Why does Mahfouz employ stream of consciousness narration in the novel and to what effect?

A stream of consciousness narration is a technique that allows the author to present the thoughts and emotions of a character in a life-like way. It does not take on a logical sequence, but rather is arranged in a natural way, reflective of the characters inner thought process. This encompasses a range of techniques that are constantly interchanged, including third person narration, as well as direct and indirect internal monologues. In The Thief and the Dogs, Mahfouz makes use of this technique very effectively, as he seamlessly switches between narration styles to reflect the main character’s journey. In some instances, Mahfouz makes use of four narration styles within one page. Although this runs the risk of creating an organized telling of events, Mahfouz is able to avoid this by using each technique is an organized manner, and in appropriate amounts.

By employing this form of narration, Mahfouz invites the reader to delve deeper in Said’s inner conflict. Within the short meeting with his daughter, Said’s emotions take a sharp turn from affection and relief to revenge and anger. This is reflective of his greater inner conflict, which plays out through the novel. The use of flashbacks to detail Said’s nostalgia enforces this conflict as he demonstrates anger towards a severe change that he does not understand. With any character that is introduced, Mahfouz attaches past events to the current situation in order to further develop Said’s conflict. By using flashbacks and direct internal monologues rather than a third person view, Mahfouz presents Said’s deepest emotions in a raw manner to allow the reader to understand his position. It creates a scattered, perhaps even unorganized, flow of emotions, which is reflective of how confused Said maybe be. Using a more organized style of narration would perhaps not do Said’s deep inner conflict justice, and may take away from its complexity.

Throughout the novel, there are a series of sharp shifts in Said’s character. The first comes after his rejection by his daughter, which evokes feelings of humiliation and somewhat anger. This is followed by his encounter with Rauf, which causes Said’s character to shift towards revenge and retaliation. This is documented through internal monologues that often shift to third person narration. By doing this, Mahfouz documents the events in an intertwining manner with Said’s personal thoughts. Further, it makes the story a deeper, more personal one as it does not impose the narrator’s opinions but rather expresses them through the thoughts of the main character.

On a larger scale, the stream of consciousness effectively deconstructs the rigid structure of a novel. This does not negatively impact the story but rather adds to it by giving it a realistic and raw feel. It allows the story to take on a circular plot and explores it from all aspects. The lines between the past and the present are blurred, and Mahfouz uses this to effectively link events. Said’s choices are heavily influenced by emotions from the past, as this is the only thing he possesses after being cut off from the world for years in jail. As a result, the internal monologue detailing past events expresses the development of Said’s thoughts over time. By doing this, Mahfouz can express his ideas more strongly and allow the reader to greatly understand the message.

In theory, Mahfouz’s rapid switches between narrations should create a stream of events that are hard to follow. However by addressing specific events and switching between the past and the present, he is able to soften these sharp changes and use them to his advantage. It gives the reader a deeper understanding of the novel and allows them to enter Said’s private thoughts. As a result, the stream of consciousness narration in The Thief and the Dogs is one that explores all aspects of Said’s world rather than confuses the reader. It allows Mahfouz to present a raw and organic telling of events and to express his personal opinion and struggle in a more authentic manner.