The Thief And The Dog

Imagery

"The Thief and The Dogs" by: Naguib Mahfouz Positive Imagery Negative Imagery Said's world revolves around Nabawiyya, his former wife, and Sana', his daughter. He was once in love with Nabawiyya, but she betrayed him by marrying his friend 'Ilish while Said was in prison. Essential to the development of Said Mahran is Ra'uf 'Ilwan, his one-time criminal mentor. However, he is now a respected journalist and businessman ,unlike Said, whose attitude hasn't changed. All the betrayals that the protagonist endures increase his desire for revenge, until his confusion causes him to seek not only revenge from his enemies, but from everyone. Only Nur, a prostitute, can ease Said's anger and provide him with comfort, but the time comes when not even she can help him. From the beginning of the story, we start to realize immediately that Nabawiyya and Ilish might be the dogs referred to in the novel's title. Ilish is again likened to a dog when Said asks himself, "Have you forgotten, Ilish, how you used to rub against my legs like a dog?" (p.152). When Said tries to approach his daughter Sana, she is described as"like a mouse." (p.159). When Said sits with Rauf Ilwan, he describes: " Ilwan's face had become cow-like in its fullness..." (p. 174) While discussing Rauf Ilwan's treacherous acts, Said states, "So this is the real Rauf Ilwan, the naked reality - a partial corpse not even decently underground." (pg. 181). When describing the interaction between Nur and her client, the author indicates that there is heavy breathing. As Said nears the car "the breathing inside the car had turned to panting". Immediately after, Said is described to be "almost crawling on his hands and knees" the closer he gets to the car. Later on, said is described "He'd have to flee like a rat from one hole to another, threatened by poison, cats and..." . This contradicts earlier descriptions of Said which depict him as cunning and strong; instead, Said is seen in a more desperate light. While waiting for Nur to arrive, Said thinks that he'd "be better off like a bat" Nur tells Said that she knows that "the guards at the zoo won't let visitors tease the lion." Said tells himself that Nur will soon discover that "a locked heart becomes increasingly difficult to unlock." Said's description of himself as "a man who can dive like a fish, fly like a hawk, scale walls like a rat..." he declares that he'll strike "like Fate", and this is emphasized when the narrator comments, "Said felt like a tiger, crouched to spring on an elephant." Said is described as stalking "...like a cat creeping on its belly toward a bewildered sparrow." Said states, "you can scale an apartment building in seconds, jump unhurt from a third-floor window—even fly if you wish!" Said wondered: "How could she ever give up a lion and take to a dog?" In one of his memories of the early stages of his relationship with Nabawiyya he describes "her neck arched like an angry cat's" He remembers a time when he stalked her as she went shopping and audaciously decided to approach her. After their brief banter he remembered that he "returned to the palm tree and climbed it, quick as a monkey"(p 222) and "went back to the hotel, singing, in a deep voice, like a bull in ecstasy"(p 222). Said's consumption of left over food scraps is being described, "He consumed them all, ravenously gnawing on the bones like a dog." Said Mahran Nabawiyya Ilish Rauf Ilwan Nur The dark side The bright side

Sense of Place - Chapter 6

New setting: The desert. A place that Said knew "as if he had a compass built into his head"(195). His familiarity with such a desolate and lonely setting is probably due to his own character being so similar to a desert. Throughout most of the novel, Said remains emotionally isolated from everyone around him. He is also very harsh and unforgiving, just like a desert. Egypt: Landmarks and places like 'the Martyr's Tomb"(195), "Mugattam"(198), "Sharia Darrasa" and "Zinhum"(199) are featured in the chapter to reinforce the idea that the story is indeed set in Cairo, Egypt.

Plot - Chapter 12

In chapter 12 , He puts on his uniform and leaves to the coffee shop again. But this time Tarzan tells him to stay in safe hiding because the hunt is worse. He tells him to stop what he is doing and make a plan to stay alive until he can flee Cairo. Said knows the Rauf is the one publishing the papers that create the thirst for policemen to hunt him. He becomes very upset and does not understand why if Rauf is the one that taught him this job. The feelings of betrayal have sparked a deeper wanting for revenge in this chapter. However he confesses something very important. He wishes that Nur will never leave , this is a very important sign of attachment. I am still hoping he listens to all his friends and her even though his mind is still very fixed on revenge.

Imagery - Chapter 11

Like most of the previous chapters, the main literary device used is animal imagery. Mahfouz utilizes animal imagery to achieve different effects. For example, when Said is walking in the streets, he states that, "He now knew how mice and foxes feel, slipping away on the run. (Mahfouz, 233)" In this instance, Mahfouz uses animal imagery to establish a dark and unsettling tone as well as convey Said's uncomfortable feeling. Another example where animal imagery is used is when Said returns to Nur's room to find Nur beaten. As he tenderly strokes her leg, he mutters "The dogs! (235)" Like many other instances, Said uses dogs in a derogatory tone to show his disgust for the people who beat up Nur.

Sense of Place - Chapter 13

Takes place in the vicinity of Tarzan's Cafe, a place where Said feels safe in the knowledge that the cafe owner is his ally. It is late, "a little after midnight" (p.243) and the night is dark as only a quarter moon is shining faintly. It is a "wasteland" (p. 243) that he has to cross to reach the cafe, but is not able to get too close to it, for fear of being seen, and waits to meet his friend "100 yards or so from the cafe"(p.243). The scene progresses to a grove, or "clump of trees around the wells" (p. 243). It is described a "desolate, lonely place" (p.244). In this chapter the feel is clod and tense, for all of Said's actions are on close watch and in major rush, after Said killed the wrong man the police are after him and his time was cut short.

Sense of Place - Chapter 3

At the start of the chapter, we are introduced to the "Zahra offices in Maarif Square" (p. 171), the workplace of Rauf Ilwan. It is "an enormous building" (p. 171) surrounded by cars. There is a printing press "behind the grilles of the basement windows" (p. 171). As with other descriptions of Cairo, we get a sense of the heavy crowds with the "stream of people entering the building" (p. 171); Said's new world is far busier and more commercialized than he's accustomed to. Rauf's house is another significant place in chapter three. It is very resplendent, adorned with objets d'art, vividly patterned carpets, and a "richly decorated" (p. 174) ceiling. When "A servant switched on the chandelier, ... Said's eyes were dazzled by its size, its multitude of upturned bulbs, its stars and crescents." (p. 173). Said refers to it as a "palace" (p. 172). The thorough descriptions of its posh qualities, as we will later discover, do not only serve to describe the place, but as a marker of Rauf's change in persona. Throughout this chapter, emphasis is placed on the grandness and aristocratic qualities of these two new settings.

Themes - Chapter 11

Betrayal is one of the first themes that the reader encounters in this chapter. During Said's internal monologue, he mentions Rauf Ilwan multiple times, citing the instances that he has helped Said and how true his values were. "'Isn't it justice,' he'd shouted, 'that what is taken by theft should be retrieved by theft?' (Mahfouz, 232)" Said then likens Rauf's change of ideology to his wife's betrayal. "Where have all your principles gone now, Rauf? Dead... like my wife's fidelity. (Mahfouz, 232)" Another dominant theme is this chapter is death. Most of Said's internal monologue consists of the story of how his parents died. "A month later your mother had died in the Kasr al-Aini Hospital." Note the use of second -person perspective; perhaps he is expressing sympathy for himself. Throughout Said's melodramatic moment, Said is looking at a graveyard. "Not a day passes without the graveyard accepting new guests. (Mahfouz, 229)" Not only is the graveyard heavily symbolic of death, it adds to the dark and melancholic tone of the chapter. In addition, the theme of love is also covered in this chapter. When Said finds that Nur is badly hurt, he begins to feel passion for her, as it is indicated that Said "wanted to caress her. (235)" While Said has expressed sympathy for Nur before, this is the first time that Said has felt an emotional urge to comfort and console her. It is also indicated that Said caresses Nur's leg. One of the more interesting themes within this chapter is theft. As Said converses with the smuggler in Tarzan's café, the smuggler says "You know, I've heard many people express their admiration for you. (Mahfouz, 234) " The waiter adds, "But what harm is there in stealing from the rich anyway? (Mahfouz, 234)" Then Said is described as beaming "as if he was receiving a compliment at some public reception in his honor. (Mahfouz, 234)" This justification of theft, commonly known as the "Robin Hood" justification, is very common in the novel and is shown in this chapter by the above examples. The final predominant theme in this chapter is authority. Said first mentions his disgust for authority while recalling how his mother died. In an attempt to save his mom's life, he brought her to a high-end hospital, but was then rejected and abandoned by the doctor. "Then the doctor had simply disappeared, saying nothing. (Mahfouz, 231)" The disgust of authority is further exemplified in a statement made by a smuggler conversing with Said in Tarzan's café. "Nothing impresses the police. (Mahfouz, 234)"

Plot - Chapter 14

Chapter 14 is the one in which Said leaves late at night in his "uniform." Excited and energized, he boats all the way to Rauf Ilwan's. Said's mentality is that as long as he 'punishes' Rauf, Ilish's escape from being murdered would not have been a total loss. To him, Rauf was the embodiment of absolute treachery. It was his own form of bloody protest. When Said is headed to murder Rauf, it seems like for the first time he's actually a little more careful than usual... he analyzes the journey there. He aims at the driveway as Rauf is gettign out his car and then he is distracted when someone from the garden apparently tries to shhot him and barely misses. Instantly he calls out Rauf's name and hastily shoots twice, maybe three times. An adrenaline rush allowed Said to flee the scene and he jumps into a taxi. The pain he felt was nothing in comparison to the relief of safely making it out alive. He consoles himself physically (the bullet just barely grazed his leg) and mentally, by telling himself that he for sure shot Rauf-- since Said Mahran never misses a target, right? Nur worries when she returns tired from work, seeing blood on his leg. She makes a very important statement to him: "You don't know good from bad." Which is true, his mind is so wound up on revenge he can not even think straight. And she tells him also that he'd rather destroy himself than just leave with her

Themes - Chapter 15

Chapter 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.

Plot - Chapter 3

Chapter 3 of Mahfouz's novel begins with said rummaging through the newspaper, Al-Zahra. It turns out he's familiar with one of the writers. Said has found that the columns are not as meaningful, now they're full of miscellaneous materialistic subjects. He refers to Rauf Ilwan's former, more significant literature about freedom and other demands. The protagonist still remains in his vindictive tone throughout. He realizes that Rauf, too, may have changed a lot due to his successes. He shows up at Rauf's home because he was sure it'd be uncomfortable to reunite with him at the workplace. The tone gets nostalgic as he recalls that Rauf Ilwan was his mentor, and now... quite possibly the only human being that can aid him with a job. On pg 37, he refers to Ilish as "that dog!' Which gives the readers insight on the title, huh? :) Foreshadowing? : Said keeps eyeing the pieces of art in his former mentors home. There seems to be a slight hint of envy when the narrator describes Rauf as "blue-blooded", but the readers don't have enough info to judge yet, do they? The two of them toast to the main characters new freedom. And as the conversation continues it seems to me that the rich former mentor is way more positive-thinking. He has that, "this too, shall pass"- type of philosophy about all Said has gone through. He appreciates the freedom Said has been restored. He seems to see the bright side that Said can't see yet. It got a little awkward and intense when it seemed that they said a rude comment to one another. The Said takes it as forgiveness and accepts his advice, too. He turns down Said for the journalist job; and it ends with Said saying: " May God increase your good fortune."

Plot - Chapter 4

Chapter 4 begins with Said's thoughts on how the real Rauf that he knew had DISAPPEARED, the way that his ex-wife's love had and... his former best friend's loyalty had. He seems to me like he's playing the victim role and I'm actually not buying it. It's revealed finally that Ilish did in fact snitch on Said, but also that his wife had been somewhat his former accomplice. said sneaks into his former teachers palace to steal!! And I find it intriguing how he relies more on skill than equipment. However, Rauf knows him so incredibly well that he KNEW he'd be trespassing and CATCHES him in the act. He doesn't turn him in to the police, but unfortunately he does tell Said to return the $ he gave him IRONY: he ends up with less than he came in with.

Sense of Place - Chapter 10

Chapter Ten - A Sense of Place Said is again at Nur's apartment awaiting her return, "staring up at the cracked white ceiling, a dull echo of the threadbare carpet, killing time"(p 219). Nur's apartment is surrounded by a lot of graves, "laid out as far as the eye can see"(p 218).

Plot - Chapter 11

Chapter eleven begins with him remembering his parents. His dad was killed at the student hostel and his mom died of an illness in the hospital. He believes that he took up the right job (burglary)and he justifies it with the vision the Shiek told his father about him when he was just a boy. Said is constantly looking for a justification of his actions to make himself believe he is right even though he is really committing crime.He also remembers how Rauf took him in and was there for him after his mother died. He taught him all that he knows and then bam the thought of revenge comes back. He took a walk to the coffee sop and the waiter along with Tarzan are advising him to move up Nile. He went back to the house and found Nur beat up. He put her to bed and grabbed the cloth for the uniform.

Imagery - Chapter 5

Desolate setting - Specific reference to the desert and the ocean are used to describe Said's surroundings. He describes how "the stars overhead looked like grains of sand; and the café felt like an island in the midst of an ocean..." (p.189-190) and most likely does this in order to emphasize the fact that he looks at the café as a safe-haven. He refers to the setting by means of desolate areas to put forth the idea of isolation and separation he feels. The desert is also described as the one place for peace, tranquility and security. Over hearing two men discussing this topic, Said is enlightened as the statements "Show me a single place on earth where there's any security... here you're protected by the desert and the dark" (p.190) give expression to his "own situation" (p.191) Animal Imagery - In this chapter, animal imagery is not as significant as in the other chapters, but is still present. Said describes Nur as a nightingale and himself as a rock with the analogy of their love as being "like a nightingale singing to a rock..." (p. 192). Guns and Bullets - Said's revolver is constantly referred to in order to represent confidence and revenge. "He patted the gun in his pocket and clenched his teeth." (p. 192) is the picture that is described to the reader that indicates Said resorting to the gun in order gain his composure before meeting Nur. "May it be fire for your enemy, God willing," Tarzan said to Said after supplying him with a gun and bullets.

Summary

Following Western conventions, time in The Thief and the Dogs is marked by the rising and setting sun. The novel begins on the morning Said Mahran is released from prison, after a four-year sentence for robbery, and it ends with his death approximately seventeen days later. This framework points to Mahfouz's source, the case of Ahmad Amin Sulayman, a criminal who tried to kill his adulterous wife and her paramour. The police killed Sulayman on April 1, 1960. In the exposition, Said walks from prison to his old home in Cairo, and, en route, he offers his self-justification in an internal monologue. Once home, he plans to demand two things: his books and Sana, his six-year-old daughter. He also plans to take revenge on Ilish Sidra, an associate who turned Said in and who then, after Said's incarceration, secured everything that Said had—home, money, and his wife, Nabawiyya. While his neighbors greet him respectfully, the police, who are providing Ilish with protection, are hostile. Unfortunately, Sana has ruined his books, and she is startled when her father talks to her. Her look of rejection saddens Said. Said visits Ali al-Junaydi, his late father's religious counselor. The Sufi sheikh offers him food, advice, and sanctuary. Said accepts the hospitality and spends his first night of freedom at the sheikh's house. Within the next three weeks, he returns there twice, after criminal deeds. The sheikh's lessons in ethics enable the reader to judge Said's acts. On Said's last visit, a gathering of men chant verses. Mahfouz records a poem on the passage of time and the vanity of human pursuits, which suggests analogies to Said's situation. Wishing to be a journalist, Said goes to Rauf Ilwan, his mentor in both socialist ideologies and crime. Now living in a neighborhood that they used to burglarize, the editor hands Said cash but refuses to give the thief a job. Such treachery is unpardonable; Said must fight this dog as well. Two people who live on the fringes of the city and of society help him to effectuate his plans. Nur, a prostitute, offers him shelter, food, and companionship while he is hiding from the police. Tarzan, café owner and pariah, gets him a gun. According to Said, fate and scoundrels foil his schemes. Rauf catches him breaking into his house. Said's bullet misses its target and fells Rauf's porter. Said kills an innocent man instead of Ilish, who has relocated. The police trap Said in the cemetery, where their dogs "hound him down." In a final review of his ideals, he recalls Sana's rejecting gaze. He renounces rebellion and succumbs beside a tomb. Said's final reflections might be considered an allusion to the disillusionment of Egyptian intellectuals whose revolution, in July, 1952, failed.

Sense of Place - Chapter 15

From this chapter, readers do not gain any sense of the setting being in Cairo. Said is in Nur's apartment "enveloped in the silence of the neighboring graves" (p.255) and "through the window shutters he looked over the cemetery, at the graves lying there quietly in the moonlight."(p.255).Aside from these small references to the cemetery near the apartment, there are no other description of the place Said is at. Actually, there is no direct reference to Said being in Nur's apartment, but the fact that "he awoke to find light filling the room and he saw Nur standing looking down at him" (p.257) suggests that he is at her apartment.

Imagery / Symbols - Chapter 10

Graves and Bullets - An eerie, angry tone is immediately set as Chapter 10 is introduced with the image of "headstones like hands raised in surrender"(p 218). The image of graves continues to appear in succeeding parts of the chapter: "The graves remind you that death cheats the living"(p 218 ) and "the flat must stay as silent as the graves"(p 224). Bullets are another item that continually embellish the chapter. He describes the betrayal that was inflicted upon him as an "unseeing bullet [that] was fired"(p 218). He then however, tells himself that he "still has bullets of fire"(p 218), suggesting that he will do all that he can to seek revenge. His thoughts go to "that slinking bitch Nabawiyya who'll be in mortal fear until the rope's safely installed around [his] neck or some rotten bullet is lodged in [his] heart."(p 224). He then wonders what would happen to Sana if this were to happen and comes to the conclusion that "she'll never even know the truth of your love for her, as if that, too, was just a bullet that went astray"(p 224) and how she would "certainly never love him now. Not in this life, so full of badly aimed bullets, desires gone astray"(p 219). Said probably uses such a metaphor in order to convey the impact that his situation has on him. It seems as though Said is driven by a goal beyond revenge: death. Images of both the graves and the bullets can also be considered symbols to support this underlying theme. Because of such imagery the idea of Said's death being inevitable begins to become apparent. Animals - Consistent with the previous chapters, animal imagery is apparent. He compares himself with Ilish by questioning Nabawiyya's choice of Ilish over him: "How could she ever give up a lion and take to a dog?"(p 223). In one of his memories of the early stages of his relationship with Nabawiyya he describes "her neck arched like an angry cat's"(p 221). Said's choice of words reflect his current feelings for Nabawiyya; it is likely that at the time in his memory, he considered her neck with gentle, feline connotations, but now, given the circumstances, his memories have been polluted with hatred and anger and he thus describes his memory of Nabiwiyya's arched neck like that of an angry cat's. In this same memory Said discloses how he reacted to a specific conversation with Nabawiyya. He remembers a time when he stalked her as she went shopping and audaciously decided to approach her. After their brief banter he remembered that he "returned to the palm tree and climbed it, quick as a monkey"(p 222) and "went back to the hostel, singing, in a deep voice, like a bull in ecstasy"(p 222). One possibility for Said's frequent use of animal imagery to describe the other characters in this novel could be to represent Said's savage personality/view of the world.

Plot - Chapter 15

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 makes Said a star. All the headlines are swarmign with news about him: Rauf Ilwan once again was stirring up controversy saying that Said was a madman and . . . . once again, Said murdered an innocent, this time it was his doorman. The chapter foreshadows that SAID will be the last "innocent" victim. He still justifies himself, or at least tries to: 'Whoever kills me will be killing the millions. I am the hope and the dream... And the declaration that I'm mad must encompass the loving.' Nur seems to be losing the ability to take it anymore. She appears to be losing trust in him. I feel for her. :-/ He kisses her, and means it.

Plot - Chapter 17

In chapter 17, Said arrives at the Sheikhs house, seeking refuge, only to realise that he left his uniform in Nur's house. He also realises that the police are closing in on his whereabouts. He is scared because the uniform that has been left at Nur's house will have traces of him, and will therefore lead the police straight to Said. This chapter as a whole is a sign of Said's stupid decisions finally coming back to haunt him as he will soon be captured. In chapter 17 for the first time really Said is beginning to be seen as helpless and close to giving up. He has still not taken any responsibility for his actions and continues to blame other people and talk endlessly about revenge on Illish and Nabawiyya, however. The theme of the passage that is a constant throughout the story is fate. Said is constantly running and hiding throughout the story and was always bound to be caught up with, in this passage you see the police and everything that Said has done wrong eventually catching up to him. Said also knows it and that is the reason that he is becoming so helpless and weak. The conversation with the Sheikh that Said found tough and annoying also played a part in pushing Said over the edge.

Plot - Chapter 5

In chapter 5 Said begins to gather the tools needed for him to carry out his task. We are introduced to Tarzan, in the setting of a cafe, who is displayed as an old friend of Said. He receives a revolver for free from Tarzan by simply asking for one. This then indicates that Tarzan is a trusted friend of his that will most likely re-appear throughout the novel. We are also then introduced to Nur, who claims she can help him acquire a car. At this point we are not sure as to how they will do this, but it can also be assumed that Nur is a trusted character that will play a significant role in Said's endeavors. This chapter does not contain any major developments, as it is simply the set-up for the events that occur in the following chapters

Plot - Chapter 11

In the beginning of the chapter, Said is watching the graveyard, recollecting his childhood. He remembers how his mom and dad were, as well as his first encounter with the Sheikh. He then painfully recalls when his dad died, and then the even more tragic death of his mother. He also recalls how Rauf Ilwan provided help to him before when he was in need. Suddenly, feeling the urge to walk, he goes out to Tarzan's café and has a conversation with a smuggler. Going back to Nur's residence, he finds Nur in a terrible state, beaten by students. Nur then tells Said that she visited a fortune-teller. The fortune-teller told her that there will be "security [and] peace of mind. (Mahfouz, 236)" While she expresses her doubts, she tells Said that she wants a life like that.

Themes - Chapter 10

Many of the themes in this chapter are ones that apply to the novel as a whole. However, the influence of the past on the present, and the conflict between life and death, are especially prominent. Influence of the past on the present - Because the memories with Nabawiyya dominate Said's interior monologue, the influence of the past on the present is especially heavy in this chapter. Life and Death - Said uses death and life to describe the serious conflicts in his life such as Nur's love for him as "a bad habit, getting stuck on someone who's already dead of pain and anger...?"(p 224) and how "he'd win in the end, even if only after death"(p 226). However, he also uses death and life to describe mundane events such as the concept of "killing time"(p 219) and the observation of "a moth overhead made love to a light bulb in the dead of the night"(p 228). This use of death could be a foreshadowing of events to come. Solitude - Nur's character is only active in the beginning and end of the chapter. Throughout the majority we are alone with Said's thoughts. Even upon Nur's return Said considers himself "quite alone, separate from everyone else" claiming that everyone else "does not comprehend the language of silence and solitude"(p 226). Betrayal and Treachery continue to drive the narrative as Said is still motivated by the desire for revenge on those who have betrayed him.

Characterization - Chapter 11

In this chapter Rauf Ilwan is discussed in much more detail than in the other chapters. Said recalls when Rauf saved him and mentored him. "...Rauf Ilwan turned up and freed you, settling the matter without any further complications. You were a true human being then, Rauf, and you were my teacher, too. (Mahfouz, 232)" Said's firsthand account helps develop the character of Rauf Ilwan as it show Rauf's past personality was substantially better, at least in Said's eyes. Another character that is developed by Said's recollections is the Sheikh. Said expresses his admiration for the Sheikh, citing his kind and caring attributes. "The Sheikh greeted you with that sweet and kindly look of his. (Mahfouz, 230)" He also recalls the praise that the Sheikh gave to his father. "There's a lot of intelligence in his eyes. His heart is as spotless as yours. (Mahfouz, 230)" According to Said, the Sheikh is a compassionate individual who can find good in anybody. Said's character is also developed in this chapter, especially when he finds a badly hurt Nur. In this instance, Said begins to have feelings towards Nur, in contrast to his usually cold attitude. "This was the first time that Said had seen her cry and was deeply moved. (Mahfouz, 235)" Another instance where Said's character contradicts his usually cold and harsh attitude is when he praises both the Sheik and Rauf Ilwan, going so far as to say "you loved him as you did the Sheik Ali, perhaps even more. (Mahfouz, 231)" This shows that Said may have been the intelligent and sin-free person that the Sheik described him to be. This chapter is also one of the first times that Nur's character develops substantially. As Said tries to console her, she tells him that a fortune teller told her that there will be "security [and] peace of mind. (Mahfouz, 236)" She expresses her frustration and doubt about the prophecy, saying, "Some fortune-teller! When is she going to tell the truth? (Mahfouz, 236)" In this instance, Nur shows a more agitated and angry side, in contrast to her usually sweet, caring tone. This new attitude of Nur continues until the end of the chapter, where she tells Said angrily, "You are treating me like a child! (Mahfouz, 236)" One of the minor characters that is developed is Tarzan. When Said enters the café of Tarzan, he initiates a conversation between a smuggler and Tarzan. As he and the smuggler joke about the police, Tarzan feels that he saw a person hiding in the bushes and spying on the café. When the smuggler jokes that Tarzan is just hallucinating, Tarzan suddenly gets very angry, yelling, "Do you think that the Hangman's rope is some sort of joke? (Mahfouz, 230)" This shows that Tarzan is much more serious and concerned in regards to the police and other authority than Said or the smuggler.

Characterization - Chapter 3

In this chapter we are introduced to Rauf Ilwan, Said's former mentor and last chance to "begin life afresh" (p. 170). Rauf becomes a new antagonist after Said discovers he has "betrayed [his old] ideas" (p. 176) and compromised his ideologies for money. We also get a better understanding of Said. Rauf Ilwan is Said's former mentor and has changed considerably from when Said last saw him. He used to scribble inspiring articles about freedom; he was a working class hero. Now, he writes about trivial topics like "women's fashions [and] loudspeakers..." (p. 170). Rauf is no longer the "young peasant with shabby clothes, a big heart, and a direct and glittering style of writing." (p. 170) Setting plays a symbolic role in building character throughout this chapter. Rauf's office has "one glass wall overlooking the street" (p. 171); he is situated in a physically empowering position, looking down upon the common folk below. It is as if he sits one rung higher on the societal hierarchy of Cairo. Also, the simile "the rumble of printing presses behind the grilles of the basement windows was like the low hum of men sleeping in a dormitory" (p. 171) further emphasises this class disparity. The machines are compared to workingmen, who dwell in the basement of the office building. They are the underclass and should hence work underneath Rauf. These descriptions of setting indirectly express Rauf's character. Rauf's transformation is also characterized in his new residence, "villa number 18". As aforementioned, the posh house and everything inside are inward reflections of Rauf's transformation. Rauf now resembles a victim of Said's previous burglaries, burglaries that Rauf helped devise; there is a role-reversal. Rauf might feel like he has to suppress his former understudy in order to avoid being robbed. Said's enmity towards the upper class is felt in this chapter, with the constant detailing of the extravagancies in Rauf's house and his office. These places and the objects in Rauf's house (like the "silver water jug" and "pretty little violet-coloured ice bucket" (p. 175)) are all symbols of the unattainable, things he will never get to enjoy. Said's harsh gestures and tone further express his antagonism. His demeanour has become so insensitive that when at the information desk, he has to consciously use his "deep 'public' voice" (p. 171). He is also described as having "glaring eyes" (p. 171). Said feels comfortable communicating his abhorrence for this sort of people, as he "remembers a time when he would have fixed a gaze on them as if he wished to cut their throats." (p. 171). Said also feels alienated from society. "...he looked rather out of place in his blue suit and gym shoes..." (p. 171).

Sense of Place - Chapter 11

In this chapter, location does not play much of a role other than adding authenticity. Names of certain locations are thrown in like jargon in order to enhance the cultural feel of the novel. For example, Nur's home is located in Sharia Najm al-Din. This is a very exotic name and it indicates a setting in a Middle-Eastern country, in this case Egypt. Another example of how names are used to add authenticity to the novel is when Said is taking a walk. Mahfouz states that he is walking towards Sharia Masani. The other possible role that sense of location plays is shown during Said's monologue. As Said discusses his personal history, he is looking at the graveyard. By having him look at the graveyard while Said is discussing death enhances the already grim and morose tone of the first half of the chapter

Themes - Chapter 6

Nur's unreturned love: When she is with Said in the car, Nur constantly "[harps] on the subject of affection"(198), much to Said's discontent. She acts very emphatically and wishes that he would to open up to her. Despite this, he rejects her advances and continues to act coldly towards her citing that his heart was "locked up in prison, according to regulations"(198). Luck/Fate: "look how luck has sent me this car!"(197). Said sees the car as a gift of fate and not as help given by Nur. He seems to neglect her and doesn't see her as important to him. At least, not yet. Said's Revenge: Said points out that he needs the gun and car as they are the "tools of the trade"(197). This acts as a foreshadowing as to what Said's intentions are for getting his revenge. He may possibly end up spilling blood. Said as a "Robin Hood": Said mentions that Rauf Ilwan used to say that "[the thieves'] intentions were good but [they] lacked order or discipline"(195). This indicates that the thieves may have had a sense of honour among themselves, possibly similar to "Robin Hood" types of characters(those who steal from the rich and give to the poor)

Imagery - Chapter 13

Only one instance of imagery occurs, at the encounter between Said and Bayaza, when Bayaza is struggling to recognize Said, having the use of animal imagery he yells, "You don't recognize me, Bayaza you dog!"(p.244) a derogatory expression, indicating his negative feelings toward any person associated with his enemies. He also describes the area around him as a "wasteland" giving us the idea how he sees the world around him, that there is not good to be seen.

Quotes

Page 18 "What's over is done with, these things happen every day; unhappiness can occur, and old friendships often break up. But only shameful deeds can shame a man." Page 47 "You made me and now you reject me: Your ideas create their embodiment in my person and then you simply change them, leaving me lost--rootless, worthless, without hope..." Page 47 "I wonder if you ever admit, even to yourself, that you betrayed me. Maybe you've deceived yourself as much as you try to deceive others. Hasn't your conscience bothered you even in the dark? I wish I could penetrate your soul..." Page 58 "'The real tragedy is that our enemy is at the same time our friend.' 'On the contrary, it's that our friend is also our enemy.' 'No. It's that we're cowards. Why don't we admit it?' 'Maybe we are cowards. But how can you be brave in this age?'" Page 60 "He'd been made of stone. There's nothing more heartbreaking than loving someone like that. It had been like a nightingale singing to a rock, a breeze caressing sharp-pointed spikes."

Character List

Said Mahran Said is the protagonist of the story. He wishes to reunite with his daughter and exact vengeance on his ex-wife and ex-colleague after being thrown in prison for 4 years under thievery charges. He faces an uphill climb where his community has been turned against him and he has very few to turn to. At some point it seems as though, in order for him to survive, he needs to return to his previous life of burglary. Seeing no hope in his path, he is placed in front of many difficult choices that need to be made. He makes mistakes on the way, but his story is absolute. Ilish Sidra Ilish was Said's friend and coworker for a long time. Said had found him poor and needy, so Said took him under his wing, giving him work and hope. In return Ilish had sold Said out to the authorities and taken his wife and daughter; while he rotted in a jail cell for 4 years. In Said's eyes he was a dog that bit the hand that fed him and his main target of vengeance. Nabawiyya Nabawiyya was Said's wife before he was thrown in prison. She was the only woman Said had ever loved, yet she left Said for Ilish Sidra, a man Said trusted greatly, but ultimately that man threw him in jail and stole his family. Nabawiyya stands in the way of Said reuniting with his daughter, Sana. Said sees her as a dog that runs to whoever feeds her more and wants revenge for her acts. Rauf Ilwan Rauf Ilwan was Said's mentor and guide through the revolution. He inspired Said's ideology and resolve. Since the end of the revolution Rauf has earned many riches through the Al-Zahra news column. Said feels betrayed because Rauf had given up on the revolutionary ideas that he instilled in Said, that ultimately landed Said in jail. Rauf traded himself away for riches by writing of fashion and gossip. Later in the story, Rauf denounces Said in public and proceeds to cut all association with his previous student. Said considers Rauf like a disloyal dog who changes masters quickly and seeks vengeance on him. Sana Sana is Said's one and only daughter; she was his motivation and drive before being incarcerated. He believed he was stealing for her and was proud that he never left her with any need. Said felt that he was entitled to full custody, having seen none of his past actions as wrong. When leaving jail she was the only hope he had left in his heart for a brighter future to come. Sadly, when seeing Said for the first time in 4 years, fear was the only emotion she showed him. Sheikh El-Guneidi The sheikh was a zealous religious leader whom Said's father used to follow. The sheikh evokes several memories in Said of his childhood and his relationships with his father and Islam. Said turned to the sheikh for spiritual guidance and for shelter after being released from jail. The sheikh's words of wisdom and cryptic in nature and drastically ambiguous, but they provide Said with insight and a mystical and possibly unattainable form of hope. Tarzan Tarzan is an old and trusted friend of Said's. He owns the a cafe where said seeks refuge. He is seen as a person with underground ties able, to provide Said with news, a gun, and reconnect him to Nur. Nur Nur is a prostitute that has fallen deeply in love with Said. She assists him along his quest for revenge by providing him with shelter, food, assistance in theft. Her presence confronts Said with a difficult choice: to continue his quest for vengeance or to live happily with her by his side. At first, Said showed no interest or compassion to her, using her only as a means of shelter. Later in the story, Said develops feeling for Nur, but they are derailed when placed against the revenge he yearns for.

Plot - Chapter 6

Said and Nur collaborate to steal the car of one of Nur's wealthy clients. Said proceeds into the desert to the Martyr's Tomb to find Nur and her client. He then steals the client's car and money then drives off to the city with Nur. When they arrive, he drops her off and tells her to go to the police station and give them an alibi so as to remove suspicion of their involvement in the theft. Before he leaves, she tells him that he can come by her apartment anytime if he needs a place to stay.

Plot - Chapter 9

Said has kill and destroyed life of various people , right now Said thinks that revenge still is the answer for all his problems. Nur is on the middle of everything and she does not know anything, she has ask him many times if he is in some sort of trouble and to be completely honest with her; because she loves him and she wants to be taken care off like a wife or even a girlfriend. She hates Said's ex-wife because she thinks that she never loves him and that she is able to give him all things that she never gave him throughout the time he was married and now that he is completely alone. Right now Said is super scared and trying to become soothing else, hiding on Nur's house and giving reasons why he should not be sent to prison and be judge because he is not guilty of feeling betray by people that deserve stop breathing. Said is full of revenge and nothing has change, nobody knows when this is going to stop , but we hope that something stops him before he commits more crimes and Sana becomes involve, that would be very sad.

Plot - Chapter 13

Said is looking for the person who is responsible for his misfortune, and most of all, the cause for the loss of his family. He risks being caught by police, to confront Bayaza, in the hope he would be able to lead him to Ilish Sidra who has so far, escaped his efforts to kill him. He finds Bayaza is unable to do so, and turns his thirst for revenge on another betrayer, Rauf, as justification for his life, and ultimately, his inevitable death. And now has no time and his desperation becomes more apparent. In this Chapter, Sad's obsession with revenge takes him back to Tarzan's cafe, risking being caught by police (since in the earlier chapter he shot the wrong person and now is a wanted man), in the hopes of finding information as to the whereabouts of Ilish Sidra (the man he wants to kill), who he sees as the primary cause of his incarceration, the loss of his wife and child, and the misery his life has become. Tarzan meets Said some distance from the cafe and tells him that one person associated with Sidra, Bayaza, has turned up at the cafe and is there completing a deal. He informs Said which route Bayaza will take upon leaving the café. After which Said goes looking for Bayaza in search of information, to find that Bayaza does not have it. And once again he is left with nothing to act on.

Plot - Chapter 7 & 8

Said is ready to get his revenge, but there is one thing that he does not counts on.... His beloved wife Nabawiyya and Ilish moved from their old house to a new place, in some way knowing that Said was going to kill them. Said did not knew this and the guy that he shoot that night at that house was the new owner of the place. Said finds out later on, that the guy that he killed and made him a murderer did not have nothing to do with him and what actually happened to him. Now he was lost and had no place to hide. There was no place save and no reason to keep on. Sara was OK and her mother was always going to be with her but not for long, Said actually made a promise to him self that the only reason that he would Nabawiyya live was for his daughter to have a mother. Even though he committed this murder and run to the Sheika house he had to run away again, there is going to be people that where looking for him already, everything was very suspicious and every thing pointed to him to. Said decided that he was going to wait until the dark comes to hide him self and see what was going to do. Chapter 8, unlike the previous one, begins with the narrator. I found it very IRONIC that of all places, Said Mahran finds the holiest of palces as his safe hiding places from the crimes he has commited. The reader gains a little more development of his character, it was the point in the book right BEFORE he finds out that he had not murdered Ilish... so when he thinks back on the shooting he is glad that he had not heard his daughter scream. In reality Sana hadn't screamed because she had not heard him there. athe protagonist also seems to admit that he is NOT fully aware of your own self. I really enjoyed the figurative language describing how Said loves the morning. For the first time ever he seems optimistic and alive. He has a very important nightmare, which may or may not be his ex-wife's fault. An imperative fact is revealed: Rauf Ilwan had beeb bominated for the post of Supreme Sheikh.

Plot - Chapter 1

Said is released from prison after 4 years and there is nobody to meet him. He is determined to seek revenge on Ilish and his ex-wife Nabawiyya. He visits Ilish in the hope of claiming back his daughter Sana, but she rejects him and he leaves with just a few books that belong to him.

Plot - Chapter 10

Said is taking refuge in Nur's apartment. While Nur is out to work the chapter is dominated by Said's interior monologue. His seeing Nur get ready and go off to work triggers a train of reflection of Nabawiyya. Towards the end of the chapter Nur returns and the two exchange small talk over dinner. The chapter closes with "a moth overhead made love to a light bulb in the dead of the night"(p 228 ). This quote could be a metaphor for the act of love making between Said and Nur. It is up to the reader to decide who is the light bulb and who is the moth.

Plot - Chapter 3

Said visits his former mentor Rauf Ilwan, who is now a prominent writer for the Al-Zahra, but decides Rauf's office "in Maarif Square" (p. 171) "isn't a suitable place for reunion of old friends" (p. 172). He thinks "Rauf won't be able to behave naturally [there]". Instead, Said waits for Rauf outside his lavish home, "villa number 18" (p. 172). Said wonders "...what [has] become of the Rauf Ilwan he'd known?" (p. 171); Rauf's apparent successes may have corrupted his former self. Said can sense the superficiality in their meeting. Rauf seems to welcome Said out of obligation, not courtesy. The two argue over a suitable job for Said and social class issues. He offends Rauf, Said leaves with no job, no hope in his former mentor, and a mere ten pounds in his wallet.

Study Guide

The Thief and the Dogs is a novel written by Naguib Mahfouz. The novel was published in 1961, which gave Mahfouz the perfect opportunity to make a political statement about the revolution and the disappointment he and many others felt. Such disappointment is a reflection of the Egyptian people's dissatisfaction with the new government in Egypt after the revolution. Mahfouz is an Egyptian author who commonly uses a stream-of-consciousness and surrealist type of narration to emphasize his theme of existentialism. In addition, Mahfouz's style of writing is emphasized by the seventeen-day-long plot of the novel. In The Thief and the Dogs, the protagonist is named Said Mahran, who is a thief that has been released from jail and desperately wants revenge on the people who put him there. In the beginning, Said is walking home to Cairo from his prison. While he is walking, he is thinking and contemplating his actions and how he will justify himself. He knows that he wants his books and his daughter, Sana, back. However, he can't exactly get revenge on Ilish Sidra, who turned Said in, and his books are ruined. Even worse, Sana doesn't accept him as his father, and that saddens Said. Seventeen days after he returns home, the novel ends with Said's death

Background

The Thief and the Dogs is a novel written by Naguib Mahfouz. The novel was published in 1961, which gave Mahfouz the perfect opportunity to make a political statement about the revolution and the disappointment he and many others felt. Such disappointment is a reflection of the Egyptian people's dissatisfaction with the new government in Egypt after the revolution. Mahfouz is an Egyptian author who commonly uses a stream-of-consciousness and surrealist type of narration to emphasize his theme of existentialism. In addition, Mahfouz's style of writing is emphasized by the seventeen-day-long plot of the novel. In The Thief and the Dogs, the protagonist is named Said Mahran, who is a thief that has been released from jail and desperately wants revenge on the people who put him there. In the beginning, Said is walking home to Cairo from his prison. While he is walking, he is thinking and contemplating his actions and how he will justify himself. He knows that he wants his books and his daughter, Sana, back. However, he can't exactly get revenge on Ilish Sidra, who turned Said in, and his books are ruined. Even worse, Sana doesn't accept him as his father, and that saddens Said. Seventeen days after he returns home, the novel ends with Said's death.

Themes - Chapter 5

The chapter raises several themes, some of which are recurrent and the others new. The following are the key themes within the chapter provided with support and quotations: Trusting old friends - is a theme that this chapter is based upon. Said calls upon his two of his old friends for rather sizeable favors that he believes will help him carry out his goal. Forgiveness - This is a recurring theme within the novel and is apparent in the chapter through Said's conversation with Tarzan. "You don't need to apologize ever to anyone!" (p.189) Consistency through time - Contradictory to past chapters, for the first time Said describes things as familiar in that "Nothing had changed... felt he'd left it only yesterday" (p.188 ) Honor even as a convicted thief - In this chapter, Said's return is admired by those in the café. It is expressed that even though Said was a thief, people still felt sympathetic towards him having gone to jail. "It was thanks to a traitor I had to go to jail... Tarzan shook his head sympathetically" (p. 189)

imagery - Chapter 1

The first chapter is dominated by animal imagery. We start to realise immediately (p.151) that Nabawiyya and Ilish might be the dogs referred to in the novel's title. Here dogs are seen in a negative way as representing betrayal and treachery. Ilish is again likened to a dog when Said asks, "Have you forgotten, Ilish, how you used to rub against my legs like a dog?" (p.152). This immediately follows Said's description of himself as "a man who can dive like a fish, fly like a hawk, scale walls like a rat..." (p.152). Here he is using the imagery to attribute positive qualities to himself. Generally, however, the animal imagery is employed in a negative way through terms of abuse such as "cowering like mice" (p.153), "you black beetle" (p.154), "You mangy dogs!" (p.156), "You snake" (p.157). We have already seen a hint of Said's inflated opinion of himself when he declares that he'll strike "like Fate" (p.151) and this is emphasised when the narrator comments, "Said felt like a tiger, crouched to spring on an elephant." (p.156). When Said tries to approach his daughter Sana, she is described as "like a mouse." (p.159). This emphasises how timid she is and invites the reader's sympathy for both Sana and Said. So, why is there so much animal imagery in the first chapter and is it used throughout the novel ? Why does Said make judgements about himself and others through reference to animals ?

Plot - Chapter 1 & 2

The first two chapters of this book tells the story of a man, Said, that just came out of prison. He has a daughter, Sana, from his first marriage. That marriage failed because his wife and one of his close friends had an affair. When he gets out of jail, he comes back to the town where everyone of his close friends is now friends with Ilish, the guy that stole Said's fortune and family including the love of his daughter. He thinks of them as dogs. Said is devastated and gets out of the place where Ilish and him met. He walks and gets to a very old house where his father used to go when he was little, it was here his father found peace and happiness, Said was trying to at least find this place where he used to feel welcome. At the door a man was standing it was his father's master, Sheikh. He let Said stay but he did not wanted to hear him until he thought of analyzing what he was saying and just stop talking. For now the book seems very interesting, the story I hope gets a big turn and Said can recuperated his daughter, because you ca feel that is what he wants more than anything in life.

Sense of Place - Chapter 1

The novel is set in Cairo, but at this stage we are given just glimpses of the place and culture. It is a city of "streets belaboured by the sun, careening cars, crowds of people moving or still..." (p.151), where "the wheels of streetcar growl and shriek like abuse."(p.153). It contains "great mosques and, beyond them, the Citadel..." (p.153)

Characterization - Chapter 13

The three characters in this chapter, Said (the protagonist), Tarzan (the cafe owner and friend) and Bayaza (an acquaintance) The characterization of Said portrays a desperate man in a desperate situation. He needs to obtain information regarding the location of his enemy, Ilish Sidra, and is willing to risk being discovered by the police (for at this point in time are looking for him). Said's life's purpose has become death by his own hand to those who betray him, this providing him with meaning and value to his life, even if this means he must die as a consequence of his revenge. Said by this chapter he is a man who refuses not to see that his actions are only making matters worse, and choosing to blame everyone but himself. This way of thinking, an "eye for an eye" is particularly prevalent in Middle Eastern cultures, and Said's sole purpose of exacting revenge on his betrayers highlights the extent to which this way of thinking will influence the life of a person. "He pondered the chance that might now be at hand, to bear down on his enemy and achieve his long awaited goal. And then death, a final resting place" (p.244) Tarzan on the other hand, is a peripheral character who provides support to a troubled friend, yet is cautious not to be identified as such in worry that he will get tangled into the mess Said is in. he's a good man and is loyal to Said. Bayaza is an old acquaintance of Said. he is only really mentioned once before in the earlier chapter, he plays a minor role in the book.

Imagery - Chapter 3

The use of contrast highlights the change between Said's world before prison and after. His memories of the former Rauf Ilwan, with his modest writing ventures and meagre lifestyle are juxtaposed with his new superficial newspaper column and his villa. Contrast emphasizes this transformation. Animal imagery is not as prominent in this chapter. "... Ilwan's face had become cowlike in its fullness..." (p. 174) Here, the cow has negative connotations. Said is shining an unflattering light on Rauf's face. When describing Rauf's suavity, Said says it's "a quality that could only have come from a touch of blue blood..." (p. 174) The alliteration here emphasizes Rauf's impersonal air. Blue has a connotation of cool, implying that Rauf is cold-blooded. Blue is also often associated with royalty, meaning Rauf's new suave demeanour could be the result of his newfound high-society status. Colour is also used to create a dark atmosphere. "... leaving stars in a sky profoundly black..." (p. 172) As further explored in other sections, setting and places are used to define character and express Said's thoughts and feelings (pathetic fallacy).

Imagery - Chapter 15

This 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.

Sense of Place - Chapter 5

This chapter continues to take place in the urban setting of Cairo. Early in the chapter Said stops to take note of his surroundings and reveals that "Through the open door and out the big window opposite you could see the wasteland stretching into the distance, its thick darkness unrelieved by a single glimmer of light." (P.189). This is the first and only reference in the chapter to the general setting, but it is sufficient enough to indicate that they are in a city. More specifically though, the majority of the chapter takes place within a café that Said describes as a " round room with its brass fittings, the wooden chairs with their straw seats" (P. 189) where those in it engage in various middle-eastern cutoms such as sipping tea and smoking water pipes.

Themes - Chapter 3

This chapter encompasses already established themes and raises several new ones. Here they are stated with a few brief comments. Changing times - The use of question marks expresses Said's uncertainty and unknowingness in the new times. "What was it that had happened in the world?" (p. 170) "And now you've come out of prison to find a new world." (p. 177) Society moved on; Said got left behind. His manners and speech remained static, while Rauf, Nabawiyya, and Sana progressed in life. "... things are no longer what they used to be... Now the situation has changed. If you go back to burglary you'll be a thief and nothing else." (p. 179) Truth is not constant could be a subtheme of this umbrella topic. Ten years ago, before Said's incarceration, it may have been okay to steal from the rich and give to the poor, but commonly accepted truths change as time passes. If one does not conform to this new sense of truth, he or she will be considered an outsider. In Said's case, his refusal to satisfy this new norm and get a regular job might be the cause of his eventual demise. If it was acceptable to seek vengeance ten years ago, it is certainly not tolerable now. Betrayal and treachery - Rauf was "the most important thing [Said had] left in this insecure world" (p. 171) and he betrayed him. "...only a shadow of the old self remained." (p. 176) When is wrong right? - Is it acceptable for Said to steal from the rich or those who Rauf deemed as deserving of being robbed? Is theft acceptable as a means of closing the social gap (stealing from the rich, giving to the poor)? Compromise of self for money and power - "I never used to look at a villa like this except when I was making plans to break into it. Is there any hope in finding friendship in such a place now?" (p. 172) Vengeance worthwhile? - "That's how you feel now. But tomorrow, who knows how you'll feel? You'll change your opinion of your own accord. That's the way of the world." (p. 176) Prison doesn't change a man - It is evident that Said still assumes a thief mentality. When he reached the Zahra Offices, "...his first thought was that [they] would be very difficult to break into." (p. 171) "The rows of cars surrounding it were like guards around a prison..." This quote underlines the building's impenetrability. (p. 171) The author's use of diction also has criminal connotations. "... he slipped into the secretary's office before an attendant had time to intercept him..." (p. 171) Said's movements are discrete like a burglar's. Also, "... stealing occasional glances at the objets d'art" (p. 174) Honour among thieves - Said is portrayed as the protagonist, the story is told from his point of view, we can identify and sympathize with him. "Will he have changed, like you, Nabawiyya? Will he disown me, as Sana has done?" (p. 172) There is no denying Said's hardship, and the reader can't help but feel sorry for him. His stealing from the rich can in some respects be seen as noble, an almost Robin Hood-like gesture. The influence of the past on the present - "My past hasn't yet allowed me to consider the future." (p. 178 )

Themes - Chapter 13

This chapter highlights Said's obsession with revenge. It is his primary thought and his justification for his life, ruined by those he believes responsible for his downfall. Desperation The character's need for information, searching for the person who can provide it, who may turn up at the cafe, once able to confront the person who may have the information he seeks, "If you want to live, tell me where Ilish Sidra is hiding" (p.245) and the extraction of it by way of threats and force for the desperate need of information and lack of time. Then, "Said slapped him again, harder than before" (p. 245) Truth or Lies "I'll swear on any oath you like"(p.245). As the questioning develops, Said realizes the man, Bayaza, is telling the truth. "******** Sidra, wherever he may be; is he my brother or my father that I would die on his account?" (p.245) Life Purpose Said seeks revenge, on, if not all the traitors (dogs) responsible for his misery, at least on one, as his only hope that "you won't make me lose my life in vain" (p.246) and the only way he feels he can get his life back is to take it back from the one who took it from him. Impatience Said's need for revenge has made him take risks and make mistakes that have made him not only desperate but also a wanted man who has to move fast to accomplish his quest, losing the luxury of time and planning. "If only he wasn't a hunted man, wanted for murder, he would bide his time and wait patiently for the proper opportunity!" (p.246).

Themes - Chapter 1

This chapter introduces us to several themes which might be explored and developed later in the novel. Here they are listed, with one or two brief comments. Betrayal and treachery - help to drive the narrative as Said is motivated by the desire for revenge on those who have betrayed him. Luck and fate - "Would luck now give him some decent place to live...?" (p.152) "At the right moment, instead, I'll strike like Fate." (p.150) The influence of the past on the present (Compare this with 'Death and The Maiden' and look out for it in both 'Broken April' and 'A Hero of Our Time'). Said thinks of the past with a sense of nostalgia but he is cautious about his own memories: "Glorious days - how real they were, no one knows - the Feast, love, parenthood, crime." (p.153) Towards the end of the chapter he says, "The best thing would be to forget the past...", but others are surprised by this comment. (p.160) Law and justice are important ideas in the novel. Said has been subject to the official system of Egyptian justice and there are several references in the chapter to systems of justice such as "the sacred law" (p.155) and "compliance with the law" (p.160).

Characterization - Chapter 15

This 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.

Characterization - Chapter 10

This chapter provides a deep insight to Said's raw emotions and opinions through his lengthy interior monologue from which he does not take one moment of respite. His dark thoughts seem to be triggered by the graves outside of Nur's apartment that "speak of betrayal; and thus make [him] remember Nabawiyya, Ilish, and Rauf"(p 219). Once Nur leaves her apartment and Said is left "alone in the full sense of the word"(p 219) his thoughts go immediately to his daughter, Sana. He describes the time when he saw her as "very disquieting, like seeing the graves"(p 219) but yet how he "longs to see her, if only as [his] last wish on earth before [his] extinction."(p 226). His thoughts are inevitably drawn to the early stages of his relationship with Nabawiyya: their first exchange and their engagement and marriage. We are impacted with the contrast between what we know to be Said's feelings towards Nabawiyya now, and the compassionate ones that we find out that he once felt. He remembers how "she was always so nicely dressed, much neater than the other servant girls"(p 220) and intricate details such as how "she appeared with her hair neatly combed and plaited in along pigtail" and how "her peasant's gown flowed around a sprightly and nimble body"(p 220). Said seemed to also be entranced by "her round, full face, her brown eyes, her small chubby nose, and her lips moist with the juices of life"(p 220). He recalls how he would "glow with anticipation" whenever she moved close to him, and how she was "like some lovely melody, welcomed whenever she went"(p 220). These thoughts that Said has of Nabawiyya probably serve the purpose of creating a stronger contrast between the love he felt for her when he first met her, and hatred he feels for her now. Said also reflects on how their "wedding was so lovely that everyone talked about it ever after"(p 222) and how "Ilish Sidra seemed absolutely overjoyed at it all, as if it was his own wedding, playing the part of the faithful friend while he was really no friend at all"(p 223). It is clear that Said regrets trusting his "friend" when he describes his being "taken by him" as "odd"(p 223). It is hard to feel anything but sympathy for Said as at some point we have all felt betrayed by a friend to some degree. Nur's character remains static as she continues to have strong yet submissive feelings towards Said. Nur's job takes negative, exhausting tolls on her that cause her to wake "unrested and run-down"(p 218 ) but upon seeing Said she smiles and tell him about her dreams. Her dream happened to consist of Said being "far away" and Nur "going out of her mind waiting for him"(p 218 ). Nur's dream is parallel to the negative representations of women noted in the initial chapter. These representations are again apparent towards the end of the chapter when Nur returns to her apartment "smiling, carrying a big parcel." She says that she "brought home a restaurant, a delicatessen, and a patisserie all in one!"(p 225) Said notices that "she'd spent a lot of money"(p 226). Nur's does not "want to lose [Said] again."(p 228 ) She also believes that "to live at all we've got to be afraid of nothing." When Said challenges her by asking, "not even death?" she assuredly responds that even she forgets when "time brings her together with someone she loves"(p 228). This insight has Said "astonished at the strength and tenacity of her affection, and feels compassion, respect, and gratitude towards her"(p 228). At this point we are still not sure what Said's true feelings are for Nur. Does he simply appreciate her, or does he truly have feelings for her and will these feelings develop? He does however, tell her that "there aren't many women like [her]."(p 226). Nur "smiles at the compliment"(p 226-7) but can we really consider this a compliment? There aren't many women that would put up with Said? Or there aren't many women who would be so kind and caring? In terms of insight to Nur's occupation, we can infer that it probably does have something to do with exploiting her sexuality. "She was thirty years old, but she lied outright, hoping to appear younger"(p 219). Also, when Nur arrives back at her apartment, Said tastes alcohol on her lips as he kisses her. He asks her if she's been drinking and she responds, "I have to; it's part of my job"(p 225) In terms of basic personality traits, we can infer that Said is stubborn by his telling himself that "he'll have to put up with the dark, the silence, and the loneliness - for as long as the world refuses to change its naughty ways"(p 224). This is likely another one of Said's delusions of grandeur.

Characterization - Chapter 6

Through their interactions, Nur's and Said's characters are further developed. Said points out that both of the characters have difficulty changing their old jobs, indicating a tendency to hold on to the past for both of them. This is true as both characters hold on to aspects of the past. Said continues to harbour his hatred for Ilish, Nabawwiya and Rauf Ilwan. Nur continues to hold her feelings for Said even if he clearly does not love her back. Said remarks that he "[doesn't] particularly like factory owners" to which Nur replies that he "[doesn't] like anybody"(197). This shows that he has been a very non-trusting and cold person even before he entered prison. This is further supported when Nur says that Said was "heartless long before [he] ever went to jail."(198). Said gives the description of someone who looks nothing like him, "fat, fair-skinned and has an old scar on his right cheek"(199). This helps give the readers a very slightly better way of visualizing Said as we now know what he does not look like. While driving, Said drinks alcohol (196-7). This shows that he is a reckless character. A possible cause for his recklessness is that he has lost all personal regard for safety due to the severe emotional pain he felt from being betrayed by his closest friends The factory owner's son, Nur's client, is depicted as a nervous and frightened man who was "so out of his mind with fear [that] he wasn't capable of suspecting anything"(197). This could possibly represent the author's opinion on the upper class people at the time. When Nur describes her home, she says that "No one knows [her] there and no one's ever visited [her]."(198). This statement when considered along with the fact that she loves Said though he doesn't love her back and along with the idea that she uses her sexuality to help earn a living, reveals that she is a submissive and passive character who, instead of seizing opportunity, waits for others to come and save her. This contributes to the portrayal of women from earlier chapters of the novel

Characterization - Chapter 1

We are introduced to the protagonist, Said, and to Nabawiyya (his ex-wife), Ilish (his former friend), Sana (Said's daughter) and the detective. We don't actually meet Nabawiyya in this chapter and the detective has a minor role as an arbitrator between Ilish and Said. The characterisation of Said is interesting because of the narrative voices adopted by the writer. The narrative alternates between third person and Said's interior monologues (shown in italics). We are therefore given privileged access to Said's thoughts and feelings, which perhaps invites us to identify with him more closely than we might otherwise have done. This identification is tested as the novel progresses and Said's actions become less acceptable to us. Said is isolated and driven by hatred and revenge against Nabawiyya and Ilish who have betrayed him. His feelings towards them are summed up unambiguously in the expression "I swear I hate you all." (p.152) He seems to reserve the worst of his hatred for Nabawiyya describing her as "that woman who sprang from filth, from vermin, from treachery and infidelity." (p.152) and "one of the secrets of hell!"(p. 158). This can be contrasted with his tender feelings for his daughter Sana. The third person narrator tells us, "As the thought of her crossed his mind. The heat and the dust, the hatred and the pain all disappeared, leaving only love to glow across a soul as clear as a rain-washed sky."(p.152) Said's attitude towards the crime which put him in prison is quite interesting. We assume that he is the 'thief' of the novel's title, but he denies being a criminal. "It was partly fate and circumstances, partly my sense of duty and decency that drove me to do what I did. And I did it partly for the sake of the little girl." (p.157). His perception of himself becomes a key feature of the novel. The relationship between Said and the reader is a slightly complex one, but at this stage we are invited to sympathise with him as he is rejected by his daughter and ends the chapter alone with just a few of his books. Before Ilish is introduced in person to the reader, we are given a very negative impression of him through Said's thoughts and feelings. He is guilty of having betrayed Said. He appears(p.155) in the window and seems to welcome Said. We're given a description of his appearance on p.156. Throughout the encounter with Said he seems quite reasonable. Apart from characterization of individuals, we are also introduced to representations of groups, such as women. Said believes Ilish is "hiding like a woman." (p.154) He also curses the man "who lets himself be carried away by the melodious voice of woman." (p.156).

Imagery - Chapter 6

When describing the interaction between Nur and her client, the author indicates that there is heavy breathing. As Said nears the car where Nur is, "the breathing... [turns] to panting"(195). This panting displays animal imagery of a dog. This describes the client as someone who is lowly like a dog. Immediately after, Said is described to be "almost crawling on his hands and knees"(196) the closer he gets to the car. The fact that Said is described similarly to an animal at this point may be to show the similarities he has to the rich people he despises so much, as Said quickly seems to lose his sense of morality as the story progresses. "The young man bolted off in the dark like a comet"(196), imagery that shows how quickly the factory owner's son escapes to save his own life without regard for Nur. This complements Said's disdainful outlook on upper class people as selfish cowards. As Said approaches the city, he passes a hill which is a landmark that indicates the city is close. The hill is depicted as "a chunk of the night more solid than the rest"(198). This indicates that the approaching city is darker than night, a truly miserable place. This foreshadows the events that may take place later on, when Said is in the city.

Characterization - Chapter 5

n this chapter we follow the protagonist, Said into a Café where he meets an old friend, Tarzan. It is evident that Tarzan will be of significant assistance to Said as we see him completing several favors within the first few instances. Towards the end of the chapter we are then introduced to Nur (a prostitute), a former "intimate partner" of Said. It is also indicated that she will play a significant part throughout the novel as she too is asked for a sizeable favor from Said. It is also declared that before Said had gone to jail, Nur was in fact in love with him. Said describes the situation as her trying to "gain his love, but failed" (p. 192) The character of Said is also developed in this chapter because for the first time it is made evident that he does in fact have friends. The clearest indication of this is the reaction of the people in the café when Said entered as "They stared at him incredulously, then everyone in the café rose at once to meet him. Led by the proprietor and his waiter, uttering a variety of colorful expressions of welcome, they formed a circle around him, embraced him, kissing him on the cheeks." (P.188). Within the previous chapters Said is displayed as more of a recluse, with few resources and reliable acquaintances. Until now it had been established that all of the people he had once been able to count on had seemingly cut all ties with him while he was in prison. Further expressed in this chapter, contrasting the initial display of friendship, is the idea that Said is a very cold, unloving character describing himself as a rock with the analogy of someone loving him as being "like a nightingale singing to a rock..." (p. 192). This statement is in reference to his past relationship with Nur, supporting the idea that she loved him, but received nothing in return.

Glossary

treachery betrayal of trust. perdition a state of eternal punishment glory high renown or honour won by notable achievements. disciples a follower or pupil of someone conciliatory intended or likely to placate or pacify. sacred holy cordiality sincere affection and kindness