EXPLORING THE REPRESENTATION OF THE SELF-SOCIETY CONFLICT THROUGH DISCURSIVE STRATEGIES IN ANGIE THOMAS’ THE HATE U GIVE: A CRITICAL DISCOURSE ANALYSIS

Abstract

Critical Discourse Analysis allows this study to investigate the language structures which develop self-society conflicts in Angie Thomas' The Hate U Give novel. The research examines selected passages from the novel to trace how the protagonist moves between competing social environments while allowing readers to take note of both social oppression and system-generated power structures. The research design combines qualitative methods to examine six major discursive techniques including lexicalization, polarization, actor description, victimization, modality, and metaphor which demonstrate both oppressive language functions and resistant linguistic use. Evidence shows that six discourse techniques display systematic methods for revealing ideological systems which constitute portrayals of identity conflict and justice. The analysis demonstrates how the novel intentionally opposes established group relationships by making the underprivileged Black community the basic in-group while it contests mainstream language patterns used to privilege white views. Through speech acquisition the protagonist illustrates the widespread community opposition which emerges against oppressive systems of power. Through this study discourse studies gain additional understanding because van Dijk's theoretical background reveals the specific text-based methods which literature uses to question prevailing power systems. This research demonstrate how particular discursive techniques establish and handle conflicts between personal identity and social structures to show the counter-discursive ability of present-day young adult literature in opposing official representations about identity conflicts and justice structures. These results lead to important consequences for analyzing literature as well as methods in critical discourse analysis and instructional approaches that deal with social justice narratives.