Biography Zone

Kahlil Gibran was born on January 6, 1883 at Beshari, Lebanon. Beshari itself is an area frequently visited by hurricanes, earthquakes and lightning. No wonder if since childhood, Gibran was used to catch the eyes of the phenomena of nature. That later influenced his writings about nature.

At age 10, with his mother and two younger sisters, Gibran moved to Boston, USA. No wonder if then small Gibran experiencing culture shock, such as those experienced by many other immigrants who came to the United States poured at the end of the 19th century. Gibran joy in public school in Boston, filled with the language and acculturation style shaped by patterns of American life. However, the process of Americanization Gibran lasted only three years because after that he returned to as Beirut, where he studied at the Madrasa Al-Hikmat (School of Wisdom) from 1898 to 1901.

During early adolescence, his home and his vision of the future began to take shape. The tyranny of the Ottoman Empire, the hypocrisy of the church organization, and the role of the West Asian women are just as devout, inspiring outlook which then poured into his works in Arabic.

Gibran again left his homeland when he was 19 years old, but his mind could never escape from Lebanon. Lebanon has become his inspiration. In Boston he wrote about his country to express themselves. These were later actually gave the freedom to combine two different cultural experiences into one.

Gibran wrote his first drama in Paris from 1901 to 1902. When was the age of 20 years. His first work, "Spirits Rebellious" written in Boston and published in New York, which contains four stories as a satire of contemporary hardware subjugate corrupt people he saw. Consequently, Gibran received punishment in the form of exclusion from the Maronite church. However, Gibran's innuendos suddenly regarded as the voice of hope and liberation for the oppressed in West Asia.

The days of making himself while in Paris disintegrated when Gibran received word from the Consulate General of Turkey, that a tragedy had destroyed his family. His sister was the youngest 15 years old, Sultana, died of tuberculosis.

Gibran right back to Boston. His brother, Peter, a shop assistant who became the foundation of life brothers and his mother died of tuberculosis. Mother worship and adore, We're the guys, also had died of a malignant tumor. Only his sister, Marianna, remains, and he haunted by the trauma of illness and family poverty. Death of a beloved family member that occurred between March and June 1903. Gibran and his sister then had to sustain a family who did not complete it and strive to maintain its survival.

In the early years of their life together, Marianna finance the publication of the works of Gibran costs obtained from the sew in Miss Teahan's Gowns. Thanks to the hard work of his brother, Gibran's career can continue keseniman and kesasteraannya are still preliminary.

In 1908 Gibran stopover in Paris again. Here he lived happy that routinely receive enough money from Mary Haskell, a woman principal who was 10 years older, but is known to have a special relationship with him since I was living in Boston. From 1909 to 1910, he studied at the School of Beaux Arts and the Julian Academy. Back to Boston, Gibran set up a studio in West Cedar Street in the city of Beacon Hill. He also took over the financing of his family.

In 1911 Gibran moved to New York. In New York Gibran's work in his studio apartment at 51 West Tenth Street, a building that was deliberately set up to where he painted and wrote.

Prior to 1912 "Broken Wings" was published in Arabic. This book tells the story of love Selma Karami to his pupils. However, Selma had become its own nephew's fiance before he married to a husband who is a bishop who opportunist. Gibran's work is often regarded as his autobiography.

Effect of "Broken Wings" was very big in the Arab world because here for the first time Arab women are subordinated to have the opportunity to speak that they are the wives who have a right to protest the power structure set out in the marriage. First printing "Broken Wings" is dedicated to Mary Haskell.

Gibran was very productive and life experience much difference in subsequent years. In addition to writing in Arabic, he also continued to refine and develop mastery of English kesenimanannya. When a major war in Lebanon, Gibran became an observer of the non-government for the people of Syria who live in America.

When Gibran adult, his views on the East dimmed. Pierre Loti, a French novelist, who was very enamored with the Eastern world on Gibran once said, if this is so pathetic! Knowingly or not, Gibran did have learned to admire the greatness of the West.

Prior to 1918, Gibran was ready to launch his first works in English, "The Madman", "His Parables and Poems". Close friendship between Mary depicted in "The Madman". After "The Madman", the English-speaking Gibran book is "Twenty Drawing", 1919: "The Forerunne", 1920, and "The Prophet" in 1923, these works are a way for him to understand the world as adults and as a school student in Lebanon, written in Arabic, but not published, and then expanded again to be re-written in English in the year 1918-1922.

Before the publication of "The Prophet", a close relationship between Mary and Gibran began is unclear. Mary proposed Florance Minis, a wealthy businessman from Georgia. He offered Mary a life of luxury and urged him to abdicate responsibility education. Although relations Mary and Gibran was originally characterized by a variety of considerations and discussions about the possibility of their marriage, but basically the principles of Mary during these many different Gibran. Their impatience in building close relationships and their rejection of marriage clearly had penetrated into the relationship. Mary finally received Florance Minis.

In 1920 Gibran founded an association called Arrabithah Arab writer Al Alamia (Association of Writers). The purpose of this bond overhaul the stagnant Arab literature. Along with the rising reputation of Gibran, he has many admirers. One of them is Barbara Young. He knew after reading Gibran "The Prophet". Barbara Young himself is the owner of a bookstore that had previously been an English teacher. During the 8 years of living in New York, Barbara Young participate actively in the activities of the studio Gibran.

Gibran finish "Sand and Foam" 1926, and "Jesus the Son of Man" in 1928. He also read a drama script writing, "Lazarus" on January 6, 1929. After that Gibran completing "The Earth Gods" in 1931. His other works "The Wanderer", which has been in the hands of Mary, was published anonymously in 1932, after his death. Also other writings "The Garden of the Propeth".

On 10 April 1931 at 11:00 PM, Gibran died. His body has long encroached cirrhosis of the liver and tuberculosis, but this time he refused to be hospitalized. On the last morning, he was taken to St. Vincent's Hospital in Greenwich Village.

The next day Marianna sent a telegram to Mary in Savannah to proclaim the death of this poet. Despite having to take care of her husband who was also suffering from pain, Mary still found time to mourn Gibran.

Gibran body was then buried on 21 August in Ma Sarkis, a Carmelite monastery where Gibran once did worship.

After the death of Gibran, Barbara Younglah who knows the ins and outs of the studio, heritage and legacy land Gibran. Also a piece of paper that reads, "In my heart there is still a desire to help the East, because he had a lot of help."

Material summarized from:
Book: 10 Life Story Writer World
Title: Khalil Gibran
Editor: Anton WP and Yudhi Herwibowo
Publisher: Solo Katta, 2005
Pages: 63-70