The narrative of the book by Yoram Binur engages in the documentation of the transformation of the self and the perennial struggle in the face of an uncompromising societal milieu. If one opts to analyze the gradual transformation of the type of resistance being put up by people of the society over the span the narrative, one can very well understand how Binur faced the onus all alone. A close analysis of the narrative in context portrays the ways in which Binur faces the resistance from the society and himself puts up resistance to the society around in his own way.
Now, the author goes on to explicate the very early form of resistance as he pens, “Every three days Ofra paid me in cash and, as usual, there was no mention of any benefits whatsoever, not even those which an employer is bound by law to provide.” (Binur 68) One comes to realize via this quote that the author was on the receiving end of unfair practices as he was denied his right as a worker, in spite of having the law to uphold the due rights. It can very well be understood that the people treated the ones in lower positions as worse as slaves. Yoram goes on to find out the inhuman attitude of the people in power as they treat the ones in lower positions as if they do not even deserve the very basic right of earning a decent living. As such, one can understand the immense suffering encompassing the lives of the poor people.
As the narrative progresses, the author opines, “It was important for me to go about as a Jew again or a few days; maybe I'd be able somehow to counteract the increasing domination of y Palestinian identity over my own personality.” (Binur 74) As he worked in Yisrael’s place and conversed with some policemen, he come to understand that if the policemen would know that he was a Jew by religion, he would need to leave. Hence, Binur needs to disguise himself as a Palestinian so as to assimilate with the societal milieu and people of the place. This goes on to portray the immense struggle and the lack of scope of any freedom of being on the part of the protagonist of the narrative in context.
The societal disparity and the impediments encompassing the life of the protagonist is explicated with utmost clarity as he pens, “The men who stood in line ahead of me had no problems when they bought their tickets and entered, but when I came up to the cashier he asked me for a membership card.” (Binur 78) The avid readers can very well gauge that the cashier went on to treat different people with different kinds of attitude. Thus, the innate racism in the contextual societal milieu is exposed in front of the readers who are left to pine at the struggle faced by Binur on a regular basis. Binur’s identity went on to be challenged and he faced immense societal pressure. His personal experiences and explications stand as vivid testimony to the things faced by him.
One can truly understand the dichotomy and haplessness of the male protagonist as he opines, “I was bothered by the feeling that I couldn’t go down the street anymore without someone recognizing me as Fat’hi I was tired of the posing act.” (Binur 74) The readers come to see that the protagonist is feeling as he is at the verge of losing his true identity as a person to the one that he has created to survive in the society. His fabricated identity has come to overlap with his true identity as he feels that his sense of self as well as actions are still the very same in nature. Thus, one comes to realize the tremendous onus on the mind and psyche of Binur as he had to face the surmounting resistance from the society and the people in the contextual ambiance.
Binur goes on to opine at one point in the course of the narrative, “As a Jew, I felt very much like giving him a lesson in the art of cultured debate; as an Arab, I was incapable of continuing the conversation.” (Binur 82) This quote refers to a conversation which the protagonist has to hold back due to the fact that he is portraying a different identity. Binur comes to find that the opinions and ideas of the person he is in conversation with are not his own. As such, the entire narrative shows the dichotomy of Binur’s heart and his constant struggle with his own self as he faces odds at every juncture of life and existence.
It would be correct to conclude that the book goes on to leave a very lasting impression on the minds of the intrigued readers who are engaged to the text in the best possible way. One is simply left to pine for the character in context as the narrative explicates the various struggles and resistance faced by him. The resilience of the male protagonist in the face of the surmounting resistance and onus has to be commended by one and all. The book engages in addressing the burning issue of hegemonic influence, racism, identity crisis, social oppression and struggle for existence. Binur’s character can be seen as the epitome of resolution. He faces resistance, and himself puts up his own resistance in front of the opposing forces that threaten his well-being in the society in context.
Works Cited
Binur, Yoram. My Enemy, My Self. London: Penguin Books, 1990. Print.
