The Development of the Main Character's Personality in Y.B. Mangunwijaya's Novel Rara Mendut: A Sigmund Freud Psychoanalytic Study

Abstract

This study aims to describe and analyze the structure of the novel Rara Mendut by Y.B. Mangunwijaya based on Robert Stanton's theory and the development of the main character's personality through Sigmund Freud's psychoanalysis. The research method used is descriptive qualitative, and the data collection technique uses literature study. The results of this study indicate that Rara Mendut, as a steadfast character who resists coercion, reflects resistance to authority. The harmonious structure of the novel in terms of plot, characters, and setting reinforces this theme. Psychoanalytic analysis reveals a balance between natural drives (id) and social demands (superego) in Rara Mendut, indicating psychological maturity. Her conflicts are not only personal but also symbolic (such as cigarettes and the sea), representing resistance to an oppressive system. The study concludes that the main character is more influenced by the id than by external pressures. These findings emphasize the need for a multidisciplinary approach (structural and psychoanalytical) to understand the complexity of literature. Rara Mendut is not only an aesthetic work, but also a reflection of human psychological and social dynamics.

Keywords: Personality Development, Psychoanalysis, Robert Stanton.