CULTURE USURPATION BETWEEN SELF-EXISTENCE AND COEXISTENCE (LITERATURE AS A CASE STUDY)

Problem statement. In contemporary cultural and political discourse, the phenomenon of cultural usurpation has gained renewed significance, as societies increasingly confront ideological conflicts, identity reconfigurations, and asymmetrical power relations. Literature, functioning as a medium of symbolic expression and social reflection, plays a crucial role in representing and contesting mechanisms of domination, resistance, and coexistence. Across different historical periods, literary narratives have served not only as artistic creations but also as ideological instruments that shape collective memory and articulate responses to cultural pressure. Themes of self-existence, loyalty, emotional affiliation, and communal belonging become especially prominent in contexts where cultural usurpation challenges the balance between individual identity and social coexistence. These circumstances highlight the necessity of reassessing the role of literature as a transformative tool capable of negotiating ethical, political, and cultural tensions within societies undergoing upheaval. Purpose of the article. The aim of this study is to analyze how literary texts interpret and negotiate cultural usurpation in the dynamic relationship between self-existence and coexistence. The research focuses on identifying narrative strategies that reflect structures of power and resistance, exploring how literature constructs ethical perspectives, articulates cultural identity, and mediates tensions between individual survival and collective cohesion. Research methodology and methods. The study employed a comprehensive methodological framework that included analytical methods (to synthesize theoretical perspectives on cultural usurpation and literary representation), interpretive methods (to examine symbolic and emotional layers of the texts), comparative analysis (to identify shared narrative patterns across different literary traditions), and contextual methods (to correlate literary material with socio-political environments). Elements of discourse analysis and hermeneutic interpretation were also utilized to investigate ideological, structural, and emotive components of the selected works. Results. The findings indicate that literature assumes a dual function: it mirrors ideological pressures, cultural domination, and political instability, while simultaneously providing a space for symbolic resistance and the affirmation of identity. Narrative structures—exemplified particularly in Dickens’s works—display a complex interplay between individual agency and hegemonic forces, offering insight into ethical choices, collective memory, and cultural resilience. The analysis demonstrates that literary texts not only reflect socio-political realities but also propose models of coexistence, solidarity, and community-building that counteract hegemonic narratives and support cultural continuity. Conclusions and prospects. The results confirm that the study of cultural usurpation through literature requires the integration of sociological, cultural, and textual approaches. The effectiveness of such analysis lies in literature’s ability to encapsulate collective experience, reflect ideological transformations, and shape ethical strategies of coexistence under conditions of cultural and political pressure. Future research should expand on the examination of literary resistance, intercultural models of coexistence, and the role of narrative representation in preserving cultural identity within globally transforming contexts.