The Representation of Domestic Violence In Colleen Hoover's It Ends with Us

Abstract

Domestic violence is a very concerning issue that affects many people nowadays. It is essential for all of us to do our part to raise awareness and take action to prevent it from happening. It Ends with Us (2016) by Colleen Hoover is a novel that raises the issue of domestic violence. The story follows the journey of a young woman named Lily Bloom as she attempts to break free from an abusive relationship. As Jenny’s daughter, Lily saw her mother suffer from domestic violence perpetrated by her father, Andrew. That made her have many doubts about men and serious relationships. Indeed, when she got married, she also experienced domestic violence committed by her husband, Ryle. She tries to leave and break the cycle of violence. However, it is not as easy as it sounds. Lily experienced many obstacles and dilemmas before finally being able to break free from the abusive relationship. As a victim of domestic violence, she has gone through many things, including the effects of domestic violence, which affect all aspects of her life. In order to gain a comprehensive understanding of the complexities within the novel, this research has employed theoretical frameworks, including Stuart Hall's theory of representation, Michel Foucault's discursive approach, and Jackson's domestic violence theory. The utilization of these theories has facilitated new insights into the themes and messages conveyed and has enabled a more profound level of analysis. The type of research used in this research is qualitative research. The data are classified into primary and secondary data. The primary data are taken from the novel, whereas the secondary data are taken from other sources, such as journals, theses, and books that contain information about domestic violence. The main goals of the research are to examine the representation of domestic violence in the novel and gain insight into the author’s critical position regarding the issue of domestic violence. It is imperative to comprehend how literature can shape our perceptions of domestic violence and impact societal attitudes toward it. Based on the analysis and discussion in chapter four, this research revealed two characters that experienced domestic violence. These characters are Lily Bloom and Jenny Bloom. Lily and Jenny experienced domestic violence committed by their husbands. In the novel, four types of violence appear, including physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional and psychological abuse, and economic abuse. Lily and Jenny also experienced the effects of domestic violence. They suffered physical injuries that ranged from minor bruises to severe wounds that required stitches. Both of them also suffered severe psychological effects. Jenny blamed herself for everything that happened, had low self-esteem, and also she justified Andrew's actions. Meanwhile, Lily, who had been in an abusive family environment as a child, was traumatized by domestic violence. She hates men because of her father. Her trauma was exacerbated because Ryle also abused her. Thus, she showed symptoms of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), which made it difficult for her to be around Ryle. Lily and Jenny, as victims, have different methods to overcome their situation regarding domestic violence. Jenny, who does not have economic stability, chooses to stay. Meanwhile, Lily made a different decision. She decided to divorce Ryle. She did that to break the cycle of domestic violence. As the author of the novel, Hoover explains that she wrote the novel to persuade and educate, not just entertain readers. She believes that victims of any circumstance should not be blamed for the decisions or actions that led to their situation. Additionally, she opposes domestic violence in all forms and argues that economic stability is essential for the victim.