Shaping Identity: Role of Memory and Myth in Orhan Pamuk’s The Red-Haired Woman

Abstract

Orhan Pamuk’s novel The Red-Haired Woman is a narrative that traces the formation of Cem Celik’s identity through memory and myth. From being a naive teenager to being a father, Cem’s identity is heavily influenced by memories of his past and the cultural narratives of Turkey and the West. Pamuk has treated memory as a tool that helps comprehend the present, rather than a constant past. He shows how the formation of identity is a dynamic process since identity itself is something fluid. This research article employs concepts from Memory Studies to explore and understand how individuals struggle to connect their personal memories with cultural narratives in the process of forming their identities that seek constant validation.