Prose theme: gender

Question 1

Safie’s mother was a “Christian Arab” who taught her daughter “to aspire to higher powers of intellect, and an independence of spirit” than she thought possible for “the female followers of Mahomet.”

Answer 1

• character Safie can be said to be the only really ‘active’ female character in the novel. This is demonstrated through her ability and willingness to travel alone, and her strong opinions and ideas.