Background of the Study

Based on Rene Wellek’s perception about the function of literary work, this thesis wants to get the information by revealing the problems. The novel that is analyzed in this thesis is The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides that was written in 1993. Five caged daughters with unstable emotion in this story attract this thesis to analyze what actually happened to them. Jeffrey Eugenides also wants to picture the psychological element by showing the dreadful psychological effect of overprotective treatment that exists in early of 20 th century that is commit suicide. Committing suicide is the issue that is very popular in 20 th century. This thesis refers to Hudson statement about literature as a vital record Hudson, 1958: 10. Every literary work is based on reality. Jeffrey Eugenides gets the inspiration from what happened in early of 20 th century where there are so many overprotective parents. There is a forum in drrobynsilverman.com that discusses about overprotective cases in America. Most of them experience it in 1960-1980s. Ronald. C. Kessler also made a research and found that in early 20 th century the number of people who commit suicide is high. He found that the number of people who commit suicide is 2,8 - 3,3 from the population. Kasschau develops the research about suicide and finds that the cause of committing suicide is not only depression. Not all people who commit suicide are depressed, and not all depressed people attempt suicide. But many depressive do think about suicide, and some of them translate these thought into action Kasschau, 1995: 376 The facts about the situation where there are so many overprotective treatments, in the same time with the high rate of person who commits suicide, and depression is not the only one factor why person decides to commit suicide, bring this thesis in one purpose that is to reveal the mystery why five Lisbon’s daughters finally commit suicide. This thesis has an indication that overprotective treatment influenced the mental condition that drive s five Lisbon’s daughters to the terrible decision but there are still some possibilities that have to be explored. That is why this thesis wants to explore the Lisbon’s daughters’ characteristics and also about their psychological condition.

B. Problem Formulation

Based on the background of the study above, this study will be based on these following questions. 1. What are the characteristics of Lisbon’s daughters and their parents in the story The Virgin Suicides? 2. How does the psychological condition of five Lisbon’s daughters drive them to their decision in committing suicide?

C. Objectives of the Study

The purpose of this study is to answer the formulated problem in the previous part. There are two objectives of this study. First, this thesis finds out the characteristics of the Lisbon’s daughters and their parents. Second, by analyzing the psychological condition of five Lisbon’s daughters, this thesis finds out what makes Lisbon’s daughters finally take a decision to commit suicide.

D. Definition of terms

To give more understanding about this thesis, some important terms need to be understood in the analysis. 1. Suicide means the act of intentionally destroying oneself or a violent self- inflicted destructive action resulting death Smith 1983: 129. The purpose for individual who does suicide is to escape from life when they feel that “Life is meaningless”. 2. Psychological means something related to the mind, and the way in which it works or mental action Fisher, 1996: 80. Further, the analysis about mind and the way it works and its action called as psychoanalysis.