The blade
The narrator in the opening scene of the text describes the Sheik’s eyes: “the eyes in his ascetic’s face glinted like the blade of a scimitar.” Soon afterward, the Sheik is the victim of a brutal terrorist attack, which this description foreshadows. By comparing his eyes to a blade, the author suggests a sense of danger and violence, prefiguring his fate.
Photographs of Sihem
After Sihem's death, Jaafari keeps her photographs. He struggles to reconcile his memories of his marriage with her harrowing actions and finds that his memories have been tainted by what she has done. Throughout the text, Jaafari struggles to come to terms with what has happened and struggles to remember her positively.
Betrayal
Betrayal is a key motif in the text, mainly taking the form of Sihem’s betrayal of her husband. When Jaafari discovers what his wife has done, he feels incredibly betrayed and shocked, as anyone would. Due to her actions, innocent people have been killed, and Jaafari struggles to come to terms with this.
After it is revealed Sihem was the suicide bomber, people in Jaafari’s life accuse him of being involved in the attack. They feel betrayed by Jaafari, as he previously presented himself as being politically neutral.
Doctors
The protagonist of this text is a surgeon, and his role as a doctor represents his success and his ability to provide a comfortable lifestyle for his partner. His role as a doctor also symbolizes his caring attitude towards others, which we see throughout the text.
His role as a doctor and a key member of society is contrasted with the fact that he becomes the widow of a suicide bomber. He sees himself as someone who heals political divides, as he remains neutral regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He says that “the only battle I believe in… is the battle the surgeon fights.” However, his stance becomes more conflicted due to his wife’s actions.
Amin's Surgical Tools
The symbol of Amin's surgical tools represents his commitment to healing and saving lives. In the midst of violence and destruction, they serve as a stark contrast, underscoring the tension between his life-saving profession and the acts of terror he encounters. Amin's tools also symbolize his quest for understanding and redemption as he seeks to heal not just physical wounds but the emotional and moral wounds inflicted by his wife's actions.
Sihem's Diary
It symbolizes the hidden thoughts and motivations of the central character involved in the suicide bombing. It becomes a key symbol of the search for truth and understanding as Dr. Amin Jaafari reads through it to uncover the reasons behind her actions. The diary serves as a window into Sihem's inner world and becomes a central tool in Amin's quest to comprehend the complexities of her mindset and the larger issues of extremism and identity in the story.
Tel Aviv as a City
Tel Aviv symbolizes the complexity of coexistence and tensions in the region. It reflects the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict, where different cultures and identities converge. The city's portrayal in the novel highlights the challenges and juxtaposition of diverse groups living in close proximity, adding depth to the narrative's exploration of the complex sociopolitical backdrop.
The Scar on Sihem's Face
The scar on Sihem's face symbolizes a hidden past and concealed truths. It serves as a physical mark of mystery, mirroring the hidden depths and complexity of the characters in the novel. This scar becomes a metaphor for the secrets and unexplored facets of Sihem's life and adds intrigue to the narrative as Dr. Amin Jaafari attempts to unravel her enigmatic history.
