Free Essay

Handful of Dates

In: English and Literature

Submitted By loloboy11
Words 1859
Pages 8
“A Handful of Dates”

The Story “A Handful of Dates” by Tayeb Salih is about a boy whose feelings for his grandfather were changing little by little. First the boy loved his grandfather. He liked to spend a lot of time with him because he felt his grandfather was a perfect person with a pure heart. Also, he wanted to be like his grandfather in the future. The boy and the grandfather had a neighbor named Masood who his grandfather didn’t like. The boy felt curious about what happened with his neighbor, but when the boy asked his grandfather about Masood, the grandfather said bad things about him. After that, the boy realized that Masood was a person with happiness and he remembered his beautiful voice. That’s why he started to change his mind about his grandfather because he realized his grandfather was not what he thought. Throughout the story, the boy learned what he saw and believe was not always true and sometimes people are not how you imagine. At the beginning of the story, the boy loved his grandfather. He admired and looked up to his grandfather. He wanted to be just like him. The boy says, “The strange thing was that I never used to go out with my father, rather, it was my grandfather takes me with him wherever he went.” (P.2) This shows, the relationship between the boy and his grandfather,. The boy loved to go where grandfather takes him to because the boy liked him so much. For another example, the boy says, I loved him and would imagine myself, when I grew to be a man, tall and slender like him, walking along with great strides.” (P.3) This means, the boy thanks that, his grandfather’s height seems high because the measurement of his respect or honor his grandfather. When you respect someone they looked bigger than usual. These things show us that the boy loved his grandfather and respect what his grandfather does and said. Later, the boys feeling toward his grandfather changed. Since the boy was pure hearted, he loved the nature. The boy says, “I used to love the mosque, and I loved the river too” (P.2). This shows, the boy was a pure hearted person that is why he views the nature as is and loved it. Similarly, the boy was pure hearted so he totally believed in his grandfather without having any questions of what he did and said. For another example, the boy says, “who would pat me on my head and cheek just as people did when they saw me with my grandfather.” (P.2) This means, people around him liked how he treat his grandfather like sincerely based on his personality because of that people around him liked him and showing their feeling with some gestures. However, his personality impacted his decision in the end of story.
In addition, the boy seems smart in the beginning of the story, According to the boy, “The reason was, no doubt, that I was quick at learning by heart” (P.2) This shows, the way he learned by something was so quick and kept the true meaning inside of him like totally understand the deeper meaning. That made me to think him as a smart person. For another example, the boy says, “I used to know when my grandfather wanted me to laugh, when to be silent; also I would remember the times for his prayers and would bring him his prayer rug and fill the ewer for his ablutions without his having to ask me” (P.3) In other words, the boy was smart that he knows what to do before his grandfather actually told him what to do. Therefore, he understands the true relationship between the Masood and his grandfather. Later, his smartness affected his respect toward his grandfather.
Furthermore, the boy was curious about many things. The boy says, “Before my grandfather ever replied to my many questions” (P.3) This shows, the boy has a lot of questions within him about something and want his grandfather could gave him an answer. Because, the boy believe his grandfather is a perfect man who has a solution for the problem that idea is based on his admiration on his grandfather but his curiosity made him to question about the relationship between Masood and his grandfather.
Similarly, the boy starts to be curious about how his grandfather feels about Masood because it made him think something was wrong. The boy says, “One day I asked him about our neighbor Masood. I said to my grandfather: ‘I fancy you don’t like our neighbor Masood?’ ” (P.3) This means, when the boy asked about Masood his grandfathers reaction was weird than who was used to be. Therefore, the boy’s curiosity expanded. For another example, the grandfather says, “‘He’s an indolent man and I don’t like such people.’ I said to him: What’s an indolent man?’” (P.3) In other words, the grandfather point out that he doesn’t like Masood and explained Masood’s personality as a lazy person, which made the boy have to ask his grandfather about indolent man and having a question about why does his grandfather use such a word to describe the Masood. However, the boy believes at first that Masood was a lazy person because his grandfather told him that way.
After, the grandfather tells the boy about Masood’s land and showing a grandfather’s other part of personality was greedy. The boy started felt sorry for Masood. The grandfather says, “‘Yes, my boy, forty years ago all this belonged to Masood – two thirds of it is now mine.’” (P.4) It was a shocking news for the boy, he believes that his grandfather as perfect person so he should have these land. However, he doesn’t. Which made the boy started felt some doubts about his grandfather little by little, so he may not the perfect person. For another example, the grandfather says, “I think that before Allah calls to him I shall have bought the remaining third as well.” (p.4) the grandfather shows his greedy side by telling the boy that he would take what’s left over for the Masood even he already has a lot of land. Which made the boy felt a doubt over complete respect don’t want him to do what he wants to do.
When Masood invited his grandfather and the boy go to the harvest. That made the boy felt tension from Masood that he didn’t want his grandfather to attend the harvest. The Masood says, “‘We’ll be harvesting the dates today,’ said Masood ‘Don’t you want to be there?’” (P.5) Masood actually invited the grandfather even their relationship wasn’t that pretty. However, the boy says, “I felt, though, that he did not really want my grandfather to attend.” (P.5) According to the boy, Masood was not fully wanted the grandfather to attend but ask him to come. Unlikely than the Masood, grandfather seems happy to attend. Therefore, the boy notices that his grandfather was too happy to get profits from the dates. The boy says, “My grandfather, however, jumped to his feet and I saw that his eyes sparkled momentarily with an intense brightness.” (P.5) This show, how happy he was by going to the harvest that gives him profits. Later, this invitation and what happen during the harvest was big part of the boys change.
Therefore, the boy notices that his grandfather was too happy to get profits from the dates. The boy says, “My grandfather, however, jumped to his feet and I saw that his eyes sparkled momentarily with an intense brightness.” (P.5) This show, how happy he was by going to the harvest that gives him profits. During the harvest, the boy saw that no one paid attention to Masood so the boy felt that no one respected the Masood. According to the boy, “No one paid any attention to what he said.” (p.5) In other words, no one cares about Masood that he was there for other people treated like him an outsider. That affected more on the boy by having a feeling of sorry about Masood that what other people did to Masood is wrong which they shouldn’t suppose to do. Since, the boy thinks his grandfather made a sin on the Masood. The boys wanted to get forgiveness from Masood. The boy says, “I felt myself drawing close to Masood , felt my hand stretched out toward him as though I wanted to touch the hem of his garment.” (p.7) Because, the boy wants to get forgiveness from the Masood for what his grandfather did to him by touching the hem of his garment. The boy wanted to do the same thing as the woman from the bible who asks for the solution from the Messiah. According to the bible, “Having heard that the messiah was near, the woman said with herself, ‘If I may but touch the hem of his garment. I shall be whole.” (Matthew 9:20-9:21) It shows, the woman seeking for the forgiveness and she has what she hope for. Later, the boy’s sympathy on Masood affected him on his reaction. In the end of the story, the boy ran off from his grandfather even his grandfather called him to stop and also the boy make himself throw up the dates. Since, he saw how his grandfather treated Masood. The boy hated his grandfather. The boy says, “I ran off into the distance. Hearing my grandfather call after me, I hesitated a little, then continued on my way.” (P.7) It shows, the boy doesn’t respect his grandfather anymore, if he does respect him, the boy must stop at all cause. In another example, the boy says, “I felt at that moment I hated him. Quickening my pace, it was… I put my finger into my throat and spewed up the dates I’d eaten.” (P.7) In other words, the boy doesn’t want anything is from his grandfather and he is using a word “HATED” to describe his emotion about his grandfather. Which was a quite a shocking change for him because he admired his grandfather and think him as a role model in the beginning of the story. However, the boy considered these matters as a betrayal so now, the boys feeling toward his grandfather totally changed into disrespect. This story reminds me that the true beauty is not always come out as you thought of. Beneath of the beauty, there are opposite sides of it. It may seem different than what you think it is. Similarly, rose has its torn and floating swan looks beautiful but who move its legs so fast in order to stay floated. Throughout the story, the boys feeling toward his grandfather turns dramatically because he realized the truth about his grandfather that wasn’t like what he imagined about him. In today’s society, many people misjudge the other people by their impression. They think, they know other people but after the while they notice that their not the same person.

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Similarities Between 'Boys And Girls'

...Girls” by Alice Munro is an excellent example that indicates that people’s reality can get tangled up with their dreams. Similarly, “A Handful of Dates” by Tayeb Salih is also a brilliant example of dreams versus reality. Although, there are obvious differences between “Boys and Girls” and “A Handful of Dates”, they still have many similarities. Both stories demonstrate that a person’s in this case the protagonist, can easily be engrossed in a dream or illusion, causing conflict which can lead to personal growth through dreams, conflicts and symbols. Firstly, dreams and illusions are used in both “Boys and Girls” and...

Words: 862 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Taxation

...The Truth About Protein Powders and Meal Replacements and Bars The majority of protein supplements are packed with ingredients that create the exact opposite result that people want when they go to purchase protein. With the wrong ingredients protein shakes and bars can make you feel hungry, bloated, crave sugar and completely stall your weightloss. Heres why: Dirty Protein Secret Number 1: Added Sugar Many Protein supplements are packed full of added sugar. Sugar is the number one enemy when it comes to getting into shape. When you body digests sugar your body converts sugar into fat. Sugar also creates crazy cravings, so even though you are trying to do the right thing by having a protein shake before you know it you have uncontrollable cravings for all the wrong types of food. Have a look at how many ways sugar has been sneaked into this protein supplement: Check the list of ingredients on a protein supplement and if you find any of the following ingredients you have found sugar: Corn Syrup, Glucose Syrup, Invert Syrup, treacle, fruitrim (fruit juice and brown rice syrup (sugar!) and Sugar Cane juice. Dirty Protein Secret Number 2: Craving Causing Chemicals. If your protein supplement hasn't been packed full of sugar your can be pretty sure you will find artificial sweetener in it. Artificial sweeteners are known to create cravings for sugar. Just like protein supplements packed full of sugar soon after eating them you will be craving some thing sweet, the exact...

Words: 2818 - Pages: 12

Premium Essay

Should Australia's National Day Be Federation Day?

...When selecting a date for a country’s national day, only a handful of places in the world select the date on which the first European settlement was created. Instead, most countries choose a day based on foundation, or receiving independence from another nation. A day, in which they become an entity. The United States celebrates their independence from Great Britain (1776) on July the Fourth. Greece, independence from the Ottoman Empire (1821) on March 25. Brazil, independence from Portugal (1822) on September 7 to name a few. It then goes without saying, that Australia’s national day should be Federation Day, January 1. A day that six self-governing British colonies formed a single nation. A national day should be a day that all peoples...

Words: 412 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Econ Final

...* The date when you finished the final exam: December 13 2013 You are advised to print a copy of this exam and read it prior to taking it. Make sure you have a word processor to use during the above dates (at home or work, in a lab or a public library, etc.). Do not use the small textbox to write your answers in WebTycho. Send me the electronic file with your answers as an attachment through the Assignments link! Please do not delete the questions as you are answering them. You may use the shaded/underlined field for the answers, or insert some additional space. Section 1: Multiple-Choice (28 Questions). 2 Points each. 56 Points total. Write the letter of the correct answer in the shaded/underlined field immediately after the question. The table below shows the hypothetical utility schedule for a consumer of chocolate candy bars. [pic] 1. Refer to the above table. This consumer begins to experience diminishing marginal utility when consuming the: A. Third candy bar B. Fourth candy bar C. Sixth candy bar D. Seventh candy bar B. 2. Refer to the above table. Marginal utility becomes negative with the consumption of the: A. Fourth candy bar B. Fifth candy bar C. Sixth candy bar D. Seventh candy bar D. 3. Refer to the above table. Based on the data in the above table you can conclude that the: A. Marginal utility of the fourth unit is 7 B. Marginal utility of the third unit is 18 C. Total utility of 5 units is 30 D. Total utility of 3 units is...

Words: 3205 - Pages: 13

Premium Essay

Niagara Falls: Maid Of The Mist

...Niagara Falls would be the perfect destination for those who have a deep appreciation for natural beauty (the falls itself). More specifically, older folks who have the time and money to spend at this spectacular attraction, would really enjoy the experience. they would be able to get a closer look at the falls by boarding the Maid of the Mist. Or if they are more into a calming nature walk, they can take a short trip over to the American site of the falls. There they would be able to walk along the forest trails. This would make for an intimate date with nature. Niagara Falls would also be the perfect destination for younger generations, with a thirst for fun. There are endless sites and attractions for them to see. For those with a large...

Words: 271 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Australia Day Persuasive Speech

...First Dog on the Moon First Dog on the Moon Read more He has even tried to deny that this debate was happening in any significant way at all. He claimed that it was the preoccupation of “a tiny handful of people”. The truth is that it is happening in spite of the major parties. The discussion is playing out across news sites and radio stations and at water coolers around the country. Despite predictable attempts to turn it into a tedious culture war by tabloid columnists and desperate attention-seeking provocateurs, this is not a new discussion, but one that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have long been seeking: “When it comes to the subject of 26 January, the overwhelming sentiment among First Nations people is an uneasy blend of melancholy approaching outright grief, of profound despair, of opposition and antipathy, and always of staunch defiance,” writes Jack Latimore, co-editor of the collaborative Twitter account IndigenousX. Protests about 26 January trace back to 1938. The national strategy that followed the 1990s’ decade-long process to achieve reconciliation also recommended the date be...

Words: 634 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Iah 241c

...Social Class Assignment Paper Structure: • Page 1: Cover sheet • Pages 2, 3, 4, and 5: The text of your paper - four full pages of text • Page 6: Bibliography Formatting Instructions: • Your cover sheet should provide your name and the title of your paper only; • Your title should be a creative one that you come up with yourself - allowing you to establish the tone for the paper that follows; • Provide citations for all quotes you take from the Kate Fox book (inc. page numbers), films, or TV shows, and for all references you make to events or incidents in the Fox book, films, TV episodes, and course lectures; • If using an e-version of Fox's book, you should provide the chapter number and section title from which a quote comes instead of page numbers; • Citations can be footnotes, endnotes, or in-text references, whichever format you're most familiar and comfortable with; • Your text should be double-spaced, in 12-point Times New Roman font, with one inch page margins; insert page numbers in 'footers' bottom right; • Your thesis statement should be in bold or italicized. Assignment: Your task in this assignment - worth 20% of your course grade - is to analyze, outline, and explain the differences between the three social classes as they exist in Britain today, providing multiple examples from course materials to illustrate your argument. Social class in Britain is no longer based in the old, pre-World War II...

Words: 1416 - Pages: 6

Free Essay

Thomos

...The 17th Century English philosopher Thomas Hobbes is now widely regarded as one of a handful of truly great political philosophers, whose masterwork Leviathan rivals in significance the political writings of Plato, Aristotle, Locke, Rousseau, Kant, and Rawls. Hobbes is famous for his early and elaborate development of what has come to be known as “social contract theory”, the method of justifying political principles or arrangements by appeal to the agreement that would be made among suitably situated rational, free, and equal persons. He is infamous for having used the social contract method to arrive at the astonishing conclusion that we ought to submit to the authority of an absolute—undivided and unlimited—sovereign power. While his methodological innovation had a profound constructive impact on subsequent work in political philosophy, his substantive conclusions have served mostly as a foil for the development of more palatable philosophical positions. Hobbes's moral philosophy has been less influential than his political philosophy, in part because that theory is too ambiguous to have garnered any general consensus as to its content. Most scholars have taken Hobbes to have affirmed some sort of personal relativism or subjectivism; but views that Hobbes espoused divine command theory, virtue ethics, rule egoism, or a form of projectivism also find support in Hobbes's texts and among scholars. Because Hobbes held that “the true doctrine of the Lawes of Nature is the true...

Words: 298 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Wgu Vzt1 Martketing Plan

...Table of Contents Introduction 3 Product Description and Classification 3 Product Support of Mission Statement……………………………………………………………………………………………….….3 Consumer Product Classification 3 Target Market 3 Competitive Situation Analysis 3 Analysis of Competition using Porter’s Five Forces Model 3 SWOT Analysis 4 Strengths and Core Competencies 5 Weaknesses 5 Opportunities 5 Threats 5 Market Objectives 6 Product Objective 6 Price Objective 6 Place Objective 6 Promotion Objective 6 Marketing Strategies and Implementation 7 Product Strategies 7 Price Strategies 7 Place Strategies 7 Promotion Strategies 7 Explanation of Strategies………………………..……………………………………………………………………………………………….7 Implementation Plan 7 Product Tactics 8 Price Tactics 8 Place Tactics 8 Promotion Tactics 8 Monitoring Procedures 8 Introduction While this section is not expressly requested in the task instructions, it is usually helpful to write a paragraph that introduces Company G and the product that you are writing this marketing plan about. Company G is an electronics computer. This is a marketing plan for the new product, the Company G: Mixed Drink Maker. Company G is a Product Description and Classification Product Description and Support of the Mission Company G Mission Statement “We enable consumers to improve the quality and convenience of their lives by providing high-quality, innovative electronics solutions.” The Company G Cocktail Maker is a countertop kitchen appliance...

Words: 2192 - Pages: 9

Premium Essay

Baby Bunnie Persuasive Speech

...Step 1. In raising baby bunnies successfully, begin by transferring your already pregnant doe (female rabbit) to a larger cage. The cage should be large enough to allow the mother and her expected litter of kits to coexist peacefully. Step 2. On the twenty-seventh day of the doe's pregnancy, five days before her due date, place the nest box, along with several handfuls of straw, into her cage. Keep a look out for when she'll begin pulling out her fur to line her nest. Step 3. The doe should give birth on the thirty-first day of her pregnancy, and when she does, be sure to provide her with an unlimited access to pelleted feed and plenty of water. Step 4. After the bunnies are born, wait a day before moving the straw aside to check for any dead...

Words: 348 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Analysis Of Phhh Mortgage

...PHH Mortgage originates, sells, and services residential mortgage loans to retail customers. It’s a subsidiary of PHH Corporation, which provides mortgage services to real estate brokers and financial institutions. The company has been in business since 1977, and it’s headquartered in Mount Laurel, NJ. PHH Mortgage closed approximately $41 billion in mortgage loans, and serviced a portfolio of 1.1 million loans in 2015. PHH Mortgage is one of the largest mortgage companies in the country as it ranks 5th in the nation for originating residential loans and 9th in the nation for mortgage servicing. Reviews of PHH Mortgage on the BBB and Consumer Affairs websites are not favorable. PHH Mortgage is not accredited with the BBB, but the company...

Words: 352 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Manage Meetings

...MANAGE MEETINGS Following is the assessment that I have prepared of managing the meeting that are held in my business. The purpose of this assessment, I am successfully running a Pizza shops that has two branches; one in a campbellfield plaza and other shop is in Pascoe vale area. Following are the required details of the business. Business Type: food store Business Name: Pizza shop Menu: Our menu will include 4 sizes pizzas with various combination of topping, additionally bread sticks, bear and soda will be included in the initial menu offerings. Services: pizza shops offers high quality pizza to growing community that currently has limited availability to delivery .They always provide fresh pieces of pizzas. Key to success: The key to success in this business are: 1. Delivering the customer value proposition. 2. Marketing: promoting a new company, product and delivery channels to a rural community. 3. Product quality and consistency. : Objectives The objectives for pizza are: 1. To establish the market presence needed to support marketing and sales goals and to attract customers. 2. To achieve double dig it profit margins. 3. To reach healthy monthly sales by the end of the year, and average monthly sales increasing. Stakeholders of business • Employee • Government • Customers ...

Words: 864 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Hpv Summary

...Kayla Sims Woman’s Health Magazine Date of Publication: (Updated) August 8,2012 Everything you Need to Know About HPV: Millions of Women come into contact with HPV every year- Learn what to you're dealing with now. By: National Woman’s Heath Resource Center Article Rating: Fair Chances are you have at least came into contact with the human papilliomavirus and had no clue you did. Most adults have whom are sexually active have been exposed to HPV, with as many as 20 million estimated Americans to be infected with the strains that cause genital warts. The good news, most cases have no symptoms of health problems. Now for the bad news, it causes nearly all cases of cervical cancer . In many ways, you can compare HPV to genital herpes. Both are incurable and rarely have symptoms. However, both are capable of causing medical problems and are both widespread in this country. Luckily, HPV only causes cancer in a small percentage of those infected. Besides cervical cancer, which is usually all that ever gets mentioned when discussing this infection, HPV can also cause cancer of the vulva, penis, head, neck, and anus, but these are extremely rare. These viruses are called papillomavirus because they tend to cause warts, or papillomas. Which are benign tumors. Warts caused from HPV can appear in the hands, feet or on/around the genital area. The strains of HPV that cause warts on the hands and feet are rarely the same as the ones that cause genital warts. There are about two...

Words: 366 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Conference

...the distinction between videoconferencing and telepresence? Ans-1: Videoconference is a technique of communication which allows individuals at two or more locations to communicate through two-way video and audio transmissions at the same time. The critical feature of videoconferencing is the digital compression of audio and video streams by a device called a codec. Those streams are then divided into packets and transmitted over a network or the internet. On the other hand, telepresence is the top-of-the-line videoconferencing technology. It strives to make users feel as if they are actually present in a location different from their own. Telepresence products provide the highest-quality videoconferencing available on the market to date. Only a handful of companies, such as Cisco, HP, and Polycom, supply these products. 3. What are the ways in which videoconferencing provides value to a business? Would you consider it smart management? Explain your answer. Ans-2: Yes, I would consider it smart management because in businesses where the company men need to interact and communicate constantly with people from various locations especially foreign, it is a very effective. It allows for 'better' meetings as well: it's easier to meet with partners, suppliers, subsidiaries, and colleagues from within the office or around the world on a more frequent basis, which in most cases simply cannot be reasonably accomplished through travel. They can also meet with contacts that they wouldn't...

Words: 313 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Voter Victor

...Date: October 1, 2012 To: Lead Economist Laura From: Stephen Garlitz Subject: Sample report 1 for Voter Victor I have finished my finished my research for Voter Victor and my report is below. Some have informed you that in the United States are a Capitalist or market driven economy. To that end they are somewhat correct. In The United States we are a system that partially functions on a free enterprise system where a person or companies are free to run or start a business. When they do so need to be able to raise capital to run that business or enterprise. Usually the owner or set of owners have to fund the start up. This may be accomplished several different ways. They can invest their own money or they can sell parts of the interest to private investors or sometimes they can make the parts available to the public. The other part of the United States is also a mixed economy where the government can help provide funding thru small business administration, which is a government entity that will loan money to a person or small business to assist them to start or run a business. The government is broken into several different types they are as follows. The federal government is governed by an elected President and then there is a congress that consists of body of people elected by the people that represent the people. Then inside of the United States there are 50 states that each has their own state government. Since you live in Utah lets cover that state...

Words: 406 - Pages: 2