GUARDIANSHIP, SILENCE, AND FEMALE AGENCY IN FADIA FAQIR’S WILLOW TREES DON’T WEEP

Abstract

The present paper explores the intersection of culture, guardianship, and modesty in Fadia Faqir’s novel Willow Trees Don’t Weep, focusing on how patriarchal values and religious-cultural norms shape female subjectivity in Jordanian society. Through the lens of Islamic feminism and postcolonial feminist theory, the study analyzes how silence operates not merely as suppression but as a nuanced form of resistance and self- realization for the protagonist, Najwa. Her silence; shaped by the societal expectation of male guardianship, reflects both internalized oppression and the beginnings of personal agency. The symbolic resonance of Najwa’s name and the recurring motif of the willow tree reveal deeper psychological and cultural conflicts within her quest for identity and belonging. The willow tree functions as a metaphor for resilience and silent endurance, positioning nature as an intimate companion to Najwa’s inner transformation. Ultimately, the novel positions silence not as absence, but as a complex, resistant language shaped by cultural repression, emotional trauma, and spiritual awakening.