THE PSYCHOPATH IN THE STEPHEN KING’S MISERY
A THESIS
BY
ROSA FELESIA DEBORA TARIGAN
REG. NO. 120705026
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH
FACULTY OF CULTURAL STUDIES
UNIVERSITY OF SUMATERA UTARA
MEDAN 2018
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UNIVERSITAS SUMATERA UTARA
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UNIVERSITAS SUMATERA UTARA AUTHOR’S DECLARATION
I, ROSA FELESIA DEBORA TARIGAN, DECLARE THAT I AM THE SOLE
AUTHOR OF THIS THESIS EXCEPT WHERE REFERENCE IS MADE IN
THE TEXT OF THIS THESIS. THIS THESIS CONTAINS NO MATERIAL
PUBLISHED ELSEWHERE OR EXTRACTED IN WHOLE OR IN PART
FROM A THESIS BY WHICH I HAVE QUALIFIED FOR OR A WARDED
ANOTHER DEGREE. NO OTHER PERSON’S WORK HAS BEEN USED
WITHOUT DUE ACKNOWLEDGMENTS IN THE MAIN TEXT OF THIS
THESIS. THIS THESIS HAS NOT BEEN SUBMITTED FOR THE AWARD
OF ANOTHER DEGREE IN ANY TERTIARY EDUCATION.
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Date : July 20, 2018
UNIVERSITAS SUMATERA UTARA COPYRIGHT DECLARATION
NAME : ROSA FELSIA DEBORA TARIGAN
TITLE OF THESIS : THE PSYCHOPATH IN THE STEPHEN
KING’S MISERY
QUALIFICATION : S-1/SARJANA SASTRA
DEPARTMENT : ENGLISH
I AM WILLING THAT MY THESIS SHOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR
REPRODUCTION AT THE DISCRETION OF THE LIBRARIAN OF
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH, FACULTY OF CULTURAL STUDIES,
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Signed :
Date : July 20, 2018
UNIVERSITAS SUMATERA UTARA ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Firstly, I would like to express my gratitude to the Almighty, Jesus Christ, mankind’s savior who loves me with His unconditional affection, holds my hand in every situations and blesses me with a great life that I can pass all problems in my life without changing and remove my faith in Him.
Secondly, I would like to express my gratitude and appreciation to those who have given me pray, advice, motivation, and help in accomplishing my thesis. They are :
1. My beloved parents, to whom this thesis is devoted, Rohansah Tarigan and Sabarati Bakara, who always pray for me everytime and for everything. They are such a great motivator, supporter, advisor and my enthuasiasm charger that I can live my life until nowadays and accomplish this thesis. Thank you for your unconditional love, I cannot live without you. 2. My dear sisters Rosaline Grace Tarigan, Ruth Rose Angeline Tarigan, big family of Tarigan-Bakara, specially my aunty ‘Emas’, my uncle ‘Opung Joan’, my big brother Bang Bastian and wife Kak Lena, Bang Chris, my big sister Kak Uli, Evi and Putri who have become my cheeriness and motivation, I do love you all. 3. Dr.Siti Norma Nasution, M.Hum as my supervisor and Dian Marisaha Putri S.S M.Si as co-supervisor who have share their valuable ideas, times, guidance, and patience in process of completing this thesis. 4. Prof. Hj. T. Silvana Sinar, M.A, Ph.D as the head of English Department and Rahmadsyah Rangkuti, M.A., Ph.D the Secretary of English Department and all the lecturers of English Department who have shared many knowledge and experience. 5. Chrisna Ratnawati Pardede, Rayhan Rianda, and Emanuelle Laudia the one and only my second family since we were meet a long time ago, who always support and help me to finish this thesis. They always give their time to support me a lot. 6. Monica, Irvan, Bang Sam, Bang Pandu,become such my family, thanks for the time, the laugh, the crazy moments we spent together, share many things in all the times, all of you are gifts from God. Also for all my friends in English Literature University of Sumatera Utara especially Class B 2012 that I can’t mention name by name, I will never forget you guys, may all us be succesfull in the future. Amin.
UNIVERSITAS SUMATERA UTARA 7. Winarni A. Zega, Shaira B. Ginting, Valentina Sitepu, Gratia Yogita, Yessy Simanungkalit and Viony J. Sitompul. My sister like my siblings who always support me and pray for me, our friendship still count. 8. All of Kakak Pembina in Junior Chruch specially Kak Rita , Kak Reni, Kak Ebyn, Kak Ramses, Kak Yaman and Kak Roy and my lovely sisters and brothers Frontliner as my second home and always cherish me and support me to finish the thesis. 9. Finally, may this thesis be worthwhile for all of the readers, may the grace and love of God be with us forever. Amin
Medan, July 2018
Rosa Felesia Debora Tarigan
Reg. No. 120705026
UNIVERSITAS SUMATERA UTARA ABSTRACT This thesis entitled The Psychopath in The Stephen King’s Miserydiscusses about an ex-nurse Annie Wilkes and a famous writer Paul Sheldon. Misery establishes characters and conflict immediately, opening with Annie Wilkes’s artificial respiration to revive injured author Paul Sheldon. The analysis use Psychology of literature as a theory to the problem. It was find Annie is a psychopath.Within five very brief chapters, The writer writes that Sheldon has crashed his car in a snowstorm; that Wilkes, a fan of Sheldon’s popular romance novels starring Misery Chastain, has rescued him; and that she is crazy and is imprisoning him in her isolated house rather than taking him to a hospital for proper care.The conclusion of the novel is Annie Wilkes as the leading character of novel Hannibal Rising is figured as a character with psychopathic personality with some certain characteristics. They are superficial charm and good "intelligence; pathologic egocentricity and incapacity for love; untruthfulness and insincerity; lack of remorse or shame; poor judgment and failure to learn by experience; suicide threats rarely carried out; and inadequately motivated antisocial behavior. Those characteristics are reflected in Annie Wilkes herself and he can be concluded as psychopath.
Keywords : psychopath, famous writer, killer, psychology literature
UNIVERSITAS SUMATERA UTARA ABSTRAK Skripsi ini berjudul The Psychopath in The Stephen King's Misery membahas tentang mantan perawat Annie Wilkes dan penulis terkenal Paul Sheldon. Kesengsaraan membangun karakter dan konflik dengan segera, membuka dengan pernafasan buatan Annie Wilkes untuk menghidupkan kembali penulis yang terluka Paul Sheldon. Analisis menggunakan Psikologi sastra sebagai teori untuk masalah. Ternyata Annie adalah seorang psikopat. Dalam lima bab yang sangat singkat, Penulis menulis bahwa Sheldon telah menabrakkan mobilnya dalam badai salju; bahwa Wilkes, penggemar novel roman populer Sheldon yang dibintangi Misery Chastain, telah menyelamatkannya; dan bahwa dia gila dan memenjarakannya di rumah terpencilnya daripada membawanya ke rumah sakit untuk perawatan yang tepat. Kesimpulan dari novel ini adalah Annie Wilkes sebagai tokoh utama novel Hannibal Rising digambarkan sebagai karakter dengan kepribadian psikopat dengan beberapa karakteristik tertentu. Mereka adalah pesona yang dangkal dan kecerdasan yang baik, egosentrisitas patologis dan ketidakmampuan untuk cinta, ketidakbenaran dan ketidaktulusan, kurangnya penyesalan atau rasa malu, penilaian yang buruk dan kegagalan untuk belajar melalui pengalaman, ancaman bunuh diri jarang dilakukan, dan perilaku antisosial yang tidak termotivasi secara memadai. tercermin dalam Annie Wilkes dirinya dan dia dapat disimpulkan sebagai psikopat.
Kata kunci : psikopat, penulis terkenal, pembunuh, psikologi sastra
UNIVERSITAS SUMATERA UTARA
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
AUTHOR’S DECLARATION ...... v
COPYRIGHT DECLARATION ...... vi
ACKNOWLEDGMENT ...... vii
ABSTRACT ...... ix
ABSTRAK ...... x
TABLE OF CONTENTS ...... xi
CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study ...... 1
1.2 Problem of the Study ...... 5
1.3 Objective of the Study ...... 5
1.4 Scope of the Study ...... 5
1.5 Significance of the Study ...... 6
CHAPTER II REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
2.1 Psychology and Literature ...... 7
2.2 Characters ...... 10
2.3 Psychopath ...... 13
2.4 Historical Background of Stephen King ...... 17
CHAPTER III METHOD OF RESEARCH
3.1 Research Design ...... 19
3.2 Data Collection...... 21
3.3 Data Analysis ...... 22
CHAPTER IV ANALYSIS AND FINDING
4.1 Annie Wilkes’ Characterictics of Psychopath...... 23
4.2 The Cause Annie Wilkes’ Psychopathics Personality ...... 28
4.3 The Impact Annie Wilkes’ Psychopathics Personality to Paul 33
UNIVERSITAS SUMATERA UTARA CHAPTER V CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION
5.1 Conclusions ...... 37
5.2 Suggestions ...... 38
REFERENCES ...... 40
APPENDICES
i. Biography of Stephen King ii. Summary of The Misery Novel
UNIVERSITAS SUMATERA UTARA CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of The Study
People live in the society as social creatures. They interact and communicate with one
another every single day. The tool of communication is language. The using of language
involves psychological element when people use language to express their opinion and idea.
Psychology is one of the crucial aspects of human being. Psychology is the study of mental
processes, behavior, and the relationship between them. Mental processes include skills like
learning, reasoning, emotion, and motivation. There is also deviation of norms in psychology of
human being and it is generally speaking as abnormal psychology. Barlow (1995: 315) explained
that abnormal psychology is the branch of psychology that deals with studying, explaining and
treating mental disorders and also what effect they have on people’s lives. There are some kinds
of abnormal psychology; they are neurosis, psychosis, schizophrenia, mental retardation, stress,
and also psychopath.
As Robert D. Hare quotes, psychopath can be considered one of the prototypical
disorders associated with empathic dysfunction. It is characterized partly by antisocial behavior,
a lack capacity for remorse, and poor behavioral controls. Psychopaths are born with temperamental differences such as impulsivity and fearlessness that lead them to risk-seeking behavior and an inability to internalize social norms. Cleckley (1941: 385) describes the psychopathic person as outwardly a perfect mimic of a normally functioning person, able to
mask or disguise the fundamental lack of internal personality structure, an internal chaos that
results in repeatedly purposeful destructive behavior, often more self-destructive than destructive
UNIVERSITAS SUMATERA UTARA to others. Despite the seemingly sincere, intelligent, even charming external presentation, internally the psychopathic person does not have the ability to experience genuine emotions.
Psychopaths tend to make a good first impression on others and often strike observers as remarkably normal. Yet they are self-centered, dishonest and undependable, and at times they engage in irresponsible behavior for no apparent reason. Psychopath as mental disorder is often adopted becomes theme of literary works as is in novel Misery by Stephen King which adopts psychopathic personality as its motif of novel.
Misery is a 1987 psychological horror thriller novel by Stephen King. The novel was nominated for the World Fantasy Award for Best Novel in 1988, and was later made into a
Hollywood film and an off-Broadway play of the same name. When King was writing Misery in
1985 he planned the book to be released under the pseudonym Richard Bachman but the identity of the pseudonym was discovered before the release of the book.
The novel focuses on Paul Sheldon, a writer famous for Victorian-era romance novels involving the character of Misery Chastain. One day he is rescued from a car crash by crazed fan
Annie Wilkes, who transports him to her house and, once finding out what he has done to Misery in his latest book, forces him to write a new book modifying the story – no matter what it takes.
Misery establishes characters and conflict immediately, opening with Annie Wilkes’s artificial respiration to revive injured author Paul Sheldon. Within five very brief chapters, readers learn that Sheldon has crashed his car in a snowstorm; that Wilkes, a fan of Sheldon’s popular romance novels starring Misery Chastain, has rescued him; and that she is crazy and is imprisoning him in her isolated house rather than taking him to a hospital for proper care.
Sheldon’s legs are shattered, and Wilkes treats the pain with Novril, a painkiller stolen from
UNIVERSITAS SUMATERA UTARA hospitals in which she had worked as a nurse. An addiction to Novril furthers Sheldon’s dependence on his admirer and captor.
The first proof of Annie’s power over Paul, and her insane willingness to use it, concerns
Fast Cars, the novel Sheldon had just finished before the fateful drive from Boulder. Though
Sheldon is known for, and wealthy from, his Misery books, he yearns for recognition of his more literary works and sees the new manuscript as his best work. Annie sees it as a travesty, full of low-life characters and obscenities, and she forces Sheldon to burn his only copy.
After read this novel, the writer found that behaviors of the leading character of
Miserynovel were far from normal behaviors. Annie Wilkes seeks to control Sheldon, but she cannot control herself, while Sheldon, through self-discipline, finally triumphs. She is greedy— keeping Sheldon as her captive, urging him to tell him the ending before he has written it—and, during her depressive episodes, a horrendously sloppy compulsive eater. Annie becomes as dependent on the unfolding story of Misery’s return as Paul is on the care and drugs Annie provides. Interestingly, back in New York after his ordeal, Paul is himself sliding downhill, replacing his painkillers with alcohol, until he begins his next story. All the abnormal behaviors referred to the characteristics of psychopathic personality. Her behaviors were far from what normal people did so she could be classified as a woman with abnormal psychology called psychopath.
Novel as one kind of literary work can apply psychological theory. Novel is fictional narratives representing a way of life or an experience so characters in novel are adopted from people in real life. An author applies psychological laws in creating characters in his novel. So, psychology can enter into literature by the study of creative process, the study of psychological
UNIVERSITAS SUMATERA UTARA types and laws present within work of literature, and also the study of effects of literature upon
its reader that can be analyzed by using extrinsic approach.
One of the most psychology of literature theories to approach novel as literary work is
psychoanalytic theory by Sigmund Freud. According to Sigmund Freud, personality is composed
of three elements: id, ego, and superego. Id includes instinctive and primitive behavior as the
source of all psychic energy. It is based on pleasure principle which strives for immediate
gratification of all desires, wants, and need. Ego is based on the reality principle and it
understands that desires and needs are not always can be fulfilled. Ego controls Id to aware about
the real world. While superego is the aspect of personality that holds entire moral standards and
ideals that people acquire from families and society. When ego and superego cannot control
influence of a bad childhood memory and denied desire, id will take control of entire mental and
behavior to be impulsive and cruel as happens on the leading character of novel Misery who
cannot control her id because of the influence of her excessive interest to the story.
In this study, the writer wants to explain the literature, in this case novel, can show the
abnormal psychology phenomena that happen in the society. The author of Misery applies the
principles of psychology in creating the leading character of his novel.Stephen King can depict the process when a very bad experience in life makes the personality of someone changes into
psychopathic personality and adopts it as the motif of novel and becomes the part of literature.
UNIVERSITAS SUMATERA UTARA 1.2 Problems of the Study
In relation to the background of the analysis, there are some problems will be analyzed,
they are:
1. What are the characteristics of psychopath which reflected in leading characterAnnie Wilkes
of Misery novel?
2. Why does the leading characterAnnie Wilkes of novel Miserybecome psychopath?
3. What is the impact of psychopath in Annie Wilkes of Misery novel?
1.3 Objective of the Study
The analysis should have purposes to be reached out and related to those problems above, the purposes of this analysis are:
1. To find out the characteristics of psychopath on the Misery novel.
2. To depict the reason why the leading character of novel Misery becomes psychopath.
3. To find out the impact of psychopath in Annie Wilkes of Misery novel.
1.4 Scope of the Study
An analysis should have limitation in order to make the analysis focused on the topic of the discussion. The analysis is focused on the characteristics of psychopath based on the theory by Hervey Cleckley which are depicted through the leading character of novel Misery. The characteristics of psychopath are such as superficial charm and good "intelligence; unreliability; untruthfulness and insincerity; lack of remorse or shame; and inadequately motivated antisocial behavior.
UNIVERSITAS SUMATERA UTARA The analysis is also concerned on the reason why the leading character of the novel
Miserybecomes psychopath based on the theory by Derek Russel Davis. The writer would like to analyze the process of the leading character of the novel Miserybecomes psychopath which is related to her excessive interest and the impact of psychopath to other character.
1.5 Significance of the Study
The study gives some advantages to the reader about the novel Misery. Firstly, the significance of this study is to give more understanding about the relationship between novel and psychology. Novel Misery adapts the psychological phenomenon as the theme of its novel and this study is expected to enrich reader’s knowledge about psychological phenomenon found in a novel. Secondly, through this research the reader is expected to understand about abnormal psychology because psychological disorder which is called psychopath can be found trough the leading character of novel Misery.Annie Wilkes as the leading character in that novel shows us the characteristics of psychopath which is an abnormal psychology that is influenced by her interest.
UNIVERSITAS SUMATERA UTARA CHAPTER II
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
2.1 Psychology and Literature
Literature refers to compositions that tell stories; dramatize situations, express emotions,
and analyze and advocate ideas (Roberts and Jacobs, 1995:1). Through this statement, it can be
stated that literature can make people develop language when they would like to tell stories in
order to have aesthetic point. Hence, language and literature have close relationship. Language is
a medium which makes literature exist. Literature also can be a medium to express anger,
happiness, sadness, ambition, and even insinuate something in a soft trick. Literature has
beautiful words, it can make the readers become more interested in discussing the topics which
are reflected in literary works.
According to Wellek and Warren (1949: 25), among the arts, literature, specifically,
seems also to claim "truth" through the view of life (Weltanschauung) which every artistically
coherent work possesses. It is clear that there is truth which is going to be showed by a poet,
dramatist, or novelist as the writer of literary works. Therefore, kinds of literature need to be
analyzed in order to find the truth embedded in the literature itself.
Richard Taylor in Understanding The Elements Of Literature (1981: 1) said that literature is the art of writings in which creativity, imagination, idea, and perception can be expressed with universal ways. Literature deals with human being. It is how the man expresses his opinion, feeling, emotion, and attitude towards the destiny of human being on earth.
According to Razali Kasim in his book entitled Introduction to Literature (2005:2), literature sprang up from imaginative mind of people who had talent to create the stories. People
UNIVERSITAS SUMATERA UTARA are inspired to create literary works by phenomena surrounding them. They make them as reflection of reality in the society.
“Literature sprang up from the imaginative mind of people who had the talent to create stories. They perceived what was happening around them from natural phenomena to the lives of the people in their community. The eruption of the volcano, earth quake, and flood as well as human emotions, behaviors, and deeds, might have become the source of the stories” (Kasim 2005: 2)
Richard Gill in his book entitled Mastering English Literature: Third Edition (1985: 77) states that literature itself has been classified into three genres; prose, poetry, and drama. Each genre still has subgenres and one of the subgenres of prose is novel. Novel is an extended prose narrative that is specially made in words by the author. Novels are fictional narratives representing a way of life or an experience. They range from slight recollections of a small part of life or an experience to the most complete and detailed accounts imaginable; and they vary from the lightest to the most serious experiences and events faced by man.
In novel, character is depicted to have emotion, feeling, and behavior which support idea of the story. Novel presents the psychology and psychology itself presents as a knowledge that discusses about human mind in human personality as a character because character is build by using psychological principles.
Orgel Moskowitz in his book entitled General Psychology (1969: 4) describes that psychology is the study of mental processes, behavior, and the relationship between them.
Mental processes include skills like learning, reasoning, emotion, and motivation.
“Psychology is the scientific study of mental processes. Topics of interest to psychologists include the nervous system, sensation, and perception, learning and memory, intelligence, language, thought, growth a development, personality, stress, and health, psychological disorder, way of treating those disorders, sexual behavior, and the behavior of people in social setting such as groups and organizations”
UNIVERSITAS SUMATERA UTARA
The goals of psychology are to control and to understand mental and behavior process, and also to helping people meet their own goal in doing certain behavior. For example, a psychologist cures people with mental disorders such as stress and depression to be health.
Richard Gill in his book entitled Mastering English Literature: Third Edition (1985: 90) said that character in novel itself is the result of author’s imagination by looking at psychological reality in the society. So literature and psychology have firm relationship. Both literature and psychology have human being as their object. They study about human behavior or character and human development. Attitude, behavior, and also morality of characters are part of psychology.
Psychology explores person from real life while literature explores fictitious person which is imitate from reality.
Wellek and Warren (1977: 139) in their book “Theory of Literature” explains that psychology can enter to literature by studying the psychology of the writer, psychology of the character, and also psychology of the reader. Psychology can enter literature because the author uses his feeling and emotion in creating work as happens in novel.
Guerin, L. Wilfred et. al. in his book entitled A Handbook of Critical Approaches to
Literature: Second Edition (1979: 122) states that human mind in human personality as a character can be approach by using psychoanalytic theory by Sigmund Freud which explains about difference of personality. Personality refers to those characteristics of the person that account for consistent pattern of feeling, thinking, and behavior.
Freud’s personality concept consists of three main system, they are id, ego, and superego.
Id is the component of personality that presents from birth and it is entirely unconscious. It includes instinctive and primitive behavior as the source of all psychic energy. Id based on pleasure principle which strives for gratification of all desires, wants, and needs without caring
UNIVERSITAS SUMATERA UTARA about reality. Ego is based on the reality principle and it understands that desires and needs are not always can be fulfilled. Ego controls Id to aware about the real world. Then, Superego is the aspect of personality that holds entire moral standards and ideals that people acquire from families and society.
So, psychology of literature is a study of literature which values a literary work as an activity of the psyche because an author uses his feeling and emotion in creating his works.
Literary work as the product of psyche can be valued from the way of an author uses his psyche condition in expressing his idea and thought through his works.
2.2 Character
According to Richard Gill in his book entitled Mastering English Literature: Third
Edition (1985: 90), psychological laws can be applied in the literature, in this case novel.
Characters as one of the most important aspects in the novel are built by using psychological norms which imitate psychology of human into psychology of characters in that novel. Character plays role in constructing the whole story of a novel.
Kennedy (1983: 47) in his book entitled Literature: An introduction to Fiction said that character is an imagined person who exists in the story. Characters in novels are not just like real life people. Characters in novels have been especially created by authors. When author creates characters, he selects some aspects of ordinary people then develops some of those aspects. The result is not ordinary people but fictional characters that only exist in the words of novel.
Roberts and Jacobs (1993: 131) in his book entitled Literature: An Introduction to
Reading and Writing said that in establishing the character, an author uses five ways, they are:
UNIVERSITAS SUMATERA UTARA a) Actions
What characters do is the best way to understand what they are. As with ordinary human beings, fictional characters do not necessarily understand how they be changing or why they do the thing they do. Nevertheless, their actions express their characters. Actions may also signal qualities such as weakness, strong inner conflict, or realization or growth of some sort.
b) Description
Both personal and environmental are most important thing in establishing the characters.
Appearance and environment reveal much about a character’s social and economic status. They also tell us more about character’s trait.
c) Dramatic statement and thought.
Although the speeches of most character are functional, they provide material from which to draw a conclusion. Often characters use speeches to hide their motives. The reader should see through such a ploy.
d) Statements by other characters
By studying what character say about each other, it can enhance our understanding of the character being discussed. Ironically, the characters do the talking often indicate something other than what they intend, perhaps because of prejudice, stupidity, or foolishness.
e) Statements by the author speaking as storyteller or observer
What the author speaks with the authorial voice, says about character is usually accurate and the authorial voice can be accepted factually.
E.M Foster (1990: 73-80) in his book entitled Aspects of Novel said there are two kinds of characters. They are flat character and round character. Flat character is constructed round a single idea or quality, unchanging and static, at the end of the novel he is essentially what he has
UNIVERSITAS SUMATERA UTARA been throughout, his response is predictable while round character is a character portrayed in the round, profoundly altered by his experiences, he does not embody a single idea or quality but it much more complex, his responses take us by surprise.
Characters also distinguish into three subdivisions such as main character, minor character, and also leading character. Main character is the character whose appearance is the most frequently appear in the story and dominant of the story. Minor character can be defined as the supporting character of the main character and the appearance of minor character is usually infrequently while leading character is the centered individual who is very dominant. Leading character is focused personally and it is different with main character which can involve more than one character.
Annie Wilkes is type of leading character because he is the center of the whole story. Her appearances construct every event of novel ‘Misery’. She has round character. It is reflected by her actions, behavior, and also thought which are changed from good woman becomes inhuman serial killer. Although she has calm look and good intelligent but she can do something people do not suppose her to do.
2.3 Psychopath
Psychological phenomenon can be adapted as motif of literary work. There are so many psychological phenomena as motifs in the novel. Psychopath as one kind of mental disorder often appears as the motif of novel.
Lester D. Crow and Alice Crow in Readings in Abnormal Psychology (1983: 87) said that psychopath is one kind of mental disorder which can be considered one of the prototypical disorders associated with empathic dysfunction. The psychopath does not have conscience and
UNIVERSITAS SUMATERA UTARA feelings. It is characterized partly by antisocial behavior, a lack capacity for remorse, and
poor behavioral controls.
According to Lester D. Crow and Alice Crow in Readings in abnormal Psychology
(1983: 91), the origins of the concept of psychopath probably originate in the writings of
Pritchard (1837). Pritchard developed the concept of ‘moral insanity’ to account for socially
damaging or irresponsible behaviour that was not associated with known forms of mental
disorder. He attributed morally objection- able behaviour to be a consequence of a diseased
‘moral faculty’. While the notion of a ‘moral faculty’ has been dropped, modern psychiatric
classifications such as the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual
(currently, DSM-IV) make reference to syndromes associated with high levels of antisocial behaviour: conduct disorder (CD) in children and antisocial personality disorder (APD) in adults.
Psychopaths are born with temperamental differences such as impulsivity and
fearlessness that lead them to risk-seeking behavior and an inability to internalize social norms.
They tend to break the laws in the society because they like to be in harmful situation which
raises their adrenalines. The defect of psychopath’s moral character is reflected in their violent
crime such as torturing, raping, killing, stealing, and even mutilating.
Hervey M. Clekcley in his book entitled The Mask of Sanity: An Attempt to Clarify some
Issues about the So- Called Psychopathic Personality (1941: 385) said that the psychopathic
person as outwardly a perfect mimic of a normally functioning person, able to mask or disguise
the fundamental lack of internal personality structure, an internal chaos that results in repeatedly
purposeful destructive behavior, often more self-destructive than destructive to others. Despite
the seemingly sincere, intelligent, even charming external presentation, internally the
UNIVERSITAS SUMATERA UTARA psychopathic person does not have the ability to experience genuine emotions. Psychopaths tend
to make a good first impression on others and often strike observers as remarkably normal. Yet
they are self-centered, dishonest and undependable, and at times they engage in irresponsible
behavior for no apparent reason.
Cleckley in his book The Mask of Sanity: An Attempt to Clarify some Issues about the So-
Called Psychopathic Personality (1941: 338-339) explains about the characteristics of
psychopath:
Superficial charm and good "intelligence; absence of delusions and other signs of irrational thinking; absence of "nervousness" or psychoneurotic manifestations; unreliability; untruthfulness and insincerity; lack of remorse or shame; inadequately motivated antisocial behavior; poor judgment and failure to learn by experience; pathologic egocentricity and incapacity for love; general poverty in major affective reactions; specific loss of insight; inresponsiveness in general interpersonal relations; fantastic and uninviting behavior with drink and sometimes without; suicide rarely carried out; sex life impersonal, trivial, and poorly integrated; failure to follow any life plan.
More often than not, the typical psychopath will seem particularly agreeable and make a
distinctly positive impression when he is first encountered. Alert and friendly in his attitude, he is easy to talk with and seems to have a good many genuine interests. There is nothing at all odd or queer about him, and in every respect he tends to embody the concept of a well-adjusted, happy person. Nor does he, on the other hand, seem to be artificially exerting himself like one who is covering up or who wants to sell you a bill of goods. He would seldom be confused with
the professional backslapper or someone who is trying to ingratiate himself for a concealed
purpose. Signs of affectation or excessive affability are not characteristic.
Hervey M. Clekcley (1941: 339) in his book entitled The Mask of Sanity: An Attempt to
Clarify some Issues about the So- Called Psychopathic Personality described that in fact, the
UNIVERSITAS SUMATERA UTARA psychopath is nearly always free from minor reactions popularly regarded as "neurotic" or as constituting "nervousness". The chief criteria whereby such diagnoses as hysteria, obsessive- compulsive disorder, anxiety state, or "neurasthenia" might be made do not apply to him.
Cleckley then summarizes the material and provides a 'clinical profile', describing 16 behavioral characteristics of a psychopath:
1. Superficial charm and good intelligence
2. Absence of delusions and other signs of irrational thinking
3. Absence of nervousness or psychoneurotic manifestations
4. Unreliability
5. Untruthfulness and insincerity
6. Lack of remorse and shame
7. Inadequately motivated antisocial behavior
8. Poor judgment and failure to learn by experience
9. Pathologic egocentricity and incapacity for love
10. General poverty in major affective reactions
11. Specific loss of insight
12. Unresponsiveness in general interpersonal relations
13. Fantastic and uninviting behavior with drink and sometimes without
14. Suicide threats rarely carried out
15. Sex life impersonal, trivial, and poorly integrated
16. Failure to follow any life plan.
Some of the criteria have obvious psychodynamic implications, such as a lack of remorse, poor judgment, failure to learn from experience, pathological egocentricity, lack of
UNIVERSITAS SUMATERA UTARA capacity for love, a general poverty in major affective reactions, and lack of insight into his own
condition. Starting in 1972, newer editions of the book reflected a closer alliance with Kernberg's
(1984) borderline level of personality organization, specifically defining the structural criteria of
the psychopath's identity integration, defensive operations and reality testing.
Lester D. Crow and Alice Crow in Readings in Abnormal Psychology (1983: 87) said that
someone can become psychopath through rejection and derivation, never developed adequate
attachment to and identification with the parents and substitutes. He lacks of clones with others.
That individual was first indulged and was therefore not confronted with the problem of having
to develop inhibitions for the sake of acceptance then ensued a period of excessive severity in
handling, against which he rebelled, developing no identification and restriction and feeling he
had treated unfairly. In some respects the individual has a strong need for acceptance and a sense
of guilt, but this is not constructively integrated with his total personality.
Derek Russel Davis (1984: 63) in An Introduction to Psychopathology said that psychopath as mental illness arises at crises and reflects failure to achieve through changes in habits and roles a stable reorganization of the system. Those crises are divided into developmental and accidental. Developmental crises are expected in the normal sequence of life circle. For example such as being born, going to school, leaving school, starting a job, becoming a parent and also being widowed. Examples of accidental crises are the ultimately death or the
desertion of member of the family or other loved person, loss of a job, illness, and the
unexpected pregnancy of a daughter. So symptoms and characteristics of psychopath begin in
childhood and continue throughout his adulthood.
UNIVERSITAS SUMATERA UTARA 2.4 Historical Background of Stephen King
Stephen Edwin King (born September 21, 1947) is an American author of horror, supernatural fiction, suspense, science fiction, and fantasy. His books have sold more than 350 million copies, many of which have been adapted into feature films, miniseries, television series, and comic books. King has published 58 novels, including seven under the pen name Richard
Bachman, and six non-fiction books. He has written around 200 short stories, most of which have been collected in book collections.
King has received Bram Stoker Awards, World Fantasy Awards, and British Fantasy
Society Awards. In 2003, the National Book Foundation awarded him the Medal for
Distinguished Contribution to American Letters. He has also received awards for his contribution to literature for his entire oeuvre, such as the World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement
(2004), and the Grand Master Award from the Mystery Writers of America (2007). In 2015,
King was awarded with a National Medal of Arts from the United States National Endowment for the Arts for his contributions to literature. He has been described as the "King of Horror".
UNIVERSITAS SUMATERA UTARA CHAPTER III
METHOD OF RESEARCH
3.1 Research Design
In this thesis, the writer used descriptive qualitative method. Bogdan and Taylor (1975:
5) explains that qualitative method is a research procedure that descriptive data such as written word or verbal expression from the people and their behavior that have been observed. The writer used qualitative method by analyzing words and sentences which are related to the topic of this study about psychopath found in leading character of novel Misery.
Neuman (1977: 331) in his book ‘Social Research Method Qualitative and Quantitative
Approaches’ explained that there are six characteristics of a qualitative research, they are:
a) Importance of the context, it is emphasized for understanding the social world. The
researchers hold the meaning of social action or statement depends, in an important way,
on the context in which it appears. When a researcher removes an event, social, action,
answer to a question, or a conversation from the social context in which it appears,
ignores the context, social meaning, and significance are distorted.
b) The case study method, the researcher may use a case study approach. He or she might
gather a large amount of information on one or few cases, go into greater depth, and get
more details on the cases being examined.
c) The researcher’s integrity, qualitative researchers ensure that their researcher accurately
reflects the evidence and have check on their evidence.
UNIVERSITAS SUMATERA UTARA d) Grounded theory, a qualitative researcher begins with a research question and little else.
Theory develops during the data collection process. This more inductive method means
that theory is built from data or grounded in the data.
e) Process, qualitative researchers look at the sequence of events and pay attention to what
happens first, second, third, and so on because qualitative researchers examine the same
case or set of cases over time, they can see issue evolve, a conflict emerge, or a social
relationship develop. The researcher can detect process and casual relationships.
f) Interpretations, the data are in forms, including quotes or descriptions of particular
events. The researcher interprets data by giving them meaning, translating them, or
making them understandable.
There are some kinds of research methods. They are library research, laboratory research,
and field research. The writer used library research by using some books which are related to the
topic of this thesis. First, the writer read the novel ‘Misery’ as the source of data of psychopathic character and then used some psychology textbooks to understand the principles of psychology which is applied by the author of that novel in creating ‘Annie Wilkes’ as psychopathic
character. Data will be collected and selected before it is analyzed by the writer of this thesis to
infer the conclusion of the research.
UNIVERSITAS SUMATERA UTARA
Researcher Source of Data:
‘Misery’
Conclusion Data:
Character and quotations from the text of novel ‘Misery’
Method: Qualitative Descriptive Data Selected – Interpreted
- Analysis
3.2 Data Collection
Library research is applied to support the topic which is being discussed in this thesis by
using some related books as references. The writer also got some information from the internet
and used that as the supporting reference of this thesis.
The primary source of data is acquired from the novel which being analyzed in this thesis
entitled Miseryby Stephen King. The secondary source of data is obtained from other books as
the references which are most concerned about the psychopath and theory of personality.
UNIVERSITAS SUMATERA UTARA The writer of this thesis applied some steps in collecting data. Firstly, the writer read the
novel Misery and tried to recognize what the story about. The writer read both the English and
Indonesian version of the novel. Secondly, the writer underlined the important things from the
leading character. Thirdly, the data from some books which are focused on psychopath is
collected. Finally, the writer selected some best quotations which are appropriate to support the
idea of psychopath through the leading character.
3.3 Data Analysis
The data analysis was applied when all primary important data from the novel ‘Misery’
had collected and selected. Several steps in analyzing the data are implemented. First, data is
identified from dialogues or statements which lead to the certain characteristics of psychopath.
Then, the writer will get some certain characteristics through some quotations of novel ‘Misery’.
Second, those quotations will be analyzed to give interpretation about psychopathic personality
through the leading character of the novel. The interpretation will be supported by quotations
from some other books about psychopath, encyclopedias, and some documents from the internet.
Finally, conclusion will be inferred from the analysis.
UNIVERSITAS SUMATERA UTARA CHAPTER IV
ANALYSIS AND FINDING
4.1 Annie Wilkes’Characteristics of Psychopath
Annie Wilkes is portrayed as a psychopath with multiple personality disorders. Annie's personality is characterized by violent mood swings, alternating between sweet and charming and blind with fury. Despite her clearly evil actions, Annie has a very rigid moral code that she strictly follows and expects others to conform to and she feels especially obligated to “correct” those who violate her principles. Annie also regards herself as a devout Christian and believes that God often speaks to her and instructs her. Annie abhors profanity, becoming enraged if it is ever used in her presence. She is obsessed with the Misery Chastain novels by Paul Sheldon and has difficulty distinguishing between them and reality. A reclusive individual who lives by herself, Annie is prone to bouts of depression and appears to have severely low self-esteem.
During her depressive favors, she binge eats and self-harms. Annie is a control freak with a strong desire for power over others and shows pronounced sinister tendencies, not only torturing
Paul for disobeying her but also murdering countless infants during her tenure as a nurse.
Interestingly, Annie's intelligence is a subject of debate. She sometimes seems slow-witted and unsophisticated, mispronouncing don Perignon for instance but she is also highly perceptive, manipulative, cunning, and capable of thinking quickly as well as having graduated from the
University of Southern California and pursuing a medical career across the country, albeit marred by the occasional unfortunate bout of infanticide. Forensic psychologist Reid Malloy states that Annie's personality is a virtual catalogue of personality disorders. She shows signs of
UNIVERSITAS SUMATERA UTARA Schizoid, Schizotypal, Borderline and Obsessive compulsive personality disorders respectively
as well as bipolar and sadomasochistic features.
There are some quotations that support the characteristics of psychopath in Annie Wilkes:
She was a big woman who, other than the large but unwelcoming swell of her bosom under the gray cardigan sweater she always wore, seemed to have no feminine curves at all — there was no defined roundness of hip or buttock or even calf below the endless succession of wool skirts she wore in the house (she retired to her unseen bedroom to put on jeans before doing her outside chores). Her body was big but not generous. There was a feeling about her of clots and roadblocks rather than welcoming orifices or even open spaces, areas of hiatus. (Page 10)
From quotation above, the writer found that Wilkes appears harmless due to her choice of clothing. Her “regular costum consist of plain wool skirts, grey cardigan sweaters” makes her
appear to be modest and sensible for other people. In other words, this manner can be categorized
as superficial charm and good intelligence in psychopathic.
'Where am I?' to the woman who sat by his bed with a book in her hands. The name of the man who had written the book was Paul Sheldon. He recognized it as his own with no surprise. 'Sidewinder, Colorado,' she said when he was finally able to ask the question. 'My name is Annie Wilkes. And I am — ' 'I know,' he said. 'You're my number-one fan.' 'Yes,' she said, smiling. 'That's just what I am.'' (Page 9)
From quotation above, it shows that during Paul’s first interaction with Annie, she looks at him with “the most remarkable compassion”. Her friendly, caring, and cheerful nature while talking
with Paul for the first time displays another trait of the typical psychopath: “most psychopaths
can present themselves favorably on a first impression”. It can be categorized as superficial
charm and good intelligence in psychopathic.
'Where is my wallet, by the way?' he asked. 'I've kept it safe for you,' she said. Her smile suddenly collapsed into a narrow watchfulness he didn't like much — it was like discovering a deep crevasse almost obscured by summer flowers in the midst of a smiling, jocund meadow. 'Did you think I'd steal something out of it?' (Page 11)
UNIVERSITAS SUMATERA UTARA From quotation above, the writer found that Wilkes starts to appear her swing moon as psychopath because of Paul’s question of his wallet. She didn’t like his question and answer it as unkind woman. It can be categorized as poor judgment and failure to learn by experience in psychopathic.
She left and returned with a steaming bowl of soup. There were vegetables floating in it. He was not able to eat much but he ate more than he thought at first he could. She seemed pleased. It was while he ate the soup that she told him what had happened,….' (Page 12)
From quotation above, it shows that Annie serve Paul in a good way. Her friendly, caring, and cheerful nature while serving Paul shows another trait of the typical psychopath: “most psychopaths can present themselves favorably on a first impression”. It can be categorized as superficial charm and good intelligence in psychopathic.
He turned the page and discovered another clipping from the Bakersfield Journal — the last, as it turned out. The headline read MISS WILKES IS NURSING SCHOOL GRADUATE' (Page 118)
From quotation above, it shows that Paul eventually reads newspaper headlines about Annie, including “MISS WILKES IS NURSING SCHOOL HONORS GRADUATE”. It state that throughout her life, Annie evidently had no trouble fooling society into believing that she was a hardworking, dedicated, caring individual capable of being a nurse. It can be categorized as superficial charm and good intelligenceand be able to absence of delusions and other signs of irrational thinking in psychopathic because her performance to the society.
Suddenly an image came, one from a dream his conscious mind had already forgotten, which thus gained the delphic resonance of déjà vu. He saw Annie Wilkes in a long aproned dress, herhair covered with a mobcap, an Annie who looked like a nurse in London's Bedlam Hospital. Sheheld a basket over one arm. She dipped into it. Brought out sand and flung it into the upturned faces she passed. This was not the soothing sand of sleep but poisoned sand. It was killing them. When it struck them their faces went white and the lines on the machines monitoring their precarious fives went flat.
UNIVERSITAS SUMATERA UTARA Maybe she killed the Krenmitz kids because they 'were brats . . . and her roommate . . . maybe even her own father. But these others? But he knew. The Annie in him knew. Old and sick. All of them had been old and sick except Mrs Simeaux, and she must have been nothing but a vegetable when she came in. Mrs Simeaux and the kid who had fallen down the well. Annie had killed them because — 'Because they were rats in a trap,' he whispered. Poor things. Poor poor things. Sure. That was it. In Annie's view all the people in the world were divided into three groups: brats, poor poor things . . . and Annie.' (Page 119)
From quotation above, it shows that according to the newspaper articles Paul discovers, Annie has killed numerous people, including several babies, but she has continued on with her life and does not seem to feel any guilt over the matter. It can be categorized as lack of remorse and shamein psychopathic. Instead, she puts the newspaper articles in a book as if she thinks of her murders as accomplishments, an example of her desire for her life to be important and dramatic, regardless of the cost to others. Annie’s criminal behavior matches up perfectly with that of the typical psychopath; many psychopaths exhibit a profound lack of remorse for their aggressive actions, both violent and nonviolent, along with a corresponding lack of empathy for their victims. Moreover, she keeps the newspaper articles as a sort of shrine to herself, demonstrating her grandiosity and her desire to be involved in sensational drama. This type of delusional grandiosity is typical of psychopaths, who are often “grandiose, selfish sensation seekers”
In addition, psychopaths tend to act in a cold-blooded manner, using those around them as pawns to achieve goals and satisfy needs and desires, whether sexual, financial, physical, or emotional. It can be categorized as poor judgment and failure to learn by experience in psychopathic.
A stream of muddy-colored beef soup fell on the coverlet. She looked at it, then at him, and her face twisted. 'There! Look what you made me do!' (Page 19)
UNIVERSITAS SUMATERA UTARA Here, the writer found that Annie uses Paul as a pawn, kidnapping him and forcing him to write another Misery novel, all to satisfy her personal need to see her favorite fictional character resurrected. Another trait typical of psychopaths is that they “do not accept responsibility for their actions and find a way to shift the blame to someone or something else” Annie does this when she becomes upset with Paul and ends up spilling some soup. Her initial response is to blame him, saying even though the spill was really her fault. It can be categorized as poor judgment and failure to learn by experience in psychopathic.
She roused a little at a time, and suddenly she tittered. 'I have such a temper,' she said. 'I'm sorry,' he said out of a dry throat. 'You should be.' Her face went slack again and she looked moodily at the wall. He thought she was going to blank out again, but instead she fetched a sigh and lifted her bulk from the bed. (Page 19)
In addition, from the quotation above, the writer found that when she becomes aware of her behavior, she quickly attempts to cover up the incident, putting on “the sweetest smile” and saying, “I'm so sorry” to other people. Psychopaths frequently will claim they lost control or were in a rage when committing the act of violence such as Annie does. It can be categorized as pathologic egocentricity and incapacity for love in psychopathic.
Annie also displays symptoms of manic-depression, or bipolar disorder, which is characterized by alternating periods of mania (excessive elation or manic excitement) and the profound sadness of depression. In a manic state, it is common for the person to be “talking very fast, jumping from one idea to another and having racing thoughts”. Paul comes into contact with manic Annie most frequently. In this state, she is smiling, talking quickly, appears generally overexcited, and has no filter on what she says, like when she tells Paul she loves him.
“’I have this gun, and sometimes I think about using it’” 'Let me offer again, Paul. I can get my gun. I can end all of this for both of us.
UNIVERSITAS SUMATERA UTARA (Page 109)
Here, the writer found that in a depressive state, the person is likely to be “feeling tired or slowed
down" and “thinking of death or suicide” In the depressive portion of her manic-depressive
cycle, she comes “lumbering in wearing her slippers and her pink quilted housecoat. Her eyes are
without life. Her hair, loose and straggly, hangs around her face” Annie displays her suicidal
ideation when she says ‘I have this gun, and sometimes I think about using it’. Her desire for
herself and Paul to commit suicide together reflects both the depressive part of her bipolar
disorder and her psychopathy. She has a strong desire to commit suicide in a dramatic way that
will bring attention to her life, and to achieve this she needs to take Paul down with her because
she is aware on some level that her death would not be of much importance to the rest of the
world, whereas the death of a famous writer would produce the drama she craves. And like most
psychopaths, who “go through life taking what they want”. She does not care who or what she
has to destroy to satisfy her needs. It can be categorized as suicide threats rarely carried out in
psychopathic.
4.2 The Cause Annie Wilkes’Psychopathic Personality
People have long been fascinated with the idea of psychopaths, Watercolour head. Credit:
Dr After 123ith violent ‘psychopathic’ characters turning up time and again in books, television
and film. However, whilst people with psychopathic characteristics may have an increased risk
of violence, this is far from a defining feature. Instead, psychopathy is characterised by an
extreme lack of empathy. Psychopaths may also be manipulative, charming and exploitative, and
behave in an impulsive and risky manner. They may lack conscience or guilt, and refuse to
UNIVERSITAS SUMATERA UTARA accept responsibility for their actions. Psychopathy is one of the most well-known and well- studied personality disorders.
To understand the problem of the leading character, in this case psychopathic personality then we should know the background of the leading character itself. There is a correlation between cause and impact as the correlation of childhood and adulthood. Most of psychological problems can be traced back from the childhood because they do not involve heredity aspects such gen and chromosome. By focusing on the background of the leading character which is
Annie Wilkes, the cause of psychopathic problem can be found out.
Annie Wilkes is a 48-50 years old Caucasian woman. Actuallyin her case, very little is
known about her upbringing and family dynamic therefore it can not be determined what could
have set the stage for her behaviors. She lives alone in Silver Creek, Colorado in a cabin and
owns farming land and animals. She is single and does not have family, friends, or close
acquaintances. She is heavy built, strong, physically healthy, and an independent woman. She
works on her farm and takes care of a few farm animals including her pig pet “Misery”. Her
house is well organized, clean, and detail oriented. As needed she drives her car to the local shop
in town and purchases basic items. She cooks her meals and enjoys late night dating shows on
her television set. She does not have a telephone line but has telephones around the house. She
dresses in conservative attire and always wears a Cross necklace around her neck. She is very
religious and mentions God many times during her conversations. She speaks in a proper English
and does not use foul language. The joy of her life comes from reading romance novels written
by Paul Sheldon. She has the collection of Paul Sheldon’s books and has read these books
several times each. She has most of the stories memorized by heart and associates closely with
the heroine of the novels Misery Chastaine.
UNIVERSITAS SUMATERA UTARA Lester D. Crow and Alice Crow in Readings in Abnormal Psychology (1983: 87) said that psychopath is one kind of mental disorder which can be considered one of the prototypical disorders associated with empathic dysfunction. The psychopath does not have conscience and feelings. It is characterized partly by antisocial behavior, a lack capacity for remorse, and poor behavioral controls. Someone can be psychopath by some causes such as developmental crises, accidental crisis, and head trauma.
Derek Russel Davis in An Introduction to Psychopathology (1984: 63) said that psychopath as mental illness arises at crises and reflects failure to achieve through changes in habits and roles a stable reorganization of the system. Those crises are divided into developmental and accidental.
Developmental crises happen in the normal sequences of life circle. Developmental crises are crises which develop since someone is born until the old age of him. For example such as being born, going to school, leaving school, starting a job, becoming a parent and also being widowed. These developmental crises also happen to Annie Wilkes as the leading character who has shown the characteristics of psychopath by some crises that he should face since he is child until he is adult.
Annie Wilkes lives alone in a remote area outside of town, and does not have any close friends or acquaintances, which reflects “pervasive pattern of social and interpersonal deficits”, seen in this personality disorder. She enjoys the company of a pig rather than people. She has eccentric behaviors and mannerism that seem odd and at times bizarre. She jumps up and down when she gets excited even though she is close to 50 years old. She uses words such as “dirty- birdy” and “cocka-doodie” and her language is over elaborated when she wants to express strong
UNIVERSITAS SUMATERA UTARA emotions. Her facial expressions are. excessive and animated. It was found in some quotations below:
'Dirty bird!' she panted. 'Oh you dirty birdie, how could you!' (Page 26)
'You lie,' Annie whispered. 'I thought you were good, but you are not good. You are just a lyingold dirty birdie.' (Page 27)
If your animals could talk, Annie, they would tell you who the REAL dirty birdie around here is. (Page 126) 'You're just making up a big cockadoodie excuse.' Her face was darkening. Her hands were clenched into shiny fists on the heavy material of her skirt. Hurricane Annie was back in the room. (Page 152)
In addition, Annie’s father died when she was 11 and her mother’s ware about is unknown. She has no siblings or family members. Husband abandoned her several years ago and she has no children. She living alone. Annie was fired from the hospital and can no longer work as a nurse. She has been nicknamed “The Dragon Lady” by the media following the baby deaths.
The writer found some quotations related, such as:
One correspondent dubbed her the Dragon Lady, and the name stuck for the duration of the trial. Most seemed to feel that the Dragon Lady should be jabbed to death with hot forks, and most indicated they would be very willing to serve as a jabber. (Page 123)
'Fuck off, Dragon Lady!' one of them shouted. (Page 187)
Related to Paul, Annie is obsessed with him and the Misery novels.The joy of her life comes from reading romance novels written by Paul Sheldon. She has the collection of Paul
Sheldon’s books and has read these books several times each. She has most of the stories memorized by heart and associates closely with the heroine of the novels Misery Chastaine. It
UNIVERSITAS SUMATERA UTARA can be concluded that Annie Wilkes traps Paul Sheldon in her house for two reasons, they are (1)
because she is in love with the writer; (2) Because she hates that Paul Sheldon killed off her
favorite character in his latest novel. The writer found some quotations related:
'Because I would never presume to do such a thing without your permission,' she said earnestly. 'I respect you too much. In fact, Paul, I love you.' She crimsoned suddenly and alarmingly. (Page 17)
'Then I will.' That tender, melting look had crept into her eyes again. He had come to hate hermost of all when she looked that way. 'I love you, Paul. You know that, don't you?' 'Yes,' he said. 'I know.' And bent over his pad again. (Page 187)
Looking at the first reason already shows that she is not a psychopath, as psychopaths cannot feel chemical love. She is constantly showing that she is obsessed with Paul, even implying that she went to the the hotel that Paul stayed in while writing his book.
The second reason further supports that she isn't a psychopath. She is so obsessed with a
fictional character, that's the reason why she has trapped Paul, and refuses tolet him go until
Misery is brought back to life. We don't get obsessed over a character as that would require some
level of bonding, something that we are incapable off.
'OH MY GOD OH PAUL WHAT ARE YOU DOOOOOING?' She stumbled forward, armsoutstretched. Now the pile of paper was not just burning; it was blazing. The gray side of theRoyal had begun to turn black. Lighter fluid had pooled under it and now pale-blue tongues offlame shot up between the keys. Paul could feel his face baking, the skin tightening. 'NOT MISERY!' she wailed. 'YOU CAN'T BURN MISERY, YOU COCKADOODIE BRAT, YOUCAN'T BURN MISERY!' (Page 194)
From the quotation above, it shows Annie Wilkes saddened after Paul burns the script and after that going into a blind rage. Both of these are strong emotions. We can't feel sadness, let alone
UNIVERSITAS SUMATERA UTARA feel strong sadness, so that's out. For rage however, it's possible for psychopaths, but it would take a heck of a lot more to get us into that rage.
From the explanation above, the writer found that Anne Wilkes is obsessed, violent, highly emotional, unable to see outside her fantasy world, and obviously troubled. There are some causes that has made Annie Wilkes becomes psychopath such as developmental crises that was imagined from her personal background, her living environment including society behavior to her and alsoher obsessed to Paul’s Novel that become the joy of her life.
4.3 The ImpactAnnie Wilkes’Psychopathic Personality to Paul
The definition of psychopathy can be challenging as depending on the researcher, psychopathy is defined slightly differently and often many psychopathic traits are taken into account. That said, a simple definition of psychopathy is provided by the Society for the
Scientific Study of Psychopathy.
Psychopathy is a constellation of traits that comprises affective features, interpersonal features, as well as impulsive and antisocial behaviors. The affective features include lack of guilt, empathy, and deep emotional attachments to others; the interpersonal features include narcissism and superficial charm; and the impulsive and antisocial behaviors include dishonesty, manipulativeness, and reckless risk-taking. Although psychopathy is a risk factor for physical aggression, it is by no means synonymous with it. In contrast to individuals with psychotic disorders, most psychopaths are in touch with reality and seemingly rational. Psychopathic individuals are found at elevated rates in prisons and jails, but can be found in community settings as well.
UNIVERSITAS SUMATERA UTARA No one knows exactly what causes psychopathy but it is likely a combination of genetics,
environmental and interpersonal factors. For example, children of psychopaths are more likely to
be psychopaths themselves, suggesting genetic influence.
Additionally, some early life experiences have been shown to increase the risks of
becoming a psychopath. Poor parenting, parenting that focuses on punishment (rather than
rewards) and inconsistent parenting appear to help cause psychopathy. Additional risk factors for
psychopathy include:
1. Substance abuse by the parents
2. Separation from a parent or lack of parental involvement
3. Child physical abuse or neglect
In realization, personality disorders or psychopath are not only all-pervasive, but also diffuse and shape-shifting. It is taxing and emotionally harrowing to watch how a loved one is consumed by these pernicious and largely incurable conditions. Victims adopt varying stances and react in different ways to the inevitable abuse involved in relationships with personality disordered patients.
In the Misery Novel, Paul Sheldon as a victim of Annie Wilkes as psychopath has an impact for his own personality. In this case, the writer found that one of the impact of psychopathic personality of Annie Wilkes to Paul is cause him become depression. He has many hallucinations and sometimes has strange behavior that appears accidently. It found in the quotation below:
'Come on,' Wicks said. He drew his gun and the two of them started slowly down the hall to Paul's closed bedroom door.
UNIVERSITAS SUMATERA UTARA 'Watch out for her!' Paul shrieked in his cracked and broken voice. 'Be careful!' They unlocked the door and went in. Paul pulled himself against the wall and leaned his head back, eyes closed. He was cold. He couldn't stop shivering. They would scream or she would scream. There might be a scuffle. There might be shots. He tried to prepare his mind for either. Time passed, and it seemed to be a very long time indeed. At last he heard booted feet coming back down the hall. He opened his eyes. It was Wicks. 'She was dead,' Paul said. 'I knew it — the real part of my mind did — but I can still hardly be — ' Wicks said: 'There's blood and broken glass and charred paper in there . . . but there's no one in that room at all.' Paul Sheldon looked at Wicks, and then he began to scream. He was still screaming when he fainted. (Page 200)
From the quotation above, it can be concluded that Paul has a hallucination of
Annie Wilkes is still alive. He wants to show to Wicks that there is Annie in the room
but in real fact the room in empty. In other words, the writer state that Paul get a
depression that cause of Annie psychopathy personality.
Paul closed his eyes, swaying unsteadily on his twisted, aching legs, waiting to see if he was going to get mad or cry. He hoped he would get mad. He didn't want to cry out here in the hall, but he might. He had. His legs hurt all the time and he wanted his dope, not the heavy-duty aspirin they gave him at the hospital dispensary. He wanted his good dope, his Annie-dope. And oh he was so tired all the time. What he needed to prop him up were not those shitty sticks but his make believe games and stories. They were the good dope, the never-fail fix, but they had all fled. It seemed playtime was finally over. (Page 202) In addition, the writer found that Paul has a strange behavior. He don’t know how to express his feeling become ‘he was going to mad or cry’. Moreover he can’t cross his mind from Annie in thinking of ‘Annie dope’. This sign is indicated to one of the symptom of being psychopath as characteristic of specific loss of insight. It can be concluded that psychological aspects of how victims of abuse by psychopaths end up in
UNIVERSITAS SUMATERA UTARA that position. It is possible to Paul has personality disorder or even being a psychopath like Annie.
UNIVERSITAS SUMATERA UTARA CHAPTER V
CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTIONS
5.1 CONCLUSION
Spotting a psychopath is not easy; as they are usually very manipulative they can appear
normal and keep up a superficial charm that easily fool people. A psychopath lacks conscience,
guilt and empathy which make them manipulative, volatile and sometimes criminal; a
psychopath is a pathological liar, has a grandiose sense of self-worth, no regard for law and order and has shallow emotions. Psychopathy is a spectrum disorder meaning it is a mental disorder that includes a range of linked conditions.
The writer draws some conclusions in this thesis after having analysis from the leading character’s psychopathic personality of novel Miseryby Stephen King, as follow:
1. Annie Wilkes as the leading character of novel Hannibal Rising is figured as a character
with psychopathic personality with some certain characteristics. They are superficial
charm and good "intelligence; pathologic egocentricity and incapacity for love;
untruthfulness and insincerity; lack of remorse or shame;poor judgment and failure to
learn by experience; suicide threats rarely carried out; and inadequately motivated
antisocial behavior. Those characteristics are reflected in Annie Wilkesherself and he can
be concluded as psychopath.
UNIVERSITAS SUMATERA UTARA 2. The cause of Annie Wilkes psychopathic personality is Anne Wilkes is obsessed to Paul,
violent, highly emotional, unable to see outside her fantasy world, and obviously
troubled. There are some causes that has made Annie Wilkes becomes psychopath such
as developmental crises that was imagined from her personal background, her living
environment including society behavior to her and also her obsessed to Paul’s Novel that
become the joy of her life.
3. The impact of psychopath personality in Annie to Paul is the changing in his own
personality. In this case, the writer found that one of the impact of psychopathic
personality of Annie Wilkes to Paul is cause him become depression. He has many
hallucinations and sometimes has strange behavior that appears accidently. Moreover, the
writer can be concluded that psychological aspects of how victims of abuse by
psychopaths end up in that position..
5.2 SUGGESTIONS
Abnormal psychology is interesting topic to be discussed because there is deviation of mental development. Psychopath as one kind of abnormal psychology happens because of some reasons. One of the reasons of being psychopath is bad childhood memory. Person with psychopathic personality usually has bad childhood memory which haunts them and makes him acts cruel and inhuman.
Through reading this thesis, readers aware that childhood memory affects to entire life of someone, living environment that influence one personality. So the writer suggests that the parents or even family should pay attention to their family members so they can live their lives better even when they should survive in this world properly. Parents as the smallest institution in
UNIVERSITAS SUMATERA UTARA the society should care to the mental development of their children by giving them warmth and affection because children just need love and protection from their families. If people aware the characteristics of psychopath and find them in someone’s personality, they should bring them to psychiatrist to receive certain treatment for healing them so they cannot do harmful things which put others in dangerous situation.
The writer realizes that this thesis is far from perfection because of limited knowledge and material in finishing this thesis. The writer would be pleased to invite the readers to give suggestion, correction, or any other input for repairing this thesis in order to become impressive writing.
UNIVERSITAS SUMATERA UTARA REFERENCES
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Crow, Lester D. and Crow, Alice. 1983. Readings in Abnormal Psychology. New Jersey:
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Foster, E.M. 1990. Aspects of Novel. London: David Campbell Publisher.
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UNIVERSITAS SUMATERA UTARA Kennedy, X.J. 1983. Literature: An introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama. Canada:
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Moskowitz, Orgel. 1969. General Psychology. Boston: Houghton Mitten
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Sugihastuti dan itsna Hadi Saptiawan. 2007. Gender & inferioritas Perempuan. Yogyakarta: Pustaka Pelajar.
Teeuw, A. (1983). Membaca dan Menilai Sastra. Jakarta: Gramedia.
Tong, R. (1989). Feminist Thought: A Comprehensive Introduction. London: Unwin Hymen.
Wellek, Rene and Warren, Austin. 1949. Theory of Literature. New York: Harcourt, Brace
and Company, Inc.
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Wellek, Renne and Warren, austin. 1977. Theory of Literature. New York: Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich.
UNIVERSITAS SUMATERA UTARA Zaviera, Ferdinand. 2008. Teori Kepribadian Sigmund Freud. Yogyakarta: Primasophie. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mask_of_Sanity http://www.vokradio.com/content/view/120/52/ https://www.quora.com/Is-Annie-Wilkes-from-Misery-an-accurate-depiction-of-a-
psychopath http://stephenking.wikia.com/wiki/Annie_Wilkes https://www.healthyplace.com/personality-disorders/malignant-self-love/victim-reaction-
to-abuse-by-narcissists-and-psychopaths
UNIVERSITAS SUMATERA UTARA APPENDICES
1. Biography of Stephen King
King graduated from the University of Maine in 1970 with a bachelor’s degree in
English. While writing short stories he supported himself by teaching and working as a janitor, among other jobs. His first published novel, Carrie, about a tormented teenage girl gifted with telekinetic powers, appeared in 1974 (film 1976 and 2013) and was an immediate popular success.
Carrie was the first of many novels in which King blended horror, the macabre, fantasy, and science fiction. Among such works were ’Salem’s Lot (1975; TV miniseries 1979 and
2004); The Shining (1977; film 1980; TV miniseries 1997); The Stand (1978; TV miniseries
1994); The Dead Zone (1979; film 1983; TV series 2002–07); Firestarter (1980; film 1984);
Cujo (1981; film 1983); The Running Man (1982; film 1987); Christine (1983; film 1983);
Thinner (1984; film 1996); It (1986; TV miniseries 1990; film 2017); Misery (1987; film 1990);
The Tommyknockers (1987; TV miniseries 1993); The Dark Half (1989; film 1993); Needful
Things (1991; film 1993); Dolores Claiborne (1993; film 1995); Dreamcatcher (2001; film
2003); Cell and Lisey’s Story (both 2006); Duma Key (2008); Under the Dome (2009; TV series
2013–15); 11/22/63 (2011; TV miniseries 2016); Joyland (2013); Doctor Sleep (2013), a sequel to The Shining; and Revival (2014). King published several of those works, including The Dead
Zone and The Running Man, under the pseudonym Richard Bachman. A collection of the first four Bachman novels, The Bachman Books (1985), contains the essay “Why I Was Bachman.”
Mr. Mercedes (2014), Finders Keepers (2015), and End of Watch (2016) formed a trilogy of hard-boiled crime novels centring on retired detective Bill Hodges. King also wrote a serial
UNIVERSITAS SUMATERA UTARA novel, The Dark Tower, whose first installment, The Gunslinger, appeared in 1982; an eighth volume was published in 2012. A film adaptation of the series was released in 2017.
In his books King explored almost every terror-producing theme imaginable, from vampires, rabid dogs, deranged killers, and a pyromaniac to ghosts, extrasensory perception and telekinesis, biological warfare, and even a malevolent automobile. In his later fiction, exemplified by Dolores Claiborne, King departed from the horror genre to provide sharply detailed psychological portraits of his protagonists, many of them women, who confront difficult and challenging circumstances. Though his work was sometimes disparaged as undisciplined and inelegant, King was a talented storyteller whose books gained their effect from realistic detail, forceful plotting, and the author’s undoubted ability to involve and scare the reader. His work consistently addressed such themes as the potential for politics and technology to disrupt or even destroy an individual human life. Obsession, the forms it can assume, and its power to wreck individuals, families, and whole communities was a recurring theme in King’s fiction, driving the narratives of Christine, Misery, and Needful Things.
By the early 1990s King’s books had sold more than 100 million copies worldwide, and his name had become synonymous with the genre of horror fiction. His short fiction was collected in such volumes as Night Shift (1978), Nightmares and Dreamscapes (1993), Hearts in
Atlantis (1999; film 2001), Just After Sunset (2008), and The Bazaar of Bad Dreams (2015). He wrote several motion-picture screenplays. Some of his novels were adapted for the screen by such directors as John Carpenter, David Cronenberg, Brian De Palma, Stanley Kubrick, and Rob
Reiner. King explored both his own career and the craft of writing in On Writing (2000), a book he completed as he was recovering from severe injuries received after being struck by a car.
UNIVERSITAS SUMATERA UTARA King experimented with different forms of book distribution: The Plant: Zenith Rising was released in 2000 solely as an e-book, distributed via the Internet, with readers asked but not required to pay for it, and the novella UR was made available in 2009 only to users of the Kindle electronic reading device. The short story “Drunken Fireworks” was released in 2015 as an audiobook prior to its print publication.
King’s family included his wife, Tabitha King, and their two sons, Joe Hill and Owen
King, all of whom were novelists. With Owen, he cowrote Sleeping Beauties (2017), in which women become wrapped in cocoons when they fall asleep. King received the National Book
Foundation’s Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters in 2003 and the
National Medal of Arts in 2015.
UNIVERSITAS SUMATERA UTARA 2. Summary of The Misery Novel
Misery is a 1987 psychological horror thriller novel by Stephen King. The novel was nominated for the World Fantasy Award for Best Novel in 1988, and was later made into a
Hollywood film and an off-Broadway play of the same name. When King was writing Misery in
1985 he planned the book to be released under the pseudonym Richard Bachman but the identity of the pseudonym was discovered before the release of the book.
The novel focuses on Paul Sheldon, a writer famous for Victorian-era romance novels involving the character of Misery Chastain. One day he is rescued from a car crash by crazed fan
Annie Wilkes, who transports him to her house and, once finding out what he has done to Misery in his latest book, forces him to write a new book modifying the story – no matter what it takes.
Misery tells the suspenseful and often gruesome story of novelist Paul Sheldon, held captive by a psychotic fan. It also offers insight into the public role of a writer and the experience of writing itself.
Misery establishes characters and conflict immediately, opening with Annie Wilkes’s artificial respiration to revive injured author Paul Sheldon. Within five very brief chapters, readers learn that Sheldon has crashed his car in a snowstorm; that Wilkes, a fan of Sheldon’s popular romance novels starring Misery Chastain, has rescued him; and that she is crazy and is imprisoning him in her isolated house rather than taking him to a hospital for proper care.
Sheldon’s legs are shattered, and Wilkes treats the pain with Novril, a painkiller stolen from hospitals in which she had worked as a nurse. An addiction to Novril furthers Sheldon’s dependence on his admirer and captor.
UNIVERSITAS SUMATERA UTARA The first proof of Annie’s power over Paul, and her insane willingness to use it, concerns
Fast Cars, the novel Sheldon had just finished before the fateful drive from Boulder. Though
Sheldon is known for, and wealthy from, his Misery books, he yearns for recognition of his more literary works and sees the new manuscript as his best work. Annie sees it as a travesty, full of low-life characters and obscenities, and she forces Sheldon to burn his only copy.
Moreover, Annie has been reading Misery’s Child—having waited for the paperback— and Sheldon fears her reaction: At the end, Misery dies in childbirth. Though Paul is delighted to have ended the series, Annie is outraged and insists that he write a new novel that brings Misery back.
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