DISOSIASI DIRI KEPRIBADIAN TOKOH UTAMA AKIBAT TRAUMA PERANG DALAM NOVEL AS LONG AS THE LEMON TREES GROW KARYA ZOULFA KATOUH

Abstract

This research aims to examine the influence of war trauma forms self-dissociation on the personality of the main character, and how the main character’s efforts to overcome trauma in the novel As Long As The Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh. This research uses descriptive qualitative method using Sigmund Freud’s psychoanalytic theory approach and supported by Bessel Van Der Kolk’s trauma recovery theory. The data collection technique used in this research is a literature study with primary data sources using the novel As Long As The Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh and secondary data using books, and academic journals that are in accordance with the topic discussed to support this research. The novel describes the condition of the main female character who is still a teenager had to experience trauma due to traumatic experiences while living in the conditions of the Syrian war, so the ego aspect cannot function properly because the id’s dominate. The result of this research shows that the main character’s traumatic experiences include the death of a family member, the destruction of future hopes, witnessing the cruelty of war, and experiencing violence during the war forming self-dissociation of her personality. The self-dissociation of the main character, Salama Kassab, is represented through inner experiences in the form of responses such as hallucinations, inner conflict, fragmented memories, guilt, hyper-anxiety, hyper-vigilance, fragmented consciousness, and nightmares. The main character makes several efforts to overcome trauma, starting from self-defense mechanisms such as repression, denial, sublimation, and displacement, as well as self-regulation such as emotional control, body response control, social connection, and emotional support through help from others to achieve trauma recovery.