Feminist Existentialism in Orhan Pamuk’s The Museum of Innocence: Criticism in the Modern Era Literature

Abstract

The emergence of feminist existentialist criticism in literature has become one of the major developments in literary studies since mid-twentieth century. It is not only reflected in feminist writings but also in those of many male writers. Orhan Pamuk’s the Museum of Innocence can best exemplify how a male writer can touch on a large scale issues of feminist existentialism. This bestselling Turkish author and the 2006 Nobel Prize Winner for Literature has shown great skills in evoking the attention of his readers while at the same time instilling his thoughts and critical views on the complexities of political and social issues, particularly those on feminist existentialism in the Turkish society. Through a story about memory, desperate love and obsession, Pamuk has meticulously unfolded every single concern in the feminist existentialist criticism ranging from objectification, sexual harassment, suppression, freedom, equality of rights, prostitution, patriarchy, and suicide. He has brilliantly conceived every character, the relationships between male and female characters, and intriguing events in the novel to represent and voice his outcry extensively on all of these sensitive issues.