Papa Sartre: A Modern Arabic Novel (Modern Arabic Literature) by Ali Bader

appealing way, with precision, elegance, and humor. Shaul lacked all those attributes and so did his culture. Abd al-Rahman’s philosophy was more attractive because existentialism was clearer than Marxism. For example, whenever Abd al-Rahman said “nihilism” it meant that he wanted to get drunk, and whenever he said “freedom” he was planning on sleeping with a woman, and “commitment” meant an appointment at a bar or nightclub. This is how Ismail explained Abd al-Rahman’s philosophy to one of his new friends at the Coronet bookstore.
    Abd al-Rahman’s philosophy contained enjoyable things, while Shaul’s happiness colony required struggle and fighting. One could struggle and possibly die without ever attaining thatstage; what kind of paradise was this? In immediate taste and gratification Ismail found a rich interpretation of life. He cringed at delayed enjoyments.
    Ismail’s escape from Shaul was first met with a smile from the philosopher, but later he welcomed him without reservations. He reacted to Shaul’s anger by supporting Ismail, who had opted for freedom, and because, as Abd al-Rahman explained to his disciple, freedom is a commitment. Ismail on the other hand considered his personal choice an echo of lingering memories. He stood before the philosopher and told him that he had been a philosopher since infancy. When his words were reported to Shaul, his former benefactor commented sarcastically, “Do you really believe that this ass was wrapped in a proper layette like normal human beings? He’s a bastard. His prostitute mother abandoned him in a stream.”
    Ismail left Shaul propelled by a stubborn idea: he was seeking love, sex, alcohol, and other pleasures. As for Abd al-Rahman, he did not see any dramatic aspect to Ismail’s decision. He considered it a normal inclination on the part of all human beings to indulge in life’s pleasures. It was obvious that the fulfillment of that inclination required spending time in cafés and at philosophical nights of debauchery at the Grief Adab nightclub. In brief, it was a life of drinking, sex, and disregard for all traditions.
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    Rumors and gossip surrounded Ismail Hadoub’s departure from Shaul to join Abd al-Rahman, the philosopher of al-Sadriya. The whisperings drove Shaul crazy and pushed him to violent rages. He shouted threats against Ismail at the top of his lungs. His words of abuse were heard by passersby, who were amused by his pronunciation of r as gh and his threatened reprisals against
    Ismail. The scene was an entertainment for the scoundrels of al-Sadriya, who laughed and joked at Shaul’s expense, which only fueled his fits of anger. Some of the salesmen in the neighborhood felt sorry for him and intervened. They chased away the scoundrels and beat their donkeys, provoking noisy quarrels with the fruit sellers, butchers, sheep herders, pottery makers, and china merchants. Those quarrels sometimes caused Shaul to shake violently and fall to the ground.
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    Abd al-Rahman crossed al-Matajer Street in al-Sadriya souk every day at noon, carrying an umbrella dripping with rain water and wearing a black raincoat. He shivered in the cold and advanced with uncertain steps, while his mother-of-pearlencrusted pipe hung from his mouth.
    Ismail found the philosopher’s personality very attractive because he was the personification of laziness, carelessness, and moral degradation. He explained every immoral action as a natural inclination dormant in every person’s conscience. Ismail considered philosophy more dangerous than theoretical conversation about the happiness colony.
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    Abd al-Rahman and Ismail often staggered home drunk after a night of low pleasures at a nightclub. When they reached the top of the street, they slowed their pace until they reached Shaul’s shop, then vomited in front of the door, wiped their mouths with their sleeves, and ran off. Shaul used to run after them brandishing a broomstick, but they always managed to