A Handful of Dates

“A Handful of Dates” is a story of disillusionment, following the confusion, pain, and dawning realization of the narrator when he perceives his idolized grandfather’s greed and exploitation of their fellow neighbor.

The narrator’s changing perspective and loyalties highlight this disillusionment. Early in the text, the narrator looks up to his grandfather. He reflects that he “loved him and would imagine [himself], when [he] grew to be a man, tall and slender like him, walking along with great strides” (91). His initial view of manhood is one filled with ideas of power, filled with strength and greatness. The story reveals the narrator’s almost willfully naive view of the world when he states, “I don’t care […] who owns those date palms, those trees or this black, cracked earth—all I know is that it’s the arena for my dreams and my playground” (91). The narrator holds dear his boyish sense of wonder and imagination at the beginning of the text. He also is complicit in the power of his grandfather, working tirelessly to anticipate his every need and to impress him, giving examples of “bringing him his prayer rug,” and filling his drinks without asking, taking joy in reciting the Quran for him (91).