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Midaq Alley Book Review Naguib Mahfouz is the author of the book Midaq Alley that was translated from Arabic by Trevor Le Gassick. First published in 1966, Midaq Alley displays a historical period of Egypt in the most intimate sense as it is persisted through the lives of the characters that inhabit the alley. Although the book is set in the early forties it possesses a taste of eternity as the reader watches the characters struggle through questions of morality, ethics, and traditions. (The answer of which shape their behavior. ) This is all perceived through the eyes of the ageless alley, which is witnessed with total indifference. Thus, inhaling the feeling of eternity within which the circle of life is forever revolving. Midaq Alley percent a diversity of characters that creates the atmosphere that it is a whole life and a complete portray of a functioning Egyptian society of the forties. Mahfouz successfully relates the events in Midaq Alley with the outside world by refering to politics.
This is illustrated when he states that -at this period of the Egyptian history, working girls were usually jewish-they were the starting flare that began modernization. The materialistic incentive that characterized most of the inhabitants of the alley; best seen in Hamida, who in pursuit of her dreams of wealth and dresses became Titi that belongs to Ibrahim Far-the pimp. Another close reference to political events is through Abbas who leaves the alley to go work for the British Army in person of material gains-regardless of the question of paternalism! furthermore, Mahfouz states the bad conditions of trade through Salim Alwan-the factory owner, as wartime cut in imports from India. Thus, stimulating merchants that are personified in Salim Alwan to trade in different commodities, which perviously never interested them; for instance, tea. This resulted in the creation of black markets and substantial profits for merchants.
Intimate description of the inhabitants in Midaq alley gives the alley a life of its own. Mahfouz indulges the reader in the inhabitants inner thoughts and desires; Kirshas drug addiction and homosexuality; Zaitas sadistic nature; Hamida's untamed ambitions; Alwan's desires for Hamida; Hussains dissatisfaction. On the other hand, there is Alwan Hussainy-the religion figure; Abbas the name lover. Thus, Mahfouz created a complete sphere for a society with the good along the bad; with the in tangled destinies of the characters in Midaq Alley. Which like life itself possesses its own irony; Hamida-the consider beauty of the alley, is left at the end of the book with a scare on her beatiful face; Abbas finally over come his hesitance only to over react and get killed for the love of his life- Hamida. One of the most outstanding character in Midaq Alley is Sheikh Danish who is a sarcastic commenter on the events as they unfold.
He is the voice of Naguib Mahfouz in the novel. The reader is introduced to him as a fool by the way he is dressed and the perception of the people of the alley of him. Midaq Alley as life itself it isnt without an irony that wisdom is only uttered through the words of the fool Bibliography Bibliography Mahfouz, Naguib. Midaq Alley. Trans. Trevor Le Gassick.
Washington: Three Continents P. 1966.
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