Importance of Religious Supporting Characters

IB A1 English SL Year 2

Mr. Fitzgerald

January 7, 2012

Candidate Number: 000307-108

Word Count: 2361

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James Fitzgerald

IB SL A1 English Year 2

Date finished

Importance of Religious Supporting Characters

Albert Camus, the author of The Stranger and Naguib Mahfouz who is the author

of The Theif and the Dogs have created a specific set of characters designed to support

the protagonist in each novel. (In both existentialist novels, The Stranger by Albert Camus and The

Thief and the Dogs by Naguib Mafouz, the authors utilize unique minor characters to accentuate the

qualities of each protagonist). Minor characters in each piece of work (literary work) heavily

influence the mindset and character development of the protagonists(; one through

instruction and the other through interrogation). In these pieces of work, the minor characters

that influence (Influential characters (minor characters that influence seems somewhat

clumbsy/awkward) (either positively or negatively not really necessary) happen to be religious

followers(more eloquent form: pious zealots of religion). The Magistrate from The Stranger is a

strong, faithful (devout instead of strong, faithful) Christian who does not understand why

Mersault cannot open his eyes and his heart to believing in God (Maybe: “The Magistrate….

Who cannot empathize with Mersault’s callous disposition towards the notion of God.”) In the other

piece of work from The Thief and the Dogs In The Thief and the Dogs (the other piece of work

isn’t necessary and is a bit informal), the Sheikh is a Suci who is a faithful Muslim that advises

Said Mahran how to transform into a better person by applying the Muslim faith into his

daily life.( I think it is “Sufi”. Sufi who is a faithful muslim seems redundant. Maybe “The Sheikh is a

faithful practitioner of Sufism, a Muslim denomination, WHO instills in Said Mahran a desire to cast away

his past and become a moral man through applying the Muslim faith into his daily life.” (or “a desire to

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cleanse his heart of all but God”?) While exploring (Not necessary, but if you want to use it, you can

write “Through exploring…. One finds that the magistrate…”)The Stranger and The Theif and the

Dogs, the Magistrate and the Sheikh Ali al-Junaydi work as a religious catalysts in each

book (never say “book” always “novel”)to support the protagonist’s development (Enhance the

characterization of each corresponding protagonist.)from each piece of literature Repeating

because you already said “in each novel” before, so pick one. Though both are minor characters

Supporting characters (avoid repeating minor characters) and are mentioned only periodically

throughout each work, they are essential to contributing to the protagonist’s

development; however the minor characters have different roles in each novel. “essential

to contributing” is redundant. So “they are essential to the protagonists growth; however their

contributions differ."

As Said is released from jail and after he tries to reunite with his daughter, he seeks

refuge from the Sheik’s (not concise sentence, try: following Said’s release from prison and attempted

reunion with his daughter, he seeks refuge IN the Sheik’s…) spiritual, emotional and physical

shelter. Said is released (Repetitive (used released in the previous sentence) “Returns to reality”)

back into reality where freedom and betrayal come hand in hand, he was (Always use

present tense!!!) starving for revenge of those who put him in jail in the first place. I would

combine the two sentences to: “hand in hand. (end sentence) He starves for retribution against those

responsible for his imprisonment.” Top section not in chronological order (release from jail to sheiks

shelter to release from jail back to sheik – confusing) Said first goes to the Sheikh of his father

for a longing of his past filled with memories of nostalgia. Maybe: “Said immediately seeks the

council of his father’s friend, the Sheikh in a longing for the catharsis of nostalgia from his past

experiences.”? When Said first enters the Sheik’s (Saying sheikh too much. Here it is not

necessary) mosque he “ [finds] himself bending over [Sheik’s] hand to kiss it” which

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shows (never use shows) portrays/illustrates/depicts/exemplifies Said’s trust and calm manner around

the Sheikh. Said’s feelings of being comfortable with the Shiekh and trusting him

(Mahfouz 33). Especially since his daughter, Sana, disowned him, Said feels that he

needs to go to an emotional, spiritual and physical safe shelter in which he feels secure

at the Sheik’s because Said asks himself, “What other refuge have I?” (Mahfouz 33).

Said’s rhetorical question, “What other refuge have I”(Mafouz 33), enhances feelings of insecurity,

resulting from Sana’s rejection, that he removes through the comfort of the Sheikh’s refuge” (the

emotional, spiritual… thing is repetitive if you use it again) The Sheikh repeatedly replies

“repeatedly replies to said by telling him that” is awkward: “counters Said’s remarks by responding, ‘….”

(Mahfouz 32). to Said by telling him that “ ‘ If you love God, then follow me and God will

love you’ and words: ‘Love is acceptance, which means obeying His commands and

refraining from what He has prohibited and contentment with what He decrees and

ordains.’ ” (Mahfouz 32). More wise words from the Sheikh allows Said to have a

opened point of view, “ ‘the eyes of their hearts are open, but those in their heads are

closed’ ” (Mahfouz 75). (“The Sheikh’s sage advice allows Said to open his mind, since, ‘the eyes of

their hearts….”). Join the next two sentences: “the similarities between the Sheikh and Said are evident in

that the protagonist is not in this world, but lost in his hatred and vengeance while the supporting

character "is lost in heaven."

The Sheikh shows similarities to Said. This is shown when Said is not in this

world and is lost in his hatred and vengeance as well as Sheikh “is lost in heaven”

(Mahfouz 33). Said does not intentionally refuse the Shiekh’s advice that Said “seek[s]

the walls, not the heart”, meaning that Said is set on revenge and cannot dig deeper

and listen to his advice to become a better person (Mahfouz 27). “cannot be introspective

and realizes that he needs to better himself”. The minor role of the Sheikh has a major

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impact on the reader’s personal view points of Said and their relationship. Reorganize

sentence: “the minor role of the sheikh and his relationship with the protagonist impact the reader's

personal interpretation of Said."

The examining intrusive Magistrate from The Stranger, allows the reader’s to see

the stubbornness (accentuates/enhances/reveals the stubbornness) of Mersault’s character to

remain faithless and to remain “to remain” = repetitive and not necessary outside of society’s

rules. (and an anomaly to societies standards” or “a stranger to societies rules/standards” (second one

plays with title) I so clever) When Mersault is arrested, the Magistrate questions Mersault

several times after his arrest Repetitive. “…the magistrate questions Mersault repeatedly.” After

the Magistrate is disturbed by Mersault’s lack of grief over his mother’s death, Awkward

beginning, try: “Disturbed by Mersault’s lack of grief over his mother’s death, the Magistrate continues

to…” he continues to “ask [Mersault] if [he] believed in God” (Camus 69). The Magistrate

is very upfront about his religious confrontation to Mersault, and tells Mersault Awkward,

try: “the Magistrate’s conspicuous disapproval to Mersault’s religious theories is evident when he says…”

“it was impossible; all men believed in God, even those who turn their backs on Him”

(Camus 69). The Magistrate could not understand that someone would want to remain

without believing in God Make more concise: “Godless/faithless”?. The Magistrate is very Never

use “very/so/really” pushy Word choice: aggressive/assertive/relentless in trying to convince and

understand Mersualt’s way of thinking. He represents society at large in that he is

threatened by Mersault’s unusual, amoral beliefs (y) awesome sentence!. From the

Magistrates questioning, it shows that Mersault is not playing “society’s game” of being

religious Through the Magistrate’s interrogation, it is evident that Merault is not playing “societies game”

of zealous devotion to religion.. It seems that Don’t weaken your argument by seeming unconfident.

Just say “By the end of the novel…” by the end of the novel, Mersault is killed not for killing a

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man “Mersault is not executed for murder, despite his victims ethnicity, but…” (even if he was an

Arab) not necessary but for not believing in God since “all men believed in God” (Camus

69). “He told me that he believed in God, that it was his conviction that no man was so

guilty that God would not forgive him, but in order for that to happen a man must repent

and in so doing become like a child whose heart is open and ready to embrace all.”

(Camus 68) Long quote, where are you going with this?. In this piece of literature, the minor

character fails to make an Unnecessary: “fails to imprint”imprint on Mersualt’s spirit, however

it (he) helps guide the way for the reader’s “guide the reader(singular) to see…” to see

Mersault’s true chracter. The Magistrate helps to show the readers of Mersault’s

atheism and him not following the rules of society. “reveal Mersault’s atheist beliefs and

rejection of societies rules."

The minor characters in The Stranger and The Thief and the Dogs contribute greatly to

the protagonist’s development “contribute IN the protagonist’s development” (greatly doesn’t help

the sentence) throughout each novel, however, the Magistrate and the Sheikh differ in the

ways of how they went about encouraging their faith to each protagonist. A more concise

way of saying this is “the magistrate and sheikh differ in their methods of a religious intervention on the

protagonists.”The Magistrate continues to push and interrogate Mersault’s atheism

Remember those adjectives I suggested before? “the magistrate’s routine is

aggressive/assertive/relentless in cleansing Mersault’s atheism and says…” and says, “ ‘I have

never seen a soul as hardened as yours. The criminals who have come before me have

always wept at the sight of this image of suffering’ ” (Camus 69). While the Sheikh is a

character shown as Unnecessary: “is a calm spiritual advisor…” a calm and spiritual advisor

who wants Said to come unto the religious teachings, Start new sentence the difference is

that he does not force it upon Said but instead he embraces it about him. He does not

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force his ideals upon Said, rather he guides Said in the right direction through passive instruction.The

Sheikh says the following phrases four times in a humble matter, I think you meant to say

The Sheikh repeats four times in a humble MANNER,…” “ ‘take a copy of the Koran and read…

wash yourself now and read’ ”, which stresses the importance of him wanting Said to

find that religious spark and follow it (Mahfouz 31). Which stresses his attempt to rid Said of

unnecessary thoughts and seek guidance from God. Said comes to the Sheikh, asking

Unnecessary: “Said comes to the Sheikh for spiritual advice…” for spiritual advice because his

“own daughter has rejected [him]” (Mahfouz 29). Said comes willingly because he

questions that “ ‘if it is true that man can be poor in God, so is it true man can be rich in

Him’ ”(Mahfouz 79). Both of the supporting characters want these criminals (in their

own view) Do you mean “self proclaimed criminals”? to come unto either Christianity or Muslim

Sufism?. The Magistrate says to Mersault that “ [He is] a Christian. I ask Him to forgive

you your sins. How can you not believe that He suffered for you?’” (Camus 69). The

Magistrate is astounded that Mersault cannot appreciate the fact that there is a Savior

who suffered for his mistakes. Mersault remains faithless until the end of his own time

and being punished for not being just like everyone else who were faithful Christians.

Awkward: until his demise as punishment for not accepting societies religious principles. The

supporting characters compare and contrast Are distinctive in each piece, but they both

add to the character development of Said and Mersault in ways that if those supporting

characters were not there then the protagonists would not have developed the way that

they did. “In ways essential to the plot development”? Im not sure how to word that, but the last part

after “Mersault” is awkward…

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The supporting characters, Remove, we can put it in later in the sentence the Shiekh and

the Magistrate, from each piece or of literature gives aid in showing the reader’s how

their beliefs try to influence the criminals but they influence the protagonists in different

ways. “aids the reader’s understanding of the intrinsic value of the supporting characters in influencing

the criminals in their own manner.” While the Magistrate is trying to force upon Mersault that

he is the only one different and needs to repent and come unto God, the Sheikh on the

other hand wants Said to develop faith however as Said comes to him the Sheikh. I’m

confused with this sentence. Try: “While the magistrate forcefully proposes that Mersault must convert to

societies ideology, the sheikh slowly instills the importance of faith in Said.” Mersault is forced to

listen to the Magistrate while Said desires to go to his father’s spiritual leader. “Goes to his

father’s spiritual leader of his own accord” The chosen list of characters “Combination of characters”

in each novel really Remember, don’t use “really/very/so” helps shows the audience Not

audience(that is for plays): reader. Also, “helps show” can be more eloquent. Try “highlights the mindsets

of the protagonists to facilitate the readers comprehension of the text.”? the mindsets of the

protagonists. If the reader did not have that supporting character to count on as the

protagonist developed, then the plot would not have developed and been portrayed to

its audience. “Without the supporting characters characterizing the protagonists, the plot and

message/theme would not have developed to its full potential.” My teacher here recently told me

not to make hypothetical remarks. I don’t know about fitz but if you want to be safe you can

write: “The supporting characters are essential in characterizing the protagonists to develop the

plot and message/them to its full potential.”

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Works Cited

Camus, Albert. The Stranger. New York: Vintage International, 1988. Print.

Mahfouz, Naguib. The Thief and The Dogs. New York: Anchor, 1961. Print.