A propos du roman « Je dois tout à ton oubli » de Malika Mokeddem

Abstract

This study offers a critical reading of Malika Mokeddem's novel Je dois tout à ton oubli, examining the relationship between autobiographical writing, literary aesthetics, and the constraints imposed by the contemporary publishing industry. Using a textual and interpretive approach, the paper investigates the narrative structure, thematic organization, and stylistic features of the novel while questioning its artistic coherence and generic identity. The analysis argues that Mokeddem's long-established reliance on autobiographical discourse continues to shape the novel despite its explicit presentation as fiction. It further contends that the narrative gradually shifts from its initial dramatic focus on family trauma and infanticide toward extended political commentary on Algerian society, gender inequality, religious extremism, and social conservatism, thereby weakening the unity of the fictional plot. The study also explores how editorial expectations and market-oriented publishing practices may encourage the repetition of familiar themes and narrative formulas, resulting in a text that privileges ideological discourse over literary innovation. By comparing this novel with Mokeddem's earlier works, the paper highlights the persistence of autobiographical self-representation as a dominant narrative strategy while questioning its effectiveness in sustaining fictional credibility. The study concludes that Je dois tout à ton oubli illustrates the tension between artistic creation and editorial imperatives, revealing how commercial publishing can influence literary production by reinforcing established authorial identities at the expense of aesthetic originality and narrative coherence.