Said Mahran Passage Analysis

Chapter 6: Passage

To kill them both--Nabawiyya and Ilish--at the same time, would be a triumph. Even better would be to settle with Rauf Ilwan, too, then escape, go abroad if possible. But who'll look after Sana? The thorn in my side. You always act impulsively, Said, without thinking, but you mustn't rush this time; you must wait until you've arranged things, then swoop like an eagle. But there's no point in delay either: you're a hunted man--you became a hunted man as soon as they knew you were coming out--and now, after the car incident, the search will be intensified. Only a few pounds in the wallet of the factory owner's son--another stroke of bad luck. If you don't strike soon everything will collapse. Who'll look after Sana, though? That thorn again. She rejected me but I still love her. Should I spare your unfaithful mother for your sake, then? I must find the answer right away.

Analysis:

Analyse your selected passage and justify why that passage is a significant moment that contributes to the characterisation of Said Mahran. Your analysis must include an awareness of stylistic features and the effect on the reader. 

This passage allows the reader to see the full intentions behind Mahfouz's use of stream of consciousness narration. This passage reveals Said's ultimate inner conflict throughout the novel, that he seems to face in lieu of his previous mistakes. He feels a sense of injustice for the punishments he is meant to face for the crimes he once committed, despite the Robin Hood reasoning behind it. As a result, his actions throughout the novel are often fuelled with revenge, in which this passage perfectly encapsulates this. We are able to his the revengeful attitude in his wishing to kill all Nabawiyya, Ilish and Rauf Ilwan. 

The use of stream of consciousness narrative is what struck me most in this passage. The two sided argument we seem to see him experience effectively contributes and perhaps foreshadow his eventual downfall at the end of the novel. Sana, his achilles heel, always seem to be at the back of his mind fuelling his actions, making him fully aware of the repercussions of them as well. As readers, we are therefore able to see his ability to view his situation from a wider perspective, yet the lack of clarity or commitment he chooses to apply to his actions. 

Mahfouz's use of rhetorical questions in this passage show us the sense of confusion Said's feels in this situation. The effect on the reader would be a mirrored sense of confusion. As the text continues on, we find Said's actions to be rather sporadic, an intended understanding on Mahfouz's part as this further develops the complexities of Said's character. 

As a result of Mahfouz's use of these literary devices in this passage in the novel, Said is developed as a complex character with protruding attributes of a tragic hero. 

Thief and The Dogs Narration

Most Middle Eastern literature falls in a different category to Mahfouz's novel "the Thief and the Dogs", making it a groundbreaking text in and of itself. The stream of consciousness narrative that Mahfouz employs to the protagonist makes for a novel of great complexity. More specifically the variety of point of views that the protagonist, Said, takes on as a development of his character also aid the progression of the overall storyline. 

The storyline is seen to transition between a multitude of point of views all focused on Said's stream of consciousness. Mahfouz uses direct and indirect monologue between characters as a way of developing the complexity of the story. This also allows the reader to understand certain elements of Said's character. Although this constant shifting of point of views serves as an advantages to Mahfouz's storyline, it should also be noted that it can read as quite dizzy. By this, I mean that the constant shifting can be rather confusing and distracting when reading the text. Still, the creative intentions behind this are understood. 

In conjunction to this, an appreciation of language and style should be considered. An awareness of the translated nature of this text should be noted as certain anecdotes within the text can be lost in translation. However, with this, the translated nature of the text can also serve as an advantage to broadening certain point of views to English readers. The Middle Eastern attitude that Mahfouz's provides allows for a next level complexity to be achieved. 

Literature in Translation

In today's world, the translation of texts is vital to developing and maintaining respectable bonds between cultures, as well as cultivate our own hybrid understanding of them. The globalisation of the world has incited new appreciations of culture, which can be evidence in the translation of texts. The importance of this is as follows.

Translating texts can provide insight into a culture that not even travelling to their country can. It allows different cultures to examine and interpret certain ideas and values in alternate ways. Foreign texts are popularised through the translation of them, as cultures have more access to different understandings of the world they share. 

In reference to an article written by Anderson Hephzibah at BBC, the number of books English readers read are 97-98% English, eliminating the need for translation. Hephzibah discusses the nature of translated texts and their relevancy in English literature. This can be explained by the historical colonization of English speakers, as well as their geographical locations. Perhaps translated texts aren't appealing to English speakers as they don't present an interpretation of the world most Westerners agree with. 

Part 3 of the language and literature course requires a study of translated texts and provides the following as learning outcomes:

"Consider the changing historical, cultural and social contexts in which particular texts are written and received."

"Demonstrate how form, structure and style can not only be seen to influence meaning but can also be influenced by context."

"Understand the attitudes and values expressed by literary texts and their impacts on readers."

The novel of study in this course, "the Thief and the Dogs" provides a thorough understanding of these outcomes. The foreign nature of the novel and the Middle Eastern point of view that the author takes on, differs from that of previous texts we've studied in this course, and is therefore more likely to conjure different impacts on us as readers.