The figurative use of water in Lamine Saidi’s novel,The Thorn Shadow.

The figurative use of water in Lamine Saidi’s novel,The Thorn Shadow.

Though water is one of the greatest elements in nature which is indispensable to all its components,it is neglected by modern Arab literature.Indeed,authors rarely focus on water in their writings.
In The Thorn Shadow the figurative use of water which triggers actions and events draws my attention since the author Lamine Saidi throughout his novel confirms that water in the village stands for life,Man,animal and vegetation…Since the villages and countrysides in Southern and Central Tunisian areas are very hot,water adjusts people’s mood in these parts…
Beyond that,water in The Thorn Shadow is closely-knit to setting.In fact,there are paddles at the edges of those lanes leading to the fields.Herds of sheep,cows and goats come to drink from these ponds…
Furthermore,water protects people,animals,those trees and vegetables on the roads borders from dust and thus the land is wet.
Besides,water images joy and life in the countrysides for it is correlated to farming.Actually,the farmers who have water are wealthy as they have the privilege of sowing various vegetables and trees.Water is also a reason for pride because some people delibrately keep water flowing on the public road so that the village inhabitants will say they are rich,generous and noble-minded farmers…
In addition,water is a remarkable agent in the industry of pottery since most of the village women are engaged in this job.Hania,for instance,makes clay pots and sells them on the public road to earn her family living,and she is successful in her job thanks to water.
Briefly,water is at the core of narration in Lamine Saidi’s novel,The Thorn Shadow,in which he skillfully makes of water one of the major components and allegories.