I. Write-Up
‘Half a Day’ as an allegory
‘Half a Day’ is a beautiful short story written by Nobel Prize-winning Egyptian writer, Naguib Mahfouz. It is an allegory that describes the life-cycle of a man.The writer tries to reveal that how fast changes occur in human life. At the beginning of the story, we can see the narrator as a little boy entering school for the first time. But, as the story progress, he leaves the school as an old man in “half a day”.
The boy (narrator) goes to school with his father in the morning. The boy becomes nervous. He feels that he is being punished. His father reminds that the school is not a punishment. It's a factory that makes useful people out of children. As he walks along the road, he enjoys the beauty of nature around him.
His anxiety increases when he arrives at school. A lady advises them to consider school as their new home. She also tells that they will have new parents there. The children enjoy the new environment. They attend classes, play games, nap, and make new friends. As time goes on, they realize that the new life also involves some hard work and frustration. Though the teachers are fun and loving most of the time, sometimes they give the children some tough tasks and gets annoyed. Sometimes the children get mental and physical punishments from the teachers.
As the narrator comes out of school in the evening, he cannot find his father waiting for him. So, he tries to walk home alone. He meets a middle-aged man on the way. He also finds that the city has changed dramatically!The garden has disappeared. There are crowds of people, cars, and tall buildings. As a grandfather now, he is unable to cross a busy street. He wonders when he would be able to cross the busy road. At that time a boy who works in the ironing shop comes to help him calling 'Grandpa'. This reveals that the narrator has become an old person now.
The story implies us that how speedily the changes affect on our life. The “half a day” spent in school is thus an allegory. The narrator enters the schoolyard as a little boy and leaves it as a grandfather in “half a day”.
2. Character Sketch of the Narrator in the story ‘Half a Day’
The Narrator : Character Sketch
‘Half a Day’ is an allegorical short story written by Nobel Prize-winning Egyptian writer, Naguib Mahfouz. In this story, the narrator tries to reveal that how fast changes occur in human life. At the beginning of the story, we can see the narrator as a little boy entering school for the first time. But, as the story progress, he leaves the school as an old man in “half a day”.
The boy (narrator) goes to school with his father in the morning. He is wearing a new green uniform, black shoes and a red tarboosh. Though the boy is happy to wear new clothes, he becomes nervous as thinking about new school life. He feels that he is being punished. His father reminds that the school is not a punishment. It's a factory that makes useful people out of children. As he walks along the road, he enjoys the beauty of nature around him.
His anxiety increases when he arrives at school. But soon he is adapted by the new environment. He attends classes, plays games, and makes new friends. As time goes on, he realises that the new life also involves some hard work and frustration.
As the narrator comes out of school in the evening, he cannot find his father waiting for him. So, he tries to walk home alone. He also finds that the city has changed dramatically! The garden has disappeared. There are crowds of people, cars, and tall buildings. He wonders when he would be able to cross the busy road. At that time a boy who works in the ironing shop comes to help him calling 'Grandpa'. This reveals that the narrator has become an old person now. His attitude changes from dependence to self- reliance and again to dependence.
3. “Dry your tears and face life joyfully....”, said the woman. These words comforted
the narrator. What would be the likely conversation between the boy and the woman?
Woman : Hey handsome boy, Why are you sad?
Boy: I want to go home. I can't stay here.
Woman : Don't worry dear. Just believe that this is your new home and we are your parents.
Boy : But, I don't know anybody here.
Woman : Oh... Don't be upset. Look at these children. All of them are your friends. You can play, chat, eat, and sleel with them.
Boy: Really! Can I have games here?
Woman : Why not. School is full of fun and enjoyments. Go to those kids and make happy yourself.
Boy: Oh. Thank you Ma'm. I'm going to play with them.
Woman : You're welcome my boy. First dry your tears and have some fun.