The construction of the character's feminism in Katouh's As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow

This study aims to investigate Salama Kassab’s feminism in Zoulfa Katouh’s As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow through her life story as a courageous woman who survived the Syrian conflict. Her experience was two-fold because she served as a surgeon while also taking responsibility for her family's survival. Furthermore, the circumstances led Salama to respond in unexpected ways, which influenced the construction of her feminism. Thus, the research specifically addresses two interconnected concerns: (1) How does Salama present herself as a feminist in As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow; (2) How does society influence Salama’s presence in As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow. The study employs a qualitative approach with the application of descriptive textual analysis to examine the novel systematically. Data were collected by reading and noting relevant dialogues and narrative excerpts that address Salama's feminism. The analysis proceeded by identifying Salama's feminist actions through three aspects: the role of education, the struggle for civil rights, and the demand for equality in personal relationships, relating these to the principles of Mary Wollstonecraft's liberal feminism. Subsequently, the analysis identified social factors such as trauma, societal chaos, and imposed roles that triggered Salama's feminist consciousness. The findings of this research reveal that Salama’s feminism is manifested through three aspects: the utilization of her education as a core strength in becoming a surgeon, the assertion of her civil rights by actively voicing her perspective, and the desire to establish an egalitarian marriage. Salama seeks a union founded on mutual respect, shared goals, and the recognition of her independence as an educated woman. Regarding the second research question, the results indicate that the regime’s brutality, which led to the loss of her family, forced her to develop self-reliance and adopt roles traditionally dominated by men. Salama shows herself to be an educated woman capable of making wise decisions and taking full responsibility for her actions.