The Broken Wings by Kahlil Gibran
"The Broken Wings" is a prose poem by Kahlil Gibran, often regarded as his finest work in Arabic literature. Set in Lebanon, the narrative unfolds through the eyes of a young male student who develops a profound love for Selma, the daughter of a family friend. Despite her beauty and the depth of their connection, societal and religious constraints prevent them from marrying, as Selma is chosen by the village bishop to wed his nephew. This leads to a poignant exploration of themes such as alienation, unrequited love, and the longing for genuine connection.
The story delves into the emotional turmoil faced by Selma as she navigates her unhappy marriage, highlighting the oppressive conditions women endure in a patriarchal society. Gibran's work critiques these social customs, depicting the lovers' secret meetings in a secluded temple as an act of defiance against the societal norms that bind them. Throughout the narrative, Gibran weaves in a sense of wisdom and introspection, as the young hero seeks to reconcile his feelings with the oppressive forces that hinder personal fulfillment. "The Broken Wings" ultimately serves as a poignant reflection on love, loss, and the quest for identity in a restrictive world.
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The Broken Wings by Kahlil Gibran
Excerpted from an article in Magill’s Survey of World Literature, Revised Edition
First published:Al Ajnihah al-Mutakassirah, 1912 (English translation, 1957)
Type of work: Prose poem
The Work
The Broken Wings is considered Gibran’s best writing in Arabic. The prose poem, set in Lebanon, is written in the first person and skillfully uses everyday words. Gibran effectively engages the reader in the work’s depiction of emotion, alienation, and the longing for connections.
The central male character is a young Lebanese student who meets Ferris Effandi, a friend of his father. The young man meets and falls in love with Effandi’s daughter, Selma, who is described as “beautiful in both spirit and body.” They are prevented from marrying when the village bishop chooses Selma to be the wife for his nephew. After Selma marries, she and her friend do not meet again until they see each other at Effandi’s house just before his death. When Selma reveals the conditions of her unhappy marriage, Effandi asks the young man to be Selma’s brother and friend.
Defying the social customs of the day, the two meet secretly and regularly in a secluded temple to talk and share their thoughts. These bittersweet hours spent together cannot heal Selma’s failing health, which is caused by unhappiness. She begins to see death as her rescuer. When her newborn son dies, she holds him in her arms and says, “You have come to take me away my child . . . lead me and let us leave this dark cave.”
There is some debate as to whether or not The Broken Wings is autobiographical. Some think Gibran is recounting the story of his first love, Hala Dahir, the oldest daughter of Selim Dahir, Gibran’s tutor. Reportedly, their love was discouraged by Hala’s brother, who thought she could do better. Gibran told Mary Haskell, however, that the work is not based on any of his experiences.
As in his other Arabic works, revolt against social and religious structures is a central element. The young man in love bemoans the plight of women who are “looked upon as a commodity, purchased and delivered from one house to another . . . [they] become like an old piece of furniture left in a dark corner.” The three principal characters are brought into conflict with the local church leader, who arranges a marriage without regard for the feelings of the chosen woman or her family. This conflict, along with unrequited love, leads the two lovers to defy both religious and social practices by meeting in the temple. Not only was it a sacrilege to use the temple in this manner, but it also was taboo for married women to be in the company of other men. In keeping with Gibran’s style, the hero is both young and wise. He looks for some workable way of feeling, thinking, and living that will lead him to prevail over the social and religious forces that keep people from realizing their true selves.
Bibliography
Acocella, Joan. “Prophet Motive: The Kahlil Gibran Phenomenon.” The New Yorker 83, no. 42 (January 7, 2008): 72.
Bushrui, Suheil, and Joe Jenkins. Man and Poet: A New Biography. Boston: Oneworld, 1998.
Gibran, Jean. Kahlil Gibran: His Life and World. Boston: New York Graphic Society, 1974.
Gougassian, Joseph P. Kahlil Gibran: Wings of Thought. New York: Philosophical Library, 1973.
Naimy, Mikhail. Kahlil Gibran: A Biography. New York: Philosophical Library, 1985.
Nash, Geoffrey. The Arab Writer in English: Arab Themes in a Metropolitan Language, 1908-1958. Portland, Oreg.: Sussex Academic Press, 1998.
Waterfield, Robin. Prophet: The Life and Times of Kahlil Gibran. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1998.
Young, Barbara. This Man from Lebanon: A Study of Kahlil Gibran. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1945.