Zaabalawi
On the surface, "Zaabalawi by Nagiub Mahfouz is a classic story. By looking deeper, one finds strong religious and social undertones. The main religious themes in the story appear through the characters of Zaabalawi and the Narrator. The social themes are approached through Sheikh Quamar, the District Officer, Hassanein, and Sheikh Gad. Mahfouz partially uses these characters as an example of the effects that reason, technology and big business have on an individual, he also uses them to demonstrate the close relationship between art, human sympathy and spiritual value (Mack) These themes are common in many of Mafouz's works. The "mosaic-like depiction of urban reality in his novels reflects, from time to time, a spiritual light that issues from his own religious discipline." (D'Evelyn 1) Zaabalawi reflects the spiritual need present in daily life. This short story tells the tale of a common man who has decided to seek out a mystical solution to his affliction. "I became afflicted with that illness for which no one possesses a remedy" This implies that the narrators affliction is a common one, however no person has been able to physically obtain the cure, suggesting a spiritual malady. Thro
Mahfouz has used this simple tale to make a strong social and religious statement. "In place of the voluble, irresistible flow of the original, Mahfouz has created a sequence of "pieces" or "takes"...where irony and ambiguity contend with the literal piety and realism " (D'Evelyn 1) ugh the story, we follow the narrator on his quest to find a cure. He has attempted to find it through commonly accepted means but has been unable to. Somewhat disenchanted with the idea of finding a cure he half-heartedly seeks out Zaabalawi, a man whom is the subject of local legend. The District Officer guides the narrator to the house of a calligrapher, Hassanein. Hassanein remains faithful to the memory and growth that he had experienced with Zaabalawi. The manner in which he lives reflects his spirituality and servitude toward Allah. It is here that Mahfouz makes a strong connection between art, humanity and god. Hassanein has been divinely inspired, " He was so constantly with me...that I felt him to be a part of everything I drew". This lends a feeling of a god consciousness, those who are highly spiritual tend to credit their god for that which they create. It is also apparent that Hassanein feels that Zaabalawi is capable of healing the narrator's malady. "May God restore you to health. He is, in truth, as is said of him a man, and more." 2. Thomas D'Evelyn "Arabian Nights and Days". The Boston Book Revie
Some common words found in the essay are:
Sheikh Gad, Gad Mahfouz, Allah Mahfouz, Cairo Quamar, Officer District, Nagiub Mahfouz, District Officer, Hassanein Hassanein, district officer, Sheikh Quamar, Zaabalawi Narrator, sheikh gad, d'evelyn 1, sheikh quamar, zaabalawi nagiub, narrator quest, zaabalawi nagiub mahfouz, nagiub mahfouz,
Approximate Word count = 957
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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