The Thief and the Dogs: Stream of Consciousness

In the book The Thief and the Dogs, Mahfouz draws a lot of focus onto the main character’s stream of consciousness. Stream of consciousness is a technique that depicts the numerous feelings and thoughts within the minds characters. This is seen through Said’s characters, as we the readers travel through his mind as he develops within the story and we explore how the hatred and his need for revenge grow throughout the book. Being able to do this, Mahfouz allows the readers to not only follow the characters mind like in first person narration but rather to be one with the mind. This, in turn, creates a complex dynamic throughout the story, making it more intriguing and an exhilarating read. To signify the importance that stream of consciousness plays, the sections where we see inside Said’s mind are represented by italics which is important as it differentiates the different types of stream of consciousness that are presented- mainly between an indirect and a direct interior dialogue, this helps to create a sense of awareness and clear switch. At this point, the readers feel as though they’re a part of the situation and the book itself, hence it constructs a sort of connection between Said and the readers.

Within the Arab world, Naguib Mahfouz is very well known for his creative writing style which led to his win of the Nobel Prize for Literature. His book The Thief and the Dogs differs from his other works when it comes to the focus of stream of consciousness. Yet Mahfouz manages to portray the book from many different perspectives as he switches from third person narration to either direct or indirect interior monologue or even a soliloquy and he does so exactly according to the situation that is presented such has when Said is expressing his love for this daughter, Sana and we see his true feelings when he realizes his daughter no longer wants him. The indirect format is also seen when Said first emerges from the jail and describes the place and his feelings at that moment but it is rather expressed through the narrator. This helps create a very powerful connection as well as interesting touch to the book making the readers explore different perspectives.

Mahfouz creates an important sense of appreciation for the language that is being used throughout the book. Although in the Arabic writing certain words and phrases have a deeper and a different connotation that aren’t always properly communicated through translation, the English version nevertheless uses a high degree of language and style to portray the themes within the book as well as the stream of consciousness throughout. In general, the language is significant to the cultural context as well as the historical setting of the book which in turn creates more of an appreciation of the language used. In relation to the stream of consciousness, language is also used as a powerful tool. In chapter 2, when Said visits the Sheikh, one sees how the Sheikh speaks in the language of old times where he has a double meaning to his words/sentences in order to emphasize and bring attention through repetition, the importance of his message which causes confusion to Said and through his stream of consciousness we see how he feels about this and how he feels alone : “I am alone with my freedom, or rather I'm in the company of the Sheikh, who is lost in heaven, repeating words that cannot be understood by someone approaching hell. What other refuge have I?"
As well as that, the stream of consciousness is a revolutionary modern technique hence when used my Naguib it introduced new style into the Arab literature world as created an appreciation for the style used.

In a way stream of consciousness is of course very effective and creates a bond in which readers are able to experience and have more significant access to the feelings and thoughts of the characters and hence this makes the experience of the story more genuine and real. Yet at times, it can be too focused within the feelings and thoughts of particular characters that it diverts from other characters and the main storyline. As well as that, using stream of consciousness can disregard the outer realities that are happening within the book -  the author concentrates only on the consciousness of his characters and therefore he shows no interest in events.