THE CONCEPTUALIZATION OF MOTHERHOOD IN JOHN ERNEST STEINBECK’S FICTION THROUGH THE PRISM OF NATIONAL AND CULTURAL VALUES

Section: Articles Published Date: 2026-01-23 Pages: 117-125 Views: 14 Downloads: 10

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Abstract

The present article offers a professionally paraphrased and conceptually refined analysis of the representation of the concept of “mother” in the literary works of the American author John Ernest Steinbeck, interpreted within the framework of national and cultural values. In Steinbeck’s artistic universe, motherhood is not confined to biological or domestic functions; rather, it is conceptualized as a moral axis of society, a source of spiritual resilience, and a culturally marked reflection of American national consciousness. Drawing on linguocognitive, linguacultural, and literary-analytical approaches, the study reveals the internal structure, semantic layers, and socio-cultural functions of maternal imagery. The findings confirm that the concept of “mother” functions as a central semantic and axiological category in Steinbeck’s fiction, mediating between universal human ideals and nationally specific cultural meanings

Keywords

mother concept, national and cultural values, literary image, linguacultural, cognitive linguistics, artistic interpretation, linguacultural theory, concept, literary-analytical approaches.