Ideology and Alienation in Mouloud Mammeri’s Le sommeil du juste (1955) and Heinrich Böll’s The Clown (1963)
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Date
2018
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Mouloud Mammeri University of Tizi-Ouzou
Abstract
This research work is a comparative study of two literary works: Mouloud Mammeri’s Le
Sommeil du juste (1955) and Heinrich Böll’s The Clown (1963). The main purpose of this study
is to show how Ideology is reflected in both novels during the Second World War and Post
Second World War in both Algeria and Germany, despite their cultural and language
differences. To achieve my goal, I have relied on Louis Althusser’s two concepts “ideological
subject” and “State Apparatuses” of Ideology developed in his essay Ideology and Ideological
State Apparatuses (1971). The study has revealed that the two authors share the same view
about the dominating ideologies of their times at the level of characters and themes. Taking into
consideration that the two novels are written in a period of strong ideologies. First, concerning
characters, the protagonists of the two novels Arezki and Hans have rejected the imposed
ideologies (Nazism) and (Colonialism) which are portrayed in their actions and deeds with their
families and societies. This is marked as a great failure for the two systems. Second, the imposed
ideologies have led the two protagonists to be subjects of alienation. In other words, Arezki and
Hans have become separated and detached from their families and societies as well. In addition,
this study has revealed, that each political system has relied on a specific means to justify a
violent act and legitimate it (War), in both societies, Algeria and Germany, and have led people
to participate in it.
Description
51p.;30cm.(+cd)
Keywords
Mouloud Mammeri, Le sommeil du juste, Heinrich Böll, The Clown, Louis Althusser, Ideology, state apparatus, alienation, legitimization of war.
Citation
Comparative Literature