The North African reality in the work ofAlbert Camus: Re-reading “L’Etranger”, “La Peste”, “L’Exil et le Royaume” from a colonial perspective

305 Pages·1994·15.46 MB·English

by  Ena Cecilia Vulor

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The North African reality in the work of Albert Camus: Re-reading
“L’Etranger”, “La Peste”, “L’Exil et le Royaume” from a colonial
perspective
Vulor, Ena Cecilia, Ph.D.
Cornell University, 1994
U MI
300 N. Zeeb Rd.
Ann Arbor, MI 48106

THE NORTH AFRICAN REALITY IN THE WORK OF ALBERT CAMUS:
RE-READING L'ETRANGER, LA PESTE, L'EXIL ET LE ROYAUME FROM
A COLONIAL PERSPECTIVE
A Dissertation
Presented to the Faculty of the Graduate School
of Cornell University
in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of
Doctor of Philosophy
by
Ena C. Vulor
August 1994
© Ena Cecilia Vulor 1994
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
Ena Cecilia Vulor was bom in Accra, Ghana. The early part of her life,
up till the age 17, was spent in Francophone countries such as Guinea,
Togo and the Ivory Coast, with intermittent visits to Belgium. She
returned to Ghana, permanently, in 1976, and attended the University
of Ghana where she obtained the Bachelors degree in French and
Spanish. She taught at the Government Girls College in Nigeria for
seven years before coming to Cornell for her Ph.D. program.
For my father and mother, Joseph Vulor and Delphine Vulor,
and for Patrick.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
I would like to express my appreciation to a number of
individuals for their support throughout the exhausting task of writing
this dissertation. I thank my chair, Gregson Davis, who despite the short
notice, agreed to direct this dissertation and never let me down. 1 am
deeply grateful to David Grossvogel who, despite our disagreements,
always encouraged and stood by me, and to Biodun Jeyifo for his useful
suggestions that have helped to sharpen my focus. I am indebted to
Susan Tarrow who was with me right from the beginning, taking time
from her busy schedule to read my work and offer invaluable
suggestions and corrections. Her patience, understanding and gentle
support have contributed a great deal to make this dissertation a reality.
I thank Patrick for his moral support, for the sacrifices he was
willing to make for me. I also thank my two daughters Abi and Nana.
Though they did not always understand why I spent so little time with
them, they bravely sought ways to keep themselves occupied and amused
while I worked.
I am grateful to my beloved father and mother for their
encouragement, to my sister Stella Vulor, my brothers, Kofi Vulor and
Senyo Vulor for "holding the fort" during the five years it took me to
complete my program; and to Bolaji Fapohunda whose prayers I could
always count on.
Through it all, God has been a never failing source of strength
for me. He has given wisdom and understanding, when "worldly
wisdom and understanding" failed, and to Him I give all the glory.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION............................................................................................1
CHAPTER ONE: Algeria: a socio-political appraisal. Birth of
national consciousness and Literary discursive
formations....................................................................32
CHAPTER TWO: Albert Camus. L'Ecole d'Alger. Universalist
Humanist Dilemma. The Mediterranean:
reality and myth: a refuge from colonial
malaise ........................................................................68
CHAPTER THREE: Camus, Mammeri, Feraoun and L'Etranger.
From Metaphysical Exile to Political violence.
Landscapes of the absurd and colonial landscapes:
a politics of displacement.........................................120
CHAPTER FOUR: Camus, Dib and the plagues of
colonialism. A political Re-reading of
La Peste.....................................................................189
CHAPTER FIVE: The dialogic conclusion: The breakdown of the
univocal vision. Camus's Exile from
the Kingdom..............................................................236
CONCLUSION...........................................................................................276
BIBLIOGRAPHY 285