Literary Affinities Between Ngugi Wa Thiongo’s A Grain of Wheat (1967) and Yasmina Khadra’s Ce que le jour doit à la nuit (2008).
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Date
2022
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Publisher
Mouloud Mammeri University
Abstract
The present dissertation is a comparative study between Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o's A Grain of Wheat and Yasmina Khadra's Ce que le jour doit à la nuit. The aim is to investigate the ways in which the authors employ texts as a means to explore the impact of colonialism on individual and collective identities and memories. Moreover, it examines how these narratives engage with themes of betrayal, resistance, and reconciliation since both novels deal with the colonial and the post colonial era of both Algeria and Kenya. To achieve our objective, we borrow some theoretical concepts from Frantz Fanon's seminal work, The Wretched of the Earth (1961) , mainly the ideas developed in his first chapter, Concerning Violence and the third one, Pitfalls of National Consciousness. The relevance of the postcolonial approach to our comparison can justified by the fact that both novels depict the legacy of colonialism and the quest for identity in the postcolonial period. In A Grain of Wheat, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o delves into the lives of his characters, juxtaposing personal histories with the broader history of Kenya's struggle for independence. The novel provides a deep exploration of the details of personal and collective guilt, loyalty, and redemption in the face of a changing socio-political Kenya. Similarly, Ce que le jour doit à la nuit, revolves around a poignant tale of colonial Algeria and its aftermath, illuminating the complex relationships between French settlers and the local population. The novel explores the concept of multiple cultural and linguistic identities, cultural clashes, as individuals seek to reconcile their pasts with their present circumstances. These two novels stand as prominent texts which contribute significantly to a deeper understanding of how literature can serve as a powerful medium for addressing complex issues revolving around historical consciousness and cultural identity in postcolonial societies. The findings of this comparative study can be of interest to scholars, students, and anyone intrigued by the intricate connections between literature, history, and cultural identity in the postcolonial context.
Description
58p. ; 30cm.(+CD-Rom)
Keywords
Literary affinities, A Grain of Wheat, Ce que le jour doit à la nuit, Colonialism, Representations of violence, Guilt, Betrayal
Citation
Literature and Civilization