Intrapsychic Conflict and Defense Mechanisms in the Representation of Anxiety in Tamara Ireland Stone’s Every Last Word

Abstract

This study examines the representation of anxiety disorder and the deployment of defense mechanisms in Tamara Ireland Stone’s novel Every Last Word (2015). Anxiety is portrayed as a complex psychological condition emerging from internal psychic conflict involving the id, ego, superego, and the pressures of external reality. The study is grounded in the assumption that literary works reflect authentic psychological experiences and can therefore be analyzed to deepen understanding of mental health conditions. The objectives of this research are twofold: first, to identify how anxiety disorder is depicted through intrapsychic conflict in the protagonist, and second, to analyze the defense mechanisms employed by the main character, Samantha McAllister, in coping with her anxiety. This study applies a descriptive qualitative method and adopts Sigmund Freud’s psychoanalytic theory as its primary analytical framework. The data consist of narrative descriptions, dialogues, and character actions that illustrate psychological tension and coping strategies. The findings reveal that Samantha’s anxiety stems from persistent conflicts between the id, ego, superego, and social reality. In response to this psychological distress, she unconsciously employs various defense mechanisms to reduce internal tension and maintain emotional stability. This study highlights anxiety as a dynamic psychological process shaped by ongoing intrapsychic struggle and demonstrates how psychoanalytic theory provides valuable insight into character development and emotional conflict within literary narratives.