Chapters 21 through 24 Summary and Analysis

In Chapter 21, entitled The Rich, Pamuk says that early in life he got the idea that interest in society gossip was a sign of personal weakness. The concept that the rich should not flaunt their wealth came from fear of the state, because it was impossible to become very wealthy without entering into deals with politicians, as opposed to the Ottoman period when education was required to rise in wealth and stature. The new rich tried to appear more European than they really were, and on the rare occasions when an old Istanbul family became rich again, they typically moved to London because they feared the stigma that their wealth involved corruption. Pamuk's family was still regarded by others as being rich and his parents were often included in lavish parties.

Chapter 22 is titled On the Ships That Passed...