts occur when Loney tries to search his real identity as

an Indian. He thinks that he is not “fully” Indian because of his life never reflects

Indians life although he has Indian trait. He never speak Cree and he does not

have an Indian family as Emil Cross Guns family even Myron Pretty Weasel’s

family and sometimes he wants to leave Montana, it means he leaves his ancestor.

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His heart is searching of genuineness Indian but in other part of his heart, he never

become a “real” Indian because he has a white blood. This felling is irritated his

mind. It becomes a conflict in his life through his mind and his heart. His Internal

conflict places him between two options that he has to choose.

b. The External Conflict of Jim Loney

( i ) Jim Loney VS Rhea

Rhea, a white, rich, girl, and schoolteacher from Seattle is Loney’s

girlfriend. She is very interested in the appearance of Loney who signifies Indian.

For her, the identity of Loney that has White and Indian blood is unique. As seen

in the conversation above:

“Let’s built a cabin. We can cut down these little old trees. We’ll build a log cabin and you can hunt. Just like your ancestor. You can dress me up in furs. Are there any ermines here?” “Weasels. They turn into ermines in the winter.” “Do you ever think about your ancestor?” “Which ones?” “Whichever you claim. Oh, you’re so lucky to have two sets of ancestors. Just think, you can be Indian one day and white the next. Whichever suits you.” (p.14) Rhea casually suggests that Loney is so lucky to have two sets of ancestors

that he can be an Indian one-day and a white man the next. She thinks that is not

problem for Loney to be a mixed blood because he can choose one of them and he

can change with other if he wants to.

Rhea envies him his half-breed condition, because she thinks it gives him a

choice about which "half" he can identify with. However, to Loney who, unlike

Rhea, has to live with this condition and identity is a matter not of choice but of

circumstance, and Loney is by circumstance neither Anglo nor Gros Ventre: to

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both, he is other, and he knows it. In Loney’s own thinking, it is so unlucky to

have two ancestors, because he can feel wholly Indian or wholly white.

Loney thought, It would be nice to think that, but it would be nicer to be one or the other all the time, to have only one set of ancestors. It would be nice to think that one was one or the other, Indian or white. Whichever, it would be nicer than being a half-breed. (p.14) Loney concludes the conversation between him and Rhea that it would be

nicer to be one or the other, Indian or white. While Rhea thinks that the identity of

Loney is changeable when it "suits you," Loney takes a much harder line: one is

either Indian or white, no other. Loney can be either purely Indian or white, if to

be one, it means that he is to be the major opposite of the other.

Rhea wants to start a new life with him in Seattle. She thinks that Seattle

is a beautiful city that is suitable to live with.

“Oh Jim! You never told me that you had been there.” “That was years ago. It must be different know.” “I’ll bet it’s just the same. I’ll bet we could eat all the clam chowder we ever wanted…” “And they have a big market there─it’s full of vegetables and fish and shop underneath it.” “We could eat all the fish and vegetables. …” “It’s beautiful, even in the rain.”(p.45) From the conversation above, Rhea persuades Loney to move in Seattle.

The city that Rheas thinks is very beautiful and she hopes Loney will follow her to

start a new life there because she believes that Loney loves her, so Loney will

accept it.

In Loney’s thought, it is very hard to accept Rhea’s offer going to Seattle.

As seen in the quotation below:

“She had wanted him to go to Seattle with her. Just like that. It was beautiful there–trees, rain, the bay, the buildings. He used to watch the

45

ferries. Had he said yes? What about her teaching; had they decided when they would go? Had he said yes? He couldn’t have. He couldn’t make decision like that. He needed to think” (p.47-487)

However, Loney feels hard to go to Seattle. It is not because Rhea, but he

thinks that Montana is better than Seattle because he thinks he will get closer with

his ancestor.

Rhea realizes that he fails to persuade Loney to go to Seattle with her. She

tries to find out the reason why Loney rejects her offering. She feels frustrated of

Loney’s rejection. She decides to break up with Loney.

“We’re finished…” “It would be the best.” “It seems so simple.” “It’s not.” “No, of course not. This is your country, isn’t it? It means a great deal to you.” (p.106) The conversation above shows that Rhea chooses to break up with Loney

as her anxiety to Loney’s refusal. He fails to persuade Loney to move from

Montana

( ii ) Jim Loney VS Katherine Loney

Kate Loney is Jim Loney’s sister. She works in Washington DC on behalf

of Indian rights. Kate, like her brother, an Indian of mixed heritage, wants to

return with him to Washington DC, where she has made a life for herself working

for the B.I.A. For Kate, there is no home in Montana.

“Did you know I came all the way out here to take you back with me?’ “I guess not. I mean, I should have guessed. I guess I’m not very smart. I should have known from your letters.”

“I can’t believe you didn’t know.” “I’m not smart as some people.”

46

“Don’t say that!” Kate snapped. “Don’t ever say that. You’re as smart as anybody.” Then she added: “ Unfortunately, you don’t seem to know it.” (p.75) From the conversation between Kate and Loney, Kate really wants to take

Loney from Montana and lives with her. Moreover, Kate already reads her

purpose in her letter but Loney pretends not understand what Kate wants in the

letter and it makes Kate feel angry and disappointed with him.

Kate’s offer to take Loney to Washington D.C makes Loney curious about

it. He thinks what make Kate wants him to lives there. As seen in the conversation

below:

“What would I have there?” Kate stopped and touched his arm. “Everything. Some good and some bad. But you would have things worthwhile. I could be modest but I won’t: you would have me, your sister. And other things–things you can’t imagine: beautiful country, a city, the North, the South, the Ocean. … You need that…(p.86) Kate tries to persuade Loney by describing the attraction of Washington

D.C. for Loney, he can imagine the city which Kate describes before. It is not bad

for him. He tries to find words that have meaning a rejection without hurt Kate’s

heart.

Loney said” I’ve got Rhea.” He hoped his sister would accept this as a kind of solution. But Kate said, “For how long? God, sometimes I envy you .You live in a fool’s paradise.” “That’s okay,” said Loney. “She loves me.” “And she’ll take care of you? Listen, she has her own word. … “She cares for me,” he said “We all care for you, and that’s the troubled.” Kate stopped again. Loney almost bumped into her. “God, I wish we’d grown up differently, together. (p.76-77)

47

Loney thinks if the reason why he does not want to move from Montana is

Rhea, Kate will understand him and stop to persuade him to moves to Washington

with her. For Kate, Loney’s reason is not acceptable. She thinks that Rhea is not

the right woman for Loney.

After Kate fails to persuade Loney to go with her, she leaves Montana. On

the way to the airport, Kate spills her disappointment to Loney.

“We were close this time, except for–” “I have a life of my own,” Kate interrupted. “You are not a part of it anymore, by your own choosing. You have nothing left. Anything you do from now on you will do without conviction, without spirit. You reject me. You reject Rhea. You have nothing.” (p.88)

Kate feels hopeless to persuade Loney to follow her. The figure of Kate,

who works in Washington DC on behalf of Indian rights, it is the feeling of

displacement and isolation Loney experiences need not be terminal. While Kate's

departure from the reservation as a sign of her genuineness, she has made a role

for herself as an Indian activist. In a sense she comes to represent those more real

Indians as a voice within the dominant power structure. She has found a purpose

to motivate to provide a sense of belonging that has been denied both her and

Loney.

A description of her Washington DC residence illustrates this point when

she staring at a wall she has a painting of dancers:

Two of the paintings were Indian dancer, “fancy dancers,” and their movements were kinetic and exaggerated. The third was a dancer walking home along a highway, still in full regalia but lonely and tired. The land was a series of browns and yellows leading to ocher sky. The painting had always inspired Kate. She felt that her purpose was to create something for him to go home to. (p. 164-165).

48

For Kate, there is no home in Montana, and for Jim Loney, it is a home in

which he remains homeless. Loney responds to this experience of homelessness

by returning to the heart of what he associates with genuineness: the location on

the reservation where in days of old Indians had used the canyon, the hunting

parties, the warriors, and the women had picked chokecherries. At this site, Loney

will make his final stand.

Like her brother, Kate lacks a sense of belonging to a specific tribal

community. The relationship between conceptions of "Indian" identity and clothes

gains further emphasis if we compare Kate with the description of the old Cree

woman mentioned earlier: “the old woman wore an old cloth coat and a black silk

scarf and moccasins and leggings. Loney guessed she was from Rocky Boy

(Reservation), because the old women still dressed that way out there.” (p.55). the

woman's clothes signify a specific Indian community in Loney's mind, unlike

Kate's clothes, which gestures to collect an-Indian identity. The difference

between Kate's clothes and the old Cree woman's is less one of kind, real versus

unreal. Clearly Kate knows that she and her brother are two half-breed kids.

What Kate lacks in her invented "Indian" identity is a connection between

personal history and community history. Jim Loney raises this point when he

reflects how he "had always admired Kate's ability to live in the present, but he

had also wondered at her lack of need to understand her past" (p.88). For Loney,

the intolerable burden of this formation leads to his death. For his sister Kate, it

leads to a struggle to define her identity through service to "her people."

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( iii ) Jim Loney VS Myron Pretty Weasel

Myron Pretty Weasel is Loney's childhood friend. Fifteen years earlier

both Loney and Pretty Weasel played on the same 1958 championship high school

basketball team. After high school, Pretty Weasel accepted a basketball

scholarship to attend a college in Wyoming. Two years later, he quit college and

basketball to return home and run his father's ranch. Loney wonders why Pretty

Weasel comes back and Loney asks him why he left school, Pretty Weasel replies:

“I'll tell you why I came back―because I couldn't stand those people down there. You know why. Because they put the pressure on me, all this Indian bullshit. You know what they called me in the newspaper. Super Chief.” “That’s what we used to call you.” “That was different. Up here it didn’t mean anything.” “What did it mean down there?” “Indian play basketball good, Indian friend of the white man. I don’t mean maybe, either.” Loney thought about this. In this service they had called him Chief and he was only half Indian (p.101)

In the conversation above, what Pretty Weasel calls "this Indian bullshit"

is his categorization for a particular version of the dialogue of Indianness. Pretty

Weasel's frustration expresses a particular crisis of representation. The newspaper,

as a symbol of authoritative communication, in its representation of Pretty Weasel

the basketball star, puts him in the category "Indian.". Drawing from a version of

the term of Indianness, wherein all male Indians become "chief," Pretty Weasel

becomes Super Chief, and his body becomes the site upon which definitions of

Indianness, drawn from the term of Indianness, are projected by the primarily

white spectators who come to see him play. He comes to represent their fantasy of

Indianness.

50

Pretty Weasel's hatred at the newspaper's term "Super Chief" reflects his

anger at the newspaper's writing of his identity in what has been a stereotypical

designation for all male Native Americans: "Chief." Pretty Weasel's hatred serves

to indict the term "Super Chief" as a false writing of identity, a false production of

"Indian bullshit."

Loney, however, complicates Pretty Weasel's complaint by reminding

him: “That's what we used to call you Super Chief” (p.101). By way of response,

Pretty Weasel illustrates how the meaning of a particular word is unstable, rough

and transforming in relation to speaker, audience, and context: “That was

different. Up here it didn't mean anything” (p.101). Loney pursues the matter,

asking: “What did it mean down there?” (p.101). Pretty Weasel's response

indicates how among his teammates, many of whom were also Native Americans,

the term Chief did not function as a racially charged signifier to mark Pretty

Weasel off as a different race from his peers. As "the Indian" on his college team,

the word Chief bears a greater burden of signification. It carries with it a dense

representational history of Indians defined as other. Pretty Weasel explains to

Loney this other meaning of "Super Chief": "Indian play basketball good, Indian

friend of the white man. I don't mean maybe, either" (p.101).

In this explanation, Pretty Weasel mimics the stereotypical, stilted, and

monosyllabic dialogue of cinematic Native Americans from numerous Westerns.

Pretty Weasel's ability to mimic this discourse indicates his own familiarity with

it. Just as Rhea's internalization of residues from the discourse of the "Noble

Savage" suggests an ideological barrier to an intimate loving relationship with

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Loney, Pretty Weasel's frustration with all the "Indian bullshit" suggests the

power of the discourse of Indianness to erect a screen that isolates Pretty Weasel

the basketball player.( www.oah.org/pubs/magazine/west/parman.html )

Pretty Weasel is killed by Loney when they goes to hunt. Loney does not

know why he shots Pretty Weasel. He thinks that Pretty Weasel is a bear. When

he searches the prey, suddenly, he remembers the whole of his sadness, his past

which make him suffer. Loney kills his friend and he does not know why at the

first time. However, actually he kills him in purpose: ‘I think I killed him on

purpose’ (p.148) he kills Pretty Weasel because he feels angry with him who does

not respect with his own identity as an Indian man.

(iv) Jim Loney VS Ike Loney

Ike Loney is Jim Loney’s white father. He lives in the trailer by himself

and he spends his night in the bar. He feels disappointed with his Indian wife,

Loney’s mother who leaves him. He tries to forget her by keep the hatred of her. It

seems when Loney comes to his trailer for the first time to get the information

about his mother that he never meets:

“I want you to tell me about my mother–who she was, what she was like and where she is. You can tell me that for now.” Ike set the knife on the table. “Damn” he said. “Damn you.” For he had thought of his wife again, the second time in the past few days. Something’s at work here, he thought. Here I go half my life without a thought of her and now I’m not only thinking about her, but so’s this kid. Maybe something to it. “She was a whore,” he said.” “What do you mean?” “Just that. She was a whore.” Ike stood up and walked a couple of steps to the stove…” (p.139) From the quotation above, Ike, Loney’s father seems to hide his hatred to

Loney’s mother. He thinks that Eletra, his wife, is a bad wife because she leaves

52

him because of somebody else. It occurs conflict between Ike and Loney, Loney is

curios about her Indian mother. He thinks that her mother is a good mother. He

denied that Ike says something bad about his mother, he assumes if his father says

something bad about his mother it means he says something bad about Indians. He

believes that the reason of his mother’s leaving is Ike’s bad tempered.

“She left you because you were no good.” “Who’s to say she didn’t leave because of you? She left just after you were born. Hell, she hardly even suckled you and that was too long. Besides, who’s to say I didn’t kick her out? I should have kicked the whole works of you out, but I was different then. I had a soft heart in those days.” (p. 140 ) Ike’s hatred to his wife is seen when he sees Jim Loney’s appearance for

the first time, he remembers his Indian wife and he feels hurt. He seems to

understand Jim Loney being a mixed blood and he seems to regret marrying the

Indian woman as seen in the barroom conversation with Willard, the young

Indian:

“…He turned to the young Indian beside him. “You’re a good man, Willard. I knew your father, and his father, and his father’s father. You’re the last of a long line of a good men.” “What do you mean, ‘last’?” “Hell, you know as well as I do you’re going to marry one of these goddamn white women and that’ll be the last of that of pure strain. You’re as good as a white man already. Or as a bad.” (p.100)

Ike Loney expresses the idealization of a racial risk by the process of

interracial marriage. It is this same meaning that the concept of blood as the basic

for real identification as Indian. For him, Loney is less Indian than a ‘full blood’

like Willard. Moreover, Ike understands of Loney’s feeling.

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When Jim Loney comes to his house to make the confession that he kills

Pretty Weasel, Ike tries to give Jim suggestion to escape to another city and he

gives Loney some money, but Loney rejects it.

“You take this,” Ike said. “Get on the bus and don’t stop until it runs out. It’ll get you to the coast.” Loney looked at the money. His father’s generosity bewildered him, first with the whiskey, now with the money. He wondered if this was a virtue his father had always possessed. “I don’t think I’m going to need it” “What? You’re so goddamn rich?” Ike was surprised and hurt. “it’s good, it’s real.” He snatched up the bills and put a lengthwise crease in them “How’s that?” (p.148)

Ike wants Loney to go to another city to escape from the police that

looking for him. He also gives Loney some money, he thinks he has to help his

son. The rejection makes Ike feels disappointed and he wonders why Loney

rejects his offering.

Ike tries to stop Loney goes to the mountain as the place to escape

because of the weather, but Jim Loney rejects Ike’s kindness, as seen in the

conversation below:

And Loney said, “I’m not going away.” Then he added, as the thought struck him, “I’m going to the Little Rockies. “ then he added again, “Up Mission Canyon. I’m going to think.” “Why there? It’s winter, for Christ’s sake.” But Loney couldn’t answer. He had been to Mission canyon twice in his life: once with the minister and his wife on a picnic, and once with Rhea. But he thought, That’s where I’ll go. That’s the best place. “Mission Canyon.” He said again to make sure that his father knew. It was part of a dim plan that he didn’t understand. “Mission Canyon,” he said, and he watched his father fold that bills and put them in his shirt pocket.(p.148-149)

54

Ike understands of Loney’s expectation by going to the Mountain, so he

put his money to his pocket and then he gives Loney a gun.

The cause of conflict between Ike and Loney is the feeling of disappointed

of Loney toward his, father who leaves him since he was a kid. Ike does not want

meet his kids because his hatred of his wife who betrays him. However, when

Loney kills his best friend, Ike is the one who help him. There is a conflict

between them when Ike asks Loney to escape from Montana to other city after his

son kills Pretty Weasel, he wants to safe his son from a jail but Loney is reject it.

Ike tries to persuade Loney but it was failure. Moreover, when Ike gives Loney

money, Loney rejects it. But after Loney tries to explain about his expectation

along his life that he wants go to Little Rockies, Ike realizes it, so he gives Loney

a gun. It is tragic moment, because the weapon is used Loney to suicide and Ike

knows from earlier.

In his late adolescence, Loney believes that his identity is an Indian, although

he doe not feels as “fully” Indian. After he kills his Indian best friend, Myron

Pretty Weasel, he decides to the mountain. Up the Mountain, Loney decided to

suicide,

This is what you wanted, he thought, and that was the last thought left to him. He stood and he felt a dimness in his head and he took two steps and he felt something sharp in his stomach as though someone had jabbed him with a stick. And he fell, and as he was falling he heard a harsh wind where there was none and the last thing he saw were the wings of a dark as it climbed to a distant place. (p.179)

He still confused about his identity, he decides to suicide. It is a personal

choice, and only Loney could decide whether to commit the act or not. He has

done what he thought was the best at that moment without considering what the

55

next day would bring. We feel what his life is like in those last moments and this

shows what he goes through before he died. Loney, who declares he does not feel

Indian and who spends much of his life seeking a sense of genuineness of Indian

identity. Thus his death in the end of the novel represents the fulfillment of his

quest for genuineness, thereby connect authenticity with death, Jim Loney is

dying like an Indian warrior.

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CHAPTER V

CONCLUSION

The last part of this thesis is a summing up part of all the problems

discussed in the analysis and the result of this research.

The story presents the life of Jim Loney, thirty-five years old man. Jim

Loney is described as a mixed blood who has a complicated problem in his life

and his mind. More or less, it can influence the characteristics of Jim Loney as a

mixed blood. Jim Loney is very attractive with his Indian outlook who takes from

his mother, Eletra, an Indian woman from Gros Ventre. The author also describes

Jim Loney as a talented and smart person and always see something in details but

in the other side, he has a gloomy past life which he raise without his parents,

hence, he lacks of religion and he likes to spend his night drinking a wine as his

escape from reality. It creates him as a unconfident man because of his bad habit.

He is a lonely man, he has no friend around and he is an alienated man, he never

feels comfortable among other people so that he becomes a weak person who easy

to give up of the problem that comes to his life.

The identity crisis comes up through Jim Loney as a half breed and it is related

to his characteristics. His gloomy past life is much influenced his identity crisis.

The identity crisis of Jim Loney divided to some phases; the first phase is

diffusion phase. He is not thinking about his identity because he does not care

about it. This period is not longer happened to Loney.

Second phase is a moratorium phase, In this phase, He starts to explore his

identity by himself. He chooses an Indian as his identity as his alternative identity

57

because he curious with his mother whom he never met before. He ends his

searching of his identity by committed suicide as an Indian warrior.

The crisis is involved him to some conflict and it comes before Loney is

searching his Identity. He never feels as an Indian because he thinks that as an

Indian, he has to live in the reservation with large number of members of family.

In fact, he does not have a large number of members of family. Loney has opinion

about a pure Indian man, he thinks that an Indian man must have a “real” Indian

man such as the Cross Guns, the Old Chiefs--Amos After Buffalo who is

represent the Indian ancestor with their “real” Indian life which is has its own way

to dress up like an Indian. Moreover, they speak with their own language, Cree or

Gros Ventre. In the other hands, he experiences a conflict because he does not live

like the real Indian man but in the other part of his heart and mind, he wants to be

an Indian as his identity.

Meanwhile, the conflict comes after he is searching his Identity when he

interacts with the people outside. His conflict begins with Rhea when Rhea says

that he is lucky to be a mixed blood. He thinks that Rhea’s opinion is not makes

him satisfy of being a mixed blood appositively, it makes him confused about who

he is. Moreover, when Rhea persuades him to move in Seattle, in Loney’s

thought, Rhea does not understand what he wants in his life.

The presence of Kate, Loney’s sister also brings a significant effect toward

his searching of identity. Kate lives in Washington D.C. Loney wonders why both

Rhea and Kate wants him to move from Montana. Kate wants him to go to

Washington D. C. to live in with her.

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Loney has conflict between his childhood friend, Pretty Weasel. Pretty

Weasel is an Indian man but he rejects to be an Indian because the people always

insult him by giving him a name “super chief”. Loney feels angry with Pretty

Weasel, because, in his opinion, Pretty Weasel must be proud to be an Indian

man. Because he wants to try being “real” or “pure” Indian men like Pretty

Weasel. That is why; Loney decides to kill Pretty Weasel. He thinks that the man

like Pretty Weasel is defiling his ancestor because Pretty Weasel rejects to be a

real Indian.

Confused relationships with parents, especially with the father, whose life

as an outsider to the white culture has set Loney to be a man who looses the

happiness of life. Ike, Loney’s white father hates his wife, Eletra who leaves him

and Jim Loney and Kate Loney for somebody else. His white community does not

accept Ike Loney because of his marriage with an Indian woman. When Loney

comes to his place after kills Pretty Weasel, Ike gives him his sympathy by gives

him some money and asks him to escape from the city. But Loney refuses it

because he wants to go up to Little Rockies. Ike Loney understands about Loney’s

feeling as a half-breed. Ike really knows why Loney wants to climb up the

mountain. So he gives him a gun which Ike knows it will be used by Loney to kill

himself. Ike knows that Loney wants to die as an Indian warrior. The writer

concludes that The Death of Jim Loney is concerned with a human’s existence by

knowing who they really are. Although to find it, we have to facing differences

and problems, to face all of the problems, people have to figure out the perfect

way that only he or she can find and believes of it.

59

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