Themes in the novel Silent Day in Tangier (Essay Sample)

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Themes in the novel Silent Day in Tangier
This paper explores various themes exploited in the novel Silent Day. In reading Ben Jelloun's novella, one is quick to pinpoint some of the subtle but noticeable issues. This paper explores the theme of death, solitude, utopia and mystery about life.
Silent Day in Tangier is an interesting novel by Tahar Ben that narrates the story of an 80-year-old man who refuses to come to terms with the reality of his imminent death. Death is the epitome of the world's inclinations, idiosyncrasies, great personalities, ventures, and cravings. The stream of memories, some nostalgic while others gory are evident of the old man's mixed up past. The fact that he is in denial about his looming departure is clear in his consolation words that he is not sick, but it is only his lungs, which have a little congestion (Jelloun 1991).
Secondly, solitude as a theme is quite evident to a reader thrust in the fiction world of this novel. The old man does not accept the reality of having passed the travails of life to a point where he is all alone, not even his wife or sons are concerned about his presence 80 years later. Ben Jelloun introduces the single environment by his words that describe Tangier as a seaport in the perpetual grip of The Wind, and as a city with an ingratitude reign of supreme and indolence (Jelloun 1991). Shoving deeper into the novella, we see an old man thirsty for the company. Where are his cronies? He turns the pages of his old contact book to find at least a phone number of an old acquaintance. Unfortunately, as he makes the list of friends, most of them are departed souls. His friend Moulay Ali, the ardent gambler whose craft he cannot wish away, Tourizi the international standard womanizer, Bachir the great religious fanatic. The talented gossip brooder, Abbas and of course the only living friend, Larbi who occasionally visits but now, he is visiting his daughter in Casablanca. The old man finds himself on the brink of malice as he wonders why the daughter could not marry to spare her father from paying her visits. Worth noting is the fact that some important women have refused to fade away from the old man's mind. He remembers Lola, the 16-year-old Spanish he had seduced in his youth. A reader gets thrust into these nostalgias, and at some, they stir the very moments in a person's life, enabling him or her to fathom about the reality and the fact that being born is a gamble but death is inevitable.
Furthermore, anger takes toll on the old man's emotions. Looking back at his life, he remembers his friend turned enemy whom he accepted into his business as a faithful partner but finally stabbed his back by betraying him. Remembering how his sons and wife have abandoned him also irks malicious emotions in the old man. He is quick to notice how friends and relatives avoid him but do not assess his character, his pride and the venomous loose tongue, which spent most of the time cursing but not a blessing. Nothing brings him joy and a glimmer of hope more than visitors. He enjoys the liveliness, brightness of the house when friends visit. The house becomes lively, and boredom becomes a non-allied force. He thinks he is still hospitable and entertaining. He is also keen not to expose his imminent death to friends who come to see him. For instance, when a friend enquires about his deteriorating health, he is quick to answer that he is fine but a little bored. He still lives in denial about his predicament. "My problem is that I am a young man in an old man's body. Age has nothing to do with it.'' (Jelloun 1991)
Also, Ben Jelloun has also brought out the issue of utopia and mystery