Structure and theme in Cahide Birgül's novels

The novel genre is regarded as an indispensable part of literature and is considered a powerful tool for understanding and conveying human experience. With its development throughout literary history, its structural characteristics, and diversity, the novel offers readers a broad narrative world. The novel is thought to be a literary form that allows for in-depth exploration and questioning of individual and social issues, providing readers with a wide perspective and enhancing their empathy skills. Additionally, it is seen as an important tool for recording social changes and individual experiences within historical and cultural contexts. In this study, titled "Structure and Theme in Cahide Birgül's Novels," the novels Gölgeler Çekildiğinde, Geceye Uyananlar, Ah Tutku Beni Öldürür müsün, and Eflatun Koza by Cahide Birgül, who began her literary career in the late 1990s writing serialized dramas for TRT Ankara Radio, are analyzed in terms of structure and theme. The aim is to identify and conclude the structural elements, narrative techniques, and themes employed in these works through text-centered analyses. The introduction of the study provides a theoretical framework based on Birgül's literary approach. The study consists of three main sections: "Cahide Birgül," which covers Birgül's life and literary career; "Structure in Cahide Birgül's Novels," which examines the structural and narrative elements of her novels; and "Theme in Cahide Birgül's Novels," which discusses the themes in her works. In her novels, Cahide Birgül focuses on character transformations rather than events, delving into the inner worlds of individuals leading ordinary lives, who often go unnoticed. The concept of the family, which is exalted in society, is critically approached, allowing for social critiques. This focus on character transformations enables Birgül's novels to be evaluated as late modern and early postmodern works. It is observed that Birgül maintains a consistent thematic approach across her four novels, embedding the themes subtly within the flow of events.