Hugo et Zola à l’heure de la négligence des démunis au Nigeria

Abstract

This article examined two novels written by two French writers of the 19th century
Victor Hugo and Emile Zola. Using the novels titled Les Misérables and
Germinal, the article analysed the crisis facing humanity in the face of endemic
poverty in Nigeria. By revisiting the two literary giants, Victor Hugo and Émile
Zola, the paper gave highlight on how the themes of poverty, injustice, and human
dignity presented in Les Misérables and Germinal find a disturbing echo in
Nigerian reality, inviting reflection on the role of literature as a social mirror and
catalyst for change. The analysis of the two novels serves as a reflection to review
the Nigerian government’s inaction and its neglect of the conditions of workers
who continue to suffer. The article concluded that the two 19th century novels
have their place in the 21st century as they are still relevant today with regard to
the plight of workers and children in Nigeria.