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 )
Tags: Characterisation, Ilish, Nabawiyya, Said, Said's father, Sana Sheikh
