Abstract
THE BRIDGE AS THE SYMBOL OF POWER IN TWO NOVELS
The bridge holds a special place among architectural structures. Its existence depends on the existence of two distinct parts and the need for passage between them. Furthermore, the construction of a bridge in its true sense requires sufficient human and financial resources. In non-man-made natural and mythological bridges, however, the bridge has been imbued with meanings beyond mere spatial transition. In addition to its functionality, bridges have also been the subject of literature and art, with their metaphorical, abstract, and otherworldly meanings. Mythology, in particular, emphasizes the bridge's existence as a means of transition between different worlds. In some fictional works inspired by real life, the bridge has been examined both in terms of its material process of existence and its sociological impact during and after its formation. In this context, one of the world-renowned and important literary works is Ivo Andrić's Drina Köprüsü. The Nobel Prize-winning author, with his novel The Bridge on the Drina, metaphorically portrayed the sociopolitical changes in the Balkans, adhering to the reality of historical time and place. Another bridge whose concrete existence is the subject of the work is in Ayşe Kulin's "Köprü." The bridge, constructed over the Euphrates River in Eastern Anatolia after various struggles, forms the basis of the work. The two bridges in question, with their construction stages and existence, can serve as examples of sociopolitical power. The works describe the difficulties encountered during the bridge's construction and the ways the government overcame these difficulties. In addition to the bridge's geographical features, the relationships of the people living there with the beliefs, culture, and power are discussed. After focusing on the importance of place in literary works, this study examines how the bridge is used as a place and symbol. It examines how the concept of a bridge is treated in world and Turkish mythology, as well as in literature, and examines how these concepts appear in these works.
Keywords
Modern Turkish literature, literature and power, comparative literature, bridge, Ivo Andric, Ayşe Ku
