Humbert Humbert`s dynamics of personality in having a love affair with his stepdaughter as seen in Vladimir Nabokov`s Lolita.

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ABSTRACT

Putri, Elisabet Nindia Paramita Ariesta. (2013). Humbert Humbert’s
Dynamics of Personality in Having a Love Affair with His Stepdaughter as
Seen in Vladmir Nabokov’s Lolita. Yogyakarta: English Language Education
Study Program, Department of Language and Arts Education, Faculty of Teachers
Training and Education, Sanata Dharma University.

This study discusses a novel written by Vladimir Nabokov entitled
Lolita. This novel depicts the life of Humbert Humbert, who falls in love with his
step daughter, Lolita. This study focuses on Humbert Humbert’s dynamics of
personality in having a love affair with Lolita which reveals the driving forces
behind his action.
There is one formulated problem discussed in this study: How are

Humbert Humbert’s dynamics of personality in having a love affair with his step
daughter described in Vladimir Nabokov’s Lolita? Therefore, this study aims to
reveal Humbert’s dynamics of personality in having a love affair with his step
daughter.
Since this study was focused on the character’s dynamics of personality,
the psychological approach was used to analyze the problem. The method of this
study was the library research. The novel entitled Lolita was the primary source.
The secondary sources were the books and articles on theory of psychological
approach and psychoanalytic theory proposed by Sigmund Freud.
This study analyzes the character’s dynamics of personality which refers
to the driving forces behind Humbert’s action in having a love affair with Lolita.
The driving forces involve the conflict among the structure of personality which
consists of the id, the superego, and the ego. The analysis is divided into two parts
based on the ego defense mechanisms, namely displacement and reaction
formation. The id drives Humbert to satisfy the sexual instinct with a nymphet.
On the contrary, the superego always pictures the punishment if he decides to
satisfy the sexual instinct. Therefore, the defense mechanisms of the ego exist in
order to reduce the anxiety which is caused by the conflict between the id and the
superego. Even though the ego has done defense mechanisms to defend against
the id and the superego, the ego finally decides to satisfy the sexual instinct by

having a love affair with Lolita. The suggestions for the future researchers who
are interested in analyzing Lolita are to explore the character of Lolita and
Vladimir Nabokov’s language style. In addition, the result of this study is very
useful to be a reflection for teachers.

Keywords: dynamic of personality, love affair, psychoanalytic theory
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ABSTRAK

Putri, Elisabet Nindia Paramita Ariesta. (2013). Humbert Humbert’s
Dynamics of Personality in Having a Love Affair with His Stepdaughter as
Seen in Vladmir Nabokov’s Lolita. Yogyakarta: Program Studi Bahasa Inggris,

Jurusan Bahasa dan Seni, Fakultas Keguruan dan Ilmu Pendidikan, Universitas
Sanata Dharma.
Studi ini membahas sebuah novel karya Vladimir Nabokov, yang
berjudul Lolita. Novel ini menggambarkan kehidupan Humbert Humbert yang
jatuh cinta pada anak tirinya, Lolita. Studi ini memfokuskan pada dinamika
kepribadian Humbert dalam menjalin hubungan asmara dengan Lolita yang akan
menguak kekuatan-kekuatan pendorong di balik tindakan Humbert.
Ada sebuah rumusan masalah untuk didiskusikan dalam studi ini:
Bagaimana dinamika kepribadian Humbert Humbert dalam menjalin suatu
hubungan asmara dengan anak tirinya digambarkan dalam novel Lolita karya
Vladimir Nobokov? Oleh sebab itu, studi ini bertujuan untuk menguak dinamika
kepribadian Humbert dalam menjalin suatu hubungan asmara dengan Lolita.
Dikarenakan studi ini memfokuskan pada dinamika kepribadian
karakter, pendekatan psikologis digunakan untuk menganalisis permasalahan.
Metode dalam studi ini adalah studi pustaka. Novel berjudul Lolita adalah sumber
utama. Sumber sekunder adalah buku-buku dan artikel-artikel tentang teori
pendekatan psikologi dan teori psikonalisis yang digagas oleh Sigmund Freud.
Studi ini difokuskan kepada dinamika kepribadian karakter yang
mengacu pada kekuatan-kekuatan pendorong dibalik aksi Humbert dalam
menjalin hubungan asmara dengan Lolita. Kekuatan-kekuatan tersebut melibatkan

konflik antara stuktur kepribadian yang terdiri dari id, superego, dan ego. Analisis
dalam studi ini dibagi menjadi dua bagian berdasarkan mekanisme pertahanan ego
yaitu pengalihan dan reaksi formasi. Id mendorong Humbert untuk memuaskan
naluri seksualnya dengan seorang gadis. Di sisi lain, superego selalu
menggambarkan hukuman yang akan didapat bila memutuskan untuk memuaskan
naluri seksualnya tersebut. Oleh sebab itu, mekanisme pertahanan ego muncul
untuk mengurangi kekawatiran yang diakibatkan konflik antara id dan superego.
Meskipun ego telah melakukan mekanisme pertahanan konflik, pada akhirnya ego
memutuskan untuk memuaskan naluri seksualnya dengan menjalin hubungan
asmara dengan Lolita. Saran untuk peneliti-peneliti masa mendatang yang tertarik
untuk menganalisis Lolita adalah eksplorasi karakter Lolita dan gaya bahasa
Vladimir Nabokov. Selain itu, hasil dari studi ini juga sangat bermanfaat untuk
dijadikan sebuat refleksi bagi guru-guru.

Kata kunci: dynamic of personality, love affair, psychoanalytic theory
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HUMBERT HUMBERT’S DYNAMICS OF PERSONALITY
IN HAVING A LOVE AFFAIR WITH HIS STEPDAUGHTER
AS SEEN IN VLADIMIR NABOKOV’S LOLITA

A SARJANA PENDIDIKAN THESIS

Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements
to Obtain the Sarjana Pendidikan Degree
in English Language Education

By
Elisabet Nindia Paramita Ariesta Putri
Student Number : 091214029

ENGLISH LANGUAGE EDUCATION STUDY PROGRAM
DEPARTEMENT OF LANGUAGE AND ARTS EDUCATION

FACULTY OF TEACHERS TRAINING AND EDUCATION
SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
YOGYAKARTA
2013

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HUMBERT HUMBERT’S DYNAMICS OF PERSONALITY
IN HAVING A LOVE AFFAIR WITH HIS STEPDAUGHTER
AS SEEN IN VLADIMIR NABOKOV’S LOLITA

A SARJANA PENDIDIKAN THESIS

Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements
to Obtain the Sarjana Pendidikan Degree

in English Language Education

By
Elisabet Nindia Paramita Ariesta Putri
Student Number : 091214029

ENGLISH LANGUAGE EDUCATION STUDY PROGRAM
DEPARTEMENT OF LANGUAGE AND ARTS EDUCATION
FACULTY OF TEACHERS TRAINING AND EDUCATION
SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
YOGYAKARTA
2013
i

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STATEMENT OF WORK’S ORIGINALITY

I honestly declare that this thesis, which I have written, does not contain the work
or parts of the work of other people, except those cited in the quotations and the
references, as a scientific paper should.

Yogyakarta, 8 July 2013
The writer,

Elisabet Nindia Paramita Ariesta Putri
091214029

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LEMBAR PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN
PUBLIKASI KARYA ILMIAH UNTUK KEPENTINGAN AKADEMIS
Yang bertanda tangan di bawah ini, saya mahasiswa Universitas Sanata Dharma:
Nama

: Elisabet Nindia Paramita Ariesta Putri

Nomor Mahasiswa

: 091214029

Demi pengembangan ilmu pengetahuan, saya memberikan kepada Perpustakaan
Universitas Sanata Dharma karya ilmiah saya yang berjudul :

HUMBERT HUMBERT’S DYNAMICS OF PERSONALITY
IN HAVING A LOVE AFFAIR WITH HIS STEPDAUGHTER
AS SEEN IN VLADIMIR NABOKOV’S LOLITA
Beserta perangkat yang diperlukan (bila ada). Dengan demikian saya memberikan
kepada Perpustakaan Universitas Sanata Dharma hak untuk menyimpan data,
mengalihkan dalam bentuk media lain, mengelolanya dalam bentuk pangkalan

data, mendistribusikan secara terbatas, dan mempublikasikan ke internet atau
media lain untuk kepentingan akademis tanpa perlu meminta ijin dari saya
maupun memberikan royalty kepada saya selama tetap mencantumkan nama saya
sebagai penulis.
Demikian pernyataan ini saya buat dengan sebenarnya.

Dibuat di Yogyakarta
Pada tanggal: 5 Juli 2013

Yang menyatakan

(Elisabet Nindia Paramita Ariesta Putri)

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I dedicate this thesis to:
My self
My parents
My sister
My close friends
PBI Sanata Dharma University Yogyakarta

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ABSTRACT

Putri, Elisabet Nindia Paramita Ariesta. (2013). Humbert Humbert’s
Dynamics of Personality in Having a Love Affair with His Stepdaughter as
Seen in Vladmir Nabokov’s Lolita. Yogyakarta: English Language Education
Study Program, Department of Language and Arts Education, Faculty of Teachers
Training and Education, Sanata Dharma University.

This study discusses a novel written by Vladimir Nabokov entitled
Lolita. This novel depicts the life of Humbert Humbert, who falls in love with his
step daughter, Lolita. This study focuses on Humbert Humbert’s dynamics of
personality in having a love affair with Lolita which reveals the driving forces
behind his action.
There is one formulated problem discussed in this study: How are
Humbert Humbert’s dynamics of personality in having a love affair with his step
daughter described in Vladimir Nabokov’s Lolita? Therefore, this study aims to
reveal Humbert’s dynamics of personality in having a love affair with his step
daughter.
Since this study was focused on the character’s dynamics of personality,
the psychological approach was used to analyze the problem. The method of this
study was the library research. The novel entitled Lolita was the primary source.
The secondary sources were the books and articles on theory of psychological
approach and psychoanalytic theory proposed by Sigmund Freud.
This study analyzes the character’s dynamics of personality which refers
to the driving forces behind Humbert’s action in having a love affair with Lolita.
The driving forces involve the conflict among the structure of personality which
consists of the id, the superego, and the ego. The analysis is divided into two parts
based on the ego defense mechanisms, namely displacement and reaction
formation. The id drives Humbert to satisfy the sexual instinct with a nymphet.
On the contrary, the superego always pictures the punishment if he decides to
satisfy the sexual instinct. Therefore, the defense mechanisms of the ego exist in
order to reduce the anxiety which is caused by the conflict between the id and the
superego. Even though the ego has done defense mechanisms to defend against
the id and the superego, the ego finally decides to satisfy the sexual instinct by
having a love affair with Lolita. The suggestions for the future researchers who
are interested in analyzing Lolita are to explore the character of Lolita and
Vladimir Nabokov’s language style. In addition, the result of this study is very
useful to be a reflection for teachers.

Keywords: dynamic of personality, love affair, psychoanalytic theory
vii

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ABSTRAK

Putri, Elisabet Nindia Paramita Ariesta. (2013). Humbert Humbert’s
Dynamics of Personality in Having a Love Affair with His Stepdaughter as
Seen in Vladmir Nabokov’s Lolita. Yogyakarta: Program Studi Bahasa Inggris,
Jurusan Bahasa dan Seni, Fakultas Keguruan dan Ilmu Pendidikan, Universitas
Sanata Dharma.
Studi ini membahas sebuah novel karya Vladimir Nabokov, yang
berjudul Lolita. Novel ini menggambarkan kehidupan Humbert Humbert yang
jatuh cinta pada anak tirinya, Lolita. Studi ini memfokuskan pada dinamika
kepribadian Humbert dalam menjalin hubungan asmara dengan Lolita yang akan
menguak kekuatan-kekuatan pendorong di balik tindakan Humbert.
Ada sebuah rumusan masalah untuk didiskusikan dalam studi ini:
Bagaimana dinamika kepribadian Humbert Humbert dalam menjalin suatu
hubungan asmara dengan anak tirinya digambarkan dalam novel Lolita karya
Vladimir Nobokov? Oleh sebab itu, studi ini bertujuan untuk menguak dinamika
kepribadian Humbert dalam menjalin suatu hubungan asmara dengan Lolita.
Dikarenakan studi ini memfokuskan pada dinamika kepribadian
karakter, pendekatan psikologis digunakan untuk menganalisis permasalahan.
Metode dalam studi ini adalah studi pustaka. Novel berjudul Lolita adalah sumber
utama. Sumber sekunder adalah buku-buku dan artikel-artikel tentang teori
pendekatan psikologi dan teori psikonalisis yang digagas oleh Sigmund Freud.
Studi ini difokuskan kepada dinamika kepribadian karakter yang
mengacu pada kekuatan-kekuatan pendorong dibalik aksi Humbert dalam
menjalin hubungan asmara dengan Lolita. Kekuatan-kekuatan tersebut melibatkan
konflik antara stuktur kepribadian yang terdiri dari id, superego, dan ego. Analisis
dalam studi ini dibagi menjadi dua bagian berdasarkan mekanisme pertahanan ego
yaitu pengalihan dan reaksi formasi. Id mendorong Humbert untuk memuaskan
naluri seksualnya dengan seorang gadis. Di sisi lain, superego selalu
menggambarkan hukuman yang akan didapat bila memutuskan untuk memuaskan
naluri seksualnya tersebut. Oleh sebab itu, mekanisme pertahanan ego muncul
untuk mengurangi kekawatiran yang diakibatkan konflik antara id dan superego.
Meskipun ego telah melakukan mekanisme pertahanan konflik, pada akhirnya ego
memutuskan untuk memuaskan naluri seksualnya dengan menjalin hubungan
asmara dengan Lolita. Saran untuk peneliti-peneliti masa mendatang yang tertarik
untuk menganalisis Lolita adalah eksplorasi karakter Lolita dan gaya bahasa
Vladimir Nabokov. Selain itu, hasil dari studi ini juga sangat bermanfaat untuk
dijadikan sebuat refleksi bagi guru-guru.

Kata kunci: dynamic of personality, love affair, psychoanalytic theory
viii

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

First of all, I would like to thank Jesus Christ as He has given me
strength to finish this thesis. His miracles and guidance have strengthened me
during the process of finishing this thesis.
Secondly, I would like to express my gratitude to my sponsor, Henny
Herawati, S.Pd., M.Hum. for her patience, guidance, advice, and encouragement
during the completion of my thesis. I would like also to express my sincere
gratitude to Romo Lucianus Suharjanto, S.J., S.S., BST, M.A. for the great
advice, the discussion, and the explanation on my thesis topic. My appreciation
goes to all PBI lecturers for guiding and sharing their knowledge during my
study in Sanata Dharma University.
Thirdly, my deepest gratitude goes to my parents, FX. Warjono and Ch.
Purwanti Rahayu for the kindness, the material, and the spiritual support in all
aspects of my life. I would also thank my sister, Maria Endah Puspita Dewi, for
being my proof-reader in this thesis. My special thanks to Imanuel Dyan Wasista
Adi for the encouragement during the process of finishing this thesis.
I will be forever thankful for having friends who have motivated me to
finish this thesis. I thank Romo Antonius Waget for being the proof-reader and
thesis-consultant. I also thank Patrik and Pradita for being psychology
consultants for the psychological theories that I used. I would like to extend a very
heartfelt thanks to Stella Maris Saraswati Mere, Margaretha Geraldine
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Arbella, Shela Novita Sari, Veronica Sulistyani, and Christina Mariana
Ayogyani for their support, motivation, and entertainment. I am also delighted
and grateful to be a part of INCOGNITO play performance which gives me
chance for being Lolita in the play performance and gives me inspiration on
finding the topic of this thesis.
Last but not least many thanks to all my friends in PBI 2009, my
boarding house friends (Tere ,Feny, Nesha, Roza,Vannie, Tita), and all fabulous
customers of Elizabeth Dress. My gratitude also goes to all people whom I
cannot mention one by one for their presence and contribution in my life. May the
best come to us. God bless us.

Elisabet Nindia Paramita Ariesta Putri

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
TITLE PAGE .........................................................................................

i

APPROVAL PAGE ...............................................................................

ii

STATEMENT OF WORK’S ORIGINALITY .....................................

iv

PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN PUBLIKASI .....................................

v

PAGE OF DEDICATION...........................................................................

vi

ABSTRACT ...........................................................................................

vii

ABSTRAK ...............................................................................................

viii

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .....................................................................

ix

TABLE OF CONTENTS .......................................................................

xi

LIST OF APPENDICES........................................................................

xiii

CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION ..........................................................

1

A. Background of the Study.................................................

1

B. Problem Formulation ......................................................

4

C. Objective of the Study ....................................................

4

D. Benefits of the Study.......................................................

4

E. Definition of Terms ........................................................

6

CHAPTER II. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE ...................

8

A. Review of Related Studies ..............................................

8

B. Review of Related Theories ............................................

9

1. Psychological Approach ............................................

9

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2. Psychoanalytic Theory ..............................................

10

a. The Structure of Personality ................................

11

b. The Defense Mechanisms of The Ego .................

16

C. Theoretical Framework ...................................................

19

CHAPTER III. METHODOLOGY ......................................................

21

A. Object of the Study .........................................................

21

B. Approach of The Study ...................................................

22

C. Method of The Study ......................................................

23

CHAPTER IV. ANALYSIS ...................................................................

26

A. Displacement ..................................................................

28

B. Reaction Formation.........................................................

35

CHAPTER V. CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS ......................

42

A. Conclusions ....................................................................

42

B. Suggestions.....................................................................

44

1. Suggestions for English Future Reseachers ...............

44

2. Suggestions for Teachers...........................................

45

REFERENCES ......................................................................................

47

APPENDICES........................................................................................

49

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LIST OF APPENDICES
Page
Appendix A:
Summary of Lolita ...................................................................................

50

Appendix B:
Biography of Vladimir Nabokov ..............................................................

54

Appendix C:
Reflection-Developing a Psychologically Healthy Teacher ......................

57

Appendix D:
Kode Etik Guru........................................................................................

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CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION

This chapter consists of five parts. They are the background of the study,
the problem formulation, the objectives of the study, the benefits of the study, and
the definition of terms. The background of the study concerns on the reason of
choosing the topic. It also presents the reasons why the topic is worth studying.
The problem formulation deals with the problem that will be analyzed in the
chapter four. The objective of the study brings the purposes of this study. The next
part is the benefits of the study. It is about what the writer gains from the study.
The last part of this chapter is the definition of terms which contains important
words needed to be explained further to avoid ambiguity.

A. Background of the Study
Lolita, a controversial novel written by Vladimir Nabokov, was
published in 1955 in Paris and 1958 in New York. Golson (1962) notes that this
novel is banned in England, Burma, Belgium, and Australia since the theme of the
novel is considered as an erotic novel (as cited in Jenkins, 1997, p. 32). This novel
is about a confession of a white widowed male named Humbert Humbert. It is
also narrated by Humbert himself that gives the depiction of his own obsession
with a nymphet, a young girl who is considered sexually attractive.

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Humbert’s past experience with Annabel leads him to always admire a
nymphet. Annabel is Humbert’s first love who has passed away because of
typhus. Twenty four years after the death of Annabel, Humbert meets Dolorez
Haze or Lolita. He falls in love with Lolita, when he wants to rent a room belongs
to Charlote Haze who is Lolita’s mother. He meets Lolita in the garden of the
house. The meeting reminds him of Annabel, his first love. Humbert wants to do
everything in order to get closer to Lolita including marrying her mother. Charlote
Haze finally finds that Humbert is falling in love with his daughter after reading
Humbert’s diary. Knowing the fact, she becomes so jealous and runs out the
house. Unfortunately, a car hits her and she passes away on the spot. After
Lolita’s mother passes away, Humbert becomes a single parent for Lolita. Lolita
and Humbert start their forbidden love adventure which no one else knows.
Vladimir Nabokov’s Lolita is a literary work that portrays a love affair
between a stepfather and his daughter. Danziger and Johnson (1961) in their book
entitled An Introduction to Literary Criticsm say that literature is a way of
recreating the experience of life in words (p. 8). Even though this novel has been
banned in some countries since it is considered as an erotic novel, Vladimir
Nabokov’s Lolita brings an honest depiction of human life. Nabokov himself
successfully creates the real human’s life experience in the controversial words.
This novel shows the reality that many things may happen in humans’ life
whether it brings good social impact or not. Thus, literary works can open the
eyes of the readers to the reality of life since it is closely related to human’s life.

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Literary work reveals something hidden in this life which may be taboo
to be discussed. As one of the literary works, Lolita reveals the secret life of Lolita
and Humbert. This novel reveals the reality of life that a middle-aged man who
admires the figure of a nymphet may happen. Vladimir Nabokov successfully
depicts the real life experience in his beautiful words showing the emotion of
Humbert in admiring Lolita.
A love affair between a father and a stepdaughter which exists in
Vladimir Nabokov’s Lolita shows the misuse of father’s role in a family. A father
has a role as a leader of a family who should protect his family. Unfortunately, he
misuses his authority by having a love affair with his stepdaughter. The love affair
itself also involves a sexual relationship between Humbert and Lolita which is not
in accordance with the moral value in society. The sexual relationship between a
father and a stepdaughter does not always happen in a novel but also in the real
life. Nowadays, it is frequently found that a father commits a sexual harassment to
his stepdaughter because he cannot control the sexual desires which come up from
himself.
The love affair between a father and a stepdaughter which exists in the
novel influences me in deciding the topic of this study. After reading the novel, I
am interested in studying Humbert Humbert’s dynamics of personality in having a
love affair with his stepdaughter. According to Freud’s psychoanalytic theory,
man’s unconscious part has a strong influence upon his action (as cited in Barry,
P., 2009, p. 96). I analyze Humbert’s dynamics of personality using Freud’s
psychoanalytic theory which depends on the notion of unconsciousness. The

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analysis itself reveals the driving forces behind Humbert’s action in having a love
affair with his stepdaughter.
This study is worth studying since it can educate a family to maintain a
harmonious relationship among family members. This study reveals the driving
forces behind a father’s action in having a love affair with his stepdaughter. It can
bring new knowledge to the readers especially on what drives a father to have a
love affair with his stepdaughter. Mirroring from this study, we can prevent a
father-daughter love affair from happening in a family.

B. Problem Formulation
Based on the background of study stated above, this study intends to
answer one formulated problem of the novel. The formulated problem is: How are
Humbert Humbert’s dynamics of personality in having a love affair with his
stepdaughter described in Vladimir Nabokov’s Lolita?

C. Objective of the Study
The objective of the study is to find out how Humbert Humbert’s
dynamics of personality in having a love affair with his stepdaughter described in
Vladimir Nabokov’s Lolita.

D. Benefits of the Study
There are two benefits of the study. The first one is for readers. The
analysis result of Humbert’s dynamics of personality is expected to broaden the

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readers’ knowledge of humans’ life mirrored from the psychology point of view.
This novel brings new knowledge to them about the dynamics of personality
which may influence human’s action. This can also enrich their knowledge of the
relation between psychology and literature.
Furthermore, this study can also open the mind of the readers to see a lot
of things may happen in this life. Vladimir Nabokov’s Lolita reveals the story
about a love affair between a father and his stepdaughter. This phenomenon
happens in the real life. By knowing the reality of life, the readers may criticize
any kind of thing that may happen in their lives. Thus, they can determine their
actions and select which one is good and bad for them and others.
The second one is for Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris (PBI) students in
Sanata Dharma University in particular. This study can be a reflective reading for
PBI students as the future teachers. Since this study focuses on the character’s
dynamics of personality, I analyze the character’s structure of personality which
consists of the id, the ego, and the superego. The result of this study is expected to
show PBI students how to control their actions through developing
psychologically healthy teachers. PBI students as the future teachers are expected
to be able to develop their psychologically healthy personalities in order to create
a good atmosphere during the learning processes. Therefore, they can contribute
good influences on whoever they work with or work for in the capacity as
teachers.

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E. Definition of Terms
In this section, some key terms related to this study need to be clarified.
This is done in order to avoid misunderstandings before proceeding to the next
chapters. The key terms are dynamics personality and love affair.
1. Dynamics of Personality
According to Freud, dynamics of personality are used to explain the
driving forces behind people’s actions (as cited in Feist, 2006 p. 35). Freud
believes that people’s unconscious mind has a strong influence upon their actions
(as cited in Barry, 2009, p. 96). It means that dynamics of personality show the
driving process behind people’s actions which derive from their unconscious
mind. The driving process itself involves conflict in the structure of personality
which consists of three parts. They are the id which works based on pleasure
principles, the superego which is the representation of moral value, and the ego
which is the decision maker. Freud also calls the dynamics of personality as a
motivational principle (as cited in Feist, 2006 p. 35). He points out that people are
motivated to seek pleasure and reduce anxiety. In this study, I will analyze
Humbert’s dynamics of personality in having a love affair with Lolita, his
stepdaughter.

Humbert’s dynamics of personality are analyzed through the

conflict among the id, the superego, and the ego which are inside Humbert
himself.
2. Love Affair
According to Longman Dictionary of English Language of Culture, a
love affair is “a sexual relationship between a man and a woman who are not

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married or who are married to other people” (“love affair”). Based on The New
International Webster’s Comprehensive Dictionary of English Language
Encyclopedic Edition, love affair is “a romantic attachment between two people
not married to each other” (“love affair”). In this study a love affair refers to the
relationship between a father, Humbert Humbert, and his stepdaughter, Lolita.

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CHAPTER II
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

This chapter consists of three parts. They are the review of related study,
the review of related theories, and the theoretical framework. In the review of
related study, I review some studies related to Vladimir Nabokov’s Lolita. In the
review of related theories, I review some theories used in this study. The last part
of chapter two is the theoretical frame work where I elaborate how to use the
theories for analyzing the novel.

A. Review of Related Studies
Vladimir Nabokov’s Lolita has been used in the two previous studies.
Both of them have different topics in analyzing the novel. The first person is
Wicaksono from English Letters batch 1999. His thesis’ title is Reading as A
Communication and Intepretation in Vladimir Nabokov’s Lolita. He applies
Barthesian writerly text approach to analyze the novel. His study on Vladimir
Nabokov’s Lolita focuses on the discussion of Humbert’s characters and the use
of Barthesian writerly text in producing a communicative interpretation from
Nabokov to his reader.
The second thesis is entitled Symbols and Figurative Language as
Means of Delivering the Theme of Nabokov’s Lolita by Kasauly from English
Letters batch 2004. She finds that the symbols and the figurative language are
8

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effectively used to deliver the theme. According to her study, the symbol and the
figurative language can show the cause and effect of sexual obsession which is
presented in the novel.
This study is different from the previous ones. It focuses on Humbert
Humbert’s dynamics of personality which have a very strong influence to the
novel. Humbert’s dynamics of personality in having a love affair are analyzed
using psychological approach combined with psychoanalytic theory proposed by
Freud (1856 – 1939). I analyze the driving forces behind Humbert’s action in
having a love affair with his stepdaughter.

B. Review of Related Theories
1. Psychological Approach
Rohrberger and Woods (1971) say that “a critical approach to literature
necessitates an understanding of its nature, function, and positive values” (p. 19).
It means that a critical approach to literature has important role to help the readers
understand the literary work. Rohrberger and Woods (1971) also note that there
are five approaches to literature; they are the formalist approach, the biographical
approach, the sociocultural-historical approach, the mythopoeic approach, and the
psychological approach (pp. 6-15). The study of Humbert Humbert’s dynamics of
personality in having a love affair with his stepdaughter uses psychological
approach.
Guerin and Willingham (2011) point out that “psychological approach
can provide insight into the thematic and symbolic mysteries in the literary work”

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(p. 222). Daiches (2009) in his book Critical Approaches to Literature states that
psychological approach helps the reader to explain how literature comes into
being (p. 30). He explains that literature has a strong relationship with
psychology. In order to analyze Vladimir Nabokov’s Lolita, I use psychological
approach since psychological approach has a relation with the character’s
dynamics of personality which are the main focus of this study. The dynamics of
personality are about the driving forces behind Humbert’s action in having a love
affair with his stepdaughter. As Guerin and Willingham (2011) say, psychological
approach can help the readers to understand the characters’ psychological
condition in handling the conflicts in the novel (p. 222). The psychological
approach which is used in this study can really help me in analyzing Humbert’s
psychological condition. Humbert’s psychological condition itself reveals his
dynamics of personality in having a love affair with his stepdaughter.

2. Psychoanalytic Theory
Barry (2009) states that psychoanalytic theory is a literary theory which
uses some techniques of psychoanalysis in the interpretation of literature (p. 98).
This theory is developed by Freud (1856-1939) based on his experiences in curing
his patients from mental disorder. Psychoanalytic is actually a form of therapy
which is used to cure metal disorders by investigating the interaction of conscious
and unconscious elements in mind. This theory is widely used for literature since
this theory and literature have a similarity that is dealing with human being having
conflict with themselves and each others.

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Freud states that human’s actions are motivated by psychological forces
which have limited control (as cited in Guerin & Willingham, 2011, p. 203).
Freud himself proposes some principles related to psychoanalytic theory. This
study uses some principles in Freud’s psychoanalytic theory to analyze Humbert’s
dynamics of personality in having a love affair with Lolita.

a. The Structure of Personality
Freud proposes three models of psyche, namely the id, the superego, and
the ego. They are proposed by Freud in order to explain the behavior observations
that result from the compromises involving desires, the restrictions placed by
environment, and the internalized moral values (as cited in Weiner, 1980, p. 14).
The followings are the concept of the id, the ego, and the superego.
1) The Id
According to Freud, the id is at the core of personality and totally
unconscious. Freud claims that the id has no contact with reality and it always
tries constantly to reduce tension by satisfying basic desire (as cited in Feist,
2006, p. 27). According to Freud, “the id consists of everything psychological
which is inherited and that existed at birth, such as the instincts” (as cited in Hall
& Lindzey, 1970, p. 32).
Freud also states that “an instinct is an inborn psychological representation
of an inner somatic source of excitation” (as cited in Hall & Lindzey, 1970, p. 36).
He explains that instinct can drive behavior and determine human’s action. Freud

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believes that “instincts are the ultimate cause of all activity” (as cited in Hjelle &
Ziegler, 1981, p. 37). It means that the instincts control over the actions by
increasing human’s sensitivity for particular stimulation. Freud notes that instincts
can be classified into two parts, namely the life instincts and the death instincts (as
cited in Hall & Lindzey, 1970, p. 38-39).
a) The life instincts
The term of life instinct is often referred to sexual instinct. According to
Freud, “the life instincts serve the purpose of individual survival and racial
propagation” (as cited in Hall& Lindzey, 1970, p. 38). It means that this instincts
deal with basic survival, pleasure, and reproduction. Hunger, thirst, and sex
belong to this category. Freud believes that the sex instinct is the most salient of
the life instincts for the development of personality (as cited Hjelle & Ziegler,
1981, p.37). Freud also proposes the term libido, it is a psychic energy force
which underlies the sexual instinct (as cited in Hall & Lindzey, 1970, p. 38).
Libido itself always seeks its gratification from sexual activities.
b) The death instincts
The death instincts or destructive instincts perform their work much less
conspicuously than the life instincts. According to Freud, “the goal of all life is
death” (as cited in Weiner, 1980, p. 14). He assumes that a person has
unconscious wish to die.
According to Freud, “the id operates according to pleasure principle or
the doctrine of hedonism" (as cited in Weiner, 1980, p. 14). He assumes that the id
cannot tolerate the increment energy which leads to uncomfortable states of

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tension (as cited in Hall & Lindzey, 1970, p. 33). Freud notes that when the
people’s tension levels are raised, the id functions to discharge the tension
immediately and return them to a comfortably level. Freud admits that the id has
aims to avoid pain and obtain pleasure. It can be summarized that the id, which is
obviously unconscious, works based on the pleasure principle since its sole
function is to seek pleasure by satisfying the basic desire.

2) The Ego
According to Freud’s theory, “the ego is the only region of the mind in
contact with reality” (as cited in Feist, 2006, p. 29). He explains that the ego
becomes a person’s sole source of communication with the external world. The
ego is the sole region of the mind in contact with the external world, thus it
becomes the decision-maker. Freud says, “the ego is partly conscious, partly
preconscious, and partly unconscious, it can make a decision on each of these
three levels” (as cited in Feist, 2006, p. 29).
Feist (2006) also says that Freud believes the ego is governed by the
reality principle which tries to substitute for the pleasure principle of the id (p.
29). Freud points out that the reality principles aim to prevent the discharge of
tension until an object which is for the satisfaction of the need has been
discovered (as cited in Hall & Lindzey, 1970, p. 34). He states that reality
principle tries to postpone the pleasure principle temporarily because the pleasure
principle is served when the needed object is found and the tension is reduced.
Freud notes that “the ego serves the id in its pursuit of pleasure and tension

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reduction, taking into account the demands of reality” (as cited in Weiner, 1980,
p. 16). Freud believes that the ego is the executive of the personality since it can
control the action (as cited in Hall & Lindzey, 1970, p. 34). Freud continues that
the ego can select the features of the environment to which it will respond. It
might decide what instincts will be satisfied and in what manner. Freud notes that
the ego has to try to integrate the conflicting demands that exist among the id, the
superego, and the external world (as cited in Hall & Lindzey, 1970, p. 34). It can
be concluded that as the state of mind which works based on the reality principle,
ego can make a decision whether it wants to satisfy the needs of the id or follow
the moralistic principle of the superego. It has to make sure whether the basic
desire of the id and the moral representation of the superego are suitable with the
reality or not.

3) The Superego
Hall and Lindzey (1970) note that Freud believes the superego is the
internal representative of the traditional values (p. 24). Freud assumes that the
superego shows the ideals of society as interpreted to the child by his parents and
enforced by means of system of rewards and punishments imposed upon the child.
He states that the superego is guided by the moralistic and idealistic principles
which are opposed to the id’s pleasure principle and the ego’s realistic principles
(as cited in Feist, 2006, p. 30). Freud also adds that the superego represents the
ideal rather than the real and it always strives for perfection rather than pleasure.
Freud assumes that superego is often called one’s “conscience” since it represents

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the internalization of moral codes (as cited in Weiner, 1980, p. 16). The main aim
of the superego is to decide whether something is right or wrong so that it can act
in accordance with the moral standard.
Freud says that a well-developed superego works to control sexual and
aggressive impulses through the process of repression (as cited in Feist, 2006, p.
30). The superego cannot take an action to produce repression by itself but it can
order the ego to do it. Freud adds that the superego watches closely over the ego,
and then it tries to judge its action and intention.
A historical analysis of the superego has been made by Turiell (1967)
who finds that there are three main functions of superego (as cited in Hall &
Lindzey, 1970, p. 35). The first function is to inhibit the sexual or aggressive
impulses since those impulses are condemned by society (p. 35). The second
function is to persuade the ego to substitute moralistic goals for realistic ones (p.
35). The last function is to strive for perfection (p. 35). Thus, the superego is
opposed to both the id and the ego. The superego wants to make the world over
into its own image. Unlike the ego, the superego does not postpone the instinctual
gratification; it blocks the instinctual gratification permanently. The superego
works based on the moralistic principles. It is as a guidance to strive for perfection
which is in accordance with the social values.
b. The Defense Mechanisms of the Ego
The ego sometimes forces to take extreme actions to relieve the pressure
when it is under the pressure of anxiety. These measures are called defense

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mechanisms. According to Freud, ego defense mechanisms are used by the people
to defend against the aggressive impulses of the id and pressure opposing
superego (as cited Hjelle & Ziegler, 1981, p. 47). Freud also notes that the ego
defense mechanisms are used to protect people from excessive anxiety.
The idea of defense mechanisms is firstly elaborated by Freud in 1926.
Then his daughter, Anna Freud, refined the concept of ego defend mechanisms.
There are eight principals of defense mechanisms which are identified by Freud
including repression, reaction formation, displacement, fixation, regression,
projection, introjections, and sublimation (as cited in Feist, 2006, p. 35-38).
1) Repression
Repression is the most basic defense mechanism. Freud says that
whenever the ego is threatened by undesirable id impulses, it protects itself by
repressing those impulses. Thus, the ego forces threatening feelings into the
unconscious (p. 35). Freud believes that there will be several possibilities that
exist when the impulses become unconscious (p. 35). The first one is the impulses
may remain unchanged in the unconscious. Second, the impulses can force their
way into consciousness in an unaltered form, where they will create more anxiety
than the person could handle. The last one is the impulses are expressed in
displaced form.

2) Reaction Formation
According to Freud reaction formation refers to the way to repress
impulse becomes conscious through adopting a disguise that is opposite its

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original form (p. 35). The reactive behavior can be analyzed through the
exaggerated characters and by its obsessive and compulsive form. Freud gives an
example of reaction formation that is seen in a young woman who hates her
mother. Because of the demands affection towards parents exist in the society, the
conscious hatred to a mother would produce too much anxiety. The young woman
tries to concentrate on the opposite impulse in order to avoid too much anxiety.
Her love to her mother is not genuine. It is showy, exaggerated, and overdone.
3) Displacement
Freud says that in displacement, people can redirect their unacceptable
drive onto other people or objects so that the original impulse is disguises (p. 36).
Freud also gives the example of displacement, a woman who is angry at her
roommate may displace her anger to other objects such as employees, her pet cat,
or stuffed animal. What makes it different with reaction formation is that
displacement does not do exaggerated action. The woman keeps friendly to her
roommate, she does not exaggerate her friendliness. Freud also states that the
sexual objects can be displaced or transformed onto other objects including one’s
self.
4) Fixation
Freud points out that the work of fixation appears when the prospect of
taking the next step creates excessive anxiety (p. 36). The ego may resort at the
present condition which is considered as the comfortable level. He explains that
fixation is the permanent attachment of the libido onto an earlier stage of
development.

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5) Regression
According to Freud, regression is the reversion to an earlier stage of
development (p. 36). Freud states that regression tries to revert back to that earlier
stage which was more pleasant. Regressive behavior has similarity with fixated
behavior which is rigid and infantile. Regressions are usually temporary, whereas
fixations are less permanent.
6) Projection
Freud identifies projection as a process of attributing unacceptable drive
to other people or environment (p. 37). Freud also gives an example of projection
which exists in a man who is interested in a figure of older woman. Consciously,
he thinks that sexual intercourse with older woman is disgusting for him, but
strong erotic attraction to that woman has been planted to his unconscious mind.
In that example, Freud explains that the young man tries to believe that he has no
sexual feelings to older woman. This projection erases most of his anxiety and
guilt, but it keeps permitting him to maintain a sexual interest in an older woman
who reminds him of his mother.
7) Introjection
Introjection is a process where people adopt positive qualities of other
people into their own ego. Freud says that people may adopt the values, beliefs,
and mannerisms which are considered positive for them in order to reduce the
anxiety (p. 38).

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8) Sublimation
According to Freud, sublimation is the repression of the sexual aim by
substituting with a cultural or social aim. Freud states that the sublimation can be
expressed in creating cultural accomplishment such as art, music, and literature.
He believes that the art of Michaelangelo is an excellent example of sublimation
(p. 38). According to Freud, Michaelangelo is found that he substitutes his libido
with painting and sculpting.

C. Theoretical Framework
In this part, I explain how psychoanalytic theory is used to answer the
formulated problem of this study. This is very important since it can guide me in
analyzing the novel. This study uses psychological approach and this study is also
guided by some principles in psychoanalytic theory which are proposed by Freud.
I choose psychological approach for this study since this study focuses
on the character’s dynamics of personality. I analyze Humbert Humbert’s
dynamics of personality using psychoanalytic theory proposed by Freud. There
are two principles in psychoanalytic that I use to analyze Humbert’s dynamics of
personality. The first one is the structure of personality which is used to analyze
the personality structure of Humbert as depicted from his his id, ego, and
superego. The second one is the principle of ego defense mechanisms which is
used to analyze Humbert’s action in protecting himself from anxiety caused by the
conflict between the id and the superego. By using the structure of personality and

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defense mechanisms proposed by Freud, I can analyze Humbert’s dynamics of
personality in having a love affair with his stepdaughter, Lolita.

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