YÜKSEK ÖKÇELER | ÖMER SEYFETTİN

Summary

Hatice Hanım, a wealthy widow who married an older man at a young age, has developed a disdain for marriage. She is obsessed with cleanliness and high-heeled shoes. Her strictness extends to her servants, who she supervises rigorously. After taking a doctor’s advice to wear soft slippers, she notices her servants' behavior deteriorates, catching them in various misdemeanors. In her frustration, she fires them all. Realizing her peace lies in ignorance, she resumes wearing her high heels, choosing comfort in oblivion over the harsh truth.

Takeaways

• 👩‍🦳 Hatice Hanım became a wealthy widow at a young age after marrying a 66-year-old man when she was only 13.
• 😒 She developed a deep hatred for marriage and lived a life focused on cleanliness and chastity.
• 🏠 Hatice Hanım lived in a mansion in Göztepe, which she kept spotless with the help of her maid Gülter and cook Mehmet.
• 👠 She had an obsession with high heels, which she wore even inside the house, causing her various health issues.
• 🧼 The doctor advised her to switch to soft slippers, which improved her health but led to unforeseen consequences.
• 😱 Within two days of wearing the slippers, she noticed her previously trustworthy servants engaging in theft and other immoral behaviors.
• 🗝️ She started locking everything to prevent further thefts, but the issues persisted.
• 👂 Hatice Hanım overheard Gülter and Mehmet discussing their thefts and lamenting the loss of the high heels, which had helped them keep track of her movements.
• 🔥 In a fit of rage, she fired all her servants, unable to tolerate their betrayal.
• 👠 Ultimately, she returned to wearing high heels, preferring the visible thefts over the hidden betrayals, finding peace in the familiar sound of her heels.

Q & A

Who is the main character in the story and what is her background?

The main character is Hatice Hanım, a wealthy young widow who was married at the age of 13 to a 66-year-old man, leading her to develop a strong dislike for marriage.

What are Hatice Hanım's main obsessions?

Hatice Hanım is obsessed with cleanliness, morality, and wearing high-heeled shoes (yüksek ökçeler).

How does Hatice Hanım enforce cleanliness and morality in her household?

She personally inspects her home daily, cleans it with her maid Gülter, shaves her cook Mehmet, and makes sure all her servants adhere to strict cleanliness and moral standards.

What health advice does Hatice Hanım receive from the doctor, and how does it affect her?

The doctor advises her to stop wearing high-heeled shoes and switch to soft slippers, which alleviates her physical discomfort but leads to her discovering her servants' misconduct.

What misconduct does Hatice Hanım discover among her servants after changing her footwear?

Hatice Hanım discovers multiple instances of theft and improper behavior, including Gülter using her toothbrush and Mehmet eating extra food.

How does Hatice Hanım react to her servants' misconduct?

She becomes furious and immediately fires all her servants after catching them in various acts of theft and misconduct.

How does Hatice Hanım's mental state change after dismissing her servants?

Despite her wealth, she becomes increasingly distressed and weak due to the constant stress of managing her household without trustworthy servants.

What decision does Hatice Hanım make regarding her footwear after experiencing distress from her servants' behavior?

Hatice Hanım decides to resume wearing high-heeled shoes to avoid hearing her servants and ignoring their misdeeds, which brings her a sense of peace.

What is the symbolic significance of Hatice Hanım's high-heeled shoes in the story?

The high-heeled shoes symbolize Hatice Hanım's attempt to maintain control and distance herself from the unpleasant realities of her household.

What broader themes does the story of Hatice Hanım explore?

The story explores themes of control, illusion, the burdens of wealth, and the psychological impacts of strict moral and cleanliness standards.