Body as text: self-reflection and search for identity in the novel by Egana Djabbarova “Women's Hands in my Family were not for Writing”

Abstract

The aim of this article is to explore the artistic uniqueness of Egana Dzhabbarova's novel “The Hands of Women in My Family were not for Writing”, determine its place within contemporary women's prose, and identify the role of bodily codes in the work. It notes that through her own physical experience, the author reveals key issues related to self-identity, cultural heritage, and the social position of women in a patriarchal society. It has been proven that it is precisely corporeality which serves as the central element in forming individual and collective identity, playing an important role in understanding the main conflict of the text. Key problems of the text are analyzed, such as the inability to express one's opinion, female freedom and its boundaries, illness as a symbol of destruction of traditional notions about femininity. The analysis includes the symbolism of certain details, such as eyes, hair, hands, which acquire special significance in the literary space of the work. Genre specifics, artistic method are also discussed; attention is paid to features of the author’s style, original composition, and form of presentation of material.