Literature in Translation

Literature in Translation is very important in understand our language and literature part three of the course as it is truly reflective of capturing the essence of changing historical, social and cultural contexts. This is reflective of the narration as well as deviating from the normal conventions of a cultures literature. The Thief and the Dogs by Naguib Mahfouz demonstrates this by narrating the story which is stongly embedded in a cultural context, which evidently is written after Egypt’s’ revolution which ended in 1956. Mahfouz achieved complexity and great depth in his characters by relating them towards cultural criminals through creating political statements and opinions. 

The context the author has written the text in is very important to understand and it significance to the text in translation. There are many words and phrases that are Arabic metaphors that have been translated, giving the word different connotations. The narration is also an example of this as normally arabic literature is written in poetry, making Mahfouz an author in the arab world to revolutionise arabic literature within novels. I provides very truthful and dark insights within the main character Said, as he often implements dialogue in italic font, representing his thoughts, which is different towrds western literature. Also, because in arabic literature is it gernarally known in poetry, characters are often symbolic and representative of something within the their and the dogs, showing that there are various elements of the Egyptian culture reflective upon the text

There are also many conflicts and counter narratives, as Mahfouz has opinions of the government during Egyptian revolution, which creates a more insightful depth and understanding to our appreciation and language and literature students. The characters and opinion within the text are important and they are impactful on the readers, as leaders like Nasser are very con character within this world.