The Mercy of Allah · Chapter
Al-Kantara, or "The Bridge" explained
The old man continues his tale, describing his journey through the mountains where he engaged in minor swindles and engineering tricks.
What happens
The old man continues his tale, describing his journey through the mountains where he engaged in minor swindles and engineering tricks. He arrives at a great river and, through a series of manipulations, builds a bridge, secures a toll charter, and later capitalizes on the toll revenue by selling his share and driving the ferryman to madness. He ultimately negotiates a lump-sum payment for the bridge's capitalized value, leaving the town with a fixed annual charge.
Themes in this chapter
Social Inequality and Greed
The old man's manipulation of the bridge tolls and his exploitation of the ferryman highlight the greed and inequality inherent in his pursuit of wealth.
Suffering and Redemption
The ferryman's descent into madness and death contrasts with the old man's self-justifying narrative, raising questions about redemption for the oppressor.
Characters to notice
- The old man
Narrates his journey and the bridge scheme, demonstrating his cunning and self-serving philanthropy.
- Mahmoud
Referenced as the uncle telling the story to his nephews; the narrative is his life story.
Key passages
“They err who think that great wealth is marked with oppression, or that the rich man has despoiled the populace. Upon the contrary, the fortunes of the wealthy are but an index of what excellent work they have done for all”
The old man argues that wealth is a sign of good deeds, not exploitation.
This reflects his self-serving justification for his actions.
“I will accept,' said I, ' if you really insist upon it , a sum of money down which might represent the capitalized value of the revenue, but I absolutely refuse upon any terms whatsoever to remain a mere drone supported by this active commercial community”
He offers to take a lump sum instead of an annual pension, appearing generous while securing a large immediate payment.
This demonstrates his shrewd manipulation of public perception.
“It is a pretty example of the way in which names cling to places that the point on the bank where the ferry used to ply is still called 'The Madman's Grave.'”
The ferryman's burial site became a local landmark, a lasting reminder of his ruin.
This highlights the old man's lack of remorse and the lasting impact of his schemes.