Not Human Beings

How does the author use imagery in the story, Not Human Beings?

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Keret uses surreal imagery at the end of the story to add a twist to the plot development and supplement the discourse on dehumanization that pervades the story. Until page 80, the story is brutally realistic. It follows an antagonistic army regiment as they wreak havoc on civilians. However, when the officer cuts open the Arab man’s stomach, “flags, flyers, candy, and phone tokens” (80) came out, and the Russian soldier folded the body up and contemplated using it as a cape. This surreal imagery appears out of place, so the reader is bound to be taken aback by it. Furthermore, the imagery itself complements the title of the story, Not Human Beings, because it interprets the title in a literal way and portrays the Arabs as something different than human.

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