FERGUS BOGGS’ IMBALANCED SYSTEM OF PERSONALITY AND HIS DEFENSE MECHANISM AS SEEN IN THE MARBLE COLLECTOR

Abstract

This research has goals to reveal Fergus Boggs’ imbalanced system of personality and the types of

defense mechanism he shows in this novel. This is a qualitative research which the source of the data is a novel from Cecelia Ahern, The Marble Collector. The data used in this research is the expressions related to the imbalanced system of personality and defense mechanism used by the character and the narrative texts. The researcher read and re-read the text, collected the data, categorized and analyzed them. The data was analyzed using Freud’s psychoanalysis theory especially in ego defense mechanism. To maintain the trustworthiness of the data, the researcher used proof-reading methods. The finding of the study finds that Fergus Bogg’s imbalanced system of personality is caused by the domination of the id. The domination can be seen when Fergus does everything when it is related to marbles, he often lies, and does something impulsively. His id domination can also be seen when he has affairs with several women. The id domination is caused by two reasons, they are the family and the priest that lead him in having traumatic experience. The second finding is Fergus Bogg’s types of defense mechanism. The types of defense mechanism portrayed by Fergus are rationalization, projection, reaction formation, and displacement.

Keywords: The Marble Collector, Cecelia Ahern, psychoanalysis, imbalanced system of personality, domination of id, ego defense mechanism