Women Solidarity in Le Chant du Lys et du Basilic by Latifa Ben Mansour

Abstract

This article examines how Latifa Ben Mansour addresses female solidarity in her novel Le Chant du Lys et du Basilic. Set against the historical backdrop of Algerian colonization and the war of independence, the work highlights the struggles and resistances of women. Meriem, the protagonist, in a coma, becomes a symbol of the dual oppression of colonialism and patriarchy. Through the narratives of the characters surrounding her, the traumatic consequences of these oppressions are revealed. Female solidarity, expressed through alliances and support among the female characters, is presented as an essential form of resistance against systemic injustices. Ben Mansour's writing is seen as a decolonization of minds, where the reconstruction of identity is achieved through writing that transcends the conventions and constraints imposed by history and society.