Qassem is a reformist focused on ridding the alley of the gangsters that terrorize its residents. His decision to open a gym represents the author’s dramatization of man’s quest for freedom by portraying Qassem as Mohammed without the halo of religious myth. He preaches and recruits followers who are determined to facilitate change by playing critical roles in his revolutionary efforts. Qassem takes a different approach from his predecessors, whose actions were ineffective and unpopular. This is an appropriate way for him to achieve his goal because mounting a rebellion against oppressors requires the collective power and will of the people. Qassem asserts that “courage is the most important thing for the people” living in the alley (Mahfouz 316). He believes that the recruits have the presence of mind to empower the alley’s residents to reclaim their place and mold a social and political system that caters to their needs.
Work Cited
Mahfouz, Naguib. Children of the Alley. Translated by Peter Theroux, Anchor Books, 1959.