Intellectual profile in Reşat Nuri Güntekin's novels

This study analyzes Reşat Nuri Güntekin's novels from a political perspective, aiming to reveal the portrayal of intellectuals depicted in his novels. Literary works and especially novels are significant sources for political science since they reflect the social realities of their time. Güntekin, one of the most prominent novelists of the Republic, observes the periods that play an important role for Turkish political history such as the Constitutional Monarchy and the Republic and transfers them to his novels, and presents us with the intellectual profile of this period as well as the intellectual profile in his mind through the main characters of the novel. It's aimed that uncovering this profile will shed light on the intellectual problem from today's point of view, as well. Therefore, this study will contribute to intellectual literature in Turkish political history. Content analysis and discourse analysis methods were used in the study. The findings indicate that Güntekin's portrayal of the intellectual is the one who, inspired by Enlightenment ideals, moves from Istanbul to Anatolia, engages with the local people, evolves from radical to moderate Enlightenment, opposes superficial and formalist intellectualism, combats superstitions that hinder societal progress, avoids involving in day-to-day political conflicts, values scientific reasoning, criticizes all forms of authority, promotes positive sciences—especially through education— understands the core values of Enlightenment, and tries to integrate them with Anatolian culture, and seeks to blend European and Anatolian cultures.