Thesis:

Title : An investigation of the characters in five selected stories from the book Kalilah and Demnah based on Kohlberg's theory of moral development

Storytelling is a fundamental tool in the moral education of children and adolescents, playing a crucial role in shaping behavioral patterns. As a classic didactic and allegorical text, Kalila and Dimna is replete with situations where characters encounter events and dialogues that illustrate moral virtues and vices. The primary objective of this research is to analyze the fictional characters in five selected tales from this book, based on Lawrence Kohlberg’s theory of moral development, to determine which of the six stages of moral reasoning their ethical decisions align with. The methodology employed in this study is qualitative, utilizing a descriptive-analytical approach. Data were collected through content analysis of the tales and by matching the characters’ actions and dialogues with the components of Kohlberg’s theory. The findings indicate that most characters in the selected tales operate within the conventional and post-conventional levels, whereas some characters with negative roles are observed at the pre-conventional level. The final conclusion suggests that while these tales are valuable for conveying moral concepts, they require re-interpretation and pedagogical facilitation by teachers to strengthen higher levels of moral reasoning in contemporary students. This research can provide a suitable model for the educational adaptation of classical texts in pedagogy, cultural productions, media, and performing arts.

Keywords: Keywords: Moral development, Morality, Moral education, Story characters, kalila and Dimna