The Submission

Claire dreams of Mohammed Khan talking to her about the natural recycling of gardens; she awakes from the imagined touch of his beard.

Claire meets her college boyfriend, Jack Worth, at a Greek restaurant. Before he arrives, Claire reminisces about the trip she and Cal took to Greece. Dinner surprises Claire. She had imagined rekindling an old love, but Jack is very intent on pushing her to stand firm in her support of Khan. Jack and Cal, both wealthy liberals, both influenced Claire’s thinking and perspective. For the first time she wonders whether her values are really her own or an extension of theirs. Jack follows her home from dinner, and he preaches some more before kissing and touching her. Claire cuts the lovemaking short, and Jack leaves without noticeable disappointment or anger.

General hateful mayhem against Muslims continues in the United States—beyond scarf-pullings, people are now placing animal feces on the doors of mosques and protesting with pig roasts. Rumors abound—for example, that the United Arab Emirates has bought the rights to the memorial. But the Muslim community continues its vigilance, and young Muslim boys patrol their own neighborhoods, protecting scarfed women. Jihadist threats rise at home and abroad.