The element of pedophilia in Vladimir Nabokov's "Lolita" and Turgut Özakman's "Korkma İnsancik Korkma"

Pedophilia is a psychosexual disorder characterized by the sexual attraction of an individual to children, representing a form of sexual deviation that has appeared throughout human history. From ancient times to the present, the understanding of sexuality, cultural approaches, and legal regulations in societies have shaped pedophilia; it has also been a subject of study in the stages of psychosexual development, remaining a relevant socio-psychological phenomenon. Sexual thoughts and actions directed at children create profound effects both individually and socially. Children, being the most vulnerable members of society, suffer from sexual abuse, leading to severe and lasting trauma. Such sexual traumas become a festering wound that threatens not only the personal lives of children but also the peace and future of society. This collective pain is shaped by psychological, social, and environmental factors, maintaining its sensitivity. Due to this sensitivity, a more liberated environment has been sought for the representation of pedophilia, leading to its exploration in fields like cinema and literature. One of the cultural works in literature is Lolita, brought to life by the Russian-American author Vladimir Nabokov. Published in 1955, Lolita generated significant controversy and was banned in many countries due to critiques suggesting that it romanticized child abuse through obscenity. In Turkish literature, Turgut Özakman addressed child abuse in his novel Korkma İnsancık Korkma, published in 1975, approaching the subject differently by depicting the relationship between a young, widowed woman and a small boy. In this work, Özakman focuses on Turkey's recent history while reflecting the socio-cultural context of the period and addressing the issue of pedophilia. The aim of this study is to open a window into how two independent authors from different societies, raised in distinct contexts, have addressed the same topic in different years. It analyzes the reflections of pedophilia, a socio-psychological issue that affects both individuals and society, as depicted in literature without concealment. To this end, the method of the study has been determined as an eclectic approach. In both works where child abuse is portrayed, the devastation in the lives of the victims, the problems arising within their families and social circles, and the defeat of the abusers against societal norms are emphasized. This thesis examines Lolita and Korkma İnsancık Korkma comparatively to evaluate the reflections of the phenomenon of pedophilia in literature. Keywords: Pedophilia, Child Abuse, Socio-Psychology, Vladimir Nabokov, Turgut Özakman