Main Characters in “Forgive Me”
“Forgive Me” is a novel authored by Saudi writer Atheer Abdullah Al-Nashmi. Comprising 235 pages, it was published by Dar Al-Farabi in February 2013, with the copyright retained by the author. This work is categorized as a romantic fantasy and has received a rating of 3.42 out of 5 from 30,977 readers on Goodreads.
The story centers around two main characters, a young man and woman who share a romantic relationship. Below are their names:
Juman
Juman is a young woman from Saudi Arabia who firmly upholds Eastern customs and traditions. She has a deep love for her homeland and is characterized by her grace and courage. She travels abroad to London for her studies, where she meets an Arab young man, leading to emotional turmoil for her during their acquaintance.
After enduring significant pain and anguish caused by her partner’s infidelity, she ultimately chooses to forgive him, hoping for his sincerity and that he would not betray her again. Despite her unwavering love and loyalty, he does not marry her due to his family’s objections. Nevertheless, she forgives him once more.
Abdulaziz
Abdulaziz, also a Saudi national, continues his studies abroad where he meets Juman. Their friendship evolves into admiration and eventually love. He embodies the archetype of the traditional Arab masculine figure. However, he betrays Juman by engaging with another woman named Yasmin. He later returns to Juman, remorseful, pleading for her forgiveness and a second chance, assuring her that he wishes to marry her and will remain faithful.
Yet, once he secures a second opportunity from Juman, he fails to fulfill his promise of marriage, subjecting her to another round of heartache and disappointment, showing little regard for the pain he causes her after she had trusted him.
Quotes from “Forgive Me”
Here are some notable quotes from “Forgive Me” as expressed by Juman:
- “Do not confuse my personality with my behavior; my personality is me, while my behavior depends on you.”
- “I believe that distance makes us accustomed to absence. Initially, it might spark a longing, but eventually, we adapt to it.”
- “I dreamed of meeting my prince charming in a library, reaching for a book on a high shelf. As it slips from my hand, a handsome, cultured young man bends to pick it up and hands it to me. Our eyes meet, and we fall in love.”
- “You once told me: ‘You are too kind to be understood by a heart.’ Today, I say to you, dear Abdulaziz: ‘You are too cunning to be comprehended by a mind.’
Below are some quotes from “Forgive Me” spoken by Abdulaziz:
- “Do you know the difference between my sadness and yours, Juman? Your sorrow is pampered and spoiled, shattering at the slightest hint of rejection. Your pride revolts against your body, and you fall into a coma of sadness from which no one can pull you out. My sadness, however, is a long story known only to me—a tale that no one will ever understand. I am a man who does not break down in sadness; I grow stronger, harsher with every bout of sorrow. You know that the fate of every brittle stick is to break.”
- “That’s how you are; you train me to enjoy things only to deprive me of them when you’re angry! You treat me like a small child, punishing me by withholding the things I cherish, often without my realizing how much they mean to me, just to teach me a lesson about their value!”
- “I believe that many love relationships end when one party becomes overly insistent, usually a trait found in women, leading men to abandon the relationship more often than women terminate them.”
- “Bring me back to you, or take me to you. Do not leave me standing in the middle.”
The Author of “Forgive Me”
Atheer Abdullah Al-Nashmi is a Saudi author born in Riyadh on June 6, 1984. Her literary works focus on themes of love, friendship, honesty, and emotions. Some of her most popular books include:
- “The Darkness of Memory,” published in 2016.
- “I Loved You More Than I Should,” published in 2009.
- “In December, All Dreams End,” published in 2011.
- “The Puzzle of Solitude,” published in 2020.
- “The Chaos of Return,” published in 2021.
- “A Loss of Self,” published in 2016.