In the essay, Pamuk reflects on his childhood in a wealthy but declining Istanbul family. The concept of the "stranger" manifests in several ways:
Finding oneself a stranger amidst the millions of inhabitants in Istanbul. Orha - Stanger
Pamuk describes a recurring childhood fantasy that there was another "Orhan" living in another house in Istanbul. This "double" represents a version of himself that is both familiar and a complete stranger, highlighting a split identity that would later define his literary career. In the essay, Pamuk reflects on his childhood