Abul Khaizuran in Mutlaa

Assad, Marwan and Abu Qais take turns sitting in the shade which is evidence of the extreme heat. It is ironic and foreboding that Abul Khaizuran compares the road between Basra and Kuwait to the road to heaven or hell. Abul Khaizuran’s reminiscence of losing his manhood refers back to the war. It is ironic that he tells horror stories about the dishonesty of smugglers. Ironically, he changes his mind a short time later and determines that this is hell, not the road to heaven or hell. This also negates any hope in the form of heaven. The realization of how awful the weather is, along with the fact that the men look nearly dead after ascending from the water tank when they leave Safwan, foreshadows the deaths of Assad, Marwan and Abu Qais. Abul Khaizuran again proves his kindness by his promise to put on a grand lunch for Assad, Marwan and Abu Qais when they arrive in Kuwait. Several things foreshadow the deaths of Marwan, Assad and Abu Qais in the last section of this story: Abul Khaizuran’s promise that it will only take seven minutes to pass through customs, Abu Baqir delaying Abul Khaizuran, Abul Khaizuran’s worry as he rushes back to the lorry and Abul Khaizuran calling to the men without receiving a response. Since Abul Khaizuran is an eunch, it is ironic that Abu Baqir delays Abul Khaizuran in Mutlaa by insinuating a sexual relationship between Abul Khaizuran and Kawkab, a dancer. Abul Khaizura finds the men dead, fulfilling the

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foreshadowing that occurs throughout the story. It is ironic that he wishes the men had banged on the sides of the tank since he would have gotten in trouble, but it shows his good nature and kindness.

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Midaq Alley Study Guide Midaq Alley by Naguib Mahfouz (c)2014 BookRags, Inc. All rights reserved.

Contents Midaq Alley Study Guide ……………………………………………………………………………………………….. 1

Contents …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 2

Plot Summary ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 3

Chapters 1-5 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 5

Chapters 6-9 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 8

Chapters 10-14 ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 12

Chapters 15-18 ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 17

Chapters 19-22 ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 20

Chapters 23-25 ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 24

Chapters 26-28 ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 29

Chapters 29-32 ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 31

Chapters 33-35 ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 36

Characters ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 39

Objects/Places …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 46

Themes …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 49

Style …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 52

Quotes ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 55

Topics for Discussion ………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 58

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