Navigating Patriarchies: Postcolonial Complexity in Riḥla ilā Ḥadāʾiq Jahannam by Mohamed Doublali

Abstract

This article studies forms of patriarchy in Riḥla ilā Ḥadāʾiq Jahannam by Mohamed Doublali (2020). The author, I argue, challenges conventional depictions of patriarchy in both the Eastern and Western worlds. The central argument posits that Doublali offers a complex postcolonial representation of patriarchy as a construct influenced by both Eastern and Western paradigms. This construct is enacted by individuals across gender and generational lines. Through exploring the theme of migration from Morocco to Italy, Doublali presents a plural voice that encapsulates diverse expressions and experiences of patriarchy. Using postcolonial theory as the analytical framework, this study uncovers the multifaceted and hybrid nature of patriarchal structures within the novel. The analysis attempts to expose how Doublali's work transcends monolithic understandings of patriarchy, offering a critical reflection on its pervasive and evolving nature in a postcolonial context.