Zaabalawi Analysis

Zaabalawi is a piece of literature that depicts the various attributes and values of every society. However, understanding a society requires an in-depth evaluation of their ways of life, activities, and beliefs. Therefore, understanding the Zabalaawi is no different as a critical analysis of society is necessary. The piece of literature demonstrates the various social and economic activities of the people. However, understanding these attributes of this community is difficult because of the lack of underlying facts depicted in the article. Therefore, understanding the writer is the most effective approach that can be used to understand the community. Throughout his life, the various characteristics of the societal settings are depicted. The life of the writer works as a reflection of society and the experiences of the people. This paper evaluates the Zaabalawi article using the biographical characteristics of the writer. From his general appearance and presentation in the story, the writer symbolically represents the situations and conditions of the people. Through his relationships and engagement with people, the audience can relate to the article and gain a better understanding of the people.

            At the beginning of the story, the writer is shown to have a religious background. His family and friends are depicted as people with regard to their religion. They believe in the sovereign power of God given to some of the people. In the same way, he tends to have a belief in the supernatural power within some of the people in their community. In that regard, these people were held in high regard in society such as Zaabalawi. As a child, songs were sung for this individual with special gifts from God. The father of the writer goes forth to explain how the person had helped him.  He was viewed as a person with special powers to help other people in society. Therefore, all the respect accorded to him was out of good faith and trust from the people. Throughout his life, the writer has, therefore, grown with that religious understanding. When he is sick and fails to get a cure for his illness, he seeks supernatural power from Zaabalawi. The writer reflects the normal nature of the people in the society in seeking help. In most cases, people seek medical help in the health facilities for various illnesses. In the case of severe complications, doctors may fail to have a remedy for the illness, and patients are left for destiny to determine their fate. However, people never let the situation worsen without seeking spiritual interventions. The spiritual path is always taken as the last resort. In the same way, the writer opts to seek spiritual help for his condition to be healed.  He moves from places to places in pursuit of the healer with a strong belief that he would get well if Zaabalawi attended to him.  Such belief is evident in human life as people become products of their upbringing.

             In every society, there are a set of developed values and beliefs that people become accustomed to (Aldridge 415-417). A society is defined by particular attributes that are evident among the people. The people serve as the idols and images of society and depict what they acquire through their values and characters. Therefore, people are products of social engineering. From the writer’s nature, it is evident that he comes from a morally upright society. The bonds of a community are evident through his connections with the people both old and young. In his pursuit for Zaabalawi, the writer recalls some of his late father’s friends who could have the know-how about Zaabalawi’s whereabouts. This shows that his father had introduced his family to his friends and thereby the writer knows some of his father’s friends. This is typical of families and communities with strong ties. The community is always linked by bonds of friendship and family ties. Therefore, the writer’s community is connected as people are familiar with each other. While searching for Zaabalawi, the writer moves from individuals to individuals who are known in the community. That shows the strength of the community’s social fabric. To understand the nature of the community in the article, the writer shows how people of different social classes relate to others.

            The writer is in serious need of a cure for his illness, and that causes him to move from one resident to another in pursuit of Zaabalawi. The trouble he is facing is real, and that is demonstrated in his persistence to look for a cure. He points out that his illness is serious as it has no remedy and hence it has to be treated by Zaabalawi. This shows that he is facing a personal challenge that he has to deal with. Ideally, people tend to seek solutions for all their challenges by all means. Terminal illness and other personal complications make people move to lengths where they can salvage their situations. They make sacrifices in order to get well. In the same way, the writer moves around in pursuit of his remedy. It does not matter the cost of his medicine. This serves to show that the cost of life cannot be equated to any wealth or power. In this regard, he even goes to the wealthy company owner where he fears for his social standing. The rich are always held with high regard in any society, and so are their clients. When he enters one of the offices, he looks down upon himself and suspects of being treated like a client while he is not one. To avoid embarrassment, he immediately clears the air by introducing himself as the son of one of the boss’s friends. He explains his case to the boss of the company, but he does not get the help he wanted. However, he is given a lead that keeps following (Mahfouz 111-117).

            The writer’s condition is being held with seriousness by the people. It is seen as a solemn condition that requires an immediate remedy. Failure to do that, he is as good as dead. Whenever he mentions his condition to the people, they respond to him with seriousness. They know that he needs help from the purported healer Zaabalawi. Therefore, they do not conceal the identity or whereabouts of the healer. However, none of the point people manages to get his actual position or location. Whenever he goes to look for Zaabalawi, he finds that he has disappeared. One of the point people describes the healer as roaming in various places. However, that does not deter the writer from pursuing him. Evidently, the issue facing the writer is treated with seriousness by all the people.

            Moreover, the writer’s character is well depicted in the movie. Being brought up in a religious background, he seems to have been taught the moral values of life. Whenever he deals with people of all social standings and age, he demonstrates his respect and ethics. He addresses people in a humble way when inquiring for help. People are only as good as they are trained and influenced to be by society. Human behavior is an exhibit of what people are internal. The outward behavior depicts the morals and character of people in society. Therefore, the writer manages to showcase his morals and character by how he deals with people. His humility and drive are evident in his persistent search for Zaabalawi. Even when he hits a dead end, he does not show frustrations. He remains focused and the drive to get a cure for his illness makes him firm (Erlich 130-135). His humility is demonstrated by how he handles the other people he deals with. Irrespective of their social status, the writer treats them with respect. Finally, his drive and persistence make him meet with Zaabalawi.  Throughout this work, the writer’s character is under continuous scrutiny. His life is depicted as troubled by the acts of nature, but that does not deter his determination. He pursues the remedy for his condition without fear. Naturally, the writer seems to have a series of challenges that make him operate beyond his values and beliefs. When he finally meets Zaabalawi, he feels relieved that his illness would be treated. However, he is challenged to get drunk in order for them to talk. Individually, the writer is not used to drinking but is forced to drink. His desperation for a cure makes him go beyond his beliefs.

Works Cited:

Aldridge, Alfred Owen. “Biography in the Interpretation of Poetry.” College English 25.6 (1964): 412 – 20.

Erlich, Victor. “Limits of Biographical Approach.” Comparative Literature 6.2 (1954): 130 – 37.

Mahfouz, Naguib. “Zaabalawi.” Literature: The Human Experience. 9th ed. Ed. Richard Ed. Richard. Boston: Bedford: Abcarian and Marvin Klotz, 2006. 111 – 19. Print.