Home > Explore Content > All Issues > Article View
Phases of alienation in Le Torrent by Anne Hébert
Cross-Cultural Studies
2015,
39(), pp.7-32
DOI : 10.21049/ccs.2015.39..7
Publisher : Center for Cross Culture Studies
Research Area : Literature
DOI : 10.21049/ccs.2015.39..7
Publisher : Center for Cross Culture Studies
Research Area : Literature
-
In 1950, Anne Hébert published Le Torrent, a collection of seven short stories. These stories containing many shocking themes and expressions have placed her one of the pioneers of modern novels in Quebec. This paper tries to analyze several phases of alienation described in the novels and the reactions of alienated caracters in their situation. Some examples of alienated and mentally or physically deformed characters in Le Torrent are François, Stéphanie, Stella, etc. Although the author wanted readers to interpret these characters on ther individual level, this paper interprets them differently. The result of this study is as following. Alienation doesn’t come from one’s interior but his exterior. Society and history are major agents of alienation. The injustice of life imposed on the caracters results from political and religious underdevelopment, cultural lowness, absence of social security system and of universal education at that time. The conquest of Quebec by England left a deep and historical wound on the French Canadians. This fact is, in my opinion, one of the essential themes of Anne Hébert’s novels. In spite of all these alienating situations, the reactions showed by the caracters of the novels are limited to escapist illusion, self-destruction, mistaken revenge, eternal submission, etc. In conclusion, Le Torrent by Anne Hébert which deeply approached themes of violence and alienation could be called authentic landscape of the inner world of Quebecois before ‘la Revolution tranquille.’
288 Viewed
Print this page
Download PDF