The psychological motives of the tragedy of suicide in literature. Escaping from shame – a comparative analysis of Uzbek and English literary traditions

Аннотация

This article examines the psychological motives underlying the tragedy of suicide in both Uzbek and English literature, with a particular focus on the theme of "escaping from shame." By conducting a comparative analysis of key literary works from both traditions, the study investigates how characters grapple with internal conflicts, experience overwhelming shame, and ultimately resort to self-destructive behaviors. Employing a multifaceted methodological approach—including narrative analysis, psychoanalytic theory, and cultural criticism—the research identifies common and divergent thematic elements that reveal the complex interplay between individual psychological distress and socio-cultural expectations. The findings indicate that the motif of escaping from shame not only serves as a catalyst for personal suffering but also functions as a critical commentary on the oppressive norms and values imposed by society. These insights offer a deeper understanding of the cultural dimensions of self-destruction and pave the way for further research in comparative literature and cultural studies. Keywords: Suicide, psychological motives, escaping from shame, Uzbek literature, English literature, comparative analysis, literary discourse, cultural criticism. failures, and internalized shame. This paper aims to Introduction: The tragedy of suicide has long been a offer a comparative analysis of these themes in Uzbek recurring theme in literature, serving as a mirror to the and English literature, thereby uncovering the universal complexities of human psychology and the societal and culturally specific aspects of this tragic pressures that shape individual existence. In both phenomenon. Uzbek and English literary traditions, the phenomenon is often explored through narratives that delve into the Literature Review inner workings of the human mind, revealing the Previous research in the field of comparative literature interplay between personal anguish and external socio- has examined various aspects of suicide in literary cultural forces. One prominent theme that emerges texts. In Uzbek literature, studies have often focused on from this exploration is the idea of "escaping from how historical and cultural narratives shape the shame." This article seeks to investigate how the representation of personal despair and collective psychological motive of escaping from shame shame, while English literature has tended to underpins the tragedy of suicide in literature and how emphasize individual psychological turmoil and the it manifests differently in Uzbek and English contexts. existential dilemmas associated with modernity. The study begins by establishing the significance of Scholars such as Abdurauf (2015) and Islomov (2017) suicide as a literary motif, highlighting its dual role as have contributed to understanding the theoretical both a personal and a socio-political phenomenon. In frameworks underpinning the portrayal of self- many literary works, suicide is portrayed not merely as destruction, whereas more recent studies have an act of self-destruction, but as a complex response to explored the interconnection between personal the pressures of societal expectations, personal trauma and broader social constraints (Rahmonov, American Journal Of Philological Sciences 33 https://theusajournals.com/index.php/ajps American Journal Of Philological Sciences (ISSN – 2771-2273) 2018). narratives that contribute to their sense of inadequacy. This article builds on these foundations by specifically By juxtaposing texts from Uzbek and English literary addressing the motif of "escaping from shame" and its traditions, the study highlights similarities and role in both Uzbek and English literary traditions. The differences in the portrayal of suicide. This comparative review highlights that while both traditions depict the perspective illuminates how cultural contexts influence act of suicide as a response to internal and external the representation of psychological distress and the pressures, the cultural context significantly influences escape from shame. the narrative tone and the underlying psychological Data for this study is drawn from a range of literary dynamics. The comparative approach adopted here sources, including classical and contemporary works, seeks to bridge the gap between these two literary ensuring a comprehensive overview of the thematic cultures by offering a nuanced understanding of how evolution across time and cultures. shame, as a psychological burden, catalyzes self-