الفهرس | يوجد فقط 14 صفحة متاحة للعرض العام |
المستخلص With the exponential rise of urbanity that drove many people to move to the industrial cities for better livelihood, the shift towards urban space started to crystallize in the twentieth century. The Industrial Revolution in Victorian London and the rise of colonial modernity in twentieth century Egypt are deemed instrumental factors in propelling people to move and settle in urban London and Cairo, respectively. Among the most pioneering authors who centralized the city in their works are Naguib Mahouz and charles Dickens. Despite the temporal gap between the two authors, there are striking commonalities in some of their works. On the surface level, on account of the different plot lines of the two novels, Oliver Twist and Midaq Alley might seem to be utterly far-fetched. However, a more profound look into the relationship between the city, its oppressive potential and the inhabitants’ identities that partake of this stifling space, foregrounds the common ground that both novels share. By bringing to the fore the criminal practices that permeate the two cities in the novels and the sense of incapacitation that befalls its inhabitants, both Dickens and Mahfouz manage to bring to the fore the city’s oppressive undertones, which leaves an indelible mark on its people, and, therefore, shapes their identities. |