This research was aimed to explain and describe Wladyslaw Szpilman’s Survival
during The World War II represented in The Pianist novel, as well as the implication
of his survival for his life and career to be a great pianist.
As a qualitative-descriptive research, the data of the research taken are not in forms
of numbers or statistics. The objective of this research was to describe about the
situation that was experienced by the main character in the novel. This research
employed the objective approach through Freudian psychoanalytical theory to
analyze the data and reveal the research problem particularly.
The discussion resulted that Wladyslaw Szpilman’s psychological aspects contributed
to his defence for surviving. Szpilman’s “id”, “ego” and “superego” made the
condition between the physic and psychic in balance. His “id” especially appeared in
a form of anger due to the lack of appreciation for his performance; whereas his
“ego”, as a psychological aspect from the personality, appeared in a form of power
to look for the wayout. Last, his “superego” blocked “id” and “ego” in a form of the
war. Hence, his impulse produced anxiety and drove his “ego” to shape the defence
mechanism.