Naguib Mahfouz Through Orientalist Perspectives: A Cultural Criticism Analysis of Western Interpretations

Abstract

This study aims to trace the views of Orientalists on Mahfouz's literature, elucidating their approach to studying a model of Arabic literature and analyzing these views through the lens of cultural criticism, particularly through the concepts of the "self" and the "other." The study employed the descriptive-analytical method based on cultural criticism. The study revealed that Orientalists' opinions on Mahfouz'works were diverse, largely shaped by their preexisting ideas. They interpreted Mahfouz's works based on their social and cultural perspectives, often selecting elements that aligned with their own biases. Soviet Orientalist criticism was the closest to reflecting Egyptian reality and demonstrated a deeper understanding of and fairness toward Mahfouz. Meanwhile, European Orientalist criticism provided important insights into the influence of European philosophy and modern literature on Mahfouz's works, yet it was not free from the Western superiority complex toward the East. This perspective often failed to align with Mahfouz's artistic and creative capabilities or with the Egyptian reality, instead being filtered through a cultural intermediary who imposed their own ideological framework. Israeli Orientalist criticism, in contrast, focused on tracking the manifestations of Arab society, aiming to study and understand it as it is—ultimately with the intention of exploiting this knowledge. Naguib Mahfouz served as a mirror reflecting Egyptian society in particular and the Arab world in general, presenting a truthful image to both Arab and Western audiences. However, Orientalist readings of his literary output varied significantly. Some offered a fair and appreciative evaluation of his artistic and literary contributions, while others used their analysis to highlight cultural biases that elevated the Western world's modernity and superiority over the East.