Lizzy Cotteta
09/18/2017
Post 9-11
A Hologram For the King: Yousef and Alan A Hologram for the King by Dave Eggers follows the journey of Alan Clay, an accomplished businessman, to Saudi Arabia to present a deal to the Arabian King. After Alan and his ex wife, Ruby, get a divorce, Alan is unable to pay for his daughter’s college education in the United States, which influences his decision to work abroad and save more money. Soon after Arriving to Saudi Alan meets Yousef, an Arab driver, who not only eases Alan’s skepticism about Saudi culture, but soon becomes a close friend during their time together. Alan and Yousef come from very different cultural backgrounds but their differences and curiosity is what initially draws them together. …show more content…
Differences in the attitudes between the two cultures also come to light. As Alan is taking photos in the countryside while visiting Yousef’s family Alan jokes distastefully about being in the CIA. The man’s attitude quickly changes, exemplifying how afraid the Saudi people really are America. They are suspicious, and associate America with the CIA, violence, and misunderstanding the Islamic religion. After trying to explain himself, Alan goes hunting with Yousef’s family during which he almost shoots a shepherd boy that he mistakes as a wolf. Alan proves the American stereotype true in both of these instances by being obnoxious in his jokes and too ambitious while hunting. As Alan is returning to Jeddah, the city he first met Yousef in, “He closed his eyes under the white sun and saw only the face of the boy, the face of the men, Yousef's placid expression when Alan turned away from the valley and saw them all. An expression that spoke of suspicions confirmed. (263) Alan has good intentions and although he and Yousef have bonded up until this weekend their cultural differences and suspicions created a new barrier. These mistakes on Alan’s part are enough to instill fear, confirming the Saudi
09/18/2017
Post 9-11
A Hologram For the King: Yousef and Alan A Hologram for the King by Dave Eggers follows the journey of Alan Clay, an accomplished businessman, to Saudi Arabia to present a deal to the Arabian King. After Alan and his ex wife, Ruby, get a divorce, Alan is unable to pay for his daughter’s college education in the United States, which influences his decision to work abroad and save more money. Soon after Arriving to Saudi Alan meets Yousef, an Arab driver, who not only eases Alan’s skepticism about Saudi culture, but soon becomes a close friend during their time together. Alan and Yousef come from very different cultural backgrounds but their differences and curiosity is what initially draws them together. …show more content…
Differences in the attitudes between the two cultures also come to light. As Alan is taking photos in the countryside while visiting Yousef’s family Alan jokes distastefully about being in the CIA. The man’s attitude quickly changes, exemplifying how afraid the Saudi people really are America. They are suspicious, and associate America with the CIA, violence, and misunderstanding the Islamic religion. After trying to explain himself, Alan goes hunting with Yousef’s family during which he almost shoots a shepherd boy that he mistakes as a wolf. Alan proves the American stereotype true in both of these instances by being obnoxious in his jokes and too ambitious while hunting. As Alan is returning to Jeddah, the city he first met Yousef in, “He closed his eyes under the white sun and saw only the face of the boy, the face of the men, Yousef's placid expression when Alan turned away from the valley and saw them all. An expression that spoke of suspicions confirmed. (263) Alan has good intentions and although he and Yousef have bonded up until this weekend their cultural differences and suspicions created a new barrier. These mistakes on Alan’s part are enough to instill fear, confirming the Saudi