love without death
Hussain trudges in red eyed, sits opposite his father, and announces the British have murdered Abbas. He relates the story about Hamida and their plan, how Abbas goes berserk seeing “that bitch” in the tavern as they pass by, and how he is beaten senseless by dozens of soldiers. Hussein swears he had wanted to help, but there were too many. Kirsha declaims, “All power and strength are in God’s hands”. The police arrive too late to help, but take his body to the hospital and the whore to first-aid; no justice can be expected from the British. Kirsha offers more piety about God’s creatures returning to him and sends his son to inform the relatives. Kirsha tells the story repeatedly to all who ask, and it gets augmented and changed in further tellings. Kamil staggers into the café and begins weeping like a child. How could the young man who has teased him about a shroud be gone? Umm Hamida streaks through the alley wailing, more for the killer than the victim, some think. Alwan is most deeply affected, for it means death has entered the alley, increasing his terrors. He goes back to following doctor’s orders strictly.
Like all others, this crisis subsides and Midaq Alley is again indifferent and forgetful. It weeps in the morning, laughs in the evening, and in between, doors and windows creak open and shut. Afify clears out Booshy’s flat and Kamil holds his belongings. He wants the dentist to live with him when he gets out of prison, because he is lonely. Umm Hamida renews contact with her foster daughter, who is recovering, and hopes to reap profit from all of this. A butcher, his wife, seven sons, and an extremely beautiful daughter rent Booshy’s flat. People decorate for Hussainy’s homecoming. Darwish sees Kamil gazing at the roof of the café, recites about man being forgotten without changing anyone’s heart, and, seeing Kamil’s tears, shrugs and continues: “Let him who dies of love die sad; there’s no good in any love without death”. Shuddering, Darwish continues begging mercy from the Lady of Ladies and telling the People of the House he will be patient as long as he lives, for all things have their nihaya: “e-n-d”.
Chapters 33-35 Analysis The conclusion begins with Hussainy’s pious thoughts on pilgrimage and on theodicy, already discussed in the context of Alwan. Hussainy deals at length with suffering and death of innocents—like his children—and how God orders everyone’s birth, life, and death according to his wisdom. The faithful may not challenge this or look for other explanations. love without deathhis loving disposition than his scholarship or orthodoxy. As he leaves, he advises Abbas to go back to work for the British and behave. Instead, Abbas fights the British and dies suddenly at their hands, thus requiring the burial shroud discussed at the novel’s beginning. Hussainy notes the joke before the fact and Kamil afterwards in lament for his dead friend. Abbas’s death is senseless; he is at the wrong time and place. Big-talking Hussain Kirsha is clever but worthless. Assuming prostitution is not a victimless crime, Hussain raises the question: who is to blame, while Umm Hamida and her daughter ask: who is to profit?
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