Mapping the Tunisian Uprising in Tahar Ben Jelloun's Par le feu and Leyla Bouzid's À peine j'ouvre les yeux

This article examines two fictional works, Par le feu by Tahar Ben Jelloun and À peine j'ouvre les yeux by Leyla Bouzid, made after the Tunisian uprisings. Both works offer a parallel exploration of pre-revolutionary Tunisia through the ordeal of Mohammed Bouazizi, whose self-immolation started the Arab Spring, and the coming-of-age story of a young woman. I argue that both authors are social commentators engaged in the democratic process they are witnessing, devising narrative strategies similar to those used in neorealism or coming-of-age stories to remain true to the spirit of the time while probing the future of Tunisian society.