Jesse Oliver Aarons Jr's Maladaptive Daydreaming in Katherine Paterson's Bridge to Terabithia

Abstract

This article focuses on maladaptive daydreaming experienced by Jesse Oliver Aarons Jr in Katerine Paterson’s Bridge to Terabithia. This study aims to describe the functions of maladaptive daydreaming for its sufferer, Jesse Oliver Aarons Jr, in Katerine Patterson’s Bridge to Terabithia and the themes of maladaptive daydreaming experienced by Jesse Oliver Aarons Jr in Katerine Patterson’s Bridge to Terabithia. In addition, to analyze data, this article uses Somer’s theory related to the function and the theme of maladaptive daydreaming. Moreover, this article is conducted using a qualitative design because it analyzes the data inductively. The data of this article is the utterances and the narration about Jesse Oliver Aarons Jr that show the maladaptive daydreaming suffered by him. The data of this article is collected by content analysis method.
After analyzing the novel, it is concluded that there are two functions of maladaptive daydreaming for Jesse Oliver Aarons Jr. They are disengagement from the stress and pain by wish fulfillment fantasies and companionship, intimacy, and soothing. Meanwhile, there are four themes of maladaptive daydreaming experienced by Jesse Oliver Aarons Jr. They are violence, idealized self, power and control, captivity, rescue, and escape.

Keywords: Maladaptive Daydreaming, The Functions and The Theme, Bridge to Terabithia