An Ottoman and A Cherkes: The Cost of Freedom in Serguzest Novel

Abstract

One of the issue that Tanzimat writers dwelled on, the enslavement problem, represents important datas to understand and interpret Ottoman modernism period. The policy of Ottoman government through to enslavement can be seen in literary narratives of the period's writers such as Namik Kemal, Ahmet Mithat Efendi, Recaizade Mahmut Ekrem and Samipasazade Sezai. In this article, based up on Samipasazade Sezai's Serguzest novel, Ottoman modernism period will be brought forward with focusing on enslavement problem. In this frame, the message that is given to reader by preface of Serguzest, will be evaluated with historical perspective, after drawing a frame for state enforcement of enslavery. In Tanzimat period, fictionalization of Cherkes representations, conflict of high class, westernized Ottoman intellectuals will be discussed. Definition of enslavement problem in the Ottoman modernization process and solutions of this problem will be answered throughout the analyzation of the novel characters.