Who are the prophets in your life—you know, the people who make you think about the truly important things? Susan, the narrator in "Hamadi," finds her own prophet of sorts, a family friend from her homeland in the Middle East, whose outlook on life and sage advice are gifts he bestows on everyone he meets. Historical Context: The Middle East is a term used to describe the region where three continents meet—Africa, Asia, and Europe. This region includes the nations of Israel, Iraq, Lebanon, and Palestine, which border the Mediterranean Sea. Historically, the Middle East has been involved in many complex conflicts rooted in issues of land, religion, and politics. In fact, deadly conflicts are ongoing now. The Prophet was published in 1928 by Lebanese author Kahlil Gibran. The book contains spiritual and philosophical essays on subjects dealing with love, sorrow, pain, freedom, marriage, death, friendship—the things of life no matter where you live. Why does Susan, the narrator in "Hamadi," value her family friend?