Autobiography and "Genre" Transgression in Malika Mokeddem’s Works

Abstract

In life narratives, authors unveil their lives, and autobiography also inspires authors from Muslim Arab societies. In contemporary societies, some authors have talked about their “ego” without fully revealing all their secrets. Things are more complex in a Maghrebian context in which disclosing and recounting one’s life (childhood, adolescence or even adult life) becomes a vital act. Our reasoning in this paper consists in showing that, to Malika Mokeddem, despite the criticisms and taboos, writing and being emancipated are no impediments; on the contrary, these taboos or proscriptions have motivated and served her life choices. Algerian authors often write about themselves by referring to their childhood, education and readings. Often the history of their country is at the center of their autobiographical novels. In this article, we focus on Malika Mokeddem’s childhood and adolescence, two very important periods for her, and proceed to analyze the different processes used by the novelist who in her autobiographical works seeks to “recover” her identity.