When reading this article, I often found myself thinking especially about Plato’s The Republic and Monica Ringer’s essay on modernity. The Republic came to mind particularly when, after being asked what he would do as president of Turkey, the Grocer answers that he would build roads so that the villagers would not “stay in their holes all their lives” (Lerner 24); for me, this comment evokes the image that Plato constructs of men in an underground cave, who know only shadows on the wall, being pulled above ground and into the light, seeing the real world. This kind of process of enlightenment that Plato describes was somewhat underlined by the fact that the Balgati people originally marked the Grocer as an infidel and later, after being modernized, after being pulled up out of their holes, they refer to him as a prophet.
When reading about the modernizing process that Balgat experiences, I couldn’t help but thinking that the changes to the Balgati society followed stereotypical–possibly Western–definitions of modernity. This led me to think of Ringer’s idea of “translating foreign institutions” (Ringer 5) into the contexts of other places, an idea which is exemplified in Balgat by the introduction of basic “necessities” of modernization: roads, buses, water, and electricity (Lerner 33), but more so by the creation of a school and a police station (Lerner 30). In addition, the Grocer’s comment that, if given the chance to live anywhere else, he would move to America also made me think of Ringer’s comment on “the use of ‘the West’ as a yardstick” (Ringer 4) because the Grocer seems to see America, particularly the opportunity it affords, as an example of what he would want in Balgat.
I agree with both points that you made here. I especially liked your connection to this and Plato, and it is interesting that “being pulled above ground and into the light” means modernization in the form of roads and electricity. However, it is also interesting to look at this parable through the lens of Machiavelli. Before and after the modernization process in Balgat, the Chief sustains his power. This makes me think that he embodies more of a Machiavellian leader, who would take on any mold in order to maintain power. And perhaps he uses his virtue, in reference to God, to guise his inner selfishness and desire to be powerful by playing to the system.
I find it interesting to analyze the Chief through a Machiavellian lens. I did not really think of this while reading the parable, but now that you mention it, I definitely agree. As Machiavelli suggests, “he is happy who adapts his mode of proceeding to the qualities of the times” (Machiavelli 99), which is exactly what the Chief does; when the Chief senses “the potential challenge from radio” (Lerner 27), he decides to hold gatherings during which he and a group of the Balgati listen to the radio and he–and only he–shares his opinion, establishing him as “Balgat’s official opinion leader” (Lerner 27). Despite being a fierce proponent of tradition, he recognizes modernizations and uses them to his advantage.
I also found myself drawing similarities between the Chief and the Grocer and Tom and Rans in “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence.” I couldn’t help but compare the Chief to Tom in that he is a figure of traditional authority in Balgat, just as Tom is in Shinbone. Similarly, I drew comparisons between the Grocer and Rans because–just as Rans confronts tradition in Shinbone–the Grocer confronts Balgati tradition in several ways: in the way he dresses, in the way he speaks, in what he speaks about, in what he desires, etc. Not only that, but the Balgati people secretly come to the Grocer for advice on modern matters, just as the people of Shinbone–though not so secretly–come to Rans to educate them.
I personally don’t think the Chief is changing his mold in order to maintain power, and I don’t believe that he uses his position to prevent “progress” in order to maintain his power. While the chief does change his opinion as the villagers see the potential for “progress” following the addition of a road, running water, and electricity, I think this has less to do with his own attempt to maintain his power and more to do with his own change of thinking. The chief seems to be unable to see the potential benefits that Balgat could experience. The Chief describes his happiness, while he has lost his power in the town as the last Muhtar, that Balgat has now experienced many positive changes. Regardless if the Chief was to have seen the same potential for “progress” as the grocer, one must analyze his comments in the limits placed on him by his position as Chief. As an official representative of Balgat he is also limited in the comments he can make, unlike the grocer who is much more able to freely express his personal beliefs to Tosun during his interview.