The story of “The Lemon” was first told in Moroccan Arabic and later translated into English by Paul Bowles. It follows Abdeslam, a 12-year-old boy who runs away from his village after his father beats him for fighting with his French teacher. Alone in Tangier, he navigates between cafés, ports, and brothels, striving to stay clean, earn a living, and hold onto his innocence. He gets his nickname after hiding razor blades in a lemon and using it to defend himself against Bachir, a longshoreman who tries to take advantage of him. The novel ends with Abdeslam running away into the night, now known only as “The Lemon.” The main focus of the story is Abdeslam’s fight to stay innocent in a world full of danger and exploitation. People like Bachir and Aouicha see him as something to use, so he learns to rely on his cleverness and, when needed, violence to protect himself.
Abdeslam’s story unfolds in a series of short episodes. The writing is simple and has a storytelling feel, using the present tense to reflect its oral origins. Mrabet told the story in Moroccan Arabic, and Paul Bowles translated it into English. Both authors make strong language choices. Dialogue drives the plot and shows character through everyday speech. The story takes place in post-colonial Tangier in the 1960s, and Abdeslam’s need for independence is tested by everyone he meets, including his family, Bachir, Aouicha, and Si Mokhtar. The ending affected me most. Abdeslam leaves the Mahal without a name, letting go of his old identity and accepting a new one as Lemon.
“The Lemon” by Mohammed Mrabet seems simple at first, but it is actually quite unsettling. It can be seen as a coming-of-age story. The heart of the novel is Abdeslam’s struggle to protect his innocence in a harsh world. Mrabet prompts his readers to consider issues like child neglect, the erosion of cultural and religious boundaries, class differences, and the lives of individuals on the margins of society. Mrabet paints a clear picture of a city shaped by poverty and change, where a brothel and a mosque can be found on the same street.
