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THE INTERPRETATION OF MOTHER IMAGE IN ENGLISH LITERATURE
Zilola Ayitboyeva Babajon qizi
Teacher of Urgench Ranch University of technology
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13888841
Abstract.
The article discusses national traditions in the expression of the image of
mother in English literature. It shows the portrayal of motherhood is based on English
national values, culture and traditions in the literature.
Key words:
motherhood, national traditions, cultural heritage, society, nature,
homeland.
Аннотация.
В статье рассматриваются национальные традиции выражения
образа матери в английской литературе. В статье показано, как изображается образ
матери в английской литературе на основе национальных ценностях, культуры и
традиций
Ключевые слова:
материнство, национальные традиции, культурное наследие,
общество, природа, родина.
Annotatsiya.
Ushbu maqolada ingliz adabiyotida ona timsolini ifodalashda milliy
an’analar ko’rinishi ifodalab berilgan. Maqolada ingliz adabiyotidagi ona obrazini milliy
qadriyatlar, madaniyat va urf odatlar orqali qanday ochib berilishi haqida keltirib o’tilgan.
Kalit so’zlar:
ona obrazi, milliy qadriyatlar, madaniy meros, jamiyat , tabiat, ona vatan.
In English literature, the mother image is often a complex and multifaceted archetype.
Many works depict mothers as sources of comfort and support. This archetype emphasizes
the nurturing aspects of motherhood, illustrating the bond between mother and child.
Mothers are frequently portrayed as sacrificing their own desires for the well-being of their
children. This theme highlights the ideal of maternal love and devotion. In some narratives,
the mother figure assumes a controlling role, representing societal expectations and
pressures. This can lead to tension and conflict within family dynamics. Literature often
contrasts the idealized mother with the flawed human reality. Characters may grapple with
the expectations of motherhood versus their actual experiences.
Some texts challenge traditional mother archetypes, exploring themes of maternal
ambivalence or rebellion against societal norms, offering a more nuanced portrayal of
women's roles. The interpretation of the mother image can vary significantly across different
cultures and historical periods, reflecting societal values and changing gender roles. Examples
of works that explore the mother image include "Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley, which
examines the consequences of maternal absence, and "Beloved" by Toni Morrison, which
delves into the complexities of motherhood within the context of slavery.
In "Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley, the image of motherhood is complex and
multifaceted, largely defined by absence and neglect. Victor Frankenstein’s mother, Caroline,
represents an idealized, nurturing figure. Her death deeply impacts Victor, leaving a void in
his emotional life. This absence contributes to his obsessive quest for knowledge and creation,
reflecting a longing for maternal care.
The Creature symbolizes a tragic absence of motherhood. Created without a mother, he
experiences profound loneliness and seeks companionship and acceptance. His rejection by
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society mirrors a lack of maternal nurturing, leading to feelings of abandonment and rage.
Victor’s failure to take responsibility for his creation can be seen as a maternal failure. His
abandonment of the Creature results in tragic consequences, highlighting the importance of
nurturing in human development.
Victor’s desire to transcend natural boundaries by creating life represents a rebellion
against traditional maternal roles. His pursuit ultimately results in destruction rather than
creation, suggesting the dangers of neglecting the nurturing aspect of motherhood. The novel
raises questions about the influence of maternal care on identity and behavior. The Creature's
violent tendencies stem from his lack of nurturing, emphasizing the critical role of a mother
figure in shaping an individual.
In summary, "Frankenstein" presents a nuanced exploration of motherhood,
emphasizing themes of absence, neglect, and the essential need for nurturing in human life.
In "Beloved" by Toni Morrison, the image of motherhood is central and deeply complex,
reflecting themes of love, trauma, and sacrifice. Sethe, the protagonist, embodies the extreme
sacrifices a mother makes for her children. Her decision to kill her daughter rather than allow
her to be enslaved illustrates the desperation and depth of her maternal love. Sethe's
experiences of slavery profoundly affect her motherhood. The trauma she endures impacts
her ability to nurture, leading to emotional distance and haunting memories that shape her
relationship with her surviving children. Despite the trauma, the bonds between mothers and
their children are portrayed as powerful and enduring. Sethe's love for her children drives her
actions and informs her identity, emphasizing the strength of maternal connections. The
character of Beloved, who represents Sethe’s deceased daughter, serves as a haunting
reminder of loss and the unresolved pain of motherhood. Beloved’s return challenges Sethe to
confront her past and the consequences of her choices. The novel also reflects the broader
context of African American motherhood during slavery, highlighting the systemic forces that
disrupt maternal bonds. Mothers are often torn from their children, emphasizing the struggle
to maintain familial ties in the face of oppression.
Throughout the novel, the theme of healing emerges as Sethe seeks to reconcile her past.
The narrative explores how confronting trauma can lead to a deeper understanding of
motherhood and the possibility of redemption.
Overall, "Beloved" presents a profound exploration of motherhood, showcasing its
complexities amidst the backdrop of historical trauma and personal sacrifice.
In "The Joy Luck Club" by Amy Tan, the image of motherhood is explored through the
intricate relationships between Chinese immigrant mothers and their American-born
daughters. The mothers' traditional Chinese values often clash with their daughters' American
ideals. This cultural gap highlights differing expectations around family, duty, and
individuality. The mothers’ stories reflect immense personal sacrifices made for their
children’s futures. Their struggles, often rooted in hardship, emphasize the resilience and
strength inherent in motherhood. The mothers' past experiences, including war and loss,
shape their identities and parenting styles. This trauma impacts their relationships with their
daughters, creating layers of misunderstanding and emotional distance.
Despite the conflicts, there is a deep yearning for connection and understanding. The
mothers’ stories reveal their hopes and dreams for their daughters, contrasting with the
daughters' struggles to reconcile these expectations with their own identities. The act of
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sharing stories becomes a way for both generations to bridge the gap. Through these
narratives, daughters gain insight into their mothers’ lives, fostering empathy and
understanding. As the daughters navigate their cultural identities, they often grapple with
their mothers' influences. This journey reflects the struggle to forge their own paths while
acknowledging their heritage. Overall, "The Joy Luck Club" portrays motherhood as a
multifaceted experience marked by love, sacrifice, and the quest for understanding across
cultural divides.
In "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens, the image of motherhood is portrayed
through various characters, each representing different aspects of maternal influence and
absence. Mrs. Joe Gargery: Pip’s sister and guardian embodies a harsh, demanding form of
motherhood. She is more focused on discipline than nurturing, reflecting the difficulties of her
own life. Her treatment of Pip highlights the complexities of familial relationships and the
burdens of caregiving.
Miss Havisham: Although not a traditional mother, Miss Havisham plays a significant
maternal role in Pip's life. Her eccentricity and emotional manipulation profoundly affect Pip
and Estella. She represents a twisted version of motherhood, where neglect and bitterness
overshadow nurturing. Pip’s mother is largely absent from his life, symbolizing the void that
can exist in a child's emotional world. This absence contributes to Pip's longing for love and
acceptance, influencing his decisions and aspirations.
The character of Biddy offers a more nurturing, supportive maternal figure. Biddy’s
kindness and wisdom provide Pip with comfort and guidance, contrasting sharply with the
harsher maternal figures in his life. The novel explores how social class influences maternal
roles. The differing approaches to motherhood among characters highlight the impact of
social status on nurturing and family dynamics. Overall, "Great Expectations" presents a
nuanced exploration of motherhood, illustrating how various maternal figures shape Pip’s
identity and experiences.
In "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith, the image of motherhood is central to the
narrative and portrayed with depth and complexity. The protagonist, Francie Nolan’s mother,
Katie, embodies resilience and self-sacrifice. Katie works tirelessly to provide for her family,
often prioritizing her children’s needs over her own. Her struggles highlight the hardships
faced by working-class mothers. Katie’s love for Francie and her brother, Neeley, is
unwavering. She encourages their education and dreams, instilling in them the values of hard
work and ambition despite their challenging circumstances. The novel explores the nuanced
relationship between mothers and daughters. Francie admires Katie but also grapples with
her mother’s sacrifices and the expectations placed on her. This dynamic illustrates the
complexities of maternal love and the impact of generational differences. The story reflects
the immigrant experience in early 20th-century America. Katie’s struggles as an Irish
immigrant shape her identity and parenting style, emphasizing the influence of cultural
background on motherhood.
The novel portrays motherhood within the context of family dynamics, highlighting the
interconnectedness of love, support, and struggle among family members. The title itself
symbolizes resilience and growth, paralleling Francie’s journey as she learns from her
mother’s strength and determination. Katie’s nurturing enables Francie to aspire to a better
future. Overall, "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" presents a rich and multifaceted portrayal of
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motherhood, emphasizing themes of resilience, sacrifice, and the deep bonds between
mothers and their children.
In "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood, the image of motherhood is central to
the narrative, reflecting themes of control, identity, and resistance. In the dystopian society of
Gilead, motherhood is strictly regulated. Women are categorized primarily by their
reproductive abilities, and Handmaids are forced into motherhood against their will. This
coercion highlights the dehumanization of women and the loss of autonomy. Gilead promotes
an idealized vision of motherhood, emphasizing fertility and the role of women as bearers of
children. However, this ideal is deeply flawed, as it strips women of their rights and reduces
them to mere vessels.
Offred's memories of her daughter reflect the pain of separation and loss. The bond
between them serves as a powerful motivator for her actions, emphasizing the deep
emotional ties that persist despite oppressive circumstances. The narrative explores how
women resist the oppressive structures of Gilead. Motherhood becomes a form of rebellion, as
Offred and others find ways to assert their identities and agency, even within a repressive
system. Offred's recollections of her past, including her relationship with her mother, serve as
a means of retaining identity and humanity. These memories contrast sharply with her
current reality, highlighting the impact of loss and trauma.
The relationships among women, particularly in the face of shared oppression, illustrate
the importance of solidarity. The bonds formed among Handmaids, despite their forced roles,
underscore the strength found in shared experiences of motherhood and resistance. Overall,
"The Handmaid's Tale" presents a complex and multifaceted exploration of motherhood,
revealing its transformative power and the ways it can be both oppressed and reclaimed.
In "Mrs. Dalloway" by Virginia Woolf, the image of motherhood is nuanced and reflects
the complexities of women's roles in society. Clarissa’s thoughts often drift to her past and her
relationship with her mother. Her mother represents traditional femininity and societal
expectations, creating a contrast between Clarissa's desires and the roles imposed on her.
Clarissa’s memories of her mother evoke a sense of longing and nostalgia. The absence of her
mother, who died when Clarissa was young, influences her feelings of identity and belonging.
Clarissa grapples with her own role as a wife and mother, reflecting societal pressures.
Her internal conflicts reveal the struggle between personal fulfillment and societal
expectations of motherhood. The character of Septimus Warren Smith’s wife, Rezia, highlights
another aspect of motherhood, as she navigates her husband’s mental health struggles. Her
care for him underscores the burdens placed on women, often overshadowing their own
needs. The novel touches on themes of mental health, particularly through Septimus,
paralleling Clarissa's own existential reflections. The pressure to conform to maternal roles
can exacerbate feelings of isolation and anxiety. The interactions between characters suggest
a continuum of maternal influence, with Clarissa's experiences shaping her understanding of
motherhood and femininity. Overall, "Mrs. Dalloway" presents a complex portrayal of
motherhood, intertwining themes of memory, identity, and societal expectations.
These interpretations underscore the depth of the mother image, illustrating its
significance in shaping identity and human experience in literature.
While Uzbek literature tends to focus on the traditional, sacrificial role of mothers
within the family and society, English literature often explores a broader spectrum of
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maternal experiences, emphasizing individual struggles and contemporary challenges. These
differences highlight how cultural contexts shape the portrayal of motherhood.
References:
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Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley. (2009). Frankenstein, or, The modern Prometheus. Simon
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2.
Morrison, T., & Denard, C. C. (2008). Toni Morrison : conversations. University Press Of
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3.
Tan, A. (2019). The Joy Luck Club. Penguin Books. (Original work published 1989)
4.
Phillips, B., & Cheng, W. (2002). Great expectations, Charles Dickens. Spark Pub.
5.
Smith, B. (2018). A tree grows in Brooklyn. Harperperennial Modern Classics.
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Babajanov, K., & Sapaeva, D. (2022). Medical discourse and its communicative
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