The Concept of Childhood in Mar Baydjiyev’s Creative Work (Through the Analysis of the Play “a Holiday in Every Home”)

A distinctive feature of the dramaturgy of Kyrgyz writer Mar Baydjiyev is the emphasis on moral issues. At the core of his plays lies a psychological conflict, which serves as the driving force behind the development of the characters. M. Baydjiyev seeks to delve into the psyche of the individual and understand the spiritual needs of the contemporary person. In the drama “A Holiday in Every Home” (1972), the author addresses moral and ethical issues through domestic and family conflicts. This article explores the concept of childhood in Baydjiyev’s creative work through the analysis of this play. The world of childhood recreated in the drama embodies the ideals of sincerity, kindness, and purity of heart. It is contrasted with the adult world, dominated by falsehood, hypocrisy, and deceit. This opposition forms the basis of the dramatic conflict, which reveals the characters' relationships through their personal life dramas. Notably, children are not direct characters in the play. The world of childhood is represented symbolically – through photographs and other artistic details, which create an image-symbol of purity. It is in relation to this image that all characters’ personalities are revealed, using various stage techniques such as mise-en-scènes, stage directions, dialogues, and remarks. A special role in the drama belongs to the character Sarman, a children's photographer. To others, Sarman appears “disconnected from reality”, yet he alone – by virtue of his profession, inner beliefs, and spirit – is able to act according to ideals of humanity and responsibility toward children. The article concludes that the image of childhood represents the author’s artistic vision of life – one in which there is a place for a celebration of truth, sincerity, and kindness. This constitutes the essence of the moral and psychological problematics of Baydjiyev’s drama.