Sri Yustina, Herlandri Eka Jayaputri , Muhammad Fahruddin Aziz

The Dimensions of Erich Fromm’s Concept of Love in Andrea Hirata’s Novel Father

Introduction

The dimensions of erich fromm’s concept of love in andrea hirata’s novel father . Study of Erich Fromm's love concepts in Andrea Hirata's 'Ayah.' Uncovers predominant love types, Sabari's transcendental love, and reflects Indonesian cultural emotions.

Abstract

This study explores the representation of five types of love objects as conceptualised in Erich Fromm’s theory—love for others, maternal love, erotic love, self-love, and love for God—in Andrea Hirata’s novel “Ayah”. Employing a qualitative literary psychology approach with content analysis techniques, the study identified and analysed 38 instances that illustrate various forms of love. The findings reveal the predominance of love for others and erotic love in shaping character dynamics and driving the narrative. The character Sabari emerges as a symbol of transcendental love characterised by sacrifice and sincerity. Furthermore, the study demonstrates that the values of love depicted in the novel reflect the complexity of Indonesian emotional and cultural expressions. Theoretically, this study contributes by broadening the understanding of the concept of love in Indonesian literature through Fromm’s framework, whilst reinforcing the pertinence of literary psychology in the analysis of local fiction.

Review

This study effectively tackles the complex concept of love as delineated by Erich Fromm, applying its dimensions—love for others, maternal, erotic, self-love, and love for God—to Andrea Hirata's novel "Ayah." The chosen qualitative literary psychology approach, utilizing content analysis, appears well-suited for a nuanced exploration of this nature. The abstract clearly outlines the study's scope, methodology, and its primary findings regarding the manifestation of different love types within the narrative, particularly highlighting the prevalence of love for others and erotic love, and the significant role of the character Sabari. Overall, the study promises a focused and valuable contribution to both literary analysis and cultural understanding. A significant strength of this research lies in its interdisciplinary approach, successfully bridging literary studies with psychological theory. By employing Fromm's comprehensive framework, the authors provide a robust lens through which to analyze the intricate emotional landscape of "Ayah." The identification of Sabari as a symbol of transcendental love, characterized by sacrifice and sincerity, offers a compelling interpretive insight into the novel's core themes. Furthermore, the study's assertion that the depicted values of love reflect the specific complexities of Indonesian emotional and cultural expressions is particularly noteworthy, enriching the understanding of both the novel and its cultural context. This dual contribution—broadening the understanding of love in Indonesian literature and reinforcing the utility of literary psychology in local fiction—is highly commendable. While the abstract provides a compelling overview, the full study would ideally delve deeper into the specific nuances of how each love type manifests, especially considering the identified "predominance" of certain forms, and perhaps offer more detailed examples from the 38 instances. Nonetheless, this research successfully demonstrates the rich interpretative potential of applying established psychological theories to contemporary local literature, offering a strong foundation for future comparative studies across different cultural contexts or literary periods. It promises to be a significant addition to the field, encouraging further exploration of the intersections between psychology, literature, and cultural studies.

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