Sema ÖZHER KOÇ

Mehdi is one of the authors' stories that has been written during his captivity. It is a story that which real value, rather than simple transfer of events, can be understand with perceiving of authors' solution that on the situation of the state during his age. While Mehdi tells a train travel on the losted lands of Ottoman Empire in "present", intensive depictions about space brings historical and cultural wealth of "past" to events chain. The solution of the author that has been asserted for opposition of "past" and "present" is "national concept". Ömer Seyfettin who seperates the concept of "state" which is a political structure and "nation" which is consisted of cultural and historical values invites his reader to protect national values. In the story he attracts attention on the belief of Mehdi which is an expectation that Mehdi is such a person that he will save all muslims and make miracles is an obstacle for national awekening.

Keywords: Ömer Seyfettin, national culture, story.