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Literature: The First Step to Awareness that Leads to Rebellion
Abstract
Adonis, the great Syrian poet, essayist and critic, says that there is “literature of the revolution” and “literature that is a revolution.” The first point presents an afterthought to revolution -describing, celebrating, and maintaining the revolution. Whereas the second point suggests an instrument whose purpose is to mobilize the masses, motivate people to reject the unjust circumstances. An example of the first is the poem “Al Midan” (the square) referring to the Midan Al- Tahrir , the public square where the Egyptian revolution started by Abdul Rahman Al- Abnodie; the poetry of Ahmad Matar,, on the other hand, is an example of the second. In his poem, “Bah’th fi Ma’ana Al-aidie” (a search for the meaning of hands), he talks to the people of his country saying that God gave people hands to use them to bring down unjust rulers. This presentation tries to answer the question: are the types of literature mentioned above the only two types of literature that relate or lead to mobilizing society? It takes a keen look at the novel Hikayatee SharH Yatool (The Locust and the Bird: My Mother's Story), by Hanan al-Shaykh , as an example of this literature. In this novel, it is clear that the main character (Kamela) is not a mere simple girl who struggles with a social structure that lacks basic human rights; rather, she is an outcry against unjust conditions. Kamela’s family denied her education, married her off at the age of nine without so much as informing her, and received money and favors in return for this decision. She revolted against these conditions, not by going out on the streets, rallying crowds and demanding changes, but by going to the movies, dressing up in modern dresses, and following her heart. All these acts were against her family’s rules. Despite the fact that her methods of rebelling were of a personal nature, we see how these acts enlighten her children, and help reveal to the new generation the gravity of the situation that estranged them from their mother (Kamela). It is this generation that took to the streets, shouted, and created the change. But this could not have happened without the realization, the knowledge, and the awareness. This awareness is a silent cry that comes before the first cry in demand of change.
Discipline
Literature
Geographic Area
All Middle East
Sub Area
Arabic