Hope And Other Dangerous Pursuits

Murad is the only character with a degree from a four-year university, yet he has just as much trouble finding a job as his less-educated peers, demonstrating the lack of social mobility within Moroccan society. Murad’s degree in English does nothing to enable him to find solid employment in Morocco and so he works instead as a travel guide for tourists, using his knowledge of English and literature to help him get customers. However, there eventually are too many travel guides for him to make any money whatsoever, leading to his belief that he no longer has a future in Morocco. Once Murad decides to emigrate, he is resolute in his decision and believes he is unique because he has a plan. As a person, Murad is fairly obsessive, constantly thinking and analyzing his decisions while fantasizing about a better future.

More than anything, Murad embodies the nature of fantasy within the book. The author positions Murad as a kind of storyteller for the collection, creating an outlet of fantasy within the harsh world depicted in the stories. Murad “loved reading, loved the feel of the paper under his fingers, the way the words rolled off his tongue, how they made him discover things he didn’t know about himself” (101).