Defining as limiting
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When Edward Said refers to the Orient as a "surrogate and even underground self" in Orientalism, he suggests that Europe projected its repressed desires, fears, and fantasies onto the Orient, using it as a mirror to define itself. The Orient became a space where European societies could explore aspects of identity that were marginalized or unacceptable in their cultures. It allowed Europe to define itself as rational, superior, and civilized in contrast to an imagined Orient, which was depicted as irrational, inferior, and exotic. This process not only constructed the idea of the Orient as "other" but also helped Europe reinforce its own identity and dominance through this opposition.
A prime example of the creation of the Orient as "the other" is Said's depiction of Egyptian women. She is defined entirely by the European gaze, with her voice, desires, views, and opinions all silenced. This allows space for constructing a narrative that serves Europe’s interests and reinforces its own identity. As Edward Said notes, "Flaubert’s encounter with an Egyptian courtesan produced a widely influential model of the Oriental woman; she never spoke of herself, she never represented her emotions, presence, or history. He spoke for and represented her (p.7)." This representation reduced the Oriental woman to a passive subject, reflecting only the European perception and reinforcing the unequal power dynamics between the West and the East.