The Effect of Cruel Punishments in The Mental Hospital To Susanna’s Depression in Susanna Kaysen’s Girl, Interrupted!

Authors

  • Melissa Elaine Saputra English Department, Faculty of Letters, Petra Christian University, Siwalankerto 121-131, Surabaya 60236, East Java
  • Liem Satya Limanta English Department, Faculty of Letters, Petra Christian University, Siwalankerto 121-131, Surabaya 60236, East Java

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.9744/katakita.2.1.%25p

Keywords:

Pelatihan Kerja, Motivasi Kerja, dan Kinerja Karyawan

Abstract

This paper is basically a study of depression. Through the study on Susanna Kaysen’s Girl, Interrupted!, I intend to analyze the effects of cruel punishment in the mental hospital to Susanna Kaysen, the main character in the novel. In order to fulfill the goal of this thesis, I use psychological theory on depression to analyze the novel. Finally, I conclude that Susanna becomes more depressed after she enters the mental hospital and sees the cruel punishment in there. The cruel punishments can be classified into two groups. They are mental and physical torture. In the novel, Susanna experiences both of them that make her feel more depressed than before she enters the mental hospital. In other words, watching the cruel punishment or torture can make a healthy person becomes depressed and depressed person becomes more depressed. Therefore, a person should avoid watching anything cruel in the television, radio, newspaper, and society so that they will not get depressed or more depressed by it

References

Kaysen, Susanna. Girl, Interrupted!. United States (USA), 1993.

National Institude of Mental Health. Depression. USA.

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Maj, Mario, and Norman Sartorius. Depressive Disorder. 2nd ed. England, 2002.

“Cruel and Inhuman Treatment Causes More Mental Damage Than Physical Torture.” Science 2009. Science Online. 23 May. 2013.

“James Mangold Bio.” Tribute. 1994. March, 2013. <http://www.tribute.ca/people/ james-mangold/4018/>

“Susanna Kaysen – Author of Girl, Interrupted!” Angel Fire. 1993. March, 2013. <http://www.angelfire.com/zine2/survivalsnatural/susannakaysen.html>

“Girl, Interrupted! Synopsis.” Water Stones. 1997. March, 2013.

“Interesting Quotes About Memoirs.” A Reader’s Place. 1991. September, 2013.

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Issue

Vol. 2 No. 1 (2014)

Section

Articles

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