THE ANALYSIS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS AS THE AFTERMATH OF THE WORLD WAR I IN VIRGINIA WOOLF’S MRS. DALLOWAY

Abstract

This thesis analyzes the male character in Mrs. Dalloway namely Septimus Warren Smith. In this novel, Septimus represents the figure of an army who suffers from psychological disorders such as, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and mood disorder (depressive disorder). In other words, the subject matter of this thesis is about psychological disorders of the veteran as the consequences of the World War I. Besides affecting the mental disturbance to the ex-soldiers, the World War I also offers an effect to the soldiers’ families. Indeed, they also get shocked and stressed because the combatants suffer from psychological disorders as they return home. Hence, it is clear that World War I contributes the aftermath both to the veteran and family. To sum up, this thesis analyzes the mental condition of the former military as well as the soldier’s families after the World War I. Furthermore, this thesis uses Freud’s psychoanalytic or psychodynamic theory because it is a foundation for understanding the psychological factors involved in psychological disorders. According to Freud, psychodynamic theory deals with the dynamic process of thinking and feeling, both feeling “sane” and “insane” like Septimus’ characteristic in Mrs. Dalloway. Besides using psychodynamic theory in analyzing Mrs. Dalloway, the writer also uses sociological approach or sociological perspective. Through sociological approach, the writer places the work of art in the social atmosphere, and defines the relationship between the literature and society. Moreover, in getting the x comprehension about Mrs. Dalloway, the writer uses social psychology to see the behaviour of the society. In other words, the writer uses social psychology, the scientific study of how people think about, influence, and relate to one another. Moreover, in conducting this research, the writer uses library research in which the data or information are taken from books, dictionaries, published and unpublished researches. In serving the data, the writer uses deductive method to analyze psychological disorder in Virginia Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway. It means the writer starts from the common issues, that is, the World War I. The World War I in 1914-1918 creates the aftermath in many sectors of human life, such as economic, politic, social, and psychology. Moreover, the writer finds the aftermath of the World War I in a literary work by Virginia Woolf, Mrs. Dalloway. In psychology sector, the World War I gives an aftermath, that is, psychological disorders (PTSD and depressive disorder) to the veteran. In other words, psychological disorders of the veteran are the aftermath of World War I. According to this, the specific conclusion from the deductive method in this thesis is psychological disorders of the veteran who returns from World War I are represented in Virginia Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway. Finally, the result of this thesis is the World War I gives the aftermath toward the veteran’s psychology. In Mrs. Dalloway, the writer discovers many symptoms of psychological disorders (PTSD) and mood disorder among other things; having flashback, having inability to experience happiness, having the feeling of apprehension, withdrawal from social interaction, experiencing hallucination, and disturbed thought and behaviour. In conclusion, a work of literature, Mrs. Dalloway represents the condition of the society in the war and post-war years which is packed with violence of war inflicted on body, soul, and mind. For this reason, Mrs. Dalloway is not just a fiction or narrative because this novel portraits the society in the late nineteenth century and the early twentieth century in Britain.