‘FINDING YOUR OWN VOICE’: IDENTITY CONFLICT IN JOSS SHELDON’S ‘LITTLE VOICE’

Abstract

Joss Sheldon's work ”Little Voice" deals with the theme of identity-based conflict. Identity is the way an individual or a group defines and understands itself. Identity is considered in different ways in philosophical, psychological, social and cultural contexts. Identity is related to how an individual sees himself, how he is perceived by others and how he defines his place in society. People express their identity through belonging to various groups and differentiation from that group. These groups can be family, friends, school, work, cultural or ethnic groups. Therefore, identity is a dynamic concept that is shaped by the influence of various factors at both an individual and social level. Identity Deconfliction is a state of incompatibility and contradiction experienced by an individual between different identity elements. Identity conflict takes place in different areas and ways. In this work, there is a confrontation of individual identities with social identities. In the work, there is a Deconfliction between the identity roles determined by society or the environment and the individual's perception of identity. Identity Deconfliction occurs when an individual feels a mismatch between the norms set by the family or society and their own inner values. The aim of this study is to analyze the identity search of the main character in the work within the framework of identity dynamics. In the work, the desire for freedom and self-perception represent the struggle for identity. In the study, the difficulties and limitations encountered in the construction of identity are expressed and it is examined how the phenomenon of identity is shaped, differentiated and integrated in the social structure.