'Saeed The Pessoptimist'

When observing the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, one realizes that there are many factors that have contributed to and upheld the tensions between both peoples, which include war and nationalism. Nationalism is generally known as the patriotism or loyalty that one may have towards their country. It includes identifying with a certain nationality and expressing that pride through social and political manners, such as culture and political party. However, in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, it adopts a slightly different meaning. Palestinian nationalism is defined as the struggle against Israeli colonialism of Arab land and fighting to re-establish Palestine through political, economic and social means. It grew as a result of mass Israeli

Saeed the Pessoptimist by Emile Habiby is a prime example of how literature was used to reflect Palestinian national sentiments. Habiby uses the character of Saeed to demonstrate the struggle of the Palestinian living in Israel and accepting one’s Arab identity as a way to remain loyal to his people. In chapter 35, Habiby presents Saeed with the task of picking either his Arab identity or Israeli identity when he is suspected of acting as a traitor to the state. His boss jabs at him by saying if he is innocent “why is it Yuaad you loved, Baqiyya you married and Walaa you had as a son?” (Habiby 122). The symbolism behind the three names is important to consider when considering Saeed’s patriotism towards his country. In Arabic, the name “Yuaad” means “the one who will return”, which references Yuaad’s return into Saeed’s life after leaving when she was a teenager. She represents the Palestinians who will come back to fight for their land and are willing to be punished as as long as they were to positively contribute to the struggle against the Israelis. Saeed “loved” her because she was the “loyal” force that was willing to go to any length to fight and preserve her nation. He tries throwing off the Israelis by marrying “Baqiyya”, which translates to “ the one who remains”. She embodies the “defeated Arabs” who were considered disloyal to the Palestinian state by remaining and not doing anything to fight against the Israelis. By marrying her, Saeed is concealing his true feelings about his Arab identity by trying to seem loyal to the Israelis by being with someone who would not threaten their existence. However, the person who does threaten their existence is Walaa, the “loyal” son. Habiby chose Walaa as the loyal Palestinian who joins the guerrilla forces to help in the struggle against the Israelis. He