'The Young Suleiman In The Novel In The Country Of Men'

Matars protagonist, the young Suleiman in the novel ‘In the country of men’ is essentially bewildered about what it means to be a man in the Libya of his youths. Receiving conflicting messages about the meaning of true masculinity and various impressions of what it means to be a man in Libya complicates the protagonists perception of true manhood and which is further confounded by the contradicting messages he receives about the form of heroism and betrayal. The young Suleiman is also mystified by the awe he feels towards men in power that he admires deeply as well simultaneously detest, and is perplexed about the patriarchal society which holds men as the head of families. This adult and mature environment greatly puzzles Suleiman about what it truly means to ‘be a man’ and leads the 9 year old to hold many unrealistic and far fetched beliefs.

Suleimans essential role model of manhood, his father Faraj, an underground activist and frequently flying in and out of the country on
Being continually bombard by his mothers drunken tales of betrayal by her cousin and her intense dissent of what she calls the “higher council” being the men who hold power and subjected her to a “life of imprisonment”. Suleiman is yet once again thrown into a state of confusion after having to hear and witness things that no child could understand or comprehend an continually mixing together elements of manhood in pair with elements of oppression he is in a state of total cluelessness due to not being able to naturally comprehend such themes and information properly. Being a nine year old child walking in on his parents, Suleiman believes that his father is a danger to his mother, the well-being of the latter which he believes is his responsibility, after thinking to himself that “god sent” him at the right time and moment to “save” his mother from