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The Weight Of Our Sky By Hannah Alkaf

1163 Words5 Pages

Does the weight of the world shape how we see ourselves? In 1969, there was racial conflict between Malaysian and Chinese people, the reason for this tension was the general election. (Sukumaran) There were more Chinese people than Malay and as a result they were requesting to have more seats in the election. Consequently, more ethnic conflict with the Malays was instigated. This conflict hinged on job distribution, money, and ownership of land. (Sukumaran.) The aftermath left many people with trauma-induced scars which is still talked about to this day. In ‘The Weight of Our Sky’, author Hanna Alkaf addresses the riots, and the intersectionality of culture, religion, and mental illness by displaying the constant OCD that main character Melati …show more content…

She knows deep down inside that this isn’t normal nor real - but the fear induced by the presence of this voice won’t subside. Melati notes, “In the back of my mind, deep in the recesses, where the Djinn can’t seem to reach, I know this is irrational, stupid, crazy. I know just thinking about death won’t cause my mother to die. I know that books on a shelf won’t stop her from dying, no matter how I arrange them. But every time I try to stop myself, a cold, creeping dread envelops my entire body.” (Alkaf …show more content…

Through the journey of perseverance she must take in order to reach her goal, she digs deep to find the courage and strength to go to war with the voice in her head as well as the voices and actions of those who are rioting. She emphasizes, “If I’m going to wage battle with demons both on the street and in my own head, I’m going to do it with all of myself, and not weighed down by borrowed clothes and secondhand memories.” (Alkaf 141) It takes all her courage and determination for her to find the confidence to take control of the voice and find her way back to her mother. At one point, when Frankie led a mob toward a stalled van, and Melati realizes that her own mother didn’t know what to do, she sees how helpless her mother is and this experience shaped her as well. This moment ignites her awareness that self-relience is imperative as it is shocking for her to see her mother in a position of

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