The Nature of Love in Cengiz Aytmatov’s “Jamilia” and Mukay Elebayev’s “One Last Day”

Abstract

Cengiz Aytmatov’s renowned work “Jamilia” presents a story in which love is deeply intertwined with labor. Similarly, Mukay Elebayev’s short story “One Last Day” explores the presence of love, the perspectives of its characters, and a process that leads to separation without reunion. Elebayev’s story shares similarities with Aytmatov’s “Jamilia” particularly in its portrayal of love shaped by work, commitment, and moral values. In both works, the characters’ attitudes toward love and their roles within a system of labor are closely connected. The relationship between Saykal and Kencegul in “One Last Day” resembles that of Jamilia and Danyar in “Jamilia” in terms of how love is experienced and defined. The emphasis on diligence, responsibility, and ethical sensitivity highlights how love develops within the framework of social duty and personal sacrifice. Love in these narratives reveals the inner transformation of the characters. Jamilia, who follows love toward distant horizons, and Saykal, who lives a life centered on tireless work, embody different expressions of devotion. Likewise, Danyar, returning wounded from war, and Kencegul, serving as a state official, struggle to assert their existence through love. In both stories, love reshapes identity and directs the characters onto new paths. This study examines how these figures experience love and articulate their emotions amid the realities of war.