OĞUZ ATAY VE JAMES JOYCE’UN MODERNİST ESERLERİNDEKİ AYDIN OLGUSUNA KARŞILAŞTIRMALI BİR BAKIŞ

Purpose: In this study, the portrayals of modern intellectuals in Joyce’s and Atay’s modernist works are examined in the light of the two authors’ cultural, social and political backgrounds. With this objective in mind, the similarities and differences in the portrayals of modern intellectuals in major works of the two authors are comparatively analysed. This paper emphasizes that Atay, though highly influenced by Joyce, does not simply copy Joycean concept of ‘intellectual’ in his works. He develops his own concept of intellectual by adjusting Joycean intellectuals into Turkish cultural, social and historical context. Atay and Joyce can be compared in terms of literary styles, subject matters and artistic stances although they are from distinct cultural and social backgrounds. As such, the present paper aims to analyze Joyce’s influence on Atay, emphasizing the thematic and stylistic similarities between the two authors. Firstly, Atay’s transgression of Joycean influence to create his own unique concept of the intellectual will be explained. Then, we will discuss to what extend Atay’s and Joyce’s portrayals of modern intellectuals have certain similarities and differences. Lastly, we will argue that Atay, rather than blindly imitating Joyce, develops his own, unique idea of intellectualism out of Joycean influence. Conceptual and Theoretical Framework: A comparative study of literary texts from different nations and different periods of time is significant when their contributions to an ongoing tradition are taken into consideration. Furthermore, reflections of literary movements on the literatures of different nations may indicate certain similarities, especially when the initiators of a movement in a nation’s literature are followers or readers of another nation’s literature. For instance, the modernist literary movement influences Turkish literary circles decades later than Western Europe. Nevertheless, modernism manifests itself in Turkish literature as it does in British or French literature. Just like their European contemporaries, writers like Ahmet Hamdi Tanpınar, Oğuz Atay and Yusuf Atılgan integrate in their fictions themes such as alienation from society, lack of communication between human beings, spiritual paralysis and the meaninglessness of life. Stylistically, too, they imitate Western European literature, especially the British using techniques like ‘stream-of-consciousness’, ‘interior monologue’, distorted dialogues and fragmentation. There is a common agreement that modernism signifies a paradigmatic shift and major revolt against the prevalent literary and cultural traditions of Western Europe. Modernism is still a vague term and signifies multiple meanings. It is easier to limit the argument with literary modernism, though still there are challenges. Modernism in literature is a movement associated with writers like T.S. Eliot, James Joyce, Virginia Woolf and D.H. Lawrence. Yet the term has nothing to do with the biography of these writers. It is rather a new medium and structure of English language and very much related to the experimental formulation of narrative, a new idea of aesthetics and coherence. Great changes take place in modern society after the two world wars. Literature of the pre-war Europe is challenged and seen as inadequate to represent the multiplicity of realities and perspectives in the modern world. The post-war Europe develops a new concept of individual who has a different state of mind. In addition, some scientific and psychological developments like Freudian and Jungian psychoanalysis show that every single human being has his distinctive character traits shaped by his interactions with other identities. Modernist writers like Joyce and Woolf emphasize ‘private selves’ and the ‘undividable’ nature of the individual. To meet the intellectual needs of the new reading public and to most faithfully reflect contemporary state of mind, modernity creates the identical human being who is tempted and limitted by technology. Findings: Although Atay adopts some of Joyce’s narrative techniques, he appropriates the idea and role of intellectuals to his own purpose. The major difference between Joyce’s and Atay’s intellectual characters is that Atay’s ‘disconnected’ intellectuals have a strong social consciousness and feeling of responsibility for the future prosperity of their nation whereas Joycean modern intellectuals escape into a world of aesthetics which creates a critical distance between themselves and the public. In particular, the idea and role of intellectuals in Atay’s works have significant differences from Joyce’s. Atay’s intellectuals are the voice of their nation in the process of crisis and development. The crisis urges Atay to create a socially responsible intellectual type who can guide the public to salvation. Thus, Atay’s intellectuals are scapegoats whereas Joyce’s are irresponsible, escapist artists. Besides, Atay’s sense of intellectualism sounds much more humane and intimate than Joyce’s scowling, distanced, escapist and cold-hearted intellectualism. In the end, Atay’s ‘disconnected’ intellectuals either commit suicide or lose their sanity. On the other hand, Joyce’s modern intellectuals evade their national and social responsibilities. They ignore oppression and poverty and subject to spiritual paralysis. They isolate themselves into their ivory towers rejecting all social institutions like religion, family and education. In this respect, isolation or ‘disconnectedness’ can be taken as a virtue for Atay. Joyce’s intellectuals, on the other hand, are morally and spiritually weaker. Yet, it has to be stated that Atay’s intellectuals are weaker than Joyce’s in terms of aesthetic development. There is an inevitable degree of influence; yet Atay creates his unique style and perspective in his works. Originality / Value: Modernist authors like Joyce and Atay write about subjects and themes with a strong emphasis on individuals’ spiritual paralysis, isolation from society, feeling of ‘nothingness’, existential questionings, lack of communication and consequences of urbanization. In particular, such themes are also celebrated by Woolf, Proust, Faulkner, Kafka and Dostoyevsky despite the geographical and cultural differences. Joyce has been a leading figure of influence on many modernist authors from different nations. For instance, Oğuz Atay, much under the influence of Joyce, creates intellectual characters with an emphasis on the intellectuals’ isolation from society and social institutions, though with different preoccupations. Due to their distinct national and cultural backgrounds, Joyce’s influence on Atay has not been extensively studied. In particular, Atay’s intellectual responses to Joyce are left in the wilderness. Yet, comparisons have been made regarding the thematic and stylistic aspects of the two authors’ works. This study is the only one, among many, with the claim, in spite of powerful influence and certain likeliness between Joyce and Atay, that the latter has managed to come up with his own style and his unique conception of intellectualism.