What does Sheikh Ali Al-Junaydi represent in the Thief and the Dogs? How is he significant to the characterization of Said Mahran? How does he contribute to the theme of the text?
After Said is released from prison, Mahfouz portrays Said as a man desperate to find meaning in the world he feels is completely corrupt, Said believes the guilty prosper while the innocent fall. He seeks the company of his late father's spiritual advisor.
Al-Junaydi is significant to the development of the plot and the enhancement of the Fate vs Free Will theme. Naguib implements Al Junaydi in order to provide the protagonist Said with a second choice, which is to pursue his religion and avoid leaning towards the darker side which was what eventually led to his downfall. The sheikh provided Said with an alternative getaway choice, but he failed in doing so and Said eventually assassinated two innocent people.
Sheikk Al-Junaydi acts as Said's final desperate resort . During the beginning of the novel, Said seeks refuge in the sheikh's house, after his failed attempt at killing Ilish he re-visits the Sheikh once again, and finally during the last chapters of the novel, Said revisits his father's spiritual advisor for the final time before his inevitable downfall. It was during his last visit to the sheikh in which he commented: "I am alone with my freedom, or rather i am in the company of the sheikh who is lost in heaven." Said conveys signs of regret through contrasting both his and the sheikh's abstractness in the world, one is in heaven and the other in reality.
Last but not least, Sheikh Al-Junaydi acts as a foil to the protagonist Said Mahran and helps progress the characterization of Said. Firstly, Said's recollection of memories portrays the sheikh to be an old friend of the family and is not intending to turn his back on Said despite his vigorous actions, instead he helps him and provides Said with a glimmer of hope and kindness to counteract the distress that Said is currently in. The sheikh acts as Said's guardian angel providing him with ways of escaping his fate and bitter feelings towards those he feels betrayed him, however Said decided to choose against this (turning to the dark side) which led to his imminent downfall. This further illustrates the apparent contrast between the characters, allowing for better understanding of the protagonist and his contradicting thoughts.
After Said is released from prison, Mahfouz portrays Said as a man desperate to find meaning in the world he feels is completely corrupt, Said believes the guilty prosper while the innocent fall. He seeks the company of his late father's spiritual advisor.
Al-Junaydi is significant to the development of the plot and the enhancement of the Fate vs Free Will theme. Naguib implements Al Junaydi in order to provide the protagonist Said with a second choice, which is to pursue his religion and avoid leaning towards the darker side which was what eventually led to his downfall. The sheikh provided Said with an alternative getaway choice, but he failed in doing so and Said eventually assassinated two innocent people.
Sheikk Al-Junaydi acts as Said's final desperate resort . During the beginning of the novel, Said seeks refuge in the sheikh's house, after his failed attempt at killing Ilish he re-visits the Sheikh once again, and finally during the last chapters of the novel, Said revisits his father's spiritual advisor for the final time before his inevitable downfall. It was during his last visit to the sheikh in which he commented: "I am alone with my freedom, or rather i am in the company of the sheikh who is lost in heaven." Said conveys signs of regret through contrasting both his and the sheikh's abstractness in the world, one is in heaven and the other in reality.
Last but not least, Sheikh Al-Junaydi acts as a foil to the protagonist Said Mahran and helps progress the characterization of Said. Firstly, Said's recollection of memories portrays the sheikh to be an old friend of the family and is not intending to turn his back on Said despite his vigorous actions, instead he helps him and provides Said with a glimmer of hope and kindness to counteract the distress that Said is currently in. The sheikh acts as Said's guardian angel providing him with ways of escaping his fate and bitter feelings towards those he feels betrayed him, however Said decided to choose against this (turning to the dark side) which led to his imminent downfall. This further illustrates the apparent contrast between the characters, allowing for better understanding of the protagonist and his contradicting thoughts.
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