Discussion
Points
1. What
does the title “In God’s Garden” refer to?
2. Do
you think that Nadia lived her life as if in a garden? Why?
3. What
reasons did Nadia’s grandfather give to his son to discourage him from marrying
Nadia’s mother? Do you agree with him? Did the events of the novel prove him
right, or wrong?
4. What
triggered Nadia’s feelings toward her mother? Did her sister, Salwa, feel the
same? Why?
5. Name
Nadia’s true love or loves. Explain.
6. According
to Nadia, how many meanings are there to the expression “God willing”? Which
one she followed? Explain.
7. Is
there a gap between appearances and reality in the Egyptian culture? Explain?
8. List
the differences and similarities between Nadia’s life in Egypt and her life if
she had been living in the United States?
9. How
did the political, social, and economic changes brought by Abd al-Nasser,
al-Sadat, and Hosni Mubarak affect Nadia’s family?
10. Show
how religion and life intertwine in Egypt?
Egypt at one time was cosmopolitan and developed the philosophy of cosmopolitanism which differs from multiculturalism as each ethnic group follows their own laws and their own lineage. Religion and language was an asset and people lived in peace for thousands of years, although at times there was civil unrest, mostly during times of war or when Egypt was invaded and conquered.
ReplyDeleteLife did change for Nadia, under the three regimes and this depends on her family upbringing and what matters to her. Under Nasser she saw King Farouk leave with his family and the rise of nationalism. Get rid of the colonial forces and she also wondered why the Jewish community of Alexandria left. The Jewish community had a similar question why were we asked to leave? lots of theories and ideas are put out there yet the people however the complexity of events and the facts remain unclear, because we be it in the North or the South have all the facts and truth has not yet come out. She saw the downfall of the king and the army in control, the twelve who liberated Egypt are now the leaders.
The Muslim brotherhood was banned and imprisoned under Nasser, Sadat and Mubarak...
War was fought under Nasser, Khadafi wanted to have a united grater Egypt no one knew who was to lead, Khadafi's hero and role model Nasser or Khadafi? Nasser died and El-Sadat come to power.
She saw war and the peace negotiated between El-Sadat and the old Lady Meier as she answered the old man with: "what took you so long." El-Sadat was killed and so was Rabin killed by their own people. Then came the peace train that went around the world, two widows: Jehan el-Sadat and Leah Rabin talking openly and frankly about issues that were near and dear to their heart, and negotiating with their husbands a peace plan. What about Palestine? What do we do?
\yes everyone in Egypt had hope after the Suez, life will be better, yes we will build our economy...
Mubarak brought in foreign investors but did he fulfill the need for work for his people, she saw the end of the Mubarak era and saw him having to answer for crimes against his own people. She saw the Muslim Brotherhood being elected on promises of a better life and jobs for all...
She saw the controversial Nawal el-Sadawi and her novels plus her political ambitions. Some archaic practices are now forbidden, women do they have more rights? The one factor that is immovable is that the army has the last word they are there to protect the people and make sure there is no civil unrest.
Yes, Nadia saw changes, she saw progress from a kingdom to an elected parliament a type of democracy that differs from the North. She saw the banning of the Muslim Brotherhood and the newly elected Muslim Brotherhood government. She listened to Umm Khaltum on the radio every week and now can visit the museum in her name. The lived the complexity of life and asked questions and tried to find answers.
She saw the rise of religious intolerance where as she knew of religious respect. At one time Muslims, Jews and Copt Christians lived side by side in harmony as they respected one another's religion and now the European Religious wars have marred their reality their memory.