The Thief and The Dogs - Chapter 12 passage analysis

"Rauf Ilwan," Said pleaded aloud, "tell me how it is that time can bring such terrible changes to people!"Not just a revolutionary student, but revolution personified as a student. Your stirring voice, pitching itself downward towards my ears as I sat at my father's feet in the courtyard of the building, with a force to awaken the very soul. And you'd talk about princes and pashas, transforming those fine gentlemen with your magic into mere thieves. And to see you on the Mudiriyya Road, striding out amidst your men you called your equal as they munched their sugar cane in their flowing galabiyyas, when your voice would reach such a pitch that it seemed to flow right over the field and make the palm tree bow before it--unforgettable.

Yes, there was a strange power in you that I found nowhere else, not even in Sheikh Ali al-Junaydi.

That's how you were, Rauf. To you alone goes the credit for my father enrolling me in school. You'd roar with delighted laugher at my success. "Do you see now?" you'd say to my father, "You didn't even want him to get an education. Just you look at those eyes of his; he's going to shake things to their foundations!" You taught me to love reading. You discussed everything with me, as If I were your equal. I was one of your listeners--at the foot of the same tree where the history of my love began--and the times themselves were listening to you too: "The people! Theft The holy fire! The rich! Hunger! Justice!" 

Analysis

The passage above reveals Said Mahran's growing anger towards his ex-accomplice Rauf, who's current success and personal growth disappoints him. Mahfouz depicts Said's emotional pain by delving deeper into the protagonist's stream of consciousness as he tumbles over his disturbing thoughts. This sentiment resonates throughout the rest of the text as Said continues to reminisce over old memories of his past that now anger him in the present.

Through the use of both indirect and direct monologue Mahfouz, Said expresses his inner thoughts as he contemplates how "time can bring such terrible changes to people." This bold statement emphasizes the significance of examining Said's relationship with Rauf in both the past and the present. Said's internal monologues allows the reader to  gain access into Said's past and present as his story reveals itself progressively throughout the novel through the use of flashbacks and his internal monologues. For example, in this particular passage we learn more about the relationship that Said used to have with Rauf 4 years ago before he was imprisoned. We learn that Said looked up to Rauf as a father, as he appeared as a teacher, a parent, and a devoted friend to Said. "You discussed everything with me, as If I were your equal." This empathetic bond between the reader and the characters is amplified when Mahfouz uses a metaphor to describe Said's devotion to Rauf.

The experience of peering into Said's deeper thoughts, especially at this moment in time in the novel, allows the reader to truly understand the meaning of his past and make relevant observations. When Said is released from prison after 4 years, he is exposed to the evident changes that the Egyptian revolution has brought amongst him. The changes that he sees are "not just a revolutionary student , but revolution personified as a student." Mahfouz's use of personification further emphasizes the intensity of Said's conceptual thoughts and emotions. As he is exposed to the realities of treachery, the reader can only question what is to come.

Ultimately, the final line of the passage reinforces the significance of Said's anger and thoughts of betrayal against Rauf. Again, Said shares his underlying pain as he exaggerates the "history of their love". Mahfouz use of concise yet powerful wording adds a dramatic end to the passage as Said somewhat exclaims the main themes of the novel, "the people! Thef! The holy fire! The rich! Hunger! Justice!". Henceforth, Said's societal placement is clearly represented as he exclaims fury towards the upper class.

Narrative Structure Analysis

Naguib Mahfouz's The Thief and the Dogs  can be described as a pioneered Arabic fiction. Throughout the novel, Mahfouz alternates between direct and indirect narration, which further provides the reader with a unique and insightful look into the character's internal thoughts from the "outside looking in." Stream of consciousness traces the musings of the character and emulates the passage of thought through the mind without any inhibitors. Furthermore, the reader is provided with direct insight into the character's thought process. 

The significance of writing a novel with a stream of consciousness technique is that it creates a gripping effect for the reader, as they feel as though they are following the character through a journey. In comparison with third person omniscient, there is more emphasis placed on the structure of the text when when the stream of consciousness technique is used. In relation to this "gripping effect", the reader becomes invested in the thought process of the character, which contributes to the development of characterization for that character in particular (usually the protagonist). The information presented is therefor from the perspective of one character, and tends to relate it's focus solely on them. Hence, an emotional literary 'bond' is formed between the reader and the novel. 
Throughout Naguib Mahfouz's novel, this technique is very significant as it is used to focus on the main protagonist, Said Mahran; a thief in search of revenge. As previously said, throughout the novel Naguib drifts in and out of Said's internal thoughts, thus creating a foundation for a connection between the reader and the novel. 
Considering the cultural context is essential when examining the author's use of stream of consciousness. The novel itself was published years after the Egyptian Revolution, overthrowing the government and establishing the new regime of Nasser. These actions evidently had a large social, political, and economical impact on the individual's that would dare to rebel against the new 'regime' or speak poorly of the government. The cultural context in this case can be directly linked with Said's struggle with the government and his rejection to express his anger. As Mahfouz allows the reader to inhabit Said's mind and thought process, they are exposed to his 'real' or internal thoughts expressed as the plot moves along. Furthermore, a prominent and unique use of emotional diction is used to control the pace of the novel based on the thoughts and motives of the characters. 
By looking at the first chapter, we are exposed to this narrative style at first glance. Throughout the first chapter, there is a common blend of direct and indirect monologue along with soliloquy and third person narration. 
Chapter 1: Indirect Narration and internal monologue
The narrator presents the internal thoughts of Said in a descriptive manner, in order to emphasize the great amount of emotion in his words. This technique in particular exposes a specific moment in the novel to the reader and serves as a foundation for the rest of the contents. Although the impact on the reader may be subtle, they are still able to connect with the author's intentions. 
"Yes, you always wanted to cause a real stir, even if you were only a clown." 
DIVERT BACK TO INDIRECT 
"He was alone in the night"
All in all, Mahfouz's use of particular literary techniques enriches the reader's understanding of context and the effect on the character by displaying what makes the character unique; their internal thoughts. 
Word count: 1183

In the first awakening moments In chapter of 1 of Naguib Mahfouz’ The Thief and the Dogs, we are exposed to the main protagonist Said who has just been released from jail. Said’s attitude towards the crime is rather interesting as he exclaims that he has committed “no crime” and that it was “partly fate and circumstances, partly my sense of duty and decency that drove me to do what I did.” From the perspective of the reader, Said is depicted as one who has been emotionally damaged and seeks revenge following the betrayal of his loved ones; his wife Nabbawiyya and Illish; “Your two names merge my mind.” The story begins with indirect narration t as the narrator describes Said’s first moments out of prison as he “breathed the air of freedom”. To further elaborate on the betrayal that Said has been faced with, Naguib contradicts the feeling of freedom with oblivion by personifying his surroundings; “As the prison gate and its unconfessable miseries receded, the world—streets belabored by the sun, careening cars, crowds of people moving or still—returned.”

Naguib consistently does this with the main protagonist Said, to the effect of providing the readers with an analytical lens into Said’s emotions. A prominent example of this is when Said’s emotions overflow when he is re-introduced with his daughter. As this is a moment of tension in the novel, shifting in and out of Said’s internal monologues adds a more dramatic effect to the text. His perception of himself and the people around him play a key asset to the novel. In this crucial moment, the pace of the narrative slows down to represent this key moment in all it’s entirety.

At the beginning of the novel, one might assume that the word “thief” relates to Said, as the one who has just been released from prison. As the text develops in the first chapter, we realize that the dogs are portrayed as villains along with themes of treachery and betrayal. Furthermore, the reader can make a significant link with the dogs and Said’s enemies. In addition to this, various examples of animal imagery are used in the first chapter to portray dogs. Illish is compared to a dog when Said asks “Have you forgotten, Ilish, how you used to rub against my legs like a dog?” This juxtaposes with the image that Said displays of himself as a man that can “dive like a fish, fly like a hawk, scale walls like a rat…”. Another example follows when Said sees his daughter for the first time. He describes her as a mouse, further affecting the reader’s sympathy for both the characters of Sana and Said.

"How will he look when he first sees you? How will his eyes meet yours? Have you forgotten, Ilish, how you used to rub against my legs like a dog? It was me, wasn't it, who taught you how to stand on your own two feet, who made a man of a cigarette butt cadger? You've forgotten, Ilish, and you're not the only one: She's forgotten, too, that woman who sprang from filth, from venom, from treachery."

Chapter Fifteen: Use of soliloquies directed towards himself 

In this particular moment, the writer uses a soliloquy to offer insight into an internal conversation that the protagonist is having with himself. This provides the reader with the opportunity to reflect on the character's words and visualize his internal thoughts. Following the soliloquy, the narration diverts back to indirect narration, allowing the reader to feel as though they are "in the moment" with the main protagonist as they watch their thoughts and the actions unravel all together; 

The Value of Studying Literature in Translation

So what is it all about? The study of literature is a new opened lens that allows us to explore other areas of life that we are not yet familiar with, forcing us to expand our thoughts and minds. When studying this, it is not only beneficial to us as language and literature students but is also something that can be recognized by a larger audience.

 Literature is literature. Whether a novel be written in English, Spanish, or French the works of author appeal to their audience. When a text is translated, the context of the story is transformed into a medium where English speakers like us can understand them. But what is so valuable about this? When the author transforms a story by translating it, the study becomes more enriching from the point of view of the translator. Stories being read by different cultures broadens the lens for interpretation and perspectives. Although literature in translation may be seen as beneficial to a larger field of literature, challenges are bound to occur when "transferring" a piece of work into someone else's hands for translation. Although translated works will never fully conform to the original piece of work, a strong appreciation for literature remains to be prominent by showing the evident necessity to share pieces of writing throughout the world.

 As a language and literature student, focusing on understanding the background of the author and the setting of the story allows us to understand the struggles and differences of the culture. Furthermore, literature in translation can be seen as a medium for communication done through different unique cultural lenses.

Paper 2 Outline Practice

1. In Things Fall Apart, to what extent has an awareness of context enriched or enhanced your understanding?

- Nigerian independence in 1958

- The vision of Africa prior 

Hence, it can be said that Achebe challenges the portrayal of Africa from European literature by creating a novel that establishes traditional Igbo culture with specificity and sympathy and examines the effects of European colonialism from an African perspective.

Topic Sentence 1

The cultural context in which the plot is set is prominent through the series of events that occur along with the consistent use of characterization throughout the novel.

Topic Sentence 2

Throughout the novel, an awareness of the Igbo tradition versus hegemony serves as a foundation for many of the arising conflicts.

Topic Sentence 3

The conflict between generations is portrayed through the development of complex characters and their involvement in presenting the power of colonial influence.

2. How do the conflicts between characters in TFA reflect the kinds of conflicts from the time and place in which the text was written?

Both the conflicts between power and colonial influence are implemented into the text through Achebe’s complex characters to serve as a lens into the cultural conflicts that the characters face as the plot develops. Hence, it can be said that the development of characters serve as an insightful viewpoint into the struggles of the European colonial movement and an ever-changing Igbo society. 

Topic Sentence 1 

The idea presented of "tradition VS change" presents itself as one of the most prominent and significant conflicts throughout the novel.

Topic Sentence 2

Although major conflicts arise around the idea of change, the complexity of the characters causes major conflicts between generations.

Topic Sentence 3

- Village VS the missionaries 

- The power of the colonizers 

- They are seen as oppressors 

- When Okonkwo returns and Nyoye is being educated in the church