Setting
Most of Matar’s In the Country of Men is set in Libya, a country located on the northeast coast of Africa between Tunisia and Algeria on the west, Egypt on the east, and Sudan, Chad, and Niger to the south. To the north is the Mediterranean Sea. These are important landmarks, as many of these points are discussed in the novel. The chief of state is Muammar Qaddafi (sometimes spelled Gadhafi), who has been a dictator in Libya since 1969. Tripoli is the capital of Libya, a city of over 2 million people today. The dinar is Libya’s monetary unit, an item also mentioned in this story. Sunni Islam is the religion of the majority of the Libyan population. The largest portion of the population is made up of Berbers and Arab, while about three percent of the people are from Italy, Greece, Pakistan, Egypt, Pakistan, Turkey, India, and Tunisia. Moosa and his father Judge Yaseen (to whom Suleiman is later sent) are Egyptians living in Tripoli until the very end of the novel.
Throughout its history, both the Greek and Roman empires controlled parts of Libya. The statue of Septimius Severus is mentioned in the beginning of the novel. This Roman emperor (146-211) was born in present-day Libya. At one time, Tripoli was also the home base for Barbary pirates, who raided ships as they passed by the Mediterranean coast. Italy took over control of Tripoli in 1911 and despite battles with local residents eventually brought together various groups, uniting the people, thus creating the colony of Libya in 1934. The United Nations declared Libya an independent country in 1951. Oil was discovered there seven years later, which gave a much-needed boost to the country’s economy.
On September 1, 1969, a young revolutionary figure, twenty-seven-year-old Qaddafi, deposed the reigning king Idris I (as well as his designated successor Sayyid Hasan ar-Rida al-Mahdi as-Sanussi) in a bloodless coup and created a pro-Arabic Muslim regime.
Suleiman and his family live in Tripoli throughout most of the novel. Muslim rule in this city is apparent when Suleiman’s mother is reluctant to be seen outside of her home by herself and is definitely not supposed to be buying any alcohol, which is forbidden in Islamic countries. There is mention of Islamic leaders and spiritual advisors as well as citizens being called to daily prayers from loudspeakers in the town’s minarets. The heat and the dryness of Tripoli are also mentioned, especially through the incident in which Suleiman suffers a heat stroke after spending the afternoon in the backyard eating mulberries.
Besides the landscape of the city, a major component of the setting is the persistent intrusion of the politics and practices of Qaddafi’s regime, which attempts to obliterate any suspicion of dissent. Telephones are permanently tapped, with a third party’s anonymous voice often interrupting telephone conversations between the two callers. The dictator’s thugs also patrol the streets, monitoring suspicious activities and often pushing their way into the characters’ homes to search for evidence of disloyalty. Because of this influence of terror and suspicion, neighbors spy on one another or else keep all personal actions, which might be construed as political betrayal, hidden behind closed curtains and doors.
Only at the end of the novel does the setting switch to neighboring Egypt, a country that represents a false sense of freedom and escape from the brutal dictatorship in Libya. Suleiman is sent to Egypt so he will not be forced to join Qaddafi’s army. When Suleiman’s parents appear in Egypt, the family believes themselves to be safe. However, Egypt partially and secretly supports the...
(This entire section contains 619 words.)
Unlock this Study Guide Now
Start your 48-hour free trial and get ahead in class. Boost your grades with access to expert answers and top-tier study guides. Thousands of students are already mastering their assignments—don't miss out. Cancel anytime.
Already a member? Log in here.
Libyan government. Egyptian officials kidnap Suleiman’s father and turn him over to Qaddafi’s men.
In the Country of Men
The novel In the Country of Men by Hisham Matar offers a profound exploration of life under a totalitarian regime in Libya, drawing from the author’s personal experiences. Set against the backdrop of Muammar al-Qaddafi's dictatorship, the narrative reveals the harsh realities of living in a society governed by fear and oppression. Through the eyes of a young boy, Suleiman, the story examines themes of submission, family dynamics, and the struggle for freedom.
The Novel's Origins and Themes
Hisham Matar, with his Libyan heritage, brings an insider's perspective to the novel. Born in New York City but raised in Tripoli and Cairo, Matar writes eloquently in English, delving into complex themes associated with living in a totalitarian Muslim nation. He joins a group of writers who offer invaluable insight into the Muslim world, balancing the portrayal of its humane values with its darker aspects as seen under Qaddafi’s rule. The leader, aspiring to be the successor of Egypt's Gamal Abdel Nasser, imposed a socialistic Islamic regime while funding revolutionary and terrorist activities abroad.
Personal and Political Backdrop
The novel draws on Matar's own experiences, including his family's political exile from Libya. At nine, he fled with his mother and brother due to his father's political activities. These personal experiences find a fictional parallel in the novel, where the protagonist Suleiman faces similar circumstances. His father, embroiled in dangerous political dissent against the regime, is absent for long periods, leaving Suleiman and his alcoholic mother, Najwa, to navigate life under constant surveillance.
Life Under Surveillance
In Qaddafi’s Libya, the regime's reach extends into every aspect of life, blurring the lines between private and public domains. This is depicted through Suleiman's neighborhood, where the community is tightly knit yet constantly under the regime's watchful eye. Conversations are monitored, and acts of dissent—like the distribution of critical leaflets—are met with severe punishment. The narrative illustrates this oppression with the arrest of Ustath Rashid, a neighbor and intellectual, whose televised execution Suleiman is forced to witness, highlighting the omnipresent fear and control exerted by the state.
The Struggles of Youth
Suleiman's childhood is marked by confusion and fear, shaped by his mother's struggles with alcoholism and his father's political involvement. His relationship with his mother is intense, marked by a blend of care and dependency, exacerbated by her resentment over an early marriage. The child's perception of the political turmoil around him is fragmented but vivid, as he witnesses neighborhood arrests and the subsequent disintegration of his childhood innocence. Suleiman's actions, like taunting friends or engaging with the secret police, reflect the internal chaos fostered by external oppression.
Symbolism and Submission
The theme of submission permeates the novel, explored through various relationships. Suleiman's interactions with Sharief, a Mokhabarat squad leader, illustrate the sinister allure of authority. The motif of submission extends to the beggar Bahloul, representing a different kind of surrender. These interactions symbolize the broader societal dynamics, where submission is engrained into the cultural and political fabric, shaping behavior and identity.
Gender Dynamics and Power
Parallel to political submission is the depiction of women’s roles, particularly through Najwa’s story. Her forced marriage exemplifies the limited agency of women, treated as property within patriarchal structures. The novel draws parallels between domestic and political dictatorships, where the household mirrors the authoritarian state. This dynamic underscores the pervasive reach of control and the difficulty of breaking free from ingrained patterns of submission.
Cultural and Religious Context
The narrative intricately weaves Islamic teachings into its exploration of submission, suggesting how religious and cultural norms can reinforce authoritarianism. The Arabic concept of Islam, meaning "submission," serves as a thematic backbone, examining how faith-based ideologies can be manipulated to uphold dictatorial governance. Through characters like Najwa's brother, Khaled, who despite living in America, embodies traditional values, the novel questions the possibility of reform and adaptation in cultural practices.
Hisham Matar's In the Country of Men is a poignant examination of the personal and political interplay in a repressive society. Through a child's eyes, it captures the complexities of submission and resistance, offering a deeply human perspective on the historical realities of Libya under Qaddafi's regime.
Bibliography
- Adams, Lorraine. 2007. The dissident’s son. New York Times Book Review, March 4, p. 8.
- Birdthistle, William. 2007. Review of In the Country of Men. Wall Street Journal, March 16, p. W-6.
- Charles, Ron. 2007. A Libyan childhood. Washington Post, February 4, p. BW07.
- Donovan, Deborah. 2006. Review of In the Country of Men. Booklist 103 (7): 22.
- Emry, Ellen. 2007. Libyan child’s gritty world isn’t kid’s stuff. Seattle Times, February 4, p. K-8.
- Keates, Jonathan. 2007. Love in the land of Gaddafi. The Spectator (London), September 9.
- Levy, Michele. 2007. Review of In the Country of Men. World Literature Today 81 (6): 62–63.
- Van Der Vlies, Andrew. 2005. To be a man. Times Literary Supplement (London), August 4, p. 21.
- Zipp, Yvonne. 2007. A land where boys must be men. Christian Science Monitor, February 6, p. 13.
- Booklist 103, no. 7 (December 1, 2006): 22.
- Kirkus Reviews 74, no. 21 (November 1, 2006): 1095-1096.
- Library Journal 131, no. 19 (November 15, 2006): 58.
- The Nation 284, no. 8 (February 26, 2007): 30-33.
- New Statesman 135 (July 31, 2006): 58.
- The New York Times 156 (February 15, 2007): E10.
- The New York Times Book Review 156 (March 4, 2007): 8.
- Newsweek 148, no. 11 (September 11, 2006): 61.
- Publishers Weekly 253, no. 43 (October 30, 2006): 34-35.
- The Wall Street Journal 249, no. 62 (March 16, 2007): W6.
