The existentialist predicament of a modern man in Naquib Mahfouz's selected novels
<p>The purpose of this study was to examine the existential predicaments of modern men in Naguib</p><p>Mahfouz's selected novels. According to Jean-Paul Sartre, existentialist predicament is a dilemma</p><p>of human existence...
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| Format: | thesis |
| Language: | eng |
| Published: |
2020
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://ir.upsi.edu.my/detailsg.php?det=11636 |
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| Summary: | <p>The purpose of this study was to examine the existential predicaments of modern men in Naguib</p><p>Mahfouz's selected novels. According to Jean-Paul Sartre, existentialist predicament is a dilemma</p><p>of human existence in terms of despair, perplexity, crisis or moral chaos and its meanings The</p><p>study analysed four of Naguib Mahfouz's novels about Eygptian society faced with existential</p><p>predicaments which were The Cairo Trilogy, Midaq Alley, The Thief and the Dogs, and The Beggar</p><p>based on Jean-Paul Sartre's model. These novels were selected because they were related to</p><p>existential predicament issues that beset the moderm men. The study objectives included (a) to</p><p>examine the moral chaos in selected novels, (b) to analyse the modern men's predicaments, and (c) to</p><p>explain how existentialist philosophy is able to express the predicaments of the modern men. This</p><p>qualitative study has utilised literary criticism as its research design. The underpinning theory</p><p>was existentialism by Jean-Paul Sartre that focused on the ideas of freedom, existence, despair,</p><p>moral chaos and the predicament of modern men. The predicaments in the novels were analysed and the</p><p>key themes that emerged were compared. The findings of the study revealed that the predicaments of</p><p>modern men in The Cairo Trilogy indicated a generational clash among the old and young generations.</p><p>Midaq Alley captured the moral chaos in the shifting from traditionalism to modernity has led to</p><p>the existential predicament oflosing honour in order to survive in the colonial period. In The</p><p>relief and the Dogs, Naguib Mahfouz wrote about loneliness. Saeed was lonely after he was</p><p>ostracised by the society because he was a former inmate and was rejected by his daughter. The last</p><p>novel in this study, The Beggar, a character named Omer has been distressed due to his</p><p>psychological dissatisfaction and moral dilemma. The study also found that the moral chaos is part</p><p>of the modern men's predicaments in the novels. The modern men predicaments were portrayed in the</p><p>characters who were in a constant struggle to find the true meaning of life. In conclusion, the</p><p>main themes emerged from analyzing the selected novel of Naguib Mahfouz were moral chaos,</p><p>generational clash, loneliness, social decadence, and moral dilemma. The implication signifies that</p><p>existential predicaments can lead to meaning making within the context of perceived decadence of</p><p>the contemporary post modern era and the way to reaching the self-actualization and the purpose of</p><p>existence.</p><p></p> |
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