Sahar Khalifeh Wild Thorns Pdf Free
Oleta Blaylock
Sahar Khalifeh's Wild Thorns: A Novel of Life Under Occupation
Wild Thorns is a novel by Palestinian writer Sahar Khalifeh, first published in Arabic in 1976 under the title al-Subar. It is considered one of the first Arab novels to depict the social and personal effects of the Israeli occupation of the West Bank. The novel follows the lives of several characters who struggle to cope with the harsh realities of living under occupation, such as checkpoints, curfews, arrests, torture, and violence. The novel also explores the themes of resistance, identity, love, and betrayal among the Palestinians.
The novel has been translated into several languages, including English, French, German, Spanish, and Italian. The English translation by Trevor LeGassick and Elizabeth W. Fernea was published by Al Saqi Books in London in 1985. The novel has received critical acclaim from both Arab and Western critics, who praised its realistic portrayal of life under occupation and its complex characterization. The novel has also been adapted into a film by Palestinian director Azza al-Hassan in 2007.
Plot Summary
The novel is set in the West Bank in the mid-1970s, a decade after the Six-Day War of 1967 that resulted in the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories. The novel revolves around two main characters: Usama and Adil. Usama is a young engineer who returns to his hometown of Nablus after working in Kuwait for several years. He is shocked by the changes that have occurred in his homeland and by the oppression that his people face under occupation. He joins a resistance group that plans to sabotage an Israeli settlement near Nablus. Adil is Usama's cousin and childhood friend, who works as a clerk in a construction company that collaborates with the Israeli authorities. He is married to Suha, a beautiful and educated woman who is unhappy with her marriage and her life under occupation. She falls in love with Usama when he visits her house.
The novel also introduces several other characters who represent different aspects of Palestinian society under occupation. These include Khalid, Usama's brother who is a student activist and a leader of the resistance group; Basma, Khalid's wife who is a nurse and a supporter of the resistance; Abu Salim, Usama's father who is a traditional patriarch and a merchant; Umm Salim, Usama's mother who is a devout Muslim and a housewife; Abu Adil, Adil's father who is a wealthy landowner and a collaborator with the Israelis; Umm Adil, Adil's mother who is a proud and dignified woman; Zuhdi, Adil's brother who is a lawyer and a nationalist; Nada, Zuhdi's wife who is a modern and liberated woman; Ibrahim, Adil's brother who is a doctor and a humanitarian; Rima, Ibrahim's wife who is a teacher and a feminist; Samiha, Adil's sister who is a widow and a victim of rape by an Israeli soldier; and Abu Samiha, Samiha's father-in-law who is a religious fanatic and a zealot.
The novel depicts the daily struggles and dilemmas that these characters face under occupation, such as poverty, unemployment, humiliation, fear, anger, frustration, hopelessness, and despair. It also shows how they cope with these challenges through different forms of resistance or collaboration, such as armed struggle, civil disobedience, cultural expression, political activism, or economic cooperation. The novel also examines how the occupation affects their personal relationships, such as family ties, friendships, marriages, affairs, loyalties, betrayals, and sacrifices.
Themes and Analysis
One of the main themes of the novel is resistance versus collaboration. The novel portrays the different ways that Palestinians resist or collaborate with the Israeli occupation. It also explores the moral and political implications of these choices. For example, Usama represents the militant resistance that seeks to liberate Palestine through armed struggle. He believes that violence is the only way to confront the violence of the occupier. He rejects any form of compromise or negotiation with the Israelis. He also criticizes his cousin Adil for working with the Israelis and for being passive and submissive. However, Usama also faces some doubts and dilemmas about his actions. He wonders if his violence will achieve anything or if it will only provoke more violence from the Israelis. He also questions his own motives and feelings for Suha.
Adil represents the collaborationist stance that seeks to survive and prosper under occupation. He believes that violence is futile and counterproductive. He accepts the reality of the occupation and tries to adapt to it. He works with the Israelis and benefits from their projects. He also respects their laws and orders. He thinks that his cousin Usama is naive and reckless for joining the resistance. However, Adil also faces some challenges and conflicts about his choices. He feels guilty and ashamed for betraying his people and his land. He also suffers from the contempt and resentment of his wife Suha and his brother Zuhdi.
Suha represents the intellectual and cultural resistance that seeks to preserve and assert the Palestinian identity and heritage under occupation. She is a well-educated and well-read woman who loves literature, art, and music. She works as a librarian in a cultural center that organizes lectures, exhibitions, and concerts. She also writes articles and poems for a local newspaper. She believes that culture is a powerful weapon against the occupation. She rejects both violence and collaboration as ineffective and immoral. She also despises her husband Adil for being a collaborator and for being ignorant and insensitive. However, Suha also faces some problems and contradictions about her views. She realizes that culture alone cannot change the political situation or end the occupation. She also falls in love with Usama, who is a violent resister.
Another theme of the novel is identity and belonging. The novel explores how the occupation affects the sense of identity and belonging of the Palestinians. It shows how they struggle to maintain their connection to their land, their history, their culture, their religion, and their nation. It also shows how they cope with the loss of their land, their rights, their dignity, their freedom, and their security. The novel also examines how the occupation creates divisions and conflicts among the Palestinians themselves. It shows how they differ in their opinions, beliefs, values, goals, and actions. It also shows how they compete, clash, or cooperate with each other.
Reception and Impact
The novel was well received by both Arab and Western readers and critics when it was first published in 1976. It was praised for its realistic and vivid depiction of life under occupation and for its complex and diverse characterization of the Palestinians. It was also admired for its literary style and language, which combined realism, symbolism, humor, irony, sarcasm, and lyricism. The novel was awarded the Naji Naaman Literary Prize in 1977.
The novel has been widely read and studied in various academic institutions around the world. It has been included in several anthologies and curricula of Arabic literature, Middle Eastern studies, postcolonial studies, feminist studies, and comparative literature. The novel has also inspired many other writers and artists to explore the theme of life under occupation from different perspectives.
Conclusion
Wild Thorns is a novel by Sahar Khalifeh that chronicles life in the Israeli-occupied West Bank in the mid-1970s. It is one of the first Arab novels to depict the social and personal effects of the occupation on the Palestinians. The novel follows the lives of several characters who represent different aspects of Palestinian society under occupation. The novel also explores the themes of resistance versus collaboration, identity versus belonging, love versus betrayal, among others. The novel has been translated into several languages and has received critical acclaim from both Arab and Western critics. The novel has also been adapted into a film by Palestinian director Azza al-Hassan in 2007.
References
: Wild Thorns by Sahar Khalifeh - Ebook Scribd