The Past Trauma of Gunarto in the Drama Script Ayahku Pulang by Usmar Ismail

Abstract

This study aims to describe the past trauma of the character Gunarto in terms of symptoms and the trauma recovery process as depicted in the play Ayahku Pulang by Usmar Ismail. The character’s trauma is examined because this play illustrates how traumatic childhood experiences influence a person’s psychological state into adulthood. The method used is a descriptive-analytical approach based on Herman’s perspective on literary psychology. The data source is the play Ayahku Pulang by Usmar Ismail, accessed via the Scribd website. The research data consists of excerpts from dialogue, narration, and actions that depict the symptoms of trauma and the recovery process of the character Gunarto. Data collection was conducted through reading and note-taking. Data analysis was performed by reading and understanding the data, then classifying the data Based on trauma symptoms and the trauma recovery process, this study describes the data found, analyzes the data according to the research focus, interprets the data, and draws conclusions. The results show that the character Gunarto experienced past trauma through three symptoms: intrusion, constriction, and hyperarousal. In addition, the trauma recovery process consists of three stages: rebuilding a sense of safety, remembering and grieving, and rebuilding a connection with life. The recovery process is evident through the character’s independence, the revelation of past suffering, and the emergence of remorse at the end of the story. This study demonstrates that literary works can be analyzed through the psychological issues experienced by the characters.