Narcissistic Character Analysis in Nardaniye Hanım Tale; [Nardaniye Hanım Masalında Narsisistik Karakter Analizi]

Since the earliest times in history, human beings have had the opportunity to express themselves by synthesizing the world of imagination and reality through folk narratives. Fairy tales hold an important place among these narratives. Besides providing valuable insights into the cultural memory of their originating societies, fairy tales offer a window into the psychological layers of those societies. The actions of fairy tale heroes within the narrative grant us access to their inner worlds, unconscious thoughts, and characteristics, thereby enriching our understanding of them. In this regard, one recurring personality type among fairy tale characters is the narcissistic personality. The narcissistic (self-loving) pattern involves seeing oneself as superior to others, often accompanied by an inflated ego. When examining the tale of Nardaniye Hanım, compiled by Pertev Naili Boratav, from a psychoanalytical perspective, one can observe the representation of narcissistic traits in the stepmother character. In this study, in the context of Psychoanalytic folklore theory and fairy tale genre, I analyzed the narcissistic character of the stepmother character in the fairy tale of Nardaniye Hanım. In the tale, the stepmother, who obsesses over her own appearance, is depicted as dependent on external praise. When her expectations are not met, her magnificent ego gives way to a darker personality, leading her to negatively impact the lives of other characters and commit various evil deeds against them.