Rainbow : Journal of Literature, Linguistics and Culture Studies
Rainbow : Journal of Literature, Linguistics and Culture Studies starting in 2024 migrates to better secure from various unwanted things, including journal hacking and so on. To submit, the author please visit the new website page of our journal at the link https://journal.unnes.ac.id/journals/rainbow MIGRATION OFFICIAL STATEMENT HERE Rainbow: Journal of Literature, Linguistics and Culture Studies aims to provide a setting for scholars and researchers worldwide to share their experiences and interact on an academic platform. It publishes reports of original empirical studies, theoretical articles, methodological articles, case studies, and reviews under the umbrella of Literary theory, Linguistics, and Cultural Studies. Journal Name : Rainbow Journal of Literature, Linguistics and Culture Studies Editor in Chief : Henrikus Joko Yulianto, Ph.D. ISSN : 2252-6323 (print) 2721-4540 (online) Frequency of Publication : Biannually (April and October) Publisher : Faculty of Languages and Arts, Universitas Negeri Semarang Address : B8 Buliding 1st Floor, Kampus Sekaran, Gunungpati Semarang 50229, Indonesia Accreditation : Grade 3 (Sinta 3) - Indonesian Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education Abstracting & Indexing: Dimensions, Garuda, Sinta, DOAJ
An Analysis of Compliment Strategies, Structural Patterns, and Pragmatic Functions in Gen Z Social Media Interactions
Due to exposure to social media and evolving spoken language, younger generations are highly likely to develop different structure of compliments. This study aims to analyze the compliments used by the younger generation, specifically Generation Z (Gen Z), in social media TikTok. This study focused on the compliments' strategy, structure, and function. This research is a qualitative study with descriptive-comparative analysis. Two different procedures were used to obtain the data on compliments, the first procedure is to observe the TikTok videos and comments under the “Gen-Z Compliments” trend and the second is through naturalistic observation of a wide range of TikTok videos during the last 3 months, from June to August 2025. Of the total of 43 compliments identified, compliments with indirect strategies are more favored by Generation Z. Syntactically, the most used patterns are patterns [I (like/love) you, (please) (neg [don’t + v + NP])] and [You ADJ, I’m VP [(Vcont + NP)/(PP)]]. The indirect compliments do not have a fixed syntactic pattern. However, two linguistic features are used: semantic shifts and hyperbole. The function of these compliments also focuses solely on expressing admiration and increasing solidarity.
Copyright (c) 2025 Maharani Laksmi Anindita, Nurul Apriani Ymaniyar, Nurul Na’imahtul Rahma (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Gynocentrism: Female Superiority Propaganda in The Woman King
This study examines how the film The Woman King constructs gynocentric discourse through cinematic narrative strategies. While contemporary cinema increasingly features strong female protagonists, the research gap lies in understanding how historical narratives are selectively reconstructed to naturalize contemporary ideologies of female supremacy. Using John Fiske's three-level semiotic framework (reality, representation, and ideology), this qualitative analysis examines character construction, narrative patterns, and visual representations in the film. Findings reveal that the film employs ideological techniques including historical transfer, selective framing, and testimonial to establish female dominance across physical, intellectual, and moral domains. Critically, the study identifies significant ideological ambivalence: despite systematically constructing narratives of female superiority, the film paradoxically requires patriarchal validation for female achievements, exemplified in the kpojito title conferment scene. This reveals that contemporary gender representation involves complex negotiations between progressive aspirations and persistent androcentric frameworks. The research contributes theoretical insights into how semiotic analysis can expose ideological contradictions within ostensibly progressive media content.
Copyright (c) 2024 Qori Aris (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Echoes of Silence: The Role of Unspoken Words in Shaping Characters in John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men
John Steinbeck's novella, Of Mice and Men (1937), uses silence as a literary device to define the sociology and psychology of his central characters. This research project explores how silence contributes to characterization from a modernist and minority criticism prospective, championing the Assembled from what is not said—George Milton, Lennie Small and Curley's wife. The signifying moments of silence illustrate that silence is a presence and not an absence. Thus, via comprehensive text analysis, audiences find that George's silences are an acknowledgment of his somber duty, Lennie's failures are tragic, yet innocently, and Curley's wife's relative silence is feministically indicative of how she lived a life unheard due to societal erasure. Silence is an enforced reality that deepens meanings of loneliness, wants and inaccessible dreams. Therefore, a modernist critique applies through the fragmentation of the American Dream and the inability to voice one's contempt against depression. Quantitative resources include crucial passages from the book as well as relative support from secondary sources like Warren French and Susan Sontag that put Steinbeck's technique in context with twentieth-century literature. The findings show that silence enriches character development and multidimensional observations of real men/Women lives experienced during the Great Depression, adding an emotional resonance beyond standard comprehension. For example, the comparison of silence through Steinbeck's work relative to Hemingway's shows how sometimes, silence can speak louder than words. Ultimately, Of Mice and Men is a relative new classic that teaches silence can scream and gives research opportunities outside this one to investigate how Steinbeck utilizes silence in all his works.
Copyright (c) 2025 Ali Hussein Ali Rasheed, Mohanad Ramdan Safar , AlHasan Abdulrahman Awad (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
An Analysis of Derivational and Inflectional Morphemes Found in Kamala Harris’ Speech
This study aims to know the types and analyze the functions of derivational and inflectional morphemes contained in Kamala Harris' speech. The researcher uses qualitative method with descriptive approach to analyze the data. The data analyzed in this research are derivational and inflectional morphemes that appear in Kamala Harris' speech transcripts, which were obtained by transcribing her speeches and identifying relevant words containing these morphemes. The researcher acts as the main instrument in this research. The data were collected by downloading the speech video, transcribing the speech, identifying words containing derivational and inflectional morphemes, classifying them into their respective types, and analyzing their functions. At the end of the analysis, the researcher draws conclusions based on the types and functions of the derivational and inflectional morphemes used. The findings reveal that a total of 330 words contain derivational and inflectional morphemes, consisting of 120 derivational morphemes and 213 inflectional morphemes. The derivational morphemes were categorized into nine types; 20 adjectives to noun, 19 nouns to adjective, 25 verbs to noun, 1 noun to verb, 17 verbs to adjective, 1 adjective to verb, 17 adjectives to adverb, 6 adjectives to adjective, and 14 nouns to noun. In terms of function, these derivational morphemes contributed to 59 noun formation, 42 adjective formation, 2 verb formation, and 17 adverb formation. The inflectional morphemes were classified into seven types; 110 plural, 46 past tense, 23 third person singular present, 16 past participle, 6 progressive form, 6 possessive, and 6 superlatives. The inflectional functions are 110 function as plural, 46 as past tense, 23 as third-person singular present, 16 as past participle, 6 as progressive, 6 as possessive, and 6 as superlative. The researcher concludes that derivational morphemes play a role in the formation of new word classes, while inflectional morphemes serve to indicate grammatical aspects such as number, time, and possession. These two types of morphemes not only clarify the grammatical structure but also enrich the vocabulary in English, which ultimately improves the clarity of communication.
derivational morphemes, inflectional morphemes, kamala harris’ speech
Copyright (c) 2025 Lidia Sartitin, Stanislaus Guna, Ely Heldiana Selamat (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Utopia Of a Classless Society In Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: Marxist Study
This study addresses the problem of how Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory reflects the dynamics of class struggle and the concept of a classless society through a Marxist perspective. The analysis employs a Marxist literary criticism framework to examine the narrative's portrayal of socioeconomic themes, focusing on the symbolic representation of the chocolate factory as a site of production and class interaction. The findings reveal that while the narrative suggests a meritocratic shift in power and advocates for moral integrity over wealth, it simultaneously exposes the underlying contradictions of a classless society. The presence of the Oompa-Loompas highlights the persistence of labor exploitation, questioning the authenticity of the proposed utopia and indicating that the narrative reinforces rather than fully resolves capitalist ideologies. The study concludes that Dahl's work, while promoting ideals of social mobility and equity, ultimately fails to achieve the Marxist vision of class eradication. Instead, it presents a diluted form of capitalism, masked as a fantasy, which invites critical reflection on the limitations of children's literature in addressing complex social issues.
Copyright (c) 2025 Azriel Akbar Faizal, Rahayu Puji Haryanti (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Resisting the Untainted Lie: Rebellion and False Utopianism in The Scorch Trials
This article analyzes James Dashners The Scorch Trials by placing it within Tom Moylans framework of critical dystopian literature. It shows how WICKEDs utopian language masks genuinely oppressive practices and maps the narrative signs that still leave room for revolt. Through close reading and concept-driven interpretation, the study traces Moylans notions of the utopian mask, counter-memory, and critical hope, highlighting the tensions between WICKEDs propaganda, the scorched landscape, and the Gladers fragmented recollections and covert defiance. Results indicate that the novel exposes the gap between WICKEDs redemptive claims and its brutal methods while keeping open the prospect of brighter futures steered by individual and collective action. In doing so, the text delivers a sharp critique of biopolitical governance, ecological ruin, and weaponized optimism, echoing warnings found in present-day debates about authoritarian politics and crisis capitalism. By testing Moylans concepts within young adult fiction, the article broadens dystopian studies, affirms the genres power to interrogate hierarchies, and illustrates how narratives for younger readers still imagine plausible sites of resistance.
Copyright (c) 2025 Nawaful Raekhan (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Abandonment Issue in the Main Character of Joan G. Robinson's When Marnie Was There
Family plays a critical role in shaping a child’s psychological development. An ideal family consists of each member fulfilling their assigned role. The absence of stability and love that a family offers can lead to long-term effects on children, especially if it happens to an infant. Joan G. Robinson’s When Marnie Was there explores the psychological struggles around children who experience separation from their primary caregiver and their inability to receive a secure environment. Therefore, this study aims to do an in-depth analysis on psychological problems of the main character who experience abandonment issue and what factors cause her to experience abandonment issue. This study uses qualitative methods by applying John Bowlby’s attachment theory and Carl Jung’s psychoanalytic theory, especially about insecure attachment. The novel shows how the abandonment issue was described and what factors cause it through the main character of the novel. The separation and instability that the main character experiences in her early childhood shapes how the main character perceives the world. It reflects Bowlby's attachment theory that psychological development of a person is shaped by what they experience in their infant phase, even if they can’t remember what happened and also represents Jung’s archetypes.
Copyright (c) 2025 Marita Inas Qonita, Prayudias Margawati (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Analysis of Consumer Dependence in Confessions of Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella
Human needs are essential for mental well-being and determining the direction in life. Failure to meet these needs may result in individuals experiencing emotional instability, identity confusion, and internal conflict. Sophie Kinsella's novel Confessions of a Shopaholic illustrates this dilemma through the character Rebecca Bloomwood, whose compulsive purchasing transcends mere lifestyle; it signifies deeper mental health concerns. The objective of this study is to examine the psychological challenges encountered by the main character and how her behavior is influenced by unfulfilled needs, particularly those pertaining to self-esteem and belongingness. This research employs a qualitative methodology grounded in psychological literacy critique and Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory. An in-depth examination and textual analysis of the argument reveals that Rebecca Bloomwood undergoes two significant psychological phases: the emotional turmoil phase, characterized by unmet wants, and the nascent self-awareness phase, during which she tries to take charge of her life again. The character’s journey shows that psychological needs must be met from the inside, not the outside. Rebecca’s story shows how hard it is to live in a culture where appearances and social standing can change who you are.
Consumerism, Identity, Psychological conflict, Maslow’s hierarchy, Confessions of Shopaholic
Copyright (c) 2025 Trisnasari Wahyu Prinanintyas, Prayudias Margawati (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Family Conflict Behind Childhood Depression: A Psychoanalytic Approach of the Main Character in Some Kind of Happiness by Claire Legrand
This study explores how family conflict contributes to childhood depression through the portrayal of Finley's psychological structure in Claire Legrand's novel Some Kind of Happiness. Using Sigmund Freud's theory of personality—comprising the id, ego, and superego—this research examines how Finley's internal struggles reflect the emotional consequences of her parents' marital breakdown. Unlike previous studies, which have applied Freud's theory more broadly to symbolic or moral behaviour across multiple characters, this study offers a focused, in-depth psychoanalytic reading of a single child protagonist. Employing a qualitative descriptive method and a psychological approach, the analysis reveals that Finley's id expresses unconscious impulses driven by sadness and anxiety. At the same time, her ego serves as a mediator between these emotional needs and external expectations. Her superego, shaped by internalised family norms, imposes guilt and shame for emotional vulnerability. The conflict between these three components mirrors the tension within Finley's family and contributes to her emotional repression and depressive symptoms. This study highlights how literature can reflect the psychological impact of family dynamics on children, and how psychoanalytic theory offers valuable insights for understanding emotional trauma in young literary characters.
Copyright (c) 2025 Anggita Galuh Dewayani, Sri Sumaryani, S.S., M.A. (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Defeating racism on African-Americans through music statements and achievements: An analysis of severals Kendrick Lamar’s album
This article examines how Kendrick Lamar’s music serves as a powerful confronting and defeating racism against African Americans through his lyrical statements and artistic achievements. Focusing on several of his seminal albums including Section.80, good kid, m.A.A.d city, To Pimp a Butterfly, and DAMN.—the analysis highlights Lamar’s incisive critique of systemic and institutionalized racism, police brutality, and cultural marginalization. His work not only exposes the structural inequalities faced by Black communities but also explores themes of identity, resilience, and empowerment, offering a nuanced portrayal of African-American life in contemporary America. By unpacking key songs and their socio-political contexts, this study reveals how Lamar’s music transcends entertainment to become a form of cultural resistance and social activism. Moreover, the article discusses the broader impact of Lamar’s achievements, including his role in shaping public discourse on race and inspiring collective empowerment within and beyond the African-American community. Ultimately, this analysis situates Kendrick Lamar as a pivotal figure whose artistic contributions significantly advance the struggle against racism through the transformative power of music.
Copyright (c) 2025 Kosmas Merguna Ganda Manik, Imas Istiani, S.S., M.A. (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Promises and Lies: Speech Act Analysis of Character Dialogue in The Great Gatsby
Characters in literature perform actions that influence stories in addition to communicating information. Scholars have yet to fully examine the speech act aspect of character interactions in F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. In order to close this gap, this study looks at how lies and promises in The Great Gatsby serve as illocutionary acts that highlight important themes and disclose interpersonal dynamics. The analysis, which is based on Speech Act Theory (Austin and Searle), focusses on insincere assertives (lies) and commissives (promises) in a few dialogue exchanges, especially those involving Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan. The study explores how characters' verbal promises and lies propel the story and represent themes of delusion, idealism, treachery, and the American Dream through a qualitative analysis of these exchanges. The analysis shows that Daisy's broken promises and Gatsby's extravagant promises and made-up backstory are more than just empty rhetoric; they deliberately create illusions and reveal hidden power dynamics and emotional undertones in the relationships between the characters. Fitzgerald's criticism of illusion and disillusionment is ultimately highlighted by this pragmatic lens, which also demonstrates how crucial the speech acts of characters that promise and lie are to comprehending the novel's messages about trust, treachery, and the American Dream.
Copyright (c) 2025 Ergi Wian Septiandiko, Rahayu Puji Haryanti (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
A Portrayal of the Main Characters' Change of Persistence in Little Women and Little Men by Louisa May Alcott
The Victorian era had a profound impact on the lives of women during that period. However, with the persistence in achieving dreams, the norm was slightly broken. Persistence is a characteristic that shows one's behavior to maintain perseverance and enthusiasm in achieving goals. The character of persistence is marked by a strong and tireless consistency in the effort to achieve something. Little Women portrays the persistence of the main character, who lives in the Victorian era. This study aims to describe the persistence of the main character in the novel Little Women, who finally broke her word and chose a new path in life in the novel Little Men. The method used is qualitative research using Sigmund Freud's psychoanalysis theory. In this study, Jo shows persistence in achieving her dreams and succeeding, but the environment and ego continue to develop so that Jo begins to break her own words.
Copyright (c) 2025 Indah Amanda Maharani, Sri Sumaryani, S.S., M.A. (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The role of interpersonal relationship in Nora Seed's psychological journey in The Midnight Library
Infants' early experiences with their mother or caregiver shape how they build relationships in the future and internalize the emotional experience of objects. The quality of relationships formed with significant others can influence psychological growth. Matt Haig's The Midnight Library depicts how Nora Seed, the main character in the novel, relates to important people in her life that affect her psychological state. This study aims to identify and explore how interpersonal relationships can affect Nora Seed's psychological conditions in Matt Haig's The Midnight Library. This study employs a descriptive qualitative approach, drawing on Klein's object relations theory, because it enables researchers to explore and analyze narratives and dialogues in depth and holistically through careful data collection and detailed analysis. The results of this study show that Nora Seed's initial relationship with her parents as caregivers influences the formation of relationships with other significant people. She viewed her parents with ambivalence and as "bad" objects. It formed a negative relationship with her significant others, so Nora experienced problems in her psychological state, such as depression, emotional instability, loss of reason to live, etc.
Copyright (c) 2025 Salya Arwanda Chairunnisa, Sri Sumaryani (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Revealing the Colonial Hypocrisy: Racism and Identity on This Earth of Mankind
This Earth of Mankind, a powerful literary work that explores the complexities of identity and the aftereffects of colonial domination, was published in 1980 by Indonesian author Pramodya Ananta Toer. The intricate web of power dynamics present in colonial nations is shown by the novel's examination of oppression. The story sheds light on the racial and social hierarchy that uphold the systematic oppression of the indigenous population, as well as the stark disparities that exist between the colonizers and the colonized. This essay highlights the diverse aspects of identity formation in a colonial setting. The novel's analysis of oppression demonstrates the complex web of power relations that existed in colonial countries. The narrative highlights the glaring differences between the colonizers and the colonized, as well as the racial and socioeconomic hierarchy that sustains the systematic subjugation of the indigenous population. It revolves around Minke, a native Javanese character who struggles with his multiple identities as an educated man navigating a Dutch-dominated society and as a representative of his indigenous culture. The various facets of identity creation in a colonial context are highlighted in this essay.
Copyright (c) 2025 Patrick Maullana Ryan, Ruly Indra Darmawan (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
A syntactical analysis of sentence structures and types in the song lyrics of “To The Bone” and “Lathi”
This study aims to analyze the sentence structures and types found in two popular Indonesian songs written in English, “To the Bone” by Pamungkas and “Lathi” by Weird Genius ft. Sara Fajira, and to examine how the songwriters’ syntactic choices contribute to the song lyrics’ expressive impact. Using Carnie’s phrase structure rules (PSRs) for tree diagram constructions, the study identifies constituents, categories, and grammatical functions in the lyrics written by non-native English speakers, especially Indonesians. The results show that simple declarative sentences appear most frequently, with “To The Bone” containing 15 simple sentences within 39 declaratives and “Lathi” containing 9 simple sentences within 22 declaratives. Such syntactic patterns are commonly chosen for emotional clarity and accessibility. On the other hand, “To the Bone” also uses imperatives and interrogatives to enhance emotional engagement, whereas “Lathi” exclusively uses declaratives. Lastly, these songs use fragments and interjections to create emotional impact and support rhythmic flow. In conclusion, these results outline how non-native songwriters manipulate English syntax to create clear narratives and evoke strong emotions in the song lyrics.
Copyright (c) 2025 Muhammad Ilmi Al Bahy, Ruly Indra Darmawan (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Salama’s Hallucinations Analysis in Zoulfa Katouh’s As Long As The Lemon Trees Grow
War is a violent event that can lead to psychological destruction, such as depression, deep trauma, and others. Depression and trauma can cause hallucinations. Hallucinations are psychological disorders when someone sees or hears something that actually does not exist. The unconscious mind, painful memories, and deep trauma can profoundly influence hallucinations, much like a dream does. This article aims to reveal and show the representations of unconscious desire, fear, and trauma through the hallucinations that are experienced by the main character in Zoulfa Katouh’s As Long As The Lemon Trees Grow. The method used is qualitative and is analyzed using Sigmund Freud’s theory of the unconscious mind. The results of this research show that Salama's hallucinations have a close relationship with the unconscious mind. The hallucinating figure of Khawf represents Salama's deep fear and trauma, as Khawf constantly reminds her of the stern warning that compelled Salama to flee the conflict occurring in her country. Meanwhile, the hallucinating figure of Layla is a representation of her hidden desires, a sense of security and companionship in a world that has become unbearable.
fear, hallucination, psychology, unconscious, trauma
Copyright (c) 2025 Aulia Hapsari Fadhilah, Sri Sumaryani (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Memory transfer as a medium to access intergenerational trauma across three generations in On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong
The novel depicts the effect of the Vietnam War on the three generations, both during and long after the war. This article aims to show the portrayal of intergenerational trauma by three generations in On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong. Through this analysis, each traumatic memory that is passed down from generation to generation will be explored. This analysis uses a qualitative descriptive method with the post-memory theory proposed by Marianne Hirsch. In consideration of that, the researcher will find the portrayal of intergenerational trauma experienced by the three generations in the novel, which are interconnected with each other. The results of this analysis indicate that the first generation, Lan, has schizophrenia and PTSD; the second generation, Rose, also has PTSD and anger issues due to their miserable life during the war; the third generation, Little Dog, who did not experience the Vietnam War at all was also affected through the transfer of memories such as stories, dark jokes, and verbally and physically abusive behavior. Therefore, through a collection of letters written by Little Dog, he tells the dark story of his family and his struggle in facing all the memories given.
Copyright (c) 2025 Annisa Tusa'diyah Chaniago, Sri Sumaryani, S.S., M.A. (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Psychoanalytic Reading of Desire for Freedom in Osamu Dazai’s The Setting Sun
This study explores the psychological impact of Japan’s post-World War II defeat as depicted in Osamu Dazai’s The Setting Sun (1956), using Lacanian psychoanalysis to examine characters’ desires for freedom and identity reconstruction. Set against the collapse of traditional Japanese values and aristocracy, the novel reflects a society in transition from feudalism to industrial modernity. The research employs a descriptive qualitative method, focusing on close textual analysis to identify expressions of desire and internal conflict among the characters, particularly Kazuko and Naoji. Drawing on Lacan’s concepts of the Imaginary, the Symbolic, and the Real, the study investigates how language, social structures, and unconscious forces shape subjectivity. Data were categorized using an inventorying table, enabling thematic interpretation of the characters’ struggles with love, loss, autonomy, and societal expectation. Findings suggest that the characters’ fragmented identities mirror Japan’s cultural disorientation, highlighting how personal freedom becomes entangled with national trauma. This research offers insight into the ways literature can reflect and dramatize psychological crises, illustrating how postwar literature serves as both a cultural artifact and a means of exploring the human condition under historical rupture.
Copyright (c) 2025 Kevin Saputra, Zuhrul Anam (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Women’s empowerment through education, resilience, and gender roles in Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
This study explores the theme of women’s empowerment in Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery through the lenses of education, resilience, and gender roles using a liberal feminism. The analysis focuses on how the protagonist, Anne Shirley, navigates a patriarchal society and asserts her agency through academic ambition, personal strength, and the rejection of traditional gender expectations. The study also examines the influence of supporting characters, such as Marilla Cuthbert, Diana Barry, Miss Stacy and Gilbert Blythe in shaping and reflecting changing gender norms. By analyzing the dialogues in the novel, this research demonstrates that education and resilience not only foster Anne’s and the others character personal growth and independence but also challenge societal norms and promote gender equality. The study concludes that literature, as seen in Montgomery’s work, can be a powerful tool for feminist critique and social transformation.
Education, Gender Roles, Liberal Feminism, Resilience, Women’s Empowerment
Copyright (c) 2025 Eva Catur Herawati, Dr. Rini Susanti Wulandari, S.S., M.Hum. (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Femininity of Japanese culture in Kawakami's Breasts and Eggs
In Japanese society, women are expected to exhibit femininity shaped by the ideology of “good wife, wise mother” prevalent in Japan. This societal norm often limits women’s ability to pursue independent lives. However, the rise of the feminist movement has contributed to greater self-awareness among women, encouraging them to assert their rights and express their femininity in a non-traditional way. This study aims to explore how femininity is portrayed through female characters in Kawakami’s Breasts and Eggs. A descriptive qualitative method is employed in this research, drawing on Judith Butler’s theory of gender performativity. The results of this study suggest that femininity can be conveyed through the behavior, appearance, and language of several female characters, including Natsuko, Makiko, Midoriko, and Natsuko’s friend. The femininity portrayed by these characters also demonstrates that they both maintain and challenge traditional Japanese femininity. This depiction illustrates that femininity is constructed by society, which aligns with what Judith Butler discussed about gender.
Copyright (c) 2025 Isnaeni Della Safitri, Sri Sumaryani (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Portrayal of Mortality and Its Impact on Human Behaviour in ‘They Both Die at The End’ by Adam Silvera
This study aims to explore the representation of death and its influence on human behavior in Adam Silvera's novel They Both Die at the End through Sigmund Freud's psychoanalytic approach. In the novel, the call of the "Death-Cast", which informs people of their last day, functions as a trigger for the primacy of death, a condition that increases existential anxiety and psychological tension. This study uses qualitative methods to examine the responses of two main characters, Mateo and Rufus, to the certainty of death they face by examining the dynamics of the id, ego, and superego. In addition, the study also highlights how defense mechanisms such as repression, rationalization, and sublimation are used by both characters as a way to deal with emotional stress. The findings show that awareness of death drives significant psychological changes, such as Mateo, who was initially introverted but developed into a more open and honest person with himself, while Rufus experienced a shift from impulsive and aggressive attitudes to deeper self-understanding and warmer relationships. This transformation reflects the inner conflict between unconscious drives, moral values, and the role of the ego in mediating the two.
Copyright (c) 2025 Muhammad Al Fatih Mahyuzar, Dr. Rini Susanti Wulandari, SS, M.Hum. (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Preventing cultural displacement in multicultural societies as reflected in Persimmons by Li-Young Lee
This study explores the portrayal of cultural displacement and efforts to preserve cultural identity in Li-Young Lee’s poem Persimmons using Michael Riffaterre’s Semiotics of Poetry. Cultural displacement—caused by language barriers, institutional isolation, and cultural misrepresentation—poses serious risks to identity continuity in multicultural societies. The poem serves as a powerful literary example of how immigrant experiences reflect both trauma and resistance. Using qualitative textual analysis, this study applies Riffaterre’s concept of matrix, model, variants, hypogram, and textual interpretants to uncover how the poem conceals deeper cultural meanings beneath language conflict and metaphor. Findings reveal that Persimmons portrays cultural displacement through linguistic confusion, memory loss, and institutional punishment, symbolized by the misinterpretation of the persimmon fruit. However, the poem also emphasizes the preservation of cultural identity through sensory memory, family traditions, and symbolic reclamation. The persimmon functions as a hypogram—a hidden sign of heritage—representing emotional and cultural continuity. This research contributes to literary semiotics and postcolonial discourse by demonstrating how poetic language can resist cultural erasure and affirm identity within multicultural contexts. Ultimately, the study shows that the poetry like Persimmons serves not only as a personal expression but as a powerful mode of cultural preservation and resilience.
Copyright (c) 2025 Oxa Ardyan Fathurozi, Dr. Rahayu Puji Haryanti, M.Hum. (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
State reproduction through structural power and ideological continuity in Suzanne Collins' Mockingjay
In Mockingjay, the fall of the Capitol gives way to a disturbing continuity of power, where the rhetoric of freedom masks familiar forms of control. While District 13 positions itself as the revolutionary alternative, its use of surveillance, propaganda, and authoritarian discipline reflects the very structures it claims to overthrow. This article argues that through Katniss Everdeen’s final act, Suzanne Collins exposes the cyclical nature of state power and the persistence of ideology in legitimizing domination. Drawing on Nicos Poulantzas’s theory of authoritarian statism and the state as a condensation of class struggle, the analysis reveals how the narrative critiques the reproduction of hierarchical structures under the guise of liberation. Rather than celebrating victory, Mockingjay asks whether the revolution truly dismantled power, or simply rebranded it.
Copyright (c) 2025 Miftahul Janah, Dr. Rahayu Puji Haryanti, M.Hum. (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Pearsonian archetypal analysis of Rin in R.F. Kuang's The Poppy War novel
Archetypes reflect the deep psychological complexity of a person's life journey. The phenomena can be exemplified by Rin, the main character in R.F. Kuang's novel The Poppy War. While previous research has explored the themes of gender and history, her psychological evolution through archetype transformation remains unexamined. This research addresses this gap by analysing Rin's character through Carol Pearson's twelve archetypes, revealing how trauma and ambition shape her reactions to certain situations. Using a descriptive qualitative approach, this study examines Rin's dialogue, actions, and thoughts. Findings identified five dominant archetypes in Rin's development which illustrate her psychological development from vulnerability to destructive empowerment. Those archetypes are The Orphan, The Warrior, The Seeker, The Destroyer, and The Magician. This study contributes to literary scholarship by demonstrating how archetype theory explains character psychology, offering a deeper understanding of narrative-driven identity formation in fiction.
Copyright (c) 2025 Fryda Aulia Rahma, Maria Johana Ari Widayanti, S.S., M.Si. (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Children struggle towards discrimination in A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett
This study examines children's struggles in facing discrimination as depicted in A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett using the psychological Self-Determination Theory (SDT) approach by Ryan and Deci, which focuses on the fulfilment of basic psychological needs: autonomy, competence, and relatedness. In addition, Erikson's psychosocial development theory, particularly the stage of ‘industry versus inferiority,’ relates to the development of school-age children. Through this approach, the study should be able to deeply reveal the psychological and social processes through which Sara resists injustice within a social context. This study uses the qualitative descriptive method with a literary content analysis approach to explore Sara Crewe's struggle against discrimination. The results show that the novel uncovers the complex mechanisms behind Sara's independence, offering valuable lessons for educators, parents, and mental health practitioners in fostering children's resilience amid adversity.
Copyright (c) 2025 Ainul Hamdiyah, Dr. Rini Susanti Wulandari, S.S., M.Hum. (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Grief and resilience: The individual emotional transformation in Kanae Minato’s Confessions
This paper explores the emotional transformation of Yuko Moriguchi, the central character in Kanae Minato's Confessions, following the sudden loss of her daughter. Utilizing Elisabeth Kübler-Ross's Five Stages of Grief and Sigmund Freud's theory of defense mechanisms, the study investigates how grief manifests and evolves into various emotional and psychological states. Employing a qualitative descriptive approach, the research uses literary analysis to trace Yuko's journey through denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance, alongside the deployment of defense mechanisms such as denial, repression, rationalization, sublimation, and projection. The findings reveal that the trauma causing sorrow is experienced in accordance with the five stages of grief, and successfully channels this sadness into behaviors that do not harm and are acceptable to society. The paper concludes that Moriguchi's actions reflect a human struggle for emotional transformation and survival after trauma.
Copyright (c) 2025 Naufal Adrian Bastomi, Zuhrul Anam (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Representation of Indigeneity in Women’s Reproductivities in Sophie Mackintosh’s Blue Ticket
This research examines the representation of indigeneity in women's reproductivities in Sophie Mackintosh's Blue Ticket, focusing on how the patriarchal system controls women's bodies and identities. The novel depicts a dystopian society where women's reproductive fate is determined through a lottery system, reflecting the way state power shapes and marginalizes women's subjectivity. With a qualitative method and close reading approach, this study uses Simone de Beauvoir's existentialist feminism and Gayatri Spivak's postcolonial feminism to analyze the interrelationship between reproduction, indigeneity, and gender-based oppression. The research findings reveal that the main character, Calla, portrays resistance to a system that erases women's agency and authority over their bodies. Despite demonstrating an attempt at freedom, Calla must face the consequences of exclusion and violence. This representation shows that women's efforts to resist patriarchal structures are frequently undermined by the system that supports their dominance. This research concludes that Blue Ticket presents reproduction as a realm of conflict between identities shaped by the system and women's struggle to achieve an autonomous existence.
Copyright (c) 2025 Sabrina Indah Kumala, Dr. Rahayu Puji Haryanti, M.Hum. (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Reconstruction of Richard Matheson’s Button, button
This study analyzes how the story reveals hidden systems of control. It shows how modern economic system trick people into thinking they're making free choices, when they're actually being manipulated. The method in this research is using close reading approach as well as the triadic form of construction-deconstruction-reconstruction, it work by establishing themes and binary oppositions in a story first, then deconstruct it by flipping the binary oppositions, and then reconstruct it by creating a new interpretation of the story based from deconstructed binary oppositions and themes. The triadic analysis uncovers contradictions, where Pandora's myth attributes evil to divine forces, Matheson's story attributes it to a systems that tempt and make Norma, the main character, into thinking that she got a free will over her choice. This research concludes that Norma thinks she's making a real choice, just like Pandora gave in to curiosity. But the shocking ending shows she was never really in control, the system had already decided her fate. This exposes how those in power fake 'freedom' to keep people under their thumb.
Deconstruction, Reconstruction, Richard Matheson, Pandora’s Box
Copyright (c) 2025 Haqiqi Ranu Antariksa Saputra, Thohiriyah (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Constructing the good mother: Patriarchal control in Jessamine Chan’s The School for Good Mothers
This research is driven by the need to see motherhood as a social construct shaped by patriarchal norms—often tied to women and loaded with unrealistic expectations—while feminist perspectives push back, pointing to how the state plays a key role in controlling and judging mothers. Jessamine Chan's novel The School for Good Mothers has been analyzed from various perspectives, but it has rarely been studied explicitly through Adrienne Rich's concept of institutional motherhood. This study aims to analyze how the state shapes, supervises, and punishes motherhood through visible institutions, such as mentorship, and its impact on agency, identity, and mother-child relations, focusing on the main character, Frida Liu. This study employs a qualitative and descriptive approach, utilizing content analysis through close reading. Data were categorized into three domains of patriarchal control: surveillance, evaluation and punishment, and ideal motherhood standards. Results show Frida experiences four forms of oppression: state control, inner conflict, identity erasure, and emotional disconnection. This study offers insight into feminist literary criticism by demonstrating that motherhood in fiction can be employed as a tool of patriarchal control while reminding us of the importance of viewing mothers as whole human beings in social policy and cultural representation.
Copyright (c) 2025 Sandy Tahniah, Dr. Rini Susanti Wulandari, S.S., M.Hum. (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Role Model Influence on Behavior Transformation in Alexandra Andrews’ Who is Maud Dixon?
This research presents a Freudian psychoanalytic interpretation of Alexandra Andrews’ Who is Maud Dixon? It focuses on the psychological imbalance projected by the main character, Florence Darrow, as she becomes increasingly obsessed with her role model. Employing a descriptive qualitative design, the study uses the concept of the id, ego and superego to explore the transformation of the ideal-self/desire into obsessive-compulsive disorder and how the obsession for the role model changes the behavior. Initially motivated by the desire of literary achievement, wealth, and fame, her desires escalate into harmful and unethical actions, such as plagiarism and identity theft. The psychological imbalance is characterized by the dominance of the id, the moral disengagement of the ego, and the repression of the superego. It demonstrates a dangerous combination of ambition and obsession. This analysis emphasizes the terrible effects of projecting the ideal-self in the role model, uncovering how the disastrous obsession results in self-disintegration and moral degradation.
Copyright (c) 2025 Anggun Patma Ayu, Rini Susanti Wulandari (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0