THE STRUGGLE OF PARANOID DETECTIVE TO SOLVE THE CASE OF MURDER IN PAULA HAWKINS' THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN

ABSTRACT

Zakiyah, Intan Laili. 12.05.111.000.12. The Struggle of Paranoid Detective to Solve The Case of Murder in Paula Hawkins’ The Girl On The Train. Thesis. English Department. Faculty of Social and Cultural Sciences, University of Trunojoyo Madura. Advisor: Diva Wenanda, S.S., M. Pd.

This study is aimed to analyze Paula Hawkins’ novel, entitled The Girl on the Train. Hence, this study uses the theory of psychology and literature and focuses on Beck, Freeman, Davis’ paranoid personality disorder to analyze main character, Rachel.
Furthermore, this study uses qualitative design. Therefore, the writer involves herself in collecting and analyzing the data. The data of this study is in the form of words. Therefore, the author’s narration and the characters’ utterances are used as the data to answer the statements of research problem.
The results of this study reveal that there are six criteria from seven criteria which are appropriate with Rachel, the character in The Girl On The Train novel by Paula Hawkins who has paranoid personality disorder. The criteria that are appropriate are suspects without sufficient basis that others are exploiting, harming, or deceiving him or her, preoccupied with unjustified doubts about the loyalty or trustworthiness of friends or associates, reluctant to confide in others because of unwarranted fear that the information will be used maliciously against him or her, reads hidden demeaning or threatening meanings into benign remarks or events, persistently bears grudges, perceives attacks on his or her character or reputation that are not apparent to others and is quick to react angrily or to counterattack. Furthermore, Rachel as the detective in the case of murder shows the six aspects of paranoid personality disorder that stated by Beck, Freeman and Davis. The six aspects that are appropriate with the struggle of Rachel to solve the case of Megan’s murder are self-view, view of others, beliefs, threats, strategy, and affect.

Key words: The Girl on the Train, Psychology and Literature, Paranoid personality disorder.