Abstract
WISE PEOPLE GUIDING THE CHARACTERS IN CHINGHIZ AITMATOV’S WORKS
One of the most important authors of the Kyrgyz literature Chinghiz Aitmatov, grew up in a family who were fond of their traditions and cared much about their values, and by listening to folk stories. He reflected his cultural background and the impressions of his own life both in his novels and stories. His stories are mainly based on the elements of war. By pointing out the negative outcomes of wars, Aitmatov highlights women and children in an environment where men are at war. The people guiding to the women and children who have to struggle with problems are generally the eldest of the tribe or the family (mother-in-law, father-in-law etc.). In his other stories which are not essentially about wars, it can be still seen that the eldest of the tribe, the father, the shaman, the teacher or any person who is well-educated guide other people. These “wise” people are regarded in two different ways in his works. The first type of people are those who are educated, sophisticated and transferring their knowledge to others, while the second type of people are those having the wisdom out of great human experience, not by the education, and due to their old ages. The author employs both of these types in his works equally. Furthermore, though being the case in a few works, it is also seen that clergymen (shamans, oracles) have an influence on the characters in the stories and show them the right way. Hereby, it is actually Aitmatov bringing the wisdom forward through the characters in this works. This article includes the qualities and characteristics of wise people in Chinghiz Aitmatov’s stories, values that are highly regarded in the Kyrgyz traditions, and the messages conveyed by Chinghiz Aitmatov through his characters along with the issues that are mainly concerned in his works.
Keywords
Kyrgyz Literature, Chinghiz Aitmatov, Wise Characters, The White Ship, Cemile