Bir Şiirin Romana Yansıması: Merdivenler

Abstract

The interest towards history is gradually increasing in Turkey. The authors focus on the recent past, concentrate on events that happened a few generations ago, and construct the theme of their novels on real events. It is possible to say that orientation to the real events is more dominant both in the society and among the novelists, i.e. real events take precedence in literary works in comparison to fiction. Numerous novels have been written in recent years, focusing on real events and persons of the 19th and early 20th centuries. This article discusses one of these novels, called Merdivenler (Stairs). Merdivenler is a work depicting the family of Zarife Güzin Hanım, whom Ahmet Haşim married in his last days. The title of the novel was inspired by Ahmet Haşim's poem Merdiven (Ladder). In the novel, Zarife Güzin Hanım's family is told over a period of six generations. It is possible to list the representatives of these generations in the novel as follows: Abdülkerim's father (as a friend of Rusçuk Yaran), Abdülkerim, Tevfik, Kerim, Zarife, Rabia. The political events of the period are also mentioned in parallel to the lives of family members. Zarife's meeting with Ahmet Haşim, their friendship, marriage, Haşim's illness and death are told In the last part of the novel. The personality of the poet, the content of his poems, his deep and intense emotions are given widely in this section. Wars of the early 20th century, the collapse of the state, the birth of the Republic of Turkey, the political events that influenced the family badly, the political views that caused them to hate each other are the main topics covered in the novel. Zarife's personality, strong and effective nature, her talents (interest and talent in music) and the growing conditions are also emphasized in the novel. We can say that Merdivenler is a skillful novel and created by its author similar to the Haşim's poems. The novelist succeeded in immortalizing Ahmet Haşim and Zarife Güzin Hanım by his artwork.

Keywords
Ahmet Hashim, Abdülhamit II, Poem Merdiven (Stairs), death of Abdülaziz, Mithat Pasha, 31 March Inci
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