sick than Kirsha is healthy
passes, he is saddened to hear from his doctor that he has only a little while left. He becomes a different person: delicate, testy, and hate-filled. He asks what sin God could be punishing him for, since he has always looked for the best in people, provided for his family, and kept God’s laws—but has still been brought down by others’ envy. Life becomes sour and Alwan’s brow takes on a permanent scowl.
Alwan is surprised to see Umm Hamida approach and receives her with partial attention. During his convalescence, Hamida rarely crosses his mind. Her well-meaning mother inspires hatred as he declares God has wanted something other than they have. She insists she cares only about his health. When Umm Hamida leaves, Alwan is more upset than ever. He remembers his sons’ suggestion that he sell the business and rest and sees only greedy conspirators. Hussainy arrives smiling and they embrace. The holy man has visited the villa several times but Alwan is never available. Hussainy pronounces it a miracle he has survived—and observes piously that all of life owes itself to a succession of divine miracles. When Alwan declares illness an “evil, dreadful thing”, Hussainy counters that viewed as a divine test, it is something good. Alwan dislikes this philosophy and feels hostility returning. He demands to know why he deserves to lose his health forever. Hussainy talks of man’s intellect being too shallow to comprehend God’s ways, cites Job’s example, and exhorts Alwan not to despair, but Alwan grows angrier and demands why Kirsha is still strong as a mule. He lashes out at pious sermonizing when Hussainy claims he is better off sick than Kirsha is healthy. Hussainy smiles sweetly, waiting for the truly afflicted man to calm down, asks God to grant him peace, strength, and contentment, says goodbye, and leaves. Alwan’s bad mood returns and he walks outside to look up at Hamida’s open, empty window. He feels uncomfortable there and returns, scowling, to his chair.
Chapters 19-22 Analysis This section examines Egyptian politics and Muslim theodicy (why bad things happen to good people), sets up greedy Hamida’s dramatic downfall, and offers more enticing tidbits about Booshy and gold teeth. Kirsha recalls his days as a revolutionary, filling in earlier comments about an evil past. Now he is past politics and cares only about his own pleasures. Politicians are said to orate in “almost incomprehensible classical Arabic”, which is radically different from everyday usage. Mention of the historical figure, Mustafa al Nahas, Prime Minister of Egypt, on a number of occasions helps set the novel in late 1944. Hamida’s new love interest allows her angry side to flare. Note how she accepts the premise that she is on this earth to be taken and he is the one to take her. It fits with earlier descriptions of marriage in Arab culture. Note that Job is considered a prophet in Islam.
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