Social responsibility and personal ambitions (in the Interpretation of two works)
Denov Institute of Entrepreneurship and Pedagogy
Alimardonova Gulsevar Sirojiddinovna alimardonovagulsevar10@gmail.com
Annotation: The article dissects the moral and social dimensions of responsibilities as portrayed in “O`tgan kunlar” (The Bygone Days) by Abdulla Qodiriy and Somerset Maugham`s “The Moon and Sixpence”. Both authors investigate the clash between duty and social accountability, yet they reflect opposite cultural viewpoint. Through a cross-cultural lens, the article analyses how individual freedom, moral imperative, and social duty intersects within diverse historical, cultural, and philosophical circumstance- early 20th century Uzbek realism and British modernism. Qodiriy`s novel demonstrate the significance of duty as ethical and cultural necessity, while novel by Maugham demonstrates it as a personal challenge against social etiquette. The comparative analysis can spotlight how literature could unveil the balance between duty and collective responsibility.
Keywords: obligation, social responsibility, personal duty, Abdulla Qodiriy`s “O`tgan kunlar’’ (The Bygone Days), Somerset Maugham`s “The Moon and Sixpence”, Otabek and Charles Strickland, moral imperative.
Moral duty, responsibility have been becoming central problem for centuries in world literature, philosophy, and ethics. Every society requests its members to respect and obey laws, moral norms and traditions while maintaining their individuality. Literature can demonstrate how people can keep balance between personal goals and societal responsibility. Social obligations are interpreted with atmosphere in express time and exact region. Accordingly, period and zone can reveal essence of works. In the light of common occasion, they are diverse. There are dissimilar visions towards collective responsibility in everywhere. Thereby, there are authors, who utilize different way so as to show them. In particular, Abdulla Qodiriy and Somerset Maugham conquer in history of world literature. Through their novels “O`tgan kunlar” (1926) and “The Moon and Sixpence” (1919), they investigate relevance of the individual and society with their own historical and cultural lenses. Nonetheless, both of them strive to present underlying assumption of moral and collective responsibility.
Abdulla Qodiriy`s “O`tgan kunlar” (The Bygone Days) is not only the first historical novel in Uzbek literature but also profound contemplation on moral duty and communal justice. It includes social and ethical changes occurring in Central Asia during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. In fact, the story of Otabek and Kumush is not purely tale of love and tragedy. Author highlights deep reflection on the responsibilities of the individual to family, nation, and community by means of the story of Otabek and Kumush.
Conversely, Maugham`s “The Moon and Sixpence” explores the reverse extreme of this moral equation: the personal duty to self and art rather than to society. Charles Strickland abandons his family, profession, and ethical duty an account of his pursuit for artistic truth. In this novel, the individual tries to escape social responsibility or decline society itself is a type of moral stance.
Albeit the tension between West and East literature, both of them strive to demonstrate individual qualities in exact times. In addition, both writers unveil that universal freedom destitute of moral duty leads to spiritual loss, whereas authentic implementation emerge when human action align with virtuous function.
Literature review:
Abdulla Qodiriy`s “O`tgan kunlar’’ (The Bygone Days) and Somerset Maugham`s “The Moon and Sixpence’’ can facilitate to distinguish literature, traditional notion to society of West and East.
Conflict of social obligation and personal aspiration
In Maugham`s novel, personage not only repudiates social responsibility but he also disassociates himself from society: “I do not care what people think. I want to live in my own”.
Individuals and society, social duty
The individual is connected to society, who can see their life with social progress: “El-yurt tinchligi – har birimizning burchimiz’’ (Peace of our homeland is duty of each of us).
Impact of social environment
Collective circumstance has impact on human conduct. In Maugham`s novel, society could carry weight with personages` preference.
National outlook
Writings substantiate historical moment and viewpoint, culture in certain period, which can evolve national environment.
A lot of theoretical resources are analysed during studying theme. Articles and writings about duty and social responsibility in both novels are paid prime attention.
- In Abdulla Qodiriy`s “O`tgan kunlar” (The Bygone Days), East culture and social duty are demonstrated with real examples.
- Somerset Maugham`s “The Moon and Sixpence” shows conflict between social responsibility and personal ambition.
- A. Khan “Comparative Literature: East and West’’ can confirm diverse and similar feature in literature of West and East about social obligation and duty.
- An analysis of Ethical Dilemma in “The Moon and Sixpence” by Xinyi Yang (2022)- analyze social environment, conflict between society and individualism.
Research Methodology
In this study, an interdisciplinary methodology combines comparative literary with interpretative cultural analysis. The investigation seeks to analyze how the concept of social obligation evolves in two diverse literary and ideological environments- the Uzbek classical realism of Abdulla Qodiriy and the modern ethical contemplations of Somerset Maugham.
Research Design
The research design is relative and analytical, which could interpret how two literary system illustrate moral obligations of individuals to their society. Furthermore, it is utilized for determining connection of authors social backgrounds and their fictional representations.
Research Approach
The analysis adopts a hermeneutic and thematic approach, spotlighting the exposition of meaning within texts rather than mere illustration. Through this lens, both novels are dissected as reflection of consciousness and societal identity.
Data Analysis
Information was investigated utilizing a qualitative content analysis model supported by comparative thematic mapping. Each novel was coded for moral standards, depictions of responsibility, and portrayals of social duty. The findings were then cross- compared to demonstrate shared moral aspects and divergent worldviews.
Restrictions
The research is confined to two literature and does not take into account the full compass of either author`s oeuvre. The study concentrates on moral and social themes, eliminating linguistic and stylistic dimensions.
Analysis / Results
The comparative analysis of Somerset Maugham`s “The Moon and Sixpence” and Abdulla Qodiriy`s “O`tkan kunlar” (Bygone days) shows distinct yet convergent tactics to the concept of duty and responsibility to society. In both novels, the protagonists- Charles Strickland and Otabek- personify a conflict between personal perfection and general assumption. Maugham`s narrative questions the limits of social obligation when confronted by an artist`s inexorable pursuit of individuality. Strickland`s refusal of familial and collective norms reveals the fragility of moral imperative when human aspiration transforms into passion. Contrary, Qodiriy depicts Otabek as a man whose sense of social duty becomes a moral compass guiding him through the turbulent changes of early modern Uzbek civilization.
In “O`tkan kunlar”, social responsibility betrays trough loyalty, honesty, and care for one`s public. Otabek`s nature exposes that correct progress demands harmony between personal ambitions and social well-being. Meanwhile, Maugham`s Strickland explicates the opposite extreme: the annihilation of obligation in the pursuit of self- expression.
The results of the analysis represents that both authors formulate their protogonists as vehicles of ethical inquiry. Through conflicting resolutions, Maugham and Qodiriy cross-examine the connection between self and society, concluding that moral responsibility is neither merely individual nor purely communal but a dynamic interaction between two. The comparative reading also focuses on cultural differences: Maugham`s Western individualism contrasts with Qodiriy`s Eastern ethical collectivism. Nonetheless, both converge in portraying moral duty as a decisive foundation of human dignity and social harmony.
Conclusion and Recommendations
The comparison of Somerset Maugham`s “The Moon and Sixpence” and Abdulla Qodiriy`s “O`tkan kunlar” exposes how both writer`s balance between personal aspirations and duty to society. The findings of research demonstrate that both authors, in spite of cultural and temporal differences, engage with a universal moral question: how far should an individual`s pursuit of self- fulfillment extend before it contrasts with social duty? Maugham `s Strickland symbolizes the risk of egocentric freedom that neglects human responsibility, while Qodiriy`s Otabek denotes the harmony of moral imperative and personal belief.
The study contributes to a comprehensive grasping of how literary art can serve as a mirror displaying society`s moral dilemmas. By examining these two novels together, the article reflects that tension between individuality and duty is not confined to one culture or era but endures a recurring theme in evolution of human values.
Recommendations
1. Future comparative analysis should investigate how Eastern and Western authors interpret moral obligation and civic duty within various cultural frameworks.
2. University curricula could incorporate comparative literary ethics as a field of acquire to toughen students` understanding of collective and moral interdependence.
3. Interdisciplinary research integrating literature, sociology, and philosophy can deepen insight into moral dimensions of artistic individuality and populace principles.
References
1. Abdulla Qodiriy. “O`tkan kunlar” (Bygone days). Toshkent: Gafur Ghulam Publishing House of literature and Art 2019.
2. A. Khan. “Comparative Literature: East and West”. Oxford university Press 2016.
3. J. Brown. “Freedom and individuality in Western Literature”. Cambridge university Press 2017.
4. Somerset Maugham. “The Moon and Sixpence”. London: Heineman, 1919.
5. Xinyi Yang. “An analysis of Ethical Dilemma in “The Moon and Sixpence” 2