ht up the place of women and how men treat them. The way women are treated throughout the book, is very different than today. Men are in power of the women, and all women must obey their husband at anytime no matter what the situation is. After this we began to discuss the relationship between the children and the fathers and how the children must obey their fathers, no matter if they disagree with the situation or not. When discussing his daughter marriage negotiations Ahmad denies the request and doesn't allow his daughter to marry. The emotions and reaction of his daughter, Aisha, really stuck out to me. In paragraph below the the narrator describes her feelings.Although she was hurt, angry, and resentful, these emotions could not touch her father. They fell back impotently like a wild animal stopped by its trainer, whom it loves and fears. Aisha was not able to attack her father, not even in the depths of her heart. She continued in her love and devotion for him. She felt sincerely dutiful to him, as though he were a god whose decree could only be received with submission, love, and loyalty. (160-161)
Here we are able to see how much Aisha respects her father even though she strongly disagreed with her father decision of not letting her marry the officer, who she truly fell for. But, we still don't know whether or not she really respects her father, or does she just fear her father. Is it love or fear?
Obviously we can see from this paragraph that Aisha feelings are deeply hurt and that she is heart broken. Aisha is able to look past this pain and hate towards her father, and forgive him. To me she fears her father more than she loves her father. The author uses the metaphor a wild animal. He says, “They fell back impotently like a wild animal stopped by its trainer, whom it loves and fears” (160-161). They meaning emotions were lifted from her and she was able to look past that time. But, in order to tame a wild animal who must put fear in the animals heart in order for the animal to obey you. By taking over the animals, you take control of their life; therefore, to me its more fear than love. An animal knows if he goes against the owner's rule, it would be punish so it is scared to do otherwise.
Aisha is afraid to stand up against her father, because she knows there is no way around it and that she would get punished if she does so. She has been put under his command and rule. Her father has taken over her mind and life; therefore, she lets him control what she does. She has become a tamed “animal”. We have seen how the children are being controlled by Ahmad, but now the narrator is referring to the daughter as an “wild animal”.
At the end of this paragraph, the narrator describes Aisha feeling toward Ahmad by saying, “She felt sincerely dutiful to him, as though he were a god whose decree could only be received with submission, love, and loyalty” (161). The narrator says she looks to her father as a God, which to me is beyond extreme. He also says that the actions he does are done out of love and loyalty. This shows that the family held their father and wouldn't do anything to disobey him.
In the bible it says “fear God”. God is the only person we shall fear, because he can instantly change ones life. The family refer to him as God because he has the power to choose what they do in life and who they marry. By referring to their father as God, shows they fear him more than they love him. Yes, it is natural that we all love our parents because they are the ones who gave us life. But in Aisha case, it seems that she has overlook the love towards her father and has replaced it with fear. The family doesn't really have much love for their father, but are to afraid to against his orders.
Does Ahmad want his family to fear him, or is he just looking out for the best interest for his family?
Does he really love his family, or is he in love more with the power and control he has over them?
Interesting questions and analysis. I like this part: "She has become a tamed “animal”. We have seen how the children are being controlled by Ahmad, but now the narrator is referring to the daughter as an 'wild animal'" What do you think could happen when Aisha has another "trainer"?
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ReplyDeleteThat is an interesting question, especially since Aisha is now married. Based on this culture, the husband,Khalil, would obviously be in control of Aisha. Aisha's job will be to please her husband and to do chores around the house. I don't think the husband, Khalil, will be as dominant as Ahmad. When Khalil's mother goes to tell Ahmad about the marriage offer, the narrator say, "Then she abandoned her mocking tone and began to scold him for his harshness. She was outspoken in her laments for his wife, whom she considered the last woman to deserve punishment"(227). Well, Aisha has learn the roles of a wife from her mother, who Khalil's mother believes should deserve no punishment. She also shows strong disapproval towards Ahmad's actions; therefore, I doubt Khalil will be as dominant as Ahmad. But, will Ahmad become jealous because somebody else is in control of his "animal",daughter?
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