SELF-ACTUALIZATION OF STEPHEN STRANGE

CHARACTER IN DOCTOR STRANGE (2016) FILM

Muhammad Maulana, Satyawati Surya, Jonathan Irene Sartika Dewi
English Department, Faculty of Cultural Studies
Mulawarman University
Email: mmaulanamm97@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
This research examines the characteristics and process of self-actualization of
the main character of this film, namely Doctor Strange. This research applies Maslow's
theory of humanistic psychology which focuses on the characteristics of self-
actualization and intrinsic elements which focus on the plot in this film. The purposes of
this research are to find out the characteristics of self-actualization that exist in the
character of Stephen Strange and to know how Strange reach a self-actualization person.
The method used in this research is descriptive qualitative. Based on the analysis, the
researcher found five characteristics of self-actualization contained in the main
character in this film, namely: 1. Efficient Perception of Reality. 2. Self-Acceptance. 3.
Self-Reliance. 4. Spontaneous and natural. 5. Problem Centering. The plot of this film
shows the exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution.

Keywords: film, self-actualization, character.

ABSTRAK
Penelitian ini mengkaji tentang karakteristik dan proses aktualisasi diri tokoh
utama dari film Doctor Strange. Penelitian ini menggunakan teori psikologi humanistik
Maslow yang memfokuskan pada ciri-ciri aktualisasi diri dan unsur Intrinsik yang
berfokus pada plot di film ini. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk menemukan apa saja
karakteristik dari aktualisasi diri yang terdapat pada karakter Stephen Strange, dan
mengetahui bagaimana Stephen Strange mencapai aktualisasi dirinya. Dalam
penelitian ini metode yang digunakan adalah metode deskriptif qualitative.
Berdasarkan hasil analisis penelitian ini, peneliti menemukan lima karakteristik
aktualisasi diri yang terdapat pada tokoh utama di film ini, yaitu: 1. Presepsi yang
efisien dan realistis. 2. Menerima diri sendiri. 3. Mandiri. 4. Spontan dan alami. 5.
Fokus pada masalah. Alur film ini menampilkan eksposisi, aksi naik, klimaks, aksi
turun, dan resolusi..

Kata kunci: film, aktualisasi diri, karakter.

A. INTRODUCTION

In the past, literature could be enjoyed and poured out in writing, and in this era,

people tend to watch the film and enjoy the visual arts of literary works. Klarer said

literature is a work created to fulfill human needs by using the interest element to make

people interested in literary work. It combines the creativity of human life and the arts

(16). The product of literary work has become more varied. One of them is a film,

although the film is the art of humans, Films are a reflection of the human mind through

action, images, words, and replicating of the life of human beings, that rebuild the

new idea and concepts (Ramrao 150).

The characters in the films social human beings in real life, in which their

motivation, behavior, need, thought and feelings can be equally treated and

understood as a human characters in a different environment and atmosphere in the

films. By analyzing the film and its characteristics, this research gains the core of his

interest which is finding t h e self-actualization of the main character.

The researcher chooses Doctor Strange film as the object of the research and

focuses on the main character of this film. The researcher also will analyze Strange’s

character as the main character in Doctor Strange film by using Maslow’s theory of Self-

actualization level. Maslow’s theory is also known as about hierarchy of needs which

has five stages of levels, namely: (1) physiological need, (2) safety need, (3) love and

belongingness need, (4) esteem need, and (5) self-actualization.

In general, self-actualizing person is in the process of maximizing his or her full

potential. Maslow uses the term self-actualizing is often thought of as having an inner

focus, that is differentiation of self, psychological integration, or achieving some level

 of personal potential. According to Maslow, the characteristics of people who

actualized themselves are (1) efficient perceptions of reality, (2) Comfortable

acceptance of self, others, and nature, (3) reliant on own experiences and judgment,

(4) spontaneous and natural, and (5) problem-centering.

In addition, this film is presented with amazing visual effects and it is compatible

with sound effects. The important thing of this research is how important for not to

give up easily and always explore human potential optimally until finding another

power. By actualizing themselves, they can survive and get more power to build up

better life and good impact on another person. Based on the explanations, the

researcher will focus on analyzing self-actualization of the main character in this film

by using Maslow's theory. Moreover, this analysis reveals how the main character

reaches self-actualization, by following the plot.

B. LITERATURE REVIEW

1. Literature and Film

According to Ramrao, film and literature are two different things with a similar

goal to create sublimity in human imagination and understanding (149). Film is such a

field that was more related to photography and painting in the beginning, and literature

consists of different genres - short stories, novels, drama, and poetry. These all are

written documents, and it is clear that letters are used in literature.

Film start from action, audio, visual, location, situation, visual effect, and

many more. The important elements are also orchestrated to amplify the thoughts and

emotions that the actors convey to the audience. According to Evasion, a film is a

story or event recorded by a camera as a set of moving images and shown in a theater

or on television as a motion picture (148).

 Films have several elements related to literature and film presented on the

screen of the film and the character gives certain meaning, thus the analysis of film

elements is needed to find out the meaning behind it. Mario Klarer says although the

film has its specific characteristics and terminology, it is possible to analyze the film

by drawing on methods of literary criticism as the film is closely related to the

traditional approaches of textual studies (59).

2. The Relationship between Literature and Psychology

a. Literature

Literature which intertwines within such fields as history, philosophy, sociology,

psychology, and so on is a discipline wherein language is used as a medium of

expression to interpret human, existence, culture, personality, and individual differences

which have always been studied and discussed by writers, philosophers, artists,

psychologists and psychiatrists (Aras 185).

b. Psychology

Psychology can be described as "the science that systematically studies and

attempts to explain observable behavior and its relationship to the unseen mental

processes that go on inside the organism and to external events in the environment”

(Aras 251) Psychology is a discipline that observes and studies the behavior and

activities of human beings, which are the manifestations of psychological life. Through

the psychological aspect, the psychology of character that includes human motivation,

feeling, and emotion can be analyzed. Psychology is interested in all human activities.

Most people have opinions, beliefs, and explanations of the motives that impel

individuals to work, to fall in love or to hate. Psychology can shape people's minds to

recognize the problem as a challenge, not as a destiny. All things human face is not as
complicated as they imagine.

3. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

The five levels of Maslow’s hierarchy of human needs have an important role

in psychology like human needs. “The first need in Maslow’s hierarchy contains the

set of physiological needs that are important for body homeostatic, quiescence, and

survival. The other needs in the hierarchy are safety and security, love and

belongingness, esteem, and self-actualization are psychological in nature of human

needs” (Reeve 311).

1. Physiological needs
Psychological Needs are the needs that have to be satisfied with the

continuation of an individual's biological requirements, such as eating, taking

oxygen, drinking, sleeping, resting, and sheltering. Maslow also included sexual

reproduction in this level of the hierarchy of needs theory since it is essential to

the survival and reproduction of human life for the chain of life. When these

basic needs are satisfied, the other needs on a higher level will appear and

dominate human behavior soon (Goble 71-72).

2. Safety needs

Maslow says Safety needs usually become important for infants and

children. For example, infants cannot recognize people who will harm them.

Therefore, they cannot stop them. They also do not do anything because they are

still a baby. In this case, they need their parents to protect them from danger. On

the other hand, the adults can inhibit the threat because they have been taught to

save themselves (17).

3. Belongingness and love needs

Maslow emphasizes that the individual’s needs for belongingness and love

represent a wide range of needs, such as feelings of belonging group

membership, clubs, churches, business associations, spouse, child, and maternal

love. A sense of belonging can be felt when an individual becomes more focused

on the desire to build relationships with others, Humans are social beings, and in

this theory humans need love in their relations with people, being loved, to be in

the hearts of people and groups or family. (29)

4. Esteem needs

Maslow classified it into two elements. The first is the esteem for oneself

to be appreciated and respected by others related to the reputation of a person,

such as status, recognition, and appreciation. Achievement, mastery,

independence. The other one is the desire for reputation or respect from others is

the need for self-appreciation and self-esteem, such as self-confidence,

independence, success, and talent. Maslow indicated that the need for respect or

reputation is most important for children and adolescents and precedes real self-

esteem or dignity. The process of growth, when addressing one’s self-esteem,

builds the bridge to one’s awareness. Self-esteem begins to establish itself in life

as early as age two. Maslow’s hierarchy addresses two levels of self-esteem.

One of those is a lower level and the other is a higher level. The lowest form of

self-esteem is directly related to an individual’s ego, meaning that there is a

strong need to be respected by others. The highest form of self-esteem that

Maslow addresses is that of self-respect. This higher form of self-esteem

 requires less maintenance because accomplishment becomes a permanent part of

who the individual is. Individuals will feel confident, forceful, capable, and

valuable if the need for self-esteem is satisfied. On the contrary, individuals will

feel frustrated and upset, if this need is not satisfied. As the result of it has a

strong effect on individual development in facing his coming life, for they feel

inferior, weak, worthless, and hopeless to accept real life. They feel pessimistic

with other people (4).

5. Self-actualization needs

A person should be whatever he or she can be. "Self-realization is an effort

made by an individual to maximize his capacity, to develop his skills, and to

reach the ideal type of person he wants to be. In other words, it is a person that

needs to become himself/herself and he/she can. This need is at the top level that

appears after the needs below are satisfied (Goble 77).

4. The Intrinsic Elements of Prose

Wellek and Warren, in their Theory of Literature, define intrinsic analysis

as “the interpretation and analysis of the works of literature themselves” (129).

That the building elements covers; theme, story fact, and literary work. The story

fact covers; the story, plot, and setting.

1. Plot

The plot is one of the elements of fiction and organized the sequence of

events and actions that make up the story. There are five essential parts of the

plot, they are:

a. Exposition: The mood and conditions existing at the beginning of the

story. The setting is identified. The main characters with their positions,
 circumstances, and relationships with one another are established. The

exciting force or initial conflict is introduced.

b. Rising Action: The series of events, conflicts, and crises in the story that

lead up to the climax, providing the progressive intensity, and complicating

the conflict.

c. Climax: The turning point of the story. A crucial event takes place and from

this point forward, the protagonist moves toward his inevitable end. The

event may be either an action or a mental decision that the protagonist

makes.

d. Falling Action: The events occurring from the time of the climax to the end

of the story. The main character may encounter more conflicts in this part of

the story, but the end is inevitable.

e. Resolution/Denouement: The tying up of loose ends and all of the threads in

the story. The conclusion. The hero character either emerges triumphant or

is defeated at this point.

C. RESEARCH METHOD

1. Research Design

Qualitative research is how to describe in what the researcher is interested in the

process, meaning, and understanding gained through word or picture (Creswell 145).

This research used descriptive qualitative. It is used as an approach to the qualitative

study because the result of the analysis is the description of a certain phenomenon.

2. Data and Data Source

In this research, data consists of events that contain Self-Actualization of the

main character from the film. The main data source for this research is the film Doctor
Strange (2016) written by Jon Spaihts, Scott Derrickson, and C. Robert Cargill. The

data was gained in the form of screenshots from the scenes and where the conversation

was also captured of action of the character.

3. Data Collection

The data collection method is the researcher's way of collecting the

data. According to Baker, observation is focusing on the situation or certain

topic in the literary work that will be discussed using ethnography using the

point of view of the native (3). It will be described by words and screenshots

from the film scenes to get a better understanding of the data. The steps of

collecting the data source were as follows:

a. The researcher watched the film several times and then focus on the data to

support the research.

b. The researcher focused on every conversation to observe.

c. The researcher wrote the important information data that indicated self-

actualization characteristic.

4. Data Analysis

In analysing data, the researcher analysed the data using Matthew Miles and

Michael Huberman’s (10-12) theory. Three steps were conducted by the researcher to

analyze the data. They were data reduction, data display, and conclusion

drawing/verification.

D. FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION

In this chapter, the researcher are being answer the two problem formulations, to

answer the first research question, the researcher identifies the characteristic of self-

actualization in the main character of Doctor Strange film. While in the second section
the researcher discusses the plot to answer the way Stephen Strange reached himself to

become a self-actualizing person in Doctor Strange film.

1. Findings

a. Efficient Perception of Reality

Dr. Strange: A perfect bullet. It's been hardened. You harden a bullet by

alloying lead with antimony. A toxic metal. And as it leaks directly into the

cerebral spinal fluid.

Dr. Nicodemus West: Rapid-onset central nervous system shutdown.

Dr. Strange: The patient's not dead, but he's dying. Do you still want to harvest

his organs?

The sentence spoken by Stephen Strange proves that he can able to judge

correctly situation and honestly to the patient, proven in this scene when the patient did

not pass away and Strange can save his life with his operation method.

b. Comfortable Acceptance of Self, Other, and Nature

 The Ancient One: Not everything does. Not everything has to. Your intellect

has taken you fat in life. But it will take you no future. Surrender,

Stephen. Silence your ego, and your power will rise. Come with me.

Dr. Strange: wait, this is?

The Ancient One: Everest. At this temperature a person can last for 30

minutes, before suffering permanent lose of function. Surrender Stephen.

The sentence of the Ancient One shows one indicator of self-acceptance, namely

is someone able to accept their human nature with all this flow. This means, that a

human can have more self-potential if they can appreciate themselves, and one way to

do this is to fight the ferocity of nature and control it.

c. Self-Reliance on Own Experiences and judgment

Christine Palmer: You were on the able for 11 hours.

Dr. Strange: Look at these fixators.

Christine Palmer: No one could have done better.

Dr. Strange: I could have done better.

 The scene of this incident is included in the category of self-reliance when

Strange is trusting to fix himself. From the data above, after he woke up from his coma,

he saw that his condition was not much better than he thought, then he said he could do

better for himself.

d. Spontaneous and natural

Dr. Strange: Jonathan Pangborn. C6-C8 spinal cord injury, complete.

Jonathan Pangorn: Who are you?

Dr. Strange: Paralyzed from the mid-chest down. Partial paralysis in both

hands.

Jonathan Pangborn: I don’t know you.

Dr. Strange: I’am Stephen Strange. I’m a neurosurgeon. Was a neurosurgeon.

The statement means Strange can accept himself without being hindered by the

situation that happened to him before, he does not limit the possibilities that can happen

to himself, just because he was not a surgeon anymore.

e. Problem centering

Christine Palmer: Image guidance, stat.

Dr. Strange: We don’t have time for that.

Christine Palmer: You can’t do it freehand.

Dr. Strange: I can and I will.

The sentence spoken by Strange proves his ability to always focus on the

problem, knowing the situation before doing something. Proven in this scene when

Strange succeeds to remove a bullet from the patient's head without the help of a

camera tool.
2. Self-actualization in Doctor Strange Film

a. Exposition

This scene is the exposition that shows the beginning of Stephen Strange

as an acclaimed doctor and neurosurgeon, this process shows how the first step

Strange is to achieve self-actualization. It is seen that at this first moment when

Strange accepts himself, does not feel stuck by the thoughts of others, and makes

logical reason and correct conclusions.

b. Rising Action

In this scene, the rising action process of the problem started when

Strange has been in a car accident, and he always failed to heal himself, until he

accepts himself and that process is the characteristic of self-actualization.

Strange is able, to accept their human nature with all its flaws until he finds a

better way to struggle and achieve himself.

C. Climax

In this scene, the climax process is when Strange reads from the forbidden

texts and learns to bend time with the mystical Eye of Agamotto, and then

Strange will have to decide between regaining the use of his hands and

defending the world. At this moment shown that Strange decides to become a

sorcerer and defend the world.

d. Falling Action

In this scene, the falling action moment happened when Strange as an

arrogant person, can be of profound and unshakeable trusts, being the most

powerful sorcerer until he can defeat Dormammu and save the world from the

dark dimensions.

e. Resolution/Denouement
 In this scene, the resolution process started when Strange success defeat

Dormammu, after all, conflict was done he chose to defend the world as the most

powerful sorcerer in existence.

f. Discussion

The researcher finds the characteristics of the main character actualized himself,

and another supporting character. Strange is the main character that actualizes himself,

and he was five main characteristics of self-actualization in this character, that are (1)

efficient perceptions of reality, (2) comfortable acceptance of self, others, and nature,

(3) reliant on his own experiences and judgment, (4) spontaneous and natural, (5)

problem centering.

Based on the process of achieving self-actualization, the researcher uses the

Intrinsic Elements of prose and focuses on the essential parts of the plot. Starting from

the exposition, in this research, the beginning of self-acceptance is being self-confident

without looking at other people's opinions. Stephen Strange is a neurosurgeon, genius,

and rich with an ego. He always succeeds in performing surgery, unhurriedly,

undisturbed, and focused on one problem.

Then Stephen Strange accepts something that he never believed before to get his

arm healed. Believing in the magic power, learning, and the ability to manage the power

proved that Strange focused on his problems and accept his shortcomings. Finally,

Strange can go back to his life before, or defend the world. However, Strange decided to

defend the world. So the last decision proves, that the process of self-actualization of the

Strange character has been achieved. Self- actualization, developing the abilities.

E. CONLUSION
 From the analysis above, the researcher can conclude that the main character, of

Doctor Strange film 2016, achieves self-actualization process which has some

characteristics representing him as an actualized person, namely: (1) Efficient

perception of reality, (2) Comfortable Acceptance of Self, Other, and Nature (3) Self-

Reliance on Own Experiences and judgment, (4) Spontaneous and natural, (5) Problem

centering. The result of Self-actualizations that Strange has achieved is he can accept

themselves, he can love themselves, he is true to themselves, he believes in their

potential, and the last is he can focus on his problems of himself.

This research also discussed the plot of how Strange reached self-actualization.

The result of this research shows that the exposition of the plot started from the surgery

and shows how Strange accepts himself. The second is rising action when Strange

accepts his shortcomings as someone who can't use his hands. The third is the climax,

this scene when he accepts something had never believed in. The fourth is falling action

when Strange’s acquired magical powers. The last is resolution & denouement when,

Strange has the choice to return to the neurosurgeon way he was before, but he to

defend the world as the most powerful sorcerer, and then takes up residence in the New

York Sanctum to continue his studies. So, it can be concluded that strange was already

achieving self-actualization needed. By characteristic, the plot, and the way of his life at

the end of this film.

WORK CITED
Abraham Maslow. Motivation and personality. New York: Harper & Row. 1970. 

Creswell, John W. Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, & Mixed-Method

Approaches. Singapore: SAGE Publications Ltd, 2009.

Goksen, Aras. Personality and Individual Differences: Literature in Psychology-

Psychology in Literature. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 2015.

Goble, Frank. Psychology of Humanistic Abraham Maslow. Translator: Drs. A

Supratkinya. The Third Force, the Psychology of Abraham Maslow. Yogyakarta:
Kanisius, 1987.

Klarer, Mario. An Introduction to Literary Studies. New Fetter Lane, London:

Routledge, 2004.

Ramrao, Totawad Nagnath Ramrao. Film and Literature: An Overview. Epitome

Journals, 2019.

Wellek, Rene and Austin Warren. Theory of Literature. 3rd Edition. New York:
 Harcourt, Brace, 1963.

Miles, Matthew and Michael Huberman. Qualitative Data Analysis: An Expanded

Sourcebook. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications, 1994.