Elements of Nature in ABDÜLHAK HÂMİD TARHAN’s Elegy“MAKBER” Joint Research

Abstract

Abstract

The poem “Makber”, written by Abdülhak Hamit Tarhan in 1885, is not only an elegy but it becomes a philosophical work that establishes a profound link between nature and the human soul. The poet wrote this work following the death of his wife, Fatma Hanım, using nature as both a refuge and a mirror reflecting his inner emotions. This research aims to analyze the role of natural elements in the poetic structure and the world of meaning within the poem Makber. In this text, nature is not a passive background but an active entity that shares the sorrow of humans, sometimes offering solace and frequently acquiring a metaphysical dimension.

Throughout the poem, there is a repetition of the elements of nature such as the sea, the mountains, the night, stars, winds, and flowers. Each of these elements carries symbolic meaning that express the poet’s inner turmoil directing him toward God. It shows also his helplessness in front of death. The sea, for instance, represents infinity and it may also symbolize the pain of loss. The night presents a ground for sadness and the inquiries about the unseen realms (metaphysical).  The stars represent a symbol of the existence of the late wife in spiritual world. In this context, the poem employs nature to express the individual pain, introducing strong forms of resemblance between man and nature which is a remarkable feature in romantic literature.

The research highlights the fact that the portrayal of nature in the elegy "Makber"refers also to transformation in the aesthetic perspective of nature through the transition from regulation "Tanzimat" (charitable regulations) to the modern literature stage (Servet Fünun) (Wealth of Knowledge Literature, a modern literary movement). The meanings that Hamit assigns to nature are not limited to beauty of the scene but also transforming it into a very important part of existential questioning. From this perspective, "Makber" becomes a personal and universal elegy at the same time reconstructing nature as a field for producing meaning.

In coclusion, elements of Nature in "Makber" are not only descriptive; but they becomea foundation of intellectual and emotional depth in the poem. they do not only reflect the poet's psychological condition as he faces the sense of loss, but they also push him to navigate more abstract and profound perspectives such as death, divinity, and eternity. The research finds that there is a unique poetic talent in Hamit which goes beyond his age in his view of nature.