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The Image of the Prostitute in Modern Arabic Literature

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The Image of the Prostitute in Modern Arabic Literature THE IMAGE OF THE PROSTITUTE IN MODERN ARABIC LITERATURE THESIS Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Arts in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By Gevorg Hunanyan Graduate Program in Near Eastern Languages and Cultures The Ohio State University 2012 Thesis Committee: Dr. Joseph Zeidan, Advisor Dr. Sabra Webber Copyright by Gevorg Hunanyan 2012 Abstract This thesis analyzes the image of the prostitute in Modern Arabic literature. The focus is on four Arab writers: Naguib Mahfouz, Yusuf Idris, Nawal El Saadawi and Salwa Bakr. A close reading of the novels in discussion reveals a sharp difference between how male and female writers portray prostitutes. While in the novels of Mahfouz and Idris prostitutes know the value of their body and they try to use it in order to attract males or to gain material benefits, in the works of female authors, girls become prostitutes because of the male characters who deny women control over their own bodies. Although both male and female writers in Egypt addressed problems of prostitution in their writings, female writers are more active in calling for social and political changes while male writers seem more content with traditionally accepted norms and behaviors. The thesis also explores the relationship between a prostitute’s character and politics, especially how the interaction between different government bodies and prostitutes is depicted. Juxtaposition of politics and prostitutes can reveal the attitude of the author towards the oppressive regime. Another way to look at the image of the prostitute is to read it as a symbol. As a symbol it also differs from male to female writers’ points of view. In many instances, male authors do not hesitate to portray prostitutes in a negative way, hence reinforcing ii her stereotype as a criminal. Meanwhile, women writers are more inclined to break the established pattern and reconstruct our ideas about morality and honor. iii Acknowledgments First and foremost, I owe an enormous debt of gratitude to my advisor, Dr. Joseph Zeidan, for his tireless encouragement and advice during the process of researching and writing my thesis and throughout my time at Ohio State. My gratitude for his help will be incomplete if I don’t also thank him for his understanding and patience at times of hardship. I also would like to thank my other committee member Dr. Sabra Webber for her insightful critiques, corrections and suggestions that have significantly strengthened this thesis. Without these two generous and devoted scholars this work would have been impossible. iv Vita October 12, 1982 ............................................Born-Yerevan, Armenia 1999-2003 ......................................................Faculty of Oriental Studies, Yerevan State University 2001-2002 .......................................................Institute of Arabic Language, Damascus, Syria Summer 2006 ................................................B.A. International Studies, The Ohio State University 2008 to present..............................................Graduate Teaching Associate, Near Eastern Languages and Cultures, The Ohio State University Fields of Study Major Field: Near Eastern Languages and Cultures v Table of Contents Abstract--------------------------------------------------------------- ii Acknowledgements------------------------------------------------- iv Vita-------------------------------------------------------------------- v System of transliteration------------------------------------------- vii INTRODUCTION-------------------------------------------------- 1 CHAPTER 1: Prostitution through different lenses--------- 10 CHAPTER 2: Politics and Prostitution------------------------- 23 CHAPTER 3: Prostitute as a Symbol ------------------------- 38 CONCLUSION ---------------------------------------------------- 50 BIBLIOGRAPHY ------------------------------------------------- 53 vi SYSTEM OF TRANSLITERATION Arabic Letter Transliteration symbol ā ا b ب t ت th ث j ج ḥ ح kh خ d د dh ذ r ر z ز s س sh ش ṣ ص ḍ ض ṭ ط ẓ ظ ‘ ع gh غ vii f ف q ق k ك l ل m م n ن h ه ū/w/aw و ī/y/ay ي ʼ ء viii INTRODUCTION In this paper I analyze the image of the prostitute in Modern Arabic Literature. My concentration will be focused on four writers: Naguib Mahfouz (Midaq Alley, The Beginning and The End, Cairo Modern, Respected Sir, The Search, The Beggar, Autumn Quail, Children of Gebalawi, and The Thief and the Dogs), Yusuf Idris (New-York 80 and Miss Vienna), Nawal El Sadawi (Woman at Point Zero) and Salwa Bakr (The Golden Chariot). I will analyze how prostitutes are portrayed and how their image differs from male to female writers. Although the image of the prostitute is a common one in literary works produced in different time periods and different cultures, this image gained particular popularity in nineteenth-century European literature. The rise of the novel in mid- eighteenth century Europe is connected to the growth of urban life and the change in its landscape. Indeed, prostitution is an urban phenomenon and this fact is one of the reasons why great European writers like Dostoyevsky, Zola, Shaw and others gave this character an important place in their works. Compared to its European counterpart, the Arabic novel is very young. Its “birth certificate,” is issued with the publication of The Story of Zaynab in 1913. Only some thirty years later does the image of the prostitute appear in modern Arabic fiction. According to Khalid Kishtainy, harlotry was suppressed with the advancement of Islam 1 and the wicked seductiveness of women became a theme in Islamic literature, much as it did in European fiction and drama.1 The image of the prostitute gained its place in Arabic literature starting in the mid- twentieth century. Pioneered by Tawfiq al-Hakim and especially Naguib Mahfouz, other authors also employed this character in their creative writings. Here arises the question: Why was the image of the prostitute employed and why specifically in this period of time? The first prostitute character appears in Naguib Mahfouz’s Midaq Alley(1945),the first of his social novels.. Events taking place in these novels correspond with the time of World War Two. It is well documented that during wars and occupation the number of prostitutes rises significantly.2 The great number of British soldiers stationed in Egypt was a major factor in the spread of sexual activity. The second factor which contributed to the spread of prostitutes was the growth of urban areas, notably in Cairo and Alexandria. In agricultural areas, prostitution had seldom posited a problem as early marriage was encouraged and young females were under everyday scrutiny of traditional families, sexual activity were restricted. Kishtainy argues that before Western colonialism, prostitution had not been a serious problem for Middle Eastern countries.3 Other scholars seeking to explain the rise of this character in Arabic literature come to the same conclusion. One of the analyses of the prostitute’s image in world literature and particularly in Arabic literature is presented by Diana Ali Muhammad. In 1 Khalid Kishtany, The Prostitute in Progressive Literature (London:Allison and Busby, 1982), 23. 2Kishtany, 34. 3Ibid., 63. 2 her article, “Good Prostitute in Arabic literature,” explains that the image of the prostitute in literature rose in Europe specifically in France and Russia with advancement of urban life. In France, the number of prostitutes increased with advancement of a luxury lifestyle. This, of course, was reflected in French literature. Influenced by European literature, Arabic literature adapted the image of the prostitute in the 1930’s. Later on, with the political, social and cultural changes in Arab countries, the image of the prostitute also changed. Dayana Muhammad brings two main viewpoints about the prostitute that existed in world literature and their reflection in Arabic literature. One is a Romantic view and the other is Socialist one.4 In this paper, I am mostly interested in the second one because socialist writers depicted prostitutes and explained prostitution as an exploitation of the female population by capitalist systems. When Naguib Mahfouz wrote his novels (especially in the second phase of his career1945-1960’s), socialist viewpoints were very popular among Arab intellectuals. It seems that Mahfouz himself was a sympathizer with the Socialist cause. We also have to remember that Egypt was going through rapid change and capitalism was making headway during that period. At the same time his native Cairo was changing and growing very quickly that the transformation should have had a great impact on the lifestyle and worldview of the city’s inhabitants. An emerging class of capitalists, who enjoyed a high lifestyle, in conjunction with the presence of an extremely poor urban population created a world of inequality where the low classes’ only desire was to escape poverty. Therefore, all these factors can 4 Muhammad, Dayānā ʻAli, “al-Mūmas al-Fādilah fi al-Riwayah al-’Arabiyah.” Al-Bahrayn al-Thaqafiyah. Vol. 18, No. 65, July 2011, pp. 81-98. 3 also explain the existence of so many prostitute characters in Mahfouz’s novels. It is particularly revealing when we think of their choice of prostitution as the only available way out of the poverty. As noted by Naum Tannus, the problem of poverty cannot give a satisfactory explanation as to why women take up this profession; otherwise, most poor women would have become prostitutes. In his book,
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