The Mirror of Hidden Desires: A Psychoanalytic Study of Characters in the Diamond Necklace

This study investigates the psychological dynamics of the main character, Mathilde Loisel, in Guy de Maupassant's The Diamond Necklace using Freud's psychoanalytic theory. The study applied psychological criticism as the approrach of the research and employed a library research as research method. The study used content analysis to examine how the character's thougts and dialogues are structured through the interaction of the id, ego, and superego. The findings indicate that Mathilde's pronounced inclination towards luxury is indicative of the preeminence of the id, while the strategic choices in navigating reality are indicative of the presence of the ego. Eventually, the superego manifests in the moral decision to endure hardship as a form of redemption. This study demonstrated the efficacy of Freudian personality structure as a tool for literary character analysis, particularly in the context of realist fiction. This study contributes to the field of literary psychology by demonstrating how unconscious drives and identity conflicts are embedded in narrative structures.