A Handful of Dates: Culture of the People of Sudan - Essay Example

At the end of the story, the young boy walks to the bend of the river and forces himself to vomit the handful of grapes he has consumed. This is symbolic of his loss of innocence with regard to the grandfather whom he has hitherto idolized and loved wholeheartedly. The dates, which the boy considers to rightfully belong to Masood, have been given to the boy by his grandfather. They have come to signify the payment of a debt. This leaves a bad taste in the sensitive boy’s mouth. He vomits the dates to distance himself from his grandfather’s actions.

3 What is revealed about bias, beliefs, values, identity, and power for each of the three central characters?

            The boy, in the innocence of his youth, takes things at face value. He obviously adores and idolizes his grandfather, considering him to be a “giant” among men. His sense of identity is centered around the mosque and in relation to his grandfather – the approval of the imam and that of his grandfather are equally important to him. He is a lover of nature and empathizes with Masood’s concern for the date trees. He is sympathetic to the poor man’s plight.

            The grandfather is an avaricious, ruthless man, whose rise in social position has been at the cost of his humanity. He is obviously a powerful man in the community. His hypocrisy is evident in his reciting of his prayers and his approval of his grandson’s knowledge of the Koran, while simultaneously holding Masood in the vice of debt. He considers land to be the symbol of power and determinedly covets the little Masood still owns. He is jealous of Masood’s inherited wealth.

            Masood is a man who loves the land which he has inherited. His concern for nature is evident in his admonition to the boy, “Be careful you don't cut the heart of the palm.” Despite being helpless to overcome the debt and poverty, he sings and laughs and takes delight in life. His attachment to his ancestral land is deep and is not just in terms of material wealth.