The Wretched of the Earth
Introduction + Context
Plot Summary
Detailed Summary & Analysis
Chapter 1: On Violence Chapter 1: Violence in International Context Chapter 2: Grandeur and Weakness of Spontaneity Chapter 3: The Trials and Tribulations... Chapter 4: On National Culture Chapter 4: Mutual Foundations... Chapter 5: Colonial War and Mental Disorders Chapter 5: Series A Chapter 5: Series B Chapter 5: Series C Chapter 5: Series D Chapter 5: From the North African’s... Conclusion
Themes
All Themes Colonialism, Racism, and Violence Oppression and Mental Health Capitalism, Socialism, and the Third World Decolonization, Neocolonialism, and Social Class Culture and the Emerging Nation
Quotes
Characters
All Characters The Colonized The Colonists/Colonialists The National Bourgeoisie The Lumpenproletariat The Peasant Masses The Young Frenchwoman The Algerian Man The 13-year-old Algerian Boy The 14-year-old Algerian Boy R A B S D
Terms
All Terms Algerian War of Independence Bourgeoisie The Cold War Colonialism Decolonization Manichaeanism National Consciousness Negritude Neocolonialism The Third World
Symbols
All Symbols Tense Muscles
Upgrade to LitCharts A+
Instant downloads of all 1915 LitChart PDFs (including The Wretched of the Earth).
LitCharts Teacher Editions. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does.
Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts.
The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of every Shakespeare play.
Literature
Guides Poetry
Guides Literary
Terms Shakespeare
Translations
Ask
LitCharts AI
Ask
AI
Literature
Lit
Poetry
Lit Terms
Terms
Shakescleare Ask AI

The Wretched of the Earth

by

Frantz Fanon
Download this LitChart! (PDF)
Teachers and parents! Our Teacher Edition on The Wretched of the Earth makes teaching easy.

A Character Analysis

One of Fanon’s patients during the Algerian War of Independence. A is a 28-year-old European police officer, who suffers from depression after the French order him to start torturing Algerians. A feels immense guilt and wants to quit his job, especially after he runs into an Algerian he had previously tortured, who is also at the hospital being treated for post-traumatic stress. A is yet another example of the mental disorders that plague the colonial situation, and he is further proof that colonialism negatively affects the colonist as well.

A Quotes in The Wretched of the Earth

The The Wretched of the Earth quotes below are all either spoken by A or refer to A. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Colonialism, Racism, and Violence Theme Icon
).
Chapter 5: Series A Quotes

Today I can tell just which stage the interrogation has reached by the sound of the screams. The guy who has been punched twice and given a blow behind the ear has a certain way of talking, screaming, and saying that he is innocent. After he has been hanging by his wrists for two hours, his voice changes. After the bathtub, a different voice. And so on. But it’s after the electricity that it becomes unbearable. You’d think he was going to die at any moment.

Related Characters: A (speaker), The Colonists/Colonialists
Colonialism, Racism, and Violence Theme Icon
Oppression and Mental Health Theme Icon
Page Number: 195
Explanation and Analysis:
Get the entire The Wretched of the Earth LitChart as a printable PDF.
Download
The Wretched of the Earth PDF

A Quotes in The Wretched of the Earth

The The Wretched of the Earth quotes below are all either spoken by A or refer to A. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Colonialism, Racism, and Violence Theme Icon
).
Chapter 5: Series A Quotes

Today I can tell just which stage the interrogation has reached by the sound of the screams. The guy who has been punched twice and given a blow behind the ear has a certain way of talking, screaming, and saying that he is innocent. After he has been hanging by his wrists for two hours, his voice changes. After the bathtub, a different voice. And so on. But it’s after the electricity that it becomes unbearable. You’d think he was going to die at any moment.

Related Characters: A (speaker), The Colonists/Colonialists
Colonialism, Racism, and Violence Theme Icon
Oppression and Mental Health Theme Icon
Page Number: 195
Explanation and Analysis:
Home About Contact Help
Copyright © 2024 All Rights Reserved
Terms Privacy Privacy Request
The LitCharts.com logo.
Requesting a new guide requires a free LitCharts account
You'll also get updates on new titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and notes.

or

Already have an account? Sign in
Complete your free account to request a guide
Already have an account? Sign in
The LitCharts.com logo.
Creating notes and highlights requires a free LitCharts account.
You'll be able to access your notes and highlights, make requests, and get updates on new titles.

or

Already have an account? Sign in
Complete your free account to access notes and highlights
Already have an account? Sign in
The LitCharts.com logo.
Saving guides requires a free LitCharts account
Easily access your saved guides anytime.

or

Already have an account? Sign in
Complete your free account to save guides
Already have an account? Sign in