ILM-FAN VA INNOVATSIYA
ILMIY-AMALIY KONFERENSIYASI
in-academy.uz/index.php/si
29
POETICS OF DESPAIR: PSYCHOLOGICAL FRACTURE IN CHOLPON'S
LITERARY WORKS
Abdukarimova Ruxsora Alisher qizi
Jizzakh Region, Bakhmal District
Secondary School No. 51
English Language Teacher
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.16538293
Introduction
Abdulhamid Sulaymon o‘g‘li Cholpon (1897–1938), a prominent figure in Uzbek
literature, is widely regarded as a master of lyrical and dramatic expression. His works resonate
with themes of national identity, individual struggle, and existential despair. The early 20th
century, marked by political upheaval and cultural transformation in Central Asia, profoundly
shaped Cholpon’s literary voice. This thesis explores the psychological fracture embedded in
his works and examines how despair functions as a central poetic and emotional device.
Through a close reading of selected poems and prose, we analyze how despair becomes both a
response to socio-political trauma and a tool for inner exploration.
Despair as a Poetic Construct
Cholpon’s poetry is not simply emotional expression but a carefully crafted aesthetic
experience. His despair is lyrical, often cloaked in metaphors and shadowy images. For instance,
in his poems such as 'Uyg‘on' and 'Ko‘klam', Cholpon uses nature as a mirror of his psychological
state, depicting darkness, isolation, and longing. The recurring motifs of night, silence, and
broken dreams point to a profound existential crisis. These are not isolated instances of
melancholy, but structural expressions of a fractured self—one torn between hope and
disillusionment, between identity and obliteration.
The Psychological Fracture: Identity and Trauma
The psychological fracture in Cholpon’s literary world stems from the clash between the
old and the new, tradition and modernity, East and West. As a witness to colonization,
censorship, and the repression of intellectuals, Cholpon internalized the trauma of his time. His
characters often appear as fragmented beings—half-formed, struggling to articulate their pain.
The absence of resolution in many of his stories and poems mirrors the historical uncertainty
and psychological instability of the era. In his novel 'Kecha va Kunduz' (Night and Day), the
duality of time becomes a metaphor for duality of the self—where hope is constantly shadowed
by despair.
Conclusion
Cholpon’s poetics of despair does not merely reflect a personal or historical condition—it
interrogates the nature of being itself. His psychological fracture is not a flaw but a lens through
which he perceived and portrayed the world. By transforming pain into poetry, Cholpon carved
a unique niche in Uzbek literary tradition. Understanding his work through the framework of
despair allows us to grasp the deeper emotional and philosophical currents that defined his
artistry and relevance.
ILM-FAN VA INNOVATSIYA
ILMIY-AMALIY KONFERENSIYASI
in-academy.uz/index.php/si
30
References:
Используемая литература:
Foydalanilgan adabiyotlar:
1.
Cholpon, A. (1991). Kecha va kunduz. Toshkent: G‘afur G‘ulom nomidagi Adabiyot va
san’at nashriyoti.
2.
Mirvaliev, B. (2000). O‘zbek she’riyati taraqqiyoti. Toshkent: Fan nashriyoti.
3.
Karimov, I. (1996). Yuksak ma’naviyat – yengilmas kuch. Toshkent: Ma’naviyat.
4.
Qodirov, B. (2012). O‘zbek adabiyoti tarixida modernizm oqimi. Toshkent: Akademnashr.
5.
Saidov, S. (2015). XX asr o‘zbek adabiyotida ruhiy inqiroz motivlari. Toshkent: Fan va
texnologiya.
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Abdulla, Q. (2018). The Poetics of Trauma in Uzbek Literature. Tashkent: Literature Press.
7.
Boym, S. (2001). The Future of Nostalgia. New York: Basic Books.
8.
Eagleton, T. (1983). Literary Theory: An Introduction. Oxford: Blackwell.
