THE COLONIZER THE COLONIZER AND AND THE COLONIZEDTHE COLONIZED

BY BY

Albert MemmiAlbert Memmi

The Colonizer and the The Colonizer and the ColonizedColonized

Albert Memmi(1920-)Albert Memmi(1920-)

About the author :-About the author :-

Born on December 15,1920 in Tunisia.Born on December 15,1920 in Tunisia.

Also a writer, educator and sociologist Also a writer, educator and sociologist apart from being a novelist.apart from being a novelist.

‘‘The pillar of Salt’ and ‘Strangers’ – The pillar of Salt’ and ‘Strangers’ – considered to be his best fiction works till considered to be his best fiction works till date.date.

The Colonizer and The The Colonizer and The ColonizedColonized

Memmi’s most influential and most Memmi’s most influential and most controversial non-fiction work.controversial non-fiction work.

First published in French in 1957 and later First published in French in 1957 and later translated into English in 1965.translated into English in 1965.

Autobiographical work- focuses on his first Autobiographical work- focuses on his first hand experiences as a Jew growing up in a hand experiences as a Jew growing up in a Muslim predominant Tunisia.Muslim predominant Tunisia.

The book focuses on Racism and African The book focuses on Racism and African Colonialism.Colonialism.

He wrote this specifically in response to the He wrote this specifically in response to the Decolonization of North Africa in 1956.Decolonization of North Africa in 1956.

The dynamics he illuminates here are similar The dynamics he illuminates here are similar to any colonial system.to any colonial system.

Memmi describes this work as “portraits of the Memmi describes this work as “portraits of the two protagonists of the colonial drama and the two protagonists of the colonial drama and the relationship that binds them”relationship that binds them”

Albert Memmi’s TunisiaAlbert Memmi’s Tunisia

1881 – Tunisia became a colony of the french1881 – Tunisia became a colony of the frenchIt was home to French colonizers, Italians, It was home to French colonizers, Italians, Tunisian Muslims and to a minority of Jews.Tunisian Muslims and to a minority of Jews.

Of the four groups:-Of the four groups:-French – the obvious profiteers andFrench – the obvious profiteers andMuslims – the most oppressed.Muslims – the most oppressed.

The Jews were more willing to try and assilmilate The Jews were more willing to try and assilmilate to the French.to the French.

The Jews even supported the French The Jews even supported the French during the Independence uprising.during the Independence uprising.

But Tunisia gained independence from But Tunisia gained independence from France in 1956.France in 1956.

Democratic Constitutional Assembly (an Democratic Constitutional Assembly (an Islamic fundamental organization) came Islamic fundamental organization) came into power.into power.

As a result of this many Jews left Tunisia.As a result of this many Jews left Tunisia.Even Albert Memmi also left for Paris with Even Albert Memmi also left for Paris with his wife.his wife.

PrefacePrefaceThe Preface of the text was written by Memmi The Preface of the text was written by Memmi

himself.himself.

In the preface he recollects about Tunisia and In the preface he recollects about Tunisia and the oppressions he had to face there.the oppressions he had to face there.

He wrote this work to identify his place in He wrote this work to identify his place in society.society.

Realized it to be an universal experience.Realized it to be an universal experience.

His main aim :- to define the colonial His main aim :- to define the colonial relationship between the colonizer and the relationship between the colonizer and the colonized.colonized.

The colonial privilege is not solely The colonial privilege is not solely economic.economic.

The Jewish population identified The Jewish population identified themselves with the colonizers as with the themselves with the colonizers as with the colonized.colonized.

He says “ I was a sort of half-breed of He says “ I was a sort of half-breed of colonization, understanding everyone colonization, understanding everyone because I belonged completely to no one.“because I belonged completely to no one.“

Memmi is also unconditionally oppossed Memmi is also unconditionally oppossed to all forms of oppression. He says to all forms of oppression. He says “Oppression is the greatest calamity of “Oppression is the greatest calamity of humanity.”humanity.”

IntroductionIntroductionThe introduction to the work ‘ The Colonizer The introduction to the work ‘ The Colonizer

and the Colonized’ was written by Jean Paul and the Colonized’ was written by Jean Paul Sartre.Sartre.

He was a French existentialist philosopher, He was a French existentialist philosopher, playwright, novelist, screen writer, political playwright, novelist, screen writer, political activist, biographer and a literary critic.activist, biographer and a literary critic.

Jean Paul Sartre(1905-Jean Paul Sartre(1905-1980)1980)

Highlights:-Highlights:-

Three factors typify the colonizer:-Three factors typify the colonizer:-Profit , privilege and usurpationProfit , privilege and usurpation

“ “Colonizer who refuses” and “colonizer Colonizer who refuses” and “colonizer who accepts”who accepts”

The colonizer questions the validity of his The colonizer questions the validity of his own identity.own identity.

Presence of Nero complex.Presence of Nero complex.

Memmi describes Colonialism as ‘ one Memmi describes Colonialism as ‘ one variety of fascism’.variety of fascism’.

Its key tools are racism and terror.Its key tools are racism and terror.

The colonial system also favours The colonial system also favours population growth.population growth.

The colonized becomes “divorced from The colonized becomes “divorced from reality”.reality”.

The colonized are denied of all their The colonized are denied of all their human rights. They are treated like human rights. They are treated like animals.animals.

But Memmi believes that the colonial But Memmi believes that the colonial system is fundamentally unstable and will system is fundamentally unstable and will lead to its own destruction, due to mere lead to its own destruction, due to mere rigidity of the system.rigidity of the system.

The text has two parts:-The text has two parts:-

Part One:Part One:Portrait of the ColonizerPortrait of the Colonizer

Part Two:Part Two:Portrait of the ColonizedPortrait of the Colonized

Part OnePart One

Portrait of the Colonized

Does the colonial Exist?

The colonial whorefuses

The colonial whoaccepts

Part TwoPart Two

Portrait of the Colonized

Mythical portraitof

the colonized

Situation of thecolonized

The two answers of

the colonized

Conclusion Conclusion

The colonized have ultimately three The colonized have ultimately three answers to the colonial system:-answers to the colonial system:-

Assimilation.Assimilation.Revolt.Revolt.Revolution.Revolution.

THANK YOUTHANK YOU