A Comparative Analysis Of Human Nature And Psychological Realism In The Fiction Of Erkin A’zam

Abstract

This paper examines the depiction of human nature, psychological realism, and narrative strategies in the fiction of Erkin A’zam, one of contemporary Uzbekistan’s prominent literary figures. Utilizing a multidisciplinary approach combining psychological framing, socio-cultural contextualization, and comparative literary analysis, this study investigates how A’zam explores human vulnerability, moral integrity, and social alienation. The primary focus is placed on his distinct narrative mechanics, particularly his deployment of vernacular speech registers, double-layered irony, and the archetype of the anoyi (the deceptively simple or naive individual). The principal results demonstrate that A’zam elevates localized geographical spaces—specifically the Boysun region—into universal micro-universes where global human dilemmas are tested. Furthermore, a comparative mapping with international figures such as Gabriel García Márquez and Ernest Hemingway shows that while A’zam rejects magical elements and physical stoicism, he achieves an equivalent psychological depth through domestic realism and internal moral conflict. The study concludes that A’zam’s fiction offers an invaluable framework for understanding post-Soviet Central Asian identity and universal human ethics, serving as a critical bridge between regional literature and global comparative prose.

Keywords

Erkin A’zam; human nature; psychological realism; narrative irony; Uzbek prose

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