Hope as a Catalyst for the Identity Quest in Vestiaire de l'enfance by Patrick Modiano

Abstract

Drawing on mythical heritage, this research proposes an analysis of the founding concepts of hope. It also aims to study the quest for identity in Vestiaire de l’enfance. The narrator's objective is to find himself, buried as he is in the "cemetery of oblivion." In other words, he attempts to restore the true value of his existence. Our study thus seeks to examine the representation and the role of hope in the quest for self. To this end, we have adopted an analytical method based primarily on three main approaches: psychoanalytical, narratological, and symbolic. The results demonstrate that hope manifests through the hero's reaction to the absurdity of the world—a hope that encourages him to give meaning to his existence while reclaiming his true identity.