Liminality as identity in four novels by Ben Okri and Tahar ben Jelloun

摘要

This thesis compares two novels each by Nigerian writer Ben Okri and Moroccanudwriter Tahar Ben Jelloun. By examining apparently transformative moments in the lives of eachudprotagonist, Azaro and Zahra, its principal aim is to show how liminality characterises theirudidentities, and is a source of personal and potentially political liberation, mirrored in theudnarrative techniques.udThe Introduction demonstrates the centrality of identity to these novels and theuddomain of postcolonial studies and defines the key concepts in relevant literary, theoretical andudpolitical contexts: identity, hybridity, liminality, magical realism and theudpostcolonial/postmodern debate.udChapter I establishes Azaro and Zahra as liminal beings from birth, whose childhoodudrituals are incomplete and who continually subvert parental and social expectation. Thisudexamination of liminality may be extended by reading the characters as emblems of theirudrespective nations-in-waiting.udChapter II focuses on the tension between biology and culture within Zahra's genderedudidentity and demonstrates empowerment in her choice to remain liminal in a 'potential space'.udAzaro's shifting sexual awareness is examined as a manifestation of his liminality. Theudallegorical reading of Zahra's life is continued, and a connection made between sexual andudpolitical corruption in the English texts.udChapter III centres on the fluidity of Azaro's boundaries and perception. Like Zahra's,udhis liminality is chosen, as he decides to live in a potential space between human and spirit.udZahra, too, has a special relationship with the spirit world; she and Azaro are shown to haveudrevelatory visions of political significance.udThe Conclusion brings together the analysis of Azaro's and Zahra's identities beforeudextending the liminal states of the protagonists to those of reader and artist. It concludes thatudthese texts offer new opportunities for the understanding of postcolonial texts and movingudbeyond the duality of the postcolonial/postmodern debate.