Displacement

Displacement is a recurring theme throughout all of the stories. In "Men in the Sun," the largest example of this is the fact that smuggling is a profitable business. The fat proprietor demonstrates the willingness of many to spend extravagant amounts of money to be smuggled to Kuwait. Assad has previously been smuggled from one place to another, though unsuccessfully. This is also evidenced by the fact that Assad, Marwan and Abu Qais all want to leave Basra. Abul Khaizuran smuggles the men, leading to their displacement. The fact that this is illegal is proven by the customs stations that are set up along the road. In "The Land of Sad Oranges," the family relocates from Jaffa to Acre before the story begins. Then, they are forced to flee to Sidon after the Jews attack in Acre. Even the children are constantly displaced from their home since they...