Chapter 5: The Thief and The Dogs

Plot Development

nathanday91 — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 05:59:05 +0000

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

Imagery

nathanday91 — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 05:56:33 +0000

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.

Characterization

nathanday91 — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 05:48:59 +0000

In 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.

Themes

nathanday91 — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 05:41:33 +0000

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)

Sense of Place

nathanday91 — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 05:35:00 +0000

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.