| Author |
Duras, Claire de Durfort, duchesse de, 1777-1828 |
| Title |
Ourika
|
| Note |
Reading ease score: 77.5 (7th grade). Fairly easy to read.
|
| Credits |
Produced by Daniel Fromont
|
| Summary |
"Ourika" by duchesse de Claire de Durfort Duras is a poignant novella written in the early 19th century. This work delves into the life of a young black woman raised in France after being freed from slavery, exploring themes of identity, isolation, and longing for acceptance. Set against the backdrop of a society grappling with issues of race and class, the novella delves into the struggles of a person caught between two worlds. The story follows Ourika, a girl brought from Senegal to France as a child and raised by the kind-hearted madame de B., who loves her as if she were her own daughter. Throughout her childhood, Ourika is enveloped in affection and luxury but remains acutely aware of her status as a black woman in a predominantly white society. As she matures, she becomes increasingly conscious of the prejudice against her race, feeling the profound isolation that comes with it. This struggle intensifies as she harbors unrequited love for Charles, madame de B.'s grandson, which deepens her sense of longing and despair. Ultimately, the narrative exposes the harsh realities of social exclusion, leading to Ourika's decision to become a nun in search of solace and purpose, highlighting her tragic yet profound connection to the themes of belonging and identity within a prejudiced society. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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| Language |
French |
| LoC Class |
PQ: Language and Literatures: Romance literatures: French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese
|
| Subject |
France -- Fiction
|
| Subject |
Race relations -- Fiction
|
| Subject |
Women, Black -- Fiction
|
| Subject |
Africans -- France -- Fiction
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| Category |
Text |
| EBook-No. |
26820 |
| Release Date |
Oct 7, 2008 |
| Most Recently Updated |
Jan 4, 2021 |
| Copyright Status |
Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads |
291 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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