Locke and Ali

John Locke's The Second Treatise of Government explains what a person should do if his or her government infringes on their natural rights. Many of his theories relate directly to the events and the reactions of characters in Shadows of a Pomegranate Tree. I supported Zuhayr's decision to round up an army of men to fight for his traditions and from his family's property. The threat the Ximenes and the Christians imposed on the rights of the Zuhayr's family, according to Locke, gave Zuhayr the right to rebel against a force that had no regard for the good of its people.

According to Locke, men who labor their land become owners of that land, and any man or power who threatens the ownership of that land automatically enters the two sides into a state of war. Zuhayr, on page 161 describes his family's ownership of his land - "We have cultivated this land for centuries. We produced food....A culture grew...Now they want to take it away from us."While Zuhayr's family was concerned about entering into a physical battle could be irrational, I feel as though Zuhayr was very reasonable in his arguments to immediately attack Xiemenes.

Unfortunately, the al Hudayl clan tacitly consented to live under the rule of Isabella and Ferdinand. The only way they could resist their power would ultimately lead to death or conversion (which at this point would also likely lead to their death through the work of the Inquisitors). It was interesting for me to see this connection with John Locke (who felt trapped under the rule of James II, then William and Mary). In both incidences, religion became the pinnacle of conflict. It is unfortunate that those who feel oppressed have no celestial being to protect their rights around the globe, and thus have to rely on government as a means of protection.