comment on Language and Meaning

The story’s language is clear and simple so as to support the frank and emotionally impactful tone of the narrative. The prose begins with a peaceful and reverent tone so as to cultivate the sense of fond nostalgia with which the narrator describes his life before the war. For example, when describing his memories of walking through the city with his wife and son, he creates a narrative illustration of a vibrant place of peaceful coexistence: “In its bustling Old City, a mosque for us Muslims, a church for our Christian neighbors, and a grand souk for us all to haggle over gold pendants and fresh produce and bridal dresses” (12).