Views from the Third World

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The Fugitive Light

The Novel 's Plot

Fugitive Light by Mohamed Berrada is a narration of life of an old aging painter named Al Ayshuni . Set in Tangier , the novel opens in the house of the said painter who was caught with artistic paralysis - not able to produce what he thinks into an artistic work . He could not paint or even sketch what were on his mind . In the middle of this paralysis Al Ayshuni would be disturbed by the presence of another character : the

br divorced Fatima . A young , beautiful , and highly-spirited woman , Fatima would introduce herself to Al Ayshuni , admitting that she is an avid admirer of the artist and his works

Later in the story , Fatima will play a vital part to Al Ayshuni 's life She will bring memories to the painter as the author will try to slowly reveal the woman 's character and her connection to Al Ayshuni 's past . It would then be revealed that Fatima is the daughter of Al Ayshuni 's past lover , Ghaylana . Not only through that case could Al Ayshuni find a connection to Fatima . Their relationship would deepen as the story progresses . The divorced young lady would eventually serve as the artist 's model for his works , muse for social gatherings , and finally lover . Al Ayshuni would struggle between his feelings for Fatima and his unfinished business with her mother Ghaylana . Most importantly , he would try to turn back time just to find again the fugitive of his life-- his youth

Towards the end of the story , Al Ayshuni would finally proclaim his defeat not only in the aspect of love but in the aspect of life itself Fatima returned to Menton , a town in the Italian b , with his new husband Matthias . The old artist has failed to regain his fugitive light that he once had . Berrada has described the artist 's feeling through using his paintings as a metaphor

Who among us does not run away from something ? I return to my lines and colors : I run away from the words of these memoirs and renounce the illusion of recording through them the experiences I lived . I am content to repeat : What 's gone is gone , light and color remain for me as well as space , of which I dream through them . Everything else is prattle and sermonizing blown by the winds

The Novel 's Characters

Al Ayshuni , as the protagonist of the novel , has showed a variety of his character while the story progresses . Those progressions in his character , nevertheless , were evidently portrayed by Berrada . Al Ayshuni was an adopted child of a rich mentor who fostered his artistic talents by providing him his financial needs and bringing him up as man of wit and intellect . He chose to further his artistic craft instead of committing his life to Ghaylana , his first love

When he met Ghaylana , though , he missed the opportunity of being with her as he chose to follow his...