partner’ s physical attractiveness is completely normal. The only difference is that
such admiration will gradually shift from something superficial to something deeper, which is no
t the case with Kemal as the story goes. Kemal’ s love at first
sight is proven by his desire to kiss Fusun at their first meeting. He even fantasizes kissing her in a corner of heaven, which proves the love Kemal feels is
actually an infatuation because everything is beautiful and perfect.
“
For a moment I paused; my ghost had left my body and now, in some corner of heaven,
was embracing Fusun and kissing her p. 7
”.
There are times when Kemal can be considered as being delusional, believing that he has found his soul mate in Fusun after their first meeting as
shown in the below quotation. As much as I wanted to dismiss the feeling as ordinary, I could not deny
the startling truth that when looking at Fusun, I saw someone familiar, someone I felt I knew intimately. She resembled me. I felt I could easily
put myself in her place, could understand her deeply p.15
In this part, Kemal is delusional because he believes that Fusun is similar to him. Kemal feels that he has known Fusun for a long time. He feels that he can
understand her very well although they have just met. The quotation serves as a
proof of Kemal’ s love at first sight since Peabody state that obsessors tend to feel
premature bonding 2005: 37. Kemal already feels intimate toward Fusun ever since their first meeting. This is highly unlikely in the case of real love since
intimation and understanding are things people accomplish as a relationship progresses. .
2. Exaggerated Fear in Relationship
Susan Peabody notes that obsessors are always inherently needy and PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
fearful, especially for being alone and abandoned. Peabody argues that this fear might be traced back to their history of rejection during childhood, which is one
of the causes of obsessive love. The state of loneliness, abandonment, or rejection is very terrifying for them. This is why obsessors choose to cling on their
relationship with other people, especially their object of obsession. It would occur to me to say that we must marry at once, but I held back,
fearing that she might decline my proposal quickly and definitively, and then abandon me. For it seemed to me that Sibel was waiting for an
opportunity to end our relationship. p. 205
Peabody stated that obsessors are terrified of a being rejected 2005: 44. The above quotation shows that in general, Kemal is afraid of being abandoned
by others, and not only by Fusun. After seeing Sibel opts to stay by his side and help him getting over his depression, Kemal feels the urge to rush their marriage.
This is a proof of Kemal’ s fear of
being left without someone to support him.
However, the quotation also implies Kemal’ s insecurity as he is sure that Sibel
will reject his marriage proposal, scaring him even more to a degree that he
refrains from proposing. Another proof of Kemal’ s exagg
erated fear in relationship is as followed.
And so it was that by the end of July, Sibel’ s loving suggestion that I see
a psychiatrist turned into a requirement, and unwilling to lose her wonderful compassion and companionship I agreed. p. 175
When I embraced Sibel in farewell and saw tears in her eyes, I became afraid, thinking that there would be no return to our old life after this,
sensing I would not see her again in a very long time. p. 207
The above quotations serve as other proofs that Kemal fears of being left. The first quotation explains that although seeking help from a psychiatric is
Sibel’ s wish which Kemal refuses to meet at first, he is forced to do so in an
attempt to keep Sibel from losing her patience and leaving him. Here, the quota
tion proves Peabody’ s theory that obsessors are terrified to go looking for
trouble out of fear of losing companionship 2005: 44. The second quotation shows that Kemal fears of being left alone during his difficult time. In fact, Sibel
only goes to Paris
for a short holiday with her female friend. Therefore, Kemal’ s
suspicion that Sibel might want to leave him only proves that in terms of relationship, Kemal is very insecure.
Obsessors are afraid of being alone because they feel that they might see life is not worth living for without a relationship. They also think that their life
will be empty without having someone they love. The below quotation proves
Kemal’ s fear of an ending of a relationship Peabody, 2005: 44.
Toward morning, with the north wind blowing into every corner of the house, as I lay in bed in a drunken stupor, it occurred to me that it had
been a very long while since the fisherman had last come in his boat with his son. There was still one part of my mind sound enough to see things
clearly, and it was telling me that a chapter of my life was now coming to a close, but the greater part of me was still too anxious and fearful of
being alone to let me accept this truth. p. 208
In the above quotation, Kemal is in a state of drunkenness. At that time, Fusun has gone missing for months following the engagement party. He is
depressed because he still does not know Fusun’ s whereabouts yet he can not
move on with his life. Kemal and Fusun has been a secret lover for forty four days before she disappears so suddenly. The quotation suggests that part of his
mind already realizes that his relationship with Fusun is over, however Kemal does not want to acknowledge the reality because he is afraid of loneliness and
separation from someone he is madly in love. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
