The Wretched of the Earth Character Analysis

The Colonized

The members of a Third World nation who have been taken over by an outside colonial force with the intention of exploiting them economically and politically. The colonized are oppressed, neglected, and abused by the… read analysis of The Colonized

The Colonists/Colonialists

The members of a colonial country who take a weaker Third World nation over by force with the intention of exploiting them economically and politically. The colonists are exceedingly violent, and they oppress and neglect… read analysis of The Colonists/Colonialists

The National Bourgeoisie

Made up of the urban proletariat, the national bourgeoisie is the ruling class of colonial society and the developing nation. The national bourgeoisie live Westernized lives, and they are in constant conflict with the… read analysis of The National Bourgeoisie

The Lumpenproletariat

A class within the peasant masses that is the absolute lowest rung of the social strata. The lumpenproletariat are the criminals, the unemployed, the prostitutes, and the juvenile delinquents, and they represent a serious security… read analysis of The Lumpenproletariat

The Peasant Masses

The largest social class of the Third World. The peasant masses are largely made of rural farmers, and they live traditional lives that still resemble precolonial culture. The peasant masses are “the only spontaneously… read analysis of The Peasant Masses

The Young Frenchwoman

One of Fanon’s patients while he is working as a psychiatrist in Algeria during the Algerian War of Independence. The young Frenchwoman presents with anxiety after her father, a civil servant, is killed in… read analysis of The Young Frenchwoman

The Algerian Man

One of Fanon’s patients in the psychiatric hospital in Algeria during the Algerian War of Independence. The Algerian man is arrested for a “terrorist attack” after suffering a psychotic break. He is not involved… read analysis of The Algerian Man

The 13-year-old Algerian Boy

A patient of Fanon’s at the psychiatric hospital during the Algerian War of Independence. Along with the 14-year-old Algerian boy, the boys kill their European friend because they heard that the Europeans want… read analysis of The 13-year-old Algerian Boy

The 14-year-old Algerian Boy

Another patient of Fanon’s at the psychiatric hospital in Algeria during the Algerian War of Independence. Along with the 13-year-old Algerian boy, the 14-year-old kills a young European friend after hearing that the… read analysis of The 14-year-old Algerian Boy

R

A 30-year-old European police officer and another patient of Fanon’s during the Algerian War of Independence. R is tasked with torturing Algerians for the French, and he has taken to beating his wife and… read analysis of R

A

One of Fanon’s patients during the Algerian War of Independence. A is a 28-year-old European police officer, who suffers from depression after the French order him to start torturing Algerians. A feels immense guilt… read analysis of A

B

One of Fanon’s patients in the psychiatric hospital in Algeria during the Algerian War of Independence. B is 26 years old and is suffering from impotence, migraines, and insomnia after the rape of his… read analysis of B

S

Another one of Fanon’s patients in Algeria during the Algerian War of Independence. S is a 37-year-old man from an outlying village. He had nothing to do with the war until the French ambushed… read analysis of S

D

One of Fanon’s patients in the psychiatric hospital in Algerian during the Algerian War of Independence. D is a 19-year-old man who joins the liberation movement, and after he kills a European woman at a… read analysis of D

Minor Characters

The Urban Proletariat

The most privileged of colonial society and the developing nation, making up less than one percent of the total population. They are the tradesmen and civil servants, such as doctors and lawyers, and they constitute the national bourgeoisie.