Happiness Revisited: A Demystifying Reading of Khaïr-Eddine

This study analyzes, as its principal variables, the representations of modernity, emigration, and «dé- filiation» in the work of Mohammed Khaïr-Eddine, to assess their impact on identity formation and the individual’s pursuit of happiness. Anchored in a Moroccan context marked by the tension between traditional heritage, the mirage of European progress, and migratory movements, the research examines how social and cultural myths, regarded as dependent factors, influence self-realization. The specific issue lies in how these representations shape—or hinder—an authentic reappropriation of one’s spiritual and cultural essence. The importance of this inquiry stems from its challenge to dominant notions of well-being, which are often based on modernism and the accumulation of material goods. Adopting a literary analysis approach centered on Khaïr-Eddine’s text, this study reveals that «dé-filiation» offers a path to liberation, enabling individuals to move beyond mere biological ties and social illusions. In so doing, it contributes to broadening our understanding of how rediscovering cultural and spiritual heritage can serve as a counternarrative to the deceptive promises of material progress and the foundational myths of happiness.<br>