Said's characterization - Chapter 15 (Said's acquittal)

PASSAGE

How could I kill a man I did not know and who didn't know me? Rauf Ilwan's servant was killed because, quite simply, he was the servant of Rauf Ilwan. Yesterday his spirit visited me and I jumped to hide in shame, but he pointed out to me that millions of people are killed by mistake and without due cause."

   Yes, these words will glitter; they'll be crowned with a not-guilty verdict. You are sure of what you say. And apart from that, they will believe, deep down, that your profession is lawful, a profession of gentlemen at all times and everywhere, that the truly false values--yes!-- are those that value your life in pennies and your death at a thousand pounds. The judge over on the left is winking at you; cheer up!

   "I will always seek the head of Rauf Ilwan, even as a last request from the hangman, even before seeing my daughter. I am forced not to count my life in days. A hunted man only feeds on new excitements, which pour down upon him in the span of his solitude like rain."_ The verdict will be no more cruel than Sana's cold shyness towards you. She killed you before the hangman could. And even the sympathy of the millions for you is voiceless, impotent, like the longings of the dead. Will they not forgive the gun its error, when it is their most elevated master? 

   "Whoever kills me will be killing the millions. I am the hope and the dream, the redemption of cowards; I am good principles, consolation, the tears that recall the weeper to humility. And the declaration that I'm mad must encompass all who are loving. Examine the causes of this insane occasion, then reach your judgment however you wish!"

   His dizziness increased. 

   Then the verdict came down: that he was a great man,

   truly great in every sense of the word. 

Passage Analysis. 

This chosen passage reveals the nature of Said's character as a tragic hero in the novel. Mahfouz depicts Said's immense sense of pride and hubris through his own internal monologue and stream of consciousness. This allows readers to see Said with no limitations and in complete transparency.

This passage begins with Said's guilty conscious taking control. He regrets and feels guilty for killing an innocent man when he was trying to kill Rauf. For this mistake, he is trying to pardon himself saying "Rauf Ilwan's servant was killed because, quite simply, he was the servant of Rauf Ilwan". However, despite his attempt at forgiving himself, Mahfouz is characterizing Said as being indifferent and unapologetic when it comes to his mistakes and the lives of others. 

Through Said's internal stream on consciousness, Mahfouz describes Said's thoughts on his own actions. After Said internalizes his speech that he would say in front of the judges, we see the use of a metaphor and personification where Mahfouz writes "these words will glitter; they'll be crowned with a not-guilty verdict". The use of the word glitter - something that young children would enjoy - creates an association between Said's horrible actions and innocence. This is how Said sees himself, as innocent. By saying that his 'words' will be crowned "with a not-guilty verdict" shows us how highly Said thinks about himself, thus Mahfouz characterizes him as an egotistical and proud individual.

As the passage continues, Mahfouz continues to utilize Said's stream of consciousness in order to characterize him as a grudgeful and relentless when it comes to getting his revenge on those who have done him wrong. Said says that he "will always seek the head of Rauf Ilwan, even as a last request from the hangman even before seeing my daughter". Saying this emphasizes Said's desire to kill Rauf. By comparing his desire to do so with meeting his daughter allows readers to understand how much he really wants it. We remember when all he wanted to do was to see his daughter after he left prison; now his priorities have changed as he has been overcome with the desire for revenge. This also allows Mahfouz to express the characteristics of a tragic hero in Said's character. This passage specifically, highlights Said's tragic flaw of being a person that is unable to forgive and forget those who betrayed him like Rauf, Nabawiyya and Ilish. His anger and grudge that households for extended periods of time is what caused him so much pain and at the end of the day caused his inevitable downfall. 

Said's relationship with his daughter Sana is an intense one. His love for Sana was overflowing and he was excited to see her after coming out of prison. Because of how much he loved her, it was extremely hurt him when he was rejected by her. It's in this stream of consciousness that we really get an in-depth look into Said's emotions and thoughts regarding his daughter. He says"She killed you before the hangman could." Mahfouz's use of exaggeration highlights the immense amount of pain Said goes through when thinking about his daughter. Through this, Mahfouz characterizes Said as a once loving father. However, we also see how much things affect him. His daughter never did anything in spite of him. His inability to understand that and see past his young daughter's actions characterizes him as a pessimistic individual that only sees the worst in people - regardless of who they are. 

This stream of consciousness ends with Said saying that "the verdict came down: that he was a great man, truly great in every sense of the word." This final line continues Mahfouz's emphasis on Said's excessive pride and severely arrogant personality that makes him the tragic hero in the novel.