Trauma Kehilangan dan Mekanisme Pertahanan Diri Tokoh Anjani dalam Novel Laut Bercerita Karya Leila S. Chudori

(Tinjauan Psikoanalisis Freud)

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the trauma of loss and the defense mechanisms demonstrated by the character Ratih Anjani in the novel Laut Bercerita by Leila S. Chudori through the lens of Freud’s psychoanalytic theory. The trauma of loss experienced by Anjani due to the disappearance of her beloved partner, Biru Laut Wibisana, during the forced disappearances of the New Order era, triggers complex psychological responses. This research employs a qualitative descriptive method with a psychoanalytic approach based on Sigmund Freud’s theory, particularly the defense mechanisms framework developed by Anna Freud. The data consist of quotations, dialogues, and behavioral descriptions that reflect manifestations of trauma and psychological defenses. The findings show that Anjani employs several types of defense mechanisms in response to the trauma of loss, including denial, sublimation, regression, and projection. Denial is evident in her refusal to accept the reality of Biru Laut’s death; sublimation is expressed through the channeling of emotional energy into mural art; regression is shown by a reversion to earlier patterns of behavior; and projection is reflected in her tendency to blame others for the loss she experienced. These defense mechanisms serve as psychological survival strategies that help Anjani maintain her mental stability amid deep trauma. This research contributes to the understanding of trauma representation in contemporary Indonesian literature and the relevance of psychoanalytic theory in literary analysis.