A FREUDIAN ANALYSIS ON RICHARD’S PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT IN GAIMAN’S NEVERWHERE

Abstract

Neverwhere is a novel written by Neil Gaiman. It was published in 1996. This novel tells about Richard Mayhew, a young man with a good heart, and an ordinary life, which changes forever when he stops to help a girl he finds bleeding on a London sidewalk. His small act of kindness propels him into a world he has never dreamed exists. There are people who fall through the cracks, and Richard has become one of them. He must learn to survive in this city of shadows and darkness, monsters and saints, murderers and an angel, if he is willing to return to the London that he knew. The study of this thesis concerns with the personality development of the main character in Neverwhere.In this study, the main character’s adaptation against a new environment through the ego defense mechanism in facing his anxiety is used as a proof in the personality development. The method of the study used in this thesis is inductive method. It analyzes the data from particular cases to general conclusion. The data are collected through library and cybernetic research. The approach used in this discussion is a psychological approach. Psychological approach is to analyze the fictitious characters in the novel. This study is, therefore, aimed at showing the personality development of the main character in the novel. The result of this discussion shows that the author portrays the personality development of the main character in the novel. It proves that ego defense mechanisms help the main character a lot in dealing with conflicts. Furthermore, altruistic surrender, the most influencing ego defense mechanisms in Richard’s case, really makes Richard’s personality develop and change. Therefore, it leads to an understanding that the greater influence of the past experiences one possesses with reference to the ego defense mechanism cases, the greater influence it affects to his or her personality.