1. 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…
The supporting characters, Remove, we can put it in later in the sentence the Shiekh and

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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.