Conflict In Ghassan Kanafani's Men In The Sun

Men in the Sun, Ghassan Kanafani’s first work is a short story based on the journey of Palestinian people for a stable life. In the story Kanafani uses four characters, in exile struggling to rebuild their future, to show the plight of Palestinian refugees after the War of 1948. Through the four character, Kanafani discusses the political and social struggle of Palestinian. Although the characters struggle for a better life like Palestinians after the War of 1948, together they show strong resistance, and decide to illegally go on a risky journey for a better future to Kuwait. Each character individually fights to rebuild a future, a future that is taken away from them by the Israelis, for their families by risking their lives.
Kanafani’s work, Men in the Sun, is commentary on the plight of Palestinians refugees in the aftermath of the War of 1948. This is because the story is parallel to the result of the war when many people of Palestine were living in camps or were struggling to make a living for their families. However, the struggle of Palestinians in the story could be interpreted different ways.

It is not made clear in the novella if the three men knocked on the sides of the tank. However, it is interpreted that the men do knock on the sides of the tank, but no one hears them because everyone including Abu Khaizaran are inside the one-story building. This shows that Palestinians are showing resistance by not staying quiet and are standing up for their rights. Nevertheless, no one is hearing them. By knocking on the sides of the tank, the three characters are showing the other Arabs that they are illegally going to Kuwait and are not afraid of anything. They do not accept what they are going through and will continue to fight. As a result, they are standing up and working hard toward a better