DEPRESSIVE MASOCHISTIC PERSONALITY DISORDER IN EVERYTHING I NEVER TOLD YOU
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32493/.v1i1.17405Abstract
This study entitled “Depressive Masochistic Personality Disorder in Everything I Never Told You†aims to identify how depressive masochistic personality disorder issues are depicted in the novel and reveal the main character’s depressive masochistic tendencies. Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng (2014) presents the grief of a biracial family facing the death of the missing daughter. Lydia, the second child of James Lee and Marilyn Walker, was found dead drowning in a nearby lake. The girl’s death mystery brings the family’s secrets to the surface, including the depressive masochistic personality disorder she suffered. This study was conducted in the qualitative method by evaluating the narrative elements and interpreting the text with the application of psychoanalysis corresponding to Otto F Kernberg’s theory of personality disorder regarding depressive masochistic personality (1988). The result of this study is that the main character’s depressive masochistic ensues from childhood trauma associated with her background being a biracial child, which has put her in years of intergenerational conflicts and unbearable trauma. The trauma gives rise to her personality disorder marked by the existence of guilty and faulty syndrome. During the struggle, she shows over-conscientiousness, over-dependence of support, love and acceptance from others; also, difficulties expressing anger. The traits influence the main character’s behavior to overcome her distress. The case in the narrative portrays the importance of revealing thoughts communicatively for an individual. It also underscores that behavior speaks values.References
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