THE POWER OF LOVE: AN ANALYSIS ON MAGGIE AND BRYCE RELATIONSHIP IN NICHOLAS SPARKS’S NOVEL THE WISH

ABSTRACT


INTRODUCTION
Love is a feeling that is difficult to define, because almost everyone has their own meaning of love.Love is also intangible, but love cannot be separated from human life (Sabillah, 2021).There is no single phenomenon that can describe what love is.In the end, it is a complex series of emotional and mental sequences.Basically, the type of love that exists in everyone is different in form and different in terms of quality (Rini, 2017).
Love is a very important need for human beings so that without love, the growth and development of individual abilities will be hampered (Susanti, 2017).Meanwhile, according to Sternberg (1986), love is the deepest and most desirable form of human emotion.Humans may cheat, steals, and kills in the name of love.It is better to lose than to lose love.Love can cover everyone and on many levels (Sternberg, 1986).
Love is a feeling that makes humans willing to feel happy once and then get sick and fall many times.Because sometimes love is like a hope for those who feel it, they can keep their feelings for someone who has not even communicated for years, and amazingly there are even those who still love their partners even though they are in different realms.Love is something that has no limits (Sternberg, 1986).
In this study, researchers analyze a relationship that occurs in the characters Maggie Dawes and Bryce Tricket in a novel by Nicholas Sparks entitled The Wish.This novel was a new novel from Sparks which published in 2021.This novel talks about the life of a woman named Maggie Dawes who is told in two different times, namely when Maggie was a 16-year-old teenager who was always compared to her older sister and then got pregnant out of wedlock and was sent to her aunt's house in a village called Ocracoke by her parents to cover up her pregnancy.
The first time Maggie came to Ocracoke, even Maggie never left her aunt's house, she was only feeling sorry for herself but after meeting Bryce, Maggie became a different person, where every day is full of enthusiasm and happy feelings.That is the real proof that love can easily turn human life upside down.Like Maggie, the pain she experienced as a teenager was healed by Bryce's presence which brought a feeling called love until when she grew up.She was hurt again for the same reason, namely love when Bryce died and left forever.Even though she felt down when she lost Bryce.
Maggie was able to survive and move on with life by remembering every second of the memories she had gone through when she and Bryce loved each other.Those memories motivated her so that she could live a better life than before.Started as a photographer until she has her own studio and employees.Maggie became an independent and happy adult woman.She chose to be alone that made her to be famous photographer.
After Bryce's death, Maggie decided not to have a relationship with anyone.This is the reason why researchers conducting this research to know how can love make humans survive loving people for dead even when the beloved has passed away.In general, people heal their wounds from losing old loves by finding new loves.Pramudianti (2020) conducting interviews with respondents to analyze the happiness of young women who repeatedly break up in love.She found that her respondents were looking for new love after being hurt by someone.This happened over and over again (via Laksono, 2022).
In contrast to Maggie's story, she remains loyal and continues to love Bryce.Especially when Maggie has become an independent woman, who is rich, successful.She has no children; this should be an impetus for Maggie to start a relationship again.But Maggie chose to continue living with Bryce's memories.The memories that are created between Maggie and Bryce's love affair are feelings that become a bridge so that Maggie can survive.Because when someone is gone, all that's left is a memory.
This research was conducted to analyze the problems that arise in the relationship between Maggie and Bryce with the aim of knowing the component of love between Maggie and Bryce.The reason the researcher chose to use the Triangular Theory of Love is because it is in accordance with the problems examined by the researcher.This theory explains how a feeling called love is formed, besides that, this theory also provides an understanding of how to communicate, and how to treat each other that are intertwined in it can be divided into several categories.The researcher hopes that this research can provide an overview for readers, especially those who have bad relationships about love, or those who are afraid of falling in love.Sometimes love also gives strength to those who feel it (Firmansyah & Indarti, 2022).

METHODOLOGY
There are two sources of data used in this study.The main data of this research is the novel The Wish published in 2021 by Nicholas Sparks.The data are in the form of dialogues and quotations from the novel.The supporting data are taken from journal articles, books and thesis that are related with the theory used in this study.
The data collection method used in this research is descriptive qualitative.Bogdan & Biklen (1998) explain that qualitative research is a research procedure that produces descriptive data in the form of speech or writing and the behavior of the people being observed (Bogdan & Biklen, 1998).The researcher collects data from the novel The Wish by Nicholas Sparks by reading, understanding, and analyzing the novel, to get problems that can be solved using the Triangular Theory of Love from Robert J. Sternberg.Researchers analyze the data by grouping the data into three parts; the first analyzes the concept of love from the theory of Robert.J. Sternberg  A relationship that is built on love by both parties must have a desire to provide welfare for one another (Suyono Agus., 2008).This can be seen from how a person treats their partner gently so that their partner feels comfortable and safe when they are together.Maggie and Bryce's relationship has these elements, as in the quote below.
"I've already loaded the bags.We should probably head out, since you never know how crowded the ferry will be."As I was about to head to the van, Bryce gently took hold of my arm, signaling for me to wait.(Sparks, 2021: 174) Based on this dialogue between the characters, Bryce gives instructions Maggie to get on the ship immediately and gi ves a signal with her to wait while holding her arm.This is a form of Bryce's desire t o pay attention to her, so that she feels comfortable and does not feel any difficulties in living life activity.

b. Experience happiness with loved ones
Experiencing happiness with someone you love is one component of intimacy which can be marked by the emergence of feelings of joy and always feeling flowery (Hadianti & Resnitriwarti, 2017).In a relationship, there is no troublesome word for loved ones but instead, we feel happy because we have participated in our partner's life.The relationship between Maggie and Bryce can be seen in the following dialogue.
" Maggie said thanks to Bryce but he said Maggie's presence in Ocracoke, she felt happy and Maggie also felt the same feelings.As evidenced by the smile that appeared for the first time after she came to Ocracoke.This is because when people who love each other will feel joy when doing something with their partner, they will do it with all their heart.c. High respect for loved ones Every human being must have the advantages and disadvantages of each.In a relationship, the shortcomings possessed by their partners are complement to a love bond (Iswahyudi, 2018).That is why people often say that love is blind because great feelings of love can cover up the real situation (Schacter, 2001).This can be seen in the quotation below: "The fact that you're here but still enrolled in a school in Seattle?Because you're leaving in May?Because your aunt was vague about the reason for your sudden visit?Because she asked for an extra cushy seat on your bike?Because you used the bathroom a lot today?Pregnancy was the only explanation that made sense."I wasn't sure whether I was more surprised by the idea that he'd figured it out so easily or the fact that there was no judgment in his tone or his expression as he said it.(Sparks, 2021: 154) The excerpt from the conversation above between Maggie and Bryce when they found out that Maggie was pregnant without a husband at such a young age.This situation did not make Bryce judge or look at Maggie differently.But he confirmed Maggie's pregnancy without any judgment in his tone.He also does not have a scornful expression.He still respects Maggie and does not change his views on her despite knowing the facts.

d. Intimate communication with loved ones
If someone tells something about himself to others in detail, then other people tend to reveal it in detail too.But if he tells other people only a small part or not in detail, then other people also tend to disclose it in no detail (Gainau, 2018).
"I know you've mentioned that your sister, Morgan, is the perfect one," he said, "but it's not easy having Richard and Robert as brothers, either."His voice was soft enough that I had to strain to hear him as he went on."Did you know that they took the SAT last September?Remember, they're only twelve, and both of them got nearly perfect scores: 1570 and 1580, which were a lot higher than I scored.And who knows if Richard will even need to go to college?He could go straight into a career in coding.You know about the internet, right?It's going to change the world, trust me on that, and Richard is already making a name for himself in the field.He earns more than my grandfather does, working part-time and freelancing.He'll probably be a millionaire by the time he's my age.Robert will do the same.I think he's a bit jealous about money, so for the last couple of months, he's been working with Richard on programming, in addition to building his plane.And of course, he finds it laughably easy.How can I compete with brothers like that?" (Sparks, 2021: 257) Based on the data above, it shows that Bryce and Maggie share stories about their personal lives.Bryce shared that having brothers like Richard and Robert was not much different from Maggie having a sister like the perfect Morgan.He feels pressured and fears that he might not be as successful as can reduce the burden on your mind.That is a relationship, doing deep talk with your partner can strengthen the relationship that exists.

Passion
The desire component in a relationship is important as the other components but this component is seen differently.It is formed from physical and sexual attraction, resulting in doubts about the existence of feelings love and the desire for a relationship (Imbang Hasiolan, 2015).The first component in Maggie and Bryce's relationship they were attracted to the intimacy component, the desire component came later and brought their relationship closer.As in the quote below.
It wasn't my first kiss, or even my first French kiss, but it was the first kiss that felt perfect and right in every way, and when we finally separated, I heard him sigh."You don't know how long I've wanted to do that," he whispered."I love you, Maggie."Instead of answering, I leaned back into him, allowing him to hold me, feeling as his fingertips gently traced my spine.I imagined his heart beating in unison with my own, even as his breath seemed steadier than mine.(Sparks, 2021:.305)The conversation above shows a desire preceded by Bryce.For the first time since they had been close, he worked up the courage to kiss Maggie after so long he had suppressed the urge.The dialogue is also shown that Bryce wanted to kiss her for a long time, but he only did it when, he was sure.A relationship whose closeness begins with the intimacy of communication, representing desire is a far and difficult step to do, this is a sign the relationship that exists between both is real.

Commitment/decision
Commitment is an important component and makes a relationship feel clearer because before someone decides to commit with someone else, they must have gone through a long thought.The commitment that exists between Maggie and Bryce can be seen in the conversation below.
"I love you, Maggie.Do you love me?"Even though I knew where all of this was going, I couldn't lie to him."Yes, I love you." He looked up at me, eyes beseeching."Will you marry me?" (Sparks, 2021:392) Bryce's statement when expressing his intention to ask Maggie to marry, means that he is sure Maggie also has the same feelings, if Bryce is not sure then he will not dare to take the risk to ask Maggie to marry him.
Lire Journal (Journal of Linguistics and Literature) https://lirejournal.ubb.ac.id/index.php/LRJ/indexP-ISSN: 2598-1803 E-ISSN: 2581-2130 Volume 8 Number 1 2024 47 This work is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 Internasional.Copyright © 2024, Erlina Dwi Mumpuni & Wajiran.What kind of love reflects their relationship by using Robert Stenberg's Triangular Theory of Love.Researcher examines how love has a big role and can give strength for Maggie to live after Bryce died.
which contains Intimacy, Passion, and Decision or Commitment.The second is to analyze the love categories shown in Maggie and Bryce's relationship based on the theory of Robert Stenberg which consists of seven categories, namely Nonlove, Liking Infatuated Love, Empty Love, Romantic Love, Companionate Love, Fatuous Love, and Consummate Love.Then the last data is to analyze quotes that describe the power of love contained in the novel.1. Intimacy a.The desire to increase the well-being of loved ones.