Les bergers de Le ClÃ©zio: Messages et significations
Authors: Sayegh Majida 
Published: December 2020

Gaspar et les bergers, allÃ©gories de deux mondes diffÃ©rents, la sÃ©dentaritÃ© et le nomadisme, qui se rÃ©unissent par hasard dans un dÃ©sert Ã©maillÃ© de mirages et de rÃ©alitÃ©s dramatiques. Leur heureuse rencontre se distingue par lâ€™expÃ©rimentation dâ€™une nouvelle faÃ§on dâ€™Ã©changer qui va au-delÃ  du langage : câ€™est la communication silencieuse guidÃ©e par des sensations auditives et visuelles favorisÃ©es par la nature dÃ©sertique des lieux. Dans un dialogue implicite Ã  travers leur mode de vie, leurs voix, leur musique et leur dance, les bergers   rÃ©ussissent Ã  transmettre Ã  Gaspar le goÃ»t de la culture nomade dans sa dimension Ã  la fois rÃ©elle et imaginaire. Lâ€™enfant fugueur parvient Ã  devenir un membre actif de cette communautÃ© pastorale en accomplissant ses actes et en adoptant sa faÃ§on de communiquer. NÃ©anmoins, sâ€™il a acquis certaines de ses compÃ©tences, il nâ€™a pas pu comprendre lâ€™acuitÃ© de la lutte pour la survie dans le dÃ©sert qui pourrait sacrifier lâ€™ibis, lâ€™oiseau blanc quâ€™il a beaucoup aimÃ© en lâ€™appelant Â« le roi de Genna Â». Ainsi la rupture est consommÃ©e sous le poids infernal de la sÃ©cheresse et de la faim. Pourtant, lâ€™escapade du jeune citadin aventureux en plein dÃ©sert se rÃ©vÃ¨le fructueuse au niveau de lâ€™expÃ©rience humaine : il dÃ©couvre lâ€™essence de la vie et sa valeur authentique en goÃ»tant, Ã  la fois, sa beautÃ© et ses misÃ¨res. Riche de son expÃ©rience chez les bergers nomades, Gaspar regagne sa ville en devenant plus conscient de son humanitÃ© et des dangers qui guettent la nature et toutes les crÃ©atures vivantes.
Gaspard and the shepherds, metaphors for two different worlds, the sedentary and nomadic lifestyles, that chance united in a desert filled with mirages and dramatic realities. Their happy encounter distinguished itself by the experimentation with a new way of communication, one that transcends language. It is a silent exchange, guided by auditory and visual sensations promoted by the surrounding landscape. In an implicit dialogue through their way of life, their voices, their music and their dance, the shepherds succeed in transmitting to Gaspar a taste for nomadic culture in both its real and imaginary dimensions. The runaway child manages to become an active member of this pastoral community by completing its actions and adopting its way of communication. Nevertheless, although he acquired some of its skills, he could not understand the harshness of the struggle for survival in the desert. A struggle that could sacrifice the Ibis, the white bird that he adored, so much so that he called it "the king of Genna". Thus the rupture is completed under the infernal weight of drought and hunger. However, the escape of the young and adventurous city dweller into the open desert proved abundant with humane experiences. He discovers the essence of life and its authentic value by confronting both its beauty and its miseries. Rich in his experience with the nomadic shepherds, Gaspard returns to his city while becoming more aware of his humanity and the dangers that prey on nature and all living creatures.