My analysis
will consist of two parts, the first being analyzing the piece solely in context of the story it tells, the second being my
analysis as it pertains to my journey with Master RedBear.
The main character in this piece of prose is Almustafa,
who is, in the very first words of the piece, identified as the chosen and beloved who has been waiting twelve years for the
ship that was to take him to his homeland.
In Arabic Mustafa means chosen one, and in the Islamic faith Al-Ali means most high and it is also of note that the prefix al- begins almost every name of Allah. This indicates that Almustafa was perhaps
a Holy Man or one considered to be very close to Deity.
It was apparently very important to the author that the reader
fully understand that Almustafa was chosen, beloved, set apart. Not only does the author TELL the reader this in as many words,
but also chooses a name for his character that reflects this.
We are not told why Almustafa was sent to the city Orphalese
yet the author felt it important enough to give the reader the name the city. Doing a bit more etymological research leads
one to story of Ruth in the Christian Bible.
The name Orpha derives from Orpah, a Biblical character who was one of Ruth's daughters-in-law who were left widowed after 10 years, upon the death of two
of Ruths sons. After the deaths, Ruth sent Orpah and another widowed daughter-in-law back to their homeland. Both Almustafa
and Orpah, who perhaps this city was named after, were heading back to their homelands after having been away from almost
identical time frames.
Almustafas ship arrives in the 12th year on the 7th day in the month of reaping.
Having
not been told WHY Almustafa found himself in the city of Orphalese for 12 years, the reader is left to guess....or is he?
Using some basic numerology, the number 12 can be seen as denoting Growth, expansion, fertility. Perhaps the Chosen
One was in Orphalese for the purpose of aiding in his own growth, the growth of those who lived in the city; perhaps he was
in Orphalese to spread his own peoples ideology, and expansion of thought. Perhaps Almustafa found himself in this particular
city to do all of these things.
Almustafas ship arrived on the 7th day of the month of reaping, and with basic numerology
the number 7 could be seen as denoting Spirituality, psychism, spiritual aid or guidance. To my mind, this is a fore-shadowing
of the spiritual truths Almustafa will soon share with the city-folk.
It has long been said that one shall reap what
one has sown, and the fact that Almustafas ship arrives in the month of reaping says to me that his ship has arrived due to
the sowing being complete. So in a nutshell, Almustafa, the Chosen One, the Beloved, the one close the Deity, has spent
time in the city of Orphalese for the purpose of spiritual growth/expansion, either his own personally, that of the city-folk,
or both. His ship arrived to retrieve him after he had fully sown that which he was to have sown, and the day of the ships
arrival was to be a day of spirituality and spiritual aid/guidance.
It is of note that Almustafa looks back on his
stay at Orphalese as a time of pain and aloneness, yet he also finds himself regretting having to leave..wishing toBreathe
another breath of the Orphalese air. The impending departure of Almustafa is a life changing event, as indicated clearly by
his statement, It is not a garment I cast off this day, but a skin I tear with my own hands. Nor is it a thought I leave behind
me, but a heart made sweet with hunger and thirst It was at once a joyous and exciting prospect, and a difficult and sad event.
The reader is given the distinct impression that the people of Orphalese paid little attention to Almustafa during
his stay, yet on the day of his departure, the city-folk all come gathering to him asking him not to leave yet, crying to
him that they did not approach him while he lived among them, but now that he was leaving they realized all that he had to
share. Almustafa finds himself wondering what he has to offer them, what wisdom it is that he should share with them.
A
priestess, Almitra (possibly a reference to the Persian god of light and friendship), who was also a seeress, asks Almustafa
to share his truth with the people of Orphalese before he leaves.
Almustafa agreed, stating, ...of what can I speak
save of that which is even now moving your souls?
It is interesting to me that the Chosen One, the Beloved who was
sent to share the truth, leaves the topic of the lessons up to the students themselves, choosing to teach them that which
they feel they most need to know. This indicates that the author believed that we know that which we need to learn, that which
will benefit us most in our lives, if only we look inside ourselves and truly look.
On a more personal note:
I
relate the city of Orphalese to my own past: the land that I have spent the past many years in as a silent, mostly ignored
member of a society which I never truly fit into, yet of which I have been a full member.
I can empathize with Almustafas
torn emotions over leaving the place where he felt pain and aloneness, even though leaving this place means returning to his
homeland where he truly fits in and ultimately belongs.
I find myself often expressing the same sentiments as Almustafa
as my own ship sits in the harbour preparing to take me out of this city of pain and aloneness to take me to my true home
where I will finally feel whole, welcome, happy.
And ever has it been that love knows not its own depth until the
hour of separation.
Those who have been a part of my personal Orphalese and have consistently ignored me or taken
me for granted now suddenly are overwhelmed by their love for me, by their need for me.
But my ship has arrived, it
is my destiny to climb aboard and to go home. My time here is done, the lessons I had to learn and share have been learned
and are about to be shared with those I must leave behind.
Still, like Almustafa, I feel the need to take one last
breath of this citys air; to cease my steps towards the ship for just one moment, to look back upon the city of my pain and
sorrow with fondness and remembrances of things learned and shared.
Gibran wrote it, Almustafa said it, and I truly
and deeply feel it:
"It is not a garment I cast off this day, but a skin I tear with my own hands. Nor is it a thought
I leave behind me, but a heart made sweet with hunger and thirst."
