A psychoanalysis of internal conflict in the Bruce Wayne character as seen in Matt Reeves' The Batman (2022) film. This research aims to find out the representation of internal conflict and the causes of internal conflict in Bruce Wayne's character in The Batman (2022) movie. The theory of representation by Stuart Hall was applied to reveal the representation of internal conflict in the Bruce Wayne character.
Background of the Study
The study plan is to discover the internal conflict in the film by looking at the temporal conflict and the antagonist from reasons, ideology, goals, etc. Thus, it is essential to understand approximately the internal conflict between each character because it involves their psychology. Finally, this study is done significantly because of some internal conflicts for both characters, Batman and Riddler.
Research Questions
Riddler is more ruthless by killing others while Batman doesn't kill because of his moral code. It's interesting to understand the internal conflict within Batman as he tried to stop Riddler from killing the corrupt politician. Ultimately, this thesis was created with a focus on Batman's inner conflict using Freudian id, ego, and superego theory.
Research Objectives
Use of Study
Practical Use
Theoretical Use
Scope of the Study
Previous Studies
The writer has employed other object material in the form of the latest film, The Batman (2022). The writer has also used other object material in the form of the latest film, The Batman (2022). The study attempted to determine (1) how the main character's internal conflicts in Tenenbaum's Nadia.
Psychological Approach
Universitas Teknokrat Indonesia short film may occur and (2) Why external conflicts of the main character may occur. The gap between previous studies and this research is that the author has used different object material in the form of the latest movie, The Batman (2022). It allows readers to recognize the author's motives in addition to the characters.
Freudian Psychoanalytic Theory
Two organic instincts make up the id, along the lines of Freud: eros or the intuition to continue existing that drives us to interact in life-sustaining activities, and thanatos or the loss of life intuition that drives destructive, aggressive and violent behavior. Ego functions as each a conduit for and a test of the id, running to fulfill the id's desires in a socially appropriate manner. The main character's problems are divided into three categories in psychoanalysis: id, ego and superego.
Internal Conflict
On this version, there are 3 metaphorical elements to mind: Id operates at a subconscious level and focuses totally on instinctual drives and desires. It is the maximum bound to truth and begins to develop to expand in infancy. The superego is the part of the mind where morality and better standards reside, prompting us to behave in socially and morally appropriate ways.
One of the basic building blocks of any literary work that will pique readers' interest is conflict. Is it human to be challenged by good and evil, pleasure and dissatisfaction, eros and thanatos, id and superego. The internal conflict here is between the need to feel good about oneself and the temptation, driven by criticism (superego), to diminish and belittle one's own worth and achievement.
Engler (2014, p. 193) stated that internal conflict can be classified, which are; the first is approach-approach conflict when one must choose between two positive outcomes. The second is the approach-avoidance conflict which is when one has to deal with the positive and negative aspects. This conflict involves making a decision between unfavorable options or outcomes that a person normally tries to avoid.
And the last is the dual approach-avoidance, this conflict arises from an individual experiencing dual ambitions that have both good and harmful effects.
Representation Theory
For example, a person who does not like his job, yet is afraid of leaving and losing his job. Universitas Teknokrat Indonesia The idea of culture is quite broad and refers to "shared experiences". If two individuals have the same experience, the same cultural ethics, the same language and the same ideas, they can be seen as belonging to the same culture. Beyond how a text presents (or, to be more precise, constructs) an ethnic heritage.
Representation also refers to how this identity is created during production and how this identity is interpreted by the society that consumes the cultural values. At the same time, constructionist representation is the way in which assets are reconstructed 'in' and 'through' language.
Research Design
Universitas Teknokrat Indonesia This movie was chosen because the writer believes that Bruce Wayne has internal conflict in the story as well as the problems he faces. Then this study needs the data required for this film analysis which was applied using the theory of representation by Stuart Hall (Kasih and Fithratullah, 2018; Fithratullah, 2021) to identify the internal conflict and the internal conflict itself will analyzed using the id, ego and Freudian and superego theory of the unconscious.
Data and Data Source
Data Collecting Technique
Data Analyzing Technique
In this chapter, the writer explains the results based on the analysis of the data found in the movie The Batman (2022). The writer used Stuart Hall's theory of representation to find the representation of the signs and causes of internal conflict in the character of Bruce Wayne. The writer also used Freudian psychoanalytic theory to analyze the representation of internal conflict in the character of Bruce Wayne.
According to Michaelson (2022), internal conflict occurs when someone has difficulty choosing between two or more options for well-being (id) and compulsions driven by the inner critic (superego).
Avoidance-Avoidance Conflict
He doesn't know if he makes any difference in Gotham with his time as Batman. However, he tries to make a difference in Gotham as the character of Batman, from the word "maybe it's beyond saving". Bruce explains to Alfred that being Batman is Wayne's family legacy and doesn't care about his responsibility as Wayne and himself if he doesn't have an effect on Gotham.
From this dialogue at 22:04, after losing his parents to a criminal, he declares that Batman is his family's legacy. The trauma he experiences after losing his parents affects his later life as he creates an ego in the form of a person called "Batman". Batman himself is a possessed creature of the night who watches over and acts as Gotham's guardian against criminals.
This conflict is characterized as an avoidance-avoidance conflict, as Bruce continues to be Batman while neglecting his responsibility as Wayne. The reason is because he will lose everything and if he is no longer Batman, Gotham will be ruined as the city will be taken over by criminals as stated in the previous Bruce narration "The City is Eating Itself". His intent to not kill and rule creates an ego in the form of Batman.
In other words, inner conflict is described as “incompatibility between certain mental contents, namely desire, wishes and the ego.” The individual is described as “suffering in a conflict between desire and the response to that desire.” (Breuer and Freud.
Double Approach-Avoidance Conflict
When Bruce learns the Riddler's method of "revenge", it creates an internal conflict for him. Universitas Teknokrat Indonesia declared the Riddler to be "fairest", Bruce immediately showing denial saying that the unknown prisoner is "wasting his time", this could be seen as a sign of internal conflict. In this case, Bruce uses denial and can also be seen trying to avoid talking about how he feels about The Riddler.
Bruce (as Batman) opens the Riddler's letter and answers the Riddler's video call while Gil Colson is on hold. Based on the dialogue at 1:06:05 “You're part of it too.” The Riddler implies that Batman is part of his goal. It gives an idea of how The Riddler is thinking of teaming up with Batman to "expose" the truth of their city.
In the dialogue "How much?!" He also supported the idea that the Riddler's ideology and his superego were presented as still being at odds. The picture shows Bruce talking to Nashton, and the dialogue says "They'll remember us both." Nashton is seen giving an idea of how he as The Riddler and The Batman work together. After the Riddler kills, Bruce (in Batman's persona) is also shocked in the picture when Nashton tells him.
Based on this dialogue, he cemented the idea of how Nashton actually inspired him to become The Riddler from Batman himself. Based on the theory of representation and the dialogue, it is clear that Bruce is angry with him and rejects the idea that Batman is equal to the Riddler. This conflict can be seen as a double avoidance of approach, as Bruce unconsciously agrees with the Riddler's method (approach), but he will.
Approach-Avoidance Conflict
Bruce watches The Riddler reveal the secret of the Wayne family and Arkham on the news, reveals a secret within Bruce's family about how his father asked Carmine Falcone for help against a reporter. After failing to stop the Riddler from sending a package bomb addressed to Bruce (not knowing that Batman and Bruce Wayne are the same person) and a letter to Batman to Wayne Tower, Bruce continues to investigate the restoration fund he created Thomas Wayne. because the Riddler wrote on the wall that restoration is a lie. Universitas Teknokrat Indonesia released news from The Riddler movie, which contains information about the "legacy" of the Wayne family and Arkham.
At minute 1:41:03, The Riddler leaks the information that Bruce's mother, Martha, has been in and out of the shelter for years and doesn't want anyone to know. After this revelation, based on representation theory and supported by the story of The Riddler in 1:42:07, Bruce can be seen in the photo being shocked. After Bruce asked Falcone the truth about his father, Falcone confirmed what The Riddler said on the news.
She wants to "bring it to light" because the Riddler's location will be revealed. Batman still needs Falcone to find the Riddler telling Selina "You don't have to pay with him, you have to pay enough." Bruce still adheres to his no-kill rule (superego) by choosing not to kill Falcone. Bruce denies the Unknown Prisoner's statement that he isn't sure if he agrees with The Riddler's method.
Avoiding-Dodging Bruce doubts his effectiveness, which is later resolved when Riddler tells him that Batman himself inspired Riddler. However, we don't get to see Bruce's dual approach-avoidance conflict resolution when Bruce meets the Riddler, revealed to be Nashton. Strachey (ed.), The Standard Edition of the Complete Psychological Works of Sigmund Freud. 2014) Theories of Personality: An Introduction, 9th International Edition.
