The Constructions of Alterity in Elias Canetti’s “The Voices of Marrakesh”

Abstract

The paper presents an overview of the constructions of alterity in Elias
Canetti’s The Voices of Marrakesh: A Record of a Visit. The analysis focuses
on the images of the Other by studying Canetti’s literary sketches
of the oriental city of Marrakesh. These images include his depictions of
the encounters with camels, the marabout and the Jewish family Dahan,
but also the impressions of the marketplace, the mellah, and his interaction
with the unfamiliar: his search for authenticity, direct contact with
the Moroccans and their culture. The purpose of the paper is to examine
the perspective, from which the image of the Other emerges as well as the
relationship between Canetti’s own culture(s) and the unfamiliar culture.
The analysis is based on the theory of critical imagology.