A Son's Expectation

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“The Plane Reservation,” is a short story by Massud Farzan an Iranian author. Farzan is an accomplished poet, critic and short story-writer who currently work as a professor of English in Belgium. In this story, he discusses about the challenges the main character of his story Morad faced in his home country, and the conflict between his parents which was as a result of poverty. Farzan also used this medium to shed light on the intercultural disparity between the Iranian and western culture.
Morad, after many years of living in the United States decides to return to his home country Iran. As a noble middle class American, impressing people was not his top priority instead it was the joy of seeing his family who he had long seen. Arriving to Iran, he was disappointed to hear the cab driver ask for a tip. This is because he looked more American than Iranian in both accent and dressing. Therefore, the taxi driver stereotyping him as a foreigner meant that more money was expected of him than usual. Morad lives on 23rd Sadness street. The name alone depicts the ongoing emotion of the surrounding and its occupants.
Morad’s family is not wealthy. In his house, there was no furniture and the floors were covered with traditional rugs. The toilet was just a mere dug up pit without a seat. Nevertheless, Morad’s mother seemed to be a devout Muslim because he narrated that his mother’s prayer-spread laid across the floor. She was highly religious. Meanwhile, his father is seen to be a dreamer because he always likes to think and meditate without being bothered, especially when he sits in the toilet. His father also likes to be creative and inventive with his thoughts. His father’s failed inventions made his mother believe that eve...

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... together. As he sat on the pit, Morad thought “stringing beans together in peace and harmony”(24). A long term quarrel or conflict has finally being resolved. He could now make plane reservation to return back to the United States and also have his shoe shined.
Like any emigrants who plan on returning home, a lot is expected of us from our families. For instance, we are expected to look better than we were before leaving whether in physical appearance or financial sense. We can conclude that this story prompts sadness because there is strong bond of unity among Morad and his family. Both family member at one point felt disappointed because much was expected from each one of them. Therefore, when we care much about what the society has to say, we neglect the little effort and sacrifices each member of the family gives, to make our home a happy and peaceful place.

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