This thesis discusses child abuse in Meg Elison’s Find Layla. The purpose of
this thesis is to describe the forms, character objectification, causes and effects
of child abuse experiences by Layla and Andy. The research method used is
descriptive qualitative method. This thesis uses a psychological approach. The
psychoanalysis is used to evaluate the characters in the novel. Sue &
Chamberline’s four domains of child abuse causes are used in this study. Martha
Nussabaum’s objectification theory is used to analyze in what ways the abuser
objectifies the child. Joyce Shannon’s theory of violence against children is also
used in this study to determine the impact of child abuse in the novel. There are
four forms of violence experienced by Layla and Andy: neglect, physical abuse,
psychological abuse and sexual abuse. Darlene’s objectification of the child
abuse is shown by treating her child as an object. It is found that there are two
ways that Darlene objectifies her child, namely violability and denial of
subjectivity. There are three causes of Darlene’s child abuse: divorce, past
childhood experiences, and mental illness. The impact of child abuse
experienced by Layla and Andy is physical and psychological. The physical
impact of child abuse experienced by Layla and Andy is malnutrition. The
psychological impact experienced by Layla is anxiety disorder and Andy has
post traumatic stress disorder. Andy also experience difficulties in language and
speech
