Zaabalawi Allegory Essay

An allegory can be a piece of writing, poetry, or photograph that can be decoded to expose a secret meaning (Oxford Living Dictionaries). These messages that are expressed in allegories aren’t always as obvious; yet hidden within its characters. In an allegory the characters regularly stand for something much larger. According to Dictionary.com a parable is a “short allegorical story designed to illustrate or teach religious principles, or moral lessons.” A parable contains key elements that separate them from other types of allegories. Parables generally extend on spiritual or mystical messages and tend to be very short. The story “Zaabalawi” by Naguib Mahfouz is considered to be an allegory in spite of its length; specifically, it is intended

to be read as a parable.
In the story “Zaabalawi” A man is burdened with a disease that is said to have no cure. He then sets out on a search for Zaabalawi, a spiritual man believed to acquire healing abilities. During his search, he visits many people including a religious lawyer, a book store seller, a functionary, a calligrapher artist, and a musician. When unable to receive any lead or answers as to the where Zaabalawi could be, he began to lose his faith. He made his way to a bar and drunk until he became unconscious. Though, while unconscious he dreams that he is in a stunning garden that he has never before seen and encounters harmony and happiness. He then wakes up to be told that Zaabalawi was with him, but left because he didn’t want to disturb his sleep. Being upset a having missed the one person that he had been searching for; he was encouraged and received a new found confidence from his dream. He was determined to continue his search for his one true cure.