Depression Portrayal of Rachel Reflected in The Girl on The Train (2015) by Paula Hawkins: a Psychoanalytic Perspective

Abstract

The Girl On The Train is a psychological thriller novel that is created by Paula Hawkins. Rachel’s character at the story is described as someone who is very depressed and bad-girl looks. The writer is interested to analyze Rachel’s depression because she is described as a complex characters and her act was confusing for the readers. The purposes of the study are: 1) to analyze the characteristics of Rachel 2 seen from psychoanalytic perspective; 2) to explain the symptoms of depression of Rachel in this novel; 3) to describe how the depression of Rachel in this novel is. The writer applies the qualitative research method in conducting the research. The primary data source of the study is “The Girl On The Train” novel by Paula Hawkins. Documentation, library, browsing method, and notes taking techniques are method to collect the data. Analysis of the data uses the descriptive qualitative technique about collecting the data, reducing, displaying, than verifying and conclusion. The result of study shows that: 1) The dominant character psychoanalitic of Rachel in the The Girl On The Train novel is Id. She has a dominant id because she only follows her own desires without considering the morals and norms that exist in the society. Rachel just followed her own desire even it is not acceptable in her society. Rachel’s Id always wanted to take a drunk; 2) The symptoms of depression by Rachel in The Girl On The Train novel are: have low self-esteem, tiredness or lack of energy, and going to be hopelessness. These symptoms headed for Dysthymia type of depression. Dysthymia is a mood disorder consisting of the same cognitive and physical problems as depression, with less severe but longer-lasting symptoms. Dysthymia is less acute and severe than major depressive disorder; 3) The portrayal of depression by Rachel’s character are shown from: First, Rachel started to depression when she cannot get pregnant and she is divorced by her husband. Second, she becomes poor and homeless woman and she loses control in her life. Third, she becomes an alcoholic woman with an overactive imagination. Fourth, she becomes a woman who gets personality disorder with a blackout and shoddy memory

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