The Crisis of Interpersonal Relations and the Void of Meaning in Mega, Mega Karya Arifin C. Noer

Abstract

This research aims to uncover relational and existential crises in the drama script Mega, Mega by Arifin C. Noer (1999) through a humanistic-existential psychology approach. This study is motivated by the representation of the lives of marginal figures who not only experience socio-economic poverty, but also psychological conflicts and loss of meaning in life. The focus of this research is on how the failure of interpersonal relationships and the loss of meaning in life affect the psychological condition of the characters, as seen through the perspectives of Carl Rogers and Viktor Frankl. The method used is qualitative descriptive with text analysis techniques. Data in the form of dialogues, monologues, and scenes were analyzed using the concepts of empathy, congruence, unconditional positive regard (Rogers), as well as existential emptiness and the will to meaning (Frankl). The results of the study show that relationships between characters are dominated by empathy failures that trigger incongruence, alienation, and identity crises. This condition is intertwined with existential emptiness, especially in the characters of Mae and Koyal, while Retno and Panut show inner conflicts due to social pressure. In conclusion, the suffering in Mega, Mega is psychological and existential, not just socio-economic. This research enriches the study of humanistic-existential psychology by examining the relationship between interpersonal dynamics and the search for meaning in life in Indonesian dramas.