Ismail Kadare's Broken April

Thesis: Throughout Broken April by Ismail Kadare, Diana and Bessian’s physical proximity declines as Bessian devote fascination with the Kanun leads to the deterioration of their relationship as a married couple. In pages 61-86 of the novel, Diana and Bessian are fairly physically intimate with each other, with a clear developing distance forming between them as Bessian continuously speaks of the Kanun and the Blood Code, leaving Diana speechless. Although Diana is left speechless in more than one instance, she reacts physically to Bessian’s remarks. In one instance, Bessian explains the Blood Code to Diana and the merit behind it, Bessian waited for a “word of approval, but she was silent; her eyes, however, looked into his with the same
kindness” (Kadare 72). It is clear that Bessian’s interest in the Blood Code was intense as he “waited for a word of approval”, wanting his life to be as enthusiastic towards the Blood Code as he is. Diana does not share this same interest as Bessian as she does not respond, “she was silent”. Diana instead responds to Bessian physically, looking him in the eyes with “kindness”, denoting a degree of closeness between the two at the time. Diana’s differing feelings regarding the Blood Code within these pages is apparent through a certain sense of discomfort on her part. When Bessian is looking out at the landscape discussing the mountaineers living under the Kanun, “he put his and on Diana’s shoulder. His hand had never felt so heavy to her” (79). Bessian’s “heavy” hand on Diana’s shoulder exemplifies his forceful desire to get his wife to share his opinions. This instance of physical proximity brings Diana discomfort, Bessian’s actions reflect his insistence on making Diana interested in the Blood Code. At the end of this section, Bessian and Diana walk together, arm-in-arm, and “when they drew near the tower, Bessian let go of his wife’s arm” (86). Upon arriving to the land constituted by Bessian’s greatest curiosity, he embraces the Kanun, letting go of his wife as to adhere to the rules of the Kanun, thus gravitating away from her and their relationship.