strange action such as breaking the rule which appear in the story. Theory of mental disorder is also used to analyze what type of mental disorder which makes
Lisbon ’s daughters decide to commit suicide. In the end of the analysis, the theory
of suicide is applied to find out what actually the cause of the virgin to commit suicide is.
CHAPTER III
METHODOLOGY
A. Object of The Study
The literary work that the writer analyzed in this study is a novel entitled The Virgin Suicide that is written by Jeffrey Eugenides. The Virgin Suicides is the first
novel of Jeffrey Eugenides and published in 1993. The Virgin Suicides tells about Lisbon
’s family, a middle class in Detroit that has five daughters that are, Cecilia Thirteen, Lux Fourteen, Bonnie Fifteen,
Mary Sixteen, and Therese Seventeen. These five daughters undergo an overprotective treatment by their parents. They are not allowed to hang out and
they are “caged” inside the house. Commotion happened when Cecilia tries to commit suicide by slitting her wrist but that act is failed because, soon, Mrs.
Lisbon finds Cecilia and call the paramedic. After that incident, Mr. and Mrs. Lisbon are given suggestion from doctor who is nursed Cecelia. He recommends
them to let their daughters have interaction with male and environment. Mr. and Mrs. Lisbon then invited boys to have dinner together. Cecilia in that dinner does
not speak to the boy and she secludes from the other. During the dinner Cecilia cannot enjoy the dinner and she asks Mrs. Lisbon to go to the bedroom. Actually
she does not go to bed room, but she jumps from the second floor and she is gone. The reason why Cecilia commits suicide is unknown. The story is continued with
the various problems in life after Cecilia die. Lux falls in love with Trip Fountain and Trip asks Mr. Lisbon to let them to join Homecoming party. Mr. Lisbon tries
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to entice his wife and then he agrees to let them out but all of her daughters has to go together and she and Mr. Lisbon have to go to the party Also. In the D-day, the
girl is picked up at their house by car and they go together. In the party Bonnie have a first kiss with Joe. Mr. and Mrs. Lisbon go home early. At 9.30 PM they do
not go home because still waiting for Lux. Mrs. Lisbon asks them to be at home at 10 PM. They are waiting until 9.55 PM but Lux never comes. Finally they go
home without lux. When Lux comes home, they all are punished. They are not allowed go to outside of the home. Finally they all commit suicide. The cause of
the suicides is still in mystery. The story is tragic because five young women end their life, whereas they still have so many dreams.
B. Approach of the Study
The approach that is applied in this study is psychoanalytic approach. According to Rohrberger and Woods’ Reading and Writing about Literature,
psychoanalytic approach is approach that is used to explain human motivation, personality, and behavior pattern written in literary object 1971: 2.
Analyzing character of Lisbon’s daughters who commit suicide, the writer
uses psychological approach through the interpretation of their behavior, attitude, thought, and feeling. This approach is appropriate because in analyzing this topic,
the writer focuses on the character psychological aspect.
