Au Pays - An Examination of Culture, Identity, and Retirement
List all Project Mentors & Advisor(s)
Roxane Riegler
Presentation Format
Event
Abstract/Description
Author and public intellectual Tahar Ben Jelloun’s 2009 novel Au Pays is a stunning, introspective work that delves into the questions that are essential to the immigrant experience. As a Moroccan-French immigrant, Ben Jelloun is able to examine these ideas through the lens of his persona experience, making his characters both honest and relatable. Mohammad, another Moroccan immigrant and the protagonist of Au Pays, identifies himself as a proud worker, a loving father, and a devout Muslim, but each of these identities is thrown into question as he tries to find his place in “Lafrance.” As retirement looms ever-closer, Mohammad decides that he does not wish to be buried in the French ground, and thus returns to his native Morocco. However, going back to his homeland forces him to reexamine his memories and face uncomfortable conclusions about his culture and himself.
Location
Barkley Room, Curris Center
Start Date
April 2016
End Date
April 2016
Affiliations
Modern Languages Senior Colloquium
Au Pays - An Examination of Culture, Identity, and Retirement
Barkley Room, Curris Center
Author and public intellectual Tahar Ben Jelloun’s 2009 novel Au Pays is a stunning, introspective work that delves into the questions that are essential to the immigrant experience. As a Moroccan-French immigrant, Ben Jelloun is able to examine these ideas through the lens of his persona experience, making his characters both honest and relatable. Mohammad, another Moroccan immigrant and the protagonist of Au Pays, identifies himself as a proud worker, a loving father, and a devout Muslim, but each of these identities is thrown into question as he tries to find his place in “Lafrance.” As retirement looms ever-closer, Mohammad decides that he does not wish to be buried in the French ground, and thus returns to his native Morocco. However, going back to his homeland forces him to reexamine his memories and face uncomfortable conclusions about his culture and himself.