Zeitoun Paper
Tila-Monet Green
Dr. Rickel
English 102-005
19 February 2015
Analysis of Zeitoun Zeitoun is an American nonfiction book written by Dave Eggers which focuses on Adbulrahman Zeitoun and his family. Zeitoun moved from Jableh, Syria to New Orleans, married Kathy and they have four children. The book shifts focus from the family when Hurricane Katrina hits and primarily focuses on Zeitoun’s struggles after surviving the storm. Eggers writes about this tragic true story in order to expose and bring awareness to some controversial issues including the destructive powers of pride, prejudices and racism occurring in America, and America’s flawed justice system. Vincent Iacopino and Stephen N. Xenakis’s article “Neglect of medical evidence of torture in Guantanamo bay: a case series” gives a more elaborate example of the prison encounter Zeitoun has. Zeitoun’s pride is essentially what causes him to end up in jail. On several occasions his wife warns him about the storm and the severity of it. After the storm his wife Kathy tries to convince Zeitoun to evacuate the area but he feels he must stay to protect the house and his business. After the storm Zeitoun feels as if God put him there for a reason, to serve his community, therefore, he ignores the requests of his wife and stays in New Orleans. Eventually he overstays his welcome and ends up in prison for a crime he did not commit. Had he listened to his wife and evacuated he would have never been arrested. His pride causes him to think the city needs him to survive, “Zeitoun was invigorated. He had never felt such urgency and purpose…. There was a reason, he now knew, that he remained in the city. He felt compelled to stay… He was needed” (Eggers 106). Quite frankly, Zeitoun’s pride leads to his destruction. After experiencing a disaster such as Hurricane Katrina, one would think the government’s main goal would be to protect and serve, not to discipline and punish. While the government could have been rescuing
Dr. Rickel
English 102-005
19 February 2015
Analysis of Zeitoun Zeitoun is an American nonfiction book written by Dave Eggers which focuses on Adbulrahman Zeitoun and his family. Zeitoun moved from Jableh, Syria to New Orleans, married Kathy and they have four children. The book shifts focus from the family when Hurricane Katrina hits and primarily focuses on Zeitoun’s struggles after surviving the storm. Eggers writes about this tragic true story in order to expose and bring awareness to some controversial issues including the destructive powers of pride, prejudices and racism occurring in America, and America’s flawed justice system. Vincent Iacopino and Stephen N. Xenakis’s article “Neglect of medical evidence of torture in Guantanamo bay: a case series” gives a more elaborate example of the prison encounter Zeitoun has. Zeitoun’s pride is essentially what causes him to end up in jail. On several occasions his wife warns him about the storm and the severity of it. After the storm his wife Kathy tries to convince Zeitoun to evacuate the area but he feels he must stay to protect the house and his business. After the storm Zeitoun feels as if God put him there for a reason, to serve his community, therefore, he ignores the requests of his wife and stays in New Orleans. Eventually he overstays his welcome and ends up in prison for a crime he did not commit. Had he listened to his wife and evacuated he would have never been arrested. His pride causes him to think the city needs him to survive, “Zeitoun was invigorated. He had never felt such urgency and purpose…. There was a reason, he now knew, that he remained in the city. He felt compelled to stay… He was needed” (Eggers 106). Quite frankly, Zeitoun’s pride leads to his destruction. After experiencing a disaster such as Hurricane Katrina, one would think the government’s main goal would be to protect and serve, not to discipline and punish. While the government could have been rescuing