The Almond Tree, By Michelle Cohen Corasanti

Symbolism is important, and all good books have it. Throughout The Almond Tree, written by Michelle Cohen Corasanti, has a prominent symbol; the almond tree, which is mentioned quite frequently and is able to be a symbol for many different things. This novel, tells the story of a young Palestinian boy, named Ichmad, and how he grows up and overcomes the challenging events that take place in his life. Throughout Michelle Cohen Corasanti’s novel, The Almond Tree, the almond tree itself acts as a witness,while also symbolizing family and hope. First and foremost, the almond tree acted as a witness to the Hamid family’s lives. Shahida, as Ichmad and Abbas named the tree, notably means witness in Arabic. She became the witness to the misfortune that occured in their lives. For example, the almond tree witnessed a harmful fire, as well as some guns being buried beneath it which eventuated in Baba who is Ichmad’s father being sent to prison for a crime that he did not commit. …show more content…
“Flames shot up, charring the walls, which disintegrated into ash before our eyes… I could see that Amal and Sa’dah, our two olive trees, were on fire. But then I noticed our almond tree, unharmed; only her flowers were gone” (Corasanti 43). Everything in the characters’ lives were gone, the almond tree had still remained, only a small portion of it harmed. When Ichmad and his family were sent away from their house and from their land by the Israeli soldiers, they were forced to to move elsewhere, where their only sign of hope quite possibly could have been the almond tree that was in their backyard. “ … Behind the house, Abbas and I climbed a beautiful almond tree that overlooked the village,” (Corasanti 12). When Ichmad’s home is taken from himself and his family, they are forced to live in a small, one roomed, mud-brick hut. Arguably, the only positive outcome in their situation is the almond tree located behind their