Transposición y subersión de un mito sobre la explotación infantil en "Moloch" (1998)una novela negra de Thierry Jonquet
- 1 University of Castilla-La Mancha
- Losada Goya, José Manuel (coord.)
- Guirao Ochoa, Marta (coord.)
Publisher: Cambridge Scholars Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-4438-3746-0
Year of publication: 2012
Pages: 173-185
Type: Book chapter
Abstract
"Moloch" is a "roman noir" entitled after a deity to whom the Caanites and the Carthaginians used to offer ritual sacrifices of children in exchange for prosperity. With our study we wish to explain how the author rewrites and subverts this myth by means of a mise en abyme. The mythic background illuminates the meaning of the three complementary stories that the novel contains which share the themes of mistreatment, exploitation and sacrifice of innocent children. The three stories show ncw ways of "offering" children to Moloch, characteristic of lhe contemporary savagery. We will observe the roles and the functions of lhe actants who 1ake part in the sacrificial rites, and the imagc of the "hero-avenger,. thal will chase the children exploiters and punish them by death. This is how Yahwch's revelation to Moses will be fulfilled.