# Saïd the Fisherman — Themes

> Major themes in Saïd the Fisherman by Marmaduke Pickthall.

## Social Class and Ambition

Saïd's rise from a poor fisherman to a wealthy merchant, and his subsequent fall, illustrates the precarious nature of social mobility and the corrupting influence of ambition.

### Where it surfaces

- [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sa_d_the_fisherman_se/chapters/i): Saïd dreams of rising from a poor fisherman to a coffeehouse owner, then to Effendi, Bey, and Emir, illustrating his desire to climb the social ladder.
- [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sa_d_the_fisherman_se/chapters/v): Saïd's insistence on his former greatness and his rivalry with the beggar over who was more wealthy underscores the importance of social status and the pain of losing it.
- [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sa_d_the_fisherman_se/chapters/vii): Saïd's desire to enter the great city in triumph rather than beggary, and his envy of the missionary's possessions, highlight his ambition to rise above his station.
- [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sa_d_the_fisherman_se/chapters/ix): Saïd's obsession with appearing as a great man, his pride in his borrowed robe, and his disdain for the villagers and innkeeper highlight the theme of social climbing and the performance of status.
- [The Arrival at the Great City](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sa_d_the_fisherman_se/chapters/x): Saïd's fine robe and horse grant him respect, and he plans to sell his horse to sustain himself, reflecting class dynamics.
- [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sa_d_the_fisherman_se/chapters/xii): Saïd's discomfort among the wealthy and his attempt to appear as a man of consequence highlight his ambition and the social hierarchies of the city.

## Fate and Luck

The book is structured around 'The Book of His Luck' and 'The Book of His Fate,' exploring how chance events and divine will shape Saïd's life, often in ironic ways.

### Where it surfaces

- [Part I: The Book of His Luck](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sa_d_the_fisherman_se/chapters/part-i-the-book-of-his-luck): The chapter title 'The Book of His Luck' directly introduces the theme of fate and luck as central to the narrative.
- [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sa_d_the_fisherman_se/chapters/i): Saïd's fortune changes in an instant when the horsemen scatter his money, and his subsequent search yields only a fraction, showing the role of chance in his life.
- [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sa_d_the_fisherman_se/chapters/ii): Saïd's misfortune is attributed to an evil spirit, and his hope is revived by a small act of kindness, showing the role of fate and luck in his life.
- [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sa_d_the_fisherman_se/chapters/iii): Saïd's fortune turns as he recovers his lost coins, but his fate is sealed by Abdullah's warning, forcing him to flee.
- [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sa_d_the_fisherman_se/chapters/xiv): Saïd's misfortune and the sudden appearance of a potential benefactor (Ismaìl Abbâs) reflect the role of fate and chance in his life.
- [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sa_d_the_fisherman_se/chapters/viii): Saïd's sudden ruin, losing his wealth, wife, and son in one night, underscores the capriciousness of fate.

## Greed and Moral Decline

Saïd's pursuit of wealth leads him to abandon his former life, betray friends, and commit murder, showing how greed erodes his moral compass and leads to his downfall.

### Where it surfaces

- [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sa_d_the_fisherman_se/chapters/i): Saïd's obsession with money leads him to beat his wife over burnt lentils, and his daydreams involve spitting on his friend Abdullah, indicating a moral decline driven by greed.
- [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sa_d_the_fisherman_se/chapters/iii): Abdullah's warning reveals the Basha's greed for Saïd's wealth, and Abdullah himself takes over Saïd's property, showing moral decay.
- [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sa_d_the_fisherman_se/chapters/vi): Saïd's decision to abandon Hasneh and his robbery of the camel-driver illustrate his growing greed and moral corruption.
- [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sa_d_the_fisherman_se/chapters/xi): Saïd's thoughts of slaying Christians are motivated by greed for their wealth and women, revealing his moral decline.
- [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sa_d_the_fisherman_se/chapters/xiii): Saïd's desire for female company and his suspicion of others' motives reflect moral decline and the pursuit of personal pleasure.
- [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sa_d_the_fisherman_se/chapters/xiv): Saïd's despair over his lost wealth and his willingness to seek help from a stranger highlight the theme of material loss and moral compromise.

## Identity and Alienation

Saïd's journey to London and back, and his loss of status, highlight his struggle with identity and his alienation from both his native culture and the foreign world.

### Where it surfaces

- [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sa_d_the_fisherman_se/chapters/iv): Saïd hides his true reason for leaving, fabricating a story to maintain his esteem among strangers.
- [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sa_d_the_fisherman_se/chapters/vii): Saïd's attempt to adopt the missionary's clothing reflects his search for a new identity, while his shaven head and old garments mark him as an outsider.
- [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sa_d_the_fisherman_se/chapters/ix): Saïd's assumption of a false identity as a high officer, and his unease among the villagers and at the khan, reflect his alienation from his true self and his surroundings.
- [The Arrival at the Great City](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sa_d_the_fisherman_se/chapters/x): Saïd feels lonely and out of place in the vast city, despite being mistaken for a person of importance.
- [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sa_d_the_fisherman_se/chapters/xii): Saïd's foreign robe marks him as an outsider, and his lie about his background underscores his struggle with his identity in an unfamiliar environment.
- [XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sa_d_the_fisherman_se/chapters/xvii): Saïd, a fugitive, is drawn into Mustafa's world, feeling alienated by the old beggar's macabre enthusiasm and the strange environment of Nûr's vault.

## Religion and Superstition

The narrative is steeped in Islamic faith, prayers, and references to the Quran, but also in superstitions about jinn, evil eyes, and omens, reflecting a worldview where both coexist.

### Where it surfaces

- [Part I: The Book of His Luck](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sa_d_the_fisherman_se/chapters/part-i-the-book-of-his-luck): The Alcoran epigraph invokes religious themes of covenant and righteousness.
- [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sa_d_the_fisherman_se/chapters/v): The beggar's manipulation of the Christian missionary's religious beliefs for personal gain, and the use of religious phrases to elicit pity, highlight the intersection of faith and deception.
- [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sa_d_the_fisherman_se/chapters/xi): The chapter highlights religious tensions between Muslims and Christians, with Saïd invoking Allah in violent rhetoric.
- [XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sa_d_the_fisherman_se/chapters/xix): The tavern tales of jinn and serpents, alongside the lawyer's religious rhetoric, highlight the blend of faith and folklore.
- [XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sa_d_the_fisherman_se/chapters/xxi): The mob's actions, such as desecrating crosses and cursing Christians, highlight religious fervor and sectarian animosity.
- [XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sa_d_the_fisherman_se/chapters/xxii): The punishment is seen as a dishonor to Islam, and the riot is fueled by religious fervor and the belief that God will avenge the faithful.

## Violence and Chaos

The book depicts mob violence, religious massacres, and personal brutality, showing how societal order can collapse into chaos and how individuals participate in or fall victim to it.

### Where it surfaces

- [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sa_d_the_fisherman_se/chapters/iv): Soldiers violently take Saïd's donkey, and he is struck with a carbine butt, illustrating the brutality of the time.
- [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sa_d_the_fisherman_se/chapters/viii): The chase and the physical confrontation between Saïd and Cassim, including biting and cursing, highlight the violent struggle for survival.
- [XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sa_d_the_fisherman_se/chapters/xviii): Mustafa's explicit curses wishing rape, murder, and butchery on the family, and his vision of a coming storm of Islamic wrath, foreshadow violence and chaos.
- [XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sa_d_the_fisherman_se/chapters/xix): Mustafa's vow to kill all non-believers and the lawyer's call to rise against the heathen reflect the potential for communal violence.
- [XX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sa_d_the_fisherman_se/chapters/xx): The chapter builds toward communal violence, with Mustafa inciting a crowd and the lawyer's futile plea for peace.
- [XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sa_d_the_fisherman_se/chapters/xxi): The chapter depicts mob violence, religious hatred, and the breakdown of order in the city.

## Love and Obsession

Saïd's obsessive desire for a Christian girl drives him to reckless actions, while his relationship with his wife Hasneh shows a more patient, enduring form of love that he neglects.

### Where it surfaces

- [XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sa_d_the_fisherman_se/chapters/xviii): Saïd's immediate and intense infatuation with Yuhanna's daughter, described as a 'sick for love' and a 'hunger' in his eyes, drives his willingness to participate in Mustafa's vengeful scheme.
- [XX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sa_d_the_fisherman_se/chapters/xx): Saïd's all-consuming desire for Yuhanna's daughter drives his actions, leading him to spy on her and await a riot to abduct her.
- [XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sa_d_the_fisherman_se/chapters/xxiii): Saïd's actions are driven by his obsessive love for Ferideh, leading him to risk his life to save her.
- [XXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sa_d_the_fisherman_se/chapters/xxvi): Saïd's obsession with the girl (Yuhanna's daughter) drives him to seek her despite Nûr's warnings, and Nûr's promise to tame her for him highlights the possessive nature of his desire.
- [XXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sa_d_the_fisherman_se/chapters/xxviii): Saïd's longing for Hasneh and his plans for a future with her contrast with his earlier abandonment, showing a mix of affection and possessiveness.
- [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sa_d_the_fisherman_se/chapters/iii): Hasneh's obsessive love for Saïd drives her to try and ruin Ferideh, while Saïd's care for Ferideh is shown as he tends to her wound. The jealousy and rivalry between the women highlight the theme of obsessive love.

## Displacement and Homesickness

Saïd's time in London and his longing for his homeland, its sights, sounds, and people, underscore the pain of displacement and the deep pull of one's origins.

### Where it surfaces

- [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sa_d_the_fisherman_se/chapters/iii): Saïd is torn between staying in his birthplace and fleeing to a strange land, feeling sick at the thought of leaving his familiar home.
- [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sa_d_the_fisherman_se/chapters/iv): Saïd is forced to leave his home, facing loss and uncertainty on his journey.
- [Chapter X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sa_d_the_fisherman_se/chapters/x): Saïd's unease in Beyrût and his longing for England reflect his displacement from his home.
- [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sa_d_the_fisherman_se/chapters/xi): Saïd leaves his homeland, driven by tyranny, and seeks refuge in a foreign land, highlighting themes of exile and longing.
- [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sa_d_the_fisherman_se/chapters/xii): Saïd feels a deep pang of longing for his native land as the ship departs, and later feels betrayed that the journey leads to Liverpool instead of London.
- [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sa_d_the_fisherman_se/chapters/xiii): Saïd's profound sense of alienation and longing for his homeland is central, as he feels utterly out of place in the 'land of cloud' and yearns for familiar sights and sounds.

## Betrayal and Trust

Saïd is betrayed by circumstances and his own actions, while his relationships with Selìm and others reveal the fragile nature of trust and loyalty in a world driven by self-interest.

### Where it surfaces

- [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sa_d_the_fisherman_se/chapters/ii): Saïd's trust in Abdullah is evident, but there is a hint of betrayal as Abdullah's voice was used to deceive Hasneh, and Abdullah's alibi may be suspect.
- [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sa_d_the_fisherman_se/chapters/v): The beggar's initial act of tricking the missionary and later revealing his true nature to Saïd demonstrates a world where trust is easily exploited.
- [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sa_d_the_fisherman_se/chapters/vi): Saïd betrays Hasneh's trust by leaving her, and he exploits the hospitality of the villager.
- [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sa_d_the_fisherman_se/chapters/viii): Saïd's theft of the robe and his subsequent betrayal of the household's trust, as well as his mocking of the trapped Cassim, underscore themes of deceit and mistrust.
- [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sa_d_the_fisherman_se/chapters/ix): Saïd's thoughts of Abdullah's fraud and his vow to take revenge underscore the theme of betrayal and the loss of trust.
- [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sa_d_the_fisherman_se/chapters/xiii): Saïd's distrust of Selìm's advice and his suspicion of the khan's honesty illustrate themes of trust and betrayal.

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