ANALISIS NEUROSIS TOKOH JOHN WADE DALAM NOVEL “IN THE LAKE OF THE WOODS” KARYA TIM O’BRIEN

Abstract

The novel “In The Lake of The Woods” written by Tim O’Brien tells about the story of John Wade, middle-aged man with miserable past. John Wade’s psychological condition which is influenced by his past is the object of this thesis. The aim of this thesis is to analyze the psychological phenomenon called neurosis that happens to John Wade, the main character of this novel. In this study, the writer applied a library research method. The theory of Neurosis, as a part of psychoanalysis theory, is applied in this study. The result of the analysis shows that traumatic events could turn into neurosis, such as madness. This is shown in the character of John Wade who cannot accept sad events happening to him, such as the death of his father, the murder of his friend at Vietnam War, and his lost at U.S. Senate election. These sad and traumatic events had caused John Wade highly emotional, and become mad. From the analysis, it can be concluded that someone’s behavior can be influenced by the events that he or she experienced. In this case, the theory of Neurosis is applicable to explain this phenomenon.