Fake Girls (Book)

One of the works that first brought Peyami Safa fame is the novel Sözde Kızlar, which examines the East-West conflict through individual narratives, a theme recognized as central to the author’s literary corpus.

First serialized in 1922 in the newspaper Sabah under the pseudonym “Serâzad,” the work was left incomplete due to the newspaper’s closure but was published as a book in 1923.

Written just before the establishment of the Republic, this novel holds a significant place in Turkish literature for its treatment of themes such as Westernization, female identity, moral decay, and cultural conflict.

Plot and Narrative Structure

The novel’s protagonist, Mebrure, arrives in Istanbul from occupied İzmir, seeking her missing father. In Istanbul, she takes residence in the mansion of Nazmiye Hanım, a friend of her father, who is devoted to Western lifestyles. However, the corrupt way of life she encounters in this household draws her into an inner conflict.

The characters Mebrure encounters represent the moral disintegration that Istanbul experienced during those years. Behiç, the son of the household, appears refined on the surface but is in reality a gambler and morally corrupt man who attempts to deceive Mebrure. On the other hand, the character Fahri plays a crucial role in helping Mebrure resist the corrupt environment, embodying integrity, religiosity, patriotism, honesty, and the values of the East.

Thematic Structure

Misguided Westernization

The central theme of the novel is “misguided Westernization,” a debate that has persisted since the Tanzimat era. Peyami Safa sharply criticizes a society that adopts only superficial Western elements—clothing, manners, language—while remaining ignorant of Western systems of thought, law, education, and governance. Characters such as Behiç, Nevin, and Nazmiye Hanım are portrayed as representatives of this superficial imitation of the West.

East-West Contradiction

A clear contrast is drawn throughout the novel between the Anatolian people representing the East—Mebrure, Fahri, and Nadir—and the Istanbul elite who misrepresent the West. The author deepens this contrast not only through differences in lifestyle but also through the characters’ modes of thought and moral outlooks. In this context, Sözde Kızlar can be regarded as a thematic precursor to later novels such as Fatih-Harbiye and Biz İnsanlar.

Representation of Women and the “So-Called Girls”

The phrase “so-called girls” in the novel’s title refers to women who appear modern and liberated but are inwardly superficial and morally degraded. Characters such as Nevin and Belma reflect the author’s critical perspective, while Mebrure embodies the idealized model of a virtuous, religious, and culturally grounded woman. The author’s division of women into two distinct categories has been interpreted by some literary scholars and researchers as a reflection of the male-dominated worldview of the period.

Setting and Time

The novel is set in the period following the Greek occupation of İzmir on 15 May 1919. To the author, the Armistice-era Istanbul is not merely a city under foreign occupation but also a social structure subjected to moral occupation. The mansion, used as the center of corruption, stands in stark contrast to Nadir’s home, which symbolizes simplicity and common sense. This opposition constructs an ideological divide through physical spaces.

Characters

• Mebrure: A young woman from Anatolia, virtuous, morally upright, and devoted to her faith and family. She is the idealized female figure in the novel.
• Behiç: A Westernized, gambling, cruel, superficial, and immoral character. He exploits women and lacks sincerity in human relationships.
• Nevin and Nazmiye Hanım: Represent the archetype of the “so-called woman”—modern in appearance but detached from inner values. They are typical examples of Western mimicry.
• Belma: Her real name is Hatice. She is a tragic figure who becomes a victim of Behiç. Her suicide and the letter in which she reveals the truth serve as a turning point in the novel.
• Fahri: The character endorsed by the author. He possesses national and spiritual values and supports Mebrure throughout the novel.

Narrative Technique

The novel is written from an omniscient point of view. The author observes events from the outside while simultaneously revealing the inner worlds of the characters. Although composed in the plain language of the period, it contains expressions that may seem heavy to modern readers. The psychological depth of the characters is conveyed especially through internal monologues and detailed descriptions.

Adaptation to Cinema

Sözde Kızlar has been a notable work since the early years of the Republic and has been adapted for cinema several times:

Sözde Kızlar (1924), Director: Director: Muhsin Ertuğrul.

Sözde Kızlar (1967), Director: Nejat Saydam.

Sözde Kızlar (1990), Director: Orhan Diamond.

Sözde Kızlar is not merely the story of an individual’s quest but also a critique of a nation’s cultural and moral stance. In this novel, Peyami Safa seeks to expose the sociocultural disintegration of Istanbul during its occupation years through the lives of its individuals. Themes such as the East-West conflict, female identity, and social decay have retained their relevance.