“Like Water For Chocolate” by Joseph Conrad – Short Story by Joseph Conrad

- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -

Khalid is not just another salesman in the factory of sleazy emotional manipulation. Khalid is a riveting protagonist with an array of emotions.

Khalid

Well, he’s still a human being in this first chapter. Khalid’s main character trait is perhaps his past of being a Muslim and a Middle Easterner who has come to America to sell for a manufacturer of reparation. But he’s about to change that since he and his partner discover a suitcase full of classified documents (all laid out nicely for you to see) about the gas leak that had recently been uncovered at a US Base in Iraq.

So, Khalid’s getting the documents which are somehow related to the mystery incident in Iraq, in an attempt to rescue a woman whom he just met in America. But this doesn’t stop him from wanting to know more about the events in Iraq since his partner is making him go into detail on each and every document he has got his hands on.

Understanding the power of emotional manipulation is key to understanding Khalid’s character. And he isn’t that different from the others. The others have to earn their place through their successful and strong skills of physical and mental combat to win over their rivals and competitors. In their case, they’ve got adversaries who will do anything they can to keep them away from the top of the ladder.

Of course, he’s more unique than his contemporaries and other characters in this short story because it was written by Kafka himself. He keeps you glued to the page as he mixes all sorts of emotions and thoughts and personalities that are similar to each other. His reactions towards almost everything makes the reader feel sorry for him.

Also, it’s a kind of chilling that the real-life Khalid would be in close contact with a real-life Khalid in the real world and yet, the two Khalid would still be enemies and competitorsat times. Their real battle, they don’t discuss it openly or see each other but when they talk about it, they give no space to each other’s influence in their lives.

This is really a true tale that Kafka had to write about, the main protagonist is the one who’s been taken prisoner by the dictator of a small oil-rich nation and he has to sneak back into his homeland and then slowly and steadily survive and rebuild his status as an author, and his standing within the society. How Kafka manages to write this and keep it straight in his head is really mind-boggling and brilliant in a way.

So, it’s interesting how Kafka made Khalid really well and very memorable, if you haven’t read the novel before, it’s still a worthwhile reading because of the uniqueness of this character. I highly recommend you read this short story by Kafka.

Home of Science
Follow me

- Advertisement -

Discover

Sponsor

Latest

Greece wildfires: PM describes ‘nightmarish summer’on August 7, 2021 at 10:33 pm

Thousands have been evacuated as wildfires continue to ravage parts of the country.Greece's prime minister has talked of a "nightmarish summer" as forest fires...

Parents alerted to NurseryCam security breachon February 20, 2021 at 4:49 pm

The company says its logins were hacked but it does not believe children or staff were spied on.The company says its logins were hacked...

Hampshire and Isle of Wight hosepipe ban from 5 Auguston July 29, 2022 at 10:53 am

The restriction aims to reduce the amount of water being extracted from two rivers.Image source, Getty ImagesA hosepipe ban is to come into force...

Oprah Magazine Reading – Does Success Guarantee Happiness?

Oprah Magazine Reading - Does Success Guarantee Happiness?We all have the opportunity to pick up some free Oprah magazine from time to time,...

Covid-19: Matt Hancock neighbour denies NHS cronyism claimon December 3, 2021 at 5:06 pm

Alex Bourne says the former health secretary had no involvement is his company winning NHS work.Image source, Steve Hubbard/BBCA businessman at the centre of...
Home of Science
Follow me