Marta Pravica Trklja

Wounded Dove in Honor and Disgrace Marta Pravica Trklja

Set in the sixteenth century Village of Gruica's Bridge in Eastern Herzegovina, Wounded Dove in Honor and Disgrace explores an age long struggle for human understanding between the Muslim and Christian civilizations in the midst of political and social upheaval. Through the portrayal of a tradition in turmoil, it clearly points to grave sorrow the oppressed women of that time had to endure. It depicts their struggle for survival in the dominant male world and their reaction to overwhelming conditions, imposed upon them by the Ottoman Turks from the outside, and by the outlawed slave-traders from within. Angelina, the wounded dove in this story achieves some extraordinary things. Restrictions inherent in the traditional codes of behavior of her own people do not make her life any easier. Numerous adversities force Angelina to take charge of her life and to undertake drastic measures in order to ensure her husband's release from the Turkish Bey's dungeons and to save her family's honor.