Who Has A Kindle And Can Review This Book....?

[gedo_gurl]

Its supposedly about Kenya and Somalis.


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[gedo_gurl]

I wrote it. Download it for free, its only 9 pages long.

[gedo_gurl]

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Read the first page without signing up for Amazon.

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[Fey]

Yo, I'm keen to support you but I'm not paying 5 pounds for 9 pages.

That is like a huge oversight on your part.

(yeah, you can download it for free with kindle unlimited, but that's a subscription service)

[Lamagoodle]

An analysis

FROM A CROOKED RIB, BY NURUDDIN FARAH


PLOT
Ebla an 18 years old girl has been promised marriage to Giumaleh a 48 years old man by her grandfather in exchange for camels. She contemplates abandoning her Jes and leaving her grandfather. Ebla plans to escape to a town where she will be free. Ebla leaves the compound and joins the caravan to Belet Wene. Ebla is in a Belet Wene for the first time in her life and she is accompanied to her distant cousin`s house by a young man, who is a member of the travellers she came to Belet Wene with. Ebla introduces herself to Gheddi, her cousin, and Gheddi introduces her to his wife, Aowralla, who is pregnant. While at her cousin's house, Ebla helps in household woks and ties up the cows in the yard. She cares for the cattle while Aowralla is in labour and helps during the child’s birth.

A neighbor, who is a widow visits and takes Ebla to Gheddi's shop. Ebla becomes a friend to the widow and goes to visit the widow in her house. In her private moments, Ebla thinks about the country, her home and her grandfather. Ebla helps her cousin Gheddi in his smuggling activity. during the smuggling, she is given a package by her cousin to take home. After an unsuccessful outing, Ebla is blamed by her cousin for his colleagues' capture. Gheddi believes that her presence at the smuggling is the cause of their ill-luck. Gheddi becomes hostile to Ebla and his hostility towards her forces her to spend more time with the widow who lives next door. The widow introduces Ebla to her nephew Awill who works for the Italian colonial service. Ebla afterwards returns to Aowralla's house and sleeps; meanwhile Gheddi frees himself from the jaws of the police through settlement with money given to him by a friend of his, who is a broker. He further promises the broker Ebla's hand in marrige, as exchange for the money he owes the broker. The widow tells Ebla that Gheddi has promised her to his broker. Ebla is not happy with this and contemplates the lot of women being slaves to men. She goes to Aowralla's house to get her new dress, which Gheddi buys for her as an incitement. She seeks advice from the widow, who draws her attention to the idea of eloping with Awill. Ebla thinks of Awill as being a suitable man for her and wonders what Awill will want to marry her. Awill plans to go to Mogadiscio and asks Ebla to marry him. She accepts and they plan to elope together the next morning.

Ebla and Awill arrive in Mogadiscio and when they recover after the journey, Ebla and awill sleep together. Ebla loses her virginity and Ebla and Awill are married by the Sheikh. Awill is informed by Jama, his friend and colleague, that he has to go to Italy for Ministry work. Awill leaves for three-month stay in Italy and tells Asha, the landlady, to look after Ebla. Jama comes with a letter from Awill and a photograph of Awill with a White woman, who wears"nothing on except a swimming suit, her belly showing and Awill’s hand resting on her breast," (122). This makes Ebla furious and disappointed with herself.

Asha suggests to Ebla that she meets Tiffo. Ebla agrees to marry Tiffo and their marriage is done in secret. Tiffo is married and has two daughters of Ebla's age. Ebla and Tiffo are in a relationship which is unusual about couples; he visits her only at night and after having sex with her, he gives her money. Jama comes with money from Awill. Ebla's brother arrives at Ebla's resident in Mogadiscio accompanied by the widow. Ebla learns from her brother that her grandfather died of shock the day she left home, yet feels no remorse. Ebla's brother refuses to stay with Ebla and leaves Mogadiscio. Asha is upset about Tiffo's treatment of Ebla like a harlot and she advices Ebla about it. Ebla sees reasons with Asha and tells Tiffo she has another husband. Asha confirms to Tiffo that Ebla is also married to Awill. Tiffo is not confortable with sharing his wife with another man and divorces Ebla.

Ebla and Asha go to a savant to discover Ebla's destiny, since Ebla is noticing problems in her life. The savant tells Ebla that she is being caused by somebody, but the cause could be relieved if she sees a medicine-man. Asha sends for a Sheikh. Two Sheikhs arrive at their resident and a ritual cleansing is conducted. Ebla thinks she is pregnant, due to some signs of pregnancy she observes in her system. Tiffo comes unexpectedly to warn Ebla about his vicious wife, but he is too late. His wife, Ardo, and three other clanswomen try to arrack meet him at Ebla's house and try to attack Ebla, but Asha stops them.

Awill returns home when Ebla and Asha are out for shopping. He finds the photo of himself with the Italian woman; he is angry about Jama for showing Ebla the photograph. Ebla and Awill go to bed the night of Awill's arrival and agree to tell each other about what has happened to them during Awill's absence the next day.

THEMES

Patriarchy:

In From a Crooked Rib, Nuruddin Farah’s protagonist Ebla, a nomadic pastoralist, represents the Somali woman. Her predicament is used as a yard stick to portray the debased status of women in Somali; not just in Somali, but in other parts of Africa. Patriarchy has to do with the ideology that men are superior and should be the head in every situation, while women on the other hand are inferior and should not at any point in time stand equal to the man. This is an ideology that has eaten deep into the Somali society and Farah addresses it in this novel through Ebla.

Aside Nuuddin Farah’s From a crooked rib, other African writers have projected this subject matter. These writers include; Flora Nwapa in Efuru, Mariama Ba’s SO Long A Letter, Elechi Amadi’s Joys of motherhood etc. In Ebla's case, she is forced into marriage by her grandfather at a very tender age (18years) to Giumaleh, a 48 years old in exchange for camels. Rejecting the prospect of being married to Giumaleh, Eblaleaves her village and travels to Belet Wene, a town in Somalia. Having left her village she feels free from a life in chains, but her acclaimed freedom is quickly undermined by the cruel reality that the tradition regarding marriage is still upheld in urban society, where she runs to.

In Belet Wene, Ebla stays with her cousin Gheddi and his wife Aowralla whom she helps give birth to a baby girl. Ebla learns that Gheddi has given her hand in marriage to his broker Dirir who has Tobaclusis . This is what women pass through as portrayed by Nuruddin, they are treated regardless of their status as like-humans by men. In the novel Ebla confesses;

But that is what we women are – just like cattle, proper-ties of someone or other, either your parents or your husband…We are human beings...But our people don’t realize it. What is the difference between a cow and yourself now? Your hand has been sold to a broker.( pg 80)

Fearing enforced marriage to a sick man, Ebla decides to marry Awill. In Awill’s arms , Ebla still faces oppression, he beats her up in the bed room.

Ebla wanted to get out of bed and run away…She also forgot that Awill was in her way…but a woman never fought with a man, she should be submissive and never return his blows…Awill stood up straight and showered hard blows upon Ebla – in the mouth, at her head, on her belly. He gave her a kick or two on the belly and she tried to bite him. Ebla did not cry, she wanted to, but she knew she should not. Awill grasped her by the plaited hair and pulled her down. Now he jumped over her and sat upon her belly, her body heaving underneath his. ‘You are my wife.’ He unknotted her dress and she raised no objections: she only moaned. He touched her head again. ‘Did I hit you hard?’ ‘No.’ (pg 96-97).

Ebla, being a victim of circumstance, understands the social and sexual constraints imposed on women by Somali society; a predicament from which there is no apparent escape. She understands that,

The husband is a man and the wife is a woman, and naturally they are not equal in status. Friends should be equal before they can become friends. If you despise or look down upon somebody, he cannot be your friend, neither can you be his friend. (pg 156)

Journey towards emancipation

The migration of a somali woman, Ebla in search of her emancipation, is one of the main themes of Farah's narrative. Ebla defies tradition and seeks emancipation as she migrates from the patriarchal tyranny of her family in the country. She desired to be free and planned on escaping. Her escape meant her freedom and a new life. " To escape. To be free. To be free. To be free. To escape. These were inter-related." (pg14). She runs to her cousin Gheddi's house in Belet Wene. While at Gheddi's place the same predicament that lead to her escape from her grandfather occurs. She is left with no choice than to escape with her new love, Awill to Mogadisco.

Ebla achieves her freedom gradually during the process of her migration with the assistance and advise of female friends she comes in contact with. Ebla's journey towards emancipation brings her in contact with two women from the urban setting with different ideology about life. The widow she first meets is a moderate and free going woman, who did not limit herself to tradition; this had being the cause of her divorce. Through the widow Ebla comes to know so many things about the white man's world and other things that are peculiar to the city. The widow having the same mind set(not letting society/tradition decide for her) as Ebla, advised her on what to do. At Mogadisco Ebla also meets an urban woman who teaches her how to survive in the absense of her husband. Asha, unlike the widow is a more urbanized and cunning woman, who lives by her wit. She influences Ebla's decisions in trying to avenge the sensed infidelity of her husband. Her advice leads to Ebla's final realization that a man and a woman are equal.

The influence of this two women led to her conclusion that she should be free(from the widow) and that she and men are equal (from Asha).

quality of men and women

Farah emphasizes the importance of both the man and the woman; how both need each other. This is a natural phenomenon and there is nothing a man or woman could do about. He uses this to show that both the man and woman are equal and are meant for each other. He voices this using Ebla's monologue. "Surely a woman is indispensible to man, but do men realise it? 'A man needs a woman. A woman needs a man..." The fact about the indispensability and equality of a woman and a man is seen in the desire of Awill to get married to Ebla and Ebla's desire to also get married. I want to marry you...she wanted to say 'no'. to refuse as women do, even if they wanted it..." Ebla is under no illusion that her relationship with Awill is based on love.

Equality of the man and a woman is proved by the author through the character of Asha. As a woman she is a landlady and she is able to control her house and its tenants. Asha builds in Ebla the conception that she is equal to a man. Asha tells Ebla that, since a man has the right to have more than one wife then the woman also has the right to have more than one husband. The life of the women in Mogadiscio shows the equality of a man and a woman. Just as men bully women, Ardo, the wife of Tiffo deals with him for cheating on her.

Position of the female child:

A female child in the African society is seen as an unfixed asset, that comes into the family and goes to join another family, while the son is seen as a fixed asset that contributes to the family's heritage.

"She loathed this discrimination between the sexes: the idea that the boy lift up the prestige of the family and keeps the family's name. Even a moron-male cost twicwe as much as two women in terms of blood-compensation. (Pg 13)

Due to the fact that the female child is seen as an unfixed asset, the father does not want the female child to go out to another family, without contributing anything useful after a lot has been spent in bringing her up. Fathers therefore make sure that they get something substantial on giving out their daughter's hand in marriage, not minding how she feels about. This is what Ebla's grandfather does to Ebla, he wants to exchange her for camels to a man worthy of being her father.

From experience she knew that girls were materials, just like objects, or items on the shelf of a shop. They were sold and bought ... to shop keeper what was the difference between a girl and his goods?...

What makes women so inferior to men? Why is it a must that a girl should refund a token amount to her parents in the form of a dowry... Why is it only the sons in the family who are counted?" (pg 84)

Education/Exposure:

This is a theme that is not really mentioned in the novel. If one looks at the novel on the surface one might never notice the presence of this theme, since no character talks about it, though they act it out. This theme evolves from the various reactions of women in the narrative to the issue of gender discrimination. All the women in the Somali society are seen to dislike their subjugation, but to what extent do they believe that they are equal to men, and should not be treated as slaves. Looking at their reactions to the issue, one comes to realize that the firmness of their stand against it depends on their level of education and exposure. Starting this analysis from Ebla, it is noticed that she is uneducated and not exposed to urban life. Therefore, though she is against it and tries to run away from it, she looks at the fact that women are subjugated as the fate of women in life.

The next woman in the story, who is also rebellious to gender discrimination is an educated woman, but she is a semi-urban woman. Belet Wene is a less urbanized area and her level of exposure is not at its pick. She is married to an Arab man who divorces her because she is a freelancer. He wants her to be reserved and not to be seen relating with other people, thereby reserving her for himself like a commodity. He does not respecting her freedom relate with others. She refuses to be treated like that and she is consequently divorced. Though her stand against women subjugation is stronger than Ebla's, she still has the believe that women are resigned to that fate. she tells Ebla;

But that is what we women are – just like cattle, proper-ties of someone or other, either your parents or your husband. ...What is the difference between a cow and yourself now? Your hand has been sold to a broker.’ (pg 80

The third woman that we are introduced to in the story is highly educated and is well exposed, through growing up in the big city of Mogadiscio. She is seen to have a firmer stand against marginalization of women, and does not retain the slightest believe that woman are inferior to men. Ebla sees this in her and is encouraged in her personal struggle against subjugation.

"Ebla, little by little, learnt the background of Asha, who she found was the most interesting character she had met since she left the country...Ebla could not help being fond of Asha, because she was the first person who had ever considered her equal: she made Ebla aware of what she was. Pg121.

Apart from Asha other women in Mogadiscio are seen to show equality with their men up to the extent of beating them. The wife of Tiffo, Ardo deals with him when she finds out that he was cheating against her.

In general it can therefore be noted that the stand women have against subjugation is determined by their level of education and exposure. This is a very important theme the author has deployed in addressing the issue of gender discrimination.

Superstition:

At the beginning of the novel, Ebla's father puts a cause on her. " May the Lord disperse your plans, Ebla. May He make you the mother of many a bastard. May He give you Hell on this earth as a reward" pg 6 This cause is seen to have followed her and had being the cause of her misfortunes. She goes to a savant to predict her future for her. He predicts that she has a problem; " She is sick, somebody sent an evil-eye on her. It is very young and she can be cured" pg148. He tells them that Ebla's problem could only be solved by a priest.

NARRATIVE TECHNIQUE

POINT OF VIEW

Farah uses the third person omniscient point of view in his narration. He is not a woman therefore standing aloft he observes the problems women pass through in the society. He them brings it forward to the clear view of his readers, through his main character, using the third person pronoun. "Escape! to get free from all restraints, from being the wife of Giumaleh. To get away from unpleasantries. To break the ropes society has wrapped around her and to be free and be herself." (pg12). He uses the third person pronoun "her" He presents the story not as a partaker or the affected.

In the narrative, Farah uses his key character to tell the story, she is the mirror through which the situation of a woman in the society is seen. The story which he tells is seen as her story, as it is through her that other characters are brought to bear. All the events and characters are developed from the cause of her journey in the story. The reader knows and sees everything through the eyes of Ebla. If Ebla does not know, the reader does not know. It is through Ebla's journey that the reader comes to know about the men who always travelled in Caravans to Belet Wene. Through her the reader comes to know of Belet Wene, Her cousin Gheddi, his wife, the widow and Awill. Her further migration exposes the reader to a more urbanized area( Mogadiscio) and the kind of life people there lived; people like Jama, Asha, and Tiffo. Through her the characters are described:

Ebla uncovered her head and she could see Jama clearly. He was thin and short and had his hair parted on the left side. He quite badly needed a shave. But maybe this was the way people did things in Mogadiscio, Ebla thought. (pg 109)

Apart from the first chapter of the novel, which presents Ebla's grandfather and her brother, the rest of the events in the novel starts and ends with her.

Aside his point of view being the third person, it is also an omniscient one. He stands as a being that can see through the thoughts of the characters. He relates to the reader what the people in the narrative are thinking, aside their physical actions. Through this way the reader knows the psychological status of some characters in the story, and the psychological factors that leads to them taking a particular line of action. Farah relates the trauma that lead to the death of Ebla's grandfather through his omniscient point of view.

Ebla's sudden departure had killed many things in him, although he did not know why. he has witnessed many women of her age running away from their families... he had done it himself. He had loved her more than he loved anyone else-when he had the power to love... 'May the Lord take me away if Ebla dies before myself. (pg 5)

Through the third person omniscient point of view, the reader is able to understand through physical action and through the thoughts of characters, what happens in the story.

MONOLOGUE/ SOLILOQUY

Monologue and soliloquy has to do with the act of talking to oneself. Farah uses this so much in his narrative; almost everything said by Ebla is said in a monologue/soliloquy. She does more monologue that dialogue in the narrative. This is because as a woman in the Somali society, she does not have much liberty to air her view; since the women were inferior.

...but a woman never fought with a man, she should be submissive and never return his blows. A good woman should not even cry aloud when her husband beat her... Maybe, when I have become his wife, he can do whatever he wants with me and I won’t cry,’ she thought. (pg 96)

"The woman was a slave. And she was willing to be what she had been reduced to, she was not raising a finger to stop it." pg 83

Therefore she shared her views and complains with herself and it is through this, that Farah is able to air the pain women undergo in the society. Ebla inwardly comments on the happenings around her; she examines her predicaments and how to get out of it. She examines herself to see where she is wrong and also contemplate on her position in the society; all this is done in monologue.

‘Woman?’ she asked in a grunting male voice, ‘Are you a cheat?’

‘Sometimes.’

‘But why?’

‘Because men cheat me.’

‘But why?’

‘I take my revenge upon them.’

‘Yes, but why?’

‘I don’t know. I am innocent. I don’t know what to do. I just don’t know what I do sometimes. I do things, just do them without really getting myself involved. I put my faith in my man, but once I lose it, then it is hard to regain it. It is jealousy and insecurity that causes most misunderstandings. (pg166)


SYMBOLISM

Symbols are objects or things that communicate meaning or messages without using words for example, a cross or a bible symbolizes Christianity. It could be a character, an object, or an incident which represents an idea, a person, a quality, a profession or situation. in the novel, Farah uses the Beast (cattle, cow, camel) to symbolize the woman. It is used to represent the woman's status as a person who is meant to do all the work for the man and also to be sold out when due. "I know I am just as much a beast as they are." (pg 36). At home, in the country Ebla is made to work always and afterwards she is to be given out in marriage, as a cattle for sale to a man she has never met before. The same incident occurs when she escapes to the town to stay with her cousin; she is made to do all the job in the house and finally, her ungrateful cousin opts to give her hands in marriage to a broker friend of his for money. " They are sold and bought as shepherds sold their goats at market places,..."(pg 84). The scenario that makes up the Beast's existence (work and afterwards be sold for more work) is what the women of the Somali society face.

‘But that is what we women are – just like cattle, proper-ties of someone or other, either your parents or your husband.’... What is the difference between a cow and yourself now? Your hand has been sold to a broker.’ (pg 80)


FLASHBACK

The author uses flashback in his narrative to recount the past events in the life of his key character, Ebla. He uses it to increase the readers knowledge of the experiences of the character which he uses to mirror the plight of the somali women. An incident of flashback in the novel is when Ebla remembers a day when she was still in the country

She went down to the next hut in the dwelling, to get some wood for her fire... While they were talking, the younger brother and sister of that girl rushed in and asked where their mother was...

The Idd festival is approaching. I want mu mother to buy me some clothes', said the boy.

...Girls should ask their mothers, boys their father. so tell him to go and talk to his father.'

Until now, it had not down on her that what the children had said had any sense in it. pg 168

There are other incidents of flashback in the narrative that adds to the readers knowledge of Ebla's experiences.

TENSE:

The author narrates his story in the past tense.


CHARACTERISATION

The actions in a narrative is presented through characters. This is does so by imbuing the characters with certain recognizable human traits and qualities. These qualities include physical attributes, moral, psychological and emotional dispositions, their attitude towards other characters and situations, and so on.

Ebla:

Ebla is the main character and protagonist of the novel. She is the character from which the story is developed, it is in her character that the author's purpose for writing the story is achieved. Ebla represents a Somali woman. Her gradual strides through the situation the society has placed on her, is what makes up the plot of the story. She is a character that seeks her freedom, in a society where she is wrapped by traditional convention. Her behaviour towards the masculine characters is a cautious one, since she is against the role of men. She is obedient and does not raise her voice against a man.

Ebla runs away from the Jes because her grandfather wants to give out her hand in marriage to a 48 years old man, in exchange for camels. She is a hardworking girl right from when she was in the jes and carries this same attitude to her cousins house in Belet Wene. She is very helpful to her cousin and his wife. She later escapes from her cousins place after finding out that he has planned on giving her hands in marriage to his friend who is a broker. She is filled with the desire of getting married and becoming a wife. Luck falls on her side, as Awill the cousin to a widow next door promises to marry her. She escapes from Belet Wene to Mogadiscio, where she gets married to Awill.

Before her marriage to Awill she is forcefully disvirgined by him. During this unfortunate event, the character of the Somali woman in the face of oppression is shown; she does not fight back, but allows him to raped her. Shortly after their marriage, Awill travels to italy and while at Italy, he sends money and his photograph with a white woman home. Ebla sees the image on the photograph as a sign of Infidelity and decides to take up another husband for herself. Her actions here shows her cautiousness in dealing with men and her refusal to be treated as trash by them. She gets married to Tiffo, but divorces him afterwards, because he treats her as a prostitute and not like a wife. This also means she will not tolerate any uncouth behaviour of men towards her. She accepts Awill as her husband when he returns from his trip. The author uses Ebla to drive home his point about the subjugation of the woman figure. She represents the marginalized African(Somali) woman, who fights her way through it.


Ebla's Grandfather:

Ebla's father on the other hand is represents the oppressors in the somali society. The author uses his character and actions to illustrate or relate to the reader, the behaviour of fathers/parents towards their daughters in contrary to their behaviour towards their sons. His actions are geared towards reducing the value of a female child to that of mere goods that could be sold and bought. Ebla's grandfather makes an arrangement with Giumaleh to give his grand-daughter in marriage to him in exchange for cattle. He represents the Somali parent. His actions lead to Ebla's escape. He later puts a cause upon Ebla's head and dies as a result of the trauma of her departure.

Gheddi:

Just like Ebla's grandfather he represents the Somali husband and parent, in his case a guardian. His character and action depicts a man with little regard for women. As a husband he does not care much about his wife. Since the woman is compared to mere goods, he prefers running after the goods in his shop, rather than taking care of his wife during her pregnancy. He allows her to milk the cow in her pregnancy and during one of these occasions, she is kicked at her rib by one of the cows. During his wife's pregnancy he does not reduce his visit to his shop to take care of his wife.

As a guardian he betrays Ebla, by giving her hand in marriage to his broker friend who helps him solve his problem with the police. This shows the similarity in behavioiur of Somali men. it can therefore be said that subjugation of women is embedded in the culture of Somali. Furthermore, the author uses his character to progress the plot. Gheddi's actions force Ebla to run away with her lover to Mogadisco, there by taking the story to a brand new level.

Awill:

Awill is a character that also represent the patriarchal population in Somali. At first he is presented as a man who respects womanhood, this is noticed in the way he talks to Ebla in the widows house. But as the story continues he is seen forcing himself on Ebla to have sex with her; he bullies her and forcefully deprives her of her virginity. His exploits adds more to Ebla's bad conception about his kind. She sees a man's business with a woman as being to fulfill his sexual desire. Awill's bad side is also seen in the picture he sends back home from Italy. He flirts with white women, forgetting his wife at home. He finally returns home and continues in his marriage to Ebla.

Widow:

This character also represents a Somali woman. She is a woman that is against the conventions of society. Unlike Ebla, who is a semi-urban woman. She is educated and has much experience of urban life compared to Ebla. The author uses her as a character to improve on the character of his central character. The widow is seen as a mentor for Ebla to follow and she also teaches her certain things about the urban setting. She is used to improve the plot of the play, as it is through her that Ebla absconds with Awill.

She is a victim of patriarchy, though not from a Somali man. She is married to an Arab man who divorces her because she is a freelancer. He wants her to be reserved and not to be seen relating with other people, thereby reserving her for himself like a commodity. He does not respecting her freedom to relate with others. She refuses to be treated like that and she is consequently divorced. This is similar to the idea Ebla has about her existence; to be free. Being a woman that is against the anti-woman conventions in the society, she advices Ebla on the best thing to do.

Asha:

She is a complete urban woman, who lives in the big city of Mogadiscio. Her character is that of an independent woman, who knows her way around men. As an urban woman with a very strong distaste for patriarchy, she advices Ebla to take up another man to fill Awill's place, when they sense infidelity on Awill's part through the photograph he sends. As an urban woman she sees the man and the woman as being equal, therefore, if the man decides to change women like underwear, women could also change men too.

"Ebla, little by little, learnt the background of Asha, who she found was the most interesting character she had met since she left the country...Ebla could not help being fond of Asha, because she was the first person who had ever considered her equal: she made Ebla aware of what she was. (Pg121).

Asha rejects Tiffo the husband who she had chosen to marry Ebla, because he does not treat her as his wife. Tiffo only comes to Ebla at night and does his business with her then goes back to his wife at home. Asha, being a woman intolerant of any compromise towards the status of womanhood, advices Ebla to divorce him.

It is through her character that we get to know more about the strength of patriarchy in Somali. It is noticed that Ebla as a rural woman, though she is against patriarchy, her stand against it is not as strong as Asha's, a full urban woman. The widow as a semi-urban woman, who is also against patriarchy, but her stand against it is not as strong as Asha's. She still believes in the inferiority of women though she is against it. She says;

But that is what we women are – just like cattle, proper-ties of someone or other, either your parents or your husband. ...What is the difference between a cow and yourself now? Your hand has been sold to a broker.’ (pg 80)

Her actions in the story leads to Ebla's conclusion that she is equal to a man. She looks at her status as a woman with two husbands and reasons that since, Islam permits a man to marry four wives, she could also marry more than one husband. "You have another wife and I have another husband. We are even: you are a man and I am a woman, so we are equal. You need me and I need you. We are equal." (145)

Tifo:

He is not different from other Somali men, but he is married to a woman stronger than he is. He manipulates a less powerful woman, Ebla. His treatment by his wife, when she finds out about his relationship with Ebla shows the strength of Somali urban women.

Ebla's brother:

He character stands as the opposite of Ebla in terms of childhood. He is the male child with the heritage of the family in his hands, while Ebla on the other hand is a property of the family that is given out. His character is used to show the status of a male child in contrast to that of a female child. When he is brought to Mogadiscio to visit Ebla he refuses to stay there with her. He is bent on going back to take care of the family's property. Ebla is also in support of this and does not talk him out of his decision.
http://peterudoh.blogspot.ch/2013/02/an ... -from.html

[Gabre]

Did you seriously plagiarize a chapter from a Nuurruddiin Faarax book and put it up on the Kindle store to pass it off as your own work? And why did you try to Mareexaanize it by changing the towns to Mareexaan ones? Lmao at least spell check before you rip people off.

1/5 stars not impressed mooriyaan

[gedo_gurl]

Yo, I'm keen to support you but I'm not paying 5 pounds for 9 pages.

That is like a huge oversight on your part.

(yeah, you can download it for free with kindle unlimited, but that's a subscription service)

You can try it for free...or so I thought. 9 pages of heaven await you.

Lamagoodle,

Its got nothing to do with Nuruddiin Faarax and no, I'm not a plagiarist. Its entirely original in its writing, but the landscape (not Marexaan, whatever that means) is Somali.

Whats a fiver to anyone?

[AgentOfChaos]

THEMES

Patriarchy:

That's all I needed to know.

[gedo_gurl]

No patriarchy in my book. Man love, yes.