26th Annual Student Research Conference
Relationships and Religion: A Look at the Religious Parallels within Susan Abulawha's "Mornings in Jenin"
Basia M. Dann
Dr. Hena Ahmad, Faculty Mentor
In her novel, Mornings in Jenin, Susan Abulawha tells the tale of a Palestinian family caught in the middle of the Israel-Palestine conflict. In the novel, there is a focus on the complex relationships between the members of the family. The relationships detailed include the interactions of estranged brothers David and Yousef, those between mothers and daughters throughout generations of the family, and the connection between Amal and her father. This essay will analyze the way in which Abulawha utilizes the parallels between three major religions, Islam, Christianity, and Judaism to create sympathy for the family and strengthen the relationships including that of the reader with the Abulheja family. This essay will examine the use of religious imagery and symbolism to determine the importance of each relationship within the novel and to analyze how the novel itself mirrors these religious texts to create a new perspective on the Israel-Palestine issue.
Keywords: Relationships, Religion, Imagery, Symbolism
Topic(s):English
Middle Eastern Studies
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 405-4
Location: VH 1320
Time: 3:15