# I explained — Saïd the Fisherman

> Chapter companion for Saïd the Fisherman by Marmaduke Pickthall.

## What happens

Saïd the fisherman, after a successful day, counts his earnings on the beach, dreaming of buying a coffeehouse and rising in status. Two Turkish officers on horseback startle him, causing him to lose most of his money in the sand. He searches frantically but recovers only a small portion. Returning home, he finds his wife Hasneh wailing over burnt lentils, and in anger he beats her. He then leaves to search the city, feeling the house is haunted by an evil spirit.

## Themes in this chapter

### Social Class and Ambition

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.

### Fate and Luck

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.

### Greed and Moral Decline

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.

## Character check-ins

### Saïd the Fisherman

The protagonist, a poor fisherman with ambitions of becoming a coffeehouse owner and rising to Effendi, Bey, and Emir. He loses his day's earnings when startled by horsemen and later beats his wife in frustration.

### Hasneh

Saïd's wife, who is wailing over burnt lentils when Saïd returns home. She is the target of his anger and is left to keep watch while he goes to the city.

### Abdullah abu Azìz

Saïd's friend and fishing partner, mentioned in Saïd's daydream as someone he will scorn once he becomes wealthy.

### The Turks

Turkish officers of the garrison who gallop past Saïd, causing him to lose his money. They laugh and curse him as they pass.

## Key lines

> He was not a great fisherman, such as is to be found in Europe, with a sailing-boat of his own, who will go far out to sea with his nets.

Saïd was not a professional fisherman with his own boat like those in Europe; he fished from shore or borrowed boats.

_Contrasts Saïd's humble fishing methods with more advanced European practices._

> Then he would leave the fishing business to Abdullah, his friend and partner, and customers would know him thenceforth as Saïd Effendi.

He planned to quit fishing and let his partner Abdullah take over, and he would be known as Saïd Effendi, a title of respect.

_Shows Saïd's ambition to change his social status._

> The house that had been rifled by an evil spirit seemed dreadful and unfamiliar.

The house felt haunted and strange, as if an evil spirit had ransacked it.

_Reflects Saïd's superstitious nature and his unease after the loss._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/sa_d_the_fisherman_se/chapters/i
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/sa_d_the_fisherman_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/sa_d_the_fisherman_se/chapters