Summary Of Broken April By Alan Kadare
Throughout the whole world, everyone has different ways of how they see and deal with criminals and punishment. In the mountain region of Albania specifically, crimes are handled differently than modern society is used to. Gjorg gets involved in the blood feud after Zef Kryeqyqe kills his brother and he makes the hesitant, but brave decision of going after him in order to win back respect and honor for the whole family. This is gets people involved in generation long blood feuds but it is all seen as legal, because of the Kanun. In “Broken April”, Ismail Kadare uses the third person omniscient narrator, the color black and the personification of wild pomegranates to make Gjorg seem not like a criminal, but instead a tragic hero. Gjorg Berisha
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“Slowly the gun barrel swept over some patches of the half-thawed snow towards the wild pomegranates scattered through the brush covered space on both sides of the road”(Kadare 7). The bountiful fruits were bringing him hope the entire time of his vigil. It reminded him that there is still good that can burst out of the coldness and harshness of life. “He had only a vague animosity for the wild pomegranates and the patches of snow, and sometimes he told himself that were it not for them, he would have given up his vigil long ago But there they were, motionless witnesses that had kept him from going away”(Kadare 8). Gjorg had the pomegranates to basically keep him sane. The fruits almost looked on and Gjorg waited patiently for what seemed like endless hours. It gave him the motivation because he felt as if somebody was actually there so he had more of a reason to do it. The pomegranates also reminded him of his land and its culture. The blooming fruits were a part of the mountainous Albanian terrain that he knew as home. With the Kanun being such a prominent factor in his life style, he knew that killing Zef was what he had to do to do right by the Kanun and what was needed in order to restore respect and honor for his family. By the time Gjorg was back in Brezftoht, the pomegranates were still around him. “The snow had melted, he thought. But the wild pomegranate shrubs were still there. Despite everything, he breathed as if he felt relieved”(Kadare 157). Seeing the wild pomegranates still there brought Gjorg comfort and even relief, which was much needed after the stress and fear he has recently been dealing
“Slowly the gun barrel swept over some patches of the half-thawed snow towards the wild pomegranates scattered through the brush covered space on both sides of the road”(Kadare 7). The bountiful fruits were bringing him hope the entire time of his vigil. It reminded him that there is still good that can burst out of the coldness and harshness of life. “He had only a vague animosity for the wild pomegranates and the patches of snow, and sometimes he told himself that were it not for them, he would have given up his vigil long ago But there they were, motionless witnesses that had kept him from going away”(Kadare 8). Gjorg had the pomegranates to basically keep him sane. The fruits almost looked on and Gjorg waited patiently for what seemed like endless hours. It gave him the motivation because he felt as if somebody was actually there so he had more of a reason to do it. The pomegranates also reminded him of his land and its culture. The blooming fruits were a part of the mountainous Albanian terrain that he knew as home. With the Kanun being such a prominent factor in his life style, he knew that killing Zef was what he had to do to do right by the Kanun and what was needed in order to restore respect and honor for his family. By the time Gjorg was back in Brezftoht, the pomegranates were still around him. “The snow had melted, he thought. But the wild pomegranate shrubs were still there. Despite everything, he breathed as if he felt relieved”(Kadare 157). Seeing the wild pomegranates still there brought Gjorg comfort and even relief, which was much needed after the stress and fear he has recently been dealing