Bihter

Bihter is a fictional character who serves as the protagonist in the classic Turkish novel "Aşk-ı Memnu" (Forbidden Love) by Halid Ziya Uşaklıgil, first published in 1899. The novel is a seminal work of Turkish literature and has been adapted into numerous television series and films.

Bihter is a young, beautiful, and intelligent woman from a prominent Istanbul family. She is married to Adnan Ziyagil, a wealthy and much older widower, in a marriage driven more by social standing and convenience than by genuine love. Adnan's house is also home to his young, impressionable daughter Nihal and his loyal, observant housekeeper, Firdevs Hanım.

Bihter finds herself increasingly unhappy and unfulfilled in her marriage. Her attention is soon captured by Behlül, Adnan's charming and amoral nephew, who is living with them. Despite the obvious ethical and social boundaries, Bihter and Behlül embark on a passionate and clandestine affair. Their secret relationship becomes the central focus of the narrative, leading to a complex web of deceit, jealousy, and moral compromise.

The character of Bihter is often interpreted as a tragic figure, caught between societal expectations, her own desires, and the consequences of her choices. Her story explores themes of forbidden love, the constraints placed upon women in the late Ottoman era, and the destructive power of passion. Bihter's fate, as depicted in the novel and its adaptations, is deeply intertwined with the tragic trajectory of her forbidden romance.