Intertextuality and Globalization in Orhan Pamuk's The Red-Haired Woman

Abstract

Objectives: This study examines Orhan Pamuk's novel The Red-Haired Woman and explores its thematic connections with classical literary works, specifically Sophocles' Oedipus Rex and Abolqasem Ferdowsi's Shahnameh. Additionally, it analyzes the novel's function as a postmodern intertextual exploration of these classics and other works of literature mentioned in the novel, such as Fathers and Sons, Gulliver's Travels, Hamlet, just to mention a few.

Methods: The analysis in this paper is grounded in the aesthetic theories of mimesis and anti-mimesis. By employing close reading and textual analysis, the paper investigates how the novel serves as a contact zone and shared property of literature. It also examines instances of imitation, replication, and reinterpretation within the novel, thereby demonstrating its contemporary and postmodern retelling of classical narratives.

Results: The study reveals that Orhan Pamuk's novel successfully reimagines and retells the classical narratives of Oedipus Rex and Shahnameh in a contemporary and postmodern context. By employing mimetic and anti-mimetic techniques, the novel transcends local and national boundaries to become more universal and global in its appeal. This reinforces the consensus among scholars that Pamuk is indeed a writer of world literature, with his novels being read and appreciated on a global scale.

Conclusion: This study demonstrates how The Red-Haired Woman functions as a fusion of diverse texts, contributing to the understanding of literature as a dynamic and interconnected entity. The novel's thematic connections with classical works, coupled with its postmodern exploration of intertextuality, highlight Pamuk's status as a writer of world literature.