Jelloun writes about Moroccan situations that may be seen by others as senseless or uncivilized, and he openly criticizes the situation. His input of Moroccan incidents and references disturb some critics. One of them, (the Moroccan theme of gender identity, and the way in which it relates to power and social structure), are made into main points through out his writing. Critics say that Jelloun’s work should be looked at as an entertaining tale rather than a social commentary.

    Tarhar Ben Jelloun is primarily a poet; so his writing style reflects that of a poet. His work is full of poetic images and lyrical language. He doesn’t allow his reader to become involved in his magical world. Unreliable narrators and different points of view in the story add to the mystical atmosphere as well. In the book L’Enfant de Sable his ends the book with the lines, "If any of you really wants to know how this story ended, he will have to ask a full moon when it is full. I now lay before you the book, the inkwell, and the pens." This ending leaves readers with doubt and wonder, adding a surrealist quality to the story.

    While attending the University of Mohammed, Jelloun earned his doctorate for the relationship between sexuality and immigration into France of North African male workers. Thus, he is quite interested in sexuality and dysfunction. The majority of his stories have the central character suffering from some sort of dysfunction. It might be sexual, like the book, L’Enfant de Sable or it might be physical, like the book, L’Ecrivian Public.