Love relations in the novels of Reşat Nuri Güntekin

Love Relations in the Novels of Reşat Nuri Güntekin?Beyhan Uygun AytemizThis study focuses on the romantic novels of Reşat Nuri Güntekin(1889-1956), who is generally acknowledged as a founding member ofnational Turkish literature. It investigates the following eight novels of theauthor in terms of the love relationships displayed in them: HarabelerinÇiçeği (The Flowers of Ruin, 1918), Gizli El (The Secret Hand, 1920),Çalıkuşu (The Wren, 1922), Damga (The Stigma, 1924), Dudaktan Kalbe(From Lips to Heart, 1925), Akşam Güneşi (The Sunset, 1926), Bir KadınDüşmanı (A Misogynist, 1927), Eski Hastalık (The Old Pain, 1938), andAteş Gecesi (Night of Fire, 1942). The thesis mainly examines the personalvalue system and the love relationships depicted in Güntekin?s novelsthrough the perspectives of their narrators and protagonists. It is observedthat these characters? traits almost always gather around a typical narcissisticconfiguration. Güntekin is consistent in creating characters that are self-centered, arrogant, and in need of constant admiration. Their lack of empathytowards almost all others in their environment emerges from their insecurechildhood experiences and inadequate parental interactions. Suchconstructions of the self in the novels in turn shape the protagonists? love andother interpersonal relations, as well as the representation of Anatolia, whichis often described as a place of exile. However, important differences arealso observed in the novels, especially in the representation of love asexperienced by male and female characters. While the author?s malecharacters seem to be capable of love, his female characters are not. Thisresults in the disunion of the potential lovers, a phenomenon transforming thetraditional structure of the typical romantic novel.Keywords: national literature, romantic novel, narcissism, self.