Özet:

The West which proved its superiority in every field following the19th century created an identity crisis not only in social life but also in novel genre which is the mirror of social life. Considering the centuries-long history of culture and identity and the challenge of leaving traditional values, it is undeniable that the transition obliged by Westernization within almost every field would encounter a natural resistance. This resistance would lead to a natural civilization crisis. It can be seen that culture and identity crises which started by Tanzimat period are commonly discussed as a subject in Turkish novels. The dimensions that this transition and resistance expanding the 21st century reached in Turkish literature can be explained only through a systematic reading and the attitudes that characters adopted against Westernization movement. Unlike very clear characters like black-and-white fictionalized by the first period novelists, characters who internalize Western culture and even take the position of “Other” against their own culture are encountered in late period novels. Although the historical roots of Turks are from Asia and Islam, they have always had eyes on the West. This transformation towards Westernization has undoubtedly reflections on novel being the mirror of society in different dimensions. Identity crisis in Turkish Literature became evident after the conflict started with Western life styles especially after the Second Constitutionalist Period. With the effect of post-Tanzimat positivism, reasonable, self-confident, intelligent, cultured, well-informed, intellectual characters are idealized in our novels and stories. This intellectual type and desired life enable readers to make a comparison through protagonists and their remarks between lines in many novels. In some novels, architecture of Western cities like England and France and their life styles, home order and recreational life are presented; in others, topics such as etiquette, ethics, love life, marriage, working discipline etc. make readers think. According to Ziya Gökalp, during the civilization change caused by Westernization and technologic progress, Turkish nation tried to build up national identity and national awareness which was ignored and underestimated under Ottoman Empire along with national values, culture and identity. As a matter of fact, "civilization" used to symbolize the cosmopolitism which was corrupted and alienated to national identity within Ottoman society structure; "culture" is hidden within the Turkish identity that protected its historical and cultural entity. The field which westernization presented itself most in the empire was absolutely life style. In fact, no measure can show the features of a nation and civilization as much as social life does. Things that can penetrate most easily before civilization changes or a new civilization proposal can be seen in life style as well. What we call as "life style" shows a national style. It is normal that some resistance can be seen during the protection of old values from the past. Considering the fact that culture is not the total but the synthesis of material and moral values; it is a scientific fact that moral values taken from a mutual past and the values brought by modern science and technology will interact and they will be in a dialectic fight until a balance is set within the organic whole made by this synthesis. As it is known, Turkish people had an Eastern/Muslim identity until the first years of Tanzimat. A life standard determined with mostly sacred rules and traditional customs used to shape the living style of Turkish society. As of Westernization, we have encountered a society which tries to imitate and then applies Western standards in social, political, religious and literary sense. This change which initially started as a wannabe attitude turned into a new form which internalized this new life style in following years. This study focuses on the

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