This thesis examines the impact of toxic masculinity on the main character, Connell
Waldron from the novel Normal People written by Sally Rooney. The writer uses
the theory of hegemonic masculinity by R.W. Connell to analyzes how the concept
of hegemonic masculinity impacts men and turns men into victims of toxic
masculinity. To find out the answer of the research, the writer uses qualitative with
a descriptive method as the method of this research, which aims to find the data
analysis which cannot be measured with numbers. This research aims to show and
identify how toxic masculinity affects Connell’s relationship and life. The first
result of this research shows through the character analysis that Connell Waldron
portrayed the stereotype masculinity traits through his physical appearance. Besides
that, Connell, as a conventional man who is pressured by society’s expectations and
ideology on how men are supposed to act by suppressing their emotions, also turns
him into the victim of toxic masculinity. The second result of this research shows
how toxic masculinity from the concept of hegemonic masculinity is heavily
impacted by his friends in school, which also has impacted Connell’s life and
relationship through emotional suppression and led him to suffer from severe
depression. The ideology of how men need to act a certain way and be seen as strong
can also oppress men and turn men into the victim of toxic masculinity. Therefore,
Connell Waldron perfectly portrays how men’s mental health caused by toxic
masculinity cannot be taken for granted.

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