The Characters Of Midaq Alley By Naguib Mahfouz

An assortment of monolithic and cultural presence gives Midaq Alley the well-earned reputations of one of the lost treasures of Cairo. The fine stone-paved surface ran directly to the Sandiqiya Street. However, time mad Midaq Alley a poor, destitute, side-street alley neighborhood, where most of the inhabitants strive for bigger and better things but against a world that is against them. The Second World War did not begin in Egypt, but just like the United States of America it was eventually come knocking on their door! Bombing raids occurred but were now a scarce occurrence. Midaq Alley is set during the 40’s when the British Army has taken a defensive position against the Nazis in the city of Cairo. Throughout the whole novel characters are brought to life by the author Naguib Mahfouz although the story conspires only a few main characters. Kirsha, is a soft owner of the café in Midaq Alley. Kirsha’s wife Mrs. Kirsha beats him, and a son Hussain Kirsha grew up with Abbas and they are friends but also rivals, Hussain Kirsha also shows signs of greed. Abbas is a slightly heavy, average height, and a life long Midaq Alley resident who loves Midaq Alley. He and Uncle Kamil share an apartment and Abbas is the local barber at his shop. Abbas is also a young man who wants to marry Hamida, she says yes but he can not afford it so he joins the British Army. Hamida has a lust for wealth and men with wealth, when Abbas is gone she marries Salim Alwan a rich entrepreneur who owns a store on Midaq Alley. Salim Alwan’s business even is profitable during time of war, because he is invoved in black market deals operates on the black market. His wife has gotten older and doesn’t get him going sexually anymore, so he began to go after ...

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...l, many Egyptians were beginning to detest the British occupation and the Wafd Party demanded for a constitutional monarchy. Later Hamida achieves great success and power that is unique for a woman, but power corrupts and absolute power absolutely corrupts, and eventually she will lose all the success and power to become a street prostitute working for Ibrahim Faraj.

The novel Midaq Alley not only shows the changes in society that occurred in Cairo during this era, it also shows the changes that occurred to the inhabitants of Midaq Alley. One of the big things that I thought was important was the fact that Hamida became a prostitute. In Arab society women are normally more strict with their sexual activity outside of marriage. The book is a great book and shows drastic changes over all walks of life and the old world style clashes with the new world system.