The Structure of Characterization in The Flower Quay No Longer Answers

The study of character and characterization in literary texts is a complex issue, which requires a comprehensive knowledge and understating of characterization methods and techniques. One reason for such complexity is the limitation of time and space in most of literary texts.  A literary character, in order to be accounted as an influential element in a literary work, should be developed within technical frameworks and equipped with motivation. The Flower Quay No Longer Answers (1961) is one of the latest novels of Malik Haddad, an Algerian poet and author whose oeuvre has influenced the literary tastes of the Algerians. In this novel, the protagonist shares common characteristics and destiny with the author. Adopting a technical method, this paper examines different layers and structures of characterization in The Flower Quay No Longer Answers in order to delineate the way the author has developed the novel’s characters. It can be suggested that an analytical method dominates the novel’s characterization structure. It can be concluded that this novel does not share common characteristics with short stories and manages to portray different images for readers due to the abundance and interconnection of characters and places.