Breaking stereotypes: Psychological conflict of characters in the novel Belenggu by Armijn Pane as a study of modern Indonesian prose
Downloads
Abstract
This study examines the psychological conflicts experienced by the main character in the novel Belenggu by Armijn Pane, as one of the modern Indonesian novels that highlights a lot of human inner upheavals. The purpose of this research is to explain the forms of psychological conflicts that arise, identify the causes of these conflicts, and see how they impact the actions and character development of the characters. This research uses the hermeneutic approach and the literary psychology approach, and utilizes Sigmund Freud's psychoanalytic theory in the data analysis process. The main data of the research is in the form of narrative quotes and dialogues that show the mental state of the characters, such as guilt, anxiety, confusion, emotional dependence, and feelings of emptiness in life. Based on the analysis, it was found that the inner conflicts experienced by Sukartono, Tini, and Yah were influenced by disharmonious domestic relationships, clashes of cultural values, and unmet emotional needs. The conflict then affects the way they make decisions and deal with problems in the story. The results of this study conclude that the novel Belenggu not only presents the problem of love, but also describes the search for identity and the psychological struggle of modern humans in understanding the meaning of life. Therefore, this novel has an important value in literary studies that focus on the psychological aspects of the characters. Keywords: literary psychology, inner conflict, novel Fetters, characters
Keywords:
Belenggu novel character psychology inner conflict literary psychology narrative techniqueReferences
Ahmadi, A. (2022). The Images of Man in Indonesian Literature. Masculinities & Social Change. https://doi.org/10.17583/mcs.9446.
Anisa, A. S. N. (2022). Analysis Of An Inner Conflict On The Main Charactwr Of Asma In The Novel "Assalamualaikum Beijing; BY ASMA NADIA: A review of the psychology of literature of sigmund Freud. TEXTURA, 2(1), 20-28. Retrieved from https://journal.piksi.ac.id/index.php/TEXTURA/article/view/356
Anmawar, J. N., Suparmin, & Muryati, S. (2023). Aspek psikologis sastra pada konflik tokoh Sasana dalam novel Pasung Jiwa karya Okky Madasari dan relevansi sebagai alternatif bahan ajar di SMA. Hortatori, 7(2), 157–166.
Apriyanti, D. N. (2023). Analysis Of Inner Conflict In The Main Character In The Novel Robert Anak Surapati By Abdoel Moeis. Literasi: Jurnal Penelitian Bahasa dan Sastra serta Pembelajarannya. https://jurnal.unigal.ac.id/literasi/article/view/11076
Asia, M., Ridwan, R., & Ahmad, M. S. (2025). Perlawanan Untuk Memperjuangkan Hak dan Keadilan dalam Novel Karmila Karya Marga Tjoa: Feminisme Eksistensialis Simon De Beauvoir. GHANCARAN: Jurnal Pendidikan Bahasa Dan Sastra Indonesia, 7(1), 287–306. https://doi.org/10.19105/ghancaran.v7i1.13293
Astuti, D., Udu, S., & Konisi, L. Y. (2026). Konflik tokoh dalam novel Bunda, Aku Nggak Suka Dipukul karya Jaquenza Eden. Jurnal Bastra (Bahasa dan Sastra), 11(2), 1041–1049. https://doi.org/10.36709/bastra.v11i2.2605
Aswal, Monika. (2023). The Dark Mirror: Unveiling Id Ego Superego in All Humans. American Research Journal of English and Literature. https://doi.org/10.21694/2378-9026.23023.
Ate, Christmas & Lawa, Selfiana. (2022). Analisis Unsur Intrinsik Novel Ayah Karya Andrea Hirata. Hinef: Jurnal Rumpun Ilmu Pendidikan. 1. 33-40. 10.37792/hinef.v1i1.390. Bhattarai, K. (2023). Non-Human World in Ernest Hemmingway’s The Old Man and the Sea. Journal of Tikapur Multiple Campus. https://doi.org/10.3126/jotmc.v6i01.56359.
Aulia, Rini. (2018). Konflik Batin Tokoh Utama Novel Surga Yang Tak Dirindukan Karya Asma Nadia (Inner Conflicts Of The Main Character Of Surga Yang Tak Dirindukan Novel By Asma Nadia). Jurnal Bahasa, Sastra Dan Pembelajarannya. 8. 113. 10.20527/jbsp.v8i1.4816. Kurniawati, H., Handayani, W., Farida, S., & Pamungkas, O. (2025). Psikologi Kegelapan: Membedah Konflik Batin Tokoh Utama Dalam Novel Rumah Tanpa Cahaya. Transformatika: Jurnal Bahasa, Sastra, dan Pengajarannya. https://doi.org/10.31002/transformatika.v9i2.2177.
Bhattarai, K. (2023). Non-Human World in Ernest Hemmingway’s The Old Man and the Sea. Journal of Tikapur Multiple Campus. https://doi.org/10.3126/jotmc.v6i01.56359.
Das, D. (2025). Eco-Criticism of Ernest Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea. International Journal For Multidisciplinary Research. https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2025.v07i02.38286.
Deak, V., & Mengga, R. C. (2023). The The Role of Prayer as Spiritual-Religious Coping in the Healing Process in the Perspective of Christian Psychology. International Journal of Social and Management Studies, 4(4), 54–64. https://doi.org/10.5555/ijosmas.v4i4.338
Dhakal, S. (2025). Glorifying the Protagonists as Heroes: A Critique of Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea and Sarubhakta’s The Peak. The Outlook: Journal of English Studies. https://doi.org/10.3126/ojes.v16i1.81530.
Ernis, P. (2018). Perbandingan Karakter Tokoh Utama Novel Salah Asuhan Karya Abdoel Moeis Dan Belenggu Karya Armin Pane. 32-44. https://doi.org/10.24853/pl.1.1.32-44
Fadhilah, F. (2023). Moral Dilemmas and Identity Crises in Indonesian Literature. Jurnal Aksara.
Fauziyah, I., & Khotimah, N. (2024). Analysis of Personality Conflicts of The Characters in The Novel Az-Zayni Barakat by Jamal Al-Ghithanii (A Study of Sigmund Freud's Literary Psychoanalysis). The Journal of Academic Science. https://doi.org/10.59613/f9adwe95
Hasanuddin, M., Rahman, F., Nurhayati, & Faisal, A. (2025). Women’s resistance to religious values in several Indonesian novels of the 2000s: A feminist literary criticism review. Teaching and Practice of Language Studies, 15(8). https://doi.org/10.17507/tpls.1508.22
Istikawati, Istikawati & Pertiwi, Rindy & Saputri, Pratiwi & Nugroho, Abdillah. (2024). Konflik Batin Dalam Film Ngenest Karya Ernest Prakasa: Kajian Psikoanalisis Sigmund Freud. Lingua Rima: Jurnal Pendidikan Bahasa dan Sastra Indonesia. 13. 55. 10.31000/lgrm.v13i1.11035. Jannah, D., Subaweh, A., & Effendi, I. (2023). Analysis Of The Inner Conflict Of The Main Character In The Novel "Gadis Pantai" By Pramoedya Ananta Toer And Its Utilization In The Enrichment Book For 12th Grade High School Novels. Romeo Review Of Multidisciplinary Education Culture And Pedagogy. https://doi.org/10.55047/romeo.v2i3.825.
Kadir, H., Novianti, A., Babay, R. S. . N. N. ., Ashari, V. ., Rajak, J., Tuzahra, S. F., & Khair, U. (2026). The Inner Conflict of the Main Character in the Novel The Kite Runner and the Novel Seporsi Mie Ayam Sebelum Mati. Jurnal Pembelajaran Bahasa Dan Sastra, 5(4), 3301–3310. https://doi.org/10.55909/jpbs.v5i4.1581
Maulidya, N. (2022). Analisis Sosiologi Sastra Terhadap Gambaran Kontradiksi dan Modernisasi dalam Novel Belenggu Karya Armijn Pane. Metafora: Jurnal Pembelajaran Bahasa Dan Sastra. https://doi.org/10.30595/mtf.v9i2.15104
Musaad, Rahmi & Samasurijal, Samasurijal & Rasyid, Nirwana & Musayyedah, Musayyedah & Ratnawati, Ratnawati. (2022). The Inner Conflict of the Main Character in Athirah Novel by Alberthiene Endah: Overview of Literary Psychology. 10.2991/assehr.k.211225.011.
Niazi, N. (2021). The Changing Relationship Of Culture And Nature In Hemingway’s The Old Man And The Sea: An Ecocritical Study. Folia linguistica et litteraria. https://researchonline.stthomas.edu/esploro/outputs/journalArticle/The-Changing-Relationship-of-Culture-and/991015211986703691
Nuriyati, N. (2018). Konflik psikologis tokoh novel Kau, Aku, dan Sepucuk Angpao Merah karya Tere Liye (kajian psikologi sastra). Kata, 4(2). https://doi.org/10.52166/kata.v3i2.1041
Nurkamila, N., Suntoko, S., & Pratiwi, W. (2022). Analisis Kepribadian Tokoh Utama dalam Novel Gemaya Karya Risma Ridha Anissa (Tinjauan Psikologi Sastra). Jurnal Ilmiah Wahana Pendidikan, 8(1), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5813549
Nuryana, M. (2025). Dinamika Id, Ego, dan Superego Kepribadian Tokoh Utama Dalam Novel Proyek Maut Karya Eddie Sindunata. Journal of Comprehensive Science. https://doi.org/10.59188/jcs.v4i7.3435.
Pratiwi, Y. (2013). Pengembangan Konflik Tokoh Perempuan Dengan Strategi Pemertahanan Diri Dalam Prosa Fiksi Indonesia. Litera, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.21831/ltr.v12i01.1339
Reanitha, R., Risman, Y., & Nursidah, N. (2025). Konflik Batin dalam Struktur Kepribadian Tokoh Atsuko pada Novel Shojo Karya Minato Kanae. NAWA: Journal of Japanese Studies. https://doi.org/10.69908/nawa.v2i1.42986.
Sari, M., & Zulfadhli, Z. (2026). Kritik Sosial dalam Novel Belenggu Karya Armijn Pane. TSAQOFAH. https://doi.org/10.58578/tsaqofah.v6i3.9070
Selpiansyah, N., Juliansa, P., & Aristya, I. (2025). Psychological Analysis of the Main Characters in the Novel In the Land of Pepper by Ziggy Zezsyazeoviennazabrizkie. Academia Open. https://doi.org/10.21070/acopen.10.2025.11461.
Septiningsih, Lustantini. (2015). Membangun Karakter Bangsa Berbasis Sastra: Kajian terhadap Materi Karya Sastra di Sekolah Menengah Atas. Jurnal Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan. 21. 71-86. 10.24832/jpnk.v21i1.177.
Sitohang, J., Sianturi, R., Sianturi, D., Siregar, M., Bahri, S., William, J., Ps.V, I., Baru, K., Percut, K., & Tuan, S. (2025). Personality Development In William Shakespeare’s Play Macbeth: Psycoanalytic Perspective. Jurnal Pendidikan dan Sastra Inggris. https://doi.org/10.55606/jupensi.v5i2.5227.
Sukini, S., Amertawengrum, I. P., & Suseno, D. (2024). Konflik batin tokoh utama novel Terusir karya Hamka: Analisis psikologi sastra. Jurnal Bahasa, Sastra, dan Indonesia, 4(2). https://doi.org/10.47709/jbsi.v4i02.5007
Tang, M., Ridwan, R., & Junaedi, I. M. (2024). Voicing The Reality of Colonialized Women in The Novel ‘Belenggu’ By Armijn Pane. Tamaddun. https://doi.org/10.33096/tamaddun.v23i1.714
Toshtemirovich, E. (2024). Z. Freud's Theory And Its Reflection In Literary Works. American Journal of Philological Sciences. https://doi.org/10.37547/ajps/volume04issue11-24.
Wajdi, M., Darlina, L., Nyoman, I., Sanjaya, S., & Susanto, B. (2024a). A Self-Confident Profile: An Analysis of the Novel The Old Man and the Sea. Journal of Language and Literature. https://doi.org/10.24071/joll.v24i1.6673.
Wajdi, M., Dewi, I. A. M. W. S., Riama, P., Anwar, N. L. G. I. A., Dynata, K. T., Widarwan, K. C. W., & Setyowati, R. (2023c). A film review: the story behind miracle in cell no. 7. Journal of Language and Pragmatics Studies, 2(1), 11–18. https://doi.org/10.58881/jlps.v2i1.11
Wajdi, M., Joaquin, C. J., Ayub, S., Mustafa, M., & Uzma, S. M. (2025). Nostalgia and bonds: Exploring themes of friendship, family, and love in K-drama “Reply 1988”. Journal of Language, Literature, Social and Cultural Studies, 3(2), 220–232. https://doi.org/10.58881/jllscs.v3i1.31
Wajdi, M., Pratiwi, N. K. A. P., Putra, I. K. A. J. S., Amanah, F. M., Muhamadias, N., & Amandari, N. K. P. A. (2023b). Book review: this is me! whatever you say. Journal of Language and Pragmatics Studies, 2(1), 53–57. https://doi.org/10.58881/jlps.v2i1.10
Wajdi, M., Purnomo, S. H., Mariam, S., Suriyadi, S., & Amrullah, A. (2024b). Exploring social class dynamics in the novel "Laskar Pelangi": An in-depth analysis. Journal of Education, Social & Communication Studies, 1(1), 35–45. Retrieved from https://ojs.ptmjb.com/index.php/JESCS/article/view/5 (Original work published January 15, 2024)
Wajdi, M., Setiadewi, N. P. C. P., Ratih, N. K. P. A., Dewi, N. K. C., Suteja, M. K., & Pridari, N. M. M. (2023a). A captivating journey of memory and healing: A review of a novel book “Sebuah usaha melupakan” by Boy Chandra (2016) . Journal of Language and Pragmatics Studies, 2(2), 127–133. https://doi.org/10.58881/jlps.v2i2.15 (Original work published July 31, 2023)
Wohlmann, A. (2025). A real old man: Aging masculinity and late-life creativity in Ernest Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea. Journal of Aging Studies. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaging.2025.101229
Wulandari, E. A. (2023). Indonesian Nationalism in Three Acts: The Intertwined Narratives of National Identity and the Subaltern Woman in Three Iconic Indonesian Novels. The Center for Asia and Diaspora. https://doi.org/10.15519/dcc.2023.02.13.1.151
Xu, R. (2025). Metaphor Research from the Perspective of Cognitive Linguistics: A Case Study of “Sea” in The Old Man and the Sea. Frontiers in Humanities and Social Sciences. https://doi.org/10.54691/5j8rcp77.
Zahrah, N. (2025). Analisis Konflik Batin Tokoh Utama dalam Novel “Rumah Untuk Alie” Karya Lenn Liu. Jurnal Tinta. https://doi.org/10.35897/jurnaltinta.v7i1.1924.
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Frika Pamuji, Layli Rahmawati, Kartika Candra Wahyuni, Rizal Hidayat Ramadhan, Risma Dwi Julianti, Suci Fauziyah, Onok Yayang Pamungkas
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
