Institutional Repository | Satya Wacana Christian University: A Psychoanalysis Study Of The Reason Behind Main Character's Changing Attitude In Ahmad Tohari's ‘Bekisar Merah'

Niken Krismaninggar
Lany Kristono, M.Hum.
Thesis
19 May 2013
A Psychoanalysis Study of The Reason Behind Main Character’s Changing
Attitude in Ahmad Tohari’s ‘Bekisar Merah’
Abstract
Changes are inseparable with people, it seems that everyone will experience a change within
their lives. Everybody changes so that the changes one experiences are often unnoticed.
However, some people change a lot so that the changes attract attention, and people question
what may be behind those changes. Bekisar Merah by Ahmad Tohari is one of literary works
which picture big changes its main character experiences. Therefore, it was interesting to find out
what changes take place and what were behind them. Since literature is closely related to reality,
including its problems and people’s behavioral changes, psychological approach is used to
investigate the reason behind main character’s changing. Freud’s psychoanalysis theory is the
most appropriate theory to understand behavior patterns for it focuses on conscious and
unconscious influences in one’s behavior. The analysis revealed that Lasi’s behavioral big
changes were mainly influenced by her repressed feelings of disappointment to her husband, her
surrounding and her mother. The findings are expected to increase readers’ awareness and
understanding about human behaviors and their changes.

Key words: behavioral changes, the unconscious, the id, the superego, the ego, repression,
motivation, defense mechanisms.