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Societal Codes in the Middle East

 

They are afraid of going against his beliefs in fear of disappointing their father and receiving his wrath. Majnun, on the other hand, didn't have a strict father like this, a factor contributing to his later actions of love. He has virtually no problem going against almost every societal code to profess his love for Layla, while Ahmad does these things in secret. Although his very public love with Layla eventually alienated him from society, Majnun is portrayed as a more honorable man than Ahmad because he is able to show his true character and motives. When contrasting these two men, it shows how much Islamic law is an influencing factor on their characters and how they act in their society. Ahmad would never act on his feelings of love and attraction to the extent Majnun does; it would be going against the Islamic law in which he likes to portray he lives. .
             The way Ahmad and Majnun show their love and view it is also contrasting and highlights values of their differing cultures. Ahmad has had a wife before his current wife Amina and is open to the prospect of marrying again as it is permitted by Islamic law. Although Ahmad acts like he appreciates the physical beauty in a spiritual way that is accepted by Islamic law, the way he shows his feelings of attraction conflict with Islam. He is seen thinking how it would be nice to have sex with numerous women throughout the novel. He divorced his first wife, Haniya, because she wouldn't obey him, again showing his Jekyll and Hyde characteristics. Lust is the only part of love to which Ahmad responds, but he prides himself on not being beastly. Ahmad's character would never be able to leave all his beliefs, religion, and society itself behind for love. Majnun, however, only ever wants Layla. He is so engulfed with his love for her that he becomes essentially blind to everything else in his society. He states, "My love is my home; nowhere else am I at home" (Nizami 145).


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