Understanding Ketty’s Psychological Transformation through Amnesia as Part of Infantile Memory in "The Mystery of Me"

Nesya Nareswari; Maylafaney Nayyara; Mia Fitria Agustina; Ririn Kurnia Trisnawati

doi:10.37304/ebony.v6i1.22841

Authors

Nesya Nareswari Universitas Jenderal Soedirman
Maylafaney Nayyara Universitas Jenderal Soedirman
Mia Fitria Agustina Universitas Jenderal Soedirman
Ririn Kurnia Trisnawati Universitas Jenderal Soedirman

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37304/ebony.v6i1.22841

Keywords:

unconcious, amnesia, psychoanalysis, jungian theory

Abstract

This study explores the psychological transformation of Ketty, the main character in The Mystery of Me by Karen McCombie, through the lens of Carl Jung’s concept of infantile memory. The research aims to examine how amnesia in the story reflects deeper unconscious struggles and contributes to Ketty’s identity reconstruction. A qualitative method and psychoanalytic approach were applied to analyze textual data, focusing on key moments that reveal Ketty’s emotional disconnection, symbolic imagery, and evolving self-awareness. The findings reveal three major aspects of amnesia: Ketty’s unconscious rejection of her past self, the emergence of symbolic fragments, which is butterflies as manifestations of infantile memory, and amnesia as a medium for the unconscious to surface and initiate personal growth. These elements demonstrate how memory loss functions not merely as a cognitive impairment but as a meaningful narrative tool that reveals the character’s inner conflict and gradual individuation. This study differs from previous works by offering a Jungian reading of amnesia, emphasizing the symbolic and emotional processes involved in self-discovery. The research contributes to literary and psychological discourse by showing how unconscious memory and symbolic elements shape the formation of identity in trauma-affected characters.

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Author Biographies

Nesya Nareswari, Universitas Jenderal Soedirman

Nesya Nareswari is an undergraduate student of English Literature at Jenderal Soedirman University. With a major in literature, she is deeply interested in the literary world and the social issues reflected within it. Her academic interests include gender studies, Marxism, and feminist theory.

Maylafaney Nayyara , Universitas Jenderal Soedirman

Maylafaney Nayyara is an English Literature undergraduate at Jenderal Soedirman University. With a concentration in literature, she is particularly interested in exploring the underlying issues within various forms of literary works. Her academic focus includes gender studies, feminism, and audience studies.

Mia Fitria Agustina, Universitas Jenderal Soedirman

Mia Fitria Agustina holds an S.S. in English Literature from Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta, and an M.A. in American Study from Universitas Gadjah Mada. Since 2009, she has taught in English Literature Study Program in Universitas Jenderal Soedirman. Her research interests include literary criticism, psychoanalysis, children’s literature, semiotics, ecocriticism and literary literacies.

Ririn Kurnia Trisnawati, Universitas Jenderal Soedirman

Ririn Kurnia Trisnawati is a lecturer at Department of English Language and Literature, Faculty of Humanities, Universitas Jenderal Soedirman. Her research interests are reader-response studies, postcolonial literature, noir genre, and Southeast Asian Literature in English.

DOI: 10.37304/ebony.v6i1.22841 DOI URL: https://doi.org/10.37304/ebony.v6i1.22841

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