The Other-side

At the beginning of the novel, Palace Walk, the author, Naguib Mahfouz, portrays one of the main characters, Ahmad, as a inconsiderate father who doesn't care about anything but himself. But, as time progresses in the novel we see a change in character in Ahmad. The reason Naguib Mahfouz explains and describes Ahmad in these ways, is because he wants the audience to really grasp what being a father in a Muslim society is like. Throughout the novel, Ahmad hides his true emotions about his family, disguising himself to be an enraged father, when truly he is a kind and loving father who wants nothing more but perfection for his family. He is seen as tyrant, but as life becomes harder and he begins to lose control of his children with marriage negotiations, the pregnancy of his daughter, Aisha, and his son's, Fahmy, death we see his true emotions and love towards his family. At the end of the novel we see that Ahmad is not the evil tyrant we expect.
In one of Yesenias' blogs, Hard To Understand, she talks about Ahmad passion toward his daughter's. She mention the role of a father. She mentions in her blog, a father is the first man in a daughter life. This is very important, because the father chooses who she is going to marry; therefore, it is up to the father to shape his daughter according to what he thinks makes a perfect wife. All the times he has denied marriage offers for his daughter Aisha, wasn't to make her life miserable. He just wanted the best for his daughter and was trying to avoid family complications. Therefore, he decides to take life the way it comes and let God take control.
In Dr. Arshed's website article, Parent-Child Relationship in Islam, he states, “The father works hard to provide for their physical, educational and psychological (and spiritual) needs. When Aisha's first marriage arrangements come about, Ahmad grows furious of the idea. He doesn't agree that his youngest daughter should marry before his oldest daughter, Khadija. He is a afraid that if such arrangement are made, he would destroy his older daughter's future. Not only was he afraid that it would ruin her future, but he was scared his two daughter's will turn on each other and grow angry with one another. Here Ahmad is looking out for his Khadija's psychological needs. He doesn't want to make her feel as if she is ugly and unwanted. Therefore, Ahmad furiously rejects the marriage proposal. He says, “No daughter of mine will marry a man until I am satisfied that his primary motive for marrying her is a sincere desire to be related to me … me … me … me” (157). When many people read this statement, they view Ahmad as a conceited inconsiderate bastard. But, his primary motive was to protect his daughter's future and relationship with one another.
When Aisha's marriage arrangement comes about again, he agrees and lets Aisha marry Khalil. After he kindly escorts the widow of the late Mr. Shawkat out, the author describes Ahmad feelings about the whole situation. He says, “He was distressed and dejected. He had a sensitive heart, more sensitive than most people would have suspected. In fact, it was too sensitive... How happy it would make him to spare no expense to delight both his daughter's... Each of them was a vital part of him” (229). Here we see Ahmad in a different manner; Ahmad is confused and in a caring state of mind. By accepting Aisha's he wishes not to hurt Khadija, but at the same time he knows he cannot keep Aisha from life just to please her. He says, “I've thought about the matter for a long time and have decided to accept. I don't want to interfere with my daughter's fortune any more than I have already. The matter is in God's hands, both now and later” (235). He knows that his decision will effect Khadija, but realizes by denying Aisha marriage he is interfering with her future and happiness.
We also see that Ahmad really cares for his daughter, when Aisha is having the baby. Ahmad reacts and is worried about his daughter's life. He reacts saying, “What's happened to my little girl? The doctor! Why is the old lady keeping me from seeing her?” (474). If Ahmad didn't really love his daughter and just wanted her to suffer he wouldn't have even showed up. But instead he is there making sure his daughter is safe and protected.
In Daniela's blog, Hiding Behind The Wall, she talks about the sensitive side of Ahmad. She says, “The anger, strictness, and sternness with the family is simply a shield to prevent the family from seeing his sensitivity”(2010, Barajas). Knowing the responsibilities of a man, he knows he has to set an example for his children; therefore, he has to be mean and strict to show his children how to become a man.
In Dr. Arshed's website article, Parent-Child Relationship in Islam, he also states, “They are duty bound to protect their children in every way, physical, intellectual, moral. If the children have a temptation to do an act that is not in their long-term interest it is the duty of the parents to keep them back from that act or behavior. To this end they may resort to advice, rebuke, scolding, even hitting them”. After Ahmad finds out Fahmy is taking part revolution, he scolds him and tries to make him swear on the Qur'an. After he refuses to swear on the book, Ahmad punishes him verbally. Many people thought Ahmad was being to hard on him, and figure he should be supporting his son for what he wants to do. The reason Ahmad reacted the way he did to this situation, is because it his duty to protect his child and letting him taking part in the revolution would be protecting his child. In Dr. Arshed's website article, Parent-Child Relationship in Islam, he states, “If the children have a temptation to do an act that is not in their long-term interest it is the duty of the parents to keep them back from that act or behavior”. Ahmad knows Fahmy's actions could result to death; therefore, he tries to keep his son away from the revolution.
After Fahmy has disobeys his father, he returns asking for his father's forgiveness and approval on page 486. In response, Ahmad is thinking to himself, “My heart wishes to forgive him, but I'm afraid he'll think then that it's okay to disobey me” (486). Ahmad wants to forgive his son so bad, but he doesn't want to come off as being weak. Therefore, Ahmad is left putting on a slight attitude hinting to his son that he does forgive him, but that he is still mad an upset on what he has done. The reason Ahmad acts this way is to set an example on how a man is suppose to act.
Throughout the novel, Ahmad reacts to all these situations in a rude manner giving off the impression that he is a tyrant and unloving father, when really it is the total opposite. He reacts to these situations the way he does, only because he really loves his family. In some situations he could of reacted a little less ruling, but he was only reacting in the way in any father would. Ahmad was just being a father in Muslim society, he states, “It's true that fear makes men do foolish things...” (476). Ahmad reacts out of fear and desperation for perfection for his children that is why he is the way he is.














Work Cited
[weblog] Daniela, ''Hiding Behind The Wall.'' Digging Even Deeper. 23 February 2010. 22 March 2010. (http://diggingevendeeper.blogspot.com/2010/02/throughout-book-mahfouz-portrays-ahmad.html)

[weblog] Yezzy, ''Hard to Understand.'' Digging Even Deeper. 24 February 2010. 22 March 2010. (http://diggingevendeeper.blogspot.com/2010/02/hard-to-understand.html)

Dr. Arshed. "Parent-Child Relationship in Islam." Islam 101. Web. 06 Apr. 2010. .

Mahfouz, Naguib. Palace Walk (Cairo Trilogy). New York: Anchor, 1990. Print.