The Basic Anxiety of the Female Protagonist in the Novel Midah, Si Manis Bergigi Emas by Pramoedya Ananta Toer

Abstract

Literary works not only present stories but also record the complex inner struggles of human beings, including psychological conflicts concealed beneath the behavior of their characters. This study aims to analyze the basic anxiety of  Midah, the female protagonist in Pramoedya Ananta Toer's novel Midah, Si Manis Bergigi Emas and the neurotic strategies she develops in response to the psychological pressures she faces. This study employs a qualitative descriptive method using Karen Horney's social psychoanalytic approach and intrinsic element analysis based on Burhan Nurgiyantoro's theory, through library research with reading and note-taking techniques. The findings reveal that Midah's basic anxiety stems from her father's authoritarian parenting and a lack of affection during childhood, which drives her to develop three neurotic strategies in an imbalanced manner: moving toward people, moving away from people, and moving against people. Midah has not fully recovered from her childhood trauma due to the absence of adequate emotional support from her surroundings. This study concludes that there is an interconnection between basic anxiety, neurotic strategies, and the inner conflicts of the main character, thus affirming the important role of the family environment in shaping an individual's psychological condition.