Karaköy is named as one of the destinations reached by streets controlled by nationalist factions during the political violence of the late 1970s. The novel presents it not through a scene set in the district itself, but as part of the dangerous urban geography surrounding Kemal’s nightly journeys to the Keskin household in the Çukurcuma neighborhood.

Position in the Urban Landscape

In 1978, bombs were going off at night even in the neighborhood around the Keskin home. The streets leading to Tophane and Karaköy were described as controlled by nationalist factions, while the upper slopes of Çukurcuma had residents associated with Kurdish, Alevi, and left-wing groups. This contrast places Karaköy within a city divided by political loyalties and contested routes, rather than presenting it as a neutral point on the map.

Political Danger and Travel

The routes around Karaköy belonged to a landscape in which rival militants sometimes fought for control of streets, coffeehouses, and small squares. Bombings and armed clashes could make the journey home unsafe. Çetin Efendi, who drove Kemal, was often caught in the crossfire and uncertain where to park or wait; he nevertheless refused Kemal’s offer to visit the family alone. After evening visits, the streets through Çukurcuma, Tophane, and Cihangir remained dangerous, and Kemal and Çetin exchanged fearful looks in the rear-view mirror as people posted notices and scrawled slogans on the walls.

Narrative Significance

Karaköy’s limited but pointed appearance helps establish the pressure of public violence beyond the family home. Kemal’s visits follow a recurring private rhythm, yet the drive connecting them to the city is exposed to political conflict and uncertainty. The district thus functions in the account as part of the threatened passage between domestic refuge and an unstable Istanbul, not as a location where the narrative develops a separate episode.