The Human Seeking Meaning (Book)

The Human Seeking Meaning is a work by Cahit Zarifoğlu. This book is a study examining the literary affinity between the author and Rainer Maria Rilke. Its first edition was published in 2024 by Ketebe Yayınları.

Content

The work explores the literary connection Cahit Zarifoğlu established with Rainer Maria Rilke and the similarities between the writings of the two authors. It includes Zarifoğlu’s translations of poems and texts by Rilke, an essay titled “Rilke/Malte,” and a translation of Zarifoğlu’s thesis-length study on Rilke’s only novel, Notes on the Motorway of Malte Laurids Brigge.

Themes

The book emphasizes how Zarifoğlu transposed motifs from Rilke’s texts—such as alienation in the metropolis, loneliness, anxiety, and nothingness—into his own poetic universe. Although there was no direct interaction between Zarifoğlu and Rilke, the text aims to highlight a shared intellectual and emotional foundation between their works, which can be described as a “literary kinship.” Furthermore, as suggested by the book’s title, the theme of “the human seeking meaning” is prominently evident in the literary journeys of both artists.

Structural Features

The work is classified as a critical study and is neither a novel nor a poetry collection in the classical sense. The text is composed of translations and essays that together form a cohesive whole interpreting Zarifoğlu’s literary perspective through the lens of Rilke. Additionally, the book has been published in a compact format measuring 11.5 × 16.5 cm.