A VIEW OF WOMEN IN TURHAN OĞUZBAŞ’S POEM ZEYNEBIN TURKISH FOLK SONG

Abstract

The poem Zeynebin Türküsü by Turhan Oğuzbaş, who is primarily known in Turkish literature for his emotionally intense poems and love letters, is the thirty-second poem in his poetry collection Beyaz Kasımpatılar (White Chrysanthemums). The poem contains a powerful social critique. It exposes the difficulties of being a woman, particularly the social and economic pressures faced by women living in rural areas. In this regard, the poem portrays a kind of social drama while also depicting the emotional and psychological struggle of the individual against the oppressive environment. In the introduction, the poem is examined from a general perspective; subsequently, it is interpreted through a woman-centered lens, and finally, it is analyzed and evaluated in terms of formal features and literary devices. Critical theories foreground the language, structure, form, and aesthetic value of the work. Zeynebin Türküsü exhibits a multilayered structure in terms of form. The poetic intensity of the poet’s language is especially combined with a rhythm derived from the folk poetry tradition. Beginning with the line “Bir sabah güneşle beraber çığlık çığlığa” (“One morning, with the sun, screaming loudly”), the poem opens with the pain of birth, experiencing a dramatic escalation with each line. This escalation culminates in a turning point in the final line, “Zeynep’i bir pula sattılar” (“They sold Zeynep for a penny”), leading to a tragic conclusion. The simplicity and depth in the poem’s rhythmic structure carry traces of Turkish folk poetry while simultaneously presenting a tragic narrative about Zeynep’s life. The poet’s use of imagery such as “bird’s heart,” “mountain flower,” “white steed,” and “market of souls” concretizes Zeynep’s innocence, delicacy, and the profound suffering she ultimately endures. The poem constructs an aesthetic form that combines the flavor of traditional folk poetry with a modern critique.