By Nuzhat Mushtaq
Honour by Elif Shafak is a poignant tale of family, tradition, and the enduring power of love amidst betrayal and loss. The story unfolds across three generations, weaving together the lives of Naze and Berzo, Pembe and Adem Toprak, and their children: Iskender, Esma, and Yunis.
The narrative begins with Esma’s visit to Shrewsbury prison to collect her brother, Iskender, who has served fourteen years for the murder of their mother. This act, committed in the name of “honour,” casts a long shadow over the family, leaving Esma filled with resentment towards her brother. The story then delves into the past, revealing the complex relationships between Pembe and Jameela, twin sisters born to Naze, a woman consumed by grief after losing her son and bearing eight daughters.
Adem Toprak, drawn to Jameela’s beauty, marries Pembe instead, leaving Jameela to become a virgin midwife in their village. Adem’s unhappiness in his marriage leads him to an affair with Roxana, a dancer, ultimately abandoning his family. Iskender, the eldest son, shoulders the responsibility for his family, grappling with his father’s infidelity and his desire to protect the family’s name. Jameela, guided by dreams, senses Pembe’s danger and sets out to find her, unaware of the new life Pembe has built in London.
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Shafak masterfully crafts a story that explores the complexities of family dynamics, the weight of tradition, and the enduring power of love. The characters, each grappling with their burdens and desires, are vividly drawn, making their struggles and triumphs resonate deeply with the reader.
Jameela, unfamiliar with the bustling streets of London, found herself lost in a world she didn’t understand. She had come seeking Pembe, her twin sister, but the city held no trace of her. Desperate for connection, she ventured out with her nephew, Yunis, the youngest of the family. Yunis, however, was more interested in meeting his friends, leaving Jameela alone in the unfamiliar surroundings. It was then that Iskender, consumed by a twisted sense of honour, mistook Jameela for his mother, Pembe, and took her life.
The tragedy unfolded in a whirlwind of confusion and grief. Pembe, aware of Jameela’s arrival, hid Esma and Yunus, fearing for their safety. The news of Pembe’s death spread like wildfire, leaving everyone to believe that Iskender had killed his mother in a fit of rage. Iskender, imprisoned for his supposed crime, remained unaware of the truth. During a visit from his brother, Yunus, he learned that Pembe was alive. Hope surged through him, a glimmer of light in the darkness of his confinement. He envisioned a future where he could apologize to his mother, reunite with his family, and finally be free.
However, upon his release, Esma shattered his dreams. She revealed that Pembe had died six months earlier in their hometown. To protect her children from the truth of Iskender’s imprisonment, Esma had fabricated a story about him working in Alaska. She handed him a book about the state, a silent plea for him to embrace this new reality, a reality where his family was forever changed, and his past would forever haunt him.
