“Inevitable Variability of the World” or Disguise in the Turkish Literature of the Tanzimat Period

Abstract

The focus of the article revolves around the examination of the role of attire within the early works of the Tanzimat period. Significant focus was directed towards the motif of women enrobing male attire and vice versa. Illustrative instances of this motif are discerned in two seminal works authored by prominent writers of the era: Namık Kemal’s drama Vatan yahut Silistre and Şemsettin Sami’s novel Taaşşuk-ı Talat ve Fitnat. The introductory segment delineates the epoch of reform, spanning the latter half of the 19th century, followed by an exposition of the literary landscape of the period, accentuating the pivotal role of garb within the narrative framework. Subsequently, succinct biographies are presented, followed by a discourse on themes associated with disguise. In Taaşşuk-ı Talat ve Fitnat, the eponymous character, Talat, assumes female garb, imperiling his reputation, to gain access to the abode of his beloved. Conversely, in Vatan yahut Silistre, Zekiye dons masculine attire to pursue her beloved who has departed for war, set against the backdrop of the Crimean War. Both works serve as a plea for greater freedom of association between individuals bound by affection.