“De Niro's Game” was an engaging novel to read. Rawi Hage's style of using candid, quick sentences, as well as occasional poetic flourishes, was able to successfully set the story's scenes, as well as give each character their own unique identity. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay I personally wasn't able to connect with the scenes or characters as I've never had similar experiences, but Hage was definitely able to draw me into the story and events that unfolded throughout the novel. It seemed to me that Hage was aiming for a deeper commentary on war-torn Beirut, as he captured the general melancholy and desperation of the place. Passages of reflection, contemplation, and stillness suddenly turn to violence, and Hage conveys how war corrupts everything, even friendships. Furthermore, I felt that the novel also contributed to history and memory. I was especially struck by the way Hage attacks God so directly that it makes the book a statement against all religions and against the imposition of rigid moral standards on society, not only in the Middle East, but throughout the world. The bold move to challenge and question the struggle for different religions by describing the physical and moral effects it had on societies was very captivating and necessary to fully understand the circumstances and after-effects 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 view of the wartime Lebanon setting. As the story progresses, it is evident that Bassam has been traumatized by the war and suffers from some periods of silence and violence. Through a gender lens, as well as a psychoanalytic lens, I will evaluate the use of masculinity as a social construction and its role in how Bassam conveys his trauma. As Bassam and his close friend George navigate life during the war, it becomes clear that Bassam is struggling to negotiate his identity. Bassam experiences the war without any social support from the people around him. This alienation from society leads to traumatic expressions in his relationships with others. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay In a state of violence, Bassam can only replicate the environment he finds himself in. While trying to create a sense of unity and existence, Bassam cannot formulate a projection of masculine ideals of brotherhood as none of the other characters display hegemonic masculinity. Because Bassam cannot find the support system necessary to function as a victim of war, his traumatic symptoms result in silence. Even as George sinks deeper into the false consciousness of war and power, Bassam withdraws from the war and the society in which he finds himself..