Chapter Two – Plot Development

In chapter two, Said is on his way to the Sheikh’s house because he is confused and doesn’t know what to do. He talks with the Sheikh about his father, where he has been in the past ten years, his misfortunes, and his current position.

Chapter Two – Sense of Place

In chapter one, we were given bits and pieces of clues about the novel being set in Cairo and it wasn’t justified but in chapter two there is some evidence about the novel being set in Cairo. Said walks up “Jabal Road” towards the “Muqattam hill” entering the “Darrasa quarter” (p162). The use of these names of places in Cairo gives local authenticity for the novel. Also seeing that he visits the Sheikh tells us about the religion and the culture of the current place which is very similar to Egypt’s favored religion and culture. Throughout chapter two, the protagonist Said spends all of his time in the Sheikh’s house which is described as “at the left corner of the big open courtyard stood a tall palm tree with a crooked top; to the right an entrance corridor led by an open door – in this strange house no door was ever closed – to a single room.” (p162) This description can be seen as a foreshadow of Said often coming to the this house in times of desperation because it says “in this strange house no door was ever closed”.  

Chapter One – Themes

This chapter possesses similar themes to chapter one. These themes can be explored as well as developed later in the novel and they are listed here with brief comments.

Faith – “Besides a joy like the joy of Paradise that was aroused in him by faith and dreams” (p163). This can be seen as faith in religion which brings joy and happiness.

God/Forgiveness – Having faith in religion leads to this theme. “If you love god, then follow me and God will love you” (p168 ).

“Take a copy of the Koran and read.” (p167) The Koran seems like a cure for any problem people might have in the Muslim world.

Betrayal – “I was sure of my safety as usual. It was that dog who betrayed me.” (p168 ) In the novel betrayal fuels the plot and the incidents that occur.

Justice/Innocence – Said looks for justice as he talks with the Sheikh about how “disaster followed disaster until [his] daughter rejected [him].” (p168 )

Chapter Two – Imagery

As seen in the first chapter, animal imagery is often used and it is seen in chapter two as well. “It was that dog who betrayed me” (p168), here Said refers to Ilish as “that dog who betrayed me.” Also throughout this novel, we can assume that animal imagery will always be used in negative ways because in the title, the dogs are related to the thief therefore making the dogs antagonistic.

 

In this chapter there are two new symbols and they are the Sheikh’s house and the Koran. The Sheikh’s house is seen a symbol for peace and for escape from reality. “In this strange house no door was ever closed – to a single room. (p162) Seeing that the doors are never closed, this means that anyone is welcome to enter the Sheikh’s house at anytime which shows the Sheikh’s hospitality. Also Said goes to the house because “[his] father used to seek [the Sheikh] when he was in trouble, so [Said] found [himself]…” (p166). He goes there to escape from the reality where he has no home, no money, and because his daughter rejected him. The Koran is a book of Islam much like the bible in Christianity. The Koran symbolizes the answer to the problems that people have. The Sheikh suggests that Said should “take a copy of the Koran and read” (p167) while Said is confused and doesn’t know what to do.

Chapter One – Characterisation

In chapter two, we are introduced to two new characters; Ali al-Junaydi and Said’s father. There are also several references to Nabawiyya, Ilish, and his daughter Sana. The narrative voices used in the characterization of Said continues allowing us to access Said’s thoughts and feelings. In the previous chapter, we don’t get any physical description of Said but in this chapter we do. “Said rested his head with its short, wiry hair on his dark, thin hand” (p166). His short wiry hair and dark thin hand shows us that he has been living in poverty and it is possible to assume that he isn’t sanitized meaning that he doesn’t always have the access to a shower for example. Also it’s possible that he is used to hunger as shown by his “dark thin hand”.

Ali al-Junaydi is a Sheikh which refers to a Muslim leader who has great knowledge of Islam. The Sheikh is a very respected man whom people go to for advice and knowledge and this can be seen “because [he] hear[s] much [he] can hardly hear anything.” (p164) The Sheikh is an enigmatic character and it is possible for him to be enigmatic because of his patience and wisdom. This can be seen when Said feels like “he’d almost given up hope of being able to communicate, and asked, ‘Do you remember me?’”(p165) after minutes of having an almost one way conversation with the Sheikh. Then the Sheikh responds by saying “Your concern is the present hour” (p165) which is unrelated to the question Said asked. The Sheikh’s wisdom and god-like figure is portrayed when “the Sheikh raised his head, disclosing a face that was emaciated but radiant with overflowing vitality, framed by a white beard like a halo, and surmounted by white skullcap that nestled in thick locks of hair showing silvery at his temples.” (p163). He is glowing and can be compared to Allah himself as he has “overflowing vitality”. The words that come out of the Sheikh’s mouth are short and direct and almost like the phrases from the Koran itself because of how much wisdom it holds such as “God reveals His secrets to His tiniest creatures!”(p165)

Said’s father is mentioned several times in chapter two as Said reminisces. The first sight of the Sheikh’s house gives him a feeling of déjà vu of his childhood when he used to come to this house along with his father. He reminisces the good times and when he greets the Sheikh, he is reminded of his father and he wonders “what had his father’s voice been like? He could see his father’s face and his lips moving”. (p168 ) From this we can tell that Said’s father has passed away many years ago and we certainly know when Said asks the Sheikh “do you remember my father, Mr. Mahran, God have mercy upon his soul.” (p165)

Nabawiyya, Ilish and Sana are referred to when he tries to explain his situation to the Sheikh. “My own daughter has rejected me. She was scared of me, as if I was the devil and before that her mother was unfaithful to me… She committed adultery with one of my men, a layabout, a mere pupil of mine, utterly servile. She applied for divorce on grounds of my imprisonment and went and married him… And he took everything I owned, the money and the jewelry.” (p168 )