ANALYSIS OF TWO LITERARY WORKS OF SENO GUMIRA AJIDARMA USING

SIGMUND FREUD PSYCHOANALYSIS

Diefa Oktavia Putra, 196111108, 5H

ABSTRACT

This analysis aims to describe the personality structure of the characters in the
anthology short stories “ Aku Kesepian, Sayang.', 'Datanglah, Menjelang Kematian."
by Seno Gumira Ajidarma. The personality structure consists of the id (wants and
needs), ego (distribution), and superego (/controlling/normative). The analysis of this
research uses the theory of personality structure in the study of psychoanalysis by
Sigmund Freud. Sources of data in this study consisted of two short stories, namely "
Aku Kesepian, Sayang.’, ’Datanglah, Menjelang Kematian.”, dan ”Legenda
Wongasu”. From these two short stories, there is one main character. The data collected
are in the form of sentences and paragraphs collected from character building
techniques in literary works. The results showed (1) the short story '" Aku Kesepian,
Sayang.’, ’Datanglah, Menjelang Kematian” uses two techniques, namely the
technique of discourse and feelings and thoughts, (2) the short story “ Legenda
Wongasu” uses one technique, the character response technique. The results of the
study of the personality structure consisting of the id, ego, and superego experienced
by the main character, resulted in one final result, namely the superego successfully
working (positive). These two short stories have superego personality traits that are
parallel to the final function as normative.

Keywords: psychoanalysis, character, short story.

A. INTRODUCTION

Humans are individuals who often question their existence along with the development
of the world. In this case, humans begin to lose sight of relationships with fellow human beings
and individual personal values who tend to blame themselves without ignoring their abilities
and potential. Therefore, many people are found who feel helpless, unable or even unable to
survive in the face of the problems of life that exist. In addition, humans must also realize that
every human being is basically the same and also has a desire to communicate with one another
in order to achieve goals, desires, or as a means of solving problems with solutions from the
views of other parties. Literary art, as one of the views of human life, is not only an aesthetic
art that is able to present elements of life in a pure, sincere, and interesting way for the reader.
But it is also another factor that can increase the reader's insight and knowledge, especially
how someone is able to get out of the various problems described in the work. This kind of
thing is depicted in many literary works. Through literary works, the author has a mission to
shape the personality patterns of each character and run a storyline that is not monotonous in
just one event.

Supaat further (2008:4) explains that " Karakteristik kepribadian manusia dapat
menjelma menjadi suatu bahasa, suatu seni dan suatu sastra”.1 That is, between humans and
literary works are an inseparable unit. The author through his mental and psychological
behavior tries to pour what is felt, experienced, seen and noticed in real life into literary works
through symbols, icons and symbols. The shrewdness of the author in relating the personality
of the character in real life to the personality of the character in the literary work which is
ultimately represented.

The anthology of short stories " Aku Kesepian, Sayang.’, ’Datanglah, Menjelang
Kematian." reveals a lot about feelings, problems and life experiences which are always
colored by inner and outer suffering. The fifteen stories in this anthology of short stories are
about those who live in a world, which perhaps was not made for them, so that the smell of
inner turmoil and mental disorders (psychic) can be seen, as may be experienced by everyone
who was born even though he did not ask for it. I only focus on research on two short stories,
namely " Aku Kesepian, Sayang.’, ’Datanglah, Menjelang Kematian.", and " Legenda
Wongasu”. The empirical reason for taking these two stories is because the inner conflicts
experienced by the characters are very intense dominate, in which the characters often engage
in psychological fights both with themselves and in response to unfair treatment by someone.
Therefore, the personalities of the characters are being tested by the presence of these problems,
even though they are aware that they are not registered in any mental competition.

These two short stories aroused my curiosity to identify the characters and the
personality structure depicted in the psychological behavior of the characters by using
personality theory through three types of personality structures, namely the id, ego and
superego. The structure in personality theory is part of Sigmund Freud's psychoanalytic study.
Psychoanalysis is a sub-branch of the literary psychology approach. Literary psychology is a
study that approaches literary works from a psychological point of view.

1 Lathief, Supaat. 2008. Psikologi Fenomenologi Eksistensialisme. Lamongan: Pustaka Pujangga.

B. LITERATURE REVIEW
• The essence of short stories
Like novels and romances, short stories are short fiction literary works. As the
name implies, short stories are short stories, namely a story that is finished reading in
one sitting, approximately between half to two hours. The short story is actually
complete and finished, meaning that even though it is short, it still includes the intrinsic
and extrinsic elements of a literary work. These two elements function to support each
other and help in achieving wholeness and cohesion. There is a close relationship
between the elements with each other so that it will create an interesting work.

• Characterizations in Short Stories

The characterization element of a literary work, especially in a short story,
becomes so prominent and very dominant. However, the personality in the short story
is not the same as the person in real life. Personality in real life is so complex, whereas
in short stories it is only necessary to highlight a few traits. The character of the story
must be described as intensely as possible, full of meaning and solid. Furthermore,
Sayuti (2000: 9-10) argues, ” Tokoh dalam cerpen biasanya langsung ditujukan pada
karakternya, artinya hanya ditujukan tahapan tertentu pengembangan karakter
tokohnya”. However, the aspect of the character in fiction is basically the aspect that
attracts more attention, because in the characterization, one can describe the behavior
of a person who is always worked on in the twists and turns of the story.

• Character Formation Techniques in Literary Works

Each author makes characterizations with different techniques, they have their
own techniques for making characterizations in their work, Nurgiyantoro (1998: 195-
221) suggests several techniques that are usually used by authors in characterizations,
namely: expository (analytic) techniques and dramatic techniques which include
techniques conversation / dialogue, behavior / deeds, flow of
consciousness/psychological, character reactions, reactions of other characters,
physical depictions, background depictions and techniques of thoughts and feelings.
C. METHODOLOGY
1. Research Results.
 The results of the research in the anthology of short stories " Aku Kesepian,
Sayang.’, ’Datanglah, Menjelang Kematian.’” dan " Legenda Wongasu” by Seno
Gumira Ajidarma consist of (1) character identification by applying character formation
techniques in literary works and (2) Sigmund Freud's personality structure in the form
of an analysis of the id, ego and superego.

2. Identify the character.

The results of the identification of the characters in this study are (1) the short
stories " Aku Kesepian, Sayang.’, ’Datanglah, Menjelang Kematian." with the character
'Aku', using two techniques, namely conversation techniques and thoughts and feelings
techniques, (2) The short story “Legenda Wongasu” with the character 'Sukab' uses one
technique, namely the character reaction technique.

3. Sigmund Freud's Personality Structure in the form of Analysis of the Id, Ego and
Superego.
After identifying the characters through character identification, this research
then produces a quote analysis with the application of Sigmund Freud's personality
structure, namely id, ego and superego 2. The researcher categorizes text quotes based
on the techniques of forming characters in literary works which then analyzes them into
the three markers of the personality structure.

The name of the Literary Id Ego Super ego

Work; Short story.
Aku Kesepian,
Sayang.’, ’Datanglah,
Menjelang Kematian.
1.Conversation
Techniques
2.Mind and Feeling
Techniques.
1. The unspoken 1. An entertainer 1. The existence of
desire to become a who is familiar with the legal wife of the
legal wife with the the frenetic night, idol of the heart,
man's husband, made conditioned to be made the woman of
this woman repeat the mistress of a the night toss the
what happened every married man. In her dreams in her
night of her daily life. own talk while unconscious high so
While preening in preening in front of that it was difficult
front of the mirror, the mirror, to achieve.
this woman reviewed subconsciously she Realizing the
the events that wants a bond that presence of his wife
happened outside the man in the man's daily
without having to pay acknowledges. This life, the more his
attention to them can be seen in the conversation with
directly. There comes following quote, the mirror leads to

2 Frued, Sigmund. 1955. A Difficulty in the Pathof Psycho-Analysis. New York: International Universities Press.
a moment where the ” Kamu kejam, an affirmation that
woman expresses her it is not good to
kamu tidak
desire to become a disturb people's
wife. This can be seen mempunyai households and that
in the following is not what he
perasaan. Tahu
quote, wants. The voice of
”Aku tidak mau dirimu tidak bisa the woman that
terombang-ambing night turned out to
kawin denganku,
begini, aku ingin be successful in
jatuh cinta kepada kau bikin aku jatuh getting around her
seseorang dengan unwillingness to be
cinta padamu tanpa
ikatan.” the third person in
kebebasan.” the sacred
relationship of a
pair of humans. In
the end, she remains
only as the mistress
of the man she
loves. This can be
seen in the
following quote,
"Kenapa aku selalu
bertemu lelaki yang
sudah beristri?
Bukan mauku
menjadi
pengganggu rumah
tangga orang.
Pergilah.
Pulanglah. Jangan
kembali lagi padaku
meski aku akan
selalu
merindukanmu.”
2. Because of the 2. the character 2. “ Tapi aku tidak
great desire of the 'Aku' who is the ingin mengetahui
character 'Aku' to try night woman is semuanya, sudah
to enjoy a night that is finally shackled by cukup bagiku
certainly different a monotonous memastikan bahwa
from an ordinary reality in her life, all kedua manusia di
night, he decides to go activities pass in her kafe itu akan
out of the room to mind so that she bertemu pandang.
enjoy the beautiful feels like enjoying Aku tidak ingin tahu
 moon. It can be seen fresh things or is apa yang akan
in the following more or less able toterjadi selanjutnya.
quote, treat the character's
Bisa saja mereka
”Aku keluar boredom in living a bersikap seolah-
kamar”, ”Kupandang life full of
olah memang sudah
rembulan yang humiliation. In the berjanji untuk
sedang terang, aku room, the 'Aku' saling bertemu di
memang tidak usah character involves situ. Bisa juga tidak
pergi ke mana-mana strong thoughts and akan pernah terjadi
untuk mengetahui apa feelings playing to apa-apa. Lelaki itu
yang terjadi di tempat influence his desire.
duduk sendiri dan
lain.” As seen in the quoteperempuan itu juga
Actually, the below. masih tetap sendiri,
” Aku juga ingin saling
character 'Aku' really
memunggungi.”
pergi ke suatu
wants to leave the The role of the
tempat, supaya bisa
room to listen and feel superego in the text
duduk
a new atmosphere quote above
mendengarkan
with beautiful music succeeds in
blues di sebuah
rhythms, the play of mediating the id's
tempat yang bersih
bright lights certainly drive on the
dan terang. Tapi
describes something pleasure principle
kutahu tempat
that is not dim, then against ego turmoil.
seperti itu tidak
don't forget the The ego which in
ada. Semua kafe di
atmosphere that truly principle is a
kota ini lampunya
represents goodness transformed reality
remang-remang.
and truth, not like the from the urge of the
Tidak ada sesuatu
atmosphere. a night id, shows the
yang boleh terlihat
that is often full of existence of a
sebagai kenyataan,
frenetic decay and balance of reality,
semua orang
tyranny therefore the
membutuhkan
superego dimension
mimpi, sama seperti
runs as it should.
membutuhkan
nasi.”
Legenda Wongasu 1. The monetary crisis 1. " Sukab terpaksa 1.” Dulu ia begitu
made Sukab lose his menjadi pemburu miskin sehingga
job. He has not had a anjing supaya bisa tidak mampu
1.Character Reaction job for five years. His bertahan hidup.” membeli potas,
Technique desire and need to be yang biasa
( Teknik Reaksi able to provide for his Sukab had no other diumpankan para
Tokoh) wife and children pemburu anjing
choice but to
forced him to become kepada anjing-
a dog hunter. become a dog anjing kurang pikir,
”Semenjak di-PHK sehingga membuat
hunter and sell them
anjing-anjing itu
lima tahun yang lalu
to shops that menggelepar
dan menganggur dengan mulut
cooked dog meat to
berbusa.”
lontang lantung tanpa
eat. Sometimes He was so poor he
punya pekerjaan,
when the owner of couldn't afford the
Sukab terpaksa
the tavern is kind, potash that dog
menjadi pemburu
he allows Sukab to hunters used to feed
anjing supaya bisa
take the dog's head the gullible dogs
bertahan hidup.”
home to cook at his floundering
house. helplessly.

D. DISCUSSION
Based on the table of character identification and personality structure of Sigmund
Freud in the results of the research above, further analysis will be described in the
following discussion.

a. Sigmund Freud's Personality Structure analysis (Id, Ego and Superego)

a). Short story "Aku Kesepian, Sayang.’, ’Datanglah, Menjelang Kematian."
Character: Aku.
1. Id, Ego and Superego Analysis Conversation techniques
The 'Aku' character in this short story is a woman who likes to hang out
with the nightlife. Life is full of various problems in it, ranging from painful
stories to love problems that sometimes we cannot understand its existence. The
'Aku' character is conditioned to be the mistress of a married man. A man who
should have a moral responsibility towards his family. The man who is obliged
to provide physically and mentally for the family. However, such is the nightlife.
There is always intrigue for a moment forgetting the duties and responsibilities,
both men and women. It's the same, not gender specific and not always bound
by a relationship contract. All spilled out in an endless pseudo struggle.
Including the character 'Aku' in this short story. The relationship that started
from an unscheduled introduction, ended with the growth of the seeds of love
between two people, 'Aku' and the married man. In his own conversation when
preening in front of the mirror, the character 'Aku' wants a bond that is
recognized by the man. The urge that comes from the human nerve node,
encourages the realization of psychomotor instinct activity, which in this case
urges the desire of the 'Aku' character to be quickly married as a wife. The id
serves as a biological desire or need that must be rushed. He really craved the
status of a mistress to become a legal wife, even though for a moment in his
daydream it was impossible, because his idol already had a wife before. The
existence of the 'Aku' character is questioned by himself. While preening in
front of the mirror, this woman reviewed the events that happened outside
without having to pay attention to them directly. His wish remains his hope, it's
just that the ability of the character 'Aku' to make it happen is against his heart.
The existence of the legal wife of the idol of the heart, makes the woman of the
night toss her dreams high so that it is difficult to achieve. Realizing the
presence of his wife in the man's daily life, the more his conversation with the
mirror leads to an affirmation that it is not good to disturb people's households
and that is not what he wants. The voice of the woman that night turned out to
be successful in getting around her unwillingness to be the third person in the
sacred relationship of a pair of humans. In the end, she remains only as the
mistress of the man she loves. The superego, which acts as a counterweight to
the ego's weakness, completely directs the desire of the 'Aku' character to
become the culmination of their long journey of dirty love. The superego which
acts as the norm dimension successfully resides in his mind, then decides to end
the act.

2. Thought and Feeling Techniques Analysis of the Id, Ego and Superego
The character 'Aku' who is a night woman is ultimately shackled by a
monotonous reality in her life, all activities pass by so that she feels like
enjoying fresh things or is more or less able to treat the character's boredom in
living a life full of humiliation. In the room, the 'Aku' character involves strong
thoughts and feelings and plays to influence his desire. This desire must be
realized as soon as possible. High boredom due to monotonous routines, makes
him need new things, things that don't always look vague and dim. The harsh
demands that come from the id's insistence, should be realized as much as
possible so that the 'Aku' character doesn't end up with boredom, because for
him being the mistress of a married man is unfair, looks dark, vague and full of
rot. The daily dynamics that are not always vaguely depicted are what he really
wants to feel, it can be said that everything related to pitch darkness is hypocrisy
or a momentary escape from the responsibility of the problem. Even though
such a world is closely attached to him and his soul. Therefore, the 'Aku'
character occasionally says in his reflection that he wants to enjoy a different
atmosphere that is bright and calm.
Specific demands in the principle of the id emphasize the existence of
loopholes for each insistence. Reality becomes a process of transformation
towards distribution as the ego principle. The character 'Aku' tries to fulfill his
desire to go somewhere to listen and feel a new atmosphere with beautiful music
rhythms, the play of bright lights certainly describes something that is not dim.
However, it is enough for him to analogize a bright moon with a mood that must
be bright like the moon. There was no need for him to look for the excitement
he wanted, because he would never find it. Everyone who mingles in the life of
a discotheque, bar or cafe must love the dimness. For him, it is enough to look
at the bright moon as a description of his desire or at least the character 'Aku'
does not want to know more about the various activities that occur, which he
himself knows the chronological continuation. The activity of gazing at the
moon is a channeling principle in the dimensions of the ego, strong urge and
friction of the id, capable of neutralizing the 'Aku' character in reality. So that
the pace of the balancing principle of the superego works more relaxed and is
not too dispersed because the reality of the ego is able to cope with the principle
of the needs of the id.

b). Short story " Legenda Wongasu" Character : Sukab

1. Character Reaction Techniques Analysis of Id, Ego and Supereg

The monetary crisis made Sukab lose his job. He has not had a job for
five years. His desire and need to be able to provide for his wife and children
 forced him to become a dog hunter. As an unemployed figure 'Sukab' is also
burdened by the lives of his children and wife. On their shoulders, there is hope
that they can get material coffers so that the continuity of the life process can
run properly. That's why 'Sukab' was forced to react to his new job as a dog
catcher and hunter. The insistence of the principle of desire for the structure of
the id, for the fulfillment of eating, drinking, and the passage of family life,
makes him often ignore the ridicule of people he always receives. However,
even 'Sukab' still ignored it. Survival is the key to the dog hunting job. The
process of channeling the pressure of the id, will be seen in the continuity of the
ego structure which makes 'Sukab' finally carry out dog hunting activities (ego
reality) because

family survival drive (need pressure; id). The superego, which acts as a balance
between the id's pressure and the ego's reality, is a modification when the ego
is too weak to cope with the id's pressure. In the end, the character 'Sukab' went
the extra mile to catch his prey dogs with all the power he had.

E. CONCLUSION
Analysis of the personality structure in the form of id, ego and superego
experienced by these characters, produces one final result, namely the superego is
successfully assigned (positive). Two titles of short stories whose personality structures
are in line with the final function of the normative principle of the superego (positive)
which serves as control are " Aku Kesepian, Sayang.’, ’Datanglah, Menjelang
Kematian.” dan ”Legenda Wongasu”. The pressures of the wants and needs of the id
structure can be channeled by the working system of the ego structure and then
successfully calmed by the presence of the superego balancing principle. The task of
this analysis is expected to add and broaden the reader's horizons as well as train
sensitivity to the dynamics of human life with various social problems that occur around
it, so that the problems of diverse human personalities can be understood as well as the
establishment of peace between others. Thank you.

F. REFERENCES
Ajidarma, Seno Gumira. 2004. Aku Kesepiang, Sayang. Datanglah, Menjelang
Kematian. Jakarta: PT Gramedia Pustaka Utama.
Frued, Sigmund. 2006. Pengantar Umum Psikoanalisis. Yogyakarta: pustaka Pelajar.
Frued, Sigmund. 1955. The Psyco-Analytical Treatment of Children. New York:
International Universities Press.
Frued, Sigmund. 1955. A Difficulty in the Pathof Psycho-Analysis. New York:
International Universities Press.
Lathief, Supaat. 2008. Psikologi Fenomenologi Eksistensialisme. Lamongan: Pustaka
Pujangga.