The Portrayal of Father-son Relationships in Abdulrazak Gurnah’s Memory of Departure and Paradise

Abstract

This dissertation examines the portrayal of the father-son relationships in Abdulrazak Gurnah's Memory of Departure and Paradise, focusing on how these relationships influence the protagonists' character development. Drawing on Jacques Lacan's psychoanalytic theory, this research project analyses the relationships between the protagonists and the father figures in the novels, particularly focusing on the biological fathers and the uncles, and evaluates how these interactions shape the growth of both Hassan and Yusuf. Complementing this research framework, Ferdinand de Saussure’s structuralism theory is employed to investigate the textual structures that reinforce these relationships, offering insights into the broader textual references that provide social and cultural contexts for the narratives. The research project analyses the narrative structure of both novels, highlighting its effectiveness in driving character growth and thematic development. It does this by addressing three key objectives: that is, to discuss the father-son relationships portrayed in Memory of Departure and Paradise; to analyses the stylistic choices used in presenting these relationships; and, to evaluate the role of the narrative structure in shaping these relationships. The findings reveal that Gurnah portrays a nuanced and multifaceted depiction of father-son relationships, where the failures of the biological fathers create a void filled by surrogate father figures. These “false fathers” exert considerable influence on the protagonists' psychological and moral development, highlighting the role of male interactions in shaping masculine identity. This research study also highlights the novels’ use of the bildungsroman structure as a central narrative framework, enabling a deep evaluation of personal and relational growth within the societal structures depicted in the novels. In doing this, this research project contributes to a nuanced understanding of Gurnah’s literary artistry and the portrayal of father-son relationships in postcolonial African literature.