Themes
Boltzmann's equation for entropy is heavily featured in the book, seen as a mathematical formula for the seemingly irrational chaos enfolding in Beirut. Mathematics are also heavily discussed throughout the book. In the end they are discredited by a single word-- "Inshallah"--"As God Wills" which Ninette states is the very essence of our complex and irrational lives.
The characters of Bilal and Captain Ghassan represent the division of Lebanon. Bilal is a poor, semi-literate Shi'ite street sweeper who has eight children, whereas Ghassan is a wealthy Christian medical student turned officer with two children. Bilal fights for the creation of an Islamic state, whereas Ghassan was drawn into the conflict after the murder of his father by Muslim extremists who then razed his family's seaside villa. Ghassan eventually kills Bilal.
The irrationality of the conflict in Lebanon is expounded upon. Change and the impact of seemingly unimportant events also feature heavily in the story. For example, Italian soldiers purchasing an inflatable sex doll drastically alters the course of events.
Religion also features prominently in the novel. Many of the soldiers draw comfort from their beliefs, and the soft, peaceful Christianity of the Italians is juxtaposed against the "Olympian" Christianity of the Lebanese, who pray to the Virgin of Junieh that they might slay many enemies. Islam is attacked somewhat in the novel, as Mohammed is portrayed as abusive to women.
Read more about this topic: Inshallah (novel)
Famous quotes containing the word themes:
“I suppose you think that persons who are as old as your father and myself are always thinking about very grave things, but I know that we are meditating the same old themes that we did when we were ten years old, only we go more gravely about it.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“In economics, we borrowed from the Bourbons; in foreign policy, we drew on themes fashioned by the nomad warriors of the Eurasian steppes. In spiritual matters, we emulated the braying intolerance of our archenemies, the Shi’ite fundamentalists.”
—Barbara Ehrenreich (b. 1941)