The Representation of Destructive And Divısive Activities In The Turkish Novel: The Case Of Küçük Ağa and Pervaneler

Abstract

This study examines the destructive and divisive activities targeting Turkish society through different literary representations in Tarık Buğra’s Küçük Ağa and Müfide Ferit Tek’s Pervaneler. The analysis of Küçük Ağa focuses on bandits and secret societies, revealing how the social disintegration and internal divisions experienced in Anatolia during the Turkish War of Independence are reflected in the fictional narrative. Rather than portraying a conventional war between regular armies, the novel depicts the struggle behind the front lines involving various actors. Therefore, the study explores how these actors are fictionalized, emphasizing the novel as a historical narrative and a form of literary testimony. In Pervaneler, foreign schools, the societies that support them, and individuals acting on behalf of these societies are analyzed. Within this framework, the study draws attention to the erosion of cultural identity among Turkish youth through education. It critically examines how these agents impose anti-national values and admiration for America on young minds. Each work is evaluated within its context, demonstrating that destructive and divisive activities are not carried out solely through warfare or political means but also through education, the press, civil organizations, and minority communities. Through a literary lens, the study aims to provide insight into the mental and cultural siege processes underlying historical periods. Both novels are subjected to thematic analysis, with a multifaceted approach considering character analysis, spatial representation, and narrative structure.