The Importance Of Power In Mithat Cemal's Üç Estanbul Novel

Mithat Cemal's Üç İstanbul novel took place during three consecutive periods of the late Ottoman history. In the novel, the absolutist regime of Sultan Abdülhamid (istibdad), the Second Constitutional Era under the control of Committee of Union and Progress and the Occupation of İstanbul during the Armistice period were told. Power, degeneration, political movements, political tricks during these periods were dealt with by Adnan's metamorphosis. Üç İstanbul attempts to analyze the situation of elites, intellectuals and social life that is formed in accordance with political change, in the context of power in three different periods. In the novel, the case that marked these periods was the deep connections and bonds between the elites and power centers, and three different circumstances of Istanbul and the self-interest of the elites, flattery, corruption and rottenness was expressed. …show more content…
Instead of the streets, bazaars, markets and ports of the İstanbul, the novel takes place in the mansions, brothels, residences, palaces and the elite neighborhoods such as Cağaloğlu and Galatasaray. On the other hand, people of the lower class in Istanbul don’t assume any role, and we cannot encounter with the İstanbul of people unless public places and their smell are mentioned by the elites of the mansions. Their existence is trapped between the lips of the elites. There are two Istanbul in the novel; Muslim Istanbul (other Istanbul) and Beyoğlu İstanbul. The elites look at Muslim Istanbul from Beyoğlu with despise and disgust. However, Muslim Istanbul is the source of the patriotic discourses for them. On the other hand, Beyoğlu is the center of the novel and a sort of a version of admired Western way of life. Beyoğlu represents the integrated subconscious of the novel