Yeni Türk Edebiyatı Araştırmaları

Öz

In the novels published during the early Republican era, which were influenced by the ideology of nationalism, it was expected that the social ideal would take precedence over individual desires. In the context of the prevailing ideal of patriotism, it is a prevalent belief that the protagonists of the novel subdue their affection and yearning for their significant others, and are portrayed in a manner that is devoid of eroticism. In this framework, the prevailing opinion in the literature is influenced by the dichotomy between the individual and society. According to Fredric Jameson, the life of the individual in such texts functions as an allegorical expression of the political and historical transformation of a nation. However, in select instances of novels belonging to the genre of national literature, an observation has been made of the presentation of individual and social objectives in a relational manner without the separation of the two. This reading delves into the interplay between the thematic elements of love and the discourse surrounding national identity, as evidenced in Halide Edib Adıvar’s Yeni Turan (1912) and Ateşten Gömlek (1922), and Müfide Ferit Tek’s Aydemir (1918). It offers a critical perspective on Fredric Jameson’s thesis of “national allegory,” which, from this viewpoint, fails to adequately capture the psychological depth of the individual. Jameson’s argument posits that individual narratives are inherently transformed into social narratives. However, this article contends that there are instances where individual desire, rather than being repressed, functions as a constitutive element in the process of acquiring social identity. In this context, it is crucial to note that the subjective desires of the female characters are not merely passive recipients of the nationalist ideology; rather, they act as active subjects that transform and direct it. The concept of love serves as a pivotal element in the formation of gendered identities, contributing to the creation of meaning at both the individual and societal levels. Consequently, in these texts, the contents in which the individual and the social are not mutually exclusive and exist relationally become prominent.