In Sabahattin Ali’s novel “The Devil Within Us”, do Ömer’s moral weaknesses form his personality, or do they become corrupted as he tries to conform to the values imposed by society?
In Sabahattin Ali’s novel, The Devil Within Us, the question of whether Ömer’s moral weaknesses lie at the core of his personality or are they shaped as a result of the values imposed by society requires an in-depth discussion of philosophical issues such as the individual-society relationship, free will, and moral responsibility. In search of an answer to this question, I will examine the origin of Ömer’s moral weaknesses and how these weaknesses shape his identity by considering Ömer’s character in both existential and social contexts.
Ömer’s Moral Weaknesses and the Essence of His Personality
Ömer’s character appears at first glance as an individual who is indecisive, lacking in will, and stuck between his own desires and ideals. From the beginning of the novel, it is felt that there is a conflict in Ömer’s inner world: He is neither a hedonist who completely surrenders to his passions nor an idealist who is strictly committed to his moral principles. This situation suggests that his moral weaknesses may be a part of his personality. According to existential philosophy, an individual constructs his own essence through his actions; Based on Sartre’s principle that “existence precedes essence,” Ömer’s weaknesses can be seen as a reflection of the choices he makes with his own free will. Ömer constantly blames himself by referring to the “devil within,” that is, his own weaknesses. However, is this blame a form of his evasion of responsibility? If we refer to Kierkegaard’s concept of anxiety, Ömer’s indecision may be an indication of the existential anxiety he feels from facing the burden of freedom. In this context, Ömer’s moral weaknesses seem to be the result of his failure to fill his existential void rather than a flaw that constitutes his essence.
Another striking point in Ömer’s personality is his tendency to dramatize his own weaknesses. Despite Nietzsche’s call to “know thyself,” Ömer’s efforts to know himself remain superficial; he transforms his weaknesses into a kind of romantic tragedy, accepting them as an inseparable part of his personality. This suggests that he has internalized his moral failings and perhaps sees them as a reflection of his own self. However, this internalization does not mean that Ömer’s failings are innate; on the contrary, they are a result of the way he attributes meaning to his own actions and choices.
Values Imposed by Society and Corruption
On the other hand, to consider Ömer’s moral failings only in an individual context would be to ignore the novel’s social critique. The Devil Inside Us questions the conflict between the individual and society in 1940s Turkey and the moral dilemmas brought about by modernization. The world Ömer lives in is a society caught between traditional values on the one hand and the individualism imposed by modernity on the other. This society both expects moral virtues from the individual and glorifies material success; these contradictory expectations create a ground that feeds Ömer’s failings. If we use Marx’s concept of ideology, the social structure in which Ömer is located functions as a “superstructure” that shapes his consciousness. The roles that society imposes on him—for example, the necessity of living a “respectable” life as a civil servant or the emotional attachment expected in his relationship with Macide—conflict with Ömer’s own desires and push him into moral hypocrisy.
In Ömer’s degeneration, the pressure society exerts on the individual plays a role as much as his passive attitude towards this pressure. Inspired by Adorno’s critique of the culture industry, the standardized values of the society in which Ömer lives prevent him from developing an original moral stance. For example, Ömer’s relationship with intellectual circles is limited to superficial imitation rather than real intellectual depth. This shows how his moral weaknesses deepen in a social context: The false ideals presented to him by society allow Ömer to legitimize his own inner weaknesses. In trying to conform to these ideals, Ömer loses his own self and becomes corrupted; because these ideals are far from serving his search for an authentic existence.
A Synthesis Between the Individual and Society
It would be correct to see Ömer’s moral weaknesses neither as a reflection of his personality alone nor as a product entirely of society. Heidegger’s concept of “Dasein” emphasizes that the individual is connected to both his own essence and the world he lives in. Ömer’s weaknesses emerge at the intersection of his own lack of will and the roles society imposes on him. He is neither a completely free individual nor a puppet of society; on the contrary, he is a figure who experiences a tension between these two, avoiding questioning his own existence. What Ömer calls “the devil within us” is perhaps this tension itself: While avoiding the responsibility of constructing his own essence, he takes refuge in the false meanings society offers him.
