The Book of Khalid · Chapter
Flounces and Ruffles explained
This chapter presents Shakib's account of Khalid's courtship of Najma in Baalbek.
What happens
This chapter presents Shakib's account of Khalid's courtship of Najma in Baalbek. It details their idyllic moments, including shared meals, Khalid's chivalrous acts, and their innocent yet passionate encounters. The central scene is a conversation in the Temple of Venus where Khalid outlines his plan for them to live in the desert after their marriage, seeking a cure for his illness and a life of pure joy away from the world. The chapter also highlights Najma's simple, material desires, such as a sky-blue silk dress with ruffles for their wedding, which inspires Khalid to deliver a philosophical rhapsody on the nature of flounces and ruffles as symbols of the superficial adornments of life and religion.
Themes in this chapter
Love and Sacrifice
Khalid's plan to take Najma to the desert is framed as a sacrifice to protect her from his 'curse' and to build a healthy life together. Najma's constancy and willingness to marry an ostracized, sickly man also highlight this theme.
Nature and Solitude
Khalid's vision for their future is centered on a life in the desert, away from the world and its 'sanctified abominations.' He sees nature as the great healer and a place for pure, simple happiness.
Critique of Modernity
Khalid's rhapsody on flounces and ruffles criticizes the superficial adornments of modern life, religion, and institutions, contrasting them with a more authentic, natural state of being.
Characters to notice
- Khalid
Deep in courtship with Najma, he passionately articulates his vision for their future life in the desert, seeking a cure for his illness and a life of pure joy. He also delivers a philosophical monologue on the symbolism of flounces and ruffles.
- Najma
Depicted as pure, naive, and constant in love. She expresses her simple desires for a wedding dress with ruffles and shows her devotion to Khalid, though she struggles to understand his complex philosophical musings.
- Shakib
The narrator of the courtship account, providing the detailed and somewhat romanticized story of Khalid and Najma's relationship.
- Im Hanna
Mentioned as a character in the broader narrative, though not directly present in this chapter's excerpts.
Key passages
“But Khalid, who has seen enough of the fair, would not be attracted to Najma, enchanted by her, if she were not endowed with such of the celestial treasures as rank above the visible lines of beauty.”
Khalid, having seen many women, would not be so captivated by Najma if she did not possess inner, spiritual qualities that surpass mere physical appearance.
This emphasizes that Khalid's love is based on Najma's soul and character, not her looks.
“Into the desert, therefore, to some oasis in its very heart, we shall ride, and there crouch our camels and establish ourselves as husbandmen.”
We will ride into the desert to an oasis, settle there, and become farmers.
Khalid's plan for their future is to escape to a simple, agrarian life in the desert.
“And what are your belfries and spires and chimes, your altars and reredoses and suchlike, but the sanctified flounces of your churches.”
The ornate features of churches, like belfries and altars, are just the holy decorations of your religion.
Khalid uses the metaphor of ruffles to critique religious institutions and their elaborate, but ultimately superficial, trappings.