The Book of Khalid · Chapter
X: The Desert explained
Khalid, Shakib, and Najma find refuge in the Libyan desert near Cairo, where they live in tents and enjoy a peaceful, idyllic life.
What happens
Khalid, Shakib, and Najma find refuge in the Libyan desert near Cairo, where they live in tents and enjoy a peaceful, idyllic life. Khalid is captivated by the infant Najib, teaching him to walk and play, and finds joy in the simple desert existence. Mrs. Gotfry stays nearby at al-Hayat, and the Bahaist Priestess also camps close by. Khalid spends his days in childlike play, philosophical musings, and nurturing his love for Najma, who begins to recover her health. The chapter reflects on the transient nature of this happiness and includes a broader commentary on political turmoil and the pursuit of inner peace.
Themes in this chapter
Nature and Solitude
The desert setting provides a peaceful retreat from political strife, where Khalid finds joy in simple pleasures and the company of loved ones.
Love and Sacrifice
Khalid's devotion to Najma and Najib, and his willingness to live in the desert to ensure their well-being, exemplifies love and sacrifice.
Critique of Modernity
The chapter contrasts the simplicity of desert life with the artificiality of hotel life and the pretensions of modern society, as seen in Khalid's preference for the desert over al-Hayat.
Characters to notice
- Khalid
Finds happiness in the desert, teaching Najib and enjoying the simple life, while reflecting on deeper philosophical questions.
- Shakib
Present in the desert camp, sharing the peaceful life with Khalid and Najma.
- Najma
Recovering her health in the desert, her hope blossoms as she sees her child develop.
- Najib
The infant prodigy, developing rapidly in the desert, delighting everyone with his precocious spirit and imitative antics.
- Mrs. Gotfry
Staying at al-Hayat, a stone's throw from the camp, and involved in the child's care.
- The Bahaist Priestess
Visits the camp frequently, finding the solitude agreeable, and has a tent pitched near theirs.
Key passages
“But we can not see how the descendants of Yakut and Seljuk Khan, whether pursuers or pursued, whether Dustur winged furies they be, or Hamidian devils, are going to hold their own in face of the fell Dragon which soon or late must overtake them.”
The narrator doubts that the Turks, whether they are the revolutionaries or the reactionaries, can survive against the inevitable rise of a greater power.
This reflects the political commentary on the futility of the internal conflicts within the Ottoman Empire.
“Here then is the divine source of the sweetest and purest joy. Here is that one touch of Nature which makes the whole world kin.”
The child's innocent interactions with strangers bring universal joy and connection, transcending cultural barriers.
Khalid marvels at how Najib's natural charm can warm the hearts of even the most solemn tourists.
“Following the precept of the Greek philosophers, he would show him even so early how to die.”
Khalid teaches Najib to lie in a sand-grave as a lesson in mortality, following ancient philosophical traditions.
This highlights Khalid's unconventional approach to education and his philosophical bent.