Writing the New Woman of the Republic: The Female Protagonist’s Resistance of Subjectivity against the Male Imagination’s Political Synthesism in Huzur

Berna Terzi Eskin

Article Details

Writing the New Woman of the Republic: The Female Protagonist’s Resistance of Subjectivity against the Male Imagination’s Political Synthesism in Huzur

Authors:

Berna Terzi Eskin

Publisher:

Istanbul University

Main Topics:

Genel Türk Tarihi (Diğer)

Journal:

Yakın Dönem Türkiye Araştırmaları Issue 47, pp.267-282

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

6/2025

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001355981

pISSN:

1304-9720

Keywords:

Abstract:

 During the foundational period of the Turkish Republic, classical culture and art were relegated to the background due to their associations with the former regime. In contrast, folklore was positioned as the primary and legitimate source of national culture to be utilized in constructing the new identity. Ahmet Hamdi Tanpınar engaged with this cultural agenda, but through an alternative discourse that embraced a synthesizing approach, combining folklore with the classical heritage of the Ottoman Empire. In this context, this article explores how Tanpınar intervenes in this cultural discussion through the construction of the female character Nuran in his novel Huzur A Mind at Peace. The author builds Nurans character through a politically synthesist perspective, while the protagonist Mümtaz seeks to reinterpret and reconstruct her identity within the fictional universe by rediscovering the cultural depth previously ascribed to her by the author. In both instances, Nuran, as a woman, is entrusted with the mission of preserving and transmitting both folklore and classical culture to future generations. Consequently, the study argues that the portrayal of Nuran offers an alternative proposition within the context of contemporary cultural policies. Furthermore, Nuran emerges not as a passive figure but as a distinct representation of a woman who asserts her subjectivity.

 During the foundational period of the Turkish Republic, classical culture and art were relegated to the background due to their associations with the former regime. In contrast, folklore was positioned as the primary and legitimate source of national culture to be utilized in constructing the new identity. Ahmet Hamdi Tanpınar engaged with this cultural agenda, but through an alternative discourse that embraced a synthesizing approach, combining folklore with the classical heritage of the Ottoman Empire. In this context, this article explores how Tanpınar intervenes in this cultural discussion through the construction of the female character Nuran in his novel Huzur A Mind at Peace. The author builds Nurans character through a politically synthesist perspective, while the protagonist Mümtaz seeks to reinterpret and reconstruct her identity within the fictional universe by rediscovering the cultural depth previously ascribed to her by the author. In both instances, Nuran, as a woman, is entrusted with the mission of preserving and transmitting both folklore and classical culture to future generations. Consequently, the study argues that the portrayal of Nuran offers an alternative proposition within the context of contemporary cultural policies. Furthermore, Nuran emerges not as a passive figure but as a distinct representation of a woman who asserts her subjectivity.

 During the foundational period of the Turkish Republic, classical culture and art were relegated to the background due to their associations with the former regime. In contrast, folklore was positioned as the primary and legitimate source of national culture to be utilized in constructing the new identity. Ahmet Hamdi Tanpınar engaged with this cultural agenda, but through an alternative discourse that embraced a synthesizing approach, combining folklore with the classical heritage of the Ottoman Empire. In this context, this article explores how Tanpınar intervenes in this cultural discussion through the construction of the female character Nuran in his novel Huzur A Mind at Peace. The author builds Nurans character through a politically synthesist perspective, while the protagonist Mümtaz seeks to reinterpret and reconstruct her identity within the fictional universe by rediscovering the cultural depth previously ascribed to her by the author. In both instances, Nuran, as a woman, is entrusted with the mission of preserving and transmitting both folklore and classical culture to future generations. Consequently, the study argues that the portrayal of Nuran offers an alternative proposition within the context of contemporary cultural policies. Furthermore, Nuran emerges not as a passive figure but as a distinct representation of a woman who asserts her subjectivity.

 Cumhuriyetin kuruluş döneminde klasik kültür ve sanat, eski rejimden devralınan unsurlar olmaları dolayısıyla geri planda kalmış; buna karşılık folklor, istifade edilmesi gereken yegâne ulusal kültür kaynağı olarak konumlandırılmıştır. Ahmet Hamdi Tanpınar da bu gündeme dair söz söylemiş, ancak alternatif denilebilecek bir söylemle folkloru ve İmparatorluk mirası olan klasik kültürü sentezci bir anlayışla ele almıştır. Bu bağlamda makalede, Tanpınarın Huzurdaki kadın kahraman Nuranın karakter tasarımı aracılığıyla söz konusu gündeme nasıl müdâhil olduğu üzerinde durulmuştur. Yazar, sentezci bir politik yaklaşımı önceleyerek Nuran karakterini inşa eder. Başkahraman Mümtaz ise Nuranın yazar tarafından kurgulanan mevcut birikimine dair manzarayı yeniden keşfederek onu roman içerisinde tekrar tahayyül edip kurgulamak ister. Her iki koşulda da bir kadın olarak Nurana hem folkloru hem de klasik kültürü saklama ve gelecek nesillere taşıma vazifesi yüklenir. Netice itibariyle çalışmada, Nuran karakteriyle somutlaşan tablonun yakın dönem kültür politikaları bağlamında alternatif bir teklif anlamına geldiği, Nuranın da edilgen kalmayıp kendi öznelliğini dışa vuran bir kadın figür olarak belirginleştiği öne sürülmektedir.

Article Details

Writing the New Woman of the Republic: The Female Protagonist’s Resistance of Subjectivity against the Male Imagination’s Political Synthesism in Huzur

Authors:

Berna Terzi Eskin

Publisher:

Istanbul University

Main Topics:

Genel Türk Tarihi (Diğer)

Journal:

Yakın Dönem Türkiye Araştırmaları Issue 47, pp.267-282

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

6/2025

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001355981

pISSN:

1304-9720

Cultural Policy

Women’s Studies

Huzur

Ahmet Hamdi Tanpınar

FolkloreKültür Politikaları

Kadın Çalışmaları

Huzur

Ahmet Hamdi Tanpınar

Folklor

Issues

Article Details

Authors: Berna Terzi Eskin

Publisher: Istanbul University

Main Topics: Genel Türk Tarihi (Diğer)

Journal: Yakın Dönem Türkiye Araştırmaları Issue 47, pp.267-282

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 6/2025

Document Language: Turkish

Document ID (Org No.): 2001355981

pISSN: 1304-9720

Issues

Authors:

Berna Terzi Eskin

Publisher:

Istanbul University

Main Topics:

Genel Türk Tarihi (Diğer)

Journal:

Yakın Dönem Türkiye Araştırmaları Issue 47, pp.267-282

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

6/2025

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001355981

pISSN:

1304-9720