Book Title- Men in the Sun and Other Palestinian StoriesAuthor- Ghassan Kanafani
Terms and Concepts:
Political Activism- The author, Ghassan Kanafani, is a
Palestinian writer and political activist. His experiences as a Palestinian refugee prompted him to write this collection of short stories as a means to discuss the struggles of the Palestinian people. Kanafani was a member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.
Palestinian writer and political activist. His experiences as a Palestinian refugee prompted him to write this collection of short stories as a means to discuss the struggles of the Palestinian people. Kanafani was a member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.
Arab-Israeli War- When learning about the author, I
discovered he was exiled due to conflicts during the Arab-Israeli War. I was unaware of virtually any information about this war, but I felt it was important to research it so I could better understand the perspective of the
author. This conflict was between the Israelis and Palestinians, and caused the
Palestinian exodus of 1948. This mass displacement of Palestinian people was a
major part of Kanafani’s life and reason for creating literature which exposed
the plight of his people.
discovered he was exiled due to conflicts during the Arab-Israeli War. I was unaware of virtually any information about this war, but I felt it was important to research it so I could better understand the perspective of the
author. This conflict was between the Israelis and Palestinians, and caused the
Palestinian exodus of 1948. This mass displacement of Palestinian people was a
major part of Kanafani’s life and reason for creating literature which exposed
the plight of his people.
Multicultural- The clash of fundamental beliefs between the
Israelis and Palestinians in the 1948 war displayed how the existence of
different cultures in the same region can cause conflict. The Palestinian
region is historically multicultural in that Arabs and Israelis have been
living in physically neighboring regions while both possessing fundamentally
different religious views.
Israelis and Palestinians in the 1948 war displayed how the existence of
different cultures in the same region can cause conflict. The Palestinian
region is historically multicultural in that Arabs and Israelis have been
living in physically neighboring regions while both possessing fundamentally
different religious views.
International- While each of the 7 stories in Men in the Sun deals with Palestine, the
larger themes Kanafani addresses are international issues. As his wife said
about him, “He always stressed that the Palestine problem could not be solved
in isolation from the Arab world’s social and political situation.”-Anni
Kanafani
larger themes Kanafani addresses are international issues. As his wife said
about him, “He always stressed that the Palestine problem could not be solved
in isolation from the Arab world’s social and political situation.”-Anni
Kanafani
The Author’s Conclusion:
The themes and messages of the stories throughout Men in the Sun are written with the
plight of the Palestinian people at the core, without specifically referencing
this problem or the events which caused it. As a writer and a political
activist, Kanafani wants the reader to be aware of the suppression of his
people and their rights. However, instead of writing an autobiographical
account of his refuge, Kanafani crafted his stories carefully to convey the
same troubles he and his fellow Palestinians experienced in a fictitious way.
The style of Kanafani’s writing in this collection of stories serves to
universalize the shared experiences such as displacement, hopelessness, and the
effects of war. In this sense Kanafani is trying to convince the reader not
simply that the Palestinian’s plight was wrong, but that these experiences are
universal in nature and the solutions can be found in a social-political revolution.
Kanafani is credited as an author who modernized the
influence of Arab literature. Although his stories in Men in the Sun were
fictitious, many of the tales could be applied to the lives of displaced
Palestinians, or really any group of people that have been forced out of their
homeland. For example, in Men in the Sun, each of the 4 men is journeying to Kuwait
by different motivations but for the same search of better opportunities for
themselves and their families. This search for a better life, despite the risks
of the journey, is something humans of many different cultures can understand
and relate to.
The themes and messages of the stories throughout Men in the Sun are written with the
plight of the Palestinian people at the core, without specifically referencing
this problem or the events which caused it. As a writer and a political
activist, Kanafani wants the reader to be aware of the suppression of his
people and their rights. However, instead of writing an autobiographical
account of his refuge, Kanafani crafted his stories carefully to convey the
same troubles he and his fellow Palestinians experienced in a fictitious way.
The style of Kanafani’s writing in this collection of stories serves to
universalize the shared experiences such as displacement, hopelessness, and the
effects of war. In this sense Kanafani is trying to convince the reader not
simply that the Palestinian’s plight was wrong, but that these experiences are
universal in nature and the solutions can be found in a social-political revolution.
Kanafani is credited as an author who modernized the
influence of Arab literature. Although his stories in Men in the Sun were
fictitious, many of the tales could be applied to the lives of displaced
Palestinians, or really any group of people that have been forced out of their
homeland. For example, in Men in the Sun, each of the 4 men is journeying to Kuwait
by different motivations but for the same search of better opportunities for
themselves and their families. This search for a better life, despite the risks
of the journey, is something humans of many different cultures can understand
and relate to.
Each story in the collection seeks to address some aspect of
the Palestinian struggle and universalize it for greater understanding. The
individual characters, such as Umm Saad, are representations of different
people and aspects of Palestinian struggle in a holistic view. Umm Saad and her
story represent the women and working class who remain steadfast in standing up
for what they believe in while The Land of Sad Oranges displays the deep
connection of a Palestinian man to his land. From the perspective of someone
who was previously very unfamiliar with Arab culture or history, I think
Kanafani achieves this goal.
the Palestinian struggle and universalize it for greater understanding. The
individual characters, such as Umm Saad, are representations of different
people and aspects of Palestinian struggle in a holistic view. Umm Saad and her
story represent the women and working class who remain steadfast in standing up
for what they believe in while The Land of Sad Oranges displays the deep
connection of a Palestinian man to his land. From the perspective of someone
who was previously very unfamiliar with Arab culture or history, I think
Kanafani achieves this goal.
The Author’s Argument:
The author’s experiences living during the Arab-Israeli
conflicts and subsequent expulsion of his family from their homeland were a
major part in dictating the purpose of his life and writing. Kanafani was a
member of various political groups during his life including the Popular Front
for the Liberation of Palestine as well as the Arab Nationalist Movement. His
hope was for social revolution to change the plight of the Palestinian people.
Kanafani discusses the tragic hardships the Palestinians
experienced as a result of their displacement from their native homelands. For
example, the story Men in the Sun tells of 3 men traveling through the dessert
in extreme heat and danger in search of job opportunities. The fact that they
are basically willing to risk their lives on this quest shows the severity of
their condition. The irony of the 3 men’s deaths in the water-tank serves to reiterate the tragedy caused by the expulsion of the Palestinians. Kanafani’s experience and knowledge of similar displacements of his people is the underlying current in telling a story that exemplifies the
ongoing struggles and grief associated with Palestinian plight.
Place in Course content:
This collection of short stories was difficult for me to
dissect and understand partly because my lack of previous knowledge of Arab
culture, as well as the style of writing/references Kanafani uses. I had a
grasp of Men in the Sun, The Land of Sad Oranges, A Hand in the Grave, and Umm
Saad while I was confused by “If You Were a Horse…,” The Falcon, and the Letter
from Gaza. Only after additional research and our class discussion did I have a
better understanding of Kanafani’s purpose of writing and the individual
stories. This reading in particular showed me how important it is to understand
who the writer is and how their life experiences have shaped their literature. The
political situations surrounding Palestine and Kanafani’s background played a
major role in the symbolisms and themes of the stories. For example, from The
Land of Sad Oranges, “And all the orange trees that your father had abandoned
to the Jews shone in his eyes, all the well-tended orange trees that he had
bought one by one were printed on his face and reflected in the tears that he
could not control in front of the officer at the police post.” The loss of land
caused by displacement in Palestine was not simply a physical loss, but a loss
of livelihood, family, history, and future all at the same time.
This collection of short stories was difficult for me to
dissect and understand partly because my lack of previous knowledge of Arab
culture, as well as the style of writing/references Kanafani uses. I had a
grasp of Men in the Sun, The Land of Sad Oranges, A Hand in the Grave, and Umm
Saad while I was confused by “If You Were a Horse…,” The Falcon, and the Letter
from Gaza. Only after additional research and our class discussion did I have a
better understanding of Kanafani’s purpose of writing and the individual
stories. This reading in particular showed me how important it is to understand
who the writer is and how their life experiences have shaped their literature. The
political situations surrounding Palestine and Kanafani’s background played a
major role in the symbolisms and themes of the stories. For example, from The
Land of Sad Oranges, “And all the orange trees that your father had abandoned
to the Jews shone in his eyes, all the well-tended orange trees that he had
bought one by one were printed on his face and reflected in the tears that he
could not control in front of the officer at the police post.” The loss of land
caused by displacement in Palestine was not simply a physical loss, but a loss
of livelihood, family, history, and future all at the same time.
Men in the Sun takes its place in our course as a novel
meant to bring about awareness and change of a particular issue indirectly.
Kanafani wasn’t directly writing this book in order to change the course of the
Palestinians, but to tell the stories of his people by representing the
universality of their plight. Kanafani’s goal of giving a voice to those who
cannot speak to the larger international society is shared among many
postcolonial writers. Similarly to other authors, Kanafani played a major role
in changing the structure of literature in his culture. As a political activist for the PFLP and
editor for several political newspapers, he spoke and acted upon his beliefs
throughout his lifetime. Kanafani’s eventual death in a car bombing is just one
testament to how he voiced his political beliefs despite the dangers associated
with activism in the region.
meant to bring about awareness and change of a particular issue indirectly.
Kanafani wasn’t directly writing this book in order to change the course of the
Palestinians, but to tell the stories of his people by representing the
universality of their plight. Kanafani’s goal of giving a voice to those who
cannot speak to the larger international society is shared among many
postcolonial writers. Similarly to other authors, Kanafani played a major role
in changing the structure of literature in his culture. As a political activist for the PFLP and
editor for several political newspapers, he spoke and acted upon his beliefs
throughout his lifetime. Kanafani’s eventual death in a car bombing is just one
testament to how he voiced his political beliefs despite the dangers associated
with activism in the region.
This is a link to Kanafani's website- http://www.ghassankanafani.com/indexen.html
This is one of the sites I used to learn more about the author- http://www.palestineremembered.com/Acre/Acre/Story168.html
I was intrigued to learn that there is a Cultural Foundation in Kanafani's honor. This foundation was founded in 1974 for the purpose of providing educational opportunities to refugee children ages 3-18 in deprived areas of Lebanon. This is a link to the site- http://www.kanafani.dk/gkk_main_eng.htm
I also thought it was interesting that Kanafani was a painter. Below is an example of one of his works.
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