Analysis
The passage that was chosen was at the end of chapter four, where Said is caught attempting to rob Rauf Ilwan’s house. Rauf first begins to talk to Said about how he had premeditated his plan to rob his house. Rauf says, “I can read you like an open book”. This metaphor is used to show the clairvoyance that Rauf displays on the attempted robbery. It denotes their earlier relationship, Rauf being a mentor to Said. Rauf continues to say that, “I've been waiting for you, fully prepared. In fact, I even drew up your plan of action. I'd hoped my expectation would be disappointed. But evidently, no mistrust in you can prove groundless." This again emphasizes Rauf’s deep and critical understanding of Said’s character. This paragraph paints a portrait of Rauf being a dominant person in the situation, as he predicts Said’s plan, and Said as an old dog who can’t learn new tricks and is still using his old methods. Said seems very nervous and shocked by Rauf discovering Said during his robbery. Rauf’s dominant character is appearing again, but he speaks about Said’s character and says, “I know your thoughts, as clearly as I know your actions." Said answers saying that he hasn’t been able to adjust to life outside of prison, but Rauf doesn’t believe his excuse and thinks Said is lying to him about his state of mind. Rauf again tells Said that he is able to predict his actions and his true intentions. This again illustrates the character dynamic between Said and Rauf. This could be a reference to the class distinguishment between the lower and higher class. At this time, the lower class had been feeling undermined by the Egyptian population. The dynamic between the characters shows the reality of the relationship between the higher and lower economic classes. Said (representative of the lower class) seems terrified on the consequences to his action which are controlled and decided by Rauf (representative of the higher class). Moreover, Said’s failed attempt can express his stubborn grasp with his past. Said often holds grudges throughout the novel. Said is so naive towards change that he uses archaic methods of theft that are predicted by Rauf, a man that seemed to have developed his mindset on the revolution and has a paradigm shift on the topic. This also evident through his surprised reaction to Rauf letting him escape. This depicts Said as a tragic hero. He tries to portray himself as a modern-day Robin Hood but is caught red-handed. This depiction is meant to elicit a sympathetic connection between Said and the reader.
Passage
"It was idiotic of you to try your tricks on me; I know you. I can read you like an open book." Speechless, helpless, and resigned, still recovering from the shock of surprise, Said had nevertheless an instinctive sense that he would not be handed back to the custody from which he'd been set free the day before. "I've been waiting for you, fully prepared. In fact I even drew up your plan of action. I'd hoped my expectation would be disappointed. But evidently no mistrust in you can prove groundless." Said lowered his eyes for a moment and became aware of the patterned parquet beneath the wax on the floor. Then he looked up, saying nothing. "It's no use. You'll always be worthless and you'll die a worthless death. The best thing I can do now is hand you over to the police." Said blinked, gulped, and lowered his eyes again.
"What have you come for?" Rauf demanded angrily. "You treat me as an enemy. You've forgotten my kindness, my charity. You feel nothing but malice and envy. I know your thoughts, as clearly as I know your actions."
His eyes still wandering over the floor, Said muttered, "I feel dizzy. Peculiar. It's been like that ever since I came out of jail."
"Liar! Don't try to deceive me. You thought I'd become one of the rich I used to attack. And with that in mind you wished to treat me--"
"It's not true."
"Then why did you break into my house? Why do you want to rob me?"
"I don't know," Said said, after a moment's hesitation. "I'm not in my proper state of mind. But you don't believe me."
"Of course I don't. You know you're lying. My good advice didn't persuade you. Your envy and arrogance were aroused, so you rushed in headlong as always, like a madman. Suit yourself, do what you like, but you'll find yourself in jail again."
"Please forgive me. My mind's the way it was in prison, the way it was even before that."
"There's no forgiving you. I can read your thoughts, everything that passes through your mind. I can see exactly what you think of me. And now it's time I delivered you to the police." "Please don't."
"No? Don't you deserve it?"
"Yes, I do, but please don't."
"If I set eyes on you again," Rauf bellowed, "I'll squash you like an insect." Thus dismissed, Said was about to make a quick exit, but Rauf stopped him with a shout: "Give me back the money." Frozen for a second, Said slipped his hand into his pocket and brought out the two banknotes. Rauf took them and said, "Don't ever show me your face again."
Said walked back to the banks of the Nile, hardly believing his escape, though relief was spoilt by a sense of defeat and now in the damp breath of early daybreak, he wondered how he could have failed to take careful note of the room where he'd been caught, how all he'd noticed had been its decorated door and its waxed parquet. But the dawn shed dewy compassion giving momentary solace for the loss of everything, even the two banknotes, and he surrendered to it. Raising his head to the sky, he found himself awed by the dazzling brilliance of the stars at this hour just before sunrise.
