Tragic Hero

1- What is Said's tragic flaw? (Harmatia)

Said's tragic flaw is that he is unable to except his own wrong doings. He has the tendency to constantly blame others, even when the blame is on him. Throughout the novel we are presented with several moments where Said blames those who he used to be close to ( Ilish, Nabawiyya and Rauf) for all of the pain and suffering he was facing. This is shown through several of Said's direct interior monologues. An example of is displayed in the first chapter:

“ Nabawiyya. Ilish. Your two names merge in my mind. For years you will have been thinking about this day, never imagining, all the while, that the gates would ever actually open. You'll be watching now, but I won't fall into the trap. At the right moment, instead, I'll strike like Fate.”

It is through this example that we can view how Said blames them, regardless of the fact that it was his own actions that landed him in jail.

2- How does he display excessive pride? (Hubris)

Said tends to obtain excessive pride (he places himself and his actions on a pedestal),and degrades others. He displays it through his drive to seek revenge on those who had hurt him, this was to be done so through carrying out his revenge plan. Through his plan he hoped to seek vengeance on the individuals who had betrayed him. This plan consisted of murdering those individuals one by one. This is displayed in chapter seven:

“To kill them both – Nabawiyya and Ilish- at the same time would be a triumph. Even better would be to settle with Rauf Ilwan, too, then escape, go abroad if possible”

3- When is his reversal of fortunes? (Peripeteia)

Said's reversal of fortunes is presented towards the end of the novel in chapter 18:

“Give yourself up” a triumphant voice shouted. “It's no use resisting” … Sure that the enormous and irregular multitude of the tombs prevented them from actually seeing him, Said made no movement. He had decided on death”

In this moment Said had realized that not only was he out numbered but he had also come to terms with the fact that not only was he going to die but he himself had chosen death. Hence displaying Said's reversal of fortunes, rather than him hunting down individuals and murdering them the police were now hunting him down. Just as Said stated in chapter 14 “A world without morals is like a universe without gravity.” he carried out immoral acts and now the universe had caught up with him, there is no gravity.

4- At what moments in the text does he recognize that the reversal was due to his own actions? (Anagnorisis)

The moment In which Said has recognized that the reversal was due to his own actions was when he was being chased by the police in the cemetery. Within that instant in chapter 18 it stated :

“He pressed his back against a tomb and took out his gun, staring out into the darkness resignedly. There it was. The dogs had come at last and there was no hope left. The scoundrels were safe, if only for a while. His life had made its last utterance, saying that it had all been in vain”

Said had realized that his life was coming to an end, that everything he had been doing since his release from prison would have “all been in vain” as he was not going to be around to bask in his glory and finally be with his daughter with out the ones he despised.

5- Is his fate greater than he deserved? (Nemesis)

Said Mahran's fate was not greater than he deserved, prior to his sentencing Said had been carrying out terrible deeds. You would think that after being imprisoned for four years he would learn a few things! Regardless of his past and what he had to go through Said made the decision that he would follow through with his plan, despite the fact that if he were to be caught in the process he could have faced the possibility of going away for a much longer time or even never being released again.