KARAKTERISTIK TOKOH UTAMA NOVEL PAN’S LABYRINTH KARYA CORNELIA FUNKE: KAJIAN PSIKOLOGI ANAK JEAN PIAGET

Abstract

This study aims to describe cognitive development, the role of the fantasy world as symbolic play in the processes of assimilation, accommodation, and equilibration, as well as the moral development of the character Ofelia in Cornelia Funke’s novel Pan’s Labyrinth based on Jean Piaget’s theory. This study employs a qualitative descriptive method with a literary psychology approach. The primary data source for this study is the novel Pan’s Labyrinth, while the research data consists of text excerpts, dialogues, narratives, and events that illustrate Ofelia’s psychological development. Data collection was conducted through literature review using the read-and-note technique. Data were analyzed by classifying the excerpts based on the research questions, then relating them to the concepts of concrete operational, formal operational, assimilation, accommodation, equilibration, symbolic play, and autonomous morality. The results indicate that Ofelia is in a transitional phase between the concrete operational and formal operational stages. This is evident from her ability to understand concrete experiences while interpreting symbols and abstract possibilities. The fantasy world serves as a symbolic space that helps Ofelia understand the realities of war, violence, and internal pressure through the processes of assimilation, accommodation, and equilibration. In addition, Ofelia demonstrates moral development toward autonomous morality because she is able to make decisions based on internal considerations and humanistic values. This study shows that Jean Piaget’s theory can be used to interpret the cognitive and moral development of child characters in literary works, especially when the characters are confronted with traumatic realities and the world of fantasy.