Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
10th International KTUDELL Conference on Language, Literature, and Translation, Trabzon, Türkiye, 29 - 30 Mayıs 2025, ss.158, (Özet Bildiri)
The modern era redefines the concept of the self, highlighting its complexity, hierarchical nature, and multicultural aspects. In contrast to their predecessors, modernists revolutionise how humans are understood and interpreted ontologically. This shift facilitates the development of a contemporary approach to analysing the articulation, reconstruction, and reinterpretation of the self. Within this framework, the search for meaning and the process of self-reconstruction emerge as central themes in modern literature. An individual’s quest for meaning is shaped through meaningful connections between the self and its surrounding objects. This relational process contributes to the growth of self-culture and deepens the self’s exploration and development. Heinz Kohut’s theory of “Self Psychology” accentuates the reconstruction of the self, which relies on its psychosocial maturation and communication with selfobjects. The theory suggests that the processes of resolution and self-reconstruction are interconnected, yet a failure of this connection potentially results in pathological conditions affecting the components of the self. Kohut’s framework provides a profound perspective on literary characters who navigate the complexities of psychological fragmentation, frequently exhibiting borderline, narcissistic, and paranoid traits. The analysis focuses on three key characters in “Mrs. Dalloway”: Clarissa Dalloway, Septimus Warren Smith, and Rezia Warren Smith, examining them through terms such as narcissistic injury and empathic introspection to reveal profound psychological dynamics. This article delves into the self’s intricate journey towards meaning, illustrating how the development of selfculture is profoundly shaped by psychological influences. Keywords: Heinz Kohut, Modernism, “Mrs. Dalloway”, Reconstruction, Self Psychology, Quest for Meaning