Home is Where the Heart Belongs: Zeitoun

“Home is the one place in all this world where hearts are sure of each other. It is the place of confidence. It is the place where we tear off that mask of guarded and suspicious coldness which the world forces us to wear in self-defense, and where we pour out the unreserved communications of full and confiding hearts. It is the spot where expressions of tenderness gush out without any sensation of awkwardness and without any dread of ridicule”, said Frederick W. Robertson. Zeitoun by Dave Eggers, emphasizes the crisis during and after Hurricane Katrina, the sixth strongest hurricane in American history. The story narrates the experience of the Zeitoun and his family, the plot describes the family’s feelings, perspective and problems they had to face during and after the natural disaster. Islamophobia and the importance of home is affected through the events and situations that the two main character, Kathy and Zeitoun, had to live with during and after the dreadful natural disaster Hurricane Katrina.

Islamophobia according to dictionary.com is defined as hatred or fear of Muslims or of their politics or culture. Before reading Zeitoun I wasn't aware of how big islamophobia was, however as I read this novel I realized how awful it is. Living in these circumstances is harsh. Zeitoun and his family had a huge obstacle in front of them everyday. Islamophobia influences the actions and decisions the family takes during the hurricane. For example, when Kathy leaves New Orleans to Baton Rouge, her mother insists that she doesn't need to wear the hijab. “‘Why don’t you take off that thing and relax’ she said pointing to Kathy’s hijab. ‘He’s not here. Be yourself.’” (p. 106) Be yourself. Kathy is trying to be herself, she adopted th...

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...dreadful natural disaster Hurricane Katrina. “Home wasn't a set house, or a single town on a map. It was wherever the people who loved you were, whenever you were together. Not a place, but a moment, and then another, building on each other like bricks to create a solid shelter that you take with you for your entire life, wherever you may go.” said Sarah Dessen. “This is the pattern of his life: ludicrous dreams followed by hours and says and years of work and then a reality surpassing his wildest hopes and expectations. And so why should this be any different.” (p. 325) Through many ups and down, The Zeitoun family had the power to survive the many conflicts and events that came during and after the sixth strongest hurricanes that had hit the American coastline, Katrina. While reading this novel, I finally understood what home is to me. What those home mean to you?