wild thorns part II

Besides the theme of isolation, I also noticed the constant references to youth and the "not-so-innocent" aspect of youth streaming through Wild Thorns. Khalifeh constantly referred back to the idea of the youth holding the key to the future, the main instance being when the Arab children were taunting the Jewish soldiers in the street.

The first time Usama meets up with Basil after his return to Palestine, he is very surprised to see how involved the young people are in politics. There is a group of boys sitting around a coffee shop discussing the occupation, and Usama realizes that "It was the first time he'd heard young people discussing issues that never would have occurred to them before the occupation" (Khalifeh 59). I think that this section of the book symbolizes the loss of innocence that the occupation has caused. Normally, young men of Basil's age shouldn't be paying attention to politics, they should be concerned with school and socializing. But now that Palestine's been occupied, they have been forced to grow up much quicker and face reality.

One major problem with the loss of innocence that's occurring is that these boys are beginning to plot terrorist rebellions against the Jewish military. When Usama and Basil go to the market, they speak with Haj Abdullah, who is absolutely terrified of what the boys are plotting because his son, Hani, is one of Basil's friends. Haj Abdullah expresses his feelings to Usama on page 73: " 'I'm afraid, Mr. Usama, that these boys might get in involved in something... You know how many are in prison?... They're a generation only God can control' " (Khalifeh). Throughout this whole conversation, Usama keeps telling Haj Abdullah to "just let them talk," insisting that these boys are merely discussing politics. Finally, though, at the end of the chapter, Basil protests that they don't just talk, although he doesn't admit what exactly they're plotting. This does, however, give away the fact that the boys are no longer boys; they are men planning an attack against the military.

One of the most significant parts of Wild Thorns, in my opinion, was the scene where Basil is arrested. There are children flooding the streets, yelling and laughing at the Jewish soldiers. They are screaming in protest to show their disgust at the occupation.

But children were now emerging from all the houses, at first lurking in dark
corners like mice, starting out at the soldiers and laughing and winking at
one another... The soldiers began to chase the boys, who scampered home,
slamming the doors behind them. Then out they came again. A soldier
caught one of them and started to beat him, and the mothers let loose a
stream of curses on all who'd had a hand in the creation of the state.
(Khalifeh 104)

Just a page later, Basil is thrown into a patrol car and taken to jail for this attack on the militia. I think that this chapter is the symbol of the complete chaos that the occupation has caused. There is absolutely no innocence left in Palestine, even the children are getting arrested.

When Basil is taken off, his father is cold and shows no remorse or sadness that his son is in jail. He merely says, " "But what came over the boy? Does he think he can free Palestine all by himself?' " (Khalifeh 106). I think that that is exactly what Basil thought. Khalifeh is trying to show that the occupation will not be over until everyone pitches in to help. Basil and his friend's attack didn't accomplish much and that is because they received no help from the older men. While the children have lost their innocence, they have not lost their hope.