American Journal Of Philological Sciences
130
https://theusajournals.com/index.php/ajps
VOLUME
Vol.05 Issue07 2025
PAGE NO.
130-132
10.37547/ajps/Volume05Issue07-33
The Literary Father: An Analysis of Paternal Images in
Modern and Classical Uzbek Literature
Khallieva Gulnoz Iskandarovna
Prof., Doctor of Philology, Uzbek State University of World Languages, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Sotvoldieva Mokhinur Xazratullo qizi
Doctoral student (PhD), Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Received:
31 May 2025;
Accepted:
29 June 2025;
Published:
31 July 2025
Abstract:
This article analyzes the image of the father in Uzbek literature through works by Abdulla Qodiriy, Erkin
Vohidov, O‘tkir Hoshimov, Xurshid Davron, Shuhrat, and Said Ahmad. The study explores the artistic, socia
l, and
psychological dimensions of the father figure as portrayed in literature, highlighting its role in family, society, and
national memory.
Keywords
:
Father figure, Uzbek literature, literary interpretation, psychological analysis, family relations, national
memory
.
Introduction:
There are many nations in the world, and
with them diverse cultures. The language, culture, and
history of the world’s nations are vividly reflected in
their literature. As literature conveys life through
images, the characters in ideologically and artistically
mature works allow us to gain broad and accurate
insights into the social life of a specific era.
The image of the father is one of the most widespread
figures not only in national but also in world literature.
In literary works, fathers generally take on three
primary roles across different cultures: protector,
helper, and educator. Like mothers, fathers are pillars
who foster the emotional well-being of children. A
father is a wise mentor who can answer all of a child’s
questions, a role model, a loving person who shows his
affection through actions rather than words, and a
unique figure in expressing love. He is like a guiding
light in all our actions and is a child's first hero. The
most remarkable feature of a father's love is that he
believes the best of everything should be for his
children before himself. With a father, one feels safe
—
fathers are protectors who warn of any danger.
METHOD
In Uzbek literature, the artistic interpretation of the
father figure has evolved with layered and historically
conditioned development. For instance, in Abdulla
Qodiriy’s novel *“Days Gone By”*, the character
Yusufbek Hoji embodies the father figure as a person
who ensures social and spiritual stability and
commands great respect among the people. He is
portrayed as a devout, tradition-bound man who lives
by religious beliefs and defends his views with
determination. The strength of this image lies in how
the author reveals the historical and social role of the
father within Uzbek family life. However, Yusufbek Hoji
also remains within the bounds of traditionalism,
opposing his son’s choices and acting as a force against
modern changes. We believe Qodiriy uses this
character to illustrate the conservative elements of
society and the conflict between these traditional
views and the aspirations of youth. This work teaches
how fathers should balance the preservation of family
honor with respect for the independence of their
children. The novel, being a classic of Uzbek literature,
offers deep insights into parenthood and family
relations through the comparison of past and present.
The writer uniquely portrays the role of the family in
American Journal Of Philological Sciences
131
https://theusajournals.com/index.php/ajps
American Journal Of Philological Sciences (ISSN
–
2771-2273)
society, the interactions among its members, and the
educational responsibilities of parents.
In Erkin Vohidov’s poetic cycle *“Th
e Spirit of the
Father”*, the father figure is interpreted in a lyrical and
philosophical manner. Through his love and devotion to
his father, the poet reveals his inner world, turning the
father into a symbol of ancestral memory, patience,
and honesty. The poetic analysis shows that the father
figure is not depicted as a direct reality, but rather as a
spiritual and cultural echo, giving it a generalized,
humanistic weight. The strength of the image lies in its
elevation to poetic metaphor. However, at times the
symbolic nature of the image may lack specific social
context, staying within a philosophical rather than
realistic framework. We believe the poems explore the
spiritual and moral aspects of the father figure,
reflecting the individual’s inner strug
gles and sense of
responsibility toward family and society. Vohidov's
poetry reveals the depth and personal conflicts of the
father figure.
Another notable depiction of a father appears in O‘tkir
Hoshimov’s novel *“The Affairs of the World”*, in the
character of Odil aka
—
a vivid literary example of the
modern Uzbek father. He is portrayed as an honest,
hardworking man from the common people. Through
his qualities
—
patience, kindness, and justice
—
Hoshimov highlights the noble values of the Uzbek
people. The image’s strength lies in its lifelike
authenticity, created as a realistic character from
among the people. However, in some instances, this
figure seems overly idealized, with the author’s
sympathy being too evident. This might have slightly
weakened the work's realism.
In Xurshid Davron’s poem *“Father”*, the image is
presented as a symbolic essence. Though brief, the
work (Shuhrat, 2007) conveys strong emotional impact
through its compact form and semantics, focusing on
the psychological states related to war and its
aftermath. Here, the father symbolizes constant
sorrow and longing
—
a painful hero in the national
memory. The poem's power lies in its symbolic
approach and emotional brevity, although the figure
lacks concrete, lifelike attributes, remaining a poetic
symbol. Nevertheless, this figure has become a
significant part of the collective memory.
Shuhrat’s novella *“The Father’s Suffering”* is another
work devoted to the father figure. Although the father
is absent physically, he remains a powerful presence in
the child’s psyche. The story, focusing on war, loss,
loneliness, and longing for love, creates an idealized yet
tragic character. Its strength lies in the strong
psychological analysis and the father’s portrayal
through the emotional perspective of a child. The
weakness may be the romanticization of reality and the
dominance of childhood emotions, resulting in a
weaker social context.
Said Ahmad’s tragedy *“Horizon”* offers another
profound exploration of the father figure. This play,
significant in Uzbek dramaturgy, analyzes the complex
psychological dimensions of parental figures and their
role in raising children. In this work, Jahongir aka is
depicted as a person who deeply cares about his
children’s future but faces internal conflicts and
struggles to maintain his position amidst social and
spiritual shifts. As a father, he instills values like hard
work, patience, and honesty, yet finds it difficult to
adapt to societal changes. His expectations for honor
and dedication from his children sometimes clash with
generational differences. We believe this conflict
allows Said Ahmad to portray the father not merely as
an idealized figure but as a realistic, psychologically
complex character. Through the family environment,
the author deeply analyzes parental positions, love,
responsibility, miscommunications, and the societal
pressures shaping modern and traditional parenting.
Overall, these works present the father figure through
various artistic styles, genres, and historical contexts,
each revealing different facets of the father symbol in
Uzbek literature. The father appears as a mentor, a
symbol of honest labor, and sometimes as a lost yet
unforgettable source of love. The analysis shows that in
Uzbek literature, the father is portrayed not only within
family dynamics but also as a significant artistic figure
in social, spiritual, and national memory.
CONCLUSION
In the works analyzed in this article, the image of the
father has been shown to be a multifaceted and deeply
meaningful symbol in Uzbek literature. Through this
figure, authors have interpreted social change, parental
responsibility, and core human values. The father is
depicted not only as the pillar of the family but also as
an integral part of national spirit and historical
memory. In each work, the father figure is expressed in
harmony with the specific era, context, and ideological
meaning. This highlights the enduring relevance and
spiritual significance of the paternal image in Uzbek
literature. Thus, the image of the father emerges as a
central theme for writers
—
not only in aesthetic terms,
but also as a reflection of social and moral concerns.
REFERENCES
Primary Literary Sources:
Qodiriy, A. (2010). O‘tkan kunlar [Days Gone By].
Tashkent: G‘afur G‘ulom Literature and Art Publishing
House. (In Uzbek)
Hoshimov, U. (2015). Dunyoning ishlari [The Affairs of
American Journal Of Philological Sciences
132
https://theusajournals.com/index.php/ajps
American Journal Of Philological Sciences (ISSN
–
2771-2273)
the World]. Tashkent: Sharq Publishing. (In Uzbek)
Vohidov, E. (2009). Tanlangan asarlar. 2-
jild. She’rlar
[Selected Works. Vol. 2. Poems]. Tashkent: Yozuvchi
Publishing. (In Uzbek)
Davron, K. (2007). Ota [Father]. Shuhrat Literary
Journal, 3, 25
–
28. (In Uzbek)
Shuhrat. (2001). Ota iztirobi [The Fathe
r’s Torment].
Tashkent: Adabiyot Publishing House. (In Uzbek)
Ahmad, S. (1998). Ufq [The Horizon]. Tashkent:
Yozuvchi Publishing. (In Uzbek)
Research and Analytical Sources:
Karimov, N. (2012). O‘zbek romanchiligi poetikasi
[Poetics of Uzbek Novels]. Tashkent: Fan Publishing. (In
Uzbek)
Jo‘rayev, M. (2011). Adabiyotshunoslik nazariyasi va
amaliyoti [Theory and Practice of Literary Studies].
Tashkent: O‘zbekiston Publishing. (In Uzbek)
Mamajonov, R. (2009). O‘zbek adabiyotida oilaviy
munosabatlar tasviri [Depiction of Family Relations in
Uzbek Literature]. Tashkent: Fan va Texnologiya
Publishing. (In Uzbek)
Yuldasheva, D. (2016). Literary image and social
context: A case study of the father figure.
Adabiyotshunoslik Journal, 2, 45
–
52. (In Uzbek)
Holmirzayev, M. (2007). Obraz va haqiqat: adabiy
tahlillar [Image and Truth: Literary Analyses]. Tashkent:
Yangi Asr Avlodi Publishing. (In Uzbek)
Abdullaeva, Z. (2015). The father image and modernity:
Based on Hoshimov’s works. Philology Issues
, 3, 60
–
68.
(In Uzbek)
