Contemporary Turkish Short Fiction (Women writers)

The following stories are all found in Contemporary Turkish Short Fiction: A Selection Vol. 1


"A Mid-Summer Night's Story" by Peride Celal (p. 26-32)
In this seven-page story, the narrator has a late-night talk with Angelos, who is crazy because he's "in love with Fokia."  It is not until the end of the story that she finds out that Fokia is a mermaid.  Readers can discuss the pervasiveness of the mermaid myths, the delicate balance between fiction and reality, and how those with mental illness are treated in different societies.

"Farewell Alyosha" by Oya Baydar (p.141-145)
The term "Alyosha" means a Baptist, or someone who tries to convert others.  "Farewell Alyosha" describes the passion that youth have for change and the way that passion fades over time.  Upon seeing a photograph of an aged "Alyosha", the narrator reminisces about their past as activists.  "It was our age of 25 or 30 when we, holding strong beliefs - enthusiastic, hopeful and willing to make sacrifices - kept writing and debated what we wrote all night long, when we took the world, life, war, revolution, socialism, human beings and ourselves seriously in a way perhaps we would never do again" (142).  The narrator is disappointed in the outcomes of their work now that "Alyosha" is a politician.  She asks "Alyosha" to remember their passion and to refuse to allow their dreams to crumble.  "Everything is crumbling around us... Walls, castles, chateaux, stars, statues, dreams, beliefs, values, everything tied to the past... Everything is falling apart, shattering!" (145).  Students can discuss the history of Turkey over the past 100 years, with numerous coup d'états, the passion of youth and the resignation of age, and even illusions to Turkish poet Nâzim Hikmet.

"The Simple Present" by Ayşe Kulin (162-176)
"The Simple Present" is another story that is interesting.  I'm on the fence as to whether it's teachable, but the message is a good one.  It's about a woman who tries to help her niece jump social classes by paying for private schooling.  She hopes the niece will marry a doctor, but she ends up giving in to pressure from her male relatives to marry a boy from her neighborhood.  The piece touches on spousal abuse and polygamy.  One of the main themes is the guilt that the narrator feels about leaving Turkey for England and the good life she has there, and the difficult lives of those she leaves behind.  It is a bit confusing because the narration jumps between the past (in Turkey) and the present (both in England and Turkey).  Some issues are unresolved at the end, such as who Gerry is and how long he and the narrator have been together.  Teachers may also feel uncomfortable with the sexual references, though they're mild.


"In the Shop Window (the '80s)" by Ayşe Kulin (p. 177-182)
Twice awarded "Writer of the Year" by the Istanbul Communication Faculty (in 1997 & 1998), Ayşe Kulin's characters in "In the Shop Window" are mannequins.  The mannequins discuss their desires (to dress a certain way, to think, to love, to leave) that are now (under the Evren presidency) illegal.  Teachers can present the mannequins as metaphors for those feeling stifled under the suspension of civil liberties during Evren's military coup and presidency.  Students will need a basic understanding of recent Turkish history, including the military coups in 1960, 1971, 1980.

"Monsieur Hristo" by Nazli Eray (p. 233-235)
Known for her fables and fantasies, Nazli Eray wrote "Monsieur Hristo" in memory of her friend and janitor.  Students of all ages should enjoy this very short story which starts, "The janitor of the Felicity Apartment House in Şişhane, Monsieur Hristo, turned into a bird on a summer day, and flew away to Kuledibi" (233).  As the janitor/bird flies across Turkey, his wife comes home from the market and begins to worry about it.  The story is simple, yet entertaining.  Students should at least have some understanding of the locations of the towns in Turkey where Monsieur Hristo flies.  Teachers who want to go more in-depth can dissect the relationship between husband and wife and focus on the wife's reaction throughout the story.  Eray ends the story with a note saying that the real Monsieur Hristo "died two years ago.  Perhaps he is a pigeon now in Tarlabşi.  Perhaps not."  Students may enjoy discussions of the varying views of the afterlife as well.

"Five Minutes to Five" by Zeynep Oral (p. 244-248)
In this story, the main character is walking home in the early-morning hours, worrying that it is immoral for her to do so.  The refrain, "A married woman does not stay out all night on the streets" runs through the story as it runs through her mind.  Feeling social pressures and imagining the voices of her neighbors and family as they chide her for being out so late, the woman continues her way home.  She makes some attempts to argue with the voices, but continues to fail.  You can tell that she agrees with them and worries about her reputation.  Just as she makes it home, she is stopped by soldiers.  Finally she is greeted by her entire family and all the neighbors.  She is ashamed to be out late, but soon realizes that they have overlooked her transgression because there has been a military coup during the night and they are all celebrating.  This story not only explores the social norms in Turkish culture in regards to women's rights, but also the history of the coups and the resulting change in society.  Students will need a background on Turkish and Islamic culture, as well as an understanding of the history of the country (especially the coup of 1980).