How Does The Trauma Trigger the Defense Mechanism of Denial in Barry Allen’s Character The Flash (2023)

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the portrayal of childhood trauma and the manifestation of the defense mechanism of denial in the character of Barry Allen in the film The Flash. This study employs a qualitative descriptive method with a psychoanalytic approach that integrates Sigmund Freud’s structural model of the psyche, specifically the relationship between the Id, Ego, and Superego, as well as Anna Freud’s concept of ego defense mechanisms. Primary data, consisting of dialogue transcripts and cinematic visual elements, were collected through in-depth observation and systematically analyzed using an interactive analysis model. The results indicate that Barry Allen’s unresolved trauma stemming from his mother’s tragic murder triggers severe neurotic anxiety. Unlike typical passive coping mechanisms, this study highlights the presence of “denial in action,” manifested through the elements of superhero science fiction. Barry’s rejection of reality evolves into an active and destructive obsession as he continues to manipulate space and time to prevent the tragedy from occurring. This extreme form of denial reaches its peak through the emergence of his alter ego, Dark Flash, who represents an irrational attempt to alter the past to the point of threatening the stability of the multiverse. Ultimately, this study concludes that the manipulation of time in the film functions as a cinematic metaphor for the avoidance of unresolved experiences and trauma, while affirming that true psychological healing can only be achieved through the process of accepting painful reality.