Miramar

His 3760-Middle Modern East Dr. Paul Sidelko October 1

Reading Miramar, by Naguib Mahfouz, a symbolic socio-political novel that deals with the reactions of different characters that stand for various layers of the Egyptian society towards the 1952 revolution, talked about the adventure between cultures and historically based that was happening in Alexandria at the time. Naguib made his characters all come from different political backgrounds and they all believed in different things because of their area and culturally environment.
Egypt was having a lot of politically governments and high standards ideals in the 1900’s throughout the 1960’s. Egypt has gone through ups and downs because of this, which made it grow from generation to generation. But this has caused major problem in the society and the way the Egyptians live, it made it corrupt and cause conflict between other people. Now most Egyptians thrive to become like these political governors to have some sort of power in their country because without that they mean nothing and people will think less of them which is very stereotypical. In this essay I will focus on two major characters from the book and talk about their background and how they are being treated in the country and by the people from a history stand point and a political one as well and how Egypt was and the way it treats different types of people. The Egyptian Revolution of 1919 was a countrywide non-violent revolution against the British occupation of Egypt. It was carried out by Egyptians but then British-ordered exile of revolutionary leader Saad Zaghlul and other members of the Wafd Party in 1919, which ended in independence in 1922. This event gave Egyptians a whole new way of being reckoned with because of the urban violence, rural discontent and campaigns of assassinations stymied British efforts to make Egypt into a full-fledged and indeed central Middle Eastern colonial.
The character, Sarhan el-Beheiry, young employee of government that owns and textile mill, shaped the way Egyptians wanted to live. They all wanted to have money and get it without any hard work even if it meant stealing or doing the wrong thing. Egyptians goals were to become rich and powerful and people did whatever they had to do to stay on top. At the time this happened Egyptians in the late days all were reckoned with if they were political activist or worked in the government. It shows us in the book that all the characters were very important generals and did something to their country. Egypt a long time ago didn’t have much and people didn’t think it was a place to go but over the time it has building itself and its people are like Sarhan, trying to be all he can be so he is accepted by upper class and feel he has an importance in his country. In the culture of Egypt the people are accepted with how much the can give, money is the key importance and it is what makes them capable of doing what they wish for. But you always need hard work that Sarhan has done but once he loses everything the upper class will neglect him and treat him differently because its apart of their culture now. He was call a hard-hearted guy because he is determined to make it the top whatever it takes. Feeling like you are from a village where you are very poor will get you no respect and that’s why everyone wants to be part of the upper class culture.
The second character is Zohra, illiterate peasant girl that works for Marianna, Proprietor of Miramar pension, shaped the poor culture and the poor life of a maid that left her home to work in the city. She works at the pension with all the generals and upper class men that take advantage of her in every scene she is in she is being used, not only by Sarhan but by the others as well. People in Egypt are very smart, educated and open minded that happened when the British were in the country. Historically speaking they showed them they must be smart and understanding of their world in order to build a country. Their education and wisdom opened minded the people of Egypt and most upper class women were fluent at reading and writing, Zohar coming from a poor village did not have this option to be educated. It shows you that if you weren’t approached in a high culturally environment that you would be irrelevant to other people or in other words the upper class. But still women in Egypt are often mislead and taking advantage of their closed mind that doesn’t get them anywhere. It’s part of a culture experience as well the upper class men like the dumb, poor maid but just to get what the desire and full fill their pleasures. In the end they yearn for perfection and successful women with money. As quoted in the book, ‘We usually exchange bare civilities at breakfast and then settle back to loathe each other cordially in silence’.
Miramar is a fascinating book and gives rich ideas about the revolution and how people started to act upon that. Miramar has important aspects on how the environment has an effect on everyone. You are forced to live your life within that routine and culture because it makes you who you are and what Egypt is about in that time zone.

Bibliography

Naguib Mahfouz,Miramar. 1540 Broadway, New York, NY. Anchor Books, 1978.

Miramar the movie in Arabic, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CCBivCRZCU

Robert L. Tignor Middle Eastern Studies
Vol. 12, No. 3, Special Issue on the Middle Eastern Economy (Oct., 1976), pp. 41-67

http://www.touregypt.net/epeople.htm

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[ 1 ]. Robert L. Tignor Middle Eastern Studies
Vol. 12, No. 3, Special Issue on the Middle Eastern Economy (Oct., 1976), pp. 41-67
[ 2 ]. http://www.touregypt.net/epeople.htm
[ 3 ]. Naguib Mahfouz,Miramar. 1540 Broadway, New York, NY. Anchor Books, 1978. Chapter 4
[ 4 ]. Miramar the movie, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CCBivCRZCU
[ 5 ]. http://www.touregypt.net/epeople.htm
[ 6 ]. Naguib Mahfouz,Miramar. 1540 Broadway, New York, NY. Anchor Books, 1978.