Düşüşe Yazgılı Yükseliş: Psikomitoloji Çerçevesinde Halit Ziya Uşaklıgil’in Mai ve Siyah Romanı
The Ascension Doomed to Decline: An Analysis of Halit Ziya Uşaklıgil’s Novel Mai ve Siyah within the Framework of Psychomythology

Summary/Abstract: In this article, we examine Mai ve Siyah by Halit Ziya Uşaklıgil, one of the prominent figures in modern Turkish literature, within the framework of the concept of psychomythology. In this context, we aim to demonstrate that an evaluation of Mai ve Siyah, considered by many researchers as one of Halit Ziya Uşaklıgil’s “most important works,” from a psychomythological perspective can reveal the consciousness of both the author and the characters he has constructed. This approach also allows for a deeper understanding of the author’s underlying messages and the complexities of the characters. Throughout this process, we focused on the Icarus complex and conducted a text-centered analysis. The concept of psychomythology plays a functional role in achieving this objective. Psychomythology, which arises from the integration of mythology and psychology, involves the psychodynamic interpretation of mythological stories, tales, or narratives. Additionally, psychomythology examines the effects and reflections of mythological stories, symbols, and figures on human psychology. It is observed that psychomythology holds significant value for analyzing the consciousness of fictional characters. In this article, we have found that the death of Ahmet Cemil’s father; his effort to navigate life independently as an autonomous individual after his childhood; his desire to ascend to the “heights of life” through ambitions such as becoming a renowned poet and reuniting with his beloved; his tragic downfall due to life’s realities and societal rules; his gradual loss of all possessions; and his metaphorical death are consistent with the Icarus complex. Consequently, we concluded that the deep structure of the novel Mai ve Siyah exhibits a significant psychomythological relationship with the Icarus complex. Furthermore, we have demonstrated that Halit Ziya Uşaklıgil embeds within the subtext of the novel the notion of the necessity of acting in accordance with the laws of life through rational thought, akin to the Stoic interpretation of the Icarus complex.

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