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THE IMAGE OF THE FATHER AND THE ISSUE OF NATIONAL
UPBRINGING IN TOLEN ABDIK’S STORY “GUESTS”
Ulzhalgas Akhan,
graduate student, Al-Farabi Kazakh national university,
Almaty, Kazakhstan.
Samalbay Darybaev,
candidate of philology, Al-Farabi Kazakh national university,
Almaty, Kazakhstan
Abstract.
The relationship between father and child, which lies at the heart of generational
continuity, is one of the eternal and essential themes in human society. The Kazakh people have
traditionally attached great importance to family education. The father has always held a pivotal
role, regarded as a symbol of wisdom and prudence. Consequently, the image of the father occupies
a significant place in literary works. In literature, the figure of the father appears not only as the
head of the family but also as the spiritual pillar of an entire nation, the custodian of historical
memory, and a symbol of generational continuity. This article examines the typological features of
the father figure in Tolen Abdik’s short story "Guests" and his role in fostering national values. The
father’s role in the family, his moral guidance to children, the educational significance of father-
child relations, and the transmission of national values are analyzed from a scholarly perspective.
Keywords:
father figure, national upbringing, family values, father-child relationship, folk
wisdom.
OTANING OBRAZI VA TOLEN ABDIKNING “MEHMONLAR”
HIKOYASIDAGI MILLIY TARBIYA MASALASI
Uljalg‘as Axan,
Al-Farobiy nomidagi Qozog‘iston milliy universiteti magistratranti
Olmaota, Qozog‘iston
Samalbay Daribayev,
Filologiya fanlari nomzodi, Al-Farobiy nomidagi Qozog‘iston milliy universiteti
Olmaota, Qozog‘iston
Annotatsiya.
Avlodlar davomiyligining asosi bo‘lgan ota va bola o‘rtasidagi munosabat
insoniyat jamiyatida abadiy va muhim mavzulardan biridir. Qozog‘ xalqida oilaviy tarbiyaga
alohida e’tibor berilgan. Ota har doim donishmandlik va ehtiyotkorlik timsoli sifatida muhim
o‘rinni egallagan. Shu sababli, otaning obrazi adabiyotda alohida o‘rin egallaydi. Adabiyotda ota
nafaqat oilaning boshlig‘i, balki butun xalqning ma’naviy tayanchi, tarixiy xotira saqlovchisi va
avlodlar davomiyligi ramzi sifatida namoyon bo‘ladi. Ushbu maqolada Tolen Abdikning
“Mehmonlar” hikoyasida otaning tipologik xususiyatlari va milliy qadriyatlarni shakllantirishdagi
roli tahlil qilinadi. Otaning oiladagi mavqei, farzandlarga bergan axloqiy ko‘rsatmalari, ota-bola
munosabatlarining tarbiyaviy ahamiyati va milliy qadriyatlarning uzluksizligi ilmiy nuqtai
nazardan o‘rganiladi.
Kalit so‘zlar:
ota obrazi, milliy tarbiya, oilaviy qadriyatlar, ota-bola munosabati, xalq
donishmandligi.
TÖLEN ABDİK’İN “MİSAFİRLER” HİKÂYESİNDE BABA İMAJI
443
VE MİLLÎ TERBİYE MESELESİ
Ulzhalgas Akhan,
Yüksek lisans öğrencisi, El-Farabi Kazak Milli üniversitesi
Almatı, Kazakistan
Samalbay Darybaev,
Filoloji Doktoru, El-Farabi Kazak Milli üniversitesi
Almatı, Kazakistan
Özet.
Nesillerin sürekliliğinin temelinde yer alan baba-çocuk ilişkisi, insan toplumunun en
kadim ve en önemli temalarından biridir. Kazak halkı, geleneksel olarak aile eğitimine büyük önem
atfetmiştir. Baba, her zaman bilgelik ve sağduyunun sembolü olarak merkezi bir konumda olmuştur.
Bu nedenle baba imgesi edebî eserlerde önemli bir yer tutar. Edebiyatta baba figürü yalnızca
ailenin reisi olarak değil, aynı zamanda bir milletin manevî dayanağı, tarihî hafızasının koruyucusu
ve nesillerin devamlılığının sembolü olarak karşımıza çıkar. Bu makalede Tölen Abdik’in
“Misafirler” adlı kısa hikâyesinde baba figürünün tipolojik özellikleri ve millî değerlerin
kazandırılmasındaki rolü incelenmektedir. Babanın aile içindeki rolü, çocuklara verdiği ahlâkî
rehberlik, baba-çocuk ilişkilerinin eğitici önemi ve millî değerlerin aktarımı bilimsel açıdan analiz
edilmektedir.
Anahtar kelimeler:
baba figürü, millî terbiye, aile değerleri, baba-çocuk ilişkisi, halk
bilgeliği.
ОБРАЗ ОТЦА И ПРОБЛЕМА НАЦИОНАЛЬНОГО ВОСПИТАНИЯ
В РАССКАЗЕ ТОЛЕНА АБДИКА «ГОСТИ»
Улжалгас Ахан,
магистрант Казахского национального университета имени аль-Фараби
Алматы, Казахстан
Самалбай Дарибаев,
кандидат филологических наук Казахского национального
университета имени аль-Фараби
Алматы, Казахстан
Аннотация.
Отношения между отцом и ребёнком, лежащие в основе
преемственности поколений, являются одной из вечных и ключевых тем человеческого
общества. Казахский народ издавна придавал большое значение семейному воспитанию.
Фигура отца всегда занимала центральное место, рассматриваясь как символ мудрости и
рассудительности. Поэтому образ отца занимает значимое место в литературе. В
литературных произведениях отец представлен не только как глава семьи, но и как
духовная опора нации, хранитель исторической памяти и символ преемственности
поколений. В данной статье рассматриваются типологические особенности образа отца в
рассказе Толена Абдика «Гости» и его роль в формировании национальных ценностей. С
научной точки зрения анализируется роль отца в семье, его нравственные наставления
детям, воспитательное значение отношений между отцом и ребёнком, а также передача
национальных ценностей.
Ключевые слова:
образ отца, национальное воспитание, семейные ценности,
отношения отца и ребёнка, народная мудрость.
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Introduction.
In traditional Kazakh society, the father is the head of the family and the clan,
the pillar of the household. He not only ensured the material well-being of the family but also
served as a moral and spiritual mentor to his children. The virtues and shortcomings of a child were
primarily attributed to the father’s upbringing. According to Kazakh wisdom, the greatest legacy a
father can leave to his child is proper upbringing. A father’s guidance becomes an invaluable
treasure for future generations.
The father is a protector, a pillar of support, and an early life mentor to his child. Fathers
would deliberately introduce their sons to wise elders of the community, enabling them to grow up
imbued with exemplary morals and traditions. Through such practices, ancestral customs and
national values were passed down to the next generation.
In traditional society, the roles of father and mother complemented each other in child-
rearing. While the mother nurtured tenderness and compassion, the father’s strictness and care
shaped children into responsible and morally upright individuals. Raised within the strong
framework of family education, Kazakh children were taught to revere their father, to fear his
disapproval, and to avoid misconduct. In summary, the father’s role in national upbringing was to
provide life guidance and ensure the continuity of traditions across generations.
Main Body.
In Kazakh written literature, especially in the prose of the twentieth century,
the portrayal of the father figure deepened and evolved. In numerous short stories, novellas, and
novels published between the 1960s and 1990s, the traditional father figure faced the challenges of
societal change. Writers increasingly portrayed fathers not merely as household heads but as
complex individuals bearing social and historical responsibility.
Through the father figure, writers presented the core values of the nation–honesty, hard
work, loyalty to ancestral heritage, respect for elders, and a sense of duty. Moreover, the father
character reflects the deep impact of social transformations, serving as a mirror to the psychological
and societal shifts of the time. The theme of father and child transcends personal family stories to
become a philosophical and educational metaphor for national life. In this regard, Tolen Abdik’s
story
"Guests"
offers profound insights into this critical theme.
The character of Ergabyl, the elderly father in the story, epitomizes the classic image of the
father in Kazakh literature. He is portrayed as the pillar of his family, the unifying force of village
life, and a revered elder of his lineage. Ergabyl’s worldview and inner values fully emdiv
traditional Kazakh ideals. He waits eagerly for his children and grandchildren, anticipating their
arrival with great affection:
“They said they’d come yesterday in the telegram. Today, let them
arrive, the children.”
[1, 89]. This line reflects his deep care, love, and yearning for his family. As
discussed, the father is the family’s mentor and moral guide, and Ergabyl fulfills this role vividly.
When his wife suggests moving to the city to be closer to their children, Ergabyl refuses. He
cannot bear to leave his ancestral home and hearth. Here, the value placed on native land and
ancestral legacy shines through. It illustrates the father’s role in imparting respect and love for the
homeland to his children. Ergabyl equates leaving his ancestral land with death itself.
The son, Sapabek, is an educated man living in the city with a modern outlook. While he
speaks of geology and global developments, these topics are foreign to Ergabyl. For the father, the
unity of the family and the well-being of the home are paramount. Through this generational
contrast, the story reflects the broader societal transformation from tradition to modernity. Ergabyl
embodies a settled, rural life, while his son pursues progress and urbanization.
For the old man, his grandson Jenis is of utmost importance. He longs to keep the boy by his
side:
“What about the child? Can’t you leave Jenis behind? How long will we sit alone, the two of
us?”
[1, 92]. This detail underscores the idea of generational continuity. Although he senses that his
own son is unlikely to remain, the grandfather places his hopes in the grandson. Yet, modern
realities do not grant him this wish.
The daughter-in-law, Toma, is of Russian descent and does not speak Kazakh. From the
elder’s perspective, this signals a detachment from national traditions and upbringing. As literary
scholars have noted:
“In this story, the author simultaneously raises two vital issues: the yearning
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for the lost Kazakh schools and kindergartens of past years, and the sorrow that the nation does not
benefit from its underground wealth. The writer conveys this through the melancholic reflections of
the old man”
[2, 152]
Ultimately, Ergabyl cannot persuade his son and grandson to remain in the village. The
father’s once-commanding voice is no longer heeded. Through this, the story reflects the erosion of
paternal authority and the clash between tradition and modernity. The writer skillfully connects
these themes to the inner psychological states of his characters.
As B. Maitanov observed:
“Portraying characters through each other’s eyes, conveying
their actions and character traits through the protagonist’s perception–this is a hallmark of
psychological depth in literature”
[3, 73]. Tolen Abdik masterfully employs this technique.
In the end, the old man is left alone in his humble home. After the guests depart, he feels the
bitter loneliness of abandonment. For him, the departure of his children and grandchildren equates
to spiritual death. Through the father figure, the writer depicts the gradual erosion of national values
and traditional upbringing.
"Guests"
vividly portrays the image of the father and the concept of national upbringing in
Kazakh literature. Through Ergabyl’s character, the story highlights traditional Kazakh worldviews,
a firm commitment to national values, and the importance of generational continuity. The elder
places his hopes in his children and grandchildren, striving to keep them close to their roots.
However, generational divides and modern influences pull them away from their heritage.
Ergabyl’s determination to keep his family rooted in their native environment and to remain
loyal to his ancestral home illustrates the father’s role as the backbone of national education.
Through this story, the writer raises critical questions about the fate of the nation, the need to
preserve national spirit, and the importance of maintaining historical roots. The breakdown of
understanding between father and child, the grandson’s lack of native language, and the son’s urban
detachment all serve as artistic devices reflecting the weakening of national upbringing.
In traditional Kazakh society, the father was not only the spiritual head of the family but also
the guardian of national values and life principles. Although this principle is vividly portrayed in the
story, it becomes apparent that these traditions are weakening in the face of modern trends.
Symbolically, the departure of the father’s family from the village represents a drift away from
national heritage and the severance of the spiritual bond between generations.
Through
"Guests,"
Tolen Abdik powerfully underscores the significance of the father’s role
as the foundation of national education, prompting readers to reflect on the importance of
preserving cultural continuity. The father’s efforts to safeguard his ancestral home and traditions
serve as a reminder of the nation’s spiritual foundations. The story highlights the vital role of
parents, especially fathers, in maintaining national identity even in contemporary society.
Conclusion.
In conclusion, the portrayal of the father figure in Kazakh literature
encapsulates the essence of national upbringing and spiritual values. Through this image, writers
emphasize the noble qualities of the Kazakh people, the continuity of generations, and the enduring
bond with ancestral traditions. In literary works, the father is not merely a character but a conduit
for moral instruction and reflection. Despite the diversity of father figures, they consistently
symbolize the moral compass and the vehicle for transmitting national identity to future
generations. Through their father’s guidance and wisdom, young people absorb human values and
cultivate a national worldview. Analyzing literary depictions of fathers offers deeper insights into
the roots of national education. The father figure will undoubtedly continue to serve as a symbol of
national identity and moral fortitude in Kazakh literature. The family institution and parental
reverence remain eternal values. Through the literary father figure, the moral character of society
and the dreams and aspirations of the people are revealed. Thus, the image of the father in Kazakh
literature remains a powerful artistic tool for instilling national values in the minds of future
generations.
Kazakh writers, through their works, seek to engrain in the minds of future generations the
idea that every family needs to recognize and honor the indispensable role of fathers as the pillars of
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family and national education. The image of the father in literature will continue to serve as the
eternal source of national upbringing across generations.
References:
1. Abdik, T. Father: A Novella / T. Abdik. – Almaty: Qainar, 2005. – 200 p.
2. History of Kazakh Literature: Ten Volumes / Editorial board: M. Auezov et al. – Almaty:
Atamura, 2005. – Vols. 1-10.
3. Maitanov, B. The Image of the Contemporary in Kazakh Prose / B. Maitanov. – Almaty: Science,
1982. – 148 p.
