POETIC DIMENSIONS OF FEMALE IDENTITY IN CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN AND UZBEK SHORT FICTION: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF ALICE MUNRO AND NAZAR ESHONQUL

Abstract

The portrayal of women in modern literature has emerged as a key focus in literary criticism amid evolving social norms, gender roles, and cultural shifts. Contemporary American and Uzbek fiction present multifaceted depictions of women that capture both shared human struggles and distinct cultural contexts. Alice Munro and Nazar Eshonqul, distinguished short-story writers, offer rich material for exploring the poetic crafting of female characters across diverse literary and cultural landscapes.