A SILENT SONG ESSAY QUESTION

When someone is given too much power or control, they can become corrupt and misuse their power for personal or selfish reasons. For example, they may mistreat others and this can lead to negative consequences to the people they are supposed to serve.  In A Man of Awesome Power by Naguib Mahfouz, Tayyib al-Mahdi loses his power after misusing it.

Tayyib al-Mahdi uses his awesome power to punish the taxi driver who ignores him when he hails it. Tayyib al-Mahdi tries to flag down the taxi but the driver ignores him disdainfully. This had happened to him in the past. Unlike when this happened in the past, now Tayyib al-Mahdi is filled with greater irritation. Power has corrupted him. In this moment of anger, he makes an impulsive decision to punish the man. He considers that he could make the driver suffer an accident. He decides to shatter the taxi’s rear wheels instead. He knows that he should use his powers only for good but his anger results in his cruelty. He stares at the taxi’s rear wheels and both of them explode like a bomb. The taxi driver is frustrated for losing two wheels at one time. As he walks by the helpless man, Tayyib al-Mahdi gives him a meaningful look and offers to help him but his unknowing pupil glares at the hapless man, resentful and enraged. He feels like he had taught the man a much needed lesson. Initially, al-Mahdi had thoughtful dreams but after acquiring awesome power, he becomes corrupt and abuses his power. 

Secondly, Tayyib al-Mahdi hastily punishes the radio announcer only because he is annoyed by his views. The announcer was expounding on promising developments expected in the future. This is after Tayyib al-Mahdi’s memorable services were mistaken for an awakening of the state or outright renaissance. Tayyib al-Mahdi fills a gaping pothole, locks a dangerously hanging electrical box, removes a pile of rubbish and drains a sewer using his awesome power. In the past, such promises excited Tayyib only to leave him frustrated. Now that he has awesome power, Tayyib al-Mahdi is infuriated by the announcer’s promises. He commands him to talk about what has been accomplished not the future. Tayyib al-Mahdi is overcome with fury and thoughtlessly punishes the man with a bout of incessant sneezing. He makes the man to sneeze massively without warning. Then he sneezes abruptly – more emphatically. He sneezes uncontrollably until he could not complete a full sentence. Sneezes keep waylaying him so he chooses to play a recorded song “Walk Around and See”. Al-Mahdi plans to censor mass media by stopping any talk that annoys him. He would make speakers that displease him to sneeze spontaneously, emit shrill cries like women at a wedding, or suffer uncontrollable diarrhoea. Tayyib al-Mahdi is intoxicated with an intense feeling of happiness and victory. He forgets his benevolent dreams. After acquiring power, he uses the power to bad effect by mistreating others. 

Tayyib al-Mahdi also misuses his awesome power when he uses it to charm the gorgeous woman at the zoo at the expense of the righteous plans he has. Tayyib al-Mahdi visits the tea garden at the zoo purposely to properly plan how to put his new powers to greater use. However, he instead uses it to seduce a gorgeous and enticing woman that catches his eye. Tayyib al-Mahdi is filled with an inexplicable desire – one that  is not ordinary and his inappropriate since he has a tremendous burden of proper planning and awareness of need. This woman does not take notice of Tayyib al-Mahdi. Her large, round eyes are preoccupied with the the ducks floating in the green lake. Tayyib sends her a hidden message using his awesome powers, instantly setting her head-over-heels. He decides to heal himself before repairing the world. In one shared smile, Tayyib utterly forgets both his faith and his life. He surrenders to his fate. This ill-advised move results in the loss of his powers and his vibrant  mood. The miracle disappears like a dream because of his selfish imprudence. He will be haunted eternally by an awesome sadness. Before getting his awesome power, Tayyib was contented. Now, he uses his powers to satisfy his selfish desires. 

Lastly, Tayyib loses his power when he strikes the man on the bus with severe cramps. When an argument between the man and the woman erupts, Tayyib could not hear but he studies the dimensions of the argument carefully. He is shocked when the man suddenly slaps the woman.  Tayyib focuses all his anger on the man’s stomach. The brute doubles over and moans and screams in pain when Tayyib strikes him with severe cramps. He has to be carried outside for an ambulance to fetch him. Some people on the bus opine that the man deserves it owing to his bad manners and cheekiness. Tayyib is satisfied and believes that he had done his duty in the best manner possible. Instead of using his awesome power to fulfill his compassionate dreams for his country and the planet, Tayyib misuses his power by punishing anyone that displeases him.

In conclusion, when someone is given excessive authority or control, they can misuse it as in the case of Tayyib al-Mahdi. He becomes callous when he acquires awesome power. Initially, he was humane and had thoughtful dreams for his country and the planet.