Searching for comfort in things: Objects in the Turkish novel

This study examines the literary roles of material objects in nine Turkish novels and seeks to develop an original framework for analysing things. Theories of the novel still lack an analytical frame for the study of objects. The first chapter deals with a number of theoretical approaches with regard to the things and lays down the bases of five original categorical constructs for analysing the fictional objects: Object-characters (personified things), character-objects (Thingified characters), quasi-objects (spatialised objects), metonymical objects and metaphorical objects. The second chapter focuses on character and object relations in three novels, namely Araba Sevdası (Carriage Affair), Udî (The Lutist) and Aşk-ı Memnu (Forbidden Love) published between 1850-1900. The roles of objects in Tatarcık (Sandfly), Çamlıcadaki Eniştemiz (Our Uncle in Çamlıca) and Huzur (A Mind at Peace) are scrutinized in the third chapter. The fourth chapter explores the poetics of objects in Fikrimin İnce Gülü (The Slender Rose of My Desire), Sonsuzluğa Nokta (A Dot to Eternity) and Masumiyet Müzesi (The Museum of Innocence) that are published after 1950. The final chapter is devoted to the discussion of textual findings. Except two, all selected novels share a similar pattern: The main characters seek the comfort of material things in an attempt to reduce emotional deprivations, which in turn leads to the personification of objects. Objects not only play a role as metonymical parts of the characters and settings, but also function as characters and space themselves in the narratives.Keywords: Fictional objects, things in the Turkish novel, object-characters