Dysfunctional Family in "the kiss" by Kathryn Harrison

Abstract

This study aims to reveal dysfunctional family issues and their impact on the main character. The object of this research is a novel entitled The Kiss (1997) by Kathryn Harrison which tells the story of a child who has bad experiences in a dysfunctional family and does not get the role of her parents until she grows up. This study focuses on discussing the portrayal of dysfunctional families through the psychological point of view proposed by Sheryl Benton and the impact of dysfunctional families on children by Sharon Martin. A qualitative approach is used in this study which presents the analysis in the form of an essay. The results of this study indicate that the main characters in the novel experiences a dysfunctional family due to the behavior of both parents who are not ready to start a family. The final result shows that this dysfunctional family has a bad impact on the main character as a child and continues until the child grows up and starts a new family of her own.

Keywords: dysfunctional families, psychoanalysis, qualitative