Ismail Kadare was born in 1936 in Gjirokastër, in the south of Albania. Kadare, who worked as a journalist and embarked on a literary career, had endured periods of controversy in his native country during the long rule of Enver Hoxha, whose dictatorial government Kadare alternately praised and criticized. Probably 'Broken April' is a result of the criticism of the Hoxha regime. This is due to the subtle provocative nature in the description of Kanun. A tool is any instrument or means of performing an action which leads to a particular consequence or conclusion. In the case of Broken April, Kanun is a 'tool of destruction'.
In the novel 'Broken April', the reader witnesses a completely static attitude of adoration towards the Kanun from Bessian Vorpsi, the Albanian writer who is on a honeymoon in the northern plateau. In stark contrast is his wife Diana Vorpsi, whose attitude towards the Kanun changes constantly, which sets of from adulation in the beginning to a disturbing end where she fears and loathes the Kanun. Diana's disgust of the Kanun contrasts with its worship by her husband which has a tremendous impact on their relationship that eventually leads to Diana being estranged and distracted. She soon gets attracted towards Gjorg, the protagonist of the novel, which leads to a rather unpleasant experience for the honeymoon couple.
Chapter three marks the introduction of Bessian as an Albanian writer visiting the Northern High Plateau for the first time and yet, very much knowledgeable about the Kanun. His newly-wed bride Diana who is notably younger to him 'was happy', and is quite excited about "escaping the world of reality for the world of legend" (Kadare 63). Bessian exclaims his keen interest towards Kanun to his wife, as the author mentions of this "part-imaginary, part-epic world", that "he talked about it for days on end" (Kadare 64). At the initial stages, Diana shares Bessian's enthusiasm to certain extent.
The author foreshadows the short living of this relationship at the very beginning of their voyage itself. The following example must be considered to understand this. Earlier on in the third chapter, when Bessian figures out that there was 'corn' in the sacks of two mountaineers, Diana does not respond. Later on, Bessian shows Diana a church that she describes as "beautiful" (Kadare 67). After Diana describes the church as beautiful, Bessian does not respond. These incidents may seem to be speculative of the future of their relationship, but these are positively likely hints which give out the reasons behind the collapse, or destined collapse of their relationship later on.
Bessian's pompousness and over-dramatic nature soon comes to light when he talks of entering the "shadow-land", a place "where the laws of death prevail over the laws of life" (Kadare 69). Although this is correct to a minor extent, Bessian is found to be exaggerating the enigmas surrounding the Northern high plateau to his wife. This may be regarded as a sincere effort on Bessian's part to enliven his wife but it is more of his pompousness that is highlighted which is one of the factors that contributes to Diana's gradual 'dislike' of Bessian.
Diana expresses her disgust towards the Kanun, saying "How terrible!" while Bessian seemingly opposes this, saying that it is "tragically beautiful", which once again brings into light, his admiration towards the Northern High Plateau.
Diana's estrangement begins just after that. The author speaks out her mind that reveals that she 'felt as if something were collapsing inside her' (Kadare 71). This is definitely an intimation of her future separation from Bessian. Subsequently, she feels offended by Bessian's failure to directly respond to her question about the Kanun, that is, whether the code is "good or bad" (Kadare 73). He unintentionally calls her a 'child'. Bessian condescendingly tells her about the Kanun, asking his wife if she recalled what he had told her earlier about the code, and stating that "the Kanun is beyond good and evil" (Kadare 73). She then exclaims "You needn't be sarcastic!" which further hints the conflict between them. Bessian then apologizes, but continues his lecture about the Kanun, on their honeymoon. His appreciation of the Kanun is apparent more than before. He says that the Kanun is 'universal', and emphasizes that it has 'not forgotten a single aspect of economics or ethics'. Later on, Diana explains her pre-occupation of late to Bessian, who ends up making fun of her, rather than being concerned about her. Diana once again hints at a conflict, but more at Bessian's pompous nature. She says to him "Don't make fun of me". This is another factor that contributes to the seeming doomed destiny of the relationship between Diana and Bessian.
Thus, the Kanun reveals Bessian's 'dark side' to Diana that his obsession with the Kanun causes him to, which thus affects Bessian, and which later on affects their relationship. Bessian is sensitive enough to notice cracks in the relationship. He notices that "it was the first time that they had slept apart". He also notices the "coldness", a "certain detachment", "a kind of estrangement from him" (Kadare 91).
Later in the novel, she refers to Gjorg as "pale mountaineer" and Bessian thinks that the word possibly meant "beautiful". Although he dismisses the idea immediately, he perhaps suspects that Diana heart has been disturbed by Gjorg. Bessian questions Diana, referring to Gjorg, saying "He really impressed you, didn't he?" Diana nods her head, and this is the first point in the story where Diana directly hints at her infatuation with Gjorg. Unfortunately for her, this romance is short-lived and ends up being somewhat like the Kanun, 'tragically beautiful'.
Diana then describes the "emptiness" in her chest that somehow has certain "sweetness" (Kadare 116) about it, after mentioning the name "Gjorg". The omniscient author then mentions the fact that "never had a man's stare troubled Diana so much" and the "beauty of the young mountaineer" (Kadare 117) she is once again, without directly stating it, hinting strongly at her infatuation with Gjorg, which is now quite clear. The reasons for her 'attraction' towards Gjorg are possibly his proximity to death or his involvement in a blood feud which are the integral parts of the Kanun.
Diana feels completely changed to Bessian a few days after their encounter with Gjorg; he says, "As for her expression which has always been understandable to him, he now found that he had no clue what it might mean" (Kadare 167). Bessian is still very much in love with Diana and cares for her opinions, going as far to say that even though "the idea of going home tormented him more and more" (Kadare 168), he would do it for his wife's sake. It seems as if there is nothing in the world more important than his wife, including sightseeing on the mystical High plateau. While the carriage ride, he feels more and more uneasy of his wife's stillness and indifference, and asks himself, "What is wrong with me" (Kadare 169) rather than blaming Diana. All he wants is for her to speak to him and the silence is making the situation more awkward than he can handle.
Afterwards, in a later chapter, Diana "did not relinquish from her strange attitude", when Bessian kissed her and anticipated certain feeling or even movement from Diana, neither of which he got. It is at this point where Diana is quite separated from Bessian, and he has begun to suspect that she is infatuated with Gjorg, given the fact that she was 'impressed' by him, and mentioned him a number of times. Later, Bessian is completely shocked when Diana goes into the tower of refuge and questions his wife after rescuing her. He realizes, however, that Gjorg is most likely the reason she went inside the tower, and suddenly "he felt a weariness he had never known" (Kadare 201). It is at this point that the relationship seems doomed, and as "they were leaving the High Plateau" (Kadare 202), the reader can predict the fate of the relationship. The most likely ending will be a permanent separation that is a divorce between the two. However, they may choose to put this behind themselves, go on another honeymoon, and move on. There is no clear evidence of the possible outcome.
Bessian's adoration of the Kanun remains stagnant throughout the novel; it could be speculated, however, because of what it did to his wife that he might have taken a dislike to the Kanun towards the end of the novel. Diana's attitude, as the reader witnesses, turns from one of thrilled appreciation to fearful disgust, and it is the main reason because of which she becomes estranged from Bessian.
Thus, the Kanun, that reigned supreme in the Albanian high plateau, that set turbulence in the life of Gjorge and that fascinated Bessian Vorpsi, eventually destroys the marital harmony between Bessian and Diana.
