Westernization in Ahmet Mithat Efendi`s works

The Westernization of the Ottoman Empire is one of the foremost topics that Ottomanintellectuals were interested in during the 19th century. Because the Westernization processwas seen like a way of liberation for the Empire. But through the history, the Westernizationprocess was not developed as expected and the empire both lost its lands and its economy andstarted to become smaller.The aim of this thesis is to explain how Westernization was perceived by the Ottomanintellectual Ahmet Mithat Efendi. Throughout the thesis, the criteria that the writer used toperceive westernization, the subjects which were highly regarded in the scope ofwesternization by the writer, the position of the writer in front of the Western Civilizationafter the administrative reforms are analyzed by giving reference to the works, especially tothe novels of A. Mithat.Mithat Efendi started to write in 1870. Westernization is the subject that he discussedmainly in most of his works. Throughout the study, it is determined that, for the writer theWesternization should take place especially in the areas of education, technology andindustry. Additionally, the writer also criticized the ?wrong Westernization? which waspublicly known as ?alafrangalaşma?. The comparison of Eastern and Western Civilizationswere done in the works of A.Mithat with the changes in cultural areas.As a result, it is determined that the writer perceived Westernization as a process thatwill take the Ottoman Empire ?further?, but in some areas he preferred to show someconservatism concerning Westernization. According to the writer, technology, education andindustry are the issues that Ottoman Empire should take from the Western Civilization.Different art styles and daily life rules should be learned from Western Civilization in culturalareas. High values that Ottoman culture has, are the areas that the writer put some boundariesIslamic education and Eastern moral values are issues that have higher importance amongthose values. The writer explained his opinion with the help of his novel characters who cancombine Ottoman culture with Western values, but especially considering moral values, thosecharacters are Eastern rather than Western.