20th Annual Student Research Conference
Language & Literature
Split Personality: The Many Faces of Al-Sayyid Ahmad Abd al-Jawad in Mahfouz’s Palace Walk
Kristi J. Langendoerfer
Dr. Hena Ahmad, Faculty Mentor
Naguib Mahfouz’s The Cairo Trilogy follows the lives of three generations of the Jawad family in early 20th century Egypt, before the end of the British Occupation. The first book, Palace Walk, focuses on the life of the merchant Al-Sayyid Ahmad Abd al-Jawad and his family in their daily activities. The father’s personality has split into at least two major personalities: the strict, uncompromising father figure and the compassionate, friendly businessman. This paper will examine and compare these complicated changes in his personality and see how the British occupation has forced Jawad to maintain absolute control over his family.
Keywords: Palace Walk, Egypt, Colonialism, woman's oppression, patriarchal ideology
Topic(s):English
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 42-1
Location: OP 2115
Time: 1:15 pm