Mildred Hayes’ Defense Mechanism in

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri Movie

A Thesis Presented as a Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement to Obtain the

Sarjana Sastra Degree in the English Literature Study Program

By:

Zita Galuh Cinta Nugroho

15.J1.0013

ENGLISH DEPARTMENT

FACULTY OF LANGUAGE AND ARTS

SOEGIJAPRANATA CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY

SEMARANG

2019

Mildred Hayes’ Defense Mechanism in Three Billboards Outside

Ebbing, Missouri Movie

A Thesis Presented as a Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement to Obtain the Sarjana

Sastra Degree in the English Literature Study Program

By:

Zita Galuh Cinta Nugroho

15.J1.0013

ENGLISH DEPARTMENT

FACULTY OF LANGUAGE AND ARTS

SOEGIJAPRANATA CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY

SEMARANG

2019

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ACKNOLEDGEMENT

I send my greatest gratitude to Jesus Christ who blesses me, so I could finish

the thesis and get my sarjana sastra degree. I won’t get strength to finish this thesis

without his blessing. I also want to thank people who keep helping and supporting me

in the process of finishing my thesis.

1. My major sponsor, Sir Retang who always supports and gives advice to make

my proposal and thesis be the best literary work for me. I also thank my co-

sponsor, Madam Ike, who not only checks and fixs my writing, but also gives

a lot usefull advice in writing.

2. For all lecturers in FLA; Sir Budi, Sir Anton, Mr. Adi, Ma’am Cecil, Ma’am

Henny, Ma’am Niniek, Ma’am Eka, Ma’am Wur; who bring warmth and good

spirit for me and my friends. So we not only learn in the FLA, but also feel

treated as families.

3. For others FLA members; Pak Udik, Bu Retno, Pak Agus, Bu Albert; who

always help me when I study in FLA.

4. My Mom and Dad who support me financially and mentally. My Sister,

Melati, who teaches me how to survive from my depression. And my lovely

dog, Jestino Piry.

5. My good friends; Deak, Nepia, Nundyu, Youh, Gatha, Mariyo, Ci Kejia; and

my ex-Student Executive Board squad.

6. For my other friends who directly or undirectly supporting me. Especially for

my childhood friends, Probo and Ber.

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7. And last, for people who I couldn’t say the name one by one. I just want to

say thank you for your kindness and support for me.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE OF TITTLE.......................................................................................................i

PAGE OF APPROVAL...............................................................................................ii

BOARD OF EXAMINERS........................................................................................iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.........................................................................................iv

TABLE OF CONTENTS...........................................................................................vi

TABLE OF FIGURES................................................................................................ix

ABSTRACT.................................................................................................................x

ABSTRAK...................................................................................................................xi

CHAPTER 1...............................................................................................................12

INTRODUCTION.....................................................................................................12

1.1. BACKGROUND..........................................................................................12

1.2 Field of the Study.......................................................................................15

1.3 Scope of the Study......................................................................................15

1.4 Problem Formulation................................................................................16

1.5 Objectives of the Study..............................................................................16

1.6 Significance of the Study...........................................................................16

1.7 Definition of Terms....................................................................................17

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CHAPTER 2...............................................................................................................18

REVIEW OF LITERATURE...................................................................................18

2.1 Defense Mechanism....................................................................................18

CHAPTER 3...............................................................................................................24

METHOD OF DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS.......................................24

3.1 Method of Data Collection........................................................................24

3.1.1 Sources.....................................................................................................24

3.1.3 Procedures................................................................................................25

3.2 Method of Data Analysis...........................................................................26

CHAPTER 4...............................................................................................................28

DATA ANALYSIS......................................................................................................28

4.1 Repression.....................................................................................................28

4.2 Reaction Formation......................................................................................34

4.3 Denial.............................................................................................................37

4.4 Isolation.........................................................................................................40

4.5 Undoing.........................................................................................................43

4.6 Regression......................................................................................................45

4.7 Sublimation...................................................................................................47

CHAPTER 5...............................................................................................................51

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CONCLUSION..........................................................................................................51

BIBLIOGRAPHY......................................................................................................53

TABLE OF FIGURES

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Figure 4.1....................................................................................................................28

Figure 4.2....................................................................................................................30

Figure 4.3....................................................................................................................32

Figure 4.4....................................................................................................................33

Figure 4.5....................................................................................................................35

Figure 4.6....................................................................................................................37

Figure 4.7....................................................................................................................38

Figure 4.8....................................................................................................................40

Figure 4.9....................................................................................................................43

Figure 4.10..................................................................................................................45

Figure 4.11..................................................................................................................47

ABSTRACT

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Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri is a movie about the journey of MildredHayes in seeking justice for her late daughter, Angela, who died in sadistic murderseven months ago. Later, Mildred rents three billboards to question police chief inEbbing, Willoughby, who fails to solve her daughter’s case. Unluckily, thosebillboards cause big troubles for Mildred because people in Ebbing take side onWilloughby. Mildred feels anxious in facing rejection from people around her. So, sheuses defense mechanism to survive from her anxiety. The writer uses defensemechanism theory by Sigmund and Anna Freud in this study. From this theory, thewriter is able to find kinds of defense that Mildred used by analyzing her behaviourand gesture. Finally the writer found seven defenses that Mildred used which arerepression, reaction formation, denial, isolation, undoing, regression, andsublimation.

ABSTRAK

Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri adalah film tentang perjalanan mencarikeadilan dari seorang ibu bernama Midred Hayes untuk putrinya, Angela, yang

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meninggal tujuh bulan lalu akibat pembunuhan sadis. Kemudian, Mildred menyewatiga papan iklan untuk mempertanyakan kepala polisi di Ebbing, Willoughby, yanggagal untuk menuntaskan kasus kematian putrinya. Tetapi tidak beruntungnya, ketigapapan iklan tersebut menyebabkan masalah besar bagi Mildred karena masyarakat diEbbing membela Willoughby. Mildred merasa gelisah menghadapi penolakan dariorang- orang di sekitarnya. Maka, dia menggunakan mekanisme pertahanan untukbertahan dari kegelisahannya. Penulis menggunakan teori mekanisme pertahanan dariSigmund dan Anna Freud di penelitian ini. Dari teori tersebut, penulis mampumenemukan jenis mekanisme pertahanan yang digunakan Mildred denganmenganalisa perilaku dan gerak tubuhnya. Akhirnya, penulis menemukan tujuh jenismekanisme yang digunakan Mildred yaitu, repression, reaction formation, denial,isolation, undoing, regression, and sublimation.

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