Facing Plot Narrative in Kanafani's A Hand in the Grave

Mahatma Gandhi once commented, "To a true artist only that face is beautiful which, quite apart from its exterior, shines with the Truth within the soul." ("The Mind of Mahatma Gandhi"). By Gandhi's terms, author Ghassan Kanafani is certainly an artist in the deep characters he creates. These characters' faces appear to readers, giving a window to their souls. "A Hand in the Grave" appears to be a simple, surface-level story; however, Kanafani infuses the story with emotion by symbolically using the face to carry the narrative of the plot.

The face may seem a rather simplistic thing to use for such strong symbolism, but it is important to understand that a symbol does not need to be complex to convey great meaning. In an article directed towards an audience of journalists, Paula LaRocque comments, "Skillful writers [implying journalistic writers] excel at appropriate figurative language. There's no shortage of metaphor. Good figurative images needn't be--probably shouldn't be--intricate or curious. They need only be natural and visual and right." Using the face as a symbol is exactly that- natural, visual, and right. Considering his extensive experience as a journalist, Kanafani would have likely agreed with LaRocque's statement. In "A Hand in the Grave," his choice of the face proves to be unique and effective, although quite simple.