The representation of sociocultural identity in Mouloud Feraoun's le fils du pauvre (1950) and Chinua Achebe's Things

Abstract

The present dissertation is entitled “The Sociocultural Identity Representation in Le Fils du Pauvre (1950) and Things Fall Apart (1958)”. Despite the historical and geographical differences that exist between the two selected African novels, they share the same themes. This research is a comparative study that aims to comprehensively analyze the representation and expression of sociocultural identity within the context of postcolonialism. By examining Kabyle and Ibo identity formation and transformation due to colonialism as portrayed by Mouloud Feraoun and Chinua Achebe, this study reveals how postcolonial societies face inherited identities with modernity and how they respond to the globalization imposed by colonialism. Literature serves as a powerful medium for articulating sociocultural realities. Thus, this research explores filiation and affiliation dynamics, investigating the relationship between personal identity and societal structures. Additionally, this dissertation highlights colonialism's impact on individual and shared identities, tracing characters' journeys through ancestral customs and cultural adaptation.