Abstract
MANASTIRLI MEHMET RIFAT'S GÖRENEK THEATRE WORK AND REVIEW
The theater play called Görenek, written by Manastırlı Mehmet Rıfat and published in 1873/1874, is a work in the genre of comedy that deals with the uselessness of some traditions and customs in society. In this theater play, which consists of three chapters and three acts, discussions between family members are staged due to the tasks planned for a circumcision wedding. In addition, at the end of the game, both concubinage and bondage issues are touched upon and their connections with traditions and customs are examined. Mehmet Rıfat works on this theater play, which he has organized based on some inaccuracies in traditions and customs, in two different home environments and around two different families. It compares the adherence of women to customs in these families with the attitudes of men towards these customs. It also evaluates based on the differences in the perspectives of women and men. The author, who does not keep the cast very wide, aims to warn and raise awareness of the audience through these characters. At the same time, he reflects the living conditions of that day through the speeches, attitudes and behaviors of his characters. In this study, this play called Görenek was examined from structural and thematic points of view, and Mehmet Rıfat's theater writing was tried to be evaluated. In addition, the work was transferred from the Arabic alphabet to the Latin alphabet in order to bring it to modern literature.
Keywords
Manastırlı Mehmet Rifat, Tanzimat theater, traditions, wedding customs, social life in the Ottoman,