Background of the Study

SYNOPSIS OF THE THESIS AN ANALYSIS OF NEUROSIS SYNDROME REACTIONS IN MARIAM’S CHARACTER IN THE NOVEL OF A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS BY KHALED HOSSEINI

A. Background of the Study

The behavior of human beings relates to psychological aspects. Specifically, the reality of psychology can be seen from any psychological phenomena which are suffered by human beings when they respond or make a reaction toward themselves and their surroundings. It can also identify their mental states through behavior. Human behaviors itself is various. If they examine their mental states deeply, those can be classified as any phenomena and into certain categories. Those categories represent any abnormal psychological signs such as phobia, anxiety, depression, frustration, etc. In this research, the writer is motivated to research one of literary works of the novel of A Thousand Splendid Suns based on 2007 by Khaled Hosseini. A Thousand Splendid Suns is published in 40 countries and received favorable prepublication reviews from Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, and Booklist. The book was released on May 22, 2007, first published in Great Britain and got New York Times bestseller and British Book award 2008. Furthermore, when the writer studies its text, there are several elements in that novel, which the readers need to know to describe all the stories, such as theme, plot, character, setting, and point of view. The writer is very excited to choose Hosseini’s novel because most of his novels are based on real life that happens around Hosseini and also there is a philosophy in the title of this novel. Hosseini invites the readers to open the novel page per-pages of novel, makes them understand and enriches their knowledge in fiction. Hosseini makes the readers follow into the plot of novel. This novel begins by telling the story of Mariam’s growing in Afghanistan in the 1970s. Mariam lived with her mother and sought her father love. Her father got her mother pregnant while she was a servant in his home and had his own family and Mariam’s life misery began when her mother committed suicide and her father was unable to have her around his real family. Then, Mariam was forced to marry by her father’s wives with an older man, Rasheed. Her life with her husband Rasheed was truly miserable as she fell to give him a son. Finally, he became increasingly angry with her resulting violence towards her regularly. Kelly Burton is one of the readers who have given appreciate to the novel A Thousand Splendid Suns, Burton said: “This book is thought provoking, current, and intense and will live you forever. An excellent and thoroughly entertaining read.” 1 Because of that the writer thinks that this novel is proper to be analyzed. A thousand Splendid Suns is an unforgettable portrait of a wounded country. It is a beautiful, heart-wrenching story of an unforgiving time, an unlikely bond and an indestructible love. At that time Taliban rules came over Afghanistan. The streets of Kabul were loud with the sound of gunfire and bombs and life was really desperate, brutality and 1 http:www.helium.comitems822825-book-reviews-a-thousand-splendid-suns-by-khaled- hosseini?page=2 accessed on March 21, 2009 fear. Hosseini’s novel has some interesting characteristics, such as hopelessness, struggling, disappointment, and many things. It is about Mariam as the main character who becomes an object of the research because Mariam is the dominant character that makes the story becomes interesting and also very influential in its plot and brings many influences to the readers, it can be seen in introduction of story when Hosseini narrated the characteristics of Mariam . “She was five years old when she heard the word harami for the first time.” It means the word “harami” which Mariam heard for the first time came from Nana. Her mother always mentioned it which then made her depressed. This matter has interested the writer to analyze the personality condition of main character that is Mariam that is attended by Khaled Hosseini in the novel of A Thousand Splendid Suns, this research tries to interpret concept of abnormal psychology about Neurosis Syndrome Reactions viewed from theory of Alferd Alder Anxiety Reaction, Compulsive-Obsessive Reaction and Phobic Reaction.

B. Research Methodology