Poppies

Both the pink and red poppies that appear throughout the novel symbolize death. Before the war, the townspeople note the peculiarity of the fact that the poppies are coming up pink rather than their usual red color. It is Karatavuk who, after the war, notices the poppies have finally deepened into a brilliant scarlet color. Thus, the pink poppies seem to stand as a warning of the violence that is to come, as the red poppies appear as if they are stained with the blood of the soldiers who died in the war. Poppies are also linked to death through their use in making opium, which is a substance often used in Eskibahçe’s brothel, another place that sees much death.

The Eagle

The eagle symbolizes the potential Ibrahim sees in himself, as he believes he has the right strength and skill to be an...