Tea in the Harem summary

Madjid is a delinquent in the book this trait is seen when he does not obey his mother who gave birth to him. He does not help his mother who is an independent woman with the responsibilities of the house. Though he is aware that his father cannot support the family anymore because of the accident he had at work, Madjid is very rebellious and does not care about his younger siblings. Besides being rebellious, Madjid indulges himself in petty crimes together with his friend Pat such as pimping, copulating with lonely women whose husbands are not around, lifting wallets and stealing cars. His actions together with that of his friend Pat disturb the people around them, and that is the main reason why Pat’s sister, Chantal preferred to indulge in prostitution than being with him.

His mind of having intimate with many women originates from home where husband leave their wives for small girls, and even women do not show any form of fidelity towards their husbands thus there is a lot of infidelities even if the marriage remains intact. For example, Josette is left by her husband to take care of their son while the husband moves with a young girl. Pat is seen seducing one of the tenants. Although she rejects Pat’s offer at first claiming that her husband will be home soon, Pat insisted, and she, later on, agrees to pat’s advances. Pat is described as a gigolo for having intimate with women above his age since he is just a teenager and he moves on to have sex with even married women for money (Charef 23).

For the rest of the immigrants if you apply for a job you will not be given so long as you are not white they describe you as immigrants even if you were born there. Madjid is not offered a job when he went to search for one just because he is not a French citizen. He is turned down because he has poor eyesight when it is very evident even to him that it is because of racism. When a French man came, it is apparent that he will be accepted for the project. The crime committed by the immigrants is because of unemployment, and that is why even Madjid involve himself in stealing to survive. Pat sister decided to engage in prostitution Solange. Poverty is also another problem exists in the society.

More so it is among the immigrants. Due to this, their children engage in criminal activities. There is a problem of single parenting where husbands live their wives to take care of their children and instead run with little girls to take care of them for example in the novel we see Josette who is left by her husband to take care of their son Stephane. Malik loves her children, and she is willing to sacrifice, she feels hurt by the behaviors of her son. Madjid falls in love with Chantal, but Chantal rejects him because of his characters. Josephine feels attracted to both Madjid and Pat; although she has two children, she does not care about the consequences of being in a relationship with teenagers. Anytime Madjid and Pat feel like, they can just go and have intimacy with her.

Madjid and Pat become good friends right from school.