The "Power Struggle" Against Sultan 2nd Abdulhamid in the Novels of 2nd Meşrutiyet Period

Social and political issues came forward in Turkish literature after Tanzimat Period. Proclaimed constitutional monarchy (2nd Meşrutiyet) in 1908 is a breaking point in literature and politics intermingling. With the declaration of the 2nd Meşrutiyet, Turkish literature proved to be more political than ever. One of the most important aspects of this period is that: Literary works reflect "power struggles" that occur in the era of 2nd Abdulhamid. 2nd Abdulhamid, in 1876, after being the sultan, suspends the first constitution (kanunuesasi) of the Ottoman Empire. Because of this suspension, a number of young people (Young Ottomans) are disturbed. They perform a number of activities to download Abdulhamid and put the constitution into force again. Later, the activities of this youth known as the Jon Turks, gained considerable dimensions. In the early twentieth century, this activities, under the name of İttihat ve Terakki Cemiyeti, download 2nd Abdulhamid. July 10, 1908, on proclaiming the constitution by Abdülhamid again, freedom becomes dominant in a period in the Ottoman Empire. Artists begin to write political issues could not write earlier. The number of press and publication that earlier editions restricted, would seriously increase. A significant increase occur in the number of novels written after this date. Almost all of them contain the power struggle that occured in the previous period and negative criticisms against the former administration. As a result; The most important thing to be noted in intermingling of the policies and the art is that: In the 2nd Meşrutiyet Period, artists who work on the power struggle, saw art as the basis for the getting revenge and used the literary works as an instrument of politics.

Keywords

Power struggle, novel, 2nd Abdulhamid, 2nd Meşrutiyet, Ittihat ve Terakki.