Bastard of Istanbul

The Bastard of Istanbul by Elif Shafak is a story that pins two families of different cultures and ethnicities against each other. Both families have their own identities and each family member in each family seems to have a separate identity at that. Their family history and the future will help each person find their true identity. Each person may think they know who they are now, but things can always change. Shafak attempts to display the true meaning and importance of a person’s own identity and how the main characters identities all tie in with each other by the end of the novel. 

            There seems to be a huge difference between generations and their perception on today’s society. There is the Turkish family from Istanbul, and the Armenian family that lives in the United States. In Istanbul there are a set of rules called the “Rules of Prudence for an Istanbulite Woman.” These are rules that were set into society many years ago. The elders seem to follow these rules, but a young Zeliha, a part of the Turkish family in Istanbul, seems to disregard all of these standards. She creates her own identity, whether it conforms to society or not she is who she is. She seems to break every one of the three golden rules of prudence and is unlike most women in Istanbul. Zeliha, when harassed on the streets responds back and swears at her harasser. She also looses her cool and breaks the second rule of prudence but reacting excessively to her harasser. The last thing she does to break the rules of an Istanbulite woman is not forgetting about her harasser and letting it affect the rest of her day. Possibly the biggest difference in her identity as a Turkish woman was her lack of faith in Allah. She resented Allah from a young age. Zeliha stands out in a crowd with her frizzy hair and shiny nose rings, but that is her identity, no matter who likes, or dislikes it, or who is watching.