A Comparative-Typological Interpretation Of The Light And Darkness Motif In The Short Stories Of James Joyce And Nazar Eshonqul

Abstract

This article presents a comparative-typological analysis of the artistic and philosophical interpretation of the light and darkness motif in James Joyce’s short-story collection “Dubliners” and Uzbek writer Nazar Eshonqul’s collection “The Wind Cannot Be Caught”. The study aims to identify the semantic and poetic functions of this universal motif in the works of the two writers and to reveal its national and aesthetic peculiarities. “The Sisters”–“The Unopened Door”, “A Little Cloud”–“The Scent of Mint”, “Araby”–“Art”, “Eveline”–“Momoqo’shiq”, and “The Dead”–“The Dead Season” are examined comparatively. Particular attention is paid to the relationship between light and darkness and such categories as space, memory, psychological state and epiphanic realization. Comparative-typological, hermeneutic and poetic methods of analysis are applied. The study demonstrates that in Joyce's prose darkness is predominantly associated with spiritual paralysis, alienation and delayed realization, whereas in Eshonqul's prose the motif is closely connected with memory, historical consciousness, existential inquiry and the search for meaning.