Analisis Struktur Plot dalam Novel Heaven Karya Mieko Kawakami

Abstract

This study aims to examine the plot structure in Mieko Kawakami’s novel Heaven using Freytag’s theoretical framework. The novel narrates the traumatic experience of a fourteen-year-old teenager who becomes a victim of extreme bullying at school, as well as that of his friend Kojima, who suffers similar violence. The research explores the five main stages of the narrative structure according to Freytag’s: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and denouement to understand the story’s dynamics and the emotional intensity it builds. The findings indicate that the exposition is established by introducing the setting and the psychological state of the passive, alienated protagonist. The rising action unfolds through secret correspondence between the Eyes and Kojima, reinforcing the shared theme of suffering. The climax occurs when the protagonist confronts ideological questions about the meaning of suffering and existence, especially in dialogue with Ninomiya. The falling action depicts the growing emotional distance between the Eyes and Kojima, triggering personal reflection. Meanwhile, the denouement is presented with an open and ambiguous ending, marking the protagonist’s newfound awareness of his identity.