Midaq Alley Character Analysis

Author Naguib Mahfouz’s novel Midaq Alley follows the lives of several inhabitants who live among an alley in Cairo during the 1940s in the period of World War II. The alley consists of some shops and homes and many poor residents. Zaita had made a business capitalizing on the large population of Midaq Alley’s residents who are impoverished. This interesting character makes a living off of these poor residents and as a result is a large success. However in the end of this tale, Zaita’s shady dealings result in consequences. Zaita’s ‘business’ and way of life gave him the physically appearance of being lower than the beggars who paid him. It is apparent at the first mention of Zaita that he is quite filthy, “If you saw Zaita you would never again forget him, so starkly simple is his appearance. He consists of a thin black body and a black gown. Black upon black, were it not for the slits shining with a terrifying whiteness which are his eye. Zaita is not a Negro; he is an Egyptian, brown-skinned in color. Dirt mixed with the sweat of a lifetime had caked a thick layer of black over his body and over his gown, which was also not originally black.” (Page 55) As well as his appearance and occupation being unrefined, he had a less that pleasant personality. His did not get along with anyone but the alley’s self-proclaimed doctor, Booshy. The residents of Midaq Alley didn’t associate with him and he avoided them as well, “He had scarcely anything to do with the alley in which he dwelt. Zaita visited none of its people, nor did they visit him. Except, that is, for Dr. Booshy and the fathers who resorted to scaring their children with his image.” (Page 55) The alley residents avoided him due to his odor and filth and Zaita hated them equally. He often imagined methods of torture he could inflict on certain people, “He would imagine Jaada, the baker, as a target for dozens of hatchets striking at him again and leaving him a smashed heap.” (Page 56) Zaita was cruel