A Psychological Analysis on The Main Character of Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe viewed from Karen Horney’s Theory

ABSTRACT

Characters become an important part of novels. The presence of characters develops the story continually. It is usually concerned to human beings and their circumstances such as nature, attitude, social relationship, etc. Robinson Crusoe is an English novel of the Classical period that presents the main character of Robinson Crusoe who shipwrecked alone in a dessert island. The psychological condition of Crusoe is portrayed in the whole novel, from the beginning until the end of the story. Crusoe also becomes the only main character of the story. The strength of the main character’s personality is highlighted perfectly in this novel. To get a comprehensive understanding to this novel, the psychological condition of Robinson Crusoe is chosen as the subject of the study.

The purposes of this study are to describe Robinson Crusoe’s personality as reflected in the novel and to view his personality from Karen Horney’s theory. This study employs a literary criticism and uses psychological approach. It is a study that analyzes the psychological condition of the main character in a literary work. It employs a literary criticism because the writer conducts discussion of literary works which is related with the personality of the main character in the novel Robinson Crusoe. The data of this study are taken from Robinson Crusoe novel written by Daniel Defoe that was published by Penguin Popular Classic in 1994.

From the data that have been analyzed, it can be concluded that the personalities of Robinson Crusoe are stubborn, wise, self-sufficient, and hard working. Viewed from Karen Horney’s theory, Robinson Crusoe has neurotic needs for affection, neurotic needs for power and exploitation, and neurotic needs for self- sufficiency. Each need is divided into several needs. Neurotic needs for affection cover the neurotic need for a partner and for love. Neurotic need for power and exploitation consists of the neurotic need to restrict life, to control over others, to exploit others, to have social recognition, to get personal admiration and to reach personal achievement. Neurotic need for self-sufficiency consists of neurotic need for independence and for perfection.