The Oedipus Complex Reflected in Hal Ashby’s Harold and Maude: A Psychological Study

Abstract

Key Words : Character and Characterization, Psychological condition, Oedipus Complex.

The study attempts to analyze the cause and effect of Harold’s Oedipus Complex in Harold and Maude movie. The Oedipus complex is the most famous of Freud psychology theory. It aims to know the complex problem deeply in a psychology. Harold and Maude movie got from website was downloaded from http://movieberry.com/harold_and_maude/. The thesis entitled “The Oedipus Complex Reflected in Hal Ashby’s Harold and Maude: A Psychological Study”. It has three research questions, they are: (1) What is the character and characterization of Harold as a main character? (2) Why does Harold love Maude who is a septuagenarian? (3) What is the effect of Oedipus complex towards Harold’s psychological condition?. The writer used qualitative method, structuralism and psychological approach to analyze the thesis. Technique of data collection is done by watching the movie and downloading the subtitle to explore the conversation and aspect in the movie.

Harold and Maude movie is interesting movie. It tells about life and love story between Harold, a 20 years old boy who was obsessed with suicide and Maude, an eccentric woman 80 years old. It tells about psychological condition of a boy in forbidden lover, oedipal conflict and complex problems. When the conflict has been resolved and the relationships finally end, Harold’s life urge in him proves stronger, fights to get out from his death instinct and sets off to begin life anew.