Volume : 2, Issue : 11, November - 2013

Gender Roles in the Novel (Zuqaq al Midaq) by Naguib Mahfouz

Ahmed Taher Abdu Nagi

Abstract :

The key purpose of this paper is to investigate the gender roles in Naguib Mahfouz’s novel “Zuqaq al Midaq”– Midaq Alley– which was written in the 1940s. Egypt has witnessed fatal change in the structure of the society. Males adopted new roles. Likewise, females adopted new roles too. This change in the gender roles is because of the British colonization and both males as well as females are looking for new identities. This paper is discussing the changing roles of the male characters like Abbas, Kirsha, Salim Alwan and Iahim Faraj who plays a significant role in the changes of both males and females. It discusses the females role in an oriental society governed by men. Hamida is the central figure who is influenced and influences other characters. Zuqaq al Midaq gives us a good picture of the gender changing roles in Egypt.