Defense Mechanisms of Light Yagami in Death Note Manga

Human life is never free from conflict, whether internal or external. Likewise, the way individuals respond to and deal with conflicts varies. The same applies to characters in literary works. Death Note is a literary work by Tsugumi Ohba. This study aims to analyze the psychological aspects of the main character in the context of defense mechanisms in dealing with conflict. The research employs a qualitative method with a descriptive approach. The researcher repeatedly read the manga and mapped the findings regarding the main character’s defense mechanisms. The analysis focuses solely on Volume 1 of the manga, without examining other volumes. The findings reveal that the defense mechanisms identified in this manga include repression, rationalization, denial, and reaction formation. The theoretical significance of this study is expected to contribute new references in the field of literature and provide insights into defense mechanisms. The research results indicate that Light Yagami employs defense mechanisms such as rationalization, denial, and reaction formation. Rationalization is evident when Light justifies his actions as an effort to uphold justice. Denial is observed when he refuses to acknowledge that his actions are wrong. Meanwhile, reaction formation is apparent in his seemingly calm demeanor, which actually conceals underlying anxiety.