1. The news-clippings of Chapter 14 relate to state of Egyptian food supply. Specifically Chapter 14 focuses on the lack of sanitation and the absurd spread of disease within the mass distribution of food in the country. Chapter 15 discusses Zaat's efforts to make her household healthier, based upon nutritional suggestions from Manal's husband (the Doctor). There is a prominent contrast between the utter disregard for health on behalf of the Egyptian government and nutritional authorities, with Zaat's vehemence towards eating healthily (she takes it so far as to boil all the vegetables).
2. Within the chapters devoted to news-clippings, Ibrahim generally relies upon the disparities between the sources to criticize the corruption and lack of communication within Egyptian society. For example, in Chapter 12, the Irrigation Minister on page 187 reports "A better than average flood. All indications confirm that Egypt is not in danger of drought." This statement is contradicted on page 188 with the two clippings "Water level in Lake Nasser falling" and "Water level in Lake Nasser continues to fall" as well as on page 189 "Ten meters of water remaining High Dam turbines stop working." By drawing from different sources, Ibrahim illustrates the extend to which authorities are willing to lie in self preservation at the expense of the masses (in the instances of lying about rotten food or drought which threaten public health).
3. An example of absurdist literature can be found on page 202, in which Abdel Maguid watches women eat ice cream cones with a bizarre erotic fascination.
4. Himmat
My mind raced faster than my mouth which remained firmly shut, not out of stupidity, but fear. I lived in my head, not realizing when the hungry stares of male classmates turned into brutish personal invasion on the streets.
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