Introduction
The short story by Amal El-Mohtar, “The Truth About Owls,” focuses on a refugee girl, Anisa, who shows the strengths of her character and the ability to resist the expectations of others to preserve her identity. Making parallels with owls, the author emphasizes the importance of strength and saving the identity.
Short Story Analysis
The first thing the author mentions in the story is eyes. El-Mohtar says, “Owls have eyes that match the skies” and then continues, “Anisa’s eyes are black, and she no longer hates them” (El-Mohtar, 2015, para. 1). Eyes differentiate the girl from others; however, she learns how to accept this difference as it makes her unique, similar to owns who fly in the skies.
The authors also admit that the girl’s strength allows her to remain herself. Continuing the metaphor, he says about owls that “the female is usually larger, stronger” (El-Mohtar, 2015, para. 41). Anisa is a small girl compared to her mother; however, she is strong and confident, which helps her to survive and preserve her inner values and beliefs.
El-Mohtar also emphasizes Anisa’s nonviolent resistance to rumors and attacks from peers. In most situations, she “often chose not to speak at all” to avoid clashes (El-Mohtar, 2015, para. 89). Similar to owls during hunting, this provided her with an advantage, contributing to better resistance to external pressure.
Finally, the story shows that despite all the challenges, Anisa finds a friend who accepts her culture and identity. The girl genuinely wishes to be friends with Izzy, who cares for owls with her (El-Mohtar, 2015). It helps to understand that the main character remains a human being with her unique values, mentality, and appearance.
Conclusion
Altogether, the short story shows how the girl manages to survive in a hostile environment and save her culture and values. Making references to owls, the author shows the importance of the girl’s achievement and her strength, which allowed her to find a friend and become happy.
Reference
El-Mohtar, A. (2015). The Truth About Owls. Strange Horizons. Web.