In chapter 15, Said finds that his failed attempt at killing Rauf is all over the news. Said can no longer venture outside safely. While staying in Nur’s room, Said reflects on his situation and holds a trial in his mind. When Nur returns to her apartment, she confronts him about the death of Rauf’s doorkeeper. For the first time, Said accepts Nur’s affection without disgust.
Chapter 15-Plot Development
February 2, 2009Chapter 15-Characterization
February 2, 2009This chapter is almost entirely composed of Said’s interior monologues with the exception of Nur’s return to her apartment. This chapter could be considered the point at which Said has finally become mentally unstable to the readers. At this point the readers have little reason to sympathize with Said. Rauf Ilwan and Sana are also briefly mentioned, though they do not actually appear in this chapter.
Said’s character is developed into that of a mentally unstable man by the constant shifts from first person to second person references. The use of second person references create the impression that he is talking to another person, yet it is Said’s interior monologue with him speaking to himself. This confuses and raises the question as to whether Said has really lost his mind. The repetition of words associated with mental instability is used by Naguib Mahfouz to question Said’s mental stability. “The paper accused Said of being mad, craving for power and blood: his wife’s infidelity had made him lose his mind” (p.254) which is a question readers in both the novel and real life will wonder about. Said also states in his “trial” held in his head that “the declaration that [he’s] mad must encompass all who are loving. Examine the causes of this insane occasion.”(p.257) Said recognizes that the situation is insane and that some view him as being mentally unstable. At another point he asks “is this madness, then?” (p.255) followed by Said stating that “yes, you always wanted to create a real stir, even if you were only a clown” (p.255). From those statements it can be seen that he is referring to himself in both first and second person. The fact that he tells himself that “causing a real stir”(p.255) was what he always wanted even if he were a clown shows that Said sees fame as being an important goal in his life. The simile “[his] triumphant raids on the home of the rich were like wine” (p.255) gives readers insight as to why Said may have become a thief. This also makes Said’s thefts on the rich less noble and more selfish; he appears less Robin Hood like.
Said sees himself as being “not like the others…who have stood on this stand before. “ (255-256). The stand refers to the stand found in a courtroom as Said begins conducting his own “trial” in his head. Based on Said actually holding a metaphorical trial in his head, it can be seen that Said places great importance on societal justice. Ironically, Said’s actions would be that of him taking justice into his own hands. Said’s inflated view of himself is clear to readers as he thinks that “[his judges] will believe, deep down, that [his] profession is lawful” (p.256). Said does not believe that he will be convicted of murder. However, even faced with death Said believes that “whoever kills [him] will be killing the millions.” as he is the “hope and the dream, the redemption of cowards; [he is] good principle, consolation, and tears that recall the weeper to humility” (p.257) Said does not view his death as merely his, but a representation of change. This may perhaps refer to the changes that should have been brought by the revolution but are not seen by Said. The personification of “the tears that recall humility”(p.257) would create the impression that Said sees himself as a wake up call to people in Cairo. The cowards may refer to the wealthier people such as Rauf as discussed in previous chapters. Said may be their dream as he is still caught up in his revenge and past, which includes the ideals that the revolutionaries had. Said claiming that he is “the hope and the dream, and the redemption” (p.257) of someone else, raises the idea of him being a hero. Said also does not view his previous murders as being crimes. The verdict of his “trial” is that “he was a great man, truly great in every sense of the word. His greatness may be shrouded in black…but the glory of his greatness would live on, even after death. Its fury was blessed by the force that flowed through the roots of plants, the cells of animals, and the hearts of man.”(p.257). This verdict Said came to repeated the word “great” four times to emphasize Said’s self important view. For his greatness to live on even after death he would have to be a hero who is commemorated. This may be an indication that Said views himself as a hero. The force that drives Said’s greatness is likened to the force of nature. For Said, it is natural that he would be great; it is life itself that guaranteed his greatness. At this point, readers may view Said as being delusional as it is clear that he will get away for his crimes scot-free.
The use of italics in this chapter also becomes unclear in their representation of first person and second person references. Usually the italics were used to indicate an interior monologue and used second or third person references. However, as the chapter progresses it is seen that Said does not maintain that. The italics are used for both first and second person references. This may be due to Said being either drunk or too tired as he had drank a full bottle of wine and was injured.
It is also seen that Said places Rauf’s death above Sana. “[He] will always seek the head of Rauf Ilwan, even as a last request from the hangman, even before seeing [his] daughter.” (p. 256) Said is obsessed with revenge and will seek it even in death. Said reveals his hurt at being rejected by Sana, “Sana’s cold shyness towards [him]”(p. 256) was cruel and had been what “killed” him. Said no longer sees himself as being alive, he is beyond death. One of his identities is as a “hunted man” (p.257) To Said, new excitements are as familiar as his solitude, and they are his nourishments as seen in the simile that new excitements “pour down upon him in the span of his solitude like rain.”(p. 257). Another identity Said has is as a gambler. He tells Nur that “gamblers like [him] never admit to setbacks.” (p. 258). He is a gambler and this habit of his shows his denial and reluctance to accept his present situation in terms of life in Cairo and his revenge. One of Said’s replies is described as him “pretending boundless self-confidence” (p.258), an indication that he is not as confident of his future anymore.
Nur is also briefly mentioned at the end of the chapter. Through Nur’s response to Said’s murdering of the doorkeeper, it is seen that she is at her limit. Nur realizes that Said is “even more cruel than [she] imagined” (p.257). Nur even goes so far as to tell him to “have mercy and kill [her], too” (p.257). Said’s treatment towards her is torture as he “put[s] her through hell” (p.258 ) by thinking up schemes to kill instead of escaping. Nur has finally begun to realize that Said may never love her as he holds onto revenge and his past too much. “She feel[s] as is the most precious thing in [her] whole life is about to die” (p.258 ), which may be her love for Said that has not yet been returned. Nur is portrayed as being weak to Said in that she gives in to his wishes easily. At Said’s tiredness, she stops questioning him and relaying her grief to him. As Nur is the only female character developed in the novel, this may be seen as a reflection of women in society as being weak and subject to the man’s will. Nur’s distaste for his wife is clearly seen when she calls her a “bitch” (p.258 ) One important point is Said finally returning Nur’s affection. “He felt no disgust and kissed her with genuine tenderness” (p.258 ) but not love. Said has finally accepted Nur’s love, but it is not clear whether he is with her for love or her continued presence has made him used to her presence and accepting.
Chapter 15-Imagery/Symbolism
February 2, 2009This chapter contains one animal image when Nur refers to Nabawiyya as “that bitch” (p.258), a very derogatory term. This may be related to the title of “The Thief and the Dogs” (p.145) with Nabawiyya once again referred to as the dog. Compared to previous chapters, there are a lot of symbols and foreshadowing in this chapter. There is also a lot of imagery about death and darkness that may foreshadow his imminent death.
The residents of Cairo are described by Said to be “choking with boredom” (p.255) yet, he also is “choking on the question”(p.255) about the whole situation being madness. This image of people choking can be directly linked to the image of the hangman being the bringer of death to Said when he states that “[He] will always seek the head of Rauf Ilwan, even as a last request from the hangman” (p.256-257). Said describes his betrayal and fall from grace to be due to them having “chopped off [his] head, that killed [him] dead!”(p.255) Said’s references to death in this chapter may signal Said’s realization that his death is inevitable after becoming a wanted man.
Sympathetic background is also used to indicate and emphasize Said’s spiral into darkness. Said was “alone in the night” (p.155) and “he stood in the dark enveloped in the silence of the neighboring graves” (p.255) Said is surrounded by darkness literally and figuratively in his life, he has only a few options left. Ironically, he is surrounded by silence in that he cannot talk to that many people besides Nur and Tarzan, yet his thoughts have been anything but silent. Naguib Mahfouz also uses the darkness and cemeteries as symbols for justice here. Said “looked over the cemetery, at the graves lying there quietly in the moonlight” (p.255) and states that “[he’s] decided to offer [his] own defense” (p.255). From this, it is seen that Said is holding a trial in his mind while staring at the graves and speaking to the darkness. The graves symbolize the judge and the darkness the court. It is ironic that the usual symbol for death, the graves, is seen as a symbol for justice. This symbol relating justice to death brings me to the question if death is necessary for justice. Can true justice be found only in death?
Another notable symbol is Said’s gun. Said states that for “[his gun, it’s obvious that it will kill only the innocent. [He’ll] be its last victim.” (p.255) This idea that the gun will only kill the innocent raises the question about Said’s innocence. So far in the novel, Said’s gun has killed two innocent people as he had said. If Said is killed by a gun, which at this point symbolizes innocence, is this proof that Said is a victim to the changes brought by either time or the revolution and actually innocent? Said is also a symbol of change and the future in this chapter as explained further in the characterization portion.
The references and images created about death, graves and guns, foreshadow Said’s own death. At this point in the novel, we do not know exactly how Said dies. But the repetition of images about death indicates that Said will most likely die.
Chapter 15-Themes
February 2, 2009Chapter 15 further explores some of the themes brought up in previous chapters.
Revenge/betrayal- Revenge has driven the plot and is Said’s motivation for killing others. This theme is closely tied to the theme about justice.
Justice- The idea of justice is important in driving the plot and as an idea. Through the trial held in Said’s mind, it is seen that justice may not be achieved in a typical court or manner. Justice to Said is the death of those that had betrayed him and he looks to the graves as his judges. Justice in this novel cannot be explored as a clear guilty and not guilty manner. Said is developed to be guilty whilst still gaining the support of readers. Justice is twisted in the novel, being manipulated and manipulating the characters.
Justice is Said’s excuse for killing and at the same time, a force that compels him to get back something for their betrayal. As he is using justice as an excuse, the idea of justice is manipulating him to kill. This idea also brings forth the next theme about killing being forgivable.
Law- Societal law is important as can be seen by Said holding a trial in his mind. Even though his idea of the law may be distorted, Said can still be seen to believe that the law has power. Another idea raised is if a person can be above the law. “Will they not forgive the gun its error, when it is their most elevated master?” (p.257) In this case, Said is questioning the law and pondering if some can be considered above the law as it is held in high regard.
Guilt by association-“Rauf Ilwan’s servant was killed because, quite simply, he was the servant of Rauf Ilwan” (p.256) Said justified the death and killing of the doorkeeper by using the excuse that he was killed because he was working for Rauf. Said was not guilty of the doorkeeper’s death as he was killed as a result of being associated with Rauf.
Fate- “Its fury was blessed by the force that flowed through the roots of plants, the cells of animal, and the hearts of man” (p.257) Said believes that he will be judged as a great man. Nature and life have blessed him and he is fated to be regarded as a great man regardless of whether he dies or not.
