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Journal : e-structural

Thanatophobia: A Study of Beloved People’s Death in Bradbury’s The Night Silalahi, Theresia Anggi Angelia; Agustina, Mia Fitria; Trisnawati, Ririn Kurnia
E-Structural (English Studies on Translation, Culture, Literature, and Linguistics) Vol. 7 No. 02 (2024): December 2024
Publisher : Universitas Dian Nuswantoro

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.33633/es.v7i02.11879

Abstract

The young protagonist Shorts in Ray Bradbury's The Night is the subject of this study, which explores the concept of thanatophobia, or the fear of death. The research analyzes Shorts' experiences with death, including the death of his sister and grandfather, as well as the metaphorical contact with mortality in the ravine, using a qualitative descriptive approach. The data suggest that Shorts interprets death differently at each level, reflecting his developmental understanding and emotional responses. The study emphasizes how environmental triggers, developmental cognitive stages, and familial bonds influence his fear and coping mechanisms. These revelations highlight how crucial open communication and supportive caregiving are in assisting kids in grieving and building resilience. This study provides a greater knowledge of mortality dread in fictional and real-life circumstances by bridging the gap between literary analysis and psychological viewpoints.
Being different is not wrong: Representing children’s inferiority feelings in The Day You Begin (2018) by Jacqueline Woodson Nieta Mirzarachma Hermawan; Marsya Lintang Al Fatih; Mia Fitria Agustina; Ririn Kurnia Trisnawati
E-Structural (English Studies on Translation, Culture, Literature, and Linguistics) Vol. 9 No. 02 (2026): December 2026
Publisher : Universitas Dian Nuswantoro

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar

Abstract

This study aims to examine the representation of children’s feelings of inferiority in the picture book The Day You Begin (2018) by Jacqueline Woodson and to explore how these feelings develop into self-acceptance. The study applies Alfred Adler’s theory of inferiority feelings, which explains that feelings of inferiority arise through social comparison but can also motivate individuals toward personal growth and compensation. Adopting a qualitative literary analysis, this research employs close reading and thematic interpretation of the picture book’s verbal narratives and illustrations to examine children’s emotional experiences. The findings reveal that children’s feelings of inferiority, primarily caused by differences in appearance, language, culture, food, and personal experiences, manifest in insecurity, fear of negative evaluation, social withdrawal, and hesitation to express themselves, while these emotional struggles are gradually transformed into self-acceptance through the courage to share personal experiences and supportive social interactions that foster confidence and a sense of belonging. This study contributes to the existing discussion on children’s literature by demonstrating how picture books can meaningfully represent children’s emotional development and the process of overcoming feelings of inferiority. It also highlights the role of storytelling in promoting empathy, inclusion, and appreciation of diversity, thereby enriching literary studies on children’s emotional experiences and identity formation.