What does Zaabalawi symbolize?
Zaabalawi is a man of miracles, just like Christ and Mohammed, both who improved people ‘s lives by spreading love and hope and offering healing powers.
What happens at the end of Zaabalawi?
Hence, the story ends on a positive note, with the protagonist convinced that his quest will succeed. This reveals that the father of the protagonist also suffered from something that the worldly healers had no power to heal, whereby Zaabalawi healed him, giving him what can only be construed to be inner peace.
Why is the narrator seeking this person Zaabalawi?
His father responded “May his blessing descend upon you, he’s a true saint of God, a remover of worries and troubles. Were it not for him I would have died miserably”. The narrator then mentioned the reason for his search for Sheikh Zaabalawi, and the reason is that he is suffering from a disease that has no medicine.
Is Zaabalawi a parable?
Levels of the Parable On one level, the narrator’s pursuit of the Islamic mystic Zaabalawi is the story of a terminally ill man desperately searching for a miracle worker to cure him. On another level, his pursuit surely can be seen as a search for piety, mystical experience, perhaps even God himself.
What is the conflict in Zaabalawi?
The main conflict/theme The main character searches for Zaabalawi, so he can cure the illness he suffers from. No one knows where Zaabalawi currently resides, only where he has been. The main theme of the story is finding meaning and happiness in your life.
Which city is the setting in Zaabalawi?
The narrator comes across six different characters who knew Zaabalawi. The first person to ever tell the speaker about Zaabalawi is his father, who calls the sheikh a “true saint of God” . In pursuit of the healing power of Zaabalawi the narrator travels all over the city of Cairo.
What is the illness in Zaabalawi?
Another interpretation of “Zaabalawi” is that the character suffers from mental illness. There is evidence for this in his admission that he “was overcome by despair” and his physicians have been unable to find a physical cause for his illness.
Who is the protagonist in Zaabalawi?
Recommended translation: Denys Johnson-Davies. The protagonist is afflicted with a disease which doctors are unable to cure and sets out on a quest for Zaabalawi, a holy man reputed to possess healing powers.
How does the narrator view the sheikh?
The narrator searches for the sheik to help him cure “that illness for which no one possesses a remedy.” This short story is an allegory. The narrator needs to have faith that Zaabalawi will be with him when he really needs him.
What is the theme of Zaabalawi?
The main theme of the story is finding meaning and happiness in your life. Also the effects of spirituality, art and music result in happiness unlike those who are striving for money and fame.
Do those who need him suffer as I do?
“Such are saints or they would not be saints,” he said, laughing. “Do those who need him suffer as I do?” “Such suffering is part of the cure!” He took up the plectrum and began plucking soft strains from the strings.
How is Zaabalawi a spiritual quest?
The events in “Zaabalawi” can be interpreted as a spiritual quest since the main character is seeking a healer with metaphysical powers. Zaabalawi is believed by many to be a holy man and, in his quest to find this healer, the protagonist himself goes on a journey that is both spiritual and physical.
Why did I not seek out Sheikh zaabalawi?
When I bad tried everything in vain and was overcome by despair, I remembered by chance what I had heard in my childhood; Why, I asked myself, should I not seek out Sheikh Zaabalawi?
What was the relationship between zaabalawi and Mahfouz?
The relationship among art, human sympathy, and spiritual values is made clear, for Zaabalawi is close to both artists and has provided inspiration for their best works. In the last scene, at the Negma Bar, Mahfouz fuses the realistic description of a hardened drinker with a dream-vision of another, peaceful world.
Who is the narrator in zaabalawi by Naguib Mahfouz?
published in Eureka Studies In Teaching Short Fiction 8.2 (Spring 2008): 106-114. Naguib Mahfouz’s famous short story, “Zaabalawi,” concerns an unnamed narrator’s search for Zaabalawi, a mystic, or a holy person, or a healer, who can supposedly cure the narrator’s incurable disease.
Where does the quote from the Scarlet Letter come from?
This passage comes from the introductory section of The Scarlet Letter, in which the narrator details how he decided to write his version of Hester Prynne’s story. Part of his interest in the story is personal—he is descended from the original Puritan settlers of Massachusetts. Like Hester, the narrator both affirms and resists Puritan values.