Zaabalawi

By beginning the story with song lyrics, Mahfouz recalls the evocation of the muse that opens epic poetry from Homer to Beowulf. Traditionally, this evocation reflects the belief that the muse will instill the poet with divine inspiration, but in Mahfouz’s story, Zaabalawi is the muse:

Oh what’s become of the world, Zaabalawi?

They’ve turned it upside down and taken away its taste (1).

The invocation therefore hints at Zaabalawi’s godlike nature and the story’s broader allegorical status; Zaabalawi isn’t simply the person the narrator is seeking, but rather a source of strength, creativity, and life. These two lines also establish why the narrator needs Zaabalawi. The narrator’s malaise reflects the world’s descent into materialism, as well as an Egypt that has become spiritually decentered.

The encounters the narrator has throughout the story expand on this idea. His quest for a cure begins at the Chamber of Commerce, where he meets with Sheikh Qamar. Qamar is surrounded by riches, women, and material comforts, but his wealth disconnects him from the spiritual. Although Qamar sends the narrator away with useful information, his impatience when he realizes that the narrator is not a client recalls the song