Hacivat

Hacivat is a central figure in the traditional Turkish shadow theater known as Karagöz and Hacivat. The two puppets form the core of the performance, which arose in the Ottoman era and spread through the empire. Historical details are scarce, but most scholars place the emergence of the pair in the 14th to 16th centuries in the Marmara region, notably Bursa, before traveling to Istanbul and beyond. The character name Hacivat is linked to the word Hoca, meaning teacher or scholar, and the figure is generally interpreted as the urbane, educated counterpart to Karagöz.

In performances, Hacivat is portrayed as witty, cultured, and loquacious, fond of long anecdotes and linguistic wordplay. He uses refined Turkish along with Arabic and Persian loanwords and tends to speak in a cautious, polished manner, often arranging elaborate plans that clash with Karagöz's impulsiveness. The dynamic between Hacivat and Karagöz is the backbone of the comedy, blending satire, social commentary, and verbal humor.

The shows are shadow plays performed behind a white cloth screen with a light behind it. Puppets are cut from leather (traditionally camel or donkey hide) and manipulated by a puppeteer, called a karagözcü, who may perform multiple roles. Dialog is improvisational, with audience participation and topical jokes about court life, crafts, religion, and daily affairs. Hacivat's stories often propel scenes, while his pretensions can be punctured by Karagöz's bluntness.

Karagöz and Hacivat remained popular through the Ottoman period and continue to be performed in Turkey and in regional festivals; the tradition influenced neighboring shadow theater forms such as Greece's Karagiozis. The duo is valued for its blend of humor, social satire, and linguistic play, reflecting urban life and cultural change in Turkish society.