The personality structure is a unique aspect inherent in every individual. It emerges due to the interplay between Sigmund Freud's personality components: the id, ego, and superego. A novel titled Sizzling by Susan Mallery serves as an example of how the personality structure is portrayed within the main character. This study examines the personality portrayed by the main character, Reid Buchanan, in the novel Sizzling by Susan Mallery. The study aims to discover how the personality is depicted in Reid and how personality works and influences his development. This research is a literary criticism study specifically focused on analyzing a literary work. The researcher thoroughly read the novel to identify sentences, phrases, and paragraphs aligned with the research objectives. The study applies Sigmund Freud's theory of personality structure. The researcher uses literary criticism to complete the analysis, presenting all data in words and sentences. A psychoanalytic literary approach with textual study is employed to analyze the data and apply Freud's personality structure theory. The personality structure refers to the interaction between the id, ego, and superego, collectively influencing human behavior. Reid undergoes a series of actions reflecting the id, ego, and 'superego dynamics. The initial findings reveal that the id dominates behavior early in the story, leaning heavily toward impulsive desires and sexual gratification. However, his encounter with Lori and his regret over past actions trigger the development of the ego, which works in tandem with the superego to uphold societal moral values. Subsequently, Reid's ego realizes the id's desires while aligning them with the superego, enabling him to fulfill his impulses in morally acceptable ways. This transformation reshapes Reid into a kind-hearted, altruistic individual willing to take risks and accept responsibility.
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This study aims to demonstrate that contemporary romance novels, often deemed too mainstream, are worthy of in-depth analysis to uncover the high psychological complexity of characters within the narrative. (8-9)
Here's the abstract:
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