The Imagery of Musa
Harun narrates, “Musa was my older brother, his head seemed to strike the clouds. He was quite tall, yes and his body was thin and knotty from hunger and the strength anger gives. He had an angular face, big hands that protected me, and hard eyes because our ancestors lost their land.” Manifestly Musa was a towering and commanding lad. His evident ‘hunger and anger’ underscore the circumstances of his existence most of which are ascribed to colonization. Musa is inherently aggrieved as a result of the colonists blatant snatching of the Arabs’ land. Moreover, Musa is Harun’s guardian and guardian considering the absenteeism of their father.
The Imagery of Algiers
Harun expounds, “I remember the road to Hadjout, lined with fields whose crops weren’t destined for us, and the naked sun, and the other travellers on the dusty bus. The oil fumes nauseated me, but I loved the virile, almost comforting roar of the engine, like a kind father that was snatching is, my mother and me, out of an immense labyrinth made up of buildings downtrodden people, shanty towns, dirty urchins, aggressive cops, and beaches fatal to Arabs. For the two of us, the city would always be the scene of the crime, or the place where something pure and ancient was lost. Yes, Algiers, in my memory, is dirty, corrupt creature, a dark, treacherous man-stealer.” Harun’s remembrance of Algiers depicts it as a principally contaminated city with adverse reminiscences. The odds of criminal engagements in the city are extraordinary. The buildings are not remarkable considering the burgeoning of shanties. The images of the street urchins affirms the city’s inherent darkness. The resolution to relocate from Algiers is influenced by the yearning to suppress memoirs of Musa’ demise.
