IRRESPONSIBILITY IN EDITH WHARTON’S THE AGE OF Irresponsibility In Edith Wharton’s The Age Of Innocence Novel (1920) : A Psychoanalytic Approach.

IRRESPONSIBILITY IN EDITH WHARTON’S THE AGE OF
INNOCENCE NOVEL (1920) :
A PSYCHOANALYTIC APPROACH

RESEARCH PAPER
Submitted as a Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for Getting
Bachelor Degree of Education in English Department

by
ERIGA ARIYANTO
A320110109

SCHOOL OF TEACHER TRAINING AND
EDUCATION MUHAMMADIYAH UNIVERSITY OF
SURAKARTA 2015

MOTTO



 “That which does not kill us makes us stronger.”

~ Friedrich Nietzsche



 “The best weapon against an enemy is another enemy.”
~ Friedrich Nietzsche



“Jangan pernah menyerah karena hidup akan tetap berjalan dan teruslah
berjuang menuju sukses”

~ The Researcher

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DEDICATION

This research paper is especially dedicated to:
1. The Greatest Allah SWT

2. His beloved parents
3. His beloved grand parents
4. His beloved big family
5. His beloved lovely
6. His beloved friends

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ACKNOWLEDGMENT

Assalamu’alaikum wr. wb.
Alhamdulillahirobbil’aalamiin, thanks to Allah SWT, the most gracious
and merciful. His blessings can never be calculated or measured, that the
researcher can finish this research paper entitled “Irresponsibility In Edith
Wharton’s The Age Of Innocence Novel (1920) : A Psychoanalytic
Approach”. And also the researcher thanks to the prophet Muhammad SAW,
peace be upon him, who brings the Muslim from the darkness into the brightness.
The researcher knows that the research paper cannot be finished without
many helps and supports from several people. Thus, the writer would like to
express his earnest gratitude for the following persons:

1.

Dra. Phil Dewi Candraningrum, M. Ed, as the first consultant, has given her
time to guide, advice, and share much knowledge patiently to the researcher
until this research paper finished.

2.

Drs. H. Abdillah Nugroho, M. Hum, as the second consultant, has given his
time to correct the grammatical structure of the research paper.

3.

Prof. Dr Harun Joko P, as the Dean of School of Teaching Training and
Education Muhammadiyah University of Surakarta.

4.

All lectures of Muhammadiyah University of Surakarta especially English
Department who has helped and guided the researcher in many ways. Also

his deepest thanks for all of their beneficial knowledge that has taught to the
researcher.

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TABLE OF CONTENT

TITLE .................................................................................................................... i
APPROVAL ........................................................................................................ii
ACCEPTANCE ................................................................................................ iii
TESTIMONY ..................................................................................................... iv
MOTTO ............................................................................................................... v
DEDICATION ................................................................................................... vi
ACKNOWLEDGMENT ............................................................................... viii
TABLE OF CONTENT .................................................................................... ix
ABSTRACT ...................................................................................................... xii
CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION
A. Background of the Study ................................................... 1
B. Literature Review............................................................... 6
C. Problem Statement ............................................................. 9

D. Limitation of the Study ..................................................... 9
E. Objective of the Study` ...................................................... 9
F. Benefit of the Study ........................................................... 9
G. Research Method ............................................................. 10
H. Paper Organization .......................................................... 12
CHAPTER II: UNDERLYING THEORY
A. Notion of Psychoanalytic Approach............................... 13
B. Structure of Personality ................................................... 15
1. Id ................................................................................... 15
2. Ego ................................................................................ 16
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3. Superego ......................................................................................................... 17
C. Notion of Moral Responsibility and Irresponsibility .................................. 18
1. Moral Sentiments ........................................................................................... 19
2. Moral Responsibility...................................................................................... 20
3. Moral Irresponsibility .................................................................................... 21
D. Structural Element of the Novel ................................................................... 21
1. Character and Characterization ..................................................................... 22
2. Plot .................................................................................................................. 22

3. Setting ............................................................................................................. 23
4. Point of View.................................................................................................. 24
5. Style ................................................................................................................ 25
6. Theme ............................................................................................................. 25
E. Research Method ........................................................................................... 25
1. Type of the Study ........................................................................................... 26
2. Object of the Study ........................................................................................ 26
3. Type of the Data and the Data Source .......................................................... 26
4. Technique of the Data Collection ................................................................. 27
5. Tehnique of the Data Analysis ...................................................................... 27
F. Paper Organization ........................................................................................ 28
CHAPTER III: STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS
A. Structural Analysis ........................................................................................ 29
1. Character and Characterization ..................................................................... 29
2. Setting ............................................................................................................. 36
3. Plot .................................................................................................................. 41
4. Point of View.................................................................................................. 47

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5. Style ................................................................................................................ 48
6. Theme ............................................................................................................. 51
B. Discussion ...................................................................................................... 57
CHAPTER IV: PSYCHOANALYTIC APPROACH
A. Newland Archer’s Structure of Personality ................................................. 58
1. Id ..................................................................................................................... 59
2. Ego .................................................................................................................. 62
3. Superego ......................................................................................................... 64
B. Irresponsibility of Newland Archer.............................................................. 68
C. Discussion ...................................................................................................... 79
CHAPTER V: CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION
A. Conclusion ..................................................................................................... 80
B. Pedagogical Implication................................................................................ 81
C. Suggestion ...................................................................................................... 82
BIBLIOGRAPHY
REFERENCE
APPENDIX

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IRRESPONSIBILITY IN EDITH WHARTON’S THE AGE OF
INNOCENCE NOVEL (1920) :
A PSYCHOANALYTIC APPROACH
Eriga Ariyanto
A320110109

Department of English Education
School of Teacher Training and Education
Muhammadiyah University of Surakarta
Email: erigaa10@gmail.com

ABSTRACT
This Study is about Irresponsibility in Edith Wharton’s The Age of Innocence
novel (1920) which is analyzed by using psychoanalytic approach. The objectives
of the research paper is to analyze the novel based on psychoanalytic approach by
Sigmud Freud. This research paper appertain to descriptive qualitative research . Data
of the research paper are divided into two part, primary data and secondary data . The
primary data of the research is The Age of Innoence novel by author Edith Wharton in
1920. While secondary data of the research are other materials taken from some books,
author biographies, virtual refference about The age of Innocence novel to

support the analysis. The method to analyze of this data is descriptive analysis.
The researcher describes two discussions in his research . The first, based on structural
analysis it shows that Newland Archer delivers moral message in The Age of
Innocence. The second, based on psychoanalytic approach analysis it shows that in
The Age of Innocence novel Newland Archer illustrates psychological phenomena
in which in individual is irresponsible at the beginning story. Then, when the story
will over he becomes responsible.

Keywords:

Irresponsibility, The Age of Innocence, Psychoanalytic Approach

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