Assia Djebars Fantasia :: Essays Papers

Assia Djebars FantasiaAssia Djebars Fantasia, is an autobiographical novel of an Algerian womans struggle to realize her voice in a society that rewards the voiceless. In an area heavily laden with cultural traditions, she con founded these traditions by embracing the French wording. Her struggles and knowledge through the French address were very important themes within the novel. nevertheless what was Djebars link to the French verbiage? Why did she pursue it in the manner that she did? Djebars Algerian world was filled with traditions that kept women silent. From the veils oer their heads to the lack of encouragement to read or salvage, women were kept down. Djebar longed for freedom and found it in the French language. Flocking to the language of her enemies, Djebar found expression in its words. I cohabit with the French language writes Djebar, I may quarrel with it, I may have bursts of affection, I may subside into sudden or angry silences theses are the normal occurr ences in the life of any couple. (213) If we find out this passage we will find what the French language truly meant to Djebar. at that place had been a relationship kin to marriage between French and her. This relationship starts early in her life with an introduction to French from her father. When Djebar first started to write love letters in French, she began to find the freedom she never knew existed. The language attracted her with its endless jewels. This attraction was further spurred by the newfound freedoms she found in French schools. Djebar enjoyed the traditions and Quranic teachings imparted to her at the time however, she felt more fulfilled doing tabu things such as wearing shorts or playing sports.Djebar dialog about her love affair with a student. In this affair it was non the love of the man that drove her but more importantly and ironically the budding love of the language. I believe it was the language that intrigued her the most non the actual person. In the passage, Djebar made a point to mention the language used to write the letter, but not the name of the person. To me this signifies the language as being the focal point of the event and not the actual person. If we reflection in the book, Djebar concentrates more deeply on her relationship with the French language over any other relationship that she had.