Characterization of Said Mahran - Passage Analysis

Passage: Chapter Sixteen- The disappearance of Nur

Once there he found it as empty as when he'd left, with only more loneliness, boredom, and worry there to meet him. He took off his jacket and threw himself down on to a sofa in the dark. His own sad voice came to him audibly: "Nur, where are you?"

All was not well with her, that was obvious. Had the police arrested her? Had some louts attacked her? She was bound to be in some sort of trouble. Emotions and instincts told him that much; and that he would never see Nur again. The thought choked him with despair, not merely because he would soon lose a safe hiding place, but because he also knew he'd lost affection and companionship as well. He saw her there in the dark before him--Nur, with all her smiles and fun-making, her love and her unhappiness--and the terrible depression he felt made him aware that she had penetrated much deeper within him than he had imagined, that she had become a part of him, and that she should never have been separated from this life of his which was in shreds and tottering on the brink of an abyss. Closing his eyes in the darkness, he silently acknowledged that he did love her and that he would not hesitate to give his own life to bring her back safe. Then one thought made him growl in anger: "And yet would her destruction cause so much as a single ripple anywhere?"

No, definitely not. Not even a pretense of grief would be made for loss of Nur, who was only a woman with no protector, adrift on a sea of waves either indifferent or hostile. And Sana, too, might well find herself one day with no one who cared to look after her. These thoughts scared and angered him and he gripped his gun and pointed it in front of him in the dark, as though warning the unknown. In deep despair, delirious in the silence and dark, he began to sob; and sobbed until late in the night sleep finally overcame him.

Analysis:

This passage is an extract from chapter 16, wherein Nur did not return home and Said anxiously waits for her. To his dismay her disappearance incites mental anguish, as he feels helpless not knowing her whereabouts or safety. These feelings progressively worsen and intensify, which reveals the psychological complexities of Said’s character. Throughout the novel the readers are exposed to his yearning for reckless revenge. However, here we are able to see Said’s exposure to the path of love and new beginnings.

This passage is a significant moment and contributes to the characterization of Said Mahran as it reveals his vulnerable nature, which deviates from his constant fixation with revenge and longing for agency. The reader’s learn that Said fears “loneliness, boredom, and worry.” He additionally fears the loss of “affection and companionship.” This fear is somewhat ironic, as it is common knowledge that prison is a consequence for committing a crime. A crime with a magnitude as large as murder places individuals behind jail bars alone, which will make him feel more isolated from normal life. Hence, his actions will deepen the extent of his misery.

This passage reveals the theme of remorse through Said’s character through the constant use of rhetorical questions or hypophora, such as “Had the police arrested her? Had some louts attacked her?” These questions fuel doubt and anxiety in Said, which in turn leads him to feel great insecurities in himself and his relationships.

This passage also highlights the theme of despair and loneliness as Mahfouz intentionally utilizes adjectives that reference “darkness” to symbolize loss of hope. Through the use of imagery, it is revealed that he does love Nur. This love was previously taken for granted and neglected. But, in this instance he is able to recognize his need for her. The narrator mentions that Said closes “his eyes in the darkness, he silently acknowledged that he did love her and that he would not hesitate to give his own life to bring her back safe.” And, in this instance of dreaming, “he saw here there in the dark,” making Nur seem as if she is only an illusion and that she no longer exists. This makes the idea of Nur’s disappearance permanent, which causes more psychological distress for the protagonist. Said had been in denial of his love for Nur as he was very much immersed in the desolation he experienced caused by betrayal. Said may also be experiencing hallucinations, which describes the peak of his mental anguish as he envisions Nur’s “smiles and fun-making, her love and her unhappiness.”

This passage brings to light the theme of realization, as through Said’s mental journey he comes to realize that Nur “penetrated much deeper within him than he had imagined.” In this instance, the pace begins to slow down as he comes more reflective and aware of his feelings. However, this awareness is heightening his suffering, as now he is completely alone with nobody to resort too. In a sense, this acts as another betrayal.

The theme of realization is furthered as he realizes Nur’s depression and finally sympathizes with her, as she was “only a woman with no protector, adrift on a sea of waves either indifferent or hostile.” The use of imagery here describes Nur as a character who has endured a lot of suffrage with poverty and abuse. She grew very fond of Said, but he did not return the affection. As they say, you never know what you have until it’s gone, and now Said is realizing. He became consumed in overwhelming loneliness and realizes her value. He then becomes scared that his daughter Sana may encounter the same struggles. Finally, Said begins to cry. Said is characterized as a vulnerable individual. This vulnerability has developed throughout the course of the novel as a result of numerous betrayals and the disappearance of Nur heightens this.

Dana's Theories 

1. Nur reported Said to the police in order to gain some sort of reward and attempt to flee from her misery.
2. Nur died as foreshadowed by when the fortune-teller told her she would achieve “security [and] peace of mind."