Blue and Black: A Journey from Dreams to Reality 

Blue and Black (Mai ve Siyah in its original title) by Halit Ziya Uşaklıgil published in 1897, is one of the most significant works of the Servet-i Fünun (The Wealth of the Arts/Sciences) and late Ottoman literature. It is widely recognized as the first novel written in a Western literary style. The novel introduces literary innovations in both theme and narrative technique and it also reflects influences of Romanticism and French Realism. These influences are evident in the protagonist’s internal confusion between his ideals and the harsh realities of his life. 

Blue and Black is a story of maturation, depicting Ahmet Cemil’s transition from youthful innocence to experience. Readers witness his artistic ambitions through his intellectual dialogues with his friend Hüseyin Nazmi, his attempts at literary translation, and his constant search for recognition as an artist. Blue in the title represents his hope of achieving fame as a poet while the black signifies the protagonist’s disillusionment. For Ahmet Cemil, literature is not just a profession, but it is a noble pursuit that gives meaning to his life. However, his dreams are crushed by his financial status, his hopeless love for Lamia, and the deaths of his father and sister.

Ahmet Cemil works at a newspaper to support his family. He dreams of a better future when his beloved sister is happily married and his dreams finally come true. Despite his constant efforts, his creative works do not find the appreciation he longs for. Publishers reject his writings and he faces mockery from the members of his literary circle. This repeated rejection reflects the challenges of being an artist in a society that is not yet ready to value modern literary expression.

One thing leads to another and the narrative turns into Ahmet Cemil’s downfall. He hopes to protect his sister from the cruelty of the world, but she ends up in an unhappy marriage eventually causing her death. His literary dreams remain unfulfilled. The woman he loves marries another man. In each of these losses, the blue of his hopeful imagination is darkened by the black of reality. By the end of the novel, Ahmet Cemil decides to leave Istanbul with his mother and go to the East.

Uşaklıgil’s literary style in Blue and Black makes him stand out as one of the most significant authors of New Literature. He uses a more psychological and introspective tone compared to earlier Ottoman novels. While Uşaklıgil explores the inner world of the protagonist, he introduces an ornate and intricate language that makes the reading of this text a delight for readers. His literary style was certainly innovative for its time and had a significant influence on later Turkish novelists.

The novel also mirrors the social transformation of the late Ottoman Empire and the clash between traditional values and Western modernity. Ahmet Cemil lives in a society going through transition, where old cultural norms are fading and new ideas are emerging. His failure is not just personal but it symbolizes the difficulty of living as a modern individual in a society still caught between two worlds.

Blue and Black is more than just the story of a failed poet. It is a novel about the struggle between dreams and reality, a major change in literary style, and a representation of a transitioning society. Through Ahmet Cemil’s coming of age story, Halit Ziya Uşaklıgil captures the soul of a generation torn between tradition and change. The novel remains a powerful and timeless exploration of artistic passion and societal transformation.

*Drawings are from Mai ve Siyah [musavver millî roman] from İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediyesi, Atatürk Kitaplığı