Prompt: ‘With regards to Thief and the Dogs, explain why Naguib Mahfouz may have chosen to depict events in a particular sequence or order.’
Thesis: Mahfouz chooses to depict events such as memories of Nabawiyya, Said's upbringing and Rauf in such an irregular order in order to reveal patterns of characters behavior, play with our expectations and showcase plot points that enhance the impact of actions in the present.
TS1: In the beginning of the novel, Said has a flashback of his father while having a conversation with the Sheikh. Mahfouz accomplishes this in order to play with our expectations by giving us a sense of psychological realism ultimately, moving the plot forward through his interior monologue.
TS2: Within the middle of the novel, Said is blinded by nostalgia of memories with his wife when they were younger. Mahfouz effectually demonstrates these memories in a non-linear order in order to reveal an ongoing pattern that mimics Saids mental deterioration. This further drives the purpose of his characterization as an unfiltered paradox filled with love and rage since we are always exposed to his sense of paranoia.
TS3: Towards the end of the novel, Said begins to rawly express his true feelings of sadness towards Rauf by reminding him of the days spent together as friends. Mahfouz inevitably characterizes Said this way in order to create a contrast between Rauf and Said whilst, enhancing the impact of actions in the present.
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