“De Niro's Game” was an engaging novel to read. Rawi Hage's style, which uses quick, blunt sentences, as well as occasional poetic flourishes, successfully sets the scene for the story, while giving each character their unique identity. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay Personally, I couldn't relate to the scenes or characters because I never had similar experiences , but Hage was certainly able to draw me into the story and events that were unfolding throughout the novel. I felt like Hage was aiming for a deeper commentary on war-torn Beirut, as he captured the general melancholy and despair of the place. Passages of reflection, contemplation, and calm suddenly turn to violence, and Hage explains how war corrupts everything, even friendships. Additionally, I felt the novel also contributed to history and memory. I was most struck by the way Hage attacks God so directly that he makes his book a statement against all religions and against the imposition of narrow moral standards on society, not only in the Middle East, but in the whole world. The bold move of questioning the battles for different religions by describing the physical and moral effects they had on societies was very captivating and necessary to fully understand the circumstances and aftermath of the war. In De Niro's Game, the main character, Bassam, is a young man struggling to survive the Lebanese civil war. Bassam tells his life story from a passive perspective against the backdrop of Lebanon during the war. As the story progresses, it becomes clear that Bassam has been traumatized by the war and suffers from certain bouts of silence and violence. Through a gender lens as well as a psychoanalytic lens, I will evaluate the use of masculinity as a social construct and its role in how Bassam conveys his trauma. As Bassam and his close friend George learn about life during the war, it becomes clear that Bassam is struggling to negotiate his identity. Bassam experiences the war without the social support of those around him. This alienation from society leads to traumatic expressions in one's relationships with others. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay In a state of violence, Bassam can only reproduce the environment in which he finds himself. While he attempts to create a sense of unity and existence, Bassam cannot formulate a projection of masculine ideals of brotherhood since none of the other characters present hegemonic masculinity. As Bassam cannot find the support necessary to function as a victim of war, his traumatic symptoms result in silence. Even if George sinks deeper and deeper into the false consciousness of war and power, Bassam withdraws from war and the society in which he evolves...