j9622
Nov 15, 2017
Writing Feedback / Identity, Turkey's history and conflict with the west [3]
Orhan Pamuk is well known in Turkey for his literary style that shows an understanding of traditional Turkish Islamic culture and the belief that Turkey's future lies in the West. Silent House narrates the story of three brothers visiting their grandmother in a small town near Istanbul. The characters in the book often struggle to find their real identity. They feel trapped in a country heir to a sophisticated urban civilization, and, on the other hand, a rural culture that remains embedded in the developing world, vulnerable to a predatory modernity. Characters such as Hasan, a high school drop-out, reminds us of a feeling shared by some pockets in society who are marginalized and disillusioned with the current government. The world at the end of the 20th century became increasingly globalized, and for the first time in history, virtually all nations were interconnected. The homogenization of cultures into a universal west became a menace in many countries that wanted to maintain their own culture and religion. Turkey was not the exception "as the social role and visibility of the religion in the public sphere has been increased since the 1990s, the issues of multiculturalism . . . become more important" (Kaçar and Connelly 1).
Since the beginning of its formation, Turkey has been a nation composed of different ethnic groups and religions. The Ottomans, later known as "Turks" by Italians and French, were a tribal confederation who had no homeland. They were part of other tribes from the steppes of Central and Inner Asia, and each tribe was called by the name of the leader of their tribe. The creation of the Ottoman Empire dates to Osman, leader of the Seljuks who declared independence soon after the death of Sultan Kaikobad. During the 14th century, the Ottomans took advantage of the weak Byzantine Empire and conquered lands to the East of the Sea of Marmara opening the expansion to Europe. Christians, Jews, Balkans, Greeks, Gypsies, Muslims, Bulgarians, Catholics, among others composed the rich ethnic diversity of the Ottoman Empire. All non-Muslim minorities retained governing powers and freedom of religion in their respective communities under the millet system. However, such diversity caused friction among ethnic groups, one example is the cosmopolitan city of Salonica, the ancient Macedonian capital, where Greeks and Bulgars fought over the establishment of the Bulgarian Exarchate. In the mid-nineteenth century, Turkey experienced a radical transformation known as the Tanzimat era (1839-76) "led by a class of professional bureaucrats . . . aimed at achieving . . . changes, ranging from the introduction of equal rights to the overhaul of the bureaucratic machinery government" (Sükrü Hanioğlu 11). These series of secular reforms rapidly decimated all the autonomy that these communities once held.
But the most the drastic changes occurred when Mustafa Kemal Atatürk took power in 1923. His most important goal was to modernize Turkey through nationalism, populism, secularism, and most importantly the adoption of the materialism of the West along with its ideas. "This ambitious program of forced modernization was not accomplished without strain and bloodshed" (Itzkowitz). Religious schools, courts, and other institutions under the system of the Islamic law were dismantled. "Standard and secular education in Turkish as the official language deprived the Kurds of the most important means to preserve and maintain their cultural identity" (Gökay and Tunç 2).
All these series of events lead us to the decade of the 1980's when a military coup took over Turkey. The Orhan's novel takes place just before the coup d'état a time of political turmoil in Istanbul. Orhan through each character shows us the complex connections between the characters and the history of Turkey, specifically Istanbul. The changes carried out by the previous generations managed to modernize to some extent the country, unfortunately not everybody was satisfied with the results. People felt that their culture was taken away and forced to assimilate western culture thus creating a sentiment of repudiation towards the West and, interestingly, the East. One example is Hasan, a right-wing nationalist, who hated the materialistic United States but also hated the East in this case Russia, his reason was that Turkey was a puppet from the superpowers. This peculiar character gives us an interesting insight into the thinking of some pockets in Turkish society who felt the same way. Hasan thought that the only way to save Turkey was through the religious teachings and the adoption of Islam.
The book continually highlights the differences that exist in Turkey's rigid class hierarchy which dictate the lives of all the characters. By the late 1980's "income distribution, always skewed became much worse and undermined the middle and lowers classes, while the rich prospered" (Ahmad 105). Metin throughout most of the novel shows his discontent at the society in which he lives in, surrounded by nouveaux riches who enjoy showing off their fortunes. He is desperate to leave Turkey, which he sees as a prison and fantasizes about moving to America to become a wealthy physician. Similarly, Faruk the oldest brother, a historian, has lost all hope on his nation to him there's no way to become a successful individual, in several instances, he talks about how Europe looks down on them. Nationalist sentiments surged in Turkish society as western culture and ideologies became more prevalent than in previous generations.
Turkey might not be the only nation struggling in a globalized world, but it's geopolitical location and turbulent past make this country unique. Although geographically 90% percent of its territory is located on the Asian continent, Turkey has always looked Europe as a gateway to progress and prosperity. At the turn of the 21st century, Turkey wasn't the same, once a country who seek to become a member of the prestigious European Union now doubted it's candidacy. The search for identity remains strong among its citizens who share a rich and complex past. Even though at first glance it may seem that Islam has been the only foundation of the country, one must step back and realize Turkey is the product of other religions as well as European influence.
place and significance of turkey in the world
Orhan Pamuk is well known in Turkey for his literary style that shows an understanding of traditional Turkish Islamic culture and the belief that Turkey's future lies in the West. Silent House narrates the story of three brothers visiting their grandmother in a small town near Istanbul. The characters in the book often struggle to find their real identity. They feel trapped in a country heir to a sophisticated urban civilization, and, on the other hand, a rural culture that remains embedded in the developing world, vulnerable to a predatory modernity. Characters such as Hasan, a high school drop-out, reminds us of a feeling shared by some pockets in society who are marginalized and disillusioned with the current government. The world at the end of the 20th century became increasingly globalized, and for the first time in history, virtually all nations were interconnected. The homogenization of cultures into a universal west became a menace in many countries that wanted to maintain their own culture and religion. Turkey was not the exception "as the social role and visibility of the religion in the public sphere has been increased since the 1990s, the issues of multiculturalism . . . become more important" (Kaçar and Connelly 1).
Since the beginning of its formation, Turkey has been a nation composed of different ethnic groups and religions. The Ottomans, later known as "Turks" by Italians and French, were a tribal confederation who had no homeland. They were part of other tribes from the steppes of Central and Inner Asia, and each tribe was called by the name of the leader of their tribe. The creation of the Ottoman Empire dates to Osman, leader of the Seljuks who declared independence soon after the death of Sultan Kaikobad. During the 14th century, the Ottomans took advantage of the weak Byzantine Empire and conquered lands to the East of the Sea of Marmara opening the expansion to Europe. Christians, Jews, Balkans, Greeks, Gypsies, Muslims, Bulgarians, Catholics, among others composed the rich ethnic diversity of the Ottoman Empire. All non-Muslim minorities retained governing powers and freedom of religion in their respective communities under the millet system. However, such diversity caused friction among ethnic groups, one example is the cosmopolitan city of Salonica, the ancient Macedonian capital, where Greeks and Bulgars fought over the establishment of the Bulgarian Exarchate. In the mid-nineteenth century, Turkey experienced a radical transformation known as the Tanzimat era (1839-76) "led by a class of professional bureaucrats . . . aimed at achieving . . . changes, ranging from the introduction of equal rights to the overhaul of the bureaucratic machinery government" (Sükrü Hanioğlu 11). These series of secular reforms rapidly decimated all the autonomy that these communities once held.
But the most the drastic changes occurred when Mustafa Kemal Atatürk took power in 1923. His most important goal was to modernize Turkey through nationalism, populism, secularism, and most importantly the adoption of the materialism of the West along with its ideas. "This ambitious program of forced modernization was not accomplished without strain and bloodshed" (Itzkowitz). Religious schools, courts, and other institutions under the system of the Islamic law were dismantled. "Standard and secular education in Turkish as the official language deprived the Kurds of the most important means to preserve and maintain their cultural identity" (Gökay and Tunç 2).
All these series of events lead us to the decade of the 1980's when a military coup took over Turkey. The Orhan's novel takes place just before the coup d'état a time of political turmoil in Istanbul. Orhan through each character shows us the complex connections between the characters and the history of Turkey, specifically Istanbul. The changes carried out by the previous generations managed to modernize to some extent the country, unfortunately not everybody was satisfied with the results. People felt that their culture was taken away and forced to assimilate western culture thus creating a sentiment of repudiation towards the West and, interestingly, the East. One example is Hasan, a right-wing nationalist, who hated the materialistic United States but also hated the East in this case Russia, his reason was that Turkey was a puppet from the superpowers. This peculiar character gives us an interesting insight into the thinking of some pockets in Turkish society who felt the same way. Hasan thought that the only way to save Turkey was through the religious teachings and the adoption of Islam.
The book continually highlights the differences that exist in Turkey's rigid class hierarchy which dictate the lives of all the characters. By the late 1980's "income distribution, always skewed became much worse and undermined the middle and lowers classes, while the rich prospered" (Ahmad 105). Metin throughout most of the novel shows his discontent at the society in which he lives in, surrounded by nouveaux riches who enjoy showing off their fortunes. He is desperate to leave Turkey, which he sees as a prison and fantasizes about moving to America to become a wealthy physician. Similarly, Faruk the oldest brother, a historian, has lost all hope on his nation to him there's no way to become a successful individual, in several instances, he talks about how Europe looks down on them. Nationalist sentiments surged in Turkish society as western culture and ideologies became more prevalent than in previous generations.
Turkey might not be the only nation struggling in a globalized world, but it's geopolitical location and turbulent past make this country unique. Although geographically 90% percent of its territory is located on the Asian continent, Turkey has always looked Europe as a gateway to progress and prosperity. At the turn of the 21st century, Turkey wasn't the same, once a country who seek to become a member of the prestigious European Union now doubted it's candidacy. The search for identity remains strong among its citizens who share a rich and complex past. Even though at first glance it may seem that Islam has been the only foundation of the country, one must step back and realize Turkey is the product of other religions as well as European influence.
