A STUDY ON THE MAIN CHARACTER’S PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT IN F.H. BURNET’S LITTLE LORD FAUNTLEROY

Abstract

This thesis discusses an old literary work, Little Lord Fauntleroy. It is written by F.H Burnet and it was published in 1900. This research explores the main character’s personality development in this novel.The novel “Little Lord Fauntleroy” is a self awareness, concerning with personal growth and development. There are some problems that are discussed in this thesis. First, what are the causes of the main character’s personality development, second how the main character changes his personality, and the last why the main character changes his personality. To analyze the object matters, this thesis uses psychological approach, and Sigmund Freud’s theory of ego defense mechanism. Psychological approach is used to dig up the psychological problems. Freud’s theory of ego defense mechanism explores the motivation of the characters in the novel. Inductive method is also used. The method is started by the observation of the particular of facts, before getting the general idea. There are five hierarchies of ego defense mechanism which have to be completed before someone goes through personality development. These are repression, regression, identification, sublimation, isolation, denial of reality, turning again the self, projection, displacement and rationalization. From the explanation above, the result of the analysis proves that John Arthur Molyneux Errol (the Earl) undergoes personality development at the end of his life. His personality becomes good and wise both to his family and society.