Representation of Social Values in the Poems and Kara Sözler of Abay Kunanbayev

Abstract

This paper examines the representation of social values in the poems and Kara Sözler (Book of Words) of Abay Kunanbayev, a prominent figure in the sociocultural and intellectual transformation of 19th-century Kazakh society. More than just a poet, Abay was a moral philosopher and public intellectual who played a pioneering role in the modernization of Kazakh culture. In his poems, Abay emphasizes individual responsibility, moral virtue, diligence, education, and religious consciousness, promoting a value system grounded in personal development. In contrast, his Kara Sözler offers a more direct, systematic, and critical examination of these values, addressing the structural flaws of Kazakh society at the time.

The paper presents a comparative analysis of Abay’s poetry and prose, focusing on core themes such as ethics, education, labor, justice, and faith. While his poetry employs a more metaphorical and aesthetic language, the Kara Sözler adopt a straightforward and didactic tone. In both genres, Abay’s ultimate goal is to guide the Kazakh people away from ignorance, laziness, and moral decay, toward the ideal of “adam bol” (“be a true human being”). His vision seeks not only to cultivate virtuous individuals but also to establish a just and enlightened society. Abay’s intellectual legacy continues to influence not only 19th-century Kazakh life but also the sociocultural identity of contemporary Kazakhstan.