This study aims to reveal the process of searching for life’s meaning undertaken by the main character in the novel Hector and the Search for Happiness by François Lelord through Viktor E. Frankl’s logotherapy theory. Modern life, characterized by routine, social pressure, and material achievement, often leads to a sense of meaninglessness (existential vacuum). The character Hector is portrayed as a successful psychiatrist who, despite his external accomplishments, feels unfulfilled. This research employs a qualitative-descriptive approach using close reading and content analysis of the novel’s narrative and dialogue. The findings indicate that the protagonist experiences an existential emptiness, prompting an inner journey through the three core values of logotherapy: creative value, experiential value, and attitudinal value. Hector’s journey reflects an existential transformation toward a more meaningful life. These findings demonstrate how literature can serve as a reflective medium for understanding the psychological dynamics of modern individuals facing a crisis of meaning.

This study examines the representation of the power of women's masculinity in the novel Women Who Wait in the Aisle to the Sea by Dian Purnomo. The research problem focuses on how forms of masculinity power are displayed through female protagonists and how these characteristics reflect the configuration of masculinity according to Raewyn W. Connell's theory. This research aims to uncover how female characters build power, resistance, and independence through masculine attributes in the context of oppressive social structures. The method used is qualitative descriptive with reading and recording techniques as well as content analysis of novel texts. The results of the study show that Shalom figures represent the power of masculinity through courage, social dominance, mental toughness, rhetorical leadership, and physical endurance. These findings prove that women in literary narratives are able to internalize masculine attributes as a resistance strategy against social injustice. The conclusion of this study is that women's forms of masculinity power not only challenge conventional gender stereotypes, but also expand the understanding of women's roles in social structures through powerful and empowered literary representations.