The Submission essay - Amy Waldman (2011)

Résumé du document

Bravery is a human trait which can be displayed through different ways, from physical courage to moral courage. Bravery is one of the main theme of The Submission, a novel written by Amy Waldman and published in 2011.
A jury chooses a memorial for the victims of a devastating terrorist attack on Manhattan. When the envelope is opened to reveal the name of the winner, it is as if a bomb has been dropped. No one in their wildest dreams, not even these worldly politicians, intellectuals, and artists, could imagine that a Muslim, a member of the "other" side, could have been chosen.
His selection is not well received in a divided country.

Extraits

[...] We can observe that most of the brave characters are the representants of the Muslim side. A decade after the attacks, it is possible now to look with perspective on who we were, whom we became and who we want to be. Waldman's novel ends with regrets two decades after the attacks. It is almost as if she is sounding a warning, telling us that we have another decade to do better, to make things right, to try to repair some of the injustices made to brave people and to heal the wounds of 9/11. [...]

[...] Bravery is one of the main theme of The Submission, a novel written by Amy Waldman and published in 2011. A jury chooses a memorial for the victims of a devastating terrorist attack on Manhattan. When the envelope is opened to reveal the name of the winner, it is as if a bomb has been dropped. No one in their wildest dreams, not even these worldly politicians, intellectuals, and artists, could imagine that a Muslim, a member of the “other” side, could have been chosen. [...]

[...] But now I see that it was about you: your design, your reputation, your place in history,” says Laila (p.200). Mo finds himself the subject of “public service” advertising done by the MACC. They create an ad with Mo at a drafting table and with one of Roi's most famous buildings in the background. He feels uncomfortable representing anyone save himself, even for a good cause. He and Laila have a painful disagreement about this. She thought Mo was brave when Mo stands up for himself in front of the whole country. [...]

[...] Nasruddin, a friend of Asma It also takes bravery and courage, the ability to see beyond your fears and anger in order to do the right things; the act of bravery here is not to act. Nasruddin, a friend of Asma illustrates this type of bravery: “He [Nasruddin] dragged her [Alyssa] until he saw a police officer. It was right she is safeguarded, whatever she had done, but inside he raged no less than the mob. ‘Protect her', he said. She is responsible” (p.291). As Asma and Abdul are leaving the building, surrounded by friends and reporters, Asma is stabbed. [...]

[...] Nasruddin pushes his way through the crowd. He sees that Abdul is taken to safety and then grabs Alyssa, the woman who had written the piece about Asma for the Post and is responsible for her death. Nasruddin does not get overwhelmed by his anger, but wants justice for Asma. It is a psychological courage because he holds himself back to give a good image of the Muslim community and because it is the right thing to do. Even though he has nothing but contempt for her, he grabs her to safety giving her to a cop. [...]