Michael’s Psychological Conflicts In The Reader: A Study Of Oedipus Complex

Abstract

This research chooses a movie to be the primary data. The movie is one of German and American drama based on the 1995 novel, with the same name, directing by Stephen Daldry. The title is The Reader. This shows about the issues of children’s relationships with their parents, focusing on a son’s relationship with his father. This conducts the researchers to reveal Oedipus Complex symptoms reflected through Michael’s psychological conflict in the movie. To analyse this objective, this study employs psychology theory, Oedipus complex, and Cinematography theory, shots methods. Besides, this study uses qualitative approach and observe and library research. The findings show that Michael’s disharmonies relationship with his father trigger his conflict relating to his psychology. The application of shots method in this research appoints to his psychological conflict seen through his relationship with his parents at home especially, in the dining room. This room does not only reveal his disharmonies relationship with his father, but it also shows his desire to have his mother’s love.  However, he is not able to obtain his mother’s love because of his father’s power. This causes him have psychological conflict. This conflict brings him to have Oedipus Complex symptoms.