cit., p. 185.

13 SP., p. 8.

14 “The Bride’s Bed” essay condemns the rotten customs of marriage, in favor of women’s freedom. (TL., pp. 87-94). I believe that if Gibran had lived to witness the new movement called “Women’s Liberation Front,” he would have lent them full support with his sharp pen. He had a profound understanding of the psychology of women. He also avowed that he was indebted for everything that he possessed to the intervention of the women in his life: “I am indebted for all that I call ‘I’ to women, ever since I was an infant. Women opened the windows of my eyes and the doors of my spirit. Had it not been for the woman-mother, the woman-sister, and the woman-friend, I would have been sleeping among those who seek the tranquility of the world with their snoring.” (SP., p. 96). Indeed, his “philo:ophy of woman” finds some similarities with Simone de Beauvoir’s book: The Second Sex, and with the Dutch psychologist F. Buytendijk’s book: Woman. A Contemporary View. His sharp critic is advanced unconditionally against anybody who degrades the function of the female in society. Definitely the nowadays abundantly printed pornography finds no room for justification in his ethics. Finally, he writes: “Writers and poets try to understand the truth about woman. But until this day they have never understood her heart because, looking upon her through the veil of desire, they see nothing except the shape of her body. Or they look upon her through a magnifying glass of spite and find nothing in her but weakness and submission.” (WG., 81).

15 The Prophet, translated by Sarwat Okasha, Cairo: Dar al Maarf, 1959, “Introduction”, p. 14.

16 SP., p. 4.

17 Massoud, Habib, Joubran, Hayyan wa Mayyatan, Beirut: The Rihani House, 1966, p. 20.

18 According to Joseph Sheban, there is rumor that the true benefactress of Gibran was a wealthy Lebanese lady named Mary Khoury. Up to date, however, there is no evidence that shows whether Mary Khoury did really give financial aid to our author. Nevertheless, it seems that a lady by such a name did exist. As to what was her genuine relation with Gibran, it is unknown yet. (MS., pp. 88-89).

19 SP., p. 97.

20 Young, Barbara, op. cit., IX.

CHAPTER THREE

THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE WRITER

ONE WAY of understanding an author consists in deciphering his thoughts through his works. After all a book is a perfect self-projection of the personality, desires, ambitions and frustrations of the writer. In good philosophical language we say that there is a relation of proportionality if not identity between the “cause,” the producer, and “effect,” the product.