Up until now, t here is “no universally accepted cause” Fahmy, 2015 or
agreements that can explain why several people prefer to get harmful sex acts. However, scientists say that
“the suppression of inappropriate sexual fantasies is the reason why people could develop several destructive sex behaviors such as
masochism ” Davison Neale, 1996:399.
Psychoanalytic approach is assumed to be the most suitable approach to explain Anastasia Steele’s destructive behavior as it makes us understand about how “life-
events, as we grow up, that shape our psychological development, and these early experiences tend to play out in our adult lives
” Bressler, 1999:81. It means that people
’s personalities are formed by every life moment that they encounter in youth. Every moment gives them problems. The problems that cannot be overcome are
repressed by their mind. The repression can lead them to do certain destructive behaviors such as what happens to Anastasia Steele.
This thesis uses theory from Freud about infantile sexuality in female. This theoryis first introduced by Sigmund Freud in his paper titled
“Female Sexuality” in 1931. He says in his paper that male and female develop differently. He then
introduces Oedipus complex in its feminine form to explain how female’s sexual
development is different from male’s sexual development.
Oedipus complex is a syndrome in which children are “tenderly attached to the
parent of the opposite sex, while their relation to the other parent is predominantly
hostile ” Freud, 1931:1. Every child develops this syndrome without exception.
Some might have overcome it well, but some cannot overcome this syndrome. Some of the children, who cannot overcome it well, may develop an oedipal fixation which
leads them to do certain destructive behaviors such as sadomasochism. This thesis tries to use this idea to show the contradiction
between Anastasia Steele’s personality and her destructive behavior as a masochist.
B. Problem Formulation
1. How is Anastasia Steele depicted in Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L James?
2. How does feminine Oedipus complex cause Anastasia Steele’s masochism?
C. Objectives of the Study
This study aims to answer the problems formulated above. The first objective of the study is to give the depiction of Anastasia Steele. The second objective is to find
how feminine Oedipus complex causes Anastasia Steele’s masochism.
D. Definition of Term
To avoid misinterpretation and misunderstanding, it is necessary to give the definition of term that used in this study:
Feminine Oedipus Complex A syndrome when daughters
“tenderly attached to the parent of the opposite sex, while their relation to the other parent predominantly hostile” Freud, 1931:1.
5
CHAPTER II REVIEW OF LITERATURE
A. Review of Related Studies
Reviewing other studies improves the quality and originality of this thesis. At the same time, it also decreases the possibility of plagiarism and improves the
understanding of the studies. Since this thesis uses psychoanalytic approach, it discusses several studies that also utilize psychoanalytic approach, especially ones
that are concerned with Freudian theory just like this thesis. One of the researchers who discusses about Freudian theory is PriyoWidiantono.
PriyoWidiantono writes an analysis on The Storm by Kate Chopin. His thesis intends to answer three major questions: How the major characters and minor characters are
presented by Kate Chopin in The Storm; how the writer depicts the setting and the plot in The Storm; and how the reflection of Freudian theory through the major
characters in The Storm are presented by Chopin. Several theories are used to answer those three questions. The first one used is the
theory of characters and characterization. He divides the major and minor characters using the theory from Abrams. He finds that the major characters of The Storm are
Calixta and Alcee Laballiere; while the minor characters are Calixta’s husband
Bobinot and Cal ixta’son Bibi.
After that, he analyses the characterisation, or “the way the characters are
presented ” using Murphy’s theory. He finds that Calixta is described as an active
married woman who is pretty, attractive and diligent. Another major character, Alcee, is described as
“a man who understands what women need and what women want” Widiantono, 2009:36. Furthermore, Bobinot as the minor character is described as
“a responsible husband and full of attention to his child and wife” Widiantono, 2009:39,
while Bibi is described as “a little child who looked very wise and cared about his mother” Widiantono, 2009:41.
The next theory that Widiantono uses is the theory of setting. Widiantono uses the theory from Kenny as the main theory that to analyse the setting of The Storm.
Widiantono analyses the setting of The Storm by dividing the setting into three different types, which are neutral setting; spiritual setting; and setting as dynamic.
Another theory that he uses to answer question number two is the theory of plot by Kennedy, Pickering and Hoeper. Using this theory, Widiantono divides the plot of
The Storm into five major components, which are exposition; complication; crisis; climax; falling action; and resolution or denouement. These two major theories intend
to answer question number two. The last theory that he uses to answer the third question is the Freudian theory
about id, ego, and super-ego. He uses the theory to show the change of Calixta’s and
Alcee’s attitudes. At first, Calixta is described as a good wife who worries about the condition of her husband and her son, while Alcee is described as a good man who
