Update
since most of you have already left comments on this post about our new chapter of
then, let us continue commenting here
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By the way, did you research
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The book
interesting cover, wouldn't you say?
And here is what Zainab Al-Sharif had to say about the chapter
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While reading the chapter Contesting Languages, I could not help but to associate the story (Tawahin Bayrut) to that of Great Expectations. The protagonist Tamima seems to be repressed. What I mean is that before migrating to Beirut, she used to leave her father and brother to choose her destiny. It is only when she meets Rami and Hani that she begins to develop and mature. I feel sympathy towards her but at the same time I find her so naive that it just irritates me as a woman. May be I am too harsh to judge her that way. We cannot escape the fact that in the past women were not considered to vote and be active in political movements. Sadly it is still there, this segregation between sexes in Afghanistan even in most Arab countries. Another similarity that I found in Dickens's novel is the awareness of the unrequited love in Hani and Tamima's relationship. This same goes to Pip and Estella, and yet he still loves her. It is sad to see that both of these major characters know their situation and know what is best for them yet they go to the wrong direction. I might bore you with this but this is what I call a split personality in the major character and in Ramzi. In other words Tamima wants something yet she does the total opposite for the sake of not being rejected by society. Ramzi on the one hand knows what he wants and manipulates by showing off the values of society. I disliked Ramzi because he is a typical hypocrite and can obtain what he wants through his wittiness. That character reminds me of Hitler. Another thing I would like to add is how Hani is somewhat an open minded person and a pacifist. He is too ideal and that is what I like about him. He (Hani) reminds me of Jamal Abdul Nasser in a way when he suggested that there is no point in differentiating Arabs by their religion, Arabs should be unified.
While reading the chapter Contesting Languages, I could not help but to associate the story (Tawahin Bayrut) to that of Great Expectations. The protagonist Tamima seems to be repressed. What I mean is that before migrating to Beirut, she used to leave her father and brother to choose her destiny. It is only when she meets Rami and Hani that she begins to develop and mature. I feel sympathy towards her but at the same time I find her so naive that it just irritates me as a woman. May be I am too harsh to judge her that way. We cannot escape the fact that in the past women were not considered to vote and be active in political movements. Sadly it is still there, this segregation between sexes in Afghanistan even in most Arab countries. Another similarity that I found in Dickens's novel is the awareness of the unrequited love in Hani and Tamima's relationship. This same goes to Pip and Estella, and yet he still loves her. It is sad to see that both of these major characters know their situation and know what is best for them yet they go to the wrong direction. I might bore you with this but this is what I call a split personality in the major character and in Ramzi. In other words Tamima wants something yet she does the total opposite for the sake of not being rejected by society. Ramzi on the one hand knows what he wants and manipulates by showing off the values of society. I disliked Ramzi because he is a typical hypocrite and can obtain what he wants through his wittiness. That character reminds me of Hitler. Another thing I would like to add is how Hani is somewhat an open minded person and a pacifist. He is too ideal and that is what I like about him. He (Hani) reminds me of Jamal Abdul Nasser in a way when he suggested that there is no point in differentiating Arabs by their religion, Arabs should be unified.
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excellent Zainab
let's hear it from every one
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Girls, Mr. Henry Zugaib sends his best to you
76 comments:
Zainab, I really like the links you made with Great Expectations. I have something to add about the “unrequited love between Hani and Tamima’s relationship” which you mentioned, though. Someone once asked Tawfiq Yusuf if Tamima and Hani would have been able to marry had the circumstances of the story been different and he replied with a very interesting answer:
عليك يا سيدي أن تذهب مع بطلي الرواية إلى حيث ترى.. أنا وقفت عند الحد الذي رسمته في حالة المجتمع اللبناني في مرحلة معينة من تاريخه.. هل الزواج بينهما ممكن إذا تغيرت الظروف؟ حسبي انني تمنيت ذلك، انطلاقاً من ايماني بأن لبنان هو لجميع ابنائه، ولن يقوم على قدميه إلا إذا اتحدوا اتحاداً كلياً، أعني بالزواج، بصرف النظر عن انتماءاتهم الطائفية.
The quote explains itself. Tawfiq would like the Lebanese people to unite regardless of their social, religious, etc. differences. He presented us with this novel and left the ending open so that each of us can fill in the final gap (which is probably the biggest gap in Tawahin Bayrut) according to our own way of thinking.
Doctor, we really enjoyed Mr Zughaib’s lecture. It was brilliant! I found it very refreshing to have poems explained and analysed by their original writer, especially in such a passionate and unique way. Thanks so much for inviting him:-D
Thanks Zainab. By the way from where did you get the qoute?
I googled Tawfiq Yusuf and one of the search results was the following link:
http://www.alriyadh.com/Contents/24-04-2004/Mainpage/Thkafa_11490.php
It's a Saudi newspaper article dated April 2004. Check it out if you're interested;-)
From my initial reading of the article i felt that Tammima Nassur's life and awareness is a political allegory of Lebanon.
Sabah also mentions that Lebanon was on the verge of becoming "another switzerland"and between "revising outdated institutions to eliminate sectarian privileges and allowing Lebanon to assume its national responsibilites in the Arab World" (139).
Moreover, that Lebanon was looking for its identity after the peaceful co-existence after decolonization could be related to Tamima's realization and search for identity. The situation of Lebanon and Tamima can be related as both are influenced by different ideological paths; for Tamima the communist and Radical Ramzi and the idealist, reasonable Hani. For Lebanon it can be between becoming a revolutionary state or one that advocates subtle change.
Interesting chapter, I liked the stroy but I dont know why they dont work at the end they start all good and at the end its all gone (love relationships and stories) well not all of them though.It reminded me of a couple of novels I have studied in my other classes. I never knew the word "halqa" is also for novels I thought it was only for soap opreas and tv, that was something new to me. :P
Zainab, I really like your personal thoughts on the link between this story and Great Expectations. I would like add something more though about how this novel reflects everything we’ve studied in the previous chapter (about the fragmented self). The writer brings forward a female protagonist who is on a constant search for her fractured identity which is typically modernist. The two men that she is involved with symbolize two extreme ideologies that were brought about to Lebanon due to their war crises. One being completely rational and ideal, whilst the other being a radical, revolutionary spirit. Tamima is the middle ground of the both, lost between two extreme worlds. Due to the mass confusion caused by the Lebanese political situation people like Tamima suffered greatly as they did not know where they belonged or what they believed in more; middle-ground thought was simply not acceptable, or portrayed a weak soul. This explains her final development into a woman owned by society, not by her own self.
What do you girls think Tawfiq Awwad meant by not having a happy ending. Dickens had two endings to please his audience, but Awwad boldly stuck to one. Is he being fatalistic, or is he calling for change, as Zainab had mentioned?
And thank you so much Dr. for bringing Monsieur Henry :P to our class. I was so inspired by his knowledge andpassion for poetry. The way he recited his poems was simply beautiful :)
The story was very modernist, like Yasmine said, in terms of the fragmentation of the self. The themes of alienation, loss of identity, turning away from the self, finding security in sex, or in the minds of the youth, or revolution. There is a loss of identity which leads to confusion about what is right and wrong, looking for a way out, which is what Tamima does. Caught between two men, between two worlds, she turns away from herself too and experiments in order to find security and an identity.
The story reminded me of Thomas Hardy’s Tess of the Durbervilles more than Great Expectations. The fatalistic tone, the idea of two men after one woman, both which are completely different, one idealistic and one who is “bad.” We have two men representing two different things in life, and one woman (Tess or Tamima) caught between them.
First of all, Shahd I couldn’t agree with you more, I had the exact same thought when reading the chapter about it linking to Hardy’s Tess of the D’Urbervilles and the idea of her being caught between two men that love her, and her feelings towards them.
Secondly, I’m shocked to find that material discussed in this chapter was used in Arabic literature and was not shunned by the public. It might just be me being ignorant :p as I have the idea in my head that Arabic literature whether it may be poetry or novels have a squeaky clean image. That is definitely not the case as this chapter discusses women’s sexuality and in particular the rape of Tamima. Also when reading this chapter I was saddened to read that Tamima was viewed sexually as I had previously been *happily* shocked :P that she was actually viewed by man by her intelligence and political stand however she is foremost seen as a sexual desired subject. *unfortunately*
i found interesting to see that Tamima's character was to a certain extent highly influenced by both Ramzi, and Hani. In the course of the novel Tamima believes that she reached her own destiny, based upon her own experiences, however; it mainly depended upon the ideology of the men in her life.
I agree with both shahad and tasneem, the story really reminded me of Tess of the D'urbervilles ..
in general it depicts many elements that we witness (sadly up to this day): a male dominant world, a woman giving in to desire mainly because of pressure, the fragmented self (as mentioned above), one-sided love, class distinction, and all of these are sort of represented allegorically through the characters
all the men in the story, no matter how "good" they are, seem to carry this mentality of being able to possess women, be it emotionally or physically, and even Tamima gives in to this idea, no matter how "independant" we may think she is, she does regard him as an "authority figure" ..
anyway, thats all for now, see you in class ;p
The chapter as many have mentioned is pretty intresting. It's nice to have a different twist, because i'm sorry to say but I did get bored of all the poetry... ANYWAYS!! yes I do beleive that the story did remind us of many other novels, but for some reason (being somewhat the political fanatic that I am) I saw it as an allegory to Lebanon. I found that Tamima represented Lebanon in the idea that its a new nation, that tries to set itself up as a strong independent nation.
The experiences that Tamima goes through clearly portray the way that Lebanon can be seen as a country that is torn between ideologies and beleifs, modernity vs. tradition, christian vs. muslim, etc.
Yes the story did have a very negative vibe to it, which I'm guessing can be seen as a weird foreshaddowing to the current situation in Lebanon.
Awwad is a very interesting writer , i like how his narrative developes into a bildungsroman. i also like how he emphasises the concept of freedom
I agree with Zainab al-Sharif's links she made between 'Great Expectations' and 'Tawahin Bayrut', as both novels are Bildungsroman that talk about the development of the protagonists.
Comparing Tamima to Pip, they both leave the village and move to the city in search for their dreams of education and freedom. But pip's main target is to be a gentleman to be able to win Estella's heart. We also see that both Tamima and Pip are disappointed with their society and life and are searching for their identities. The slight difference between Tamima and Pip is that she wants 'a place in life before her place in society' unlike Pip who runs away from his place in life, looking for a place in society.
The narrative also differs in both novels where in 'Great Expectations' the narrator is Pip while in 'Tawahin Bayrut' the narrator does not exist in the episodes but at the same time represents the character's development and expresses their thoughts and feelings.
'Tawahin Bayrut' represent a diversity of speech where the characters discuss their ideological point of views that is analyzed as contesting languages of Hani and Ramzi (Tamima's lovers whom she meets in Beirut). These contesting languages are also not necessarily found in different characters but within a single character's discourse such as Ramzi who uses poetic language to seduce women (like Tamima) and rejects the idea of westernizing Lebanon and also encourages university students to oppose against the government's regulations.
Another point is that Ramzi and Hani represent the Lebanese society, and the discourses in the novel shows that the Lebanese state would like to create a bourgeoisie society.
We see that the character of Ramzi shows total discrepancy between his words and actions, and this is shown when Ramzi tells Madame Rose that 'every word has its mystery' and that he prefers virgins. This shows how Ramzi has two faces, good and evil, by using language to seduce and abuse Tamima.
On the other hand, Hani is a pacifist and is against Ramzi'z idea of revolution. He believes that the Fedayeen in Israel are 'striking the Arabs' which shows the Arab's disunity.
In conclusion I believe that the whole novel is about political issues of the Arab world and mainly Lebanon.
Tawfiq is trying to show that the contesting languages are in every discourse and that there is no Arab unity. This means that we are not able to fight the outside world as long as there is no unity in the inside. Arabs must solve their own problems then try to solve others. And they must first revolt against their beliefs before revolting against the world's beliefs, because what Arabs are going through right now is similar to what Ramzi mentioned, they are university students trying to revolt against the government which is wrong and will reverse on them.
I think the book's cover is very interesting and expressive, where the woman represents Beirut who is chained and nearly strangled from her neck, and her legs are like tree trunks that are attached to the earth by roots, and the woman's face shows agony and pleasure at the same time. We could also see that this multi- creature has a woman's head and a chicken's legs, and her middle part is a mixture of pain, contradiction and opposition.
I agree with Aisha, I interpreted Tamima as Lebanon, especially during the rape situation; Ramzi, like many others, prefers words to actions. He plays with words in his lectures to seduce students who are full of energy and enthusiasm as youths, and who can also be easily manipulated and seduced due to their lack of experience. His lectures push them towards strikes that lead to no where but violence and more damage. This revolutionary or rebellious spirit harms Lebanon as whole as it causes more internal conflicts between its people. Moreover, the whole technique of contesting languages reflects the shattered voices of Arabs which stands as an obstacle in unifying them.
These are just some presentation links, please take the time so see the last one at least (it's a YouTube link) thanks :)
Jewish people in Iraq --
http://www.qantara.de/webcom/show_article.php/_c-478/_nr-700/i.html?PHPSESSID=3be796ae4ea58d1e3a08222d513d173d
Al Mutanabbi Street (VERY interesting blog entry) read the comments too --
http://iraqpundit.blogspot.com/2007/03/burning-of-mutanabbi-street.html
Small summery of Nabeel Yasin’s Story --
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nabeel%27s_Song
Saddam Writing Poetry about George Bush --
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1178817/posts?page=45
Saddam “A Hero”? --
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KjwvyCXlB8
Did someone say Tess of the D’Urbervilles? :)
As I looked over the article once more, I realized how much Tawahin Bayrut actually relates to Tess of the D’Uerbevilles. “Most of the men try to win Tamima over, whether intellectually, romantically, economically, or through violence.” This can soO easily be seen in Tess, as she constantly struggles with her unsure emotions of love, financial issues -due to her status in society- and again goes though physical (rape) and mental abuse/violence coming from Alec, her seducer.
Tess comes from a much lower class, (hence is powerless) all she could do was submit to Alec’s seduction (not knowing any better, being young and innocent as she was), at the time of the rape “she was sleeping soundly, and upon he eyelashes there lingered tears” (taken from Tess); Tess was physically exhausted, Alec takes this to his advantage, and with the last bit of strength she had, she cries (tears being her only form of resistance). (Compare to page 139 of article)
The article mentions Hani’s quote “a revolt against all authority and a rejection of every principle…” and this is what these two woman needed: the sexual double standards of society (in Victorian England) and the ruthlessness of abusing men (in Lebanon) sound so much the alike (it is as if these two rapes had taken place at the same time) both novels emphasize these shackles imposed on women. This idea of destiny (and predestination in Tess’s case) and the overall oppression women face is a result of their own submission, whether intentionally or unintentionally.
I particularly like the idea of the veil “which [is meant to] conceal the physical beauty of a woman.. in reality.. [it].. place[s] a thicker one on her soul” I can only leave the others to comment on this.
Quote from Mr.Zuqaib poem
"أنت وتنتهي الدنيا"
He recited it in class, remember guys?
وأنشب حدي
أٌجاهر مني
لكي لا يطاول ظلي القديم طهارة ظلك
أقتلع المشتى
من كياني
وأعلن نذري اليك
أني الآن ذقت الحب كيف يكون
Thank You Monsieur Henry :) and thank you Dr. Ebtehal
another thing that is interesting about the novel is the different methods of discourse involved, between dialogue and epistolary style as well.
The novel and its initial epigraphs reminds me of anovel i read in comparitive literary theory class "Beggar at Damasacus Gate"by Yasmin Zahran, which incorporates almost the same style of the "Tawahin bayrut".
it seems strange that Tamima egotisitcally claims that she had reached her own destiny her "maseer" without the influence of the men in her life. it might present a negative image that women are still led by men indirectly, maybe a sequel to this novel would present a woman who is lead by her own inclinations rather than passions and obsessions (she was obsessed with Ramzi long before she knew him), or to present a man who is influenced by women, it would be interesting to see that twist..:)
Yeah maryam, I did say Tess of the D'urbervilles.. I see a very strong resemblance, but I do not want to imply that it is there for sure, unless I read the novel. The thing is, we did not really read the novel. I plan on looking for it and reading it, to get a better understanding and a taste of it.
Maryam, thanks for posting Mr Henri's poem, i wanna know its name..I remember it clearly because it had such an impact on me, the way he sort of performed it..
And Mushira you certainly make a good point. It would be cool to see how a man would be influenced by women, seduced, manipulated, etc. I think it would be even more interesting. Hmm you gave me an idea for an English day play :P Haha
And we have a presentation on Nizar Qabbani today, one of the most AMAZING poets.. can't wait to tell you guys all about him ;)
Mushira and Shahd innovative ideas :D But why imagine when we have the example right there in front of us, "Dangerous Leisions" or as it more popularly known, "Cruel Intentions". The novel presents women as more manipulative and dark than men. Just when we begin to believe that the male protagonist is the lead deciever, we discover that there is a woman surpassing his manipulative abilities. Although some would say the novel demeans women, I believe it elevates and challenges the stereotype. It doesn't show all women as weak, and vulnerable, it instead shows different types of women.
Tamima, on the other hand is portrayed as fragile, and easily influenced. She relies on the patriarchy of her society to build her character. This links to Lebanon, since it is after all the most cosmopolitan Arab nation. The country links different cultures and traditions to form its own, just like Tamima eventually does.
I hope you girls are looking forward to hearing about Nizar Qabbani, as nobody could write love poetry like he did. All we have to do is think of Kathem El Sahar and we'll know how passionate his words were. Also, you might just see a connection between his poetry and Henry Zughaib (if we ignore Qabbani's eroticism :P)
Towfiq chose Ramzi and Hani, two very different men, which made me wonder why he did so…a reason could be because of the idea that they both help Tamima discover herself on two different levels. Hani as a left wing idealist is ‘a major factor in the development of Tamima’s political awareness.’ (140) However, we can’t exclude the influence of Ramzi, a right wing bohemian man that uses ‘poetic language to seduce…Tamima’ (138) and his rejection of westernizing Lebanon influencing Tamima in one direction. Both men are so dissimilar in their beliefs, Ramzi calling for a revolution and a liberated mind and Hani a more peaceful man who lectures Tamima on Arab unity and the Palestinian/Israeli problem. So what could be a reason for it apart form the example I mentioned? Any ideas guys? :)
It is kind of ironic to see that in Modern Times Women are repressed by Society.Because it is a fact that during the Jahiliya, Women had the power to vote, write poetry and express their thoughts or feelings.
I don't know if there are such examples of Women being manipulative towards men in Arabic Literature but certainly in western literature. You have Lady Macbeth for example and Medea and don't forget the Sirens.
Yes Maryam you are right I do sense the concept of freedom in the story. "Tamima, who has come to Beirut with dreams of freedom and realizing her individuality". Tamima was a brave woman to do the things that she did. She managed to change her life in a way and did risk a few things in doing so. The story was wonderful it shows us how women are strong and are able to make a change in the world.
Regarding the issue we discussed in class; whether we should pity, or feel annoyed with Tamima. I find it difficult to understand how Tamima was highly influenced by both men in the novel; even though the author does mention that she left for Beirut in seek of "freedom", which can be seen as individuality.
So why is it that although she seeks her freedom does Tamima allow herself to be lead, and molded into a character by both Ramzi and Hani.
Perhaps if i were to read the novel i would feel anger, disgust, and annoyed with Tamima's lack of control on her on life.However, at this point i can only feel sorry for her, and her weak character, and personality, which allows her to follow any male opinion she finds.
i think the fact that we either pity her or are annoyed by her can be related to the fact we live in a dogmatic society where people (women especially) can say 7araam shes naive, and she was just giving in to pressure, she was searching for her identity .. or we can call her the complete opposite where she was more in control than we thought she is, and the whole dramatic act was just a damsel in distress cover :P we might even associate her with a femme fatale image, where the tables are turned and in the end, it was the men who were really under the tip of her finger .. but again, we have to read the book to further elaborate ..
Reading the chapter A Different Voice: The Novels of Ibrahim al- Kawni was without a doubt "different". I have always been aware that the "desert" was considered as sacred and often was used in Arabic poetry.
The "desert" played a big part in the lives of Arab poets and authors due to the Arabs longing to the life their ancestors lived, that is the nomadic life.
With that said, I was struck to learn that although the scene of the desert was used frequently in poetry, it was forgotten in the world of prose. However, with Kawni bringing back the lost essence of the desert into fiction was fascinating. For he did not show the brutal image of the desert it self which readers are so used to; that is the piercing cold winds of the desert at night, and the boiling rays of the sun that promise to burn everything at its reach every time it rises. . Instead Kawni, made the desert sound very poetic by saying "[the sand] felt like a virgin trembling beneath him, as a beam of light silently and softly swept across the folds of sand" (p. 152).
Even though the desert it self is made beautiful and alluring, Kawni chooses to depict that life in such emptiness causes a brutal ending to all that live in the there. Such brutality is implicated on one character who was crucified for refusing to hunt an innocent defenseless animal, "The former crucifies the desert dweller on a rock and, imagining him to be the animal whose flesh he so craves, and slits his throat". (p.157)
The beauty of Kawni's writing is that even though he shows the exquisiteness of the desert, to live there is a different story; for at one point or another desert life will metaphorically or literally kill you.
Zainab, your comment reminds me of an episode of The Oprah Show. Oprah’s guest was Sheikha Zain from Kuwait, and they touched on the subject of how women are treated over here. Sheikha Zain said that although men have the upper hand, this is in fact just a societal image and that it is actually the women who control the men and make the decisions for them! It’s just that they do it in the secrecy of their homes (but everyone knows about it anyway!:-P). So I think there must be Arabic literature that talks about manipulative, powerful women. I can’t think of any right now, unfortunately.
I know this came in a bit late, but this is the link to the promised video of the Cairo Trilogy, hope you enjoy ;)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vio_3slhas0
Zainab N, "behind every successful man is a woman" fits perfectly with what you just mentioned :P
Exactly, Nour!:-D I was thinking the very same thing as I was writing my comment.
Fatima Rajab
While reading the chapter again, I realized that Tamima is guilty and that we are not supposed to blame Ramzi for raping her, because Ramzi is a known poet who may have plenty of relationships and may see that going out with a girl who is attracted to him and having a sexual relation is something normal, but in this case Tamima is the one to blame...
I think she is letting women down by her immature act. She follows Ramzi to a place she doesn't know and without even asking him "where are you taking me?" . I think she is so silly and she is waiting for this moment to examine her female sexual needs, or else why should a woman follow a stranger without resisting? Even if she likes him she has a brain and knows how to stop at the red light.
Another thing that shows Tamima's own desire of going with Ramzi to explore love is in her quote when she resists and says "NO NO NO". If you read the quote you will see that it says Tamima said no ONLY after she felt his hardness..! The word ONLY shows that she was happy and OK at the beginning and started to resist ONLY when Ramzi started to become harsh with her... Now I don't think there is a greater evidence to show that Tamima is guilty and is the one to blame because she wanted to live a free life and do everything without having her father and brothers dominating her life, but this was the result... She easily gave in to Ramzi because he is a known writer and poet and also because she has the desire to have an illegal relationship with any man that encounters her to feel free.
From what I've read so far, every one thinks that Tamima is stupid, naive, weak, and submissive since she let herself become torn between Hani and Ramzi, and was eventually raped by Ramzi. Therefore, she was no less controlled by the two men than she was controlled by her father and brother. However, I think that you overlooked the fact that she decided to go through these ups and downs throughout the whole journey of discovering herself and forming her identity emotionally, socially, and politically; if she has stayed with her family, she wouldn't have got the chance to free herself and experience life or even experience the rape situation, in which she actually participated, and make certain decisions upon it since her father and brother would be over protecting her or restricting her.She decides to join the "Fida2eyeen" as soon as she becomes aware of the oppression she has been experiencing, especially as a woman, and react against it as she also "develops a sense of solidarity with other opressed groups." (145)
I would conclude by saying that the "NO" scream of this novel is a reflection of the contesting languages used as a strategy in it. There is Ramzi's revolutionary "NO" which rebels against the government, Tamima's personal personal "NO" which resists Ramzi's sexual assualt, and Hani's pacifist "NO" in the process of establishing peace and unity in the country.
Shahad: the poem I mentioned by Mr.Zugaib is called
"Anti, watentehy el donya"
"أنت وتنتهي الدنيا"
At least that's what he called it.. :)
Dana you did a pretty good job in introducing Ibrahim al- Kawni. You raised a couple of interesting points too. The desert has always been a topic for poets and writers to explore, however not everyone portrays the desert as a beautiful place to be in, or sacred. It seems to be depicted most of the time as a harsh place and “the ultimate test of survival.” About what you said, that the desert in the end “kills you” either literally or metaphorically, I think I disagree. It’s true that in literary works the desert falls in two categories, either it is a paradise/heaven, or hell. Either you get in touch with your spiritual side, like Kawni seems to imply, or you suffer the hardships and die.
But I cannot help but refer to my grandma as an example here, just to clarify my point. For my grandma, the desert never kills you or harms you, it is civilization that does. Being a nomad, or “Bedouin” if you will, she has always reminisced about the times where she and my grandfather lived in the desert, raised their kids there, and truly were “happy” and trouble-free. I always found it impossible to believe, considering the desert has always been portrayed to us as a horrible, harsh place to live in. The desert to them is paradise… and reading Kawni reminded me of that. His stories show what comes along with the physical desert..which includes the values and lives of the “desert people/tribes”, those that have been lost, and he “recreates” and brings back to the picture. A lot of arab poets do that, especially in “ilshi3ir ilnaba6i” but similarly to Dana, I never knew it was also done in prose.
P.s. thanks mariam for the poem's name ;)
Why not say that Ibrahim Al Kawni composes a blend of both melodies: that of the fatalistic element of nature, and that of the beuty and simplicity of the primitive life. Kawni and othe rpoets retreat back to the 'jahiliya' days and modernize "nabati" poetry. This could have been a resut of the realization of the harshness and coldness of the modern life. Abd al-Rahman Munif and other Arab poets focus on the desert rather than other forces of nature not just beacuse it is what they are accustomed to, but also because "the desert transcends the normal laws of nature simply in order to corroborate them".
Additionaly, there is this belief that if one can survive the physical hardships of the desert than he/she can survive anything: "in the desert waiting for death to arrive is one thousand times worse than death itself". Hence, we can assert that Kawnii saw nomadic life to be a strengthening, and purifying experience.
Why not say that Ibrahim Al Kawni composes a blend of both melodies: that of the fatalistic element of nature, and that of the beuty and simplicity of the primitive life. Kawni and othe rpoets retreat back to the 'jahiliya' days and modernize "nabati" poetry. This could have been a resut of the realization of the harshness and coldness of the modern life. Abd al-Rahman Munif and other Arab poets focus on the desert rather than other forces of nature not just beacuse it is what they are accustomed to, but also because "the desert transcends the normal laws of nature simply in order to corroborate them".
Additionaly, there is this belief that if one can survive the physical hardships of the desert than he/she can survive anything: "in the desert waiting for death to arrive is one thousand times worse than death itself". Hence, we can assert that Kawnii saw nomadic life to be a strengthening, and purifying experience.
By reading the new chapter so far :"A Different Voice" I've learned that the venue form of novels explored by younger generations of Arabs helps to reflect the issues confronting the Arab world, and in which the desert is being effectively used in either representing itself as a place of transit, a burning inferno, or a representation of the life on community that symbolizes solidarity, generosity, and endurance as it provides "the ultimate test of survival" (153)
Sorry Zainab for not replying earlier. Just now I read ur comment. I wish I saw the episode you were refering to because I haven't and yes I do agree with Nour on the aspect behind every succesful man is a woman. Lol
Your wish is granted, Zainab:-P Here are two youtube links:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyRWESTYeSA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcsVTVlihWA
Enjoy:-)
Wow thank you so much Zainab. Lol I never thought that you could find clips of that particualr episode. Thanks again. :D
Interesting chapter (A different voice: The Novels of Ibrahim al-Kawani)! I really enjoyed how the writer describes the desert, but in a fictional way. The explanation of the author when he mentions "The power of nature is given, as is the company of animals-goats, sheep, and camels-as a symbol of the possiblities of continuity in the face of perpetually changing landscape." is powerful, and shows that the desert is a representaion of our heritage and culture.
In a world where technology prevails all aspects of life, people tend to forget or be less appreciative of nature. We basically turn into techno-junkies because are lives are so dependant on it.
Personally I am a nature-phobic. NEVER LEAVE ME ALONE IN THE DESERT! I sort of have a hate-hate relationship with it. Thus I always have this notion that the desert is a peice of land with absolutley no importance, except produce oil. (ignorant i know) hehe
However, when I read the chapter "A Different Voice" it opened my eyes on how important the desert is to our culture. Not only is it a natural habitat where animals concider it as a home, it also is a constant reminder that we as Arabs should never let go of our traditions.
Before, the desert simply represented emptiness, nothingness, etc. Now when reading the chapter I could definately see the desert as a symbol of ongoing triumph and suffering within the world. The harsh weather, thirst, and hunger keep us grounded, they show us where we came from. Therefore I really am grateful for these peices of literature and the way they portrayed the desert.
THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT I"M GONNA GO CAMPING OUT THERE EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE! I STILL HATE THE INSECTS! But! I do wish that people don't abuse it as much as they do because it really is a wonderful place, that symbolizes our heritage.
To further elaborate on 3aisha's point, what makes this chapter stand out the most, is the fact that it is set in a desert, although the previous chapters revolve around arabic poetry, but when we come across a desert, we tend to relate it more with our heritage ..
After i read this chapter i realized how much ive neglected Kuwait's history .. it's like i know the information but have never really processed it, i know kuwait was formerly a desert, where it's people resided in tents .. but that was as far as my creative mind went .. ive never wanted to know more .. and thanks to this chapter, now i do :D
Lol thanks Nour and Aisha for confessing ur ignorance in the past :P I too loved the idea of how they focused on the beauty of the desert. However, I could not imagine how you could personify it as a female. Anyways I guess that is why Westerners love the idea of camping in the desert because to them it is magical. A wide space that is filled with tranquility. A good place for an author to write his novels.
I was kind of disappointed that Allen didn't mention the hudhud but then again I guess because it is not rare or not only found in the desert. Their destinations are in Asia,Europe and in Africa. The bird I am refering to is known as Hoopoe in the English Language.
Nevertheless I was pleased that Roger Allen mentioned the Gazelles. I couldn't stop the temptation of searching for its pictures. Look how beautiful it is. (here is a link to see what I mean:
http://www.ultimateungulate.com/Images/Gazella_dorcas/G_dorcas1.html)
Futhermore he mentioned something about how elegant and "decent" they are in the following qoute:
"Their mode of running [the gazelles] is different from that all other animals. Unlike the mouflon, for example, which takes to rocky hillsides when chased, the gazelle doesn't zigzag but moves over the desert wastes in a straight line. It believes that any infringement of the rules of the chase constitutes an offense against decency [. . .]. Rather than using crafty strategems the gazelle opts for heroism. Tricks and deceit are eschewed as it chooses to adhere the rules of chivalry." I never thought that animals could be polite and so show some "chivalry" I must say I always loved the animal and admire it even more.
I think if I am not mistaken, that arab poets in the jahiliya used to describe the eyes or the beauty of the women they loved through the tashbeeh of the gazelles and yes sometimes they used cows to describe their loved ones. :P
I agree with everyone; the desert seems to come alive with the imagination of Ibrahim al-Kawni. Creative people usually make the most of what they have, even though it’s just heaps of sand. I think this is what produces great literature. After all, not everyone can be inspired by sand, and not everyone has the imagination to feel the heartbeat of the desert.
Because we’ve been studying English Literature for so long, we’ve been used to only certain types of scenery. I personally never thought of the desert as a scenic place, or at least not in the same sense that, say, Wordsworth’s field of daffodils is scenic. But something my Arabic professor told me last summer changed my viewpoint. He recounted a story about a foreign poet who wondered at the huge number of Arabic poets. When this foreign poet came to the Arab world and spent a night in the desert, he started to wonder why not all Arabs are poets! To him, the twinkling night sky was so beautiful that he thought it was the perfect muse for great poetry:-)
Shahd, I love your grandmother’s wisdom. It’s so true, what she says. It’s what we tried to prove in our Post-colonial Literature class last term. The whole civilisation thing...So many people from previous generations prefer the Kuwait of the past, with its mud-houses and tents. Abd al-Rahman Munif doesn’t agree with this, though:-P : “If the village is a symbol for the struggle to survive in the face of tremendous odds, then the function of the desert is to provide the ultimate test of survival.”
Like English (or Western) colonial literature -that reveals the abuse and exploitation of the exotic places- I feel like the deserts of the Middle East are also taken for granted in that same way.
Western examples (from lit.) that remind me of this abuse: Robinson Crusoe, he exploits the island of it recourses just like Kurtz, The Manager and the Accountant (of Heart of Darkness) who also USE and abuse not just the Africa’s wealth, but its people too.
The Middle East, has also been subjected to this treatment by the dominant countries, our oil and our way of life is disrupted and suddenly changed: robed of our innocence (if may I say, even raped of our virginity -in the sense of being an untouched desert) is taken away from us.
:S
P.S: great post Aisha, I always hated the insects too! It’s those damn mosquitoes that drive me crazy!
reading this chapter, i immidiately related the image of the desert as mysterious and beatuiful to the images presented in Paulo Coelho's novels, espicially the alchemist, where the protagonist is in the desert, speaking to the wind..you'll have to read it to know what i am n about, and i assure you its a great novel to compare against what we are reading in our classes!
I just wanted to comment on Rahman Munif's approach to the desert. He see's it as a test of survival of traditions. The analogy brings forth alot of creativity in the way he expresses his views, however, I did not like the idea of looking at the desert as an internal conflict. I think that it would be nice once in a while to just be peaceful observers of nature, and just describe its beauty. I know it does sound a bit too flat or stereotypical, but the whole thing with just looking at the negatives of something rather than the positives is kind of taking a toll on me (i know it's apparent with the constant whining and nagging :P ) bs It's nice to just enjoy literature or things as they are, and not have to think so much about something. (remember the whole discussion of "omg, i can't watch a whole movie without overanalyzing things!!") I think this is exactly what is happeneing to the desert, which may indicate that it's beauty is being destructed and drained away with these ideas of survival, and coping.
other interesting issues that this chapter contain is the symbols and motifs that are used by ibrahim al kawini that are essentially arab. which is not only the desert, which as allen clearly explains is not like other deserts worlwide, since there are areas in the sahara that have never, EVER been explored before. also the desert animals; such as the gazelle and giving them the "qualities of dieties" as allen describes.
Regarding Mushira's comment on how the chapter we are reading is connected to Paulo Coelho's "The Alchemist"; is very true. There is an episode in the novel which mensions that to be a "true" alchemist is to speak to the wind in the desert, as in this chapter, to survive the desert, you must find a way to connect to it.
Fatima Rajab...
This chapter talks about the shift from the ideal to real life. The "bourgeoise"and their problems became the primary topic of the great writers of the 19th century. This type of genre has also transfered to Najib Mahfuz' novels that dealt with the city life and the middle class.
The modern novel is a revolutionary genre and it's primary topic is the process of change in order to deal with new topics.
Younger generations of Arab novelists began to explore ways in which this modern genre can reflect issues confronting the arab world.
Novelists have used the form of 'venue' where for example they describe the desert as a living creature that has feelings and becomes one of the characters.
This type of genre creates a link between the character and the desert (nature). This desert is in many novels the place of transit that is usually taking the character from one exile to another.
Al-Kawni and Munif use the same genre of desert that is the mother of humans and that provides survival while the village provides suffer and pain.
This is a straightforward attack against modernity and the transition from the natural life that embrasses humans into a machine society that crushes humans.
Fatima Rajab...
While reading and searching more on Abdul Rahman Munif, i found a great link between his novels and style and Ibrahim Al-Kawni.
They both talk about the desert that must be preserved from modernity that will destroy all the traditions.
They also note the greatness and power of the desert and animals over humans and fight against the foreigners who want to destroy the deserts in search for oil.
Both novelists have the same idea of creating a live picture of the desert that has feelings and influence over people.
They are against the transformation from a traditional nature life to a modern man made life.
They say that the desert is a place of survival while villages and cities are the place of suffer and pain.
They create the same atmosphere of the desert and its power and they call for the protection and respect of its awesome power.
It can be said that Ibrahim Al-Kawni has an original novelistic voice that reflects his full knowledge of the history and geography of the Libyan desert region, as someone who "appears to want to live the life and culture of his region by spending sometime each year living in the desert itself." (154). It also reflects his awareness of the tribal values and Arabic literary heritage. For example, in Nazif al-Hajar (Bleeding Rock)he enables readers to relive the deity qualities and godlike-power of the desert over humanity;he gives clear descriptions of the surroundings, animals, mountains, and skies:
at midday the desert's
eternal flayer in the sky
would whip him with its
burning lash. Wearing a thick
green pelt he would seek shade
under a tall acacia tree. The
goats would flock around him.
The south wind would blow in
his face and sear him with
fires of the southern wastes. (155)
Al-Kawni also talks about the ancient frescos that are part of
the region too, and which "depict the life of the peoples who inhabited the region in prehistoric times."
155)
one of the prominant features of these frescos is the "mouflon" (a mountain sheep with long horns). Since ancestral inhabitants of the region believed that the mouflon is a preserver of desert chivalry, and helps humans in surviving the desert, then (Bleeding Rock)is an allegory of the real confrontation between the values of past and present. The novel talks about Asuf, a desert dweller and hunter, who refuses to hunt a mouflon for Qabil, a man of the region, to satisfy his cravings for the sacred animal as a development of his insatiable cravings for meat. As a result, Qabil crucifies Asuf on a rock and slits his throat, and this is where the rock bleeds mourning the loss of the values of the past.
As mentioned by Batool, Al-Kawni himself in fact tested the harsh calamities of the desert by living in it for some time. This not only gives such vivid imagery to his novel when describing the desert, sort of giving the reader a taste if it, but it shows us what it’s like from an insiders point of view. The passage mentioned in Batool’s post that’s found on page 155, an outsider would have possibly concentrated more on the unbearable heat and possibly gone on and on about his thirst when describing the Arab deserts. Such knowledge about certain animals and the vegetation would not be known to him, giving us the upper hand, which makes me admire Al-Kawni for experiencing such a difficult situation in order to write it down to give the reader a first hand experience :D
Also mentioned on page 154 is that the desert for Munif is to be protected and respected. Such greatness is given to the desert making it almost a character in itself where sandstorms are produced when its angry and frustrated, rain when its sad and bliss when it is calm, relaxed and full of excitement for a new day. I may be going overboard with this idea however the same is done in Western novels or poetry about the wilderness and greenery and abundance of flowers, even dating back to mythology where the weather is personified into an angry god. So without any background knowledge on Arabic Literature, these passages are enough to indicate how the desert is such a strong image to be adapted and enjoyed by Arab writers.
It's amazing how Al- Kawni uses alot of imagery in his writing, the way he uses it makes the reader live the actual moment as if he/she is really there. I like the way he describes the desert "eshaweg" makes you want to go there explore the beauty, see the animals, and feel the heat. Since we're off for 3id and the weather is cool I might as well go to the desert and experience what Al- Kawni was talking about. :P
Hey Aisha I have a suggestion for you... how about you go to the survivor program u might be up to the challenge, I know u can :) I will go if u will :P Happy Eid everyone.
More comments about the use of the desert symbol.
its interesting to see that the desert is a very different symbol to that of the desert, even the image of the desertm unlike say forests and mountains which Allen describes, there is no where to hide, to shade to stay under, and hardly an lifeform to react with. Dr. Ebtehal also discussed this issue in class, that one is exposed to so many extremes of weather that it is difficult to survive a desert.
Also the use of desert animals in the text, that even the animals have a certain respect and precise mannerism even in the chase when hunted, making desert animals so much more magnificent.
Al Kawini does a fantastic job in portraying the desert from the perspective of the arab living there, rather than looking at it from an orientalist perspective and idealising the desert. it is shown as raw and mysterious in the eyes of the arab who lives in it.
which makes me more aware that the desert is also under attack b development projects; building new cities in the deserts and expanding to give more people land. after this chapter, my respect for the desert has changed, rather than a nuisance of nature it is a natural spectacle such as deserts that we need to preserve, because its existence must serve something, and it would be a shame to find out too late.
Mushira, I love the point you bring up about orientalism. I hadn't thought about it, but it's very true. The desert, as Al-Kawni portrays it, is not the desert you see in paintings, in Hollywood movies and cartoons (Aladdin comes to mind:-P), but rather it's a true "raw" (to use your word:-D) image of what a desert really is. Also like you, my respect for the desert has changed after reading this chapter:-)
I always liked this book because I remember seeing the movie starring Fatan Hamama. Only there's a different ending to the story. Fatan Hamama changed the ending of the novel (in the movie) to make it more dramatic, i.e. the engineer is killed by Amna's
Uncle. However, in the novel the protagonist leaves her lover (the engineer).
Sadly I haven't read the book but I had a main idea on what it is about, before reading this chapter by Nijland. Nevertheless, Nijland brings important points that I never thought of.
Such as the fact that the prose is written in a poetic style. The use of repetition of words and coinage of verbs, adjectives to make a sense of rhythm in the text. This is supported by claiming that a singer was able to sing a portion on Du'a' al Karawan.
It is interesting to note how the famous novelist was influenced by G. Lanson who suggested that "there is a so called prose art and that the author has to treat words in prose the same way as one treats words in poetry."(page 166 1st Para)
Nijland brought up three theses which the novel holds and one of them reminded me of Tamima. I will later explain but first I will mention these theses:
Warning against killing of the girls who were seduced.
struggle between love and hatred
The victory of love over vengeance.
Education of the girl (most important of the entire four thesis) because Amna was educated (in the household that she was working in) and developed her mind and scheme in gaining revenge.
The reason why I was reminded of Tamima is because if she was educated then she would be able to decide for herself what she is supposed to do and how to backfire or reject the intentions of the seducers. Amna was able to do that but her elder sister didn't because she was naive and illiterate. Then again education is not only the main factor of how we can play our roles in our society it is also our personality that gives us this strong ability to say no.
Anyways I would like to end my comment with a quote made by Nijland and to provide you a link to a review of the movie. Please read it because there some interesting facts about the production and how the movie reached the recognition from the Oscars. http://egyfilm.com/Forums/viewtopic.php?p=358385
"The second girl [Amna], armed with enlightening knowledge, succeeds."
A person's need to connect to the earth (or nature) in order to survive is not only in Coelho's The Alchemist as Mushira points out, but also in The Witch of Portobello, The Devil and Miss Prym, and By The River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept. Coelho advocates that point and depicts it in a very direct way for the reader.
But I'm wondering, do you girls believe in that? Or is it mere superstition?
3eedkum Mbarak:)
Amethyst! am not exactly sure who you are..but i would really like to tell you alittle more about how to connect your self to earth, and how would that enable you to survive life:
in 2006 i got my first degree of (Usui System of the Reiki Natural Healing) taught by the Lebanese Maha Namoor, the first Reiki master teacher who brings us the knowledge of Reiki from Asia. Reiki teaches you how you approach inner harmony by connecting with the energies of the earth. The human Body has seven major energy centres which are called (Chakra), these charkras are the centres of the whirling energy of the human body. the locations by order are: the main on the crown of the head, on the forehead (third eye), the throat, the heart, the navel, the sacrum, and the base of the spine (root). The chakras extend from the physical body to the universal body, and the thought processes that occur in the mental body are the form of energetic vibrational patterns inside the physical body. There are a certain type of meditation that focuses on your thought and breath which can establish that connection with earth..anyways, what Reiki does is that:
1. It improves your health and the health of others, once you become really professional, by strengthening the capacity to release the underlying causes of pain and illness.
2. It transfers the energy to all of your body creating a balance at all levels:body, mind, and spirit. 3. It reduces stress and self esteem.
4. It helps overcome fear and improves clarity in difficult situations.
5. It enhances the ability to give and receive love.
6. Improves intuition and empowers spiritual growth, and afterall makes you live in peace and harmony with your self and the world around you since your energy effects others.
For example, I have developed seasonal allergies since i was like 8 years old. However, I never felt anything, I didn't even sneaze when we first got a cat 5 years ago, i was really in love with it. But when i gave birth to my baby girl, I became really conscious and cautious about it because everyone started telling me that it's not good for the baby to have pets around, but we couldn't get rid of it. And by time I started to develop disgust towards it, then the allergies developed too and I couldn't live with it, I couldn't even sit on our couch because I would sneaze and itch till I get some kind of rash. While I was attending the Reiki workshops I decided to make meditation to recreate the harmony I once had with this pet and see the results, and you know what..the allergies disappeared:)
So in short, I believe in connectiong yourself with earth to survive life, like the desert inhabitants should connect their selves with the environment around to bear the heat, the bugs, and snakes, and to love the desert they live in.
It's been aages since i last posted, it's a good thing your comments are amazing, they helped refresh my memory .. :p
After Dr ebtehal talked about the chapter in detail, it gave me a whole new appreciation for al-kawni .. instead of just reafing a lot of books and then create his own atmosphere, he decided to live it first-hand, which makes me think of him as a perfectionist as well as a cynic, when he doesnt believe what he reads unless he has seen it .. this enables him to write the cold hard truth .. and the truth did surprise us, as many of you mentioned before, we usually think of the desert as this hot place fulled with sand and people live in tents, we neglect the whole no shadows to rest in, no watter to drink, sleeping at night half frozen .. to us, a whole day there is probably a titanic of its own ..
another thing we mentioned in class that interested me is how people started hallucinating because of the harsh conditions there, dont you think its sad? what's worse is that the cure for it is water .. a mineral we take for granted everyday and just waste away ignorantly while the people in the desert would literally die for a drop ..
Taha Husayn's novel'Instead of the Song of the Nightingale', discusses many women issues. Such issues that are disccussed include women and education, rape , and honor killing.
Themain topic which Husayn discusses is women's education and it is highly criticized in the novel. In the narrative, the plot revolves around two sisters who seek liberation; unfortuantely, Hanadi, the older sister was not successful and is killed as a result. This chapter, emphasizes that to liberate yourself as the younger sister Amina did, is to be educated."Education enables Amina to stand on her own." (169)Even though, Husayn does imply that education for women will liberate them, yet he does focus on the opposing side of women and their education, by showing the mothers point of view when she says "a woman cannot live in security without a father, a brother, or a husband protecting her."(169)
Taha Husayn's novel'Instead of the Song of the Nightingale', discusses many women issues. Such issues that are disccussed include women and education, rape , and honor killing.
Themain topic which Husayn discusses is women's education and it is highly criticized in the novel. In the narrative, the plot revolves around two sisters who seek liberation; unfortuantely, Hanadi, the older sister was not successful and is killed as a result. This chapter, emphasizes that to liberate yourself as the younger sister Amina did, is to be educated."Education enables Amina to stand on her own." (169)Even though, Husayn does imply that education for women will liberate them, yet he does focus on the opposing side of women and their education, by showing the mothers point of view when she says "a woman cannot live in security without a father, a brother, or a husband protecting her."(169)
not only was this chapter interesting because it discusses taha husayn, but because it discusses one of my favourite movies with Faten Hamaama and Ahmad Mazhar. i advise you all to have a sneak peak at the film!
the most interesting aspect of the chapter was the critique of the language discrepency between the characters and thier intellectual level. and husayn's belief that the language of the people wil be elevated to "fusha" so that the lanuage of "fusha" would not eventually become a languge linked with theology alone, like latin. however, we can see today that this plan of his didnt really succeed, since we still use the colliqual language rather than the fusha. however, did you think his plan had a chance?
Just to mention something discussed in class (I think) :/ is how a novel about a desert can never be fun, witty or a joy to a reader, instead the harsh climate, the land and scarcity of vegetation and food is noticeable and as explained in this chapter the idea of sudden death. At any moment a calamity can hit that no one is prepared for as they are nomadic with no actual shelter from sand storms and even hail stones in the winter. I don’t know whether some of you have received that email of the desert in Saudi with hail stones the size of tennis balls...thousands possibly millions of tennis ball sized ice cubes across the sands of the desert and unfortunately the death of desert goats stoned to death. Upon receiving this email i was in the process of reading this chapter and immediately thought what if u were living in the desert at that moment, even if your tents were up and u were not traveling…what about your live stock? what about pots, pans? and what about children that had wandered off to play? :S A very scary image of the desert and as Zainab mentioned not one that we are accustomed to see in movies as portrayed by Hollywood, instead such power and extreme danger of the desert is presented by a writer who couldn’t have done a better job than a Bedouin himself!
It’s amazing how the desert, being dry and so hot, gives the impression, ironically, that it is a cold place (in the sense of it being harsh) a place where nothing is temperate: it's either far too cold (freezing temperatures) or too hot (boiling point temperatures).. Yes, it is this desert where huge amounts of fuel are taken away in millions of barrels.. And it is us that give it away.. Not that's it's a bad thing, but it seems that's ALL we're good for...
Sometimes I think to myself and dread that day (that will eventually come) when all the fuel is gone.. What will happen to the countries that depend on the oil industry? I feel like we'll go back a 100 years in time..! I can imagine the rich selling their land, houses, cars, and all their wealth in general, we may have to go back to the good-old-days of pearl trading..!
Scary thought..:s
Mariam, thats a scary thought.. But you never know, it may be for our own good lol. Goin back to a more peaceful time maybe? With not as many wars? Then again there were tribal wars..and there wasn't law. So more primitive doesnt necesarily mean better. I am contradicting myself, i Know..
But anyway about the desert..Let's just say no one has presented it like our Kawni here. Perhaps because hes an Arab. Arabs have an insider's knowledge on these things.. ;) Unlike westerners who attempt to portray our world..
To add to you point Shahd, not only was Al-Kawni an Arab, but he also experienced the life of a desert nomad. The chapter mentions his frequent travels to the desert and thte physica and emotional harship he experienced. This gave him insight as we had mentioned before in class and on the blog.
His fatalistic endings emphasize the upper hand of fate in life, especially one where people have no technological luxuries to aid them against forces of nature.
Perhaps the revival of such themes in our post-modern age is to revisit the primitive self in us, the self that competes and fights in order to survive.
Batool
Wow. I'd rather simply sit and meditate silently whether on an invisible dot on the wall or nature. I do believe in patterns of energy, but I'm not the kind of person that enjoys classes. That was really interesting. Thanks:)
hey everyone i have to say that i really loved the last chapter and despite the fact that my arabic isnt as good as it should be i would love to read the original book (in arabic) i feel that it should be an easy read since the author stresses on use of simple and easy words even though he uses (fusha)which i quote doctora ebtehal is becoming the latin of arabs!!
i found the story really presented egyptian society as it is with the struggles of young girls (as thats wats shown on tv) in a way it reminded me o hanan turks mosalsal (awlad eshaware3) and how young innocent girls suffer and have to put up with hard living conditions.i understand that it must be great to read a story about an independent girl that surely inspires other girls (which is exactly the point) however it must have been really hard for the older generations to absorb that idea at that time since society (especially rural societies) were and still are somewhat extremely conservative.
btw doctora anonymous is me !! (lulu bourisli)
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