Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Wretched of the Earth, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Colonialism, Racism, and Violence
Oppression and Mental Health
Capitalism, Socialism, and the Third World
Decolonization, Neocolonialism, and Social Class
Culture and the Emerging Nation
Summary
Analysis
Along with mental illnesses, the Algerian War also causes “a pathology of the entire atmosphere in Algeria.” This widespread trauma leads to psychosomatic disorders, which are physical illnesses developed in response to some sort of conflict. These types of disorders are particularly common in those sent to internment camps, and are called psychosomatic because they are rooted in psychology. Psychosomatic symptomology includes stomach ulcers, renal colic, disrupted menstrual cycles, hypersomnia, premature grey hair, paroxysmal tachycardia, and muscle stiffness.
This section of the book proves that the effects of colonialism are not just psychological—they manifest in physical ways as well. This brings the effects of colonialism to a whole other level, as also it has the power to affect one’s physical health.
Themes
