THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EGO AND THE OTHER AND IMAGINARY IDENTITY: EAST-WEST INTERCULTURAL CONFLICT IN THE CONTEXT OF THE NOVEL "SEASON OF MIGRATION TO THE NORTH" - TAYEB SALIH

Hamid Musa MohamedAlsadig, Novikova Irina Aleksandrovna, Kuznetsova Marina Vladimirovna, Bazanova Anna Evgenievna

This article examines Tayeb Salih's novel (Season of Migration to the North) as a pioneering Arab literary work that delves into the encounter and interaction of cultures and the construction of the "Other." It analyzes how the West is perceived through the eyes of an Easterner, often romanticized as a realm of magic and mystery. The study delves into the profound internal conflict between the Ego and the Other, exploring identity crises marked by the absence and manifestation of the Other. It traces the trajectory of Mustafa Sa'eed's integration into a foreign culture, examining his early experiences in Sudan and his subsequent migration to Britain during the colonial era. The novel's rich olfactory imagery is considered as a potential communicative tool that underscores the intercultural conflict between East and West, highlighting their inherent differences and complex relationships. The research methodology employs content analysis of Salih's text to gather insights into the protagonist Mustafa Sa'eed, whose alienation and psychological struggles are intricately linked to the colonial past of his homeland, Sudan.

Keywords:Ego, the Other, imaginary identity, intercultural conflict, culture, colonialism, Sudan, East and West