A Lacanian subject-centered approach to Leyla Erbil's texts

In this study, the dynamics that make up the subjects in Leyla Erbil's novels and narratives were discussed. The subject status of these subjects at both individual and social levels was examined. The structures that form the subjects were analysed on account of not only the content but also the elements that build the text such as narrative techniques, literary genre, the analysis of the language used. The theoretical basis of the study is based on the subject theory of Jacques Lacan and the concepts that are thought to form this theory. The reason for his is that the lacking and desiring subjects in Leyla Erbil's works are located within the structures in Lacan's symbolic order such as state, family, society, language, culture, love, other, nationality, religion, sexuality, and politics. The traces of Lacan's negative subjects were sought in Leyla Erbil's works titled Tuhaf Bir Kadın, Karanlığın Günü, Mektup Aşkları, Cüce, Kalan, and Tuhaf Bir Erkek. In the first part of the study, the historical development of the concept of subject, Lacan's theory of the subject and Leyla Erbil's literary life and works were included. In the second part, the works mentioned were evaluated regarding various concepts of Lacanian Subject Theory according to content and expression techniques and language use. Keywords: Leyla Erbil, Lacan, Subject, Psychoanalytic Literary Theory