An Evaluation on Space in The Story of Hayat Hotel in The Context of Identity and Escape

Abstract

Since Ancient Greek times to the present day, physical space and place theories have been tried to be defined. The relationship of space with object, its geometric structure is the starting point of definitions. Space, which can be measured mathematically and is associated with the place occupied by matter, started to be compared with concepts such as place, sense of place and spirit of place (genius loci) in the 1960s. Therefore, place is a concept that has physical, social, psychological, philosophical, historical dimensions and it is a meaningful site that contains many experiences. The concept of place, which Heidegger associates with “being there” (‘dasein’) and “dwelling”, played a prominent role in redefining space and built a new world. From this point of view, places are grasped not by mathematical operations, but by organic experiences, and thus spaces become places in which the social production of place is a site of belonging, so it is mainly the construction, reproduction of places and their meanings. In fictional works, the space has functions such as describing the setting, defining the physical aspect of the environment and psychological descriptions of the characters in the novel, reveal the establishment of social events or context and contributes to a larger meaning in creating a material world. Considering the evolving social conditions of modern society, the space is central to the understanding of the psychological dimension of the space-human relationship in the studies of fictional works. In this study, the values attributed to an isolated place in which was established in an unnamed coastal town by people who do not have any acquintance with one other and take shelter in Hayal Otel (Dream Hotel), escaping from the outside world and their past, were spotlighted. In addition, the relationship of space closely tied to the ideas of 'belonging', 'identity' and especially 'authenticity' and how its space remains linked to the protection function is reflected in B. Nihan Eren's twelve interconnected stories called Hayal Otel and its explicit thematization are handled within these issues.