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Norwegian Rat Analysis
Have you ever considered the tone of short stories? The author can use tone to make the reader learn a lesson among other things but can also be used to tell the reader how the author feels about something. The tone of The Norwegian Rat by Naguib Mahfouz. The tone of this story is critical toward government. This tone is shown in the story by the use of characterization, diction, and irony.
The use of a critical tone is demonstrated by characterization. An example of this is the characterization of Mr. A.M. Before the meeting the narrator says , “Mr. A.M.… had invited us to a meeting in his flat for an exchange of opinions. There were not more than ten people present, including Mr. A.M., who, in addition to being the oldest among us, held the most senior position and was also the most well off...So all we have to do is carry out instructions meticulously, both those that come directly through me and those that come by way of the authorities” ( Mahfouz 1).The character of Mr. A.M. is told to be the oldest and most wealthy person living in the apartment, therefore he assumes the lead position over the other people in the apartment building. This shows that Mr. A.M. is full of himself because he assumes the role of leader just because he is the most well off and this also shows that he is taking advantage of the other people in the apartment building by using fear to control the people of the apartment.
Diction also shows a critical tone toward government in The Norwegian Rat. An example of this is when after Mr. A.M. makes the people of the apartment building pay for things to keep the rats out go to outrageous means to keep out the rats that still have not shown up the narrator says , “Gratitude welled up in us for our solicitous neighbor (Mr. A.M.) and our revered Governor” ( Mahfouz 2). The choices of the words “revered” and “solicitous” show a critical tone toward government by making it appear that the people worship the Governor and tells the reader that Mr. A.M. is constantly asking for money to prepare the building for the expected rat infestation that never comes. By saying that the people revere the Governor, the reader sees, that the people of the apartment see, the Governor a perfect being who can do no wrong. The choice of the word solicitous helps the reader see that Mr. A.M. is greedy.