The Invisible Violence: An Analysis of "Otages" (2020) by Nina Bouraoui

Abstract

This study explores Nina Bouraoui's novel Otages (2020), focusing on the representation of violence and silence experienced by women in various contexts. Three key themes are examined: first, the model of inherited conjugal violence that the protagonist internalizes from childhood, shaping her conception of love and submission within her marriage. Second, the traumatic violence of rape, a silenced yet defining event, which profoundly influences her psyche and relationships. Finally, institutional violence is embodied in the figure of the boss, Victor Andrieu, who represents the abuse of power in the workplace, where the protagonist, like many workers, is exploited and humiliated. Through writing, Bouraoui not only narrates the internal struggle of her protagonist but also sheds light on the silenced victims of oppressive patriarchal and capitalist systems.