DIFFERENCES IN ENGLISH AND UZBEK LITERATURE: THE ROLE OF FEMALE IMAGES

Abstract

This article examines the differences between English and Uzbek literature, with a particular focus on the portrayal of female images and their reflection of cultural and historical contexts. It highlights how English literature, shaped by individualism and early feminist movements, portrays female characters with increasing agency, from Chaucer’s complex figures to Woolf’s intellectual advocates. In contrast, Uzbek literature, rooted in Islamic traditions and Soviet ideology, traditionally depicts women as passive embodiments of beauty and loyalty, with modern shifts toward autonomy emerging slowly through the Jadid movement and post-independence works. The analysis underscores the distinct historical trajectories, literary forms, and societal values influencing female representations, revealing English literature’s earlier engagement with gender equality and Uzbek literature’s gradual evolution toward diverse female portrayals. Key themes include patriarchy, agency, cultural context, and the impact of societal change on gender roles in literature.