Devon Bennett

                                                                                                                      06 Oct 2003

Guests of the Sheik Reflection (1)

            After the first reading of Guests of the Sheik, I’ve found not so much an enlightened sense of the differences between communities, but rather their similarities. While the majority of the dialogue plays upon the El Eshadda / American interaction – personified by Elizabeth ’s friendship with Laila – we also see into several other world communities, and how their characteristics compare or contrast to the protagonist’s view of the ‘norm.’ We see throughout a common demonstration of communities, and their common humanity. The gypsies seem liberal and mysterious to the tribe, but upon visiting them, Elizabeth finds them not that different from the tribe members. The urban folk (the doctor, mayor, and teachers), although separated by economic class, have the same ambitions, and find themselves dealing with the same worldly trials of climate, survival, and even social acceptance, which is a challenge in any community.

            While differences do exist, it becomes increasingly difficult to tell if one is better, worse, or just different. While Elizabeth enjoys not having to worry about Bob having a second wife for her to compete with, the tribeswomen have an advantage of being married that they would not have if they lived the western lifestyle.

From seeing the interaction at Hamza’s residence, I felt a community’s differences were more in attitude than inherent. With him trying to be the American society host that he isn’t, it was easy to see who belonged to which community, and why they had a place there. Many people try to belong to communities, changing many traditions to fit in. Within Sheik’s plot, even as the next generation tribe members begin going to school (previously unheard of), or shying away from polygamy (once a tribal custom), they evolve as a community. This doesn’t appear to change their community, but rather creates a new one.

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