Thematic Analysis of Assumptions and Criteria for Marriage and Marital Relations in Azerbaijani Proverbs

with the advancement of sciences and the emergence of new scientific theories, literature and literary works have taken on a practical dimension. Examining the stories, legends, anecdotes, and proverbs common in a culture provides an accurate picture of the values, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors of the people of that society when facing various issues. Among these, proverbs, as one of the most important aspects of oral literature, not only represent the social and cultural values of a society but are also considered a key tool for transmitting moral, behavioral, and social teachings to future generations. Marriage, family formation, and spousal satisfaction, as one of life’s most significant events, are directly influenced by the culture and prevailing societal values.This research, emphasizing the importance of studying proverbs in traditional societies, extracts Azerbaijani proverbs using keywords related to women, men, spouses, and marriage. Through thematic analysis, it examines the assumptions and criteria related to the roles of husband and wife in marriage and marital relations. The research results indicate that in these proverbs, marital relations are important and sometimes highly conflicted; some of these conflicts are repetitive, unavoidable, and even unsolvable. In the examined samples, the criteria for marriage for women are more numerous and stricter than those for men. Although it is expected that the wife and husband play complementary roles in married life, in many instances, we observe signs of patriarchy that emphasize male dominance over the female partner.”