Comparing "zaabalawi" And "araby"

Essay by PaperNerd ContributorHigh School, 12th grade August 2001

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"Zaabalawi" by Naguib Mahfouz and "Araby" by James Joyce are two stories based on human faith. The main characters of both stories are in search of what they believe will give them happiness. The authors use descriptive language to give readers a sense of what the characters are feeling and what they are passing through. However, both characters have a unique personality that differentiates them. Araby's main character is a passive and a very indeterminate person. By contrast, Zaabalawi's main character is more aggressive and determinate person.

Araby's main character believes in love. He believes that if he finds the right girl he will finally be complete for which he falls in love with his friend's sister; "but my body was like a harp and her words and gestures were like fingers running upon the wires" the only imaginary thoughts of her fills him with happiness and peace.

Zabaalawi's main character believes that a man named Sheikh could save him from death. He travels and looks for him desperately, he won't be happy or in peace until he finds the cure for his illness. Both characters are holding on to a hope of being happy and in peace. They believe that their search is not in vain and that there is always a light at the end of the road.

Furthermore, the authors use descriptive language to give a sense of the environment and the characters feelings. Naguib uses such strategy to describe to it's fullest situations that his character encounters while searching for Zaabalawi; "I was ushered into a room just as a beautiful woman with a most intoxicating perfume was leaving it" by being so descriptive the readers can create the image in their minds and get a sense of the environment. Similarly, James...