Ashleys struggle for her true identity in sheldons tell me your dreams (original) (raw)

Abstract

This study discusses about Sidney Sheldon's novel entitled Tell Me Your Dreams. The novel tells about a dissociative identity disorder which is experienced by Ashley Patterson, the main character. Ashley has two other alternate personality named Toni Prescott and Alette Peters. Since she has another two different alters, she does not remember moments when the alters take over her body. Thus, she has to struggle for her true identity in order to be free from her dissociation. There are three research questions to answer in this research: (1) "How is Ashley Patterson and her alter-ego described?", (2) "What are Ashley Patterson's experiences in having dissociative identity disorder?", and (3) "How does Ashley Patterson struggle for her true identity?". This research employed the library research method to answer the questions. The researcher used two sources in this study. The primary data was Sheldon's Tell Me Your Dreams (1998) and the secondary data were taken from relevant books, journals, other printed references, and some electronic sources. The approach employed in this research was psychological approach. Psychological approach was used to understand the major character psychological illness and how she overcame her problems. The findings showed that Ashley Patterson has three separated personalities with different characteristics. Ashley, herself, is described as a good-looking, intelligent, and insecure person. On the other hand, Toni Prescott, Ashley's other personality is described as a tempting, talented, cynical, and cruel woman. While the other alter named Alette Peters is depicted as a humble, kind-hearted, and talented woman. Since Ashley has three different personalities, she experiences of having the symptoms of dissociative identity disorder. First, she has gaps in her childhood memory. Second, she gets lapses in memory. She has lost her days and time without knowing what has happened. Third, she discovers the evidence of alters' actions. Ashley finds several things that do not belong to her, but her alters'. Besides, Ashley has to struggle for her true identity by rejecting to be the suspect of the five murders that have been done by one of her alters, going to the therapy session that never easy, and dealing with her traumatic memories which she never imagines. The researcher provides suggestions for future research to conduct study on Tell Me Your Dreams. First, future researchers can analyze the David's motive to be Ashley's attorney. Second, the characteristic development of Ashley Patterson after the therapy will be an interesting topic to discuss as well. Third, the ending of the novel is also interesting to be analyzed by the future researcher.

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by this study to avoid misunderstanding. The terms are: identity creates distinct personalities because of the traumatic events. It is usually

tries to analyze Ashley Patterson’s struggle for her true identity. In this research, historical may contains the real life of the author (p. 8). Because this research

level of needs: love and belongingness. These needs relate to the satisfaction of the

room, washing, cleaning the rooms, and wearing up-to-date clothes are the

achieved the previous needs, he has a desire to become everything that he is capable will force themselves to solve any kind of problems which suddenly happen intc The Need for Self-actualization their life. Mifflin (1996) agrees that people have to struggle to achieve something difficult. When someone cannot fulfill his/her needs, he/she has to struggle to get PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPU4JI

cured. Besides, theory of needs is used to know what kind of needs that Ashley lost,

researcher uses the psychological approach to analyze the main character’s She paints beautifully and gives the money to the church. She dates a man named

behaviors, and even different appearances from one another. Therefore, the other different identities who are called alters. The alters have different characters, As depicted in the novel, Ashley as the major character in the novel has two PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPU4JI

reality. has no other personalities but herself. After the treatment, Dr. Hoelterhoff takes a Shane Miller showed Ashley a photograph of a movie star who was going to be used in an ad for a client. “We have a little problem here. Desiree has gained about ten pounds, and it shows. Look at those dark circles under her eyes. And even with makeup, her skin is splotchy. Do you think you can help this?” He becomes more than just her friend. Finally, Dr. Keller can cure Ashley until she This shows that Dr. Keller feels attracted to Ashley. He treats her differently.

Salem and David. When Dr. Salem asks about the murders, she says “You’re “Juv” to everyone who talks to her. It can be seen from her conversation with Dr.

and Dr. Salem. Moreover, Dr. Salem wants to dig the information whether Alette All she does is only for the good things related to the charity. She is “genuinely kind and sympathetic and enjoyed helping people” (pp. 28-30). Toni, another alter,

hatred and changes it into acceptance. She admits that she feels hurt for this whole Dealing with Traumatic Memories about Her Parents sees the picture of her father. However, as time goes by Toni seems to reduce the According to Maslow as cited in Martin and Joomis (2007), if someone there are three of four articles to be showed. As usual, Toni is hysterical when she cannot fulfill his/her safety and security needs, then the following needs cannot be completed. From her early age, Ashley cannot fulfill her safety and security needs

to control her emotion and her alternates. Ashley is under hypnotherapy when she

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