Self-Actualization in a Postmodern World in John Updike’s “A&P” and Anne Tyler’s “Teenage Wasteland”

Year 2025, Volume: 28 Issue: 54, 561 - 586, 16.12.2025

Mevlude Zengin

https://doi.org/10.31795/baunsobed.1660340

https://izlik.org/JA99XM88XJ

Abstract

In a rapidly evolving postmodern world characterized by technological advancements, cultural fragmentations, and either shifting or disappearing social norms, the quest for individuality has become increasingly complex and fraught with challenges. As traditional structures dissolve, individuals have become exposed to a world marked by ambiguity and existential uncertainty. To realize oneself, the struggle for identity, and to be oneself have become existentialist issues in today’s world. The tension between the desire for self-expression and the pressures of societal conformity often leads to a profound sense of dislocation, particularly among adolescents and young adults. These and similar topics have become significant subject matters and themes in literature. “A&P” (1961) by John Updike and “Teenage Wasteland” (1983) by Anne Tyler are the two short stories delving into the themes of identity, self-actualization, adolescence, social nonconformity, alienation, expressing oneself freely and the desire for independence along with developing an attitude against all kinds of restrictions. This study aims to explore the hardships of becoming an individual and creating a self of one’s own in a contemporary context as reflected in stories in question. The factors affecting personal identities and making the formation of identity difficult, particularly in adolescence, will be explored by the main characters, Sammy and Donny in “A&P” and “Teenage Wasteland” respectively. By making use of the theoretical perspectives on the concept of individualism and the constitution of the individual in the postmodern context, these two characters will be analysed as the representations of the self in the contemporary world in order to reveal the profound implications of the challenges for personal agency, realization of oneself and becoming oneself.

Keywords

Individualism , Self-actualization , Adolescent , “A&P” , “Teenage Wasteland”

Ethical Statement

This study is among the studies that do not require ethics committee approval as it does not use surveys, interviews, focus group studies, observations, experiments, or interview techniques, does not use humans or animals (including material/data) for experimental or other scientific purposes, and is not within the scope of the personal data protection law.

Supporting Institution

Yok

Thanks

Hocam merhabalar, Makale yükleme aşamasında ya da çalışmada bir eksiklik varsa lütfen bildirirseniz çok sevinirim. Şimdiden teşekkür eder, iyi çalışmalar dilerim.

John Updike’ın “A&P” ve Anne Tyler’ın “Teenage Wasteland” Başlıklı Eserlerinde Postmodern Dünyada Kendini Gerçekleştirme

https://izlik.org/JA99XM88XJ

Abstract

Teknolojik ilerlemeler, kültürel parçalanmalar, ya değişen veya kaybolan toplumsal normlarla tanımlanan hızla gelişen postmodern bir dünyada, bireysellik arayışı giderek daha karmaşık ve zorluklarla dolu hale gelmiştir. Geleneksel yapılar çözülürken, bireyler müphemlik ve varoluşsal belirsizlikle nitelenen bir dünyaya maruz kalmıştır. Öz-gerçekleşim, kimlik mücadelesi ve kendisi olmak günümüz dünyasında varoluşçu meseleler haline gelmiştir. Kendini ifade etme arzusu ile toplumsal uyumun baskıları arasındaki gerilim, özellikle ergenler ve genç yetişkinler arasında sıklıkla derin bir yerinden olma hissine yol açar. Bu ve benzeri konular edebiyatta önemli konu ve temalar haline geldi. John Updike’ın “A&P” (1961) ve Anne Tyler’ın “Teenage Wasteland (Gençlik Çoraklığı)” (1983) adlı eserleri, kimlik, öz-gerçekleşim, ergenlik, toplumsal uyumsuzluk, yabancılaşma, kendini özgürce ifade etme ve bağımsızlık arzusu ile her türlü kısıtlamaya karşı bir tutum geliştirme temalarını ele alan iki kısa öyküdür. Bu çalışmanın amacı, söz konusu kısa öykülerde çağdaş bir bağlamda birey olma ve kendi benliğini yaratma zorluklarının nasıl yansıtıldığını araştırmaktır. Kişisel kimlikleri etkileyen ve özellikle ergenlikte kimliğin oluşumunu zorlaştıran faktörler, sırasıyla “A&P” ve “Teenage Wasteland” ’deki ana karakterler Sammy ve Donny vasıtasıyla irdelenecektir. Postmodern bağlamda bireycilik kavramı ve bireyin oluşumu üzerine teorik perspektiflerden yararlanılarak, bu iki karakter, kişisel faaliyet, kendini gerçekleştirme ve kendisi olma zorluklarının derin etkilerinin eserlerdeki yansımasını ortaya çıkarmak amacıyla çağdaş dünyada benliğin temsilleri olarak analiz edilecektir.

Keywords

Bireyselcilik , Kendini gerçekleştirme , Ergen , “A&P” , “Teenage Wasteland”

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