Palace Walk
Naguib Mahfouz, the author of Palace Walk¸ incorporates constant reminders of history into his novels and Palace Walk is no different. One of the greatest themes of the novel is conflict between tradition and modernism. The setting of the novel is set in Egypt during the First World War. One particular conflict that is explored in the novel is the conflict between cultures; European or Occidental values of modernism clash with the Egyptian or Oriental values of tradition and religion. The history of Egypt before this particular point in time helps establish this particular context, because past events influence the decisions of the present. Every character in the story is shaped by contemporary historical and political events. Ahmad and Amina are products of Egyptian tradition on the role of the patriarch and the role of women in society. However, their sons and daughters are of a time when European concepts of individual freedom are being introduced. An understanding of history is required to understand the motivations that drive each character. Greater yet is Mahfouz’s emphasis on the natural cycle of ascension and fall; individuals and nations rise into power only to lose it later on. The history of Egypt at this time clearly represents this theme.