Multidisciplinary Critique of Annie Ernaux’s Writing in Her Novel La Honte

Document Type : Original Article

Author

French department , Faculty of Education , Alexandria University

Abstract

Annie Ernaux traces a detailed account of her childhood throughout her novel "La Honte," marked
by profound introspection and writing imbued with modesty and dignity. The writer revisits a
pivotal moment in her life, the summer of 1952, when a distressing family event marked a turning
point in her perception of herself and her surroundings. From this period, she begins to feel a sense
of shame towards her parents, their modest occupations, and her social environment, gradually
realizing the disparity between her family world and the dominant societal norms. In our study,
we adopted a multidisciplinary critical approach to explore a new facet of Ernaux's
autobiographical writing. This analysis highlights how Ernaux articulates her relationship to space
and social class through geographical and sociological reading. We also examine the ethnological
dimension of her narrative, linked to the cultural structures and social rituals of the time. Moreover,
a dogmatic and religious reflection sheds light on the values and beliefs that nourish her writing.
Finally, a moral and psychological reading helps to better understand the mechanisms of shame
and their impact on the construction of her literary identity.

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