Before reading a book. the outline on the dorsum of the book is what most readers take a expression at first. However. the information provided in Zeitoun by Dave Eggers is really deceptive. “The true narrative of one household. caught between America’s two biggest policy catastrophe: the war on panic and the response to Hurricane Katrina” is what the dorsum of the book reads ( Eggers ) . While the book does advert the battle of life with racism against Muslims in America and the desolation of Hurricane Katrina. it is barely about household. The chief character of this novel is Abdulrahman Zeitoun. a Muslim adult male who resides in New Orleans.
Though his work moral principle is second-to-none. he is besides obstinate and bullheaded which sometimes causes him to overcast his better judgement. When Hurricane Katrina was at its extremum. a compulsory emptying was issued. but Zeitoun decided to remain behind and care for the belongingss his company. Zeitoun Painting Contractors LLC. works on. His married woman and kids take the precautional steps and evacuate. This causes a separation from them. Since Zeitoun does non show the true significance of household and cares more for his opportunism. he can non be portrayed as a hero.
By and large. it is accepted that households are headed by a strong male figure ; this is no different in Zeitoun’s household. “So without a captain. the ship can non navigate…Look above you. at the stars and Moon. How do the stars keep their topographic point in the sky. how does the Moon rotate around the Earth. the Earth around the Sun? Who’s voyaging? ” ( Eggers 153 ) . Based on this doctrine. Zeitoun is the captain in charge of voyaging or steering his household. but why
did he alternatively take to allow them fend for themselves? This action on Zeitoun’s terminal displays a batch about Zeitoun’s echt features. It was more of a precedence for Zeitoun to remain back so he could look after his belongingss alternatively of being with his household. Even though Zeitoun had experienced many storms prior and did non believe Katrina would be every bit annihilating as it turned out to be. the fact is he decided work was more of import than his household. “‘You must go forth. ’ Ahmad said. ‘No. no. I’m all right. ’ Zeitoun said. Ahmad tried playing the large brother. ‘Go to your household. ’ he said. ‘I truly want you to go forth. Your household needs you. ’ ‘They necessitate me here more. ’ Zeitoun said. seeking non to sound excessively grandiose. ‘This is my household. too’” ( Eggers 130 ) .
This duologue between Zeitoun and his older brother Ahmad exemplifies Zeitoun’s folly. Alternatively of holding with his brother. Zeitoun alternatively claims the remains of New Orleans is his household. While Zeitoun was busy paddling around in his canoe delivering a cocotte he calls household. his married woman is running about stressed believing about his wellbeing. To Zeitoun. all that mattered is the cocotte was safe and at work. It’s evident that Zeitoun is unable to set his pride aside. Even though Zeitoun had the assets required to salvage himself. his ego gets in the manner and he makes it a point for him to remain behind. If Zeitoun can barely do the right determinations for himself. he’s decidedly non doing the right picks for his household. His separation from them does non do this undertaking any easier.
One of the grounds Zeitoun decided that remaining behind in New Orleans was more of import than evacuating with his household is because he felt he was destined to by Allah. Zeitoun accepts that Allah makes everything go on for a ground. Zeitoun had the impression he was obligated to remain behind and it was his naming. “Do you worship what you have carved yourself? ” ( Baronial 37:95 ) . Zeitoun carved himself as selfish. but that is non what he thinks of himself. The selfish attitude is shown with Zeitoun’s action of remaining buttocks. He explains to Kathy that he is obligated to pull off the belongingss of his customers’ . This is farther grounds that suggest philistinism is more indispensable than the demand to care for his household. Throughout the book. Zeitoun is portrayed as person who is connected with his Muslim religion ; even though household is a large portion of religion. he leaves his household.
If faith is shown by actions. so Zeitoun verifies he does non hold strong religion. Even though there are those who would wish to believe Zeitoun is a hero. he is non. A hero is person who illustrates courage and honourableness. However. Zeitoun illustrates false courage and honourableness by his Acts of the Apostless and statements. Sometimes actions are misinterpreted. but in the instance of Zeitoun’s he clearly acted with his head. “Your household needs you more” ( Eggers 130 ) . Even after a supplication for aid. Zeitoun’s head was unchanged and the idea of reuniting with his household was non even in consideration ; he felt the persons in New Orleans sing torment needed him more. Although. it wasn’t the agony persons he was assisting.
Zeitoun was providing to Canis familiariss across the street more than anyone else. This shows the grounds behind his actions were false. If Zeitoun were in a place where he did non hold the equal resources to evacuate New Orleans. his Acts of the Apostless would be justifiable. The fact is he did. Zeitoun made the determination to go forth his household. and when the connexion was gone and concern started to unhealthily lift. the more it should be apparent that his excuse was non valid. Zeitoun refused to squeal that Katrina was a whipping boy for his personal addition. but this was established following the terminal of the storm when he purchased belongingss and leased them out to do a net income. The material goods and his big self-importance are the grounds behind his Acts of the Apostless. as demonstrated by the happenings during and after Katrina.
The conversation over the phone between Zeitoun and Ahmad is what forms the significance of this book. A tragic scene. whether derived from nature or adult male. ne’er seems to convey out the best in people. Zeitoun’s justified remaining behind by claiming it was his responsibility and duty. He believed this responsibility and duty was assigned to him by Allah. However. this state of affairs and belief bestowed upon him by God quickly turned into self-benefit. Zeitoun was working his freshly disoriented “family” to break his concern. It is obvious that after a natural catastrophe. such as Katrina. the building industry would boom with all the new chances and occupations available. After Zeitoun returned place. he purchased belongingss which he so rented out to households coming back to New Orleans. The job is that he raised belongings values to an tremendous sum and people that were affected by the storm could non afford to pay. In kernel. Zeitoun was taking advantage of the victims. Never is taking advantage of the needy for self-benefit an illustration of conveying out the best in person.
In Dave Eggers’ Zeitoun. the labelled supporter Zeitoun time-after-time demonstrates his existent desires during his Katrina experience. Though he did persevere through battles. the phone call from Ahmad confirms the deficiency of support he was giving to his household and religion. Dismissing the fact that his household was in demand of him expose his selfishness. Even though Zeitoun believes that it was Allah’s will. he consciously made the determination to care for belongingss he was in charge of alternatively of his concerned and agonising household. Whether deliberate or non. Zeitoun mislead his household during a clip they needed him most. This is what forms the subject that tragic events ne’er bring out the best in people. The writer tried to stand for Zeitoun as a hero. but his deficiency of courage and award during times of hurt show that he is anything but a hero.
