Comments on Al-Shahaz

1. Al-Shahaz is a novel by Naguib Mahfouz.
The novel mainly focuses on the journey of Omar who is sick with the loss of meaning in life. He is bored with his routine life including his work, and his family.

• What first opened his eyes to the meaningless of his life that led to his frustration is a discussion he had with one of his clients. Omar (being a lawyer) wondered about a client who was happy to have his land back telling him that sooner or latter it will be nationalized, the man answered him "ألسنا نعيش في الحياة ونعلم أن الله سيأخذها".
  Omar kept repeating this say all through the novel.
• His old friend (Othman) with whom he fought against the king's and his men's tyranny is about to be released from prison. This reminds him of the old days when he was a fighter for freedom and justice, an activity which he abandoned after his friend's arrest. He is shameful from Othman who sacrificed himself for his friends and protected them. He has a feeling of guilt for abandoning the case and going on with his materialistic life.
  "قلب العالم رأسًا على عقب. انتهى في السجن. وسوف يخرج يومًا. بعد بضعة أعوام. وسوف تتلاقى الأعين في دهشة مزعجة."
• In the past as a rebel, Omar felt that his life was meaningful. In the present as a great & rich lawyer, and a husband, he feels that this means nothing. He is bored with all this. His present life is a normal monotonous life that contrasts with his past rebellious life. He wants to make abnormal things (even if they are against traditions & social norms) to get over this boredom. He has no purpose in life.
  Mostafa (Omar's other friend): "الحقيقة أن عملك جاوز بك أبعد غايات النجاح، وأن زوجك تعبدك، فلم تعد أمامك غاية تتطلع إليها"
  Omar replies sarcastically: "هل أسأل الله فشلاً في العمل وخيانة في الزوجية؟".
• His affair with Warda was the symbol for a rebellion against the routine. However, after some while he found out that his affair with Warda or any other women can never satisfy his anxiousness for a meaningful life. For him Warda has become just like his wife (boring). This rebellion can never be equal to his past rebellion against tyranny. Thus, he was kept in loss.

2. The second thing that drew my attention to this novel is the change in the political life especially of Omar and Mostafa after the 23rd of July. People became indifferent:
Mostafa says: "ما دامت الدولة تحتضن المبادئ التقدمية وتطبقها أليس من الحمكة أن نهتم بأعمالنا الخاصة؟"
Omar commenting on Mostafa's so-called Theatrical Art: "كأن تبيع اللب والفشار وتتسائل عن معنى الوجود"

Mostafa commenting on Omar's affair with Warda: "أو أعشق لأبلغ اليقين"

3. A thing that we can sense in our present is that Science has become the master of the world; only Science. Whereas, Art has become only a means for entertainment. Art no more addresses the mind and feelings of people. If you are interested in studying literature, then your place will be only within the borders of universities. Valuable Art is no more part of the public life and does not contribute to the human life. It is no more a cause for the sublimity and nobility of the soul.
Mostafa (the Artist): .... أزمة فنان بيحث عن شكل جديد بعد أن أعياه المضمون..."
"Othman (the released friend): "ولم أعياه المضمون؟"
Mostafa: "لأنه كلما عثر على موضوع وجده مبتذلاً من كثرة الاستعمال..."
Othman: "ولكن الفنان يضفي من نفسه على موضوعه فيصير جديد في الحدود على الأقل"
Mostafa: "لم يعد هذا مقنعًا في عصر الثروات الجذرية، عصر العلم، وقد تبوأ العلم العرش فوجد الفنان نفسه ضمن الحاشية المنبوذة الجاهلة، وكم ود أن يقتحم الحقائق الكبرى ولكن أعياه العجز والجهل، وحز في نفسه فقدان عرشه فانقلب (غاضبًا) أو (عدوًا للرواية) أو (لا معقول)، ولما استحوذ العلماء على الإعجاب بمعادلاتهم غير المفهومة نزع الفنانون المنهارون إلى سرقة الإعجاب باستحداث أثار شاذة مبهمة غريبة، وأنت إن لم تستطع أن تستلفت أنظار الناس بالتفكير العميق الطويل فقد تستطيعه بأن تجري في ميدان الأوبرا عاريًا..""ولذلك اخترت أبسط الطرق وأصدفها وهو أن أكون مسليًا..."