A PSYCHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF SELF-JUSTIFICATION OF CRUEL ACTS IN AGATHA CHRISTIE’S NOVEL AND THEN THERE WERE NONE

Abstract

This research discusses the psychological analysis of self justification for cruel actions committed by Judge Wargrave in the novel And Then There Were None. This study used the qualitative descriptive research method. The data were collected through the analysis of phrases, sentences and dialogues in the novel. The collected data were used to show the protagonist's self-justification for his cruel actions. This research uses literature and psychology as a theoretical foundation because both are interconnected as they explore human behavior, reactions, and so on. The analysis was carried out by categorizing some information into two themes of diccussion. The first theme is the protagonist’s actions to justify his cruel act. The protagonist shows three actions. Then, the second is the protagonitst’s reasons to do cruelty. He has two reasons. The results of this study indicate that Judge Wargrave uses various psychological mechanisms to justify his cruel actions, including moral rationalization and psychological manipulation. By looking at the psychological and literary context, this research possibly provides an understanding of human nature and behavior, which shows the psychological complexity of the protagonist to uphold justice in an unethical way. Keywords: Behavior, cruel acts, defense- mechanism, psychology, self defense, self-justification.