Institusion
Universitas Bung Hatta
Author
Tri, Kafi Abdillah Kauna
Elfiondri, Elfiondri
Mariati, Mariati
Subject
PR English literature
Datestamp
2020-07-01 02:04:50
Abstract :
The objective of this research is to study the psychology of secrecy as seen in the
characters in a literary work. The study uses the novel The Secrets of Midwives
written by Sally Hepworth (2015). The focuses of the analysis are to find out the
psychological effects in the secrecy and how the secret keepers use defense
mechanisms against the psychological effects. The literary theory used is
psychoanalysis by Sigmund Freud, the psychological effects because of keeping
secret by Alan Burdick and defense mechanisms by Anna Freud. The method of
research is descriptive method and close reading technique. The findings show
that the effects to psychology of the secret keepers because of keeping secrecy are
stress, anxiety, depression, loneliness and low self-esteem. The defense
mechanisms used are displacement, denial, sublimation, projection and avoiding.
The characters as the secret keepers used displacement to counter stress, anxiety
and loneliness. Denial is used by the secret keepers to reduce the anxiety.
Sublimation is used to fight the depression after keeping a big secret for years.
Projection is used to reduce anxiety. The last defense mechanism used is avoiding
to counter low self esteem.
Key words: secrets, psychological effects, defense mechanisms