An analysis of Self Defense Mechanisms used by three main characters in Heather Gudenkauf’s The Weight of Silence: Psychoanalysis

ABSTRACT

Self Defense Mechanism reveals to the ego‟s effort in defending one self from pain which caused by anxiety. It is believed has ever done by people in life since it occupies for reducing the anxiety. Fundamentally, anxiety is a normal thing that happens, however it can be maladaptive if the anxiety is not solve immediately. Therefore, self defense is done here to reduce the anxiety tension, thereby it does not in anxiety disorder. With the intention of self defense mechanism, the researcher also needs to observe it in a literary work since literary work believed as a mirror of psychological phenomenon in reality, it is expected to give more understanding about how importance of self defense is thereby it can be an inspiration to get tranquility. These cases become main point of this research, which concern about the main characters‟ psychological condition reflected in the literary work.

In this research, the researcher formulates research problems into three sections; those are (1) What kind of anxiety felt by the main characters described in the novel The Weight of Silence (2) What are the causes of the main characters‟ anxiety and (3) What are the defense mechanisms done by the main characters in reducing their anxiety. This research is classified into literary criticism by using psychological approach since the characters in the novel show their lives which attach with psyche condition. The analysis of self defense mechanism is bounded to the three main characters since they have anxiety which relates each other but they have their own self defenses in reducing the anxiety. Additionally, Freud‟s theories of Anxiety and Self defense Mechanism used here to help the researcher in investigating and describing the main character‟s psychological condition.

The researcher proves that the novel The Weight of Silence describes on reflection of psychological phenomenon in reality, it is showed by the three main characters‟ behaviors and feeling which closely attached to their psyche condition. The first character namely Calli, she has a conflict between her ego and superego which concluded as moral anxiety that always feels guilty, panic and afraid of something. The anxiety generally caused by threatening from her father and environment. In reducing her moral anxiety, she does self defense mechanisms namely aggression, suppression and regression. The second character namely Antonia, she also has conflict between her ego and superego which concluded as a moral anxiety, she always feels guilty, worried and unpleasant in facing life. Her anxiety caused by oppression from her husband. In making herself calm, she does defense mechanisms namely fantasy and rationalizations. Unfortunately, one of her rationalizations is failed to be done which brings her in anxiety disorder namely obsessive compulsive. The last is Ben, moral anxiety which felt by him also concluded by the appearance of conflict between his ego and superego. He also feels so guilty, panic and loses self confidence, it generally caused by losing self esteem and also frustration that felt by him. Self defense mechanisms which done by him are called as projection and identification.

Since the investigation of self defense mechanism is very important to be done in literary works, therefore, it is recommended for the next researcher to investigate another self defense done by the characters in other literary works. It is also expected for the next researcher to investigate other phenomenon inside novel The Weight of Silence since this novel contains of many aspects which can be analyzed such as feminism and moral values. Moreover, the researcher expects that the next researcher to be capable of applying other theories in analyzing self defense mechanisms such as Anna Freud, Adler, Melanie Klein and Sullivan, thereby it will be have better understanding of self defense mechanism„s concept which done in human life.