EXPLORING MOURNING AND MELANCHOLIA THROUGH GEPPETTO FROM GUILLERMO DEL TORO’S PINOCCHIO (2022)

Abstract

This study examines the portrayal of Sigmund Freud's concepts of mourning and melancholia through the character of Geppetto in Guillermo Del Toro's Pinocchio. The utilization of psychological theories within fictional narratives has been a longstanding convention, as authors and filmmakers aim to illuminate the shared human experience of bereavement and its associated processes. The data for this study were obtained through a qualitative approach, employing a combination of visual and verbal cues to uncover themes connected to Freud's theory. The data underwent close reading, psychoanalytic cross-examination, and social analytic cross-examination. The results indicate that Geppetto's experience following the loss of his son provides compelling evidence of mourning. This is evidenced by his exhibition of intense sadness, fluctuating emotions, attachment to memories of Carlo, and disruption of daily functioning. Furthermore, Geppetto displays signs of melancholia, including persistent sadness, loss of interest and pleasure, cognitive distortion, and ambivalence toward Pinocchio. Additionally, social factors, such as living in the aftermath of a world war and being a single father who has lost his only child, contribute to Geppetto's state of melancholia. This study serves as a contribution to the psychoanalytic approach in literature and provides insights for future research pertaining to mourning, melancholia, and grief in general.