When a character realizes the truth of a situation they are in, or the truth of their identity or someone else's, the world of the text becomes momentarily intelligible to the protagonist and thus also to the audience, Hammad states. "Everything we thought we knew has been turned on its head, and yet it all makes sense." This highlights the essential connection between character insight and audience understanding in literature.
Hammad shares her doubts about narratives centering non-Palestinians: "Palestinians are familiar with such scenes in real life: apparent blindness followed by staggering realization." This emphasizes the difference between literary awakening and the complex reality experienced by Palestinians.
Hammad reflects on the emotional impact of an encounter with a former Israeli soldier at the Gaza fence: "He fled in horror after a naked Palestinian man approached holding up a photograph of a child." This highlights a chilling moment where human connection forces recognition of shared humanity.
Throughout the Palestine Festival of Literature, Hammad observed visiting writers experiencing a "tragic awakening" which reflects broader themes of understanding, identity, and the complexities surrounding the Palestinian experience.
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