Existentialist Elements in the Novel Death and the Dervish

Abstract

The problematic of existence, which has actually been seen since the first human as a result of inquiries made on ontological problems, gains meaning as a movement that has gained theoretical value in the entire Europe, especially in France, as a result of the depression experienced by European people after WW2, and almost everywhere in the world over time. The novel Death and the Dervish written by Meša Selimović, who expertly reflected twenty years of maturation following the destructive effect caused by his brother's execution by a firing squad during the war, consists of sixteen chapters. Epigrams, which are found in the beginning of each chapter and form the general summary of that chapter, reflect the universal framework of the novel. These epigraphic transitions of Selimović, who almost incorporates himself with Sheik Nuruddin in the plane of events that are described by a hero narrator, that do not allow any gaps in narration are also an indicator that he has internalized the topic. The author's contribution of the transformation created in himself by a lived event to the world of literature by combination with his philosophical background allows this study to be shaped around the existentialist philosophy. In this context, the narrative that revolves around the main character, who is transformed/changed both ontologically and spatially/positionally by inquiring on his desolateness in the world and changing in this process, is also significant in terms of its emphasis on the importance of the person's ability to create his own self. Considering all these issues, this study examines the novel Death and the Dervish written by Meša Selimović in the context of existentialist elements.