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.
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.
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