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...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Naem, Ali Dakhil
Format: thesis
Language:eng
Published: 2020
Subjects:
Online Access:https://ir.upsi.edu.my/detailsg.php?det=11636
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
id oai:ir.upsi.edu.my:11636
record_format uketd_dc
spelling oai:ir.upsi.edu.my:116362024-11-15 The existentialist predicament of a modern man in Naquib Mahfouz's selected novels 2020 Naem, Ali Dakhil PJ Semitic <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> 2020 thesis https://ir.upsi.edu.my/detailsg.php?det=11636 https://ir.upsi.edu.my/detailsg.php?det=11636 text eng openAccess Doctoral Perpustakaan Tuanku Bainun Fakulti Bahasa dan Komunikasi N/A
institution Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris
collection UPSI Digital Repository
language eng
topic PJ Semitic
spellingShingle PJ Semitic
Naem, Ali Dakhil
The existentialist predicament of a modern man in Naquib Mahfouz's selected novels
description <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>
format thesis
qualification_name
qualification_level Doctorate
author Naem, Ali Dakhil
author_facet Naem, Ali Dakhil
author_sort Naem, Ali Dakhil
title The existentialist predicament of a modern man in Naquib Mahfouz's selected novels
title_short The existentialist predicament of a modern man in Naquib Mahfouz's selected novels
title_full The existentialist predicament of a modern man in Naquib Mahfouz's selected novels
title_fullStr The existentialist predicament of a modern man in Naquib Mahfouz's selected novels
title_full_unstemmed The existentialist predicament of a modern man in Naquib Mahfouz's selected novels
title_sort existentialist predicament of a modern man in naquib mahfouz's selected novels
granting_institution Perpustakaan Tuanku Bainun
granting_department Fakulti Bahasa dan Komunikasi
publishDate 2020
url https://ir.upsi.edu.my/detailsg.php?det=11636
_version_ 1818649103378153472