Comparing Identity Crisis and Characterization between Two Colonial Protagonists: Half A Life and Season of Migration to The North

Abstract

The examination of the identity crisis and the portrayal of the colonial protagonists in Tayeb Salih's "Season of Migration to the North" and V.S. Naipaul's "Half a Life" serve as moving reflections of the difficulties of post-colonial existence. The stories of Willie Chandran and Mustafa Sa'eed, two characters whose lives are significantly impacted by cultural clashes, historical legacies, and individual quests for self-understanding, are skillfully woven together in both narratives. In "Half a Life," Indian-born Willie Chandran struggles in both colonial and post-colonial settings with a complex identity crisis. His cross-continental voyage represents a turbulent attempt to balance his cultural heritage with prevailing norms and the lingering effects of colonialism. In Mustafa Sa'eed's "Season of Migration to the North," he plays a character who is caught up in the aftermath of colonialism. As he makes his way back to Sudan from England, Mustafa struggles with his African background and the European experiences that have shaped his perspective. This illustrates the conflict between opposing cultural influences and the ensuing identity crisis. The authors employ both protagonists as means of eloquently illustrating the psychological turbulence, intricacies, and challenges intrinsic to post-colonial identities. The central themes of their characterizations are the collision of cultures, the legacy of colonialism, and the search for belonging. These perspectives provide a valuable understanding of the complexities involved in forming an identity while living with the effects of colonialism.