The role of women in the book, Palace Walk, by Naguid Mahfouz is a very interesting and unusual one which dwellers of the western hemisphere have a very difficult time understanding. I feel that in Palace Walk, the women have a very important role in the household, yet they are not respected for the great tasks that they do. However here in the western hemisphere and specifically in the United States, women are not housebound, and are free to do as they please.
From the very beginning of the book, the reader is introduced to the role of women. The reader learns that a primary role of the woman is to look after and wait on her husband. A specific example given is "She (Amina) woke up at midnight to await her husband's return from his evening's entertainment. Then she would serve him until he went to sleep. (Chapter 1, page 1, paragraph 2) It is also obvious that she did this every morning because "She woke at midnight. She always woke up then without having to rely on an alarm clock." (Chapter 1, Page 1, paragraph 2) It can also be noted that because the woman serves that man she is inferior to him and lacks power in the household compared to the man. This is clearly proven twice, once in (chapter 2, page 9, paragraph 2) when "In good conscience she (Amina) did not think she had any right to sit beside him (Mr. Ahmad Abd al-Jawad)." and the other in (chapter 1, page 4, paragraph 2) when Amina remembers "It had occurred to her once, during the first year she lived with him, to venture a polite objection to his repeated nights out. His response to her had been to seize her by the ears and tell her peremptorily in a loud voice, "I"m the man. I"m the one who commands and forbids. I will not accept any criticism of my behavior. All I ask of you is to obey me. Don't force me to discipline you."" From this quote it is also apparent that if the women does not fulfill her role she is punished. .
In addition to looking after her husband, the woman also have many other important roles.
He provided these jobs through his factory that created luxury passenger cars for trains his factory were called Pullman Palace Car Company. ... On May 11, 1894 the truth was revealed when the employees walked out in order to protest the unfair wages they were receiving at Pullman Palace Car Company. ...
I displayed excessive amounts of confidence in preparing myself for a performance, but the minutes before I walked on that stage I would freeze, forget everything, and inevitably become very ill. ... But I kept thinking about how much I wanted my dream of Broadway to come true and that if I couldn't perform in front of this high school auditorium audience then I certainly cannot perform in front of a packed house at the Cadillac Palace. So I did it, I walked on that stage and sang my heart out. ...
Both "Palace Walk," by Naguib Mahfouz And and "Layla and Majnun," by Nizami depict very distinctive times in the Middle East where societal acceptance can make or break a person. ... The characters in Palace Walk are more reserved with their feelings and actions because of Islamic law, which is contrasted to the way the characters in Layla and Majnun act in pre-Islamic times. ... In Palace Walk, Yasin is the closest character to Majnun. ... Similar with the men, the women in Palace Walk and Layla also highlight these differences between pre-Islamic and Islamic culture. ... Ahmad and the women ...
As the king heard of the news he gathered his thirty royal guards to defend the palace from the invading army. Beowulf leaded his men through the kingdom gates and on through the small city to the outer wall of the palace. ... As the arrows flew through the air Beowulf used his mighty strength to force the palace gates open. ... Beowulf quickly left his army and went to find the cowardly tyrant, who was hiding in his main living quarters of the palace. The adventures of Beowulf, episode 6 As Beowulf walked into the kings chamber he looked at all the gold and treasures the king had ...
Many people choose Potala Palace as their pilgrimage destination because it is said to be the closest place to the Paradise. ... He was kidnapped by a group of rebellions while he was in the palace and serving as a songbird for the master. ...
"The Haunted Palace" begins by detailing of prosperous times. The palace was "stately" and "radiant"(Poe 240). ... It attacks the palace and destroys almost everything. ... There are strong parallels between the Haunted Palace and the House of Usher. ... She walks across the room, falls onto Roderick, and the both of them die (Poe 244). ...
I remembered my first steps as I walked down from the airplane. ... In the capital, we visited the symbolic building of Lhasa, the famous Potala Palace. ... The local people worshiped the palace once every two days. Because of this the palace was always very crowded. ... They worshiped the temple or palace once every two days. ...
An archeological site on Crete named "Palace of Knossos" by its discoverer, Sir Arthur Evans, had a labyrinth painted on the ground floor. ... From other sites on Crete there is evidence of her worship on artifacts and art predating the Palace. At Knossos the axe, meander, and images of the Goddess were painted on the walls of the Palace. ... From the Middle Ages the labyrinth has signified a pilgrimage, a symbol of the road to Calvary that Christ walked, the temple of Jerusalem, the difficulty of the Christian path, and a means of devotion or penitence for sins committed. ... Today Christian...
Is he happy with his grandiose palace, or does he feel trapped within its walls? ... It is as if Kane is her keeper, the warden who keeps her trapped in his "pleasure palace." ... He wanders through his palace almost as if he is taking stock of his life. ... Even after Susan walks out on him and he expresses his anger by destroying her room the camera is there, never leaving his side, always presenting to the world his pain. As he walks out of her room the camera shows the crowd of servants, once again he is not allowed to be truly free of judgment. ...