A PSYCHOANALYTIC CRITICISM OF JOHAN LIEBERT IN NAOKI URASAWA’S “MONSTER” MANGA

Abstract

In recent years, scholars have recognized that literature extends beyond mere written text to include visual storytelling. Manga, a medium known for its artwork, unique narrative, and diverse variety of genres. It is also capable to portray human emotions, social realities, and psychological struggles and this ability to depict psychological tension becomes significant when exploring distorted psyche, manipulative behavior, and emotional disturbance. This study aims to examine Johan Liebert’s psychological construction through Sigmund Freud’s tripartite psyche, while also revealing his manipulative behavior and emotional detachment using Paulhus and Williams’ Machiavellianism theory and Anna Freud’s ego defense mechanisms. Using a qualitative descriptive approach, the data were collected from Johan Liebert’s utterances in Monster through close reading and categorization. The utterances were classified into five psychoanalytic categories: id, ego, superego, manipulation, and emotional detachment. The findings show that Johan’s utterances are predominantly driven by the id, reflecting destructive impulses, while the ego functions to regulate actions strategically. Manipulative behavior and emotional detachment are consistently present, whereas superego utterance appear limited and mainly associated with his attachment to his twin sister. These results indicate that manga can function as a literary medium for understanding complex psychological mechanisms and distorted human psyche