THE PORTRAYAL OF ANXIETY AND DEFENSE MECHANISM OF THE MAIN CHARACTER AS REFLECTED IN INTO THE WILD BY JON KRAKAUER

Abstract

In this  paper, the writer analyzes about the main character, McCandless which describes in  Into The  Wild
by Jon Krakauer. The novel captures  the main character,  McCandless who is going to Alaska to find his
own happiness. The analysis has two goals which are describing the anxieties and defense mechanisms
which are  experienced by the main character. The  anxieties are realistic anxiety and neurotic anxiety. In
defense mechanism, it appears in form of acting out,  isolation, suppression and humor. Then, the writer
uses Psychoanalysis  as the theory  according to  Sigmund Freud  and Anna Freud.  The technique  that  is
applied by the writer is close reading to gain understanding the structure that can be seen in the novel.
Together with close reading, the writer is helped to collect proofs for the analysis. The  result from the
novel is about the main character’s mental disorder and the way defending it. The novel describes how
the  main  character  experiences  two  kinds  of  anxiety.  The  first  anxiety  is  realistic  anxiety  which  he
experiences fear of wilderness and fear of death.    The second anxiety is neurotic anxiety. In  neurotic, the
main  character  experiences  the  rebellion  to  his  parent’s  will  in  education  and  their  life  style,  and
disclaimer  of  society  rules  in  education  and  job.  The  main  character  defends  him  self  with  defense
mechanism for several problem that he gets from two of anxiety. There are humor for fear of wilderness
and death, acting out in parents’s will, isolation in parents’s will in education and suppression.

Keywords : Main Character, Psychoanalysis, Anxiety, Defense Mechanism